Former Italy PM Amato delivers lecture at DCU School of Law and Govt

Former Prime Minister of Italy Giuliano Amato delivered a lecture entitled "Are we somehow beholden to Europe? The case of the environment" in the Moot Court Room in DCU on Friday, 14 December, which also concluded the semester of the School of Law & Government. Irish Chief Justice Frank Clarke also attended the event.

Amato, who is also a Professor of Law at the European University Institute and a Judge of the Italian Constitutional Court, argued that complaints against Europe is actually a complaint against not enough Europe. "People want a stronger, more active Europe," he said in his lecture. "We have three ways of thinking, belly-heart-mind. But we only use the first two to think of Europe," Prof. Amato remarked.

He added that it makes sense for environmental policy to be made at EU level, even more so than the economic policy. The former Italian prime minister finished his lecture by pointing out that the antipathy to Europe is born of its success. "Around 40 years ago most people had personal memories of war in their belly. European peace means we’re comfortable enough to complain," Prof. Amato concluded.

The full text of Prof. Amato's paper can be read here.