AMMAN (JT) -- On the occasion of the Netherlands assuming the rotating EU presidency, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (IMD) on Sunday hosted a Europe-wide conference entitled: "Enhancing the European Profile in Democracy Assistance."
Representatives of the EU, the European Parliament, national parliaments and democracy-supporting agencies in Europe convened at the Peace Palace in the Hague to develop a more adequate European capacity to support democracy reform processes and transitions to democracy throughout the world.
The three-day conference is also expected to prepare an agenda in which democracy assistance will be given a higher priority in the EU's future external policy.
At the opening session of the conference, Her Royal Highness Princess Basma presented "An Arab perspective," on "Why Europe should enhance its profile in democracy assistance."
Speaking about democracy in the Arab world, Princess Basma reaffirmed the convergence among the core values in democratic Western societies and Middle Eastern-Islamic societies that honour the ideals of justice, opportunity, human dignity and the rule of law.
However, she also noted the considerable diversities of views amongst the 19 Arab states on the concept and application of democracy. "In the Arab world we welcome the fact that the European countries and their citizens are interested that we should have an enabling environment. But, democratisation cannot be led from the outside or indeed from the top alone. By definition, the demand must also come from the citizens themselves. This is where support is perhaps most required."
Referring to Jordan's recently launched second Human Development Report, the Princess noted the intrinsic link between democracy and development. "In keeping with current human development thought, the report puts people at the centre of the analysis. As such, it also contends that a rights-based approach, which aims to create structures and processes where people and communities could claim their full rights and entitlements, is essential to poverty alleviation, and democratic process."
Princess Basma further elaborated that, "In the Middle East, local democracy can be strengthened through support to a wide range of civil society institutions at the local level -- NGOs, community-based organisations, elected municipal bodies etc... More importantly, they provide an entry point for those whose voices are often excluded, such as women and the poor, whose limited resources and restricted mobility prevent them from engaging effectively at national level."
According to the Princess, the Arab region and the European region are both witnessing increased interest in decentralised forms of democracy and development. "It is ironic, but perhaps inevitable, that just as Europe moves towards greater unity and harmonisation at a strategic level, the importance of local-level democracy and good governance as essential mechanisms to promote social and economic well-being is also being emphasised. The EU is currently supporting this process in North Africa and will provide substantial support to a "territorial" approach to development in Jordan."
In her concluding remarks, Princess Basma emphasised that by helping to set new standards of democratic practice between and within regions, Europe can in fact help bring about sustainable change. "The spirit of European multilateralism, coupled with the dynamics of popular will and civil society can help forge a new vision that will benefit us all."
The conference was organised in cooperation with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, the Centre Party International Foundation and the Foundation Jean-Jaur?s in coordination with other political party foundations throughout Europe.
Established in April 2000, the IMD was set up by the Dutch government to support the process of democratisation in young democracies by strengthening political parties as the pillars of parliamentary democracy in order to help create a well-functioning, sustainable, pluralistic system of party politics.
© Jordan Times 2004
