The Chairman of the Sports Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) Franco Frattini took part in the SIGA Inter-regional Summit, hosted in Doha on September 16th and 17th at Marsa Malaz Kempinski, on the topic “Sport Integrity – The Power of Collective Action in the Middle East, Asia and Africa’. Organized by SIGA, the summit is co-hosted by the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) and Qatar Airways, under the patronage of the Minister of Culture and Sports, H. E. Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali.

The conference is the occasion to discuss a number of important topics with experts and specialists in sport integrity from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The meeting also aims to highlight the gravity of corruption in sport in the region and to develop solutions by encouraging countries to adopt SIGA’s international standard legislation.


Franco Frattini, Chairman of SIGA, said: “We are delighted to hold our second Inter-Regional Summit in Doha and want to thank our partners for their support. The need for sport integrity is greater than ever and SIGA works relentlessly to deliver this fundamental mission. We call upon all countries, all governments and the entire sports industry to join us in this quest and support our efforts. By sports organizations adopting our Universal Standards we will ensure that the game is clean from undue influence and corruption.” SIGA, the world’s largest coalition in the field of sports governance and integrity, presents the Inter-Regional Summit as a neutral and action-oriented platform to bring together thought leaders and international experts from the world of sport, governments, global business and civil society to engage in an open dialogue on the most pressing issues surrounding the integrity of sport.

Source: Ambasciata d'Italia a Doha 


Speech delivered by Franco Frattini

Ladies and Excellences, 

I thank you all for coming from all over the world to this extraordinary regional forum in Doha. We are happy that the first, comprehensive SIGA regional forum in the Middle East on sport integrity is held, with the invaluable support of the government and our sponsors in a Country that is having the responsibility to organize – I’m sure very well – important sport world event, starting by athletics in few days. 

My warm thanks go first to Emanuel Medeiros, our CEO, and his staff, Katie first, for the tireless commitment to make this forum a great reality! I also warmly thank my vice – chairman and friend Mohammed, also deeply committed for a big event in his country, this Country. 

Being myself a judge dealing with anti-mafia cases at the Italian Supreme Court, I know well how much all the components of our societies run the risk to be permeated by criminality in its various forms, from the mafia’s contamination of economic sectors, to the penetration of organized crime and corruption in the field of sports. The universal values of Olympic Charter are first of all a very powerful instrument to educate the younger generations, towards fair and loyal competitions, rigorous training rules, and sacrifices to get every day better results; the pollution, the denegation of those values, instead, tends to lead the youth towards unfair rules to prevail anyway, or to get “easy money”. 

Many supranational Institutions focus now on this topic, from OECD, to the Council of Europe, to UNODOC, and, recently, even the G7, during 2017 German Presidency. Fighting together for sport integrity, rule of law, and international binding rules is and should be a moral, and then an institutional obligation, for States, sport governing bodies, law enforcement authorities, and private sector. In the world of today, organised crime, in search for more profit in a variety of sectors, diversifies its actions, from corruption, to tax crimes, to document forgery with the aim of maximizing economic profits, influencing the Public Administration, laundering illicit money and finally controlling entire territories. 

We have experience, also in Italy, and this is my judicial job, of infiltrations trough various, often converging instruments: from cash – intensive business, to figureheads, to secrecy jurisdictions. The common denominator is the promotion of cultural acceptance of corruption. Sport is now a new risk area; organized crime is unfortunately very attracted by huge flows of money around sports (first, professional football sector), by the visibility of sport events and even more, for the mafias, by the possibility of cleaning criminal reputation through creating consensus rooted in a given territory that they want to control. Failing cannot be an option! 

We call for a big, world alliance of rule of law against those that try to destroy our hopes! Many hidden forces are against us, working for the “Kingdom of the profit” at the expenses of our future and the one of the younger generations! I learned also in my judicial experience of President of the Italian High Court for Sport Justice – this is my second judicial hat – that the way to eradicate the cancer of corruption, spreading illegality, match fixing, exploitation of the youth, is to address and cut the financial routes of crime, that lead to enrich a few against the rest of our societies. From the tracking of sport financial transactions, to the attention needed to the management of sports clubs and facilities, to the ticketing activities, to a deep reform of the main sport governing bodies, to a fair public/private cooperation between decision makers. 

This is the way. 

It shouldn’t be just a dream, a new world where any euro or dollar confiscated to sport criminals under binding rules applicable worldwide is re-invested for new sport initiatives or infrastructures, to the good of the whole societies. Money earned illegally should be reversed to the good of honest people! SIGA aims at spreading worldwide common verification criteria for sports institutions and private sectors involved, to show a kind of “evidence of immunity” from criminal infiltrations and risks related. SIGA aims at promoting global binding rules on sports integrity. Those who like the status quo repeat that “sport should be autonomous and free from any imposition. But exactly because this is the essence of sport, I think that to be free and autonomous, all the sport activities must be first “crime – free!” 

I don’t want to see the current and the new generations live in a crime – dominated world of sport. It is within the reach, if we all believe in it. 

This is SIGA mission, this is why your support and commitment is the key to succeed! 

Thank you.

::::::::::

White Paper on sport integrity in January, says SIGA Chairman 

Irfan Bukhari | The Peninsula 

Praising Qatar’s efforts in promoting sports and sport integrity in the region, Chairman of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA), Franco Frattini, said that the Alliance will present in Rome a White Paper on sport integrity in January next year. 

“The next goal of the SIGA is to present proposals which can become one day binding rules at international level, applicable to all States in the international community. It is quite an ambitious goal,” said Frattini in an interview with The Peninsula. 

Frattini was in Doha to participate in the Inter-regional Sport Integrity Summit on the topic ‘Sport Integrity – The Power of Collective Action in the Middle East, Asia and Africa’. 

He said that the SIGA is an international alliance which has got together sports institutions, States, public institutions and private sector. “Our idea is to bring together all those aimed at improving integrity in the field of sport, preventing illegality and fighting all kinds of criminal activities related to sport.” 

Frattini served twice as Italian Foreign Minister (2002-2004 and 2008-2011), and as Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security (2004-2008). Frattini said that the first regional summit in Doha was an important step towards achieving SIGA’s goal of adopting universal standards. 

“The first Summit was the American SIGA Summit, which was held in March this year. Doha’s Summit is the first inter-regional summit in the Middle East.” He added that the SIGA would prepare a formal proposal in order to have universal standards to be accepted and applicable in States for sports governance. 

“Our aim is to finalize within few months a White Paper on sports integrity.” He said that suggestions for the White Paper would be collected from all the stakeholders such as States, sports federations, private and public institutions, to shape them into a final proposal. 

Frattini said that the SIGA White Paper would most likely be formally presented in Rome next year sometimes in January. He said that a ‘Common Verification System’ was already in place and very well operational. “Some entities decided to subscribe or accepted these standards to be applicable.” 

Frattini — who also served as President of the De Gasperi Foundation from 2011 to 2013—said that another extremely important idea of the SIGA was to propose to States that money confiscated from criminal organizations be reverted to good initiatives benefiting young generations, such as the construction of stadiums, courts, camps. 

“Every dollar confiscated should be re-used to implement these initiatives in the same country where it was confiscated,” he noted. He said that sports has become a ‘sector at risk’ because of huge flows of money. “Match fixing, briberies, money laundering through sports activities and criminal organisations are putting sport at risk”. Another horrible crime is the exploitation of young athletes by unscrupulous clubs. “Many young athletes from Asia, Africa and Latin America are bought by unscrupulous clubs which bring them to Europe and later they treat them as trash,” he said, adding that a strong fight against this phenomenon is needed. 

On SIGA’s achievement since it was founded in 2015, he expressed his complete satisfaction. “A number of new entities are asking to become full member of the SIGA. We have at present 115 members including States, sports federations, private and public institutions.” He said that the SIGA had signed memorandums of cooperation with many UN agencies and recently signed an agreement with US Sports Council. 

“The Summit in Doha is paving the way for expanding SIGA in the Middle East.” Talking about other SIGA projects in the pipeline, Frattini said that the SIGA was set to launch the initiative ‘Sports Integrity and Diplomacy’ to attract ambassadors for the adoption of common binding rules worldwide. He said that this initiative would be launched by the beginning of next year. To a question, he said that the role of all entities is important for sport integrity. 

“NGOs work on ground and report illegalities. Sports bodies can prevent the spread of corruption within the organizations. States make laws.” He said that the SIGA would give soon a presentation at the European Parliament. “I am also meeting soon the Commissioner for Sport in the European Commission with the aim to develop common rules in the European Union.” 

 Frattini said that he had high expectations with the summit in Qatar because it was being held for the first time in the Middle East. “It is a confirmation of the commitment to organize clean sports events in this part of the world.” 

 He said that Qatar had the capacity to organize clean sports events with no concerns and suspects. “Athletics Championship is set to start and then Qatar will host FIFA World Cup in 2022.” Regarding the preparation of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, he said: “They are simply amazing. I was the Foreign Minister of Italy when Qatar won the vote for hosting the 2022 World Cup. All preparations are very well-advanced. It will be a very successful sport event.” He also praised Qatar for its efforts to become a sports hub in the region. “We need countries which can become sports hubs in the region, which is currently critical for security and stability. 

Therefore the focus of the countries should be on sports instead of wars. It is better for everybody.” He said that Qatar had undertaken many important initiatives for the wellbeing of its people. “Likewise, the Italian Government and the Embassy of Italy in Doha are extremely committed to promote wellbeing by raising awareness – especially among young generations – on the importance of sport and sport values to conduct a healthy lifestyle. 

This shared approach could lead Italy and Qatar to work together to devote territories to sport and well-being by creating districts renowned for wellness expertise and high quality of life. This project could make of Doha the first example of ‘Wellness City’, contributing to channelize and guide people through a wellness path. Sport is a life habit not only a competition.”


The Peninsula - Summit praises Qatar’s sports integrity and governance 
September 18 2019: https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/18/09/2019/Summit-praises-Qatar%E2%80%99s-sports-integrity-and-governance 

Gulf Times - ‘Qatar is serious on campaign vs corruption in sports’, says SIGA chairman 
September 17 2019: https://www.gulf-times.com/story/641953/Qatar-is-serious-on-campaign-vs-corruption-in-spor 

Gulf Times - PM meets SIGA chairman 
September 17 2019: https://www.gulf-times.com/story/641942/PM-meets-SIGA-chairman 

Gulf Times - Minister meets SIGA officials 
September 17 2019: https://www.gulf-times.com/story/641889/Minister-meets-SIGA-officials 

The Peninsula - Sports summit aims to promote transparency, integrity 
September 17 2019: https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/17/09/2019/Sports-summit-aims-to-promote-transparency,-integrity 

Gulf Times - ‘Brand reputation and integrity vital for making sponsorship decisions’ 
September 17 2019: https://www.gulf-times.com/story/641955/Brand-reputation-and-integrity-vital-for-making-sp 

Gulf Times - QSL signs co-operation agreement with SIGA
September 17 2019: https://www.gulf-times.com/story/641956/QSL-signs-co-operation-agreement-with-SIGA

July 12 2019 - Joint Statement by the mediators and the observers in the Permanent Conference on Political Issues in the Framework of the Negotiation Process on the Transdniestrian Settlement in the 5+2 format following their 12 July 2019 visit to Chisinau and Tiraspol.

CHISINAU, 12 July 2019 - The mediators and observers in the Permanent Conference on Political Issues in the Framework of the Negotiation Process on the Transdniestrian Settlement in the 5+2 format visited Chisinau and Tiraspol on 12 July 2019 for talks with the Moldovan and Transdniestrian leaderships.

During their visit, the mediators and observers met in Chisinau with the Moldovan President Igor Dodon, Prime Minister Maia Sandu as well as Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration and Chief Negotiator Vasilii Sova. In Tiraspol they met with the Transdniestrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky and Chief Negotiator Vitaly Ignatiev.

The mediators and observers welcomed the political commitment shown by the leaderships of both Sides to further build on the positive dynamic in the Transdniestrian settlement process and to achieve further tangible results by the end of this year with regard to the implementation of the Berlin-plus package.

To that end, the mediators and observers urged the Sides to continue the active and substantive engagement in the joint expert working groups and to hold 1+1 meetings of the chief negotiators on a regular basis to provide these groups with the necessary guidance and they welcome in this regard the commitment by both chief negotiators to meet within the next two weeks. Taking into account the result-oriented approach, substantive political discussions in the 5+2 format can be convened in Bratislava, Slovakia within the next three months to take stock of the progress made with regard to the implementation of the Berlin-plus package and to identify further priority issues in the field of confidence-building measures. The mediators and observers further welcomed the readiness of both Sides to address selected priority issues from the joint expert working groups in a retreat to be organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova in Bavaria, Germany in autumn.

Talks in the 5+2 format include representatives of the Sides – Moldova and Transdniestria, the mediators from the OSCE, the Russian Federation and Ukraine as well as the observers from the European Union and the United States of America.


Source

The Italian Society for International Organization (SIOI – UNA Italy) together with the Students’ Movement for International Organization (MSOI/UNYA-Italy), in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, the United States Embassy to Italy and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Rome will launch #ZeroHackathon on Oceans and Poles.

ZERO is where we start from in building up this innovative contest that brings ideas and creative solutions to challenging problems taking into considerations the proposal of the new generation. 

This year the SIOI’s youth competition of ideas will focus on the role of sustainable development to address the consequences of climate change in the Arctic, Antarctic and Oceans. We will challenge more than 200 highly motivated young students from high schools and universities all around the world. 

They will gather in Rome from 2 to 4 October 2019, to take part in the third edition of the international youth competition where creativity, civic engagement and teamwork are key elements to success. Participants are invited to develop innovative, high-impact ideas and projects to promote international cooperation, rising awareness on the most pressing issues related to Oceans and Poles, strengthening resilience of multi-scale changes, addressing the rapidly changing climate and the consequences of pollution, improving a safe and secure use of marine protected areas and the Arctic and Antarctic resources. Those involved will work in teams and submit their final proposal via a video and/or a ppt presentation at the pitch session that will take place during the closing Ceremony. 

Proposals will be assessed by a multidisciplinary jury and judged based on their practicality, social impact and innovation. Prestigious institutional representatives, professionals and teachers will also participate in the event and make their knowledge and methods available in order to support teams in the development of their solutions.  The best proposals will be awarded! 

#ZeroHackathon: Oceans and Polar Connections will serve as a central venue in creating a connection between learning and doing, enabling young people to collaborate creatively, promoting the importance of cooperation and teamwork in order to tackle the most pressing global challenges.


More info: wwww.sioi.org and www.romunsioi.org 

Enjoy and Share the Official Video

Discussion with: H.E. Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, United Arab Emirates

EVENT SIOI : 25 June h 15.30 

Franco FRATTINI, President of SIOI and Omar ALSHAMSI, Ambassador of UAE in Rome 

Cordially Invite you to the Discussion with Dr Anwar Mohammed GARGASH 

Please register your participation to stampa@sioi.org

https://www.sioi.org/events/event-discussion-with-h-e-dr-anwar-mohammed-gargash-minister-of-state-for-foreign-affairs-uae/?event_date=2019-06-25

WFUNA EUROPEAN UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS MEETING: The new challenges to multilateralism 

Opening Ceremony- SIOI, 20th May, 2019 

Speech delivered by President Franco Frattini 

High Excellencies, 

Young delegates, 

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I am particularly glad to welcome you today at SIOI-UNA Italy to this important and unique event which we have been honoured to organize in cooperation with the World Federation of United Nations Association. 

 I thus wish to address my heart-felt thanks to Bonian Golmohammadi, WFUNA Secretary-General, for being here today. I would like to give a warm welcome to our special guests and Keynote speakers:  Marcela Villareal, Director, Partnerships Division FAO; Luis Jiménez Mcinnis on behalf of IFAD; Staffan De Mistura, Former Under-Secretary-General, UN Special Envoy for Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon; Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, UNICRI Director. 

The Italian Society for International Organization (SIOI) is an international non-profit organization that has been cooperating since 1944 with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. SIOI UNA Italy has its main office here in the centre of Rome, in Palazzetto Venezia, and has spread over national territory through all of its branches (Milan, Turin, Naples), the Office to support the United Nations in Assisi, and groups of the Students’ Movement for International Organization (MSOI). 

SIOI was founded in Rome on 4th October 1944, when Italy was still divided by war, on the initiative of a group of eminent personalities belonging to the cultural and political life. We are an historical Italian internationalist organization that since the post-war period has been working to carry on the most important negotiations of Italy's accession to the major international organizations. The then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alcide De Gasperi, in the Second Bonomi Government, in December 1944, saw the contribution that an institution such as SIOI could have secured to the Italian Government on its return to the international scene in the difficult years of the post-war transition. Convinced that the Italy would have received its full international legitimacy with the admission to the United Nations, he wanted to submit the nomination of SIOI to the World Federation of United Nations Associations. 

 In 1946, SIOI entered WFUNA, becoming the United Nations’ focal point in Italy considering that Italy was not yet a U.N. member state; indeed only in 1955 Italy’s long wait to join the United Nations Organization finally came to an end. The international action of SIOI-UNA Italy also corresponds to the intense government’s activity on the international front. Foreign policy becomes a priority for Italy: many of actions and strategies were born here at Palazzetto Venezia. These are the years in which our country finds a leading role on the international chess, and SIOI UNA Italy becomes a direct witness of the meetings (closed and public) that will lead to the birth of historic alliances, agreements and decisions. 

“The ceremony celebrating Italy's entry into the UN took place at Palazzo Barberini in Rome on 31 January 1956, at the presence of the President of the Republic Luigi Einaudi and of the highest authorities. The then President of SIOI Niccolò Carandini had the privilege to open the historical ceremony at which intervened the then Minister for Foreign Affairs Gaetano Martino, the SIOI Secretary General Roberto Ago, the special representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Georges Palthey and the Prime Minister, Antonio Segni. 

Minister Martino will say in his speech: “I believe I must be the interpreter of the feelings of all those who participate in this solemn meeting by expressing the greatest satisfaction to the leaders of the Italian Society for the International Organization for having conceived and proposed the act we are carrying out at this time in order to make the meaning of Italy's admission to the United Nations more evident and operative in the conscience of Italians (…)" "The Italian Society for the International Organization concludes tonight, with this act, a period and a cycle of its activity during which it acted for the creation in Italy of a strong current of public opinion in favour of the United Nations. This task was pointed out to SIOI since March 1946 by Alcide De Gasperi. The courageous and clairvoyant statesman considered that Italy's non-membership of the United Nations was not a less reason but one more reason to wish that the aims of the Organization were made known to the Italians and the notion of them could become an essential element of their political conscience. " 

That’s why our institutional aims are the diplomatic and international training, research and information on topics in international organizations, international relations, international cooperation, and international protection of human rights. SIOI School of Higher Education in International Affairs is devoted to post graduate students, civil servants, public administration officials, foreign embassies’ officers, private employees, and so on. 

Our historical course is the Master’s course in Diplomatic Studies. Since 1946 we have been preparing young for the diplomatic competition and I can proudly say that more than half of Italian diplomats were trained in our School. SIOI is also an active member of the forum ‘International Union of Diplomatic Academies’ (IFDT) in Vienna. Moving from tradition to the present time, SIOI is being working thanks to the strong connection to the United Nations and to our Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are particularly proud of the active cooperation and synergies with WFUNA and with the International Organization represented today by our guests. As an example, you will remember that the first edition of WFUNA International Model United Nations - WIMUN was jointly organized here in Rome in 2014.

I would like to share with you some of our special initiatives 2019 connected to the goals of the Agenda 2030. The UN Youth Delegate Programme 2019: SIOI-UNA Italy in collaboration with the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is promoting and organizing the third edition of the United Nations Youth Delegate Programme for Italian students (UNDYP Italy). Two young Italians aged between 18 and 30 will be selected for accompanying the government’s diplomatic delegation to the 74th UN General Assembly and represent the instances of young people at the highest level. 

ZEROHACKATHON 2019- SIOI - UNA Italy, in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, the United States Embassy to Italy and the Royal Norvegian Embassy, is launching the third edition of #ZeroHackathon on Oceans and Polar Connections . This youth competition of ideas will focus on the role of sustainable development to address the consequences of climate change in the Arctic, Antarctic and Oceans. More than 200 highly motivated young students from high schools and universities all around the world will gather in Rome on 2-4 October 2019. 

Participants are invited to develop innovative, high-impact ideas and projects to promote international cooperation, rising awareness on the most pressing issues related to Oceans and Poles, strengthening resilience of multi-scale changes, addressing the rapidly changing climate and the consequences of pollution, improving a safe and secure use of marine protected areas and the Arctic and Antarctic resources. 

In collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Italy and the High North Center for Business and Governance - Nord University (Bodø, Norway), SIOI UNA Italy SIOI will organize, on October 1st, a new edition of the International Symposium "Arctic Connections: a trust-building Arctic cooperation on Energy and Security". The event is part of a broader project of SIOI "Arctic Connections" which aims to strengthen bilateral relations with the Member States and Observatories of the Arctic Council, identifying possible areas of cooperation and dialogue. 

Through these initiatives, SIOI UNA Italy also aims to raise awareness among new generations and public opinion about the importance 

of sustainable economic growth and the consequences of climate change affecting the entire planet. Our mission is to foster the UN values and goals, spread knowledge of international policy issues through research and public conferences, promote the inclusion of young people on decision making at highest level through education and training, investigate issues such as global change, sustainable development, terrorism threats and international cooperation as core items in our Master courses. 

 We strongly believe that the United Nations - guided by the universal values enshrined in the Charter - has made the difference for a shared progress: diplomacy for peace, climate action, achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), digital innovation, fair globalization, global compacts on migration and refugees. 

In our rapidly changing world the values of peace, justice, human dignity, tolerance and solidarity are under attack but we need to drive our world forward by accelerating joint efforts to build security and stability around the globe. We need even more a shared vision for a global action. 

It’s clear that this meeting represents a great opportunity to renew and strengthen our cooperation and paving the way to future joint projects. We are honoured by your presence here. Thank you again for joining us. I wish you a fruitful meeting and please enjoy Rome in all its beauty!

Serbia: Frattini (Sioi) incontra ministro serbo Giustizia Kuburovic, focus su lotta a corruzione 

Belgrado, 23 apr 2019 15:31 - (Agenzia Nova) - Il ministro della Giustizia della Serbia, Nela Kuburovic, è stata oggi a colloquio con l'ex titolare della Farnesina e presidente della Società italiana per l'organizzazione internazionale (Sioi), Franco Frattini. 

Secondo quanto riporta una nota del ministero serbo, al centro dell'incontro è stata la lotta contro la corruzione messa in campo dal governo serbo. Secondo il ministro, la lotta alla corruzione non è mai stata in Serbia ad un livello così alto. 

"I progressi compiuti dalla Serbia sono stati riconosciuti innanzitutto dal Greco (gruppo di paesi per la lotta alla corruzione del Consiglio d'Europa), che nell'ultimo report ha confermato che la Serbia non si trova più nella lista dei paesi non soddisfacenti da questo punto di vista", ha detto Kuburovic. L'ex titolare della Farnesina ha salutato con favore i risultati raggiunti e sottolineato l'importanza dei risultati stessi, anche tenendo conto del fatto che la Commissione europea sta preparando il report annuale sui progressi della Serbia nel suo processo di integrazione europea.

Fonte: Agenzia Nova 

Europe must stand by the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine 

High-ranking former European politicians urge the EU to reject any US Middle East peace plan unless it is fair to Palestinians 

We are reaching out at a critical point in time in the Middle East, as well as in Europe. The EU is heavily invested in the multilateral, rules-based international order. International law has brought us the longest period of peace, prosperity and stability our continent has ever enjoyed. For decades, we have worked to see our Israeli and Palestinian neighbours enjoy the peace dividends that we Europeans have through our commitment to that order. In partnership with previous US administrations, Europe has promoted a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the context of a two-state solution. 

To this date, despite subsequent setbacks, the Oslo agreement is still a milestone of transatlantic foreign policy cooperation. Unfortunately, the current US administration has departed from longstanding US policy and distanced itself from established international legal norms. It has so far recognised only one side’s claims to Jerusalem and demonstrated a disturbing indifference to Israeli settlement expansion. 

The US has suspended funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and for other programmes benefitting Palestinians – gambling with the security and stability of various countries located at Europe’s doorstep. Against this unfortunate absence of a clear-cut commitment to the vision of two states, the Trump administration has declared itself close to finalising and presenting a new plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace. Despite uncertainty as to if and when the plan will be released, it is crucial for Europe to be vigilant and act strategically. 

We believe that Europe should embrace and promote a plan that respects the basic principles of international law as reflected in the agreed EU parameters for a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These parameters, which the EU has systematically reaffirmed during past US-sponsored talks, reflect our shared understanding that a viable peace requires the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel on borders based on the pre-1967 lines with mutually agreed, minimal and equal land swaps; with Jerusalem as the capital for both states; with security arrangements that address legitimate concerns and respect the sovereignty of each side and with an agreed, fair solution to the question of Palestine refugees. 

Europe, by contrast, should reject any plan that does not meet this standard. While sharing Washington’s frustrations about the unsuccessful peace efforts of the past, we are convinced that a plan that reduces Palestinian statehood to an entity devoid of sovereignty, territorial contiguity and economic viability would severely compound the failure of previous peace-making efforts, accelerate the demise of the two-state option and fatally damage the cause of a durable peace for Palestinians and Israelis alike. It is, of course, preferable for Europe to be working in tandem with the US to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as to address other global issues in a strong, transatlantic alliance. 

However, in situations in which our vital interests and fundamental values are at stake, Europe must pursue its own course of action. In anticipation of this US plan, we believe Europe should formally reaffirm the internationally agreed parameters for a two-state solution. Doing this in advance of the US plan establishes the EU’s criteria for supporting American efforts and facilitates a coherent and unified European response once the plan is published. European governments should further commit to scale up efforts to protect the viability of a future two-state outcome. It is of the utmost importance that the EU and all member states actively ensure the implementation of relevant UN security council resolutions – including consistent differentiation in accordance with UN security council resolution 2334, between Israel in its recognised and legitimate borders, and its illegal settlements in the occupied territories. 

Furthermore, recent escalating efforts to restrict the unhindered work of civil society have made European support for human-rights defenders in both Israel and Palestine, and their critical role in reaching a sustainable peace, more important than ever. Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories are sliding into a one-state reality of unequal rights. 

This cannot continue. For the Israelis, for the Palestinians or for us in Europe. Right now, Europe is facing a defining opportunity to reinforce our shared principles and long-held commitments in relation to the Middle East peace process and thereby manifest Europe’s unique role as a point of reference for a rules-based global order. Failing to seize this opportunity, at a point in time when this order is unprecedentedly challenged, would have far-reaching negative consequences.

When attending the Gaidar Forum in Moscow, housed by the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, an outstanding Italian politician Franco Frattini, President of the Institute for Eurasian Studies and Foreign Minister in two cabinets, gave an interview to Invest Foresight in which he touched upon economic and political hardships in the present day relations between Europe and Russia. 

As he pointed out, “In some countries of the EU there is a perception that cooperation with Russia has been improved and should be improved further. In some recent years many Italian investors decided to invest further in Russia despite the stupid policy based on sanctions which is affecting Europe and Italy more than Russia. It was a decision where others decide and we pay the price. So now there are some countries which are rethinking that policy.” 

“In Europe, we have a problem of trust towards the Russian Federation. There are countries which do not trust Russia at all. Other countries, on the contrary, including Italy, consider that if we want to restore a global order, we have to cooperate instead of promoting confrontation with Russia,” Franco Frattini said, adding “There is also a problem of leadership. It is to our advantage to cooperate to restore a global order instead of being affected by terrorism, poverty, instability, or mass migration. Unfortunately, there are not so many leaders in Europe now. If there is no leadership, nothing is possible.” 

In his view, “The time has come to think about lifting sanctions. For a renewal of sanctions, we need unanimity, yet there could be a number of countries, such as Italy, Greece, Austria, Hungary, Cyprus – that would be enough to avoid a renewal of sanctions. Regarding sanctions on Russia, we have to be very frank and very clear: is that in the interests of Europe? For me, it is not.” 

According to Franco Frattini, “Europe is hugely divided on foreign policy and on security policy. Unfortunately, there is division on some key pillars of European treaties and there is a need for a highest level political discussion on the good reasons and good advantages to stay together.”

Source: Invest Foresight 

Rome, 30 October 2018 - The Embassy of Republic of South Africa in Italy, SIOI and EURISPES, with the patronage of the Italian Network for the Euro-Mediterranean Dialogue (RIDE-APS) and of the Network of Anna Lindh Foundation in Italy, organized at SIOI in Rome a debate where experts and diplomats discussed the results of the BRICS' July 2018 summit in Johannesburg. 

After the greetings from SIOI President Franco Frattini and EURISPES President Gian Maria Fara, Amb. Shirish M. Soni, representing the current South African BRICS Presidency, described the new BRICS areas of cooperation and global development, which in the near future will have a significant impact on the international scene on areas and sectors of primary interest also for Italy. 

In light of the first decade of activity, the Ambassador of the Chinese People's Republic, Ruiyu Li, enlightened the BRICS impact on the economic and financial governance; the Ambassador of Brasil, Antonio De Aguiar Patriota, focused the large audience's attention on multilateralism and the BRICS proposed reform of the global governance's architecture; Pavel Knyazev, Vice-Director of the Policy Planning Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and responsible of the BRICS negotiations for Russian Federation, highlighted BRICS contribution for peace and security, particularly in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern turbulent areas; HE Sergey Razov, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Italy talked about the Russia's policies towards BRICS; the Vice Head of Mission of the Indian Embassy in Rome, Gloria Gangte, emphasized the BRICS action on the field of direct cooperation between peoples. 

After the first session, devoted to the speeches of the Bilateral and Multilateral BRICS Ambassadors, chaired by Franco Frattini, the second session, chaired by Eurispes Secretary General Marco Ricceri, opened with Dario Fabbri, SIOI lecturer and LIMES scientific advisor, who analyzed the geopolitical BRICS dimension. Enrico Molinaro, President of Mediterranean Perspectives and Secretary General of RIDE-APS, Head of the Anna Lindh Network in Italy, concluded the experts' debate presenting the acquis of the Eurispes Research Laboratory on BRICS, launching the proposal of setting up a permanent Forum Italy-BRICS, an innovative policy-oriented research instrument in cooperation with the BRICS Euro-Mediterranean coordination.










Source: ANSAmed

Tirana, 19 October, 2018

President of the Republic, Ilir Meta awarded on Friday "Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu" Decoration to the former Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and former European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, Franco Frattini. Meta appreciated the outstanding contribution of Frattini to strengthening the strategic relationship between Albania and Italy as well as his support for Albania's European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The President stated also that Frattini's support for Kosovo and Albania was extraordinary, and emphasized that Frattini leaded the historical process of Albanians' movement without visa toward BE. In the end, Meta said that Albania's main priority is the opening of accession negotiations in EU. The ceremony was held also by Democratic Party (DP) leader, Lulzim Basha, former Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, MPs and Ambassadors.

Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, received on Saturday the former Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and former European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, Franco Frattini. The last time he was in Tirana, was before five years and this time he was expressed very enthusiast for the big transformation that the capital has made. 

"It is a great joy to meet with the Mayor of Tirana, who welcomed me here as a friend, and as Mayor of the city where I am "Honor Citizen". I used to have a great affection for this city, for the citizens of Tirana, and for all of Albania. I have been here for the last time in 2013 and today I found a beautiful, cleaner, and above all, wonderful streets," said Frattini. Meanwhile, Veliaj was expressed happy that received Franco Frattini, who according to the Mayor, for what he has done for the city and country. "I am very happy today that I look forward to a honorary citizen of Tirana, the great Franco Frattini, with extraordinary gratitude for what he has done for our city and country, once with his authority in the European Union for visa liberalization and the fact that many from us today are not in the queue in embassies, they are able to travel freely. I am much honored that an honorary citizen of Tirana has not forgotten this city. I am glad that, as he continues his career in the Italian judiciary, he always keeps an eye, an ear and a head back for his honor city," said Veliaj.

SUSCO BUDAPEST 2018 – Environmental Migration – discusses issues on global climate-induced migration, understanding links between environmental constraints and social responses.

The 5th East-Central European Conference on Sustainable Development was held on 11 October 2018 at Eiffel Palace, Budapest

It points out the current changing environmental conditions around the globe and highlights the most affected regions, while searching for answers to questions, such as which are the interlinkages between human mobility and climatic factors. 

The migratory phenomenon, which is not only at the forefront of the European agenda but also at that of the International Community, is certainly one of those issues that has many dimensions, because there are many causes that induce or often force millions and millions of people in the world to leave their country to look elsewhere for a better future for themselves and their families.

Certainly, we know the immigration of those who come from African countries, in many cases because they flee from war, from crisis situations, from persecution; in many cases because they simply do not have jobs, they are looking for an opportunity to make money in Europe, and certainly poverty and humanitarian dramas are among the most recurrent causes of mass migration. Another important global theme that has been on the agenda of the United Nations for a long and long time, and on which the international community seeks proposals and solutions - not always with great results - is climate change and, connected to that, the theme of the protection of the environment in which we live.

Surely the great environmental issue, the issue of climate change, beyond the research that science is conducting - and I note that many people talk about it, but few know the subject in detail - has to do with immigration, in the sense that one of the factors that can induce or force women and children to emigrate is an alteration of the ecosystem, an alteration of the earth, of living conditions due to climatic effects, due to pollution or, more generally, to environmental degradation.

A first geographical scenario where this link between environmental degradation and emigration is particularly evident is found in Africa, with increasing desertification. In many Saharan and Sub-Saharan African countries, arid areas and desert areas are expanding; water resources are shrinking and we must imagine in a not distant future that, for example, water and access to drinking water will be one of the reasons for greater conflicts and friction, if not even war, between neighbouring countries that access the same basins for food, for irrigation, in short for life. Consider, for all, the increasingly dramatic situation of the Great Lake Chad, which bathes the coasts of countries that are in one of the arid areas of Saharan Africa most affected by migration problems, by immigration flows from south to north, but also by penetrations of extremely dangerous groups, cells, organizations of Islamic terrorism. And no doubt this situation has, and can always have, greater effects if we consider, for example, the growing exploitation of the Nile, which brings Sudan and Egypt to an ever-stronger contrast on the sustainability of the river exploitation and its consequences.

I remember - from the time when I was the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs - the terrible drought and famine that struck Kenya between 2008 and 2009, creating flows of millions of environmental refugees fleeing from areas where the desert was advancing, famine and lack of water and food were become total; obviously they burdened on neighbouring countries that had to set up refugee camps destined to host millions of desperate people, not for a few days or for weeks but for long, long time. We are therefore talking of phenomena that link a further migratory pressure to natural facts, linked precisely to environment. And certainly, next to desertification, as mentioned, there is the lack of resources (agricultural, water resources); there is the impossibility of cultivation and breeding; but certainly also the difficult relationship between the growing urbanization, which led to the formation of huge cities with people who left the countryside, and the terrible pollution of these megalopolises, in which millions and millions of people live, especially in the suburbs, in really terrible conditions. 

Immigration is therefore fuelled by concrete imminent threats, by the impossibility of continuing to live in a degraded or heavily polluted environmental situation or, more simply, by the combination of factors. Environmental degradation is often accompanied by depletion, because natural resources, the possibility of producing, and the possibility of cultivation are less; and - because along with environmental degradation and poverty there is often the lowering of the level of security - by the serious risk of crime that takes possession of entire territories.

All these phenomena, combined together, increase the despair of millions and millions of people and often force them to emigrate. It is evident - in this global scenario - that each country cannot have its own strategy, its own policy, its exclusively own national decisions. It is therefore evident too that such global phenomena require the implementation of global policies and global strategies, first of all by the system that is based and focuses on the United Nations which - not surprisingly - has long been looking forward to elaborate shared policies on the subject of environment and mass migrations.
As far as we Europeans are concerned, I believe once again that both the prevention and environmental protection strategies and those relating to the governance of immigration must be European policies and not national policies. In my opinion, the interventions to be taken should be concentrated above all on prevention.

Environmental prevention means, first of all, trying to contribute to the reduction of pollution levels, according to the rules and principles of the Paris Convention on climate and of the guidelines that have progressively been adopted; in fact, as it is well-known, Europe is a major producer of emissions into the atmosphere, and at the same time a positive and convinced player in the challenge to reduce emissions into the atmosphere and therefore pollution. So far, Europe has done more and better than what great global players have done - from the United States to China to India; and it has therefore set a good example on the availability of concrete instruments for a real reduction of global pollution.

However, it is clear that Europe, as well as the strategies of the United Nations, should concentrate on the most vulnerable regions of the world, those where the perverse effects of environmental degradation are most felt. It is essential that prevention measures for pollution are multiplied. I am referring, for example, to the huge metropolises that have been created in many African or Asian countries, where the level of pollution is really unbearable and where a planning of interventions, a concerted action for reduction instruments aiming to mitigate the environmental impact of life lack completely - while it would be indispensable. Then, in the areas of the world at risk of new desertification (in particular in Africa), it would be necessary to promote - as Italy has always done, albeit on a limited scale - agricultural projects to recover arable land to the desert, to employ labour helping at the same time environment and employment, because evidently agricultural land requires farmers, requires continuous processing and therefore gives new possibilities for employment, instead of emigration due to desperation and poverty.

I think that Europe could promote an environmental project for Africa, putting it among the guidelines of a recipe to prevent migratory phenomena, to ensure that millions of people do not leave for Europe when it is too late, perhaps, via the Mediterranean, just to be rejected or repatriated.

That would imply investing on the younger generations, on workers in the agricultural sector who, as I said, can help at the same time to save the land from the desert and to save so many families from poverty and unemployment. Europe should use the Fund for Africa in the best possible way, for example. That is a Fund that has so far been financed with a totally inadequate amount, less than one billion euros, less than what, for example, Europe has committed itself to giving for the prevention of illegal immigration for Turkey alone.

I think, for example, that if we invest a few billion euros through the Fund for Africa in projects of clean energy, environmental rehabilitation, agriculture, we could at the same time intervene on prevention against environmental degradation and on the deepest root of immigration that reaches our territories, that is unemployment and poverty.

I believe that Europe would have everything to gain by investing in the territories of origin of immigration, with targeted projects, without delivering a blank check in the hands of governments that are often hit by very serious phenomena of widespread corruption, but taking care directly of the planning, the realization of these projects and the disbursement of European taxpayers' money, in order to make it reach a right destination: a new rehabilitation project, a new dam to make the most of water, a new system of agricultural machinery to produce crops even in semi-desert areas.

Here, all these projects - I think - could put together our capacity for prevention against migratory flows that we must keep inside the territories of origin rather than fight only when it is too late; at the same time, we would invest in the protection of an environment that is very close to us but that anyway has some reflections on us.

This applies to the protection of the environment in Africa, in Asia, in the remote regions of the Arctic. Everything that happens in those lands, even far from us, will sooner or later certainly affect us too.

This is an important global challenge that requires vision and requires political leadership. There are measures that will bear fruit not today or tomorrow, but we must sow to make possible that the fruit is produced. In fact, if we keep letting things go as we have seen many times, situations will get worse, the quality of the environment and the lives of men will worsen and any intervention to repair will certainly be much more expensive and much more difficult than any intervention aimed at preventing.
I believe “prevention” must be the watchword for us Europeans, if we want to have a word heard on the international scene too.

Bucharest Forum 2018 When East Meets West: Collision, Collusion or Cooperation?
8-10 October, 2018 

Bucharest Forum is an annual high-level event organized by the Aspen Institute Romania and the Bucharest office of the German Marshall Fund of the US. Since its inception in 2012, the mission of the Bucharest Forum is to create a regional platform for forward thinking on economic and security policies and for promoting political dialogue between governments and the civil society. 

The seventh edition of the Bucharest Forum takes place between 8 – 10 October, 2018, at critical times for the region and Europe. 

The current international context is in flux, as on both shores of the Atlantic national politics is driven by new agendas and discourses, imprinting a consequent dynamics to international relations, and affecting economic trends at national, regional and international levels. Brought to the fore by grievances of a plurality of citizens who feel left out of mainstream politics and economy, the new political trend and its economic philosophy are generating antagonistic approaches and actions of various actors, leading to numerous clashes of interest, intention and outcomes. Indeed, the main feature of the current context is the numerous clashes being either in incubation phase or out in the open. 

By bringing together leading politicians, thinkers, journalists, and business representatives, Bucharest Forum offers a platform for the various actors to meet and discuss their interests, approaches and goals, analyze potential and existing clashes, their implications and results, and look for ways to maximize the potential benefits of diverging views and mitigate the consequent negative impact.

Mircea Geoana, President, Aspen Institute Romania opened the first day of Bucharest Forum 2018. Franco Frattini, President, Italian Society for International Organizations and Special Representative of the OSCE, Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, intervened after the key note address of Viorica Dancila, Prime Minister, Government of Romania.

The panel was centered on Cores and Peripheries in Europe: Is There a Future for the European Project?. The European project faces internal and external pressures and is in need to be adapted to both unexpected and predicted changes, demands and developmental trends. One of the most visible, if not the most important, rift within the Union is between core and periphery, both geographically, strategically and economically. Will this rift, together with the other forces, put an end to the project? Or can it be channeled towards increased coherence and further development?
The panel discussion was moderated by Andrew Wrobel, Head of Editorial, Emerging Europe
High Level Speakers: Baroness Denise Kingsmill CBE, Member of the House of Lords, Chair, Aspen Initiative UK , Franco Frattini, President, Italian Society for International Organizations and Special Representative of the OSCE, Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process , Jean-François Copé, Former Minister of the Budget, Mayor of Meaux, Lawyer at the Paris Bar.



"It would be a mistake if the European Union were to "punish" the United Kingdom for its intention of leaving the community bloc", Franco Frattini stated in the discussion about the future of the European project within the Bucharest Forum conference. At the same time, a "no deal" situation - the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union without an agreement following the negotiations with Brussels - would not be beneficial for the United Kingdom, Frattini pointed out, making an appeal in this context to "more leadership" on behalf of the EU. Frattini also made an appeal that Europe should take advantage of Brexit in order to become a real protagonist on the world stage, given that the presence of the United Kingdom proved to be an obstacle in certain fields, mentioning in this sense the security and common defence policy. An agreement is highly desirable through which the European Union can keep a close relationship with the United Kingdom and in equal measure it would be good for the latter not to sever its ties with the community block, Franco Frattini recommended.



More info on the Forum agenda

Follow the event : @BucharestForum

The 15th Annual Meeting of Yalta European Strategy (YES) – “The Next Generation of Everything” – September 13-15, 2018 in Kyiv. 

Over 400 leading politicians, diplomats, businessmen, civil activists and experts from 28 countries took part in the conference organized by the international forum YES in partnership with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation. 

The forum’s first day started off discussing the “big picture” of the global future as seen by different experts. The sessions continued with discussions of the future of democracy in an age of disinformation and elections meddling, the futures of the US and Europe, the impact of new trade wars to the future of the global economy, and the future of NATO. Special attention was paid to the promise of blockchain technologies. 

The concluding panel of the first day featured an in depth discussion on creating a digital society with President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid. 

The speakers included: Alejandro Alvargonzález, Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, NATO; Tony Blair, Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute and former UK Prime Minister; Jared Cohen, Founder and CEO, Jigsaw; Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President for the Euro and Social Dialogue, also in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, European Commission; Niall Ferguson, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University; Bill Ford, Chief Executive Officer, General Atlantic; Franco Frattini, President of SIOI, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy (2008-2011); Yasmin Green, Director of research and development, Jigsaw; Pavlo Klimkin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; Ray Kurzweil, inventor, author, futurist; Bernard-Henri Lévy, Philosopher and Writer; Michael McFaul, U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2012-2014), Stanford Professor and Hoover Institution Senior Fellow; Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Founder of Rasmussen Global, Secretary General of NATO (2009-2014), Prime Minister of Denmark (2001-2009); Condoleezza Rice, 66th U.S. Secretary of State (2005-2009); Hernando de Soto, President, Institute for Liberty and Democracy; Larry Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor, Harvard University; Manuel Valls, Prime Minister of the French Republic (2014 – 2016).

In addition to Richard Haass, Stephen Sackur, host of BBC HARDtalk, Gillian Tett, U.S. Managing Editor of the Financial Times, and Fareed Zakaria, host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, moderated the discussions. 

Watch the full version of the Panel The future of Europe: https://youtu.be/bJK4bV7_zqk

The official Twitter handle of the 15th YES Annual Meeting is @yes_ukraine, and participants and followers can include the hash tag: #YESUkraine2018