BRUSSELS FOCUS EU-Office Brussels 38, rue du Tacitume B-1000 Brussels Tel: 00 32 22 34 62 80 Fax: 00 32 22 34 62 81 fes@fes-europe.eu www.fes-europe.eu Common Values in challenging times: Dialogue among Europeans Conference Summary, Bibliothèque Solvay, 22 nd of September 10/2006 The joint basis of the European Union, the com­mon values, was at the centre of a one-day round table discussion, which the EU- Office of the Frie­drich-Ebert-Stiftung organised on the 22 nd of Sep­tember at the Bibliothèque Solvay. The round table brought together politicians and intellectuals from the member states and countries aspiring for membership. This double perspective helped to refresh the stagnating debate in the European Union with the view from countries, where popula­tion and government seek with many efforts to become members of the Union. The universal basis of Europe The lively debate described a broad range of val­ues, embracing the EU of 25 member states. The many different countries with their respective tradi­tions, histories, as well as concepts of statehood and governance were seen as united by the com­mon adherence to universal values. The human rights, democracy, and solidarity as well as the trust in the capability of the European Union to guarantee peace, stability, and prosperity on the continent form the bond between the members. The discussion on the coverage but especially on the ability of this range of European values to in­duce cohesion on the continent concentrated on the three central terms: universality, diversity, and dialogue. The concept of identity or the idea of specific European values was seen as too exclusive to func­tion as the basis for the process of European inte­gration. The discussion emphasised therefore that the distinguishing element in European values is their universal and hence open notion. The ideas of human rights, democracy, solidarity as well as re­spect and tolerance on which Europe founded the integration process after the disastrous experiences of the 19 th and 20 th century were and are inclusive and universal. They were defined therefore not as “European” values, but rather as the major task of progressive forces all around the globe and also in Europe. It is their accomplishment in Europe, that these values have been deeply rooted – as the Copenhagen criteria show – in the contractual basis for the European Union. Fading trust in the EU The need for more intensive debates on the com­mon values in Europe was nonetheless seen, due to fading trust of the European societies in the EU. This should be countered by a process of debate to recall the EU’s successes in gaining peace and prosperity on the continent, a feeling which pre­vails in the states of the Western Balkan aspiring for membership. A clearer definition of the so­called“European Way of Life”(Commissioner Verheugen) was regarded as the first step to rein­vigorate the European spirit in the Union. The European Way of Life The specific attributes of the“European Way of Life” which has been developed on the common basis of universal values and under the conditions of peace and prosperity, were identified in the addition of the respect of differences and the cul­ture of dialogue to the universal values. The par­ticipants emphasised the multiple sources of Euro­pean traditions like Greek philosophy, Roman law, Christianity, the influence of Islam, the Renais­sance, and the rule of the Osman empire especially in South-Eastern Europe and many more. Differ­ence is therefore one of the most fundamental principles when debating on European values. According to this, the term of a single European identity is misleading and creates a clear distinction between insiders and outsiders, which neglects also the universalistic approach of the European basis. The EU should adhere to its multidimensional