Sudoku competition at the European Parliament
Il Sudoku del Parlamento europeo
EN | IT | FR | DE – Who will sit where, with whom and to defend what interests? The puzzle of the populist MEPs in discovering democracy, European Parliament-style.
Eu elections
Major tasks await the new European Parliament
Grandi compiti attendono il Parlamento eletto
EN | IT | FR | DE – Reinhard Cardinal Marx (COMECE President): “A large majority of the citizens who participated in the European elections voted for pro-European candidates. In the years to come this will allow the European Parliament to continue its work for the common good of all Europeans with dedicated and competent women and men”.
Not so bad as it seemed
Nicht so schlimm wie es scheint
ED | DE | IT – It is not easy, the day after, to gain an overview on whom and what the citizens voted for in the 28 EU States. As with the famous Pieter Bruegel’s painting “The Peasant Wedding”, the viewer loses himself in the many details and at first sees mainly those details which seem to be particularly dramatic. But one should not lose sight of the whole picture, despite these glaring details. And the picture does not look so bad at all. The turnout has slightly risen (to 43.1%). But above all: more than 70% of Europeans voted for parties that support the European Union and the political road to the unification of Europe, even though with some criticism on single issues.
At dawn the next day
All’alba del giorno dopo
EN | IT | PL | FR | DE – We are at the European elections countdown, at a political flashpoint, with clashing predictions of opposite signs: a part of the public opinion seeking to unravel the tangle of controversy while another part has clear ideas about the choice to be made. As usual, there is part of the information aimed at making you think and there is part of the information which is sided, in order to make people side. The thing is, however, that we are at the eve of the elections and the voters are at a crossroad between the end of a great idea and its changes.
Together we can find solutions
Insieme per risolvere le sfide emergenti
EN | IT – We are now at the final stages; on 22th May the first ballots will open. The campaign is getting livelier, even though the debates are played more often at the national than at the European level. Well centered on Europe are the numerous messages, appeals, statements that have been published in recent weeks and days by individual bishops or conferences of bishops in relation to the upcoming elections. Here are the statements of the bishops Lithuanians, Latvians and those of the French bishops’ conference.
A journey which is still long
Un cammino ancora lungo
EN | IT – A dream shared since birth, a farsighted project but, most of all, a challenge which is impossible to give up. This is the kind of Europe Azione Cattolica Italiana talks about in a document presented in Rome a few days ago, during the XV national Assembly of the association. With a look broadened to the continent that gives us “a modern, complex, still credible kind of democracy able to promise a better future”, Azione Cattolica registers the need to renew the project of De Gasperi, Schuman, Adenauer and Monnet in order to build up a “closer, stronger, more united Europe, and face those problems in front of which national politics have neither means nor adequate resources”.
Voting with a look to the world
Al voto guardando al mondo
EN | FR | IT – A letter addressed to the candidates in the forthcoming elections for the European Parliament (and indirectly to all citizens of the 28 EU countries) calling them not to lock up the electoral competition between the borders of Europe was sent by Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN). This is an international network, created in 1998, which brings together 50 Christian-Catholic religious congregations and about eighty thousand members from the two continents.
Looking at migrations
Guardare alle migrazioni
EN | IT | FR – Looking at migrations can help us think about Europe. Indeed, in these years when the ideal of a united Europe is questioned as never before, the governance of migrations can help us understand which perspectives we want to give to our common future.
A debate in the Churches
Un dibattito nelle Chiese
EN | IT – Also the churches in different European countries are showing their engagement in the debate. Thus, for example, the Church of Finland has invited eight major candidates in a debate on the Finns’ ‘Manifesto for the European elections’. On the other hand, the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) has produced a sort of “manual” on the forthcoming elections.
More unity, more security
Più unità, più sicurezza
EN | IT – Among the many questions raised in the electoral debate about the future of the European Union those related to internal and external security must not be forgotten. They are indissolubly linked and need a common strategy in order to be effective and to meet the right of both the European citizens and those of the whole world.