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Interview with Eric Roux, new elected Chair of the United Religions Initiative (URI)

By
Juan Sanchez Gil
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URI is known as the largest international grassroots interfaith cooperation organization in the world. It brings people of all faiths together in more than 100 countries on all continents. We had the opportunity to interview Eric Roux, its newly elected Chair.

In a world like ours, where conflicts are increasingly covering the face of the earth, and where religions have failed to prevent it, if not contributed to it, why would interfaith matter?

I wouldn’t say that “religions failed” more than “governments failed” or “the UN failed”, “the OSCE failed”, etc. In fact, if you want to put the blame on someone, you should say that we, as humanity, have failed until now to prevent wars and conflicts. None of us can exclude ourselves from the responsibility of our world. But blame does not solve anything. Many people think of interfaith as an activity where some people from two or three mainstream religions meet and come out with a wishy-washy statement calling for world peace. That’s not what it is.

We, at URI, do interfaith cooperation. That means that we bring people together, from different faiths, the more inclusive the better, and we make sure that we work together toward a specific purpose. So let’s say that your interfaith cooperation group is working on environmental issues. Their primary focus will be to be efficient in that field. But one immediate side effect will be that they will have to share the space with their fellows from other religions, to share the same reality of their mission, and to communicate together to accomplish their goals. The result will be that they will understand each other, will become friends, and that itself contribute to a more peaceful world. Of course, it’s all about the scope and size of these activities. It requires a lot, a huge lot of cooperation to have a noticeable effect at global level.

So, how does it work, concretely?

In URI, it’s the grassroots which leads the effort. We have more than 1,200 groups on the ground, all over the world, which we call “cooperation circles”. They are composed of people of different religions or spiritual traditions, who have decided to work together to create a positive impact in specific fields. Some are engaged in the restoration of the environment and the preservation of the Earth from the consequences of the climate change. Some will focus on the prevention of religiously motivated violence and organize healing sessions between communities at odd to create communication between them. Some are focusing on artistic performances that bring together people who otherwise would never learn from each other. Some are working against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, along with the UN. Others will dedicate themselves to protect the rights of indigenous communities when their spiritual traditions are endangered by bigotry and vested interests. As well as dozens of other topics or sub-topics. But at the end of the day they all contribute to the purpose of URI, which is to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice, and healing for the Earth and all living beings.

At a lunch organized by the Sikh community, Parliament of the World Religions 2023
At a lunch organized by the Sikh community, Parliament of the World Religions 2023

And how would you describe the difference between URI and other interfaith organizations?

It’s the grassroots component which really makes the difference. Several big interfaith organizations put the stress on religious leaders, mainly from the big religious organizations. While bringing aboard religious leaders is important, we believe that to really create a broad impact, you need to give a chance to everyone to contribute. And you can be surprised by some people of faith or not who don’t hold any title, and are not religious leaders, and can in fact be leaders in their community when it comes to advancing the good. It’s not that we criticize other international interfaith organizations, as we are partners and they do a great and crucial job, but ours is a vital complement to it. Both is necessary: religious leaders, and individuals who want to dedicate their life, or part of their life, to bring about a better world where people of all faiths or none can live together in harmony. I am not saying we are the only ones to do that, but that’s what makes us special, as an large international organization.

In fact, the board of trustees in URI is made of people who are grassroots interfaith activists, from all regions of the globe. They are elected by the cooperation circles themselves, among themselves. It’s not top-down, it’s bottom-up, and finally circling in a virtuous way. Those who know the difficulties on the ground are those who will help URI defining its strategy to overcome the challenges. They are helped and supported by a staff made of people who are super-dedicated to interfaith and to the purpose of URI. Being a staff in URI, whether you are the Executive Director, a Senior Director, a regional coordinator or any other post, is not a normal job. It’s a mission, a peace-making mission which is led by people who are heart and soul for fostering understanding and collaboration between people of all faiths and spiritual traditions.  

Sorry to ask a provocative question, but do you really believe that an organization like URI is able to bring peace on Earth, end religiously motivated violence and bring justice to all living beings?

You know, the bad behaviors behind wars and violence are contagious. But so are positive behaviors. Most of the people are interested in living their life in harmony with others. Very few are those who really love war. When they see examples of good behaviors between people who have different backgrounds, they find hope again.

Few days ago, I received a message from one of our cooperation circles in Sri Lanka, as they had started a project to restore the mangrove ecosystems in a lagoon in Puttalam District. That may sound minor, but it’s not. First of all, when they do that, they bring together members of the surrounding villages who come to participate to the action, and all of them mingle with people who don’t have the same faith than them, sharing a joyful experience of doing something positive for their society. That’s much more powerful than bad behavior, as that will stay in their soul as a sunny truth. Those people will be much more difficult to convert to violence, as they have tasted the good of living together in peace and cooperating toward positive goals. That will not stop the war in the Middle East, you can tell me. Well, I guess not, unless you believe in the butterfly effect. But let’s say that around the lagoon, only 1,000 people noticed it. Their lives are changed by it. You multiply this by 1,200 (the number of cooperation circles) and 365 days in a year, and you start having quite a better number of people touched by positive interfaith cooperation. But even if it was just that 1,000 people in Sri Lanka, it would be worth it. Not to mention the positive effect on the mangrove, which will enable future generations to survive better.

Eric Roux with a Druze leader, Brussels
URI volunteers in the mangrove, Sri Lanka

I’m not saying it’s enough. We are very aware of the need to grow and increase the cooperation, everywhere, anytime, if we want to have a chance to counterbalance the chaos created by a few. But we know by experience that this is the way: bringing people together and have them work toward a common positive goal, where all have a chance to help, contribute, and create.

I would add this little thing: yes, the world is not doing well, and yes there are wars and conflicts, religious persecutions, injustice, bigotry, hate speech, terrorism as well as a tremendous environmental challenge nowadays. Nevertheless, we should never forget that beautiful things exist too, and that many things in the world are doing well. A lot of people are working for the good, a lot of initiatives are bringing about a better world, most of the people like each other, miracles of life happen every day, and that is the most important thing in humanity, as well as in the creation as a whole. We, the people, know how to do magic. It’s just a matter of doing more in favor of a better world, and not accepting anymore the bad things as a fatality.

So yes, we believe we can do something, and we also believe we can fulfill our mission to a complete success. Are we dreamers? Certainly, but who says a dream can’t come true?

Eric Roux with a Druze leader, Brussels
Eric Roux with a Druze leader, Brussels

Thank you. And finally, do you think URI made a good choice in electing you as the Chair?

I hope so. Honestly, in URI, the role of the Chair is to serve. The former Chair, Preeta Bansal, was fantastic and brought URI to new heights in terms of setting its innovative organizational form and bringing a renewed grassroots vision. And behind URI, you have the vision of a giant, its founder Bishop Bill Swing, who dreamed it and made it a reality, bringing the vision of a few to a movement that touches millions in only two decades. So I just see myself as a servant of the 1,200 cooperation circles that do the job every day, of my fellow trustees who have a long experience of serving their communities, and a partner of the Executive Director Jerry White, and the staff who dedicate their time to help cooperation circles to grow and act. I love URI, I love the people in it, I love the people in general, and I believe that it has the true potential of bringing about a better world. So why should I save my energy on it?

Hungary, UN expert Nazila Ghanea Reports on Discrimination and Religious Rights

By
Juan Sanchez Gil
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Viktor Orbán received the highest honor of the Serbian Orthodox Church - Hungary

Budapest, Hungary, October 2024 – Hungary faces a decision regarding religious freedom as it navigates the challenge of preserving its traditional connections with major religious organizations while also confronting the growing issue of discrimination against minority belief systems. The latest discoveries by Nazila Ghanea, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, for the United Nations, provide insight into the factors influencing Hungary’s religious environment. During her assessment following an official trip lasting from October 7 to October 17 in 2024, she noted the widespread difficulties and highlighted particular instances that showcase the hardships experienced by minority religious groups.

A Historical Backdrop Influencing Present Dynamics

Hungary’s history, particularly the restrictive Communist era (1949-1989), continues to influence contemporary state-religion relations. Despite the adoption of the Fundamental Law (Constitution) in 2011, which guarantees freedom of conscience and religion (Article VII. (1)), remnants of past restrictions persist. This historical context was frequently emphasized by interlocutors, including government officials, religious leaders, and civil society actors, underscoring the lingering impact on current religious freedoms.

brown wooden chairs inside cathedral in Hungary
Photo by Matt Wang on Unsplash Hungary

The 2011 Church Law: A Double-Edged Sword

While Hungary’s Fundamental Law ostensibly supports religious plurality by declaring, “individuals have the right to freely choose, change, and practice their religion,” the practical implementation through the 2011 Church Law has painted a more nuanced picture. Initially accommodating over 350 religious groups, the Church Law imposed stringent criteria, reducing recognized organizations to just 34. Nazila Ghanea observes, “The 2011 Church Law stripped organizations of their legal status, significantly reducing the number of those officially recognized and thereby greatly limiting their legal rights.” This centralization has inadvertently marginalized numerous faith communities, limiting their access to state benefits and fostering an environment of inequality.

Tiered Recognition System: Favoritism and Exclusion

Hungary employs a four-tiered system for religious recognition: “established churches,” “registered churches,” “listed churches,” and “religious associations.” Achieving ‘established church’ status requires a complex registration process, including a two-thirds majority vote in Parliament— a mechanism criticized for politicizing religious recognition. This system entrenches favouritism toward established churches like the Roman Catholic, Reformed, and Evangelical Lutheran Churches, which enjoy substantial state support for their educational and social initiatives. Smaller and newer religious organizations, such as Buddhists, Hindus, Scientologists and certain Jewish groups, struggle under these stringent criteria, facing financial difficulties and legal hurdles in maintaining their operations.

The “minorities”: A Spectrum of Discrimination

Various groups experience discrimination under the current legal framework:

  • Roma Community and LGBTIQ+ Individuals: Persistent hate speech and social intolerance act as significant barriers to the free exercise of religious beliefs. Ghanea notes, “The prevalence of hate speech in Hungarian society… remains a significant barrier to the free exercise of religion or belief for many minority groups.”
  • Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Hungarian Evangelical Fellowship (MET): These groups face hurdles in accessing public funds for community activities and maintaining meeting places. MET, led by Pastor Gábor Iványi, lost its “established church” status, resulting in severe financial difficulties, including the loss of funding for its schools and social services. Despite appeals to both domestic courts and the European Court of Human Rights, MET has yet to regain its standing.
  • Other Minority Religions: Smaller religious communities such as Buddhists, Hindus, Scientologists and certain Jewish factions grapple with systemic biases that impede their social and religious freedoms, often relying on private donations and community support to sustain their operations.

The Scientology Saga: A Battle for Recognition and Rights

Among the beleaguered groups navigating Hungary’s restrictive religious landscape is the Church of Scientology. Ghanea’s report, in addition to the insights I recently shared in my article titled “Religious Freedom Under Threat: The Case of Scientology in Hungary,” mentions the persistent legal challenges and governmental scrutiny faced by the Scientologists. The Hungarian government’s approach, in additional to public attacks by specific government officials claiming to be catholic, and as Ghanea covers in her preliminary report that “the Church of Scientology has faced raids and legal challenges under Hungary’s data protection laws, and a long delay in permission to maintain its Budapest headquarters“. In my previous article I highlighted the bureaucratic obstacles that members perceive as efforts to delegitimize their faith. This ongoing struggle underscores broader issues within Hungary’s tiered recognition system, disproportionately impacting newer and less mainstream religious organizations or even using old communistic and German tactics of labelling groups or portraying them as suspect of being foreign government agents.

Institutional Bias and Its Ramifications

The tiered system of religious recognition perpetuates favoritism and exclusion. Ghanea explains, “Only the top-tier ‘established churches’ enjoy full legal status and the benefits of state support.” This stratification hampers interfaith solidarity and fractures communities within the same religion, creating divisions based on legal status rather than spiritual tenets. Additionally, the intertwining of state and church responsibilities has sparked debates over autonomy and mission. While state funding aids religious schools and hospitals, it risks compromising the independence of these institutions, diverting them from their core spiritual missions to administrative and professional obligations that may not align with their foundational values.

Funding Disparities: Unequal Support for Religious Institutions

State funding in Hungary favours established churches, exacerbating inequalities among religious groups. Before 2010, religious schools received limited municipal funding. Post-2010 reforms introduced a second funding stream for religious schools, effectively widening the financial gap between church-run and municipal schools. Consequently, church-run institutions now enjoy significantly greater funding, from kindergarten to universities, and dominate child protection care with 74% being church-run. This preferential funding regime, while justified by some as a means to remedy historical injustices, calls for a transparent and objective process to prevent perpetuating discriminatory structures.

Hate Speech and Social Intolerance

Hate speech remains a pervasive issue in Hungarian society, affecting various minority groups. Despite Hungary’s declared zero-tolerance policy on antisemitism, surveys indicate its persistent presence, often manifesting as coded hate speech. Jews report feeling compelled to conceal their religious symbols due to safety concerns. Additionally, anti-Muslim rhetoric, amplified by high-level officials, often intertwines with anti-migrant sentiments, fueling verbal assaults against women wearing headscarves and other marginalized groups. Ghanea notes, “The pattern of stigmatizing anti-Muslim rhetoric has also stemmed from high-level officials and much of it has linked strong anti-migrant rhetoric with anti-Muslim hatred.“

Calls for Reform and Inclusivity

Ghanea’s preliminary findings emphasize the necessity for comprehensive reforms to dismantle discriminatory structures within Hungary’s religious governance. She asserts, “The ongoing concerns raised by international human rights organizations highlight the need for further reforms to ensure that all religious communities in Hungary can operate without discrimination.”

Recommendations include:

  • Establishing a Transparent Registration Process: Moving away from politicized approval mechanisms to objective criteria for religious recognition.
  • Decoupling State Support from Religious Status: Ensuring that state funding is allocated based on transparent and equitable criteria, rather than favoring established churches.
  • Promoting Societal Tolerance: Addressing hate speech and fostering an environment where all religious and belief systems can coexist without prejudice.

The Road Ahead

Hungary’s progress towards achieving religious freedom faces various obstacles that mirror wider social issues and intricate historical events. In the midst of navigating between honouring tradition and embracing modernity in the country’s landscape, the pleas from minority groups stand out as a clear demand for fairness and acceptance. The upcoming detailed report by Ghanea slated for release in March 2025 is expected to provide analysis and practical suggestions to promote religious liberty and human rights in Hungary.

Nazila Ghanea concludes her preliminary observations by stating, “These are my preliminary findings, and I will submit my report, containing my full observations and recommendations from my visit to Hungary to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2025.” Her ongoing engagement with Hungarian authorities underscores a commitment to fostering an environment where all religious communities can thrive without discrimination.

Hungary’s pursuit of religious freedom highlights the intricate interplay between law, societal attitudes, and historical legacies. Addressing discriminatory practices and fostering an inclusive environment for all religious and belief systems is imperative for Hungary to realize the true spirit of its Fundamental Law. The path forward mandates a re-evaluation of existing legal frameworks, embracing diversity not as a threat but as a cornerstone of a truly free and pluralistic society.

Lebanon crisis: UN human rights office calls for probe into Israeli strike

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United Nations News
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Lebanon crisis: UN human rights office calls for probe into Israeli strike

“What we’re hearing is that amongst the 22 people who were killed were 12 women and two children,” said Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

“We understand it was a four-storey residential building that was struck. With these factors in mind, we have real concerns with respect to [International Humanitarian Law], so the laws of war and principles of distinction, proportion and proportionality. In this case, [OHCHR] would call for a prompt, independent and thorough investigation into this incident.”

Since the Israeli military escalated its offensive against Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon last month whose deadly rocket attacks into Israel have not stopped, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported that the death toll in Lebanon is now more than 2,200 since the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023.

That number “continues to climb as the situation becomes more dramatic”, said Rema Jamous Imseis, UNHCR Director for the Middle East.

Over 10,000 people have also been injured amid Israeli airstrikes and Israeli evacuation orders that have left more than 25 per cent of the country “under a direct Israeli military evacuation order”, the UNHCR official told journalists in Geneva.

Worst crisis ‘in decades’

Some 1.2 million people have now been displaced across Lebanon, according to the country’s government, while the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, warned that all those impacted “are enduring the worst humanitarian crisis in decades”.

“Violence is pushing an already overwhelmed health system to the brink, with devastating impacts on care. Attacks on health facilities are a violation of international humanitarian law. They must end now,” OCHA said in an online post.

“People are heeding these calls to evacuate and they’re fleeing with almost nothing,” UNHCR’s Ms. Imseis said. “Many of them are being forced out into the open, they’re sleeping under the skies as they try to find their way towards safety and support.”

Aid disruptions

Aiding those in need remains dangerous and difficult, she continued, noting that “for the last three days running, we’ve had to endorse and approve and reapprove an interagency convoy movement which is now scheduled to take place today”.

Desperate scenes have also been reported on Lebanon’s border with Syria, where more than 283,000 people have now crossed into northern Syria “seeking safety, fleeing Israeli airstrikes”, the UNHCR official said.

About 70 per cent of those people are Syrians and roughly 30 per cent are Lebanese.

“We saw two women with about nine children between them who described their journey on foot for 10 hours to reach that point.

They had seen directly the impact of the violence, an airstrike had hit a home 100 metres from their home and they fled, literally, with just the clothes on their backs.”

Gaza: Horror in hospital courtyard

In Gaza, meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) condemned Monday’s strike on the al Aqsa hospital courtyard, where people from northern Gaza were told to relocate. At least four people were burned to death, and scores of others, including women and children, suffered severe burns.

“There are far too many children there with burns and with burn wounds” needing treatment that [the] hospital does not have the medicines and the antiseptics and the painkillers that are required,” said UNICEF spokesperson James Elder.

“On my last mission to Gaza earlier this month, I discovered such a thing as fourth degree burns; I met a little six-year-old boy, Hamid with fourth degree burns. So what we saw last night will have again been large numbers of people, including children, with horrendous burns to which that hospital simply doesn’t have the resources to treat.”

‘Catastrophic’ situation in the north

OCHA warned in an update on Tuesday that the situation in northern Gaza is “catastrophic”, as Israeli military operations intensify, severely compromising people’s access to means of survival, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at the regular news briefing in New York.

“Our health partners warn that only three hospitals in northern Gaza are now operating and only at minimum capacity. These facilities have a dire shortage of fuel, of blood, of trauma kits and various medications,” he said.

About 285 patients remain in these hospitals as military activities continue outside.

Mr. Dujarric also said that the Kamal Adwan hospital “remains overwhelmed”, receiving between 50 and 70 new people with injuries every day, according to the UN World Health Organization.

Humanitarian partners continue their efforts to support people in northern Gaza, delivering food assistance and distributing relief supplies, as stocks dwindle. There are serious concerns that many bakeries may be forced to shut down in about 10 days due to fuel shortages.

Polio vaccinations continue

Meanwhile in central Gaza, about 93,000 children under ten received the second dose of polio vaccines during the second round of the inoculation campaign to stave off the highly contagious and debilitating disease.

About 43 per cent of them were vaccinated by teams from the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). More than 76,000 children also received Vitamin A supplements.

“OCHA stresses that it is critical that parties respect the humanitarian pauses agreed to ensure that we can our partners can reach the children that need the vaccine,” Mr. Dujarric said.

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Local self-government in Iceland, Latvia and Malta: Congress adopts new recommendations

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Newsdesk
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Local self-government in Iceland, Latvia and Malta: Congress adopts new recommendations

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe at its 47th session has adopted recommendations on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government by Iceland, Latvia and Malta.

The Congress has called on Iceland to incorporate local self-government into domestic law. It concluded that Icelandic municipalities lead globally in terms of female voting and representation and welcomed the high level of fiscal autonomy in the country’s local self-government. However, despite previous Congress recommendations, Iceland did not incorporate local democracy and self-government principles into its law to ensure a clear division of responsibilities between central and local authorities.

Latviashould strengthen financial autonomy at local level, recommended the Congress. It called for an increase of revenue potential at the local level, aligning local financial resources with local competences, simplifying supervision and clarifying the division of competences.

As for Malta, the Congress praised it for Malta praised the 2019 local government reform, the lowering of the minimum age for local elections to 16, and Malta’s ratification of the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority. However, it local authorities’ competences should be increased and administrative supervision limited.

ESMA responds to the Commission rejection of certain MiCA Technical Standards

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ESMA responds to the Commission rejection of certain MiCA Technical Standards

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, has responded to the European Commission proposal to amend the Markets in crypto-assets Regulation (MiCA) Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS). ESMA acknowledges the legal limitations raised by the Commission but emphasises the importance of the policy objectives behind the initial proposal.

In the Opinion, ESMA takes note of the amendments proposed to the two RTS specifying:

  • the information to be included in a notification by certain financial entities of their intention to provide crypto-asset services and 
  • the information to be included in an application for authorisation as crypto-asset service provider. 

ESMA also reiterates that the final objective of these RTS is to ensure a thorough entry point assessment for applicant crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) and financial entities intending to provide crypto-asset services in the EU. This will increase the resilience of the crypto assets market and enhance investor protection in the crypto-assets space. 

ESMA therefore recommends the Commission consider amendments to the MICA regulation (Level 1), namely:

  • requiring applicant crypto-asset service providers and notifying entities to provide the results of an external cybersecurity audit; and 
  • including, in the assessment of the good repute of the members of the management body of applicant crypto-asset service providers, checks regarding the absence of penalties also in areas other than commercial law, insolvency law, financial services law, anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing, fraud or professional liability. 

Background

On 25 March 2024, ESMA published its first final report on the draft RTS specifying certain requirements of MiCA and submitted it to the EC for adoption. In September 2024, the Commission informed ESMA that it intended to adopt two of the proposed RTS with amendments and invited ESMA to submit new draft RTS reflecting the amendments provided. 

Next steps

This opinion has been communicated by ESMA to the Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council. 

The EC may adopt the two RTS with the amendments it considers relevant or reject it. The European Parliament and the Council may object to an RTS adopted by the EC within a period of three months.

 

Further information:

Cristina Bonillo

Senior Communications Officer
[email protected]

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Lessons from Ljubljana in uncertain times

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Lessons from Ljubljana in uncertain times

Speech by Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, at the official dinner of Banka Slovenije in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ljubljana, 16 October 2024

It is a pleasure to be here this evening.

Not far from here, tucked away in the National and University Library, lie copies of the Abecedarium and the Catechism. These two texts, written by the religious reformer Primož Trubar in 1550, were the first ever books to be printed in Slovenian.[1]

At a time when German was the language of the ruling classes, Trubar’s pioneering act was fundamental in helping to establish the national identity of Slovenians.[2]

Today, his portrait graces the €1 coin in Slovenia, framed by the famous words found in the Catechism, “Stati inu Obstati” – “to stand and withstand”.[3]

It is telling that both books – one a primer for the Slovenian language, the other guidelines for religious observance – were designed to teach, for there is much that Europe can learn from Slovenia in the uncertain world we now face.

The global order we knew is fading. Open trade is being replaced with fragmented trade, multilateral rules with state-sponsored competition and stable geopolitics with conflict.

Europe had invested considerably in the old order, so this transition is challenging for us. As the most open of the major economies, we are more exposed than others.

So, in this new landscape, we too must learn “to stand and withstand”. And we can do so by drawing on two valuable lessons from Ljubljana.

Opportunity in times of uncertainty

The first lesson is that uncertainty can create opportunity.

While many in Europe are anxious about the future, Slovenians are no strangers to uncertainty.

Within a single generation, Slovenia made a success of the extraordinarily difficult transition from a planned economy to a market economy. Policymakers defied the odds by implementing tough structural reforms to first join the EU and, later, the euro area.

Today, Slovenia is a success story. It is a developed, stable and high-income economy, with the highest GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of central and eastern European countries (CEECs).

The nation’s success owes much to the creativity and vigour of its people and their innate ability to seize economic turning points and transform them into opportunities.

For example, when Slovenia joined the EU, it was exposed to greater levels of competition from other Member States in the economic bloc.

But Slovenia quickly capitalised on its skilled workforce to develop a new business model based on deep integration in the Single Market. Today, every single car produced in Europe has at least one component that is made in Slovenia.[4]

For Europe, the changes in the global economy today represent a similar turning point. But if we approach it with the right spirit, I believe it can be an opportunity for renewal.

A less favourable global economy can push us to complete our domestic market. Fiercer foreign competition can encourage us to develop new technologies. More volatile geopolitics can drive us to become more energy secure and self-sufficient in our supply chains.

For Slovenia, the transformation of the automotive supply chain will be a particular challenge. But the economy is already adapting. For example, in July this year Slovenia secured a major investment in domestic electric vehicle production.[5]

For many Slovenians, striding into an unpredictable future may seem like second nature.

One of your most famous paintings, “The Sower”, hangs on display here at the National Gallery. Depicting an agricultural labourer at the crack of dawn hard at work sowing seeds in a field, the painting represents Slovenians’ resolute determination in the face of uncertainty.

The rest of us in Europe will need to draw on this example in the uncertain times ahead. If we do so, we can also turn uncertainty into opportunity.

The importance of sharing the benefits of change

The second lesson from Slovenia is that the benefits of change can – and should – be more widely shared.

The path of renewal for Europe is inescapably linked with new technology, especially digitalisation. But new technologies can sometimes lead to uneven labour market outcomes.

Slovenia has undergone remarkable technological change over the past 20 years. Today, the country’s level of digital development is 7% above the CEEC average and it can compete with some of the most digitally developed EU countries in certain areas.[6]

Yet Slovenia’s Gini coefficient – a measure of income inequality – is the second lowest in the OECD.[7] The country also benefits from high levels of gender equality. Female labour force participation is higher than the EU average and nearly equal to that of men.[8]

Many in Europe are worried about the challenges ahead, such as the effects of artificial intelligence on social inclusion. But we should let Slovenia’s example inspire us.

With the right approach, we can move forward and become more technologically advanced while ensuring everyone can benefit from the gains.

And when everyone benefits, Europe benefits too. Over three-quarters of citizens in Slovenia feel attached to Europe, and almost two-thirds identify as both Slovenian and European – levels that are well above their respective EU averages.[9]

Conclusion

Let me conclude.

In today’s uncertain world, Europe must learn “to stand and withstand”. And it can do so by looking to Slovenia as an example of how to overcome challenges that come its way.

First, we must work hard to sow the seeds of success. And then, as the folk singer Vlado Kreslin sings, “vse se da” – “everything is possible”.

Thank you.

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Cecila Dalman Eek elected President of the Chamber of Regions

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Cecila Dalman Eek elected President of the Chamber of Regions

On October 16th, the Chamber of Regions convened during the 47th session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, marking a significant moment in regional governance. The assembly saw the election of Cecilia Dalman Eek from Sweden as the new President, filling a crucial vacancy in the leadership.

Dalman Eek, a prominent figure in regional politics, has been a dedicated member of the regional council of Västra Götaland. Her election to the presidency comes after her previous role as the 5th Vice-President of the Chamber of Regions, where she demonstrated her commitment to social inclusion and regional development. Additionally, she has been an active member of the Social Inclusion Committee, advocating for policies that promote equity and accessibility within local governance.

The election of Dalman Eek is seen as a pivotal step towards enhancing the representation of local and regional authorities in broader political discussions. Her leadership is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the Chamber, focusing on collaboration and the empowerment of local communities.

As the new President, Dalman Eek will face the challenge of addressing pressing issues that affect regions across Europe, including economic recovery, climate change, and social cohesion. Her experience and dedication to public service position her well to lead the Chamber in these critical areas.

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities continues to play a vital role in shaping policies that impact local governance, and with Dalman Eek at the helm, there is optimism for a proactive and inclusive approach to regional challenges.

Parliamentary Assembly President: ‘Our weapons to fight battles are not bullets, but the words that combine to create arguments‘

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Parliamentary Assembly President: ‘Our weapons to fight battles are not bullets, but the words that combine to create arguments‘

Addressing the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at its 47th plenary Session, Parliamentary Assembly President Theodoros Rousopoulos highlighted the most pressing challenges the Assembly and the Congress both needed to face, including democratic backsliding, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the global environmental crisis, gender inequalities, the impact of AI on democracy and human rights, and the migration crisis.

“The direct access to citizens’ concerns and expectations regarding democracy, human rights and the rule of law that you have makes your Congress a crucial local and regional dimension to governance,” he emphasised, evoking this body’s 30th anniversary.

The PACE President welcomed the Congress’s revised priorities following the Reykjavik Summit, in particular the strengthened monitoring of local democracy and respect for the rule of law. “This serves as an important element of an early warning system to signal signs of democratic erosion in our member states,” he said.

“As in any parliament, battles are fought within the Parliamentary Assembly, and in this Congress as well, but our weapons are not bullets, they are the words that combine to create arguments,” Mr Rousopoulos concluded.

Dignity and Dialogue: Reflections from the Commemorative Conference on Migration and Integration

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KINGNEWSWIRE – The Church of Scientology of Rome hosted a conference on 4 October in its Auditorium in Via della Maglianella 375, in celebration of the national Day of Memory and Welcoming to humanise the processes of welcoming and integration under the banner of human rights.

On Friday, 4 October, the Church of Scientology in Rome hosted a conference on migration, reception and integration on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance and Welcoming, called every 3 October by law no. 45 of 2016 as a national day in Italy, to commemorate the 398 victims, migrants, following a shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea in 2013.

The conference received the partnerships of Mediatori Mediterranei, La Collina Community, the association Human Rights and Tolerance, the association Art and Culture for Human Rights, the IDOS Study Centre – Statistical Immigration Dossier, and the Confronti Study Centre and Magazine as mediapartners. In particular, IDOS granted the possibility to download the year 2023 Immigration Dossier free of charge from the website www.dossierimmigrazione.it for the duration of the conference.

The first panel was moderated by the director of the Confroni Study and Research Centre, Claudio Paravati. Dr. Beatrice Covassi, with experience in the European Union Commission, spoke and outlined three key points for the management of the phenomenon: the promotion of regular migration, the reform of the right to citizenship and interreligious and intercultural dialogue. Dr. Alessandra Morelli, former delegate of the High Commissioner for Refugees at the United Nations, called for a policy of care and faces that respects human dignity and helps reception and integration in migration management. The creation of an agency operating within the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, in conjunction with the Ministries of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Health and Labour was his proposal for a resolution. Closing the panel was a video message by Don Mario Farci who, from a theological perspective, illustrated how migration is a structural factor of humanity, revealing its nature as a people on a journey and its relationship with God who walks with it.

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In the second session, Prof. Di Sciullo. President of the IDOS Study and Research Centre, traced the historical stages that have led to the perception of the migration phenomenon as a ‘social emergency’ and highlighted how instead foreigners are a resource, producing 9% of the national Gross Domestic Product and therefore recalled the need for laws that look at the phenomenon as a resource and those who will be affected by it as people with dignity who want to live in legality.

Prof. Carlo Pilia, President of Mediatori Mediterranei, referred to some European projects and explained the lack of university courses for cultural mediators. He proposed to train our Mediterranean mediators as excellences who are ready both theoretically and practically to face the reality of migration in the places where migrants live and need to integrate.

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Lastly, Prof. Martin Nkafu Professor of African Philosophy at the Lateran University and President of the Nkemnkia International Foundation, proposed replacing the term ‘migration’ with the concept of ‘human mobility’ and to work, right from schools, on educating young people to ‘world citizenship’, to the principle of ‘internationality’, creating that cultural change in a world that has now changed. Prof. Nakfu invited those present to consider that if one is born in Italy, one is certainly an Italian citizen, but also a ‘citizen of the world’.
In the concluding panel, the testimonies of those on the front line of reception. 

Moderated by Don Ettore Cannavera, creator and director of the La Collina Community, speakers included Dr. Lilia Adriane Azevedo, Expert in immigrant rights and human rights, owner of Casa Helena (Centre for studies and assistance to work, family and immigrants), Prof. Salameh Ashour, Imam, lecturer in Islamic culture and Arabic language, spokesperson for the Palestinian community, Dr. Felix Adado, Poet, writer of the book ‘The World’s best known book’, and Dr. Ettore Cannavera, Director of the La Collina Community. Felix Adado, Poet, Writer and Linguistic-Cultural Mediator, Dr. Daniel Sigua, Journalist and International Correspondent, founder of TCG News, the first Latin American news agency in Italy and Europe, Dr. Hassan Batal, Intercultural Mediator, Dr. Doreid Mohamad, President of the Association Sardinia Lebanon a bridge for the Mediterranean. From the audience came speeches by lawyer Angela Susanna Tosi, creator and director of the project Avvocati Cittadinanza, and Gemma Vecchio, President of Casa Africa. It was clear from their speeches that we are dealing with individuals with a dignity that if recognised as indispensable opens the door to good integration.

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It became clear from the conference that one must always ask oneself why a person decides to leave his or her place of origin. There are many answers and the exact answer is key to understanding how to manage the reception and integration of each person. Another element is that migration is a structural phenomenon, not an emergency, and the cultural change that educates generations about human rights and respect for the dignity of the person must be placed at the basis of all policies, laws and regulations concerning this field of social living.

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In closing, a video was shown on Article 1 of the UN Universal Declaration, which enshrines equal dignity and rights for all. It is one of 30 videos that are part of the teaching materials of Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI), which aims to teach human rights to young people and inspire them to become advocates for peace. YHRI is now a worldwide movement, with hundreds of groups worldwide, supported by the Church of Scientology and inspired by L. Ron Hubbard, other religious bodies and civil society.

Vice-President Věra Jourová's assessment of online information interference in the June 2024 elections for the European Parliament

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Vice-President Věra Jourová's assessment of online information interference in the June 2024 elections for the European Parliament

The Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, visited half of the EU Member States between January and June 2024, in a ‘Democracy Tour’ in preparation of the elections for the European Parliament held on 6 to 9 June 2024. She discussed key aspects of the Commission recommendation on inclusive and resilient elections with national authorities responsible for conduct and integrity of elections and with representatives of civil society.

The ‘Democracy Tour’ focused on the resilience of the informational space online, and four key areas of particular threat emerged from the discussions with stakeholders: disinformation, foreign interference, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, and cybersecurity risks. 

The Memo annexed here gathers the incidents recorded during the electoral period in connection to the four threat areas, based on data available at the time of writing. It focuses exclusively on aspects related to the information space online and does not cover other aspects such as the organisation of elections or physical threats.

It is a working document prepared to support discussions in the framework of the European Cooperation Network on Elections on 11th October 2024 on the 2024 elections for the European Parliament and closing the ‘Democracy Tour’. Prepared under the authority of the Vice-President, it is offered as input to the ongoing preparatory work on the Commission’s broader post-election report, as announced in the Defence of Democracy Package issued by the Commission in December 2023.

Based on currently available information, no major information interference operation capable of disrupting the elections was recorded. At the same time, it is widely recognised that the threat levels for information integrity during elections were high, as confirmed by the activation by the European Council of the Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) arrangements for addressing foreign interference.

Walking for a Cure: Les Amazones Unite for Breast Cancer Awareness in Iceland

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October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a crucial time for raising awareness, promoting early detection, and supporting women battling breast cancer. A group of determined women, known as Les Amazones, recently embarked on an inspiring journey in Iceland, walking “100km-au-delà” to show solidarity with those affected by this devastating disease.

Maria, the vice-president of a volunteer cancer support group based in Brussels, emphasizes the importance of regular screenings. Diagnosed with breast cancer at just 38, Maria recalls her experience: “I was on sickness leave for a year and required heavy surgery. I was the youngest person in the hospital where I was treated – the age at which you can develop cancer is dropping dramatically.” Her story serves as a reminder that early detection can significantly improve outcomes.

The European Union is committed to fighting breast cancer through its European Health Union strategy, implementing the Beating Cancer Plan to enhance prevention, treatment, and care. In 2022, new guidelines for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening were adopted, aiming to have 90% of the eligible population screened. Breast cancer alone accounts for nearly 30% of all diagnosed cancers in women across the EU, yet participation in screening varies greatly by country.

As part of a supportive community, Valentina shares her experiences with the cancer support group that became her second family. Celebrating the power of shared experiences, Valentina affirms, “Life is made easier when you share with other people. Just a nice word from a colleague can make all the difference.” The group, consisting of 200 members, provides vital support, from assisting with treatment navigation to organizing group activities like yoga and nature walks. “I was not really sporty before cancer,” Valentina admits, “but now I’m exercising every weekend.”

Valentina’s journey led her to join the Les Amazones initiative, a local program in Belgium encouraging women to engage in physical activity post-treatment. The “Amazones” walked over 100km across the stunning landscapes of Iceland, fostering community and resilience. Valentina explains the group’s name, referencing the ancient warrior women of Greek mythology who were said to have removed their right breasts to improve archery, symbolizing strength amidst adversity.

Alice, another member of the support group, recounts her own challenging path. While working in Niger during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after finishing breastfeeding her daughter. “I had just taken the last flight back to Europe for a biopsy, and unfortunately, it was positive. In Niger, women do not have the same opportunities.” She reflects on her journey with gratitude, stating, “I’m lucky I was born in Europe.”

As Pink October encourages action and awareness, the commitment from groups like Les Amazones exemplifies how community, support, and proactive measures can significantly impact the fight against breast cancer. For more information on cancer screening and support initiatives, the EU’s #GetScreenedEU campaign offers resources on cancer screening programs across member countries.

As thousands join together in solidarity, they remind us that with awareness and action, we can make a difference in the lives of many facing the challenges of breast cancer.

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