Good morning to everyone
Being in the country of freedom and democracy, in the temple of peace and integration for all people around the world, gives me such indescribable feelings as i would never have imagined to experience. I come from the other side of the Ocean, precisely from a tiny Mediterranean Island, Procida, where there’s no family that has not a seaman within it, according to a long tradition. Myself, I am the son of a captain who travelled a lot around the world on big cargo ships since the age of 18, putting a too early end to a life of adventures.
Well, I do believe that all the citizens of Procida have to thank men like these that made us, with their travels, proud of being citizens of the world. Their heritage still survives in our aspiration to communicate with all the people, without neither uneasiness nor over confidence but, on the contrary, with the warmth and the simplicity of any human being who cares to live in harmony side by side with everyone. To live, as the Italian constitution recites, with all humankind with no distinction of language, sex, race, religion, social status. America sets a great example to the whole world in this field: this is why any fire man can’t help but feeling himself as an American citizens, as far as such rights are concerned.
Even though I haven’t followed the path of my beloved father and of so many islanders, nevertheless today I cam here, in this prestigious palace, as a witness of their heritage. Here, with the joy of being part of NEAC extraordinary adventure.

NEAC’s challenge is quite unique and for some aspect truly rare in its way, as it has as a result only winners and no losers. As far as I am concerned it has deeply changed my life and my view of the world. A world in which there’s no more room for the word foreign. No foreigners anymore for me.
And I will tell you why. When I think the NEAC Network coordinators from different countries, in my heart and in my mind Poland is in the sweet smile of Izabella. When I think of Wales the bright colourful ties David likes to wear. Denmark stands for the smart, alert and acute ideas of Stefanie. Portugal is the friendliness of Antonio. The game could go on endlessly for each of  NEAC’s other members.
The Municipality of Procida deserves the credit and the courage of having believed and supported the project of professor Eugenia Tesoro since its very beginning. A project that has joined so many people, so many schools over the simplest issue one may have though of the food, the primitive energy of our lives. And our little Island choice to be the leader of this wonderful adventure that bring us to build a fantastic Network today composed by 33 European countries and more than 2 hundreds schools and public institutions. Procida hosted in these years all these Countries for seven meeting creating a magic atmosphere absolutely unique.
And I do believe this is not at all fortuitous.
On the island everybody welcomes everyone. According to the old saying “We love people who come from the sea”. 
You will witness, at the end of my speech, a short documentary about the island of Procida, (a little paradise as you will see) and you will listen to the music of Louis Bacalov winner of an Academy Award for the Soundtrack of  “The postman”.
The biggest chance the NEAC had to face since its start was the issue of communication within the countries of the net. We found the answer in a deeply touching experience while visiting, in Poland, the prison camp of Birkenau. It was there, during our visit to a place where fiendish and inhuman crimes were committed, that we realised that sometimes there’s no need of languages at all to get known each others. The tears streaked everyone’s faces in a mysterious way and were speaking more loudly than any words about sorrow and grief in a silent, memorable, wordless communication.
I am profoundly convinced that sharing the experience, the history and the traditions of all people really means giving a purpose to the culture that will make each of us a better person.
It has been enough, in the NEAC experience, to sit at the table shearing food to get known each other and makes the word “foreigner” disappear.
You should have seen, in one of the NEAC meeting, how showing and tasting the food brought by each delegate, has completely changed the atmosphere of the communication and started a more relaxed and lively conversation nevertheless.

This European Union funded NEAC network is delighted with its success  in the last 4 years experiences. In fact, I’m am proud to announce that the  Network is now a  non-profit Organization called NEAC 2, and we continue our adventure about active citizenship, moving from the core of Europe towards new developing areas around the world.
We are sure that our partnership is bound to live and grow further, and we are convinced that we will be able to involve all people believing in the possibility of making the experience of their lives more and more exciting.
I am persuades that a true leap to peace and integration of all people will be the result of these small experiences. Our hopes will be always supported by the warm of hearts and the awareness of our reasoning.
And to conclude, I wish to thank the Division of Sustainable Development of the United Nation, for inviting us here today, to show you the path we are going to follow.

Thank you.

dr. Enrico Scotto di Carlo
President
NEAC - Network of European Active Citizens