David SASSOLI, EP President and Sergio MATTARELLA, President of the Italian Republic attend the ceremony conferring an honorary degree in European and International Studies to Antonio Megalizzi, University of Trento, Italy. Antonio Megalizzi is one of the two journalists, murdered during the terrorist attack of December 2018 in Strasbourg.

statement

fight against terrorism (T)

ceremony

EU - Italy (T)

Italy

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

MATTARELLA, Sergio (IT)

Ceremony conferring an honorary degree in European and International Studies to Antonio Megalizzi with the participation of David SASSOLI, EP President - University of Trento

Title: Ceremony conferring an honorary degree in European and International Studies to Antonio Megalizzi with the participation of David SASSOLI, EP President - University of Trento

External view of University of Trento. (2 shots)

Arrival of David Sassoli, EP President. (4 shots)

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, It's been 30 months since that evening of 11 December 2018. During those days in Strasbourg, you certanly remember, the plenary session of our Parliament was underway at a time of celebration. The city was in a Christmas atmosphere, it was animated by tourists, by many parliamentary deputies and journalists. Among them, was also Antonio Megalizzi, a young man who paid his ticket to participate in the plenaries of Parliament, who had a mission to accomplish, that of telling young people about Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, The death of Antonio and four other people, including his Polish friend and colleague Niedzielski, on that evening of pain and terror, are still very much wounds for us.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Antonio, like his peers, represented as the rector said very well, the symbol of the Europe we want. A Europe close to the citizens, supportive, authoritative, that grows thanks to dialogue and discussion. Two aspects that underlie good politics, which constitute the backbone of any democratic system.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Peace between nations, freedom of thought, respect for people, for all people, the protection of diversity, are the founding principles of our identity. If we lost all this, Europe would find itself without identity and functions.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Antonio would help us speak to young people, to convey the message that the European lifestyle is admired in the world. Too often it is underestimated by us, in our debates, in our countries. Faced with intolerance, hatred, terrorist threats, interference, new challenges that the global world presents us, Antonio Megalizzi would have reminded us, as often did the President of the Republic, that Europe is our destiny. Or as he loved to repeat: &ldquo;the real key to our future.&rdquo; Thank you.