The religious question represents a sticking point for a Convention that is asking heads of State and Government to be able to conclude its work following the Salonica Summit of 20 and 21 June. Having confirmed article 51 on the juridical status of Churches and their contribution in the field of social dialogue with the Union, rather surprisingly the Praesidium has sought to avoid an explicit reference to the tradition of Christianity and of other confessions, limiting itself to a more generic call to “religious heritage”. For John Bruton, “the Preamble is unbalanced, and uses opaque language when speaking of religious tradition. We should have expressed the sources of European values of the past, but also of the future. It is a fact that many Europeans believe in God, and that merits the same recognition as the humanist and enlightenment perspectives to which the text refers”. For Jacques Santer, former President of the Commission, “it is good that article 51 has been maintained. We will seek to broaden the Preamble with a phrase that refers to the Jewish-Christian tradition; this can be done and it is a justified move”. The popular Spaniard Inigo Mendez de Vigo, head of the EP delegation in the Convention and member of the Praesidium affirms: “I was in the Praesidium of the Convention for the Charter of Rights, where the result was nil. Now there is at least a religious reference and the Church’s role is recognised. This is a gigantic step. As a believer I do not resign myself and I feel that the amendments will bring the expected fruits”. According to Jean-Luc Dehaene, “the Preamble is perfect as it is”. Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, spokesman of the Convention, comments: “It must be understood that huge steps have been taken with respect to the present situation. We cannot, despite the announced amendments, insert a specific reference to Christianity. I feel that a good and sufficiently balanced compromise has been reached on the religious question. To go too far would mean to cause everything to fall through”.
