Held in Tusnad in northern Romania, the event was attended by 5,000 predominantly young people from Hungary, Ukraine, Slovakia and the republics of former Yugoslavia, as well as current politicians in the European Christian Democratic movement, the European Peoples Party.

"As with the crises of a devasted Europe in 1945, the end of communism in 1989 and now the global credit crunch in 2009, it is Christian Democrats who must step forward. Our shared continent needs to hold fast to the ideals that have guided Europe from economic, moral and political darkness towards hope and light. In doing so we must champion the Christian Democratic values of social solidarity, greater equality, the rule of law and liberty."

Mr Campanale was the first politician from western Europe to speak at revolutionary public meetings in Transylvania during the Romanian Revolution in Christmas 1989. An idea he had at the time to convene an annual 'Open University' to discuss culture, arts and political ideals around the future of Europe has now become one of the biggest festivals of its kind in the region.

This year the event was attended by President Basescu of Romania, former Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban and Bishop Laszlo Tokes MEP, whose role in Timisoara as a local Calvinist priest began the Romanian Revolution.

Recalling events of twenty years ago, Mr Campanale said his speech in the city of Sfintu Gheorghe about the city's namesake and patron of England, St George
still rang true.

"Dragons of fear, consumerism, selfish individualism and the me-first culture all need to be slayed. Not by force, but by vision inspired by the Christian ideals of love and political service.

"Our continent is committing collective suicide because of the abandonment of the principle of respect for life, the collapse of the married family and deepening inequality. According to the European Commission, birthrate is now 1.53 per woman and the number of workers per pensioner over 65 will halve from four to two by 2040.

"The economics of our continent is unsustainable. It is up to us to champion a different and more humane future, just as Christian politicans did at other times of crisis."