Brussels, 23/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - Elisabeth Guigou, who was appointed as head of the Anna Lindh Foundation at the end of December, has great ambitions as the head of this “network of networks” that is committed to cultural exchanges between countries around the Mediterranean. Guigou is interpreting the mandate very broadly that was entrusted her by the 43 member countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) - including Israel and Palestine - and she is extending it to involve civil society, jobs and the climate. She professes her faith in the need to “decompartmentalise” in all these areas.
Guigou told EUROPE of her determination to take action to safeguard and strengthen the Euromed process (which is in its 20th year) and to help in the recast of neighbourhood policy and ensure that the East-South balance be respected.
Her goal is to support “regular dialogue”, especially in order “to connect the Foundation” to the big events that raise debate - as is currently the case with the perceptions that Europeans and Arabs hold of each other. “The context makes this all the more necessary”, she said. There is a need to start a dialogue and clarify questions linked to religious perceptions and blasphemy which, Guigou says, “exist in several countries in Europe”, and she adds that there are as many Arabs as Europeans who “don't accept it”.
Guigou also wants to put young unemployed people in the spotlight, and she would like strong involvement from civil society in all the region's policies. She also wants to take part in organising a conference in Morocco on the climate, which has been proposed by the European Parliament, ahead of the Paris conference on the same subject that will take place at the end of 2015. Furthermore, she intends the Foundation to be strongly involved in socio-educational activities. As part of this, she proposes creating “formations that express public opinion, and life in society”. Guigou also wants to bring the Foundation closer to workers' unions and employers' organisations, and she gives the example of the arrangement between Tunisia's UGTT and UTICA.
Guigou was expected to meet Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn to discuss these issues - issues that were earlier tackled by the Foundation's staff dealing with budget commitments. The EU contributes up to €13 million per year to the budget over three years (2015-2017), including €4 million to an operating budget. The Foundation's operation has often raised debate and an audit was ordered last year. Guigou says she wants to apply new procedures and recruit a “rigorous” financial manager (announcement of the recruitment process has already been made). (FB)