Capable of envisaging the future

“Determining together the future development of European States”: this is the title of the joint statement by the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK) and the German Evangelical Church Council (EKD) issued May 13 regarding the upcoming European elections, the first of enlarged 27 Member State Europe. In Germany it will be possible to vote only on June 7. German voters are called to elect 99 MEPs. German Churches, aware of the importance of the event, call upon the citizens to cast their vote recalling the advantages and the challenges of being in Europe. Follows the integral text of the statement. Active participation and contributing to the future. “The seventh direct elections of the European Parliament, due to be held June 7 2009, grant citizens the possibility of actively participating in the policies that will be enacted in the next five years. We, the German Bishops’ Conference and the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany, call upon all those entitled to vote to take part in the elections of June 7. As a 27-State Community with almost five hundred million inhabitants, the European Union is the guarantor of peace, freedom, welfare and security. Especially in times marked by the global crisis of the financial markets and by economic insecurity, the EU confirms to be an important factor of stability. But the EU can only contribute to the future if it enjoys people’s trust and if all social forces actively support it. It is therefore crucial to speak honestly and to work in a constructive manner on the critical aspects, like the criticisms on democracy deficit, the requests of transparency in decision-making processes and the evident increasing bureaucracy. If it is supported by a common political will, the EU has the possibility of determining the future in Europe and across the world”. New challenges. “EU’s activity is currently performed in a number of different political realms. Thus, its legislation significantly impacts national legislation and is reflected on almost all sectors pertaining to citizens’ lives. In particular, since the first direct elections in 1979, the European Parliament gave an important contribution to the EU’s democratization process. Furthermore, MEPs give a face to the EU and commit themselves for the needs of citizens, men and women alike. Considering the broad responsibilities and the political relevance of the EU and of the European Parliament, European elections are crucial for the future development of the States of Europe. Ensuring peace, providing a fair structure to globalization, curbing climate changes, adopting a righteous approach in solidarity with refugees and immigrants, and overcoming the social and economic problems relating to the ongoing crisis are some of the challenges that the new European Parliament will be called to address. The basic criteria for any European policy will need to be the respect of human dignity, the protection of human life, the freedom of the individual, the promotion of marriage and the family, the responsibility towards the Creation, the solidarity towards disadvantaged social brackets, the commitment towards the poor in the world, along with the commitment for a global order to the service of peace and justice”. The contribution of the Churches. “These criteria also enjoy the contribution of the Church. Christianity is grounded in the historical roots of Europe that will need the Church’s contribution also in the development of future policies, based on the dignity of the human person. Churches have given their unremitting contribution to the reconciliation between European States and peoples, acting as spokespersons of integration claims. It is therefore necessary to highlight the fact that the EU wishes to expressly recognise this particular contribution of Churches in the Lisbon Treaty. In our joint document of November 2006 “Democracy needs virtues”, we pointed out: “All citizens, each one in his/her own way, are responsible for this society and for the democratic community”. In that context we underlined that the right to vote represents “the most important right of citizens”. In order to continue contributing in this direction to Europe’s development, we call upon citizens to cast their vote on June 7 2009″.