Catholic justice and peace campaigners have urged the European Union to become “more democratic and less centralised”, in order to avoid losing more member states after Britain’s vote to leave the EU
“The EU is in bad shape. One important member state has decided to leave, and many others openly ignore or defy rules and decisions previously adopted together", the Conference of European Justice and Peace Commissions said in a statement from its Luxembourg general assembly. “To bring things together again needs above all the restoring of trust - trust among member states and, clearly, the trust of citizens in politics in general and in European institutions in particular".
The statement was issued following the first summit of EU heads of government without Britain, last month in Bratislava. It added that the EU was intended to “bring together democratic nation states,” rather than replace them, and depended for survival on support from "stable and clear majorities" in each member country.
“Trust in Europe will not result from declarations, roadmaps and speeches, and certainly not in the short term,” the statement continued. “It will take years to rebuild what was lost and it will need substantial results in terms of quality jobs for young people, new opportunities for the poorest, more security for all and protection of the environment. It will require more transparent and democratic procedures, more respect for national, regional and local traditions.”
The Brussels-based Conference, headed by Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, comprises 31 national justice and peace commissions, established by local bishops’ conferences.
It said that elections across Europe during 2017 could "further weaken popular support" for a united Europe, and urged churches to help “lead and promote the EU”. It added that Justice and Peace Commissions would submit 10 "concrete policy proposals" next Lent for "improving the EU and bringing it closer to its citizens". The Conference stated its strong commitment to the EU, but warned that any possible breakup would accelerate the "gloomy prophecies" of Europe's economic and demographic decline.
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