The millennium that has just begun has triggered a desire in the human beings of the western world, informed by science and bewildered by too many moral and social conflicts, to raise up their spirits to where the stars move about. And there, where even the stars can let themselves go in the wind, the dream of Europe swings flexible and bright; a Europe which after cradling for centuries the traditions and culture of so many nations, now brings them together and elevates them to form a new and unique heaven.

Famous and by now of historical standing, the “Treaty on the European Union” marked the agreement reached and which, it is important to remember, envisaged: the adoption of the euro by 1999; the creation of a Central European Bank (CEB); the birth of a new dimension called “European citizenship, implying the awareness of a new political, geographic, cultural, social and economic homeland”; the harmonisation of tax systems and advertising standards; the elimination of national monopolies in the transport sector. How much concrete progress has in fact been made! but the path whereby the soul of the citizens belongs to the starry sky of Europe is still a long one, full of obstacles!
Ten years have already passed and the Governorship of the Province of Lindburg, together with the Council of the Dutch city of Maastricht have decided to celebrate this important and representative date with a monument in Avenue Céramique. Ever since last year, they have been reviewing projects from all over the world.
Among them all, the most innovative and fascinating idea was that of the young Italian artist, Maura Biava.
The initial project went so far as to envisage a virtual monument on the Web, instead of a bronze or marble statue. The idea, provocative and rather revolutionary, was to set up a first exploratory Website, to recount the virtual monument project and get to know what European citizens thought about it. Anyone passing through the library of the Centre Céramique di Maastricht could find a glass room, with mirror decorations, accommodating in turn three actresses: Carla, Barbara and Claire, the protagonists who gave the Website its name. The three girls accompanied the real visitor (to the Centre Céramique), and the virtual visitor (on the site), through the drawings, photos and other material collected by Maura Biava to develop her project.  In the end however, in extremis, the decision returned to the concept of a traditional monument. ‘’35 stars of various size - explains the young artist -12 large ones and the others smaller have been raised on poles of varying height, between 3 and 14 metres”.
A slim monument which, after the events of 11 September takes on an even more symbolic meaning. The towers can fall, but striking all the stars of Maastricht is unthinkable: these are the stars that European youngsters want to see shine in the sky of their future! These are the stars capable of crossing the cultural borders of every country to remind mankind that the values of civilisation are greater than differences in language, religion and traditions.
This is Maura Biava’s message, reported in the national and international press to properly highlight a treaty and a city destined to play a key role in the history of Europe. One last consideration - once again creativity, inspiration and artistic spirit come from Italy which has always been Europe’s cradle of civilisation and progress.
Translated by interpres sas