“Not only euro” is the latest book by Massimo D’Alema, and Italian politician and former prime minister of Italy. The book was promoted in the Centre for Openness and Dialogue (COD) in the Prime Ministry.
The book was written on the eve of the last European elections. It articulates the fundamental objectives for the renewal of the European Union. Despite the passing of time, the book remains actual, because it has a medium and long term perspective, and proposes not only concrete objectives but a basic program and a vision for the future of Europe.
In a conversation attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama, personalities of the political and cultural life in the country, publishers, young people, students, etc., author D’Alema presented the topics covered in the book.
Excerpts from the conversation held during the presentation of the book “Not only euro” by Massimo D’Alema:
Massimo D’Alema: This book was written some time ago, as I’ve explained in the introduction to this Albanian edition, but it still retains a significance that is still relevant if you want to read it. It is a book that presents a vision of Europe. I believe that in a moment of crisis, this is the truth. Europe is going through a dramatic crisis out of which we can be only by having the courage of a new vision on a more democratic Europe, and this is one of the main topics of the book, and not on a remote technocracy living somewhere in Brussels. But a democratic Europe, which revolves around the activity in Parliament and in the European Commission, in order to operate as a true European government. In Europe in order to have a new economic and social policy having as a prerogative growth and employment, especially for young people, rather than severity, control on public balance control, etc. It is not euro just for Europe; it is a set of values and objectives that drive consciences of European citizens, but also a solidary Europe able to better face the great dramatic challenges of the world today.
During the difficult period of transition, Albanian could certainly rely on the friendship of Italy, in particular of the Italian left wing. I still remember the financial crisis of the holding companies, the waves of immigrants who arrived to us unexpectedly, the mission “Alba” urged by the Prodi government, I remember the common commitment in front of the tragedy of Kosovo, when Albania was able to shelter thousands of people leaving Kosovo. Italy stood by Albania with our volunteers. We lived very difficult moments.
Europe is facing the current crisis in a different way. This book speaks about a more united Europe, with increased authority, able to carry out its role in the international arena. Above all, this book emphasizes a basic thesis of the Italian foreign policy that is not just my opinion, but it is an opinion that has united all the left forces all Italian governments. We are convinced that the fate of the Western Balkans is to be part of the EU.
Albania is not a distant border. Albania like other countries of the Balkan Peninsula is in the heart of Europe, and it is the obligation of the EU to work through a committed and accelerated process to finalize the reunification of our continent. In addition, we are talking about a country that is becoming more modern every day, and I say this very frankly. They might say that there is a conflict of interest, because he has been a friend of mine for many years, a leader, a European statesman, this gentleman sitting here beside me, and let’s say that he is not the leader of a Balkan tribe, but he is a European statesman. This country has all documents in order to become one of the protagonists of the European politics. I think, I come back with some of the ministers who sit around the table of the European Council, then I come back and think about the Albanian Prime Minister, I think he would well deserve the place in light of the principles and values of the European Union’ He would deserve the place of many others. I do not mean to be abusive, because they are right as well, but certainly not in the most worthy way in the place they occupy in the EC.
I believe that the Albanian public opinion is keen on entering Europe, but I say “be careful”, it is not all a bed of roses. There are many problems, but since there are problems then let us confront them all together. This is the meaning of my message.
Prime Minister Rama: I would like to say two words. First, I hope you will like this edition in Albanian, its looks, and second I would like to start from a small sub-chapter of the book which is very interesting for us. It speaks of populism as an enemy and a great barrier in our path. To be honest, Albanians in general suffer a lot the divisions that go against the expansion, against Europe, against Muslims, and so on.
You talk about an opportunity to fight populism from below, I think it is interesting to develop this concept. How to fight populism from below, as it is clear just as you describe in the book, as a defensive position of an existing establishment in Europe, as an act of loyalty to what exists. This would be a very easy morsel for populists. So this concept of fighting from below, how can it be done?
Massimo D’Alema: What has populism been historically? Populism is defined by scholars of political science as a policy that urges people against elites, and therefore it finds in the elites the opponent, so the European elites, the European technocracies. It is urge to people without distinction against the elites, and of course, this call to the people is addressed also against foreigners, against what is different, against what threatens our identity. But if we make the mistake and lock ourselves down inside this establishment, we will be defeated. There is only one possible way to defeat populism, and it is to mobilize a part of the people. I address especially to the left wing. Populism cannot be combated and defeated without the people. If we propose a vision of Europe, according to which Europe means cutting social expenditures, reducing pensions, reducing the budget for public health, because the numbers don’t add up in the end, this is a technocratic vision that paves the way to the unbridled demagogy of populism. Therefore Europe needs to be again the engine of employment growth and promote social rights. This is the great challenge, because this is the only way to enlighten part of the people.
Prime Minister Rama: I have highlighted a small excerpt of the book, which deals with the role of the state and highlights the leading role played by the state in the United States, and the demonization of the state in Europe. It would be interesting to develop this subject a little bit, also in terms of what is one of the war-horse of Europeanist left-wing, a more important role for growth and employment.
Massimo D’Alema: Let us say things frankly. Let’s say that we have been suffering from a complex. We have only the experience of a Europe where the state had was populist, and we had the experience of the democratic social state. Our whole history has been a fatalist history, and at some point we thought to be freed from this. So we need to change. There was a strong injection of a liberal culture. I think it was partly something necessary, but we risked to pass from one extreme to another, like the pendulum. Without an active role of the state, modern development does not occur.
Question: Mr. Prime Minister, do you think that the Balkans and Albania can provide a special contribution to the refugee crisis, and in doing so prove itself before the EU?
This morning we met with Commissioner Avramopoulos who covers first-hand the topics of immigration. Actually, I believe that are more and more people who agree that the way the crisis was managed at least until now, was completely chaotic and above all based on the will of the Chancellor to have be welcoming, on the one hand and on the other on the refusal of a significant number of member countries to share responsibilities.
And in fact, what happened in the Balkan corridor was a very sad spectacle, taking into account what we think Europe is and should do. Just as it was and remains another spectacular example of a gap in the middle of Europe, due to the lack of integration of some of the Western Balkan countries. Refugees enter the EU via Greece, leave the EU and enter Macedonia to continue in Serbia, then again in the EU, Croatia and then continue their journey in Slovenia. Actually, what happened was simply escorting them from a train station to another train station, where some countries sold tickets to refugees. So refugees had to pay to take the train. What some colleagues and I said at the meeting in Brussels a few months ago with the Chancellor, was that there is the need for a common European plan. A common European plan means that not every country shall build those hot-spots according to their means, some with military tents, some with circus tents, but the plan shall contain a network of hospitality centres in Greece, in Albania – we showed readiness although we are not part of the Corridor, we are ready to take our part – in Macedonia, Serbia and so on, where they can be welcomed with equal standards. Because, for instance, in a refugee centre in Serbia, or in Macedonia, the cost for a refugee is 20 times less than for a refugee sheltered in a centre in Austria or Germany. Being a person that knows what migration is – of course I was not escaping bombs, but I know one thing for sure – what moves refugees towards the target is not what they left behind, but the fear of failing to go where they want to go. And nobody can keep them in military tents without providing minimal conditions in Serbia or Macedonia, or in Greece, if they want to go to Germany. If there were a coordinated European system, and the hosting teams were European, of course with local staff, and if there were a real process of control of recording and redistribution, it would work out very well. As President D’Alema said, the number is not a big drama. If you see the number of refugees who have entered Europe in comparison with the population of Europe, it is a modest number. But the way it appears is causing panic. Today I told again the Commissioner that we are ready to take our part. But we cannot open the doors driven by a sense of generosity and then get trapped along with them, who would come in Albania and ask traffickers to go to Italy. Therefore, together with the Italian government, we have been working for 6 months, not to build walls but to make it possible to not allow trafficking on one hand, and on the other to make the maximum pressure so that the entire European Union will act as the EU.
