Symposium
Details
In the framework of European integration, the European Parliament (EP) has over the years not only developed its legislative powers and oversight functions but has equally become a driving force for further integration. The Lisbon Treaty gives the EP more power to shape Europe than ever before. Along with more power, come more responsibilities for Parliament vis-à-vis citizens, national parliaments and the European Union.
Although neither depth nor extension of integration processes in Asia can be compared with the situation in Europe, cooperation structures between national institutions in Asia exist. Even in regions were supra-national structures are absent, over the years, parliamentary exchange forums have been established in one way or the other. Many countries have devised regionally-distinctive modes of cooperation. A number of regional organisations with different objectives and concerns, variously addressing economic, security and trade issues have been created over the years (ASEAN, SAARC, East Asia Summit, etc.). So far, no consensus exists among the Asian countries on the primacy of any one organisation, nor on the relevant scope of activities or the geographic coverage of the membership (e.g. ASEM).
Even when the European model might not be a feasible option for integration in Asia, exchange and cooperation between EU Institutions and particularly between the EP and the ASEAN states have enhanced mutual understanding, the identification of joint areas of interest as well as issues of mutual concern.
The recently established Human-Rights-Commission (July 2009) has been one component of the Asian integration process that was closely followed and supported by the European Parliament. Equally, the declaration of Nuremberg (2007) and the Phnom-Penh-Agenda (May 2009) constitute an ambitious directory of potential fields of cooperation between the EU and ASEAN.
Thus, European Parliamentarians – through their international delegations - are playing a decisive role in fostering integrative processes beyond European borders.
Professor Dr Günter Rinsche accompanied and shaped as a Member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1999 the European integration process from the European Community to the European Union. He served between 1989 and 1999 as a Chairman of the CDU/CSU group and as a member of the board of the EPP group at the European Parliament. As long-standing Chairman of the Delegation for relations with the Member States of ASEAN, South-east Asia and the Republic of Korea of the European Parliament (1984-1999), he contributed profoundly to the establishment and consolidation of EP-relations with the region.
His European dedication based on his long experience in municipal policy and on his function as a member of the German regional and national parliaments. After his employment at the Ministry of Economics of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1961 to 1964 Dr Günter Rinsche changed to the Country administration for Research in Düsseldorf.
After having served already since 1956 as an alderman of the City of Hamm, he took over the function of a Lord Mayor as of 1964 (until 1979). In 1978 he was elected to become the President of the City Council of North Rhine-Westphalia. From 1965 to 1972 Prof Rinsche was a member of the German Parliament and from 1975 to 1980 he was a member of the regional Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia. Prof Dr Günter Rinsche was Chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung from 1995 to 2001.
In honour of his 80th anniversary and paying tribute to his merits in strengthening the role of the European Parliament, European integration and the relations of Europe to Asia, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung hosted for its former Chairman, Prof Dr Günter Rinsche, this symposium focusing on the exchange of European and Asian experiences in regional integration.
