Brussels, 24/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) has called on European citizens, and particularly young people, to vote in the European elections. “The achievements of our free and democratic Europe must not be taken for granted, but require constant support of the citizens and people”, said COMECE President, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, in his speech to the Spring Plenary 2014 of COMECE, which was held in Brussels from 19 to 21 March.
In its recommendations for the elections, which were published in 20 March, COMECE defends the values of the Church, which are able to bring together “all men and women of good will” - not only of the Catholic faith - who are concerned by the European project. Amongst other points, the bishops stress the following:
Common good: those who are standing for the European elections must be “aware of the collateral damage of the banking and economic crises”, which have affected the poorest, the weakest and most vulnerable. The bishops are calling for the pursuit of the “common good”, to guide states and communities in their decisions, and to protect the poorest members of society.
Solidarity: another pillar of the EU but also a principal which is at the base of Catholic teaching is solidarity, which should be seen to govern policy at every level across the EU, between nations, regions and population groups. “We need to build a different Europe, with solidarity at its heart”, insists COMECE.
Human rights: the responsibility of reception and integration of migrants and asylum seekers needs to be shared proportionately by the member states. It is vital that treatment of migrants at the point of entry be humane, and that their human rights be scrupulously respected, insists COMECE, in reference to recent dramatic events, notably at Lampedusa, and the reflection undertaken by the European Union on the issues of migration and asylum.
Environment: we must respond with determination to climate change, adopt more ecological behaviour and make sustainability a central pillar of growth and development policy.
Welfare: the bishops argue on behalf of the elderly, numbers of whom are set to rise over the next decades, to ensure that they have access to the level and quality of care to which they are entitled. As for the younger generation, they should be given new opportunities.
“We would plead that the European project not be put at risk nor abandoned under current duress. It is essential that all of us (…) contribute constructively to fashioning Europe's future. We have too much to lose if the European project is derailed”, COMECE concludes. (IL)