L’Europa ad un incrocio: conflitti di minoranze come minacce alla pace o opportunità?

L’intento è di riflettere su come i cittadini europei e gli enti locali possano attivamente contribuire a fare dell’Europa il luogo nel quale sentirsi liberi e sicuri nonostante il loro diverso “background” etnico o linguistico.

Sarà un’occasione per discutere su quanto l’Europa sia uno spazio nel quale gli enti locali possano essere attivi, crescere, sfruttare i propri talenti, imparare anche dagli altri e fare in modo che i propri cittadini si sentano apprezzati e rispettati, per garantire che l’esperienza unica di 60 anni di pace dopo la fine dell’ultima Guerra mondiale non vada persa.

L’obiettivo principale é aumentare la consapevolezza del ruolo che hanno i poteri locali come attori nel processo di pace e democrazia in Europa, iniziato alla fine della Seconda Guerra Mondiale, nonché coinvolgere i cittadini, in particolar modo i giovani, in questo dibattito.



In May 1945 Europeans woke up from the worst nightmare in their modern history in which millions of them lost their lives, their loved ones and their homes. Entire populations were uprooted, borders were shifted and nations were annihilated. It was said that no poetry can be written after the horrors of Auschwitz. And yet cold and hungry Europeans began an uneasy way towards re-building mutual trust and respect which lead to a remarkable achievement of peace and prosperity in Western Europe under the umbrella of what we today call the European Union.

It was however, only a few years after the end of the Second World War that hundreds of millions of fellow Europeans disappeared behind the iron curtain. They were not to enjoy the benefits of peace and prosperity for forty long years. Today, 25 European nations are together again to share common future. But peace, freedom, security and prosperity do not come for free. They are fragile achievements that cannot be taken for granted. Today’s Europe is not free from ethnic violence and discrimination. Stereotypes and prejudice towards ethnic groups and indeed entire nations still exist. Democracy is an everyday plebiscite that needs committed citizens who shape and develop it further.

As time goes by, the “never again” feeling is fading from the collective memory of today’s Europeans. This sentiment is no longer able to mobilise public opinion or to inspire a popular movement as it was at the end of the Second World War and which contributed greatly to the start of the European Project. The current years might also be the last opportunity to share the memories of those who lived through the disasters of the War.

It is in this context that the present conference has been conceived. The idea is to not limit the reflection to Remembrance but, through the debate and the exchange of different experiences, to collect new mobilising ideas that will make today’s Europeans committed to the process of building Europe. Therefore, the purpose is not only to commemorate the past but also, with the perspective of the 50th anniversary of the signature of the Treaty of Rome (25 March 2007), to reflect how Europeans can actively contribute to making Europe their own space in which they feel free and safe and in this context which role the local authorities can have. A space in which local authorities can be active, grow, use their talents, learn from each other and make the citizens feel appreciated and respected, to make sure that the unprecedented experience of 60 years of peace can be perpetuated.

The conference is organized in plenary session and workshops which will give an interactive role to the participants for analysis and debate. The result of the conference is the basis for a report which to be circulate


PROGRAMME


8th June 2006 - Hotel Taverna, Vaci utca 20, Budapest

13.00 - Welcoming luncheon

14.00 - Welcome speech and introduction
Gianfranco Martini, ALDA President

14.15 - The project “Cities acting for Peace and Democracy in Europe”: objectives and action plan
Antonella Valmorbida, Director ALDA

Five working groups: Promoting peace and democracy at the local level
14.30 - 16.00 exchanges of best practices
16.00 - 17.30 identifying difficulties, opportunities, methodologies

I-II group: Participation of civil society in order to improve democracy and peace
Coordinators:
- President Local Association of Municipalities and Communes of Karditsa's Prefecture
- Victor Magiar, Association of Italian Local Governments (tbc)

III-IV group: Youth participation at the local level in order to improve democracy and peace
Coordinators:
- Flavio Lotti, “Italian association of Local Authorities for Peace and human rights”
- Ryszard Kozyra, Vice Chairperson of the Management Warmian and Mazurian Assoc. of Communities (tbc)

V group: Democracy and Peace at the local level: communication and media
Coordinator:
- Andréas Korb, Cités Unies de France (tbc)

19.30 Dinner



9th June 2006 - Consiglio Comunale Budapest, 62 rue Vaci, V. ker, Budapest

9.00 - Introduction
Gianfranco Martini, ALDA President

9.10 - Welcoming speech
Mayor of Budapest (tbc)

9.20 - Peace in Europe after 60 years: minority conflicts can be a menace or an opportunity for pluralist coexistence?
Ms Livia Jaroka, Member of European Parliament for Hungary (tbc)

9.35 - Peace in Europe after 60 years: minority’s conflicts can be a menace or an opportunity for pluralist coexistence?
Ewa Chilinsky, Deputy Director of the European Center for Minority issues

9.50 - The role of local authorities in the promotion of peace
Representative of the Congress of the Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

10.05 - The role of civil society in the promotion of peace and respect for minorities
International NGO

10.20 - The participation of youth in promoting peace and democracy in Europe: the experience of the commitment of the 11 LDAs
Stève Duchene, Delegate of LDA Kosovo

10.30 - Coffee Break

11.00 - Presentations of the results of the working groups and debate

12.15 - Conclusion

12.30 - Lunch




INFO:
Associazione delle Agenzie della Democrazia Locale
Ufficio di Vicenza
Stradella della Racchetta 22 - Vicenza
Stefania Toriello
Telefono: 0444 540146
Fax: 0444 231043
Email: stefania.toriello@aldaintranet.org