Press release - 549(2009)
4th Council of Europe Summer University focuses on global challenges to democracy
Strasbourg, 06.07.2009 – Some 600 participants from schools of political studies in 16 European countries are attending the Fourth Summer University for Democracy which started today in Strasbourg.
The Summer University is the annual highlight of the Council of Europe schools of political studies, which aim to train the next generation of political, economic, social and cultural leaders in transition countries.
In his opening speech Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis said that “the only way to become a real political leader is by winning the support, the trust and the confidence and therefore the votes of the people you want to lead.”
“Neither a Council of Europe School of Political Studies nor the Summer University for Democracy will give you a ticket to leadership and power, but they will give you the skills, the experience, the contacts and the knowledge, the democratic values, the standards and the principles which will help you to achieve your ambitions,” he said.
The 2009 Summer University will focus on the impact of contemporary challenges to democratic values, human rights and the rule of law and will seek to analyse and identify ways in which political leaders, civil society activists, journalists and business leaders should work together to meet the challenges of our time.
In his opening address, Slovenian President Dr. Danilo Turk said that the “topic of the Summer University was not only important politically, but also invited thinking about some of the most fundamental issues of our time.”
He spoke about six challenges to democracy in the context of economic and social prosperity, participation and the rule of law, peace and security. Mr Turk also touched upon the relationship between the democratic process, media and electoral institutions, and the relations within the democratically elected institutions.
Strasbourg Mayor Roland Ries, PACE President Lluis Maria de Puig, Luisella Pavan-Woolfe, Permanent Representative of the European Commission to the Council of Europe and Michel Rocard, former Prime Minister of France, were among the opening speakers.
During the course of the week, the participants will attend a series of themed conferences and workshops on international finance, energy and environmental protection, corruption and terrorism, organised crime and others.
For the first time, the Summer University is welcoming participants from Africa, who are attending the event with the support of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie.
Special file: The schools of political studies
Press contact:
Henriette Girard, Press Officer Tel. +33 (0) 3 88 41 21 41 , Henriette.Girard@coe.int
Ulvi Akhundlu, Press Officer Tel. +33 (0) 3 88 41 26 38, Ulvi.Akhundlu@coe.int
Note for Editors
The first Council of Europe-backed school of political studies was founded in Moscow in 1992 to train the next generation of decision makers in politics, economics, society and culture. At present 16 such schools exist in Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Kosovo, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Armenia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro and Belarus.
The event brings together participants from political studies schools (500 in 2006, 600 in 2007, 608 in 2008) to study common questions and create bilateral and regional opportunities for dialogue. It also gives participants the opportunity to hear from international and European leaders and meet numerous experts from Europe and elsewhere. Each Summer University has a special theme. In 2006 it was “Challenges to Democracy”, in 2007 – “The future of the European Project”, in 2008 – “Governance, power and democracy.”
The Fourth University for Democracy in numbers:
- 600 participants;
- 10 % of participants are journalists;
- 40 % are women;
- 75 experts, lecturers and international personalities;
- Budget: € 750 000;
- 16 Schools welcoming about 1000 participants per year;
- the first school is the one created in Moscow in 1992;
- the most recent one is the School for Belarus created in 2008
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Council of Europe Directorate of Communication
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
pressunit@coe.int
www.coe.int
