Tibet, respect of rights and reconciliation The European Union expressed its “deep concern regarding news on the turmoil in Tibet. It offers its condolences to the families of the victims”. The 27 Council Presidency has been closely following recent events in the Far East. In a note issued the past few days, Community leaders urgently requested “clarifications on the situation of the Chinese government”. The EU exhorted “all stakeholders to moderation”, “requesting Chinese authorities to refrain from the use of force against those involved in the riots.” It equally appealed to demonstrators “to renounce the use of violence”. The official note of the presidency underlines the importance that Europe attaches “to human rights, to the freedom of expression and to peaceful demonstrations”; it urges Beijing to respond to the riots “according to the democratic principles recognised at international level”; “it firmly sustains the peaceful reconciliation between the Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama and his representatives”. Lastly, the European Union “encourages both parties to undertake a substantial constructive dialogue to achieve a sustainable solution, accepted by all, which fully respects Tibet’s culture, religion and identity”. Virtual partnership between European schoolsInternet at the service of the “virtual twinning” of European educational institutions. In an international conference held in Bukarest on March 14-16, attended by 400 participants, the EU relaunched the eTwinning initiative undertaken in 2005 and inserted in Comenius, an outstanding programme financed by the Commission in the field of education to encourage ongoing learning. In three years, 35 thousand schools adhered to the initiative with the purpose of identifying partners for trans-national cooperation on the internet. “In 2008 – the Commission explained – the focus will no longer be on projects, but on the promotion of on-line communities enabling schools to share their experiences and take part in discussion platforms along with the enhancement of new projects”. Jan Figel’, EU Commissioner for Education and Youth, explained that the eTwinning programme “brings together different cultures’ learning and the use of information and communication technology. With its virtual school communities, involving “tens of thousands of European schools”, eTwinning “helps students become familiar with the computer and bridge knowledge gaps on other European cultures”. The initiative was inserted within the framework of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008. The elderly risk being mistreated and neglected“As we get old we all risk depending on somebody’s help. However, we don’t know whether we will be treated with dignity”. Vladimir Spidla, Commissioner for social affairs, intervened on the condition of the elderly in a conference organized on Monday, March 17 in Brussels by the Commission, devoted to the senior citizens in EU Countries. The Executive filed a survey according to which 47% of Europeans believe that “the elderly are exposed to the risk of neglect and mistreatment”, and that these phenomena are widespread throughout Europe. “These problems are bound to increase as the population gradually ages”, Spidla explained. “By the year 2050 those over 80 will increase threefold. They will depend on family or professional treatment”. Since this part of the population is believed to enjoy minor protection, the Commission called for the implementation of initiatives “envisaging the highest possible forms of protection”. Cybercrime: international conference in StrasbourgImproving cooperation between the bodies controlling law enforcement and the suppliers of internet services in order to enable the police and the judiciary to combat crimes committed through the web. This is objective of the international conference planned for April 1 and 2 in Strasbourg, to which the Council of Europe invited experts, government, police and private sector representatives along with educators and associations. On that occasion “the Council of Europe – is written in a note – will analyse the guidelines to bring public and private players closer. Another point on the agenda will be strengthening cooperation among the various contact points on the net established in those states which adhered to the Convention of the Council of Europe on Cybercrime and the G8 high-tech subcommittee to facilitate international investigation and to spur immediate action”. The 2004 Convention on Cybercrime, signed until now by 22 Countries including the United States, is the only international binding treaty on this subject.
