After one hundred and seven European summits, Angela Merkel says goodbye. The Chancellor accepts the tributes that have come a little from everyone, including the Pope and Obama, but she does so with the proverbial calmness of those who do not like to be the center of attention.
Leave at a difficult time for the European Union: from the rule of law to immigration to the economy, there are not a few cracks to be recomposed between the Member States.
Merkel warns that EU leaders will have a lot of work to do because there are more than one "unsolved problems". And the success in overcoming "the crises of the past" does not guarantee success even for those in progress or to come.
"I now leave this European Union under my responsibility as Chancellor in a situation that worries me", said Merkel, citing the concerns aroused by the case of Poland. She, who in recent days has spent herself in person also speaking with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, is convinced that sanctions and lawsuits will not solve the problem of the rule of law in the EU.
Dialogue is always necessary, he points out, but respecting common values is the basis from which to start. Because for "those who joined the European Union at a later time", however, "the Treaties were well known".
Not only the problems with the Eastern countries, because the migration and economic issues are equally difficult to unravel. Even more without her, who - in the words of Luxembourg's premier Xavier Bettel - “was a machine for agreements, even when it seemed impossible to reach them”.
She leaves with praise, standing ovations and tributes, including an antique lucky charm given to her by Silvio Berlusconi. There is also a video message from Barack Obama: “Thanks for the storms overcome thanks to your guide”. “A monument” defined it by the president of the European Council Charles Michel. “A great leader who will go down in history”, for Pope Francis.
(Unioneonline / L)
