A film for 25 years at Aspen Institute Italy

The Lisbon Treaty thus opens a new phase with the introduction of tools that allow the institutions to be more players in the future of the Union. In addition to the figure of the President of the European Council and the High Representative (commonly perceived as the Minister for Foreign Affairs), the Treaty sets out the powers of the new charges, the move to qualified majority voting in many subjects, strengthened the powers of the Parliament European control of the subsidiarity principle in national parliaments in chief. These reforms are essential, necessary to restart the action in Europe and improve its image among the general public. In fact, the unification process has also been seriously delayed by the loss of enthusiasm that has accumulated over the years, until the results of referendums held in France, the Netherlands and Ireland.

Then there is the regret of not being able to make full use of the Treaty of Lisbon - whose entry into force has also increased the indifference of public opinion and institutions - to give new impetus to the process. They did not want to accept the invitation to a simplification of the terms to make them closer to the citizens it was decided to include the symbols of the Union (eg the flag or the Euro) that were present in the life of the citizens. He then proceeded to the appointment of two new appointments - Chairman of the Council and High Representative - through consultation, not taking into account the need for transparency and democratic process advocated by many. It is not of course question the quality of the nominees - also of value and great potential - but only the path below.

The current transition probabilemnte will last 15-20 years in which you compare the two conceptions of the European Union: a federal one - closer to the ideals of the founding fathers - and one that wants a large free trade area, with institutions confederal politically.

The hope is that during this phase - and the crises that perhaps the cross - the younger generation, already accustomed to mobility and to live beyond the limits of his country, old and new leaders push towards a vision of design, required to give life to a "re-founding of a deal."

The world is moving towards the organization of large data sets and is no longer unthinkable to Europeans continue to live under the protective wing National. Europe will be able to make a step change in line with the institutional economic power that it already expresses or the Union will not be able to be a major player in international relations.