The Diplomatic Spouses Association: Worldwide (DSAW)

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The Diplomatic Spouses Association: Worldwide (DSAW)

I’m Cécile Atta-Van Peteghem, Belgian wife of a Belgian diplomat on his first posting abroad; Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). I left my career as an economist in Brussels to come here to raise my two kids. We have been in Abu Dhabi for almost two years now and, as I entered this diplomatic world, I saw an exciting opportunity: misconceptions.

Indeed, people don’t have the right image of diplomats, and even more so, of their partners. People see us as boring followers with a life made of champagne nights.

To kill some myths but also tell our adventures (because let’s face it, it’s a crazy life), I started a blog: www.desperatediplowife.com and created this Desperate Diplo Wife character on Instagram.

In a short time, I started building a community of diplomatic spouses and trailing spouses in general (although I wouldn’t say I like this term, it pictures us like caravans tied up to the strong moving vehicle that is our partner). As it grew bigger, I felt understood and supported in ways that I never was with my friends and family for whom it’s difficult to understand our lifestyle and challenges. I started getting messages from Diplomatic spouses around the world, seeking advice or looking for a friendly ear. Came to me this little idea that maybe, just maybe, some other diplomatic spouses were looking to connect too. They would benefit from shared info, or only from an openminded spouse who lived the same challenges in the past.

So, on May 13th, I launched a Facebook group of Diplomatic spouses. Can it be so simple? We all have Facebook; we know how it works. I didn’t want something complicated or expensive; I just wanted people to be able to connect on a private platform.

Cécile Atta-Van Peteghem. Photography by Kelly Acs.

As I was launching the Diplomatic Spouses Association: Worldwide (DSAW) I was sure it was going to be a failure with only six members. Several days later, we are 1300 members, and others are waiting to join.

We post from 100 countries in the world. Diplomatic partners exchange views about this lifestyle, concerns about the current situation and advice for new postings.

You can find Diplomatic spouses’ groups in different cities, though often for Head of Mission spouses only. This group allows a mix between all levels of experience in our lifestyle, which turns out to be very useful for everyone. Although it’s much more demanding for me than I thought it was going to be, I’m delighted to see all of them exchanging.

I quickly realised that in this Covis-19 crisis, the need to build virtual connections between people was enormous. Imagine you are moving this summer to a new posting, I don’t think you will get the usual warm welcome of the diplomatic community! You are filled with stress, and coffees with strangers aren’t going to happen soon! Now, we can still communicate and feel less lonely thanks to this platform.

So Desperate Diplo Wife isn’t so desperate anymore!

The Portuguese Language: A Pinnacle of Diversity and Unity across the Oceans

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The Portuguese Language: A Pinnacle of Diversity and Unity across the Oceans

By   Capitão Pedro Bala.

The influence of the Portuguese language today, does not limit itself to the distribution of Padrões around the newly discovered shores and corners of the seven seas. Nowadays, the Portuguese language sings throughout the globe as a manifestation of the spirit that it has become.

A romantic language that captivates the imagination of the foreigner who, at first encounters it through the sound of a poetic melody.

Examples of this can be found in an ordinary sentence said in a sublime and simplistic beauty by a fisherman in the island of Santo Antão in Cabo Verde or through a catholic mass murmur in Goa, India or even a scream for independence out of the hills of Dili in East Timor.

The Portuguese language hides beyond the tongue, a culture and an attractive mystery in every country in which it is spoken around the five continents. The 5th of May is designated as the international day of the Portuguese language and this is the first year celebrated by UNESCO. A language that today represents more than a desire to build an empire, but also reflects the ability to withstand the extreme diversity that stretches from Rio Branco to Bissau, from Ponta Delgada to Lobito, via São Tomé and Xai Xai to Macau. 

The wide spread of the Portuguese language in a recent study done by the Instituto Camões in Lisbon mentioned that around the globe, 300 million people have Portuguese as a their first language, and in countries such as Malaysia, India, China, Japan, Equatorial Guinea or Uruguay adding it as their second language which is also a legacy from the former Portuguese Empire. The philological influence of Portuguese today is also felt in other languages such as Swahili, Saramaccan, Papiamento, Fá D’ambô or Malay. In fact, the language owes a great part of its geographical distribution around the globe to the Portuguese Empire.

In the 21st century, migration is also contributing to the enlargement of Portuguese. In Europe, Paris has become the second largest city with more Portuguese speakers after Lisbon.

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, now considered to be the second country after Portugal with Portuguese speakers in Europe.

Some sociologists has even dared to postulate that Portuguese is a De facto language in Luxemburg, spoken by more than 150 thousand Cabo Verde and Portuguese migrants and their descendants. However, nowadays it is rather the appeal of the Portuguese speaking countries and above all, its people that attracts more and more enthusiasts to the language of Cesária Evora, Elis Regina, Mia Couto and Pepetela.

In modern times, Brazil has definitely led to the contribution of the expansion of Portuguese in the world in a somewhat unconscious way, in a manner of speaking. This country counts for 210 million of Portuguese speakers. At the same time, its soap-operas, literature, dance, music and football has enchanted the hearts of millions across the globe. Who can say that they have never felt the drama of a couple of lovers trying the overcome social barriers in order be close to each other during the 08:00 pm soap-opera, or has not become lost in the culture in the streets of Salvador da Bahia in Jorge Amado’s adventures or even dancing and crying while listening the sambas of Bezera da Silva and Carlota. 

Portugal on the other hand, promotes the Portuguese language in a much more active and focused manner.

The Iberian country is keenly aware of its linguistic legacy and has established a network of language centres through its diplomatic missions, where the Portuguese is taught to students all over the world. The institute entrusted with the responsibility in spearheading the export the Portuguese language today, bears the name of the great Portuguese writer Luís Vaz de Camões, the author of Os Lusíadas, and the epic journey of Vasco da Gama to India.  

Politically speaking, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP – in its Portuguese acronym) headquartered in Lisbon, is an international governmental organization that has grown in its mandate and purpose since its creation in 1996. The CPLP today coordinates a diverse range of issues among the Member States from security and defence, investments, education, health and mobility. The CPLP is made up of 9 Member States and 19 Associated Observers.

The coordinated action of the CPLP member States, representing 300 million citizens is also help the Portuguese language in becoming recognized as a United Nations official language, not only due to the number of speakers but also the importance of the function it serves in a key region for the UN, such as Africa.

As a result of forecasting the potential of the language, many countries, universities and business schools around the world today are offering Portuguese in their language curricula. Some of these analysts have realised the great potential and niche markets that cities such as Luanda, Maputo, Praia, São Paulo, Pemba or Fortaleza can bring to financial exchanges and entrepreneurship. Not much yet has been explored by the foreign investors. The number of students reported to be studying Portuguese as a second language in 2019 were around 200 thousand worldwide, with indications showing the potential to grow every year.   

The heterogeneity of the Portuguese language is as a result of transcending miles and miles of oceans, to bind together in a breeze of understanding of different cultures, different accents, different people, five continents and one language. The contradiction in of all of this is that I write to you in English instead of using o belo português.  I am certain that in the next edition you will ask me to read about the Portuguese world in Portuguese.

Nevertheless, I leave you with a magnificent quartet from the poem Padrão, in Mensagem, by Fernando Pessoa:

E ao imenso e possível oceano

Ensinam estas Quinas, que aqui vês,

Que o mar com fim será grego ou romano:

O mar sem fim é português.

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Main image’s designer: Lucas Barros Correia.

When diplomacy and fine arts meet

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When diplomacy and fine arts meet

By Alexandra Paucescu.

The first thing you notice at Paloma is her warm smile. She is kind and full of life, with a graceful attitude and colourful clothes. She has that air of a fulfilled woman, confident in herself and who knows well who she is and how much she is worth.

I’ve met her first at a farewell party for a fellow diplomatic spouse, as we are all called, placed into a category that  tends to uniform us under a generic name, often lacking any deep personal identity enquiry.

Born in beautiful Spanish town of Salamanca, Paloma Muñoz de la Fuente is so much more than just a diplomatic spouse. 

She studied Economics in Zaragoza, taught at the University of Toledo, she then perfected herself in the art of protocol, which was useful later in her career and also accompanying her husband in diplomatic missions in United Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. 

Paloma Muñoz de la Fuente / Paloma Ferrari.

Later in life (year 2000) she discovered her talent and love for painting, changed her public name to Paloma Ferrari (a tribute to her late Italian grandfather), fulfilled her artistic dreams and achieved high performance and recognition (many exhibitions four art awards), all these while travelling around the world with her husband. 

Alexandra: I know you are from Spain, but what is HOME to you, Paloma?

Paloma: Every place we have lived in so far was home to me, because I made it. Home is a place where I feel peaceful together with my family and surrounded by my favourite books and some other few things that I carry with me everywhere. But I have to admit Tuscany in Italy is a place very dear to my heart.

Alexandra: What triggered your professional reconversion, tell me how did it actually happen?

Paloma: It all came quite naturally, I admit. Art lives inside me, in my head and heart, it always has been.

Alexandra: Was it hard? I know from my own experience that pursuing a career while being constantly on the move can be difficult, if not almost impossible…

Paloma: To me it just happened. In 2000 we moved to Florence, Italy and by a happy coincidence I had the privilege to study Arts with two of the best art teachers. I learned new techniques: Antique (Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo style) and Japanese drawing art. Both of them became complementary for my future art work, for the next 20 years. I had my first collection in Florence in 2002 at Palazzo di Parte Guelfa, and from there a whole world of opportunities opened. My art work took me to Venice, Madrid, Toledo, Mexico and Berlin, just to name a few places where I exhibited over the years. In 2004 I also started studying contemporary art and collaborated with interior designers and architects for various projects. Later I had the idea to hand paint scarves in unique styles, and this project is still going on, my scarves are ‘flying’ all over the world now. 

Alexandra: Tell me of your proudest moments in your professional career…

Paloma: All my exhibitions were pieces of my heart and very dear to me. Each had a special theme and title and reflected different interests (‘The silk way’, ‘Itaca’). They were expressions of my constant evolution as an artist. But my most important exhibition was in Toledo (Spain), in the old monastery of San Clemente. Imagine, that beautiful, huge historical building…just for me and my art works. The theme was ‘Opera Mundi’ and it was a triumphant success also in media.

Alexandra: Which do you think are some of the most common misconceptions that people usually have about us, the diplomatic spouses?

Paloma: People always expect to see us elegant, cultivated, open and easy to adapt to new postings and situations, which is not always true…

Alexandra: Could you name what are, in your opinion, some ‘MUST Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ for a diplomatic spouse?

Paloma: As a diplomatic spouse I think it is important to speak as many languages as you can, to have empathy and a little sense of serendipity.  On the other hand, I would say that impatience, indiscretion and clumsiness could be your greatest enemies in the diplomatic circles.

Alexandra: Do you have a life motto to live by?

Paloma: Always live life with optimism, see the best in everything! ***

Indeed, optimism is a great attitude! World of diplomacy is full of highly trained, intellectual, talented women, diplomatic spouses that not only follow their husbands around the world, but they also represent with great honour their countries, often using their natural cultural diplomatic skills, from which the Foreign Service can only benefit.

______________

About the author:

Alexandra Paucescu.

Alexandra Paucescu- Romanian, Management graduate with a Master in Business,  studied Cultural Diplomacy and International Relations.

She speaks Romanian,  English,  French,  German and Italian. Turned diplomatic spouse by the age of 30, she published a book about diplomatic life, writes articles and also gives lectures on intercultural communication.

Contributing to a Safer, Healthier and Prosperous World: OIC and its Rapid Reaction Capacitation

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Contributing to a Safer, Healthier and Prosperous World: OIC and its Rapid Reaction Capacitation

In times of new type/s of asymmetric challenges

By Ambassador  Ali Goutali and Prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic.

All throughout its history, our world witnessed either abrupt, radical changes or gradual shifts and adjustments of the World Oder. Such recalibrations usually followed major crises, be it devastating wars or geopolitical transformations such as the end of Cold War.

Past the agricultural and industrial revolutions, numerous advances in knowledge, science and technology, as well as groundbreaking inventions opened up new avenues for progress and prosperity of mankind. Subsequent scientific and technological revolution of our age, coupled with the relaxation of ideological confrontation and longing for cooperation and integration, led to the emergence of a politically and economically globalized World.

However, our current World Order of fully interconnected planet has revealed some weaknesses and vulnerabilities, particularly in time of crises.

In the Era of Globalization, the worldwide interconnected financial and economic system can cause a financial crisis spill-over effect very rapidly – as we witnessed it decade ago. Similarly, a health crisis in one country can, owing to the same business interconnection and swift human mobility, spread at light speed to other countries and continents, engulfing the whole World.

Currently, COVID-19 (C-19) pandemic is wreaking havoc across the Globe, causing most countries to be primarily focused on solving the crisis and limiting its damage.

L’avenir est comme le reste:  Global opportunity – global exposure

Though some breakthroughs have been achieved such as finding the genetic sequence of the virus and developing diagnostic tests, no confirmed vaccines or efficient treatments have been found yet. Moreover, much more clues remain to be gathered and understood, including the virus transmission and mutation dynamics, its potential re-emergence in waves, where did it come from and whether environmental or seasonal factors impact its spread and severity.

In search for rapid and efficient solutions, countries (particularly developed ones) have been working restlessly but individually almost to no avail. This could be explained by an impulse of an ‘old spirit’; of geopolitical competition in the past – times when the narrow national interest was the main and only driver of any international conduct. 

The same lack of coordination among individual countries in dealing with this unprecedented crisis that encompasses almost every dimension including health, economic and financial aspects of life, has also been noticed at the level of political international organizations. 

In fact, while the international economic and financial institutions seem to be well globalized and functioning efficiently, the political structure of the World looks like the one still based on the Nation-States competition and rivalry. The existing political international FORAs, made up of these States, seem to be too bureaucratic to react swiftly and efficiently in times of imminent crises.

Prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic

The post-C-19 World Order will most likely remain the same, Westphalian and globalized Order. However, in light of the aforementioned shortfalls and given the future daunting challenges, this World Order needs to be updated and enriched.

International violence has overtime dropped significantly. Full-scale conventional wars do not exist anymore whereas small-scale ones have come to an all-time low.

It is true that there are still nuclear weapons in the World enough to wipe out the entire Humankind multiple times over. However, the Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) doctrine coupled with Wisdom, have been and will most likely remain as a powerful deterrent to any nuclear war attempts.

Not so long ago, our World was on a brink of nuclear self-annihilation, but found enough wisdom to avoid it.

The same wisdom can be used in the face of the current and future threats of annihilation by terrifying viruses similar to or more dangerous than C-19, which is heralding a new age of threats to Humankind’s  existence, disruptions and partial or total lockdowns never seen or tested before.

To meet such challenges, the World should be more united and cooperative, set aside geostrategic competition, give way to humane-oriented and servant leadership, avoid narrow national interest-oriented approach, put more focus on science and new technologies – of course all under democratic control. This includes decisive investments in innovative technologies, particularly frontier technologies.

To meet those, specific global and regional instruments, and mechanisms to endorse and facilitate exchange for better joint political action and all-out scientific cooperation in time of crises, should be also created. 

OIC and the need for its RRC mechanism

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) – the second largest intergovernmental multilateral mechanism to the one of OUN, places high value on Science and Technology in its daily works, and keenly promotes cooperation among its member States in this area. It was almost 40 years ago that the OIC set up its Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH of 1981). 

This functional entity of the OIC has been headquartered in Islamabad, with the President of Pakistan as its Chair. It has as objective to strengthen cooperation among OIC member states and enhance their capabilities in emerging technologies.

COMSTECH collaborates with numerous Specialised international bodies (of technical mandates), including World Health Organization (WHO), International Foundation for Science in Stockholm and the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), to name but few.

In 2006, a new Institution was created within COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad, namely the Science, Technology and Innovation Centre (STI). This Center serves as a Think-tank to provide all-advisory services to OIC member states on science-technology-innovation, to conduct its own indigenous researches and ensure capacity building in this area for OIC members.

In 2017, a further step was taken towards fostering cooperation in Science and Technology among OIC States and making headway in this area, as the first Summit on Science and Technology was held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

In view of looming C-19 crisis and its devastating aftermath, OIC – currently pursuing a comprehensive reform Agenda – would benefit from considering even bolder new steps, such as setting up an Instrument for policy coordination in times of crisis. Certainly, every crisis is a hardship, but it also brings opportunity and novel openings. Hence, it might be a Rapid Reaction Capacitation (RRC) in the event of new type/s of asymmetric challenges. 

Such RRC will be embodied in a platform for the exchange of expertise among leading scientists in Islamic countries – notably, a Center for Epidemics Prevention and Management (EPM). Part of that RRC-capacitated EPM Center would be also a division for vaccines research and production, supported by one for the applied AI (Artificial Intelligence). Since the capacity of early warning and rapid reaction would be essential, this Center and its divisions ought to be preferably situated physically closer to the OIC HQ.

By doing so, OIC would strengthen ties of cooperation in various fields, including scientific research within and among its Member States, but also with the variety of international and regional organizations and the Specialized Agencies. Thus, the EPM Center would serve as a liaison between the OIC world and similar regional or national Epidemic Prevention and Vaccination centres. As the grand wiz of early European integrations, Jean Monnet, used to say: “Crises are the great unifier!”   

Geographic, demographic and geo-economic centrality of the OIC world makes it focally important for any planetary issue. OIC also represents an important voting block within the United Nations system (Bretton Woods institutions and the G-20, too). Therefore, the faster and better crisis responsive OIC clearly translates into the safer and brighter, sustainable world for our common future.  

_____________________

Jeddah/Vienna, 08 MAY 2020

Authors:

Ambassador Ali Goutali, Tunisian top diplomat, serving numerous key posts on four continents, former Head of the national diplomatic institute. Author of several publications including a book on decision making in foreign policy. Current Director at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah, KSA.

Prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic, professor and chair for international law and global pol. studies, Vienna, Austria. Author of 7 books on geopolitics, energy and technology. 

Human life is non-negotiable

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Human life is non-negotiable

The Triage and the false prophet of choice on life expectancy?

By Marco Pizzorno.

In order to analyse a certain type of concern, it is necessary to reflect on what are the manoeuvres to deal with the Covid-19. As well highlighted by many international newspapers, the problem of discretion, cited by some guidelines, by virtue of life expectancy, comorbity and factors due to the caress of goods useful to care for all, has created not a few international reactions. 

 How does admission to treatments in the Covid-19 era work?

Admission is made through the Triage’s “war” health mechanism.  Civil protection indicates that this term French meaning “choice”, and that the latter outlines the process of dividing patients into classes of severity, based on injuries reported and treatment and/or evacuation priorities.

The story of the triage refers to the military physician French Jean Dominique de Larrey (born 8 July 1766), who at the command of the rhine army’s surgical team, during the Franco-Austrian War, faced the problems of transporting the wounded with the care and means available on the battlefield. In order to prevent the war wounded from being the victims of the delays of the rescue vehicles due mainly to hostile conditions, he devised the first system of flying ambulances. In this way, military doctors were able to track the movements of the troops and rescue the wounded in real time, being able to organize the necessary health activities on the ground. It is precisely from this historical event that the first system of the so-called triage is attributed to the birth. 

Triage Vs life expectancy

The Civil Protection in Italy is very clear on the dynamics of triage and quotes textually: “in situations of major emergency or major event, taking into account that such situations are characterized by an initial transient limited resources, it is defined as ‘triage’ the process of dividing patients into classes of severity according to injuries reported and priorities of treatment and/or evacuation. Criteria for the organization of disaster relief.

Triage is, therefore, a dynamic health procedure that allows to manage the limited resources available in order to minimize the mortality and morbidity of the people involved in the event, orienting, as mentioned above, the health treatment and transfer of patients according to the priority resulting from their health assessment.

The Declaration of Human Rights is clear, “every individual” has the right to life, to the safety of his or her person even in the event of illness, old age or other loss of livelihoods for circumstances independent of his will. Human life is non-negotiable and it is precisely the recognition of dignity that forms the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world; Discretion about human life or its “probable” life expectancy is not acceptable, in fact there are many casesof people over the age of ninety who have recovered from Covid-19. Is the compulsion to choose on life expectancy is an induction to mortality ?                                                                     Is there anything that should be changed?

La Préservation de l’héritage des Archives du Tribunal de Nuremberg

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La Préservation de l’héritage des Archives du Tribunal de Nuremberg

Par S. Exc. M. Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade, Juge à la Cour internationale de Justice et Président de son Comité de la Bibliothèque.

         La cérémonie du 10 octobre 2019 au Mémorial de la Shoah à Paris a marqué la réalisation du projet lancé à la Cour Internationale de Justice (CIJ) – à travers son Comité de la Bibliothèque – à La Haye en 2015, en vue de parachever la préservation des archives de Nuremberg dans les meilleures conditions. Le projet, approuvé par la CIJ au mois de juillet 2017, a bénéficié du soutien du Mémorial de la Shoah (France) et du Musée de l’Holocauste (États-Unis), qui en ont été vivement remerciés lors d’une rencontre organisée au siège de la CIJ, au  Palais de la Paix, à La Haye, le 1er février 2018. 

         Le procès devant le Tribunal de Nuremberg s’est ouvert le 20 novembre 1945, quand l’Europe cherchait à se reconstruire en se fondant sur l’état de droit, consciente de la nécessité de perpétuer la mémoire de la tragédie et des horreurs de la deuxième guerre mondiale. À la fin du procès (qui comporta 403 séances, réparties sur 216 jours), le Tribunal a rendu son verdict condamnant les responsables le 1er octobre 1946, et a en outre conclu au caractère criminel du corps des chefs politiques du parti nazi, de la Gestapo, de la SS et du SD. 

         Le procès de Nuremberg était destiné à engendrer une nouvelle ère, dans laquelle tant les gouvernements que leurs représentants seraient tenus pour responsables de leurs actes. Le procès de Nuremberg, suivi par celui de Tokyo, en est ainsi venu à représenter dans la mémoire collective les origines du droit pénal international (tel que connu aujourd’hui), contribuant du même coup à l’évolution du droit international contemporain lui-même.

         Le temps s’est écoulé, et c’est quelque cinq décennies plus tard (pendant les années 1990) que devaient naître ses épigones: tribunaux pénaux internationaux ad hoc; tribunaux «internationalisés» «hybrides» ou «mixtes»; et enfin Cour  pénale Internationale. L’un des aspects les plus importants de cette évolution réside dans l’affirmation et la reconnaissance de la personnalité et de la capacité juridiques internationales de l’être humain en tant que sujet de droit international, – une expansion  s’accompagnant d’une juridiction et d’une responsabilité internationales élargies, dans toutes leurs dimensions. 

         La consolidation des principes de Nuremberg, et la préservation et numérisation des archives de Nuremberg (dont la garde avait été confiée en 1950 à la CIJ), garantissent la préservation de la mémoire elle-même, si nécessaire au processus historique en cours d’ humanisation du droit international. La commémoration de l’heureux aboutissement de notre projet constitue une contribution importante à la cause de la primauté de la mémoire sur la cruauté humaine. Les valeurs humaines fondamentales doivent prévaloir et il est impératif de continuer à cultiver la mémoire des millions de victimes d’atrocités et de la cruauté humaine. 

Les victimes occupent à cet égard une place centrale; la reconnaissance de leur souffrance fait elle-même partie de l’accomplissement de ce noble objectif qu’est la réalisation de la justice. Le souvenir de leur souffrance montre que la tragique vulnérabilité de la condition humaine ne doit pas mener au désespoir, mais bien au contraire, nourrir l’espoir. En ce monde si dangereux dans lequel nous vivons – ou survivons – aujourd’hui, il est essentiel de continuer à cultiver la mémoire, la justice et l’espoir.

___________________

Photographe: Mme. Ossa Henao.

Dream Malta now….. visit later…..

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Dream Malta now….. visit later…..

By H.E. Ms. Marlene Bonnichi, Ambassador of the Republic of Malta.

Malta  is well known in  many countries as a  prime tourist destination.   The Netherlands is no exception. Tens of thousands of Dutch people continue to flock to our Islands to get a slice of the Mediterranean life, food and culture.   I have yet to meet a Dutch person who has been on holiday to Malta and that has not enjoyed  the stay.   Right now is not an ideal time for tourism …….but we can still dream…… and travel  soon……….. hopefully……..

Tourism is one of the pillars of the Maltese economy and we are very proud of the Malta product which, despite the many Islands and tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, is actually quite distinctive.  First of all Malta is an all year destination – many Mediterranean Islands are not.  Malta is a country where most people will be able to communicate in at least three languages (Maltese, English and Italian)  from three totally different families of language, so tourists, whether from Europe, the wider Mediterranean region and the Gulf or further afar, feel comfortable visiting our Islands, and some even making the archipelago their home.  Today, Malta’s population of almost half a million people has about 14% of expatriates, around half of which come from EU Member States.  

The Republic of Malta sits right in the middle  of the Mediterranean so our  language, culture, food …. are a real mix of our European and Christian heritage  and  our proximity to  North Africa and Arab  Neighbours.   

Our geography makes us a very special and eclectic bunch of people, having been destined to be at the cross roads of European and Arab civilisations.   In this sense the Malta experience  is very unique to the visitor which belies its size.

The density of cultural heritage –  three  UNESCO world heritage sites (one of which consists of 7 individual sites) in 316 square kilometres,  a monument at every corner and a church for every day of the year –   as well as  mild weather throughout the year  with hardly a day without sunshine;  topped with the surrounding azure Mediterranean  sea, sets these Islands apart from any other.   

Traditional Maltese hospitality for which we have been renowned for many centuries will continue to be the highlight of this experience.    

Rabbit is our national dish but of course fish and citrus fruits are favourites too. Expect to be invited to people’s homes where you will not be allowed to leave before you have sampled all the food set before you (and it is a lot😊).  

Over 2.6 million tourists visit Malta every year, largely as a result of the  excellent work being done by the Malta Tourism Authority and their representatives around the world, including  here in the Netherlands;  as well as the good air and sea connections between Malta and its main tourist destinations, including from the Netherlands –  from Schiphol but also from other parts of the country including Eindhoven and Maastricht.

Tourism is only but one of the  industries that underpin this largely “small”  service oriented economy of ours.   In the last 25 years or so our country has been slowly putting together the building blocks for a sound and diversified economy.   Traditional industries such as the hospitality sector,  the maritime services  sector, as well as a  relatively sizeable manufacturing sector  continue to grow alongside more innovative and modern industries such as financial services and fintech, i-Gaming,  aviation maintenance and the creative sector.   Several of these sectors also attract a steady flow of Dutch workers and young people seeking internships.   

My tour of  duty in The Netherlands is soon coming to an end.  I have felt very welcome here  and made so many new friends, Dutch friends but also  from within the diplomatic community and beyond.  I will always treasure this time in my heart and I hope I have planted a seed of curiosity in your hearts too and who knows- maybe I shall meet some of you on one of the promenades along the Maltese coast……

Updating Serbian-Dutch diplomatic relations

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Updating Serbian-Dutch diplomatic relations

In an exclusive interview with Diplomat Magazine’s Publisher, the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia, H.E. Mrs. Ksenija Milenković, talked about her country’s history, as well as its current foreign policy priorities. 

Ambassador, the National Day of Serbia falls on February 15th. What is the origin of this date?

On February 15th, 1835, Serbia promulgated its first modern European constitution, drawing inspiration from the French constitutional charter of 1814 and the Belgian constitution of 1831. In those times, unfortunately, Serbia was still under the rulership of the Ottoman Empire, and therefore the constitution, which is usually a symbol of an independent state, was not enforced for a very long time. It took us then until 1878 to regain our independence, in the context of the Berlin Congress. 

While our first modern constitution was drafted in 1835, it is worth noting that our first codified act was drafted already in the Medieval Ages, before falling under Ottoman rule. This was the time of the Kingdom of Serbia, and the document is known as the “Dušan’s Code”, from the name of the then-ruler, Emperor Dušan. This was back in the 14th century. After that, however, we fell under the Ottoman Empire, and remained under their rulership for a while. 

Moreover, it should also be stressed that there is a degree of symbolism in the date of February 15th, which is a very famous religious holiday in Serbia. Back then, when the State was separated from the Church, the date of February 15th was deliberately chosen for the adoption of the constitution. This date represents the Serbian religious holiday of Sretenje, which could translate as “the meeting”, and it is really a major holiday, and especially it was so back then. Thus, this is also a reason behind why we celebrate our National Day in that date. 

What is the origin of the Serbian-Dutch diplomatic relations?

Serbia and the Netherlands have a long history of bilateral relations. After Serbia reestablished its independence in 1878, we established diplomatic relations with the Netherlands already in 1899 – which made the Netherlands one of the first countries to establish relations with us. Last year it was indeed the 120th anniversary of our bilateral relations: a long tradition.

H.E. Mrs. Ksenija Milenković, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia,

An important part of any bilateral relation is the political dialogue. How is the political dialogue between Belgrade and The Hague?

Actually, from a Serbian standpoint, we would like our political dialogue with the Netherlands to intensify. In the last 15 to 20 years, we did not have as many bilateral contacts as it would be needed. One of the reasons for this is that – as for most of the countries in the Western Balkans – the dialogue with member states of the European Union is often done through the European integration process. And of course, the discussion on integration is very much reflected in our bilateral political dialogue with the Netherlands. Given our status as a candidate country to the membership of the EU, when we talk to the Netherlands – or to other European member states – the topics related to EU membership and the integration process are always at the forefront.

It is worth recalling, however, that we had in important visit in November, when Minister Blok came to Belgrade.

For many years, we had not had a bilateral visit of the Foreign Minister. It was really good to have Minister Blok there – at the time I was still back in Belgrade, and I can say it was really a good visit. My Minister also told him that the visit should be seen as an opportunity to reset our bilateral relations, as well as to improve our overall political dialogue.

Ambassador, could you tell us more about Serbia’s bid for membership in the European Union? How far are you from a settlement – or better, how close?

Membership in the EU is one of the main priorities of the Serbian government. Currently, we are not as close as we would want to be, because of course we would want this process to be faster. However, we are realistic. We are aware that there is some skepticism in the EU, including in the Netherlands, about enlargement in general – not on Serbia in particular. So, we are aware of this reality, and we know that the process cannot go as fast as we would like.

We are currently working on a number of different areas, on several different issues. The process is now stricter and more difficult than it used to be. There are different reasons for it, but this does not matter: this is a fact now, there are the rules of the game. So, what we want to do now is to intensify our dialogue with the European Union and with its members states – including the Netherlands. This is my main task here: to intensify and to strengthen the bilateral relations between Serbia and the Netherlands. 

Moving away from the political dimension: how strong is the cooperation between Serbia and the Netherlands in economic terms?

In the economic domain, our cooperation has been quite good. The Netherlands is present in Serbia with some quite significant investments.

For instance, there are two Dutch shipbuilding companies that build the ship’s shells, which are then brought here to complete the building process. My understand is that these companies are really happy with the professional level of our workers in Serbia. Moreover, we also have important Dutch investments in the retail sector. The major Serbia supermarket chain, Maxi, had been bought by Belgian investors two years ago, and it has now passed under Dutch ownership. These are examples of large investments, but then there are also many other smaller ones.

In terms of foreign trade exchange, our relationship with the Netherlands is quite balanced. It is not a huge sum of money – it is around 600 million a year – but it is rather good, especially considering that since 2010 there has been a constant increase in bilateral trade and economic cooperation. An important domain for trade is agriculture – in both ways, as both countries have very prominent agricultural sectors. So, our economic cooperation is definitely increasing, and we want to build up on that – especially when it comes to technology, where the Dutch economy is very advanced. 

There have recently been regional initiatives aimed at promoting further integration in the Western Balkans. Ambassador, could you tell us more about this?

The most recent and notable initiative has been the so-called “Mini-Schengen” – that is the unofficial name that has been attached to it. This is an initiative between Serbia, Albania, and North Macedonia, and its aim is to connect people from these three countries, to enable them to move freely.

One of the first results will be to enable citizens to cross the border only with their ID. Moreover, we also want to enable an opening up of the labor markets – so that for instance in Serbia there would be an open labor market for citizens of the two other countries. The model is actually that of the European Union, with its so-called “four freedoms”.

The initiative has been launched and endorsed at the highest level, with the involvement of our President, and the two Prime Ministers of Albania and North Macedonia. Up to now, there have been three meetings of the leaders. Currently, we are in the process of drafting the agreement. 

It is important to remind that this initiative is open to everybody else in the region. If they want, they are welcome to join – even Kosovo. Sure, on the one hand there is a political issue with Pristina, in the sense that there is a political dialogue that should result in some solution on normalizing relations. But on the other hand, we want to work on the economic and people-to-people contact, two aspects that are beneficial for the people. So, the initiative is open to everyone – not only Kosovo, but also all other countries in the region.

Photography by Naldo Peverelli.

Back to a Better Future

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Back to a Better Future

Arts, Science … Excellence

By Anastasiia Pachina.

We are used to perceiving science and arts as two separate areas of our society that exist more or less independently. Science is exact. It necessitates rules and regulations, deals with laws, explains and interprets phenomena. Objectivity plays one of the most important roles in science. Arts, in turn, creates something abstract, something that is based on feelings and emotions. It reflects reality through the prism of images and symbols. Objectivity in arts is not so important. It seems that these two areas rarely, if ever, intersect and therefore should be considered separately.

However, if we take a look at the procedures for creating the final product rather than the end product itself, we will find out that science and arts have some processes in common: observation, visualisation, experimental testing, presentation etc. Science and arts can also become complementary elements that together represent a complete picture of the world. Therefore, we might consider these two areas in conjunction in the framework of culture as a whole.

Unifying Potentials for the Future – Culture for Peace (UPF – Culture for Peace/the Initiative) is an initiative, which was founded by scientist and artist Sofija Bajrektarevic. It brings together several areas, including science and the arts. Its goal is to create a platform where talented people as well as organisations and institutions from various fields of culture have the opportunity to express their ideas and contribute to the sustainable development of our society. The interaction between science and arts is the core and basis of the Initiative.
The main tools of the Initiative are the implementation of projects in the field of culture, support and presentation of cultural events, artists, scientists and powerful cultural figures. The Initiative detects, promotes and enlarges the network of creative ideas, talents and skills aimed at maintaining a sustainable future. Cultural maintenance of this network implies the continued establishment and development of a peaceful society and contribution to its organisation.

Projects: to Wire, Inspire and Admire

Currently, there are several projects under the Initiative. These are: “’ Culture’ for Sustainable Future: Art/Artists in Fore- and Background”, “Narratives of Hope: Applied Science in the Culture” and “Music as a Culture”. The first two projects are being actively implemented, while the third is under development and its start is planned for fall 2020.
As a long-term project “’ Culture’ for Sustainable Future: Art/Artists in Fore- and Background” presents a message of visual arts (sculpture, painting, photography, design). In the framework of this project, artists from around the world have the opportunity to express themselves and their attitude on the topic of “Sustainable Future – quo vadis: Process, metamorphosis, directions of movement (motion) of matter and spirit as essential building elements of being (existence)”.

First, the works of artists are shown on the start page of the site of the UPF – Culture for Peace initiative, and thus they become a visual representation of the site. Works change every two months during the year. Then the pieces of arts will be presented at annual exhibitions and presentation. This project format creates an interaction between a wide audience and artists from different parts of the world. At the same time, it provides a platform to maintain a balanced society and sustainable future developments. Several artists with their selected works have been already presented under this project.

“My works deal with processes that change matter; I recreate and/or document those changes”, – says the Croatian sculptor Alem Korkut about his art. Prof. Korkut’s work was presented in the framework of the project “’ Culture’ for Sustainable Future: Art/Artists in Fore- and Background” as the first visual message, and became an inspiration for the project theme. In the relief, which he featured for the Initiative, the viewer can observe the processes of merging, healing and separation, and can move to the point of confluence or separation depending on the viewing angle.

Korkut’s philosophy is focused on the idea that nothing is fixed but is in flow, in the process of constant flux. The sculptor mainly creates aluminium reliefs that express his philosophy. Alem Korkut has exhibited at about two hundred exhibitions including solo and group exhibitions in Europe and beyond. He is the winner of many awards and the author of several public sculptures. In addition to his artisan works, Korkut is in the position of Associate Professor at ALU in Zagreb, where he has been teaching since 2007.

Sustainable future – Quo vadis
Alem Korkut

A significant figure within the project is also Juan Trinidad, a conceptual sculptor of the 1980s generation from a central part of the American continent – Caribbean (Dominican Republic). A special feature of the sculpture, which he presented, is the reflection of the Dominican tradition and Afro-Antillean identity that is characterised by totem carvings of oak and centenary mahogany. Since the early 1990s, Juan Trinidad has participated in numerous exhibitions in Central, Southern and Northern America, in Europe and beyond. It also includes UNESCO Paris. Trinidad’s works adorn spaces on four continents and are part of private collections as well as many prestigious cultural institutions.

Henry Loyrette, the Former President – Director of the Louvre in Paris, commented on his work as follows: “Juan’s works wonderfully contribute in re-approaching our cultures, seemingly distant, but so close”. At the same time, Juan Trinidad himself says: “Without forgetting the past, I make sculptures today, thinking about the future.”

Without forgetting the past, I make sculptures today, thinking about the future.
Juan Trinidad

The painting of the young artist, designer and social activist Anastasia Lemberg-Lvova has also become part of the “’ Culture’ for Sustainable Future: Art/Artists in Fore- and Background” project. In addition to her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Anastasia has received training in Belgium, the Netherlands. Her works are in private collections in Belgium, Estonia, France and Russia.

Lember-Lvova’s artistic searches and studies focus on personal introspection and through aesthetics reveal the possibilities of social interaction. With the help of her works, Anastasia questions the constructed perception of the value and potential of individuals. Inspired by the project and created for it, the painting of Lemberg-Lvova expresses the idea that natural human qualities such as anger, fear, and doubt can be fenced with socially approved characteristics. Anastasia believes that “to explore our potentials as individuals and to unite in the wish for a prosperous future, we need to dispense with the need to hide behind false displays and make sure that we feel valued, worthy and capable from within oneself”. Besides fine arts, Lemberg-Lvova is engaged in social activities. She participated in several sessions of the European Youth Parliament, where she also created projects aimed at the sustainable development of society.

To explore our potentials as individuals and to unite in the wish for a prosperous future, we need to dispense with the need to hide behind false displays and make sure that we feel valued, worthy and capable from within oneself.
Anastasia Lemberg-Lvova

Among the artists who presented their work under the “’ Culture’ for Sustainable Future: Art/Artists in Fore- and Background” project is Naj Phonghanyudh. She studied art and art history in Bangkok, Kent and Paris. Her professional activity involves art and design. Naj Phonghanyudh is a professor, a full-time lecturer at the prestigious University of the Arts in Bangkok. Besides numerous solo and group exhibitions, she also takes part in presentations, social projects and initiatives. Being engaged in art and design, she is also working as a curator for the non-profit organisation, United Thailand that creates and supports art activities for young people from various areas in Thailand.
The selected work the artist endorsed by the following words: “…like the techniques which made the protruding object stands out against the flat surface of the print I am different because of who I am, and I accept me more as I am. Some who appreciates traditional beauty may feel intruded by this imperfection, whereas some may find that it encourages them to speak out against the flatness and norms”.

Some who appreciates traditional beauty may feel intruded by this ‘imperfection’, whereas some may find that it encourages them to speak out against the flatness and norms. Naj Phonghanyudh

Since the project “’ Culture’ for Sustainable Future: Art/Artists in Fore- and Background” is a long-term undertaking, it is planned to engage more artists of different sorts and types.

Another project “Narratives of Hope: Applied Science in the culture” complements art in the UPF – Culture for Peace Initiative and presents an opportunity for experts from various fields of science and culture to discuss topics that are united under the general keynote: Sustainable Future. The energetically engaged young generation is an essential element of the project. This creates new, active synergies that are capable of raising questions, finding answers and discussing the challenges of modern society. The first thematic evening of the project took place in Vienna last fall. The topic was “Narratives of Hope: The urban phenomenon – future of a perennial story”. “Narratives of Hope: Applied Science in the culture” is also a long-term project that deserves special attention and a separate article in the future.

Near and Further

The world has recently witnessed an unprecedented calamity. Disturbing news about the virus and its spread shocked the planet and brought it to a halt for months. Disruption and deprivation, along with the imposed social distancing, are of yet unanticipated severity and duration of secondary effects.
Narratives of hope, re-humanisation of humans through arts and applied science (science with a human face) are the key.
The UPF – Culture for Peace Initiative is here to bring us all back to the future.

About the author:

Anastasiia Pachina, Sociologist – Charles University, Prague. She is a Program manager – Unifying Potentials for the Future – Culture for Peace (UPF – Culture for Peace) and a marketing researcher in IPSOS CZ.

Of Multilateralism and Future to Europe Recalibration

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Of Multilateralism and Future to Europe Recalibration

On the 01 July 2020, the Modern Diplomacy, International Institute IFIMES along with the world’s eldest diplomatic school (that of the Diplomatic Academy Wien) and two other partners (Culture for Peace and Academic Journal European Perspectives) organised a conference with over 20 speakers from all around the globe. This highly anticipated and successful event was probably one of the very few real events in Europe, past the lockdown. 

Among 20-some speakers were: Austrian President (a.D) and current co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon center; the European Commission Vice-President; former Secretary-General of the OECD and Canadian Economy minister (under PM Trudeau); former EU Commissioner and Alpbach Forum President; former OSCE Secretary General and current OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorites; Austria’s most know Human Rights expert; Editor-at-Large of the Washington-based the Hill; Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean; Honourable Justice Constitutional Court President, and many more thinkers and practitioners from the UK, Germany, Italy and Australia as well as the leading international organisations from Vienna and beyond. 

Media partners were diplomatic magazines of several countries including Diplomat Magazine, and the academic partners included over 25 universities from all 5 continents, numerous institutes and 2 international organisations. A day-long event was also Live-streamed, that enabled audiences from Chile to Far East and from Canada to Australia to be engaged with panellists in the plenary and via zoom. 

Following lines are a highly absorbing speech of the former Secretary General of the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Europe, and former senior minister in several Canadian governments, exclusively delivered to the conference as his key-note.  

Of Multilateralism and Future to Europe Recalibration

The Honourable Donald James Johnston PC OC QC in addressing the future of Europe is invited to answer this question:

“Is there any alternative to universal and pan-European multilateralism? 

For the purpose of my remarks I am interpreting “ universal and pan – European multilateralism’ as moving forward with achieving more EU integration supported by institutions appropriate to a  kind of federal structure in line with the thinking of the Spinelli Group. But it also raises the question of global free trade which I promoted as Secretary General of the OECD and continue to believe must be the word’s future in addressing poverty and opportunity, especially for the worlds developing countries. But it has to be managed in a way sensitive to the challenges of both.

In these brief comments I intend to offer my view on the answer to this fundamental question about the future of Europe.

To begin, I would amend the question by adding the word “good” before “alternative”.

There certainly are alternatives some of which could set Europe on a path back to a collection of independent sovereign states and undo the remarkable progress in building a secure European Union in the post WWII period.

Many years ago when looking at the extraordinary work and vision of statesmen like Jean Monet trying to build a lasting and prosperous European Union, I came across a comment of British Historian H.A.L. Fisher in the preface to his 1936 book, A History of Europe. In part it read as follows:

“[No] question [would be] more pertinent to the future welfare of the world than how the nations of Europe … may best be combined into some stable organization for the pursuit of their common interests and the avoidance of strife. “

Although we appreciate the Marshall Plan’s amazing contribution to the Europe of today, it contributed more to restoring Europe physically while providing humanitarian assistance. Of course, the OEEC which evolved into the OECD in 1961 did provide an important framework and mechanism for economic and social development which continues to this day.

Fisher’s vision of a strong, unified Europe remains very much work in progress and that work really began with Jean Monnet’s initiative to create the European Coal and Steel Commission. I will comment on that in a moment  But I remain convinced that Fisher was right, and the great rebuilding of Europe  and the EU after the Second World War must and will endure notwithstanding the barrage of criticisms  from euroskeptics, now emboldened by the United Kingdom’s Brexit vote of June 2016. Admittedly my conviction is based on the EU having strong, visionary leadership, which has not yet fully materialized. 

Think of this. Although Greece represents less than 3 per cent of the Euro zone economy, euroskeptics used its financial crisis as ammunition to predict its withdrawal from the eurozone and the possible unravelling of the entire EU. The Greeks rejected that option: there was no Grexit.  Austrians also rejected right-wing populist nationalism in the 2016 Presidential election of Van der Bellen, a strong supporter of the EU. 

The support for Brexit in the UK referendum was an unexpected shock for some, but it pleased others who wish to see the EU unravel and claim that the UK attitude reflects views held in other major European countries. I keep hearing and reading that the United Kingdom has rejected the EU, as if it were an overwhelming victory.  Bolstered by misrepresentations and downright lies it was a very slim referendum victory but Brexiters will argue that it was validated by Boris Johnson’s subsequent margin of  electoral victory.

There are also others, especially President Trump who appear to be hostile to the emerging  global role that the European Union is likely to play as it completes its evolution to a unified international force. This has become even more important as the United States under Trump becomes increasingly isolationist and opposed to international multilateralism constructed by visionaries over the past 75 years.

In a stunning commentary in Foreign Affairs (summer 2016), Professor Jakub Grygiel of the Catholic University of America, implies that the upside to the EU crisis will be a return to independent sovereign nation-states across Europe. Indeed, that would be an upside for American isolationists. It would remove from US competition the largest unified single market in history and reinstate the possibility of future wars on the continent that this great European experiment was designed to prevent – as it has. 

Some of Grygiel’s comments appear designed to create a false impression of the views of Europeans. Here is a cheerful observation to support his thesis: “a Europe of newly assertive nation-states would be preferable to the disjointed, ineffectual, and unpopular EU of today. There’s good reason to believe that European countries would do a better job of checking Russia, managing the migrant crisis, and combating terrorism on their own than they have done under the auspices of the EU.” 

Really? What is that “good reason” that escaped the attention of the statesmen and nation builders like Jean Monnet in post-war Europe? Grygiel also says that the EU is ineffectual, which is true in some cases, as it is with many, if not most supranational bodies, including much of the United Nations (UN) activities. And what of the United States itself?

Sadly the world is watching that formerly great republic  floundering in the face of numerous serious challenges both social, economic, even racial, not even capable of effectively addressing the Covid-19 crisis through what is becoming a  dysfunctional government under a Commander in Chief who proudly presents himself as a narcissistic ignorant bully.

And non Europeans, especially Americans, systematically ignore the EU’s successes. One good example being the collective research of 28 networked European countries that produce one-third of the world research’s output – 34 per cent more than the United States and more than China. This was documented at the time of the Brexit debate in New Scientist.  (June 2016). These are the kind of synergies that could be sacrificed should the EU dissolve, and it may already be compromised by the withdrawal of the UK which has much world first class research. 

Hopefully the; United Kingdom will stay united and prosper in the post Brexit period. However, there is good reason for concern as the Financial Times Martin Wolfe wrote at the time (June 24,2016). He said: 

“David Cameron took a huge gamble and lost. The fear mongering and outright lies of Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Nigel Farage, The Sun and the Daily Mail have won. The UK, Europe, the West and the world are damaged. The UK is diminished and seems likely soon to be divided. Europe has lost its second-biggest and most outward-looking power. The hinge between the EU and the English-speaking powers has been snapped. This is probably the most disastrous single event in British history since the Second World War. 

Yet the UK might not be the last country to suffer such an earthquake. Similar movements of the enraged exist elsewhere – most notably in the US and France. Britain has led the way over the cliff. Others might follow.” 

Will others follow the United Kingdom over the cliff? Alina Polyakova and Neil Fligstein, writing in the International New York Times at the time of the Brexit vote  ( July 2016), relied on polls that suggest that will not happen. They say, “Britain is not, and never has been, a typical member of the European Union, and in no country but Britain do populists and other euroskeptic forces have the 51 percent of votes needed to pull their countries from the union.” 

Obviously, those in the UK who wanted Brexit must have believed it is good for them and presumably for the United Kingdom, even if it means losing Scotland and perhaps Northern Ireland. The City of London will also suffer, but no one can estimate what the damage will be until all the terms of exiting are known. 

Jacques Delors, who has dedicated much of his life to the European dream both in public office and after retirement through his Paris-based foundation, made the following observation in an inter- view in 2012 with the Handelsblatt newspaper: “If the British cannot support the trend towards more integration in Europe, we can nevertheless remain friends, but on a different basis. I could imagine a form such as a European economic area or a free-trade agreement.” 

That might be the happiest outcome in the wake of Brexit. The real beneficiaries of Brexit are the remaining EU members inspired by people of the experience and quality of Jacques Delors and members of the Spinelli Group. The latter founded in 2010 as a network of thousands of politicians, individuals, writers, and think tanks looking to revive the momentum toward a federalist structure for the EU.” 

In fact, the Brexit vote and Johnson’s arrival as Prime Minister may have strengthened the resolve of many EU countries and prominent Europeans to accelerate the integration process in line with federalist thinking. 

Obviously those having the foresight to realize the importance of greater integration and an emerging federalist model, such as the Spinelli Group, would be blocked by a United Kingdom, were it a member, to have reforms move in the opposite direction, consistent with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s famous Bruges speech in 1988 where she said, 

“We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them re-imposed at a European level with a European super-state exercising a new dominance from Brussels. Certainly, we want to see Europe more united and with a greater sense of common purpose. But it must be in a way which preserves the different traditions, parliamentary powers and sense of national pride in one’s own country; for these have been the source of Europe’s vitality through the centuries.” 

This could hardly be seen as an endorsement of a federalist system of any kind, because decentralization, especially with the preservation of parliamentary powers, meaning full sovereignty, is incompatible with federalism. She could have added that the elements she wished to see preserved have also been the source of bloody European conflicts throughout the last millennium, including three wars between France and Germany in the 70 years between 1870 and 1939! 

 Consideration should be given to some steps that must be taken to realize the collective potential of the EU as a major global player, which it could never be if its members revert to sovereign nation- state status. Indeed, as other major countries grow in economic clout, it has been pointed out that not even Germany would be in a new G8. Only a united EU could have influence on the global stage. 

Skeptics like Professor Grygiel, many of them American, seem blinded by the headlines and glare of current events, failing to place them in a broader historical context. Reviewing the remarkable evolution of Europe since the Second World War, I hope that the long-term success of Europe is inevitable. But as the great American judge Oliver Wendell Holmes once noted, “the mode by which the inevitable comes to pass is effort.” European leadership must now make that effort. It is critical not only for Europe, but for the world today. 

A strong, unified Europe is also important for the emergence of global multilateralism and the further evolution of globalization. Since the end of the Cold War we have been living in a world dominated by just one superpower: the United States. Fortunately, that superpower has been a very open market and largely, but not entirely, militarily non-aggressive. Sometimes referred to as the “importer of last resort,” it continued to run current account deficits opposite many trading partners, especially China. 

The American economy had enough strength and resilience to emerge slowly but with growing confidence from the global financial crisis of 2007–08. To become a companion economic locomotive, Europe must continue to open its markets, eliminate distorting trade subsidies, and undergo substantial structural reforms in labour, services, and manufacturing markets to stimulate European economic growth.  I hope that the results of the Europe 2020 exercise and its follow up will help in that regard.

If that does not happen, the United States might use its economic muscle to focus increasingly on bilateral agreements that are becoming a serious impediment to global free trade. 

If Europe had successfully moved to a more centralized and coherent federal model of government it could have reached the objectives adopted by the EU in 2000 (often referred to as the Lisbon Agenda), which was stated in the Lisbon Declaration (24 March 2000) as follows: “The Union has today set itself a new strategic goal for the next decade: to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.” 

Well, that failed. A review of progress chaired by the former Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok reported in 2004 that the strategy had fallen well short of its objectives. The diagnosis of the problems of broad structural reform was good, but implementation of reforms was seriously lacking. Kok’s review carried much credibility as he had overseen the continuation and completion of the major Dutch structural reforms originally introduced by his more conservative predecessor, Ruud Lubbers. Kok was also a regular participant in many international conferences, and during our discussions it was apparent to me that he was a talented consensus builder. 

There is much to be said for  such consensus  builders, who enable intellectual and political opponents to better understand competing views. Strengthening such relations between European political leaders will be important in bringing cohesion and stronger integration to the EU in line with the objectives of the Spinelli Group. 

The Lisbon Declaration, now replaced by the Europe 2020 strategy,  has five ambitious objectives related to employment, innovation, education, social inclusion, and climate/energy. The world would benefit greatly from Europe attaining those objectives. 

Today only the EU and Japan might to come close to matching the United States in per capita GDP in the coming years. 

 Demographic projections show Japan’s population in serious decline, but an expanded EU which should evolve with Turkey as a major player, would have a much greater population and a much larger market than the United States. 

The objectives listed above can only be realized when the peoples of Europe achieve a consensus on what kind of legal community they truly wish to be, and so far,  progress to that end has been in fits and starts. The failure of the Lisbon Agenda, the rejection of the proposed constitution in both French and Dutch referenda, and now the  exit of the United Kingdom underscore the difficulty of moving toward a flexible federal structure. 

The use of the word federal seems to be an anathema for many Europeans. It is worth remembering  that with the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community inspired by Jean Monnet in 1951, the French government declared that it would “provide for the setting up of common foundations for economic development as a first step in the Federation of Europe.” 

Today there does not appear to be any coordinated and broad- based visionary leadership like that of Jean Monnet that led Europe out of the destruction and chaos of the Second World War. 

Perhaps the Greek crisis, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU, and continuing economic performance under potential will awaken Europeans to the need for a truly federal-type European Union, with strong central government institutions where appropriate, accompanied by the protection of individual nations’ precious linguistic and cultural identities. The genius of federalism is that it can accommodate great diversity in many areas. 

What is the way forward? Where is the higher vision to achieve what is imaginable but not yet within reach? I suggest that the answer is to reconcile the various goals of Europeans, what I call the three Ms: minimizing frictions, maximizing synergies, and maintaining sovereignty. 

Some believe they can achieve the first two without a dilution of sovereignty. That is not possible. From my Canadian experience with Quebec, however, I know that it is possible to minimize frictions and maximize synergies while maintaining cultures and national identities. In the case of Quebec, the French language, civil law, religion, and culture have been protected since the Quebec Act of 1774, which is one reason why separatist movements have never succeeded. 

I see this kind of flexible federal structure, with necessary variations, in Europe’s future. Loss of Europe’s various languages and cultures would alter the character of the continent, moving it in the direction of the United States. The historical evolution and the nature of the “self-willed” peoples of Europe, as Fisher described them, make that path neither feasible nor desirable. 

I finish these comments with a quote from a recent letter distributed by Thierry de Montbrial, the founder and head of the prestigious French public policy think tank IFRI. 

“But it stands to reason that we in Europe in particular should capitalise on building the Union in order to prove the viability of a third way between the United States, that great democracy which still claims to be a liberal one, and the People’s Republic of China, which still claims to be communist. Most of us want to remain close to American democracy, but we refuse to become its vassals, notably as part of an Atlantic Alliance retrofitted to that end. There is an urgent need to clarify NATO’s truly shared objectives. As for the European Union, despite all the whining in recent weeks, it continues to sail ahead in stormy seas, as it always has…..

If there is one part of the world where multilateralism is making headway despite countless hurdles, it is the European Union. There is still a very long way to go in Europe and, even more so, on a planetary scale. But history is moving in that direction, for the alternative is collective suicide. There is no doubt that global warming, pandemics and more or less intense wars are foreseeable in the world’s near-term future. At least we can hope to limit the damage, which, after all, was the case during the Cold War. Let us be convinced of the European Union’s responsibility in that regard.”

I agree…who cannot?

_______________________

About the author:

Donald James Johnston is a Canadian former politician, lawyer, and the legendary Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from 1996 to 2006. He was senior minister in several Canadian governments.

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