Islamabad, May 31, 2013 (PPI-OT): Area Study Centre for Europe (ASCE), University of Karachi (KU), organised a seminar on 28 May titled, ‘the European Union in the 21st Century: Achievements, Potential and Challenges’, to celebrates the Europe Day.
The Vice Chancellor Karachi University Prof Dr Muhammad Qaiser, the Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Pakistan Mr Pierre Mayaudon, the French Consul General Mr Christian Ramage, the Italian Consul General Mr Robertoo Franceschinies and the German Consul General in Karachi Dr Tilo Klinner addressed the seminar.
Sharing his views Mr Pierre Mayaudon, the Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, elaborated on the topic and said, “We believe in universal values that should ultimately be shared by all countries.
These range from the abolition of the death penalty to gender balance and a number of other essential principles that include the freedom of expression and belief. We also defend democracy as the regime that all nations around the world should ultimately adopt.”
“We congratulate the people of Pakistan for promoting this ideal on 11-May. By their courage, they have brought Pakistan and EU closer in a way that no trade or diplomatic treaty could ever have achieved”, said Mr Mayaudon.
Talking about the topic, French Consul General Mr Christian Ramage informed that 2013 has been marked as a year to celebrate the French and German reconciliation. “Up till the 1940’s, peace was unthinkable in Europe but since the 1950’s, war has become unthinkable,” said Mr Ramage.
Addressing the seminar, Italian Consul General Mr Robertoo Franceschinies discussed migration issues in the EU. One of the major challenges that the EU is facing is immigration, said Italian Consul General Mr Roberto Franceschinis. “It is believed that migration brings problems for countries but the EU is determined to continue its immigration policies as it wants to keep its competitive edge over other regions,” he said.
German Consul General Dr Tilo Klinner, discussing the Euro Zone Crisis and its impacts on Europe, he expressed hope that the Union would overcome its financial problems in the near future. “Despite all the financial problems, no member state wanted to leave the EU because they were aware of the benefits the come with being a part of it.”
The Area Study Centre for Europe was established at the University of Karachi in the year 1974 along with five other Area Study Centres in major state sector universities of Pakistan. The Centre undertakes research at M.S. /Ph. D. level.
The research findings of the Centre’s own research staff are published in the form of books, monographs and profiles. The Centre also publishes the bi-annual Journal of European Studies, with articles on contemporary European issues and related topics.
The Centre is now focusing its research on the European Union, its politics, law, competition policy, economics and external relations. European Security, Common Foreign and Security Policy, Europe–Pakistan relations, Europe and the Muslim World and Europe’s relations with the developing world are also amongst the subjects of research and teaching at the Centre.
For more information, contact:
Ms Ayesha Babar
Press and PR Officer
Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan
Phone: +92-51-227 182 8
Fax: 92-51- 282 260 4
Email: Ayesha.Babar@eeas.europa.eu