Many may see the European Union as only a political and economical space. With its long standing Christian traditions, Romania could be the fresh spiritual salt of the European culture, Habitus member Doru Costache writes.

Rev. Dr. Doru Costache

When addressing the subject regarding Romania’s integration into the European Union, we have to be aware of both the economic and political aspects of this process and long awaited event. While I am not qualified to discuss such matters as economics or politics, I am able to approach this topic from a different point of view. I am referring to the both spiritual and cultural aspects of Romania’s contribution, of its presence in the context of the civilized world.

Even being the circumstances of our institutional and economic slow motion, Romania obviously belongs to Europe. Romania is a Central European country, a land that geographically belongs to the Old Continent. It is also a gateway between East and West. Romanians are an unusual people, of Western Latin origin and mentality, who share the spiritual heritage of the Eastern Christendom. It seems that not only geographically but also culturally, Romania represents the crossroads between East and West. Romania may also be understood as a microcosmic historical model of what today’s Europe is representing: a multicultural and multilingual society, where different nations are welcomed by the Romanian majority, and where everyone can express his or her cultural and religious identity freely. Furthermore, Romania contributed to the development of civilization and of human spirit with the likes of engineer Henry Coandă, artist Constantin Brancuşi, composer George Enescu, religious historian Mircea Eliade, philosopher Emil Cioran, writer Eugene Ionescu, and biologist and Nobel Prize winner George Palade, who will always be inscribed in the memory of mankind.

One may acknowledge that the political act of integration comes a little late and only as recognition of our previous contributions to the development of the European culture and society. However, Romanians are able to contribute much more the development of the modern world, if not economically then spiritually. Recovering their dignity – which now becomes possible as accepted into the European Union and as Europeans –, Romanians could proudly manifest their noble character. Therefore, the political act of the European integration could be seen indeed as the chance for a resurrection – and not only of Romania, but of the spirit of Europe too. Within a dominant secular society that disregards the inner life of the human person, I know that the people of Romania, as a predominant Christian Orthodox nation, can bring back to modern Europe its lost soul. I am confident that within the European Union or even here in Australia, Romanians can retrieve their spiritual roots, in order to creatively participate to the global effort of building a better world.

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