Italians Stage Massive Demonstration in Favor of Relaunching the European Union

The sign reads: “Remove war from history. Bread, peace, and job.” March 15, 2025. X/ @paolinab

March 17, 2025 Hour: 8:52 am

The demonstration aimed to counter U.S. policies seeking to create divisions between Europeans.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of Italians gathered in Rome to voice their support for greater European Union (EU) unity amid growing geopolitical uncertainties and concerns over transatlantic relations.

The demonstration, inspired by a newspaper column by journalist Michele Serra, aimed to counter what he described as U.S. policies seeking to create divisions between Europe and the United States in defense and trade.

According to Italian media estimates, between 30,000 and 50,000 demonstrators filled and surrounded Piazza del Popolo, transforming the historic square into a sea of banners and European flags.

Participants called on European leaders to strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy, particularly in defense and economic policy, in response to shifting U.S. priorities.

Decine di migliaia di persone in Piazza del Popolo a Roma alla manifestazione per l'Europa promossa dal giornalista Michele Serra. Tra le bandiere blu dell'Unione si è ritrovata quasi tutta l'opposizione, assenti governo e centrodestra pic.twitter.com/HHY9SFNKc3
— Tg3 (@Tg3web) March 15, 2025

The text reads, “Tens of thousands of people in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo at the pro-Europe demonstration promoted by journalist Michele Serra. Among the blue Union flags were almost the entire opposition, with the government and the center-right absent.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has taken a cautious stance on increasing EU defense spending, citing concerns over the financial burden such measures could impose on Italy, which already has one of the highest public debt levels in the world as a percentage of gross domestic product.

Meloni’s reluctance to fully endorse a coordinated EU defense strategy comes as Washington signals potential reductions in U.S. security commitments to Europe, further fueling debate over the bloc’s future geopolitical direction.

“We are 50,000 real people. It was a demonstration of peace and democracy. Thank you to each and every one of you. We are European citizens,” Serra said at the end of the rally in Rome’s square.

“We are many. We are many because we are a people, a word that in recent years has been eliminated from democracy, despite the fact that it is the most democratic of words. Europe is not an abstract concept. It is salvation. Let us remember that when we reject migrants,” the journalist added.

#FromTheSouth News Bits | Italy: According to a Holy See statement, Pope Francis remains vigilant, without fever, and fully cooperating with the treatments. He was switched to high-flow oxygen therapy, and non-invasive and mechanical ventilation will be resumed as planned. pic.twitter.com/wYe9xwsO5n
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) March 6, 2025