European Democracy, Solidarity, and Effectiveness. Before the summer, I had the opportunity to contribute to the European policy positioning of the Catholic Church in Germany.
Here are the three summarized guiding principles:
1 Democratic EU: The EU must defend its democratic values and open society against extremism and nationalism by strengthening freedom, human dignity, and the rule of law.
2 Solidarity in the EU: Solidarity is central to the EU, both in the economic development of its member states and in addressing global challenges like climate protection and migration.
3 Effective EU: In light of geopolitical threats, particularly the war in Ukraine, the EU must ensure its defense capabilities and independence to maintain prosperity and security.
The Episcopal Working Group on Europe published its statement on the current challenges facing the European Union in July. Under the leadership of Bishop Dr. Franz-Josef Overbeck, the group addresses important topics such as migration, climate change, social justice, and the strengthening of European integration. The statement is directed at all those responsible for European policy.
Since 2016, I have been an advisor to the Episcopal Working Group on Europe at the German Bishops’ Conference. In this role, I support the group in analyzing and addressing European challenges and contribute to the formulation of statements and recommendations.
Full text available from the German Bishops’ Conference in English.