Fiuggi, 23/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - At its summer university in Fiuggi, the EPP-ED held several round table meetings, inviting participants to examine topics as varied as the economic crisis, immigration and values.
Economy. In a special panel discussion entitled “Europe, the Global Economy and its Future”, speakers considered the financial crisis. Rachel Lomax of the Bank of England said that, even though the euro remained a strong currency, credit conditions resulting from the crisis would have a negative effect on growth and financial markets. Peter Jungen, Chairman of the European Enterprise Institute, said that only China and India were keeping the world economy's head “above water”, and he highlighted that only Western stock markets were being affected for the moment. “I believe that this is a reason for optimism,” he opined. Eric Chaney, Chief Economist for the Europe sector at Morgan Stanley was even more optimistic, stating that “the crisis itself is creating the conditions for economic recovery”: the fall in share prices and the price of oil. “In the medium term, this crisis could turn out to be a great opportunity for Europe,” he said.
Immigration. Participants agreed that Europe's population was falling and that immigration was necessary. Economist Philippe Legrain said that the European Union had had the “wrong debate” on immigration. “Economies need young talent from immigration. If the EU wants to take advantage of it, it has to open its doors and be more attractive to those who want to live here,” he said. Michael Borchard, Head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, emphasised the importance of integration. “A lot is spoken about measures to be put in place to attract qualified migrants. But the more urgent question that has to be asked is how to make those already here qualified,” he noted, adding: “The idea of circular immigration will not work if we do not improve our integration system”. Pierre Casoldi, Head of the Private Office of French Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux, set out the immigration pact that the French Presidency has proposed to its European partners. MEP Mario Mauro argued for a “mixture of firmness and openness” in this area, and called for more support for the countries that are most exposed to illegal immigration. “Immigration has two terrible enemies: fundamentalism and relativism,” he stated.
Values. In a debate led by French MEP Françoise Grossetête, participants tried to find an answer to the question, “European Values or Universal Values?” President of the Atlas Foundation Alex Chafuen highlighted three values: family, property and solidarity. “If you want to win the victory, you have to find allies where the people share the same values as you,” he said directing his comments at the United States. “We cannot move away from the debate on values. Europe's dream may even be lost if we forget them. They are at the basis of Europe,” he went on. He also called on Europe to open itself up to the fruits of better human capital, without “cutting itself off from its old roots”. Barid Baran Bhattacharya, Deputy Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, expressed his view that, while Judeo-Christian values had become universal, they could in fact be points of conflict. He called on Europeans to become more open to other values. To illustrate his point, he referred to Hinduism. “Hinduism teaches us that there is not just one way to worship God,” he said. “Begin by realising that there are many ways to reach European values,” he challenged participants, highlighting that he saw in co-existence, pluralism and the family of “universal values”. (L.B.S./transl.rt)