As mentioned previously, the Peace Summit attempts to put in place a dialogue among distinguished personalities and youth on issues that are of particular relevance to Europe and the future of European social, economic and political development. The questions defining the discussions of the work groups at the Peace Summit relate to the opportunities represented by the notion of Europe on a number of levels. The main concern of the Peace Summit is to present action oriented results that integrate the concerns and convictions of the participants regarding aspects of European development such as the chances that the transformations represent for individuals, groups, society and the world.

In attempting to understand the issues at play in these significant discussions, it is worthwhile to devote some attention to the variety of perceptions and impressions of the meaning that Europe holds for the participants of the Peace Summit. The following is a brief glimpse of the variety of visions of Europe present in the contributions of participants.

Statements on the meaning of Europe:

Europe is a political reality, represented by European Integration and the European Union.

Europe is a privileged economic space.

Europe is a cultural space whose diversity is its richness, its cultural capital and its productive force.

Europe is a potential identity, an identity in the making.

Europe is a geographical entity, a continent that is indivisible.

Europe is a world player, a partner for world action.

Europe is a form or model of social organisation, that is considered equitable and that while needing some improvement, needs to be preserved.

In the following pages, we outline the main lines of thought and the main areas of agreement among participants of the Peace Summit on the topic of each work group, as represented by the summaries of the individual rapporteurs of the work groups and with reference to the individual contributions of the participants. We provide some indications of the main points of controversy and debate between the contributors for each of the work groups. We then move on to assess the main challenges for each workg roups’ discussions and conclude with a resumé of the questions of main interest and concern for the deliberations at the Peace Summit. Finally, we present a summary of the action drafts and project recommendations of contributors to the Peace Summit.

2/ Summaries:

Work Group 1 a:

The roles of families and education systems in a changing Europe:

The development among people of a culture of cohabitation and of living together in peace depends on various factors, not least on the early socialisation of children and young people as they grow into adult hood. The first years of life shape the character of individuals in terms of their personality, ability for dealing with personal problems and conflicts, capacity for dealing with conflicts with others, attitudes and pre-dispositions, skills and capacities to pursue and achieve their own goals and to present their own interests, ability and willingness to accept collective norms and to obey them.

It is evident that socialisation is a key element for change. A society affects the conditions for the socialisation of future generations through families and through education. Peaceful attitudes, as mentioned above, are not an abstract concept. Peace is a pattern for co-existence, for dealing with conflicts and for the pursuit of personal and collective interests. The more the process of socialisation among children and young people is geared towards fostering the ability for peaceful behaviour, the higher the likelihood of the development of a European citizenry which is willing to co-exist peacefully.

Traditional European systems of education, and forms of socialisation within families, are today frequently criticised. The following represents some of the commonly identified reasons:

Socialisation processes, as are presently propagated in Europe, are insufficient preparation for life;
cognitive "knowledge" is more important than skills and abilities (the development of personality);
Families, family like structures and persons accompanying those growing up receive too little support from the general public.

Hence, among the contributors to this work group it is considered desirable to develop consensually agreed upon guidelines for the upbringing of children in families and family like structures in Europe and for the education of young people. These guidelines should aim towards the development of socialisation processes and education systems that take into account the psychosocial abilities and skills of those growing up.

To conclude, the participants of the workgroup believe, that the number of adults which are willing and able for living in peace can be increased through targeted and co-ordinated actions on the European level that aim to improve the quality of early socialisation in families and further education. National and supranational programmes can provide better information and more support to those who accompany young people in their transition from youth to adulthood. The role and the significance of families, of family like structures and educational institutions is very high and has a strong impact on the development of the future European citizenry. Training young people in willingness and skills for peaceful co-existence should be a prime aim of early socialisation and of education systems in Europe.

The main challenges for this work group will be to debate the following issues:

How is the role of the family in Europe changing and why?
What are the new roles ascribed to family and family like structures in Europe at the turn of the century?
How can families or family like structures best prepare children and young adults for their future responsibilities as citizens in the changing Europe?
What kind of skills should families and family like structures provide their children with?
Which challenges have education systems been faced with in recent times? Why have these challenges come about?
What is the role of education systems in the changing Europe? How can education systems in Europe prepare children for their future responsibilities?
With which skills and knowledge should schools be providing their pupils and students? What should be the emphasis of school curricula in the new Europe?

Work Group 1 b:

Perspectives for work: Creating new forms of employment and recreation in Europe:

A major source of frustration for people today stems from two problems concerning work - increasing unemployment and dissatisfying work. The causes of these problems are manifold and complex, not least of which is the ongoing process of globalisation that is affecting Europe, as well as the rest of the world. The problems associated with these phenomena and their further spread are many, and the implications are worrying:

Increasing unemployment has the potential to seriously destabilise the nascent European society. It is often at the root of social problems, and can lead to the development of extreme political attitudes, such as radical right wing beliefs and religious fundamentalism. And while it is clear that full employment is a pipe dream in this age of market supremacy, the rationalisation of work "out of existence" is equally unrealistic. It remains to be seen if human society is creative enough to live up to one of the most significant challenges it has ever faced – the re-interpretation of the role of work in society;
In the same vein, the prevalence of dissatisfying work and a lack of motivation for people to invest energy, creativity and pride in their work is of significant concern. In this age of technological advancement - an age where knowledge and creativity combine to produce a competitive edge in the global economy - the motivation and initiative of the workforce has become one of the prime resources, and one of the elements considered to significantly influence both the viability and competitiveness of a given company or of a given national economy.

According to the contributions of the participants, the challenge for Europe is hence twofold. In the first place, there is a need to create alternative forms of work to supplement existing forms and to replace those forms of work which have become obsolete, so as to offset the negative economic and social effects of large scale unemployment. In the second place, there is a need to explore new forms of work that can provide job satisfaction and motivation to the workforce. In addition, it is imperative that the rigid separation of work from recreation or leisure be broken down and that more fluid forms of work combining the energy of leisure with the responsibility of work be implemented in order to boost the motivation and willingness to invest of the workforce.

Two primary sets of actors are considered in a position to influence this and to accomplish the transition to new forms of work. In the first place, individuals are considered to have the power to change their lives within themselves, and the initiative that is considered necessary for beginning this process must come from within the individual. Personal initiative, entrepreneurial spirit, motivation and responsibility are the attributes considered important in the new age of work. However, it is not necessarily a simple task for individuals to become aware of the need to change lifelong forms of work and habits of functioning. The path to the development of a more responsible, innovative, initiative filled workforce is fraught with many difficulties as is manifest in the difficulty of much middle management to come to terms with flatter hierarchies and with the facilitating rather than controlling management function demanded in today’s labour market.

Organisations also bear a large measure of responsibility for developing both job creation strategies and the motivation of the workforce. However, many companies have difficulty in reconciling their role as profit oriented, market players on the one hand, and as forms of social organisation, comprising individuals with diverse needs, and which should play a positive social role, on the other. The ideas of more transparency between the lowest and higher levels of the hierarchy, or of a minimum level of social protection for workers, are not always easy to swallow for management and shareholders. On the other hand, it is clear that companies and other types of organisation (especially in the public sector) will have to reform themselves to maintain competitiveness and to satisfy the needs of their workforce for more meaningful existences within working hours.

The threats and opportunities inherent to these developments have a number of significant results, the most prominent of which is on the way in which work is perceived, and carried out in Europe. There is a clear consensus among participants that the very concept of work is changing from one of pure utility to one imbued with broader meaning and content. Life long learning, personal development, the development of human resources are all key words associated with a new conception of work. In Europe, this implies the continuing need for the development of a new culture of work, comprising trust, meaningful work relationships, information sharing and high levels of motivation among the workforce and management. This is an issue of global importance and is of concern to global actors, not just to the developed world of which Europe is a part. It also relates to the need for organisations and individuals to become more aware of issues such as sustained and sustainable development, the development of a more equitable world society, that does not function exclusively on the principle of competition, so much associated with Western European society.

The main challenge for this work group will be to debate the following issues:

What are the perspectives for work in Europe?
How has / is the concept of work in Europe changing? What are the causes of the change in the concept of work?
Is a new culture of work developing in Europe? If so, what are its characteristics?
How can the various actors concerned (in particular individuals and organisations) develop the new culture of work?
Which are the new forms of work and recreation appropriate to the continued social and economic development of Europe?
Which new forms of employment and recreation should be promoted?
What kinds of actions should be undertaken by governments and other actors (in particular companies, employer associations, representatives of employees and other social partners) to develop the new culture of work, to ensure a sufficient level of job creation and to institute new forms of recreation?

Work Group 2 a:

A European identity? Cultural diversity, ethnic conflict, and inter-religious dialogue: New rituals for dealing with violence:

The concept of European identity is very difficult to define. The contributions of the participants provide a panorama of perceptions as varied and diverse as the inhabitants of the continent themselves. At the same time, they provide an insight into the eternal European quest for unity within that diversity. The contributions send a clear message – that it is urgently necessary to treat the problems manifest as a result of conflicts of a cultural and ethnic nature, that have often existed for centuries on this continent. The eradication of ethnic and inter-religious strife, the development of tolerance and mutual respect between diverse cultures and religions and the development of a culture of peaceful coexistence and intercultural communication are demanded. Could this be the content of a (new) European identity?

Despite the fact that most contributors seem to believe that a European Identity does exist, the content of that identity, and indeed its origins are much less clearly identifiable. Hence, we can distinguish between two main positions on the issue of European identity. In order to do justice to the contributions of participants, it must be noted, however, that the distinction made between these positions is somewhat artificial, given that the very notion of identity is one which is made up of many elements and cannot be divided into mutually exclusive positions. The interdependence of the positions outlined below is patently obvious.

European Identity as defined by Religion, History and Culture: This understanding of European identity perceives the origins of a common identification with Europe and that which is European as being closely linked to the historical development of the continent, and in particular to its development as a cultural space unified in the religious traditions of Christianity. At the same time, it is acknowledged by the contributors that the history of Europe has been as, if not even more, divisive than its occasions of unity. It is noted that between the various denominations of Christianity as much as among the different religions represented throughout history on the continent, most notably Judaism and Islam, there has been more strife than peace. The notion of Europe as a "community of destiny" is most certainly debatable.
European Identity as defined by Values, Politics and Society: Another conception of European identity, sees it bound up with common social and political traditions and modes of development associated with the modern age in Europe. This conception of European identity bases itself on the idea that there are a certain number of values of a political or social nature that have been both developed and tested in Europe and that are considered to be inherent to that identity. We need only refer to the pursuit of democracy, the rule of law and human rights or to the pursuit of social equity as a guiding principle of government for examples. Key words such as reconciliation, peace, solidarity and freedom are indispensable in this context. The notion of a European identity that is defined by values proclaimed as universal, whatever their popularity, is a highly contestable point.

However, it is acknowledged that there are both practical as well as conceptual difficulties with both of these positions. The seeming proliferation of political conflicts, both armed and unarmed, that are defined by religious and ethnic tensions, is one of Europe’s most worrying developments, not least in light of its history of genocide and murder.

The conclusion of the contributors is that the various religious and cultural influences, as well the social and political values, that are identifiable in the history of Europe, need to be fully and equitably acknowledged in order to allow for the development of a European identity that is does not produce further exclusion, that does not consider itself superior and that provides a sense of belonging for all who espouse it. Developing such a conception of identity is anything but easy, as is attested by the present difficulty the European Union has in overcoming its many problems of legitimacy and its image of technocratic autocracy.

The main challenges for this work group will be to debate the following issues:

What are the components of a contemporary European identity? What are the influences (historical, cultural, social and political) on the content of that identity?
How can the contemporary European identity be developed among the general public? Which practical strategies need to be favoured to develop European identity? What role can the citizenry have in developing a contemporary European identity?
Can the development of a European identity influence the resolution of conflicts of an politico-ethnic and politico-religious nature?
How can the relevant actors (the European institutions, governments, NGOs, minority communities, individuals, etc.) overcome the usual clichés and to attempt to identify creative and novel ways for approaching cultural and religious differences, and their expression in the political and social spheres?

Work Group 2 b:

A European consciousness? Social commitment, human rights and responsibilities: The role of civil societies in Europe:

As the title indicates, the debate that will ensue in this work group will relate to issues of such as the existence (or non-existence) of a European consciousness and, in particular, to the role that civil society plays in its development. There seems to exist a consensus that a European consciousness does indeed exist and that it is a complex concept consisting of many elements and layers. For the participants of the work group European consciousness is:

Diversity, curiosity, tolerance and dialogue

A culture of memory

A culture of non-violence and peace

Social responsibility, solidarity and communal identity

A culture of respect for human dignity and rights

A culture of civic participation

A culture informed by a procedural consensus

The main points of controversy among the participants of the workgroup are related in particular to their understanding of both the concept of civil society and of the role civil societies in Europe play in developing a European consciousness. While the following represents the tasks ascribed to civil society in the contributions of the participants, it also represents the main issues of controversy among contributors:

Civil society is seen as a space for the free communication of differences and the accommodation of divergent interests. However, the impact that civil society can have on the development of European society through the communication of difference is evaluated to largely differing extents;
Civil society is seen as an indispensable supplement to state and market. However the extent to which, in its development, civil society is dependent on the other two spheres (state and market) is a point of largely diverging opinion;
Civil society is seen as a sphere that can influence the attitudes of individuals and change them. It is, however, debatable to which extent, on the one hand, civil society affects attitudes, and how much, on the other hand, civil society is itself dependent on attitudes for its vitality and pluralism;
Civil society is seen as a space for developing a sense of that which is "European". However, the extent to which the organisations representing civil society on a European level can actually provide their individual members with an experience of activity beyond their local, regional or national boundaries remains to be substantiated. And the issue of whether these organisations will develop into hierarchical organisations run by relatively small elite able to communicate and act in an international environment is also still an open question.

The main challenges for this work group will be to debate the following issues:

What are the components of a European consciousness? Which elements are most characteristic of European consciousness?
What is the role of civil society in developing European consciousness?
To which extent is the existence of the European civil society a reality or future project? How can we substantiate the claim that a European civil society already exists? What are the chances for the further development of a European civil society and how can this be achieved?
What kind of relationship between the three spheres (state, market, civil society) is considered as favourable to the development of a European consciousness?
Which specific kinds of actions are necessary to develop civil society in Europe, if the aim is to develop a consensual European consciousness?

Work Group 3:

Responsibilities of traditional and new media, sensitising the public for the process of European unification: Potentials and limitations of communication and information:

The development of modern media and means of mass communication is one of the most interesting, but also one of the most salient problems of our times. Although it can be argued that the development of mass media is rather a characteristic of the entire twentieth century and not exclusively of its last decades, media and communication have gained in importance in the context of globalisation. It is in this context that a number of issues have come to the fore, from the increased mobility of labour and goods to multiculturalism to problems pertaining to political regimes. These various issues, which make up the complex phenomenon of globalisation, provide the background for the differing viewpoints of the participants of this work group on media and communication. As a result, a number of problems considered by contributors are important for deliberations about media. Despite the differing emphases, the centrality of the media for contemporary societies and their further development, which finds its expression in terms such as "communication age," is widely appreciated by the participants of this work group.

It is a common phenomenon that the career of a term or concept and its widespread use in the public can result in its meaning becoming increasingly obscure. While all participants of this work group deliberate about media, their contributions rarely refer to a particular concept or definition, and it is obvious that their conception and perceptions of media differ widely. It will therefore be a prime and initial task for the work group to establish a common understanding of media, which may then guide the discussion. It will only be possible for the various issues to be discussed in earnest on this basis of terminological commonality.

Among the problems raised by the participants, two major groups can be distinguished. This distinction is necessarily somewhat arbitrary, as most of the participants appreciated the complexity of the problem and included questions from both groups of problems in their contributions.

Problems and Implications of the New Media: A number of contributors focus on the variety of problems that are generated by the development of media and new forms of communication. One of the contributors refers to the "unconscious" internationalisation that has taken place through the development and spread of communication technologies, and through bureaucracies and globalising markets. However, neither within contemporary societies nor on the individual level have the necessary adjustments taken place in the form of an "intelligent" internationalisation. This second process is seen as a necessary complement to the first, as it creates the mental and intellectual tools of self-observation and self-reflection, which enable individuals and societies to cope with a changed environment. A second problem pertains to mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion. While, theoretically and technologically, the almost complete inclusion of people in communication is possible on a global basis, several exclusionary mechanisms are at work, which to date prevent a large part of humankind from access and participation. These mechanisms can be found in different parts of the world, but also within the most developed contemporary societies. With regard to this question, it is interesting to consider the brief sociological analysis offered by one of the contributors. This member of the work group evaluated the participation of the various contributors in the communicative process of the work group, through the submission of working papers before the conference. It turned out that representatives of the arts ranked lowest, followed by representatives of politics, while science and media (and student partcipants) showed high rates of participation. Thirdly, the complex interplay between politics and media are of central interest for some contributors. The political power of media, in particular, is interesting in this context. While on the one hand, the media are often viewed as a "fourth power" with an important control function, it can also be argued that, to some extent, media has overtaken politics. An unfettered influence of the media endangers politics as a process and raises many serious problems regarding the legitimacy of democratic governments.
Chances Offered by New Media : As is the case of all work groups, rather cautious voices are accompanied by a number of more optimistic perspectives. The baseline for these contributors is that media and communication offer great chances for peaceful intercultural exchange. Technology makes it possible to create global, non-hierarchical networks that can give a voice to those often neglected in the global discourse. At the same time, frequent and regular cross-cultural communication is more possible through these new means of communication. Thus, on the global level, media and communication provide the potential for a more lively, more frequent, and more encompassing dialogue between peoples of all different walks of life and cultures. Given this global interaction, however, one should not neglect the potential offered in the more immediate environment of a particular country. Here, similarly, discourse, inclusion, participation and exchange may be enhanced through the use of media and communication. Marginalised social groups, such as cultural minorities, life-style groups, elderly and young people, may be given a stronger voice. Democracy may change its face, as new channels of participation are on offer. Authoritarian rulers may face severe problems to maintain their power, if the ruled have increased access to unfiltered information. From these points mentioned by the participants it becomes clear that media and communication have an enormous potential for developing change.

The main challenges for this work group will be to debate the following issues :

"Intelligent" Internationalisation : What are the skills needed, on both the individual and societal levels, to complement the process of mediatisation? How and where can these skills be learned, trained and promoted?
Media and Reality : Do media mirror reality? Or do they affect reality by presenting aesthetic contructs?
Media and Politics : How will the process of mediatisation affect politics? What changes can be thought of for the role of the political in general, and the political process in particular? How can the political power of the media be evaluated?
Media and Europe : How can the inclusive rather than the exclusionary potential of communication and media be developed in Europe ? How can media and communication contribute to the development of more inclusive and participative channels for democratic expression at European level ?

Work Group 4 a:

Which Europe emerges: politically, economically, militarily?

The direction in which Europe develops is an issue of continuing controversy, even among its most prominent leaders and not least among the powers that be in the European Union. When speaking of Europe, it is often unclear if one is referring to the European Union or to Europe the continent? Is one referring to an economic entity or a social reality? Is one referring to a political agenda or to a legal instrument?

There are the Euro-sceptics, who consider the further development of European integration as a threat to the sovereignty and self-determination of the nation they represent. At the other extreme of the political spectrum there are the Euro-optimists who consider the wider and deeper development of European integration as essential to the best interests of the continent. A good illustration of the extremity of these positions, is the way in which both camps instrumentalise culture, the Euro-sceptics claiming that European integration is responsible for the destruction of national cultures and the Euro-optimists claiming that, on the contrary, Europe is an "agent - conservateur" for many cultures, languages, traditions and practices that otherwise would have long ago died out.

In essence, the question – Europe: Quo Vadis? is that posed by the title of this work group. The contributions of participants mirror the general lack of consensus on the issue: What will Europe look like in the future, given past and present developments? Is the emerging European reality one which Europeans consider desirable?

Political Europe: The existence of the political Europe is identified almost exclusively with the reality of European Union politics. This is a contentious point in itself. However, European Union politics is also identified as a highly imperfect system of governance and one which is presently beleaguered by a crisis of legitimacy and a critical lack of transparency. The elections to the rubber stamp European Parliament do not seem capable of offsetting the deepening democratic deficit that has developed in the European Union and constant exhortations to a European identity defined by the EURO do not ring true to many citizens (and resident non-citizens) in Europe. What will be the form and content of the future political Europe? Are we talking about a United States of Europe, or are we looking to a European Union of Sovereign States? Will the Council of Ministers agree to the development of true channels for citizen participation and a parliament with true legislative power? Will the next proposed round of European Union enlargement be the last? Where do the borders of the political Europe begin and end? Realistically speaking, these are not questions that the Peace Summit will be in a position to answer, despite the fact that the debate is certainly an exciting one. However, it is important to note that in the debate on the future political content of Europe, these are the questions that really count.
Nevertheless, the European Union has made some significant progress in the field political integration and they should not be dismissed. According to the contributors, the development of the present day and future political Europe is underpinned by a number of common values and institutions, in particular by the rule of law, the market economy and human rights. Whatever the outcome of the above debate, the future form and content of Europe as a political entity will depend in large measure on the preservation of these values and their further development among the citizenry.

Europe’s role in the world is also an important issue in the debate on Europe’s political future. Today, through the intermediary of the European Union, the interests of small (if admittedly disproportionately wealthy) countries can be considered in international politics. On the other hand, the European Union’s pretension to global player status in the field of international affairs is not yet substantiated by any apparent will on the part of its member states to develop a common European foreign and security policy. This necessarily weakens the claim that national politics has outlived its usefulness and that governance in Europe is most effective at the supra-national and sub-national levels.
Economic Europe: Clearly it is in the area of economics that Europe, and in particular the European Union, has made the most progress. It is ironic, indeed, that an often levelled accusation is that the European integration process is much too heavily weighted in favour of economic integration, when so many benefit from exactly this emphasis in the European Union. This is not necessarily a fair accusation, as the principles underlying the foundation of the integration process were to ensure the rule of law, the development of democracy and peace. Economic integration, however, was at the time considered the most appropriate means for achieving these primary aims. Today, the European economy is an interesting case study in the merits of developing regional and international economic integration.
However, a number of key political decisions pending in the European Union, will have an important effect on the future development of the Economic Europe, not least the timing of East and Southward enlargement, and the reform of the present budgetary system, that is necessitated by the simultaneous widening and deepening undertaken by the European Union. Thankfully, unlike in the political field, economic integration in Europe has meant true integration: a ceding of sovereign decision making power to the body best equipped to handle the decision and implement the result. The common currency is not a small achievement, given both the political and economic climate in Europe in the last years. However, it remains to be seen whether economics can have knock on effects of any significance in the political and social realms, and to which extent the existence of the common currency can contribute to the development of an image of European Union as more than an economic giant.
Military Europe: The question of the role of Europe as a military force is probably one of the hottest topics for debate in the European Union, particular as war rages on the continent once more. The remilitarisation of Europe is something which many of the participants of the peace summit actively combat. Clearly, the European Union can already be seen to act as a partner in peace keeping and peace seeking exercises. At the same time, the initiative has to date always come from the government of one of the member states, rather than from the European Union itself. This is hardly surprising, as there exists no consensus within the European Union as to the desirability of a common military policy. NATO, afterall, exists and functions with exactly this purpose. Indeed, the incongruence regarding this issue within the European Union is startling, with a number of members of the Union maintaining resolutely neutral positions and avoiding, wherever possible, involvement with NATO. However, an important distinction needs to be made at this point. It is one thing to discuss the role that the European Union could have in the international military scene. It is an entirely other debate to discuss the role that the European Union should have in the international military scene. Should the European Union have an armed force? Can the armies of the member states co-operate in the long term ? Is not the sovereign state mentality too prevalent for true military co-operation to be possible? So far examples of co-operative peace keeping efforts have been encouraging.

The main challenges facing this working group will be to debate the following issues:

What will be the form and content of the political Europe in the future? Which will be the significant influences in the emergence of this political Europe? Which scenarios can be foreseen and why?
What will be the form and content of the economic Europe in the future? Which will be the significant influences in the emergence of this economic Europe? Which scenarios can be foreseen and why?
What will be the form and content of the military Europe in the future? Which will be the significant influences in the emergence of this military Europe? Which scenarios can be foreseen and why?

Work Group 4 b:

Europe’s role in the globalisation process: New networks of co-operation, integration, confrontation:

Two poles characterise the debate on the issue of Europe’s role in the process of globalisation – pessimists vs. optimists:

1. Globalisation as Global Doom and Gloom: Those who espouse this position are resolute in the pessimism. They believe that globalisation causes nothing but harm, that will in the end result in an acute economic crisis, immense political problem and social conflicts of colossal proportions. Their solution is to maintain protectionist policies and do everything possible to slow its pace.

2. Globalisation as Global Eden: Those who espouse this position are equally resolute. They see globalisation as a chance - an opportunity - that needs only to be harnessed and taken. They believe that the global system would be the ideal form of organisation in both the economic and social spheres, and that it would avoid present-day exclusivity and barriers erected in selfish national interest. It is considered that globalisation will open up new perspectives for equitable governance and for developing new resources. Their solution would be to bring down all the fire-walls and institute absolute freedom of exchange and movement.

The protagonists of these poles in the discussion are equally unrealistic in their extreme assessments. Clearly, the distinction is somewhat extreme. However, it is a useful typology, as it allows for the development of more realistic and objective scenarios of the role that Europe can, and indeed must play, in the globalisation process.

Here, a definition of globalisation is useful. According to Anthony Giddens, globalisation is: "Growing interdependence between different peoples, regions and countries in the world". G lobalisation is a fact and it has objective causes, not least of which is the rapid development of communication and other technologies that allow for contact and exchange until recently thought the realm of science fiction and star wars. The advent of the Internet is just one example. It is neither the hell nor the heaven that the above typologies portray. It is a complex process of social transformation, that if studied and understood and can be accommodated and influenced, depending on the attitude and actions of individual countries and of countries in co-operation.

For individuals, groups, society and the world the process of globalisation is at once an opportunity and a threat. It is imperative for Europe to influence the process in a positive direction and not to crumble into inaction in the face of seeming threat.

According to the contributions of the participants, Europe has a two-fold role in the process of globalisation:

Europe – a laboratory for learning globalisation: In this understanding of Europe’s role in the process of globalisation, the European Union is seen as a privileged laboratory for experiencing both the positive and negative consequences of globalisation. The European Union is considered adept in exploiting that which is advantageous in globalisation, and is commended for offsetting its disadvantages. It is considered as a model for dynamic multi-level integration and apt for living up to the challenges of the globalised economy and world. It may even be a model from which other regions can learn to take impetus for the development of regional co-operation and integration processes.
Europe – a key player in the process of globalisation: In this understanding, the European Union is seen as one of the key players in the process of globalisation, and especially as a key economic actor. This is considered as entailing an enormous challenge for Europeans, as it implies political leadership and responsibility. In addition, however, it demands an effort among Europeans to overcome their Euro-centrism and to become aware of the interdependence of the world, to think strategically and to become more innovative. This was neither expected nor demanded of people in previous times, and it demands of people today efforts they are not accustomed to making.

The main challenges for this work group will be to debate the following issues:

Is the process of integration in Europe the result of specific conditions that cannot be recreated (i.e. Marshal Plan, Cold War), or is it in fact, a process that can be undertaken abroad and in other regions? Is the model of the European Union a model that could be adopted by other regions or is such integration too much dependant on the material wealth of the region concerned?
Is the European integration scenario a final one? What are the chances for the breakdown and fragmentation of the European Union in its present form and of the integration process in general?
What will the effects of European Union enlargement be on the social and political stability of Europe? Can the Union sustain simultaneous expansion and deepening of political integration?
Is a Europe comprising quasi or entirely state structures desirable?
What kind of role will Europe play in the world scene? Which position will Europe choose – islolationism (Fortress Europe) or openness?
What are the chances for Europe to develop economic, social and political strategies for dealing with the contradictory claims it faces – environmental concerns vs. the need to develop European industry; defence of the European social model vs. competitiveness; common foreign policy vs. national sovereignty; legitimacy vs. efficiency?
Which will be the forms of intervention chosen by the European Union on the global level? How can Europe become a partner for devising innovative solutions to the global level problems inherent to the process of globlisation? What is the responsibility of Europe towards its neighbours in the developing world, given the new conditions of globalisation?

3/ Conclusions

The Vienna Peace Summit is a unique opportunity for its distinguished participants to enter into a dialogue on issues of the utmost concern to the citizens and all those living on the European continent. As should be evident from the summaries of the contributions of participants and the resumés of the main challenges facing each work group in their forthcoming discussions, these issues span family, education, social concerns, political development, questions of governance and democracy and, in particular, the preservation and the promotion of peace on the continent and the world over.

More specifically, the Peace Summit faces the challenge of discussing, in depth, the desirability of present and the prospects for the future development of European society in many spheres affecting the everyday lives of people living on the continent: the functions of government, social legislation, the maintenance of peace and the defence of human rights, and of developing clear recommendations for action.

Looking forward to the actual discussions, we can foresee controversies and dialogue emerging as issues such as that of the role of families in the development of European Society, such as the changes needed in education systems to prepare young people for their role as the future citizens of Europe and such as the factual content of European identity, all relate to confronting our personal values with those of others.

In work group 1 a, the issues of the continuing crisis of the adequacy of the education of the young, whether through family structures or formal educational channels, will be debated. This discussion will touch on the importance of the family for the socialisation of the young and will necessarily have to treat the deep and difficult issues such as why many families do not manage to prepare children for the adult world, in particular the multicultural reality of that world. The same criticism can be levelled against the myriad of education systems functioning in Europe today. The result expected from this work group will be to produce strategies for the development of a culture of peaceful cohabitation among coming generations through family and educational structures.

In work group 1 b, the question of the future of work and recreation under the conditions of increasing unemployment, the obsolescence of certain forms of work and the rapid development of information and communication technologies will be addressed. The result expected from these discussions will be the presentation of innovative ideas about the desirable forms of work and recreation that will be appropriate for the further development of European society.

In work group 2 a, the debate will focus on the question of European identity, its content and its role in developing a European society where inter-ethnic conflicts will be resolved through novel rituals. The expected result of this debate will be the presentation of strategies oriented towards both the development of an inclusive European identity and through this to contribute to the development of a culture of inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue.

Work group 2 b will explore the role that civil societies in Europe can play in the development of a widespread European consciousness. The debate will focus on the content of the European consciousness and strategies for its development through the medium of civil society. The expected result of this work group will be the presentation of recommendations that favour the development of European or transnational civil society and hence the development of a European consciousness.

The debate in work group 3 will focus on the threats and opportunities to European and global progress represented by the increasing and rapid development of communication technologies and new media. The expected result of this work group is the development of a consensual understanding of what the implications of the development of new media will be for Europe in a number of spheres, not least the political sphere.

Work group 4 a, will treat the political, economic and military development of Europe. The desired form and content of these crucial aspects of European development will be discussed in light of recent development and existing projects for the further development of European integration. The question will be "Europe - Quo Vadis?". The expected result will be clearly formulated scenarios in the mentioned fields - political Europe, economic Europe, and military Europe.

Finally, work group 4 b will attempt to assess the roles, positive and negative, that Europe can play in the process of globalisation that is factually affecting the development of the world as a whole. The debate will focus, in particular, on political choices that Europe must make in order to remain abreast of current developments. The expected result of this discussion will be scenarios for the further development of Europe as a partner for global development and peace, and for how Europe can positively influence the process of globalisation to its own advantage and to that of other regions, less privileged.

To conclude, we believe that the work groups are faced with an interesting and complex challenge - to profile the future development of European politics and society at the turn of the Millennium. We are certainly looking forward to the fruitful, open and debate filled discussions, and to the concrete results, the work groups promise to produce.

4/ Actions Proposed by the Participants of the Peace Summit for the Foundation for the International Peace University:

The following is a summary of the actions and projects proposed by the participants of the Peace Summit. It is the intention that these actions and projects be implemented in the context of the work of the Foundation for the International Peace University:

Action in the Political Sphere:

Developing European and grass roots support advancing the Commission of the Noble Laureates’ International Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers as proposed by Dr. Oscar Arias;
Promoting communication between conflicting factions within divided societies in Africa as proposed by Frederik Willem De Klerk;
Documenting concrete positive examples of integration measures for foreign workers in companies;
Elaboration of an adequate legal (including taxation) framework for more intense and sustainable co-operation between state authorities, economic actors, and civil society in a triangle of responsibility for the transfer or sharing of various tasks ranging from education, culture, social welfare to local development;
Development of more human rights oriented legislation;
Establishing regional, national and international "values commissions" which are ideologically, politically and religiously independent;
Development of a code for a careful political language for dealing with current events;
Elaboration of a manifest outlining the chances risks and responsibilities of a united Europe in the era of globalisation for a broad public;
Reform of the United Nations to strengthen its legal authority.

Action in the Social and Educational Spheres:

Researching and reforming on the early development of human beings, so as to prevent psychosocial crises and conflicts, and researching how families in modern complex and open societies prepare children for expected social changes;
Development of new information technology programmes, social service programmes, programmes in ethics, ecology and environmental care, development studies, human rights issues and social anthropology and world religions, as standard courses with the same academic importance as classical subjects such as mathematics and languages;
Revision of history text books to provide non-biased / ideological and more balanced history teaching in schools;
Mobilising education and training efforts in the interests of those adults with low levels of education and qualification and those who must renew their personal competencies in a lifelong perspective, in order to facilitate their best possible adaptation to new employment conditions and the development of the learning society;
Discussing, researching and promoting new concepts of work, creating part time work programmes for mothers and fathers, and sensitising the economy for the necessity of family-friendly measures;
Setting up and maintaining a web-site featuring online educational programmes (seminars, discussions, contacts, forums, etc.) on peace research, conflict resolution strategies, background information on religions and cultures, and inviting entries for funding of innovative research into communication techniques that could be applied in intercultural and inter-religious conflicts and contexts of other sorts;
Joint projects with the hard of hearing and deaf, and with those with severe learning difficulties or mental disability, to sensitise able bodied society to become aware of language beyond words and to use it for creative forms of conflict management, and frontier-crossing co-operation;
Creating, supporting and evaluating multicultural exchange programmes for partner families and partner schools, allowing young people to learn languages and communication skills and to gain background knowledge and understanding of different cultures and religions through an "insider" view;
Investing in, promoting and further developing existing programmes for the training of youth leaders, as the future social and political capital of European society, in intercultural communication skills and the organisation of intercultural activities for young people;
Development of programmes for the development of education for democratic and European citizenship among young people from all corners of Europe in an effort to develop the European awareness of coming generations.

Position Papers