Tibet Intergroup Blog

Tibetan MPS attend the EP Inter-ParliamentaryConference

A four-member delegation of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile led by Mrs. Dolma Gyari, Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, and Kalon Tempa Tsering, Kalon for the Department of Information and International Relations, attended the Inter-Parliamentary conference at the European Parliament on 8 November 2007.

The conference was convened by Mr. Thomas Mann, MEP, President of the EP Tibet Intergroup. Deputy Speaker Dolma Gyari addressed the conference together with Thomas Mann, Hans-Gert Poettering, President of the European Parliament, Kelsang Gyaltsen, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for European Affairs, and Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the EP political groups.

Isabel Hilton, journalist and author of The Search for the Panchen Lama, and editor of a website devoted to climate change and environment, spoke in a workshop on environmental pollution in China. A panel discussion was held for the second workshop on the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. The speakers were Pal Schmitt, MEP, former Olympic gold winner in fencing, Peter Stastny, MEP, participant in 47 Olympic Games, and Jean-Paul Marthoz, Belgian journalist and former international press director for Human Rights Watch.

The Tibet Intergoup

The European Parliament's Tibet Intergroup was founded in 1987 by M. Michel Hervé with the intention of creating opportunities to discuss the situation in Tibet with a number and variety of MEP's. Additionally, the intergroup was created to provide information on Tibet to colleageus in the European Parliament as well as the general public. Finally, the group was to encourages various forms of political action. In 1994, the restructured under the Presidency of M. James Moorehouse and his five vice presidents.

Since 1999, the Tibet Intergroup has been lead by President Thomas Mann (PPE-ED). Following the 2004 elections, Thomas Mann has continued his Presidency with Vice Presidents; Mme. Lissy Gröner (PSE), M. Marcin LIbicki (UEN), Mme. Eva Lichtenberger (Green), M. Bill Newton Dunn (ALDE). Additionally, for the course of the Thomas Mann presidency, the secretary of the intergoup has been Mme. Gabriela Reichart, Assisstant. Gabriela works closely with the Tibetan Representatives in Europe and is the heart of the organization of important Tibet related events and the EP delegations' visits. Currently the Intergroup has respresentatives from all political parties in the Parliament.

The Intergroup Meets once a month, mainly during the Strasbourg Plenary Sessions, in order to give further details of the situation in Tibet through various activities such as:

• Initiating and participating in the first official visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the European Parliament, 24 October, 2001 and a second visit in May 2006.
• Inviting Tibetans or specialists on the question of Tibet and representatives of Tibet related NGOs.
• Organization of visits of Parliamentarian delegations of MEPs to Dharamsala in August 1998, June 1999, July 2001, and March 2006.
• Participating in the organization of major events such as for the commemoration of the anniversary of 10 March, 1959, the original date of Chinese occupation.
• Presenting the first view of Martin Scorcese's film KUNDUN during a Parliamentary Session in March 1998. The event included a press conference, exhibition and conference on Tibet, and a Buddhist Art exhibit in the Parliamentary Building.
• Organizing the creation of the first Avalokiteshvara-Sand-Mandala made in the EP by Tibetan Monks, in honour of H.H.Dalai Lama in November 2004.
• Organization of Exhibitions in the European Parliament on Tibet, its unique Culture, Religion, the life and difficulties of Tibetans in exile, and in Tibet today (1998, 2001, 2002, 2005)
• Initiating and participation in the European Parliament Conference on Tibet in Brussels in March 2000 and in November 2002.

Major Political Actions of the Tibet Intergroup

Furthering the adoption of resolutions on Tibet and China by the European Parliament

Maintaining contact with other international organizations such as the European Commission, the Council and the United Nations and coordinated work with governmental Tibet groups in other countries.

Direct contact with the Tibetan Government in Exile and its Representatives in Europe as well as with important NGOs throughout the world.

Since 1999, the Tibet Intergroup has organized more than 49 meetings, mainly during the Plenary sessions of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Guests have included:

• October 2005 - Members of the Assembly of Tibetan Peoples deputies.
• January 2004 - Mme. Dr. Paula Dobriansky, US Under-Secretary for Global Affairs and Tibet Special Coordinator.
• M. Kelsang Gyaltsen, envoy of His Holiness for the EU
• The Tibetan NunNgawang Snagdrol - This Tibet Intergroup has twice proposed her nomination for the Sacharow Prize
• Various Contacts  with Representatives of the EU-Coordination office of Tibet in Brussels and other Representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Europe
• Several meetings with Mme. Tsering Jampa from ICT (International Campaign of Tibet) who supports actively the Tibet Intergroup
• M. Tenzin D. Sewo, President, Tibetan Youth Association in Europe
• Mme. Claude B. Levenson, Journalist and  Author
• M. Takna Jigme Sangpo, Political Prisoner
• M. Jean-Paul Ribes, President CSPT France
• M. Yeshe Topden, President of Gu Chu Sum Movement
• M. Joseph Serra, European Institute for Tibetan Buddhisme
• M. Paul Syska, Tibetishes Zentrum Hamburg e.V.
• Mme. Inge Reuter, Tibet Initiative Deutchland
• M. Michel Jermann, Club Tibet Strasbourg
• M. Richard Cazenave député à l'Assemblé nationale, France
• Khenpo Chimed, Monastery Management and Development Committee, Nepal
• March 1997 - Richard Gere, actor, EP in Brussels

Tibet Intergroup Meeting Minutes

Click on the links for minutes from The European Parliament's Tibet Intergroup Meetings:

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Tibet Intergroup Meeting Minutes (Edited)

Click on the links for edited minutes from The European Parliament's Tibet Intergroup Meetings:

57th Meeting of the Tibet Intergroup Edited Minutes

56th Meeting of the Tibet Intergroup Edited MInutes

*You will need Microsoft Word to view all of these files