Constitution of the Schuman's Group
The Community of European Nations is a consequence of Robert Schuman’s ideas and concepts. He did not wish the quasi-state of Europe but Community of European Nations:
“My idea is not to merge States to create a Super State. Our European States are a historical reality. From a psychological point of view, it would be impossible to do away with them. Their diversity is a good thing and we do not intend to level them down or equalize them” – Robert Schuman
PREAMBLE
The Constitution of the Schuman Group aims to implement Schuman’s vision and call for a return to the roots of uniting people of good will around the goals and attitudes of Robert Schuman, and finally a retreat from the current eurocratic, quasi-state model of the European Union and building a non-bureaucratic Community of European Nations established on the basis of Greek philosophy, Roman law and Christian tradition, as well as Christian science and social thought, and to create solidarity as a new socio-economic system.
FIVE PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY OF EUROPEAN NATIONS
Schuman Group declares to support the development of the current European Union towards Community of European Nations based on the following five pillars: Freedom, Solidarity, Diversity, Patriotism, Christianity.
Freedom is the most valued treasure in Europe. It has been born in pain in a long and complex historical process. It is always fragile and needs protection against despotism and anarchy. Freedom of nations finds its way in democracy, i.e. in “government of the people, by the people, for the people” (Abraham Lincoln). And freedom of the human is indivisible, natural right offered by God. It manifests itself in freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of speech and assembly and association. It is a great threat for a united Europe that gradually but visibly freedom of nations and citizens is restricted by the European institutions and some Member States.
“Indeed, the word democracy cannot be applied to a government which refuses to acknowledge the existence of a people, i.e. a living community, which has an original heritage, aspirations of its own and particular mission it intends to carry out freely. Nor can it be applied to a government which repudiates the very idea of freedom and personal responsibility, which violently smothers diverging tendencies and criticism, classing this as criminal deviation” (Robert Schuman)
Solidarity is opposite to egoism in individual, social and national dimensions. It stems from evangelical message of love, peace and brotherhood. It is a great value being very fundamental for the project of uniting Europe. A man solidary with a stricken neighbour, middle class members solidary with poorer citizens or families and finally nations solidary with other nations in building a true community, where well-being of every, even the smallest and the humblest nation is equally important as those populated and influential. More-or-less open dictate of powerful and rich European countries hit foundations of the project to unite Europe. It marks the end of the community and return to the sinister era of national egoism.
“The consequence of this interdependence is that it is impossible to remain indifferent to the fortunate or unfortunate lot of a people. For a European with the capacity to think it is no longer possible to rejoice spitefully over his neighbour’s misfortune; everyone is united for better or for worse in a common destiny” (Robert Schuman)
“Europe won’t be built overnight, neither without obstacles on its way. Its construction will follow the way of the spirit. Nothing that lasts happens easily. Europe is already on its way. And beyond the existing institutions, the European idea, its spirit of solidarity as a community have taken root” (Robert Schuman)
Diversity: Europe has never been, is not and shall not be uniform. Diversity of cultures, customs and national, regional, local, ethnic, religious, economic and legal traditions are a great treasure and strength of Europe. Diverse nations of Europe are a gift for each other and as a community are unique quality and strength in the world. This diversity should be carefully protected, supported and developed. United in diversity. All attempts to diminish differences and uniqueness of nations, bureaucratic and administrative efforts to enforce cultural uniformity in the name of utopian ideology will lead to destruction of Europe and make a great harm to fundamental European values such as freedom of nations and their solidarity.
“My idea is not to merge States to create a Super State. Our European States are a historical reality. From a psychological point of view, it would be impossible to do away with them. Their diversity is a good thing and we do not intend to level them down or equalize them” (Robert Schuman)
Patriotism is love of the home country, its language, culture, tradition and history. It is opposite to cosmopolitism and nationalism as well. European spirit stems from national identities and does not exist without them. At the same time, it transgresses these identities and comes out as a supranational community. That is why neither cosmopolitan nor nationalist is European in its true meaning. Cultivating patriotism in the European countries is the best cure for reappearing nationalism and separatism and it is a great aid in building European unity. Fighting patriotism is destroying the community, demolishing a common European home.
“To our mind, European policy is certainly not in contradiction with the patriotic ideal. It encourages the particular-nature and characteristics of each of its states and fosters the sound love for one’s own country which is a love that does not go in detriment of other countries. It wants to attain a unity in the fullness of its diversity” (Robert Schuman)
Christianity: Europe would not exist without the Hebrew Decalogue, Greek philosophy and art, Roman jurisprudence and republican ideas. However, it is the Christianity which is the soul of Europe. It has shaped Europe as we know it – its vivacity, creativity and development depend on a creative link with its Christian roots. As a body without a soul is dead, so Europe abolishing Christianity has no future. Any attempts to curb the activity and presence of churches and Christians in the public domain and in free public debate are anti-European behaviour. They destroy the unity of our continent, deprive of spiritual dimension and in effect lead to atrophy of freedom and solidarity and birth of violence and fanatics which come from contemporary ideologies.
Strong democracy has its roots in Christianity. “An anti-Christian democracy would be a parody which would sink into tyranny or into anarchy. The democrat’s position can be defined as follows: he will not accept that the State systematically ignores religion or that it opposes it with hostility or contempt. Without being-unjust or self-damaging the State cannot ignore the extraordinary effectiveness of religious inspiration in the practice of civic duty and in protecting people against forces of social disintegration which are at work everywhere” (Robert Schuman)
STANDARDS TO BE ACCEPTED AND FOLLOWED BY MEMBERS OF THE SCHUMAN’S GROUP
- We aim at building European Union as a Community of European Nations, not as a super-state.
- We also do not consider the Europe of Nations or the Europe of Homelands, which are connected only by dependencies, we mean the Community of European Nations, which are connected by relations.
- We agree with the principles of common good, solidarity and subsidiarity.
- We define politics as a reasonable concern for the common good and politician as a man or woman of public trust.
- We recognize solidarity as the basis for mutual relations between the peoples of Europe. The good of the smallest nation is as important as the good of the largest nation. In principle, solidarity has no place for the dominance of strong countries at the expense of weak ones.
- We recognize that under the subsidiarity principle, nations in community should have complete freedom in establishing their internal legal rules, in addition to the necessary minimum package, which will be the functional basis of the Community.
- We recognize freedom as one of the basic values. Freedom of nations is expressed in the possibility of self-determination, human freedom is manifested especially in the freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of speech and assembly, freedom of association.
- We promote a classic education model that educates man, shapes character, forms virtues that are skills and prepares for independent thinking, decision making, gives a general idea about the world, the history of ideas, equips with skills.
- We teach patriotism as love for one’s homeland and love to other nations, its language, culture, tradition and history. He who truly loves his own homeland will not work against other countries. That is why patriotism is the opposite of both cosmopolitanism and nationalism.
- We offer social solidarity in the place of individualism and collectivism and economic solidarity in the place of neoliberalism and socialism. This approach can not exclude the individual freedom by contribution to the community and individual development.
- We recognize the Christian identity of Europe both in its roots and in its future. Robert Schuman said that “Europe will be Christian or it will not be at all”. Christian identity recognizes the diversity of nations and cultures and recognizes it as a value.
- We agree to build our common Europe based on Christian values and the catholic social teaching.
- We recognize that every human being was created in the image and likeness of God, therefore he has an inherent dignity that must be respected. Therefore, man is called to the fullness of life, which significantly exceeds the dimensions of his earthly existence.
- We consider the family as the basic and most important social unit, which primarily plays a procreative and educational role. Due to its importance, it should be protected in every way needed by larger communities.
- We consider marriage to be a relationship between one man and one woman, which is base for each family.
- We recognize that human dignity exceeds the value of all matter. All Community members, state, local government, science, economics, technology, etc. institutions should serve and support man in his physical, mental and spiritual development.
- We guarantee the protection of human life from conception to natural death.
- We promote, through Community and national institutions, this kind of culture and art that leads man to truth, goodness and beauty.
Sign up the Constitution of the Schuman Group and let us act together!
People who signed declaration
Academic
Marek Cieloch, Zbigniew Krysiak, Adrian Markiewicz
Pro bono publico activist
Wojciech Gizicki
Private person
Olga Bartyska, Malgorzata Jaroszek, Joanna Jaroszek, Krystyna Jaroszek, Rajmund Klonowski, Ryszard Krzyżkowski, Robert Książek, Jerzy Lewiński, Adrian Lewiński, Tomasz Majek, Włodzimierz Ossowski, Bogusław Pyzik, Nina Rejman, Anna Smyk