Mit - Index

Mit - UVK_Sinfo_2008_05_št.10 - Index

INTERCuLTuRAL dIALOGuE
By declaring 2008 the Year of Intercultural Dialogue, the European
Union has given clear notice of its strong political commitment to
making intercultural issues an integral part of all Union policies.
After centuries of war and violence, Europe has now experienced
peace, reconciliation and tolerance at first hand for a long
period. On the basis of that experience, the European Union is
setting an example for the world as a whole and fosters dialogue
between cultures. The European Parliament has been attaching
great significance to this European year of dialogue between
cultures. The Slovenian Presidency has paid significant attention
to it working closely with us, sharing the commitment that a socalled
≈Clash of Civilisations« is not at all inevitable. In May young
Israeli and Palestinian leaders were invited to the EP for four days
of dialogue with young Europeans on the problems of the region.
This meeting offered young political leaders a unique occasion
to exchange political and individual experiences and establish
interpersonal relationships in a neutral environment. In early June
the Presidents of the three European Institutions, the President of
the European Council and Slovenian Prime Minister, Janez Janša,
Commission President José Manuel Durao Barroso and myself
as President of the European Parliament inaugurated the Euro-
Mediterranean University which will be located in the historical
Slovenian city of Portoroæ. This establishment will bring together
young people from both sides of the Mediterranean through study
programmes specifically aimed at increasing their knowledge and
mutual understanding and help to increase the understanding of
each other's cultures. Together with the Council and Commission
we have been developing dialogue between the European Union
and Europe’s churches and faiths. In early May the three Presidents
of the EU institutions met with 20 European religious leaders. The
power of religious authorities to make a significant contribution,
through wise leadership, to tackling some of today's major
challenges should not be underestimated. Within the European
context, the churches have always been strong supporters of the
integration project.
WESTERN BALkANS
Bringing the countries of South-East Europe - Croatia, Bosnia,
Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
(FYROM) and Serbia - closer to accession to the European Union
has been a strong Slovenian priority. The European Parliament has
been a viable partner on this avenue. However this issue during
the passed six months has been dominated by the declaration
of independence of Kosovo and its consequences. The Kosovo
Assembly proclaimed Kosovo's independence in late February. The
decision had been expected and reflects the will of the citizens
in Kosovo to take their political destiny and institution-building
for independence into their own hands in a peaceful fashion.
Over a year ago, following the Ahtisaari report, the European
Parliament advocated internationally supervised sovereignty for
Kosovo. The EU sees its obligation to encourage those in positions
of political responsibility in Kosovo to shoulder their responsibility
and establish democratic political institutions which respect the
rights and freedoms of all citizens as part of a multiethnic Kosovo
that has good neighbourly relations with its neighbours. In late
April the Stabilization and Association Agreement and the Interim
Agreement were signed by the EU with Serbia. Given the complex
situation and early elections in Serbia which were upcoming at
that time, the agreement will help pave the way for ever-closer
collaboration between the EU and Serbia across a range of issues
in the coming future. It would bring tangible benefits for Serbians
such as free trade access and better conditions for investment and
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job creation. This is one further step to anchoring Serbia firmly in
the European family of democracies, which was also confirmed
by the results of the parliamentary elections of 11th May. The
countries of the western Balkans have a European perspective.
They should continue down the road of political and economic
reform, reconciliation among peoples. Accession will not be
possible in the near future; but each of the countries has that
perspective. Accordingly, in the process, we should help people
both in Serbia and in Kosovo to overcome their differences from
a European integration perspective, as has taken place elsewhere
in Europe.
IRISH REFERENduM ON THE LISBON
TREATY
The outcome of the Irish referendum of 12th June on the ratification
of the Lisbon Treaty was a great disappointment to all those who
want to make the European Union's decision-making procedures
more democratic, more readily understandable to the public, more
effective, more straightforward and more transparent. The biggest
losers as a result of the 'No' vote are not so much the institutions of
the European Union, nor the governments. Those are, unfortunately,
the people of the European Union, who place their hopes in a
stronger Union which can, through joint action, overcome the
growing challenges linked to globalisation and guarantee everyone
in Europe a better future. Just as the outcome of the referendum
in Ireland should be respected, which was arrived at by democratic
means and in accordance with the Irish Constitution, the same has
to be applied to the decisions taken by those 19 Member States
which have approved the Lisbon Treaty in accordance with their
constitutional rules. The European Parliament is fully committed to
the task of overcoming the challenges posed by the vote in Ireland.
The EU must continue the ratification process as originally planned
and, at the October meeting of the European Council we should
lay down a procedure which makes it possible for the Lisbon Treaty
to enter into force prior to the European Parliament elections in
June 2009. Facilitating that process will now be the task of the
incoming French Presidency.
CONCLuSIONS
The outgoing Slovenian Presidency of the EU is an excellent
example of the fundamental change that has taken place in Europe
over the past two decades. This is an extraordinary achievement,
when you consider that less than 20 years ago Slovenia was part of
communist Yugoslavia. This remarkable country has led a reinforced
and enlarged European Union of 27 Member States for the last six
months dealing with all the challenges it was facing. Slovenia has
performed an exemplary job given the very complicated situation
resulting first with the Kosovo declaration in the early stages
of the Presidency and concluded by the rejection of the Lisbon
Treaty in Ireland. I have to congratulate the Prime Minister Janez
Janša, his government, officials involved in the Presidency, on the
outstanding job they have done during the last six months leading
the block. The torch now goes to the hands of France, which I wish
every success in the coming six months.
apology: we apologise for the spelling mistakes in the
commentary by david tasiË in the previous issue of sinfo,
which occurred during the computer conversion of the
text from upper to lower case letters. we kindly ask for
you understanding. editorial board.