éseau belge des Médiateurs et Ombudsmans "Ombudsman.be" rassemble quelques 30 institutions francophones et néerlandophones en Belgique.
Actuellement présidée par le Médiateur de la Wallonie et de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Marc BERTRAND, cette association s'est dotée ces dernières années d'un plan stratégique dont l'un des objectifs est de faire croître la notoriété des différents services de médiation et faciliter l'accès des citoyens rencontrant un problème avec une administration ou un service au bon médiateur.

C'est ainsi que la seconde table ronde a réuni 35 participants au Parlement de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles. A l'initiative du responsable communication, David DANNEVOYE, et guidés par l'expert Yann Boutruche, CEO de l'agence "Le mouton à 5 pattes", les médiateurs et leurs collaborateurs ont échangé sur la pertinence d'être sur les réseaux sociaux, les avantages, les inconvénients voire les dangers.

Sur base de l'expérience des uns présents tantôt sur LinkedIn, tantôt sur Facebook ou Twitter, le questionnement des autres, de toucher un public plus jeune via Instagram, TikTok ou Discord, de nombreux points ont été soulevés.
Définition de sa cible, engagement des citoyens sur les réseaux, proximité avec les usagers, proactivité et anticipation de situations de crise, rôle des ambassadeurs ou encore gestion de l'image sont autant d'éléments évoqués durant cet atelier.

La participation active de toutes et tous à cette table ronde montre ô combien le dynamisme des membres du réseau et la volonté des institutions de médiation,au delà de leurs missions de conciliation, de jouer un rôle essentiel, d'information et d'orientation des usagers dans leurs difficultés.

Pour Yann BOUTRUCHE, la présence de nos institutions sur les réseaux sociaux, c'est "La transparence jusqu'à l'inconfort".
Pour les Médiateurs/Ombudsmans, la transparence est une valeur fondamentale. Informer, être au plus proche des citoyens et répondre à leurs questions, même si la tâche peut parfois être inconfortable, est primordial.

The Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights, Hanna Machińska, took the floor in the discussion on civil society during the conference “Our European values, our future. A German-Polish dialogue on the future of Europe” on Tuesday, November 29.
During the meeting, Polish-German relations and joint dialogue in the context of European values were discussed. Discussion panels with the participation of experts also concerned economic issues, climate, foreign policy and security.
The organizer of the conference is Europa-Union Deutschland.
 

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 99% of all businesses in the EU and employ around 100 million people

• Retail ecosystem has been seriously affected by the COVID-19 crisis and rising energy costs

• An EU Capital of Local Trade and Retail would help promote uniqueness of EU towns and cities, importance of local trade

An EU Capital of Local Trade and Retail scheme and other support measures could help revitalise and modernise business models in the small retail sector, argue MEPs in a resolution.

In a resolution adopted with 23 in favour, 0 against and 0 abstaining, Petitions Committee MEPs call on the Commission to develop a proposal for a European Capital of Local Trade and Retail. Chosen annually by a board consisting of local trade associations, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders, the town or city would then host conferences and other events on current trade-related issues, for example digitalisation and environmental concerns.

The European Capital of Local Trade and Retail scheme would promote local retail and contribute to collective awareness of its economic and social importance. MEPs point out that the retail ecosystem has been seriously affected by the COVID-19 crisis and is now facing pressures due to rising energy costs and the euro area inflation. However, a lack of local commerce can contribute to the social, economic and physical degradation of urban centres and districts, and even lead to a vicious circle of deteriorating safety, note MEPs.

The resolution states that the rapid development of e-commerce is causing a dramatic transformation of the retail sector, and that multi-channel retail, combining offline and online sales, brings both new opportunities and challenges for the sector. Member states could support local traders with training to help them adapt to online commerce and make the retail sector a horizontal priority in their development plans, argue MEPs.

Noting that a lack of local trade can also cause depopulation of rural areas, MEPs also ask Member States to promote fiscal incentives for small traders who choose to settle in sparsely populated areas to combat the demographic challenge in the EU.

Background

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for account for 99% of all businesses and employ around 100 million people, according to the Commission.

Today, the Constitutional Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on the institutional dynamics between the EU and the CoE, with MEPs and experts.

The committee has invited the following experts to share their views:

- (Ms) Frédérique BERROD, Professor of Public Law at the University of Strasbourg, France. Visiting Professor at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium

- (Ms) Emma LANTSCHNER, Prof. Dr., Assistant professor, deputy director (since 2015) University of Graz, Centre for Southeast European Studies, Austria, Member of the Council of Europe's Advisory Committee (Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities)

When: Thursday 1 December, 09:10 CET

Where: Altiero Spinelli building, room 3G3, and remotely

You can follow the hearing live here.

The exchange will focus, among other topics, on mechanisms for political cooperation, relations between the two parliamentary assemblies, and the relationship between the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the EU.

Following the hearing, MEPs will hold a first exchange of views on the relevant draft report by Loránt Vincze (EPP, RO).