Fostering reciprocity

“A free and open discussion that touched on numerous issues of current affairs, relating “to the harmonious co-existence of peoples and faiths in Europe” and Community integration. At the end of the meeting with religious leaders, held in the seat of the Commission in Brussels on 30 May, the head of the Executive, JOSÉ MANUEL BARROSO , said he was “fully satisfied” by the results of the discussion. DIGNITY OF THE PERSON, MUTUAL RESPECT. Introducing the meeting, Barroso himself had acknowledged: “Dialogue between the religions is an important factor for the process of European integration”. The “brainstorming” session took place at the Palais Berlaymont, headquarters of the European Commission, jointly promoted by Commission and Council. “We wish to have an open exchange, without foregone conclusions; an occasion for dialogue that may lead us to reflect on such essential questions as the dignity of the person, fundamental civil liberties, mutual respect, and communication between the various cultures”. These were the hopes expressed by Barroso, who was flanked by Austrian Chancellor WOLFGANG SCHÜSSEL , who holds the revolving Presidency of the European Council, by Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström and by other Commissioners. A SCORE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS. The exponents of the various communities present at the meeting (Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, Buddhists, Muslims and Jews) also comprised a delegation of the Catholic Church. Its members included Bishop Adrianus Van Luyn of Rotterdam, President of COMECE (Commission of the Episcopates of the European Community), Cardinal José da Cruz Policarpo, Patriarch of Lisbon, and Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna. Among the score of other religious leaders present were the Dalai Lama (who had paid a much-publicized visit to the European Parliament on the previous day) representing the Buddhist community, the Bishop of London Richard Chartres (Anglican), ayatollah Seyyed Abbas Ghaemmaghami and the imam Abduljalil Sajid (Muslims), the chief Rabbi of Brussels Albert Guigui, Bishop Athanasios (Greek Orthodox), and Pastor Jean Arnold de Clermont (Evangelical-Lutheran Church). RESPONSIBILITY AND ROLE OF CULTURE. At the end of the meeting, after the traditional group photos, Barroso and Schüssel briefly reported on the issues addressed and the atmosphere of cordiality that had been created among the participants: “We spoke of mutual respect”, explained Barroso, an “essential element”, he underlined, “for living together” amicably in modern society. “Respect however requires mutual recognition”. Another term repeatedly cited in the talks was “responsibility: towards others, both inside and outside Europe”. Another outcome of the meeting – as the two European statesmen explained – was a shared conviction of the need to combat every form of discrimination. Lastly, “the essential role of education and culture” in teaching peoples to understand and respect each other was emphasized by various speakers. “In this regard the conviction was underlined that Islam too is part of contemporary Europe”. TREANOR: “ETHICAL RESPONSES NEEDED”. “It was an important and fruitful meeting, especially in the perspective of creating a structured dialogue between EU institutions and religious communities, as prescribed by article 52 of the European Constitution, still in process of ratification”. Msgr. NOEL TREANOR , general secretary of COMECE, in a briefing to SIR , commented as follows on the Brussels meeting. “It formed part of a process of consultation that had been begun during the period of Jacques Delors as President of the Commission, followed by Santer and Prodi, and that is now acquiring new urgency in response to the challenges posed by our multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, immigration, and the need for continental political integration”. Treanor also pointed out “the many anthropological questions that need ethical responses: I think of peace, the development of science and technology, research, and international cooperation” in support of the poorest countries, “I think that after this meeting – he added – there’s a growing conviction on the part of EU political leaders that religions cannot be ignored, given that they are the sources of shared values, wisdom and spiritual energy of which our society has so deep a need”. The questions discussed at the meeting, said Treanor, included “the relation between religious faiths and politics, the integration of immigrants in our countries, respect for human rights and fundamental civil liberties, cooperation in development and research”. According to the head of the permanent secretariat of European bishops in Brussels, “the presence of Jan Figel, Commissioner for education, training, culture and multilingualism, was significant, especially in view of 2008, a year dedicated by the EU to the European Year for intercultural and interfaith dialogue”.