"The day we meet has a special value for Europe. Tomorrow will be a year since Russia began its brutal invasion of Ukraine. Seen from Sicily, it might seem like a distant conflict. But it's not. The young Ukrainians share with you the same wishes, which are those of all young Europeans. This is how the President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen spoke yesterday at the inauguration of the Academic Year at the University of Palermo together with the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella. Quoting Goethe ("In Sicily lies the clue to everything"), the President stressed the centrality of the island in Europe, particularly in three aspects: the transition to clean energy, migration and the creation of an economy at the service of the next European generation. "Sicily can become a clean energy powerhouse for Europe. Not only does this island have plenty of sun and wind, it also has a strong industrial base in the clean technology sector”.