In May / June 1998 this European KAIROS DOCUMENT will be published, first in English, French and German, and then in as many European languages as possible, certainly in Hungarian, Russian and Swedish. It will carry the signature of many individuals, groups and organisations. The extraordinary number of responses to the different drafts since 1996 also shows that no single document can even attempt, let alone claim, to appropriately reflect the many and varied situations in the European regions.

This call is a stimulus for discussion. We invite grassroots groups, organisations, church communities, faith communities, trade unions etc. to examine the questions and proposals presented here from your own perspective, and to write your own analysis or story. Such a story could describe how you have been affected by and responded to neoliberalism.

By June 1999 we will collect all the responses and publish them. In this way we hope to stimulate a genuine grassroots process that will powerfully reinforce our desire and ability to form coalitions.

In October 1999 Kairos Europa will organise a big grassroots meeting in Brussels. Here we shall exchange our stories and insights and, together, present our demands in a Hearing in the European Parliament. It may be that arising out of this event will come a greatly improved version of this Document which brings together experience from all parts of Europe. The Spanish KAIROS groups speak of 'Kairos 2000', because in the year 2000 we hope to contribute our experience and insights to intercontinental meetings of social movements, particularly that to be hosted by the World Council of Churches.

In the interim period of 1998-99 we invite the various groupings in Europe to strengthen the already active alliances and joint initiatives, and to ensure that the issues and suggestions that have been made are on the agenda. Amongst others, such groupings or initiatives include the following:

• Alternative summits to the EU summits each June and December to follow the successful counter-summit and European marches in June 1997.
  
  
• Follow-up within the churches of the Second European Ecumenical Assembly in Graz
  
  
• "Processus confessionis", a process of confession concerning the world economy (World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Geneva) and the Anti-Mammon Programme (Reformierter Bund, Germany).
  
  
• Local Agendas 21
  
  
• Various initiatives regarding the millenium, e.g. Jubilee 2000.
  
  
• Forum de la societe civile permanente (Brussels)
  
  
• Alliance for a Responsible and United World (Lausanne)
  
  
• European Women's College (Zürich)
  
  
• World Meeting against Neoliberalism
  
  
• "Globalisation, Social Movements, Exclusion" (World Council of Churches, Geneva)

From 12 to 14 June 1998 Kairos Europa will host an international exchange of those involved or interested in this process, as a launch to these next steps. It will be held in Cardiff at the same time as the European Council meeting marking the end of the British presidency.

This process can be described by the concept "movement building". The strength of these movements, which seek constructive change in society, will determine whether it will be possible to free Europe from neoliberalism in its different forms and, along with social movements in other continents, to prevent the disaster which has already engulfed two thirds of humankind. Alternatives are possible. A Europe of justice, peace and an ecological awareness need not remain a utopian dream, if that dream can unite and inspire people throughout the continent.

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