Over time the uncomfortable truth is becoming increasingly clear: all those declarations about the “European vector,” however sincere, are one thing, but the hard work to meet the deadlines for Ukraine’s integration into the European political, defense, economic, and intellectual space are an entirely different matter. Therefore, contacts among noted politicians, scientists, diplomats, and other European intellectuals with an unbiased and reasonably friendly attitude toward Ukraine are exceptionally important. The visit to Kyiv by the Italian professor Roberto de Mattei was thus a significant event.
De Mattei is a well known and respected figure in scholarly and diplomatic quarters and the political elite of both Italy and the Old World in general. He is the vice president of the National Research Council of Italy (the country’s number-one research center encompassing 107 leading institutes in both the humanities and sciences); advisor to the vice prime minister and the foreign minister on matters relating to European integration and cultural and scientific cooperation; co-editor of the journal Nuova Historica; and a frequent guest at prestigious events in Lausanne, Paris, and Brussels. This is Professor de Mattei’s first visit to Kyiv and his goal, among other things, is to hold talks with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (plans to sign a cooperation agreement with the National Research Council of Italy are underway) and to meet with representatives of Ukrainian universities and students. Taras Shevchenko National University hosted the roundtable “Europe: Roots and Frontiers” and Professor de Mattei’s participation attracted keen interest.
The Italian scholar began his address by voicing an idea that he acknowledged has determined his approach to analyzing the situation and prospects of the European community in 2005. He emphasized that all the member countries are faced with the need to determine their cultural and spiritual identity. This is especially important in the light of recent events in France, Belgium, and some other European countries, which are a challenge to all of us.
He reminded his audience of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck’s well-known question: What is Europe after all? This was how the German politician responded in 1873 to the statement that Europe would be displeased if the German government tries to restrict Polish rights. In de Mattei’s opinion, the notion of Europe should be interpreted differently, in a worthy, modern, and humanistic manner. This new notion was provided by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, who said that Europe is not a geographical notion but a cultural-historical phenomenon. In analyzing the historical roots of this phenomenon, de Mattei placed special emphasis on the emergence of Kyivan Rus’, which marked a very important stage in the formation of the European political and cultural space. This state became the bulwark of European civilization, the scholar noted, adding that one ought to distinguish between the concept of Old Rus’ (early Ukraine) and the so-called “Great Rus’” centered in Moscow and St. Petersburg, which, according to the Italian scholar, evolved mostly in directions outside the European context.
De Mattei declared that Ukraine is a great European nation with more than a 1,000 years of history. However, its development has always been affected by an extremely negative factor, namely the absence of a Ukrainian national identity. Ukraine never had an inviolable state tradition. This is precisely the obstacle on its road to Europe.
Today there are at least two development models for European civilization: strengthening a single European economic area that will inevitably weaken the role of the ethnocultural factor, and adopting the European Constitution, which will transform Europe into a strong political player in the international arena. But this will give rise to the problem of developing a common cultural identity for all the European peoples; a common historical memory as a way to meet the challenges of globalism. Ukraine, therefore, should bear in mind that a sizable part of Europe does not want to be restricted only to a project of economic cooperation; it seeks to develop common cultural values. De Mattei believes that Ukraine has a number of essential advantages in the process of European integration, compared to countries like Turkey, but these advantages must be utilized professionally.
