De facto solidarity

"Market and banks are for man and not the opposite". Jean-Claude Thébault, General Director of BEPA (office of Counsellors for European policies of the European Commission) on December 14 opened in Brussels dialogue seminar on "social market economy" organized by BEPA (Bureau of European policy advisors) the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE). Thébault underlined that this is the second colloquium promoted by the Churches. The first was centered on the question of religious freedom. The meeting is thus part of a consolidated tradition of regular, ongoing consultations between the Churches and the Communities in Europe. As has been underlined this initiatives are "an important element of open, transparent and regular" dialogue, with the attempt of reaching shared proposals. The youths. In Brussels, the members of different Churches, organizations and representatives of European offices convened to jointly address economic issues, starting with an in-depth debate on the crisis, seeking to identify causes and consequences, such as the impact of the ongoing recession on youth unemployment rates. According to figures provided by BEPA some 5.5 million young people (more than 1 out of 5) can’t find a job, while 7.5 youths aged 15-24 are "NEET" (not in employment, education or training. The economic cost deriving from a lack of integration of the youth in the job market amounts to approximately 150 billion euro per year. Youth unemployment affects over 25% of the population of 13 Member States, over 55% in Greece and Spain and 30% in Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary and Slovakia. Man at the heart of the economic system. It is the intention of the Churches to propose long-term solutions to exit the crisis. "The ongoing crisis – Thébault said – highlighted structural flaws that ought to be amended. This must be Europe’s commitment for the coming years. We are also witnessing a drastic change in the founding values of Europe. It can be said that we have forgotten that man is at the centre of the social and economic model". Participants pointed out that over the past twenty years Europe underwent a market liberalization process, which "has gained increasing importance as relates to State intervention or goods distribution"."Nobody must feel abandoned". The seminar drew a comparison between various market and poverty situations in Europe. From Portugal to Greece. From Finland to Germany. Enterprises in dire straits, family precariousness, public indebtedness, are some of the issues addressed by panel speakers along with economic union and European political union. "The economic crisis is especially felt by the poor brackets". "We have achieved monetary union, but we haven’t yet reached a true economic and political union", they underlined. During the meeting, COMECE Vice-President Msgr. Gianni Ambrosio said: "In Europe nobody should feel abandoned. On the basis of the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity it is necessary to ensure social security, especially to all those in need or who strive to live up to the various problems encountered in their everyday lives". This, he added, "doesn’t mean that the State should take the burden of everything and of everyone It is necessary to encourage everyone’s cooperation, so that the perspective of effective solidarity is not neglected". A sound guidance. "Often one-road ways are undertaken", said the Councillor for Social and Economic policies of COMECE Stefan Lunte. For this reason Europe today needs to "know its main destination". Rüdiger Noll, the director of CEC Church and Society Commission, added: "In the seminar we addressed the question of the economic crisis from a long-term perspective, asking ourselves which economic model should be promoted in Europe so that people may be at the centre of the economy and not the opposite". Not increasing the gap between the rich and the poor but rather to create an economic system based on "the balance of social and economic aspects". "This is our perspective". He concluded: "If we look at Europe it can be seen that the Church is among the most important non-governmental agencies for aid to the poor. But if a car without a driver races against things and individuals, what can be done? Help is thus given to the wounded, but there is an attempt also to stop the car. Therefore the second role played by the Churches is to stop the car and give it a good driver".