Conte and anti-rearmament fronts demonstrate in front of the NATO summit: 'Moscow's invasion must end'

"The ongoing war in Ukraine demonstrates our collective failure to pursue the diplomatic solutions necessary to secure peace. While Russia's illegal invasion and continued bombing must stop, it is important to recognise that more could have been done through diplomacy to prevent and resolve this war." This reads the final declaration of the 'No Rearm, no War' conference, promoted by 5 Star Movement President Giuseppe Conte and hosted at the Dutch Parliament in The Hague.

A few steps away from the NATO summit, the European alternative political front was born in The Hague to say 'no to the arms race' and relaunch the centrality of peace in Europe. At the 'No Rearm, No War' conference, promoted by Five Star Movement President Giuseppe Conte, 15 parties and movements from 11 European countries joined, as well as leading figures from the continental left and Eurosceptic formations such as the Spanish Labour Minister and leader of Sumar, Yolanda Díaz, and former British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Dutch Socialist Party, Jimmy Dijk, the president of the Greek party Course of Freedom and former Speaker of the House with Syriza, Zoe Konstantoupolou, the MEP of La France Insoumise and co-chair of The Left group in the European Parliament, Manon Aubry, and the German-Italian MEP Fabio De Masi of the red-brown Sahra Wagenknecht.

"Today, just a few metres away from the NATO summit, we are witnessing a change of course that puts military spending at the centre of European priorities. The relentless insistence on war as an everyday issue risks erasing, with one fell swoop, the founding aims of the European Union,' reads the final declaration of the conference. "The reaction to the announcement of the ReArm Eu plan was immediate and widespread: a cry of alarm, indignation, fear and disbelief resounded in every European nation. As political representatives - but above all as human beings and citizens of Europe - we have a duty to respond to this collective cry. Time is running out: we must act now, with determination and firmness,' write Conte and the other politicians, indicating that their vision is 'to promote peace and a social model focused on the well-being of citizens, from education and healthcare to social rights, research, environmental protection, social justice, the fight against corruption and the resolute defence of fundamental rights'. "Here and now, we pledge to unite the voices of all those who, regardless of language, cry out for the same cause: if you want peace, prepare for peace, always and everywhere," they conclude in the declaration.

The European front against rearmament, promoted by M5S leader Giuseppe Conte and meeting today in The Hague in parallel with the NATO summit, will meet again in Rome 'after the summer'. This was announced by Conte himself at the end of the 'No Rearm, no War' conference in the Dutch Parliament, addressing the representatives of the 15 left-wing and Eurosceptic parties and movements that have joined. "The very idea of Europe was born to prevent the rearmament of nation states and to ensure lasting peace after the Second World War. Today's leaders have abandoned those promises. Let us unite again. We are the ones who will save Europe,' he said.