editorial" "

A difficult but possible synthesis” “” “

In May 2004 the current fifteen countries of the European Union will grow to twenty-five, while the entry of two further countries is “envisaged” in 2007. Also at the economic level, no spectacular results are expected in the short term: a forecast confirmed by the intermediate report on economic and social cohesion presented in Brussels […]

di Juan Velarde Fuertes" "Professor of Economics at the Complutense University in Madrid." "" "" "

late news" "

The censured roots” “

Unsatisfactory: that’s the immediate reaction of various European Christian churches and organizations (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox) on learning that the initial draft of the European Constitution is devoid of any reference to the “Christian roots”. In article 2 there is no mention of religious and spiritual values, even if some weak gleams of hope are left […]

di Redazione

Parliamentary agenda” “

The European Parliament is meeting in Strasbourg in plenary session from Monday 10th to Thursday 13th February 2003. The main points on the agenda are as follows: Declaration of the Commission – World Economic and Social Forums (Davos, Porto Alegre); Joint discussion – World Trade Organization (WTO); Joint discussion – Circulation of persons within the […]

di Redazione

agenda" "

EU legislation” “” “

In the course of last week the following legislative acts and communications, among others, came into force: Draft Regulation of the Council regarding the control of concentrations between businesses (“Community Regulation on Concentrations”) (OGEC C 20/4, 28/1/03); Draft Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to the precursors of drugs (OGEC C […]

di Redazione

press review" "

Dailies and periodicals” “

While US Secretary of State Colin Powell was furnishing the UN Security Council with “convincing proofs” of the existence, in Iraq, of weapons of mass destruction, the main international dailies were continuing to analyze the eventuality of a war. The Herald Tribune (5/2) is critical in its judgement of the recent Franco-British “summit”, in which […]

di Redazione

Greece: Cardinal Kasper a guest of the Orthodox Church ” “

“This visit, paid at the express invitation of the Orthodox archbishop of Athens and all Greece, Christodoulos, assumes great importance in the context of the improvement of relations between the two Churches”: that’s the comment made to SirEurope by the president of the Greek Episcopal Conference, Msgr. Nikolaos Foskolos, on the visit that Cardinal Walter […]

di Redazione

European Churches" "

At the heart of the faith” “

An unprecedented consultation to renew “the proposal of the faith in present-day society”: that is what the French bishops call for in a 64-page document with the title “Going to the heart of the faith, questions on the future of catechesis”, to be published and distributed in religious bookshops throughout the country in mid-February. “The […]

di Redazione

25 member Europe: growing gap between rich and poor ” “

European Commissioner for regional policy Michel Barnier presented the second intermediate report on economic and social cohesion in Brussels on 3 February. The document approved by the Executive tackles three fundamental questions: the analysis of the situation of the European regions and the trends of economic and social cohesion in the 15 member EU and […]

di Redazione

EU in brief" "

Entry into force of the Treaty of Nice” “

The Treaty of Nice came into force on 1st February. It was adopted in December 2000 after five days and five nights of marathon negotiation and only recently ratified by Ireland following a second referendum. The objective of the Treaty was the reform of the EU’s institutional architecture in such a way as to permit […]

di Redazione

Germany" "

A warning and sign of change” “

The regional elections in Hesse and Lower Saxony on 2 February marked the collapse of the German Social-Democratic party, currently in power, in coalition with the Greens: the party took less than 10% of the vote in Hesse and less than 15% in Lower Saxony. The success of the leaders of the CDU (Christian Democrats), […]

di Redazione