Optimism for Europe

Countering the persistent phenomenon of illegal adoption and harmonizing international adoption regulations at continental level. The two recommendations were pronounced by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), during last week’s sitting in Strasbourg. At the Palais de l’Europe were equally addressed the future status of Kosovo and the fight against terrorism. After having elected the new President, the Assembly chose five judges of Europe’s Human Rights Court coming from Bulgaria, Ireland, Latvia, Moldavia and Turkey. The Assembly chaired by a Spanish citizen. As happens during each meeting, PACE, in confirming its role as the “continental communal assembly” gave the floor to several guests. Among these, figured Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Georgia’s President Mikhaïl Saakashvili, the President of Albania Bamir Topi, Hungaria’s President Ferenc Gyurcsány, Uefa President and ex-football player Michel Platini. However, MEPs’ first task was the election of the new speaker: the Assembly voted Spanish Socialist Lluís Maria de Puig, who replaces Dutch Popular Party member René van der Linden. “You have elected a President who believes in the Council of Europe – he declared in his first speech -. I’m a staunch European and I look at the future of our institutions with great optimism”. Born in Bascara in 1945, de Puig is married and has two children. History scholar, he was among the opponents of Franco’s regime. He has been member of PACE since 1983, when Spain joined the Council of Europe. “My mandate’s objective will be Citizens’ Europe”, giving priority to “relations with the EU”. Supervising over international adoptions. The problem of illegal adoptions was illustrated to the assembly by Swiss MEP Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold . The rapporteur rejected the concept of “the right to a child” specifying that the purpose of international adoption is to grant parents to the minor, in full respect of his rights, and not to have a child at all costs”. The Assembly then cast its unanimous vote to a document, which reviews The Hague 1993 Convention and which enjoins National legal systems’ adjustment in view of greater flexibility “in compliance with the respect for the right of the child”. PACE recalled that “the absence of regulations in the field of registration” (in a number of Countries parents are not compelled to birth registration) along with “the lack of rigor, led to the development of parallel circuits and child trafficking”. The Assembly urged States “to modify family and penal law so as to prevent child trafficking and illegal adoption”. Terrorism: “black lists” are arbitrary. PACE firmly condemned the so-called “black lists” drawn up by the United Nations and by the European Union to counter world terrorism. The Parliament’s Assembly declared that the procedures adopted by the UN Security Council and by the EU “in order to put the names of those suspected of alleged ties with terrorism on the black list, violate fundamental human rights and are downright arbitrary”. Hence, was then vouched the need for a re-examination of the issue “in the interest of the credibility of international fight against terrorism”. “Injustice is the best ally of terrorists, – Swiss rapporteur Dick Marty declared- we must struggle to prevent it”. Mr. Marty explained that “there are 370 people whose goods have been frozen and are prevented from traveling since their names are on the UN list”, while 60 are in the EU’s list. However, sanctions “can be ruled on the basis of mere suspicions”. “In most cases, the parties at stake aren’t aware of the charges against them, since they realize only when they’re on the point of crossing the border or using a banking account”. The complete revision of such provision was therefore requested. Money and television denature sport. “The unrestrained economic development of a number of professional sports, in particular as relates to broadcasting rights, undermines the European sport model”. PACE, after having heard the rapporteur José Luís Arnaut ‘s views on the subject, analyzed a document urging governments to “support the sport model based on principles of financial solidarity and openness to competition”. Special attention was given to soccer, calling for “greater cooperation between sport authorities and public powers to fight against corruption, young athlete trafficking and illegal betting”. On the issue, Michel Platini condemned “the wicked influence that money exerts” on sport, “transforming a discipline in a trivial show”.