Development days: economy and democracyWhat is the link between social and economic development and democracy? This is the key theme of the sixth Development Days, organized in Warsaw (Poland) on 15-16 December by the European Union. “On the wake of this year’s Arab Spring events, the Days will focus for the first time on democracy, human rights and governance”. The five previous editions have featured 36 heads of state, 60 heads of government or ministers and 7 Nobel Prize laureates. The last edition in 2010 in Brussels attracted a total of 5,000 participants. This year’s speakers include H.E. Mohamed Beji Caid Essebsi, Interim Prime Minister of Tunisia, H.E. Mustafa Mohammed Abdul Jalil, Chairman of the National Transitional Council of Libya. The Days will focus on the ongoing political developments in North Africa. Among the speakers figures also President of Niger, H.E. Mr Mahamadou Issoufou, Haitian President H.E. Mr Michel Martelly, the President of Georgia H.E. Mr Mikheil Saakashvili, H.E. Ms Roza Isakovna Otunbaeva, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, and Professor Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Laureate. Attending guests include EU leaders such as European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, and Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva. The Polish President, Bronislaw Komorowski, will take part in the opening ceremony. The event can be followed via streaming by logging on www.eudevdays.eu.The future of fisheries; support to coastal communities By tradition, fisheries and marine protection is an area in which EU policy has always had an important role, with remarkable results in the past sixty years of European integration. In view of the completion of the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework the Commission proposed to set up a new Fund for EU policies, European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). “The Fund will help deliver the ambitious objectives of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and will help fishermen in the transition towards sustainable fishing, as well as coastal communities in the diversification of their economies”, the Executive said. The fund will finance projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. Maria Damanaki, Commissioner in charge of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, said on December 2: “This new fund will increase economic growth and create jobs in the sector. No more money will be spent to build big vessels. Small scale fisheries and aquaculture will benefit of this budgetary greening of the Common Fisheries Policy”. The proposed envelope for the new fund, which will replace the existing European Fisheries Fund (EFF) and a number of other instruments, amounts to 6.5 billion for the period 2014 to 2020, although it requires the approval of EU Council and Parliament. The targets of the new European and Maritime Fund (for information www.ec.europa.eu) include: underpinning the environmental, economic and social principles of the Common Fisheries Policy reform; “smart and green fisheries”; protecting marine biodiversity; supporting smart aquaculture; supporting the partnership of science and fishermen; cutting the red tape. Disabled: Europe without architectural barriers? Salzburg won the Access City award 2012, the prize for the most disabled-friendly cities. The annual honour aims “to award efforts to improve accessibility in the urban environment and to foster equal participation of people with disabilities”. The European Commission commended Salzburg’s “long-standing commitment, coherent approach and excellent results in improving accessibility, achieved with the direct participation of people with disabilities”. EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said: “Making life accessible for everyone is at the heart of our strategy for a barrier-free Europe”; “I would like to see an Accessibility Act for Europe and intend to come forward with a proposal by the end of 2012”. Salzburg was awarded for its environment and public spaces; transport and related infrastructure; information and communication, including new technologies, public facilities and service. The other finalists were: Krakow (Poland), Marburg (Germany), Santander (Spain).
