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On 24 and 25 May, the European Movement International celebrated its 70^thanniversary in The Hague with the two-day event ‘Sharing Europe’. Citizens, policy-makers, trade unions, civil society and business came together to discuss the main issues facing Europe today, including: sustainability, migration, security, labour rights, new economic models and democracy over two days of panel debates and agora sessions.

The second day of celebrations took place in the Ridderzaal in the Dutch Parliament, where the 1948 Congress of The Hague was held, which laid the groundwork for the establishment of the European Movement and the foundations of the European Union itself.
During her keynote speech, European Movement International President Eva Maydell MEP stated:

“Now more than ever we need to stand up for what we hold dear, we need to speak up for what we consider to be true, we need to come forward and be the change we want to see in the world around us. If this gathering is to do anything, it must be to remind us that Europe is not just institutions or nations, politicians or politics. It is each and every one of us, citizens of Europe.” 

Minister of the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister of The Netherlands, Ms. Kajsa Ollongren also told the audience:

“The ambition demonstrated by that congress [Congress of The Hague 1948] is still highly relevant. We too must now dare to look ahead. To the Europe of our children and our grandchildren. We need to decide what kind of Europe we want them to live in. And with that vision of Europe before us, we should take concrete steps to make it a reality.”

The two days also served as a discussion arena for the Declaration of The Hague, written and released by the European Movement and partners.
Based on the discussions and debates among citizens and stakeholders, in the Declaration, we are calling for:

• a European democracy that encourages the full participation of all citizens and boosts transparency of decision-making, supported by increased investment in education
• safeguarding our open societies, defending the rule of law and strengthening the judiciary and free press
• a deeper economic and monetary union, based on an inclusive and fair economy, more ambitious when harnessing technology, focused on sustainable investments
• a social model that address widening inequalities, prioritises investment in education, culture, R&D and skills for the jobs of the future
• the promotion of European heritage and identity, while building on our cultural diversity
• strong efforts in a transition towards sustainable renewable energy, decarbonisation and the circular economy, reversing biodiversity loss, combating air and water pollution, eliminating toxic chemicals and promoting sustainable agriculture
• a more holistic approach to migration, addressing its root causes, offering protection to those in need and pursuing the social, cultural and economic inclusion of refugees and migrants in Europe in order to seize the opportunity of the diversity brought by these new Europeans
• a joint response to current geopolitical challenges, in particular when addressing difficulties with Russia and the rise of extremism and terrorism
• a common European defence policy and closer security cooperation, supported by a close partnership with the EU’s immediate neighbourhood.
• a steady involvement and implication of the candidate countries and the countries in the Eastern partnership with whom we will share a common future
• the full participation of women and young people to ensure that no one is discriminated against, both in the economy and in society as a whole

The full Declaration of The Hague is available here.

The speeches given in the Ridderzaal and a recording of the event can be found on this page of our website.

—ENDS—

Notes to Editors:

The Declaration of the Hague was drafted by the European Movement International, our National Councils, our member organisations and the following Content Partner organisations:

• CEEP (European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public Services and Services of general interest)
• CEMR (The Council of European Municipalities and Regions)
• The College of Europe
• GESAC (European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers)
• EuroCommerce
• Europa Nostra
• EEB (The European Environmental Bureau)
• The European Women’s Lobby
• The European Youth Forum
• ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation)
• UEAPME (European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises)

About Sharing Europe
Every 10 years, the European Movement International and the City of The Hague host the commemoration of the famous Congress of the Hague, which lay the foundations for European integration and the foundation of the European Movement.

To mark the 70th anniversary of The Hague Congress we gathered together citizens movements from across Europe, stakeholders representing society at large, political parties, academia, business, trade unions, youth organisations, local government, environmental movements. We wanted to recreate the spirit of 1948, gather in a sense of optimism and purpose to discuss and debate the future direction Europe needs to take to meet the social, economic, environmental and geopolitical challenges of our time.

About the European Movement 
The European Movement is the largest pan-European network of pro-European organisations. It is present in over 30 countries and encompasses 36 international associations, bringing together European civil society, business, trade unions, NGOs, political parties, local authorities and academia. Founded nearly 70 years ago, we have continuously advocated in favour of European cooperation and integration, based on the principles of peace, democracy, liberty, solidarity, equality, justice, and respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Today the European Movement seeks to provide a platform to encourage and facilitate the active participation of citizens and stakeholders from a cross-section of sectors in the development of European solutions to our common challenges. We offer thought leadership on the issues that confront Europe; we seek to inform the debates on our Union’s future, involve citizens and stakeholders in the decisions that affect them and influence policy-makers in favour of an open, inclusive, transparent and united Europe

Romania takes over the rotating presidency of the Council on 1 January, for the first time since joining the EU in 2007. Romanian MEPs told us what they are expecting.

For its six-month term, Romania has set out the following priorities:

• .stimulate EU growth
• .improve conditions for competiveness
• .strengthen internal security
• .promote European common values of democracy, freedom and respect for human dignity in the EU and beyond its borders
• .focus on combating racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, intolerance and populism

During the Romanian Council presidency, the EU will also have to address:

• .the negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget
• .Brexit

 

Austria has assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months. Their motto is “A Europe that protects”. Their program can be found at https://www.eu2018.at/dam/jcr:52862976-3848-403e-a38a-6aac8bcbe34d/Programme%20of%20the%20Austrian%20Presidency.PDF

At a panel which took place on April 6 at the headquarters of Tusiad Petr Mares Consul General of the Czech Republic, Bertrand Buchwalter Consul General of France, Bart von Bolhuis Consul General of the Netherlands and Nicholas Cannon  former ambassador of the UK to Albania and presently Head of Economic and Prosperity Team of the British Consulate General discussed the future of the EU, the rise of populism and reasons for and impacts of Brexit. The panel was moderated by Gül Günver Turan president of the Turkey EU Association. The opening speeches were done by the host of the event Mr. Bahadır Kaleağası Secretary General of Tusiad and Minister Gabriel Munuera Vinals Deputy Head of the Delegation of the EU to Turkey.

Türkiye Avrupa Birliği Derneği (Turabder)  24 Mart 2018 tarihinde düzenlediği  “Son Jeopolitik Gelişmeler Işığında Türkiye – Avrupa Birliği İlişkileri“ konulu panelde  sizleri aralarında  görmekten mutluluk duyacaktır.

Tarih: 24 Mart 2018 Cumartesi saat 14:00 – 16:00

Yer: Tunatan Tesisleri

Bahçelievler Mahallesi, 2. Cad. No:2, 54100 Serdivan/Sakarya

Program

14:00 – 14:15              Kayıt

14:15 – 14:20              Açılış Konuşmaları

Prof. Dr. Gül Günver Turan, Turabder Başkanı

İrfan Balkanlıoğlu , Sakarya Valisi

14:20 – 16:00              Son Jeopolitik Gelişmeler Işığında Türkiye – Avrupa Birliği

                                    İlişkileri

Panelistler                  Dr. Emre Gönen, Bilgi Üniversitesi

         Prof. Dr. İlter Turan Ipsa Başkanı, Bilgi Üniversitesi

            Doç. Dr. Çiğdem Nas, İktisadi Kalkınma Vakfı Genel Sekreteri

Doç. Dr. Deniz Şenol Sert, Özyeğin Üniversitesi

Panel Başkanı            Ülker Önder Döker, TURABDER Sakarya Şubesi Başkanı

Estonia ended its Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 31 December and handed the role over to Bulgaria for the next 6 months.

During its Presidency, Estonia worked with 377 different initiatives in total, organised 275 different events in Tallinn, chaired more than 1 200 working groups in Brussels and held 31 Council meetings. The major event of the Estonian Presidency was the Tallinn Digital Summit held in September, where EU leaders gathered to discuss how to ensure Europe’s competitiveness in today’s era of rapid and game-changing technological progress.

“Today, the EU is more united and better prepared to tackle both digital and climate change. There was significant progress made on digital aspects, for example, on agreements on the free movement of data, the development of the 5G network, and the single digital gateway to develop eGovernment on the EU level. I believe the EU is more united after the increased defence cooperation and adopting the cybersecurity strategy. I am also very happy that within the past 6 months the EU has agreed on all of the aspects of how to tackle climate change based on Paris climate agreement targets,” Jüri Ratas, the Prime Minister of Estonia concluded.

“The Presidency brought 27 000 visitors to Estonia and I am delighted we managed to offer them exciting and cutting-edge discussion topics. The delegates enjoyed modern Estonian Cuisine and our out of the box venue of the Tallinn Creative Hub (Kultuurikatel). We hope to have brought Estonia closer to all member states and the EU closer to Estonians,” Piret Lilleväli, head of the organising team of the Estonian Presidency added.

Although the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU is coming to an end, the cultural programme will continue during the centenary programme of the Republic of Estonia.

The official webpage for the Estonian Presidency, eu2017.ee, has changed, 29 December, giving way for the Bulgarian Presidency. The Estonian Presidency’s webpage will remain active and will be focused on the results of now ending Presidency.

Source : https://www.eu2017.ee/news/press-releases/estonia-handing-presidency-over-bulgaria-happy-heart

The 28 leaders of the EU have now gathered in Brussels to discuss items in the following agenda.

Agenda highlights

EU leaders will look at a number of the most pressing issues, including defence, migration, foreign affairs, social issues, education and culture.

Defence

EU leaders are expected to welcome the launch of the permanent structured cooperation (PESCO). On 13 November, 23 member states notified their intention to join PESCO to enhance defence cooperation.

The Council will also review progress in other fields, notably on EU-NATO cooperation.

• Q&A on the permanent structured cooperation (PESCO)
• EU cooperation on security and defence (background information)

Social issues, education and culture

The European Council will adopt conclusions on social issues as well as on education and culture.

The conclusions will build on the discussions held in Gothenburg during the Leaders’ Agenda debate on culture and education and the Social Summit.

• Informal meeting of heads of state or government, 17/11/2017
• Leaders’ Agenda (background information)

External relations

In the light of events, the European Council may address specific foreign policy issues.

Migration

Under the Leaders’ Agenda, leaders will hold a debate on the way forward on migration policy, including both the internal and external dimensions. Further information is included in the note below.

“We should consolidate our comprehensive approach and make it more sustainable with secure external borders and the prevention of mass arrivals as a corner stone. In this context, we must also find a consensus by June 2018 on the internal dimension of our migration policy, based on the concepts of responsibility and solidarity.”

Leaders’ Agenda note on migration

• Leaders’ Agenda note on migration
• Finding solutions to migratory pressures (background information)

Brexit negotiations

The European Council (Article 50), in an EU 27 format, will review the latest developments in the negotiations following the United Kingdom’s notification of its intention to leave the EU.

Leaders will reassess the state of progress in the Brexit negotiations to determine whether sufficient progress has been achieved on three specific issues:

• citizens’ rights
• Ireland
• financial obligations

Leaders are expected to adopt the draft guidelines to move to the second phase of brexit negotiations. This follows the confirmation from Michel Barnier, the EU Chief Negotiator, that sufficient progress has been made during the first phase of negotiations.

• European Council (Art.50), 15 December 2017
• Statement by President Donald Tusk on the draft guidelines for the second phase of the Brexit negotiations (press release, 08/12/2017)
• Brexit (background information)

Euro Summit

The Euro Summit will discuss the economic and monetary union (EMU) and the banking union, on the basis of the note below.

“At the Summit, leaders will be asked to spell out their preferred approach to further strengthening the EMU. However, there is no doubt that the first reality check is the completion of the Banking Union, which is both possible and necessary. If there is no significant progress in this area, it will be very difficult to envisage progress on the more ambitious ideas. ”

Leaders’ Agenda note on the economic and monetary union

See: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/european-council/2017/12/14-15/#

The Turkey-EU Association also known as the European Movement-Turkey wishes to emphasize the following three points which need to be discussed during the Turkey EU  High Level Dialogue to be held in Brussels on December 8 where the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey alongside business associations will meet European Commission’s Vice President.

There are three issues which needs to be emphasized. The visa issue, the customs union agreement and all educational programs led by Erasmus.

Regarding the visa issue: First of all the business circles in Turkey do feel that the visa regime is being employed by EU member countries to impede economic competition.  Secondly Turks in general feel slightened when neighbouring countries such as Georgia and Ukraine get visa free travel when Turks are deprived of it. Thirdly the visa regime makes it difficult for those who are most favourably disposed towards Turkey’s improved relations with the EU to reach their associates and public.

As to the custom union agreement  a solution has to be found to the question of third parties so that the third parties do not have favoured access to the Turkish market without reciprocal concessions. A less noticed problem that derives from the current situation is discouragement of EU investments in Turkey when Turkey’s favoured access to third party market is not ensured.

Finally the Erasmus program should be expanded since this would also be an indispensable part of a more comprehensive environment for the expansion of business…

EM Turkey (@TurkeyEU) member of the European Movement International  (@EMInternational) since 1990  is now represented on the Board of EMI. The Secretary General Ela Taşkent was elected member of the Board.