The power of childhood memories. I was too Catholic, apostolic and Roman. I wrote that although the Christian roots of Europe are obvious and undeniable for all Europeans, for both believers and agnostics, Jewish roots are less so (see this section 11 October). I perhaps succumbed thus to the subconscious power of childhood memories. Before the war and immediately after, all Italian children were submerged into a religious or para-religious reality determined by feast days, ceremonies, music, the Latin language (even though today the Roman Catholic church has given it up and is subsequently a lot poorer), and the incense. For two thousand years, civic life was in tune with the land and Christian festivals and feast days. But there are also the sensations and nationals of other European areas. In certain EU countries, the passion, death and resurrection of Christ and the cult of the Virgin Mary are at the centre of culture and art; elsewhere in Europe, it is more the Old Testament that provides traditions and shapes mentalities. Max Kohnstamm observed in a city like Amsterdam, the synagogue has as much historical and artistic significance as the Catholic churches; we might say that this goes for the ancient ghetto in Prague and many other places in our civilisation. From a cultural point of view, the Jewish contribution to Europe has been incalculable (even when it encouraged distance from the Bible, see Spinoza). A reference to Jewish roots, therefore in our constitution is just as justified as a reference to Christianity.
These are the truths to which I orientate myself. But other readers have also pointed out the influence of Islam and its deep imprint on the history and culture of Europe. Some areas which are the most influenced by Catholicism bear this our with towns and the landscape in Spain and Sicily. And (It's me who says it) Islamic thought has directly influenced Dante's conception of God and heaven. Is it therefore necessary to mention the Islamic roots in our Constitution? "Why not", was the response of Jacques Delors. If we ought take into account the influences on European civilisation, we'll never finish mentioning our roots. After reflection and having read the draft constitution, I now ask myself if it is not better to stick to the formula of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and agreed to by the Convention, "taking inspiration from cultural, religious and humanist traditions in Europe". Without going into any more detail. I'm now waiting for the reactions from Catholics.
Substance and form. Commentaries on the draft constitutional treaty are multiplying whether they accompany the integral draft or not. That of Olivier Duhamel can be characterised by two points - one fundamental and the other more by curiosity. Fundamental specificity is that the mentioned draft is preceded by the "diary of a Convention Member" (almost 150 pages). This diary was to a large extent known about as Olivier Duhamel wrote it on a daily basis and diffused it in the form of letters to other Convention Members and interested parties by way of partial publication in newspapers. We therefore recognised the non-conformist sometimes ironic or satisfied or indignant character. This diary helps us to follow step by step the road of the Convention with the assistance of a pen that is never conventional, sometime inventive and sometimes acrid. Memories, oh memories…
What is curious is that Mr Duhael has inserted in his volume, the comparison between the French version of a draft approved by the Convention and the version corrected by the Académie française (which Valéry Giscard d'Estaing had asked to do). It is therefore possible to see most of the 900 suggestions of the glorious institution and then compare the original draft with the revised version. We can draw some lessons from it as well as some amusement. As Mr Duhamel points out, "the purists will appreciate it".
A more critical review of this book will take place in our "European Library" pages.
Fortunate development. I pointed out with pleasure that European agricultural solidarity had been produced at the Agriculture Council. For decades, each Minister defended, as a general rule, the products of his country and global competitive means against his neighbour. The feeling of a "European agriculture", from citrus fruit in the South to products from the far North was sadly lacking. Look at page 9 of our bulletin on 15 October: Austria defended Greek and Iberian cotton producers via "Community solidarity", Ministers agreed to extending aid to Finnish agriculture to take into account the particularities of the Nordic regions (which leads us to hope that this support will be extended beyond 2007), reform of the tobacco sector will be the subject of a round table to assess the effects on jobs etc. This is a development that deserves support.
(F.R.)