Relevance of religion and the peace objectives of the EU

The discussions at the convention on the future of Europe include a number of topics that range from religion to the EU's commitment to peace.

Rev. Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott, the government's representative, gives an update on the convention's work in an interview by Joe Mercieca.

The convention on the future of Europe recently discussed the first seven chapters of the proposed constitution dealing with the values and objectives of the European Union. Fr Serracino Inglott says a consensus has emerged concerning the vexed question of the place of religion in the constitution.

Parallel to the meeting of the convention, there was the six-monthly meeting of COMECE (Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community). Fr Serracino Inglott was invited to give members of COMECE an inside picture of the dynamics of the convention. In particular, the bishops and their representatives were keen to keep abreast of the convention's treatment of religious, moral and human values.

Asked about the Christian Churches' stand on the European Union, Fr Serracino Inglott remarked that he was always very struck at how strongly the representatives of the bishops' conferences of all member states expressed themselves for Europe and its further integration. Although they do not approve of everything that happens, yet it is absolutely obvious to them that in a Christian perspective, the good which the EU means for mankind far outweighs whatever negative elements crop up.

At the latest COMECE meeting briefed by Fr Serracino Inglott, the bishops were quite pleased at the outcome of the discussion on the place of religion in the constitution as it is emerging. Agreement seems to have been reached that the preamble to the constitution will more or less echo the preamble to the charter on human rights.

What is, however, more important, is that the two major points which the bishops wished to have enshrined in the constitution will be there. The first is that all competence in matters involving religion and national values will belong to the member states.

Asked what this translates to in practice, Fr Serracino Inglott explained that this means that European institutions will have no say whatsoever in such issues as abortion or church schools.

The second point regards the provision of "structured dialogue" with the Churches whenever religious or ethical issues come up. The bishops had insisted that the Churches should not be lumped together with the rest of civil society since they did not speak as a lobby to secure rights for their members but were witnesses to the lessons which mankind had learnt over centuries.

Asked on the quasi demonisation of the EU by some members of the clergy writing in the local press about God and the EU, Fr Serracino Inglott said he was astonished by the remarks of some who write as if they were spokesmen for the Church and who do so in a manner which is the exact opposite to that of the bishops with a special responsibility in European affairs.

He explained that there may well not be a direct invocation of God in the constitution. This is so especially now with the general unhappiness that the invocation of God by both Saddam Hussein and President George W. Bush have caused. Moreover, the constitutions of most states, even those with strong Christian traditions, including Malta do not have such invocations, and this silence does not seem to have ever disturbed the Maltese and Gozitan protesters about the European constitution. In fact it seems that the European constitution will contain actually more favourable provisions from the Churches' point of view than the Maltese Constitution does. The lifting of their hands in horror by Eurosceptics can only smack of political prejudice.

The convention held meetings at which the nominee of the Maltese government participated. The discussion focused on the constitution dealing with security, justice and freedom.

Fr Serracino Inglott recalled that the need for the convention did not arise only because of the enlargement of the Union from 15 to 25 (one hopes) countries, although this enlargement does call for some reform of the European institutions. The convention has to propose the best ways in which the European institutions can assume increased responsibility for two areas in which there has been so far only cooperation between the member states. These two areas are, firstly, external affairs including defence and, secondly, security, including response to the threats of international criminality, such as drug trafficking, trading of human beings and illegal immigration.

In Fr Serracino Inglott's view, security has to be ensured while completely safeguarding justice and freedom. In fact, the establishment of a police and related judiciary system similar to those in federal states such as the US, implies a two level arrangement functioning at both the continental and the national level. It is only through the much more integrated provision of services at the continental level that the thoroughly international organisation of the criminal activities that are the major threat to our security today can be controlled.

How did the Iraq crisis affect the agenda of the convention? Fr Serracino Inglott replied that there were some members of the convention who felt it was not advisable to proceed with the provisions that had been envisaged while the disagreement between two groups of European countries about Iraq persisted. However this is not at all the general feeling.

The countries which are keen on actually uniting their forces have already shown their determination to proceed, but they have also made it clear that they are anxious to re-establish cooperative dialogue not only with the United Kingdom but also with the USA. The real concern on which there is consensus at the convention is that the split which has occurred must not be allowed to happen again. There is a very strong disposition to re-start with the cooperative approach at the very next stage of dealing with the Iraqi crisis. Already it seems that all European member states, including the UK, are agreed on this.

The convention's task now appears to be to find the best way in which external affairs can be managed not fully according to the community method but in respect of both the capabilities and sensitivities of each European state.

Fr Serracino Inglott said it has surprised some that in this context it was Belgium, a small country with practically no armed forces of its own, that has taken the initiative to push ahead with the Franco-German proposals with regard to defence arrangements. But then the EU has many examples where small nations are able to use this dynamic platform to make substantive contributions that affect Europe and beyond. This initiative shows that it is possible, even for a country that is not only small but also with an insignificant military force to contribute ideas and influence the course of events.

Malta, in particular Michael Frendo, has put forward a solidarity clause formulated in a way that would avoid resort to the "enhanced cooperation" provision even in the defence sector and the establishment of a two-speed Europe.

A further proof of the say that small countries have in the European Union has been given by their success in defending the "rotating presidency" as a feature of future European institutions, in clear illustration of the basic equality of big and small states in the Union.

How does the EU feature in the new geo-political jigsaw that seems to be evolving in the light of the Iraq crisis?

Fr Serracino Inglott firmly believes that the consolidation of the EU has now become not only necessary to guarantee the internal peace of Europe but also for the promotion of world peace. This is, in fact, the major reason why the bishops at the COMECE meeting were not only so certain about the positive value of the European Union's enlargement and deepening but also on the value of the structural dialogue between the Church and the EU. The Church is confident that through this structured dialogue it will have the opportunity not only to defend moral values within Europe but also justice which is the only basis of peace at the global level.