Review article

The Obligation of Conducting Regular Dialogue Between the Institutions of the European Union and European Churches

Neven Šimac ; Center for European Documentation and Research »Robert Schuman«, Split, Croatia

Abstract

European Christians and especially Catholics have had significant impact on the birth, development and life of European institutions that emerged in the wake of the World War II and that were based on Christian and humanistic values, democratic principles and the rule of law - The Council of Europe, European Union and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. This initial role of Christians, together with the cathartic spirit of the times, naturally inspired the need and maintained the permanency - at first informally and later on more obligatory - of dialogue between religion and the »communities of belief« with the European institutions. In processes of political integration in the Council of Europe, this dialogue is conducted not only with the non-government organisations, but also within the framework of the institutional protection of values, human rights and social achievements. Concerning the economic integration of the European Union, the dialogue was first conducted informally, thanks to the dedicated Christians in the EU institutions. However, four years ago it also assumed an obligatory role within the EU institutions, as well as an institutional confirmation in the EU treaty. In this regular, open and transparent dialogue which is conducted at several levels and deals with a wide spectrum of issues, the Catholic side is primarily represented by the coordination of bishops' conferences of member countries, EU - COMECE. However, other religious communities and »communities of belief « also take part in it. In this way the European continent gives an example of taking into account the value criteria and the spiritual and philosophical principles when formulating and implementing policies of the institutions of the European Union. These policies, based on the principle of subsidiarity, are to be beneficial to all the member countries and to the European citizens.

Keywords

Spirituality and values; European integrations and religious references; human rights and the laity of the states; informal and institutional dialogue between religions and the EU; content and themes of dialogue; participants of and opportunities for the dialogue

Hrčak ID:

96179

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/96179

Publication date:

29.1.2013.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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