We, members of the International Pan-European Union from France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia give this public declaration at the Pan-European conference iz Zagreb in June 2014.
- On the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War we remember unfortunate circumstances due to which the Pan-European initiative to unite Europe failed around 1930, so that the world peace after only two decennia came to its end.
- Now, 75 years after the beginning of the Second World War, we wish to stress that the peacemaking idea of Coudenhove-Kalergi – through the gradual creation of the European Union – gave us already some 70 years of peace in Europe which – in spite of the cold war and regional wars – created so far unprecedented wellfare in Europe, and, indirectly, great progress in other parts of the world.
- Now, 25 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain, with relief we remember the liberation from totalitarian systems in Europe, reunification of Germany, the end of the cold war, and the expansion of the European Union.
- 1 year after the Republic of Croatia joined the European Union we wish to confirm that it was a historical event for Croatia, just as it was for every new member state, as well as for the whole European Union. This opens to Croatia quite new possibilities for participation in the creation of European and international politics, but also demands a new degree of responsability for acting as a subject, and no more as an object, of such politics. We are pleased to notice that the Croatian members of the European Parliament responded appropriately to that challenge.
- 6 years after the outbreak of the global financial crisis we express our worries because of the social crisis which it has provoked, especially because we remember how such a crisis caused a political crisis and the Second World War some 80 years ago. Therefore we remind of the decisive role that the principle of social and international solidarity plays in guaranteeing general wellfare and peace in the world.
- After the enlargement of the European Union to 28 member states, we must not forget neighbouring countries which still wait for the membership. We appeal to the International Pan-European Union and, especially, to the representatives of all member states in the bodies of the European Union to work – in accordance with the commitments accepted in the Thessaloniki declaration – for efficient support to these countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania. They need help in finding righteous solutions of their political and economic problems, which sometimes were created by decisions of the international community, as in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and need support on their way to the membership in the European Union. Such support will best help removing foci of possible crises, armed conflicts or even wars, and guaranteeing future peace in Europe.
- As a specific problem, we single out the help in developing good relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Or in promoting understanding between Macedonia and Greece. These are preconditions of future successful integration of those countries into the European Union. The needs of Albania on its way to membership should also be taken into account.
- From a wider perspective, we express our satisfacion with the fact that agreements between the European Union and Ukraine, Georgia and Moldavia have been signed.
- In this moment it is Bosnia and Herzegovina that urgently needs to be taken care of. If the European Union and the international community succeed in helping Bosnia and Herzegovina to carry out a righteous reorganization of its constitution in the interest of all three constitutional peoples, as well as all minorities and the whole society, we shall finally overcome the painful heritage of the First World War that broke out 100 years ago in Sarajevo.
Zagreb, 28 giugno 2014.
* Si ringrazia Paneuropa Croazia.
