First German-Arab Business Conference North Rhine-Westphalia

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First German-Arab Business Conference North Rhine-Westphalia

Arab ambassadors in Germany – Picture by Land NRW, Ralph Sondermann.

Thursday, 7 November 2019, Düsseldorf:  With the I German-Arab Business Conference North Rhine-Westphalia, which was opened by Premier Armin Laschet, the exchange is to be further intensified between NRW and the Arab states. With this event, the state government together with the Arab-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce Ghorfa and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce NRW will support companies in their activities on the Arab markets. 

Ambassadors from various Arab countries, market experts and company representatives provided information on opportunities and challenges. NRW Minister of Economics and Innovation Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart emphasised the importance of the Arab markets for the North Rhine-Westphalian economy at the event. Likewise Premier Armin Laschet encountered with ambassadors from Arab countries on the fringes of the economic conference.

As per statement below Premier Laschet: “The Arab region is a valuable partner for North Rhine-Westphalia with great market opportunities: numerous companies from North Rhine-Westphalia have been offering their know-how in the various countries of the Arab region for many years, they are active locally and universities and police units also work together. We also face international challenges such as climate change, the energy revolution and digitisation, which we can better master together and in exchange. With today’s economic conference, the state government, together with the Ghorfa Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Bielefeld Chamber of Industry and Commerce, is initiating new impulses to further deepen cooperation with the countries of the Arab region.”

Minister Pinkwart: “The Arab region is undergoing radical change and would like to develop new industries and technologies as well as expand its infrastructure. North Rhine-Westphalia offers itself as a strong partner, especially in the fields of mechanical engineering, innovation and specialist training.

Digitisation also plays a major role in this. The I German-Arab Conference North Rhine-Westphalia brings companies from both regions together and sends a strong signal: “We want to cooperate even more closely economically in the future and to continue the mutual exchange.
 Further impetus for economic cooperation is also expected at the world exhibition “Expo 2020” in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). North Rhine-Westphalia will be represented there with its own state week at the German stand. This will take place from 23 to 29 November 2020.

For further information: 
https://www.land.nrw/de/pressemitteilung/erste-deutsch-arabische-wirtschaftskonferenz-nordrhein-westfalen

30th years since the fall of the Berlin Wall

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30th years since the fall of the Berlin Wall

Saturday, 9 November 2019, Berlin, Germany:  A commemoration ceremony was held on Bernauer Strasse on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. 

In addition to German Federal President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel, President –pro tempore– of the Federal Council of States, and Premier of Brandenburg Dietmar Woidke, the Speaker of the Bundestag Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble and Berlin’s Governing Mayor Michael Müller, the ceremony was also attended by the presidents of Slovakia, Zuzana Čaputová,Poland, Andrzej Duda  the Czech Republic Miloš Zeman and Hungary, Dr. János Ader, the ambassadors of the latter countries, other members of the diplomatic corps,contemporary witnesses and pupils. During the commemoration, Steinmeier, Merkel and the foreign state guests laid roses in the Hinterland wall for the victims of the Wall.

Candles were lit to commemorate the courage of the GDR opposition in the autumn of 1989. Students from various countries shared their thoughts on the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in their mother tongue. 

Chancellor Merkel gave a speech during the central commemoration ceremony in the chapel of the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse. At the ceremony she warned against hatred and racism. Freedom and democracy must also be defended in the future.

Image by Embassy of Slovenia in Germany.

In attendance were the US Ambassador Richard A. Grenell, French Ambassador Anne-Marie Descôtes, Magyar Ambassador, Dr. Péter Györkös, Slovak Ambassador Dr. Peter Lizák, Polish Ambassador, Prof. Dr. Andrzej Przyłębski, Czech Ambassador, Tomáš Podivínský, Slovenian Deputy Chief of Mission, Aleš Marčič, Italian Deputy Head of Mission, Alessandro Gaudiano, amongst others. 

For further information 

German Federal Presidency: http://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Berichte/EN/Frank-Walter-Steinmeier/2019/191109-Berlin-November9.html
Presidency of Hungary: https://www.keh.hu/speeches&pnr=1
Presidency of Poland: https://www.president.pl/en/news/art,1126,president-attends-fall-of-berlin-wall-anniversary-events.html
Presidency of Czechia: https://www.hrad.cz/en
Presidency of Slovakia: https://www.prezident.sk/article/berlinsky-mur-padol-a-je-dolezite-aby-padali-aj-mury-nedovery-v-nas/

Presidency of Slovenia: http://www.up-rs.si/up-rs/uprs.nsf/objave/27C6DAD30CA0DC3FC12584AC0047F419?OpenDocument

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Images by Embassy of Slovenia to Germany 

The Paris Peace Forum draws to an end; its legacy hopefully won’t

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The Paris Peace Forum draws to an end; its legacy hopefully won’t

By Guido Lanfranchi.

The Paris Peace Forum was born with the idea that “we have to do something”. This strong practical focus has led the organizers to concretely support innovative projects aimed at promoting good governance and sustainable peace. As this intense two-days gathering ends, the projects supported by the Forum will hopefully continue to have an impact across the globe. 

The focus on practicality, actions, and solutions has been one of the defining characteristics of the Paris Peace Forum. Debates and exchanges of views are crucial – the organizers say – but at the same time there is also a strong need to go a step further. There is a need to devise solutions, as well as to implement them – “to do something”, as simply put by the Forum’s Director-General Justin Vaisse.

This practical spirit had already been a main feature of the Forum’s first edition in November 2018, when the organizers selected ten projects [GL1] and supported their implementation for the following 12 months. The scope and nature of these projects were varied, ranging from innovative community-led social healing programs[GL2] , to calls for multilateral cooperation to protect the Antarctic waters[GL3] .

Paris Peace Forum organizers and leaders of the selected projects. Pictures by Lidia Gallanti

The 2019 edition remained strongly committed to this practical approach. On November 13th, during the Forum’s closing ceremony, the organizers unveiled the new ten projects that will receive support over the next year. These projects were selected among the over 700 submissions received by the Forum’s organizers – Trisha Shetty, the Steering Committee’s President, explained.

Over a hundred of these projects were selected to be present at the Forum, and 10 of them were further selected to benefit from the Forum’s support over the next twelve months. The selection process took into account the projects’ values in terms of innovation, scalability, as well as potential effects – Stefano Manservisi, President of the Forum’s Jury, explained.

These projects are rather different in nature, as they touch upon diverse themes such as security, economy, culture, education – and often a mix of these things. For instance, the project “Festival à ciel ouvert” promotes the development of rural communities in Senegal by means of cultural activities. The “Sada’s Women in Cooperative” focuses instead on women’s empowerment and on employing refugees in the Turkish town of Gaziantep. The “Sustainable city program” comes instead from Brazil, focusing on the potential to improve service delivery in over 250 small towns, while the “Ultra-poor graduation initiative” aims at identifying and unlocking the constraints faced by extremely poor people in Bangladesh. More exhaustive descriptions of all the ten projects can be found on the Paris Peace Forum’s website[GL4] .

As the 2019 edition is drawing to an end, the organizers are already fully focused on the Forum’s next edition, which will take place at La Grande Halle de la Villette on 11-13 November 2020. The focus on devising and implementing practical solutions is set to be even stronger – Mr. Vaisse explained – as the organizers will try to create a Trust Fund aimed at providing direct financial support to selected projects.

The 2019 edition of the Paris Peace Forum is over. Hopefully, its projects will continue to make an impact. 

 [GL1]https://parispeaceforum.org/scale-up-projects/#projects

 [GL2]https://parispeaceforum.org/place/kumekucha-its-a-new-dawn/

 [GL3]https://parispeaceforum.org/place/antarctica-2020/

 [GL4]https://parispeaceforum.org/

Pictures by Lidia Gallanti.


About the author:

Guido Lanfranchi is a student and young professional in the field of international affairs. He has pursued his studies both at Leiden University and Sciences Po Paris, where he is currently enrolled. In parallel, he has been gaining professional experience through internships (first at the Council of the European Union, and currently at Clingendael Institute), as well as by working as reporter and associate editor for Diplomat Magazine The Netherlands. His research and work focus on the Middle East and Africa, and especially on conflict situations in these regions.

Crackdown on THB and prostitution network

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Crackdown on THB and prostitution network

Organised criminal group involved in THB and prostitution dismantled in Lithuania and Spain.

A simultaneous operation by the Lithuanian Police and the National Police of Spain was carried out yesterday. The operation was led by the respective judicial authorities in both countries, in close cooperation with Eurojust and Europol, and led to the arrest of two alleged organisers in Spain and 13 alleged criminal group members in Lithuania. At least 50 searches were carried out in both countries, yielding cash, narcotics, counterfeit documents, weapons and ammunition.

A large-scale investigation spanning two years uncovered the activities of an organised criminal group (OCG), active in Lithuania. Organisers also operated out of Malaga, Spain. The OCG profited from the earnings of 118 female victims of enforced prostitution from Ukraine, Belarus and other countries working in Lithuania. Victims and competitors were subject to extreme violence by the OCG.

Eurojust and Europol supported this joint investigation by organising coordination and operational meetings. Eurojust strengthened the coordination and cooperation between the Lithuanian and Spanish national judicial authorities throughout the two-year investigation leading up to the simultaneous operation. Eurojust was in constant contact with the national authorities on the best way to proceed in the investigation, and coordinated and facilitated the execution of European Investigation Orders and European Arrest Warrants.

Europol provided analytical support since the early stage of the cooperation between Spain and Lithuania, supported the action day by deploying experts in fighting human trafficking to Lithuania to cross-check operational information in real time against Europol’s databases and gave assistance in extracting data from seized devices. Europol activated a Virtual Command Post to support the action day.


China Contributes USD 30,000 to Future OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology

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China Contributes USD 30,000 to Future OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology

In the picture H.E. Mr. Xu Hong, Ambassador of China to the Kingdom of The Netherlands and Permanent Representative of China to the OPCW, and H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, Director General OPCW.

The Hague, Netherlands — 11 November 2019 — The Government of China has contributed USD 30,000 to a special Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Trust Fund to support the project to upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store. This project will result in the construction of a new facility, the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (“ChemTech Centre”).

The contribution was formalised during a ceremony at OPCW Headquarters between OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the Permanent Representative of China to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Xu Hong.

Ambassador Xu remarked: “The OPCW is an important international disarmament organisation. China highly appreciates its active role played in the destruction of chemical weapons, preventing their re-emergence as well as promoting international cooperation for the development of chemical industry. China maintains a long-term and close cooperation with the Organisation. The voluntary contribution by the Chinese Government to the ChemTech Centre once again demonstrates the importance China attaches to the Organisation and China’s support for its work.

The ChemTech Centre is a valuable resource for the OPCW and its States Parties. It will further enhance the Organisation’s verification capabilities, and enable it to increase capacity building activities for States Parties. China wishes, with the contributions from States Parties, the timely and smooth completion of the ChemTech Centre”.

Director-General Arias expressed his gratitude to the Government of China for its support and appealed to all OPCW States Parties in a position to make voluntary contributions to do so. He further emphasised the important role the new ChemTech Centre will play in strengthening the OPCW’s ability to address chemical weapon threats, boost its investigative capability, and enhance capacity building activities. He highlighted that “all contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated”.

So far, twenty-two States Parties and the European Union have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date.

Hungarian National Day

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Hungarian National Day

In the picture H.E. Mr. András Kocsis, Ambassador of Hungary to the Netherlands during his speech at the Museum for Communications in The Hague commemorating the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

On the occasion of the Hungarian national day of 23 October, the Embassy of Hungary in The Netherlands organised an official reception to commemorate the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

Almost 250 invitees from the Hungarian, Dutch and international community in The Netherlands attended the event at COMM – Museum for Communication in The Hague.

Through The Walls

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Through The Walls

On the 17th November 2019 it will be exactly 30 years since the fall of communism regime in former Czechoslovakia. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the events of 1989 which created “Europe without walls”, the Czech Centre Rotterdam is organizing an international art exhibition to reflect on the contemporary socio-political situation and the current state of our society 30 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain. 

The seven exhibiting artists are individuals coming from several European countries. Because of their different cultural backgrounds and current experience with living abroad, specifically in the Netherlands, they offer multiple perspectives on our society. Which is why they can see through the walls that may still stand between us; and look at them from more than one angle.

Luis Maly (GR), Leonie Schneider (DE), Valentino Russo (IT), Martin Gabriel (CZ), Jip Piet (NL), Kateřina Konarovská (CZ) and Roland Spitzer (DE) are artists with various artistic practices using forms such as video, sculpture, textile, or painting. Such combination of mediums and cultural backgrounds promises a vibrant and multidimensional show. The exhibition communicates issues like real or imaginary freedom, use and abuse of power, money and poverty, criminality and safety, communication and manipulation, equality and superiority, fear and courage, or ideals and fake gods.

With thanks to Stroom Den Haag

OPENING

When: 29 November 2019, 19:00

Where: Tsjechisch Centrum, Westersingel 9, 3014 GM Rotterdam

Entrance: FREE

Live music: The Ghosts on Web

With thanks to Stroom Den Haag

When: 29 November 2019, 19:00

Where: Tsjechisch Centrum, Westersingel 9, 3014 GM Rotterdam

Entrance: FREE

Live music: The Ghosts on Web

Eurojust and Serbia: Cooperation Agreement signed to strengthen the fight against cross-border organised crime in the Western Balkans

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Eurojust and Serbia: Cooperation Agreement signed to strengthen the fight against cross-border organised crime in the Western Balkans

The potential for enhanced operational and strategic judicial cooperation and the sharing of information and evidence between Eurojust and Serbia have been made possible today by the signing of a Cooperation Agreement.

Eurojust and Serbia signing of a Cooperation Agreement.

The signing ceremony took place in Belgrade. The Minister of Justice of Serbia, Nela Kuburović, and the President of Eurojust, Ladislav Hamran, signed the agreement, which will enter into force after all requirements have been fulfilled.

Mr Hamran said: ‘I am very pleased to conclude this cooperation agreement with one of our key partners in the Western Balkans. Closer ties will help to make Europe safer. Serbia can benefit from our practical cooperation tools in the prosecution of serious cross-border crime cases. Cooperation and mutual trust can lead to a more successful fight against crime in the region.’

Ms Kuburović said: ‘The Republic of Serbia has significantly strengthened its capacities in combatting transnational organised crime by signing a Cooperation Agreement with Eurojust, particularly bearing in mind that crime and criminals do not respect or recognise national borders. Therefore, close cross-border cooperation and effective exchange of information between competent Serbian authorities and our esteemed European partners are vital and essential elements for determined action against this form of crime.

On the other hand, by adopting the new Law on Personal Data Protection, as a prerequisite for concluding the Cooperation Agreement, the Republic of Serbia has fully aligned its legislation with corresponding European Union regulations and directives, hence taking a step forward towards the European membership within the EU accession process.’

Eurojust has already signed cooperation agreements with three States in the Western Balkans: North Macedonia (2008), Montenegro (2016) and Albania (2018). The cooperation agreement with Albania entered into force at the beginning of this month.

In the period from January 2015 through the end of October 2019:

  •  Serbia and Eurojust worked together on 143 cases involving serious organised crime, with offences ranging from money laundering, drug trafficking, swindling and fraud, to crimes against life, limb and personal freedom;
  • Serbia attended 23 Eurojust coordination meetings; and
  • Serbia participated in six joint investigation teams, most of which involved drug trafficking cases.

With today’s agreement, Serbia will be able to share personal data and evidence with prosecutors and investigators from all over Europe. The agreement also creates the possibility to appoint a Liaison Prosecutor to Eurojust in the near future to improve cooperation.

Eurojust now has cooperation agreements with 12 countries.

Photos © Danilo Polovina, Book of Life

Netherlands Contributes €3.3 Million to Support OPCW Activities and Centre for Chemistry and Technology

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Netherlands Contributes €3.3 Million to Support OPCW Activities and Centre for Chemistry and Technology

OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Paul van den IJssel, formalised the contribution today at a ceremony held at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.

The Hague, Netherlands — 12 November 2019 — The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands will make two contributions totalling €3.3M to support a number of major projects and activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

A contribution of €2.3M will be made to the OPCW Trust Fund to support the project to upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store through the construction of a new Centre for Chemistry and Technology (“ChemTech Centre”). Another contribution of €1M will support the activities of the Trust Fund for Syria Missions at the OPCW.

The Trust Fund for Syria Missions supports the Organisation’s missions and contingency operations related to the Syrian Arab Republic including the work of the Declaration Assessment Team (DAT), the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), and the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT).The Dutch contribution aims to equip the OPCW with the means to maintain its professional and impartial standards in addressing the threat from chemical weapons use.

OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Paul van den IJssel.

OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Paul van den IJssel, formalized the contribution at a ceremony held at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague this week.

Ambassador van den IJssel highlighted the Netherlands’ longstanding support for the OPCW: “The Netherlands highly values the work of the OPCW. The commitments we formalize today are another illustration of our support to the organization and its crucial work.”

The Director-General expressed: “I thank the Government of the Netherlands for these major contributions, to the new OPCW ChemTech Centre and to the Trust Fund for Syria Missions. Both will further build the capabilities of our Member States to achieve a world free of chemical weapons. The construction of the Chem-Tech centre in the Netherlands highlights our deep-rooted collaboration towards countering the threat posed by chemical weapons”.

Director-General Arias appealed to all OPCW States Parties in a position to make voluntary contributions to do so. He further emphasized the important role the new ChemTech Centre will play in strengthening the OPCW’s ability to address chemical weapon threats, boost its investigative capability, and enhance capacity building activities. He highlighted that “all contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated”.

So far, twenty-two States Parties and the European Union have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date.

The Paris Peace Forum’s opening ceremony: multilateralism and cooperation

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The Paris Peace Forum’s opening ceremony: multilateralism and cooperation

By Guido Lanfranchi.

Paris, November 12th, 2019

On November 12th, 2019, the second edition of the Paris Peace Forum kicked off. During the opening ceremony, political leaders from across the world made clear that multilateralism and international cooperation are strongly needed in order to face the many challenges of today’s world.

Our world faces several complex challenges, from environmental degradation to poverty, from war to inequalities. Several of these challenges transcend national borders – and so do their potential solutions. This is the basic premise underlying the Paris Peace Forum, whose 2019 edition is dedicated to “promoting global governance for sustainable peace”. 

The Forum kicked off in the morning of November 12thwith a crowded opening ceremony. The ceremony started with the intervention of Trisha Shetty, Indian activist in the domain of gender equity and President of the Paris Peace Forum’s Steering Committee. Addressing the world leaders gathered around the main stage, Ms. Sherry boldly dedicated a thought to all the engaged activists who are currently paying a price for their action – as in the case of imprisoned climate activists. In a heartfelt pledge, the founder of SheSays suggested to all the presents to ask themselves “what is the impact of all of us gathering here on the very real world outside these highly sanitized walls?”.

The ceremony continued with the speech of Ursula von der Leyen, President Elect of the European Commission, who focused her attention on the European Union’s potential to address global challenges.

Having praised the EU’s role in achieving peace on the continent, Ms. von der Leyen advocated for “a more outwork-looking, geopolitical Europe”, with a common strategic approach and stronger capacities. She stressed that the EU “can and should contribute” to address the many challenges faced by our world – notably with a view on turning them into opportunities, as Europe did in the wake of World War II.

The focus of the ceremony then shifted to Asia, with the intervention of Wang Qishan, Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China. Defining peace as “the common aspiration of mankind”, Mr. Wang reiterated his country’s willingness to address international challenges through a “win-win strategy of opening-up”. No one can deal with today’s challenges on their own – he stressed, calling for “extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in global governance”.

Mr. Wang was followed by Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who brought on the stage the African perspective. The African continent – he noted – remains marred by conflicts and terrorism, which prevent the African people to enjoy peace. Calling for joint efforts in solving these issues, Mr. Tshisekedi advocated for a holistic response, involving not only military means, but also and especially political solution to the needs of the population, notably the youth. 

The ceremony’s last speech finally went to the Forum’s host – Emmanuel Macron. The French President outlined his vision of the “unprecedented crisis” faced by the global system, featuring overlapping challenges such as economic inequalities, re-emerging unilateralism, significant demographic shifts and migration waves, the advent of new technologies, and the overarching climate challenge.

Addressing these issues will require cooperation – Mr. Macron stressed, noting that while the Forum is a valuable avenue for mutual listening, new forms of cooperation among different actors and at different levels will be needed. Hopefully, the Paris Peace Forum will become a framework to address this need.


About the author:

Guido Lanfranchi is a student and young professional in the field of international affairs. He has pursued his studies both at Leiden University and Sciences Po Paris, where he is currently enrolled. In parallel, he has been gaining professional experience through internships (first at the Council of the European Union, and currently at Clingendael Institute), as well as by working as reporter and associate editor for Diplomat Magazine The Netherlands. His research and work focus on the Middle East and Africa, and especially on conflict situations in these regions.

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Credit photo : Stephane Sby Balmy / Auditoire
www.sbyconnection.com / Instagram @sbyconnection

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