Brothers and sisters of Europe” “” “

“After the Euro, the political Union” was the theme of the international Colloquium on the future of Europe, promoted by the “Alcide De Gasperi” Foundation and held in Rome, at the Chamber of Deputies, on 26 November. The meeting was the occasion to review the debate within the Convention on the future of Europe, which has been given the job of drafting the new European constitutional treaty by mid-2003. Below we give a brief summary of some of the main interventions in the debate. The role of religions. “Culture, spirituality and reconciliation”: these are the three necessary steps for the construction of Europe, according to Lojze Peterle, former Slovene prime minister and head of the delegation of candidate countries to the European Convention. Speaking of the ethical and cultural values as the necessary foundation of the future European constitution, Peterle recalled “the need to insert in the new European constitution a formula that would reaffirm the cultural and spiritual identity of Europe”. This, however, must take place through “a process of cultural and spiritual reconciliation”. In the construction of the new Europe, “all the religious sources must have the chance to express themselves, according to a clear principle of toleration”. Culture and Christianity, as one of the religious sources from which to draw, must – he said – become “pillars of Europe because they promote peace, solidarity, respect and cooperation”. “A dominant role – concluded Peterle – is reserved for the citizens called to accelerate the process of Union by becoming, in the footsteps of Europe’s founding fathers, brothers and sisters of the European Union”. The importance of the role of religions and more particularly that of Christianity in the future EU was also stressed by Elmar Brok, president of the European people’s party group (PPE) to the European Convention. “In this phase of construction – Brok said – it’s important that those religious and Christian values that are at the basis of a democratic state be reaffirmed. The Church must be encouraged to promote the values of dignity and respect for man in the EU, in respect for pluralism”. “Europe – he concluded – is not only a market but also a sum of shared values, also at the spiritual level as the ecumenical experience is amply demonstrating”. The value of solidarity. Other questions tackled at the Colloquium included that of how to reconcile the management of the economy with the culture of solidarity and how to reinforce the foreign policy of the EU. “We are witnessing a weakening of the sense and culture of solidarity”, said Msgr. Giampaolo Crepaldi, secretary of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace: “It is assumed that the Holy See is interested in the explicit recognition of the institutional value of the Churches and the Christian foundation within the future European constitution. It’s true but it’s a reductive view. Man and his dignity need to be placed at the centre, by safeguarding the family based on marriage between a man and a woman, and by recognizing the principle of subsidiarity as a common value”. That’s a view also shared by José Maria Gil Robles, president of the European Movement and former president of the European Parliament, who urged the EU “to become a community of interests as the basis for creating a real foreign policy that is not just limited to the common campaign against international terrorism but also promotes the supranational institutions that may implement this policy”. In practice, that means backing up a clear foreign policy with those instruments that are necessary to promote the social, cultural, political and economic development of third countries”. The point made by Gil Robles was spelt out in greater detail by Alexandru Herlea, former minister for Europe of the Romanian government, who urged the need “to dismantle the old structures of the eastern European countries that are seeking EU membership”, combat corruption, improve management skills, preserve the environment and promote solidarity by fostering those values of liberty, democracy and tolerance that derive from Christianity”. An appeal to Europe to become an authoritative protagonist of foreign policy was made by Emile Blanc, president of EuroDefense France: “The EU must promote a stable security policy and equip itself with the necessary technologies to overcome a certain political incapacity demonstrated in key regions of the planet”. Valentina Conte and Daniele Rocchi