Speech by Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of the state visit Italy, Palace Noordeinde, The Hague

Speech | 23-10-2012

Mr President,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you and Mrs Napolitano to the Netherlands today. Your visit confirms the close and friendly relations between our two countries, which have continued to prosper and develop since the first diplomatic contacts between the Netherlands and the Venetian Republic in sixteen hundred and nine.

In you we greet the highest representative of a state which is firstly a trusted partner in the European Union, and in addition a country of enchantment and fascination, that has captivated the hearts of many, certainly the Dutch. In the beauty of the Italian landscape, we can see how the riches of nature are impressively combined with the creative achievements of mankind over successive generations. The overwhelming profusion of Italian art and culture is visible everywhere in magnificent buildings and breath-taking works of art. Wherever one's eyes turn in Italy, one feels irresistibly connected to the genesis of European civilisation.

After the evils of the first half of the twentieth century in Western Europe, our countries joined hands in their common pursuit of lasting peace and security, first in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and later in the European Community, which we both joined as founding members. The Treaty of Rome, signed in nineteen fifty-seven, established the European Economic Community. This began as a common market based not on power politics and rivalry, but on voluntary cooperation between European states and their peoples. The subsequent treaties of Maastricht and Lisbon took the steps needed to bring about further enlargement and closer cooperation. In that process, decisions were taken that often had far-reaching consequences for the citizens of Europe. These common endeavours gave rise to a unique new entity, founded on the acceptance of common principles of law.

This close European alliance, transformed in nineteen ninety-two into the European Union, has indeed attained a great deal in the five decades and more of its existence. In difficult times, such as those we are now experiencing, it is good to acknowledge this. Of course adjustments have often been required, sometimes even sacrifices. As a result, doubts may have arisen in some minds as to whether we have taken the right road. It is up to our generation, Mr President, to convince our fellow citizens of the great achievements of European integration.

Since their pioneering role in the creation of our community, our two countries have always dedicated themselves to building a close-knit Europe, free from oppression, trade barriers, discrimination and protectionism. We will continue to contribute to this historic process of integration, because, like every living organism, it is never completed, but constantly evolving.

In these times of globalisation and world-wide competition, European countries on their own are no longer able to participate successfully in developments in the fields of science, technology and industry. However, it is exactly in these areas that European cooperation has led to many significant results. A good example is the European Space Agency, with ESTEC in Noordwijk as its largest site, which you will be visiting tomorrow.

Long ago, Marco Polo and Columbus discovered unknown continents and Galileo studied the movements of heavenly bodies. Now over two thousand five hundred people work on using space for global communications at ESTEC, under Italian leadership. In this way, the name 'Galileo' has acquired a new, European dimension. Important research is likewise carried out at the Institute for Energy and Transport in Petten, which falls under the European Commission and is also headed by one of your compatriots. These are both striking examples of what European cooperation means to us in practice.

Another example is the European exchange programme which derives its name from Erasmus, that great humanist and European. This enables young people to pursue part of their studies in another European country. In nineteen ninety-nine, furthermore, twenty-nine European education ministers decided in Bologna, home to Europe's oldest university, to set up a uniform system of qualifications allowing students to move between countries while preparing for their degree. Present and future generations will thus be able to benefit from the abundance of opportunities and broad range of experiences that Europe offers.

Mr President,

You belong to that generation of statesmen who, after the tragic period that our continent went through, played an important role in building the new post-war Europe. What is more, in your publications, you also demonstrated your personal commitment to the developments of that time. The building of a peaceful and ever more closely cooperating Europe was a unique experiment for the people of your generation and mine. Now it is an achievement that many take for granted. But peace, freedom and prosperity are by no means self-evident. They must be protected and sometimes even recaptured. It is therefore of vital importance to pass on our history as a collective memory to the young people of today, who in their turn, must shape the future as citizens of Europe.

Mr President,

May I invite you and all those present to raise their glasses with me in a toast to your health, to that of Mrs Napolitano and to a bright future for Italy and Europe.