Letter got only signed after new Commissioner Olli Rehn refered to UNCRC during his hearing at the European Parliament (was drafted some two weeks before)

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As a result of this, DG ELARG (Barbaso) signed the letter to DG Justice.

Emma Nicholson briefed Rehn

http://audiovisual.europarl.europa.eu/Assetdetail.aspx?id=408d9103-b8d3-4617-b640-f00cd5050d20

http://audiovisual.europarl.europa.eu/Assetdetail.aspx?id=d2adace8-f488-49a9-9402-a37700a729ff

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Romania: Edwardson and Murphy-Scheumann Meeting with Romanian Officials
Posted on September 24, 2004 by Joint Council

Antonia Edwardson, Executive Director and Deb Murphy-Scheumann, Joint Council Board President met with the following individuals in separate meetings regarding the status of pending cases in Romania:
Tatiana Maxim, Congressional Liaison, Embassy of Romania
Katie Joyce, Legislative Correspondent, Office of Senator Kerry
Paul Foldi, Professional Staff Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Heather Conley, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Department of State
Deb Murphy-Scheumann also represented Joint Council in a meeting with Ambassador Crouch in Romania during the month of September.
Summaries of the meetings are detailed in the following bullet points:
§  Ambassador Crouch has met with Prime Minister Nastase on three different occasions and has discussed the issues of the pending cases;
§  Ambassador Crouch has met with other Ambassadors in Bucharest in regard to the pending cases;
§  The State Department has taken a strong lined approach that these cases must be resolved;
§  The country of Romania has indicated that they do not want to aggressively pursue the resolving of these cases until the recommendation report for ascension to the EU has been published. * The report was issued last week. No word on how this may impact the progress of the stated plan.
§  The Romanian government has indicated that they are looking at the development of a commission. The purpose of this commission would only be to address the pending cases from all countries which were filed/referred under the Emergency Ordinance.
§  The US Government is working with the country of Romania to pass a law in parliament that will allow the pending cases to be brought to completion after the January 1 deadline of the new law is implemented;
§  The State Department has asked the Joint Council of International Children’s Services to recommend wording to determine the criteria for pending cases to be identified and processed;
§  The State Department is committed to suggesting language that will create a transparent processing of the pending cases;
§  The State Department is committed to having a broad approach for defining the pending cases;
§  The State Department has engaged in conversations and cooperatively worked with European countries with pending cases, however, the State Departments goal is to resolve US pending cases.
§  A follow-up meeting will be scheduled the end of October to discuss the progress on the issue of pending cases.
http://www.jointcouncil.org/romania-edwardson-and-murphy-scheumann-meeting-with-romanian-officials/

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Edelman Names New Leadership for Brussels Office

Asia Pacific, EMEA, North America

Paul Holmes 06 Sep 2004

BRUSSELS—Edelman has named Laura Currie and Teemu Lehtinen as managing directors of Edelman Brussels. Currie takes over as Managing director, public relations, and Teemu Lehtinen as managing director, public affairs. Both are promoted from their previous roles as directors. They succeed Charlotte Lester, who is leaving Brussels to return to India.

In addition, public affairs veteran Michael Burrell, Edelman’s vice chairman, Europe, takes on the additional role of vhairman, Edelman, Brussels.

Portrait de François de Combret

Décalage bancaire > Lire en format pdf Il était une fois un amoureux des idées devenu banquier d'affaires. Il était une fois un haut fonctionnaire devenu l'homme de l'ombre de Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. Il était une fois un associé-gérant de la banque Lazard devenu philanthrope. Fidèle mais lucide, rationnel et imaginatif, ce non-conformiste cultive ses différences.

Chaque semaine, Le nouvel Economiste révèle un tempérament à «L’Hôtel», rue des Beaux-Arts. Paris VIe. Portrait d’un discret serviteur de l’Etat mué en subtil banquier d’affaires.

Par Gaël Tchakaloff

Ukraine

Families for Children Program Implementing Partner: Holt International Children's Services Funding Period: September 2004 - December 2009 Amount: $3,229,790 Purpose: Develop sustainable and replicable family care models of services for children who otherwise would be institutionalized or on the street. Accomplishments Established model programs on family preservation in the pilot sites. Trained ninety-two regional trainers on foster care in collaboration with the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports, Families for Children Program Developed and tested practical guidelines on foster care (Families for Children Program Child Welfare Task Force). The guidelines were reviewed and approved by the ministry to be used country wide. Conducted two adoption surveys. Survey findings were used to improve the adoption process and develop a national strategy to build a strong and transparent adoption system. Established foster care services for HIV positive children. Supported seventy-eight grant projects, which reported the following: 9,155 people, including decision makers, service providers, parents and children participated in training activities. 16,067 media appearances (publications, TV/radio programs) addressed the issue of vulnerable children and families. 188 products (booklets, posters, films) were developed. 207 community events were conducted. 23 community groups were established. 1,200 children and 727 families received psychosocial support. services. 342 cases of child abandonment were prevented

As with many countries of the former Soviet Union, Ukraine’s rapid social, economic, and political changes have brought a serious crisis in the number of children living outside family care. Orphanages are full, and increasing numbers of children are forced to live on the streets. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports Affairs, as many as 100,000 children are living without the care and protection of a family.