News Brief

Reference to Christianity in EU constitution gaining support

-5/4/04

The controversial issue of whether there should be a reference to Christianity in the future EU constitution might be gaining support.

According to Jan Truszczynski, Polish deputy minister for foreign affairs, around 10 countries from the future 25, support a reference to Christian values and tradition in the preamble of the Constitution.

Mr Truszczynski however admitted on that the issue remains an "open but difficult" one, and that it is "difficult to image a compromise" due to the different opinions amongst the countries.

The preamble, written by ValÈry Giscard d'Estaing and colleagues in the European convention, is meant to provide a quotable introduction - akin to the "We the people" of the US constitution - which can be studied by children and memorised by all.

Poland has been strongly pushing to have a reference to the Christian heritage in the text, but this has been opposed by some of the current EU states, among them France and Belgium. Turkey is among other countries to say that it is not overly concerned.

European bishops welcomed the draft EU constitution when it was published last year. Churches have also said that it would provide a regular opportunity for the EU institutions to discuss issues of mutual concern with religious communities, under article 51 of the draft Treaty.

But the Pope entered the debate shortly after its publication saying that there should be reference to Europe's religious heritage.

The Greek Orthodox Church and centre-right parties in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Poland are also understood to be lobbying in the same way as the catholic church.

Some Christians are however opposed to lobbying for the recognition of Christianity in the EU constitution. Some point to Jesus tirade against the Pharisees in the gospel of Matthew, where Jesus paraphrases the prophet Micah.

There Jesus emphasises issues of justice over and above religious tradition, which critics say, Jesus suggests is a distraction from the matters of real importance.

Whilst addressing the issue of the Constitution talks to polish deputies, Mr Truszczynski said that the Polish government will push so that the balance between the big and small EU countries is respected in the voting mechanisms of the council.

The Convention on the Future of Europe has produced an EU Constitution to replace the existing EU and EC treaties. The text was agreed upon by 'consensus' in the Convention June 13 2003. No voting took place. It was presented by Giscard d¥Estaing to the heads of governments and states at the Thessaloniki Summit (Greece) on 20th June 2003.

The Constitutional Treaty is divided into four parts:

Part I: Objectives, values, institutions, competences finances, etc. of the Union.

Part II: Charter of Fundamental Rights

Part III: Assembles and amends the present EU and EC Treaties.

Part IV: Final provisions

The Intergovernmental Conference has negotiated the EU Constitution since October 2003. If all the Member States and acceding countries sign the constitution, it has to be ratified through the national parliaments or through referenda.