Workgroup outcomesWorkgroup outcomes

ECPM Co-operation and conference in North-East Europe

The most practical and concrete outcome of this workshop was the plan for an ECPM conference in North-East Europe about the distinctiveness of Christian-democracy and how to explain this. This idea point by point:

• Theme: ‘What is Christian-democracy as unique political movement (compared to conservatism, liberalism, social-democracy) and how to explain this to the people'?

(Or: How to explain Christian-democracy in a simple way) Ideology matters, how to explain it

• If the LKD organises this conference than it will take place in May/June, if this is not possible, the EKD will organise it in November/December. But of course; all ECPM parties in this region will try to help another in preparing this conference regardless who is the ‘main organiser' (for example by searching for speakers/experts etc.)
• Invitations will go to parties and movements in the Baltics, Scandinavia, and Belo-Russia
• The conference and the conference-participants must have efficient preparation (like readers), an efficient program and the conference should also lead to long-term results (like a campaign working group).
• Important is also that the parties try to find experts as speakers for this conference and that there is room to share their experiences. Participants should learn new things that can be applied concrete and practical (in campaigns for example).
• There is funding available from MATRA  

Other themes that are important for future co-operation:

• How to deal with and Russian minorities? How can Christian-democrat parties make a clear stand and send a constructive message at the same time?
• How to deal with media?
• Social-economical policy & Christian-democracy

Conclusions of the South Eastern European ECPM meeting

It is seen as precious to have representatives of a lot of countries of South East Europe together. We must continue to meet each other and to continue to have meetings between the countries, but also there should be building up and doing something concrete.

• Bi-lateral meetings It is good to have a meeting between two countries to look for ways of doing things together and to develop concrete projects together. Many countries face the same problems. Not only talking is important, but also solutions and practical aspects.
• Take away the limitations Also a network was important as a lobby organization for NGOs from West Europe to be able to work better for the society. It was mentioned that the countries face a history of hostility. Christians in politics should work together to tear the walls of limitations between us down and have to identify the problem areas which is dividing us. We need to have as main common goal to tear down the borders between our countries, the limitations. In the EU the borders are torn down , limitations are taken away and there is a strive for collaboration. In South East Europe we are creating borders and limitations. We have to focus on Christ Jesus Who does not think in borders or countries. This does not mean that countries would not exist (also in the EU the different countries exist) but it means that the barriers between these countries that should be taken away. The most crucial things is to work on reconciliation. We have to talk with each other and also to be able to talk with each other.
• Influence or power???? However main target should be that we as Christians should focus on politics and on how to get influence. We have to create awareness that it is important to have Christians in politics. Christians on leadership positions will have the possibilities to develop projects and to become important for the society. As Christians we should have influence in the society especially in the politics. We have to think how to deal with secular thinking. Our world vision is based on the Bible. We are unity in Christ, but we are dividing ourselves. We have to see each other as being mandated by Christ as part of the Government, part of the parliament or other leading institutions. We have to be careful that this is politics and should not be a second church. We should not only preach in the parliament and we should not process politics in the church. We have to specialize and spread the message also in concrete ways in parliament and to speak the same language. We have to decide about every problems based on the Biblical principles. We need to concentrate of the problems of our countries are focusing than each representative of the country should collaborate with each other.
• Accountability The representatives of the different countries should encourage each other. Also it is important in the different countries that besides of political parties also there should be a way to control and check each other. An NGO or something else to be accountable for. We are weak and we need to look for ways how we are applying the Biblical principles within the work we are doing. Not all the Christian politicians are applying the principles as soon as they are in the politics. Also it is important to have separate meetings with the Russian speaking groups together. In the communistic time also destroyed the language. We have to learn to redefine ideas and concepts in words. Many words got a negative connotation because of the communistic time. The word volunteering was used to do forced labour in that time. Therefore the word in Romanian does not have a good meaning or perception with as a consequence that volunteering is not processed a lot. We should redefine ideas into concepts and even in words. Also it is good to think about how pastors can play a role in finding, identifying and supporting Christian leaders. mentioned that the pastors will have a meeting about this theme on 14 December.

Conclusions think tanks

Although the associated think tanks of the ECPM had less time to discuss future co-operation then other groups, the meeting was very fruitful because of the following points:

• The different organizations got to know each other and personal contact information was exchanged in order to promote future co-operation
• There are plans to try to create a kind of ECPM database. The think tanks will share their publications with other think tanks (mostly through internet) so they can share the knowledge of each other
• A central role in this plan depends on how the ECPM website can facilitate this database and give enough possibilities to ensure the mentioned plans
• The think tanks are going to translate relevant political publications into English to put on the website as well