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Unity in Adversity Unity in Adversity Immigration, Minorities and Religion in Europe Despite the EU’s official motto ‘United in Diversity’, the bloc is experiencing a profound crisis in which diversity is threatening to dispel unity. Instead of harmony, diversity increasingly spells conflict. A variety of factors are behind this strife, including terrorism, the uncertain position of religion in public life, the unclear situation of minority groups (including autochthonous minorities and the Roma), radical Islamism, insufficient integration of immigrants and a loss of personal status and identity due to globalisation. These phenomena are occurring against the backdrop of the recent economic crisis, instability in Europe’s neighbourhood, and the uncontrolled influx of migrants and refugees in 2015–16. All these developments are feeding conflicts both among the member states and between the EU institutions and national governments, as well as a cultural war between globalists and identitarians that cuts across European societies. The European People’s Party, and governments at all levels, need to engage with the ‘forgotten part’ of society without compromising on pluralism and personal freedoms. They need to promote a concept of state which allows different religious and secular opinions to thrive. They should combat extremism and, in cooperation with civil society, encourage a public culture that defends tolerance and liberty. They should promote a critical reading of the Koran. Developing concepts Vít Novotný of citizenship with a focus on immigrants is crucial, as is effective participation of autochthonous minorities and the Roma in public life. Taking such steps would ensure that internal and external adversity does not destroy European unity. (Ed.) Unity in Adversity Inmigration, Minorities and Religion in Europe Edited by Vít Novotný 2017 Unity in Adversity: Immigration, Minorities and Religion in Europe Unity in Adversity: Immigration, Minorities and Religion in Europe Vít Novotný Editor Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies Rue du Commerce 20 Brussels, BE - 1000 The Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies is the political foundation and think tank of the European People’s Party (EPP), dedicated to the promotion of Christian Democrat, conservative and like-minded political values. For more information please visit: www.martenscentre.eu Editor: Vít Novotný, Senior Research Officer, [email protected] External editing: Communicative English bvba Layout and cover design: RARO S.L Typesetting: Victoria Agency Printed in Belgium by Drukkerij Jo Vandenbulcke ISBN 978-2-930632-48-3 This publication receives funding from the European Parliament. © 2017 Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily shared by all the participating political foundations, authors or the European People’s Party. The European Parliament and the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies assume no responsibility for facts or opinions expressed in this publication or their subsequent use. Sole responsibility lies with the authors of this publication. Martens Centre Profile The Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, established in 2007, is the political foundation and think tank of the European People’s Party (EPP). The Martens Centre embodies a pan-European mindset, promoting Christian Democrat, conservative and like-minded political values. It serves as a framework for national political foundations linked to member parties of the EPP. It currently has 31 member foundations and three permanent guest foundations in 24 EU and non-EU countries. The Martens Centre takes part in the preparation of EPP programmes and policy documents. It organises seminars and training on EU policies and on the process of European integration. The Martens Centre also contributes to formulating EU and national public policies. It produces research studies and books, policy briefs and the twice-yearly European View journal. Its research activities are divided into six clusters: party structures and EU institutions, economic and social policies, EU foreign policy, environment and energy, values and religion, and new societal challenges. Through its papers, conferences, authors’ dinners and website, the Martens Centre offers a platform for discussion among experts, politicians, policymakers and the European public. Foreword European integration is more important today than ever before. We live in a time when many major developments are taking place in parallel, probably more than has ever been the case in the history of humanity. Digitalisation is shaking up the world’s business and social models. Migratory flows of an unprecedented extent are reaching our continent. Climate change is undermining the basis of our existence. Autocrats are threatening our liberal democratic order. Islamic terrorism is challenging our open societies. These challenges cannot be successfully met by one country alone, but only together, through joint European action. Otherwise, global developments will simply sweep away most of what is dear to us in Europe. Only with the joint economic power of Europe will we be able to actively shape globalisation and set effective standards. Only together will we be able to prevail over a terrorism that operates globally. But unity needs a deep-seated common spirit if it is to last. To be able to act together in the long term, we have to be aware of who we are and where we come from. Despite all our differences, the peoples of Europe are united by shared historical experiences, common Judeo-Christian values and humanist thinking. We share a common democratic tradition, a deep-rooted foundation in the rule of law and a unique social model. All of these elements constitute a European way of life that unites us and is unique in the world. If we want to be able to defend it together, it is high time we reflected on the very foundations of our unity. This publication is an essential element in this process of reflection on our European selves. The contributions from the Martens Centre’s member foundations from across Europe demonstrate the creativity of our political family. At the same time, they also represent the united values of the European People’s Party (EPP), while simultaneously working out what it is that gives us our common identity. We in the EPP do not believe in giving in to fear, or even in exploiting fear. We believe in solutions. We stand for a European way of life that means freedom instead of oppression, democracy instead of dictatorship, cooperation instead of egoism, security instead of hate and hope instead of anger. This differentiates us from the populists on both the right and the left. The coming years will decide the future of our continent. It is up to us to provide the most suitable answers to the challenges of our time. Populists can only destroy the present. We will build the future. This book will help to lay the foundations. Manfred Weber Chairman of the Group of the EPP in the European Parliament Acknowledgements This book has been produced as part of a joint programme between the Martens Centre and its member foundations. The programme, entitled ‘The Politics of Culture, Ethnicity and Religion’, was initiated by the Martens Centre in 2015. Its goal was to assist the European People’s Party and its member parties in developing a common language on the issues of unity and diversity in Europe. The programme included the preparation of the present volume and a number of common projects that the Martens Centre and its partner organisations arranged across the EU in 2016. Roland Freudenstein, Policy Director at the Martens Centre, suggested the idea of developing this volume. The project and the concepts of culture, religion and ethnicity were debated at the Martens Centre’s cooperation and planning seminar (Think-In) in Marathon in June 2015, and at a meeting of the authors for the present volume in Brussels in February 2016. In a peer-review process, each author commented on a chapter of the volume written by another author. Colleagues at the Martens Centre provided valuable assistance. Ingrid Habets provided helpful comments and assisted with the chapter template. Teona Lavrelashvili commented on several chapter drafts. Martin Tokár, Kristina Potapova, Sofia Karttunen and Gavin Synnott assisted with administration, references and language editing. Several of the chapter authors, Roland Freudenstein and Jos van Gennip from the Martens Centre’s Academic Council kindly commented on the Introduction and Synthesis. José Luis Fontalba and RARO S.L. designed the cover. Anna van Oeveren and the Victoria Agency worked tirelessly on typesetting the text. The text was professionally edited by Communicative English. The Editor Table of contents Editor’s Introduction 13 I. EUROPEAN VALUES, RELIGION AND HUMAN RIGHTS Building a Common European Identity: Between Unity and Diversity 29 Matevž Tomšič The Islamist Challenge: How Europe can Defend its Values 37 Thomas Volk Terrorism: History, Definition and the Case of Bulgaria 47 Sofiya Tsvetkova Euroscepticism and Nationalist Populism 57 Antonis Klapsis and Panagiotis Kakolyris Room for Religion: Liberal versus Christian Democratic Arguments for the Presence of Religion in the Public Domain 67 Rien Fraanje Public Expressions of Religious Faith 77 Peeter Võsu The European People’s Party and Human Rights 87 Vladimír Hanáček and Jan Málek II. IMMIGRATION AND MINORITIES Alternatives to Multiculturalism: Why Saying It has Failed is not Enough
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