On-line journal no. 4 – July 2012 - Modelling the New Europe

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On-line Journal Modelling the New Europe Issue no. 4/2012 communist countries were redefined, becoming more and more individualized and regaining their cultural identity. Much of this was attributed to the spreading influence that western values had over these territories. A major part of this influence, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, was directly attributed to the European Community. Thus, it is no wonder why the European Community, and later on the European Union, assigned an all-important place for values at the forefront of its treaties, and why these moral guidelines play a major part in the decisions and policies adopted both on a domestic and foreign scale. Just as we mentioned in the first pages of this paper, even if it would be of great economic and territorial interest for Turkey to become one of the Member States, due to the country’s struggles with adhering to the Union’s system of values promoting freedom of speech and equal rights for men and women its acceptance is still being postponed even after 10 years have passed since having applied for membership. 95 This is a strong example illustrating just how much importance the European Union places on its core values when taking a decision. Nevertheless, the influence of values is not only limited to those decisions or policies regarding a country’s acceptance into the Union. They are also present in the area of foreign affairs, especially in relations to countries which have been stricken with poverty, war, disease or calamities. 96 A major course of action is the humanitarian aid offered each year by the Union to states around the world through its dedicated branches, a most notable model in this sense being the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). In 2010 alone, 1.115 million Euros were spent on dealing with newly emerged and with already existent global crises. The above examples account for just two of the many instances which have caused the EU to be seen as more than a political or geographical entity. It has become the embodiment of a community of values and laws promoting peace, common goals and protection; a community based on the solidarity of several distinctly unique communities; and, last but not least, a community with a rich spiritual, cultural, philosophical and ideological 95 EurActiv, EU-Turkey Relations, 2012, [http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/eu-turkey-relations/article- 129678], consulted on 20.05.2012. 96 Raport anual privind politicile Uniunii Europene în materie de ajutor umanitar și de protecție civilă și privind punerea lor în aplicare în 2010, 2011, [http://eur- lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2011:0343:FIN:RO:HTML], consulted on 20.05.2012. 55
On-line Journal Modelling the New Europe Issue no. 4/2012 inheritance. 97 In fact, the European Union does not end where the historical borders of Europe were placed. One can conclude that the European Union ends where its underlying values are not shared any longer. Throughout this paper we have had a brief - albeit exemplary - look at just how important a system of values is, and how it has managed to become a vital part of the European Union. This is the very reason why it is imperative for young European integration specialists to learn about the place and role of values in the European Union. This is also the reason why learning and information exchange networks such as RICHIE need to distribute and extend their efforts into the area of teaching and studying the Union’s system of values and its continuous influence over all areas of conduct. While political, historical or economic aspects should remain primary concerns, ways in which values impact and influence them also need to be studied on an equal scale. If the RICHIE network manages to encourage its young members to take an interest into this area, then the all-round European integration specialist could be formed. In turn, this expert will always know to look for the moral and ethical impact that a decision taken by the Union or its Member States will incur, and will always raise the valid question of whether or not the decision is aligned to the set of values that were envisioned as the core of the European Union which we are part of. Bibliography: � A solution to the crisis of values: more Europe, [http://assembly.coe.int/ASP/NewsManager/EMB_NewsManagerView.asp?ID=76 85], 30.05.2012. � Cavanaugh, Chase (2011) Turkey’s Difficult Entry into the European Union, [http://www.thewashingtonreview.org/articles/turkeys-difficult-entry-into-the- european-union.html], 17.05.2012. 97 The joint Task Force for European Values and Identity of the European Ideas Network composed of: the Századvég Foundation, Austrian Institute for European Security Policy, Constantinos Karamanlis Institute for Democracy, Free Europe Centre and SPK-Europe, European Values and Identity. A reflection for an Indispensable Discussion, 2005, p. 4. 56
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On-line journal no. 4 – July 2012 - Modelling the New Europe

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