newsitems

*Strasbourg/Council of Europe/Angelo Marcopolo/- The recently elected (December 2011), New Prime Minister of Croatia, Zoran Milanovic, replying to "EuroFora"s questions before an official Speech at CoE's Assembly, promissed that the forthcoming Zagreb's EU entry, decided by  the EU for 2013, would be ready to help prepare a succesful European Integration of the neighbouring Countries in the Western Balkans, while also avoiding any risk to become a "Mentor", instead of simply giving useful advise and practical help, for the common interest to develop the GeoPolitical and Economic Potential of this Strategic Region.

Topically, Milanovic said that at the CoE in Strasbourg, just after EU Ministers advised the forthcoming EU Brussels' Summit, at the End of this week, to open Accession Negotiations with Montenegro.

After the succesful Slovenian EU Entry, the forthcoming EU Accession of Croatia looks even more Important, given the Stategic location of the Country, linking the Mediterranean Sea with Danube River, but also the fact that World Bank just published Today a forecast of almost +3% of Growth for Croatia on 2013, which contrasts Positively with much a  Sober U - Turn recently for most EU Countries and elsewhere in the World.

+ "EuroFora" asked Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic if he considered that Croatia's EU Accession course would facilitate the European Integration of Western Balkans in the foreseeable Future.

- The Croatian Prime Minister, positively replied to "EuroFora"s question with a crystal clear - "Yes !"

- Because "Every further Accession to the EU is giving Immediate supplementary Occasions to the Neighbourhood", Zoran Milanovic  stressed from the outset.

- "In that sense, Croatia should, now, make No Exception", he promissed.

- Thus, "We (Croatia) stand Ready to Cooperate and to extend Aid", he anounced, speaking in front of the 47  Member States strong PanEuropean Assembly's President, Jean-Claude Mignon, whose area includes all Western Balkan Countries.

+ "As well as to give Advise, but Not become a Mentor", the Prime Minister of Croatia Distinguished.

- "Because Mentorship is Not the Right stance", he underlined, in conclusion to his Reply to "EuroFora"s Question.

+ Meanwhile, referring to frequent matters of "EuroFora"s interest concerning Croatia's possible concrete contributions to EU Development, in addition to several mentions to the "Historic Identity" of EU Countries from various points of view, he also replied afterwards to questions about recent Decisions to built a  Natural Gas Liquefaction (LNG) Terminal, that he qualified of "Strategic Importance", "counting" on EU Support for its "realization"in the framework of the PanEuropean River/Sea Energy Transport Networks, (Comp. relevant previous and recent "EuroFora"s NewsReports).

    - Be it from Russia or from Central Asia,  Everybody is Welcome for Business. That's Business issues", he added in this regard, the leader of a Stratezic European Country which joins both Adriatic/Mediterranean SeaPorts with Danube River links, from the Black Sea up to Rhine River until the Northern Sea, (Comp. relevant "EuroFora"s previous NewsReports).

+ In this regard, Milanovic also stressed, later, that "Energy and Transport" Infrastructures can be key to EU Integration of the Region, where "Positive Developments" occured during the recent years, boosting Democratic changes now in all neighbouring Countries, while also underlying the importance of EU Cohesion and Neighbourhood policies.

    However, Prime Minister Milanovic critically wondered, later Today, during exchanges with MEPs in CoE's Assembly, about the "Strange" situation, consisting in "Visa" requirements for all Croatian Nationals Today, while, even in a "Cold War' Past, our Peuple could move without Vise even as far as in the UK, as he reminded...  An obviously Timely observation particularly when Turkey is heavily pressing the EU to ease Visa requirements even in the Shengen area for Massive Immigration from the 72 Millions Asiatic Country, even during the present Economic Crisis, (which is currently provoking, after a - 20% Devaluation of the Turkish lira and a Downgrading from Rating Agencies, a Growing Inflation, Trade Deficit and Unemployment, which will naturally be boosted by a sharp Fall of Turkey's GDP in 2012 to less than the Half of what it was a year ago in the Past...

    + Among various Regional issues, concerning the Ancient Historic Name of "Macedonia" mig-mar between Greece and FYROM (notoriously fuelled partly by some Turkish remnants of the former Otttoman-Turc Empire) , the Croatian Prime Minister replied to a Question raised by a MP from Skopje, who had asked whether the examle of Slovenia - Croatia Border Differend which, after delaying Zagreb's EU Accession for many Years, finally had its Solution postponed for after Croatia"s entry, according to a Compromise with the concerned EU Member Country, that "it's not simply a Border, but an Identity issue, which looks Weird, and I don't know what to advise" you, except to reiterate that an agreed solution must be found, as he pointed out.     

(.../...)
 
 
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("DraftNews", already sent earlier to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate and Full, Final Version may come asap).

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*Strasbourg/Council of Europe/Angelo Marcopolo/- Real Economy, well beyond speculative Financial bubbles which imploded after the Global Crisis, is our Fortune and key for Future, sustainable Growth, from traditional Agriculture up to Modern InterNet, etc., stressed the succesful Icelandish Economy and Finance Minister Steingrímur Sigfússon to "EuroFora", just before a Key-note speech at CoE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly's debate on Young People and the current Crisis.

    Sigfusson is Iceland's Minister of Economy during the Crucial present Period of 2009 - 2012, i.e. practically since the 2008/2009 "Krach" that he started to overcome succesfully, (including also for Fisheries and Agriculture since 2011), as well as Founder and President of the "Green-Left Movement"'s political party since its inception (1999-2012), part of the current Governemental Coalition, but also an Experienced former Communications Minister as early as on 1988-1991, i.e. when the Internet was just Starting to spread Worldwide.

 - "Iceland is famous also about Digital Economy, at least Symbolically", "EuroFora" observed, (given a World-Famous project to draft an Internet Legislation which would be the most Respectful to Citizens' Human Rights, particularly on Media's Press Freedom : Comp. also "EuroFora"s NewsReport and statements by that "Modern Media Initiative"'s Spokeswoman, Icelandish MEP   Birgitta Jonsdottir : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/internetcoejonsdottir.html ). Do you think that this might contribute in the Economy's ReLaunch ?", we asked the Icelandish Minister.

- "Yes ! Yes, It is True ! It's already" contributing to Growth, the country's Finance Minister Steingrímur Sigfússon, agreed in reply to "EuroFora"s question, for the period 2009-2012, during which Iceland reportedly reached the Highest proportion of People's Access to Internet (95%), and according to UNO's International Telecommunications Union, from nearby Geneva, is ranked 3rd in  the World for the Development of Information/Telecommunications Technologies (2010), stands among the Highest Ranked Countreis in Press Freedom according to a 2011 Report by "Freedom House", and its International Modern Media Institute, at Reykjavik, has recently published a 1st Report on the Famous Icelandish Initiative to draft the Best Legislation in the World for the protection of Investigative Journalism's Freedom, on April 2012.

+ On the contary, Sigfusson found it, at least partly "likely", when "EuroFora" also reminded that, when the notoriously sudden, deep and abrupt Crash in Banks occured, back on 2008, Iceland was campaining at UNO's Headquarters, at New York, as a Candidate to UN Security Council's Membership for 2 Years (2009-2011), in sharp Competition to Turkey, etc., while Reykjiavik's Government had denounced the former "New Labour" Brittish Government of Mr. Blair to have illegaly provoked Heavy Damages to Iceland's Banks by abusing of a so-called ... "Anti-Terrorist" Legislation in order to Block Access to them !).

=> - "But, when the Financial "Bubble" Economy (suddenly) Disappeared, the Real Economy was there !", the key Icelandish Minister stressed to "EuroFora".

=> - F.ex., sectors like "Fishing, Agriculture and Food Industry, Tourism, Energy, Internet, and so forth", he pointed out.

- "So, this was our Fortune : The Real Economy !", as underlined Steingrímur Sigfússon, who had been personally born at a big Agricultural Farm at the North-Eastern area of the country, and got also Fisheries and Agriculture inside its Ministerial Competences on the overall Economy, anew since 2011, (that he had also specifically assumed in a previous Government in the Past).

(Sigfusson "World Famous" ? Here exceptionaly Photographed, during his Press Conference, by the President of CoE Assembly's "EuroLeft" Group, Dutch MEP Tiny Cox himself)...

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    - Compared f.ex. to Greece's case, the number of Iceland's State and Public Sector civil servants and employees, (appointed/hired under previous Governments) was not so much DisProportinately Bigger than what the Country's GDP could afford, Sigfusson also agreed with "EuroFora". (I.e. the situation, in this regard, was rather closer to that of Argentina, which didn't have a so big "Gap" between its Productive Sectors and State Agents, which notoriously had become too numerous for Greece's economy to support, since the 1980-2012 former "Socialist" PASOK Governments, so that the system provoked a chronic "Structural Deficit", as experienced MEP, co-Chair of EU Parliament's "Green" Group, Daniel Kohn-Bendit had stressed recently at a Conference in Strasbourg),

    - "But, as a Skandinavian Country, we (Iceland) have also a comparatively Strong Public Sector, with a more extensive Social Welfare System, Sigfusson observed, nevertheless, to "EuroFora", compared f.ex. to the situation in Greece, - where, however, the Surplus of State/Public Sector employees, apointed/hired by notorious Clientelism/Nepotism mainly of PASOK's 1980-2012 former Governments, generally didn't even concern, neither Productive, nor even Social Welfare sectors, but rather Bureaucracy, Police and Courts, State-controlled Media, etc... Provoking since he 1980ies a growing Deficit and, therefore Debt, that a former "Socialist" Government in Greece, " had Hidden, and was Allowed to do so", back on 1998-2001, when former "Socialist" EU Governments decided Athen's earlier than normal entry in €uroZone even before doing necessary Reforms, (as that former PASOK Government did, in exchange, close its eyes, on Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, despite Gross Violations of Ankara's obligations to respect Human Rights, Democrarcy and International Law : See "EuroFora"s analysis, published at several occasions since December 2009), as Brittish MEP Binley denounced this week during CoE Assembly's Debates.

    - Moreover, in Iceland, High "Risk taking, Speculative elements had to be isolated in the old Banking Sector ", which had been "Over-Heated" just before the 2008/2009 "Krach", when the Financial Bubble imploded. So that the Icelandish Government's priority was "Not trying to rescue these Banks", but rather to focus on saving and developing the Real Economy, "by not giving all the Money to (old, failed and Speculative) Banks". Instead, it found "better to recapitalize a New Financial sector", with a more sound  and healthy Banking system, as he also said.

    - At any case, it's not easy to automatically compare differend situations between various Countries, and, therefore, the Icelandish Economy Minister preferred to abstain from advising, f.ex. the Portuguese or the Greek, and other €uroZone Member Countries on what might be better for them to do in order to efficiently overcome the Sovereign Debt Crisis, as he also replied to another Journalist's question in front of "EuroFora".

    - If you have an Economy which can be Strong in Exports, and you can Devaluate your currency (i.e. for Non-€uroArea Countries, as Iceland until now), then, you might alleviate and/or delay some abrupt Social Hardships, at least for some time. But, at the end, it's always better to be Responsible, and not leave for our Children or our Grand-Children today's Debt burdens to pay, but find one or another way to settle these issues ourselves, as Steingrimur Sigfussson also said, earlier, in substance in a Press Conference at the CoE before his Speech at CoE's PanEuroepan Assembly's Plenary Debate on the current Crisis and young People, (Comp. other relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReports, herewith).

       Succeeding to overcome the Crisis in which even a generally Good Economy as Iceland's found itself "at the Autumn of 2008, after the Lehman brothers'" bankrutcy, when recently privatized Banks, which had abused in borrowing and lending Money all over Europe, so that a Financial bubble had grown Bigger than 10 times Iceland's real GDP, suddenly lost - 85% of their money, this being followed also by a - 40% Devaluation of the National Currency, obliging the Government to transfert old Banks' assets and deposits to New Banks and start working from scrap, as Sigfusson reminded in a well attended PanEuropean CoE's Parliamentary Assembly, where he is well known since he served as a MEP in Strasbourg until 2009, apparently attracted numerous MEPs,  Ambassadors', Journalists' and COE Experts' interest...

    + Meanwhile, Sigfusson, who appeared eager and Glad to find that CoE had, meanwhile, organized a few Open Air areas, where People could stay, discuss, work and breath Fresh Oxygen, when "EuroFora" showed him an entry earlier today, also smiled, saluting, when we simply suggested that Iceland's "Real Economy" spirit advances as far as to propose f.ex. Holidays during Strasbourg's and Central Europe's unsupportable Heatwave this Summer, at some reFreshing Fishing Villages, facing the Arctic and/or Atlantic Oceans, in traditional Rural Houses covered with Green Turf, as, f.ex. in the beautiful Bolungarvik blessed even by the Gulf Stream (Photo), on condition, naturally, that the Icelandish genius finds also a creative way to add fast-track Internet, (a "Holy Graal" for quality, Healthy and fruitful Sommertime, which might also contribute to boost "Real Economy", from Fish to the Net).. 

(.../...)

*Strasbourg/Council of Europe/Angelo Marcopolo/- The President of CoE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly's biggest Political Group, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, Italian MEP Luca Volonté, replying to "EuroFora"s Questions, launched a vibrant and timely call, at the eve of the forthcoming EU Heads of State/Government Summit, later this week in Brussels (due to be followed by another crucial Summit on October), to seriously take into account and consider less as a problem but more as an asset, Young People's current  Aspiration to Change the Future", including by ReNovating the way Democracy works, in order to Fight against the Global Crisis, as various  Popular Movements, both inside the EU and in Neighbouring Mediterranean a.o. Countries, etc., have recently revealed :

- Reminding the Article published by "EuroFora" last week, where Young People's movements were linked on both Crisis of Economy and Democracy, in view of the forthcoming EU Brussels' Summits, we observed that, recently, Young People, both inside and outside of the EU, f.ex. in Neighbouring  South Mediterranean Countries and elsewhere, have stimulated many Movements, in various directions, often related also to New Forms of Democracy, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeyouthanddemocracy.html )

 - They are trying to find New Ways to Participate in Democratic Institutional Decision-Making today, and to interact, using also New (Internet) and Social Media and otherwise. And this becomes particularly important " now, that EU needs New, "Young" Ideas, particularly if it advances in Economic Integration , and also in further Political Union, according to the current debates at EU Council, between Heads of State/Government, "EuroFora" pointed out.

=> Do you think that  "CoE could help develop such Young Ideas, as it also did in the Past", we reminded, (recalling various cases in which CE had pioneered several Ideas in Key areas, which were afterwards taken over and invested, mutatis-mutandis, by the EU), so that the Debates that you (CoE Assembly) organized this week in this Direction, (i.e. on Young People and the Crisis of Economy and Democracy), might and/or should contribute to take into account, and promote moves inspired by such Ideas in the Future ?", "EuroFora" asked in conclusion, in view, also, of the forthcoming 1st World Forum on Democracy (October 2012, in Strasbourg).

- Given also that, "sometimes, it's through Better Democratic Institutions that can be found also better Economic Solutions", "EuroFora" added, (comp.  relevant, earlier NewsReport : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/worldforumfordemocracy.html )  
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The President of CoE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly's biggest Political Group, that of ChristianDemocrats/European People's Party, Italian MEP Luca Volonté, replied spontaneously to "EuroFora"s question by pointing, successively, at "2 Things" :

 - "First, CoE's Parliamentary Assembly is also involved in a Tunisian encounter, this August (2012), which will bring together also Young People from the so-called Arab Spring, and, it will give an oppportunity" to examine such issues. MEPs will be going to pursue these encounters with Young People who participated in the Arab Spring. Therefore, not only there is a continuing Attention going on, but it's also a Reciprocal Interest : Not only in the side of its inventors, but also on the side of CoE"s (Parliamentary) Assembly", he observed.

+ "The Second thing I wanted to say about this theme, is the following : We (EuroPoliticians) all recall, how Enthousiastic we were, about being able to Participate, 30 or 40 years ago, for the 1st time, being able to Vote, or being able to be a Candidate, many years ago, in some Parliamentary organs,  that we have in our Parliament. We should recall these Moments of Emotion, of a Genuine Desire to Change the Future, for our Countries !", as he stressed.

+ "And we (CoE/EU) should Realise that the same Desire hails now from many Young People, who have, may be, a further Difficulty, because there are many Millions of Young People, today, who have the same Aspirations, but don't have the Possibility to Express their Expectations for their Life, their Future, Jobs, Professional Life, etc., and Wish, through Public involvement, and Political Involvement, they Wish to contribute to Change the Destiny of their Countries", he pointed out.

=> Therefore, "we (CoE/EU) should be Aware of that, we should notice the Worsening of the Situation, which is Not just Economic, but far Broader, (i.e. also Moral, Social, Political, etc), and we should move from considering Young People as being a Problem, to consider them as being the greatest Resource that we have i n Europe, (in order) to ReNew ourseleves and Look at the Future Positively", the EPP Group President in CoE's Assembly concluded in his reply to "EuroFora".

+ Volonté, whose Report on European Youth and the Crisis was debated and adopted today by CoE's PanEuropean Assembly in Strasbourg, also stressed earlier that  EU has to find efficient solutiions to tackle EU's Economy in a way which does Not make "a Lost Generation" of what, paradoxically, seems to be "the Most Educated Young Generation in Europe".

+ Replying also to another Question by an Italian Collegue of the traditional, printed Media, based mainly on "EuroFora"s Publication of last week, (See : : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeyouthanddemocracy.html ) Volonté added tha there is currently "a Dramatic Situation", mainly in Mass - "Unemployment" of Young People, and, theferore, these issues should not simply be taken ino account, but even be "at the Center" of the (forthcoming) EU Brussel Summit's work.

At any case, Volonté's Report, as amended by CoE's PanEuropean Assembly during its adoption today in Strasbourg, is due to play an important role also in view of concrete Decisions on the specifc domain of Young People, by a forthcoming CoE's Ministerial Summit on Youth policies scheduled for September 2012 at Saint Petersburg (Russia).            
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+ Meanwhile, the exprerienced CoE's Director for Youth policies, Ulrich Bunjes, also replied to "EuroFora"s Question (Comp. Supra), by adding some interesting concrete observation and data, which underline the importance of the main problem, but also the direction in which Solutions could be found :

 - In fact, "we (EU/CoE) are facing a very Serious Situation, because the Participation of Young People in (classical) Elections is going Down, practically everywhere in Europe. That is a Major  Problem, and we are very much Aware of this, and, so are our Partners in the Youth Ministries (accross more than 48 Countries), and in  Youth Organizations", he warned.

- "There is No Panacea for this Problem, that's quite clear. But there are certain Avenues which we (COE) are Exploring, on how to address this situation. And, certainly, there are 2 Basic Options :", Bunjes pointed out :

- 1) "One is to Change the way Democracy works, to Open it up to New Forms of Democractic Participation of Young People"

- "and, 2) to Inform Young People better, and provide Possibilities for them to Educate themselves on Policy issues"'.

=> Currently, at the PanEuropean CoE, "we are Exploring both Options, with New, innovative Projects. F.ex. we've run a Project on New Forms of Participation, and we'll also look upon these New Forms of Participation in the context of the Youth Assembly, together with the Parliamentary Assembly, later this year", anounced CoE's Director on Young People's policies, apparently pointing at CoE's PanEuroepan Youth Assembly, which convenes in Strasbourg from 5 to 7 October,  at the eve of the 1st "World Forum for Democracy", scheduled for October 7 to 11, (i.e. just before the next EU Summit of October 18-19 in Brussels)...

 - "These are very Important, Crucial Issues, and we (CoE) are Conscious of the fact that More Needs to be made in these Areas, than it has ever been done before", he concluded in reply to "EuroFora"s question.

+ But, "Young People should be consulted by (EU/CoE+National) Decision-Makers whenever they consider Measures which affect their lives and future, timely added to "EuroFora", the recentlly elected (March 2012) new Chairwoman of CoE's Advisory Council on Youth, Maria Paschou from Greece, who participated to CoE's Press Conference together with CoE Parliamentary Assembly's President, Jean-Claude Mignon, etc.

 *Strasbourg/Council of Europe/Angelo Marcopolo/- It's "Now or Never", when Democracy is at stake in the middle of Globalization, that World Leaders, Experts and Activists should start gathering at Strasbourg's 1st World Forum for Democracy (October 2012) to help Institutions and Citizens face the Challenges of Economic and/or Socio-Political Crisis, but also debate, reflect, stimulate and advise recent and on-going Movements spreading Democratic aspirations, after all Europe and its Central-Eastern States, also in 3rd Mediterranean Countries and elsewhere in the World, while also seizing new Opportunities offered by the Modern Information/Communication tools, said, in substance, the Organizers of this exceptional, pioneer Global Event, French Permanent Representative to the CoE, Ambasador Dominati and Strasbourg's Mayor, Senator Ries, in reply to "EuroFora"'s questions in a Press Conference at the CoE with the participation of its Secretary Gerernal Thornbjorn Jagland.

World Leaders, from UNO's Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, to French President Hollande and the King of Jordan Abdulah II, or Tunisia's President Marzouki, and Prime Minister of Albania Barisha (CoE chairman 5-11/2012), German Finance Minister Schauble, Foreign Minister of Bulgaria Mladenov, and Canada's former Prime Minister Campbell (World Democracy Movement's President), etc., added to EU Commission's President Barroso, CoE's Secretary General Jagland and Organization of American States' Secretary General Insulze (Brasil), EU Parliament's and CoE Assembly's Presidents Schultz and Mignon, European Court of Human Rights' President sir Bratza together with the Inter-American Court of HR. President Garcia Sayan, South African Constitutional Court Chief  Mogoeng, International Human Rights' Institute's President Costa,  and CoE's new Human Rights' Commissioner Muiznieks and PanEuropean Anti-Corruption watchdog GRECO's President Mrcela (Croatia),  OSCE's Democracy/Human Rights' office Director Lenarcic, as well as Russian Ombudsman Lukin and USA's International Center for Non-Violent Confict's Founding Chair Ackerman (Wash.DC), Nobel (Peace) and Sakharov (Free Speech) Prizes' winners 2011 Karman and Mahfouz, UNO's High Representative for Civilisations' Alliance Sampaio (former President of Portugal), CoE's "Democracy through Law"-"Venice Commission"'s President Buquicchio, North-South Center President Bergamini, and Amnesty International's Secretary General Shetty from India,  Afghanistan's Indepedent Human Rights Commission's Chair Samar, Transparency International's Founding Chair Sung Kim from South Korea, International Commission of Jurists (Geneva) Africa program Director Tsunga (Zimbabwe), as well as UNO's Envoy for Syria, former UNSG Koffi Annan, etc., are among the First Participants already anounced in Strasbourg, among many other Politicians, Experts (from USA, Japan, EU, Africa, etc), Media or Business' representatives, Associations, Activists, etc., throughout Europe and nearly from all over the World, who will, at least partly, interact also with interested Citizens in several Open Debates both at the CoE and throughout Strasbourg.

Once the urgent vital Need felt, when Democracy was recently challenged by Crisis even at its Historic Birthplace/cradle : Greece since 2011, (See PHOTO+), after unprecedented Majority Abstentions emerged in EU Parliament's Elections 1999-2004, following a previous such trend also in the USA, incompatible with the present (2012) need to deepen EU Economic Integration and therefore also an EU Political Union able to attract EU Citizens' support, while, almost at the same time, on the contrary, various Democratic Ideas and aspirations are recently spreading, after having swept Central-Eastern Europe, even throughout most 3rd Mediterranean Countries, from Morocco up to Syria's borders with Turkey, the organization of this 1st World Forum for Democracy is, indeed, Timely.
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 - "EuroFora" observed the Fact that, by coincidence, the Date chosen for the WDF is very close to crucial USA Presidential Elections (where a growing Majority of Citizens notoriously risks to Abstain from Voting, as also in the 1999-2004 EU Parliament Elections), and that CoE's Assembly, in its latest Plenary Session before the WDF, is debating and voting this week in Strasbourg an important Report on the Crisis of Democracy Today, its contemporary Challenges, but also New Opportunities, as f.ex. with the growing potential input of New, E - Technologies, inventive and revendicative Youth Movements, etc.

 - Therefore, we asked the Organizers, if the question how to face the present Challenges of a Democracy in Crisis, as well as how to seize the New Opportunities offered by the current Spread of Democratic Aspirations, as well as a Popular Quest to deepen and ReVitalize an Authentic, Real Democracy Today, possibly also with more helpful Modern Information/Communications Technologies, etc, would be a Priority at this First, 2012 World Forum for Democracy ?
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- Strasbourg's Mayor, Senator Roland Ries, replying to "EuroFora"s 2nd Question, agreed, in substance, that, indeed, this 1st WFD of 2012, "comes at the Right Moment" :

- "If the main Meaning of your Question is if this World Forum on Democracy, in Strasbourg, comes at the Right Moment, as far as I'm concerned, I'd be enclined to reply to you with a "Yes !"", positively reacted to "EuroFora"s Question Senator Ries, of the new Governing Majority of Socialists in France.

- "Perhaps, there are no "Good Moments", in this regardn, but the overall Context Today, in this regard, f.ex. with the "Arab Spring", as well as what is happening in a number of Countries all over the World, clearly indicates that, today, it's more than ever that it's necessary to exchange views about what is Democracy, or what are Democracies".

- "Because, I have some Doubts to speak about "the" Democracy,  since we mustn't practice "EuroCentrism" : There might be Different Forms, at least in the Organisation of (on the way to organize) Democracy, given that the Final Aim should be the Same for All. That is to say, allow to the People to Participate in Decisions which will affect its Future", as he clarified.

=> "I don't know if I replied to Your Question, but I really believe that the Time (to move /to act on Democracy) is Now, or Never !", Strasbourg's Mayor, Senator Ries, strongly concluded on "EuroFora's query.
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But France's Permanent Representative to the CoE, Ambassador Laurent Dominati, went even further, making some interesting remarks on the History and what is really at stake Today, in his own reply to "EuroFora":

 - " Since you asked about the (chosen) Moment :  CoE itself was founded after a Victory against Totalitarian Regimes" (as NAZISM and Fascism, etc), just "after the end of 2nd World War" (1949), he reminded from the outset.

 - "A second, fabulous Wave is after Berlin Wall's Fall" (1989), at the End of the "Cold War" era, "and, therefore, after the Victory against another type of Totalitarian regimes" (Stalinism, etc), as he said.

+ "Now, we arrive in a Globalized World, where we see that Democracy, which faces Challenges even inside Europe itself for several reasons, nevertheless, is Exported abroad and arrives to Latin America, arrives to the "Arab Spring", accross the Mediterraenean, "which are certainly the most Important events at the Beginning of this 21st Century", Ambassador Dominati stressed.

- "And afterwards, such Democratic movements continue also towards Africa, in Asia, etc., and you can see that, in a Globalized World, the Issue of Democracy, of its Definition, its Forms its Practice, of its Achievements or of its Challenges, is, indeed, a Question which concerns us all", observed the Permanent Represenative of France to the CoE.

+ Moreover, "as You know well, it's CoE's own role, which is also at stake, in exporting Democracy and its Universal Human Rights' Values, so that, in front of such Challenges and Tests", he pointed out, (apparently evoking also CoE's crucial task to ensure at least an elementary Respect of ECHR's judgements by all 47 CoE Member States)...

=> That's why, "we should all contribute, ...to this 1st Forum on Democracy", "together with France, and (Strasbourg's) Local/Regional Authorities which embody Democracy also at other levels", he invited.

- But "it (WFD) wouldn't succeed at all, without (the help also from) another great pillar of Democracy : i.e., the Press, and, therefore, we count upon You to act adequately so that these Debates, these Questions and their promotion, are prepared in Intelligent and the Widest possible way, vis a vis the Largest possible Audience, and we thank you all for that", concluded the Representative of France to "EuroFora"s query (Comp. supra).
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+ Meanwhile, CoE will debate this week both Crisis of Democarcy and Economy, implying that Growth is needed to alleviate excessive Austerity threatening Democratic Institutions, at the eve of a crucial EU Summit in Brussels from Thursday Night and Friday.

But, it didn't yet think to tackle this Double Crisis the other way round : - Could an adequate and efficient Restoration/ReInvention of Democracy, by succeeding to overcome its current Crisis, also Help ReSolving even the current Financial/Economic Crisis ?

- Once again, the concrete Example of Democracy's cradle : Greece, (nut even contemprarY France in 2012 Elections, etc), provides a crystal clear Answer :  - "YES !"
Why ? And How ?

=> Simply because the Huge Debt provoked in Greece since the 1980ies, and scandalously Hidden on 1999-2001 (when some former "Socialist" Governments in the EU allowed a former PASOK Government in Athens to enter in €uroZone earlier than normal, even before doing the necessary Reforms, in exchange of closing its eyers on Turkey's controversial an unpopular EU bid, despite gross Violations of Human Rights, Democracy and International Law), which "exploded" from 2009, threatening all Europe and affecting even the Global Economy (as many USA observers and politicians complain), could be resorbed, in a both Econmically Efficient and Socially Just way, only if all counter-productive Cushy job holders and/or abusive, often corrupted Political Lackeys hired/appointed by Clientelism and/or Nepotism in the Past 30 Years (1980-2012) at a State-controlled Public Sector which became DisProportionate compared to the Country's GDP, obliging to have a Structural Deficit, were stopped to waste precious Funds, (to the detriment of both the Productive Economy, pushed to Recession, and to Poor People, heavily affected by Austerity cuts), thanks f.ex. to a full and deep Anti-Corruption campaign, as the Majority of Greek People clearly wish, (as they revealed during the 2011 massive Popular protests and according to all Polls). But, for this to be done, Greek People must be given a Real Chance to freely debate and Democraticaly express their Popular Will on this crucial issue...
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+ This 1st WDF of Strasbourg is due to continue, and become a Global Annual Rendez-Vous every year, at the same Date and Place, (as the nearby "Davos" World Economy Forum),  the Organizers added earlier, and that's a reason more for the CoE to fund the event with about 800.000 €, to which are added some 750.000 € more by the French Authorities (250 K by the State, and 300 K by the Region, Department and City of Strasbourg, as former Minister, and current President of the Alsace Region, Philippe Richert explained).  

=> Therefore, if everything goes as scheduled, Strasbourg's WDF will also face a Crucial, Historic Challenge soon, with the forthcoming, 2014, European Elections, where it has, now, become of Vital Importance for the EU to at least reverse the Record-High Abstention by a Majority of EU Citizens since the 1999-2004 EU Parliament Elections, (a drop which only decelerated a bit on 2009), particularly when Urgent, practical Needs for much more Economic Integration, also necessitate much more EU "Political Union" today, which, obviously, cannot go without succeeding, somehow, to boost EU Citizens' enhousiasm for a less Bureaucratic, but more Democratic and efficient Europe.

A Challenge for which EU Parliament's staff has already started to work in order to prepare the 2014 EU Elections in the Time Deadline of the remaining  1 Year and some Months (July 2012 - June 2014), i;e. until, by a Timely Ironie of History, the rotating EU Presidency is due to be taken over by the Cradle of Democracy : Greece, bringing, even Symbolically, the counter Back to Square No 1 (Comp. Supra) !...