Young Macedonian Politicians Promote EU Membership

February 16th, 2012   Education | Macedonia | The European Union

Young politicians from Macedinia visiting the Commission in Brussels.

Macedonia is one of the current candidates for a future EU membership. More than 85 percent of the population supports a membership in both EU and NATO. But before entering either of the two organizations, the sensitive naming dispute with Greece must be resolved.

As part of the EU integration project in the Balkans, the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation invited youth politicians from the party in power in Macedonia – VMRO-DPMNE – to a conference in Brussels, February 7-10, 2012.

The group of enthusiastic young politicians visited major EU Institutions such as the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

In the Parliament, they met with Anna-Maria Corazza Bildt, who described her work as a Member of Parliament. At the Commission, EU experts Willem Noë and Mark Corner summarized the history of the Union.

The participants’ key area of interest was, as is to be expected, the enlargement of the EU. The Macedonians were eager to receive information about when their country could become a member, but understandably no-one could give them anything but a general timetable for the process.

Moreover, discussions about membership were in focus during the meetings at the NATO headquarters. Due to security matters, Macedonia regards a NATO membership as even more important than a membership in the EU. In 2008 the country was ready to join the European/North American defense alliance, but was blocked by Greece.

“In our country, everyone discusses politics”, one of the participants said. 21 years have passed since declaring its independence and Macedonia is still in an extensive transition phase. However, one thing is clear: the wish to be part of Europe is one of the top priorities of the new generation.

Carl Bildt presented the Government’s Foreign Policy

February 15th, 2012   Foreign Policy | News

February 15, Foreign Minister Carl Bildt presented the Swedish Government’s Policy in the 2012 Parliamentary Debate on Foreign Affairs. The declaration presents Sweden’s view of EU developments, the status of human rights, international crises and developments in the Middle East and North Africa, along with development assistance, trade and climate policy.

Read the entire declaration here

SDA from Bosnia Visits Brussel and the EU

February 14th, 2012   Bosnia and Herzegovina | The European Union

Participants fron Bosnian SDA and Klas Hjort in front of the European Parliament.

On January 23-26 the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation organized a study visit of young politicians from Bosnia and the party SDA, to Brussels and the EU. The first daybegan with a much appreciated visit to the European Parliament. The participants met, among others, with Christina Lutz, Head of staff of the Moderate Party in Parliament. They also visited MEP Anna Maria Corazza Bildt who shared her experiences from the Balkans and the issues currently being discussed within the EU, including the financial crisis and family rights.The visit ended with a tour of Parliament led by Klas Hjort who works for MEP Christofer Fjellner of the Moderate Party. After an interesting morning in Parliament the afternoon was spent at the Commission, lerning about its role within the EU family.

On the second day’s morning, the Bosnian participants meet with the Bosnian Ambassador to the EU, Osman Topčagić, followed by a bus trip to NATO. Three meetings were planned at the NATO, the last one with Ambassador Branimir Jukic, who is Bosnia-Herzegovina’s ambassador to the NATO. The participants were highly interested in NATO and its activities. In the morning of the last day – before leaving Brussels in the afternoon – participants visited the Council of Europe and met Maria Sevdali who talked about how the Council operates, key policy issues and how it is to work with a rotating presidency.

EU-Education Completed in Serbia

February 13th, 2012   Serbia | The European Union

Suzana Grubješić, Deputy Chaiman G17Plus, talking about the European Union.

On January 20 to 22 the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation organized a conference in cooperation with G17 Plus in Serbia. The theme was ”Political branding and EU integration”. The location of the conference was the city of Nis, about three hours’ journey from Belgrade. This was the last conference in a series of three parts.

The first day started with Klas Hjort, who works for Christopher Fjellner European Parliament, talking about how the EU works, how to influence and why Europe matters. In the afternoon of the first day Suzana Grubješić, who is deputy leader of G17Plus, paid a visit to the conference. She spoke about European integration from a Serbian perspective. (more…)

3 x Video: The Morality of Market Economy

December 19th, 2011   Ideology | Theme: Principles | Video @en

3 x Video: The Morality of Market EconomyWhat are the benefits of Free Enterprise and Market Economy? These three videos with dr. Tom G. Palmer originates from The Morality of Free Enterprise Project by Atlas Network, and are related to the fourth chapter of Principles for a Free Society, Free Enterprise (more…)

Links: Principles into Practice

December 19th, 2011   Ideology | Theme: Principles

Links: Principles into Practice

A list of links that is usually distributed at the seminars on Principles for a Free Society (more…)

Video: What is Classical Liberalism?

December 19th, 2011   Ideology | Theme: Principles

Video: What is Classical Liberalism?

Lecture by Dr. Nigel Ashford from LearnLiberty.org

(more…)

Electoral Fraud in the Russian Duma Elections

December 8th, 2011   Foreign Policy | News | Russia | Seminars

From left Ulrik Nilsson, Elisabeth Björnsdotter Rahm, Stefan Caplan och Margareta Cederfelt.

Opportunities for electoral fraud were definitely present, said four moderate MPs who visited Russia during the Duma elections on December 4. On Thursday the team shared their experiences and analysis at a breakfast seminar arranged by the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation.

In particular, the election observers pointed out, there were ample opportunities to cheat during the so-called mobile voting (for elderly at home) and at the many unattended ballot boxes in the more than 90,000 polling stations around the country. Ulrik Nilsson mentioned electoral lists where United Russia had beforehand been marked with a cross. Stefan Caplan noted that at some of the polling stations, he visited, there were more ballots than voters, after polling closed!

“United Russia’s grip of the Russian soul is decreasing significantly”, said Ulrik Nilsson at the breakfast seminar when he was asked about what the election results might lead to.

He and other observers gave the audience a unique insight into what happened in a number of the many polling stations. The images showed flaws in the system which allows for cheating and fraud.

Lack of valsekretess was also something that many of the observers noted. How ballots reviewed by election officials (all have a ballot where you check for the party you vote for) and how many people voted together. (more…)

Croatia New EU-member 2013 – and Serbia to Start Talks about Membership

October 17th, 2011   Articles | Croatia | Serbia | The European Union

In a report issued on October 12, the EU Commission stated “that Croatia meets the political criteria and [the Commission] expects Croatia to meet the economic and acquis criteria and to be ready for membership by 1 July 2013.” At the same time the Commission recommended that the Council grant Serbia the status of candidate and give green light for accession negotiations with Montenegro.

In a set of annual reports – issue on October 12, 2011 – the Commission informed on the progress towards EU accession made by the Western Balkans, Turkey, and Iceland over the past year. (more…)

EU imposes new restrictive measures against Belarus

October 10th, 2011   Articles | Belarus | Free Belarus | The European Union

16 new individuals have been added to the list of those who are responsible for repressions and human rights violations in Belarus. The individuals on this list are banned from traveling to the EU. In addition, the assets in the European Union, of the listed persons, will be frozen.

Today the Council of the EU has reviewed sanctions against the Belarusian regime for its crackdown on opposition, repressions against civil society and independent journalists, as well as violations of international electoral standards during the presidential elections 2010.

Nearly 200 people were already subject to an asset freeze and travel ban.

Read the pressrelease

Swedish success in Geneva for freedom of expression on the Internet

September 30th, 2011   Foreign Policy

In Thursday, the UN Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a decision to arrange a panel discussion on freedom of expression on the Internet at its next session in March 2012. The decision was adopted on the initiative of Sweden, with the support of over fifty states from throughout the world. This will be the first time that the Council discusses the issue of freedom of expression on the Internet.

“This is a major success for Sweden, which has pushed for the human rights issue to apply online as well as offline”, says Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs. (more…)

Baltic States give Helping Hand in Diplomacy

August 30th, 2011   Articles | Foreign Policy | The Baltic States

The Nordic and Baltic countries today signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding posting of diplomats in each other’s missions abroad. The agreement will facilitate the Nordic and Baltic countries to maintain a diplomatic presence around the world through flexible and cost effective solutions.

Read ther pressrelease (in Swedish)

Gunilla Carlsson Appointed to UN High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability

August 10th, 2011   Articles | Development Aid

Secretary-general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, has elected Minister for Development Assistance Gunilla Carlsson to be part of the United Nations’ new high-level panel on global sustainability.

– I am happy to be a part of this panel on such an important issue for all of humanity. It is also an acknowledgement of Sweden’s very goal-oriented work for a sustainable environment – for people in both developed and developing countries, says Minister for Development Assistance Gunilla Carlsson.

Tymoshenko Stays in Arrest

August 8th, 2011   Articles | Foreign Policy | The European Union | Ukraine

Today Monday August 8, 2011, during the hearing of Yulia Tymoshenko’s criminal case, the Court dismissed an appeal from the former prime minister to release her from jail. Last Friday Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraine’s top opposition leader and former prime minister, was arrested during her own trial following the judge’s decreed she was guilty of “systematically” disrupting proceedings. Yulia Tymoshenko was led from the courtroom and transferred to a detention centre under heavy police escort.

According to the judge there is no reason to change the decision regarding arrest because, in the appeal from Yulia Tymoshenko’s defense, there is no objective explanation in accordance with the Ukrainian law.  (more…)

Swedish Protest to Support Protesters in Belarus

June 23rd, 2011   Articles | Belarus | Foreign Policy

Yesterday in the evening about 9.000 people went to the central squares of their towns all over Belarus to a “silent protest” against the Belarusian government. During the protests in Minsk a Swedish diplomat was subject to violence and Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt has issued an official protest.

Not wanting to provoke the Police the many protesters gathered and walked in silence in the city centres, only clapping their hands when cars honked their horns in support of the peaceful protesters. The Police and Special forces tried to block the city centre in Minsk, limiting traffic and detaining people on their way to join the protest. (more…)

New sanctions against Lukashenka

June 20th, 2011   Articles | Belarus | The European Union

The ministers of foreign affairs of the European Union met in Luxemburg discuss further sanctions against the regime of Belarusian president Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

The foreign ministers strongly condemned the politically motivated detentions, trials and sentencing of representatives of the democratic society, the independent media and the political opposition, including several presidential candidates. The Council of the European Union also imposed travel restrictions and assets freeze on several key persons. In addition, the Council decided to impose an embargo on Belarus on arms and materials aimed for internal repression. Finally, it decided to freeze assets of three companies linked to the regime. (more…)

Video: Release of the Swedish issue of the Principles

May 31st, 2011   Ideology | Seminars | Theme: Principles

Video: Release of the Swedish issue of the PrinciplesThe Swedish issue of the Principles for a free Society is presented by Dr. Nigel Ashford, followed by a debate between Fredrik Johansson, Head of Public Affairs on KreabGavinAnderson and Isobel Hadley Kamptz, writer and journalist (more…)

Now in Swedish: Principles for a Free Society

May 27th, 2011   Ideology | Seminars | Theme: Principles

From left: Nigel Ashford, Isobel Hadley Kamptz and Fredrik Johansson.

The study guide Principles for a Free Society is published for the first time in Swedish. Author Nigel Ashford attended the book release in Stockholm to tell about story behind the book and to answer questions.

Originally written in English by Dr Nigel Ashford, the book has been translated into multiple languages, including Russian, Spanish, Turkish – and now Swedish. Written for the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation in the 1990’s the book was intended as a study guide in the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Today, the book is used in several of the Foundation’s program countries, including Latin America, Turkey and the Balkans.

Principles for a Free Society introduces twelve crucial principles and values that are at a base of any free, democratic and open society. The principles cover civil society, democracy, equality, free enterprise, freedom, human rights, justice, peace, private property, rule of law, spontaneous order and tolerance. (more…)

Finally – Ratko Mladic Arrested

May 26th, 2011   Articles | Foreign Policy | Serbia | The Balkans | The European Union

Today’s arrest of the Bosnian Serb wartime military leader Ratko Mladic is welcomed by numerous leaders in the international community. Ratko Mladic was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on 25 July 1995 and was a fugitive from justice for almost 16 years. “Ratko Mladic has been the most wanted ICTY fugitive and his arrest is proof of the readiness of state to fulfill all international obligations as well as those of domestic law ” said Suzana Grubješiæ, Vice President of G17 PLUS – a sisterparty of the JHS. She added that all those accused of the worst war crimes must be brought to justice.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, welcomed the arrest of Bosnian Serb wartime military leader Ratko Mladic as a very important step for justice and regional reconciliation. So did Jerzy Buzek, the President of the European Parliament saying:

“I welcome the arrest of Ratko Mladic and congratulate the Serbian authorities. The arrest is good news for Serbia, for the stability of the region and gives new impetus to Serbia’s EU accession process. His arrest is convincing proof of Serbia’s efforts and cooperation with the ICTY.” (more…)

Wider sanctions against Belarus

May 24th, 2011   Articles | Belarus | Foreign Policy | The European Union

The sanctions against Lukashenka’s regime in Belarus have been widened. Today almost 190 individuals are barred from entering the EU.

The Council of the European Union has imposed wider sanctions against the Belarusian officials adding 13 new names to the black list, most of them working in the country’s judicial institutions, others in universities and schools. The Council stated that the restrictive measures imposed on the Belarus was adopted “… following the recent sentences on the former presidential candidate Sannikaw and on a number of members of the political opposition and civil society”. (more…)

Conference on the Developments in the Balkans

May 14th, 2011   Albania | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Croatia | Macedonia | Seminars | Serbia | The Balkans | The European Union

Oskar Öholm greeting Nicola Lazic. Flaked by Stefan Dragojevic, Kire Ilioski and Jens Ahl.

On May 13-14, 2011, the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation organized a round-table conference with leaders from cooperation partners in the Balkans. The conference focused on the continued integration of the Balkan states into Europe as well as other aspects of the European Union.

 

“The Countries in the Balkans have to push for membership. The EU never invites anyone to join,” said Walburga Habsburg Douglas, MP and member of the Hjalmarson Foundation board. Her view was shared by the participants. (more…)

Release of a New Book: Balkan Blend

May 12th, 2011   Seminars | The Balkans | The European Union | Uncategorized

The anthology was discussed following a presentation of the book made by MP Walburga Habsburg Douglas.

The authors in Balkan Blend, a new anthology published by the Hjalmarson Foundation, all describe – from their different views – the advantages of an EU membership for the Balkan countries. The book does not give any final answers and the views sometimes go apart, for instance in regards to the Kossovar independence.

An audience of about 40 people attended the release of the book <i>Balkan Blend – The Road to Renewal/i> on May 12. After a few words of welcome from the Chairman of the Foundation, Göran Lennmarker, Walburga Habsburg Douglas, MP and a Hjalmarson Foundation board member, gave a brief introduction to the eight texts in the book. “The anthology does not present any consensus opinion and the views sometimes differ,” Walburga Habsburg Douglas noted. She explained that all the writers, from their different views, describe the advantages of an EU membership for the Balkan countries. “I hope this presentation will encourage you to delve further into this book,” Walburga Habsburg Douglas summarized. (more…)

Discussion about the Internet and its Implications for Developments

May 6th, 2011   Development Aid | Seminars

Minister Gunilla Carlsson and Ambassador Matthew Barzun.

Freedom, Aid and Democracy were the theme of a seminar hosted by the Hjalmarson Foundation on the Convention of the Moderate Party for local and regional decision makers.

“The number of internet users has doubled since 2005” Hanna Hellquist, State Secretary at the MFA and the Moderator of the session, opened the seminar.  She then introduced the two panelists, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gunilla Carlsson and the US Ambassador Matthew Barzun. (more…)

Focus on Latin America

May 3rd, 2011   Foreign Policy | Latin America | Seminars | The Dominican Republic

Marcelo Schrubbe.

Political winds in Latinamerica was the theme of a seminar held in Stockholm May 3, 2011. Eduardo Quiñónez, Chairman of the Youth Section of the ARENA party in El Salvador’s capital San Salvador and Marcelo Schrubbe, local politicians in Blumenau and Chairman of the Youth of the Democrats, in Brazil, visited Sweden and the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation. The audience learned about their political work and development in their respective countries.

“61 percent of the population is under 30 and a third of them tell us that they are interested in politics. It is group that we in the ARENA Youth Section want to reach before the 2012 elections, said Eduardo Quiñónez.

He told that the issues that young people in El Salvador are most interested in are: economy, education, environment and safety. The latter is a question of being able to live without fear for criminal gangs that are a reality particular in the capital, San Salvador. (more…)

Lukashenka warned by Carl Bildt

April 15th, 2011   Articles | Belarus | Foreign Policy

The Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt warns President Lukashenka not to exploit the bomb attack on April 11, in the subway in the Belarusian capital, for attacks on the political opposition.

“These kinds of attack should be handled according to the rule of law. To have a climate of intimidation and fear is not a way to run your country, not even to handle a terrorist incident. He should be aware that we will be watching. If he uses this as excuse to further intensify repression, this will certainly be noticed,” Bildt said to EU Observer April 14, 2011. (more…)

Georgian Youth: Great Interest in the EU

April 4th, 2011   Education | Georgia | The European Union

On March 28-31, participants from the youth organization of Georgia’s governing party, the United National Movement’s (UNM) made a study visit to Brussels. The four-day program arranged by the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation included visits to the European People’s Party’s headquarters, European Commission, NATO headquarters, Embassy of Georgia and European Parliament.

The purpose of the visit was primarily to raise awareness about the European Union and understanding of the membership process in  the next generation of Georgian politicians. The participant also had time to network and made important contacts for the future.

A EU- and NATO-membership is of highest interest for the UNM youths. The main topic of discussion during the study visit was Georgia’s European integration but also the NATO enlargement process.

Swedish Aid to Refugees in Libya

March 17th, 2011   Articles | Development Aid | Foreign Policy | North Africa

The Swedish Government has decided to to support the victims in Libya. Sweden will contribute SEK 33 million and flights for humanitarian evacuation.

The Government has decided that Swedish Hercules aircrafts, already in place in Malta as part of a consular evacuation operation, can be used by the UN Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) to assist with the evacuation of individuals in difficulty at the Tunisian border.

The Foreign Ministry has announced that the development aid agency Sida will contribute a total of SEK 33 million in response to appeals from humanitarian agencies working in the region.

 

A First Verdict against the Opposition in Belarus

February 19th, 2011   Articles | Belarus | The European Union

Vasil Parfiankou, a member of the campaign team of former presidential candidate Uladzimir Niakliajeu (Tell the Truth), was on January 17, sentenced to four years of imprisonment. He was accused of committing a crime under Par. 2 Art. 293 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, mass riot. In addition he was fined almost $5,000 for damaging state property, I.e. broken glass of a Governments building in the Independence Square, during the protests following the presidential election December 19, 2010.

Vasil Parfenkov partially admitted his guilt. When asked by the Court why he took part in the demonstration, Vasily Parfenkov answered: “To express my disagreement with the official voting results”. (more…)

Christian Holm traveling with Carl Bildt to Warsaw

February 1st, 2011   Articles | Belarus | Development Aid

Christian Holm, MP for the Moderate Party, Chairman of the Parliamentary Belarus Network and a member of the JHS board is traveling with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt to Warsaw to attend the international donors’ conference, “Solidarity with Belarus”. 

“Sweden is prepared to increase support to the Belarusian civil society,” reads the title of a press release that the State Department published prior to Carl Bildt’s visit to Poland on February 2, 2011. In addition to Christian Holm, Robert Hårdh, Civil Rights Defenders, is part of the Swedish delegation.

“I expect that the meeting will recognize enhanced measures to support the civil society in Belarus” says Mr. Bildt. “Including the support to various volunteer organizations, media, aa well as the Swedish political foundations working for the democratization process in Belarus.”

SDA from Bosnia visited EU

January 29th, 2011   Bosnia and Herzegovina | Education | The European Union

January 25-28 the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation organized a study trip to Brussels for a group of young politicians from the Party for Democratic Action, SDA, from Bosnia.

The program included visits to the European Commission, European Parliament, European People’s Party and NATO. Participants also had the opportunity to meet and talk  the to the Bosnian Ambassador to the EU. In the European Parliament the group met with the Swedish MP’s Anna Ibrisagic and Christopher Fjellner, who both spoke about various aspects of their work in Brussels and their home regions. The participants were happy with the visit and explained that it is of great importance to gain a deeper understanding of, as well as the opportunity to discuss, Bosnia’s relations with the European Union and NATO.

In the photo: Christofer Fjellner, MP, when meeting with the SDA representatives.