(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 18 MAR - ''Robert Schuman said that Europe is like a bicycle, you either pedal and go forward or you fall''. The Hungarian diplomat Erik Csernovitz, Deputy Secretary General at Central European Initiative, used the words of one of the fathers of Europe, to describe the Union's situation sixty years after the signing of its founding act, the Treaty of Rome in 1957.

The CEI deputy secretary said: ''During these six decades, much has been done, Europe has become the most important economic power in the world and it's an area where peace has been guaranteed for more than 70 years. We can be very proud of this''. Anyway, this does not mean, he added, that we can ignore the existing problems: ''Crisis happen today and can happen in the future. We have to be prepared to resolve them''.

Today, the migration issue is certainly a cause of tensions between European countries. Within the EU, you can find very different attitudes just think of the different responses of Germany, Italy or Hungary itself.

Csernovitz said: ''Surely we need a harmonized European response, agreed among members. I am convinced that together we can face this challenge, let's call it crisis''. According to the diplomat, it is important ''not to be afraid of the movement in progress'' and take note of the fact that ''it will never cease'': ''Once again, we must be united''.

Csernovitz then has examined the hypothesis of a two-speed EU, which is welcomed by important EU representatives such as EC President Jean-Claude Juncker, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italy's prime minister Paolo Gentiloni. The idea, however, is viewed with fear in many countries of Central and Eastern Europe. According to the CEI deputy secretary, ''in Europe there are different rates. The eurozone, for example, is running at a different speed from the other member states. However, I would prefer a one-speed Europe, where we all go together in one direction''.

In this sense, Csernovitz looks with optimism to the integration of the Balkan Union, also in view of the process of the Berlin summit to be held next July in Trieste: ''We believe the enlargement should be done. I say this both as an Hungarian and a representative of the CEI. It's a process that we should speed up and the Central European Initiative will act with maximum effort to make that happen''.

Erik Csernovitz was appointed deputy secretary general of the Italian Bishops in October 2013, after working in the CEI department of the Hungarian Foreign Affairs Ministry in Budapest. Csernovitz has joined the diplomatic service in 1995.

From 1996 to 1999 he was the second secretary of the Embassy of Hungary in Rome. In 1999-2000 he worked as an advisor to Eastern European countries in the European Banking Federation in Brussels. From 2000 to 2006 he was head of the Department of Development and International Affairs at Banca Intesa Hungary in Budapest. After various other positions, from 2008 to 2012 he has returned to the Hungarian Embassy in Rome as an adviser''.

(ANSA).