Brussels, 30/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - Several organisations representing the churches expressed their points of view during the debates open to civil society, held at the end of June at the European Convention. They were all in favour of a closer relationship between the institution and European citizens and raised quite a large range of issues.
Building a community of values and strengthening the international presence of the EU
The European Conference of Churches (ECC), which regroups 127 Anglican, Orthodox, Protestant and traditional Catholic churches throughout Europe, stressed the need to define "a moral framework for globalisation and anchor it in the principles of solidarity and sustainable development". According to the ECC, the role of the EU in the emergence of structures of global governance, as well as its relation with the Council of Europe ought to be deepened. With its vision of peace, human rights and sharing out of resources, outlined by its Council for European affairs, the pacifist Quakers movement called on the Convention to develop, "a stable Union in a multi-polar world…but independent: and which plays an active role without having to resort to military means". The Commission of the Bishops Conference of the European Community (COMECE), as well as certain candidate countries (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Malta) and Switzerland, which are associated, recommended that a reference to God be written into the treaty as guarantor for individual human freedom and the recognition of the limits of public power. In wishing to "preserve the integrity and sacred character of the human being", the Orthodox Church considers that "the choice of bio-technology and science in general must be controlled".
Strengthening European identity and unity while preserving its diversity
The ECC supports the idea of granting the right to vote to all European citizens in all the elections where they live and ensuring that, "the decisions are taken at the most appropriate level, either local, regional, national or European". In order to reinforce the participation of citizens and the democratic legitimacy of the EU, COMECE also recognises subsidiary as a principle of good governance. Whilst the Quakers insisted on the need for transparency, free access to information, responsibility and integrity of individuals, the ECC called for some Council meetings to be made public with an option for co-decision and qualified majority voting (in the realm of immigration and asylum, for instance).
The social dimension must play a fundamental role in the organisation of the future EU
The EEC believes that a European social model is needed, particularly because of the expectations of citizens with regard to public services and which should finishes up as a market system that respects social and environmental dimensions. The European Churches and Freedom Network is committed to human rights and democracy in the Roman Catholic Church and in society and believes that, "Europe must have a political organisation that allows it to develop its model of social cohesion…and act as a community of ethical values…that is weighted in favour of a regulated globalisation". Some of its members campaign for the EU joining the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter, which would make, "the European system of human rights more united, more user-friendly and more accessible for its citizens", as well as intensifying, "co-operation between the EU and the Council of Europe". The European Catholic Centre, which brings Catholic civil servants working in the EU institutions together, is worried about the absence of new instruments of solidarity on a European scale for replacing or accompanying national policies that have been weakened by the progress of liberalisation and a market-centric approach.
A greater acknowledgement of civil society
The ECC is calling for citizens' democratic participation and therefore a greater recognition of organised civil society, particularly that of the religious communities and their specific actors. COMECE also believes that "consultation of numerous actors in society" will bring improved responses to future challenges. All the contributions supported initiatives of a civil society type forum, given the variety of subjects dealt with by the churches and the religious communities and that some quarters also wanted to hold a hearing of religious experts at the European Convention and others, the setting up of structured dialogue between the European institutions, churches and religious communities.