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Referendum, parliamentary ratification, legislative amendment: there are various ways in which the Twenty-Five countries of the EU will ratify, at different times, the European Constitution signed in Rome on 29 October. The approval of the Constitution, if it is a foregone conclusion in some countries, is a source of serious concern to national governments in […]

Rome, Maastricht and now Rome once again, not forgetting Brussels, Strasbourg, Laeken… The EU Treaty signed in the Italian capital on Friday 29 October is the result of a long process. It began a half century ago with the foundation of the EEC (European Economic Community), which became the EU at the beginning of the […]

EU constitution" "

A Constitution for peace; a great occasion to re-launch the process of integration, begun a half century ago with the establishment of the European Economic Community; a further impulse to the progress of the Twenty-Five that together accept the challenge of globalization. The ceremony of the signing of the EU Constitution in the Italian capital […]

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“The Holy See has always been favourable to the promotion of a united Europe on the basis of those common values that form part of its history. Taking account of the Christian roots of the Continent means drawing on a spiritual heritage that remains fundamental for the future developments of the Union”. With these words, […]

On the eve of the signing of the new Constitutional Treaty, the decisions taken by President-designate of the European Commission, Manuel Barroso, and the “impasse” that led him to ask for a month’s more time to finally “confirm” his “team”, are at the centre of debate in the main international dailies. “Barroso yields to MEPs […]

eu constitution" "

A great ceremony to sign the future European Constitution in the name of 25 States and 450 million citizens: the leaders of the EU member countries are expected to convene in the Sala degli Orazi e Curiazi on the Campidoglio in Rome on Friday 29 October. Once they have they added their signature at the […]

european union" "

A postponement to avoid defeat in the vote of the European Parliament: the President-designate of the Commission, JOSÉ MANUEL DURAO BARROSO , has chosen an arduous, but institutionally unexceptionable road. After weeks of controversy following the auditions of the Commissioners nominated by the national governments, the Portuguese statesman appeared before the European Parliament on Wednesday […]

“Migrations are a normal fact, that’s why they should not be prevented, but better regulated”. That’s the main conclusion of the Commission of the Churches for Migrants in Europe (CCME) at the end of a consultation held at Arnoldshain, in Germany, from 22 to 24 October. In the final document, released on 26 October, the […]

“The Catholic Church teaches that gambling is not intrinsically evil. But it becomes morally unacceptable when it is transformed into an obsession or leads gamblers and their families to suffer heavy losses of money”, says Archbishop Peter Smith, chairman of the Department for Christian Responsibility and Citizenship of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, […]

ecumenism" "

“Europe, don’t forget your martyrs”: that’s the title of the international symposium organized by the Austrian foundation Pro-Orient, held in Vienna on 21-22 October. The meeting was attended by many representatives of the Christian Churches and Judaism, who discussed the significance of martyrdom in terms of faith and ecumenical dialogue. “The walls between the confessions […]