newsitems

*Strasbourg/2+3 July 2014/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Experienced EU Parliament's f. Rapporteur on controversial "SWIFT" EU-USA deal, and currently vice-President of the Liberal Group, Dutch MEP Sophie in't Veld, replying to an "EurFora"s Question, on the occasion of her succesful ECJ application against EU Council's refusal to communicate a Legal Study on EU -USA "Swift" Agreement Negotiations, sharply stressed that, at times when Governments can Spy via Internet even inside EU Citizens' Homes, it's the least for EU Citizens to have a Right to Transparency of their Governments' activities, particularly when they touch upon Topical and "Hot" issues affecting People's everyday lives, such as "Swift" and other Deals with USA as well as various other 3rd Foreign Countries accross the World.
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    EU's Court of Justice, at nearby Luxembourg, found in substance on this Thursday morning that EU Council couldn't, as a matter of General Principle, refuse to unveil such Documents (f.ex. on Financial or Trade, a.o. International Negotiations), unless if such a move was sufficiently Motivated by Specific, relevant and well-founded Arguments, clearly indicating that, in the concrete circumstances of that case, there was a serious Risk to Harm EU's International Relations, to a point that was Excessive and Disproportionate vis a vis the respect due to the Principle of Transparency, (See Infra).

    Vice-President Sophie in't Veld, who hailed Today ECJ's judhement as a boost for a stronger EU Democracy, discussing, well in advance to ECJ's judgement with Journalists, including "EuroFora", earlier at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, had already replied to a relevant, topical Question that we had raised :

     - "EuroFora", speaking  "on the sidelines" of Sophie in't Veld's main purpose now : to support demands for more Transparency from Governments and EU Council, pointed to the fact that," in the latest EU Summit in Brussels, among various other Decisions, there was also an Official Anouncement of EU Heads of State/Government's will, after the recent series of Revelations made since the Snowden affair, which Snow-balled almost everywhere, (including, particularly, Germany and other key EU Countries), as you know, to have in 2015 a Stronger "Data Protection" Legislation in the EU", as we observed from the outset.

    - .Something which "will be obviously a Positive issue for Human Rights, both for Individual Citizens and for Democracy in general, but also an Economic Advantage (for the EU), if it goes well", we noted. => - "How do you feel about that, related to what you've already said on your efforts for EU and Governments' Transparency on Digital data and other issues ?", "EuroFora asked ....

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    - "I think that they (EU Citizens' Personal Data Protection and Governments' Transparency) are also 2 Sides of the (same) Coin", she stressed from the outset in her Reply to "EuroFora"s Question.

 - Because, as "it seems, it has recently become possible for Governments to know realy everything, Everything about us !", she warned, i.e. "Anything, every Intimate Detail of our Lives", as she denounced.

    - F.ex., "I mean, when we get to the point, with Brittish Secret Service, is actually Turning On our WebCams with Remote Control", f.ex., "they can really enter in my Home !".

    => -  "Then, I think that Governments should, at least, be Equally Transparent" : i.e. "We (EU Citizens) should Know Everything on our Governments !", Sophie nt'vel concluded, smiling but firmly, as a matter of general Principle, in Reply to "EuroFora"s Question.

    - "So, (EU Citizens') Privacy Protection, and (Government's) Transparency go Together", she stressed.

     - Particularly when, "I get the Feeling", even if "I haven't yet done any Scientific Research into this", "but I do feel that the Governments become more and more Reluctant to be Transparent, very Often, I have to say, Unfortunately, it's under Pressure from the USA", the Top Dutch Libetral MEP topically denounced.

     - "They  give up every time : And that's why this is so Significant : Because, the Transparency is the Rule. There are a couple of brands for Exceptions and exceptions  : One is the Protection of International Relations. But that's a very Vague Formula for me ... So, if the Americans say that, with every piece of information that's being reviewed, that it "Hurts International Relations", then, effectively, they have a VETO, over our (EU's) Transparency record : That's Unacceptable !", she criticized.

    - On the contrary, "We (EU) should have Our own Standards", she strongly advocated. And "that's why this is so relevant that the Judges say :  - "Yes, International Relations are important. Yes , there are Exceptions and exceptions, (to the Principle of Governments' Transparency), but Not Automatically : It has to be Justified, and Specifically", Sophie in't Veld underlined in conclusion.

    => -  "So that, everytime that (EU) Council or Commission decide to Classify Documents as "Secret", they would have to Justify, in what way International Relations might be hurt", if such Infos were made public, she pointed out.

    >>> In that way, even if the ECJ acknowledges the existence of a quite Large Discretionary Power to EU Council on the Substance and the Content of its relevant Decisions, nevertheless,  EuroJudges could always Check the Veracity, Relevance and Sufficiency, as well as the Adequacy and Proportionality, or even the Necessity  of the Factual and/or Legal Arguments presented by EU Governments in reply to EU Citizens' criticism, to which they have, naturally, to be relevant.

    (NDLR : This is a very Promissing, relatively New Area of Judicial Monitoring of Public Administrations' Decisions on the basis of the Rule of Law principles, particularly when there is a wide Discretionary Power f.ex. on Political and/or Economic Governments' policies, that "EuroFora"s Co-Founder had already examined and submitted to a thorough Legal Analysis, from the point of view of Comparaisons between several EU Member Countries' Legal Systems, as early as since the beginning of the 1980ies, initially in a more than 1.000 pages-long, original Study, which received an "A" Grade with 18/20 at Strasbourg University's Faculty of Law, which had chosen it, on a Written Proposal by Paris University I Professor Paul Amselek, in order to present it for a Prize awarded to PhD Thesis. + Later-on "EuroFora" actively participated also to a relevant Conference, organized on March 2010 by the Superior Rhine's (Ober-Rhein's) pole on Public Administration studies (PEEAP), together with Strasbourg's and other Universities, as well as the prestigious "ENA" Higher School for Public Administration Senior Officials in France, the EU and other Countries in the World.

     - But, "they would probably have a Hard Time of doing so....", the experienced many-times EU Parliament's Rapporteur on such thorny issues, joked, in conclusion to her Reply to "EuroFora"s Query, ironically pointing at  some controversial Governments' notoriously excessively negative feelings, as far as Transparency is concerned...

    = > "is everything Crystal-clear and Transparent, now ?", she finaly asked, smiling,  Journalists present in Strasbourg, including "EuroFora".

    Future will tell, rather sooner than later, as it seems : F.ex., among various other concrete examples, currently the 6th round of Talks in EU - USA Negotiations for the conclusion of the 1st Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Agreement, is due to be concluded before the End of 2014...

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Experienced former vice-Prime Minister and EU Integration Minister from the newest EU Member : Croatia, replying to "EuroFora"s Questions, stressed, in substance, that it's an EU Priority to boost the Economy also by unfolding Digital Networks' potential, as f.ex. for a free and costless distribution of the 1st EU-wide "Travel" Application for Consumers' Rights, (readable even off-line, after being downlowded), just developed by the Franco-German EU Consumers' Centre headquartered at nearby Kehl, in cooperation with all ECCs' Network, thanks also to an EU Commission's financial support of some 90.000 €, which was presented Today in a Press Conference at EU Parliament  :

Mainstream German ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Andreas Scwhab, President of the Franco-German EU Consumer's Centre at nearby Kehl, observed earlier, that, covering a Huge Area, - "From Iceland to Cyprus, and from Finland to Portugal", i.e. including Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, etc., with 25 Different Languages, could be downloaded for free from the Internet, and used even in a Mobile SmartPhone, f.ex. by Tourists who might need to know their Rights in case of an Air-Flight and/or Hotel cancellation, or have Legal advise on how to deal with various other such practical issues throughout all Europe, in addition to the Oral Information that they can always have simply by Phoning to an EU Consumers' Centre for a contact with a Legal Expert, (etc).

Topically, they both spoke just after a key Press Conference by EU Parliament's President Martin Schulz, and the out-going EU Chairman-in-office, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, where, focusing on how to Boost EU's Growth and Jobs, Schulz focused on "Real Economy" able to create New Jobs, while Samaras anounced that, after succesfully welcoming more than "10 Millions of Tourists" during last Year : 2013, now, from this Summer, Greece aims to welcome some 20 Millions of Tourists during 2014, "i.e. more than 2 Tourists for 1 Greek", as he had said, smiling, (given also the recently growing efforts of the €uroZone Member country to really face the Debt inherited from Past Governments since the 1980ies and the latest Global Crisis).

 Significantly, Prime Minister Samaras friendly embraced earlier, in front of "EuroFora", the German MEP Schwab from nearby Baden-Wurtemberg, who had come forward to salute him at the end of his Press Conference with EU Parliament's President, after having closely worked together for years, since Samaras had served previously himself as a MEP in the recent Past, and always felt personaly as a Member of EU Parliament's "Family", as he reminded during his speech at the Plenary earlier Today with real emotion.

 - "You spoke about the Press Conference of EU Parliament's President Schulz and out-going EU Chairman-in-office, Greek "Prime Minister Samaras, where they pointed also on "Real Economy", and particularly on Tourism", "as you said, while EU Commisioner (Mimica) also evoked (Mobile Telecom) "Roaming" charges' lowering, "that, as you know best from all, everybody wishes since many years", "EuroFora" observed in a subsequent Question to the participants, from the outset.

- But, "in real practice, when People will be with their Smart-Phones,  Millions of them, even in a Small (EU-Member) Country like Greece, or in the Bigger ones, during Summer Holidays, soon, they will need, obiously, an Internet Connexion, either with their  (Mobile) Phone, or on the spot, and a Good one, in order to Download" the Travel net ECC Application you spoke of. Certainly, even "in Greece, which was in the Past one of the Worst places" for Internet Access, "recently, there were some Reforms in order to put Free Wifi Access Hotspots at Railway or Tram Stations, Bus Stops, inside Public Transports, etc., but, probably, there might be some problems, perhaps there and/or in Other (EU) Countries, as, f.ex. Slovakia, and may be in the Bigger (EU) Countries also, France, etc., even in the Best (existing Internet) Networks, when Many People, at the Same Moment, try to Download" something like this.

=>  - In such cases, "do you feel that we have in Europe enough Capacities for such Massive events, may be of Millions of People, when they come in 1 Month or so, f.ex. during Summer, almost at the same Time and/or Areas ? And could this be done in Good enough Prices ?", "EuroFora" asked.

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- President Schwab briefly "thanked" "EuroFora" for its "Question", that he found "welcome", and immediately passed over to the competent EU Commissioner Neven Mimica, for a Reply, who expressed the wish to make, at the beginning, - "Just a few Comments : On this overall, Access' Opening, Internet and Roaming issue, etc", as he said :

"- Yes, indeed there might be Problems of uneven Coverage and Access to Internet, accross the EU", European Commissioner Mimica acknowledged from the outset, (at least as things used to stand until recently).

 - "But, in general, we (EU) Recognize this, in the EU Commission, as a one of the most Important Issues", he clearly stressed.

 => Therefore, it corresponds also to "and a most Important Priority that, when addressed properly, (it) could definitively contribute to the Development and accomplishment of the Single Market in general", (i.e.  included on Digital Economy), the experienced Euro-Politician topically pointed out.

>>  - "We (EU) speak now f.ex. of Tourism, of Travelling, on giving better Legal Knowledge to Travellers and (on how) to Assist them in their Language of port, by this (ECC Net Travel) Application. But, there is (also) Question whether they will be Able to Use it accross the EU", Neven Mimica  observed, in concreto.

 - "In this case, this  ("ECC Travel-App.") can be Downloaded at Home, actually", (i.e. even just Before Travelling to a Summer Holiday area), since "this is an Off-line Devise and Application : So, this particular application (normaly) shouldN't face the Major Problems of the Internet Access", the competent EU Commissioner for Consumers' Protection advised, receiving President Schwab's agreement on this specific point.

+ "But, in general, what we (EU) would like to do is, as a 1st Step to Bring Down the Roaming Charges", so that, "in this way, we can Increase the Overall Mobile (Web) Traffic, when (People are) making Calls Abroad. And, then, (i.e. as a 2nd Step), we would like to have a quite Stimulating overall "Internet Package", that would actually Bring more Investments into this Telecom Sector in general, as well as to the Mobile Communications", he Highlighted for the foreseable Future.

- "This is the Final Word of the (EU Commission's) Telephone Package, that I do hope that with the New (EU) Parliament, with the (EU) Council, will be able to Agree on EU Commission's proposals for a Single Telecom Market in Europe", he wished in Conclusion.

+ This could be done in a period of Time f.ex. of "Half a Year", EU Commissioner Neven Mimica estimated later-on, in reply to another "EuroFora"s relevant question.

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Meanwhile, by a coincidence, at least as far as ECC's "Travel-App." is concerned, a 1st Test could Timely start in Greece's reknown ressort of Glyfada, located at a superb Seaside near Athens, where Schwab's former collegue, the Young former MEP Georges Papanicolaou, (from the same ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group), who has just been succesfully Elected as the New Mayor of that City, told earlier in Strasbourg to "EuroFora", while also declaring his wish to try to present for EU support through the Structural and/or Regional Funds, some Good Quality Projects for a Competitive and sustainable Development of that key Touristic area, (including f.ex. for Culture, Sport and/or European/International Conferences in some among the Best Hotels of the Country), in an area which extends from Mountain Hymettos to the Saronic Gulf, famous as Greece's "Riviera" or "Beverly Hills"...  

By the way : Why not also a Pioneer, High-Tech Internet "Wifi" etc. Digital Network, f.ex. at the example of another World-Famous Top Touristic ressort in France ; Biarritz, which had notoriously been a Precursor also in Cabled Network TeleCommunication, including at Fiber Optics, etc , (in the constituency of experienced former Head of French Governing Party RPR, and many times Minister of Defense, Security and Foreign Affairs, now elected as New MEP : Michele Alliot-Marie)?... 

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- The New President of EU Parliament's Biggest Group of MEPs, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, German MEP Manfred Weber, speaking to "EuroFora" since the 1st Day of the 1st Plenary Session after the latest May 2014 EU Elections, stressed in substance the Important New Role of the EPP also as a Strategic "Pivot" or "Centre of Gravity" inside the New EU Parliament's political landscape, able to form Efficient Majorities according to EU Issues and "European Values", as he told us, after his 1st Press Conference in Strasbourg :

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 - "Mr. President, you succeeded with your friends in the latest, May 2014 EU Elections, not only to keep the Strongest Group in EU Parliament, despite a Difficult Context, but also the only one which can now play the unique role of a Strategic "Pivot", among the Left and  EuroSceptic Rightists, "EuroFora" observed from the outset in our question to Manfred Weber.

F. ex., you spoke about the Agreement between the EPP and the Socialists, as well as the Liberals, particularly for the "Stability" of EU Institutions, and in order to Deepen EU Integration, etc. But, at the same moment you spoke also about Turkey's (controversial and unpopular) EU bid, and its obvious that, with only a few exceptions, you can't get a Majority in EU Parliament on this and several Other Issues, such as, f.ex. Europe's (Historic and Cultural) Identity and its (Judeo-) Christian roots, BioEthics : i.e. on protection of Human Embryo (+ from Genetic Manipulations Dangerous for all Humankind), in favor of Natural Family, (i.e., in fact, for the Natural Procreation of Human Beings, Free of undue and/or abusive subordination to an exclusive Power of Technocrats, protection of Human Dignity also vis a vis the atrociously spreading Mass Exploitation of commercial "Surrogate Mothers"...), etc., unless you feel Free to try to Unite all Together also various other MEPs, throughout the Political Spectrum of EU Parliament, sometimes even at its "Left" side, but naturally more towards various Right side representatives of EU Citizens. Do you intend to use such a "Pivot" Strategy in the Future ?, "EuroFora" questioned in substance President Weber. - "On these Issues ?", Weber initially asked in order to verify.

+ After getting confirmation, he acknowledged the fact that any efficient Majority-making would have to follow accross such lines : - "Yes, for Sure".
And, then, he went on to give his main Reply to "EuroFora"s Question :

- "They (NDLR : Issues) are Strongly linked to European Values : That's totaly Clear !" President Weber stressed from the outset.

=>  - "And So, our (EU Parliament's ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group's) Wish is that we could Convince, in this regard, on these Questions, also the Other Collegues (MEPs)", he positively reacted to "EuroFora"s query.

- "To Try to follow our Line, at the End", the new President of EU  Parliament's Biggest Group of MEPs hoped.

 - " We'll see", about that, he carefuly added, but without excluding a priori anything in this direction, (which has recently become topical and quite popular, both in several European Countries, even in the USA, and elsewhere in the World).

- Now, "the Next Step is to Negociate", Weber soberly anounced for the time being, apparently wanting to join overall Vision at the Horizon, and step by step efficient pragmatism in real practice.

And he didn't deny at all, at the end, but kindly noded positively and saluted us, when "EuroFora" added the observation of the Fact that the above mentioned, possible New Role of Strategic "Pivot" inside the New EU Parliament, issued from the May 2014 EU Elections, for the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group, can also be described as a kind of Political "Center of Gravity", similar to the famous "Mitte" (meaning "Center" in German)-politics' Strategy; reportedly followed systematicaly by Chancellor Merkel in various issues, (which, in fact, doesn't necessariiy mean "Centrist" at all, but could be rather taken as a kind of plaving itself at the Strategic position of an attractive "Centre in a Field of Gravity", to use a term more familiar to Angie Merkel's Scientific  background in Physics).. 

Indeed, instead of being located at one or another Edge or End of EU Parliament's pluralist Political Spectrum, now ChristianDemocrats/EPP MEPs clearly have, for the New Period of 2014-2019, a much more "Cetral" position, in the sens highlighted above, having also an Historic Duty to try to bring back to mainstream Democratic/Human Rightist' European Politics, all those Numerous EU Citizens and/or politicians who emerged from the latest  May 2014 EU Parliament's Democratic EU-wide Elections, exceptionaly spread among various, New, renovated or "old", more or less Atypical other Parties, both to the Left, but notoriously more towards a sometimes original  "Right" side of EU Politics, currently divided among numerous small, medium or even bigger political parties accross many EU Member Countries.

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+ Joseph Daul's advise
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- "You have to search (Political) Majorities, there where they are !", advised also, earlier, Weber's predecessor and friend, the New ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party President, experimented French euro-politician from Strasbourg, speaking Yesterday Evening to "EuroFora" on this same  matter.

 

+ Daul told us, on this occasion, that he was, in fact, "the 1st to speak about Manfred Weber" as the Right Person in order to succeed him, (as he had done since 2007 vis a vis Hans Gert Poettering, etc), as New President of EU Parliament's Group of ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEPs for the next period of 2014-2019.

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+ Schulz : Technical Compromise, not on Content
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+ Meanwhile, speaking afterwards to Journalists in Strasbourg, including "EuroFora", the solidly re-Elected EU Parliament's President for more 2,5 Years (2014-2016), based on a Strong Majority thanks to an overall Deal between the SocialDemocrats, the EPP/ChristianDemocrats and the Liberals, German SocialDemocrat MEP, Martin Schulz, clearly singled out such "a Technical Agreement", (notoriously linked also to support for the Winner of EU Parliament's  May 2014 Elections, the ChristianDemocrats/EPP Top Candidate, long-time former Prime Minister of Luxembourg and €uroGroup's President, Jean-Claude Juncker, who has just received EU Heads of State/Government's official endorsement at the latest EU Summit last week in Brussels, and is due to be Voted soon by EU Parliament later this Month at a 2nd July Plenary Session in Strasbourg, at the same moment that EU Council would prepare in Brussels its choices for other Top EU Jobs for the New period of 2014-2019, such as the new President of "EU Council and/or of €uroZone, EU's High Representative on Foreign Policy, individual new EU Commissioners, etc).

- "But that's Not an Agreement on Content" on all concrete EU policies, Schulz Distinguished in a crystal-clear way, (Comp. Supra).

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=>  Turkey example : "No more an Option for full EU Membership !"..
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This became even more clear, after the New EPP Parliamentary Group's President anounced the ChristianDemocrats/EPP MEPs' principles f.ex. also as far as Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid is concerned :

 - "The EPP would Not like to see Full EU Membership for Turkey", Instead, "we would like to se a Special Partnership. Cooperation with Turkey .. We (EPP) said that Full (EU) Membership would No longer be an Option", he anounced.

- "I think that it would be DisHonest to promise such an Option", he clearly denounced.

This is included in an EPP Group's "Program" issued from MEPs' Experience after the latest May 2014 EU Elections, that the Group adopted after many discussions, President Weber explained.
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 + He went into more Details, at a susbequent Reply to Criticism by a Britano-Portuguese "Socialist" local politician and journalist who claimed that the ChristianDemocrats/EPP position "on Turkey" was .... "an Issue of the Extreme Right (sic !)", so that EPP would have become, thus "a Hostage (re-sic !!) of the Extreme Right", (as she provocatively said, obviously Neglecting the fact that several mainstream EU Leaders such as, f.ex. former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and current German Chancellor Angie Merkel, had been brilantly Elected, with Record-wide Popular Majorities, on 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2013, as well as largely Won the 2009 EU Elections, continuing more or less succesfully even on 2014, where more Voters appeared only at their Right side, while, on the Contrary, "Socialist" Parties had Droped Down, in addition to a Majority of even Brittish People being Opposed to Turke'ys controversial and unpopular EU bid, that being, since 2009, notoriously one of the real reasons for which Brittish Citizens voted the UKIP towards the 1st Party standing in two EU Elections in a row : 2009 + 2014), i.e. something which is Today obviously in Total Contradiction also to the Fact that even Euro-Left's Top Candidate in the May 2014 EU Parliament's Elections, "Syriza" Head Alexis Tsipras, recently declared at the last EU-wide TV Debate between the 5 Top Candidates for the post of New EU Commission's President for the period 2014-2019, that he wasN't at all favorable for the current Turkish regime to enter inside the EU, (while even Socialist political leaders as f.ex. EU Parliament's Martin Schulz, and/or France's Francois Hollande, etc., also stated that they Excluded Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid at least  in the foreseable Future...

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 - "We (recently elected ChristianDemocrats/EPP MEPs) have prepared our "Points of Substance" after Discussions within our Group", following the latest May 2014 EU Elections, President Weber patiently explained.

 - "I've always believed that we need friendship and close cooperation with Turkey, but this canNot lead to Full EU Membership", he clarified.

 - In fact, "It would be in the Interest of Both Parties to build a Special Partnership", given that "Turkey is an extremely Important Partner for Economic, Demographic, Political, Strategic reasons : There are Security Concerns, (as he observed shortly after the recent revelations and Deadly Terrorist Attacks in Brussels on 2014, as in France on 2012, etc. by individuals who had Visited Turkey in order to get involved in Armed and Violent Islamic Extremist Movements launching Deadly Attacks from the Turkish Borders towards Syria, even against Villages with Rescapees of the Armenian Genocide of the former Ottoman-Turc Empire, and recently even at Iraq, etc), Energy issues, (given also the Facts about Turkey's total Lack of any Energu resource, and its desperate attempts,  pushed by some UK-USA lobbies, to oblige Other Countries' Oil-Gas, instead of going Directly to the EU, on the Contrary, to pass through a too Long, and therefore Expensive Transit by a 3rd, Non-European Land controlled by Ankara's Regime, notoriously eager for Political and/or Financial Blackmails, and facing various serious Risks of Earthquakes, Kurdish and other Bloody Conficts, and now even Islamic Terrorism spreading from the S/E. Turkish Borders, etc), .. so, the focus has to be to (EU) Talks with Turkey".

- "But, at the End of the Day, .. it's clear from Both Sides, and it has Become (even more) Clear during Recent Years, that Full EU Membership woN't work ! Thats why we believe that i", the new President of the Biggest (and now, after the May 2014 EU Elections : even "Central" - Comp. Supra) EU Parliament's political Group, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, concluded, taking into account also the most recent developments.

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- The strongly re-Elected Today new EU Parliament's President,  German SocialDemocrat MEP Martin Schulz, speaking to "EuroFora" in Strasbourg, expressed his Concern for the relaunch of Deadly Military Attacks against the Dissident Autonomist areas at Eastern Ukraine, and pronounced himself in favour of a sustainable "Cease-Fire".

 
+ He also stressed, in this regard, that he expects to receive a relevant Phone Call by the new Ukranian President Petro Poroshenko, later Today, probably "this AfterNoon". (* UPDATE : See Infra).

For the 1st time in EU Parliament's History, Schulz was re-elected twice in a row, from the 1st round of the 1st Day of the New EU Parliament, issued from the recent May 2014 EU Elections, where, for the 1st time since 1999, a previous trend towards more and more abstentions was clearly Stopped, and even started to be more or less reversed, particularly in certain EU Member Countries, where Participartion grew much Higher, (f.ex. France, Greece, etc).

In his re-election for the next 2,5 Years (2014-2016), with some 403 Votes, it seems, also from what he's just said himself at a Press Conference in Strasbourg, earlier Today, that German Chancellor Angie Merkel played personaly an important role, but it appears mainly related to an agreement between 3 mainstream Political Groups : SocialDemocrats, ChristianDemocrats/EPP and Liberals, normaly linked also with an overall Compromise to support the Winner of the latest EU Elections, and, subsequently, EU Heads of State/Governments' nominate : EPP's Jean-Claude Juncker, former long-time Prime Minister of Luxembourg and President of €uroGroup,  as New EU Commission's President for the 5 years period of 2014-2019, due later this Month in Strasbourg, in parallel with EU Council's forcthcoming Decisions on the remaining Top EU Jobs, (f.ex. EU Council and/or €uroZone's Presidents, EU External Actions' High Representative, individual EU Commissioners, etc).

Concerning obviously urgently needed moves for a sustainable Cease-Fire, Dialogue and Peace in Ukraine, the freshly re-elected EU Parliament's President can certainly find also More Wider Support, even from several Leftists and/or various Rightists, who are notoriously in agreement with him, exceptionaly, on this particular Topical issue, (according to the Pre-Electoral promises they made to EU Citizens who voted for them too).

Experienced Schulz, who is also one among the longest-serving MEPs in action, (Comp. f.ex. Schulz's Statements to "EuroFora"s co-Founder, in his previous work as EU Parliament's Rapporteur for Civil Rights and Democratic Freedoms, already published  f.ex. to "TCWeekly" as early as since .. 1994/1995 !, etc), was one among the first to Sign personaly in favor of "EuroFora" Project, already since 1997+, and confirmed, Today, his relevant wish to boost "Transparency" and links with EU Citizens, during EU's Deciusion-making process, focusing, rightfully, mainly on the commencement of EU Decision making, and not only at its end : This is one among the 2 main Topics that he intends also to raise in his forthcoming Talks with Juncker, as he anounced earlier Today in Strasbourg, speaking to Journalissts, including "EuroFora".

The recent 2014 EU Election Campaign tour convinced him that More and more EU Citizens need that, because, otherwise, they are afraid that their Righs are not taken into account by a too much Top-Down EU decision-making process in the Past, as he warned Today. 

(../..)


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(* UPDATE : Poroshenko indeed phoned, later Today, to Schulz, and invited him to Ukraine, EU Parliament President's Spokesman, Armin Machmer, told "EuroFora", later on, but precise Dates haven't yet been fixed, because of the presently heavy EU Agenda at the same time that tragic events unfold quickly in Ukraine. However, even if it has not yet been decided whether it will be soon, or later-on in the foreseable Future, it's not a priori excluded that it might, eventually, start with a possible "urgent" move, according also to relevant political developments...).                                                                                                                                                                                           

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