Keynote lecture [by Emma Bonino, Italian Minister of Foreign affairs, at SOU2013]

Abstract

I am delighted to take the floor at this prestigious State of the Union conference here in Florence. Over the years, the European University Institute has been discreetly but convincingly providing advice and suggestions to the European Union for more democratic participation, more freedom, better economic governance and greater social inclusiveness. e positive fallout from the Institute could have been remarkable for all of us, if Europe had listened more attentively to its words. We need to pay closer attention to those elements of our society coming up with inspiring ideas for reforms. We can no longer leave change and the future of Europe in the hands of inter-governmental players alone. Indeed, I deeply believe that the collective interest has more to gain from innovative and bold ideas than from the latest turns and twists of national interests.