TOGETHER FOR EUROPE

Not a mosaic of congresses, but a gathering with a continental dimension in order to give hope to Europe.
In a moment in which Europe and the world are swept by the winds of violence and terrorism,
winds of fraternity will blow from Stuttgart and the 163 European cities linked to it.
This is its contribution towards “giving a soul” to the process of unification, so that Europe may
realize the project of its founding fathers: a family of united peoples and reconciled nations,
committed to building peace and the unity of the entire human family.

Significant date: 8 MAY 2004

Anniversary of the end of the second world war, which led to the dream of a new Europe
Eve of Europe day which recalls the historic declaration of Robert Schuman on May 9, 1950, origin of the European Union.
During the week of the extension of the European Union to 25 countries with the entrance of the first countries of Eastern Europe, Cyprus and Malta.

The protagonists
175 MOVEMENTS AND COMMUNITIES
Catholics, Evangelicals, Orthodox and Anglicans

This is not a well-known phenomenon. As in other crucial moments of European history, also
in our times new spiritual currents have emerged from the Gospel, spiritual currents which gave
rise to communities and movements of spiritual renewal and social commitment.
United by an increasing communion, for the first time in history, they weave a network of fraternal relationships among the various peoples and cultures of Europe, making visibile, albeit on a small scale, the unity already in act, of Europe in its multiplicity, from which can emerge new impulses to social, political and cultural life.

Jews, Muslims and members of other religions will be present as observers.

Where: STUTTGART, city of reconciliation

In this city, for the first time, in October 1945, representatives of the Evangelical Church officially recognized its share in the shortcoming towards nazism. The German people began to admit their fault.

Some statistics
10,000 people will partecipate in the “Together for Europe”day at the Hans Martin Schleyer of Stuttgart
100,000 people will be gathered together in sports stadiums, theatres, cultural centres, and universities and linked via satellite with Stuttgart in
163 cities of 30 European countries
34 cities of 15 countries of 4 continents, for a Europe open to all the world
100 political personalities belonging to different parties from 14 countries
16 satellites will transmit in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North, Central and South America, Australia, with audio in 8 languages (French, English, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Spanish, German and International).

Among the 175 Movements and communities: about 80 Catholics from different countries and over 80 Evangelicals of Germany. Representatives of Syndesmus, which gathers together 126 Orthodox movements, associations and theological faculties from all over the world and 4 other Orthodox movements; Alpha Courses, born in the Anglican Church and now spread to all the world in various Churches, various ecumenical communities and associations, among which the Taizè community and Initiatives e Changements, the former Moral Rearmament Foundation.

Personalities
High level representatives of European institutions: the European Commission, with the intervention of President Romano Prodi, the European Council, by the Secretary General, W. Schwimmer. Video message of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Irish Prime Minister, Ahern.
About 100 political personalities belonging to different parties from 14 countries, members of 10 Parliaments, and various mayors.

Quite significant is the adhesion of personalities representing the leaders of different Churches: Catholic, Orthodox of Constantinople, Moscow, Greece, Albania, Romania, Anglican, Evangelical, and important Church organizations of Europe (CCEE, KEK) and the world (WCC). We are expecting messages from Pope John Paul II and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Costantinopole Bartolomew I.

Program
prepared for television with brief talks and artistic numbers

Interventions, among others, by founders and directors of Movements, Communities and groups, among whom: Chiara Lubich, Andrea Riccardi; the Evangelical pastors Friedrich Aschoff, Ulrich Parzany; Fr. Heikki Huttunen, Orthodox
Young people will say how they want Europe to be
A final message will be launched

Information service:
www.europ2004.org

The event will be transmitted via internet in Italian and English: www.europ2004.info

On the website:
program, photos, texts in 15 languages, music, news, press release, forum with e-mail messages
from various gatherings linked up with the event

Signal of the transmission from Stuttgart
thanks to TELESPAZIO, CRC/Canada and MEDIA SPACE Alliance
will be offered free to TV and radio stations, with audio in French, English, Italian, Dutch,
Polish, Spanish, German and International.

To obtain the signal contact: ianua.co@focolare.org cell. 39.338.394.8600