Rediscovering the common good

The integration process remains a valid process, although it is dearly challenged by the recession and its backlash. It is necessary to recover authentic values for the common good. It is equally necessary to keep track of surging populisms and national egotism. It is the view of Claus Arnold, theologian, historian, Professor at the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the Goethe Universität of Frankfurt on the Main, who shared his reflections with SIR Europe.Professor, for the past five years Europe has been striving to curb the consequences of the economic and financial crisis. Will the European integration process have a brighter future? Can we learn from the history of Community Europe?"The European Union and its predecessors [ECSC, 1951; EEC, 1957; Ed’.s note] have experienced various crises, which were finally solved with a compromise solution. The great danger today – in my opinion – is that good will within the EU is waning. From this perspective, historians will remember the success of integration as a whole and its contribution to Europe over the past decades, peace and prosperity above all. But this is not enough. A renewed acceptance of the EU can be reached only if it’s perceived as an assurance of social justice and good governance in Europe". Next year citizens will be called to elect the new European Parliament. Could it happen that owing to the crisis and detachment towards the EU a great majority of voters might not go to the polls? "It’s a risk that should be taken into due account. According to the president of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, this is also the result of the ‘game of accusations’ whereby national governments are trying to blame Brussels for the unpopular measures to counter the crisis, while they claim European achievements for themselves".Your words remind us of the Cyprus-case that is worrying European populations … As regards national elections, over the past years so-called "populist" political forces have been gaining grounds. What are the reasons? "One the one side the consequence of the crisis leads people to seek simplistic solutions. The phenomenon must be taken seriously. We should bear in mind the political consequences of the Great Depression at the end of he 1920s. On the other side also traditional political parties experience a major crisis, accused of having been corrupt by avidity and careerism. However, it’s hard to say whether the degree of morality within political parties is truly falling through. Perhaps the situation could be properly addressed by certain European leaders, notably those who draw inspiration from Christian values". In your Country national elections are drawing close: Germans are called to the polls the coming September. Is populism also incumbent in Germany?"There is a populist element in the former Communist Party ‘Die Linke’, which is stable with 7% of votes and takes advantage from the difficult economic situation of many people in Germany (although our economy is on track, the average German isn’t particularly rich and social polarization is on the increase.) The populist movement ‘Piraten’ (Pirates) rapidly lost consensus, plummeting to 2%".At the foundations of Community Europe lie fundamental principles that served as a framework for integration: peace, reconciliation between peoples, solidarity, widespread wellbeing, freedom. Are these values still rooted within the public opinion of EU Member Countries?" "I think that deep down people are still aware of the fundamental dimensions of European integration and are afraid of loosing them, even in the United Kingdom, where it appears that a very pragmatic approach towards the EU has been encouraged. But at a superficial level the perception of economic malfunctions remains, and nationalistic sentiments have been rekindled. The phenomenon can be opposed with efficient policies implemented by EU institutions".Some EU "fathers" are politicians with a Catholic political and religious formation. The Church has supported the EU since the onset. Which contribution can European Christians give to the future of the European Union? "Europe can’t function as a mere sum of national interests and egoisms. Christian statesmen such as Schuman, De Gasperi and Adenauer used to have a universalistic Christian orientation and a Catholic sensitivity for the common good, the ‘bonum commune’. The bearing and the implications of the common good for Europe should be given renewed significance".