http://www.avrupa.info.tr/ EEAS NEWS en http://www.avrupa.info.tr/ http://www.avrupa.info.tr/ EEAS NEWS TYPO3 - get.content.right http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Fri, 17 May 2013 13:03:00 +0200 Brussels, 17 May 2013 170513/5 "On the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, I wish to reaffirm the EU's commitment to equality and non–discrimination. In many countries, gender identity and sexual orientation continue to be used as the pretext for serious human rights violations. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people are still subject to persecution, discrimination and ill-treatment, and often extreme violence. The EU campaigns tirelessly for the respect of human rights, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity. We raise the issue of LGBTI rights during our Human Rights dialogues, we speak out through public statements, and we work behind the scenes with our Delegations to argue the case for justice and human rights. Through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, the EU supports LGBTI human rights defenders across the world. We welcome United Nations support for the principle of non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, in particular the ground-breaking June 2011 resolution 17/19 of the UN Human Rights Council. We encourage continued and strengthened efforts in this area."]]> Read more >]]> "On the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, I wish to reaffirm the EU's commitment to equality and non–discrimination. In many countries, gender identity and sexual orientation continue to be used as the pretext for serious human rights violations. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people are still subject to persecution, discrimination and ill-treatment, and often extreme violence. The EU campaigns tirelessly for the respect of human rights, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity. We raise the issue of LGBTI rights during our Human Rights dialogues, we speak out through public statements, and we work behind the scenes with our Delegations to argue the case for justice and human rights. Through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, the EU supports LGBTI human rights defenders across the world. We welcome United Nations support for the principle of non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, in particular the ground-breaking June 2011 resolution 17/19 of the UN Human Rights Council. We encourage continued and strengthened efforts in this area."]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 13:03:00 +0200 'We had a useful discussion. It was not a negotiating round. We talked about the proposals we had put forward and we will now reflect on how to go on to the next stage of the process. We will be in touch shortly.']]> Read more >]]> Thu, 16 May 2013 10:27:00 +0200 The EU High Representative was shocked by the callous attacks carried out in Reyhanli and appalled by the high death toll. She extends her deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved and injured. The EU, which condemns terrorist attacks in all their forms, expresses its full solidarity with the Government and people of Turkey at this difficult time, and stands ready to help in any way needed. ]]> Read more >]]> The EU High Representative was shocked by the callous attacks carried out in Reyhanli and appalled by the high death toll. She extends her deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved and injured.  The EU, which condemns terrorist attacks in all their forms, expresses its full solidarity with the Government and people of Turkey at this difficult time, and stands ready to help in any way needed.  ]]> Mon, 13 May 2013 11:05:00 +0200 EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 13 May 2013 A 253/13 The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued the following statement today, following the elections in Pakistan on 11 May 2013: "I wish to congratulate the people of Pakistan. The 2013 general election marks a historic victory for the democratic life of their country. Despite an extremely difficult security environment and threats from extremists, voters turned out in unprecedented numbers with many Pakistani citizens voting for the first time. All the main stakeholders, in particular the political parties and state institutions, acted in a responsible manner, demonstrating their support for democracy and the holding of the elections. I welcome the progress made by the Pakistani authorities in their efforts to hold these elections in line with national and international commitments, notably through new constitutional provisions for the Election Commission of Pakistan and the caretaker government, as well as a significantly improved electoral roll. I have taken note of the statement of preliminary findings and conclusions of the EU Election Observation Mission on the conduct of elections, including the need for continued improvement in the electoral process, in particular the consolidation and strengthening of the electoral framework. There is also a need for a further increase in the level of women’s participation in the overall political system. The EU is a close partner to Pakistan. I look forward to continue our strong partnership in support of Pakistan's democratic, economic and social development. I commend the valuable contributions made by civil society domestic observers as well as international observers, in particular the independent EU Election Observation Mission headed by Mr Michael Gahler MEP." ]]> Read more >]]> EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels, 13 May 2013
A 253/13

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued the following statement today, following the elections in Pakistan on 11 May 2013: "I wish to congratulate the people of Pakistan. The 2013 general election marks a historic victory for the democratic life of their country. Despite an extremely difficult security environment and threats from extremists, voters turned out in unprecedented numbers with many Pakistani citizens voting for the first time. All the main stakeholders, in particular the political parties and state institutions, acted in a responsible manner, demonstrating their support for democracy and the holding of the elections. I welcome the progress made by the Pakistani authorities in their efforts to hold these elections in line with national and international commitments, notably through new constitutional provisions for the Election Commission of Pakistan and the caretaker government, as well as a significantly improved electoral roll. I have taken note of the statement of preliminary findings and conclusions of the EU Election Observation Mission on the conduct of elections, including the need for continued improvement in
the electoral process, in particular the consolidation and strengthening of the electoral framework. There is also a need for a further increase in the level of women’s participation in the overall political system. The EU is a close partner to Pakistan. I look forward to continue our strong partnership in support of Pakistan's democratic, economic and social development. I commend the valuable contributions made by civil society domestic observers as well as
international observers, in particular the independent EU Election Observation Mission headed by Mr Michael Gahler MEP." ]]> Mon, 13 May 2013 09:35:00 +0200 EUROPEAN COUNCIL THE PRESIDENTHelsinki, 7 May 2013 EUCO 109/13 PRESSE 179 PR PCE 95 I’m very pleased to be in Helsinki today and to have the opportunity to meet with so many of you. All the more since the day after tomorrow, 9th of May, is Europe’s day: our Union’s birthday so to speak, and a good time to take a moment to think about what Europe means to us, what we want it to be, where we want it to go. At times like these, when we are searching for the right way forward, it can be good to look back at the road travelled. Winston Churchill famously said, “the farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see”. Our Union is not that old today, only 63, very young compared to most of our countries. But even if we can’t look back that far, there’s much inspiration to be found in those six decades. Since this one-day-in-May when Robert Schuman (he was foreign minister for France at the time) came up with a radical proposal to make war between our nations impossible. In time, this proposal would transform our continent. And when we look at the very recent, historic reconciliation between Serbia and Kosovo, steered by the Union's own Catherine Ashton, we can see that this magic is still at work. But never overnight. Step by step, through concrete achievements: that was always the method. It’s also good to remember these steps, also those to build the market, were always linked to concrete events and historic situations. It was true at the beginning in 1950, with a brilliant idea put forward in the context of the start of the Cold War. An encounter of vision and necessity. It was the same, years later, when your own country joined the endeavour, after the end of the Cold War. Then another acceleration of history set free the space east of the Iron Curtain. In that changed situation, first, your country joined our Union (together with Sweden and Austria of course); and then, a decade later, so did the countries that had been firmly in the Soviet grip. Since the start of the credit crisis in 2008 we live in another such transformative period, globally and in Europe. It is history in the making. The European Union has rarely been as central in public debate as it is today. Debates overshadowed by the financial crisis for sure, but at the same time debates that very much needed to happen. But I firmly believe that we will come out stronger from this experience. We’re learning not to take anything for granted. That we need to work harder to keep what we really care about. Our quality of life, our thriving economies, our position in the world. And that we also need to nurture our strongest assets: the shared freedom, the shared values and the close ties that bring together our countries, our peoples. To me, when the last dark clouds of the crisis will have cleared, and we will be able to look back more serenely at these tumultuous years, one major change will clearly stand out. How in the crisis, our countries will have come to realise the true extent of their interdependence. In a way, the leaders were the first to experience it, and your Prime-Minister can testify to that. Each time we gather around the table of the European Council, with 27 national leaders, the President of the Commission and myself, I perceive better how – notwithstanding all differences and divergences - we all experience this co-responsibility for our common future. And the best proof is in the decisions we take to that effect. And the citizens in all our countries have experienced, too, what it means to be in a Union. Hard truths had to be faced, and it was not always easy or pleasant. It was a moment of discovery, of ‘self-discovery’, of drawing the full consequences of our own earlier decisions (such as to establish a single currency). And we are doing that. Because the crisis made clear: the situation in one country can affect all the others. And we can’t allow that to happen again. That’s why there’s been so much work over the last few years to strengthen our common budgetary and economic rules, to set up better prevention and be able to better detect harmful bubbles and imbalances. The important realisation is that our countries can’t act or solve problems in isolation. We simply can’t ignore the situation of others or the impact our decisions can have on them, because they are our neighbours, our trading partners, our currency companions. It’s not always immediately visible, but we’re closely tied to one another, and we need to acknowledge that better. We mustn’t forget how much we benefit from these ties but also that they come with common duties. We design joint rules, and we owe it to ourselves and to others to abide by what we have agreed. We also set ourselves joint objectives, and there also we owe it to ourselves and to others to live up to these goals. One such goal is to patch the last holes in our common market, because we could benefit so much from doing so. “You don’t fall in love with a market” Jacques Delors used to say, even if it’s the biggest one in the world. But still, the single market is our lifeline. It’s what helped companies like Nokia to make it really big, and it’s still a goldmine of opportunities, especially for your generation. A source of freedom as much as of prosperity. And access-to-it is a much sought-after prize, for our partners in the world, from China to the United States. Acknowledging our ties; respecting the rules we have agreed; pursuing our common goals. That’s what it takes to belong to a Union. One thing it doesn’t imply though is merging into a single identity. It doesn’t mean giving up what makes all our countries special and unique. Rather, it means acknowledging and cherishing the fact that along our other identities –national, local, maybe regional – we also have a European identity. Not ‘instead of’ of course, but ‘on top of’. As Vaclav Havel once said, if we all have our homeland, Europe can be “the homeland of homelands”. Perhaps it is already obvious to your generation. The Erasmus generation. Why, the most famous Finnish Erasmus student is sitting right next to me on this stage! Today, Prime Minister Katainen is the only one at the European Council. But by the time your generation takes over, I expect most leaders around the table will have shared this experience in one way or another. In many respects, you are lucky to belong to a generation with wider horizons than any before. Your awareness of the world goes way beyond your own ‘world’ in which you grew up. Your Europe is and must remain one of openness. A Europe open to change and keen to widen its horizons further. Because in this fast-evolving world, we need to be able to adapt just as fast as the world around us. There are global challenges – emerging economies, an ageing population, technological revolutions, and ALL our countries have to face them. Those up here in the North and those in the South, those in the East and those and the West. So within the Union we must avoid superficial clichés. That of (good) hardworking Northerners en (bad) lazy Southerners, or that of (good) generous Southerners and (bad) selfish Northerners. As a Belgian, a small country with its own North and South, I know all these clichés by heart! For one thing, weak growth or youth unemployment are not the monopoly of the South… Our countries are together by choice, for a reason. Not through fatality but rather to defeat fatality. To build something bigger together, rather than just coexist. To build this, so that we can preserve the quality of life and the wealth of opportunities that our continent can offer. A place where innovation happens every day, and where its benefits are widely shared. Where people live long and healthy lives, in some of the freest, most prosperous, but also most equal and secure societies in the world. It’s definitely worth the effort, and I dearly hope that your generation will take up the effort! Thank you. Click here to watch the President's speech.]]> Read more >]]> EUROPEAN COUNCIL THE PRESIDENT
Helsinki, 7 May 2013
EUCO 109/13
PRESSE 179
PR PCE 95 I’m very pleased to be in Helsinki today and to have the opportunity to meet with so many of you. All the more since the day after tomorrow, 9th of May, is Europe’s day: our Union’s birthday so to speak, and a good time to take a moment to think about what Europe means to us, what we want it to be, where we want it to go. At times like these, when we are searching for the right way forward, it can be good to look back at the road travelled. Winston Churchill famously said, “the farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see”. Our Union is not that old today, only 63, very young compared to most of our countries. But even if we can’t look back that far, there’s much inspiration to be found in those six decades. Since this one-day-in-May when Robert Schuman (he was foreign minister for France at the time) came up with a radical proposal to make war between our nations impossible. In time, this proposal would transform our continent. And when we look at the very recent, historic reconciliation between Serbia and Kosovo, steered by the Union's own Catherine Ashton, we can see that this magic is still at work. But never overnight. Step by step, through concrete achievements: that was always the method. It’s also good to remember these steps, also those to build the market, were always linked to concrete events and historic situations. It was true at the beginning in 1950, with a brilliant idea put forward in the context of the start of the Cold War. An encounter of vision and necessity. It was the same, years later, when your own country joined the endeavour, after the end of the Cold War. Then another acceleration of history set free the space east of the Iron Curtain. In that changed situation, first, your country joined our Union (together with Sweden and Austria of course); and then, a decade later, so did the countries that had been firmly in the Soviet grip. Since the start of the credit crisis in 2008 we live in another such transformative period, globally and in Europe. It is history in the making. The European Union has rarely been as central in public debate as it is today. Debates overshadowed by the financial crisis for sure, but at the same time debates that very much needed to happen. But I firmly believe that we will come out stronger from this experience. We’re learning not to take anything for granted. That we need to work harder to keep what we really care about. Our quality of life, our thriving economies, our position in the world. And that we also need to nurture our strongest assets: the shared freedom, the shared values and the close ties that bring together our countries, our peoples. To me, when the last dark clouds of the crisis will have cleared, and we will be able to look back more serenely at these tumultuous years, one major change will clearly stand out. How in the crisis, our countries will have come to realise the true extent of their interdependence. In a way, the leaders were the first to experience it, and your Prime-Minister can testify to that. Each time we gather around the table of the European Council, with 27 national leaders, the President of the Commission and myself, I perceive better how – notwithstanding all differences and divergences - we all experience this co-responsibility for our common future. And the best proof is in the decisions we take to that effect. And the citizens in all our countries have experienced, too, what it means to be in a Union. Hard truths had to be faced, and it was not always easy or pleasant. It was a moment of discovery, of ‘self-discovery’, of drawing the full consequences of our own earlier decisions (such as to establish a single currency). And we are doing that. Because the crisis made clear: the situation in one country can affect all the others. And we can’t allow that to happen again. That’s why there’s been so much work over the last few years to strengthen our common budgetary and economic rules, to set up better prevention and be able to better detect harmful bubbles and imbalances. The important realisation is that our countries can’t act or solve problems in isolation. We simply can’t ignore the situation of others or the impact our decisions can have on them, because they are our neighbours, our trading partners, our currency companions. It’s not always immediately visible, but we’re closely tied to one another, and we need to acknowledge that better. We mustn’t forget how much we benefit from these ties but also that they come with common duties. We design joint rules, and we owe it to ourselves and to others to abide by what we have agreed. We also set ourselves joint objectives, and there also we owe it to ourselves and to others to live up to these goals. One such goal is to patch the last holes in our common market, because we could benefit so much from doing so. “You don’t fall in love with a market” Jacques Delors used to say, even if it’s the biggest one in the world. But still, the single market is our lifeline. It’s what helped companies like Nokia to make it really big, and it’s still a goldmine of opportunities, especially for your generation. A source of freedom as much as of prosperity. And access-to-it is a much sought-after prize, for our partners in the world, from China to the United States. Acknowledging our ties; respecting the rules we have agreed; pursuing our common goals. That’s what it takes to belong to a Union. One thing it doesn’t imply though is merging into a single identity. It doesn’t mean giving up what makes all our countries special and unique. Rather, it means acknowledging and cherishing the fact that along our other identities –national, local, maybe regional – we also have a European identity. Not ‘instead of’ of course, but ‘on top of’. As Vaclav Havel once said, if we all have our homeland, Europe can be “the homeland of homelands”. Perhaps it is already obvious to your generation. The Erasmus generation. Why, the most famous Finnish Erasmus student is sitting right next to me on this stage! Today, Prime Minister Katainen is the only one at the European Council. But by the time your generation takes over, I expect most leaders around the table will have shared this experience in one way or another. In many respects, you are lucky to belong to a generation with wider horizons than any before. Your awareness of the world goes way beyond your own ‘world’ in which you grew up. Your Europe is and must remain one of openness. A Europe open to change and keen to widen its horizons further. Because in this fast-evolving world, we need to be able to adapt just as fast as the world around us. There are global challenges – emerging economies, an ageing population, technological revolutions, and ALL our countries have to face them. Those up here in the North and those in the South, those in the East and those and the West. So within the Union we must avoid superficial clichés. That of (good) hardworking Northerners en (bad) lazy Southerners, or that of (good) generous Southerners and (bad) selfish Northerners. As a Belgian, a small country with its own North and South, I know all these clichés by heart! For one thing, weak growth or youth unemployment are not the monopoly of the South… Our countries are together by choice, for a reason. Not through fatality but rather to defeat fatality. To build something bigger together, rather than just coexist. To build this, so that we can preserve the quality of life and the wealth of opportunities that our continent can offer. A place where innovation happens every day, and where its benefits are widely shared. Where people live long and healthy lives, in some of the freest, most prosperous, but also most equal and secure societies in the world. It’s definitely worth the effort, and I dearly hope that your generation will take up the effort! Thank you. Click here to watch the President's speech.]]> Wed, 08 May 2013 07:52:00 +0200 EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 4 May 2013 A 240/13 The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: "The High Representative condemns in the strongest terms the brutal massacre by the Syrian armed forces and its militias in the town of Bayda, Banyas province, claiming the lives of dozens of people, including women and children. This heinous act shows the responsibility of the Syrian regime in instigating sectarian violence and escalating the conflict. It is of outmost urgency that the regime responds to the repeated calls of the EU and the international community to engage in negotiations for a political settlement of the conflict. The High Representative reiterates the EU's firm position that there will be no impunity for those responsible for such crimes."]]> Read more >]]> EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 4 May 2013
A 240/13 The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: "The High Representative condemns in the strongest terms the brutal massacre by the Syrian armed forces and its militias in the town of Bayda, Banyas province, claiming the lives of dozens of people, including women and children. This heinous act shows the responsibility of the Syrian regime in instigating sectarian violence and escalating the conflict. It is of outmost urgency that the regime responds to the repeated calls of the EU and the international community to engage in negotiations for a political settlement of the conflict. The High Representative reiterates the EU's firm position that there will be no impunity for those responsible for such crimes."]]> Mon, 06 May 2013 09:34:00 +0200 THE EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 3 May 2013 9232/13 PRESSE 181 On the 20th anniversary of World Press Freedom day, the EU pays tribute to journalists worldwide who dedicate their lives - sometimes at great personal cost - to reporting events or expressing views that many might prefer to silence. A free, independent and vibrant press is indispensable in any democratic society. The EU is determined to fight for press freedom worldwide and condemns the increasing level of intimidation, violence and censorship that journalists face in many countries. The EU calls on all governments to allow journalists to work in safety and security, and without the fear of censorship or prosecution. Freedom of expression must be defended both in the traditional media and on the Internet. The EU will continue to promote freedom of expression on-line and offline, not least as new information technologies can be key in promoting human rights and democracy. The EU will continue to condemn violations of the right to freedom of expression in all media with a view to ensuring that journalists across the world can discharge their professional duties without hindrance. ]]> Read more >]]> THE EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 3 May 2013
9232/13
PRESSE 181 On the 20th anniversary of World Press Freedom day, the EU pays tribute to journalists worldwide who dedicate their lives - sometimes at great personal cost - to reporting events or expressing views that many might prefer to silence. A free, independent and vibrant press is indispensable in any democratic society. The EU is determined to fight for press freedom worldwide and condemns the increasing level of intimidation, violence and censorship that journalists face in many countries. The EU calls on all governments to allow journalists to work in safety and security, and without the fear of censorship or prosecution. Freedom of expression must be defended both in the traditional media and on the Internet. The EU will continue to promote freedom of expression on-line and offline, not least as new information technologies can be key in promoting human rights and democracy. The EU will continue to condemn violations of the right to freedom of expression in all media with a view to ensuring that journalists across the world can discharge their professional duties without hindrance. ]]> Fri, 03 May 2013 11:14:00 +0200 EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 26 April 2013 A 226/13 The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: "The High Representative is very concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the fate of Bishop Boulos Yazigi and Bishop Yohanna Ibrahim. They were kidnapped on 22 April by gunmen and their driver was killed, while on their way to Aleppo where they are leaders of their respective churches. The High Representative is dismayed that religious leaders whose role is to tend to the spiritual needs of their communities are becoming targets in the Syrian conflict. There can be no justification for such attacks. She condemns all acts of violence and kidnappings in Syria. Innocent civilians, religious leaders and humanitarian workers must not fall victim to this terrible conflict. The High Representative calls for the immediate release of the detained bishops and their safe return to their communities." ]]> Read more >]]> EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels, 26 April 2013
A 226/13

The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: "The High Representative is very concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the fate of Bishop Boulos Yazigi and Bishop Yohanna Ibrahim. They were kidnapped on 22 April by gunmen and their driver was killed, while on their way to Aleppo where they are leaders of their respective churches. The High Representative is dismayed that religious leaders whose role is to tend to the spiritual needs of their communities are becoming targets in the Syrian conflict. There can be no justification for such attacks. She condemns all acts of violence and kidnappings in Syria. Innocent civilians, religious leaders and humanitarian workers must not fall victim to this terrible conflict. The High Representative calls for the immediate release of the detained bishops and their safe return to their communities." ]]> Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:07:00 +0200 EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 23 April 2013 A 223/13 The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued the following statement today: "I condemn in the strongest terms the attack against the French embassy which took place early this morning in Tripoli. I express my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and to the French authorities. Terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and cannot be justified under any circumstance. Those responsible for today's attack must be brought to justice and held accountable for their acts. I trust that the Libyan authorities are undertaking the necessary investigations in this regard. The EU remains committed to assist Libya in implementing the democratic transition process with the objective of ensuring peace and security in full respect for the rule of law and human rights." ]]> Read more >]]> EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels, 23 April 2013
A 223/13

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued the following statement today: "I condemn in the strongest terms the attack against the French embassy which took place early this morning in Tripoli. I express my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and to the French authorities. Terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and cannot be justified under any circumstance. Those responsible for today's attack must be brought to justice
and held accountable for their acts. I trust that the Libyan authorities are undertaking the necessary investigations in this regard. The EU remains committed to assist Libya in implementing the democratic transition process with the objective of ensuring peace and security in full respect for the rule of law and human rights." ]]> Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:26:00 +0200 EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 16 April 2013 A 207/13 The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued the following statement today: "I was shocked to hear of the terrible bomb attack at the Boston marathon, deliberately targeting men, women and children enjoying and participating in a sporting event. Our thoughts go out to thefamilies of those who have lost loved ones and we wish speedy recoveries to those who have beeninjured. Such acts are reprehensible. We stand with the United States government and people incondemning this bombing."]]> Read more >]]> EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels, 16 April 2013
A 207/13

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice
President of the Commission issued the following statement today: "I was shocked to hear of the terrible bomb attack at the Boston marathon, deliberately targeting men, women and children enjoying and participating in a sporting event. Our thoughts go out to thefamilies of those who have lost loved ones and we wish speedy recoveries to those who have beeninjured. Such acts are reprehensible. We stand with the United States government and people incondemning this bombing."]]> Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:07:00 +0200 EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 16 April 2013 A 206/13 The Spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, issued the following statement today: "The High Representative condemns in the strongest terms the latest series of attacks in a number of Iraqi cities, which have killed dozens of innocent people and left many more injured. She expresses her deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. The High Representative also condemns the recent spate of violence targeting local politicians and election candidates ahead of the upcoming provincial elections, including the killing of two more candidates on Sunday. Electoral violence is unacceptable. The High Representative remains confident that the Iraqi people will remain steadfast in their continued rejection of attempts to undermine Iraq’s transition to democracy and lasting stability."]]> Read more >]]> EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 16 April 2013
A 206/13 The Spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, issued the following statement today: "The High Representative condemns in the strongest terms the latest series of attacks in a number of Iraqi cities, which have killed dozens of innocent people and left many more injured. She expresses her deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. The High Representative also condemns the recent spate of violence targeting local politicians and election candidates ahead of the upcoming provincial elections, including the killing of two more candidates on Sunday. Electoral violence is unacceptable. The High Representative remains confident that the Iraqi people will remain steadfast in their continued rejection of attempts to undermine Iraq’s transition to democracy and lasting stability."]]> Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:29:00 +0200 STATEMENT BY COMMİSSİONER ŠTEFAN FÜLE ON THE ADOPTION BY THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT OF THE LEGISLATION ON ANTI-TERROR Brussels (12th April) - ‘The adoption by the parliament of the long-awaited legislation on anti-terror, which will align the Turkish law with European standards is overall a very positive development. I expect it will address a number of issues on fundamental rights that were a source of concern over the past years in Turkey. While I understand the focus of the 4th Judicial Reform package is on compliance with European Court of Human Rights rulings, I note with regret the omission of conscientious objection in the package. My understanding is that the outstanding points will be included in the forthcoming Human Rights Action Plan, which I hope will be finalised very soon. The Commission will assess the legislation and its implementation in detail and will properly reflect it in our forthcoming progress report in autumn. I commend the efforts of the Turkish government, in particular of Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin, which have made this achievement possible.’ ]]> Read more >]]> STATEMENT BY COMMİSSİONER ŠTEFAN FÜLE ON THE ADOPTION BY THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT OF THE LEGISLATION ON ANTI-TERROR Brussels (12th April) - ‘The adoption by the parliament of the long-awaited legislation on anti-terror, which will align the Turkish law with European standards is overall a very positive development. I expect it will address a number of issues on fundamental rights that were a source of concern over the past years in Turkey. While I understand the focus of the 4th Judicial Reform package is on compliance with European Court of Human Rights rulings, I note with regret the omission of conscientious objection in the package. My understanding is that the outstanding points will be included in the forthcoming Human Rights Action Plan, which I hope will be finalised very soon. The Commission will assess the legislation and its implementation in detail and will properly reflect it in our forthcoming progress report in autumn. I commend the efforts of the Turkish government, in particular of Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin, which have made this achievement possible.’ ]]> Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:56:00 +0200 External relations − 12-04-2013 - 12:48 Strengthening democracy, the role of parliaments and civil society as well as empowering women were the main issues discussed at the Union for the Mediterranean's parliamentarian assembly hosted by the EP on 11 and 12 April. The debate focused on the way forward in the wake of the Arab Spring. Security, environment and boosting cooperation between both shores of the Mediterranean were also on the agenda. EP president Martin Schulz participated in the plenary session. "Governments do not do enough for the Mediterranean to become an area of cooperation," he said in his opening speech. "It is our role as members of parliaments to force governments to make good on their pledges towards the Union for the Mediterranean." Mr Schulz also attended the summit of the Union's parliament speakers in Marseilles on 6-7 April. After this summit, he said: "Euro-Mediterranean cooperation will be among parliaments and citizens, or it will be nothing. It needs a renewed partnership among strong and transparent parliaments." ]]> Read more >]]> Strengthening democracy, the role of parliaments and civil society as well as empowering women were the main issues discussed at the Union for the Mediterranean's parliamentarian assembly hosted by the EP on 11 and 12 April. The debate focused on the way forward in the wake of the Arab Spring. Security, environment and boosting cooperation between both shores of the Mediterranean were also on the agenda. EP president Martin Schulz participated in the plenary session. "Governments do not do enough for the Mediterranean to become an area of cooperation," he said in his opening speech. "It is our role as members of parliaments to force governments to make good on their pledges towards the Union for the Mediterranean." Mr Schulz also attended the summit of the Union's parliament speakers in Marseilles on 6-7 April. After this summit, he said: "Euro-Mediterranean cooperation will be among parliaments and citizens, or it will be nothing. It needs a renewed partnership among strong and transparent parliaments."
]]> Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:26:00 +0200 EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 7 April 2013A 192/13 Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: Today in Egypt I have had a series of meetings with the President and political leaders about the political and economic situation in the country. But tonight I am extremely worried about the violent incidents at the Abaseya Coptic Cathedral in Cairo. On hearing the news I immediately contacted the Presidency, strongly urging restraint and for the security forces to control the situation. I understand the President has spoken with the Head of the Coptic Church and has condemned the violence. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.]]> Read more >]]> EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels, 7 April 2013
A 192/13 Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: Today in Egypt I have had a series of meetings with the President and political leaders about the political and economic situation in the country. But tonight I am extremely worried about the violent incidents at the Abaseya Coptic Cathedral in Cairo. On hearing the news I immediately contacted the Presidency, strongly urging restraint and for the security forces to control the situation. I understand the President has spoken with the Head of the Coptic Church and has condemned the violence. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.]]> Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:39:00 +0200 EUROPEAN UNION Almaty 6 April 2013A 190/13 Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: Together with the Political Directors of China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, I met on 5 and 6 April 2013 in Almaty with the Iranian nuclear negotiator Dr. Saeed Jalili and his delegation in order to address the international community's concerns about the Iranian nuclear programme. We would like to thank the Kazakh government once again for its excellent hospitality. Over two days of talks, we had long and intensive discussions on the issues addressed in our confidence-building proposal put forward during the last round of talks with Iran in Almaty on 26-27 February. It became clear that the positions of the E3+3 and Iran remain far apart on the substance. We have therefore agreed that all sides will go back to capitals to evaluate where we stand in the process. I will be in touch with Dr. Jalili soon in order to see how to go forward.]]> Read more >]]> EUROPEAN UNION
Almaty 6 April 2013
A 190/13 Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: Together with the Political Directors of China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, I met on 5 and 6 April 2013 in Almaty with the Iranian nuclear negotiator Dr. Saeed Jalili and his delegation in order to address the international community's concerns about the Iranian nuclear programme. We would like to thank the Kazakh government once again for its excellent hospitality. Over two days of talks, we had long and intensive discussions on the issues addressed in our confidence-building proposal put forward during the last round of talks with Iran in Almaty on 26-27 February. It became clear that the positions of the E3+3 and Iran remain far apart on the substance. We have therefore agreed that all sides will go back to capitals to evaluate where we stand in the process. I will be in touch with Dr. Jalili soon in order to see how to go forward.]]> Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:34:00 +0200 Brussels, 5 April 2013 ''The Commission welcomes the adoption yesterday by the Turkish Parliament of the law on foreigners and international protection. This law is a clear sign of Turkey’s efforts to establish a sound legal and institutional framework for migration and asylum. This law and the institutions that it provides for indicate Turkey’s clear commitment to build an effective migration management system in line with EU and international standards. In this context the Commission also welcomes the advanced steps taken by Turkey in the field of respect of human rights. It is also worth noting that the adoption of these key reforms takes place amid substantial and commendable efforts deployed by Turkey to provide assistance and protection to a very high number of people fleeing the conflict in Syria. The Commission is confident that, once properly implemented, this law will also address several issues identified in the Commission Roadmap for visa liberalisation which will constitute the basis for the visa liberalisation dialogue once this will start. The Commission is ready to extend its support with all necessary instruments to Turkey in its quest to reshape its migration and asylum management.'' Contacts: Michele Cercone +32 498 982 349 - +32 2 298 09 63 - Michele.Cercone@ec.europa.eu Peter Stano +32 460/757 484 - +32 2 295 74 84 - Peter.Stano@ec.europa.eu Tove Ernst - +32 2 298 67 64 - Tove.Ernst@ec.europa.eu Anca Paduraru +32 498/966 430 - +32 2 296 64 30 - Anca.Paduraru@ec.europa.eu Official information of the European Commission is available at any time at: Les informations officielles de la Commission européenne sont accessibles à tout moment sur: http://europa.eu/rapid/ If you no longer wish to receive esPRESSos, please send an e-mail to: Si vous souhaitez ne plus recevoir les esPRESSos, envoyez un courriel à: comm-espresso-unsubscribe@ec.europa.eu European Commission - Spokespersons' Service - adress: B-1049 - Brussels - Belgium: Commission européenne - Service des Porte-parole - adress: B-1049 - Bruxelles - Belgique: Tel: +32 2 299 11 11 ]]> Read more >]]> Contacts: Michele Cercone +32 498 982 349 - +32 2 298 09 63 - Michele.Cercone@ec.europa.eu
Peter Stano +32 460/757 484 - +32 2 295 74 84 - Peter.Stano@ec.europa.eu
Tove Ernst - +32 2 298 67 64 - Tove.Ernst@ec.europa.eu
Anca Paduraru +32 498/966 430 - +32 2 296 64 30 - Anca.Paduraru@ec.europa.eu
Official information of the European Commission is available at any time at:
Les informations officielles de la Commission européenne sont accessibles à tout moment sur:
http://europa.eu/rapid/ If you no longer wish to receive esPRESSos, please send an e-mail to:
Si vous souhaitez ne plus recevoir les esPRESSos, envoyez un courriel à:
comm-espresso-unsubscribe@ec.europa.eu European Commission - Spokespersons' Service - adress: B-1049 - Brussels - Belgium:
Commission européenne - Service des Porte-parole - adress: B-1049 - Bruxelles - Belgique:
Tel: +32 2 299 11 11 ]]> Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:01:00 +0200 EUROPEAN UNION Ankara, 03 April 2013 A 184/13 Minister Davutoğlu, can I first of all thank you so much for your hospitality. It is the first time that you and I have actually met in your capital and later I will have the privilege of meeting with Prime Minister Erdoğan which I'm much looking forward to. You and I meet all over the world and whenever we do we have a great deal to discuss - today is no exception. And like you I apologise to the press that we kept you waiting. It's because the quality of our discussions is extremely high and the amount of information we wish to share is very large. This, for me as the representative for foreign policy of the European Union, is a demonstration of the vital importance of Turkey and of our work across the world and especially across the region. You have rightly described our discussions on bilateral issues. These are of enormous importance and I am both the conveyor and carrier of messages to and from my colleagues in the European Commission and of course of the different Councils who take specific interest in the issues of the day. As you know, I'm committed to seeing Turkey progress in its relationship with the European Union. We also talked about our neighbourhood a great deal - our neighbourhood in terms of the South and of course the East. I was able to the debrief you on the dialogue for normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo that ended last night very late and I now wait to see with what Pristina and Belgrade will come back to me having had a little time, which they do need, to be able to consider the proposals before them. I'm very grateful for the support that you have always shown for the work that we do, not just in the dialogue but in all of our work in the Western Balkans. Inevitably our focus was on what’s happening in Syria, our concern for the refugees who are coming into countries, not least into Turkey, and I want to pay tribute to the efforts that Turkey has made to look after people in real distress, people whose lives have been shattered changed forever and who look to you for support and help. I reaffirm the commitment of the European Union to work with you to try and offer as much support as we possibly can. We talked too about the challenges we face for the future and the challenges we face in the present - how best to find the political solution that we all know we have to find in the end and how best to support the people of Syria into that future. It is absolutely right to recognise the role Turkey has played, and the important and vital role that you’ve played in the region. And as you said, Minister Davutoğlu, we also talked more broadly about my discussions with Iran which will take place in the next couple of days in Kazakhstan. I look forward to what I hope will be a successful meeting in Almaty and I really do hope that Iran will now carefully consider the proposal we put on the table and respond to it. From Kazakhstan I will go on to Eygpt, where I will be continuing with the messages that you and I have also discussed about the need to ensure that there is a better and growing economy in Eygpt, but also that there are political challenges that need to be addressed. Thank you ]]> Read more >]]> EUROPEAN UNION
Ankara, 03 April 2013
A 184/13 Minister Davutoğlu, can I first of all thank you so much for your hospitality. It is the first time that you and I have actually met in your capital and later I will have the privilege of meeting with Prime Minister Erdoğan which I'm much looking forward to. You and I meet all over the world and whenever we do we have a great deal to discuss - today is no exception. And like you I apologise to the press that we kept you waiting. It's because the quality of our discussions is extremely high and the amount of information we wish to share is very large.
This, for me as the representative for foreign policy of the European Union, is a demonstration of the vital importance of Turkey and of our work across the world and especially across the region. You have rightly described our discussions on bilateral issues. These are of enormous importance and I am both the conveyor and carrier of messages to and from my colleagues in the European Commission and of course of the different Councils who take specific interest in the issues of the day. As you know, I'm committed to seeing Turkey progress in its relationship with the European Union. We also talked about our neighbourhood a great deal - our neighbourhood in terms of the South and of course the East. I was able to the debrief you on the dialogue for normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo that ended last night very late and I now wait to see with what Pristina and Belgrade will come back to me having had a little time, which they do need, to be able to consider the proposals before them. I'm very grateful for the support that you have always shown for the work that we do, not just in the dialogue but in all of our work in the Western Balkans. Inevitably our focus was on what’s happening in Syria, our concern for the refugees who are coming into countries, not least into Turkey, and I want to pay tribute to the efforts that Turkey has made to look after people in real distress, people whose lives have been shattered changed forever and who look to you for support and help. I reaffirm the commitment of the European Union to work with you to try and offer as much support as we possibly can. We talked too about the challenges we face for the future and the challenges we face in the present - how best to find the political solution that we all know we have to find in the end and how best to support the people of Syria into that future. It is absolutely right to recognise the role Turkey has played, and the important and vital role that you’ve played in the region. And as you said, Minister Davutoğlu, we also talked more broadly about my discussions with Iran which will take place in the next couple of days in Kazakhstan. I look forward to what I hope will be a successful meeting in Almaty and I really do hope that Iran will now carefully consider the proposal we put on the table and respond to it. From Kazakhstan I will go on to Eygpt, where I will be continuing with the messages that you and I have also discussed about the need to ensure that there is a better and growing economy in Eygpt, but also that there are political challenges that need to be addressed. Thank you ]]> Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:43:00 +0200 Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, visits Turkey today. In Ankara she will meet Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Davutoğlu for comprehensive discussions on a broad range of issues, including bilateral relationship between the European Union and Turkey as well as a number of foreign policy issues. "I am very much looking forward to the meetings with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Turkey is a key partner of the EU in the region, especially when dealing with difficult foreign policy challenges like the crisis in Syria. I also believe that this year we have a chance to build momentum on Turkey's EU track," said Catherine Ashton ahead of the visit. Audio-visual material from the visit will be available on EBS. http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/ebs/schedule.cfm Maja KOCIJANCIC Spokesperson of HR/VP Catherine Ashton Berlaymont (1/328)/EEAS floor 6 Phone: +32.2.298.65.70 Mobile: +32.498.98.44.25 maja.kocijancic@ec.europa.eu EEAS: www.eeas.europa.eu Twitter: www.twitter.com/eu_eeas or @AshtonSpox_Maja Facebook: www.facebook.com/EuropeanExternalActionService]]> Read more >]]> Audio-visual material from the visit will be available on EBS.
http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/ebs/schedule.cfm Maja KOCIJANCIC
Spokesperson of HR/VP Catherine Ashton
Berlaymont (1/328)/EEAS floor 6
Phone: +32.2.298.65.70
Mobile: +32.498.98.44.25
maja.kocijancic@ec.europa.eu
EEAS: www.eeas.europa.eu
Twitter: www.twitter.com/eu_eeas or @AshtonSpox_Maja
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EuropeanExternalActionService]]> Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:10:00 +0200 By Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament and President in Office of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean André Azoulay, President of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue Between Cultures. This op-ed was published in Cumhuriyet daily on 3 April 2013. The Mediterranean stands torn between renewal and crisis. New political, social and cultural realities struggle through the pain of birth. To north and south there is a palpable sense of expectation and uncertainty, and no clear path to follow. The debt crisis in Europe has shaken people, politics and institutions and resulted in rampant unemployment that particularly affects the youth. The political costs are witnessed in an increasing sense of impotence, an increasing distrust towards politics and a worrying increase in intolerance against people of different beliefs or ethnicity. Along the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean, the ousting of previous authoritarian regimes has opened up a challenging arena in which competing actors are struggling to create an inclusive political transition. Meanwhile, the unbearable Israeli-Palestinian impasse remains, only overshadowed by the tragedy of the 80,000 dead in Syria. A new Mediterranean impetus built around our shared space and values is badly needed. The openings are there, and so is the political and economic rationale. And the political will? Between the 4th and 7th of April, the Anna Lindh Mediterranean Forum will be held in Marseille, Europe's 2013 Capital of Culture, with the participation of more than 1000 civil society organisations and institutions from all 42 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). On the 6-7th of April, building on the findings of the Forum, the first Summit of Heads of Parliament of the Union for the Mediterranean will be held, still in Marseille. More than 40 Speakers of Parliaments from the EU and Mediterranean countries will attend the gathering. This will be a landmark moment, the first high-level political gathering of the UfM since the 2008 Paris Summit. The objective is clear: as much as Euro-Mediterranean cooperation is built on the principle of three Ms: money, mobility and markets, so political dialogue should be constructed on three Ps: People, Parliaments and Participation. The successful re-launching of Euro-Med dialogue must centre on the mobilisation of civil society, of the citizens for the Mediterranean. The recent Anna Lindh Foundation/Gallup Survey on Intercultural Trends has demonstrated that the citizens around this shared sea are increasingly interested in the politics, economics and cultures of their neighbours. The Survey, the first Euro-Med Opinion-Poll carried out following the uprisings in North Africa, also reveals that citizens on both shores of the Mediterranean think the Arab Awakening will have an overall positive impact on Euro-Med relations. But beyond polls, the mass mobilisation on both sides of the Mediterranean show that citizens will not accept to be sidelined in the governance of their countries. The toppling of entrenched regimes in North Africa eroded the prevailing assumptions that the outside world held in regard to Arab societies. And while values may be shared, the challenges too are the same and they need to be clearly identified for what they are. Economic instability, social inequality, youth unemployment and environmental degradation, affect us all and must be treated as common issues. In the struggle to rebuild fractured societies, to create new democracies, the way forward must be centred upon these issues and on common tangible projects. If anything is clear from the society-shaking events experienced in the region, it is that governmental structures and other traditional sources of community authority need to be brought back to dealing with and for citizens. There must be a genuine partnership that implies shared ownership and a community of interests. Systems of power that merely feed the old system will not work. In an international situation where economic and material resources are ever scarcer, the public must have a strong ownership on the priorities which are chosen. The potential of the region’s abundant youthful energy and dynamism, coupled with its entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, is enormous. We need to address the issues which have undermined previous attempts at building a union for the peoples of the Mediterranean. Top-down solutions will not work. Mediterranean partnership must be for the citizens, from the citizens and to the citizens.]]> Read more >]]> By Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament and President in Office of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean André Azoulay, President of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue Between Cultures. This op-ed was published in Cumhuriyet daily on 3 April 2013. The Mediterranean stands torn between renewal and crisis. New political, social and cultural realities struggle through the pain of birth. To north and south there is a palpable sense of expectation and uncertainty, and no clear path to follow. The debt crisis in Europe has shaken people, politics and institutions and resulted in rampant unemployment that particularly affects the youth. The political costs are witnessed in an increasing sense of impotence, an increasing distrust towards politics and a worrying increase in intolerance against people of different beliefs or ethnicity. Along the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean, the ousting of previous authoritarian regimes has opened up a challenging arena in which competing actors are struggling to create an inclusive political transition. Meanwhile, the unbearable Israeli-Palestinian impasse remains, only overshadowed by the tragedy of the 80,000 dead in Syria. A new Mediterranean impetus built around our shared space and values is badly needed. The openings are there, and so is the political and economic rationale. And the political will? Between the 4th and 7th of April, the Anna Lindh Mediterranean Forum will be held in Marseille, Europe's 2013 Capital of Culture, with the participation of more than 1000 civil society organisations and institutions from all 42 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). On the 6-7th of April, building on the findings of the Forum, the first Summit of Heads of Parliament of the Union for the Mediterranean will be held, still in Marseille. More than 40 Speakers of Parliaments from the EU and Mediterranean countries will attend the gathering. This will be a landmark moment, the first high-level political gathering of the UfM since the 2008 Paris Summit. The objective is clear: as much as Euro-Mediterranean cooperation is built on the principle of three Ms: money, mobility and markets, so political dialogue should be constructed on three Ps: People, Parliaments and Participation. The successful re-launching of Euro-Med dialogue must centre on the mobilisation of civil society, of the citizens for the Mediterranean. The recent Anna Lindh Foundation/Gallup Survey on Intercultural Trends has demonstrated that the citizens around this shared sea are increasingly interested in the politics, economics and cultures of their neighbours. The Survey, the first Euro-Med Opinion-Poll carried out following the uprisings in North Africa, also reveals that citizens on both shores of the Mediterranean think the Arab Awakening will have an overall positive impact on Euro-Med relations. But beyond polls, the mass mobilisation on both sides of the Mediterranean show that citizens will not accept to be sidelined in the governance of their countries. The toppling of entrenched regimes in North Africa eroded the prevailing assumptions that the outside world held in regard to Arab societies. And while values may be shared, the challenges too are the same and they need to be clearly identified for what they are. Economic instability, social inequality, youth unemployment and environmental degradation, affect us all and must be treated as common issues. In the struggle to rebuild fractured societies, to create new democracies, the way forward must be centred upon these issues and on common tangible projects. If anything is clear from the society-shaking events experienced in the region, it is that governmental structures and other traditional sources of community authority need to be brought back to dealing with and for citizens. There must be a genuine partnership that implies shared ownership and a community of interests. Systems of power that merely feed the old system will not work. In an international situation where economic and material resources are ever scarcer, the public must have a strong ownership on the priorities which are chosen. The potential of the region’s abundant youthful energy and dynamism, coupled with its entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, is enormous. We need to address the issues which have undermined previous attempts at building a union for the peoples of the Mediterranean. Top-down solutions will not work. Mediterranean partnership must be for the citizens, from the citizens and to the citizens.]]> Wed, 03 Apr 2013 07:45:00 +0200 Brussels - 27 March 2013 Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament and President-in-Office of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, will welcome the Speakers of the Parliaments of the member countries of the Union for the Mediterranean in Marseille on 6 and 7 April. The summit, convened at the initiative of President Schulz, will be the first high-level meeting since the summit of the heads of state and government of the UfM held in Paris in 2008 and the first regional meeting since the Arab Spring. Announcing the event, President Schulz said: "This summit will be an opportunity to show that Parliaments are ready to fill the political leadership gap from which the UfM has suffered in recent years. We, the Speakers/Presidents of the Parliaments, would like to underline the importance of giving an impetus to the implementation of UfM projects at a time of major regional political and economic upheaval. We also need to re-forge the link between people on both sides of the Mediterranean and respond to their common expectations. If the challenge of democratic transition which is under way in some Mediterranean countries is successfully to be met, we will need strong, effective parliaments which listen to their citizens." The summit will continue the work of the civil forum organised by the Anna Lindh Foundation at the Pharo’s Palace in Marseille from 4 to 7 April. The forum will bring together around a thousand representatives of civil societies, young people, artists, locally-elected officials and economic players from both sides of the Mediterranean. The Speakers of the Parliaments will receive proposals from the forum and will draw up their own recommendations to be put to the governing bodies of the Union for the Mediterranean. Programme of the Marseille summit: Sunday, 7 April 2013, Villa Méditerranée 09.00 Opening speech - Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament and President-in-Office of the Parliamentary Assembly of the UfM 09.10 Presentation of the conclusions of the Forum of local and regional authorities of the Mediterranean - Michel Vauzelle, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, Special Envoy for the Mediterranean of the President of the French Republic 09.20 Presentation of the conclusions of the Mediterranean Civil Forum - André Azoulay, President of the Anna Lindh Foundation 09.30 Exchange of views by the Speakers of the Parliaments of the UfM 11.00 Debate and adoption of Summit declaration 12.00 Closure of the Summit 13.00 Press conference (auditorium) Background The Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean is the parliamentary institution of the ‘Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean’. It was formed in Naples on 3 December 2003 and has the following remit: • to boost the development of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership; • to monitor the actions and projects of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership; • to adopt resolutions and recommendations for the Union for the Mediterranean’s ministerial conferences. The Parliamentary Assembly of the UfM is made up of MPs/MEPs appointed by the national parliaments of the Member States of the European Union, the national parliaments of the Mediterranean partners and the European Parliament. The next plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean will be held in Brussels on 11 and 12 April 2013. The main objectives of the Union for the Mediterranean concern energy and the environment: water (for example the Gaza desalination plant), solar energy, the environment (cleaning up the Mediterranean) and the Mediterranean Maritime Highway are the specific objectives for the cooperation between the member countries of the UfM. Note to editors: Mediterranean Forum of the Anna Lindh Foundation: http://www.annalindhforum.org/fr Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/paufm/default.htm Marseilles, European Capital of Culture 2013: http://www.mp2013.fr/# Press contact for information: François Arnaud: francois.arnaud@ep.europa.eu Giacomo Fassina: giacomo.fassina@ep.europa.eu Press contact for accreditation to the Summit on 7 April: Press service of the regional Council PACA: servicedepresse@regionpaca.fr / Fax : +33 (0)4 91 57 51 53. Please indicate your press card number, the name of your media, your identity card or passport number. ]]> Read more >]]> Programme of the Marseille summit: Sunday, 7 April 2013, Villa Méditerranée 09.00      Opening speech - Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament and President-in-Office of the Parliamentary Assembly of the UfM 09.10      Presentation of the conclusions of the Forum of local and regional authorities of the Mediterranean - Michel Vauzelle, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, Special Envoy for the Mediterranean of the President of the French Republic 09.20      Presentation of the conclusions of the Mediterranean Civil Forum - André Azoulay, President of the Anna Lindh Foundation 09.30      Exchange of views by the Speakers of the Parliaments of the UfM 11.00      Debate and adoption of Summit declaration 12.00      Closure of the Summit 13.00      Press conference (auditorium) Background The Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean is the parliamentary institution of the ‘Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean’. It was formed in Naples on 3 December 2003 and has the following remit: • to boost the development of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership;
• to monitor the actions and projects of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership;
• to adopt resolutions and recommendations for the Union for the Mediterranean’s ministerial conferences. The Parliamentary Assembly of the UfM is made up of MPs/MEPs appointed by the national parliaments of the Member States of the European Union, the national parliaments of the Mediterranean partners and the European Parliament. The next plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean will be held in Brussels on 11 and 12 April 2013. The main objectives of the Union for the Mediterranean concern energy and the environment: water (for example the Gaza desalination plant), solar energy, the environment (cleaning up the Mediterranean) and the Mediterranean Maritime Highway are the specific objectives for the cooperation between the member countries of the UfM. Note to editors: Mediterranean Forum of the Anna Lindh Foundation:
http://www.annalindhforum.org/fr Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/paufm/default.htm Marseilles, European Capital of Culture 2013:
http://www.mp2013.fr/# Press contact for information: François Arnaud: francois.arnaud@ep.europa.eu
Giacomo Fassina: giacomo.fassina@ep.europa.eu Press contact for accreditation to the Summit on 7 April:
Press service of the regional Council PACA: servicedepresse@regionpaca.fr / Fax : +33 (0)4 91 57 51 53. Please indicate your press card number, the name of your media, your identity card or passport number. ]]> Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:24:00 +0200