The European Public Law Organization (EPLO) in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic -under the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs Mr Miltiades Varvitsiotis- and the Attica Region organized a conference entitled "Challenges of Law in Europe of the Future" on 8 July, 2021 at the Roman Agora of Athens.
The opening address was delivered by Professor Spyridon Flogaitis, Director of the EPLO, who thanked the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for including the European Public Law Organization among the organizations invited to cooperate with the Ministry in the context of the debate on the Future of Europe and entrusting him with the chapter on the Rule of Law. The Agency has its own short history of promoting the "Principle of the Primacy of Law", as the term was correctly rendered in French as early as the 19th century.
On 20 November 2019, the European Public Law Organization launched at the UN headquarters in New York the EPLO's initiative to establish a global commission to deal with the Rule of Law. This initiative, which was announced at the time, is expected to take shape in November next year due to the upheavals brought about by the pandemic.
Professor and former Prime Minister of Italy, Giuliano Amato, who served as Chairman of the Commission initiated by Giscard d'Estaing on the Constitution of Europe and was subsequently invited to chair the Commission for the drafting of the Lisbon Treaty, sent a video message in which he mentioned, among other things: "The new horizons and challenges of the pandemic have brought about remarkable changes in today's Europe. The rules that were designed to control national budgets and which, in most cases, have come at a heavy and unsustainable price, because of the pandemic have been suspended. Instead, common fiscal instruments have been introduced that pursue growth and social welfare, under the banner of innovation and sustainability. Citizens' confidence is being reinstated in Europe while Eurosceptic movements are declining. Of course, the conflicts and divergences between us on the fundamental pillar of the rule of law have not changed and the gap between north and south persists. However, it is encouraging to see Europe's mobilization to address challenges such as climate change, or the needs of the younger generation to improve their lives. Although the future remains unknown, being European means for all of us many more benefits than we have as citizens of our individual states. We welcome this return".
The message that Greece has a historic obligation to lead the way in an era of great challenges around human rights and the rule of law was sent by the Deputy Foreign Minister, Miltiades Varvitsiotis, welcoming the event.
"We are entering the era of great challenges for the rule of law and human rights, and this is an issue that will be discussed with regards to the institutional unification of Europe in the future," the deputy minister said, adding that "the struggle for the protection of human rights is constant and must be carried out without discounts".
Mr. Varvitsiotis concluded by calling on all Greeks to submit their proposals on the issues of democracy, the rule of law and human rights to the National Dialogue on the Future of Europe. "Greater participation of Greeks in the Conference will strengthen our voice and our presence in Europe. It is our will and aspiration that Greece should play a leading role in the European vision".
Mr. Patoulis, in turn, stressed that it is a great honor for the Region of Attica to co-organize the Conference with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Organization of Public Law, as the culmination of our cooperation for the promotion of democratic processes, with the direct involvement of the citizens of Europe in shaping a sustainable, just, and prosperous society and pointed out, among other things:
"The Committee of the Regions will play its own important political role at the Conference, with its 18-member delegation, but also with a variety of actions, including its contribution to the legislative work, through the adoption and follow-up of relevant opinions and resolutions. Our aim is to propose multi-level governance and the principle of subsidiarity as the backbone for better EU legislation, as well as to promote a significant role for locally elected officials within the EU."
He then referred to the important contribution of the Regions at European level in managing and tackling the health crisis, stressing: "It goes without saying that at national and European level, we must capitalize on this legacy and move rapidly towards achieving a truly executive state, with strong self-governing authorities that meet the demands of the times."
The keynote speaker of the event, Minister of State, Professor George Gerapetritis, referred to the evolution of Europe and more specifically stressed: "To the question of how to have more functional, more legitimate Europe, I would like to give a threefold answer: at the level of the organization of the institutions of the European Union, the proposal is for a Europe more representative of the peoples and multileveled. At the level of the decision-making process, it is crucial to broaden the consultative nature of decision-making, to include the participation of citizens so that European citizens do not feel alienated from the centers of European decision-making. Finally, as regards the general principles that should govern European public policies, I think that what we need today more than ever is interdependence and sustainability."
Besides the speakers, the conference was attended by the Minister of Justice Mr. Kostas Tsiaras, the MP Mr. Theofilos Xanthopoulos as representative of SYRIZA, Mr. Nicolas Kanellopoulos as representative of KINAL, Mr. P. Chasapis as representative of Hellenic Solution, the Reverend Mr. Vlaviannos as representative of the Archdiocese of Athens, the President of the Council of State Mr. Mikhail Pikramenos, Mrs. Eugenia Veloni, President of the Legal Counsel of the State, the Secretary General of Immigration Policy Mr. Patroclos Georgiadis, the Secretary General of Tax Policy and Public Property, Mrs. Athena Kalyva, the Vice-Regional Governor of the Western Sector Mr. Leotsakos Andreas, the Mayor of Petroupoli Mr. Stefanos Vlachos, the Mayor of Agia Varvara Mr. Lampros Mihos, Mr. Nikolaos Zenetos, the Mayor of Ilion, Mr. Evangelos Diniakos, the Mayor of Haidari, Mr. Evangelos Diniakos, the Mayor of Agion Anargyron-Kamaterou, Mr. Tsirbas Stavros, the Mayor of Samos, Mr. Stantzos Georgios, the Executive Secretary of the Attica Region, Mr. I.Selimis, the President of the Professional Chamber Mr. Chatzitheodosiou and a number of deputy mayors, academics and politicians.
After the end of the Conference, a musical program followed under the direction of the composer George Andreou and the performance of Korina Legaki.
You can watch the event on EPLO's YouTube channel here
