Today, Italy remembers the 262 victims of the Marcinelle tragedy. Among them were 136 Italians, who had emigrated to Belgium in search of a better future but unfortunately lost their lives in the darkness of a mine.

What happened in Marcinelle belongs to our collective memory. However, it also symbolises the extraordinary contribution that tens of millions of Italians have made to the prosperity of entire nations and continents, always maintaining deep ties with their homeland.

On 8 August each year, we honour all this and pay tribute to the great history of Italian emigration: a history of hard work, sacrifice, respect for rules, integration and dignity. We do so thanks to the foresight of the patriot Mirko Tremaglia who, 25 years ago, during his time as Minister for Italians Abroad, proposed and established the ‘National Day of Italian Labour Sacrifices in the World’.

We are proud that the EU institutions have decided to make 8 August the ‘European Day in Remembrance of the Victims of Accidents at Work and for the Protection and Dignity of Workers’.The purpose of this Italian initiative, approved by the European Parliament with a large majority and endorsed and firmly supported by the Italian Government, is to reaffirm that work must always be synonymous with dignity, rights and safety, and that there can be no room in Europe for those who exploit people and trample on workers’ rights.

Remembering Marcinelle means honouring those who, through their own sacrifice, have made a fundamental contribution to the history of Italy, Europe and the world. It also means renewing our commitment to defending those values of work, freedom and dignity that continue to guide our actions.