|TOP|The greater involvement of civil society was just one of the needs laid down by the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) when it met in Sweden earlier in the month to discuss the future of Europe.

The commission also urged fresh thinking and a new and positive vision in order to maintain the dynamics of the European project and to “bring Europe closer to its citizens”.

It welcomed “Plan D” for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate, launched by the European Commission following the defeat of the Draft Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe in both the French and Dutch referendum.

Delegates discussed the results of a survey among the representatives of the 18 European countries gathered at the conference which found that national discussion during this “period of reflection” was lagging.

|AD|They also agreed that the present proposals and initiatives from the European Commission and its Member States did not go far enough to re-stimulate debate on the issue.

The Church and Society Commission is itself in the process of working out its own contribution to Plan D and to other initiatives forming part of the discussion on the future of Europe.

It urged at the meeting once again the need for the European Union to have a clear vision, meaning and commitment that goes beyond economic prosperity to become something that inspires all its citizens.

The commission added that spirituality and moral values needed to be part of this effort and reiterated that Europe must be based on values such as human dignity, freedom, justice and solidarity.

The theme of the future of Europe, including its link to spirituality, has become a central focus for the commission as it continues to work towards the 3rd European Ecumenical Assembly in Sibiu in 2007.