Church calls for encouragement of Turkey bid – and “spiritual bridge”

Date: 12/12/02

By Martin Banks

CATHOLIC church leaders have called on the summit to help create a "spiritual bridge of unity" and for Turkey to be encouraged in its efforts to join the Union.

The meeting of heads of state and government leaders is an opportunity to build renewed trust between member states and the countries in line to join the EU in 2004, according to the Commission of Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE).

The Brussels-based body representing Catholic bishops from member states hails the accession of ten new members as the realisation of a hope "particularly cherished" by the Church.

However, COMECE secretary-general Noel Treanor warned it was important that enlargement does not lead to new divisions in Europe.

He said he hoped that Turkey, which has around a 99 Muslim population, would succeed in implementing the wide-ranging reforms required for its possible membership.

He was speaking at the publication of a report entitled Hope, Trust and Solidarity, which will be forwarded to this week's summit in the Danish capital.

The document states that, rather than enlargement, the accession of ten new members should be called the "Europeanisation" of the EU as it represents a "profoundly significant" transformation of the continent's history.

It also calls on Christians everywhere to engage more fully in the current debate on Europe's future.

Treanor adds: "Christians cannot be mere spectators of the political processes of Europe. Our task is to engage creatively in the search for solutions.

"The European Convention is an opportunity for us to help define the values and objectives of our common project."

Catholic church leaders have called on the Copenhagen summit to help create a 'spiritual bridge of unity' and for Turkey to be encouraged in its efforts to join the European Union.