European Diary: The thousands of Irish rugby fans visiting Rome at the weekend probably didn't spend much time mulling over the history of the EU. With a six nations title cruelly ripped from Ireland's grasp just as St Patrick's Day celebrations were getting into full swing, most supporters chose to drown their sorrows in the city's pubs. But with a heavy heart, and the obligatory post-match hangover, I went in search of the EU's roots at ancient Rome's political and religious centre, Capitoline Hill, writes Jamie Smyth.
Capitoline is the smallest of Rome's seven hills, but offers dramatic views of the Roman Forum, which was the political heart of ancient Rome - the first civilisation that managed to stretch its power across Europe.
This was one of the reasons why Rome was chosen by the EU's founding fathers to sign the Treaty of Rome, which established the European Economic Community- now known as the EU. Fifty years ago this week, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg gathered at the Capitoline Museum to sign a treaty, that "determined to lay foundations of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe".
The original bound version of the treaty is part of a temporary exhibition at the museum to mark the EU's 50th birthday celebrations. The 12 signatures on the treaty include the famous EU architects: French foreign minister Robert Schuman, Belgian foreign minister Paul Henri Spaak and German chancellor Konrad Adenauer.
It was in the museum's magnificent Hall of Horatii and Curiatii that the politicians took the crucial decision to promote integration to boost the economy and put an end to European rivalries that had led to two devastating world wars in the 20th century.
Sitting underneath the magnificent 17th century fresco The Battle between Horatii and Curiatii by artist Giuseppe Cesari, on March 25th, 1957, the 12 political leaders pledged to work toward a peaceful Europe. The bloodcurdling imagery above their heads, depicting the battle between two warring families from Rome and Alba Longa, must have focused their minds on the merits of peace.
"There was huge awareness at the time among politicians that we had to find a new system of co-operating in Europe, so we would never again suffer the catastrophe of war," says Edmund Wellenstein (88), former secretary general of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). "The first step came with the coal and steel community, which was the first supranational institution to set a model for future European co-operation . . . coal and steel were essential to economic recovery." The ECSC's role as a precursor to the Treaty of Rome is briefly recognised at the exhibition. Earlier pronouncements on European integration - such as Winston Churchill's speech in Zürich in 1946 about the need to "recreate the European family" and the Schuman declaration in 1950 advocating "concrete actions" to create "solidarity" - are glossed over.
Instead, the exhibition brings the visitor on a tour of the EU treaties that have amended the Treaty of Rome. The Single European Act, Maastricht and Amsterdam get a mention and there is video footage of the signing of the EU Constitution by heads of state in October 2004.
This lavish ceremony was also held in the Hall of Horatii and Curiatii in the Capitoline Museum, with musical support from Enya. Following the rejection of the constitution in referendums in France and the Netherlands in 2005, it is unclear whether it will ever come into force. And as EU leaders meet in Berlin this Sunday to commemorate the EU's successes in its first 50 years, they will have talks on the future of the European project.
It is clear that talk of world wars from the last century doesn't get the busloads of schoolchildren visiting the EU at 50 exhibition excited about Europe.
"I don't know anything about this," says Luca (19) pointing to the copy of the Treaty of Rome. "But I know the EU is very important for everyone who lives in this continent. We can travel, exchange ideas and I hope to go to England." His classmates from Genoa nod in agreement.
So while avoiding war may not be a number one priority in the 21st century, it seems the EU remains relevant for people for different reasons.