Negotiations with Turkey: The Europarliament’s doubts”Transform priorities and schedules into a reform plan” to enforce as soon as possible: the latest document adopted by the European Parliament’s foreign affairs Commission has been the focus during the Strasbourg plenary session (April 21-24). The Members of Parliament assessed progress achieved by Ankara in the EU adherence negotiations and set out a text that will soon be debated. The Netherlands popular party member Ria Oomen-Ruijten, who wrote the document, congratulated herself for “the commitment taken by prime Minister Erdogan to make 2008 the reform-year”; consequently asks the EU to ensure “the Turkish government keeps the promises made”. Among the delicate issues first of all the role of the Turkish democracy army and the justice investigation on the constitutional profile of the AKp, the Prime Minister and President’s party. Various complains on Women and Kurdish minority (approximately 25% of overall population ): the document pin points the importance of respecting minorities rights, and asks the PKK to “decree and enforce immediate cease fire”. A code of conduct to see videogames?Help parents to decide which videogames are suited for their children. Is one of the main issues highlighted by the EU in view of a growing sector, that in 2008 might reach a turnover in EU-27 of more than 7 billion euros. “The general public is afraid that videogames”, always more accessible through the Internet and cell-phones, ” can lead to aggressive behaviour,” a Commission comment writes. A fear “worsened by the recent cases of school shootings, such as the one in Helsinki (Finland), last November”, which has pushed national authorities to ban some videogames such as Manhunt 2. “In addressing these concerns- Commissioner for the Media, Viviane Reding explained- the Executive censured protection measures for minors from dangerous videogame in the 27 Member States”. 20 countries currently apply Pegi (Pan European Games Information), a ranking system based age. Fifteen States have specific rules on the issue. However, the Commission doesn’t consider this enough: the Pegi system must be updated and ” the creation of a retailers’ code of conduct for the sale of videogames to minors in two years”.Angela Merkel wins the CharleMagne Award 2008The German chancellor Angela Merkel is the winner of the CharleMagne Award 2008.The award is given every year to personalities who have contributed to the continents’ unity. Dedicated to the founder of the Sacred Roman Empire, who lived and is buried in Aquisgrana, the award has been in the past won by many “Europeanist” such as Pope John Paul II, Jean Monnet, Konrad Adenauer, Alcide De Gasperi, Robert Schuman, Jacques Delors, Simon Veil, Francois Mitterrand, Helmut Kohl. The ceremony that will be held on May 1 in the Municipality of the German city, will be preceded by the “CharleMagne youngsters’ award” on April 29. At its first edition the award “funds projects that promote a shared vision of the European identity and integration.” According to a comment by the EU Parliament “the three winning projects must also represent an example of Europeans living together in the same community.”EU “consolidated” Treaties available on lineCommunity integration is inspired by "Europe’s cultural, religious and Humanitarian heritage, that inspired universal values of Human rights, freedom, democracy and the Rule of law". This paragraph is part of the European Treaty preamble. The consolidated version of this text as well as the " EU functioning text" ( the new framework-texts 27) are now available in the official languages on: www.europa.eu/lisbon_treaty and www.consilium.europa.eu. The two texts include the changes after the Lisbon Treaty; in the beginning of 2008 they have been approved by the judiciary services and translated. The consolidated version of the EU treaty includes a preamble and 55 articles; the EU Treaty 358 articles. We must add more than 200 pages of protocols and annexes. The article of the relation of the EU, churches and philosophical organizations has become number 17 and among other things says: "Acknowledging the identity and specific contribution, the EU has an open and transparent dialogue with these churches and organizations.".
