The
Charlemagne Prize is an annual award that recognises outstanding efforts in
favour of a stronger EU. This year´s winner is a special one for a few reasons.
He is not a European citizen. Furthermore, he is not directly involved with
European politics and actually he does not want to be seen as too close to just
one region of the world. And he is above all a religious leader, known as Pope
Francis.
But
he is also a moral beacon to many. And a candid speaker about the plight of
immigrants. He has strongly advised the EU leaders to be more responsive to the
massive arrivals of refugees and immigrants. He himself has been to reception
centres in Italy and Greece as a way of calling the politicians attention to
the predicament of those who are stuck out there.
All
this is highly valuable. However, the issue remains a political one. The Pope´s
moral appeals have no real impact on politicians that see the issue has core to
their national interests and also for their own survival as government leaders.
The immigration and refugee matters are essentially political. They are one of
the most definitive challenges to the unity of Europe. They call for political
vision, for clarity about the overall goal, what really matters for the future
of Europe, the options, and the consequences of each choice, all of this far
beyond the remit of a prize, even one as important as the Charlemagne award.
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