Europe’s battle for diversity and freedom

Commentary feature.

In co-operation with the Turkish Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers (November 2010 – May 2011), Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, proposed to create a Group of Eminent Persons in order to prepare a report within the context of the Pan-European project 'Living together in 21st century Europe'.

The group consisted of 9 high-ranking individuals with a specific expertise and a particular interest in the subject. Joschka Fischer was the Chairman. Edward Mortimer was the rapporteur responsible for preparing the draft report.

This report was presented at the Council of Europe Ministerial Session in Istanbul on 11 May 2011.

The other members were: Timothy Garton Ash (United Kingdom), Emma Bonino (Italy), Martin Hirsch (France), Danuta Hubner (Poland), Ayse Kadioglu (Turkey), Sonja Licht (Serbia), Vladimir Lukin (Russia), Javier Solana Madariaga (Spain).

Trouw, 25.5.11: Immigration, inevitable and indispensable http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/675241-immigration-inevitable-and-indispensable

ESO: Background information: Rome and Paris seek border reforms http://www.europeansources.info/record/rome-and-paris-seek-border-reforms/

Council of Europe: Living together in 21st century Europe - Pan-European project: The Group of Eminent Persons http://www.coe.int/t/dc/files/events/groupe_eminentes_personnes/default_EN.asp

ECFR: Commentary: Living Together in 21st Century Europe, May 2011 http://ecfr.eu/content/entry/commentary_living_together_in_21st_century_europe

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