Mediterranean, religions and peace: dialogue in Nicosia “The role of religions in the peace-building and conflict resolution in the Mediterranean Region”: it is the theme of the sixteenth Interreligious Dialogue promoted by the EPP Group at the EU Parliament, scheduled to take place October 17-18 in Nicosia. MEPs, religious leaders, representatives of international associations and experts in geopolitics will convene on the island of Cyprus, considered a “bridge” linking Western and Eastern Europe. Five panel lectures will each focus on a different theme. These are: The dialogue among Christians, Muslims and Jews for peace in the Mediterranean; Fundamentalism as a factor of political instability; The protection of religious heritage; Coexistence of religions in times of increased religious discrimination and intolerance; Challenges lying ahead the Mediterranean region. The chairman of the EPP Group in Strasbourg Joseph Daul (FR) will deliver the opening remarks. Among the religious leaders attending the meeting figure: Orthodox archbishop Chrysostomos II, Metropolitan of Cyprus; Metropolitan Emmanuel, Archbishop of France; Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, Great Mufti of Syria; Arie Zeev Raskin, Chief Rabbi of Cyprus; Archbishop Youssef Soueif, from the Maronite Eparchy in Cyrpus; Monisgnor Giuseppe Lazzarotto, apostolic nuncio of Cyprus and Israel. EU Council initiatives for growth and work Economy, innovation and services; employment and growth; economic and monetary union: these are three main items on the agenda of the European Council in Brussels on October 24-25. EU28 Heads of government and State will also speak of migrations and the “hot” issues of international politics, giving priority to the situation in Syria. The president of the EU Council, Herman Van Rompuy, said the summit “will hold a thematic debate on e-economy, innovation and services”. In particular, “it will discuss the progress of the digital agenda with a view to providing guidelines on the completion of the single digital market by 2015; it will assess the progress already made in the field of innovation”, and, it possible, “it will provide further guidelines for the completion of the European Research area by 2014”. Moreover, the Council will take stock “of the efforts for the promotion of growth, employment and competitiveness in Europe” setting the priorities for “the implementation of the investment plan for Europe adopted past June” and initiatives for youth employment “so as to make it running in full speed by January 2014”. During the meeting, all 28 European leaders will focus on “elements for a strengthened economic and monetary Union” along with the coordination of “economic policies and the social dimension of EMU, in the framework of the adoption of related decisions in December”. To the presence of the ECB president “EU leaders will discuss the steps made so for banking union”. Community funding for energy A 5.85 billion budget has been allocated for the implementation of 250 key energy infrastructure projects. The news was released on October 14 by the EU Commission which identified the priorities in this field for the next seven year period in the framework of the debate on the Multiannual Financial Framework. Up to 140 projects regard the field of electricity transmission and storage, about 100 projects in the field of gas transmission, storage and LNG, and several oil and “smart grids projects”. The projects included in the list, which had to have significant benefits for at least two Member States, have a set of benefits in return: accelerated planning and permit granting procedures; a single national competent authority will act as a one-stop-shop for permit granting procedures; less administrative costs, increased transparency and improved public participation. They may also enjoy the possibility to receive financial support from public and private bodies. For the EU executive: “a modern infrastructure with adequate interconnectors and reliable networks is crucial for an integrated energy market where consumers get the best value for their money”. For the full list of the projects log on: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/infrastructure/pci/doc/2013_pci_projects_country.pdf.
