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The EU probably trades too much with itself anyway to be truly efficient in trade terms due to its tariff wall and agricultural protectionism. From an economic viewpoint, the 'stewardship' case for greater centralisation of powers in the EU is far from proven and runs the risk of major costs, especially for the UK.

v) Equity in distribution of wealth and income

Every person is made in the image of God. From this foundation stems the obligation to ensure the welfare of every person. This in turn raises concerns about both absolute and relative levels of wealth and poverty, in particular how the structures of political and economic organisation impact on the distribution of wealth and power.

There is a role for richer EU nations to help their poorer neighbours but this does not require a new treaty. Indeed, at a wider European level, the Lisbon Treaty will increase income disparities between countries inside and outside the EU, with those outside remaining discriminated against in their agricultural exports to the EU. Making EU markets more accessible to such countries would raise incomes and bolster democracy.

vi) Peaceful relationships between nations

It is almost a platitude to say that God is concerned that there should be peace between nations. The desire for peace, however, must be compatible with the demands of justice - God does not want 'peace at any price'.

The original goal of the Christian founders of the EEC was to foster peace in Europe so as to make another war in Western Europe inconceivable. Although NATO must take most of the credit for the past sixty years of peace, the EU has played its part by fostering closer political and economic ties. Unfortunately, the Lisbon Treaty may well foster conflicts and increase nationalism among EU countries. Perhaps the recent debate over the rise of the BNP in British politics is but a taste of things to come.

vii) Acknowledgement of God's sovereignty over political life

All Christian thinking about society must begin not with man but with God. Contrary to the ideas of Rousseau that political sovereignty lies with the 'general will' expressed through an autonomous state, a biblical understanding of government is that ultimate sovereignty lies with God (Romans 13:1). A fundamental Christian concern, therefore, is that the Word of God should be acknowledged, or at least taken into account, when laws are made and society structured, and that there should be a sense of submission to God in the making of law and policy. Although this becomes increasingly difficult in pluralistic European societies, as Christians we still have to ask whether closer European integration will help or hinder keeping God and his values as an influence on the political and economic system.

From a Christian viewpoint, political integration of the UK into the EU could be advantageous. In many cases, the constitution and legislation of other EU countries embody a stronger Christian Democratic or Christian Socialist outlook than those of the UK. However, of greater significance, in most of continental Europe the trend towards secularisation is even stronger than in Britain. While British Christians may have a strategic role in the re-evangelisation of the continent, closer integration of Britain into the EU is unlikely to bring about greater acknowledgement of God's sovereignty in temporal affairs, particularly if it results in weaker ties with the US.

Conclusion

We should probably be sceptical of the impact the Lisbon Treaty will have on our lives and communities. How we respond to the move towards greater centralisation, however, will very much be determined by our beliefs about the future and the direction we believe the world is heading: whether we think the state of the nations is destined to go from bad to worse or to improve over time, for instance. But that is a topic for another day - one the Jubilee Centre will examine in a report due next summer. For now, the final word should perhaps go to TS Eliot, who concluded his talk on 'The Unity of European Culture', in 'Christianity and Culture': 'The unity of culture, in contrast to the unity of political organisation, does not require us all to have only one loyalty: it means that there will be a variety of loyalties. It is wrong that the only duty of the individual should be held to be towards the State; it is fantastic to hold that the supreme duty of every individual should be towards a Super-State.' CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.