A convinced Europeanist at heart

Italian Consul Luca Brofferio believes in greater awareness of European Union

Luca Brofferio, a diplomat with a proven track record and much experience, is the Consul General of Italy in Toronto. His task is to create awareness on European themes in the political, economic and cultural bodies Canada's most important province, Ontario, during the semester of the Italian Presidency of the European Union.
The task assigned to him, as to the other Italian consuls in this country, was given by the ambassador in Ottawa, Marco Colombo: "They will represent, as they have represented in the past, the interests of Italian collective," declared Colombo in a recent interview with Tandem. "In the meantime, they will also be the spokespersons of this reality, that is, the European Union, to which Italy has contributed through much dedication."
Will it be a difficult task, or, as they say, all downhill?
"For me it will definitely be a stimulating commitment," answers Luca Brofferio, "because I am a convinced Europeanist, but I have my doubts that it is all going downhill..."
Why?
"For at least two reasons. The first is that in Canada, and in general in all of North America, there is a total detachment from the dynamic of European communities. Here one knows about the Euro's existence and it is known because one sees everyday that it is stronger than the American dollar. Then, it is known that with Euros in one's pockets, one can go shopping in 15 countries of the Old World. But this is where it starts and ends."
And what is attributing to this detachment?
"There are multiple causes: Canadians gravitate towards the orbit of the United States in creating their culture, where the world rotates around New York City and Washington. There is a proverb in these parts: 'Who succeeds in doing something in New York can succeed anywhere.' It is a saying that spreads across the Atlantic. As a consequence, there is not a historical vision that helps to understand what happens over the hurdle. This means that people are used to looking only at the present and only that which affects their immediate and personal interests. Here, futurologists do not exist: that is why it is natural that the European Union, where everything is projected towards the future, means little here..."
That is also why the press has lost interest.
"Just so. Have you ever read a feature on Europe in Canadian or American newspapers? And actually two very important historical events have taken place: the ratification of the Treaty that consents 10 new nations to enter the Union and the launching of the draft of the European Constitution. I did not expect huge articles, but at least something. Instead, there was only silence. On the other hand, the press worldwide reflects the dominant culture and interests. And this is the first motive for which my work is not really all downhill."
And what is the other?
"Once again it deals with a detachment, and it is that which I noticed in many of my old colleagues in the consulate body of other European nations. Elsewhere, the community cooperation between diplomats of other nations is constant, intense. The will to represent not only one's own government, but also Europe is palpable: there is an almost youthful enthusiasm from our Old Continent that is now repairing itself. Here, it is not. It is as if the disinterest, or the ignorance of European events that characterizes this nation and the United States has transferred itself in those Europeans that have a representative role. And yet the instructions that us diplomats receive from our governments in co-operation with other European states are precise: that cooperation is mandatory, not optional."
What problems create this situation?
"More than just the problems cause me bitterness. I have said that I am a convinced Europeanist and exactly for this reason, I hold onto to the idea of Europe being diffused precisely there where it is least known. North America is the most suitable place for this because here they do not even know what the European Commission is, for example. But it's not only up to Italy to make this be known. At any rate, I will not give up. I will go on my way, comforted by the fact that between Italian-Canadians an awareness of Europe is forming, albeit slowly."
Is this happening between young people or also between the elderly?
"Students who go to Italy to study or for vacation already know very well what is happening on the political and historical fronts on the other side of the Atlantic. Therefore, one should not be surprised that they have a European awareness, or better yet, a solid perception on European culture."
Evidently European universities have done a good job creating awareness in this area.
"Nothing less. And the work will be even more involving when there are various study programs that will give students from all over the world even more opportunities: ones that were up until now reserved for European students. I am thinking of Erasmus Mundus, for example."
And what perception of Europe do elderly Italian-Canadians living in Ontario have?
"An amazing one. Above all, if we think about the fact that they arrived here in the years in which a united Europe was little more than an aspiration, and given that they have an insufficient relationship with Italy. And still, they have a precise perception of the Euro, and they know that it circulates in the largest European nations. Then, they also know that the cousin from Agrigento, for example, can easily go work in Germany or France without having to undergo the old bureaucratic fetters. For this reason, less elderly people are revaluing their Italian passports: they ask about it because it concurs that they travel to Europe without the need of approvals."
A couple of years ago, in occasion for the reception of June 2 in honour of Italy's Festival of the Republic, an acquaintance of mine asked me: "Can you explain to me what that blue flag with the yellow stars beside the Italian flag represents?" Maybe that was a chance encounter, but have our compatriots' perceptions of Europe improved since then?
"Definitely yes. Even if we are still at a superficial level of understanding. There is still little that is known about what is being done in the Union to solicit a major cooperation, and thus an integration between the various states. Take for example the Europol: here, few people know that it is a police structure that is much more advanced and much smaller than Interpol. Europol allows immediate contact between suburban offices without going through headquarters. And the Europol units have police tasks operating in the Balkans."
What is on the agenda for the Italian semestre of the European Union presidency?
"At the end of October, there is a university level conference planned by the Centro Studi Europei 'Alcide De Gasperi' of Rome and by the Canadian Centre for German and European Studies of York University. It has not yet been decided whether the conference will be held at Glendon College or at York University. There will be intellectuals from Europe, such as Professor Mattesini of the University of Rome, as well as those from Canada. It will be a very special encounter: the European Constitution and the markets that open the Euro will be discussed. Then there are two European musical concerts planned for the end of November."
Who will be playing?
"The Polimnia Ensemble of Rome, that I am hoping to also bring to Winnipeg, and our Coro Palestrina. Finally there will be a day dedicated to tourism in Europe. We are expecting a display of blow-ups with a demonstration of illustrative material and a projection of short films in one of Toronto's largest commercial centres. The details of the operation must still be put in order, but a massive public campaign is foreseen. These are the surface initiatives: many others, regarding the worlds of politics, entrepreneurial and cultural aspects of Ontario will be taken within the six months of the Italian Presidency of the Union. It can be said then that I will not lose opportunities to promote Europe and to make known its institutional mechanisms."
You have told me that you are a convinced Europeanist. What does that mean?
"It means that I firmly believe in the European Union and its capacity to affirm itself even more on the international sector. Let me explain myself: after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the United States was the only world power that remained. First they share this position with the Soviet Union, and this juxtaposition was not always peaceful. We risked conflicts several times..."
Such as the Cuban missile crisis, for example, with Kruschev on one side and Kennedy on the other...
"Exactly. Today the United States, which recognizes itself as a supremacy, live in a hegemony which is not good for anyone, above all themselves. They need an authoritative counterpart that does not put a stop to even the most radical incentives. This function can be exercised by the European Union that does not have hegemonic aims in military matters and that on the contrary, as Ambassador Colombo explained, plans its future also in collaboration with the United States. I want to say that between Europe and America there is not a juxtaposition, and exactly for this reason this collaboration is destined to exist in time. When the United States becomes aware of the results which it can use to create dialogue between itself and Europe - even the difficult, yet frank recent events such as the war in Iraq, or on genetically modified foods - they will reevaluate history and its instructions. And they will understand, you will hope for me, the difference that exists between a region of power and the power of a region. At that point, peace will be taken by the hand."

Publication Date: 2003-07-27
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=2995