Diplomatic World_nummer 56.

H.E. ELENA BASILE, AMBASSADOR OF
ITALY TO THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM,
SHARES HER VIEWS ON RELATIONS
BETWEEN ITALY AND BELGIUM
Relations between Italy and Belgium are rooted in
the past. The Italian Residence where I have the
privilege to dwell, a beautiful neo-classic palace
where the engagement between Marie-José and
Umberto II was celebrated, is the symbol of the
common history between the Belgian Royal house
and the House of Savoy. As it is well known,
King Philippe of Belgium is the son of Paola Ruffo
di Calabria. Italy and Belgium can count on an
excellent relationship in all fields, from political
to economic one, from cultural to scientific
cooperation, moving on through consolidated and
automatic patterns.
In the European framework, as founding Members of the
European Union, Italy and Belgium are both committed
to re-launch the European Union as a more integrated,
united and effective organization on the international
scene. It is paramount to bring the EU Institutions closer
to the citizens in order to reverse the on-going trend of
estrangement and disillusionment, which has indeed
contributed to the (re-)emergence of populism in many
Countries of Europe.
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Italy, together with like-minded EU partners, is
contributing to set in motion the reform of the European
Union in order to provide collective answers to the threats
and challenges of our days, from economic crisis to
terrorism, from migration to climate change. We would like
to realize, with our like-minded partners, a Eurozone based
on a more accentuated equilibrium between responsibility
and solidarity. It is also important to realise the
completion of the Banking Union and to have a European
Union budget able to ensure adequately financed policies
in sectors where Europe can bring its added value, such as
H.E. Elena Basile and Barbara Dietrich