“A sign of hope”: that’s the judgement on EU enlargement expressed by the Council of the German Evangelic Church (EKD) in Hanover on 29 April. “What unites the peoples of Europe is stronger than what it is that divides them”, continues the communiqué. The date of 1st May is hailed as a “further step towards the overcoming of the division and separation that took place in the last century due to wars and their consequences”. In the document the EKD urges citizens “to take part in the European elections on 13 June and thus to support the hopes in a united and reconciled Europe. But it does not disguise the fact “that, in spite of the great hopes, fears are also widespread both in the old member countries and in the new ones”. The Council vindicates the role of the Churches in the process of European integration. It cites the “Charta Oecumenica” signed by the Christian Churches of all confessions, and expresses the hope that “a European Constitution would soon be adopted in which the EU would honour its own common values”. The EGD Council, ends the communiqué, “is dedicated to a Europe conscious of its Christian roots and hence firmly committed to the pursuit of peace, justice and the conservation of the creation”. ———————————————————————————————————– Sir Europa (English) N.ro assoluto : 1293 N.ro relativo : 33 Data pubblicazione : 05/05/2004
