Governance Working Group (EuroMeSCo, 2001-2003)

In 2001, PASSIA and the Berlin-based Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) agreed to cooperate within the EuroMeSCo work program as lead institutes for a working group on “Issues of Governance.” EuroMeSCo (the European-Mediterranean Study Commission) is a network of inde­pendent institutes and research centers, which deal with subjects related to security, foreign policy and international affairs. It functions both as a confidence-building measure and a provider of expertise in areas of relevance to the European-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP) area. PASSIA was one of the founding members in February 1994. At the time of the project, EuroMeSCo was composed of 35 members and 8 observers from 27 EMP countries. Within the network, working groups are set up to conduct re­search on certain issues, the findings of which are regularly discussed in workshops organized and hosted by one of the member institutes.

 

The PASSIA-SWP working group was based on the notion that good governance - based on transparency, accountability, respect for minority rights, and absence of corruption – the rule of law, and an active civil society are for enhanced coopera­tion in the economic and political fields, but also central components in creating a basis for ensuring long-term stability in the EMP region. The project consisted of two main components – research and workshops – with contributions of researchers from various EMP countries broadly focusing on three top­ics: civil society, the role of institutions, and the rule of law.

 

As part of the research component the project aimed at analyzing and explaining why and how governance-related issues should be dealt with within the EMP context, how institutions (government agencies, civil society organizations and private sector) and people understand the processes of decision- and policy-making, how prevailing laws and policies effect their behavior, and how they participate in the process of policy formulation. As part of the research component also a database on experts and expertise in the field of ‘Governance’ from within the EMP (institutions and individuals) was established, which was made accessible to all members.

 

The workshop component consisted a series of coordinating meetings between the lead institutes (PASSIA and SWP) on project-related activi­ties and four full-day workshops – in Ramallah, Jerusalem, Amman, Dublin and Berlin - in which research papers and other relevant issues related to civil society and govern­ance were discussed, recommendations were made and guiding principles for decision makers and other actors were developed. In detail, the workshop dealt with the following subjects:

 

Working Group Meetings

 

20-21 September 2001, Ramallah

Workshop 1:

The Dynamics of the Civil Society and the Political Regime

Participants: Dr. Volker Perthes, Ulrike Reinhardt and Muriel Asseburg from SWP; Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Deniz Altayli and Iyad Qadi from PASSIA; Dr. Salim Tamari, Director of Institute of Jerusalem Studies and a professor at Birzeit University; Dr. Rima Hamami, Professor at Birzeit University; Shu’a’ Murar, Project Coordinator, Coalition for Accountability and Integrity; Dr. Sa’id Zeedani, General Director of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens’ Rights; Dr. Nabil ‘Amro, Minister of PA Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; ‘Izzat Abdel Hadi, Director of Bisan Center for Research and Development; Jamal Shadid, PA Ministry of Labor; (the Moroccan, Irish and Swedish colleagues cancelled their attendance due to the deteriorating situation both in the territories and after the September 11 events).

 

Program:

 

Thursday, 20 September 2001

20:00 Opening Session & Welcoming Dinner

Friday, 21 September 2001

9:30-12:30 Panel Discussion - The Role of Civil Society in Promoting Democracy and the Rule of Law

                  12:30-13:30 Lunch Break

13:30-16:00 Panel Discussion - The Complementary Relationship be­tween Civil Society and the State - Approaches and Pros­pects

 

In addition to the above program the 11 September attacks in New York and Washington, were discussed, and the repercussion these will have both in the Middle East and rest of the world. In particular, the discussion revolved over the expected impact on the Palestinian question and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

 

15-16 December 2001, Berlin, Germany

Workshop 2:

Civil Society and Good Governance in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership

Participants: Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi and Deniz Altayli from PASSIA; Dr. Volker Perthes, Ulrike Reinhardt and Muriel Asseburg from SWP; the SWP researchers Saloua Zerhouni, Isabelle Werenfels, Steffen Erdle, Rola El-Husseini, Ahmad Badawi. Nancy Vosmerbäumer; Fouad Ammor (GERM, Rabat); Niall Greene (Institute of European Affairs, Dublin); Anders Hellner (Swedish Institute for International Affairs, Stockholm); Dorothée Schmid (Institut d’Etudes Politiques, Paris).

 

Program:

Saturday, 15 December 2001

 8:00 p.m. Welcoming Dinner, Berlin-Wilmersdorf

 

Sunday, 16 December 2001, SWP

 

9:30 Opening Remarks

Dr. Volker Perthes (SWP) and Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi (PASSIA)

Kick-off presentation: “Trouble-Maker or Crisis Messenger? The Problematic Partnership with Civil Society”

Dorothée Schmid (IEP Paris)

Draft paper “Civil Society Cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership – Between Theory and Practice”

Ulrike Reinhardt (SWP)

13.00 Work Lunch at SWP

14.00 Presentation of paper proposals

  • “Corruption and Civil Society”

Dr Niall Greene (IEA, Dublin)

  • “Good Governance and Parliamentary Elections in Morocco and Algeria”

Saloua Zerhouni/Isabelle Werenfels (SWP)

  • “Social Governance in Times of Transition: The Cases of Egypt and Tunisia”

Gamal Abdelnasser/Steffen Erdle (SWP)

  • “People to People Projects in Light of the Current Intifada”

(proposal by Dr Ghassan Andoni, presented by PASSIA)

16.30 Other business

  • annual report
  • next meetings
  • future papers

 

31 May-2 June 2002, PASSIA, Jerusalem

Workshop 3:

The Changing Role of Civil Society Institutions

Organized by: PASSIA

Participants: Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Deniz Altayli and Fadi Hidmi from PASSIA, Jerusalem; Volker Perthes and Muriel Asseburg from SWP, Berlin; Niall Greene, Institute of European Affairs, Dublin; Anders Hellner, Program Director, Swedish Institute of International Affairs.

 

 

Program:

Friday, 21 May 2002

Arrival

20:00 Opening Session & Welcoming Dinner, Ambassador Hotel

 

Saturday, 1 June 2002

First Session:
9:30-11:00 People-to-People Programs – Peace-making or Normalization?

Presentation by Ghassan Andoni, Director, Palestinian Center for Rapprochement, Beit Sahour, and Discussion

11:00-11:15 Coffee Break

Second Session

11:15-12:45 Corruption and Civil Society

Presentation by Dr. Niall Greene, Dublin-Ireland, and Discussion

13.00-14:30 Lunch Break

Third Session

14:30-16:00 Implementing State Reforms and the Role of Civil Society

Presentation by Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Head of PASSIA, and Discussion

 

16 December 2002, Inter-Continental Hotel, Amman, Jordan

Workshop 4:

Civil Society Initiatives in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership Area

Organized by: PASSIA

Participants: HRH Prince Hassan, Royal Jordanian Court; Alvaro de Vasconcelos, Director, IEEI, Portugal; Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Head of PASSIA, Jerusalem; Muriel Asseburg, Research Associate, SWP, Berlin; Adnan Abu Odeh, retired Ambassador, Jordan; Nabih Shequem, Ambassador and Head of the European-American Department, Jordan; Samia Kabariti, Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU desk; Ahmad Mango, Office of HRH Prince Hassan, Jordan; Niall Greene, Institute of European Affairs, Dublin; Anders Hellner, Program Director, Swedish Institute of International Affairs; Ingmar Karlsson, Swedish Consul General, Turkey; Fouad Ammor, Professor, Morocco; Mustafa Hamarneh, Director, Center for Strategic Studies, University of Jordan, Amman; Hassan Barari, Researcher, Center for Strategic Studies, University of Jordan, Amman; Elise Aghazarian, Project Coordinator, PASSIA; Musa Dweik, School of Law, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem; Hanlie Booysen, South African Representative, Ramallah; Ibrahim Othman, Professor, Jordan; Hani Hourani, Director of UJRC, Jordan; Abdul Malik Alhamar, Secretary General, Arab Thought Forum, Jordan; Jamil Nimri, Columnist, Jordan; Jamal Al-Tahat, Writer, Jordan; Akram Khatib, Journalist, Jordan.

 

 

Program:

9.30 Opening Session:

Introduction to EuroMeSCo

Presented by: Alvaro de Vasconcelos - Director, Institute of Strategic Studies & International Affairs. Lisbon, Portugal

Civil Society Initiatives in the Middle East

Presented by:

Mahdi Abdul Hadi - Head of PASSIA, Jerusalem

Hani Hourani - Director, Al-Urdun Al-Jadeed Research Center, Jordan.

15:00  Coffee Break

 

10.30 Session 1: Europe & Mediterranean Security

Presented by:

Alvaro de Vasconcelos - Director, Institute of Strategic Studies & International Affairs. Lisbon, Portugal

Dr. Hassan Barari - Center for Strategic Studies, University of Jordan, Amman

Discussion

11.45 Coffee Break

12.00 Session 2: Corruption & Civil Society

Presented by: Niall Greene - Institute of European Affairs, Dublin, Ireland.

Discussion

14.30 Lunch (Directors' Meeting - Working Plan 2003, etc.)

15.30 Session 3: Cooperation in the EMP area: Migration, Stability & Cultural Exchange Corruption & Civil Society

Presented by:

Ingmar Karlsson - Swedish Consul General in Istanbul

Anders Hellner - Swedish Institute of International Affairs

Discussion

16.45 Coffee Break

17.00 Session 4: Closing

Presented by: Alvaro de Vasconcelos - Director, Institute of Strategic Studies & International Affairs. Lisbon, Portugal.

 

23-24 May 2003, PASSIA, Ramallah

Workshop 5:

Civil Society and Private Sector

Organized by: SWP, Berlin & PASSIA, Jerusalem

Participants: Volker Perthes, Head of the Middle East and Africa Division, SWP, Berlin; Muriel Asseburg, Senior Researcher, Middle East and Africa Department, SWP Berlin; Bettina Huber, Research Associate and EuroMeSCo Coordinator, Middle East and Africa Department, SWP, Berlin; Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Head of PASSIA, Jerusalem; Deniz Altayli, Program Director, PASSIA, Jerusalem; Elise Aghazarian, Researcher, Coordinator of Governance Projects, PASSIA, Jerusalem; Anders Hellner, Program Director, Swedish Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), Sweden; Ulrich Wurzel, University of Applied Sciences (FHTW), Berlin; Iyad Masrouji, Managing Director, Masrouji Trading Company, Ramallah; Sam Bahour, Businessman and Writer, Al-Bireh; Hisham Awartani, Center for Private Sector Development, Nablus; Hassan Barari, Center for Strategic Studies (CSS), University of Jordan, Amman.

 

Program:

23 May 2003

Arrival

Welcoming Dinner, Ambassador Hotel

24 May 2003

9:30 – 10:30 Introduction & Opening

Volker Perthes, Director, SWP, Middle East Program, Berlin

Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Head of PASSIA, Jerusalem

10:30 - 11:00 Session 1:

Civil Society and Economic Development in the Southern Mediter­ranean - The Impact of Socio-Political Structures on Technological Modernization, Investment, Competitiveness and Economic Growth

Prof. Ulrich Wurzel, University of Applied Science (FHTW), Berlin

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30 - 12:30 Discussion

12:30 - 14:30 Lunch Break

14:30 - 15:00 Session 2:

The Palestinian Private Sector - Role and Relations within the Civil Society Context

Iyad Masrouji, Managing Director, Masrouji Trading Company, Ramallah, and Sam Bahour, Businessman and Writer, Ramallah

15:00 - 16:00 Discussion

16:00 - 16:30 Break

  1. – 18:00 Discussion with Palestinian Civil Society Activists about the Current Situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

 

19-20 September 2003, Institute of European Affairs, Europe House, Dublin

WORKSHOP 6:

Governance and Civil Society

Organized by: SWP, Berlin; PASSIA, Jerusalem, and the IEA, Dublin

Participant(s): Volker Perthes, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Berlin; Mahdi Abdul Hadi, PASSIA, Jerusalem, Palestine; Hijazi Natsheh, PASSIA, Jerusalem, Palestine; Niall Greene, Institute for European Affairs (IEA), Dublin; Muriel Asseburg, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP); Bettina Huber, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP); Salah Abdul Shafi, Gaza Community Mental Health Program, Gaza, Palestine; Salam Kawakibi, Institut Francais du Proche-Orient (IFPO) Aleppo, Syria; Hassan Barari, Center for Strategic Studies (CSS), University of Jordan, Amman.

 

Program:

19 September 2003

Arrival

Welcoming Dinner, Ambassador Hotel

20 September 2003

9:30 – 10:00 Opening

Niall Greene, Institute of European Affairs, Dublin

Volker Perthes, Director, SWP, Middle East Program, Berlin

Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Head of PASSIA, Jerusalem

10:00 - 12:00 Session 1: Governance, Civil Society & the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP) in the Mashrek

The Role of Civil Society in the Emergence of a New Political Elite in Palestine

Salah Abdul Shafi, Gaza Community Mental Health Program, Gaza

L'émergence d'une société civile en Syrie et le partenariat euro-méditerranéen (The Emergence of Civil Society in Syria and the EMP)

Salam Kawakibi, Institut Francais du Proche-Orient (IFPO) Aleppo, Syria

12:00-14:00 Lunch

14:00 - 15:30 Discussion

15:30-16:00 Coffee Break

16:00-17:00 Session 2: Summary of Working Group Work & Outlook

Governance and Civil Society in the EMP: An Outline of the Final Report

Bettina Huber, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Berlin

17:00-17:30 Closing Remarks

Niall Greene, Institute of European Affairs, Dublin

Volker Perthes, Director, SWP, Middle East Program, Berlin

Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Head of PASSIA, Jerusalem