Il Quirinale ad Arraiolos: l’integrazione europea nelle narrazioni dei Presidenti italiani

The Arraiolos Group represents an informal forum in which the Presidents of the Republic from various European countries engage in dialogue on politically and institutionally relevant issues. Within this context, the participation of the Presidents of the Italian Republic represents a strategic occasion for contributing to the European debate, particularly in times of geopolitical and institutional transformation. This study examines how the Italian Presidents – specifically Napolitano and Mattarella – have contributed to European political discourse within the Arraiolos forum, what discursive strategies they employed to strengthen community cohesion, and construct a shared vision of Europe. The aim of the research is to understand how, despite the limited executive powers of the office, the Italian presidency is able to shape the EU political agenda, thereby reinforcing both national and European unity. From a methodological standpoint, the study is based on a qualitative analysis of the speeches delivered by the Heads of State during the forum meetings, employing the Discourse-Historical Approach to examine the rhetorical and symbolic strategies adopted. The analysis focuses on how Italian Presidents frame key issues of European integration and legitimizes the community process through the construction of a shared narrative. The findings highlight patterns and thematic evolutions in the narratives of the two presidencies, showing continuities and changes in the use of rhetorical, institutional, and symbolic tools to reinforce both national and European unity. The study offers new perspectives on the evolving role of the presidency in Euro pean affairs and its impact on the consolidation of a common European identity.