Awaiting signs and commitments

To draw a balance on the state of the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. This is the proposal contained in the special dossier in the May issue of “Europe infos”, monthly magazine of Comece (Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Community) and Ocipe (Catholic information and initiatives for Europe), whose introduction by Frank Turner (SIR Europe 39/2008) focuses on the ‘importance of good EU communication’ to citizens.The Irish referendum. Signed by heads of Government and State in Lisbon, “the Reformed Treaty will be enforced on January 1st 2009, or at the latest – explained Johanna Touzel – before the European election in June of the same year, after each one of 27 signatory States will have ratified it”. To date, 11 Countries completed the procedure: some without particular difficulties (Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, Malta, France, Bulgaria, Portugal, Denmark). Others, like Poland, Slovakia and Austria “not without pain because of domestic political tensions which became the main object of public debate”, Touzel underlined. The process is currently under way in other 11 Countries. Observers are anxiously awaiting the results of the ratification referendum which will be held June 11 in Ireland. The only Country obliged to resort to this tool by its Constitution. Surveys seem positive, but “in order not to give pretexts to opponents – Touzel remarked – the European Commission has decided to postpone as much as possible the announcement of new measures (as relates to taxation and agricultural protection) which could interfere with the Irish debate”. Cyprus, Italy, Lithuania, Czech Republic and the United Kingdom haven’t yet established fixed dates. EU and refugees. “The deplorable future of Iraqi Christians in Countries near Iraq is only one of the most outstanding example of people compelled to flee their own Country, having to confront themselves with the hard reality of a foreign land and not being able to envisage a sunny future. The resettlement tool could help solve this crisis”, claimed Alessandro Calcagno. “The role of the EU in the field of resettlement will be stepped up by the European Refugee Fund 2008-2013. The Fund, which was approved in the framework of the “Solidarity and migration flow management”, is “aimed at supporting and promoting efforts made by Member States in the reception and the resettlement of refugees and the displaced”, by co-financing envisaged actions. “The next step – according to Mr. Calcagno – could be a framework programme at EU level which would improve equity and effectiveness of national programs and would encourage the more reticent Member States”. Furthermore, it would serve “to promote the fight against human trafficking”. Safer internet for minors. Since 1996, the EU has been committed in improving Internet safety for children and adolescents. “Since then, – remarked Christina Gerlach – this issue has occupied an important place in the EU agenda and in that of Member States”. Although the “notion of illegal contents on the Internet should be assessed by each Member State”, in the years 1999-2004 and 2005-2008 the EU developed two action plans “for a safer use of the web by minors, aimed at supporting and informing parents and children”, in addition to projects such as “Inhope”, an international network designed to identify illegal contents which could be accessed on the web. Ms. Gerlach said she believes that the multiannual programme “For a safer Internet” will continue in the years 2009-2013. “The Commission already presented a plan based on the previous one – she explained – and the budget available will be increased by 10 million euros”. Further initiatives are being planned, although – she warned – “the last guarantors as relates to protection are the families, parents especially”. Right to abortion? A resolution stemmed from an “ideological debate” which “made all objective discussions on the raised issues impossibile to tackle”. This is how Katharina Schauer defined the document adopted past April 16 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (Apce), which goes under the title: “Access to risk-free and legal abortion in Europe”. “Apce’s legal commission did not take part in the resolution’s elaboration”, the expert pointed out. Therefore, “the legal situation of many Member States was described with erroneous terms, regardless of the fact that the constitutions of different Countries are against the absolute right to abortion” envisaged in the resolution. For Schauer, the document represents a “threat to fundamental aspect of human rights”. However, “even though some interested circles will use the resolution for political purposes and will try to claim abortion’s liberalization in their own Country, it obviously has no legal effect”.