Brussels, 11/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - After being congratulated by his former colleagues from the European Parliament, Democratici di sinistra and the European Movement Italy of which he is president, Giorgio Napolitano was congratulated by the European institutions on his election of 10 May as the eleventh President of the Italian Republic.
In his message to the new President, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, says Napolitano's election comes at a critical time in European integration and that he is pleased to be able to count on his contribution to the debate on the future of Europe. Mr Barroso is personally convinced that, in choosing Giorgio Napolitano as the new Head of State, the Italian parliament stresses not only its commitment in favour of democracy and dialogue but also its constant commitment in favour of a united Europe. Mr Barroso told Mr Napolitano that he hoped to see him soon.
At the European Parliament, President Borrell said he was certain, mainly because of the fact that Mr Napolitano's commitment was appreciated by all in Parliament (where he chaired the committee on constitutional affairs) that he would make a valuable contribution to the debate on the future of Europe on the basis of his wealth of experience and enthusiasm. In Mr Napolitano, Europe will have a “precious and stimulating interlocutor” as was his predecessor, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Josep Borrell said. German Social-Democrat Jo Leinen, who takes over from Giorgio Napolitano at the head of the constitutional committee, expressed the hope that, with President Napolitano, Italy, as one of the founding Member States, will be even more strongly committed to European integration and the achievement of a Constitution for Europe. The constitutional committee recalls in a press release that Mr Napolitano, when chairing the committee from 1999 to 2004, had “actively promoted the European Constitution and increased involvement by national parliaments in European affairs”. A delegation from the parliamentary committee will visit the Italian parliament early June and hopes to meet with the new President of the Republic on this occasion. Martin Schulz, President of the Socialist Group, stresses the “great authority, experience and enthusiasm for Europe” shown by Giorgio Napolitano when chairing the committee, as well as his “competence, knowledge and passion” that “enabled him to work across party lines” thus gaining the respect of all his former colleagues. Francis Wurtz, President of the GUE/NGL Group, spoke of a “great day for Italy”, stressing Giorgio Napolitano's qualities as a statesman, his respect for the institutions when he was Leader of the House of Representatives, his “sensitivity to the European dimension” and also his “human qualities”.
The European Movement International (EMI) (of which Giorgio Napolitano is vice-president) sees this election victory as the “crowning of a political career so positively dedicated to Europe”, Pat Fox, EMI President (and former President of the European Parliament) said. “We are sure that his devotion to Europe will continue through his new mandate as President of the Italian Republic and I wish him every success”, Pat Cox concluded.