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Round Table on Challenges and Values of Europe of today Held
19.11.2008, 10:42
A round table
was organized within the French EU Presidency at the EU Info Centre
entitled ‘How do we perceive Europe today? Cross-views on the meaning
and values'. Under the patronage of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and European Integration, Croatian Ministry of Culture, French
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, French Embassy in Croatia,
Delegation of the European Commission to the Republic of Croatia and
French and Italian Institutes in Zagreb, many prominent speakers shared
their views on Europe's development in view of history, cultural
identity and the development of European values, Europe's relations
with the world and the purpose and values of the future Europe. Head of
the Delegation of the European Commission to the Republic of Croatia,
Vincent Degert, pointed out that the EU can be the stability reference
point only through its ideals. EU enlargement is one of them and it
brings stability and progress to the region of South-East Europe, with
great importance placed on the legal state, fight against corruption
and organized crime and a functioning judiciary.
In the introductory lectures by French Ambassador to Croatia, François Saint Paul, State Secretary for European Integration, Davor Božinović and State Secretary in charge of International Relations at the Ministry of Culture, Nina Obuljen, it was emphasized that the region today has a European perspective. With the European identity comes the heritage of values, even though the European Union today is perceived primarily as a successful economic entity which managed to respond to the challenges of the post-war Europe: prosperity and security. The biggest success of today's European Union is its newly achieved dignity and the world-leader role after centuries of wars.
Talking about Europe in view of history, Scientific Director of the European College of Parma, Professor Alfonso Mattera Ricigliano and Professor Drago Roksandić from the Zagreb Faculty of Philosophy pointed out that the biggest European challenge through history was achieving the model of society, based on the values of European identity, which presents the European way of living, believing and acting: respect for human identity, freedom, democracy, tolerance and forgiveness. Professor Roksandić stressed that European complexity is manifested in South East Europe and that EU's biggest challenge today is confronting the post-Yugoslavian heritage and Western Balkans issues in the geographical and historical context.
Professor Predrag Matvejević, Marie Roger Biloa, Editor-in-chief of Africa-International and Ulrike Guerot, Head of the Berlin Officeat the European Council on Foreign. Relations, talked about the European identity, the way of communicating the European Union and perception of the EU. The European Union is a moderator in the world order which sets an example for development of peace and cooperation, which can also be applied to the Western Balkans region.
Editor at TV 5 Monde, Philippe Dessaint, MEP Catherine Lalumiere and the Archbishopof Rijeka Metropolitan,Ivan Devčić, talked about the meaning and spiritual value of the European order, the dimension and role of Christianity in Europe and the idea of European values, such as dialogue, diversity and respect for minorities, through the development of the European integration project.
Source: http://www.delhrv.ec.europa.eu/en/content/news/id/1415