"We will most likely be judged by future generations on how we achieve the transition to a green and digital Europe. Our ability and willingness to build a carbon-neutral Europe capable of using a new class of technologies will be the measure of our success or failure." Gaetano Armao, Vice-President of the Region of Sicily made these remarks during an online discussion with the theme 'No region left behind’: promoting green and digital recovery in the EU’s disadvantaged regions, organized by the European Policy Centre.
Referring to article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Armao said that the spirit that gave birth to the European Union, the idea of a Europe of equal opportunities, lies in cohesion. He added that the pandemic has complicated the European path towards cohesion by putting further difficulties on people, social groups and territories that were already suffering. In this regard Armao said "European funds for all measures in response to the pandemic crisis must take into account an additional parameter: the economic and geographical difficulties of the territory".
Speaking on the role of villages, cities and regions in the recovery process Armao said "We are at a crossroads but we can tackle this crisis with a correct multilevel approach. If we want to act effectively for our people and businesses, we must avoid bureaucratic silos or over-centralisation and encourage more pan-European coordination. The Conference on the Future of Europe is a good occasion to improve the functioning of EU democracy. Now is the time to ensure that, in addition to the national and EU authorities, regional and local authorities are recognised once and for all as one of the three dimensions of our European House of Democracy.
Armao who is President of the Regional Intergroup for Insularity of the European Committee of the Regions as well as the rapporteur on Towards sustainable neighbourhoods and small communities - Environment policy below municipal level also spoke about difficulties faced by insular regions saying that all insular territories and their inhabitants must not be left behind because of the disadvantages resulting from their insularity. In this regard he said "Creating a post-pandemic Europe that is greener, more digital, and ready for future challenges must give the two thousand islands and the 17 million European citizens who live on them special attention.