Network's Presentation
It is obvious that without a decisive intervention of the International Community, it will be very difficult to put an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the impressive mourning and suffering experienced by the Israeli and Palestinian populations.
The European Union Needs to Be More Present
The European Union and the member states have a decisive role to play in finding a sustainable solution to the conflict - a solution based on justice and on International Law. Europe has a special interest in solving this conflict, and it should therefore use all its human, political and economial potential to contribute to find a viable solution.
European local authorities should be part of this challenge. As direct representatives of European citizens, European local authorities should be committed to fight against war, violence and terrorism, and promote the building of a just peace in the Middle East. All this, through meetings, dialogue, solidarity actions and decentralised co-operation programmes.
Building An Efficient Network
European local authorities need to be heard by the European Union and encourage the latter to improve its - thus far too limited - involvement in the Middle East. European local authorities should co-operate in order to increase the European citizens' mobilization for a just peace based on the recognition of two principles : (a) Two States for two People, and (b) the right for both peoples to the same dignity, the same rights, and the same security. Therefore, they should develop decentralised co-operation programmes in Israel and Palestine, contribute to enhance dialogue between Palestinian and Israeli local authorities, and support all peace initiatives.
Aware of their responsibilities, and following the Dunkirk Conference (France, December 2002) as well as crucial meetings in Brussels (September 2003) and Naples (November 2003), a group of European local authorities decided to found a "Network of European Local Authorities for Peace in the Middle East".
The Network will be open to national and regional networks of local authorities as well as any European local government committed to peace and decentralised co-operation in the Middle East. It will work with the Association of Palestinian Local Authorities and the Union of Local Authorities in Israel, and wishes to link its activities to those of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).
Several
initiatives have taken place:
- A
resolution for peace in the Middle East was drafted by the Italian
coordination of local authorities and ratified by a great number of
Italian, Spanish and French local authorities.
-
The
European Network of Local Authorities have became the basis of the "Decentralised
Co-operation and Cities Diplomacy Commission" of United Cities and
Local Governments, the world organization of local authorities.
-
A
joint mission of Italian, Spanish and French local authorities, conducted
by Bernard Stasi, former French minister and currently President of United
Cities France as well as Michel Delebarre, former French state minister,
and currently member of the National Assembly and Mayor of Dunkirk and
President of the Greater Dunkirk District Council, France, took place in
July 2004.
Download the press release in French
- An important network meeting took place in Venice (San Servolo Island) on 11-13 February 2005.
Download the proceedings of the Venice meeting in French
Scarica il resoconto della riunione di Venezia in versione italiana
-
The Second Conference of European Local Authorities for Peace in the Middle East took place in Cordoba on November 22-24. The event was organized by the Fondo andaluz para la Soledariedad internacional (FAMSI) and the Province of Cordoba, under the high patronage of the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Download the Final Declaration of the Conference
Internet Site of the CORDOBA Conference
Towards a Co-operation with the Committee of the Regions of the European Union
On May 31 2007, the Committee of the Regions, the EU institution representing European regional and local governments, officially received the Network of Local Authorities for Peace in the Middle East (ELPME). The presentation took place within the External Relations Commission of the Committee and was chaired by Mr Uno Aldegren. Mr Maged Abu Ramadan, President of the Palestinian Association of Local Authorities and Mayor of Gaza, and Mr Yosi Shvo, President of the Economic Council of the Union of Local Authorities in Israel (ULAI) and Mayor of Nes Ziona, were also present during the presentation as well as the President of the Committee of the Regions, Mr Michel Delebarre, Former Senior Minister, Mayor of Dunkirk, member of the National Assembly, and President of the Greater Dunkirk Council. Mr Giulio Cozzari, President of the National Coordination of Italian Cities for Peace and Human Rights, presented the Network in the name of its members. Following the presentation, ELPME and the Committee of the Regions agreed to strengthen their co-operation. As a result, it has been suggested that the Committee of the Regions act as a messenger of the ELPME Network's preoccupations towards the other EU institutions. The Committee of the Regions should also offcially support the Third Conference of Local Authorities for Peace in the Middle East scheduled in Venice at the turn of 2008.
Read the Committee of the Regions' Press Release
http://www.cor.europa.eu/fr/press/press_07_06073.html
European
Network of Local Authorities for Peace in the Middle East - www.paxurbs.com
© Greater Dunkirk District Council / Communauté Urbaine de Dunkerque -
France