Yearbook 2019 06 10 12 14 50 60 About ECPM Foreword Reflections Advisory 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter by the ECPM on 2019 Values Council Report 52 ECPYouth International 62 Circle of Support: Anti-Human president Summer School Trafficking Conference 53 Christian Values in 63 ROM/EDI Strategy Meeting Democratic Governance Summer School 64 To Caesar and to God: Church and Politics 54 Renewing Our Minds - 20-year Anniversary 65 19th General Assembly 55 ECPM Leadership Retreat 66 Cornerstone Dinner 2019 67 Israel Chairman’s Conference 56 Promoting Christian Values 68 Empowering EU-Israel Trade in Romanian Society and Relations 16 18 20 28 Europe In Memoriam Introduction 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 69 Political Training in Moldova 57 Prodocens Media Platform 22 Give Faith A Vote 30 Towards a Europe of Launch 71 School of Civic Activity - series Stakeholder Nations. A Positive of seminars 23 ECPM Campaign Case of EU Reform 58 Climate Crisis - What Launch Should a Christian Do About It 31 Freedom of Speech in Turkey? 24 Solidarity with Kurds and Yazidis - involving 32 Solidarity with Kurds and Yazidis the minorities in the in Germany and the Middle East European elections 33 Bratislava Hanus Days 25 National March of Life 34 Fellowship Breakfast Series 72 82 26 The Future of 36 My Europe, Your Europe ECPYouth Resolutions Croatian and European 37 Strong Values, Strong Nations, 74 ECPYouth Fake Societies - educational Strong Europe News Report seminars 38 The Chance of Christian Renewal in Politics and Society 39 Economy and the Welfare State - What’s Next for Europe? 40 Freedom of Education in Europe 41 The Impact of Christians in 90 92 96 Politics New Members ECPM Board ECPM Staff 42 The Meaning of Christians in the & Associates European Parliament 43 Vote Christian! youth event and campaign wrap-up 44 North & South: Reforming the Two-level System of the EU 45 Changing the Story 98 102 46 Life is Beautiful - art exhibit ECPM MEPs Contact and 47 18th General Assembly Donate 48 Emigration: Following Your Contents. Dream but What If It’s a Nightmare? ABOUT ECPM Yearbook 2019 ‘It is our vision to work together with you A Europe of Human Dignity Human dignity expresses the intrinsic to build a Christian political movement that OUR value of every human being. We believe this universal principle rests on the human can bridge personal and political differences being as created in the image and to serve the people of our nations and likeness of God. Therefore, life should be protected from conception to natural continents. In this, we are inspired by the VALUES death. The protection of human dignity should be a priority above individual teachings, principles and lifestyle of Jesus freedom. ECPM believes that a vibrant An Economy that Works for and positive Europe should celebrate Christ that formed the Christian heritage on People and Planet and promote life. which Europe is based.’ Because countries should have The economy is about life. The purpose of all autonomy on these topics, as laid down economic activity is to support life and advance by the principle of subsidiarity, ECPM wellbeing for all. We believe that initiative and believes that the European Institutions ownership empower people. We encourage the should refrain from openly promoting development of small and medium-sized companies any specific view on this matter. Sadly and a focus on improvement of the investment enough, the European Institutions often climate for innovative entrepreneurs. promote and fund an anti-life view. ECPM believes that globalisation has many ECPM calls for a more modest and positive aspects but is not by definition a good objective stance on this issue, especially development. We are critical of international trade in relation to the funding of NGOs agreements like CETA and TTIP, as we believe regarding this subject. that they disempower people and sometimes even countries, merely for the benefit of multinationals and the world of international finance. The Healthy Families and Healthy principles of free trade and an open-market Marriages economy are still very important for Europe’s economies; however, there need to be checks and Healthy families are the basis for thriving balances in the system to keep it sustainable. societies. We believe that stable, loving The European Christian Our goal is to fill the gap in the A growing world population and a growing world relationships between parents are Political Movement European political landscape by economy have consequences for our planet. If we crucial for the wellbeing of their children. (ECPM) is the only re-establishing Christian Democracy want to leave this planet in good shape for our Marriage is the best guarantee for enduring WHO explicitly Christian as a viable political alternative in children and grandchildren, then we must take relationships. ECPM recognises the family European political party. Europe, with a particular emphasis responsibility now. This means that the EU and as the most important social unit, preceding on a Christian relational worldview. its Members need to take action now to reduce the state and any other community or group. pollution and CO2 emissions and to invest in ECPM calls on the European Union to WE We are genuinely Our movement brings together over 50 sustainable energy sources. respect the sovereignty of the family, based anchored in the political Christian-Democratic political parties, on marriage between one man and one tradition that contributed NGOs, think-tanks and individual woman. significantly to the founding politicians from over 20 countries within ECPM is also weary of the political focus on of the EU: Christian the EU and beyond. the ‘autonomous individual’ as promoted ARE Democracy. by secular ideologies. We believe that the quality of life of a human being depends on the quality of his relationships with others. People are always connected through relationships, and the strongest and earliest connection in life is the family. 6 7 Yearbook 2019 Freedom, Security and Stability Reforming the European Union Fighting Modern Slavery Real freedom of faith, conscience and expression The European Union needs serious reform, only becomes visible through relationships with not only technically but also spiritually. Human trafficking is an ultimately dehumanising those who feel, think or act differently. ECPM We believe that a European Union that act that reduces people to trade objects. It distorts believes that extreme political correctness is a is less directive and more facilitatory will relationships and severely hurts people, making danger to real freedom and real plurality. In this be more beneficial for EU citizens and it a difficult process to re-establish new healthy sense, there must be a fundamental freedom will form an effective narrative against relationships. A majority of the victims are used to disagree with the view of the majority on destructive far-right sentiments. for sexual exploitation. Since human trafficking any subject. In order to win back support for a The European Union must start to under- is a cross-border crime, combating it requires different and better EU, we need a more realistic promise and over-deliver instead of doing international cooperation. and constructive rhetoric. the exact opposite. To many, the EU has ECPM strongly favours the Nordic model that ECPM is also worried by the lack of freedom of become a problem-causer instead of a criminalises the client as the effective way to stop religion in many parts of the world. This is clear to problem-solver. This view might not do human trafficking and prostitution. This should go see in Islamic countries, but also in countries like justice to reality, but it does stick in the hand in hand with exit programmes for survivors. India, Pakistan, North Korea and China. minds of many citizens. This means more freedom for Member Trafficking for labour exploitation continues to The European Union and its Members should States and a stronger focus of the EU on be on the rise. This crime should be combated promote a culture of freedom and actively key matters such as food safety, energy at all levels of the supply chain. The EU should support those who defend and promote freedom safety, fair competition and cross-border encourage the member states to contribute in their country or region. problems like immigration, rapid climate to the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery Regarding the rise of extremist Islamic groups like change, security and terrorism. (GFEMS) that funds anti-slavery programs ISIS, it is the view of ECPM that this organisation in countries with the highest prevalence of has proven to be a direct threat to European trafficking and forced labor. security, and therefore the EU and its Members should take action to completely remove ISIS from Syria, Iraq and any other places where it might resurge. Preserving Christian Culture & Heritage We believe that Christian culture is embedded We believe that the EU should be proud of with fundamental freedoms that are benefiting for its Christian roots and that Christian culture European societies. The erosion of Christian culture and heritage should be preserved. Key and heritage in Europe will lead to more division, aspects of this culture are freedom, love, violence and insecurity. History has shown what truth, reconciliation and respect for life. happens in societies that (try to) abolish religion. Europe has become a diverse continent, A culture that always sees life as God-given will and it can only remain so if everyone always value life and human dignity. respects each other’s views and faiths. For this reason, we are weary of secular Europe has been shaped by Christianity and has anti-religious ideologies that want to been a Christian continent for over a millennium. remove the heritage of Christian thinking Without any exception, all EU members were and play down its relevance.