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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230927
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230930
DTSTAMP:20260501T223437
CREATED:20230622T100809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231026T094725Z
UID:25100-1695855600-1696028399@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:2023 FMA Visit to France
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”25096″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text] \n\nList of participants\nProfile of participants\nProfile of speakers \nProgramme\nDossier\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]From 28 to 29 September 2023\, a delegation of FMA Members\, led by President\, Dr. Klaus Hänsch\, visited France on the occasion of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union\, which took place in the first half of 2022. Other meetings have already been held by videoconference beginning of March 2022. \nRegistrations for the visit are now closed.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_flickr flickr_id=”151862050@N07″ count=”20″ display=”random” css_animation=”none”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”25667\,25677\,25689\,25695\,25701\,25711\,25713\,25715\,25717\,25723\,25725\,25729\,25733\,25735\,25737\,25739\,25741\,25743\,25745\,25747\,25749\,25751″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/2023-fma-visit-to-france/
CATEGORIES:Study Visit
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Group-picture-Jean-Monnet-House-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20220921
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20220925
DTSTAMP:20260501T223437
CREATED:20220707T104443Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221005T155855Z
UID:22231-1663801200-1664060399@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:FMA Study visit 2022 to the Jean Monnet Foundation in Lausanne
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”22318″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text] \n\nList of Participants\nDossier\nProgramme\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]From 22 to 24 September 2022\, an FMA Delegation led by FMA Vice-President Monica Baldi participated to the FMA Visit to Lausanne. First stop of the visit was Geneva\, where Ambassador Anda Filip welcomed the Delegation at the Inter-Parliamentary Union and had an extensive debate on IPU’s accountability mechanism\, criteria for free and fair elections\, multilateralism and climate urgency\, parliamentary solidarity\, women’s participation and relations with civil society. FMA Board Member and former President of IPU (1994-1997) Miguel Angel Martinez Martinez was also part of the Delegation. A follow-up meeting took place with IPU’s Secretary General Martin Chungong on 27 September\, including an exchange on the future co-operation between IPU and the FMA. \n  \nOn Friday 23 September the visit continued at the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe. There the Delegation was warmly welcomed by President of the Foundation – and former EP and FMA President – Pat Cox\, who also gave an intense and passionate presentation about the figure of Jean Monnet. After a visit at the Archives of the Jean Monnet Foundation under guidance of Director Gilles Grin\, the Delegation had a lively debate with former Swiss State Secretary Jacques de Watteville about relations between Europe and Switzerland in a time of huge challenges\, by addressing issues such as future cooperation\, trade issues and economic impact. \n  \nOn Saturday 24 September\, the visit ended with a visit to The Olympic Museum.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Read the programme” color=”vista-blue” size=”lg” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.formermembers.eu%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F09%2FEN-Programme-FMA-Visit-to-Lausanne.pdf”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_flickr flickr_id=”151862050@N07/albums/72177720302462966″ count=”20″ display=”random”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”22891\,22887\,22885\,22883\,22881\,22879\,22889″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/fma-study-visit-2022-to-lausanne/
CATEGORIES:Study Visit
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/FMA-STUDY-VISIT-TO-LAUSANNE-8.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20211101
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20211106
DTSTAMP:20260501T223437
CREATED:20210701T125203Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211019T153311Z
UID:16174-1635807600-1636153199@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Study Visit 2021 to Moldova - POSTPONED
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Annual FMA Study Visit to Moldova on 2-5 November\, 2021.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/study-visit-in-moldavia-end-of-october/
CATEGORIES:Study Visit
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/moldavia.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20201004
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20201007
DTSTAMP:20260501T223437
CREATED:20200227T101241Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201218T133101Z
UID:7447-1601852400-1602025199@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Online Study Visit 2020 to North Macedonia
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”12327″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Files” google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] \n\nDossier\nProfile of Speakers\nProgramme\nFull report\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]According to the EP President’s Decision of 26 August 2020\, EP Delegations’ missions remain cancelled. Moreover\, the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic remains quite problematic in many EU countries making the situation very uncertain. Thus\, the Board had decided to hold the Study Visit remotely and no longer with the physical participation of FMA Members.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On 5 and 6 October 2020\, an FMA Delegation of former MEPs led by FMA President and European Parliament Former President (2007-2009) Hans-Gert Pöttering participated in the first virtual Study Visit to North Macedonia. \n \nThe visit started with a briefing from H.E. David Geer\, EU Ambassador in North Macedonia\, on the country’s political status-quo after the recent elections and topics such as Human Rights\, EU accession\, COVID-19 and EU economic support to North Macedonia and co-operation in the region. \nDuring the morning session\, the delegation met H.E. Mr Talat Xhaferi\, President of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia\, who supported the good practice of the Jean Monnet Dialogues and added that the Berlin Plus Initiative is very much welcome by North Macedonia. Dr. Arbr Ademi\, Chair of the Committee on European Affairs and Dr. Antonijo Milososki\, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Policy agreed that joining the EU could bring stability to the whole region. Dr Arbr Ademi in particular talked about the history of the country and the road to EU integration as a strategic goal to reach stability in the whole region. He also emphasised that “similar to the EU members\, we need to put our differences aside and work together in the future”. \nThe North Macedonian Government’s representatives and the FMA members had vivid and constructive exchanges on different topics such as relations with neighbouring relations\, gender issues\, church-state relations\, SMEs\, security and the Covid-19 crisis. \nIn the afternoon\, the delegation met representatives of ten civil society organisations for a vibrant discussion: Open Society Institute Macedonia\, Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation\, Institute for Democracy ‘Societas Civilis’\, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights\, European Policy Institute\, Centre for Civil Communications\, Institute for Human Rights\, Centre for Legal Research and Analysis\, Citizens Association MOST\, Macedonian Institute for Media. \n \n  \nAleksandar Krzhalovski from Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation\, explained that in 2016 a citizens uprising began leading to the early elections and to the arrival of power of the current government\, breaking with a past of chaotic relations with the political elites\, absolute immunity and abuse of power. Arriving to politics from grassroots movements\, the new government members show a more cooperative approach to create new policies and reform the country’s institutions.  One example was the amendment of the Law on Audio and Audio-visual Media Services of the Republic of North Macedonia that now is in general accordance with European and international standards on audio-visual media. \n  \n \nNevertheless\, there are still a lot of challenges ahead\, such as fighting corruption\, having well informed citizens and restoring the people’s engagement. Just like many other countries in the world\, also North Macedonia struggles with “fake news” or rather “disinformation” as Biljana Petkovska from Macedonian Institute for Media\, prefers to call it “because fake news has the objective of harm”.  \nThe speakers explained that the CSOs still depend on international capital and should change to a more domestic funding. Zharko Hadji-Zafirov expressed that besides financial support\, they especially need moral support. \nFurther issues discussed as well were minority rights\, gender equality and climate change. \nAt the end of the first day\, the delegation met the Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation to the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee\, Mr Andreas Schieder\, MEP. He explained the issues that North Macedonia might tackle in order to become member of the European Union\, such as its relations with neighbouring countries and the polarization in the society. The MEP indicated that “It is in the interest of North Macedonia to make the necessary reforms”. \n \n  \nOn the second day of the virtual Study Visit to North Macedonia\, the delegation met with President H.E. Mr. Stevo Pendarovski\, Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Bujar Osmani and Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs H.E. Mr. Nikola Dimitrov.  \nMr Osmani explained that because of North Macedonia’s ongoing problems with especially Greece and Bulgaria\, the country had not met the EU’s values and criteria to join. He gladly announced that he will visit Bulgaria’s capital to work further on the relationship between the two countries\, and that North Macedonia’s ties with Greece have become much closer. He indicated that North Macedonia represents a successful model for the entire region in respect of good neighbouring relations and an inclusive society for minorities. \nPresident Stevo Pendarovski said that the working process towards becoming an EU member is not finished yet. Being almost a year without government\, plus facing the pandemic and therefore having to postpone the elections was not helpful in the progress. But now\, the government is set and the negotiations with the EU and with the neighbouring countries can start. For Pendarovski\, the latter is crucial in order for the Balkan countries to have a clear vision towards the European Union. He stressed the shared history: “History connects us\, and does not separate us”. He concluded by saying that accession of North Macedonia is not an enlargement of the EU but its completion. \nThe last speaker of the North Macedonian Government was Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs\, Nikola Dimitrov. He emphasized that in order to become more attractive to the EU\, North Macedonia needs to work on its relations with the other Balkan countries and talked of the priority for infrastructure investment to connect capitals in Western Balkans from EU accession budget investment. He concluded that they opened a new chapter between two neighbours\, North Macedonia and Greece\, and they now need to write empty pages. \n \nTo finalise the successful visit\, the delegation had a meeting with several students from different North Macedonian universities who expressed their desire to become citizens of the European Union and showed interest in a variety of issues such as Fake news\, dispute between Bulgaria and North Macedonia\, Brexit and Rule of Law[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/study-visit-2020/
CATEGORIES:Study Visit
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ZoomStudents1-e1606301875638.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20190929
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20191005
DTSTAMP:20260501T223437
CREATED:20200227T101241Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200519T123656Z
UID:4703-1569798000-1570229999@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Study Visit 2019 to Georgia
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row el_class=”download-box-list”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”7875″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Files” 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 el_class=”download-box-list”] \n\n\n\nDossier\nList of Participants\nProfile of Speakers\nProgramme\nFull report\n\n\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You can read here the full report of the Study Visit to Georgia.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Study Visit\, held once a year\, is a combination of political dialogue and cultural meetings. \nThe FMA delegation was composed of 21 people. \nThe FMA Study Visit to Georgia took place from 29 September to 4 October 2019. A delegation of 18 former MEPs from ten EU countries and different European political families headed to Tbilisi. The FMA Vice-President\, Jan-Willem Bertens\, was the leader of the Delegation. The FMA in co-operation with the Georgian Parliament set up a very interesting programme. The visit was successful and former MEPs were able to participate in high-level meetings with government and parliament’s representatives from the ruling party and the opposition as well as the civil society. Former MEPs collected valuable information on a variety of issues such as economic development\, entry into force of the new constitution and impact on the political landscape\, independence of judiciary\, the occupied territories\, or the situation of workers and freedom of media.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4720″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text] \nFMA Delegation with Tamar KHULORDAVA\, Chairperson of the European Integration Committee and Archil TALAKVADZE\, Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia. \n\n“There is one over-riding impression that strikes anyone meeting with politicians in Georgia; they all seem to be young\, highly educated\, competent\, articulate and multi-lingual. From all sides of the political spectrum there is a prevailing sense of optimism; a feeling that Georgia has a great future and that they are determined to make it happen. They all share the ambition to ensure that future is within the EU\, a view supported by over 80% of the Georgian population.” \n\nStruan Stevenson – FMA Member \n[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4718″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text] \nThe FMA Delegation with David ZALKALIANI\, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia \n“First of all\, the FMA Study Visit to Georgia was extremely well organized. Thanks to the comprehensive programme\, the situation in Georgia and its relations with the European Union could be fully understood by the participants. This knowledge can be used on various occasions.” \nFilip Kaczmarek – FMA member \n[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4732″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text] \nFMA Delegation with Mikheil BENIDZE\, International Society for fair Elections and Democracy\, Vakhushti MENABDE\, Georgian Young Lawyers Association\, Eka GIGAURI\, Transparency International and Vano CHKHIKVADZE\, Open Society Georgia Foundation. \n“Georgia is a confrontational democracy. The electoral system gives a reenforced majority to the winner. Therefore the decision of Georgian Dream\, the party in power detaining a constitutional majority\, to go for an electoral system granting seats in an absolute proportional way\, is a bold one\, which will diminish the power of the ruling party and will force political parties to cooperate in the interest of the Georgian people.” \nRobert Goebbels – FMA Member \n[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4726″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text] \nPublic Lecture at the Tbilisi State University \nThe keynote speech by Robert Goebbels at the Tbilisi State University\, followed by questions and answers\, was one of the highlights of the visit. He said : “History shows that our continent shaped human civilization through culture\, science\, inventions and technological progress generated in Europe. But the same Europeans brought also brutal colonization and many bloody wars to the rest of the world. After two World Wars\, which affected nations all over the planet\, there was an outcry in many parts of Europe: “Never again”. This “never again” gave birth to one of the most innovative political constructions in human history\, the European Union.”[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4728″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text] \nA moment during the visit to Lagodekhi Protected Areas \nA cultural visit to the Kvareli wine area and to the Lagodekhi Protected Areas located in north-eastern Georgia on the southern slopes of the Caucasus concluded the study visit.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4730″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text] \nThe FMA Delegation visiting the Kvareli wine area \nMore pictures of the visit here. A full report of the visit will be published in the December Bulletin.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/study-visit-2019-to-georgia/
CATEGORIES:Study Visit
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/study-visit-georgia-pic8-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20170923
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20170929
DTSTAMP:20260501T223437
CREATED:20200227T101241Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200508T121637Z
UID:4737-1506207600-1506639599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Study Visit 2017 to Washington
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row el_class=”download-box-list”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”7707″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Files” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23003db7″ 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 el_class=”download-box-list”] \n\nDossier\nList of Participants\nProfile of Speakers\nFinal report\nPictures\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You can read here the full report of the Study Visit to U.S.A.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Study Visit\, held once a year\, is a combination of political dialogue and cultural meetings. This year the visit took place in Washington from September 24th to 28th. \nThe Former Members of Congress Association invited the FMA delegation to its Annual Meeting on September 26 and 27 and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Washington organised a series of meetings and events the rest of the week. \nThe programme included meetings on key issues such as Climate Change\, Transatlantic Relations\, Security and the latest state of play of the US political scene. The Georgetown University hosted a Roundtable Event entitled “Back to the EU Future: Discussion with Former EU Lawmakers” with professors and students introduced by a keynote by Mr. Enrique Barón Crespo\, FMA President and Former Member President of the European Parliament (1989-1992). The FMA delegation\, composed by 19 people engaged in a fruitful exchange and dialogue by sharing their knowledge and experience. \nA full report on the visit was published in the December Bulletin .[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/study-visit-2017-to-washington/
CATEGORIES:Study Visit
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ws-pic1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20160924
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20161003
DTSTAMP:20260501T223437
CREATED:20200227T101241Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200519T142629Z
UID:4748-1474758000-1475449199@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Study Visit 2016 to Serbia
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row el_class=”download-box-list”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”7896″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Files” 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 el_class=”download-box-list”] \n\nDossier\nList of Participants\nProfile of Speakers\nFinal report\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You can read here the full report of the Study Visit to Serbia.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Study Visit\, held once a year\, is a combination of political dialogue and cultural meetings  (with Parliamentarians\, Government representatives\, NGOs\, academic and media representatives). This year the visit took place in Belgrade from September 25th to October 2nd. Members of the delegation had the chance to meet parlamentarians\, members of the various political groups\, officials of the government and representatives of civil society. An interesting trip to Novi Sad and Niš was also a highlight of the visit.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \n[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Report \nThe opportunity to talk with former Members of the European Parliament was an important and informative experience for me and my colleagues attending to this event. It was a special honor to meet representatives of this institution who have most directly influenced key processes evolving on our continent over the past decades. In the course of my studies I seldom had occasion to talk with decision-makers and persons who have witnessed and participated in major political processes\, so that I considered this opportunity unique indeed. \nI was very impressed by a number of things in this interchange. The dominant impression from the very outset was that of the candor and openness of the MEPs. It was exceptionally important for us to know and understand that we could ask them any question we wanted and really embark on a learning process about the significant elements of today’s European Union and the challenges it is confronted with. \nAs well\, the conversation was dynamic\, with a large number of the delegation members taking an active part. During the introductions we realized what a large number of countries the MEPs came from as well as that political differences existed among representatives coming from the same state. It was particularly interesting to hear the views of Greek representatives on the economic crisis and the UK representatives perceptions of Brexit. \nThe diverse positions of the MEPs were an important lesson about the functioning of the European Parliament. This patently reflected the democratic character of this institution as well as the fact that MEPs represent their citizens and not necessarily the politics of their respective states or ruling parties. \nApart from this\, the questions were addressed to the group as a whole so that\, as a rule\, MEPs who thought themselves called upon to answer a specific question would reply. It was interesting for us to hear how persons with their experience viewed the process of Serbia’s European integration and the fact that we have a specific Chapter 35\, account being taken of the on-going process of dialogue between Belgrade and Priština. The importance was stressed of reforms under Chapters 23 and 24 as well as generally within the process\, as a mechanism aimed at improving the lives and enhancing the development potentials of primarily young people\, but also of all other citizens of Serbia. \nThe issue of refugees and the manner in which the European Union was addressing this challenge were also discussed. We heard different opinions in this regard but the shared position of all was that a common solution and a well-thought-out systematic approach were necessary. Particularly impressive was the united stand on the issue of MEPs from Belgium\, The Netherlands\, France\, Greece\, Cyprus and Spain\, even though they occupy opposite ideological positions in other respects. \nThe question of sanctions against Russia was also broached\, prompting a discussion on the need for aligning the foreign policies of EU member states and on possible expectations from future members \nThe question of Kosovo was particularly emphasized\, as a number of colleagues wished to know if recognition of its independence was a precondition for Serbia’s accession to the European Union\, especially bearing in mind the fact that a number of EU members have not recognized this state. The prevalent answer was that what mattered the most was to honor the agreements reached in the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština. Generally\, the openness and directness of the MEPs in communication on this as well as on all other topics was my principal impression. \nAnother issue that was discussed  was the possibility for young people from Serbia and the region to be educated and find employment in the European Union\, with focus on Erasmus programs and the European Voluntary Service. Experiences were shared that will certainly assist me in my future efforts at continued personal and professional development. \nStefan Vukojevic\, University student\, Serbia \n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/study-visit-2016-to-serbia/
CATEGORIES:Study Visit
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20141010
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20141020
DTSTAMP:20260501T223437
CREATED:20200227T101241Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200616T101408Z
UID:4759-1412982000-1413759599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Study Visit 2014 to Kosovo
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row el_class=”download-box-list”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Files” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%230005ad” 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 el_class=”download-box-list”] \n\nFull report\nProgramme\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You can read here the full report of the Study Visit to Serbia.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \n\nThe Study Visit\, held once a year\, is a combination of political dialogue and cultural meetings  (with Government representatives\, NGOs\, academic and media representatives). This year the delegation was made up of 15 former MEPs \, one accompanying persons and a member ofSecretariat\, and took place in Kosovo from 11 to 19 October. Members of the delegation had the chance to meet members of the various political groups\, officials of the government and representatives of civil society. An interesting trip to the border between Serbia and Kosovo was also a highlight of the visit. A full report can be read in the Bulletin but you can find some additional documents here below (including a letter to VP Mogherini on our visit and a report by Peter Price). \n\n[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] \n\nMission Report \n  \n\n\nDuring our study visit\, the most widely discussed topic was the problem of what is generally regarded as widespread corruption that is undermining the democratic and economic development of the country\, placing it just 105th on the transparency International corruption index. In a recent progress report\, the Commission indicated that: ‘The implementation of the anti-corruption strategy and action plan fails to generate effective results due to weak political support’. significantly\, the leaders of the five largest parties all assured us that they wholeheartedly endorsed effective measures to combat the problem. The fault always lay somewhere else. The opposition parties now seeking power were accusing the government parties of failure to act or\, worse still\, of active involvement in corruption. The civil engineering sector appeared to be a particularly attractive option for a minister with a keen eye for a little extra cash.\n\nFor example\, over one billion euros had been channelled into the construction of a motorway costing less than half that amount. however\, given the great symbolic value for most Albanians of  the road link from Pristina to tirana\, the government was in no mood to quibble. Following a visit from the transport Minister to Washington\, the united states’ Ambassador succeeded in having the contract awarded to an American company in which he now holds a senior post. According to nGO and business representatives\, no members of the political establishment\, whether in government or opposition\, see anything wrong with supplementing their meagre pay on the side. The head of the Foreign Investment Council\, a highly successful Greek oil magnate\, informed us that he was careful to steer clear of public procurement\, since it was always tainted by corruption\, adding that he had nevertheless managed to conclude some highly successful deals in Kosovo. When I asked how\, he replied that he was able to talk business with clients on a strictly objective basis\, adding that it was his word not his wallet that counted.\n\nWe were also informed by public officials that\, while measures to combat corruption were an absolute priority under the rule of law\, the problem was deeply ingrained in the Balkans as a whole and not limited to Kosovo. It is also proving hard to eradicate in a poor country where numerous laws have not yet taken effect and where the legal apparatus is still being assembled under the direction of euLeX.\n\nA select delegation also met the leaders of the highly nationalistic Albanian Vetëvendosje (self-determination) party\, including mayor of Pristina\, who had adopted a hard line against corruption despite the risk to himself and been named bravest mayor in the world by the British Guardian newspaper. his party is in favour of the annexation of Kosovo by Albania and wishes to hold referendum to decide the matter. however\, this would do little to help Kosovo in the anti-corruption stakes\, given that Albania is even further behind on the index (116th)!\n\n\nKosovo still has a long way to go before being eligible for eu membership and must first of all put an end to the corruption blocking its road. It is by no means enough to have just one brave mayor. The entire political establishment needs to take a long hard look in the mirror. \n\nBob van den BOS\, ELDR\, The Netherlands (1999-2004)\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/study-visit-2014-to-kosovo/
CATEGORIES:Study Visit
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