The living source

“The European project has an ethical foundation, which precedes the political union. This foundation derives from the origins and sources of our common values and ambitions. Its historic sources are found in the Christian and humanist legacy of our continent”: that’s one of the key passages of the document called “Common values: the living source of the European project”, approved by the plenary assembly of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community, held in Brussels from 22 to 24 November. HISTORY AND FUTURE OF EUROPE. The document “should be considered – says COMECE President, the Dutch bishop ADRIANUS VAN LUYN – as a contribution of the bishops to the Declaration that the EU will make in Berlin” on the occasion of the summit promoted by the German Presidency of the European Council on 25 March 2007 to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome, with the aim of reflecting on the history of the Community and the future of integration. This Declaration will then be examined by the heads of state and of government of the member countries during their summit next June. The bishop of Rotterdam explains to SIR : “Our aim is to underline that the EU is in the first place a community of values”, “at the top of which we find respect for human dignity and the defence of peace”. CONFERENCE IN ROME. The document will now be delivered to the Presidency of the European Council, as well as to the Commission and Parliament. COMECE in fact hopes that the Berlin Declaration will have an inter-institutional character, so as to have greater authority and be at the same time the expression of the Parliamentary Assembly, the one European institution directly elected by the citizens of Europe. Bishop van Luyn explains that, apart from the written contribution, “a major event promoted by the Commission of the European Bishops’ Conferences is currently being prepared to underline the significance” of the 50th anniversary of integration. “From 23 to 25 March 2007, concurrently with the summit to be held in the German capital, COMECE will promote a conference on the roots and future of Europe in Rome, in which 450 guests from all over the continent will take part”. It will be – said Monsignor Van Luyn – “a meeting of cultural character” and with “an ecumenical perspective”. THE EU AND TURKEY. During the COMECE Assembly various other issues were addressed: immigration, EU research policy and the bioethical questions it implies (with particular attention to the Seventh Framework Programme for Research), energy policy, intercultural dialogue, and future EU enlargement. With regard to the negotiations now underway with Turkey, the COMECE President declares: “Feeling ourselves close to the Pope as he prepares to embark on his journey to that country, we wish to recall that the Union is not founded on religions. It is, in a wider sense, a political community based on shared values”, including of course those proposed by the religious faiths. “Each State that intends to form part of the EU, including Turkey, must recognize these principles”. IMMIGRATION, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT. Bishop van Luyn, summing up the work of the assembly of bishops held last week, refers to a recent experience of the ecumenical community of Taizé, in France, and notes: “If Brussels is at the centre of a Europe that is growing in economic and political terms, Taizé may be considered a spiritual heart of the continent”. That’s why “on 30 January 2007 we will have the Prior of Taizé here in Brussels for a whole day” and with him “we will reflect and pray for the future of our continent”. Intervening on the “question of immigration” Archbishop DIARMUID MARTIN of Dublin says: “This is a typical phenomenon of globalized societies and economies. It’s right that the EU should tackle the protection of the rights of immigrants”, “by pursuing illegal forms of conduct, cracking down on the numerous cases of the trafficking of human beings” and “more particularly by fostering integration and interfaith dialogue”. “I would go further – added the COMECE Vice-President -: It’s time to do justice to the many positive aspects of migration”, from a “social, economic, cultural and spiritual” point of view. With regard to energy policy, the assembly heard an intervention from the Right Rev. PIOTR JARECKI , auxiliary bishop of Warsaw, he too Vice-President of COMECE: “During our assembly we have spoken of it at the level of economic relations, but even more so by considering its biblical and ethical aspects”. “This complex issue demands – said Jarecki – to be tackled without forgetting the safeguard of the creation, solidarity in the use of energy sources and a re-assessment of our lifestyles. Are we sure, for example, that the countries that consume most energy are really the most developed?”.