The parliamentary delegation of the Canadian
Branch that attended the XXVII Session of the Europe Regional Assembly of
the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF), held in Warsaw,
Poland, from September 28 to October 1, 2014, has the honour of
presenting its report.
The delegation from the Canadian Branch of the APF
consisted of the Honourable Senator Paul E. McIntyre, QC, President of
the APF. The delegation was accompanied by François Michaud, Association
Secretary.
The following branches took part in the
proceedings of the Europe Regional Assembly: Andorra, Armenia,
Belgium/Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Catalonia, France, Hungary, Jersey, Jura,
Monaco, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Switzerland, Valais, Valle d’Aosta and Vaud.
The representative of the Americas chargé de mission was also present.
XXVII Session of the Europe Regional Assembly
As International President of the APF, the
Honourable Paul E. McIntyre travelled to Warsaw to take part in the
XXVII Session of the APF’s Europe Regional Assembly. This annual meeting is
attended by legitimately elected European parliamentarians who discuss the
concerns and aspirations of their constituents. The Regional Assembly is a
forum that supports close cooperation and genuine intercultural dialogue. More
than a discussion forum, the Europe Regional Assembly is a genuine driver for
the parliamentary initiatives of the Francophonie.
The formal opening session of the Assembly consisted
of speeches by Jean-Paul Wahl, MP (Belgium/Wallonia-Brussels Federation),
and APF European chargé de mission; Senator Jan Wyrowinski, deputy speaker
of the Senate of the Republic of Poland; Senator Marek Ziółkowski,
Chair of the Polish Branch of the APF; and the Honourable Paul E. McIntyre,
President of the APF. The President laid out his vision for his mandate as head
of the APF.
The first topic was the Francophonie in Poland,
with a focus on engaging young Francophones in promoting democracy, multiculturalism
and multilingualism. Radosław Kucharczyk, associate deputy director
of research for the Institut d'Études Romanes; Janina Zielinska, chair
of the Collège de Formation des Professeurs de Français at the University of
Warsaw, chief advisor to the president of the Fédération internationale des
Professeurs de Français (FIPF) and honorary chair of the FIPF’s Commission pour
l’Europe centrale et orientale; and Renata Klimek-Kowalska, coordinator
of a project on the francophone classes of Silesia and chair of the Association
Europe des Langues et des Cultures, made presentations. The Assembly also heard
from French-language students from Silesia and the French lycée of Warsaw, as
well as French teachers and their students from Skierniewice.
The topic for the second working session was the
practical side of the Francophonie, specifically the day-to-day challenges
facing Francophones in countries where French is not an official language. Franck
Pezza, a representative of Wallonia-Brussels in Warsaw and chair of the
Groupe des Ambassades, Délégations, Institutions francophones de Varsovie
(GADIF), Remigiusz Forycki, professor and dean of the faculty of modern
languages at the University of Warsaw, and Pascale Peeter, reader in
French at the Institut d'Études Romanes, made presentations. The Assembly also heard
from Maciej Witucki, chair of the Conseil de surveillance de Orange
Polska, Jadwiga Czartoryska, chair of the Fondation Orange Polska, Monika
Constant, chief executive officer of the Chambre du Commerce et de
l’Industrie française en Pologne, and Jacek Z. Karczewsk, member of the Association
France-Pologne and chair of the Commission pour les Jeux de la Francophonie.
The final working session was devoted to the topic
of multiculturalism and multilingualism as universal values in Central and
Western Europe in the 20th and 21st centuries. Maciej Forycki, professor
of history at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Marek
Ziółkowski, Chair of the Polish Branch of the APF, and author Marek
Potocki made presentations.
The representative of the chargé de mission for
the Americas, Marie-France Lalonde, MPP (Ontario), presented the
activity report for her region.
The Assembly adopted a resolution on the promotion
of French-language teaching.
For more information, including written versions
of certain speeches, please visit
http://apf.pcf.be/ROOT/apf/repertoire_assemblees/varsovie_2014/index.html [in
French only].
By participating in these meetings, the Canadian
Branch achieved its goals of meeting its international obligations, maintaining
international contacts and representing its interests.
Respectfully submitted,
The Hon. Paul E. McIntyre, QC, Senator
President of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie