A vote for the future

“The forthcoming European elections represent an important appointment for Europe; it’s a question of supporting the original intention of the founding fathers of Europe to ensure a solid future of peace, solidarity and justice”. That’s why “abstaining from voting signifies giving precedence to individualism rather than to justice and brotherhood”, said Mgr. Gérard Defois, President of “Justice and Peace in Europe” in presenting the document that his Commission has drafted in view of the European elections in June, urging European citizens to vote. The document sets out some criteria for the vote of electors and also some guidelines for the MEPs who are elected to the European Parliament. The document of the European Conference of Justice and Peace Commissions forms part of a series of pronouncements that some episcopates in Europe (France, Portugal, Poland) and some European organizations (COMECE) have made in recent months in view of the forthcoming European parliamentary elections. (see Sir Europe 22-24/2009). Human rights and economic crisis. “The promotion and safeguard of human rights must always remain at the centre of the agenda of the European Parliament and guide its debates”: this is the main assumption on the basis of which the European Conference of “Justice and Peace” Commissions drafted its message for European electors. Various issues spring from this assumption. The first is the economic and financial crisis. “The European Union – writes Justice and Peace -, as a leading economic player at the global level, more than ever has a need for politicians capable of placing the human person at the centre of the economic and financial system and committing themselves to social justice and equity”. The bishops add: “In spite of the Union’s level of development, an important part of the European population lives in precarious conditions and with a high risk of falling below the poverty threshold. Europe is faced by a real risk: that of a growth of disparities within its population. A proper solution to the problem of poverty, which has many facets, must take the form, among others, of an improvement of health services, and of access to treatment and education, and the implementation of employment policies”.Immigration. A whole passage of the document is reserved for the problem of immigration. “Periods of excessive and unreasonable maintenance – writes Justice and Peace – and inadequate policies in terms of family reunification are contrary to the respect for human rights to which our countries are bound”. “The rapid change of the world situation – says the document – has seen, once again, the number of people forced to leave their country due to persecutions, wars, poverty or other causes grow in a significant manner. The security and prosperity of our European cities and countries represent the security and stability to which these people aspire”. So the document makes an appeal to the new European parliamentarians who will be elected: “Given that the European Union has made immigration one of its priorities, MEPs are called to ensure that the EU formulates common policies on asylum and immigration that are just and that may guarantee fair and human treatment to refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants”.Policies for development. The document then turns to policies for development. According to the Commission, “no one can really hope that a true partnership between North and South can be established without a real will and an effective policy of lasting development”, also because “it is in Europe’s interests that the developing countries register real economic, social and political progress”. The Commission underlines, however, that the member states of the EU have not yet reached their stated objective of devolving 0.7% of their gross domestic product to aid for development. That’s why the document urges MEPs to ensure that the “Millennium Goals” established by the UNO in 2000 be met.Peace and reconciliation. The document ends with a reference to Europe as promoter by vocation of a culture of peace and reconciliation in the world. “The need to pursue this task is no less urgent today than it was yesterday… Each member of the European Parliament can contribute actively to this urgent need for peace and understanding on European soil and beyond its frontiers”.