European Council

Winston Churchill's speech in Zurich 1946 was a spark that lighted up a torch of European uniting. Knowing the atmosphere in the postwar Europe, he talked about "The United States of Europe" and suggested establishing the European Council as a practical step towards it. Three years later, on May 15th 1949 ten countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Sweden, U.K.) made an agreement and founded the European Council with the headquarters in Strasbourg. Three months later, Robert Schumann, as a French spokesman (the host country), entered the first meeting of the board of ministers.

The European Council consists of board of ministers. It is the main body that makes decisions. Secretary of the state or counselor of minister represents every country. The second part of the European Council is Parliamentary Assembly. It has 600 members – delegates of states' members. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) consists of two houses – one represents local and the other regional authorities. In Secretary there are approximately 1300 European employees and two official languages – English and French.

The European Council has had its own flag since 1955. It is made of 12 golden stars on a blue background – number 12 is the symbol of perfection and it is unchangeable. The introductory part of The Song of Joy, from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, was chosen as the European anthem, in 1972.

The state members are: Albany, Andora, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Croatia, Island, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Hungary, Macedonia, Malta, Moldavia, The Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and The United Kingdom. The observer states are: Canada, Vatican, Japan and The United States. The candidates for the membership are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Monaco.

The European Council has also the following goals: the protection and enforcement of principles of democration, human rights and the rule of justice; searching for solutions of giant problems like racism, discrimination, intolerance, misuse of drugs, social exclusion, enviroment protection, coruption and organised crime; the promotion of conscience of European identity and development of understanding between different cultures.

Although there is no doubt that this organization has done many positive influences on the world today, I think there are many more things needed to be done.

Firstly, there is a problem of undeveloped and poor countries. My opinion is that the European Council has to establish a fund in which rich states will regularly contribute certain amount of money to help development of poor countries.

Secondly, we say proudly that we are entering the 21st century, but we do not ask ourselves in what kind of society do we live. Discrimination is everywhere around us, it became “normal” appearance and people who are discriminating others sometimes do not even notice what they do. I think we should do more about uniting, not only Europe, we should unite the whole world. We need to discuss more about disputes and problems between states, nations, etc.

As the third problem I see education of young people. We are astonished seeing on television or reading in the newspapers about youth vandalism and violence, but nobody thinks why they did such a thing. Why do these things happen? Young people today have insufficient time for themselves and their problems. I think that the European Council have to do something to make shorter school programs and make young people able to do something they are really interested in. That way they could canalize their energy to positive and productive activities.

My conclusion is: “TEMPORA MUTANTUR ET NOS MUTAMUR IN ILLIS” – The times are changing and we are changing with  them. The world is going further, the world goes round, but we have to decide to join it or to give it up. I don’t thing anyone would like to give it up!

Mirna Tadić, age of 16 - Zagreb/Croatia

Contrasts

I am really appealed by the contemporary contrast between beautiful, famous, rich, happy people and homeless, invalid, harmed by fate and forgotten victims. Why does this situation take place and is this the only way life goes? Does the noble birth have to decide on human life? Why can't many people, in spite of their hard work, achieve life aims, which could allow them to exist with dignity among others? I also can't understand why people who have everything don't help the poverty sufferers. Why are people constantly waging wars? Can't we solve our problems in other way, not only by a murder? Isn't it enough of human suffering? When one struggle ends and evil is strangled, the anxiety that innocent people will die soon again rises in our souls. How can some politicians boss billions of people about their views? When the evil spreads, the leaders of big countries have to intervene to bring about finish cruel fights, but after a little time the situation recurs. Someone is still demanding retaliation, vengeance, and revenge. What about millions of unhappy people? Are they asked about their opinions by ruthless dictators? Not a small ruling group, which we don't have influence on, but we should decide on our own fate. That's exactly why Europe's future depends on the solidarity of inhabitants who should reject any prejudice, and for a better tomorrow they will remind of rights for living in peace. Without this essential condition the calm will not prevail in Europe, which will still be spread.

Malgorzata Machowczyk, age of 15 - Kalisz/Poland

Europe of Today

Europe today is a continent of 40 countries, which tend to be united. Some countries are already members of the European Union, like Germany, France, Switzerland, etc., but many of them are still out of the European Union, like Croatia. Countries like mine are trying to meet the conditions for full membership.

Europe tomorrow is envisaged as one big state with various nations, customs and cultures. Europe is, apart from Asia and Africa, the oldest continent, which has many values especially because of its long history. For that reason people come to Europe to see its hundred years’ buildings and cultural monuments, as well as its beautiful renaissance and gothic sacral and secular architecture.

Furthermore, Europeans are friendly people, maybe because of the fact that many countries are situated in temperate zone. Europe tomorrow will even more become connected with the world through Internet. It is most likely that, when all European countries become members of European Union, the biggest worry will be how to fight incurable diseases and discover yet unknown beauties and wonders of the world.

Now something about the culture. There are still different alphabets: Greek, Cyrillic and prevailing Latin. Europe is surely richest in its literature: from Sapfa and Alkej to love verses of Katul. I am afraid that literature is not as appreciated as it used to be, although there are lots of poets and writers who enjoy in every verse and every sentence. Why is that so, we will find out in the future.

Tatjana Radulović, age of 16 - Zagreb/Croatia

Europe - discrepancies and contrasts

Europe of the end of the 20th century is the continent of a very rich and various cultures, which was being formed during thousands of years. It is the continent where there are so many beautiful places.

What is Europe like today? First of all, it is divided into two parts: rich developed welfare states known as 'the West' and poor countries still fighting for their place in the world known as 'the East'. This is the reason why some international organizations have been created. Their aim is to integrate all countries and to reduce the distance between them. Europe is one of the most industrialized and polluted regions in the world. There are fewer and fewer clean rivers healthy forests in which nature hasn't been disturbed by economic activities of man. The thoughtless, bad, economic activities aiming at fast profit may lead to environmental disaster. It is sad that so many people don't realise that the disaster may be very close. The breakdown of atomic reactors, tankers' catastrophes, sewage and mindless cutting down of forests show that man may not get away with it. That is why it is the highest time we took radical action, so that Europe of tomorrow would not become a 'desert' and the natural environment in which man has lived for centuries would not be just a recollection.

Can we still feel safe in the Europe of today when many countries have atomic weapons? Instead of fighting with the world hunger, we construct more and more high tech weapons, to kill fast and efficiently. The Europe of tomorrow should be a continent (and this refers to the whole world) free of mass extermination weapons, respecting life of individuals, friendly to everyone. However, we are far from such as state of mind. And the reality is very different form the expected one. In Europe of the end of the 20th century we often hear about bombings, murders, drug dealing, wars. Additionally, hatred between some nations is fastened, and there is a violation of basic human rights. The societies and organizations dealing with these problems are not very effective. Naturally, the humanitarian aid to nations, which suffer because of wars, proves that we are not insensitive to people's tragedies. But it is better to prevent wars than to ease their consequences. It is also worrying that racism and intolerance one reviving again. It may seem that this problem has been tackled as the tragic experiences of the II World War taught us a log. Unfortunately, many of us refuse to accept that we are all equal and that we have the same rights. It is a necessary condition, without which there is no understanding and respect not to mention integration. Modern Europe means also modern technologies, scientific research and huge progress in medical knowledge. Scientists are very likely to find a cure for the terrible disease of the 20th century that is AIDS. Maybe this will be a big success, which will open the 21st century. On my continent the trade of drugs, weapons and 'live goods' is booming and at the same time there are many great festivals, concerts and sporting events. You could say that Europe of the millennium breakthrough is full of discrepancies and contrasts. Are we strong enough to overcome them? Actually it depends on us. There may be no wars, antagonism and inequalities. Governments may cooperate with one another, defend the rights and dignity of every human being. To achieve it, we need great concerted effort, hard work to change mentality and to learn the art of compromising. I hope this is not just my naive optimism.

Daniela Szymczak, age of 17 - Kalisz/Poland

The Cradle of Mankind

People call Europe "the cradle of mankind". She was fighting with all the troubles that marked our past and was standing like a proud mother watching her sons and daughters rising out, writing their names into the book of life.

So many times I have tried to find a way to show to the world the heart of Europe. The heart are people. It is truth that we have done enough with destruction and now it is the time to start thinking what will we leave to our children and our children's children.

The facts are showing that the world is dying and there is no more time to spend on playing with other people's lifes. The most important thing for Europe is that we finally wake up from this nightmare that lasted for centuries of wars and madness.

I believe in people. I believe that we can put our forces together and fight to save what has left to be saved and to help our Europe to find a way out of this agony.

Europe today must be able to give a life to tomorrow, to give the possibility to people to have a decent future. I think that we have to do many things before we give this world to the next generation. For example, so many countries are unable to live, they are ignored by other, more powerful countries. Some have too much, some have nothing. Our primary goal must be to make some changes here, in the base of the problems, because everything begins there.

People should try to save the lungs of this planet by saving the heart of Europe. It is very important to hear the cry of nature, not to ignore it because it can turn against us (if it already had not). Europe is connected with her past, so we should learn on our mistakes and not to do the same things that we were doing over and over in the past.

At the end I will say again that I believe in us. I believe that we will find a way out of the darkness and that we will give us a chance to live in a healthy, happy Europe, like we used to.

I hope that Europe will be proud again. Proud on us because we saved ourselves from self-destruction. I think that the time will show if we have made it or we are still sleeping.

Lea Banović, age of 16 - Zagreb/Croatia.