Foreign affairs and social issues

The parliamentary session held in Brussels February 18-19 was marked by the address delivered by Czech President Vaclav Klaus (SIR Europe, n. 20 of February 20) and by the debates that ensued regarding the identity of the EU, the tasks assigned to common Member States’ institutions and the common market. MEPs also addressed a number of questions in the areas of foreign affairs and the economy. Aid to Gaza, peace in the Middle East. A joint resolution adopted by the European Parliament with ample majority vote, requests “increased and immediate humanitarian aid” to the Population of Gaza. MEPs, who had voted in favour of a similar document in mid-January, claimed that the recent conflict “further worsened the humanitarian crisis in the region” which reached “levels of despair”. Today, they claimed, “88% of the population of Gaza depend on food aid”. In the document, MEPs urge the EU and the international community to step up aid and request that Israel provide for its flow, they call for and end of the blockade and the reopening of the crossing points, while preventing illicit arm smuggling. The document takes into account future prospects, i.e. “the financial, economic and social rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip” whose implementation depends on long-lasting truce. A stable solution under UN aegis. In the same circumstance President Hans-Gert Poettering announced his official visit to the Middle East on February 22-24, in his twofold capacity as European Parliament President and President of the Euro-Mediterranean Assembly. “Our objective is to contribute to the resumption of the Peace Process”. Accompanied by a delegation of the two assemblies, Poettering announced that the mission envisages visits to a number of countries (Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Palestinian Territories). “We are persuaded that a peaceful and long-lasting solution for the Middle East, based on the coexistence of two States, can be found under the aegis of the United Nations”, he declared. Rethinking Euro-Mediterranean policy. A report submitted for Euro-Parliament debate addressed the question of Euro-Mediterranean policy. The report states that the two shores are “drifting further apart in the realms of economy, politics and culture”. “These disparities ought to be countered, while an area of peace, security and shared prosperity ought to be established”. The report criticizes the outcomes of the “Barcelona Process” whereas the Union for the Mediterranean launched past July under the French Presidency, “contributes towards peace and prosperity”, provided that it “delivers its promises and yields concrete and visible results”. From this viewpoint, Euro-Mediterranean policy ought to be “attentively reconsidered”. The document addresses a number of issues that include peace negotiations, common migration policies, economic cooperation, environmental protection, and energy policies. Defending freedom of worship. A special aspect underlined in the report on EU-Mediterranean relations is the promotion of the rights of man and religious freedom. To this regard, the European Parliament pointed out that one of the major goals of Euro-Mediterranean policy is “the promotion of the Rule of the Law, democracy, the respect for the rights of man and political pluralism”. Although “serious violations” in these areas still exist in a number of countries. The report thus calls upon all the parties involved to “promote the respect of the freedom of worship and conscience along with the respect for the rights of minority groups”. Measures for the third sector. “A sustainable economic model where individuals are more important than assets”: this is the profile of the so-called “social economy”. The Assembly is asking its adoption and promotion throughout European countries. To this regard, the Parliament voted in favour of a report (announced in SIR Europe n.11 of February 13 2009) which states that this area of production, known in some countries as the “third sector”, thanks to entrepreneurships and special legal frameworks developed into cooperatives, associations, enterprises, social organizations and foundations”. This sector thus represents some two million enterprises, constituting a tenth of European total figures, mostly small and very small initiatives that account for 6% of total employment. “By bringing together corporate profitability and solidarity, social economy plays a crucial role” in the Community since it counters unemployment, job insecurity and social exclusion”. The report requests that the EU undertake specific actions in this field that include easy access to credit, tax cuts, micro-credit development, European statutes, EU funding.