More confidence and commitments

To focus on "positive developments" registered in Europe in recent months "that are in danger of being overlooked among the many negative headlines about a European crisis". These are the opening words of the opening speech delivered Msgr. Adrianus van Luyn, outgoing president of the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), on March 21 in the opening session of the COMECE spring plenary meeting in Brussels (ongoing until March 23). Follow excerpts of his address. The EU remains a project of peace. Msgr. Van Luyn tackled the adhesion of Croatia, which will become the 28th Member State on July 1st 2013. He pointed out that the number of Member States "has almost doubled" in "just over 9 years". He said that the "impetus" given to the "prospect of the integration of all states of former Yugoslavia" is "promising and highlighted the status of EU candidate country granted to Serbia a few weeks ago, the status of candidate country of Macedonia and the pre-accession agreements already signed with Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. While recognizing that it will take years before all these Countries will become EU Member States – that require compliance with a set of conditions and the achievement of specific aquis – Msgr. van Luyn remarks: "It is often claimed that the European Union as a peace project has lost its potency and appeal", but "when we look at the States of former Yugoslavia, the importance of this dimension becomes clear once again". The aim of the EU "was and is to overcome those clashes that have plagued Europe and torn it apart for centuries". Overcoming "former antagonisms between older enemies was the basic idea of Schuman’s plan in 1950 – continues the bishop. A look at Europe – more than 60 years later – shows its effectiveness and confirms its timeliness". However, according to Msgr. Van Luyn, "resolving old conflicts and overcoming centuries of prejudice is not a matter of course "but always remains a task" since "populist and nationalist tones in elections in recent months remind us of the need to remain vigilant". Solidarity and common values. In recalling that the "common goals, rules and values" of the EU "remain the guiding principle for all Member States", the prelate guards against "old national reflexes of the past" that "threaten to lead to re-nationalisation and to a lack of solidarity" among the countries of Europe. Given the financial crisis, all countries must "make efforts", since "sincere solidarity will not misinterpret help as a ‘favour’". Solidarity "entails the desire to contribute to the improvement of one’s own situation". Referring to the treaty on the European Stability Mechanism and the treaty on stability, coordination and control in the Economic and Monetary Union, signed on 2 February and 2 March respectively, the COMECE president pointed out that the debate on these two treaties and their ratification "will increasingly shift to the alternatives of a federal core Europe or the restoration of the Westphalian system of national sovereignty". "Europe – he warns – faces a choice". An age of "more". Msgr. Van Luyn also addressed the question of the debt crisis, "that is not exclusively European" and highlighted the importance of questioning the task and role of the economy in society. He mentions the answers of three prominent experts, for whom "morals and values will again play a bigger role". "We are heading for an ‘age of less’. The sooner we get used to this, the better". For the bishops, an "age of less" in quantitative terms could mean "a great opportunity for a qualitative "age of more": more human dignity, more community spirit and concern for the common good, a greater sense of responsibility for the deplorable situation in the poorer parts of our world, a determined commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, more solidarity with future generations". Ultimately, the COMECE president mentioned 2012 "Year of Active ageing and solidarity between generations", the main theme of the meeting. Msgr. van Luyn called for a reflection that will not only talk of but also involve the elderly in the dialogue with the young: "Only in this way can the accumulated experience of older people be passed on to future generations" while the encounter with the younger generations will "open new developments" for the elderly.