| |
3/06/06
COMECE: Statement on recent referenda results
Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community
Statement on behalf of Mgr Noël Treanor, Secretary General of
the Commission
of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community.
3 June 2005
“The French and Dutch “No” require discernment on the part of
both politicians and citizens. The “ No” vote is multifarious.
Therefore an outright rejection of the European project is not
to be concluded.
It expresses genuine apprehension concerning social, economic
and security issues in the member states and questions the
adequacy of EU policy in these regards. It sounds a warning on
limitless enlargement of the EU. Citizens’ fears require
courageous and coherent responses on the part of our political
leaders both at national and European level
Unfortunately it is also the case that a proportion of the “no”
vote is the result of misinformation and inadequate
communication of the purpose and content of the Constitutional
Treaty.
It underlines the need to develop transparency, legitimacy and
participation in the system of governance. New ways of
communicating the purpose of the European project itself and the
process of European policy-making will have to be devised. To be
credible and owned by the European citizen, European
policymaking has to be clearly rooted in a value system that
respects and promotes Europe’s heritage.
It should not be forgotten that ten member states have already
ratified the Constitutional Treaty. The significance of these
endorsements should not be ignored.
The Constitutional Treaty is the product of a creative effort on
the part of European and national political representatives,
civil servants, constitutional specialists and representatives
of the numerous components of European civil society. Its
achievement as a compromise between 25 member states still
stands. It will remain an essential source for the further
evolution of the European project.
All citizens of Europe, Christian citizens in particular, must
re-energise their appreciation of the political and societal
importance of the European project and of its achievements so
far. Today the European project remains as vital for promoting
peace, achieving economic growth, and assuring social cohesion
and inclusion as it was fifty years ago.
In its forthcoming meeting on 9 -10 June the Executive Committee
of COMECE will consider the outcome of the recent referenda.”
COMECE is a commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of
the member states of the European Union.
Contact:
Clare Coffey
COMECE Press Officer
Tel. +32 2 235 0515 or + 32 486 583250
|
