Europe is uniting people

We need to establish an inter-cultural society where people of differing backgrounds communicate and enrich each other, says Ján Figel.

Europe is becoming more culturally diverse. Over recent years the multicultural character of many countries has increased significantly, adding to the number of languages, religions, ethnic and cultural backgrounds in Europe. I believe that the right answer is to move actively towards being an inter-cultural rather than multi-cultural society. A multi-cultural society relies on tolerance, but I feel that mere tolerance is not enough any more. An inter-cultural society is one in which peoples of differing backgrounds communicate and enrich each other, living together harmoniously.

2008 is the European year of intercultural dialogue. The year aims to enable people to face these challenges, by encouraging people to move towards dialogue with each other, no matter their background, to promote mutual understanding. Women and dialogue and culture have a very evident connection. New life is born of woman, and from our earliest moments, culture is communicated to us through our mothers. We use the term ‘mother tongue’, not ‘father tongue’. Why? Because the mother is the first to share culture, creating the foundations of dialogue. So women and culture is a very natural link, and it should be promoted and nurtured.

The value of women in conveying culture is clearly fundamentally important because culture is not only about the arts. It has a broader sense: culture is first of all about how we relate to others, how we understand the world, what values we embrace in life. But ‘culture’ was not always understood this way. In the dark times of the past, especially during the early 20th century, culture was abused, because it was understood as a tool for division and conflict. People were eliminated simply because of their ethnicity, religion or political background.

We have happily moved on from those distorted views of culture. But it is important to realise that, once it is achieved, it will not automatically last for ever. No, this ethical understanding of identity and culture, based on democracy, freedom, human rights and a common Europe, must be actively maintained, vigilantly, by each generation. And women’s role in this endeavour is vital.

The former president of Sri Lanka, Ms. Kumaratunga, highlighted another important aspect, when she emphasised last year at the European parliament that women’s role in peace-making processes should become more prominent. “Women,” she said, “have traditionally had a role of reconciliation”. I share the same view, and would apply it not only in a post–conflict setting, but also to the challenges we face in today’s EU, in the framework of intercultural dialogue.

However, discrimination against women stands in the way of success in this area. Gender-based discrimination cannot be tolerated on moral grounds, because it brings about undue suffering for women. But it is also unacceptable on rational grounds, because it is everybody’s loss.

It is true that we can only share what we have. If Europe is strongly committed to a dialogue of cultures, it will be better able to promote cultural collaboration in the world, thus leading to universal fundamental human values. As Jean Monnet once wrote, “Nous ne coalisons pas des Etats, nous unissons des hommes!” – we are not uniting states, we are uniting people!

If we are able to do this inside Europe, then we will be able to share this capacity with the rest of the world, to be an inspiration for countries near and far, for the benefit of the world as a whole. Across Europe, women are the privileged ambassadors for dialogue between cultures, religions, genders, and age groups. I welcome their contribution, during the 2008 European year and beyond.