EU Commissioner on Economy and Finance, Joachin Almunia, replying to 3 "EuroFora" questions in Strasbourg before next week's London Global Summit, made it clear that all EU Member States must, more or less, respect EU Rules on the Monetary Stability Pact when they draft their Economic Stimulus policies, unless they want to "Opt-out" of EuroZone, as the UK has already done...

  Several EU Countries must correct imbalances in rather strict Time deadlines, and this is not an  "impossible task", but "a very possible and attainable task", as Almunia told us. But it's only the UK which could practically ignore EU's calls, "because of the Opt-out they have"....                                                                                                                                           

       The issue got a larger, EU-wide and even Global Political dimension, one day later at EU Parliament, when USA's new President, Barack Obama's call on Europe to augment Spending against the Economic Crisis at the eve of G-20 Summit, was considered by some EU officials, (as EU chair, Czech Prime Minister Topolanek or EU Commission's President Baroso, etc), as partly deviant to Euro-Zone rules of the EU, whose priority now seems to be a new, multi-polar agreement on the Regulation of World's Financial Markets, to avoid similar abuses and crisis in the Future.  

 Even if he appeared as partly sparing for the moment some of EU's driving forces, as France or the UK, Spain, etc, who got more Time than others, Almunia stressed that, as a matter of principle, all EU Member States should comply with the same rules, applied according to the particular situation of each one of them.

        The results of EU Commission''s check on 5 EU Countries : France, the UK, Spain, Greece, Ireland and Cyprus, gave, at first, an impression to some that a "difference" was made "between EU Countries", as an Italian journalist said.

        F.ex. paradoxically, Greece seems to have, in comparison, some better indicators than other EU Countries checked this week :

    * Deficit in Greece, after reaching 3,7% of GDP in 2007, is estimated at 3,7% in 2008, over 3% in 2009, and exceeding 4% in 2010, according to EU Commission's forecast, (while the Greek Government tabled on just 3,2%). Only Cyprus does better, with a lower deficit than the threshhold of 3%.

    France comes next, whose deficit aims for 2009 and 2010 were revised upwards at 5,6% and 5,2%. In Spain, it's expected to arrive at 6,2% in 2009 and 5,7% in 2010.

    But in the UK, Deficit estimates mount at ..9,5% in 2009/10. In Ireland, the deficit already reached 6,3% in 2008, and is expected to rise up to 11% in 2009, and 13% in 2010 !

(../..)

EU Economy boost plans equal to Obama's US plan, but faster, says French Minister Devedjian to "EuroFora" after capitals' tour

* World-record breaking, 600 km/h High Speed innovative Train TGV, produced at Strasbourg's outskirts, became a Symbol for EU Economy revival, after French key Minister Devedjian's statements to "EuroFora" that the "addition" of "coordinated" EU stimulus plans is "equal" but "faster" to new US President Obama's plan, while Stock markets were still wondering which way to go.

Revealing the main results of a fast-track trip to 4 EU Capitals before a series of crucial EU and Global Summits, Devedjian stressed "Mutual Support and information", "TransNational Measures" and a "global European Policy", as agreed ways to add the "complementary" effects of national recovery plans. So that EU's comparatively faster moves, lesser debt and strong Savings can equal USA's impressive plan, and, taken all together, incite economic actors to move swiftly in order to seize a chance to "anticipate" and be ahead.

Speaking shortly after US President Obama unveiled in Denver his plan to boost Fast Trains, (including $1·3bn for Amtrak, and $8·4bn for high speed passenger rail projects), Devedjian said SNCF, the French Rail company's 2008 Benefits from new Strasbourg High Speed line of the already existing TGV, made it possible to "anticipate" and start working from early February 2009, on new projects for "rail renovation" even before one € arrives from the Government's stimulus plan, voted at the end of January...
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In reply to "EuroFora"'s question if, after his tour of the biggest EU capitals and EU-chair, the Czech Republic, he hopes that sufficient Stimulus' measures will be taken and that the forthcoming EU Economy Summit, at the 1st of March, will be succesful, the French Minister looked upbeat :

    - "We went to London, Berlin, Prague and Rome, together with Minister for EU affairs, Bruno Le Maire" this week, he noted in his first statements after the unprecedented move, made at the initiatiative of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, at the eve of a G8's EU Members Summiy hosted by Chancelor Angie Merkel in Berlin on Sunday.

    - "Everybody" among EU's 27 Member Countries "is starting to deal with (Economy) Recovery Plans, including f.ex. the (small) Czech Republic, which is launching a 2,5 Billion € plan, even if it hadn't initially foreseen to do so".

    - "The main aim of our trip wasn't to interfere into government policies", since "recovery plans have, first of all, National aims"', "but mainly to establish a Coordination between the existing Stimulus plans".

    The move was welcomed by new German Economy Minister, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, who reportedly "called for a Coordinated European action against the Crisis", while meeting with Devedjian, earlier this week.

    - "Because we have many Stimulus plans which all point at the same direction : Create activities there where there isn't any, create jobs there where is unemployment". So that national "measures can be Complementary" to each other'', added Devedjian in his reply to "EuroFora"'s question.¨   

- "Thus, we established some Rules, with these four countries :"

"1) We inform each other on all measures under consideration by each one, and we provide mutual support  to implement the measures thus decided by each country."

"2) We try to establish together some Trans-national measures : F.ex. in Railroads, car Highways, Energy and electricity or Gas transport, etc., where we can take Common measures"

"3) Last (but not least), we would like to formulate a real global European recovery policy, in particular by adding the effects of all stimulus measures".
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    "F.ex. the (French) President of the Republic, (Nicolas Sarkozy) has just anounced 2,6 Billion € measures for recovery in favor of the most vulnerable People exposed to the economic Crisis. Some critics claim that it's not enough. But this is added to other measures of the same kind, which had been already decided : "

  Ten Years of ECHR : 1998 - 2008 show need of Revival in 2009-2010 coinciding with 2009 EU Election   

A threefold, coordinated move by new Top French Political actors in the 2009 EU Parliament Elections, expressed in Strasbourg a will to boost Europe's Political dimension close to Citizens' concerns, going from protection of Economy to defence of Human Rights.    

The move met an exceptional ECHR's call for a "revival" of Human Rights' protection mechanism', in a Mega-Conference, early 2010.   

Obviously focusing on June 2009 Elections to EU Parliament, it involved from the outset the recently nominated "dual" Head of French Governing Party (UMP)  Michel BARNIER and Rachida DATI :

     - "As President Sarkozy has clearly said, we (France) are in favor of a Strong, Sovereign and Independent, Political Europe, which protects its Citizens, and not for a large Super-Market, nor for a Europe under influence",

    "This goes for everything, including Energy", added to "EuroFora" the experienced former EU Commissioner, Minister of Foreign affairs, currently of Agriculture and Sarkozy's new pick as Leader of the Governing party UMP to EU 2009 Election, Michel BARNIER                                              .                             

  - Human Rights are important because they are at the Heart of the Political Europe that we aspire for : I.e. a Europe able to act and protect its Citizens, stressed also the New French Minister for European affairs, Bruno LE MAIRE, while meeting Strasbourg's Journalists at his first visit to the CoE.   

This is one of the main interests for CoE, which is also a natural place for cooperation between EU countries and Russia or Turkey, which was recently helpful at the Middle East crisis, he added.

The move gained momentum with French Minister of Justice, Rachida Dati's main observations at ECHR's 5Oth Anniversary :   

- "While we are seeking Europe's Borders and Identity, you (ECHR) remind us also of its Values", Human Rights, Dati noted.   

Citizens seek more and more often ECHR's help, and the tempo accelerates, Europa awaits a symbol, while national legal orders are not freezed   

And she expressed "support" to ECHR President Jean-Paul Costa's call to satisfy the vital need to revigorate the PanEuropean Court by deciding big changes at a High-Level Conference open to a large audience, a kind of "Etats Generaux" of Human Rights, at the beginning of 2010.       

It's not so much the recently growing number of applications for Russia or Ukraine etc, which seems to be Costa's main concern : In fact, the cases declared "admissible" are much fewer...    

But rather the persistent violations of Human Rights, sometimes very grave (ie. murders, torture, abritrary deprivation of liberty, oppression of freedom of speech, destructions of homes/properties, etc), despite numerous, repeated condemnations by ECHR. So that CoE's Ministers, due to "supervise execution" of ECHR's judgements, are overloaded.   

F.ex. most Media noted that Turkey still remains, even in 2008, the 1st among 47 CoE member States in the number of condemnations by ECHR :  257, compared to 233 for Russia, with a population more than the double..    

The problem is that it's not the 1st time at all : During all the last Decade 1998-2008, Turkey was condemned by ECHR much more than any other State, and for particularly grave violations :   

- 1.652 condemnations, compared to 605 for Russia, 548 for Poland, 494 for France, 476 for Ukraine, etc.   

Italy's second place with 1.394 condemnations is a misleading false appearance : In fact, most of them (999) concern mere "procedural delays" in national courts. Same for France.   

On the contrary, Turkey was condemned 180 times for Killings, 192 times for Torture or Inhuman/Degrading treatments, 340 times for arbitrary deprivation of Liberty, 528 times for "Unfair trial", and 169 times for oppression of Freedom of speech, (etc). And the latest, 2008 numbers, indicate no change in this trend, (See supra).   

The current Spanish CoE Presidency (November 2008 - May 2009) has made of the implementation of ECHR's judgements its 1st Priority.   

ECHR's President, Jean-Paul Costa, stressed in its 2009 Annual Press Conference, CoE Member States' obligation to implement the judgements, according to Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights.   

Moreover, if CoE's Committee of Ministers delays to ensure implementation, then, the repetition of violations in similar cases provokes a multiplication of complaints tabled to the Court, which overload the mecanism for the protection of Human Rights, denounced Costa.          

A series of Debates on "the situation of Human Rights in Europe", focusing on the "need to fight against Impunity" of perpetrators of grave crimes, is  currently prepared by CoE's Parliamentary Assembly for the session of June 2009.  

The final Timing comes shortly AFTER the EU Elections, but the main Reports should have been adopted before.

Meanwhile, French President Sarkozy and German Chancelor Merkel's recent call "for a Political Europe" in 2009 EU Elections (See earlier "correspondence from Paris, Elysee Palace), seems more and more endorsed also by other EU Countries' Top MEPs :

Thus, f.ex., EU Parliament's 1st vice-President, Greek MEP Mrs Rodi KRATSA, speaking to "EuroFora", agreed that 2009 EU Election would be a "naturally good" opportunity to debate what really interests EU Citizens : "The Future of a Political Europe, able to face the Economic Crisis, with a Culture and identity which attracts the People"

(Photo taken earlier during Sarkozy's 1st visit at EU Parliament, in 2007 : Sarkozy and Merkel's Ideas for a Political Europe inspire also other EU politicians accross the continent)...

 Strong Franco-German/European will for New "Multipolar" World governance, with Social and Human Rights Values

and a "Political Europe" at the horizon of 2009 EU Elections,
(which may include Turkey issue)

(+Topical  issues on Economy, EU Defense/NATO, Energy, Middle-East, etc.)   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
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* Paris(Elysee Palace)/ACM/ 8 Januray 2009/-
----------------------------------------------------

    A strong will for a "Political Europe" and a "Multipolar World", working togeher with USA but, in a framework of "New International Institutions", without falling back to "outdated" and "failed" Unipolar organisations of the end of the 2nd World War, was expressed here by the  French President Nicolas Sarkozy and  the German Chancelor Angie Merkel.

    The move included anouncements for the preparation of the June 2009 EU Elections jointly by the two leaders, where Sarkozy's call for a "Political Europe" notoriously includes their well-known and common refusal of Turkey's  controversial EU bid, according also to his Historic February and July 2007 Strasbourg speeches, and his subsequent call for a "Debate on Europe's Future" due to start "affter the end of 2008",

    - "It's too early to confirm with certainty which issues  will be a matter for the June 2009 Elections, but we shall now soon, in a few weeks", told us Sarkozy's Spokesman for EU issues, Pierre Jerome Henin.

    - "EU wants to work together with the USA, but will not accept to fall back to the Past of a Unipolar world where only 1 voice was heard : Europe's voice must be heard, as well as other important voices of various other Countries
    : We cannot live in the 21st Century with out-dated Institutions stemming from the 2nd World War. Because the World has become Multipolar, and needs a New collective governance according to International Law, he concluded.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

    Merkel and Sarkozy spoke at a Paris' Press meeting, at the Presidential Palace Elysee, after participating in an International Conference on a "New World  Governance", with "new Values and regulation",  which started from Economic issues to enlarge on Social, Political and even "Human Rights" issues at the International arena, as Merkel added, supporting Sarkozy's stance in favor of bringing "Values" at the center of New Multipolar world rules.

    After the 2007 G-8 Summit at Heiligendam, we are involved in "process" due to enlarge the G-8 progressively "to more and more actors", said Merkel from the outset, giving a reply to those who had criticized the fact that, at the Washington 2008 G-20 Summit, Countries like Turkey were invited, while almost all African countries, and even African Union itself were not...This stirred strong protests from leaders and Heads of States at an subsequent International Conference in Strasbourg for Aid to Development.

    - "We (EU) already have a Human Rights charter. But we neeed also a Charter for a reasonble Economy", Merkel added. Because the current "crisis dissolved Values, provoked a void, doubts, anxiety, and this might lead to upheavals", Sarkozy explained.

    - "We must create a framework which will prevent Crisis", said Merkel. "We are for a Social Market", added Sarkozy. We want to do it together with the USA, but we shall not wait for ever. "The voice of 500 millions of Europeans must be heard in the World", they stressed.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
    That's why France and Germany, at the eve of "a very important International Conference in London, April 2",  decided to start unveiling their Vision on World developments"; he added. Europeans will gather in Berlin, beforehand, to prepare a common stance.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

    Afterwards, at a Press Conference with Merkel, Sarkozy announced that "in Munich", "on February", they intend to forge some "Franco-German Initiatives", "in preparation of NATO's Summit in Strasbourg on April".

    But "UK's place is to be among the first inside Europe", said Sarkozy, after meeting with  former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and other Top invitees from allover Europe and the World at an International Conference  on "New World governance", with multifacet Economic, Social and Political aspects.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

    Moreover, the current Gas Pipeline crisis between Russia and Ukraine incites Europe to
"diversify Energy Transports", as part of a larger updtate to its "EU Energy policy", stressed French
President Nicolas Sarkozy, after meeting here with German chancelor Merkel, opening perspectives also for more Ship transports, Renewable sources, etc.

     - "There is a series of issues to ensure EU's Energy Independency, and this would very probably include also the development of Ship Transports", replied, agreeing witth our question Sarkozy's Press Spokesman on European/International issues, Pierre Jerome HENIN

    Pipeline blackmails' confusio led EU to agree with Russia to send "Scientific Experts to find out f.ex. if Gaz left from Russia and disappeared at Ukraine, or not", said Merkel, who supported also ways to "store Gas stocks" for EU Energy independence.

    EU Energy Networks' funding programs include "Sea Highways" via EU Ships' Transport,  which does not depend on the desiderata of 3rd Countries (as Ukraine or Turkey) who might block Pipelines' transit.

    Meanwhile, Russia must respect its obligations vis a vis the EU, and Ukraine, who has a European ambition, must prove iits credibility, he concluded.

    On the Middle East crisis, they focused mainly on practical efforts to broker an agreement to monitor the border with Egypt against arm trafficking, as a key to stable Peace.very probably include also the development of Ship Transports", replied, agreeing witth our question Sarkozy's Press Spokesman on European/International issues, Pierre Jerome HENIN

    Pipeline blackmails' confusio led EU to agree with Russia to send "Scientific Experts to find out f.ex. if Gaz left from Russia and disappeared at Ukraine, or not", said Merkel, who supported also ways to "store Gas stocks" for EU Energy independence.

    EU Energy Networks' funding programs include "Sea Highways" via EU Ships' Transport,  which does not depend on the desiderata of 3rd Countries (as Ukraine or Turkey) who might block Pipelines' transit.

    Meanwhile, Russia must respect its obligations vis a vis the EU, and Ukraine, who has a European ambition, must prove iits credibility, he concluded.

    On the Middle East crisis, they focused mainly on practical efforts to broker an agreement to monitor the border with Egypt against arm trafficking, as a key to stable Peace.

            (../..)