Europe celebrates the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome. Bulgaria marks it as well.

On March 10 at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" there was a round table on the topic: "The Treaties of Rome: The EU 60-years-old. Is it too young or too old?" Its organizers were the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Sofia. It was moderated by H. E. Mr. Stefano Baldi - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic and was attended by: Dr. Solomon Passy - Founder and President of the Atlantic Club of  Bulgaria, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Raimondo Cagiano de Azevedo - Professor of Demography at the Faculty of Economics, "La Sapienza" University (Rome), Mr. Ognian Zlatev - Head of European Commission Representation in Bulgaria, Mrs. Ingrid Shikova - Professor of EU policies at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and other guests.

In March 1957 two treaties were signed in the Italian capital: for the European Economic Community /EEC/ and for the European Atomic Energy Community /Euratom/. The representatives of six countries – Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, France and the Netherlands put their signatures upon them. Thus the first international organizations based on the principle of supranationality were created, after the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community few years earlier.

The treaties show the desire to create a common market, and lay the foundations for the creation of a safer, more stable and prosperous continent. Although European countries have been flourishing for six decades, the European construction finds itself increasingly under stress. Should the current situation and dynamics be seen as signs of old age or are they paving the way for future developments? The round table tried to answer that question.

Photo: "Diplomatic spectrum"