From Albania to China

In the second half of the plenary session of the EP (cf. SirEurope no.57) held in Strasbourg from 4 to 7 September, MEPs discussed the multilingualism of the institutions, efforts to curb marine pollution, the European social model, the Accord of stabilization and association between the EU and Albania, the crisis in Lebanon, the Middle East and China. MULTILINGUALISM. 2 euros and 20 cents per year per person is the “political cost” that, according to MEPs, must be incurred by European citizens to guarantee them the right to communicate with the European institutions in all the official languages of the EU . The Parliament in Strasbourg approved by a show of hands the report of the Finnish exponent of the People’s Party ALEXANDER STUBB following the special Report of the EU Auditing Court on the spiralling costs of simultaneous translation for Parliament, Commission and Council, permanently the butt of criticism and considered by many to be excessive. The document emphasises, however, that translation into twenty or more languages represents a conditio sine qua non for the practice of European democracy and for the representation of citizens. EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODEL. With 507 votes in favour, 113 against and 42 abstentions, the EP adopted the report of DE ROSSA and SILVA PENEDA on the reform of the European social model, whose “need for modernization” seems “evident” in the eyes of MEPs. In spite of the fact that the individual social systems of member states and the sectors in which a good degree of harmonization has been achieved at the European level are unanimously considered the most advanced in the world, Europe, says the report, must go further: it must revive the triple objective of strengthening social inclusion, guaranteeing social justice for everyone and eradicating poverty. The report places the emphasis on the means potentially useful for funding such reforms, such as the “improvement of tax systems, use of EU funds, social dialogue, pension reform, services of general interest”, and so-called flexisecurity , i.e. the “defence of the ability of workers to maintain or find a job thanks to mobility and/or improving professional skills”. ACCORD OF ASSOCIATION WITH ALBANIA. The Resolution with which the European Parliament gives the go ahead to the conclusion of an Accord of stabilization and association between the EU and Albania was approved by a very large majority. According to the EP, the Accord represents the means to achieve a deeper relation with Albania “aimed at bringing political, economic and institutional stability to the country and to the region and promoting the transformation of Albania into a pluralist democracy, respectful of the rule of law and with an efficient market economy”. LEBANON AND TURKEY. Particularly significant was the extraordinary meeting of the EP’s External Affairs Commission, during which the members asked the UNO to more clearly define the rules of engagement of the peacekeeping force in Lebanon in compliance with Resolution 1701 and in the framework of a greater role for the European Union. Moreover, with regard to the negotiations with Turkey, the same Commission re-affirmed its commitment to Turkey’s full membership, subject to the need to rectify a series of “major shortcomings” in the field of freedom of expression, religious freedom, and so on. MIDDLE EAST. The Lebanon and the Middle East question in general were also discussed during the debate in the chamber in the presence of Finnish President TARJA HALONEN . Almost all MEPs agree that “peace in the entire region cannot be obtained with weapons of war, but only with constructive dialogue between all parties”. A firm European position clearly emerged from the debate: it requires that the government of Tel Aviv should “solve the problems of movement and access to the frontiers between Israel and the Palestinian territories” and that the Lebanese army should guarantee the disarming of Hezbollah. According to Commissioner for External Relations BENITO FERRERO-WALDNER , “there is a need to create the conditions for long-term stability” and “eliminate the ambiguities about the need to disarm Hezbollah”, while at the same time reviving the role of the European Union within a UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) which “does not represent a European operation”. CHINA – At the end of its session the EP approved the BASTIAN BELDER report on cooperation between the EU and China, which envisages a boosting of relations with Beijing transcending those of business and focusing on such strategic sectors as education, energy, immigration, climate change, rule of law, human rights and public health. The report acknowledges that the growth of China has been “phenomenal, but not should it be forgotten that China is still a developing country and far more fragile that might be thought”.