THE enlargement of the EU to eastern Europe should be seen in the context of the Christian values of sharing, the Bishop of Clogher, Dr Joseph Duffy, said yesterday.
The bishop, chairman of the Irish Episcopal Commission on European Affairs, was in Brussels as part of a 30 strong fact finding mission from the Irish churches.
They have been meeting MEPs and officials from the European Commission and Parliament, which jointly hosted the visit. Last night they were given a reception by the Irish Ambassador to the EU, Mr Denis O'Leary.
The delegation was led by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Donald Caird, and included the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Dr John Ross, and the chairman of the Dublin District of the Methodist Church, the Rev Brian Griffin. Some nine Catholic bishops or auxiliary bishops are with the group.
Dr Caird said that, while Ireland had benefited enormously from EU membership, it would not be a net recipient for much longer and there was a danger in the perception "that the honeymoon is perhaps over."
"Sometimes attitudes at home see the EU as a cash register," Dr Duffy told journalists,"but the church always takes the view that we must give as well as receive and in that spirit certainly welcome enlargement."
Asked about EU funding exclusively for multi denominational education in the North, Dr Ross said that, while he believed the idea was good in principle, he was concerned that funding of schools in some areas might affect the viability of existing Protestant/state schools which might lose pupils.
Dr Caird said there was clearly a perception in Brussels that promoting integrated education was an effective method of promoting peace. "I'm not sure the people of Northern Ireland would necessarily agree with that," he said, "but he who pays the piper must sometimes call the tune."
The delegation met the President of the Commission, Mr Jacques Santer, and members of the cabinet of the Commissioner responsible for institutional affairs, Mr Marcelino Oreja. Mr Santer stressed the importance of this year's Inter Governmental Conference and the enlargement process.
The head of the Commission unit on Ireland, Mr Esben Poulsen, described the EU special peace package for Northern Ireland.
After lunch with Ireland's most senior Commission official, Mr Tom O'Dwyer, director general for training, the group had meetings with the 1 Southern Irish MEPs and the president and vice president of the parliament.
The president, Mr Klaus Haensch, said afterwards he was delighted by the opportunity to discuss "the moral and organisational aspects of Europe" with the delegation.
He defined the EU's collective morality as a "combination of individual freedom and responsibility for society combined with social justice." Its ingredients, drawn from the strong Christian tradition, were "indissoluble".
Discussions with the MEPs are understood to have focused on the problems of regional depopulation. Some MEPs complained to the group that their work was inadequately covered by the press.
Today the church leaders meet a member of the cabinet of the Irish Commissioner, Mr Padraig Flynn, attend a lunch hosted by the Commissioner, and meet officials involved in development aid policy.
