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Specialreport consultation, which runs until December, will allow the com- mission to prepare a focused follow-up in 2010, such as a white paper or an action plan. The responses will also feed into the discussions on the follow-up to the lifelong learning programme and in the related budget discussions. As regards the discussions on the Erasmus programme, the first half day of the conference was devoted to current issues. The discussions highlighted a renewed effort to tackle recognition problems for courses taken abroad. Concrete suggestions were made to better verify compliance with the Erasmus university charter and to improve involvement of teachers and students in recognition aspects. The discus- sion also focused on better analysing the needs of students in terms of information and communication.The aim is to provide specific study-related information to potential exchange students and to step up the involvement of teachers and Erasmus alumni for promotion purposes, which should be as tailor-made and targeted as possible. Participants also called for further efforts to inform enterprises of the benefits for them for example, Erasmus student placements par- ticularly as industry is interested in deeper relationships with academia. It was generally accepted that employability should be part and parcel of a modernised higher educa- tion system. The new Bologna process target of 20 per cent graduate mobility by 2020 and the recent proposal by com- mission president José Manuel Barroso for a Youth on the move initiative were considered welcome push factors to open up mobility opportunities for the majority of students. Simplification in the use of tools such as Europass, Diploma Supplement and ECTs was also called for as some higher education institutions find their application burdensome. On the second day of the conference, ideas were discussed about the way forward for the Erasmus programme beyond the current term. The general ideas brought forward were that Erasmus should go Bologna that is, adapt to the new study cycles created by the Bologna process and become more flexible. Calls were also made to better cover the PhD level, to invest more in language preparation and to cater for full degree mobility. Participants underlined the need for incentives or rewards for the promotion of mobility and that too often it is penalised or not considered important in universities. There is a need for more commitment from universities management to cooperate on mobility. And finally, the conference was also an occasion to celebrate the fact that the Erasmus programme has helped over two million students carry out a part of their studies or a work placement in another European country. The new commis- sioner designate for education and training, Maroš Šefcovic handed out awards to 31 former Erasmus students from the 31 participating countries, who were selected to symbolise the two millionth Erasmus student. Teaching EU MEP Mário David believes European studies classes for teenagers should be compulsory throughout the EU The debate on a European constitution and the ratification process of the Lisbon treaty has demonstrated an urgent need to deepen the knowledge of the EU. We have all witnessed the outrageous lies that anti-European forces spread, and national governments, irrispective of their political persuasion, also tend to use the EU as a scapegoat. Whenever they have a success in any particular area, it is them we have to praise, but if any of their decisions proved to be wrong or they lack the courage to introduce needed reforms, then it is the fault of Brussels and the endless bureaucracy of the EU. The best way to change this situation is to teach younger generations about Europe. To be effective, this needs to be done on a continental scale. This is why I proposed that the European parliament takes the initiative to suggest that the commission and the member states introduce a new subject in the curriculum of their elementary studies. The idea would be to teach European studies to young students when they are around 14 years old, in all member states, and as a compulsory subject. As a basis for reflection, this subject could be divided into five half-day sessions on the following topics: history of the EU (from the founding fathers to the differ- ent treaties; the subsequent enlargements; the limits of the Union); functioning of the EU (the institutions, their functioning and competences; the institutional framework); values and goals of the EU (freedom, respect for human dignity, democracy, justice, solidarity, tolerance, equality, rule of law); the role of the EU in the world (foreign and security policies; the promotion of peace; aid and develop- ment; trade); and how the EU affects everyday lives (main policies, single market, a common space of freedom and security). Knowing and understanding, from a young age, the principles, the procedures and the successful history of the EU, the generations of tomorrow will be immune to any attempt to cheat them and, above all, will much better embrace the advan- tages of this unique project of voluntary sharing of sovereignty. Barbara Nolan is head of unit for higher education and Erasmus at the European commission 19 October 2009 PARLIAMENT MAGAZINE 39 Issue 296 19 October 2009 Democratic destiny Morgan Tsvangirai on Zimbabwes crisis of confidence, and why every citizen must stand up and join the struggle for democracy Once a country begins the transition to democracy, change becomes inevitable European development days Margot Wallström, Annika Sö Issue 296 19 October 2009 newsanalysis 6 The final hurdles The commission says Croatia is in the home straight in its membership application but shadows of the past still loom over the Balkan state. Francesca Ross reports 28 Live aid Europe has its work cut out if it is to meet the millennium develo catherinestihler Editorial team Managing editor Brian Johnson Martin Banks Martha Moss Francesca Ross Louise Tait International Press Centre Boulevard Charlemagne 1 Box 2 Brussels 1041 Tel +32 (0)2 285 0828 newsdesktheparliament. www.theparliament.com Editorial board Editor Catherine Stihler MEP Edi CROATIA AND THE EU The final hurdles The commission says Croatia is in the home straight in its membership application but shadows of the past still loom over the Balkan state. Francesca Ross reports The country also needs to further reinforce its administrative structures and develop the capacity n newsanalysis Setting an example Croatias EU membership bid can move forward following moves on a border deal with Slovenia, as Hannes Swoboda tells Francesca Ross uropes push towards bringing Croatia into the EU fold is a task being taken on not just for Croatia and for the EU but for the entire reg data protection Terror tactics MEPs are concerned that tracking financial data could lead to an abuse of personal privacy, says Martyn Bond T he Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Transactions (Swift) is a Belgian-based banking data company which records money movements between banks across t newsanalysis not Lisbon, with the European parliament still denied over- sight. There will be another agreement within 12 months, assured Swedish justice minister, Beatrice Ask, and under Lisbon, the European parliament will be involved. And com- missioner Jacques Barrot assured MEPs the protection parliament NEWS Opposition mounts to Blair EU presidency a senior British Labour MEP, is another who appears to be less than enthusiastic about the increasingly likely prospect of Blair landing the post of president of the European council, effectively the face of the EU. Howitt told this magazine, ne wsanalysis Klinz calls for EU-wide action on downturn The chair of parliaments new special committee on the economic crisis, Wolf Klinz, says it will have a much broader remit than was initially intended. The committee on financial, economic and social crisis (Cris) was set up on 7 October to ass parliament NEWS EU parliament drive to safeguard future of MRI scanners A campaign has been launched in parliament to highlight the serious risk posed to patient safety by a draft EU law. German centre-right deputy Peter Liese told reporters that the physical agents directive severely curtails the u newsanalysis Open dialogue resident de Gasperi was fond of saying that politics means achieving something. And it is precisely with that aphorism from the father of Europe in mind that I would like to launch the activities of the delegation that it is my great honour to preside over. The practical b China-EU relations Human rights have raised alarm signals in the form of social unrest and represent the litmus test for measuring the level of freedom in every state, as the events that occurred in July in the Xinjiang region demonstrate only too clearly to stem the flow of the unfair competition t MORE CHARITY LOTTERIES NEEDED IN EUROPE In the Netherlands charity lotteries disburse more than 350 million euros to various non- governmental organisations (NGOs) each year. If more EU countries had charity lotteries over 10 billion euros a year could be mobilised for these organisations. The World European development days Women at work The EU must do more to educate women about climate change or risk widening existing gender and societal inequalities, says Margot Wallström T It is our responsibility to help to empower these women, to share our knowledge and give them the tools to adapt to ch C OVERSTORY A woman works in Ngiresi, near the Tanzanian town of Arusha who will have to work with renewable forms of energy such as biomass, biogas and solar. More importantly, as mothers and educators they have an important role to play in the promotion of behavioural change in economic and societ European development days The transition to a true democracy is more likely to be successful with the support of the global community These differences do not mean that we from the south have nothing to learn from the states of central and eastern Europe that transitioned from communism to democrati COVERSTORY Sound investment Annika Söder says international land acquisition investment guidelines would help address domestic food security and rural development concerns T he world is experiencing a surge of interest in foreign investment in agriculture in developing countries. The main form of re Speaking with one voice An African Union Authority will enable the continent to compete on the world stage A Erastus Mwencha Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) The vision of the African Union is to achieve a prosperous Africa, driven and effectively managed by its own citizens www.africa-union.org Africa, he argues, must devise appropriate policies to mitigate the effects of rising food prices on living standards, especially for vulnerable groups. He said, Although Africa has enormous agricultural potential, it still remains a net food importer. The majority of Africans l COVERSTORY Stake your support limate change, one of the most pressing develop- ment issues, will feature high on the agenda of the European development days (EDDs) and rightly so. With only a few weeks left until the Copenhagen climate summit, it is key that we take a long hard look at what is on t European development days Climate control F Policymakers must recognise the connection between climate change and development policy, as Satu Hassi tells Martha Moss nations must do and how much they should pay to reduce emissions and help poor countries cope with the effects of climate change. Wi C OVERSTORY You cannot realistically discuss development issues without taking into account both the need to adapt to climate change and the need to mitigate as an important landmark in overcoming the dispute about how much industrialised countries should pay, but environ- mentalists claimed the amo THE FORUM FOR FORMER AFRICAN HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT (AFRICA FORUM) E stablished in 2006, The Forum for Former African Heads of State offers an informal network of former African Heads of State and Government and other African leaders. Often referred to as The Africa Forum its members include AFRICAN FORMER HEADS OF STATE Executive Secretariat: 7th Floor, Metro Park Building, 351 Schoeman Street, Pretoria P.O Box 6541, Pretoria 0001, Republic of South Africa Tel: +27 12 354 8073 Fax: +27 354 8161 E-mail: webmasterafricaforum.o Website: www.africaforum.org European development days The Estonian city of Tartu Live aid n invitation to present a Kapuscinski lecture at the University of Tartu earlier this month as part of European development days gave me a welcome opportunity to explore the millennium develop- ment goals (MDGs) and other innovations from COVERSTORY Harvesting potential Motlatsi Everest Musi sets out his experiences of trialling Bt maize on his South African farm y name is Mr Motlatsi Everest Musi. Like many black South Africans, my first experi- ence of agriculture was as a young boy, working as a farm labourer. My first real big st Interested in information on food composition? Dont miss this EuroFIR stakeholder event, Thursday 25 March 2010, Brussels. he EuroFIR Network of Excellence, funded under the FP6 Food Quality and Safety Thematic Priority 5, has nearly completed five very successful years, and has met, and even exceed INSIDEEU Sign of the times enate Sommer played host at the Parliament Magazines recent food labelling round table, as MEPs and industry stakeholders gathered to discuss whether commission proposals should be given the green light. Sommer, parliaments lead rapporteur on the food labelling proposal, t Food labelling that the commissions proposal to include non-prepacked foods within the ambit of mandatory regulation is unworkable and imposes an unfair burden on Europes small and medium sized enterprises, which she argues dominate the sector. But during a lively question and answer session, Mathio INSIDEEU the EUs food and consumer policy committee, who offered an industry perspective on the labelling debate. The European food industry plays a key role in the EU economy, he said. Furthermore, when it comes to food pack- aging, we need to meet customers demands. Its necessary for the wellbeing The Parliament Magazines Promoting best practice and innovation within the EU read online - regionalreview.eu INSIDEEU The question of information overload for consumers was also raised and, on this, Trollope says, My personal view is that consumers want useful nutritional information which enables them to make healthy choices whether they are eating out or at home. She says companies should give the number Education All systems go The speed of Europes recovery from the economic downturn depends on the quality of our education system, argues Ján Figel T he issues which I was privileged to work on from 2004 education and training, culture, youth, citi- zenship, multilingualism and sport are becoming m Specialreport Europe will not build the kind of knowledge-based economy which it needs for sustainable prosperity and social cohesion in the future unless it can modernise its education systems and make them open for truly life-long learning challenges we face and promote the cultural and social dev Education Get mobile Participants came together for a conference in Sweden to discuss student mobility and the Erasmus programme. Barbara Nolan explains T he recent conference on Erasmus the way forward and the green paper on mobility of young people, was highly successful, bringing together 450 pa Specialreport consultation, which runs until December, will allow the com- mission to prepare a focused follow-up in 2010, such as a white paper or an action plan. The responses will also feed into the discussions on the follow-up to the lifelong learning programme and in the related budget discussi A European Tempus program managed by the IUP Management at the University of Auvergne: The IUP Management et gestion des Entreprises of the University of Auvergne Clermont 1 manages the MODEP (Modernisation and Development of Professional Classes) Tempus Program (ETP-JP-00408-2008), which includes t Specialreport Balancing the books Coordinated action on funding is needed for Europes universities to flourish, says Thomas Estermann T Thomas Estermann is in charge of funding and financing at the European University Association his is an extremely challenging time for higher edu- cation across Eur Education Live the dream have a dream a beautiful dream about trouble-free mobility of young people. A dream where everyone who is interested in this enriching academic experience has the possibility and resources to make their plan a reality. A dream where study and learning results are properly r Q. Where is the best place to be on the evening of 19th November? A. The 2009 Quiz for Children at the Concert Noble in Brussels! Last year we had Eurovision song contestants, dancing bears and magicians BUT the 2009 Quiz will be even bigger and better, with more than a few surprises. This year we w