E3G

L’Europa nel Mondo: Speech by British Ambassador

By Chris Littlecott

The launch of the Italian version of E3G’s ‘Europe in the World’ pamphlet was held in Rome on 16th May at Villa Wolkonsky, the residence of the British Ambassador.

Ambassador Edward Chaplin gave an introductory speech to the event, focusing on the role Europe can play in responding to the double challenge of energy security and climate security.

The text of the Ambassador’s speech follows below, and is also published on the Embassy website.

Europe in the world: political choices for security and prosperity

Launch of the E3G pamphlet, in asociation with Fondazione Willy Brandt, Villa Wolkonsky, Rome.

Opening address by British Ambassador Edward Chaplin, 16th May 2007.

I’m very pleased to welcome you to Villa Wolkonsky today for the publication of the Italian version of the pamphlet ‘Europe in the World’ produced by the independent organisation E3G. I’m very pleased to welcome some of the authors of that report here today, and the Director General of Environment, Corrado Clini, who played a large part in its development.

The subtitle of the pamphlet is “political choices for security and prosperity”. And it’s those issues of security and prosperity I want to focus on today. We have recently celebrated 50 years of the European Union. I think this report sets out very clearly some of the achievements we have made over this period. Achievements which, as the report says, we inside the EU don’t always recognise as fully as we should, but which are clearly visible to those outside, including those neighbouring countries who see entry into the European Union as a safeguard for their own security and prosperity.

The EU was established following two European wars and the devastation they left in social and economic terms for our citizens. The European Union (and its predecessor organisations) has established half a century of peaceful cooperation between its members, with the economic prosperity that flows from such a period of stability.