During the last years, the European Union has experienced new challenges, mostly due to the economic crisis. These situations have described real and major problems that have to be solved. But none is unknown to the history of European democraties, and many are dealt with in the original model developed by Masonic thinkers such as Payne, Mazzini or La Fayette in connection with the United States of Europe.

The historical background didn’t allow, yet, the creation of the United States of Europe. Moreover, the organization with the best abilities to build such a structure, I name the Freemasonry, is regressing in Western Europe. Other transnational bodies tend to replace the brilliant Masonic influence of the late 18th, 19th and primeval 20th centuries. However important, these entities seem to act differently, or with a different specificity. Therefore, they have a different manner of dealing with European Union problems. There was lesser trust in ideals, and more in structures like the International Monetary Fund. Taking account of and using the experience of the International Monetary Fund (by example) is not a bad thing. Forgetting the power of the ideals, on the other hand, is a dangerous approach, because no durable civilization is poor in ideals.

Freemasonry, at its best, was a well-balanced and well-disciplined structure of economic pragmatism and high democratic ideals. The building of the United States of Europe depends on the existence of such structures. Actual challenges reflect this urgent need. I will highlight in this paper only three well-known goals:

1. Improving the European Union. The advent of the economic crisis has shown the weakness of the current philosophy upon which is structured the European Union. In any geographical Union, it is natural that some zones become richer and, therefore, more attractive. That is why the Union must develop strategies to encourage population to work in poorer zones or to administrate the ensuing migration towards the richer zones. Simply protecting the national wealth by strengthening the national boundaries and issuing local preventive laws against aliens do not solve the core of the problem, but menaces the idea of Union. At the same time, it is again natural that in an Union, some local authorities might try to cheat, or might prove themselves incompetent. The Union must have the means to control and to amend these authorities, in such a manner as to prevent the economic collapse of the zone. Third, at least inside the Euro zone, there must be a federative body controlling local National Banks, in order to prevent or to administrate monetary and financial failures. All these simple facts show us clearly that, in order to survive, the European Union must develop a stronger federative philosophy, must upgrade itself into the United States of Europe, as foreseen by the great Masonic thinkers of the 18th century.

2. Building the European mentality. What we call today the European mentality is based upon the mentality that succeeded to win the terrible trial of the Second World War, in Western Europe. Therefore, it is based upon modern democratic values, upon the Human Rights Chart and upon a national sense of universal culture. It is an urban mentality, sensible at economic advantages, valuing human life, impregnated with Christian and humanistic morals, multicultural, encouraging both work and pleasure. A great part of this mentality was gestated during the 18th century and implemented through the 19th by massive and sometimes heroic Masonic efforts. Therefore, Freemasonry has been its natural carrier. Freemasonry must still assume this role in Eastern European countries where the building of European mentality is a work in progress.

3. Superseding distrust. The problem of trust and distrust between European peoples is quite important. It has its roots in deep history, as Europe was the scene of numerous wars and long rivalries. The problem of distrust was well understood by Robert Schuman in 1950, when he laid the foundations of the European Union, by initiating the European Steel and Coal Community, a structure based upon the elimination of distrust between two old rivals: the French and the German. However, this problem gained new dimensions and a new vitality in our days, due to Eastern migration towards richer Western European lands. There are countries where the distrust of Eastern European citizens, especially Romanians, has become almost a national feeling. Because of its strong fraternal values and its universal character, Freemasonry is a natural enemy of distrust between men and between peoples. Freemasonry builds bridges and is one of the most efficient means of uniting people despite of state boundaries. As James Anderson wrote in 1723: “Masonry becomes the Center of  Union and the means of conciliating true Friendship among Persons that must have remained at a perpetual Distance”. In the essential action of superseding distrust, Freemasonry is and must remain a major actor.

Dear Brothers, I have described you three great current European challenges. It is easy to see that two out of three, the building of European mentality and the action of superseding distrust are of full Masonic competence and, I dare say, must become actual Masonic goals in Europe.

As for the Community of Europe Lodges, as shown by its very name, its European dedication must be even greater than average Masonic commitment. Strengthening friendship between European Brothers and celebrating European mentality are the two pillars of our Community. We are in full action of building an United Europe in our gestures, in our common works, in our meetings and in our expectations.

Radu Comănescu
Past W\M\ of Europa Unită Lodge No.27, Or\ Bucharest