ACTIVITIES 2005 - European Academy of Sciences and Arts

CEUN: CEUN:
Budapest-Memorandum vom vom 31. 31. Mai Mai 2005 2005
Formulated at the at the “Budapest Round Round Table” Table”
THE EUROPEAN WAY IN THE 21 ST THE EUROPEAN WAY IN THE 21 CENTURY
ST CENTURY
– Our – Our Message to the to the Future Future – –
Dedicated to Professor to Professor Ferenc Ferenc Mádl, Mádl, President of Hungary, of Hungary,
Protector of the of the European Academy of Sciences of Sciences and and Arts. Arts.
1. TAKE 1. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
We We are, are, individually and and collectively, responsible for for the the future future of our of our sociesocieties.ties. Collective responsibility does does not not replace replace individual responsibility.
Leaders, Leaders, who who are are democratically elected, elected, must must take take responsibility for for their their
actions actions and and be accountable. be accountable. Elected Elected leaders leaders shall shall not not transfer transfer responsibility to to
the the public public by subjecting by subjecting difficult difficult or unpopular or unpopular decisions to referenda to referenda when when
these these are are not not constitutionally required.
2. RESPECT 2. RESPECT THE THE PAST PAST
Change Change should should not not take take place place simply simply for for the the sake sake of change. of change. They They are are needed needed
in response in response to new to new developments and and challenges.
Young Young generations need need to understand to understand their their roles roles in the in the context context of future of future
challenges in an in ever-changing an ever-changing world. world.
Young Young generations have have to draw to draw lessons lessons from from history history in order in order to avoid to avoid past past
failures. failures.
Young Young generations must must realise realise that that peoples peoples can can coexist coexist and and prosper prosper only only
through through mutual mutual tolerance. Tolerance is inextricably is inextricably linked linked to human to human rights, rights,
and and is the is the prerequisite to solving to solving humanity's problems. This This means means not not only only
accepting one one another's differences, but but also also recognizing them them as enrichment as enrichment
to mankind. to mankind.
Solidarity across across generations and and mutual mutual understanding are are as important as important as as
tolerance.
3. SHAPE 3. SHAPE THE THE FUTURE FUTURE
Young Young generations must must choose choose the the type type of society of society they they wish wish to live to live in. in.
Young Young generations should should make make use use of all of possible all possible avenues avenues to shape to shape an ecol- an ecologicallyogically
and and socially socially sustainable future. future. It has It has to include to include the the pursuit pursuit of more of more
and and better better education and and participating in civil in civil society society initiatives with with high high
social social values. values. Successful examples of such of such societal societal participation of the of the youth youth
should should be supported be supported and and promoted.
The The involvement of young of young generations in shaping in shaping the the future future is a is unique a unique asset. asset.
Political Political leaders leaders have have the the responsibility to ensure to ensure that that appropriate conditions
exist exist for for younger younger generations to nurture to nurture their their own own vision vision of the of the future future and and
bring bring it into it into the the political political decision-making process. process.
Parliaments should should actively actively engage engage in direct in direct dialogue dialogue with with young young generagenerations.tions. Europe Europe has has the the duty duty to support to support gifted gifted young young individuals. These These also also require require
tolerance as they as they differ differ from from the the mainstream.