History sidetracked?” “

“European integration is from various aspects the greatest political and institutional innovation of the last century. And now we are faced by another crucial transition: the Convention on the future of Europe is working on the draft of the future Constitution, which could be a turning point for the Union”. Alberto Quadrio Curzio , professor of economics and head of the faculty of Political Sciences at the Catholic University of Milan, is a member of the Michalski Group, the “group dedicated to studying European values” (see previous page), set up by the President of the Commission, Romano Prodi. SirEurope interviewed him. You maintain that Europe is at a turning point. What are the prospects, and what the perils? “The launch of the single currency, the work of the Convention and the enlargement due to come into effect already in 2004, will change the face of the Union of the Fifteen. Let’s take the euro: it’s an entity almost unique in history, since it’s a currency which does not have just one State behind it. Yet the single currency is being confirmed as a factor of common identity in the European Union, not just as a means of payment. I believe that if the EU were able to pursue with the same determination the reforms it needs for its enlargement to a further ten countries, it would be taking gigantic strides forward. Otherwise it risks embarking on a retrograde course, turning its back on history”. What reforms does the EU need? “The ‘writing’ of the Constitution is important, though risky. There’s the danger of retreating from the provisions of the Treaties already in force. The real challenge is that of clearly spelling out the foundations on which the Union of the third millennium should be built. But this operation should be accompanied by an adequate transfer of delegations and powers from the sovereign states to the Union itself, especially as regards external policy and common security. That is not impossible: it’s precisely what was done when the decision was taken to launch the single currency. This ‘partial surrender of sovereignty’ is essential to build a ‘strong, cohesive and democratic’ Union”. How is the work of the Convention going? “The draft of the first sixteen articles of the constitutional Treaty presented by President Giscard d’Estaing did not seem to me particularly innovative and effective; indeed, it seemed a rather self-referential document. I’m convinced, in this regard, that further study, especially of the founding principles, is still needed. I also note the lack of a ‘historical dimension’ in the process of integration, as it has been developed over the last fifty years”. Hence the observations made by the Pope and by the various confessions on the need to include in the text precise references to the spiritual and religious dimension of Europe… “The requests being made by the Christian communities (but not only by them) seem to me particularly timely. If this Constitution is to have any historical depth and dimension, it must contain a clear reference to the Judaeo-Christian roots of Europe. It is the recognition of an historical fact. And in this sense the Catholic Church is not speaking just for herself. Rather, she is bearing witness to history, in other words she wants the value of a heritage that belongs to us all to be properly recognized and respected. The Church, however, is asking for a status of respect not as a confessional privilege, but in conformity with a secular and non-confessional principle: the proposal is that religions and religious communities be given sufficient freedom of action and recognition in the Constitution”.