Last revised: January 2002
Next Working Group Meeting: 21-22 June 2002

The Working Group is focusing its attention particularly on the following areas:

1. Churches in the process of European integration

   The working group organised its last meeting in Warsaw, Poland. The meeting was used for contacts and discussions with representatives of churches, including member churches of CEC and the Roman Catholic Church, and with government representatives. Participants from Poland described the complexities of the relation of churches to society and the impact of the European integration process. In the discussion the following main points were raised:

   • The process of European integration is interconnected with other parallel processes, e.g. economic transformation, globalisation, secularisation. It is worth the effort to distinguish among them, to demythologise the process of European integration and evaluate it apart from influences which are parallel but not necessarily identical with it.
   • The agendas of many churches in Central and Eastern Europe seem in many respects to be different from the issues which are important for Western European churches. The real, everyday problems and struggles of the minority churches have to be recognised. How are Western churches to be partners with them, and not exclude them?
   • More attention should be given to the question of what is the contribution of Central and Eastern Europe to the process of European integration.
   • The process of European integration needs to be accompanied by more information and discussion about all its aspects. Its positive and negative sides should be evaluated in open and fair discussion. People need to be more identified with the process.

2. Future of Europe

   Presenting a vision for the future of Europe is a task also for the churches. The working group plans to elaborate this theme in its upcoming work, and will relate it to the discussion taking place in political institutions and in the society. The results of this work can become a contribution to the debate in the EU Convention. Discussion on the future of Europe from the perspective of churches needs to underline that EU should keep its commitment to its original purposes, and at the same time strive for appropriate recognition of diversity in Europe.

3. Civil society

   The theme "civil society" has been chosen as the main topic for discussion in the Church and Society Commission (CSC) at its next meeting, which will be held in April 2002. The Working Group on the European Integration Process has prepared an initial discussion paper for presentation in the CSC plenary, on the role of the churches in the civil society - the task of the churches, available instruments for activities of the churches, and co-operation with other partners in the civil society, taking into account the positions of various churches and church families (Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican) on the issue. The theme will be further elaborated at various levels of the CSC. A broader audience of interested persons will also be invited to contribute to the discussion. A seminar on the theme of churches and civil society will take place 2-4 March 2002 in the Evangelical Academy in Loccum (Germany).

Proposed dates for future meetings:

21-22 June and 18-19 or 25-26 October