Problems and hopes

April’s issue of the magazine Europe Infos, the monthly magazine of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of the European Community (COMECE) in conjunction with the Jesuit European Office (OCIPE) focuses on the following themes: the crisis in Greece, the negotiations on the nuclear treaties, the register of stakeholders representatives, the year for combating poverty, the 60th anniversary of the Schumann declaration. These themes were equally addressed in COMECE’s plenary meeting in Brussles on April 14-16. Greece and the financial crisis. The EU is faced with a difficult choice: if it failed to support Greece, other heavily indebted countries with fragile economies would become more concerned about their own future. However, if squandering and financial mismanagement were not sanctioned, the more prudent countries would resent the fact that Maastricht Treaty provisions have not been respected. Thus states English Jesuit Franc Turner in his editorial, describing EU’s ongoing standstill, clearly perceived in the 11 February summit and evident in the cautious approach to the Greek crisis, motivated by the need to ensure the euro currency stability. Stakeholders’ register and the Churches. EU parliament and commission are committed in the creation of a single register, to replace the two separate ones for the over 15.000 lobbyists in Brussels. The Churches are referred to in the chapter on ‘Churches, religious representatives, and faith communities’. However, said Alessandro Calcagno in his contribution, “under many aspects registering is a problem for the Churches”. Firstly the term “stakeholders” does not respect the Churches’ nature, objectives and activity. The Churches do not consider themselves as lobbyists but as “partners in the dialogue, while underlining the religious and moral feature of their contribution, aimed at the common good” which draws inspiration from the Gospel. “Church activity is based on ethical values and not on economic interests”. For this reason, Calcagno states, “given the current situation, the Churches’ cannot register” since it would distort the fundamental contribution of the Churches. A way out could be to draw up a separate register for the “interlocutors” as mentioned in Art. 17 of the Lisbon Treaty, which makes a distinction between the Churches and religious communities on the one side and philosophical and non-confessional organizations on the other. The responsibility of transparency without penalizations is in the hands of commissioner Maros Sefcovic.Nuclear weapons: world peace or world instability? The Conference for the revision of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in May, consisting of a number of negotiating meetings is drawing close. As things stand now, explained Johanna Touzel, the NPT, ratified in 1968, mentions five nuclear-weapon states (the US, the ex-URSS, Great Britain, France and China). In the meantime other countries (Israel, India and Pakistan) managed to produce these weapons, while Iran and Northern Korea are working on their development. The original distinction no longer exists and the only way to prevent the development of a potentially self-destructive mechanism for humanity is that nuclear-weapon countries accept to undertake the path of complete disarmament, as proposed by president Obama. While only two European countries have these weapons, Italy, Holland, Belgium and Germany are involved in the problem since NATO bases are stationed in these countries. In 2009 Germany called for the removal nuclear weapons from the bases within its borders. The other countries (except for Italy) demanded their downsizing. “If the public opinion in Europe, Christians in particular – won’t mobilize, there is a concrete possibility that European leaders will comply with national stands and positions, thus weakening the negotiations that are crucial to the future of humanity”. The European Year for Combating poverty. Hervé Pierre Guillot SJ, continues his reflection undertaken in the previous issues of Europe Infos. According to figures of 2008 some 8% of the overall European population (15 million people) in employment live under the threshold of poverty. The highest figures were recorded in Romania (17%), Greece (14%), Poland and Portugal (12%), Spain and Latvia. European States are addressing the issue with different measures (minimun wages, in-work benefits, revenu de Solidarité active…). Evidently, “an equal and just retribution is the path which will prevent poverty, promote social participation and combat exclusion”.60th anniversary of the Schumann declaration. From next May 5-10 400 young people from 27 EU Member States will meet in Scy-Chazelles (France), where Robert Schuman lived. They will review the path followed by Europe’s founding fathers and reflect on EU’s future. Proposals will be drawn up for the Council, Parliament and European Commission.