Respect, growth, listening

“There is a universal responsibility for everyone to respect that which is revered as holy…. In defaming the sacred, we are demeaning that which goes to the very core of the human being and so squander the opportunity to truly progress towards the mutual understanding of individuals and peoples”, declares NOËL TREANOR , general secretary of COMECE (Commission of the episcopates of the European Community) and director of “Europe Infos”, monthly review of COMECE and OCIPE (Office of Information and Initiative for Europe). In his editorial of the March number of the review, Treanor reflects on the recent controversies triggered by the publication of the satirical cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, and affirms that while freedom of expression is “an inalienable human right” on which “the debate has focused primarily”” and “is a vital component in the promotion of quality relationships between individuals, peoples, governors and the governed”, it also involves “duties and obligations” which are “essential” but which are sometimes unappreciated or ignored. RESPECTING THE SACRED. But there is another aspect of the question which in Treanor’s view “has received significantly less attention: namely, respect for the sacred and the holy. Little account has been taken of the place of a discourse about God, about the sacred and the holy in public life, particularly in the developed world. The present debacle – continues the COMECE secretary – points once again to the fact that the religious dimension of human existence may neither be maligned, disrespected nor superficially treated”. According to Treanor, “our global village, its leaders and especially its opinion shapers, need to re-appropriate a constructively critical respect for religion”. “Only by respecting the exercise of religion and freedoms which takes account of what is held sacred – he concludes – can we hope to promote and widen a truly free and tolerant society”. GROWTH AND EMPLOYMENT. “The Lisbon Strategy has been the war-horse of the European Union since 2000” in its objective “of encouraging growth and employment in Europe”, but it has to be recognised that “it has still not produced any tangible results”, says STEFAN LUNTE in his article in Europe Infos. Presenting the first “Report” drawn up by the Commission on the Lisbon Strategy, he points to “four priority fields that ought to be subjected to more decisive action”: “investments in education, research and innovation; greater support for small and medium businesses (PMI); incentives for job creation; and implementation of a lasting system of energy supplies”. As for the first field of action, the Commission – says Lunte – plans to increase investments in higher education, raising them from the current 1.28% to 2% of GDP by 2010. The foundation of a European Institute for Technology is also planned, on the model of the American MIT (Massachussets Institute of Technology). The creation of a single counter for PMI for all member states is also planned by 2007. To encourage employment, the Commission is proposing to the European Council to offer, again by 2007, each young person in possession of a university or higher school degree a job, an apprenticeship or a period of further training within six months of their graduation. Also worth noting, says Lunte, is “the new package of measures relating to energy supplies”, which involves the improvement of the internal energy market, support for renewable energies and a common position on external suppliers of energy to the EU”. LISTENING AND UNDERSDTANDING. Europe listens, but can it hear? That’s the question posed by CLARE COFFEY , convinced that the long awaited White Paper on Communication (published on 1st February) “does not offer anything bold or impressive”. The Commissioner for the Environment Margot Wallström, says Coffey, on presenting the publication had declared communication is “first and foremost a matter of democracy” and had called for six months of consultation between institutions, national governments, political parties, civil society and individual citizens to contribute to the debate on communication. The model proposed by the White Paper, a European Code of Conduct for communication, in Coffey’s view, is not enough. “It is clear from this White Paper that the Commission is willing to listen to the citizen and for that it should be applauded. But having listened, it is not clear whether it will really hear or what it will say in reply. Citizens’ grievances with the EU – Coffey continues – are not just about being listened to, but concern the EU’s direction, its raison d’être, its added-value, its final destination. Until the EU decides what it is, it will continue to have communication problems. Conviction, clarity, pertinent well-thought out policies sell themselves. How many more White Papers will have to be consulted on before this point is heard?”.