 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Summaries of the debates on the forum
|
|
Summary 4 : two lines of discussion: basic questions and
definitions (12/06-18/06)
FOLLOWING IS A MACHINE TRANSLATION OF THE ORIGINAL IN FRENCH. IT HAS BEEN EDITED FOR MISTRANSLATION ONLY. THE ORIGINAL IN FRENCH IS AVAILABLE ON THIS WEB SITE AT: <http://www.ue-acp.org/fr/forum/syntheses/synt4.html>
KEY WORDS: PROGRESS OF THE DEBATE* * Title: Summary 4 - two lines of discussion: basic questions and definitions (12-18 June) * *
by: Anne SIMON <anne.simon@skynet.be>
°°° Abstract: Some different messages determine two lines of discussion: (1) a basic question on decentralization and the regional action. (2) a methodological question of concept definition to center discussions and proposals (process, project, support to the process, exchange and symmetry of relations, governance). °°°
1. From promising African experiences to the negative European example of the dioxin
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The regional integration had been fairly little discussed during the seminar (Brussels 6-8 April 99) but it had been defined as being a specific detail of the European Union and hence, of the EU-ACP cooperation in the framework of the Convention of Lomé.
It had been recalled at the time of the seminar that the economic integration based on the objective of the creation of free exchange zones such as planned by the Convention of Lomé was insufficient if it was not built in parallel with citizens' dynamics of the countries involved.
Pierre Calame, explain that in his view, dynamics of decentralization and regional integration are inseparable. He recalls the experience of the European construction in " the construction of Europe. Some lessons for the future ".
In other available memos on the Web site <http://www.ue-acp.org/en/documents/contributions.html>, he proposes the organization of two processes of discussion on decentralization and the African integration, the first in Africa of the west, the second in Central and eastern Africa (objectives and methodology). He explains how the FPH understands and acts for a true "integration of peoples ".
He finally brings to this site his contribution to a discussion begun with young people of Burundi on this topic, more particularly on " leadership and the integration by the market ", the " link between regional integration and the solving of present conflicts", the "economic development strategy", and " what democracy for the Africa ".
Also illustrating this need of decentralization and regional integration, Michel Ansay leans on the recent business of contamination by Dioxin of food in Belgium and its consequences in Europe, to show the how much world economic integration is fragile, and that instead of fine tuning and controlling productions in the current system, another solution would be to reinforce solidarity at the local echelon, proximity relations … (for more of information on the business of the dioxin, to see the site of the federal Government of Belgium <http://belgium.fgov.be/pb/pbh/enbh00.htm>.
Anne Simon raises the question of the adequacy of the organizational and instrumental organization of the EU-ACP cooperation to the support to dynamics of regional integration. She recalls and propose some of proposal leads that could be considered in years to come.
2. Do concepts of "Exchange" and " Governance " lead to rereading the one of citizenship?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Michel Ansay, asks that one specifies " terms of exchange ", that one defines more precisely the terms of project, process, support to processes, grants, counter-grants, exchanges and conditions.
He proposes the beginnings of the discussion on these definitions. The project is " the dreamed object" designed according to an outside and constrained mold, while the process brings up a " forward march" of which it is necessary to determine the aim. The support to processes therefore also has to be defined, it would rest on a " liberation from the process of initiatives".
The experience of DEFI SUD reported by Aboubakar Doucoure adds to this definition the notion of duration. For him, the process of progressively taking responsibility by the fishermen facing an infantilizing administration in almost filial relations is very slow ("gradually ") and long (" forty years "…). To characterize a process, he also insists on " the confidence in oneself " as condition of the process and " training as condition of the development ".
Other terms deserve a finer definition. For " the exchange ", Michel Ansay insists on the fact that the exchange creates the reciprocity, hence its importance to develop the reciprocity of the relations north-south which otherwise depend extensively on conditionalities with multiple faces that it is advisable to describe in detail.
Djibril Diop and Pierre Calame discuss the definition of governance.
The first regrets that the term of governance is used so often in the document of the seminar " without that one really knows its exact content". He exposes several meanings of the term governance, for some it refers to methods of public affairs management, for others, it refers to the local actors taking responsibility in the management of affairs concerning them. He raises the question to know why one doesn't use the term of citizenship. According to him, the term of governance covers a too broad concept which integrates many sociological aspects, cultures, philosophical, political..
Pierre Calame brings precision on the way in which he understands this concept: " the governance, it is the human society’s capacity to endow itself with representation systems to manage itself in a voluntary movement". Therefore, neither "public management", nor " citizenship " would not be enough to cover it.
------------------------------------------------------
EU-ACP FORUM MODERATOR / MODERATEUR DU FORUM UE-ACP :
Denis PANSU
e-mail : moderation@ue-acp.org
tel : 00 33(0)6 81 36 36 25
|
| contact : publication@ue-acp.org | 
| 
|