The dignity of human beings

On the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome by which the European Economic Community was established, the leaders of the 27 EU member states met in Berlin and issued a declaration stressing the central importance they attach to the dignity of the individual, which is at the heart of the EU.

The Berlin Declaration must have surprised many for its brevity and crispness. Those who are familiar with the EU are not used to such short declarations, which say it all in just 600 words or so.

Quite encouragingly, of late, EU declarations have tended to be more on the shorter than on the longer side. If we really want people to follow what the Union is doing, it must remain mindful of the fact that what cannot be said in a few words had better be left unsaid.

Since the Berlin Declaration is so brief, we are able to reproduce it in full here. The declaration gathers all the values for which the EU stands for. It does not exalt the Union to the heavens. The EU is not perfect. Simply put, the EU has made it possible for us "to live together as was never possible before".

But what are we actually doing? We are striving for peace and freedom, for democracy and the rule of law, for mutual respect and shared responsibility, for prosperity and security, for tolerance and participation, for justice and solidarity.

We are preserving the social model of economic development, maintaining our diversities while uniting to confront common dangers. The EU's most lucrative export is its values. These have flourished into central and Eastern Europe so that the democracy and peace reign from the Atlantic to the Urals. We are defending our Union against common threats but it was rather awkward that in the declaration illegal immigration was lumped together with terrorism and organised crime.

The Berlin Declaration

Declaration on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the signature of the Treaties of Rome:

For centuries Europe has been an idea, holding out hope of peace and understanding. That hope has been fulfilled. European unification has made peace and prosperity possible. It has brought about a sense of community and overcome differences.

Each member state has helped to unite Europe and to strengthen democracy and the rule of law. Thanks to the yearning for freedom of the peoples of Central and Eastern Europe, the unnatural division of Europe is now consigned to the past.

European integration shows that we have learnt the painful lessons of a history marked by bloody conflict. Today we live together as was never possible before.

We, the citizens of the European Union, have united for the better.

I.

In the European Union, we are turning our common ideals into reality: for us, the individual is paramount. His dignity is inviolable. His rights are inalienable. Women and men enjoy equal rights.

We are striving for peace and freedom, for democracy and the rule of law, for mutual respect and shared responsibility, for prosperity and security, for tolerance and participation, for justice and solidarity.

We have a unique way of living and working together in the European Union. This is expressed through the democratic interaction of the member states and the European institutions. The European Union is founded on equal rights and mutually supportive co-operation. This enables us to strike a fair balance between member states' interests.

We preserve in the European Union the identities and diverse traditions of its member states. We are enriched by open borders and a lively variety of languages, cultures and regions. There are many goals, which we cannot achieve on our own, but only in concert. Tasks are shared between the European Union, the member states and their regions and local authorities.

II.

We are facing major challenges, which do not stop at national borders. The European Union is our response to these challenges. Only together can we continue to preserve our ideal of European society in future for the good of all European Union citizens.

This European model combines economic success and social responsibility. The common market and the euro make us strong. We can thus shape the increasing interdependence of the global economy and ever growing competition on international markets according to our values. Europe's wealth lies in the knowledge and ability of its people; that is the key to growth, employment and social cohesion.

We will fight terrorism, organised crime and illegal immigration together. We stand up for liberties and civil rights also in the struggle against those who oppose them. Racism and xenophobia must never again be given any rein.

We are committed to the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the world and to ensuring that people do not become victims of war, terrorism and violence. The European Union wants to promote freedom and development in the world. We want to drive back poverty, hunger and disease. We want to continue to take a leading role in that fight.

We intend jointly to lead the way in energy policy and climate protection and make our contribution to averting the global threat of climate change.

III.

The European Union will continue to thrive both on openness and on the will of its member states to consolidate the Union's internal development. The European Union will continue to promote democracy, stability and prosperity beyond its borders.

With European unification, a dream of earlier generations has become a reality. Our history reminds us that we must protect this for the good of future generations.

For that reason we must always renew the political shape of Europe in keeping with the times. That is why today, 50 years after the signing of the Treaties of Rome, we are united in our aim of placing the European Union on a renewed common basis before the European Parliament elections in 2009.

For we know, Europe is our common future.