Inventing Europe” “

There will be over 4000 participants in this year’s Semaines sociales in France, which to mark the centenary of their establishment (1904) have chosen as their theme “Europe, a society to be invented”. The meeting is to be held in Lille, European capital of culture, from 23 to 26 September, with a programme packed with round tables, thematic meetings, exchanges of testimonies and forums on such issues as the family, peace, freedom, democracy, the economy and poverty. “From sustainable development to the family and religious liberty – says a presentation of the event issued by the French Episcopal Conference – the participants are invited to respond to the major challenges of the construction of a European society enlarged to 25, sharing their experiences and proposing new initiatives”. The SIR has met Michel Camdessus , chairman of the Semaines sociales and former Director of the International Monetary Fund. What are the objectives of the Semaines sociales in the light of EU enlargement? “After the reconciliation following age-old conflicts, we now need to grasp this historic occasion to create a European society on the basis of re-found unity. Christianity, which is at the origins of Europe, is the first of these occasions. Animated by their faith, Christians have the vocation to re-arouse the consciences of Europeans anaesthetized by the fear of losing or of not receiving enough, by the growth of individualism or by the fear of the clash between civilizations. At Lille, by listening to the Word we have received, we will begin by consciously accepting our past: what teachings can we draw from a century of Christian involvement at the heart of the tragedies and transformations of our societies? In this way, by acknowledging the responsibilities of the past, we shall be better able to tackle the challenges of the present. Major issues of our time wait to be illuminated by the faith: the family, peace, freedom of conscience, participation in public life, sustainable development, poverty and the opening up of Europe to the outside world”. What is the role of Europe in a world so full of tensions and conflicts? “Europe must be a place of solidarity and humanity. The rest of the world calls us to assume this role and this will oblige us to build a new Europe. The Holy Father too has repeatedly said that speaking of Europe must mean speaking of openness. The new European Constitution recognises this fundamental values. We must transform Europe into what its Constitution says of her, namely into a place of human hope”. Can the European Constitution therefore play a central role in the construction of a new European society? “The Constitution is very important. Even if no agreement was reached on the Christian roots of Europe, and I would have liked the fact that Europe is Christian in its origins to have been recognized, another aspect seems to me essential. Europe must demonstrate each day that she is Christian and must be identified as such, in the same way that Christ made himself recognized at Emmaus, by breaking the bread. If Europe is able to break the bread with the rest of the world, then she will be recognized as Christian”.