Magnificent Rector,
Dean of the Faculty of Economics,
Deans and Professors,
Your Majesty
Dear Mr. President Rebelo de Sousa, dear Marcelo,
Dear students,
I am truly honoured to be standing today before such an authoritative gathering as a candidate for the honorary doctorate in Economics.
Throughout the years, this esteemed University – one of the most ancient ones existing – backed by its centuries-old history, has given prestige to the uppermost academic tradition of our continent, representing its unanimously acknowledged excellence. This is further testified by the extraordinary results achieved in several fields of human knowledge and the many distinguished scholars who have studied, taught or conducted research here.
I therefore wish to express my profound gratitude to the Rector, to the Academic Senate and to the Faculty of Economics.
Sharing the privilege of this award with His Majesty the King of Spain and being introduced, and accompanied, by the most excellent President of the Portuguese Republic, attaches further, inestimable value to this occurrence: certainly because of the great esteem and friendship I feel towards them, and also because of the extremely significant tribute to the closeness between our countries and our peoples, ideally united in this venue devoted to the exchange of culture and knowledge.
It is through such exchange, century after century, that we have strengthened our bond: encouraged by our geographical proximity; promoted by the same Latin origins of our languages and customs; and even inspired by our common maritime vocation – both in the pioneering forms of naval exploration and in our commitment to protecting thefreedom of the seas, which is always very topical.
Indeed, we are also united by the awareness of how important it is (from an economic standpoint too) to protect ecosystems, including marine ecosystems, and how crucial it is to preserve all natural resources, for the benefit of present and future generations.
Furthermore, research in natural sciences and the evolution of the economic doctrine entail a fruitful, heuristic cross-fertilisation, and thiscould already clearly be seen in the 18th-century studies of a renownedscholar from Coimbra, Domenico Agostino Vandelli. A distinguished Italian naturalist and botanist, he taught chemistry and natural history here in Coimbra, contributing to the study of natural sciences in Portugal while proving to be a lecturer endowed with multifaceted ingenuity and countless interests, including economics and finance.
In my opinion, one of the most noble and exciting tasks of university institutions is that of stimulating this genuine, often multidimensional craving of so many young people for knowledge and debate. I am convinced that this leads to constructive dialogue, a sense of the common good and professional ethics, as well as the willingness to innovate, build and amass productive social capital. These are essential prerequisites for economic growth in advanced constitutional states such as ours. I also believe they embody the fundamental values we share, which have forged Europe’s identity and do not allow for moral compromise.
For example, if I look at our history, it has somehow been marked by stages of a journey that is comparable. We have fought similar battles to ensure that the ideals of democracy, freedom, respect for citizens’ rights and political pluralism may prevail in our societies, rejecting authoritarian and obscurantist regimes. I have always found it particularly suggestivethat the respective anniversaries of 25 April unite the Portuguese and Italian peoples, celebrating their democratic journey, driven by the courage of their respective peoples.
This evolution was supported and nourished by the ambitious project of the European Community, which this prestigious University partakes in by training future leaders: I am thinking, for example, of the new European Ombudsman, Teresa Anjinho, an alumna of the Faculty of Law at this University, who also studied in Italy, firstly at the University of Rome, where I too have studied, and then in Padua. A crucial task awaits her: that of consolidating trust between the Union and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of integrity in EU institutions.
I do hope that this will serve as an example for the students of thisUniversity and all other European universities.
In the coming weeks, the students of this University – following its centuries-old tradition – will celebrate the end of the academic year with the Queima das Fitas. My wish, for these promising young people, is that the fire that burns the ribbons in this symbolic ceremony may inspire them, like persevering flames of hope and commitment to their own future, to their country, to Europe and to the world.
I would like to thank everyone in attendance once again for the honour conferred to me today, which has allowed me to become part of this University’s journey.
