II SÉRIE-D — NÚMERO 26

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European identity. We must always bear it in mind that intercultural exchange means mutual

transformation.

 Deputado Mota Amaral (PSD)

Mr President,

Honourable Parliamentarians,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very short statement in the joint debate of this afternoon. It brings to the consideration of the

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe some important challenges of our modern societies.

In some very relevant aspects, there is no more borders separating peoples from one another.

That is the case of mass communication through new technologies, which had make indeed the world

a global village.

On the other hand, European societies are evolving from their traditional homogeneous pattern to

become pluri-ethnic and multicultural, as migrants from various origins come and settle in Europe.

Our Rapporteur, Mr Carlos Costa Neves - whom I congratulate very warmly for his excellent report –

provides us with substantial “food for thought” about the new cultural environment in our open

societies.

He suggests that individuals and communities are now confronted with so many realities, models and

even values, that it is practically inevitable they became intercultural, choosing and accepting from

each of them what they consider to be appropriate.

Will this attitude favour cultural relativism, putting everything at the same level of appreciation?

I suppose not, as every human person keeps his own scale of principles and values.

But mutual respect and understanding provide a strong base for a tolerant way of living together.

A different question is the integration of migrants in Europe, which Ms Marietta Karamanli analyses

in her report, for which I also present my congratulations.

We have many times discussed this issue in our Assembly and I am afraid this will not be the last one.