"We should make sure that the European motto - 'United in diversity' – is implemented. All too often the EU tends to replace it with a centralist rhetoric aimed at imposing a top-down vision" stated Matteo Bianchi.

Our member was representing the ECR Group in the high-level CoR plenary debate on "Promoting European democratic values through education to foster EU citizenship" with Vice-President of European Commission Dubravka Šuica. Mr. Bianchi (Member of the Italian Parliament and Councillor of Varese) underlined that despite the fact that the founding fathers of Europe were aware and proud of the reasons that unite the peoples of Europe, we are now faced with a process of negation of our culture by promoting a nihilism of the values.

"As conservatives, we strongly believe that European identity is firmly based on Greek philosophy, Roman law and Europe’s Jewish Christian roots. Europe’s soul is based on its traditions, as a union of cultures, peoples and nations", the Councillor of Varese said.