OPR-  Thursday, 26th April, 2007

Your Excellencies,

Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to meet all you young people here today!  You are the future.  You are the new generation of artists, philosophers, scientists, teachers, architects, doctors, leaders, contributors to tomorrow’s society.  That which you dream today may turn to tomorrow’s living reality.  My first wish would be: do not lose sight of your dreams.  Engage in projects that go beyond your personal careers or self-interest.  Dream about alternatives even if at the moment they may seem improbable, impossible or simply fantastic.  While we all must work with the world as we find it, yet we still work towards remaking it as we want it to be.

The forefathers of the European Union had a dream – a dream which did not seem probable in a continent that had been wracked and damaged, in body and soul, by two atrocious World Wars – the dream of a union of independent nations, each with its own history, culture and identity, founded on a common understanding of values, freedom, democracy and the dignity of each individual.  They thought ahead and had a hard time convincing their nations that their idea made sense.  Their radical, new idea was that State sovereignty would be enhanced, not diminished, by exercising it collegially for the good of all Europe’s citizens.

The signing 50 years ago of the Treaty of Rome was the beginning of a journey into peace, prosperity and security for Europe.  As active citizens, you young people of Europe are called to build upon the dream of the Union’s founders, to help further shape and build a common European future.

Just as each European citizen is a beneficiary of what has been achieved so far, so each can be a contributor.  At this junction of Europe’s development, questions arise as to the future direction of the Union.  Some feel that European integration has gone too far, others that it hasn’t gone far enough; some doubt the current or future absorption capacity of the Union, others would like to keep on drawing new member States.  These tensions and debates are perhaps inevitable in a Union which is still evolving and new even for its longest-serving members.

Drawing on Europe’s Christian heritage and inspired by the Union’s vision of a multinational community based on democratic principles and sharing common values, we have this fascinating chance to build a 21^st century European Union which all citizens can feel part of.  It is my firm belief that a Constitutional Treaty or Charter for Europe would give further expression to the European identity, making it easier for the citizens of an integrating Europe to recognise what the European Union stands for, to understand it better and, consequently, to identify themselves with it.  Moreover, the Constitutional Treaty is also a commitment to the Fundamental Rights Charter contained therein.

Europe is called upon to take the lead not only with regard to local and European problems, but also increasingly to the many global challenges of this century – globalization, social inclusion, climate change and security.  Today’s challenges are so big that no one country could possibly tackle them on its own.  We need to act collectively.  Europe is made up of different personalities and perspectives and all these should contribute to the achievement of our common goals.

There is in this world a pitifully gross waste of human talent, resulting from conflict and famine, endemic poverty and Aids, to mention but a few – problems large and intractable enough to temper our self-congratulation at any successes we have achieved, but not our determination to continue striving together and fashion the new Europe that can take on the challenges and opportunities presented by the modern world. 

Schuman recognised as early as 1950 that “Europe shall not be made all at once, or according to one single, general plan.  It will be formed by taking measures which work primarily to bring about real solidarity.”  I am confident of the capability of today’s young generation.  I encourage you all to go on thinking about how to make our world a better place.  I am confident that the more people look together in the same direction, the more successful we will be.