Celebrating EU enlargement

This page has repeatedly addressed the subject of the European Union. In our writing we continuously shared the enthusiasm shown by the Pope and the European bishops on the European project. As a result, today, a few hours after Malta and nine other countries joined the Union, we cannot not show our joy and appreciation. The dream of millions became a reality yesterday, May 1. Our dream came true.

The European bishops and close aides last week went to Santiago de Compostela in Spain went to celebrate this great event. Three hundred pilgrims from 25 European countries, including 40 bishops, as well as priests, religious and lay people, made the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. The bishops sent a letter to Pope John Paul II to express their gratitude for the Pontiff's commitment to the cause of European unity.

They told John Paul II: "We wish to express particular gratitude to Your Holiness for the great commitment demonstrated during your pontificate to the unity of our continent in reconciliation and solidarity. If today we can rejoice in this moment when the borders of the European Union are to be enlarged, then we also feel deeply that this is also due to the force with which Your Holiness has declared the need for Europe to breathe with both its lungs of East and West."

The bishops also issues a statement entitled Solidarity is the Soul of the European Union. The document underlines the need for more solidarity in a new EU with greater economic and social disparities. The document argues that the forthcoming negotiations on the EU budget, which will come into force in 2007, should be conducted in this spirit.

Establishing a "core Europe" or "pioneer group" that ignores the existing community institutions would be against the principle of solidarity, say the Bishops, but this should not exclude the possible advancement of some members within the provisions of the founding treaties to facilitate the advancement of all. The bishops also state that solidarity within the EU should not be used to undermine the EU's obligation to assist the world's poorest.

Once more in this statement the European bishops showed their great optimism and support for the process of European integration.

They consider this process as something so positive that they say that "we believe that the common European interest should prevail over national interests and should determine our actions to a greater extent in the future". One can access the full text of the European bishops' statement from their Website: www.comece.org.

During the Compostela meeting the episcopal conferences of the new members, including Malta, became full members of COMECE - the conference of the bishops of the European Union. Malta, which was represented by Archbishop Joseph Mercieca, is one of them. As a result the statement of the EU bishops can also be accessed in Maltese through their Website.

One hopes that the joyous celebrations of so many millions in so many countries will now find its expression in fruitful work, and that the Maltese will now strive to be guided by the social teaching of the Church in this new endeavour. Malta is going to be a net beneficiary from a financial point of view. We believe that it should now strive to be a net contributor when the relationship is looked at from the perspective of values.