Graz, Austria. 30 October – 2 November 2024. Participation at the General Assembly of “Together for Europe” Movement”.

The Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), Member of the Hellenic Parliament Dr. Maximos Charakopoulos, along with the IAO Advisor Dr. Kostas Mygdalis, participated in the General Assembly of the Movement “Together for Europe”, in Graz, Austria, October 30 – November 2, 2024.

The organization “Together for Europe”, founded in 1999, brings together many Christian movements and communities – more than 300 worldwide – belonging to different Churches. All these movements, while maintaining their independence, have formed a network to pursue common goals. The head of the ΙΑΟ participated in the section “Called to hope in a polarized society”, with the former Prime Minister of Slovenia Mr. Lojze Peterle, the former Prime Minister of Slovakia Mr. Eduard Heger, Bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl, the Superintendent of the movement Mr. Wolfgang Rehner and professor Mrs. Ingeborg Gerda Gabriel.

Ο επικεφαλής της ΔΣΟ συμμετείχε στην ενότητα «Μαζί με ελπίδα σε μια πολωμένη κοινωνία», με τον πρώην πρωθυπουργό της Σλοβενίας κ. Lojze Peterle, τον πρώην πρωθυπουργό της Σλοβακίας κ. Eduard Heger, τον Επίσκοπο Wilhelm Krautwaschl, τον Έφορο του κινήματος κ. Wolfgang Rehner και την καθηγήτρια κ. Ingeborg Gerda Gabriel.

The Secretary General, in his speech, pointed out: “All of us, who are concerned with the future of Europe, are pleased to note that there are signs of awakening from the hibernation that had prevailed for a while in terms of the identity and the role that the European culture”. In addition, he noted that in the awakening of Europe “the dramatic developments with the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have contributed as well. But also the aggravation of the contradictions – social and economic – that are covertly evolving in the European area. More and more people are realizing that the miracle of post-war Europe, the edifice of cooperation, freedom, peace and prosperity, is not given. That is why we must all work to strengthen it. And the first act of strengthening a structure starts from its foundation. And the foundations of Europe are, together with Greek literature and Roman law, Christian values.

To our painful surprise, however, reading the EU’s many-page report on the Future of Europe, we did not find a single word referring to our Christian roots and values. I believe you will agree with us that this is an inexcusable omission, which unfortunately appears to have been ideologically motivated. This finding motivated us, as an interparliamentary institution in the field of Orthodoxy, to take initiatives”.

The IAO Secretary General also referred to the success of the initiative of co-organizing the International Conference in Thessaloniki with the topic “Politics as an Area for Expressing Christian Values in Everyday Life”. He made special reference to the text of Appeal to the European Institutions on Christian values co-signed by the heads of the IAO, the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences in the EU (COMECE), and the “Together for Europe” Organization. As he noted, “the “Appeal” clearly declares “our commitment to work together, in a dynamic and inclusive manner, to promote a positive European agenda that is also inspired by Christian values”.

This initiative, which started in the capital of historic Macedonia, Thessaloniki, during the previous months, is already unfolding. Among others, we presented it to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis, with a very positive reflection. We know that our goal is difficult. But we are certain that with perseverance, planning, and our close collaboration and with the help of God we will succeed”.

In the framework of the Assembly, the IAO Secretary General, congratulated the Coordinator of “Together for Europe”, Mr. Gerhard Pross and offered him a commemorative gift on behalf of the Hellenic Parliament.

On the sidelines of the movement’s work, the IAO Secretary General and the IAO advisor, Dr. Kostas Mygdalis, had a meeting with the co-president of the Focolare Movement, Mr. Jesus Moran, and the representative of the movement for Greece and Cyprus, Mrs. Patricia Taranto.

It is worth noting that in the context of the General Assembly there was a special section on the “Orthodox Contribution”, where the work of the IAO and the volume on Hagia Sophia, awarded by the Academy of Athens, were presented by the Organization’s advisor, Dr. Kostas Mygdalis.