“Bebe Vio is an example for Europe”

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen invited Bebe Vio to the State of the Union speech at the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg. Bebe Vio was a guest of honour, proposed as an example for the challenges of Europe: “We take Bebe as an inspiring example, she managed to achieve all these results by applying her credo, “If it seems impossible then it can be done“.  These were the words our champion spoke after winning her second Paralympic gold medal in the individual foil in Tokyo at the end of August.

Photo: primacommunication.it

“Let us also be inspired by all the young people who have changed the perception of what is possible, who have shown us that you can achieve anything you believe in. This is the soul of Europe, this is the future of Europe, let’s make it stronger together.” (source: La Repubblica 16/09 /2021)

IT IS A PITY, HOWEVER, THAT THE IDEAL INSPIRATION IS NOT FOLLOWED BY COHERENT POLICY OBJECTIVES.

URSULA VON LEYER POINTED ABOVE ALL TO THE REFORM OF THE STABILITY PACT AND THE COMMON DEFENCE PROJECT:

“What we need is the European Defence Union”

 IF WE WERE TRULY INSPIRED BY BEBE’S MOTTO

“IF IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, THEN IT CAN BE DONE” …

 … WE WOULD BET ON THE EUROPE OF WELCOME:

“… invest resources in real humanitarian aid and reception, apply, without ifs and buts, that duty of solidarity between people and between States on which our Republic and the European Union are founded, remember that fundamental rights and among the first the right to a dignified life and the right to asylum cannot be subject to quotas.  In other words, the rule of “me first” does not apply to human rights, but the more equitable one of “all” “every” “each” as provided for in the opening words of the constitutional or conventional norms”.

(Alessandra Ballerini, La Repubblica/Genova/Comments 16/09/2021)