The values at stake

At the end of next week, June 23-24, the European Council will convene in Brussels under the presidency of Herman von Rompuy. On the agenda figure Greece’s new rescue plan, the official date of Croatia’s EU adhesion and notably, Europe’s positive response to the difficult democratization process of Arab Countries in North Africa. After the announcement of the new rescue plan for Greece (with or without private sector participation) along with the official date of Croatia’s EU adhesion (March 1 2013) there will be just enough time to present the new president of the European Central Bank (Mario Draghi, Italy), followed by our leaders’ gathering for the traditional family photo. For audiovisual media that’s where the important part ends. And as soon as it’s over their attention will shift to crime news, natural or health disasters, and national politics. It’s the criteria adopted by leading media. The question regarding the transmission of in-depth information on Europe’s crucial event remains unanswered. The question is equally addressed to politicians and citizens, and it’s paramount to prevent the gap separating our top leaders’ actions and European populations’ daily concerns from deteriorating into a deep chasm.Conversely, serious, comprehensive press will continue reporting on the jointly run “European semester”, tasked with analyzing national programmes in the area of economic reforms and budget recovery. It can also be expected that one or more Member States will echo the migration and romanced history on the Schengen Area -two more themes on the summit’s agenda -. Moreover, perilous grounds would be treaded with the adoption of a global partnership with South Mediterranean Countries. It’s useless to raise a hue ahead of time, but the media’s inattention for Europe’s positive response to the Arab Spring will be reason for regret. On May 25 the European Commission announced its intention to reform European neighbourhood policy, involving sixteen countries bordering on the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe. In order to support the path towards democracy and economic development the Commission pledged an additional 1.2 billion euros on top of the initial allocated sum of 5.7 for the next two years, 2011-2013. It also proposed to negotiate free trade zones and visa-free access by advanced countries. Notably, the budgets are no longer allocated on the basis of geographic criteria (previously, the southern neighbours received two-thirds of the allocated money and the countries in the east the other third), but on the basis of political developments in the above-mentioned countries. In this way, the respect of freedom and human rights will act as the compass of European engagement.The ongoing crisis and the transformations of clanic regimes (as described in the 15th century by Ibn Khaldoun with the term assbiya ) were triggered by material difficulties, along with the young generations’ yearning for freedom. Those regimes have often been marked by a certain degree of cultural and religious diversity. The European Union can oversee to the enforcement of minority rights in the new political regimes that will take office. For instance, last week the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt said they would institutionalize zakat , Muslims’ compulsory contribution to the poor. Christians would be exempted from paying the due, but their status as second-class citizens obliges them to. The Commission’s positive proposal, the promise of stepped up conditional support is important, while it’s equally encouraging that Poland – due to assume EU presidency in the second semester – has announced that its government will devote special attention “to the respect and the rights of minority groups, including Christians” in North African countries.Moreover, money isn’t everything, nor is democracy. Europe’s commitment to promote its founding values encompasses the news service along with our interest vis a vis what can be best described as the major progress and source of hope “for the integral development of humanity”, quoting from Pope Benedict XVI in his encyclical Caritas in veritate . Christians in Europe are therefore expected to feel more involved in the ongoing Arab spring and in the EU’s positive response.