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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180602
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180606
DTSTAMP:20260507T223641
CREATED:20200226T104742Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200618T094756Z
UID:4545-1527980400-1528239599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:2018 FMA Visit to Bulgaria
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row el_class=”download-box-list”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”7647″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Ressources” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:800%20bold%20regular%3A800%3Anormal” custom_letter_spacing=”-1.8px”][vc_column_text] \n\nDossier\nList of Participants\nProgramme\nFull report\nPhotos\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A truly European  FMA delegation composed of 19 former MEPs from ten EU countries and five European political families (EPP-ED\, Socialists\, ECR\, Liberals and Greens)\, led by the FMA Board member Brigitte Langenhagen\, visited Bulgaria from 3 to 5 June on the occasion of the Presidency of the Council of the EU. The National Assembly of Bulgaria\, in co-operation with FMA\, put together an excellent programme aimed at evaluating progress towards achievements of the EU Presidency. It included official meetings with Parliament and government’s representatives\, a visit to the Georgi Rakovski Military Academy as well as well as a cultural visit to Plovdiv\, European capital of culture 2019.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4546″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]It emerged clearly from these meetings that the Western Balkans are a top priority of this Presidency\, together with the necessity to provide a European prospect for the whole region by further improving the connectivity (transport\, communications\, energy\, education\, and digital). EU membership is considered a key factor to guarantee peace\, stability and prosperity in the Western Balkans that for centuries have been an example of interreligious coexistence and suffered from atrocious wars and widespread violence in the 1990s. It was noted that if the EU wants to be a global player\, Western Balkans need to join the EU sooner or later. Bulgaria will continue its efforts under the Austrian and Romanian EU Presidencies.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4548″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]A recurrent issue was also the adoption of the EU Multiannual framework with a strong accent on the need to continue providing EU assistance for the social policy. The impact of Brexit on the long-term EU budget was also discussed. \nIt was reaffirmed that Bulgaria is ready and meet all requirements to access the Schengen Area  which would allow to better control the borders. The Vice-President of the Republic of Bulgaria\, Iliana Iotova concluded the series of meetings by urging that substantial reforms of the EU project be undertaken\, in particular how the EU Institutions work and the policies addressed. She was most concerned about the future EU budget and human rights which see the EU take a step back. Please find here the speech of Monika Panayotova\, Deputy-Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2018.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4550″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]The National Assembly organised an exceptional cultural visit to Plovdiv including an outstanding welcome recital by three talented soloists of the State Opera of Plodviv conducted by the Artistic Director Luciano Di Martino. The performance took place in the superb Museum Hall of the Philippolis Art Center followed by a dinner during which the delegation’s members exchanged their views and reflections in a relaxed atmosphere.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4552″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]The programme was concluded by a visit to the Military Academy with a stimulating keynote speech delivered by the eminent FMA member Henrik Lax who participated in many successful FMA “EP to Campus programme”. He completely caught the attention of an audience composed of officers and civilian students. Mr Lax concluded his articulated speech on “The European Union: Expectations and Challenges” by reminding that “Both Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are forcefully engaged in building up national narratives seriously challenging the values and interests of the EU”. He then wondered whether there “will be solidarity and courage enough among the leaders of the Member States to confront their citizens with the true threats to our social order and the tough measures required to address them”. We encourage you reading his complete speech available on the FMA website . Insightful reflections and analyses on this visit by the delegation’s members will be published in the September Bulletin. Photos of the visit are available here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:http://www.formermembers.eu/event/2018-fma-visit-to-bulgaria/
CATEGORIES:Visit to National Parliaments
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180617
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180621
DTSTAMP:20260507T223641
CREATED:20180601T124045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200607T214827Z
UID:5578-1529276400-1529535599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:FRANCE - UNIVERSITY CLERMONT AUVERGNE - Paulo CASACA
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe University organized a round table and conference entitled “Models and Policies for Climate and Energy in Europe”. The conference was addressed to scientific international experts. \nPaulo CASACA\, FMA Member\, participated in this event. \nMission report: MODELLING DEVELOPMENT \nSome ideas \nFollowing the Rio summit as well as several subsequent international initiatives\, we are now engaged in the ‘Sustainable Development Goals 2030’ (SDG) exercise comprising 17 goals\, 169 targets and 232 indicators (as 2017\, but still growing). \nWe consider this as a more coherent inspiration for development modelling then the ‘climate change’ monomania\, which is so often restricted to atmospheric emissions\, energy and money metrics. Consequently\, we proposed a set of changes we think could enhance considerably the efficiency of the exercise. \nThe first change is to finally integrate the positive value of both natural and constructed environment conservation (and therefore the negative value of its destruction implied in development expenditure). This implies switching from a ‘sustainable’ to an ‘integrated’ developmental vision. Money metrics can be used here so as to evaluate material realisations (such as infrastructures) not directly measured by the market. \nThe second is to “dejargonise” model-making processes. The decay of the language used in international institutions has worsened and reflects \nthe progressive alienation from reality of the actors involved. Pleonastic\, inconsistent and metaphysical constructions have been one manifestation. The promotion of a set of simplistic publicity messages to the general public does not help the main objective of connecting the model to reality. An assessment and evaluation framework of the designed SDG\, controlled by actors fully independent from those directly linked to the main international institutions which produced the plan in the first place\, is central. \nThe third is to integrate essential human values such as freedom and the capacity to influence public policy\, which are at least as precious as material progress itself. This will clash with the existing state majority within the UN\, among whom the popularity of freedom and democracy is decreasing. Democratic nations might have to work here on their own. \nModelling professionals must ensure that their efforts are not transformed into a window-dressing mechanism aimed at hiding relevant facts. Modelling must be fully transparent on its assumptions\, clear in its functioning and frank about its uncertainties. Development actors shall avoid being slaves of communication strategies based on quick ‘emotional shots’ which so often and so severely skew reality while producing no good outcomes in the long-run. \nWhereas the mobilisation of civil society on all its forms is essential to achieve results\, the adequate use of public financial means for the agreed targets is the most crucial element. The priority must be to promote fundamental and applied research as well as development\, dissemination and application of new solutions\, instead of consuming resources ineffectually on bureaucratic workouts which are difficult to define and assess.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:http://www.formermembers.eu/event/france-university-clermont-auvergne-from-18-to-22-june-2018/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180617
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180621
DTSTAMP:20260507T223641
CREATED:20200607T215140Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200608T010155Z
UID:9807-1529276400-1529535599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:FRANCE - UNIVERSITY OF CLERMONT AUVERGNE - Ilona GRAENITZ
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe University organized a round table and conference entitled “Models and Policies for Climate and Energy in Europe”. The conference was addressed to scientific international experts. \nIlona GRAENITZ\, FMA Member\, participated in this event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:http://www.formermembers.eu/event/france-university-clermont-auvergne-ilona-graenitz/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180625
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180628
DTSTAMP:20260507T223641
CREATED:20190604T011906Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200618T095214Z
UID:8813-1529892000-1530064799@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:FMC Annual Meeting 2018
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”8825″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”8828″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Mission report \nOn 25 and 26 June 2018\, in Washington\, the annual meeting of the US Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC) was held. FMA Vice-President Jan Willem Bertens had been invited. \nThe event began with panel discussions on ‘The Future of Europe’ and ‘American Democracy and Civics’. \nThe topics for debate included the fate of Europe\, with or without Brexit. In response to questions\, views on the subject were expressed by the Dutch Ambassador Henne Schuwer and his Belgian counterpart Dirk Wouters\, with Dr Emily Tamkin\, foreign affairs reporter at Buzzfeed News\, as moderator. \nWith just 250 days to go to Brexit\, it is still not clear what it will involve. Four scenarios were identified. A Soft Brexit to simulate a customs union without internal import tariffs but with a common tariff for trade with the rest of the world. So there would be no independent trade agreements with the USA\, Australia and New Zealand. A complete rejection would mean the end of May’s political career\, with all the political turbulence that that entails. Bad for European business. What is crucial is that Brussels should allow scope for less than full participation in the internal market while permitting a strong relationship with a strategic partner (the USA?). \nA Hard Brexit if the EU continues to insist on full participation in the internal market\, without the option of a customs union. If the UK ceased to have any say in Brussels\, but was still obliged to follow all the rules\, a standard trade agreement would apply. The social uncertainty and economic damage would be greater. There would be substantial barriers at borders. \nIf no agreement is reached on the Irish border: No Deal. Nor would there be a transitional period until 2020\, which would inevitably create chaos in transport and food supplies. Approval would be required from the European Parliament\, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. In other words\, a disaster scenario. \nIs No Brexit still a possibility? That would only be on the table if the UK surrendered all its derogations: it would lose its rebate and opt-outs. British politicians\, too\, will only dare to press the No button if they feel that they have the support of the electorate. According to surveys\, the ratio between leavers and remainers is roughly the same as in 2016. So\, on 29 March 2019\, goodbye Great Britain! \n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe title of the panel on Democracy and Civics was ‘The Republic is (still) at risk – and Civics is part of the solution’. \nA Briefing Paper for the Democracy at a Crossroads National Summit is available from the FMA secretariat. The first sentence is a striking one: Americans give the political system a failing grade. ‘Just one in five Americans is willing to trust the government in Washington even “most of the time”\, near the lowest proportion ever recorded!’ \nOn 26 June\, the President\, Mr Stearns\, presented his concluding report in the House Chamber\, and in doing so\, at the same time stepped down from his post\, being succeeded by Martin Frost. In accordance with established practice\, Paul Ryan\, Speaker of the House\, came storming in and\, during his brief visit (twenty minutes)\, greeted his former colleagues and made it clear that he hoped very shortly to become a member of the FMC (thunderous applause). \nJan Willem BERTENS[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:http://www.formermembers.eu/event/fmc-annual-meeting-2018/
CATEGORIES:FMA Network
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