The Europe of Peoples and Cultures
Paneuropa Italia organised on 30 May 2025 an international conference at Miramare Castle in Trieste entitled ‘The Europe of Peoples and Cultures: From the Thinking of De Gasperi and Otto von Habsburg to Modern Cultural Districts’.
The conference was opened by the President of the Paneuropa Italia Association, Gianna Di Danieli, who gave a speech on the importance of cultural connections for the multitude of peoples inhabiting the European continent and creating a common identity.
The welcome address was given by Walburga Habsburg Douglas, Vice-President of the International Paneuropa Union. She emphasised the importance of European culture, which is reflected in the famous historical achievements of Miramare Castle. She particularly highlighted the Pan-European understanding of cultural values promoted by her father, Otto von Habsburg.
The conference was moderated by the Vice-President of Paneuropa Italia and Judge at the Supreme Court of Cassation, Prof. Marcello M. Fracanzani. He referred to Umberto Eco's words that ‘the language of Europe is translation,’ which actually means moving from one language to another, from one culture to another, thus reviving a pluralistic identity. He commented expertly on all the presentations and concluded that cultural districts can create new frameworks in which the common European memory is not lost but rather enriched.
A rich presentation of the topic was provided in the lectures by the following renowned experts in their field: Prof. Giulio Maria Chiodi, Prof. Claudio Cressati, Prof. Marina Bressan, Prof. Giacomo Biassutti and Dott. Luigi Deciani.
The closing speech was given by the President of the International Pan-European Union, Prof. Pavo Barišić. Referring to the Pan-European heritage of De Gasperi and Otto von Habsburg, he called for the development of a Europe in which people and culture come first, rather than any form of domination. He recalled De Gasperi's words: ‘If we want a united Europe, we must be prepared to unite our hopes, not just our borders.’ He concluded that the visions of the two great Pan-Europeans could continue to point the way forward, as they show the path to a Europe that does not shy away from its differences, but celebrates them as its greatest strength.
After the conference, a concert was held in the throne room of Miramare Castle, where baritone Paolo Rumetz, accompanied by pianist Sabina Arru, performed compositions by Italian composers: G. Verdi, G. Donizetti, F. P. Tosti, R. Brogi, L. Denza.
- Programme (EN) (PDF)