The golden thread

The year that has begun possesses decisive elements for the future of the European Union. Slovenia took over the EU presidency at the beginning of the year, the first among the newer Member States to hold this office, and thus a source of great joy for all Europeans. This beautiful Country of just over two million people will preside over the first months of the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and the launch of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, before France takes over the Presidency from Slovenia in June. The ratification of the treaty that was signed in Lisbon on the 13th of December 2007 will keep Member States, their Parliaments and civil society busy for all of 2008 and probably longer, as all 27 Member States must ratify the text. Ireland is the only Country which is constitutionally bound to hold a referendum for the Treaty ratification, but the date for this decisive event has not yet been set. As the ratification process advances in the Union, we hope that opinion-makers and especially those Christians in universities, journalism and the media will focus their commentary and analysis on what a conquest the European Union and the Treaty truly have been. Commissioner Jan Figel’s initiative to make 2008 the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, duly supported by the Union, means that both national and local government, as well as civil institutions, need to promote concrete and creative initiatives in order to strengthen intercultural and trans-cultural exchange and dialogue in our society. Local Christian communities, which have long been active in these fields, could set up new initiatives to promote inter-religious dialogue on public policies which impact local communities. Among the issues that involve the more human qualities of the European Union, and which are therefore of crucial importance for the Union’s credibility in the eyes of its citizens, we find the preparation of the Community budget reform proposals, the reassessment of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in light of the European Commission’s recent Communication on the CAP’s “health balance”, several initiatives on climate change and the search for a more integrated policy on the issues of immigration, visas and asylum. We must also continue to work on coherent and appropriate policies dealing with the evolving situation in the South-Eastern part of Europe. These political questions, together with EU policies aimed at its neighbours and policies dealing with foreign commerce and development are the focal points for all those who will need to deal with the European Union for the rest of this legislation, which will end in the summer of 2009.The strengthening of a European identity is the golden thread that ties together questions that are appear to be very different from one another. These questions cannot be put aside if we wish to contribute to the strengthening of a Europe that is solidly built on an ethical system and a worldview that have their roots in the Christian faith. They will be decisive for the making of a European identity and are a fundamental part of the heritage on which we build our credibility in the eyes of ourselves, our neighbours, and the great human family of Humans.