Universal values

“Neither geographical proximity nor shared history are enough to cement in a lasting way a union of states and of peoples. Universal values that form part of our common heritage play decisive roles in the process of integration between the member states of the EU and between their citizens”, declared JOSÉ MANUEL BARROSO , President of the European Commission. Barroso himself acted as host during the meeting between the representatives of the EU institutions and a score of exponents of the great monotheist religions, held in Brussels on 15 May. HIGH LEVEL MEETING. The meeting was held at the Palais Berlaymont, seat of the Commission. Sitting beside Barroso were Angela Merkel, German Chancellor and current President of the European Council, and Hans-Gert Poettering, President of the European Parliament. The Church personalities present at the meeting included Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, Cardinal Karl Lehmann, President of the German Bishops’ Conference, and Bishop Adrianus van Luyn, President of COMECE (Commission of the episcopates of the European Community). Representatives of the Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican and Evangelical Churches were also present, including Pastor Jean-Arnold de Clermont, President of the Conference of European Churches (CEC). Rabbis of the Jewish community and various exponents of the Muslim community also attended the meeting between religious leaders and EU heads. CONSTITUTION AND SHARED VALUES. Many questions were touched on during the meeting. There was a shared willingness to respond to some basic questions: what role could or should religions and religious communities play in advancing a Europe founded on human dignity? How could or should common values be promoted beyond the frontiers of the continent? And how is it possible to intensify dialogue between cultures and religious faiths? ANGELA MERKEL , who currently chairs the EU Council, commented as follows: “We Europeans have the responsibility to foster toleration and help others to be tolerant. Centuries were needed for us to learn the lesson. That’s why we have the deep conviction that intolerance cannot be tolerated”. As for the possibility of inserting the word “God” in the new Constitutional Treaty, as a historical and spiritual reference, Merkel remarked: “Personally I would like this reference, but as acting President of the European Union I think that are few chances of this happening. In the draft Constitution there is already an important reference to the role of the Churches (i.e. in art. 52 on structured dialogue between the EU and the religious communities): unfortunately I am unable to guarantee any more than this”. Merkel did not even deny that while “we were all agreed on the inviolability of human dignity”, “various views on its practical implications exist”. IMMIGRATION AND POOR COUNTRIES. For his part, the President of the European Parliament HANS-GERT POETTERING declared: “Tolerance, one of the central values of the EU, is the foundation of the dialogue between cultures and religions. Mutual respect based on human dignity is a shared value”. On the question of migration, raised by various speakers at the meeting, the German politician explained: “We know that people die to reach Europe. To prevent this situation and preserve human life, we must help the countries from which these people come” on the level of economic development and the promotion of democracy. Poettering then called for “a permanent and structured dialogue between the EU institutions and the European churches”, after what he called “this fruitful meeting”. VAN LUYN: “POSITIVE CLIMATE”. At the Palais Berlaymont, according to the testimonies of the participants, others questions were also discussed: the continuation of the constitutional process; the defence of fundamental rights and individual and social liberties; the process of enlargement; economic development and social cohesion; relations between scientific research and ethical principles; the role of the EU in the world, with specific reference to situations of conflict and the poorest regions, to assure funds for cooperation and humanitarian aid. Last week’s meeting was the first of its kind in which all three institutional heads of the EU participated: the Presidents of Commission, Council and Parliament. “We ascertained a positive climate, favourable to dialogue and mutual respect”, Bishop ADRIANUS VAN LUYN , President of COMECE, said in a briefing to SIR: “Undoubtedly the question of the defence of human rights was underlined more than once. I myself made the point that priority must be given to human dignity. The questions of respect for life, from conception to natural death, and the support Europe must give to poorer countries were also stressed by religious leaders”. The bishop of Rotterdam expressed the hope that “other and more frequent meetings of this kind” would be held; they are “essential – he said – for frank and continuing relations between the EU and the religious communities in Europe”.