Its history so far…
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“Together for Europe - Its history so far…"
Our journey so far has been made up of significant meetings and moments of fellowship.
1999The first powerful meeting between Catholic and Protestant/ Evangelical communities took place in the Ottmaring Ecumenical Centre near Augsburg on the same day, 31 October 1999, as the historical signing in Augsburg of the "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification."
It is clear for all that the compelling need of the moment is to begin a process of collaboration. The hope was to begin a journey of fellowship and communion together.
Among those taking part were representatives of the German Lutheran/ Evangelical groups linked to the "Leaders' Meeting" (CdR): Helmut Nicklas (YMCA Munich), Gerhard Pross (YMCA Esslingen) and Friedrich Aschoff (Renewal in the Spirit in the Evangelical/Lutheran Church), Chiara Lubich (founder of the Focolare Movement) and Andrea Riccardi (founder of the Sant’Egidio Community).
2000
A second event - At the March 2000 Leaders’ Meeting (CdR), in Rothenburg, the two talks given
- by the Lutheran Evangelical-Lutheran bishop, Prof. Ulrick Wilckens "The division of Christians as the cause of Atheism" and
- Chiara Lubich "Mutual love as the way to unity",
led to an event of reconciliation: an act of repentance and reciprocal forgiveness for the divisions of the past. To seek forgiveness and each time to forgive is the 
essential premise for communion.
from left to right:
1th row: Lutheran bishop emeritus Prof. Ulrich Wilckens, Keith Warrington, Chiara Lubich, Gerhard Proß;
2th row: Gottlob Heß, Friedrich Aschoff, Günther Rattey;
3th row: Edith Wenger, Günter Refle, Sr. Anna-Maria aus der Wiesche, Wilhelm Bläsing.
2001On the morning of December 8th, in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saint Matthew, 800 leaders of Communities and Movements make a pact of mutual love in accordance with the Gospel and this became the basis of the journey that was to develop afterwards.
That afternoon, in the Catholic Cathedral, in the presence of thousands of members of the different Movements and Communities of various Churches, the Leaders share their experience during a celebration called: “How else, if not together?”
2002It was agreed to offer a contribution to the spiritual unity of Europe by holding a large day meeting of dialogue with members of movements and communities of different churches.
2003The members of the steering committee meet in Berlin, on the 1st of June, on the occasion of the Ecumenical Kirchentag. The meeting “Together for Europe” in Stuttgart is scheduled for the 8thof May 2004, preceded by a two day congress.
2004The "Together for Europe" Meeting took place in Stuttgart (Germany) on May 8, 2004 with approximately 9,000 participants, among them 50 bishops from various churches and many politicians.
Around 100,000 people followed the meeting thanks to satellite link-ups with meetings taking place contemporaneously in 135 European cities. The proceedings of the Meeting were published in English, Italian and German.
On the 8th of May 2004, members of over 170 Christian Movements and Communities make a pact of reciprocal love according to John’s Gospel: "A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another."(Jn. 13:34)
2007The second meeting took place on 12 May 2007 in Stuttgart. It was also preceded by a congress for leaders (10-11 May, 2007).
The common objective is to contribute to increasing the Christian soul of Europe by making visible the network of fraternity among movements and their commitment to spiritual and social renewal.
2009 In order to increase communion and collaboration among communities and movements according to what was announced with the message of Stuttgart 2007, national conventions took place in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Northern Ireland, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary.
2011Now preparations for the third European event which will take place on May 12th 2012 are underway.
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