Sharing of ideas

With the rejection of the Constitutional Treaty by France and Holland, “a new chapter has been opened in the history of European unification”, but “the continuation” of that process without the consensus of the citizens of the individual member states “seems more than ever uncertain”. To be able to make “a responsible decision” on the future course of the Union, however, we first need to define “what Europe is”, said the Bishop of Rotterdam, ADRIANUS VAN LUYN , President of COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community. The bishop was speaking in Rome on 22 March, at a press conference held to present the Congress “Values and prospects for tomorrow’s Europe. The 50 years of the Treaties of Rome”, which opens in the Italian capital this morning (until 25 March). THE VALUES. “The European Union did not originate by chance. It is the result of a precise will and is vulnerable like all human enterprises. Today it is seeking its future course. It must become more conscious of the strength that lies at the heart of the values it represents”: that is one of the conclusions drawn by the Report of the Committee set up by COMECE and formed of Catholics engaged in the world of politics, diplomacy and culture. “The dignity of the person and human rights, peace, freedom, democracy, tolerance, respect for diversity and subsidiarity, the pursuit of the common good”: these, according to the Committee, are the values represented by the EU. And these values are rooted “in two thousand years of Christian tradition, as well as in the traditions of other faiths and philosophies”. They “must remain the bedrock of our common endeavour”. THE PRIORITIES . “Public opinion must be reassured about the merits and effectiveness of European unification”, so that “citizens commit themselves to the common good it pursues. The Union has a need for a system of economic governance and of sustainable social solidarity tailored to the 21st century. These are just some of the priorities for the future of the Union indicated in the Report. Climate, energy and environment, says the Report, “require immediate attention”, while a further priority, “security”, “implies the promotion of development, and the fight against poverty, crime and international terrorism”. Other priorities are “the response to the question of mass migration”. THE PROCESS OF INTEGRATION. From the “Schuman Declaration” (9 May 1950) to the present day: that is the time span taken into consideration by the Report. “The objective of Europe – says the Report – is to foster solidarity among its peoples”. The principles embraced by Europe include that of subsidiarity and the possibility for some member states to “progress at different speeds”. The document also insists on the “multilateralism” of the EU, on the obligation for “member states to abide by European law” and on the effectiveness of the “community method that promotes the common good and prevents the big countries from dominating the small”. As for the “considerable” social acquis of the EU, it must not be jettisoned in response to the “pressure of globalization”, but be “developed to guarantee equal access to the services of general interest”. Lastly, the Report dwells on Europe’s responsibility in the promotion and consolidation of peace and human rights at the world level.