EU paid visit to Dalai Lama with EESC chief

Henri Malosse travelled to Dharamsala and was in the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile. It's the first EU visit ever

Henri Malosse with the Dalai Lama

by Emiliano Biaggio

The president of the European economic and social committee (EESC), Henri Malosse, met with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala (India) marking an historic day for Tibet. It's the first time a president of one of the EU institutions paid visit to the spiritual leader of Tibetans. EESC is an advisory body of the EU established in 1957 in order to unite different economic interest groups and developing dialogue in Europe. Since 1959, year in which the Dalai Lama fled to India to escape from People's Republic of China repression, no EU institution president went to Dharamsala. Malosse's official visit has been welcomed very positively, and Tibetans hope it could re-launch the dialogue with the Chinese authorities. The 14th Dalai Lama never claimed independence: on the contrary, he has always sponsored the so called "Middle way approach", asking for real autonomy within Chinese state. Chinese leaders have always boycotted both dialogue and the Dalai Lama, affirming the latter secretly work to destabilize the country. «the "Middle Way Approach" does not mean a claim for independence but actually a genuine autonomy for Tibet», reiterated the Dalai Lama during his meeting with Malosse. Dharamsala government in exile didn't change: as the Dalai Lama underlined, with China the economic development of Tibet could grow rapidly. However, «it is necessary that education, the environment and religion are handled by the Tibetans themselves». According to him, on the other hand, the economy and defence should fall under the Chinese central responsibility. In return Henri Malosse stated his position that the European Union should not negotiate on the fundamental values such as the respect for human rights and the freedom of expression.
   On March the 31st Chinese president Xi Jinping will be in Brussels to meet the EU leaders. Tibetans are asking them to rise the issue of respecting human rights as well as Tibet situation. The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, announced today he will meet Xi Jinping on Monday in the European Parliament. Xi Jinping visit, the first-ever by a Chinese president to the European Parliament, will be an opportunity to reflect on the future of EU-China relations and their political, parliamentary, commercial and human rights dimension. «For our relations to flourish, political dialogue - not only our commercial ties - must be reinforced», he said.

bLOGBOOK

He gave her the bunch of flowers. His message was clear.
«It's fantastic!», she said. «I'm so lucky to have a friend like you». Her message was very clear too.

Putin may not attend nuclear summit

Disclosure comes from the prime minister of the Netherlands. Ukraine behind the Russian choice

source: (Trouw, Saturday 8 March, page 1)

There is a risk that the nuclear summit in The Hague at the end of this month will be a flop. With preparations in full swing - the air space will be heavily guarded and 13,000 police officers will provide security on the ground - the summit will probably have to proceed without Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at his weekly press conference after the cabinet meeting on Friday that the Russian president had informed him «last year, and again in February, that there is a real possibility that he will not be able to attend». It is remarkable that Rutte only revealed this on Friday and not last year. Putin’s absence is unusual because no Russian head of state has ever previously cancelled attendance at a nuclear summit. Energy specialist and Russia expert Sybrand de Jong of The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) therefore does not believe that Putin is not attending because he is too busy. Everything has changed because of the crisis over Ukraine and Crimea, according to De Jong. «Putin initially had every reason to attend the summit. He would then have been able to lecture the world about security. But if he comes now, it will probably all be about Ukraine. And Putin has no interest in that».
   The purpose of the international summit - the largest ever organised in the Netherlands - is to prevent "terrorists" gaining possession of a nuclear bomb. The nuclear summit is an initiative of US President Barack Obama, who described nuclear terrorism as the «greatest threat» to international security in a speech in 2009. Since then the summit, which has already been held twice, has been one of the most prestigious international conferences. The conference in The Hague will be attended by 58 countries. The countries are generally represented by their government leaders. Steven van Evera, a professor of security studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is very worried about the absence of Russia’s president. «The summit has little point without Putin», he says. «This is a major victory for terrorists, for Al Qaeda and all the countries that are pursuing the proliferation of nuclear weapons».

EU Parliament to suspend Swift agreement

The request is foreseen in the draft resolution on NSA mass surveillance programmes

by Emiliano Biaggio

European Parliament is expected to ask the EU to suspend Swift and Pnr data sharing agreements with the United States in next Wednesday vote in Strasbourg. Furthermore data protection should be kept out of the EU-US trade talks and negotiated separately, MEPs say in the draft resolution, which closes their six-month inquiry into US mass surveillance programmes. The European Union should suspend its bank data deal with the US and the Safe Harbour privacy principles for US firms, as the fight against terrorism can never justify secret and illegal mass surveillance, they add. The Greens are sure the final report will be adopted. Under this scenario the United States have to end its bulk collection of data without individual suspicion and redress or data protection rights for EU citizens. Until then, the EU should end data sharing agreements with the US, like the SWIFT and PNR agreements and the Safe Harbour decision. Similar programmes need to be brought to a halt in the EU. Even if the Parliament will adopted the draft, the Council shouldn't back it. In other words, European Parliament could be useless at last, but the political message would be a strong one.

EU leader to deal with Ukraine thinking seats

An extraordinary European Council meeting to be hold after the latest developments, but centre-right wing head of government have to attend EPP congress

by Emiliano Biaggio

European leader decided to summon an extraordinary European council meeting to discuss the Ukrainian crisis. There's nothing strange in doing that, and it's absolutely obvious in front of such a crisis political leaders start work. But there's a fact that has to be considered: the special meeting will last few hours, and that's it. In Brussels the ministers for Foreign affairs first and the president of the European Commission soon after have described the Ukrainian crisis as «the worst crisis since the fall of the wall» and «the most serious stress to stability of these last 25 years», and despite that half a day will be enough to find a solution. If Europe will be really able to work in such a way, then EU will gain an unprecedented credibility. To be honest and realistic, EU is going to give the image of a series of countries with the need of showing commitment and response to the Ukrainian crisis and nothing more. That's a fact centre-right wing EU leader in the afternoon have to attend the EPP congress in Dublin, where participants are called to nominate the official candidates for the presidency of the European Commission at the next European election. German Angela Merkel, Spanish Mariano Rajoy and the same president of the European Council are expected in Dublin, and that's the reason why a final press conference is already foreseen at 15 pm. Unless to be proven wrong, European leaders risk to give the image of those whose main business, in the middle of the worse crisis of these 25 years, are the seats. Not a good performance at all.

EU parties towards a European legal status

Green light from the Council to the proposal presented by the Commission

by Emiliano Biaggio

European political parties are closer to a new legal status which will grant them a European nature. The Permanent representatives committee (the body formed by all member states ambassadors) approved the proposal submitted by the European Commission to update the legislation on the subject, now to be voted by Parliament. Today the political parties recognised by the EU respond to the national rules of the country in which they are, without the possibility to can act at European level due to different legislations among the member state. The draft regulation provides EU-level legal status for European political parties and their affiliated political foundations, aiming to increase their visibility and EU-wide recognition. This is a key aspect, because the European legal status will also be a pre-condition to receive public funding from the EU budget. According to the proposal adopted by the member states, European political parties and their affiliated political foundations that wish to benefit from the European legal status need to fulfil certain criteria, notably to respect the values on which the European Union is founded (e.g. human dignity, democracy, the rule of law, human rights). The European legal status will be granted by an independent authority located within the European Parliament, the institution directly elected by people where parties form the political groups. The authority's task is also to regularly verify that the
conditions for obtaining the European legal status are still met. In case of «manifest and serious breach» of the values on which the European Union is founded, the authority withdraws the European legal status, after having sought the advice of a Committee of independent eminent persons, unless the European Parliament and the Council both object. The authority may also impose financial sanctions on European political parties and their foundations in case of infringements of the regulation.
   The draft regulation also contains provisions governing the funding sources of European political parties and their foundations. The current distribution of the funding from the EU budget remains unchanged, which means 15% of the funds (nearly 34 million euro) are distributed in equal shares to the European political parties and foundations, and the remaining 85% are distributed among the  European political parties in proportion to their share of elected members of the European Parliament. Donations from natural or legal persons to European political parties and their foundations will be limited to a value of 18.000 € per year and per donor (rather than 12.000 € under the current rules). Regarding the names of donors contributing, it will never be possible reveal the identity of those who grant less than 1.500 € per year, while it will be possible unveil the name of those who fund the party with an amount  between 1.500 and 3.000 € per year but only previous their authorization. Il will be compulsory make public the names of donors contributing more than 3000 € per year. Furthermore, contributions from European political parties' or foundations' members may not exceed 40% of the parties' or foundations' budget. In addition, contributions from non-elected individual members of a European political party are limited to a value of 18.000 € per year and individual member.

Go to: the European parties

You told us to always smile,
and even if sad today we don't cry;
but, please, could somebody may explain
why are so strong sorrow and pain?

A friend is gone, that is the reason
but happiness never must feel in prison.
Life is a rainbow, a flower, a magic
there is no problem, nothing is so tragic.

Fantasy and imagination are the only way
to make life wonderful every single day.
Scrawl made it clear, telling his story:
in love and simplicity lies the glory.

His character was a sketch, or well, an example
for ideas a champion, for creativity a sample.
And the wolf and the cloud? What to say about?
Appearance is a trick, so be careful and watch out!

And you? You didn't pay attention, you went at last
and all your dreams are already in the past.
Neither lost nor forgotten, cause memory can
remember and enjoy the teaching of a man.

(in memory of Mario Lodi, 1922-2014)

bLOGBOOK - Binche

Binche

Binche means Carnival. Everything here deals with Carnival. First of all, the popularity. In every guide and in every web page related to Binche, the first information available is that of one of the most interesting and typical Carnival of the kingdom of Belgium. To be honest, in Belgium there are two different events like that: the first one is that one we talk about, the second one is the Carnival of Aalst. Binche is in the French-speaking part of the country, Aalst in the Flemish-speaking zone. It's not a worthless difference. Binche, thirty thousands inhabitants or an a little further on, as the majority of Belgian cities has a story of passed glory to tell. Under the rule of the Holy Roman empire, in 1545 Charles V gave the medieval castle of Binche to his sister, queen Mary of Hungary, governess of the Netherlands. She made Binche her main residence, and organised great and lavish ceremonies for her brother the emperor. The city became soon a centre of great interest, and the vocation for joy and city celebrations started.
   At that time Binche was already well known: the famous Carnival Popularity belongs to the XIV century. It was in that moment the Gilles appeared for the first time. Gilles are the traditional masks. On Shrove Tuesday nearly one thousands people march though the city dressed with a linen suit with red, yellow and black heraldic designs (red, yellow and black are the colours of the Belgian flag), trimmed with large white lace cuffs and collars. The suit is stuffed with straw, giving the Gille a hunched back. They also wear wooden clogs and have bells attached to their belts. The costume is not worn: is put up to the people like it was an armour. The Gilles swear a papier-mâché mask of particular design. All the 1.000 people parading have the same face: green yeas, glasses, and red moustache and sideburns. The people go around from 4 o' clock in the morning until late hours, bringing traditional dances, songs and happiness for all those who join them. In 2003 the Carnival of Binche was proclaimed intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO, entering the Carnival into the myth.

People at Binche in Carnival

  Nowadays is difficult to imagine Binche out of the Carnival framework, even because the city has not many other to can offer. Despite the position - one hour from Brussels by train (forty minutes by car) and less than twenty kilometers far from the French border - Binche during the rest of the year is a normal centre of Belgian province. A very quite place where to go to have relax, far from the noise of the city. The city park is one of the calmest area ever, and in sunny days it's possible to experience wonderful walks or nice pic-nic, drinking one of the beer made by "La Binchoise", the local brewery. In case, before leaving, have a look at the international museum of Carnival and masks, you are interested to know more on the Carnival. In it collection from all over the world show how Carnival is celebrated in the different countries of the globe. An important area is reserved for the that of Binche, of course.


The other destinations  visited

Amsterdam / Antwerpen / Berlin / Braine l'Alleud / Brugge / Budapest / De Haan / Den Haag / Durbuy / Gent / Halle / Knokke / Leuven / Liège / Mechelen / Mons / Namur / New York city / Oostende / Santiago de Compostela / Strasbourg / Tournai / Vilvoorde / Waterloo

An historic vote brought Italian PD into PES

Party led by Matteo Renzi along the European Socialist after seven years of internal debate. «It's a starting point»

by Emiliano Biaggio

Italian Partito democratico (PD) joined the Party of European Socialists (Pes) after a internal disputes lasted almost a decade. The executive committee gave green light with a nearly unanimity vote (121 votes to 1, with 2 abstentions), making PD the 32th PES member party. PD had a strong debate over its position within the European parties since its creation, in 2007. Formed by the union of Democrats of the Left party (heirs of the Italian Communist Party- PCI) and Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy, PD never was able to join PES because of the strong opposition of Christian leftists. Now, after seven years, PD finally won the internal resistances. «Joining PSE marks a finish line, but it marks a starting point as well», stated PD secretary and Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi. «A debate on Europe is clearly a never ending debate. Europe is the theme of our future». «We have a historic opportunity to set a new path in Europe», was the of Federica Mogherini, new Italian Foreign minister and close Renzi's ally. «The Democratic party is delighted to bring its strength and support to the PES for this campaign and for the future». The application of the Italian Partito democratico was accepted by PES with unanimous backing. «We are delighted to welcome the PD into our progressive family», said after PES meeting the president of the European socialists, Sergei Stanishev. «This is a beautiful moment for us».