Reply #9: We have managed so far without a reference [View All]

[Stockholm]

to god in our treaties. We will manage without a reference in this treaty/constitution. In this discussion the following points have to be considered.

1. The countries trying desperately to having the reference included is mainly catholic. The EU include countries belonging to other branches of christianity.

2. Separation of state and church is important to many countries within the EU.

3. UK and other countries are supporting the future membership of Turkey, this reference-to-god-bit has been used as an argument by opposing countries as to why they should not be admitted.

4. There are far more important parts of the constitution draft that need to be safe guarded, religious freedom can be inserted in the HR part of the text.

5. The history part is just a bogus argument. That we are Europeans because we share a "christian" past is just one piece of the puzzle as is the fact that we inhabit Europe. The why-part of the existence of an European Union can be found in the founding treatis (Coal and Steel, Rome). That is exactly how far back into history we should gaze.