God is in the detail

It’s always a joy to look at and browse through a fine book. The Atlas of European Values, compiled by the Centre of Sciences and Values at the University of Tilburg (Holland) and published by Brill in 2005, is a real treasure in its contents, analysis and presentation. The introduction asserts with realism that a well-defined sum of European values does not exist. Europeans, it points out, attach importance to such values as democracy, equality, liberty, human dignity and solidarity. And the book ends with a fascinating suggestion: “God is in the detail”. It’s a challenge, especially for Christians interested in the debate on values in Europe, and a statement to be kept in mind during the months and years ahead. …. During the months ahead, because various projects are being prepared to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, signed on 24 March 1957. The heads of State and of Government of the EU will meet in Berlin on 25 March 2007, and the occasion will be marked by a series of events due to be held in Rome on the previous days. For its part, Comece will analyse the genesis of this Treaty and the system of values that have turned it into the foundation of the construction of Europe, at a congress to be held in Rome from 23 to 25 March 2007. The congress will be organized in association with lay Catholic networks in the member states. During a preparatory seminar held at Clermont-Ferrand, distinguished participants, some of whom had taken part in the negotiations on the formulation of these founding treaties in the early Fifties, spoke of the difficulties of reaching an agreement. The decision to trust others, the conviction of operating in the general interest for the common good of Europe and the commitment to transcend the nationalist reflex by finding common institutional responses to the urgent needs of the moment: these were some of the key factors of the leadership embodied by some statesmen of the period. They enjoyed the support of far-sighted and courageous administrators in tackling the challenges of the time, especially in the post-negotiation process of the detailed elaboration of the treaties and of the institutions that would form solid bases for a new political project unique of its kind. This project, the European Community, brought greater depth and quality to our life and citizenship in our respective countries. It consolidated peace in our continent and established solidarity as a principle of economic correlation between member states as well as a method of political decision-making between small and large states….. During the years ahead, because the Barroso Commission will undoubtedly offer to the Churches and to the Christian organizations the opportunity to take part in a detailed debate with the Union on the fundamental questions, such as the revision of the EU financial perspectives, the need to review the internal market and its regulation, and to tackle many new questions of social policy. By helping to enrich the debate on these questions, as well as on transparency, migration policy, the balance between competitiveness and social cohesion and the international role of Europe, they will continue to maintain the Word of God alive and active in the European process. The Church sanctifies neither the EU nor the Community experience, but sees in them an important motor of the system of ethical and social values that operate in the history of mankind.