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“The Constitutional Treaty represents a milestone in the history of European integration”. This is the conclusion reached by the new document of COMECE (Commission of the episcopates of the European Community, president Bishop Josef Homeyer), “The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe. Elements for an Evaluation”, published in Brussels on 23 March. The document contains the position of the bishops of the 25 member states of the EU on the text signed in Rome on 29 October 2004 and now in process of ratification. Three experts on the EU contributed to the drafting of the document: Sophie van Bijsterveld of the University of Tilburg (Holland), Gerhard Robbers, of the University of Trier (Germany) and Franck Ronge , of the German Bishops’ Conference. “Ater several attempts to reform the legal basis of the EU, the Constitutional Treaty introduces the necessary reforms to cope with current challenges inside and outside the EU. Hence the EU Constitutional Treaty marks significant progress. Furthermore, it will foster a sense of European citizenship”. A position of clear approval emerges from the document of the European bishops, in spite of the fact that there is still regret “for the lack of any reference to the Christian roots of the continent in the Preamble”. Favourable to the ratification of the Treaty, which “embraces the essential values of human dignity, peace, liberty, protection of rights, and solidarity between peoples and states”, the bishops point out that “the institutional reforms introduced by the new text provide for a more transparent and efficient decision-making at the European level. The President of the European Council of Ministers and the Foreign Minister will give a face to important policies of the European Union. These changes will make it easier for European citizens to recognize the European Union as an actor and to identify with it”. The increased role of the European Parliament is also positive. Moreover, “the Constitutional Treaty acknowledges the religious heritage of Europe and recognizes the Churches and their contribution to society. Even though it is to be regretted that the Preamble does not mention God or Christianity in an explicit way, it should be taken into account that religious heritage and Churches have been introduced into EU primary law”. The assessment of the Treaty “has shown that the text also reflects core principles of Christian anthropology. Hence all Christians should assume their responsibility to put the new Constitutional Treaty into practice and to make it work”. As regards the objectives of the European Union, which “have been re-worded and rearranged in the text of the Constitutional Treaty”, the bishops’ document welcomes the change in strategy. “Whilst in the latter Treaties those of 1957 and 1992 the economic questions were paramount to the formulation of objectives and tasks, the text of the new Treaty puts ‘peace’ as its first aim”. A positive judgement is also expressed about the overall objectives that the “common home” sets itself: “a competitive market economy, full employment and social progress, environmental protection, promotion of scientific and technological advances, combating social exclusion and discrimination, promotion of social justice and protection, equality between women and men, solidarity between generations and protection of the rights of the child, solidarity among member states, respect for the Union’s rich cultural and linguistic diversity, and ensuring that Europe’s cultural heritage is safeguarded and enhanced, making a contribution to peace, security and the sustainable development of the earth”.
