Forty Italian and German representatives from politics, business and civil society have developed a roadmap for a more democratic EU, enabling it to face economic and social challenges. The proposals that emerged are: support to a real banking union; enlargement of the Eurozone; direct election of the EC President; a Convention to be called by the EP in 2014 for the revision of the treaties.
 
The Italian-German Dialogue, held in the Quirinal Palace in Rome on 1-2 March, even received a message from the Italian President of the Republic. President Giorgio Napolitano, upon returning from his visit to Germany, underlined the importance of Italian-German common initiatives for the European project and warned not to bring out the old stereotypes about relations between the two countries.
 
Presidents of the Italian and German European Movements, Dr. Virgilio Dastoli and Dr. Rainer Wend, highlighted two important Italian-German initiatives of the past: in 1981, the Genscher-Colombo plan spurred the creation of the EU in Maastricht; and, in 2000, the Amato-Schroeder project gave rise to the Laeken Declaration. Jo Leinen, President of EMI, agreed with the previous statements and announced a brainstorming session with all EMI members to prepare the next steps. Among others, Giuliano Amato, Rainer Wieland, Gianni Pittella, Elmar Brok, Emma Bonino and Monika Wulf-Mathies attended the meeting.
 
For further details, please click on the links:
http://movimentoeuropeo.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=270:iniziativa-di-dialogo-italo-tedesco-sul-futuro-dellue-si-esprime-a-favore-di-rapide-riforme-democratiche-e-per-la-convocazione-di-una-convenzione&catid=1:ultime&Itemid=59
 
http://www.netzwerk-ebd.de/news/demokratische-reformen-fuer-europa-deutsch-italienischer-zukunftsdialog-fordert-eu-konvent-fuer-ein/