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The various aspects that define national identity and that the Union is called to respect also include the Churches. ” “
The action of the European Union cannot attack the status of the Churches and of the religious communities, otherwise it would jeopardize the national identity of the individual member States themselves. That’s the conviction at the basis of the so-called “Christophersen clause” which has been extensively discussed within the Convention on the future of Europe over the last few months. It was debated once again during the last plenary session of the Convention held in Brussels on 28 and 29 October. We asked the author of this proposal, Henning Christophersen , delegate of the Danish government to the Convention and chairman of the work group on “complementary functions”, to explain its objectives to us. How can the EU protect the status of the Churches? “The European Union must exercise the functions that are entrusted to it by the treaties, while at the same time respecting national identity. The various aspects that define national identity also include the Churches and the relations they have with States. If we observe the European scene we will see many different ways in which the relations between State and Church are regulated. Some countries have a confessional system: that’s the case of the United Kingdom, Denmark and Greece, for example. In others there is complete separation between Church and State. In yet others there are forms of concordat or accords between Church and State, that are signed by the Holy See itself with the various governments. All these aspects indisputably belong to the heritage that concurs to define the identity of the member states and that the Union is called to respect”. Is it possible to envisage forms of structured and permanent dialogue between the EU and the Churches? “There already exist forms of structured dialogue between the Churches and the individual member states: I have already cited in this regard the concordats and accords between Church and State that provide for various solutions. But this does not in principle preclude other forms of dialogue, other forums, between the Churches and EU institutions being found. That depends on the decisions that the Convention on the future of Europe and, more especially, the European Parliament will take. With the proposal of our work group we have tried to indicate the limit beyond which the action of the European Union and the exercise of its legislative power cannot trespass, without violating the identity of the member states”. What have been the reactions to your proposal? “Both the work group of the Convention, and my party have supported this proposal. But I’ve also found considerable support from various groups and institutions, not necessarily linked to the EU. What we aim at in our proposal is in fact to defend a heritage that comprises the religious identity but that also concerns many other aspects: the Constitution, the forms of government, language, culture, and so on. Numerous interlocutors are therefore interested in this debate”.
