INTRODUCTION

PASSIA’s seminar on the European Union 1995 forms part of PASSIA’s annual programme “Training and Education in International Affairs”.

The programme aims to train Palestinian graduates about the European Union and to apply this knowledge to regional and international affairs. It is part of PASSIA’s endeavour to meet the needs of the Palestinian community for formal education, training and practical experience in an area that is receiving increasing attention as Palestinians define and address their own political and economic needs.

PASSIA hopes that this seminar – held at this crucial period in our history – will enable Palestinians to continue the process of state-building and to enhance relations and understanding with the European Union and the international community more generally.

Having put together all the material to publish the full report on the PASSIA Seminar 1995/96 “The European Union”, the PASSIA Academic Committee would like to use the opportunity to express its deep gratitude to the Ford Foundation, Cairo, whose financial support made this programme feasible, to the Commission of the European Union (Directorate General I) for its financial contribution which facilitated the Field Trip, and to all individuals whose encouragement and valuable support contributed to make the seminar and field trip a success.

We thank most warmly the guest lecturers from Europe, Dr. Rosemary Hollis, Head of the Middle East Programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), London and Dr. Paul Meerts from the Netherlands Institute of International Relations “Clingendael”, The Hague, and all the local Palestinian and foreign lecturers for their valuable contribution.

Last but not least our thanks go to the Palestinian participants whose serious commitment to and enthusiastic participation in the seminar course are highly appreciated.

SEMINAR PROGRAMME

1. Preparation
PASSIA consulted with British and Palestinian scholars and European Union officials based in Jerusalem and Brussels in order to plan and implement the seminar. Consultation began in June and PASSIA advertised the proposed seminar in the local press, al-Quds, an-Nahar, and The Jerusalem Times, at the beginning of July. Notification was also given to national institutions such as universities, research centres and institutions of the Palestinian Authority. No travel, food or accommodation expenses were required from participants, nor any fee for undertaking the course. The programme was supported financially by the Ford Foundation, Cairo (Seminar), and the European Union in Brussels (Field Trip).

2. Participant Selection Procedure
PASSIA formed a Committee specifically for the preparatory stage of the seminar. Its members were: Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Dr. Rosemary Hollis, Valerie Grove and Deniz Altayli. PASSIA received 56 applications from all over the Occupied Territories (18 from Jerusalem, 33 from the West Bank, and 5 from Gaza), 42 of which were invited for interviews. The Programme Coordinator, Dr. Rosemary Hollis, came from London specifically in order to participate in the interviews which took place over the period 17th-21st August 1995 in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Bethlehem. Of the total of 42 interviewees, the Committee selected 15 to participate in the seminar plus 7 reserves. Priority was given to those who had not yet had a chance to take part in a PASSIA Seminar.

3. Reading Period
The lecturers provided a full list of reference materials covering the topics addressed in their respective lectures. Required reading material was photocopied and distributed to participants at the beginning of September in order that participants could familiarise themselves with the concepts of the seminar beforehand. Each participant received a reading package including assorted articles and booklets amounting to approximately 300 pages. During the seminar, some lecturers distributed further reading material on the subject and additional material recommended by the lecturers was available for the participants at the PASSIA library.

The reading period included the preparation of a country-position paper, whereby each of the participants had been assigned one of the 15 EU member states in order to collect information about a specific country. The position paper had to cover the following aspects:

• Basic statistical data on the respective country
• The country’s position and role within the EU and towards EU policies
• The country’s attitude towards the Arab-Israeli conflict

4. Lecture Programme
From 30th October to 11th November 1995 a series of lectures and other educational exercises were given by the following scholars: Dr. Rosemary Hollis, Chatham House, London; Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi, PASSIA, Jerusalem; Dr. Nayef Abu Khalef, An-Najah University, Nablus; Dr. Othman Othman, An-Najah University, Nablus; Dr. Paul Meerts, Clingendael Institute, The Hague.

In addition, European diplomats (located in Jerusalem and Jericho), representatives of the EU Office in Jerusalem, and Palestinian experts (see Lecturers) gave lectures and presentations on various topics. Mr. Thomas Dupla, head of the EU’s Representative Office in Jerusalem, was to give the introductory speech and to formally open the seminar on October 30th, 1995 but was, due to health reasons, unfortunately not able to do so. On certain topics, the participants had to give brief presentations on country-related issues, which they had to prepare during the reading period.

5. Social Activities
During the two week seminar, PASSIA provided beverages and luncheon for all participants and lecturers. On Sunday, 5th November, PASSIA hosted an evening reception at the Ambassador Hotel in Jerusalem for all involved in the seminar, as well as for representatives of local institutions, the diplomatic corps in Jerusalem and friends of PASSIA.

6. Writing Assignments
Participants were required to write two essays, one in Arabic and one in English. The first, a position paper in English on one of the 15 EU member states, had to be submitted before the actual seminar started. It had to cover basic statistical data on the respective country as well as the country’s position within the EU and towards the Arab-Israeli conflict. The participants had to present these country-related topics during the seminar.

The second essay, in Arabic, on topics studied during the seminar is required for submission by the end of December 1995. Seminar lecturers compiled a list of suggested titles for the essay papers from which the participants selected one for analysis in their papers.

7. Advanced Studies
The PASSIA Committee will nominate five of the fifteen participants to be considered one week study visits each in one of the following European capitals: Rome, London, Paris, Bonn, Madrid. These five will then converge for a further study week at the European Commission in Brussels itself. The expenses for these two weeks of study will be covered by the European Union, Brussels.