The reader of today's column will not find the opinions of its author, nor any comments on developments in the EU, but rather snippets of quotes from leading European figures which shed light on comments from the last few days or add something to them.
Limited rapprochement? The first quote comes from the father of the draft Constitutional Treaty and refers to the limits to the ongoing rapprochement among member states over the plans for a new treaty. According to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, this treaty, even if it comes about, will not mean that opinions on the nature of European construction have become uniform. Two visions of Europe continue to clash: the Anglo-Saxon vision (free market and democracy) and the continental vision, which also includes a European identity and the European social model. In a recent interview, Mr Giscard d'Estaing said that “the British have achieved their goal: being in the European system and at the same time preventing any progress in terms of integration”.
By contrast, José Manuel Barroso, the president of the Commission, said in a speech in Berlin: “All of us here, we share the same desire to construct a political Europe” (…). And on the subject of the results already achieved, he observed: “The reality of the European Union today goes far beyond the coherent dream of Monnet, Schuman, Spaak, Adenauer and De Gasperi. What have we done in these 50 years? We have built peace, liberty and justice, guided by common values. We have rebuilt our economic prosperity in social justice, thanks to two fundamental principles: economic and social cohesion and regional solidarity”. Which rather brings to mind the definition of the “Berlin declaration” made by one commentator: “a sudden burst of self-congratulation”.
On the subject of the Polish threats to use their veto on the voting mechanisms in the Council (see our bulletin of yesterday), Elmar Brok responded in advance (see bulletin 9391): if any member rejects the Treaty once it is negotiated, there will be nothing for them but not to participate in the rejuvenated EU.
Parliament and parliaments. On the matter of inter-parliamentary cooperation, Hans-Gert Pöttering declared at the same ceremony in Berlin: “The European Parliament and the national parliaments are partners. Our activities complement each other. Together it is our task to shape a democratic Europe”. Given the differences and mutual jealousies between national parliaments and the EP over the years, it is significant that these words should come from the president of the EP.
On the subject of the supposed opposition between institutional reform (which is not of interest to people) and a “Europe of results”, the vice-president of the Convention Giuliano Amato wrote: “It is not a serious dilemma, it is a joke; Europe would not even exist without its institutions. Without them it would be impossible to concretely establish common policies”.
The Church should not divide Europeans. In terms of the Christian roots and values of Europe, the report to the Bishops on the ethical dimension of the European Union (widely quoted in this column at the beginning of the week, bulletin 9394) has had repercussions. One of the authors of the report, Mario Monti, has made some firm comments on the debates which took place, attended by the Bishops and even the Pope himself, when this document was presented in Rome. In essence, Mario Monti acknowledges that religious values, in particular Christian ones, have shaped European civilisation and moulded its civil and cultural greatness. But in the course of the two millennia countless wars have been fought between Europeans; over the last 50 years, thanks to European integration, these have disappeared. The role of the Church now is to contribute to this unity (which has finally been achieved, even if there remains much to be done), avoiding contributing to new divides and divisive factors. If our “Christian roots” are mentioned in the revised treaty to be negotiated, this recognition will be welcome. If it is not, the religious or political forces which are demanding it should not use their disappointment to discredit European construction, putting it in a bad light. This also applies to the absence of European regulations in areas linked to religious doctrine (divorce, abortion, euthanasia), which are certainly important but which - according to a comment from one of the report's authors - have nothing to do with the construction of a united Europe.
The appeal made by Mario Monti is clear: Christians should not in any way seek to divide what they have done so much to unite over the course of the centuries, even if the Church obviously retains the right and power to state its doctrine and views.
(F.R.)