CONTENTS:
1.      A Word from the Chairman
2.      EDRC News
2.1    21st December- MESA Seminar 
2.2    Lecture Series- The Constitutional Treaty- MESA Seminar
2.3    CSP Publication
2.4    1st June Seminar
2.5    Professor John Usher Seminar
3.      News and Events
3.1    Malta
3.2    Europe
4.      Call for Papers
5.      Grants and Courses
5.1    Summer Schools

1. A WORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Dear Friends of the EDRC,

As the new year kicks in there is much to report.

Our courses are in full flow and the first semester test results are showing good results across the board. I encourage all students to keep it up, and thank all teaching staff.
 

COMPLETION OF ‘PAPISCA PROJECT’
On the first of March, our joint work as part of the Project on Citizenship and Intercultural Dialogue with The Human rights Centre in Padua, under Professor Papisca, and other centres in Poland and Greece, was publicly launched in a Conference in Padua. I was joint editor of the handsome book that has been published, together with the other team leaders. Dr. Michael Frendo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave a keynote speech that was very well received by the capacity audience in the Council Room of the University of Padua, a hall in which Galileo and Copernicus taught. I was asked to draft a final Declaration, which was adopted by the Conference on the last day, and which is attached.
 Final Decleration

LAUNCH OF BOOK AND SEPTEMBER CONFERENCE
The Civil Society Project has also come to major fruition. We are about to launch the report for this year titled:  Business Ethics and Religious Values in the European Union and Malta – For a Moral level Playing Field.  The book and the Conference to be held on its themes on the 20th of September will be launched at a special event at 5.30 on the 2nd April. We will notify all MESA members of the venue, but hope also to publicise it fully and to attract a wide audience. The book will be available to all those registering for the Conference (cost of LM 20: including copy of the book, and then later the Conference CD, lunch and refreshments, as last year). Unfortunately, at this stage we can only distribute the book to those who register for the Conference, since we want it to serve as background to the workshops and debates at the Conference. 
 

You will find much other news in this edition of the Newsletter. It has been put together in the end by Michelle Montebello, who joined the EDRC team in February and is currently covering for Doris. Doris has had a beautiful baby boy, and she will be returning in June. Meanwhile we wish Joanne all luck and happiness as she prepares to leave us for motherhood, to return later of course. Any communications to EDRC then, please to edrc@um.edu.mt, or directly to michelle.montebello@um.edu.mt 

I look forward to seeing all of you at the Book Launch on the second of April.
 

Regards to you All

Peter G. Xuereb
5th March 2007
 
 

2. EDRC NEWS

2.1 21st December- MESA Seminar

We had an excellent first seminar on the Constitutional Treaty led by Professor Jo Shaw. See her paper 
 English Version of Seminar Paper

2.2 Lecture Series- The Constitutional Treaty- MESA Seminar

The European Documentation and Research Centre (EDRC) in conjunction with the Malta European Studies Association (MESA) and with the kind assistance of the French Embassy in Malta announce the second of a Lecture Series.
This second lecture will be given by Dr. Pierre Mazière, Professor at Université Paris V1.
The lecture will be on:

The Social Model in France and Europe

Date: Thursday 29th March 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
N.B.: There will be refreshments at 5:45 p.m.
Venue: Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, St. Julians   Entrance: Free
Booking by: 27th March: By E-Mail to edrc@um.edu.mt
Tel:23402998
 
 

2.3 CSP Publication

We are pleased to announce the publication of the Civil Society Project Report 2007. The title is: 
BUSINESS ETHICS AND RELIGIOUS VALUES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND MALTA- FOR A MORAL LEVEL PLAYING FIELD 

P.E.G, 2007 

The book will be launched on the 2nd April. Details will follow.

2.4 1st June Seminar

We announce the second seminar on the Constitutional Treaty. It will be led by Professor Constantine Stephanou who will speak on "The Constitutional Treaty. Balancing the European and National Interests". This will be held on the 1st June. 

2.5 Professor John Usher Seminar

We announce also a third seminar on the same theme. It will be led by Professor John Usher and it will be held either on the 19th or 20th July. Details will follow.
 
 

3.NEWS AND EVENTS

3.1. MALTA

"International Conference on Small States and Economic Resilience"
Date: 23rd to 25th April 2007
Venue: The Foundation for International Studies, Valletta
This Conference is orgarnised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Islands and Small States Institute of the University of Malta. The programme of the conference has been drawn up so as to cover the various aspects of resilience building, including its measurement. The aim of this conference is to identify and propose suitable policies for economic resilience building in small states and to explore ways in which the Resilience Index could be operationalised.
Read more
E-mail: resilience2007@um.edu.mt

Links to Newsletters of other EU-Info Centres in Malta:
Culture 2000 - Cultural Contact Point Malta
Euro-Info Centre
Europe Direct 
EUPU
 

3.2. EUROPE 

Celebrate Europe!
New Website to Mark the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome
On Friday 5th January 2007 the European Commission launched a special website to mark the opening of the festivities surrounding the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.
With this interactive and multilingual interface, the website highlights the benefits that European integration has brought to European citizens during the last 50 years, and aims to help re-engage them in shaping the future of the European Union. The new website, which was produced by the European Commision's Directorate General for Communication in collaboration with the other EU Institutions, provides user-friendly information in 22 official Eu languages. It is designed to serve as a reference point at the heart of the festivities, offering quick access to information on how, why and where Europe is celebrating its 50th Birthday.
Alongside historical reminders about the origins of the EU and a section on the major milestones of European integration, EUROPA users can search and choose from a vast arrey of world-wide events categorised according to country, date or type of event. This site will constantly remain online for the duration of 2007.

Reflections on European Integration 
50 Years of the Treaty of Rome
Foriegn & Commonwealth Office, London
Friday 23rd- Saturday 24th March 2007

This event coincides with the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957. The confernce, co-funded by the European Commission, will provide an occasion to reflect on the evolution of European integration since the Treaty of Rome was signed and the dynamics that have underpinned this evolution.
The conference will bring together scholars that will run through the conference to provide diverse, yet valuable, prospectives from a range of disciplines on how and why the original European Economic Community created by the Treaty of Rome has evolved and how the academic attempts to explain the unique phenomenon that is the European Union have contributed to developing a deep and convincing understanding of the process.

EU Citizens Ask for More EU Action in Field of Family Law Which is at Heart of Thier Concerns and in Centre of EU Justice Debate.
The European Union allows people an unprecedented level of free mobility. As it has become free to travel, work, and study within the Union, very often marriage and families are being formed between individuals from different Member States, or couples settle down in other Member States. EU citizens, as showed by a recent Eurobarometer Survey, are asking enhanced EU wide attention to ensure clarity and legal certainty about the nature of family law regualtions such as divorce settlements, child custody dealings and iheritance.
There is an ever-increasing number of EU citizens establishing their residence in an EU Member State different from that of their country of origin. It is therefore natural that, at an EU level, family law and inheritance law are gaining importance.
A Flash Eurobarometer survey commisioned by the European Commision asked the EU Citizens to voice their opinions on various questions related to international family law. The Survey's fieldwork has been carried out between 31st March and 5th April 2006. 25.000 randomly selected citizens aged from 15 and above and covering the 25 Member States, have contributed with their answers.
76% of the overall EU population except the EU to play a role to facilitate legislation for recognising civil status certificates (birth certificate, marriage certificate) in another Member State. The same percentage expects the EU to take action with regard to adopting children from different Member States. Two-thirds (67%) of the citizens of the European Union expect the EU to facilitate legislation in child custody dealings in another Member State and another 63% expect to facilitate inheritance in another Member State. The majority of the citizens (60%) do expect the EU to play an active role in divorce matters.

German Conservative Hans-Gert Pottering Has Been Elected As the European Parliament's President for the Next Two- and-a-Half Years, in a Mid-Term Swap Arranged in 2004 With the Socialists.
In his presentation to fellow MEP's, Pottring said: "Europe must be a Europe of the citizens. It is our common task to win people over, by doing convincing work, for our great challange of uniting our continent while safeguarding the identity of our people. We need still better co-operation with national parliaments, and not only on the national level- our regions, cities and communities are Europe's foundation. That is where we need confiding co-operation. We are not adversaries, we work for a common goal: namely the unity of our continent.

How is theSingle Market Perceived? How Can it Be Made to Work Better?
Do EU citizens feel well informed about the Single Market? What impact does the Single Market have on the activities of EU companies? What practical steps should be undertaken to improve its functioning? Recent Eurobarometer surveys and the results of a public hearing on future Single Market policy provide a range of answers and serve as important inputs to the European Commission's ongoing review of the Single Market.
Internal Market and Services Commissioner Charllie Mc Creevy said: "We need to know what citizens and businesses really think about Single Market and we need their concrete suggestions on how to make it work more effectively. The Eurobarometer surveys and public hearing will both be of great help in our efforts to make sure that the Single Market is equipped to meet new and future challanges."
Eurobarometer surveys
The Citizens survey (Special EB 254) was carried out in February-March 2006 with around 25,000 respondents across the EU. Its main  findings show that EU citizens are, in general, satisfied with the possibilities that the Single Market offers and perceive the effect on competition (67%), range (73%) and quality (58%) of products as positive. In particular, the majority of citizens in every country (except Germany) believe that the increasing worker mobility can help to fight unemployment, 72 % of EU citizens believe the Single Market has made travelling between Member States easier and 36% have contemplated living in another Member State. However, less than half of citizens of every Member State feel informed about their Single Market rights, and EU information services on the Single Market are not known to 7 out of 10 citizens.
 

European Information Networks and Outlets for Citizens overseen by the European Commission
The Commission finalised the latest update of the "ECN Working Group IV" paper listing all the Commission networks and outlets for the citizens in the EU25.  The list provides information about each of the twenty three members of the network established in every member state, and a link to their website.  This initiative is one of the measures the EU is taking in its aim in communicating Europe.  The services are there and citizens are making use of them as shown in the latest Europe Direct Report, in which a remarkable increase in the use of the service was noted. 
Commission Networks and Outlets for Citizens

The European Commission launched an online questionnaire on modernizing Labour Law 
Statistics have shown that the number of part-timers in the EU is increasing, compared to a slight drop in full-timers.  This is complemented by an increase in definite contracts and a decrease in permanent, more stable jobs.  Therefore the Commission is concerned about job security and is involving the citizens of Europe in an online public consultation process, open until 31st March 2007.
Online Public Consultation
After the public consultation, the Commission plans to issue a follow-up Communication in 2007 taking into consideration the main policy issues and options identified in the responses.
The questionnaire is also available in print:
E-mail: empl-labour-law-green-paper@ec.europa.eu
 

Conference: "Mesentente Cordiale? Franco-British views on Europe’s global role"
Oxford University, United Kingdom
12-13 May 2007
The aim of this symposium is to discuss the EU's role in the world seen from the prism of Franco-British relations. 
Panel subjects include:

• France and Britain: Surs jumelles, frères ennemis ?
• The crisis over Iraq: what went wrong? And what lessons?
• China and East Asia: temporary or structural divergence?
• Framing a common narrative: the EU as a post-colonial power
• Defining external relations: Superpower Europe? Britain, France and the future of the West

4. CALL FOR PAPERS

The International Role of the EU- New Patterns of Global Governance?
Aston University, Birmingham
16 June 2007
Deadline: 16 Febuary 2007
Keynote Speakers:
Professor Alex Warleigh (Brunel University)
Professor Lee Miles (Liverpool University)
The conference aims to examine existing accounts of an emergent system of global and regional governance, and the EU's place within this multilevel system. Whilst existing notions of 'governance' conceive of fluid and open networks of decision-making, contemporary empirical events (including, for instance, the Doha negotiations and the EU's bargaining with Iran) suggest that the global and regional governance might reflect more longstanding identities, power relations and hierarchies than typically conceptualised within the 'governance' literature. This conference provides an opportunity for a renewed investigation into both the conseptualisation of global and regional governance, and the expalantory adequacy of such terms in dipicting contemporary international relations.
Topics and questions that could be addressed include:
- The role of the European Union in contemporary global governance.
- Regionalism and global governance: The EU as a model for a supernational tier?
- Conseptualising European power: power to do what? Power over whom?
- The EU at the global level: regional representation or intergovernmental collaboration?
- New European developments in global governance: projecting state power and replacing the state, or projecting some states' power and replacing some states?

"States, Non-States, and Supra-States: Who's Sovereign Now?"
SAIS Bologna Center Journal for International Affairs
Deadline:16th February 2007
The 2007 Bologna Center Journal of International Affairs welcomes all innovative arguments for how sovereignty is defined in the twenty-first century, as well as forecasts for sovereignty's role in such global governance issues as the environment, civic participation, public health, and poverty alleviation. In an era of challenges to nation-state primacy, who is sovereign now?

Territorial sovereignty emerged from the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, and the new international system's doctrine of non-interference in the governance of other nations offered a framework for improved cooperation toward peace. Over time, evolving domestic priorities and relations among states redefined political sovereignty: absolute monarchic rule gave way to autocratic sovereignty in some countries and to popular sovereignty in others.

Today, corporations span the globe, international organizations enjoy substantial visibility, and most armed conflicts begin within sovereign nations. Who dominates in the new international system? Is it the nation, the international community, or other non-state actors? What are the terms of dominance?  Does legitimate sovereignty require complete exercise of control, or the maintenance of certain values? How do global financial institutions, humanitarian aid organizations, and terrorist groups challenge sovereignty and shape the parameters of international order today?
Read more
E-Mail: bcj07@jhubc.it
 

"Image and Identity in Contemporary Europe"
University of Wales
Bangor, Wales, United Kingdom
7-9 September 2007
Deadline: 31 March 2007
The beginning of a new century, and even more so, that of a new millennium, inevitably promotes the reassessment of certain values and beliefs, as well as a revisiting of the past. This is particularly the case when this pivotal point coincides with political and economic changes, such as the establishment of new governing structures and parties. The expansion of the EU and the re-emergence of regionalisms have stimulated reflections on issues of identity, citizenship, nationality and globalization. This interdisciplinary conference will focus on how individual states (or national groups within states) perceive themselves and/or are perceived by others since the Second World War. 

Speakers should address one of the following areas:

• Identity and Nation-building; or
• History and Memory; or
• Symbol, Image and Translation

“Theory of “the International” today”
London School of Economics and Political Science
London, United Kingdom
October 2007
Deadline: 15 April 2007
Some questions relevant to the topic include:
• Is there a need to re-conceptualise ‘the international’ in the first decade of the 21st century, or will the old concepts such as “international society” and international system” do?
• If de-facto hierarchical structures of authority exist among juridically-equal states, what is their impact on international relations?
• Are comparative methods to theorise ‘the international’ to be preferred over systemic ones?
• What triggers reconceptualisation of ‘the international’ in the 21st century?
A selection of the conference papers will be published in Millennium: Journal of International Studies, Vol. 35, No. 3.
E-mail: millennium@lse.ac.uk 
Read more
 

"Space and Time in World Politics and International Relations"
Russian International Studies Association (RISA) 4th Convention
MGIMO University
Moscow, Russian Federation
23rd-24th September 2007
Deadline: 15 April 2007
The following are some of the research questions:

• What is the meaning of “Modernity” in world politics and international relations and how “modern” are they?
• What makes contemporary politics global? How is its unity in space and time achieved?
• Is the dynamics of spatial and temporal changes in the contemporary world subject to influence?
• What is the significance of geopolitical factors in contemporary world politics?
• What new fields of world politics are being born as a result of globalization? (Transnational, supranational, geo-economic, cross-cultural, etc.?)
• When and how do the “windows of opportunity” for radical changes in world politics appear?
• What are the possible scenarios of global political dynamics?
• Do cycles exist in world politics?
• What are the spatiotemporal parameters of contemporary international crises?
• Is there a common vector of global political development?
• What role does simultaneity of political processes play in the development of today’s world?
• What is the place of Russia and other countries (regions) in contemporary spatial and temporal system of political coordinates?
• How can countries that are on different stages of development interact and understand each other?
• How does the temporal factor affect the processes of foreign policy planning and taking decision-making in the context of the acceleration of changes?
• What are the spatial and temporal configurations of modern international organizations, alliances, coalitions?

“European Unity and Division: Regions, Religions, Civilisations”
Monash University Prato Centre, Prato, Italy in collaboration with the European University Institute
25th-27th September 2007
Deadline: 30 April 2007
The aim of the conference is to explore the complex and changing relationships between the sources of Europe’s diversity, with particular emphasis on long-term historical dynamics, but with some reference to present constellations. Recent events have highlighted the ambitions and difficulties of an integrative project that aspires to transcend long-standing cultural or geopolitical boundaries. The debate on divisions has moved beyond an initial focus on states and nations. It is now widely recognized that the making of Europe can only be understood as an intercivilisational process. 
Read more
 

5. GRANTS AND COURSES

5.1 Summer Schools
The University of Genoa-DISEFIN, Italy
The Bulgarian European Community Studies Association-BECSA, Bulgaria
The Babes- Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Are pleased to announce their European Summer School 2007.
European Summer School
Rapallo(Genoa), 29 May- 3 June 2007
"Migration Flows, Sustainable Development and Neighbourhood Policy in New EU Countries"
Admission is conditional on presentation by each researcher of his/her DRAFT research paper or research programme (poster) within the deadline of 15th of March 2007.
The final version of the papers has to be submitted by the 15th of April 2007.
Women are highly encouraged to apply.
The activity has received funds from the European Community's Jean Monnet Action.
No participation fee is required.
Travel and subsistance expenses fot the participants are covered by the European funds and the San Paolo Foundation contribution.
In order to apply please send your paper/research programme with a copy of your current CV to:
E-Mail: isteco@unige.it
or 
DISEFIN
Largo Zecca, 8/14-16124 Genoa
Tel. 010/2099024
Fax. 010/2099071

European Spring Institute in Prague.
Prague, Czech Republic
April 10-16, 2007
Prague's Centre for Public Policy (Centrum pro verejnou politiku- CPVP) and INstrategy- Institute for European and National Strategies have teamed up to organize the sixth institute On the Future of Europe: Lobbying in Brussels (ESI2007)
The European Spring Institute 2007 is a seven-day academic program designed to bring together 30 undergraduate and graduate students of various nationalities and academic backgrounds to enjoy thier spring holidays in the unique academic and cultural environment.
We also suggest students to submit their applications by Early Bird Application Deadline on February 28, 2007. The final deadline is March 7, 2007
E-Mail esi@cpvp.cz 
 
 

Masters in European Business and Transport Law
Consortio E.T.L. European Transport Law
The following are members of the Consortio:
- Alitalia;
- Autorita' Portuale di Trieste;
- Ferrovie dello Stato;
- Sea Aeroporti di Milano;
- Gruppo Coeclerici;
- Grimaldi Compagnia di Navigazione Aeroporti di Roma; and
- Alenia Aeronautica.
The Masters degree is organised by the E.T.L. Consortium and the Faculty of Law of the University of Udine.  The aim of the course is to train students to a new awareness of community regulations regarding business and transport law, and to train experts capable of communicating with the European Commission.  The course instructs thirty graduates, preferably in law and related subjects slected on the basis of their qualifications and an entrance exam, in the use of the regulatory instruments of Community law with regard to transport, free competition and market access. 
This year the Consortium reserves three free places for students coming from new EU member states and being able to comprehend Italian and English languages.
E-mail:consortio.etl@alitalia.it
Read more
 

International Trade Law Course
University Institute of European Studies, Torino, Italy
29th March - 22nd June 2007 
This is conducted in conjunction with ILO's International Training Centre in Turin for a limited number of law, economics and business administration graduates. It examines the economic, legal, financial, monetary, fiscal and technological aspects of international trade. Particular emphasis is placed on trade with Eastern Europe, the developing countries and the Far East, as well as trade within the European Union. The course lasts three months and is held in English. Some grants are provided for partial coverage of the living expenses of students. 
E-mail: tradelaw@iuse.it
Read more
 

N.B. If you want to include an activity in the next newsletter kindly send an e-mail to edrc@um.edu.mt

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