(Dear Prime Minister, President of the Council, Mr Janez ... - INePA

Govor predsednika Evropskega parlamenta Hans-Gerta Pötteringana ustanovitveni slovesnosti Evro-sredozemske univerze v SlovenijiPortorož, 9.6.2008Velja govorjena besedaEmbargo do 18. ure!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Spoštovani gospod predsednik Vlade in predsednik SvetaEvropske unije gospod Janez Janša,(Dear Prime Minister, President of the Council, Mr JanezJanša)spoštovani gospod predsednik Evropske komisije gospodJosé Manuel Barroso,(Dear President of the European Commission, Mr José ManuelBarroso)spoštovani gospod generalni sekretar Arabske lige gospodAmr Moussa,1

(Dear Secretary General of Arab League, Mr Amr Moussa)spoštovani gospe in gospodje!(Ladies and Gentlemen)Vesel sem, da sem lahko danes z vami na slovesni otvoritviEvro-mediteranske univerze.It is a great honour for me to address this inauguration ceremonyto mark the opening of the Euro-Mediterranean University inPortorož, Slovenia.Young people are the future of the European Union and of theMediterranean region. What better way to increase theunderstanding of each other's cultures than to bring togetheryoung people from both sides of the Mediterranean throughstudy programmes specifically aimed at increasing theirknowledge and mutual understanding.I am delighted with the choice of Slovenia for the location ofthis University. The country with a mere 46 kilometres ofMediterranean coastline will now play a vital role in Euro-Mediterranean relations.2

Since the original idea to create a Euro-MediterraneanUniversity was raised in the final resolution of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly in Rabat, Tunisia, in2005, the Culture Committee of the E.M.P.A. has followed theinitiative very closely. It was taken up enthusiastically bySlovenia leading to the establishing of the University in thehistorical town of Piran.EMPA's Culture Committee Working Group on the Euro-Mediterranean University played a very positive andconstructive role together with advisors from EMUNI (Euro-Mediterranean University) and politicians from Slovenia.I, myself, have been very impressed by the commitment, thepolitical will and the enthusiasm demonstrated at all levels. You,Prime Minister Janez Jansa, together with your Ministers,officials and advisers, worked together to make this project areality and I sincerely congratulate you on this.I also welcome the commitment of Slovenia to providing theinfrastructure for the University in Piran and the initial fundingof the university and I am sure that the European Commission,represented today by its President my friend José Manuel DuraoBarroso, will find ways to make an important contribution to thefuture of this venture.3

The European Parliament remains committed to the success ofthe University and we have asked our first Vice-president - MrsRodi Kratsa-Tsagoropoulou - to take on the task of monitoringthe progress of the University.(I am delighted that the European Parliament will berepresented on the Honorary Board of the University TrustFund.)As you all know, the European institutions designated 2008 the‘European Year of Intercultural Dialogue’ in order todemonstrate their strong and growing political commitment tomainstreaming intercultural issues in the European Union’sdomestic and foreign policy agenda.Since the beginning of this year, the European Parliament hasorganised and hosted a wide range of Intercultural activities andinitiatives. We have invited a series of eminent personalitiesfrom different cultures to address a plenary session ofParliament. Each of our Committees and bilateral delegationshas incorporated the theme into its work programme.Last month, I invited young Israeli and Palestinian leaders forfour days of dialogue with young Europeans on the problems of4

the region. In the second half of the year we will host an AfricaWeek in September and an Arab Week in November, incollaboration with the African Union, the Arab League and thebilateral Embassies. We hope that these events, includingseminars, expositions, concerts - will help to illustrate just howenriching the exchange of cultures can be.Convinced that young people are the future of the region, inNovember, the European Parliament will also hold the first ever‘EuroMedScola’. Euroscola is a popular initiative wherebyschoolchildren from all EU countries are welcomed to theEuropean Parliament for a day’s parliamentary activities. Thisyear – for the first time ever – Euroscola will also be extendedto the 10 Southern Mediterranean countries. I sincerely hopethat this will become an annual event.Dialogue can act as a bridge, a bridge towards peace, a bridgeover the Mediterranean, linking states, peoples and humanbeings.If we can come to respect and appreciate the authentic dignity ofeach and every human person – and find a way to live and worktogether – this may help resolve some of the most difficultproblems facing us.5

What better way to start than by encouraging and making itpossible for future generations to come together to study in thisbeautiful location and to work on this process.Univerzi in bodočim študentom želim veliko uspehov indobrega sodelovanja.(I wish to the University and to the future students a lot ofsuccess and of fruitful cooperation.)6