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EUCommission V-Pres. Rehn Spokesman 0'Connor+ EULeft Group Head Zimmer to EuroFora on Tsipras+Troika
*Strasbourg/EUParliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- EU Commission vice-President for Monetary/Economic affairs, Oli Rehn, pointed at "Structural Problems which remained unaddressed for many Years" in Greece and elsewhere, in his Reply to main Opposition party SYRIZA's Head, and leading contender to become EuroLeft's candidate (at a special Congress in Spain, this weekend) for new EU Commission's President at the forthcoming, May 2014 EU Parliament's Election, who had asked MEPs, yesterday in Strasbourg, for "a long Enquiry, on a wide range of issues, in order to find why erroneous choices were made, who was Responsible for that, and what must really change", on the occasion of the preparation of EU Parliament's Reports on the EU Commission/ECB/IMF "Troika" (See infra).
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While Rehn reportedly pointed out that the "economic adjustment Programme ....prevented the disorderly Default of the Greek State, which would have had devastating economic and social consequences for the Greek people", and, now, it "is helping to create the Conditions for Sustainable growth and job creation", on the contrary, Tsipras stressed that he presented, both to EU Parliament's co-Rapporteurs : Austrian EPP MEP Othmar Karas and French SD MEP Liem Hoang Ngoc, as well as to the competent Commissioner a kind of "Black Bible" for the Memorandum", and denounced the "Troika" (a slim team of EC/ECB/IMF Experts for Negotiations with EU Countries under Adjustment Programs) as "an institution without any Democratic Legitimacy, for which he would like EU Parliament to extend its initially scheduled Report by the Economic Affairs Committee also to the Social and other consequences of the current way to apply Austerity measures, in order to be able to conclude by making a critical appraisal of the current policies compared to alternatives, (Comp. also Infra).
But, as the President of EU Parliament's EuroLeft Group, Gabi Zimmer from Germany, told "EuroFora" just after the Presidents' Conference of Thursday Morning, finally, the ECO Committee declined to extend the scope of its initial Report on the "Troikas" (in all Countries concerned : f.ex. Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Cyprus, etc), and, therefore, a kind of de facto compromise seems to have been agreed, with the Social affairs Committee accepting to start a a Parallel Report, at MEP's own Initiative, due to advance and be finally debated in public and voted by EU Parliament's Plenary principle, "at the same Time" with the ECON's main Report, offering thus an overall view, in a few Months.
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In fact, it's those "unaddressed" Structural Problems "which were at the Root of the current Crisis", according to Oli Rehn, the EU Commission's Spokesman, Simon O'Connor stresed in a Note send to EU Media including "EuroFora" just after the meeting which took place at Noon, in EU Commission's offices at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, where, by a Symboilic Irony of the sort, Tispras and Rehn dealt with a "hot" "EuroZone" issue at a Building named after Brittish former Prime Minister Winston "Churchil"...
Questioned by "EuroFora" if Rehn's key-mention concerned mainly the fact that Greek State's Public Sector had become since the 1980ies notoriously disproportionate compared to the country's Productive Private Business area, due to clientelist/Nepotist former Government's massive appointments of cushy-job holders/political Lackeys, which had started to provoke an excessive Public Debt Problem already during the crucial 1999-2003 period, when the entry of Greece to the €uroArea had been decided Earlier than normal, i.e. even before Athens did the necessary Reforms, (in exchange for Greece to close its eyes on Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU "Candidacy", admitted almost at the same time by mainly "Socialist" former Governments of big EU Countries at the December 1999 Helsinki EU Summit),
the competent EU Commission's Spokesman for Economic and Monetary affairs, admitted, indeed, that Vice-President Rehn's reference to such "Structural Problems", ""obviously" included "the Reform of the Public Sector in Greece, which is one of the Core elements in the (Economic Adjustment) Program", while the mention of "many years" in the Past, was, indeed, related to "problems (which) were Building up, in many cases during these years" (of 1999-2003), "and in some cases, even Earlier", (i.e. since 1981-2011)....
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But their Harsh Consequences continue to unfold even now : F.ex., according to the latest available reports, between August and September 2013, the number of Enterprises which were obliged to cross a "Red" line, by becoming unable to pay a growing number of various Taxes, suddenly jumped up from 182.785, adding + 343.692 more in only one (1) Month, until it reached 546.477 Businesses ! In addition, Recession instead of Growth has notoriously hit hard the Greek Economy until now, reducing even further State's normal Tax revenues.
Moreover, at almost the same time, the EU/ECB/IMF "Troika" doesn't look convinced at all that by attacking, during this Autumn 2013 (for the 1st time in the History of the Country), even Poor People's Home, (including of those who are jobless, deprived of revenues, sick, etc), the State might get only 2,65 Billions € in one year, as it claims... Tsipras reportedly added in Strasbourg his voice to those of various other Politicians or Economists who warn that a proposed Introduction, for the 1st time in the History of the country, of a possibility to oblige Poor People to sell into Auctions even the unique Family Home that they might possess as a fruit of Hard Economies for Generations, would be a socio-political "Red Line" with unpredictable consequences in terms of Social InJustice and Political Troubles. Particularly when so Harsh Measures against Poor People would be added to the 2010 Abolition of basic Free Health Care, to an explosion of Unemployment, to the unprecedented appearance of many People suffering from lack of Food and/or malnutrition, while others commit Suicide, at the same time that even Young Children started to atrociously Die by manifold consequences of Electricity Cuts during Winter (etc)...
But, on the contrary, if at least 1 out of 4 among the notoriously surnumerary (particularly compared to the Tiny private Productive Sector of the Greek Economy) State Agents of the Public Sector (almost .. 50% of the National Economy !), were dismissed, for having scandalously being appointed by former Clientelist and/or Nepotist Governments, mainly of PASOK+, during the period of crucial 3 Decades 1981-2011+ which provoked the emergence of that Huge Debt, i.e. the bulk of the counter-productive cushy-job holders and/or abusive political Lackeys, over-paid for Decades, several of whom have also been involved in Corruption and other, even more serious Crimes, i.e. all in all, some 250.000 individuals out of nearly 1 Million of Civil Servants, (while, at any case, ensuring them a basic revenue and health care, except from condemned Criminals), then, given an average Salary/Pension of about 2.100 € per Month reportedly prevailing currentlly allover Public Sectors' Employees), the Greek State could Save more than ... 6,825 Billions € each Year, (to which should be Added also the Loans' Interests also saved, i.e. reaching more than 7,166 Billions per year in all) !
Comparatively, the next Part of EU Loans to the Greek State, (initially scheduled for December 2013), is estimated to Less than 5 Billions € : I.e. wouldn't be needed at all, (and Greece would even have Saved more than + 2,2 Billions in addition to that) !.. As a possible Alternative, then, if the Greek State paid back its Debt with those Savings of about 7,2 Billions each Year (Comp. Supra : to which should be Added also + almost another Half Billion € per Year in Loans' Interests, that Greece can avoid by adopting the above mentioned radical measures), then, it's even all that Huge Public Debt of some 340 Billions € which could totally "Melt" like Ice under the Sun and vanish in just 4 Years and a few Months' time...
+ Even more important in real practice : If this was really done under the Flag of an adequate Anti-Corruption campaign, aiming to "Clean" the State from all kind of serious Waste, Abuses, Corruption and other Crimes committed during the last 30 Years which provoked that Huge Debt (1981-2011), then, whatever Government would succeed that, could certainly attract a Big Popular Support, among a large Absolute Majority of Greek People, who would give them a Strong Political Mandate to complete all necessary reforms for a Renaissance of the Greek State, (and this could also become, if not entirely, at least partly, an inspiring example also for various other EU or third Countries in similar situations).
All Polls since 2011-2013 clearly Reveal that a Large Majority of Greek People, from various political horizons, has one main big point in common : A legitimate WIsh to find and Punish all those who are really Responsible for that Huge Debt which emerged at the lime Lights all out of a sudden, and threw the Country and its People into a quasi-Catastrophic situation, most of them paying a too High Price in their everyday Lives, for Errors and/or Crimes that they didn't commit at all, while, at the same time, on the contrary, those who profited from the Blunders which undermined the Economy and had initially endangered even €uroZone, still remain practically Unpunished, (and some of them even persist to usurpate more and more Public Funds, inaddition to what they've already done for Decades, through undeserved State "Salaries", "Pensions", etc)..
Added to the notorious fact that several among them, have also committed in the Past various Corruption and/or other Abuses and serious Crimes during these same last 30 Years (1981-2011+), whose Victims have been largely Hindered, in real practice, from finding Timely an Efficient Remedy that would have enabled them to Ask for Justice, considering also all those various Time Deadlines, Prescriptions, and other Bureaucratic Obstacles and attempts to Hide sometimes even Worst Crimes, in addition to manifold other Scandals which notoriously, stil remain totally or partially unresolved and/or covered up, it's obvious that in Greece, Today, real Economic Efficiency, Democracy and Political attractivity have become almost synonymous with adequate Justice !
That's why when Rehn denounced, earlier Today in EU Parliament in Strasbourg, the fact that, "at the root" of the current situation, are certain "structural Problems" which "remained unaddressed for many years" (Comp. Supra), then, Tsipras, as a Greek, should have been among the first to understand that Nothing among the various Other Measures that he reportedly proposed, (f.ex. a new "Restructuring of the Public Debt, writing off a big part of Loans, Moratorium on Payments", etc) might ever be sufficient in such a case : Not only because of Economic and/or Political, Legal, a.o. obstacles, but also on Moral and Socio-Political grounds, since it would be practically tantamount into definitively Covering Up even various Abuses, Corruption and/or other Crimes committed by several among these same cushy-joh holders/political Lackeys, scandalously appointed at the Public Sector during the last 3 Decades (1981-2011 etc), and who have already provoked too Heavy Sufferings to the detriment of their various Victims, to the point that the latter's "Thirst for Justice" inevitably reminds, mutatis-mutandis the Ancient Greece's gloomy spectacle of the Scary ...Furies ("Erinyes"), the infamous figures responding to Victims' desperate calls for "Vengeance" in classic Tragedies....
As it is well known, f.ex. by World-famous Aischylos' Tragedy of "Oresteia", written almost at one of the Best Periods of Ancient Athens' Democracy, - just after the Historic Victories of Marathon and Salamina battles, etc., which notoriously saved Europe from threatening Military Invasions and Occupations by Asian (Persian) Armies - it's reportedly a Divine Intervention of New Goddess "Athena", which finally succeeded to convince the angry Furies (Erinyes) of Old, brutal Vengeance, to completely Change, and transform themselves into Peaceful and Democratic Institutions of "JUSTICE", rendered through impartial and Independent Courts, with the participation of Popular Juries, after Public, transparent Debates and Legal Procedures resulting precisely into what we call Today, (f.ex. in the European Convention of Human Rights' Article 6), as "FAIR TRIAL".
Thus, Tsipras, (who curiously "Forgets" too often even to speak about Responsibilities and Crimes committed in the Past by those who practically brought, profited and often still profit from the Dramatic Situation into which many People have been thrown in Greece), should normally know quite well that nobody can pretend to really Shape the Future in a sustainable way, while, at the sam time, totally "Forgetting" all what happened into the Past, as if History (which, on the contrary, links the Past to the Future, in one way or in another), had ceased to exist !
Simply because, by doing that, in addition to an Economic Inefficiency, he also risks to throw the Country back to the old, brutal Furies ("Erinyes"), i.e. to violent conflicts, Anti-Democratic behaviors/Oppression, various Extremisms, etc., by depriving Greek People not only from an Economically Efficient Solution, but even from an elementary Justice, able to find and punish those Responsible for the present Greek Tragedy, thanks to a Fair Trial (Comp. Supra)...
=> All pertinent facts clearly indicate, indeed, that it's only by Adequately Combining together, Economic Efficiency with elementary Socio-Political and Moral Justice, that a sustainable Solution can be really found in Greece's case.
Otherwise, it all inevitably Risks to prove Right those who accuse Tsipras' party "SYRIZA" to be, in fact, just an amass from previously ... clientelist PASOK remnants/residus, attempting to Hide themselves, (as various Comic Cartoons abudantly illustrate, f.ex. by calling his Party ..."PASOKOSYRIZA", and/or by picturing Former PASOK's Office furniture under the Sign : - "REMOVED TO SYRIZA", etc)....
- To put it in a nutshell : It not at all enough for Tsipras to simply denounce "the Tragic Consequences of ...Barbaric Measures of Economies in Greece during the 3 last years", as he said on his meeting here with Rehn, speaking in general, both for long-time Civil Servants and for Poor Unemployed People :
Simply because, in fact, there is Nothing in Common between f.ex. that poor young Girl Sarah, aged only 13, living with her Unemployed Mother aged 54 from Serbia, and an isolated Old Man aged 85, who both brutaly Died recently in Greece shortly after Electricity was Cut at their Homes since they didn't have enough Money to pay for it, and the - absolutely Differend, even Opposed - case of those Employees of the Public Electricity Company (DEH : part of the State's sector), who had decided and executed the Power Cut even during a Harsh Winter, in order for the State to have enough Money to pay their Salaries, most of them being Cushy-job holders for Decades, and/or even political Lackeys of former Clientelist/Nepotist mainly PASOK Governments of the Past, with Fat Salaries going up to almost ..3.000 € per Month in Average for merely holding a University Diploma whatever, even with the Lowest degrees, and/or in unrelated/largely useless areas, - or else getting as much as ... some 4.000 € monthly in average for any, even the lowest Engineer Diploma; (F.ex. we personaly know some concrete cases of DEH Employees who were suddenly appointed just after a mere ... Phone Call by a relative with personal "connexions", many years ago, and are now at their 3rd or 4rth House for Holidays, near the Seaside, watching Color TV Screens and spending a Fat"Pension" paid from the State sector, after Decades of greedy, mostly undeserved Salaries which have resulted in more and more Public Debt !)...
Such useless but greedy leeches must Stop drinking the Blood of Productive Economy and of Poor People, with whom they have nothing in common, but are, on the contrary, directly opposed. "Social" consequencies of sometimes Harsh Austerity Measuers should not be an Hypocritical cover-up for those who exploit for many years the extremely fragile situation in which have been thrown their own victims.....
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Meanwhile, Greek Communist Party's chief Koutsoumbas reportedly denounced SYRIZA as "the long hand of EU's Imperialism inside the Labor Movement of European Countries, aiming to manipulate the Popular forces", and accused Tsipras to "distribute, at right and left, certificates of loyalty and obedience to Monopolistic circles, in order to ensure their support as their Lackey for Greece", inter alia also by trying to accredit the idea that "a so-called "EU with a Human face"" might be possible, as he said.
EuroLeft Group's President in EU Parliament, German MEP Gabi Zimmer, speaking later to "EuroFora", (Comp. also a larger Interview she gave to "EuroFora", due to be published as part of a forthcoming Series before the May 2014 EU Elections), basically, as a matter of General Principle, prefered to abstain from taking a part in possible Differences between the various National Parties which compose EuroLeft, and focused, instead, on her wish to Struggle for a much more Social Europe, where People's voice would be better Heard, and expressed her belief that this would bring more EU Citizens to Participate to the Next European Elections and considerably strengthen her Group inside EU Parliament.
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It's almost an estimated 15 minutes-long that apparently was the meeting between the Vice-President of the European Commission and SYRIZA Party's Chief, behind closed doors, organized "at the demand of Mr. Tsipras", as "EuroFora" found out on the spot: Indeed, the officially announced Time was 12.15, but when we managed to get there, just after EU Parliamenht's votes, it was already nearly 2 p.m., and Rehn's assistants told us that Tsipras had already left "a least Half an Hour before" (sic !)...
But the eventual perspective of "Organized Political Debates" in Public, "in the run up to the forthcoming European Elections", about which Rehn and Tsipras had "an occasion to exchange views" in Strasbourg, while speaking about a better "Democratisation of the EU", as the latter declared here afterwards, might, perhaps, help to better Clarify each one's real Stance on such main Issues...
This could obviously become even more politically "Spicy", if Tsipras and Rehn become both Candidates of their respective European Poilitical Parties for the Top Job of EU Commission's new President, due to be determined also via the forthcoming May 2014 EU Elections.
For Tsipras, tje decision is scheduled to be taken during the coming Week-End in Spain, by a special Congress of EuroLeft, while, on the contrary, the EU Liberals have yet to decide, later-on, mainly between Rehn and the experienced Politician, former Prime Minister of Belgium, Guy Verhofstadt, current Chair of the Liberal Group of MEPs in EU Parliament
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("DraftNews", as already sent, earlier, to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version might be published asap).
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EUCommissioner Georgieva to Eurofora on Civil Protection +cooperation with China ao Countries v. EWE
*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid, and Crisis' Response, anounced, in reply to an "EuroFora"s question, EU's intention to deepen and even spead further Emergency Management and Scientific Research on Natural or Man-made Major Hazards, through both International Cooperation with Global key players (after having Started and Advancing recently with China : the most concerned and affected Country in the World f.ex. by Extreme Weather Events, etc), and developing EU's own Capacities to act and/or help joint actions all over the World :
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- "EuroFora" reminded the fact that, "Recently, there was an Anouncement, some Months ago, that, concerning Civil Protection and Extreme Weather Events, in order to try to Prevent Catastrophes, and study how to face them, during an EU - China Summit, an Agreement was reached on creating a Joint Research Centre in this field. Do you know how these things are going on ? Is there something which could be Helpful and Complementary to what you are creating now ?", we asked Georgieva.
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- "We (EU) have Deep Cooperation with China in the area of Climate Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management", replied positively to "EuroFora"s Question from the outset the competent EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian and Crisis' Actions.
- Thus, "last year (2012) we (EU) Opened up an EU - China Emergency Management Institute in Beijing, with the Objective to Train Chinese Officials, from allover the Country, in Disaster Risk Reduction, Disaster Preparedness, Efficient Disaster Response", etc., the competent EU Commissioner recalled.
+ "And, at that point, we (EU) also Agreed that it's very Important to Deepen Joint Research in areas of common Interest, and, of course, in understanding Risks, How Best to adjust to these more Frequent and more Devastating Disasters : This is an area of Common Interests between China and the EU" , she stressed.
+"In fact, for that matter, not only between EU and China". Because "we are Building up similar Partnership Programs also with Japan, wth the US, with the ASEAN, etc., on the premisses that, in this World, we (EU) have to Deepen our Undesrtanding of Risks, improve our Forcecast Capabilities, and our Capability to Share Information and Coordinated Action, whenever it's Necessary", EU Commissioner Georgieva concluded.
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- Indeed, an EU's Emergency Response Coordination Center"'s Official, speaking through a Video Connection with Strasbourg Directly from Brussels, confirmed its task to "support such Actions both inside and Beyond the EU", as well as for "constantly Monitoring potential Disasters all over the World", in addition to "supporting EU's activities Worldwide, through Transportation Logistics tools, for Civil Protection teams" etc.
- "F.ex., in Philippines, recently, we deployed more than 35 Experts, .. in order to do an on the spot Assessment, and to help Coordinate the International Relief Effort", he noted, followed by another EU Official, speaking also through a Video-Connexion with Strasbourg from Venise (Italy), where it was helping on the spot actions to face a Dangerous Earthquake.
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+ "The Number and Gravity of Natural and Man-made Disasters Increased significantly in the past Years, and Climate Change is expcted to Trigger even more Extreme Future Disasters", claims the Report on EU's Civil Protection Mechanism, drafted by Italian ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Elisabeth Gardini, which has just ben adopted by a Strong Majority in EU Parliament's Plenary in Strasbourg. In consequence, even if Civil Protection remains primarily the responsibility of (EU) Member States", so that EU "cannot be more than Supporting and Complementing States' actions, as well as "promoting Cooperation and Consistency, nevertheless, f.ex. "EU-Funded Assets, whose development can be Financed (by the EU) up to 85%, should always be Available for being used by the EERC", while, moreover, "some elements of the (EU) Commission's proposal need yet to be Clarified or further Emphasized, such as the .... use of Military assets as Last ressort'.
F.ex., in order to "Minimize the lead Time to Respond to Disasters and to Alert EU Citizens", the "further Development of Detection and Early Warning Systems", should be strenghened also by a "better Integration" of them (EWS), EU Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee advised to add.
In general, "the use of Military Means under Civilian Oversight, as a Last Resort, often constitutes an Important Contribution to Disaster Response", ("in particular on Specialized Assets, Strategic Lifting, or Heavy Engineering"), added EU Parliament to EU Commission's draft, at the same time that it's Plenary refused to endorse a Committee Amendment which had initially asked for "Civilian and Military Chains of Command" to "'be kept Separately", but wasn't followed by the Majority of MEPs. At another not-adopted Committee's initial proposal, concerning "Disasters caused by Terrorist nation, Nuclear or Radiological Accidents, the Mechanism should cover only the preparedness and response" action, within the Limit of Civil Ptrotection. In such cases, the FAC had advised for such "Initiatives" to be "Coordinated" and "Complementary" to "actions.. taken" for EU's "CERN .. Plan", at "EU Council's conclusions on Strengthening Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Sacurity".
Obviously, all such examples concern also EU Defence policy's often "Dual" aspects, of Military or Civil character, which could play an important role in the forthcoming EU Summit in Brussels, at the End of November 2013, officialy focused on EU's common Foreign and Security policy.
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("DraftNews", as already send, earlier, to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version might be published asap).
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European Peuple Party Head Daul to EuroFora on Post-EU Election 2014+ prospects: Respect Democracy!
*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking to "EuroFora" just after being honored by Germany's Order of Merit Cross, awarded by the No 2 of the Biggest EU State : Bundestag's President Norbert Lammert, at a special event in EU Parliament, the new Head of the greatest party in the EU, that of the European People's party, with 12 Heads of State/Government, in 34 Countries,and 74 National Parties, Joseph Daul, enigmatically replied to the most obvious Question about his Plan for the forthcoming May 2014 Election and the crucial for the European Integration 2 Next Years 2014-2015+, by a simple and smilling call to "Respect Democracy", in terms of Citizens votes'verdict, (See Infra).
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It all started with an explicit reminder, by "EuroFora", of Daul'd"s last Words at the Conclusion of the original Documentary Film by TV Channel "Alsace20" focused on his European, Human and personal legacy and service to the People, where he reportedly said that he had "a very Clear idea" on what has to be done from "2014 - 2015" and onwards : - "Indeed, what's your main Idea for what should happen at the forthcoming EU Elections and afterwards, during the next two Years, Crucial for EU Integration's Future ?", as we asked him from the outset.
- "I, personaly, am not doing any other elections, no more", ("moi, je ne fait plus d' Elections"), at least during the next 2 or 3 Years, President Daul joked, at first, to an "EuroFora" question, speaking less than a Month after his latest, brillant Election at the Head of the Biggest European Party, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, with a quasi-Unanimous Vote of its Political Committee in Brussels, (See relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReport publication at : ....).
- "But, the (EPP) Party, that's obviously another story !", ("ah, mais, le parti c'est autre chose"), the New Head of the EPP party went on to add, immediately afterwards, an obvious Fighting-spirit inevitably enlightening his smile...
- However, in fact, "for the (forthcoming, May 2014, EU) Elections, it's for those Who are Elected to Decide" how to advance in EU Integration, Daul modestly observed in reply to a relevant "EuroFora"s Question, making, in this regard, already a first, indirect but sure, reference to EU Citizens' political will.
=> That's why, concerning "EuroFora"s specific query about his "main Idea for the Direction in which the European Popular Party would try to shape EU policies from 2014-2015 and onwards", President Daul was adamant : - "I respect Democracy !", he laconically stressed.
+ And he went on to agree, practically, with "EuroFora" that this meant for his personal role to focus mainly on "trying to make a Synthesis" of what the European People will basicaly say with the Outcome" of their Votes during the May 2014 EU Elections for the Future, Daul accepted, with a typically French - "Voila !", in his Enigmatic Conclusion.
This reminds his recent appraisal of German Chancellor Angie Merkel's steadfast way to conduct her August-September 2013 National Campaign : Straight-on, with her program, without diverting nor misleading anyone, so that the People trusted her, and she succeeded to Win a + 8 % more, as Daul had commented in a documentary film dedicated to him by the new TV Chanel Alsace20 and projected tonight at EU Parliament.
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+ Meanwhile, Lammert, while awarding Germany's Order of Merit Commander's Cross to Daul, earlier Today, praised his character as a convinced European, of the kind that Europe needs in order to advance forward, who Thinks well before taking Decisions, and, moreover, is a sympathetic chap, he added with a smile, while the popular "Joseph" later thanked all those People with whom he worked together, and to whom he Owed much, as he said..
Full of invitees up to Late Monday Night, the Reception organized at EU Parliament's Presidential Salon was projecting in parallel Wall-TVScreens an interesting Film focused on various, known and unknown, aspects of EU Parliament's History in Strassbourg linked with Daul's personal, family, business, social and political life, which had been prepared by the New TV Chanel "Alsace20" and diffused for the 1st time since this Week-End, to invited MEPs, Diplomats, Local/Regional Officers or Politicians, and long-time Friends.
After having usefully emerged from a real "Grass-roots" environment, giving him a rare ability to speak to simple People in a language that they can feel and understand, Daul came from a Hard-Working Agricultural Family in a beautiful small Village near Strasbourg, whose Values he safeguarded and continued also with his own Family that he created with his Wife and two Sons by developing further a Small/Medium Enterprise located close to their Home on a splendid Natural Hill, added to Studies on Agricultural Economy, Trade Unionism and even National Defence, before succesfully winning a long series of Elections, from that for his City's Mayorship, up through all the Agricultural Trade Unionist Movement, reaching its Top in Europe, including that of EuroMP, and even long-time President of EU Parliament's Committee on Agriculture, (and, later-on, elected also Chairman of the Conference of Presidents by his peers : 2002), where he became famous with the way he handled the "Mad Cow" Food Crisis initially imported from the UK. Something which already made him learn working not only in Brussels and Strasbourg's European context, but also in the Global environment of Geneva-based WTO.
However, EU-wide Political Consecration notoriously came when Daul was elected by the Biggest Group of MEPs in EU Parliament to Chair the ChristianDemocrat/EPP fraction, (where he was re-elected many times until Today : 2007 - 2013), succeeding to an exceptionaly important "Heavy-Weight" such as the German CDU/CSU MEP Hans Gert Poettering, when he became President of EU Parliament; (and currently President of the Adenauer Foundation). But, one of his Best moments at the top of EU Politics, was during the 2009 EU Parliament's Elections, when, working side by side also with the Franco-German duo Sarkozy - Merkel, (while his Friend and collegue Poettering led a succesful National Campaign in Germany), Daul succeeded to mark a landmark, Threefold Win, both at his own Strasbourg Region and France's Eastern area, as well as throughout All the French Country, and even inside the entire EU Parliament, where the EPP Group of MEPs considerably boosted its capacities, reaching also Absolute Majority together with its ally of the new small NCR Group, formed by some Brittish and Polish Conservatists. Particularly since then (2007-2009-2013), Daul has been actively participating in practically all the Piloting of EU Affairs, Foreign Policy included, (despite an unexpected political "Pat" in the Frecch 2012 National Elections (where, in fact, noone, not even the "Socialists" of President Hollande, didn't ever get any absolute Majority of Votes), until his Political Family was Recently considerably Strengthened by the landmark Win of German Chancellor Angie Merkel, (of whom he is an acknowledged fan), in the September 22, 2013 National Elections, well beyond any expectations. Meanwhile, just after his 2011 Re-Election at the Head of EU Parliament's ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group; Daul had immediately stressed to "EuroFora" that he already intended to lead the Group up to the forthcoming May 2014 EU Elections. His sudden accession even to the EPP Party's Headquarters in Brussels, (where he had already been earlier chosen by his predecessor, long-time President Wilfrid Martin to initially help him run the biggest PanEuropean party, after being Chosen by Martin among 10 Vice-Presidents when the aged EPP co-Founder had initially fallen ill, after Cooperating closely Together particularly during recent Years.
One of the most spicy but also touching moments in Today's "Alsace20"'s film (Comp. Supra) is when it pictures Daul speaking at EU Parliament's Plenary in an exceptional attempt to win even Brittish Euro-Sceptic Nigel Farage of the "Independence Party", Head of the EFD Group, towards a joint European feeling of common belonging, though basic Humanitarian values, as spontaneously expressed by their own Children vis a vis Poor People, EU Citizens unjustly hit hard by the Global Crisis...
A naturally convinced Franco-German, as a genuine Strasbourg-region Alsace's native, Daul faced UK MEP's already taken decision to create a "Conservatives/Reformists'" Group from the outset, since 2009, but he, nevertheless, succeeded to keep a Joint Stance on certain Crucial Issues, f.ex. on BioEthics, Social and/or Economic matters, etc., as f.ex. the formation of an Absolute Majority ECR-EPP(+EFD, etc) front against the controversial Estrella Report which attempted to impose the impopular "Gender" Theory throughout Education, Medically Assisted Procreations for Homosexual couples (Dangerous not only for the Children submitted to that, but even for all Humankind, given the Powers thus given to Technocrats on Procreation of Huan Beings), etc., already managing a Plenary Vote to send it back to Committee, on November 2013, (and possibly another, even more crucial Joint EPP-ECR+ move Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 10, if "Socialists" a.o. push the same Report immediately back for another Plenary Vote, without giving to critics any chance to amend it)..
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(+ NDLR : Comp. also President Lammert's statements to "EuroFora" on the occasion of this exceptional event, published at a special NewsReport, hereby).
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("DraftNews", as already send, earlier, to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version might be published asap).
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Bundestag President Lammert to EuroFora: Joint EU Spirit can help EU Competitiveness in Global World
*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- The "No 2" of EU's biggest Country : Bundestag's experienced President Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert, speaking to "EuroFora" just after awarding Germany's Order of Merit's Commander Cross to the recently elected New President of Europe's biggest Party : EPP's Joseph Daul, long-time Chairman of EU Parliament's ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group of MEPs, (See also Daul's statements to "EuroFora", in a specific NewsReport, hereby), stressed his strong belief that Europe can win the crucial and topical Challenge of Competitiveness vis a vis a Global World, particularly if its all Member Countries become more stimulated by a Common EU Spirit, instead of Differend National considerations, (particularly during the present Crucial Stage of preparing May 2014 EU Elections and the subsequent 2014-2015 EU's Strategic Decisions).
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Observing the fact that our rare but substantial, brief but topical occasions to meet Bundestag's President in France or Germany occur at certain "special moments of particular importance" for the Franco-German EU core, (as, f.ex., already back on 2007, 10/2009 in Berlin, 2012, and now 12/2013), "EuroFora" invited Lammert to say what was his "Priority No 1 for Europe", in view of the forthcoming May 2014 EU Parliament's Elections and the subsequent 2014-2015 expected Political Choices and moves about relaunching EU Integration, etc.
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- "There is not one and only Priority", experienced President Lammert observed in reply to "EuroFora"'s question from the start.
- "But, regarding the position of Europe in a Global World, there is no way of Performing without Competitiveness, in comparison to other Nations and Economies", he stressed.
- "Do you think that we (EU) could succeed to do that ?", "EuroFora" incited Lammert to further pronounce himself.
- "Of course we (Europeans) can !", Bundestag's Head reacted optimistically.
- "But we have to be prepared to Face the Challenges", he also warned.
- "And, Looking into Differend Countries in the EU, this prepareness is, obviously, Differend", he observed carefully in this regard.
AGG: Do you thing that it would be important and might help things, if a Common European Spirit was created in this Direction too ? "EuroFora" asked President Lammert.
- Indeed, "it would be very Helpful if it would succeed in creating such a Common (EU) Spirit", he acknowledged.
- "But, the Tendency of claiming National Priorites, instead of Global Necessities, is, unfortunately, a given", he regretted; realistically.
+ When "EuroFora" referred to one of German Economy's successes : F.ex. to enter inside a flourishing Chinese Market, not only through Exports, but also by co-production Agreements, sometimes even giving Technological secrets, which are, however, fast bypassed by fresh and innovative Research, to the point that various other Countries are surprized, wondering "what is the Secret ?", that makes it work...
- "There is No Secret !", he sharply replied.
- Because, "Always you shall find Rational Explanations for Developments and Tendencies", President Lammert ensured, even without going here into concrete details, but as a matter of general Principle.
- On the contrary, "the Assumption alone that, for this or that Development, you Only can find (a) Secret Truth, is Misleading", Bundestag's President warned.
- Particularly, given that it's rather a matter of "an Overall and Serious work", he agreed in conclusion.
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Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert (CDU/CSU), who chairs the Bundestag since 2005, was strongly re-elected on October 2013, after the larger than expected, brillant win of Chancellor Angie Merkel in the September 22, 2013 National Elections with more than 41,5% of the Votes casted, followed by a 25,7% for the "Socialists" of SPD, and 8,6% for the Left, etc. (Two other Parties of the Right having gathered a Total of almost 10%, but without anyone of them reaching the 5% Threshhold).
"The State's No 2", in the Biggest and Richest EU Country : Germany, in terms of Protocol order, Lammert, who represents the Bundestag accross Europe and all the World, while being also at the Head of a Huge Administration with more than 2.500 Civil Servants and a Police force, likes to start Welcoming his best Invitees (f.ex. EU Parliament's President, Heads of State/Government, etc) by showing them that he stands so Close to Chancellor Merkel that they "can watch each-other through the Windows of (their) Offices", located with German Precision one right in front of the other, so as to give a prolonged View in Straight Line through the splendid Park which surrounds both Buildings of the Parliament and of the Chancellorship, also connected through Modern and Bright UnderGround Corridors facilitating various meetings with Safety and Rapidity, as "EuroFora" witnessed earlier in Berlin.
His previous Public Official visit in Strasbourg was on late September 2012, where he represented Germany at the Bi-Annual Pan-European Summit of Heads of National Parliaments from the 47 CoE Member States, including Russia+, (See President Lammert's brief but topical statement to "EuroFora" then, at : .....)
+ Meanwhile, Lammert, when he awarded Germany's Order of Merit Commander's Cross to Joseph Daul, (the current Chairman of EU Parliamet's biggest Group of MEPS : that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, and recently elected as new Presidet of the EPP Party), praised his character as a convinced European, of the kind that Europe needs in order to advance forward, who Thinks well before taking Decisions, and, moreover, is a sympathetic chap, he added with a smile, while the popular "Joseph" later thanked all those People with whom he worked together, and to whom he Owed much, as he said..
Full of invitees up to Late Monday Night, as "EuroFora" witnessed, arriving personaly rather late, the Reception organized at EU Parliament's Presidential Salon was projecting in parallel Wall-TVScreens an interesting Film focused on various, known and unknown, aspects of EU Parliament's History in Strasbourg linked with Daul's personal, family, business, social and political life, which had been prepared by the New TV Chanell "Alsace20" and diffused for the 1st time since this Week-End, to invited MEPs, Diplomats, Local/Regional Officers and/or Politicians, and long-time Friends, attracted particularly by Original spots/dialogues with Daul in Alsace/Baden Wurtemberg's Mountainous Forests, in EU Parliament's Strasbourg and Brussels' offices, and, above all, together with German Chancellor Angie Merkel....
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(../..)
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("DraftNews", as already send, earlier, to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version might be published asap).
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CoE urges Turkey for ProActive, Intensive and Rapid, Searches + INVESTIGATIONS on Cyprus' MISSING
*Strasbourg/- In what is probably the most Crucial Challenge to the Pan-European Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights, i.e. the Oldest cases of "Missing" Persons handled by the ECHR : those of Cyprus, CoE's highest Political body, the 47 Member Countries-strong PanEuropean Committee of Ministers,
adopting a Double-track Approach inspired by ECHR's well established case-law which has always asked , as a matter of General Principles, for full and efficient Investigations on any "Missing" Person, in order to discover what really Happened to them, as well as find and punish those Responsible for their Enforced Disappearance,
practically asked today Turkey to be more "ProActive", "Intensified" and "Rapid" in "Searching" on "Still Missing" Persons" (A), but also to make "Progress" in the "Investigations conducted into the Death of the Identified persons " (B),
while new and old Facts, nevertheless, piled up giving a net impression to any careful observer, that Ankara persists to Drag its Feet, even 39 Years after the 1974 Military Invasion and Occupation, with total Impunity until now (See Infra), contrary to what happens in some other areas of the World, even Latin America (f.ex. Argentina)...
CoE's Ministers, who are entrusted with the duty of Supervising the Execution of ECHR's Judgements, were examining Turkey's compliance with two landmark ECHR's Judgements : That of "Cyprus v. Turkey", where ECHR's Plenary had strongly condemned since 2001 Ankara's Authorities for grossly Violating many Basic Human Rights in the overall cases of Greek Cypriot "Missing People", as well as that of a particularly important subsequent ECHR judgement "Varnavas", of October 2010, on 9 concrete Cases of "Missing" G/C raised by their Families, where Turkey was anew Condemned, particularly after the Macabre Findings of August 2010 about the cold-blood Murder of 4 defenseless Greek Cypriot POWs, whose Mass Grave had been Hidden on purpose by the Killers, at another but similar case where the unforgettable and well known Photographs of the Victims, after they had been taken Alive by Ankara's Invasion and Occupation Army, had shocked the Public Opinion, (See : ...).
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- (A) "As regards the Search of the persons who are Still Missing", (i.e. whose remains haven't been yet found, and whose Fate is practicaly unknown), CoE anew stressed "he Necessity of adopting a Proactive approach", and, for that purpose, the PanEuropean Organization of Human Rights "called on the Turkish Authorities to" :
1) "provide the CMP (the UNO-sponsored Committee on Missing Persons, composed by a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot Member, chaired by a representative of the ICRC) with All relevant Information", (i.e. including, f.ex. Military Archives, Prisons' Lists, f.ex. in Adana, etc).
2) and, particularly, "to .... Intensify their efforts aimed at Rapidly giving Access to all relevant Places", i.e. including also "Military Zones" in the Occupied Territories of Cyprus.
On the 1st point, CoE's Ministers also "Insisted on their Request to receive Updated Information on the individual Measures taken in respect of ...8 ...persons concerned by the (Varnava) case", (ECHR's 2010 Judgement which Condemned Turkey on many concrete cases of "Missing" Persons raised by their Families : See "EuroFora"s NewsReport : ......), reminding Ankara that a "Proactive approach (is) Required in (such) cases".
But, on the 2nd point, among several other Scandalous Facts DIscovered during the recent years, including the Killings of defenseless, Jailed Persons (mainly since August 2010 : See : ....),, a 2013 Letter by the Family of a Cyprus' Missing (Nicos Kouloumas) revealed that a Tiny Part of Skull from their Father, who had gone Missing since a Group of Turkish Soldiers had pushed him out of a Church full of Prisoners (i.e. separating him from his Family, with whom he had been arrested), was found thrown deep in a Well, with traces of Brutal Violence on it, and urged CoE to convince Turkey to Open Access to a Military Zone in which was located a Tree where their Father had been reportedly led by Ankara's Soldiers. Despite several demands by the 4 Children of the apparently Murdered man, and his ailing Wife, to get at least the Body of their Father in order to burry it, nevertheless, UN-sponsored CMP had informed the Family of the Missing person, in a Letter dated from the End of 2012, that "the Official Position of the Turkish Military is that ...the .... site ... is inside a Military Camp", and, therefore, "it will be available to the CMP only AFTER (it) finishes Excavations in (all) the Civilian Areas" !...
Nevertheless, despite Turkish Government's claims that it would have authorized, at least at the Last Minute, access to "several" Military Zones, on the contrary, CoE's Decision clearly marks the fact that, since the 1974 Military Innvasion and Occupation of part of Cyprus, Ankara's cronies have been, indeed, Blocking CoE/UN investigarors' Access to Military Zones all this Time, since it's only so Late as Now, towards the End of 2013, that Turkey reportedly said in Strasbourg that it would have just "granted permission to the CMP .. to a 2nd (sic !!) fenced Military Area" during 39 Years (1974-2013) !...
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(B) As regards the mort Crucial stage, on "the Death of Identified Persons", (i.e. whose Remains were found), CoE was mainly interested on the "Investigations conducted" here, from the points of view of Access to Information and Efficient Results :
1) Focusing now mainly on the First point, which is of Crucial Importance in these cases, CoE's decision "Underlined" the "Importance for Investigators to have Access to Forensic Data (i.e. for Data serving to Find what really Happened and who are Responsible for any eventually serious Crime), and to All the Evidence kept by the CMP".
Indeed, concerning certain "Issues raised in the framework of the Implementation of (the above-mentioned ECHR's) Judgments, CoE's Ministers noted "with great Interest", an "Exchange of Vies" with the "CMP", scheduled earlier this week in Strasbourg (Comp: ...), "which brought important Clarifications".
=> In particular, CoE "noted" in its Decision "that CMP Keeps" such ("Forensic" + "All Evidence") Data "with the Aim of Transferring them to the Investigators", and this includes "as well ... Any material Element which might constitute Evidence in a Criminal Investigation", it stressed.
However, even if these long awaited precisions are obviously welcome, nevertheless, they obviously don't fully reply to the serious Concerns already expressed to "EuroFora"s co-Founder vt CoE's Senior Officials as early as since March 2007, (See our Publication then to "Cyprus Weekly", followed also by More relevant Developments that we published subsequently, iitially to "TCW" and later-on at "EuroFora"), mainly about the obvious "Risks to Destroy Evidence of Crimes", f.ex. when Victims' belongings are returned by CMP to their Family for Burrial, without doing any Forensic Examination previously, together with the Body found, (without f.ex. carefully examining previously its exact Position in relation with this or that Forensic Hypothesis, etc)
Risks which might be efficiently faced only if a Forensic Investigation about possible Criminal Responsibilities, could be conducted right from the outset, i.e. starting immediately whenever the remains of one or more "Missing" Persons are found, as several International Human Rights' NGO's representatives have already advised, in reply to "EuroFora" co-founder's question, (comp. our relevant Publications in "TCW" and/or "EuroFora").
2) => Moreover, on the Second point, the PanEuropean Organisation's Ministerial Committee "Invited ("the Turkish Authorities") to keep (the CoE) Informed on (any) Progress" eventually "Achieved in the field" of "Investigations conducted into the Death of Identified Persons", ...
+ In particular, concerning "Varnava case" (Comp. Supra), CoE "invited the Turkish authorities to ...keep.. the Committee (of Ministers) informed on the Progress of the Investigation in the Hadjipantelli case", (i.e. on a "Missing" Greek Cypriot who had been abducted from his Family Home by Turkish troops, and whose remains were found a long time afterwards), CoE also "Insisted" on the need for Fresh News "on the individual Measures taken in respect of ...8 other persons concerned by the (Varnava) case", reminding Ankara that a "Proactive approach (is) Required" in such affairs.
Because CoE now officially knows that, more than 8 Years after the Start of a Controversial process initially focusing on CMP's too Limited Mandate just for establishing the Identity of "Missing" Persons' remains, without ever doing any among the Necessary Forensic Investigations in order to Discover what really Happened to them, Find and Punish those Responsible for their Enforced Disappearance, (as ECHR's Judgements repeatedly asked Turkey to do),
only about 400 out of the more than 2.000 Missing Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been found, and, among them, some rudimentary "Criminal Investigations" have reportedly "started" in Less than 300 cases, but ... NONE of them hasN't yet produced Any Result at all, (as reveals a Letter sent by Turkey to Strasbourg last week) !...
+ Meanwhile, Turkey is Dragging its feet even on the simple "Payment of the just satisfaction awarded by the ECHR in the Varnava case" of 2010, CoE's Committee of Ministers found Today :
- "Recalling with Insistence their Interim Resolution CM/ResDH(2013)201 adopted in September 2013", which, already, had "Exhorted Turkey to Pay, without further delay, the sums awarded (to the Victims' Families by the ECHR), as well as the default interest due", CoE's Highest Political body expressed its "Regret that to date the Turkish authorities did Not (even) Reply to this Interim Resolution, and decided in consequence to resume consideration of this issue (on) March 2014", (I.e. 8 Months Earlier than the Next General Rendez-vous given to Turkey on Cyprus' "Missing" Persons, scheduled for next December, 2014).
(../..)
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(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already sent, earlier, to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version may be published asap).
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The High-Tech, brand new Crisis' management Center (CMC) inaugurated Wednesday by French Minister Bernard Kouchner, fits well EU's Humanitarian and Security-Defence aims, revealed a gathering of the largest Group of MEPs (EPP) organised in Paris these days, to prepare the debate on French EU Presidency's priorities (July - December 2008), that President Nicolas Sarkozy will present next week in EU Parliament in Strasbourg.
Due to face a large spectrum of Crises : from Humanitarian (f.ex. Natural Catastrophes, evacuation of Civilians or rapatriation of expats, populations exposed to Hunger and/or risky Sanitary conditions, etc), to various consequencies of Terrorist threats, Armed conflicts, or of Peace-keeping operations, etc, and joining Geopolitics with Diplomacy, CMC is able to deal with urgencies in real time anywhere in the world, by concentrating qualified Experts and impressive High-Tech equipment (i.e. Giant Computer Screens working in parallel, Visio-conferences, Satellite connections, etc).
Kouchner stressed that "Humanitarian and Political considerations can co-exist in real practice, if each one respects its independence", and, speaking to EuroFora, underlined his intention to have special representatives in "Strategic" locations, creating a "Network", open particularly to European cooperation.
- "We must fill the gap in Europe's Civilian and Military capacities", declared earlier at Matignon, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, while EU Commissioners met with their counterparts among French Ministers.
This point was at the focus of European People Party's "'Study Days" in Paris, from 2 to 4 July 2008, entitled : "For a Safer Europe", with a central Debate on EU's Security and Defence policies, where EU Parliament's President, German MEP Hans Gert Poettering, French Minister of Defence Herve Morin, and the Chairman of EU's Defence Committee, MEP Karl von Vogaw, spoke before meeting with Sarkozy, Wednesday afternoon.
- "We need specifically European systems, including, f.ex. Satellite networks, etc", stressed the experienced Chairman Karl von Vogaw, speaking after the meeting with President Sarkozy to European Journalists from EuroNews, EuroPolitique and EuroFora.
- And there where "European forces are already gathered, (f.ex. in Cyprus, Balkans, Lebanon, etc), if new operations started, I'd prefer to see them under European command in Future", he added, in reply to questions on how to overcome problems raised by a 3rd Countries as Turkey.
Vogaw presented earlier, at EPP's plenary, a comprehensive Report on EU's Security and Defence policy, with a strong High-Tech component (including Satellites, UAV, protected Telecoms, Strategic Air and Sea Transports, Space assets, etc), sharp references to Political will and Historic necessities, while also stressing that EU must overcome the divide between Civilian and Military research and activities, making "a close cooperation between Civilian and Military means" a "specific" mark of Europe.
The experienced Top MEP, after helping to build the "EuroZone", as a long-time Chairman of EU Parliament's Economic Committee, has recently started to chair a brand new "Security and Defence Committee", aiming to build European Defence, as the 2nd task of his life, as he told earlier to EuroFora.
The Committee, chaired by Vogaw, will hear, next week in Strasbourg an Experts' view about on the French EU Chairmanship's priorities in ESDP on Wednesday, before President Sarkozy's plenary debate, exceptionally on Thursday.