I am here today, at the invitation of my good friend and colleague Angelino, to inaugurate his book.
It is an honour and a privilege to do so, since I believe that Angelino is a committed European, A politician, that will define both the political future of Italy and the future of our shared European family.
I also believe that his book, is a critical intervention, for a critical matter that to a large extent, will determine the future of Europe.
Dear Friends,
We live in a challenging and historic era, In a transitory era, that is giving birth to something new.
A force is knocking at our door, calling the members of the European family to translate their interdependence to meaningful political unity.
For the protection of our fundamental rights,
For the love of our way of life,
For a sustainable future, for all Europeans.
We are also faced with a threat, which is both alien and repugnant to the values we hold most dear.
This threat is not Islam.
We have been peacefully coexisting with Islam, inside our cities, and in our geographic neighborhood for centuries.
This threat is the ideology of hate.
Hate for Freedom, Hate for the joy of life, Hate for progress, Hate born out of ignorance,
And to a large extent,
We all have to admit,
Hate because we failed in Europe to integrate successfully what is culturally different.
We failed to project an all-inclusive vision to our children, based on the power of our values.
Now, this force of hate, is questioning not only our way of life, but our right to exist.
Our right to be, to breathe without fear, to create, to enjoy.
But at the same time, this force of hate, reminds to us all, our historic duty as Europeans to fight for our values.
To do move forward and not to succumb to fear,
Because fear is defeat.
Fear is closed borders,
Fear is a compromised democracy,
Fear is racism and nationalism,
Fear is going back to our history,
Fear is admitting that we cannot guarantee at the same time the freedom and security of the European citizens,
Fear is finally to give up the European project and to enclose ourselves in our national borders.
The book of Angelino, reminds us, that we cannot and we will not live in fear.
This is the central thesis of Angelino’s book:
That the enemy is strong, but our values are stronger.
That we will rise to the challenge, because we know that this fight is about our way of life and, ultimately, our way of being citizens of this world.
That these barbarians are as alien to their culture and religion, as they are to ours.
That is why this book, could not have come at a better time.
It is also the reason why I, as European Commissioner in charge of security, can fully subscribe to its thesis.
With this book, Angelino Alfano’s contribution to public discourse, is as important as his political contribution both at national and European level.
Angelino is a man of both actions and profound ideas on the challenges Europe is facing.
A sharp, incisive and inquisitive mind that is not content with easy answers.
An honest and trusted partner in Europe, at a time of crisis.
Ladies and gentlemen, This is a book with powerful political messages.
Taking a detailed look at the history of terrorism since 9/11, it issues a strong call for action against fear.
Angelino could not have said it more clearly that: whoever fears, has not been free, and fight against fear is fighting for freedom. It is the task of all of us; it is the task of our generation.
Today, we stand here united in proclaiming that we are free, because we are not afraid. And because we are not afraid, as Angelino concludes with optimism, we can be sure that we will defeat the threat.
Angelino’s book correctly identifies terrorism, whatever its colours, as systematic subversion of absolute values, rights, religious traditions, cultural belonging.
Terrorism rejects independence of spirit, because it is afraid of words, ideas, thoughts. It fears our freedom.
In a globalized world the threat has changed shape, it has become more elusive and complex, joining fanaticism, brutality and paramilitary logic.
We need to respond with a similar level of sophistication and action, which cuts across traditional boundaries of law enforcement and cooperation.
We know this because the past few weeks, have been marked by our determination to fight back and live up to the challenge.
Our response has been unprecedented.
We managed to agree after many years on the EU PNR system – a crucial development for our collective security.
We also managed to deliver a reformed Europol, which will become the hub of our counter-terrorism operations.
We proposed new rules on firearms, to deprive terrorists of the Kalashnikovs they shoot innocent people with.
And we put on the table strict rules to tackle Foreign Terrorist Fighters.
Angelino devotes a lot of time to these young people in his book, and rightfully so.
Because they represent the gravest threat.
These are people that leave the city in which they were born and bred, family, friends, school, leaving behind all that is the past to embrace a present, but above all a future, in which they spread
the seed of hatred and indiscriminate violence.
These people are our youths, born and raised in Europe, that take up weapons and turn them against us.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are delivering concrete measures for the security of our citizens.
But we need to do more.
We need to address the root causes of these threats.
This is the story which Angelino’s book is telling us:
The fight of governments and citizens to live free in the face of extremism.
Our way there will be long and challenging.
We have to fight and avoid radicalization and we have to do this without victimizing all Muslims: as Angelino’s book says, that would be a blind alley with no exit.
We should be smarter than that. Most of radicalisation is taking place online, And that is where we need to focus our efforts.
We need to do this with the internet companies, with civil society, and with national Ministers like Angelino, to find solutions to terrorist content on the internet.
We must also address our biggest vulnerability in fighting terrorists:
How we exchange information
> We need to improve our trust
> We need to make better use of our EU systems to exchange information
> We need to share more with each other on the threats we face
We also need to go after the money of the terrorists.
And we will do very soon – with concrete actions on Terrorist Financing
On all of these, we need to work closer together in the EU, but also with our strategic allies in order to protect our citizens.
The security of our citizens is at stake, and we are determined to do everything to ensure it.
We have more concrete action on the horizon.
Tomorrow, I will put on the table an ambitious and far-reaching package to strengthen our external borders.
Our goal is to protect one of the greatest achievements of our Union: Schengen.
A failure of Schengen will undermine the whole European project.
That is why we will strengthen our perimeter by reinforcing our frontline.
We will set up a European Border and Coast Guard.
And ensure systematic controls (including on EU citizens coming back)
Italy, with Greece, has suffered the brunt of the refugee crisis, and it knows the extent of the problem.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Caro Angelino,
This book is part of our response. It is a testament of our resolve to fight
and to win against terrorists.
We are free, because we are not afraid.
As you say in your book, the word for security comes from Latin, and it means ‘freedom from worry’. That is the duty we owe our citizens: a secure future to raise our children in.
My dear friend, as we say in Greek, may your book be “καλοτάξιδο” –
May it travel well, and far, and reach the people that need to read it most.
We are united in the face of these threats.
The resolve you show in this book is exactly what we need for the difficult way ahead.
Thank you for inviting me to be here today.