Hope, trust and solidarity

The European Movement (Malta) believes that the most valuable thing about the European Union is its values. And, when the EU is discussed solely from an economic angle we fail to understand it fully, least of all appreciate its benefits.

Needless to say the EU is not a perfect society and there is still much to be improved. In our country there are forces that have tried unsuccessfully to use the Church's position on the European Union to undermine the EU's values and sow doubts in people's minds. We are therefore constrained to present the factual situation.

The Catholic Church, aware of its many imperfections, supports this project of human unity for it comes closest to its ideals, values and teachings. Of course it does not support it uncritically.

Most of the other Christian churches of Europe support the EU as well. Meanwhile it is not true that Islam and EU membership cannot mix. Turkey wants to join the EU and will eventually do so once it can fully comply in practice with its ideals. Religious tolerance is after all one of the fundamental values of the EU.

The European Movement (Malta) has never argued otherwise. Fortunately for us we can all read the Church's stands on the process of European union and we hardly need to be preached to by the "Martin Luthers" (apologies to the true Martin Luther whom we sincerely respect), who, tired of attacking the Church's Magisterium and getting reprimanded for it, now turn on us (holy smoke!) to tell us what the Church "really" teaches on the EU!

Enlargement "cherished by the Church"

We base our arguments on facts, facts and more facts, not wishful thinking. Last Monday the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMCEC) approved a statement on the enlargement of the EU. In their statement the bishops welcomed the "Europeanisation" of the EU and commended "Hope, trust and solidarity in order to meet the challenges of accession."

In the words of the bishops, the forthcoming enlargement of the European Union represents a profound and significant transformation of our continent. It is a historic event of significance.

They added: "The Catholic Church has always supported the efforts of exceptional politicians and citizens to bring lasting peace and welfare to our Continent by realising a 'Community of Solidarity' based on economic and political integration"

The European Movement (Malta) is proud to be among the peacemakers.

The European bishops marked out enlargement as "a hope particularly cherished by the Church" in terms of the reconciliation between East and West. They called it a potential source of hope not only for all Europeans but also for the peoples living in other regions of the world.

A community of solidarity

The Catholic bishops said that the EU is founded on "universal values". The teachings of Christ are the basis of many of Europe's values. They added: "...we wish the responsible politicians and all the citizens of the EU, actual and future, hope, trust and above all solidarity".

The Bishops stressed that the Europeanisation of the European Union through enlargement is a source of hope, an opportunity for the rebirth of the European Union and of its primary mission, which is to promote liberty, justice, peace and prosperity both within and outside its frontiers.

"Solidarity", said the bishops, is the expression of the Christian commandment of love and all the EU member states must show solidarity towards one another.

This means that the current EU member states must show their solidarity towards the new members by reforming some of the current EU policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy and share with the new members the means to help them restructure their economies and societies.

The mutual solidarity between old and new members must also be shown when they begin to discuss changes to the financing of the EU after 2006. These discussions will begin as soon as membership is completed and must end before 2006.

Together, both old and new member states must seek to show solidarity with the rest of the world. The bishops appealed to the EU to keep its promise of giving 0.7% of its GDP in the form of development aid. (The EU is the world's biggest aid donor).

The EU must serve the universal common good and apply solidarity with the rest of the world.

A union based on trust

Being part of the EU means that we are obliged to respect both the similarities and differences of European cultures. All the member states are equal and they are to work not only for their individual interests but also for the common good of the Community.

In an enlarged Union, all the member states need to have trust in one another and to recognise the importance of the EU institutions which have been entrusted by the member states to work for the common good.

The political and economic interdependence of the EU member states requires trust not only among the politicians but also among all its citizens. The bishops stressed the point they had already made in 1997 that trust must serve as the spiritual bond uniting all citizens.

All initiatives of the institutions, organisations and citizens must aim to build trust among the European peoples.

No Fortress Europe

The elimination of interior barriers and the unification of Europe must not lead to a "Fortress Europe". The defence of the frontiers of the Union is important for the security of its citizens and to combat practices that go against human dignity such as the illicit trafficking of humans and children.

Immigrants and refugees must be treated with compassion and justice. Europe must work to eradicate those things which are forcing people to leave their countries in search of a better life in the EU, by promoting in these non-European countries democracy, human rights and the rule of law and economic progress.

The EU must remain open to those European countries which have expressed the wish to join it but will not be doing so in the next enlargement (Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey).

In this case the most important thing is for the Union to continue to promote the reforms in these countries with the aim of satisfying the economic and political criteria established by the Copenhagen Council in 1993 namely democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and the respect and protection of minority rights.

In brief

· For the sake of those who still persist in using the Church and religion as a weapon against membership it is clear that YES, the Catholic Church is in favour of the EU;

· We may also add that it is not only the Catholic Church which has come out in favour of the EU but also most other mainstream Christian churches;

· The EU is a union of states and peoples based on values

· Most of these values are derived from Christianity even if they appear in a secularised form;

· According to the European bishops, the EU's main mission is to promote liberty, justice, peace and prosperity both within and outside its frontiers.

· Enlargement puts to an end finally, the division of Europe;

· Europeans must show not only internal solidarity among themselves but also with the rest of the world.

· Member states must work not only for their individual interests but also for their common good.

· The EU must work to achieve the universal good.

· Solidarity and trust must be strengthened internally among European citizens and externally with the rest of the World

· Europe must not become "Fortress Europe"

Why membership is good for Malta

Who benefits from Malta's membership of the EU?

1. The many firms and the individuals who work in them because access is achieved through membership to the world's biggest market and other world markets - their volume of exports of goods and services can increase;

2. All sectors of the economy from the self-employed and small retailers to large local enterprises due to the increased spending power in the economy.

3. All categories of people through a wider choice of products and competition which helps keep price inflation down;

4. Job seekers because the opportunities abound as a result of foreign direct investment which will increase due to membership.

5. Young people who can receive quality training and education in Europe at exceptionally low rates and eventually succeed in netting good salaried positions in Malta;

6. The country as a whole because a roaring economy helps us tackle better our economic problems such as the public deficit;

7. All citizens because our society becomes more open and the values of democracy are strengthened.

8. All citizens because of a cleaner environment, safer food and drinking water, cleaner air as a result of the eventual application of all EU norms in this field.