Yehuda Talmon
The undoubted highlight of today’s plenary session was the visit and speeches of the Presidents of the Economic and Social Councils from all the partner countries of the Euromed region. In addition to the EU’s 22 working languages, interpretation was also provided into Arabic (a first, I think, for the Committee). The message these presidents brought was that civil society organisations have key roles to play in fostering the sort of prosperity which can, in turn, lead to better-educated workforces and better mutual understanding. In a previous incarnation as manager of the TEMPUS programme, I once had the great honour of hosting a meeting of representatives of all the Euromed countries, including Israel and the Palestinian Authority. To see such representatives working peacefully and positively together in confronting common problems always gives me goosebumps and makes me realise why those saints of the international world, peace negotiators, do what they do, despite frequent setbacks. To hear Hanna Siniora, President of the Palestinian Economic and Social Council, and Yehuda Talmon, President of the Israeli Economic and Social Council, echoing each other warmly was the highlight of the week for me. As Talmon put it, ‘There is ignorance on both sides. We have to learn about each other. No-one is better placed than civil society to bring about this mutual understanding.’
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