CONTENTS:
1.       A Word from the Chairman
2.       EDRC News
2.1     Civil Society Project Report 2007
2.2     MESA Seminar
2.3     MESA Online Papers
2.4     Civil Society Project Conference
3.       News and Events
3.1     Malta
3.2     Europe
4.       Call for Papers
5.       Summer Schools and Courses
5.1     Summer Schools
5.2     Courses

1. A WORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Dear friends of the EDRC, 

I have to report yet another busy year at the EDRC. Student numbers continue to increase. We have thirty B.A. graduates of our own, and have taught over 350 students over the year. We are literally overwhelmed on the course front, but hope to be able to supplement our teaching staff in the near future. But there has also been much activity on the research and publications front, including Project work. Apart from notable individual successes, with major publications for all EDRC staff, I am pleased to announce the publication of our third Civil Society Project Report on Business Ethics and Religious Values. Please note the Annual Conference will be held on this theme on the 20th of September. Book your place now by contacting Ms Doris Mangion, and we hope to see many of you there for what is certain to be a most stimulating public discussion. Several prominent key speakers, including our own MEPs, two former MEPs, and some prominent academics from the Mediterranean region and the EU will be speaking. 

You will also find on our webpage the text of the lectures given in the course of our Malta European Studies Association series of public lectures on the Constitutional Treaty, or better now the Reform Treaty. We have had several distinguished guest speakers, including old friends like Professor Jo Shaw and Professor John Usher but also some new ones. In particular, we were pleased to host Professor Maziere, whose visit from France was made possible by the French Embassy in Malta. My thanks to His Excellency Ambassador Rives and to Mme Debeusscher, in particular. We have also had occasion to host the German Ambassador as a speaker on the German Presidency of the Council and other speakers from Germany, and our thanks also to the German Ambassador and his team. We hope to continue to collaborate, and ever more closely, with the representations of all nations in Malta in future.

In the meantime, for the benefit of our students, we are pursuing several possible avenues of further collaboration; for example with Bologna on Erasmus exchanges, with TEPSA on European studies networks. Students should bear these developments in mind and make periodic enquiries of the responsible members of staff before making final decisions about placements and so on.

The theme for the Civil Society Project this year is: The Fight Against Poverty. The research group has been almost fully assembled and work is starting. However, I encourage any reader who wishes to contribute to this study to approach me.

I also give notice that we plan another event on the Reform Treaty for September. Please watch this and all other spaces for further news.

Finally, congratulations to Doris and Joanne for bringing into the world two fine baby boys. They worked very hard with true loyalty to the EDRC in order to minimize disruption to our work, and all deadlines were well met. So a big thank you to loyal staff, and Congratulations to them and their families.

There is much other news in this Newsletter. My thanks as always to Doris Mangion and all who have contributed over the last year. And congratulations to Roderick Pace on his promotion to Associate Professor. We all know how much real effort he has put in over the years as co-ordinator of the day to day running of our courses at the EDRC. Well Done!

I look forward to seeing you all at our Conference in September.

Peter G. Xuereb

2. EDRC NEWS

2.1 Civil Society Project Report 2007
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 was launched on 2nd April.  It was reviewed by Dr Joanna Drake, Head of the Commission Representation Office in Malta and Rev. Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott. Those who register for the Civil Society Project's full-day Conference which will take place on 20th September will get a copy of the publication. 

2.2 A Constitution or just another Treaty for the EU?
This is the title of a MESA Seminar by Prof. John Usher, Professor of European Law and Head of the School of Law, University of Exeter 
Date: 19th July 2007
Time: 1730hrs refreshments and 1800hrs Seminar
Venue: The Reading Room, Level 3, Radisson SAS Baypoint Resort, 
             St. Julians

On 23rd June 2007, the European Council agreed the principles underlying a new “Reform Treaty”, the detailed text of which is due to be completed before the end of the year. To a remarkable extent, this Treaty would appear to take up the ideas of the 2004 Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe, but there are major differences. In particular it will take the form of a series of amendments to the existing EU and EC Treaties, rather than replacing them with a single text. However, the EC Treaty will be renamed the “Treaty on the Functioning of the Union”, and it is declared that the EU will have a single legal personality. The seminar will therefore give an overview of the likely changes resulting from the Reform Treaty.

More specifically, the Constitutional Treaty, which received a positive vote in Malta, could be regarded as favourable to Malta’s interests with regard to voting rights in the Council and with regard to representation in the European Parliament, and the seminar will examine the extent to which these changes are likely to be maintained in the Reform Treaty. It will also particularly look at the structure of the European Central Bank, given that Malta will be joining the euro zone in January 2008.

2.3 MESA Online Papers
The following papers presented in MESA Seminars are now available online:
(1) The English version of the paper presented by Prof. Jo Shaw on 
21st December 2006 has been online for quite some time.  The Maltese version titled:
It-Trattat Kostituzzjonali: Nergghu intuh il-Hajja, Inhalluh jorqod ir-Raqda Twila, jew Noqtluh? is now available online.
(2) Social Models: An EU Forecast is a paper which was presented at a MESA Seminar on 29th April 2007 by Prof. Pierre Maziere, Professor at the Paris V - Rene Descartes University, Paris.  This visit was made possible with the support of the French Embassy in Malta.
(3) Balancing European and National Interests: The Draft Constitutional Treaty as a Federal Compromise Prof. Constantine A. Stephanou, Jean Monnet Chair of European Organisation, Panteion University, Athens presented this paper at a MESA Seminar on 1st June 2007. 

2.4 CSP Conference: Business Ethics and Religious Values in the European Union and Malta - For a Moral Level Playing Field
Date: 20th September 2007
Venue:  Radisson SAS Baypoint Resort, St Julians
Speakers:
Prof. Peter G. Xuereb, Professor of European and Comparative Law; Jean Monnet Chair; Chairman EDRC, University of Malta

Dr Simon Busuttil, MEP, (EPP)

Mr Joseph Muscat, MEP, (PES)

Prof. Franco Praussello, Lecturer, DISEFIN, University of Genoa

Prof. Tonino Perna, Lecturer, Universita degli Studi di Messina

Prof. Ted Fuller, Lecturer, Teeside Business School, University of Teeside

Prof. Enrique Banus, Director, Jean Monnet Chair of European Culture, Centre of European Studies, University of Navarra 

Ms Irene Soltweder Schafer, Former Greens MEP, Germany (1994-1999)

Mr Michael John Hindley, Former PES MEP, UK (1984-1999)

A detailed Conference Programme will be available shortly on our website.
The Conference is open to all those working in the field, thinkers and scholars, NGO experts and officers, decision-makers in the public domain and members of civil society in general.  The audience is given the opportunity to voice its views during the workshops and discussions.  A copy of the Civil Society Project Report 2007 will be given in advance to all those who register for the Conference.  A CD including the Report and the Conference proceedings will also be available for the Conference participants.
Registration Form

3.NEWS AND EVENTS

3.1. MALTA

The European Commission Representation in Malta's latest innovation and modern means of communication is the revamp of the new website
An interesting feature on the website is Dr. Joanna Drake's blog as the Head of Representation
Interesting articles on the latest EU and local issues are online every Thursday. 

New Malta - EU approved flexible corporate tax rules
On the 16 March 2007, Act II of 2007 introduced new amendments to Malta's corporate tax system. These new amendements are very positive to Malta because they have the formal seal of approval from the EU and have remained very flexible and appealing to financial services in Malta. Hence, this completes the adherence of Malta's financial and corporate legal framework to EU law. Moreover, it also continues to give a great opportunity to Malta as a well regulated financial centre with low operating costs and availability of a suitably skilled workforce.
Following Malta's accession to the European Union in 2004, the EU Code of Conduct Group and the DG Competition were very much concerned about Malta's tax laws in relation to international trading companies (ITC) and companies operating a foreign income account (FIA) which discriminated between residents and non residents. According to these rules refunds were only available on ITC and FIA profits and were only available to non residents. 

3.2. EUROPE 

Commission launches Public Consultation on New Anti-discrimination Measures: Consultation Process from 4th July 2007 to 5th October 2007
"We want to hear the views of as many people as possible on how to take on discrimination effectively in areas such as healthcare, education and housing."
"The EU already has some of the most extensive anti-discrimination laws in the world. But we want to make sure that protection against discrimination is focused where it is most needed and that the right balance is struck between everyone involved – be they individuals, employers, public authorities or associations."  These are statements Mr Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities following a recent Eurobarometer survey (January 2007) that showed that 64% of Europeans believe discrimination is widespread in their country and 51% think that not enough is being done to combat the problem.

The Commission has announced that it will put forward new initiatives in 2008 to prevent and combat discrimination outside the labour market based on gender, religion, belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Commission initiatives have to be accompanied by an Impact Assessment, which analyses the pros and cons of the various options available. The results of the public consultation will feed into this process.
Participate in the online consultation

Council Conclusions on Extending and Enhancing the Global Approach to Migration
The Conclusions of the General Affairs Council on Extending and Enhancing the Global Approach to Migration which was held in Luxembourg on 17-18 June 2007 

"Image and Identity in Contemporary Europe"
University of Wales
Bangor, Wales, United Kingdom
7-9 September 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. 

The speakers will 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
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

5th EUPRA Conference: “Challenges of Peace and Democracy in Europe”.
Sakarya University, Turkey
21st – 24th August 2007
The conference of the European Peace Research Association (EuPRA) in co-operation with Sakarya University, Department of International Relations. Conference Coordinator: Dr. Nesrin Kenar, Assistant Professor, Sakarya University E-mail: nkenar@sakarya.edu.tr

37th UACES Annual Conference on "Exchanging Ideas on Europe 2007: Which Common Values, Which External Policies?"
Centre for European and International Studies Research, University of Portsmouth UK
3th - 5th September 2007
Read more

2007 European Congress on "Transcending Europe's Borders: The EU and Its Neighbours"
Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany 
2nd - 4th August 2007
Read more

European Sociological Association (ESA) 8th Conference on "Conflict, Citizenship and Civil Society"
Glasgow (UK)
3rd - 6th September 2007
For further information send e-mail to: esa8thconference@gcal.ac.uk 
Read more

Beyond the Nation: Critical Reflections on Nations and Nationalism in Uncertain Times
Queen's University, Belfast (UK)
12th -14th September 2007
Read more

Making Sense of a Pluralist World: Sixth Pan-European Conference on International Relations
University of Turin, Italy
12th -15th September 2007
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

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
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

Nationalism(s), Postnationalism(s) Annual International Two-day Conference
CICLAS – Université Paris Dauphine, France.
11th – 12th October 2007 
For further information, e-mail: martine.piquet@dauphine.fr or deirdregilfedder@yahoo.fr

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 array of world-wide events categorised according to country, date or type of event. This site will constantly remain online for the duration of 2007.

EU Citizens Ask for More EU Action in the Field of Family Law which is at heart of their concerns and in the 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 shown by a recent Eurobarometer Survey, are asking enhanced EU wide attention to ensure clarity and legal certainty about the nature of family law regulations such as divorce settlements, child custody dealings and inheritance.
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 expect 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 challenge 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 the Single 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 challenges."
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 the 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

4. CALL FOR PAPERS

Much ado about nothing? The European Neighbourhood Policy since 2003 University of Nottingham, UK
25th -26th October 2007

The organisers of this workshop invite paper proposals in three broad areas: 
-  What are the appropriate methods and theories for the study of the ENP? 
-  How does the ENP fit into the broader framework of the EU's external relations 
   and foreign and security policies? 
- What are the achievements of the ENP to date, and how can we explain successes 
   and failures in individual cases and of the policy more generally?

Papers can be theoretical/conceptual in nature, and/or focus on one or more case studies. It is envisaged that selected papers will be published in an edited volume and/or special issue of a relevant journal.

Proposals (to include a paper title and a 250 abstract of the proposed paper) should be submitted via e-mail as MS Word attachment to Richard Whitman r.g.whitman@bath.ac.uk and Stefan Wolff stefan.wolff@nottingham.ac.uk

Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies Mediterranean Programme
Ninth Mediterranean Research Meeting 
Florence and Montecatini Terme - Italy
12th - 15th March 2008
Call for papers deadline: 7th September 2007
Eligibility and Financial Support:
- Candidates should be actively pursuing research on the topic of the workshop they 
   apply for and should present an original paper closely in line with the indications 
   provided by the workshop directors.
- Scholars of all nationalities are welcome to apply.  Especially encouraged are 
   participants from Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries.
- Most participants will receive a travel allowance and hotel accommodation during the
   meeting is available for participants at a reduced rate.
Read more

 European Development Aid and NGOs: Changing Notions of Civil Society in "North" and "South"
Goodenough College, London WC1
12th-14th March 2008
Call for papers deadline: 15th September 2007
This international conference is a joint cooperation between the LSE Centre for Civil Society and the CINEFOGO Network of Excellence under the 6th EU Framework Programme.

The aim of the conference is to investigate the changing approaches of European development aid towards European and Southern NGOs and the effects of these on the participation and well-being of poor and marginalised groups in developing countries. The conference reflects critically on the ways in which the concept of civil society is conceptualised in the `North’ and `South’, the strategies of support for civil society used by European donors, on the relationships between NGOs and other groups within civil society, and the changing power relations between European and Southern NGOs in the so-called North and South.

Key plenary speakers include Professor Neera Chandhoke, Director of Centre for Developing Countries Research Centre, University of Delhi and Professor Partha Chatterjee, Department of Anthropology, University of Columbia, USA

To submit a paper - If you wish to present a paper at the conference, please submit an abstract of 300 words + CV by September 15th 2007 to Jane Schiemann at the Centre for Civil Society at ccs@lse.ac.uk . Your abstract should indicate clearly the strand into which it falls. You will be informed by October 15th as to whether your abstract has been accepted. Conference papers should be 6,000-7,000 words in length. 

5. SUMMER SCHOOLS AND COURSES

5.1 Summer Schools

ERA Summer Courses 2007
Participation in one of the courses will enable those interested to up-date themselves in legal knowledge and be informed about important developments in different areas of EU Law.
Read more

International Jean Monnet Summer School on "EU external relations: Africa and Asian Areas"
Innsbruck and Trento
2nd - 15th of September 2007
E-Mail: migractivities@yahoo.fr
Read more

Summer Academy on Political Consulting and Strategic Campaign Communication
International University in Germany, Bruchsal
25th – 29th September 2007
Read more

5.2 Courses

Advanced Diploma in European Studies 2007/2008'. 
Application deadline: 3rd September 2007
CONTENTS: Institutions, Law, Economics and Policies of the European Union
PERIOD: October 2007 - July 2008
COURSES: The study programme, divided into two full-time semesters includes courses, seminars and lectiones magistrales for a total of 400 hours.
ACADEMIC STAFF: The academic staff is made up of senior national and EU directors, university professors and experts in European Union issues.
PARTICIPATION: The programme is designed mainly for young graduates from EU and non-EU member countries holding university degrees in economic, legal, political and social areas.

European College of Parma Foundation
Segreteria Dase
Borgo R. Tanzi 38/B
43100 PARMA (ITALY)
TEL. +39 (0)521 207525
FAX +39 (0)521 384653
E-Mail: info@colleuparma.org
Read more

Master in European Studies: Community Advisor and Consultant
European Master, Brussels
17th September - 14th December 2007
Designed for those who wish to study, experience Europe, the sixth edition of the Master in European Studies is a postgraduate programme which provides students with a specialised grounding in teh European dimension at the institutional, policy and funding levels.  It is organised by the European desk of the Belgian-Italian Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Institute of European Studies of the Universite libre de Bruxelles. 
This three-month intensive coures teaches European planning to young people, enabling them to design and manage quality projects, which follow the guidelines of the European Commission.
The past editions have been a real springboard for those who wanted to build their career in the field of project building, management and lobbying at European level.
E-Mail: info@europeanmaster.net
Tel: +32 2230 5797
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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