Being good neighbours” “

The recent meeting of the Council of justice and internal affairs of the EU has established that the new European Agency for managing cooperation with the external frontiers of the Twenty-Five will be based in the Polish capital. At the same time preparations are continuing for two other important meetings in Warsaw: the continental Youth Summit that will he held in the Polish Parliament (the Sejm) on 15-16 May, and the third summit of the heads of state and of government of the Council of Europe, to be held in Warsaw Royal Castle on 16-17 May. NEW AGENCY FOR CONTROLLING THE FRONTIERS. With regard to the seat of the new EU agency, the Luxembourg Minister of Justice and acting chairman of the Council Luc Frieden has expressed “great satisfaction for the agreement reached, after intensive consultation, between the ministers of the Union”. The agency ought to become operational from 1st May. The agency’s task, explains Frieden, will be to “facilitate the implementation of existing or future EU measures relating to the management of the external frontiers, and ensure the coordination of the executive provisions taken by member states”. With a EU of 25 member states, extending from the Mediterranean area to the polar circle, and to the Western extension of the Asian continent, the management of the frontiers (in demographic, economic and political terms) will become one of the major challenges of the EU in the years ahead. Hence the decision was taken in Brussels to establish the new agency in the Polish capital; its role will have to be “invented” and planned from scratch. DemocraCY AND RIGHTS IN THE FOREGROUND. Meanwhile preparations are busily going ahead in Warsaw to welcome the heads of state and delegations of the member countries of the Council of Europe. According to the promoters, “the objective of the Summit is to examine whether the Council’s activities respond to the needs of the 800 million citizens who live in its 46 member states and to concentrate it own action on the challenges posed by the twenty-first century”. For the oldest European supranational organization, founded in 1949, it is the third summit of this kind. The first was held in Vienna in 1993, to debate the development of the fledgling democracies of Eastern Europe after the collapse of the Berlin wall. The second was held in Strasbourg, four years later, to give new impetus to the protection of human rights. The aim of this third summit – whose organization is placed under the vigilant eye of Terry Davis, general secretary of the Council of Europe – is to review the major objectives of the Council in the new historical context and in relation to the other institutions of the old continent: the EU, the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, 55 members) and the UNO. “But it is also essential to re-launch the activity of the European Court of Human Rights and examine grave problems of our time: terrorism, computer crime, racism and anti-semitism”. WHAT ROLE FOR THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE? The priorities to be inserted in the summit’s order of the day are currently being defined in Strasbourg. According to the Council’s experts, the main objectives are: “reinforcing the fundamental role and mission of the Council of Europe in the field of human rights and the rule of law”, developing a pan-European political dialogue, and “stimulating the Council’s action aimed at promoting social cohesion, intercultural dialogue and democratic citizenship”. Discussion in Warsaw will also focus on the trafficking of human beings, the protection of national minorities, violence against children, terrorism, and immigration. Davis adds: “We all know that the Council of Europe is founded on the values of democracy and human rights. I hope that the summit may newly identify our foundations in these values, by seeking to give greater emphasis to the question of human rights in the campaign against torture and against any form of discrimination. I also hope that our activities linked to cultural diversity can be further developed”. FORUM FOR THE YOUNG: dEBATES, standS AND music. Davis has also explained the aims of the Youth Summit of the Council of Europe (15-16 May). The summit will bring together a hundred or so young people from every corner of the continent, representing NGOs, student associations, cultural and religious associations, and volunteer services. “We want to permit these youngsters – explains Davis – to express their views on the issues tackled by the political leaders and on the Council’s tasks as particularly regards youth issues”. Also on the programme are a series of events being organized in cooperation with Polish youth organizations, including a celebration of the local Robert Schuman Foundation, some stands and a final concert. It will be the last youth meeting before World Youth Day in Cologne in August this year. ———————————————————————————————————– Sir Europa (English) N.ro assoluto : 1383 N.ro relativo : 32 Data pubblicazione : 28/04/2005