Building without fears

The massacres in Oslo and Utoya have undoubtedly raised not only in Norway, but also across all of Europe, a series of questions on the themes of common values, coexistence, “open society”, respect of the Law…The global era tends to transform each person, every small local community, every nation, into parts a larger context. And world challenges – be they economic, cultural, demographic or religious – have a global impact. Thus the European continent, at the heart of the ongoing dynamics, which in turn is nourished by modernity, cannot refrain from coming to grips with the present. Also since all attempts at considering itself outside all plans, erecting barriers and “fortresses”, didn’t yield appreciable results.Today Europe (and with it the European Union, namely the political integration process that involves 27 states in the continent) is experiencing a profound economic crisis, with heavy repercussions on families, cities and States. At the same time it has to reckon with a demographic trend marked by surging population-ageing rates, while at demographic level there remains, in its extension and complexity, a wave that carries to the Mediterranean shores, and to Central Europe – extending to encompass the Balkans and Scandinavia – immigrants arriving from Eastern Europe, from Asia, Africa and Latin America.Indeed, globalization raises unprecedented organizational, social and normative questions within European states and populations, along with identity questions that are intertwined with specifically European dynamics, i.e., surging individualism, deep-rooted secularization that has been ongoing for several decades, the absence of footholds that had been taken for granted for too long, the complex responses of the political realm to insidious scenarios. As a reaction, a large part of European public opinion tends to interpret localism, nationalism and various forms of populism as the best possible reaction. Closing-in, excluding others – whenever it is possible -…although understandable, such behaviour risks triggering the extremist drifts of self-sufficiency, xenophobia and racism.Not by chance, precisely to the light of the events in Norway, the whole of Europe, and the EU, for all that lies within its province, have undertaken serious reflections on these issues and political meetings are scheduled to take place after the summer to verify possible countermeasures, ranging from urgent intervention (in the area of security, for instance) to far-reaching issues such as cultural and social integration in compliance with national legislations: an added value of the dialogue between cultures and religions.Europe, faced with demanding challenges, possesses solid elements to ground its response. It possesses a shared history along with widespread and still vibrant Christian foundation. It can count on common values (first and foremost, solidarity). It has educated and knowledgeable young generations, along with remarkable tools aimed at the development of knowledge and innovation, for large-scale communication and relationship-building networks. An original ability to intervene on the twofold path that is rooted in its soil, in its culture and history, while extending its glance beyond its borders, following the ways leading to encounters with others, be they compatriots from other regions, Europeans with different nationalities, migrants from extra-EU countries, considered increasingly less “foreigners” and valued as possible resources for the old continent.In this sense the EU is giving good signs with the political enlargement process, social and economic inclusion measures (the Europe 2020 strategy is its emblem and now it has to develop in concrete action), international cooperation with wealthy (G8, G20) and poor countries, through cooperation for development and humanitarian aid – while bearing in mind problematic issues.Certainly there isn’t just one remedy to address the new borders of the third millennium, but constructive behaviour, grounded in memory and open to the future could be a good point of departure.