A committee of wise men has been set up by the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) to prepare for the congress of March 2007, promoted to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the treaty of Rome. The 25 European personalities from 20 different countries chosen to sit on it have been asked to draw up a report on the values of the European Union. During a recent press conference Stephen Wall, one of the two secretaries of the committee of wise men, former permanent representative of the United Kingdom to the EU, explained: “I never cease to be struck by the fragility of the European project. Our member states remain nationalist, absorbed by their national interests. One of the EU’s main tasks is to help differences to be overcome in the name of shared values, especially solidarity between the countries of the EU and global responsibility for the world. We need to translate these values into concrete policies”. For his part Msgr. Noel Treanor, general secretary of COMECE, expressed the hope that “this initiative may create a space in public opinion where political leaders have the strength to take courageous positions”. The report will be discussed by the bishops of COMECE and presented to the congress in Rome (23-25 March 2007). In preparation for next year’s congress in Rome, COMECE and the network “Initiative of Christians for Europe” have also promoted a seminar on “the Treaty of Rome 50 years later. What values for the European Union?”, due to be held at Clermont-Ferrand from 9 to 11October.
