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EVENT

Delegation

EU Visitors Program: Brussels Visit

2009.05.11 - 2009.05.15

Report of the European Union Visitors Program
— Visit to Brussels, 11 to 15 May 2009

By Karen TANG
Executive Director
The Better Hong Kong Foundation
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People’s Republic of China
(15 June, 2009)

I. Introduction

The European Union Visitors Program (EUVP) is a very meaningful, professionally managed program. It has not only deepened my understanding of the European Union (EU), but also broadened my perspectives on global affairs, especially the multi-lateral relationships between China and EU member states. The one-to-one dialogues with the interlocutors, as well as interaction with people in Brussels in general, provided me an excellent opportunity to experience the spirit of embracement of diversity and collaboration.

II. Meetings

As the Executive Director of the Better Hong Kong Foundation, I was pleased to be introduced to people who were interested in the developments in China and Hong Kong, and in exploring collaboration and long term partnership with us.

As mentioned in my Statement of Purpose for my visit, the establishment of the EU is of epoch-making significance. Its experience of collating and embracing the diversity among member states and to work together as an entity is worthwhile learning. I asked to understand the role of NGOs, think tanks and media in the decision making, consultation and communications process; and their relation with the European Commission and/or its sub-committees. Meetings were arranged and discussions were made possible in the following areas:

A. European Union and Media & Communications

Mr. Ralph PINE, Editorial Coordinator of the Press Room Unit in the Directorate General for Communication of the European Parliament: Mr. Pine explained to me the structure of the EU, interaction with media, using of Internet and intranet to communicate among different units, the importance of neutrality on handling media enquiries and message articulation, their upcoming priority (raising the awareness and voting rate of the Parliament election), and demonstrating to me the election campaign videos and materials.

Mr. Klaus HULLMANN, Administrator responsible for Visits at the Committee of the Regions: Mr. Hullmann explained his scope of work and the importance of the consultative role of the Committee of the Regions and the implication of this participative process for the whole decision making process.  
  
B. EU and China & Hong Kong

H.E. Mr. SONG Zhe, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union; Mr. WANG Yajun, Minister-Counsellor; Mr. Wang Xining, Counsellor of China’s Mission: The China’s Mission is playing an ever-increasing important role interacting with the EU. More dialogues between China and the EU will help build greater understanding, and thus more collaboration. Hong Kong can play a role to enhance such interaction and dialogue.     
 
 – Ms. Hinny LAM, Deputy Representative from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO); and Ms. Ada YEUNG: Hong Kong is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, its system and developments are comparatively familiar to people in the EU. The HKETO is very functional in facilitating understanding, especially on the latest developments on economy and trade as well as developments across the border in the Mainland. 

Mr. Vito BORRELLI, Programme Manager, Coordinator of Erasmus Mundus in the Unit for Cooperation and International Programmes in the Directorate General for Education and Culture of the European Commission: Mr. Borrelli shared with me the spirit and scope of the Programme. However, neither the universities in Hong Kong nor students in Hong Kong has been engaged in the Programme although many universities and students in China, especially those in Beijing and in Shanghai, are being engaged. Mr. Borrelli has been very kind to send a follow up email to Ms. Maria Castillo-Fernandez, Head of EU Commissioner’s Office in Hong Kong, and me. I hope that Hong Kong will be included in the program in the future.  

Ms. Andrea FENNESZ, Policy Desk Officer in the Unit for Trade Relations with the Far East in the Directorate General for Trade of the European Commission: Ms. Fennesz is familiar with trade in Hong Kong and that in the region but is watching closely the compliance of CEPA under the WTO principles. Although she had the opportunity to visit China, including Taiwan, she did not have the chance to visit Hong Kong. I hope she will visit Hong Kong on her next trip to China.

Mr. Asad BEG, Desk Officer of China and Mongolia, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Mongolia in the Directorate General for External Relations in the European Commission: Though Mr. Beg is new to the post, he shared with me their latest Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for China 2007-2013 and Multi-Indicative Programme MIP 2007-2010. We shared our views on how cooperation and assistance could be offered in a more effective way by enhancing the understanding of both sides and by sharing the philosophy behind.

Mr. Francesco PRESUTTI, Administrator in the Unit for the Coordination of the Political and Security Committee in the Directorate General for External Economic Relations, Politico-Military Affairs of the Council of the European Union: Though the meeting with Mr. Presutti was brief, he was keen to know my view on the political and economic developments in Hong Kong and China.

Ms. Andrea SUBHAN, Administrator in the Directorate for External Relations of the European Economic and Social Committee: Ms. Subhan was about to depart for a trip to Hong Kong and China the day after our meeting. The EU Commissioner’s Office in Hong Kong had organized a round table meeting for the delegation during their visit in Hong Kong. I was able to give Ms. Subhan a brief orientation on the social and economic developments in Hong Kong.

Mr. Tim BODEN, Administrator in the Directorate for Inter-Parliamentary Delegations for non-European countries of the European Parliament: Mr. Boden has been in the position for several years. He met with several EUVP visitors from Hong Kong, Macau and China and has led several delegations to China. My impression was that the dialogues have been focusing on the few controversial political issues which did not facilitate true understanding and communication for both sides. 

Mr. Tom ROE, ASEM Counsellor, Asia Directorate, External Relations, European Commission: I arranged a meeting myself with Mr. Roe.  He is the ex-head of the EU Commissioner’s Office in HK. It was enlightening to learn of his role in facilitating better understanding of Asia in the EU.

C. NGOs and Think Tanks

Mr. Jonathan HOLSLAG, Head of Research, Expert at the EU-China Academic Network (ECAN), Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies (BICCS): I arranged the meeting with Mr. Holslag via an introduction. Mr. Holslag has been very active in promoting academic dialogue and study on EU-China relations. While the subject itself is becoming more important and deserves more study, there is not much academic expertise on the subject in Brussels or in the EU. Both Mr. Holslag and I are exploring collaboration in promoting the subject studies to academia in Brussels and in the EU.  

Mr. Dick GUPWELL, Secretary General and Acting Director of the European Institute for Asian Studies – E.I.A.S.: Mr. Gupwell is an expert in India studies while his Singaporean colleague studies China. He was keen to know the work of the Better Hong Kong Foundation and would be pleased to explore collaboration.

Mr. Koen SEGERS of the Confucius Institute in Brussels: The Confucius Institute in Brussels is part of an international network of Confucius Institutes aimed at the diffusion and promotion of Chinese language and culture. It was co-founded by the Chinese Government, in partnership with the Belgium-China Association’s China Academy. I was introduced to two Chinese student interns Mr. XU Enhao and Ms. XUI Lian. They were keen to support the Institute not only to earn their academic credit but also to help promote Chinese culture. Although the location and the physical condition of the Institute are not favorable, more and more people are interested in learning about Chinese language and culture.

D. Others — Belgian Federal Parliament

Mr. Jan DELTOUR, Director and Mr. John STEVENS, Adviser both of the Table Office of the House of Representatives of the Belgian Federal Parliament: The tour to the Belgian Parliament was impressive. I explained to the gentlemen the political system, election system and briefly the related chapter of the Basic Law in Hong Kong. We shared issues of some similarity that the Parliament in Belgium and the Legislative Council in Hong Kong were facing; and that the positioning of Belgium and of Hong Kong in a globalized economy was also of similar concern.  

III. Conclusions

The model of European Union is epoch-making and embraces diversity among member states. While allowing flexibility to individual members on certain issues, there are important issues centrally coordinated and decided upon and to which member states are obliged. With this, the EU as a whole has the highest global GDP and should have a comparable weight and strategic influence in the world economy. The European model of economic development, especially during the financial crisis, also proves to be more robust and should be studied. 

As an increasingly important country and entity in the world, China and the EU should develop more dialogue and collaboration, not only among government organizations but also among the civic communities, on issues which should go beyond political subjects. The EU can be a good reference for China. Under the one country two systems and being a world city with East and West culture, Hong Kong can definitely play a role in facilitating communication and collaboration between China and the EU. 

IV. Compliments

Last but not the least, I would like to thank and congratulate the EUVP Secretariat for their professionalism and success in managing a very good program for me that was flexible and yet very carefully planned. The itinerary was rightly spaced with clear instructions and reminders. The hotel (Hotel SILKEN BERLAYMONT BRUSSELS, Boulevard Charlemagne, 11-19, 1000 Brussels) was comfortable and closely located to the meeting venues. If there is any room for improvement, I would suggest providing the participant a draft itinerary before departure for the best preparation. 

I would like to take this opportunity to render my salutation and gratitude to Mr. Ed VAN KOOLWIJK, Head of the EUVP Secretariat and his team, especially Ms. Afërdita ERTEKIN-JAHJA, EUVP Programme Organiser, for their success and for their kind assistance in making my trip fruitful and enjoyable.

— END —


Meeting with H.E. Mr. Song Zhe, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union


Meeting with Mr. Wang Yajun, Minister-Counsellor (right) and Mr. Wang Xining, Counsellor (left) of China’s Mission to the European Union