Friedrich Edding

In instituting its prospective studies the European Cultural Founda­ tion has to some extent gone against tradition. Until now those who were deeply committed to the idea of a European Community looked into the past rather than into the future for bases on which the com­ munity could be integrated. However, if we want a European society to become a reality it must be built on the basis of shared fundamental values. The majority of publications dealing with a unified or inte­ grated Europe have until now accepted that this foundation guarantee­ ing the stability of a future European society should be found in certain common elements of the history of the European nations. The futurological studies instituted by the European Cultural Foun­ dation have not rejected this mode of approach outright. They have respected the historical framework indispensable to any futurological undertaking. But the research and discussions of the groups working within the framework of Plan Europe 2000 offer increasing support to the conviction expressed by Gaston Deurinck in the first words of his introduction to the present study: "The future does not exist .. thf> future is to be created, and before being created, it must be conceived, it must be invented, and finally willed" ..

The study by Dr Friedrich Edding is, as far as I can see, the first paper to treat the economic side of the Refugee problem in Western Germany in an impartial form, showing, on the basis of new figures, its positive as well as its negative aspect and effect. Anyhow it may be of some use to underline - from the "bird's-eye view point" of Basle - some of his conceptions and conclusions and to throw some light on the sociological background which makes this particular problem the hard core of the social and political situation of Western Germany - and probably of Western Europe as well. Firstly: it must be noted that this scientific analysis supports neither the optimists nor the pessimists. The optimists are bound to admit that the stimulus provided by new manpower and entrepreneurial initiative is more than counterbalanced by lack of capital and by the need for considerable aid in the form of housing, clothes and money for millions of refugees who are old, sick or for other reasons unable to work. The pessimists are bound to admit that the burden of 9 million immigrants is an enormously stimulating challenge to Western Germany and that this burden is partly counterbalanced by the new firms, methods and techniques which owe their foundation, application or development respectively to the Refugee entrepreneurs, cattle-breeders or seed-growers.