newsitems
newsitems
Sarkozy chairing 1st G-20 meeting urges Action on Monetary + Food Rules for World Economy Recovery
*Paris/Elysee Palace/Angelo Marcopolo/- Welcoming the 1st G-20 meeting in 2011 of Economic Governance Elite from 25 Countries totalling "85% of World's GDP" and Heads of relevant International Organizations (IMF, World Bank, OECD, UN, EU, etc), at a crucial juncture for World Economy's Recovery "after the worst Global Crisis of the last 60 Years", and while Popular uprisings pop up throughout the surounding Mediterranean and Middle East areas, in an explosive Mix of aspirations for Democracy and against Poverty, the incoming G-8 and G-20 Chairman, French President Sarkozy, warned that World's Public Opinion will judge severely if they fail to advance at least on "essential" issues such as Monetary and Food (Raw Materials) stability, necessary for a sustainable, strong and balanced Growth.
Appearing decided to make any useful proposal able to overcome eventually blocking discords, Sarkozy even added orally to his initial draft speech the idea for most G-20 Countries which agree together on a key point, to advance forward, without being obliged to wait for those who hesitate or obstruct a deal, so that a breakthrough, beneficial to Global Recovery, could be created by a kind of World's avant-guard. Above all, what counts most, is "not to be confused into never-ending discussions about those "Indicators" (NDLR : of Imbalances in economic relations, f.ex. in Foreign Trade, Exports; Accounts, etc), which would deviate us from what is Essential". Because "Nothing would be worse than to refuse to deal with the Real Issues, .. such as the Monetary World order, and the Volatility of Raw Materials" (such as Oil and Food, etc), Sarkozy clearly stressed, almost warning that the recent Hunger riots revealed the "No 1 Risk", (See infra).
- "Therefore, it's our Responsibility, and that of Heads of State and Government" of the G-20, "to bring Responses to the Big Questions raised Today in the Global Economy", the French President stressed, warning that "there are Hundreds of Millions of People Worldwide who have their eyes turned upon us wondering whether we shall succeed to advance, or not, particularly on the most important Issues" (See supra). "'By chosing an Ambitious Agenda, we chose to be Careful", simply because, given the circomstances, it would have been irreponsible not to set Ambitious targets in front of today's challenges. At any case, "we don't have the right to fail, nor to ignore the "Red Lines" of each other", being obliged to find solutions, in one war or another, particularly when the eyes of International Pubic Opinion are turned towards us", Sarkozy concluded, applauded.
- "Since last year, the Recovery was restored", "faster than scheduled", "but unequal according to Geographic areas, Global Growh isn't yet enough in order to bring substantial drops in Unemployment", while, the experience of the Crisis showed that International Coordination is the only way allowing to renew with a High Level of Growth", so that "Coordination became a Duty", he observed.
- "Our 1st Duty, as G-20 Chair, is to implement the Decisions already taken earlier, .. in particular by the Corean Presidency (2010)", and there where G-20 has already done a "considerable" work, as "on Financial Regulation". Because "our Citizens are Questioning the Reality of our action : It must be clear that we won't accept, anymore, that the practices which led us to the Crisis restart again : There won't be any come-back of "Business as Usual", Sarkozy warned, citting, f.ex., the issue of "Bonus", etc., and asking for "all Financial centres" to "apply the decisions we took at Pittsbourg's earlier G-20 Summit, and to make sure that we have a "spotless Financial Regulation".
- "Another great Acquis of G-20 is the Coordination of Economic Policies", where, "if we don't do anything, then, Global imbalances will deepen again". "Even if it's more Difficult to find a Consensus in times of Recovery", when "the temptation to give Priority to National Interests is big", "But that would bring the Death of G-20", he warned, calling to stick to the agreed "Framework for a Sustainable Growth", instead. In order to "advance on the Mandate entrusted by Heads of State/Government" at "Seoul" (South Korea), Therefore, "tomorrow (Friday) morning you shall debate on the common Indicators of Imbalances, in order to better focus on the Corective Measures that each one has to take in order to re-equilibrate growth";
+ But, what is "essential" is to deal with "the Real Issues", as the "Monetary" global governance and the "Volatility of Raw Materials' Prices", which need our "mobilisation", "in face of 2 Dangers against Growth", Sarkozy alerted (comp. supra) :
(a) The "1st Risk", are "inflationary trends, pushed by Raw Materials' Prices' augmentation", which "are both an Economic issue, which threatens the on-going Recovery, a Social issue, risking Hunger Riots, and a Development issue, for the poorest countries", he made it clear.
This is not against Market Economy, because there is No Market without Rules, but only the Law of the Jungle, explained the Center-Right politician, "proposing a Global Strategy with the Ambition to struggle against Volatility" of Prices, "to Regulate the Derivates' Market, to augment the Transparency of Physical Markets, and to Strengthen Food Security".
Already, in addition to EU Parliament, this same week in Strasbourg (See previous "EuroFora"'s NewsReport), also "the World Bank", chaired by American "Robert Zoelick" (chosen by former U.S. President George W. Bush), and even "the UNO", from the UN Development program Administrator "Helen Clark", (both present in Paris), up to the UN Rapporteur on the "Human Right to Food", (See previous "EuroFora" NewsReport"), etc., "have made Interesting Proposals, that G-20 must take over", Sarkozy observed.
Moreover, "I am strongly convinced that, going well beyond the Immediate Measures that we can propose (i.e. to prevent Hunger Riots, etc), we must also rehabilitate Peasants' role in our Societies", the French President highighted.
(b) "2nd Risk : "Currencies' Volatility and Capital Movements : The Reform of the Monetary World Order cannot wait no more", the incoming G-8 and G-20 Chairman stressed.
- "It's not about any kind of Ideology, nor against anyone", pointed out Sarkozy, anouncing also that "the Chinese Government invites us to Shen Zhen" on March "in order to reflect on this issue, in the framework of a Seminar" open to Wider participation.
- "I'm convinced that the Emergence of New Economic Powers will inevitably lead to the emergence of New World Currencies", the French President explained, warning that "the on-going Transition can be a factor of Instability", as "it's already the case on Capital flux, more and more Volatiles, Currency Stocks, which are reaching exceptional Levels, and on offers of reserve assets", etc.
- "In all these areas, you (G-20) should be able to work on the Rules of the game, which impies that IMF will have Strengthened Monitoring tools and powers", considering also that, "at the Heart of (G-8 + G-20 French Presidency's proposals lies the Ambition to Strengthen IMF's role, which must become, more than ever, the Corner-Stone of International Monetary cooperation", Sarkozy pointed out.
- Already, IMF and G-20, etc. are among the Basis of what could become the New Global Economic Governance in the Future, he observed, while anouncing that, "for 2011, it's essential for us to agree on a Work Program, and on the First concrete Reforms".
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Last but not least, "on Development issues, which have become part of G-20's Agenda since the Seoul summit (2010)", which gave also "a mandate on the UN Report on Funding the fight against Climate Change", (in the logic of UNO's Copenhagen Summit of 12/2009 : Comp. "EuroFora"s NewsReports from the spot),
as he reminded, the French President cited 3 Points :
- "We've set up a High-Level Panel on Infrastructures, in order to act in the Long term", and "it will be for the Cannes' (G-20, November 2011) Summit, to identify ... the Infrastructure Projects and their Funding, as well as to take commitments for their realization", he anounced.
- "On the Short term, I'd ask you to stand Ready to act in order to help our Tunisian and Egyptian friends, on the road towards Democracy and Economic/Social progress", so that "a Succesful Transformation on which Tunisia and Egypt are committed, would also be our succes, as G-20", Sarkozy pleaded.
- But, considering "the question of (Financial) Means to be dedicated for Development", things look nasty : - "Almost all our Budgets are in Deficit, but we have undertaken certain Commitments, and we mustn't fail to fulfill our Promisses. What can we do ?", he wondered.
"This question inevitably raises that of Innovative Funding", where "I'm convinced that even the sightest Tax on Financial Transactions, would be both Just, Useful and Efficient", even if "this raises a lot of Opposition", so that he also suggested that willing Countries advance forward, even if some others hesitated, and expressed "the wish to Debate on that" : "Several Countries have already adopted" IFs, and "I confirmed to Bill " ... a Mission on Development Funding, both with necessary Public Aid, and with Innovative Funds, in order to present his Conclusions to the Heads of State and Government at the Canne's (G-20) Summit", on November, he anounced, inviting to "start with an open mind the Debate that will launch Christine Lagarde tomorrow", because "the World expects from the International Community to keep its Promisses".
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Concluding on a Strategic point, the incoming G-8 + G-20 Chairman stressed that, "in order to realize those Priorities, we must also adapt the Global Governance to the new World and the challenges of the 21st Century : "
- That's why "we created the G-20, at a 1st stage", and "revised" the role of IMF and World Bank". But, "to advance further, we need more reactive, more coherent and more Representative Organizations", he explained. F.ex., if the IMF is to become a Regulatory body, then, the question of its Reform will be inevitably raised", Sarkozy concluded his speech, before greeting the participants, one by one, and unexpectedly walking right in front of a surprised "EuroFora".
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- "'Experts will start now Drafting a global Deal, working probaby overNight, while anything may change the sirtuation up to the last minute", i.e. until tomorrow, Saturday afternoon, a Spokesman from the chairng French Finance and Economy Ministry warned "EuroFora", while Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors and International Organizations' Heads were leaving an adjacent building at Elysée Palace after a Reception hosted by President Sarkozy and a Working Diner with French Economy Minister Lagarde, at precisely 9.30 p.m. local time (Greenwich +1).
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- "The most important issues seem, indeed, to be those of Monetary and Food (raw materials) governance, but, in fact, there is a larger scope which should better be examined with the speciaists of the (chairing) Economy Ministry", pointed out to "EuroFora" an experienced Sarkozy's counsellor.
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Brazil's especially negative stance against regulating Raw Materials, and in particular of Agricultural products, mainly Food, (only partially shared by Argentina, who seems, in fact, more interested in Metals, such as Copper, etc), appears Difficult to explain with legitimate motifs :
As reported by Brazilian sources, it consists to claim that those who ask to regulate Food prices wouldn't mind if they fell down, being concerned only when they rise, and that, at any case, this problem could be settled by more Investment to Agricultural production.
But this obviously doesn't explain why Brazil, at least, doesn't ask to regulate both abnormaly High and abnormaly Small Prices of Agricultural Products, so that it could find a guarantee against a subsequent eventually "low" period in the markets. Moreover, it doesn't explain how People will be able to Invest in Agriculture, as it says, without even being able to seriously calculate costs and benefits because of unpredictable and excessive price variations,...
So that Brazilian Government's negative stance against Food Price's regulation inevitably appears either as shortsighted or as hidding, perhaps, another, non-explicitated, real motivation, "EuroFora" was obliged to conclude, after a short but clear Dialogue with Brazilian sources.
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Meanwhile, if it were to judge by appearances, ... Fed's Chief Bern Bernanke, curiously always late both to arrive and to leave from Elysee Palace (may be because having to deal with several issues in depth), appeared changed : Smiling and surrounded by People at his arrival, Bernanke left, afterwards, alone, avoiding the Press and looking thoughtful...
On the contrary, European Central Bank's chief, Truchet, left Elysée palace in the middle of a group of people, and particularly smiling, even joking with Press Reporters (that he will say "nothing before" tomorrow afternoon's conclusion : Comp. supra).
Could it be, perhaps, also because the French President, learning fast the Copenhagen lesson on how to prevent another kind of eventually blocking "G-2", (as observers named US. President Obama's sudden move, during UNO's Cimate Change Summit on December 2009, to make a "minus" deal with China : See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from the spot), this time took the initiative to agree with "the Chinese Government to invite us (G-20) at the end of March to reflect on... Currencies' volability and Capitals' movements", in "a Seminar widely open to the Academic community and States non-membersto G-20" ?
Last, but not least, the organizer and Host of G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Banks' Governors, French Minister of Economy, Christine Lagarde, left later Elysee Palace's area together with a group of collaborators full of documents, finding only a large smile to give to Press Reporters who complained to have stayed "even late Night in the Cold", as an experimented collegue rightfully observed, after patiently waiting for "Hot" News..
EU Resolution on Food Prices Rise, UN moves on Right to Food and Popular riots while G-20 starts
*Paris/G20/Angelo Marcopolo/- Various last-minute contacts, at the eve of G20 Finances Ministers and Central Banks Governors' 2011 Summit, starting officially tomorrow in Paris marked by a speech of G8 - G20 Chairman French President Sarkozy, before concluding on Saturday, appeared engaged in attempts to mark breakthroughs at controversial issues of Gobal Economy, among a growing echo of tensions, revolts and violent clashes in the surrounding Mediterranean and Middle East region, partly provoked or aggravated by a dangerous Mix of Democratic aspirations and Food Prices' rise, in proportions risking to get out of control, as European and International Organizations denounced these days, showing that the reported opposition of a few countries, as Brazil, to International Monitoring of Raw Materials' prices' volatility, (metals, oil and/or food), becomes more and more untenable.
- A Resolution just adopted by EU Parliament in Strasbourg on "Rising Foàd Prices", strongly denounces the fact that "food prices have peaked for the 7th consecutive month..., reaching the Highest levels since the FAO started measuring .. prices in 1990; ...became a destabilising factor in the global economy and sparked riots and unrest in a number of developing countries and most recently in Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt".
This might only be the tip of the iceberg, since "FAO estimates that the number of undernourished people in the world reached 925 million in 2010, and ...29 countries in the world face food supply difficulties and are in need of external food assistance". Moreover, "poverty and famine still exist in the EU, where 79 million people..live below the poverty line ..; and 16 million EU citizens received food aid through charities last winter" MEPs denounced.
+ Recently, it became also obvious that " food Production can be regularly undermined by ...extreme Weather events, such as floods and droughts", which appeared to be "increasing", (f.ex. the Historic Record Heatwaves which targetted France on 2003 and Russia -as well as Ukraine and Kazakhstan- on 2010 : See Summer 2010 "EuroFora"'s NewsReports).
++ Moreover, "the share of aid to the developing world going to agriculture and rural development has fallen dramatically over the past three decades'", and "investment in sustainable food systems in developing countries has declined", while 'large tracts of land, ...have been purchased by international companies', and 'this land is not always used for food production', and "such developments threaten the food production potential of developing countries"'.
When, f.ex., Oil prices dramatically fall from 145 $ down to only 36 $ per barrel during 2008, and afterwards grow up to 100 $ in 2011, while, in parallel, Wheat's Prices grow from 120 € to 300 € in a few Weeks, after some 2010 Summer's Extreme Weather Events, it's obvious that speculators and manipulators can becom too dangerous for producers and consumers..
Therefore, MEPs from 27 EU Member Countries conclude that "global Food Security is a question of the utmost Urgency for the EU and the Developing World", calling for "immediate action" to ensure food security for EU citizens and at Global level : ...food should be available to consumers at reasonable prices, while at the same time a fair standard of living for farmers should be ensured", EU Parliament asked.
- In addition, "the Right to food is a basic and fundamental Human Right", implying ...physical and economic access to suitable, safe (from the point of view of health) and nutritious food ....for an active and healthy life", (i.e. excluding both Hunger and Obesity from malnutrition).
>>> Meanwhile, UNO's "Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food", from nearby Geneva, gave, "at the end of January 2011, "8 Recommendations".
In addition, UNO's General Assembly was due to be addressed at New York, by French Minister of Agricuture, Bruno Le Maire, after meeting with UNO's Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.
But, even if the more particular aspects of the Food Prices' issue are due to be dealt with by a special Agricultural Ministers' gathering, in the middle of 2011, nevertheless, the necessary overall view on all Raw Materials, as well as Measures needed in order to set some elementary Rules of Law over a galoping Financiarisation of commodities' markets, can only be done by Ministers of Finances, currently hosted by Global affairs experienced French Minister for Finance and Economy, Christine Lagarde.
Naturally, Food prices' issue is just one among many Raw Materials and other Commodities' prices' Volatility, which represent only 1 among 5 Working Groups of the G20 in 2011, the other 4 being focused mainly to Growth, Monetary System, Financial Regulation, and Development/Climate Change, (Comp. previous relevant "EuroFora" NewsReports). But it's currently the most obviously affecting People's lives in the most immediate terms today.
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A timely innovation at the 2011 Summit chaired by France is that Africa marks a notable entry inside what becomes rather a G-25 (according to the initial idea to progressively enlarge participation to all economically important actors of the Global Economy), by adding to South Africa, as "Guests", also the Chair of the African Union (currently Equatorial Guinea), and of the NEPAD (currently Ethiopia). The move extends also towards the Arab World, with the United Arab Emirates (currently representing Gulf's states). As if to equilibrate this, are added also Spain from Europe and Singapour from S/E Asia. It's true that previous choices to include in a Global Economy body States whose exports are less than 1,5% of the Global Trade (such as Turkey, Indonesia, South Africa, Argentina), while at the same time excluding almost the whole African Continent (the biggest in the World) wasn't very convincing, as, inter alia, also a Developing Countries' International Conference, organized in 2009 in Strasbourg had clearly shown, given the frustrations of many other Countries, throughout the World, who also revendicated, for one reason or another, their right to be somehow represented....
At an absolutely differend but also Topical issue, observers of this 2011 G20 Finance Ministers and Centra Banks' Governors' Summit in Paris will certainly be interested to learn -or at least guess- more on what became recently one of the most confused matters : Who will become EuroZone's Central Bank's Governor, after France's Truchet's term of office expires, since the initially scheduled German candidate suddeny changed job ? Speculation seem going wide open, including other possible German candidates, a Luxembourgian or, rather an Italian one (from the 3rd Big Country in €uroZone), etc... At a moment when EuroZone Heads of State and Government have just decided (See "EuroFora"'s NewsReport from Brussels' February 4, 2011, EU Summit) to organize an exceptional March Summit on deepening €uroZone's integration and for more Competitivity, open also to other EU Countries, the question of ECB's new President is certainly an important matter.
Comparatively to ECB's succession imbroglio and its propably hidden stakes, USA Fed's Governor Bernanke's recent criticism by Republican Teaparters going against Public Debt after the 2010 Mid Term Congress' Elections, may appear to be more crystal clear...
Meanwhile, by a symbolic coincidence, while Bankers and Financiers were trying to find a Monetary and/or Markets' coherence in Global affairs, CoE was, at the same time, organizing a debate, at another side of Paris, on Religions' contribution to Intercultural dialogue, as if it searched also a Spiritual Global Coherence...
Next EU Chair Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski to EuroFora on Financial Perspectives+Ukraine/Turkey
EU should first "see where the Money goes", in order to be able to consciously judge on 2011 Strategic Political issues in EU's MultiAnnual Financial Perspectives 2013-2020, comparing f.ex. Activities and Geography, replied the next EU Council's President in office, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, to "EuroFora"s question on hard choices which apparently must be made between funding f.ex. Cohesion, Agriculture and High-Tech. Investments (as GALILEO, etc) Policies, or Turkey's notoriously controversial and impopoular EU bid, etc., while unquestionably European and developed Countries as Ukraine, a.o. are still waiting on the pipeline with legitimate hopes for perspectives to join the EU in the forthcoming Decade, as he acknowledged without taking anything for granted. carefully...
Sikorski, who was visiting EU Parliament for the 1st time in order to prepare the forthcoming Polish EU Chairmanship, from July to December 2011, met with several key MEPs, including its President, Jerzy Buzek, a former Prime Minister in Poland, with which the young Minister had started to serve in Government, as he reminded. Meanwhile, Polish MEP Jacek Saryuz-Wolski, experienced former President of EU Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, who hosted Sikorski's 1st venue to Strasbourg, had already stressed to "EuroFora" the particular importance for a good and solid, in depth Preparation of the forthcoming Polish EU Presidency, inter alia, also, precisely, because of the need to carefully examine the particularly thorny and delicate issue of EU's Multi-Annual Financial Perspectives, which imply several Strategic Political choices...
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- "As you said, you shall have very difficult, but also passionate and "Ambitious" Tasks, inter alia also the Financial Perspectives of the EU, which is very Political also", noted "EuroFora" in the 1st of our 2 Questions during the Polish Foreign Minister's Press Conference at EU Parliament in Strasbourg.- "As you know, recently (12/2010) there was a Letter from British Prime Minister, Mr. Cameroon, which was agreed also by other (EU) Countries, such as France, Germany and Netherlands, etc., to try to have a Zero Growth" in EU's annual Budgets" in the foreseeable Future.
- "But, you shall have the (EU) Cohesion (and Agricultural) policies to fund; which are very important, also the High-Tech investments as, f.ex. eventually GALILEO (Satellite Navigation System), etc., and you shall have also the Accession or Open-ended Negotiatons with Turkey, which take almost 1 Billion € each year, etc", we reminded.
=> - "How do you think that you shall succeed to find Priorities to invest in what you think (that) it's best for EU's Development in Future ?", "EuroFora" asked Sikorski.
+ "And (in) a 2nd, only partly related Question", we reminded him that : "You spoke about the Eastern Partnership, EU Enlargement Perspectives, etc, while "You have an interesting Country, close to Poland, but also for all Europe, which is Ukraine", "EuroFora" noted
- "Independently of the Governments which come and go, what are your views about the perspectives for Ukraine ? They have "Antonov" Technology (on Airplanes), they have Raw Materials, (f.ex. Wheat, Uranium, etc), and, Culturally and Geographically, they are unquestionably an European Country", we observed.
- "'Do you think that there might be perspectives (to join the EU), in one way or another, in the Future ?", "EuroFora" asked Sikorski.
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Forthcoming EU Chairman's replies to "EuroFora"s Questions were Sharp on both points :
- "You said that the Brittish PM Letter proposed Zero Growth. (But) my recollection is that it proposed the Cutting Down of the Budget of the EU to 0,85% of EU GDP, so, it was much Stricter than even what you suggest...", Sikorski bitterly but accurately observed, as a matter of fact, (citting the initial Cameroon move, compared to which the deal brokered with Merkel, Sarkozy and the Dutch was an upgraded compromise).
- "As the EU incoming Presidency, we (Poland) are Guardians of the Procedures. Therefore, we believe that the MultiAnnual Financial framework should be proceeded on according to the (EU) Treaties", he stressed, as a matter of principle.
=> - "Namely : 1st the proposal by the EU Commission. Then, Negotiations. Then, a Full Fight. Then, a Deal", Sikorski, characteristically described.
- "I.e., "Not the other way round : Not pre-Judging the Outcome, before the whole procedure", he pointed out.
>>>"And, it's particularly important, because it's only on the basis of the Commission's proposals that we'll actually see where the Money would go, in terms of Areas of expenditure, and areas Geographically", he explained, obviously in relation to "EuroFora"s concrete examples (See supra).
- "So, it's only on the basis of the (EU) Commission's proposals (that) we'll be able to see whether there is . Ambitious Project, or an Economy Budget. And (it is) in that Light that (EU) Countries will be able to make their Judgements"; he concluded.
I.e. Sikorski spoke as if he didn't exclude a possibility for Funds to be re-allocated according to better choices focused on the main EU Priorities, so that, even if comparatively Secondary issues might be reduced, revised or droped somehow, at least during this period of financial Global Crisis, on the contrary, the most Important, key matters of Vital significance to EU's Future, are not only saveguarded, but, perhaps, even more Strengthened and developed, f.ex. by concentrating EU Funds on what is more substantial for the kind of Europe.which is politically desirable.
- "So, it's in this sense, that "we (forthcoming Polish EU Presidency) will be Friends of the Community method, as I've already mentioned" earlier, he added, trying to get also EU Commission on his side.
- This goes"particularly on such a Political issue as Money" for the next 1O Years, Sikorski undelined in fine, Smiling, in an obvious hint at "EuroFora"s introductory remarks on the "Political" importance of the choices to be made on the MultiAnnual EU's Financial Perspectives (See supra).
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+ Meanwhile, "as regards Ukraine, well, Poland is a Founding Member of "Friends of Ukraine Group", he reminded in reply to "EuroFora"s 2nd question (See supra).
- Therefore, "we'd be delighted if we were able to Sign the "Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Ukraine, on our watch, including the Comprehendsive Free Trade Zone", i.e. between July and December 2011, he anounced.
- "'But, it takes 2 to tangoe", Sikorski observed carefully...
- "So, it needs to be Flexibility on both sides, both (EU) Commission and Ukraine, for it to happen", he warned.
- "'I've personally been to Kiev several times, including together with my German collegue, my Swedish collegue (Foreign Ministers Westerwelle and Bildt), etc., the President of EU Commission (Barroso) has just been to Kiev, (and) we are Neighbours and have a close and intense relationship with Ukraine", he reminded.
- So, "we are Aware of Ukraine's Strengths, and also of some of its Vulnerabilities", but "the relationship has to be a Legal one" , Sikorski pointed out smiling, in relation to "EuroFora"s earlier concrete remarks, (See supra).
-" As regards Ukraine's European perspective, ... I know that the Ukranian Government would very much like to have that in the Partnership Agreement", he observed.
- But, "I'm afraid (that) it's not in the mandate" given to Poland, he regretted, at least for the moment.
- However, "let me remind you, that, when we (Poland) were a Candidate, we didn't have it either : We had only an one-sided Polish Declaration, that we have an "Aspiration" to join the EU. Yet, we are (EU) Members today !", Sikorski reminded, in an obviously Encouraging way.
- "So, I think that the Lesson is that "You have to make it a National Obsession for a Decade" to join the EU, and, so, perhaps, you can eventually do it", he advised Ukraine and other interested European Countries, symbolically speaking the same day in Strasbourg that EU Parliament's Plenary voted with an exceptionally Strong Majority of 548 MEPs in favor, against 43 and 52 abstentions only, following the visit in Strasbourg also of the Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor.
- "But nobody is going to guarantee you anything in advance", he warned everybody, (adding in the balance also his personal experience as former Journalist and husband of a Journalist).
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EU Parliament biggest Group's Head Daul to EuroFora: 1st settle Competitivity/Governance+Immigration
Concrete work on Economic Governance, (including Competitivity), and Immigration are the main EU "priorities", responding to present challenges, including on Food Prices, Democratic and Social Reforms currently desired by the People of several Neighbouring Mediterranean Countries, which can strenghen "de facto" the emergence of a European conscience among EU Citizens, even before starting, afterwards, to explicitly deal with other important EU matters, hierarchised the President of EU Parliament's biggest political Group, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, French MEP Joseph Daul to "EuroFora".
- "We must work on the (Economic) Governance" of the EU, "I've been saying that since several years, but today it's obvious that it's not possible to do otherwise", he reiterated, speaking to "EuroFora" just after his Press Conference in Strasbourg..
- On the series of Priorities, "I think that we'd better settle, at first, the problem of Immigration, stabilize the Economy, really deal with all these issues", Daul stressed.
- "Apparently we shall have a lot to do on that, considering also what is currently going on around us, at the EU Countries of the Mediterranean region", he topically observed.
- "Afterwards, we can open (contribute to) all other files (matters)", he concluded, looking ahead, f.ex. on pre-anounced debates on EU's Future, etc.
In particular, we "hadn't anticipated what happened in several neighbouring Mediterranean Countries. We must help Democratic Reforms desired by their People, (as he said for regimes like Ben Alis and Mubarak's in Tunisia and Egypt, which "were members of the International Socialist"), and an efficient Economy able to have also a Social Dimension". And this is also for our (EU's) own sake, when we see what happens f.ex. in Lambadusa (Italy)", where Thousands of Immigrants started to arrive mainly from Tunisia, Daul said earlier. They are not so much fleeing a political regime as extremely difficult economic situations, considering, in particular the recent excessive augmentation of Food prices : As I warned several times in the Past, Food Prices risk to augment sharply, even provoking mass immigration and Popular revolts, and this is probably just starting, so that we must also help Social Cohesion and Middle Classes also in this area, he observed. Meanwhile, as far as it concerns the Shengen system, Romania and Bulgaria appear rather ready to fullfil soon the conditions, "even if Bulgaria has still to make progress particularly in its borders with Turkey".
On the Economic Competitivity Pact (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from EU Brussels Summit, 4/2/2011), I salute the frank talk of the Franco-German couple, about what I've been saying since the beginning of the (Global) crisis : We (EU) can't have "Tabou" (untouchable) issues. F. ex. we can't talk about Pensions when one EU Country sticks to 60 Years of age while another Country moves up to 67, (See recent Daul's replies to "EuroFora"s Questions on 12/2010), etc. We (€uroZone) can't have enormous differences, if we live inside one and the same Monetary system. At any case, I believe in the force of proposal of the Frano-German couple, it's often necessary to have new ideas and advance forward, but we must also pay attention to the way in which we do it, preferably for all 27 EU Countries and in a Community method, Daul added earlier, exceptionaly reading his notes at this specific point.
EU Parliament's Plenary is also due to debate and vote on most of these issues during this week's EU Parliament's Plenary in Strasbourg, which topically convenes just before the 1st G8-G20 Financial Ministers meeting from Thursday to Saturday in Paris, topically at the eve of the opening of the 2011 Agricultural salon, with the participation of French President Sarkozy.
EU Parliament ECR Group Spokesman Tannock to EuroFora: Debate Cameron+Sarkozy+Merkel v. MultiCulti
The move came in reaction to French Press News, earlier today, that Sarkozy reportedly proposed to start opening socio-political debates on multiculturalism- communautarism and integration from March 2011 and later-on, surfing on Merkel's and Cameroon's parallel statements in the 3 biggest EU Countries, particularly after his earlier public statements surprisingly found en unexpected echo even among some Leftist Intellectuals and Human Rights Defenders honored by UNESCO, CoE, etc, (See relevant recent "EuroFora"s NewsRepot).
- "Cameroon made a speech, you know, against MultiCulturalism (in fact : Communautarism : See infra), it was hard to mention, but it was the 1st time he said that MultiCulturalism failed, because we have particularly come out on People obliged to live in Suburbs-Prisons (Ghettos), in Separate Development, not integrating into the Mainstream, some of them even breaching Laws and respect for our own Country, our own Values, our own (Cultural) Concepts, etc".
- "That, clearly, is not acceptable for the Future !", the experieh MEP stressed.
- "If we don't do anything about it, (then) the Extreme Right will try to exploit that and start gaining more votes", he warned.
- In consequence, "Yes, there has to be a(n EU) Debate. The British People know that we are on their side. Already, too many People are voting for Extremist Parties. (But) we don't want Extreme Parties to become succesful" in their attempts to exploit that.
=> - "(So, it's) the Mainstream (who) has to take ownership of these issues", he concluded.
- On EU level "I think that we (EU Parliament) should have a very full and frank debate about how to go on Immigration, particularly on the MultiCulturalism (more precisely : Communautarism : see supra), and the need for better Integration".
- Because otherwise it's playing the game of Extremist parties, and it's also provoking "huge problems on Social Cohesion in some of our (EU Member) Countries", he observed.
Experienced observers noted that this might be coordinated with, or at least pave the way towards an earlier promissed, and long overdew, Democratic EU Debate on Europe's Future, which includes EU Identity and values, etc.
On the contrary, some "Socialist" and other opposition politicians, f.ex. in France, started at the same time to ask for "Non-EU Foreign Immigrants' Vote in Local Elections", as if they might be feeling that they risk to lose the trust of EU Citizens. (Something that even the long-time former Socialist French President Mitterand never adopted, reportedly judging it unpopular among EU Citizens and/or risking to open dangerous doors against Socio-Cultural Cohesion and for risks of Foreign Interferences in EU Countries' internal affairs by some Foreign Governments notoriously organizing and exploiting their immigrants' separate communautarism, massively closing them into Cultural Ghettos).
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- Sarkozy with Leftist Human Rights Defender v. Communautarism-Turkish Ghetto: Integrate Immigrants !
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Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt, speaking to "EuroFora", denied rumors on Turkey's attempts to avoid an EU check of its obligations on Cyprus on December 2009 by blackmailing Nicosia to either accept any deal with intransigeant Turkish claims contrary to EU values on the island's political issue, or face threats against the territorial integriy of the EU island, semi-occupied by Ankara's army.
On the contrary, the incoming EU President-in-office, speaking exclusively to "EuroFora", promissed that he will act for EU Council's decisions on December 2009 assessment of Turkey's commitments on Cyprus to be kept.
Bildt was asked to react to Cyprus' President Christofias' denunciation, earlier this week, that some want to exert "pressure" on Cyprus in order for Turkey to escape from its obligations.
Avoiding to mention any precise Deadline, Bildt, however, warned about "Consequences" in case of "failure" to reunite Cyprus, but without saying whose responsibility an eventual deadlock might be.
Asked by "EuroFora" if there is a risk for "Turkey's commitments to "be forgotten or downgraded", "despite crystal-clear EU Council decisions and EU Parliament's latest Resolution on the assessment to make at the end of this year on Turkey's obligations", according to rumours that, instead of pressing Turkey, on the contrary, there might be "pressure on Cyprus", even "blackmail", as Media reported and President Christofias denounced this week, Bildt denied :
- "No ! ", he clearly replied.
- On the contrary, invited by "EuroFora", to "reassure that the Swedish EU Presidency (7-12/2009) will keep a fair stance, based on principles", Bildt promised that "we (Swedish EU Presidency) will be very clear on all of the decisions taken by the (EU) Council".
He added, however, that "we have very numerous decisions that have been taken" by EU Council, as if he warned, also, on something else.
- "'I am not aware of any sort of statements coming out today''", Bildt started to say, on our reference to Cyprus' President Christofias" denunciation of Turkish lobby's manoeuvers this week, replying earlier to 'another"EuroFora"'s question during a Press Conference at EU Parliament in Strasbourg.
- '"I know the issues that you' are concerned with'", he added, remembering the statements he gave us when Sweden was chairing the PanEuropean CoE on 2008.
- "But, obviously, .. I think that Cyprus' Peace negotiations are extremenly important".
- And "'I think that we are at a unique moment in History, in the sens that both (Cyprus') President Christofias and Mr. Talat (the Turkish Cypriot leader), are personally convinced of the need to overcome the division".
- "It's 20 Years since the fall of Berlin Wal, but we still have a Capital in Europe (Nicosia) that's divided". ,
- 'I don't that we should loose any time in overcoming that"..
- ''We should be aware of the fact that success will bring great benefits, but failure, will also have major consequences. There will not be Status Quo' " It's a question of seeking a solution, or entering another situation, which is somewhat difficult to see exactly how that could evolve", he warned.
- "That being said, this is a negotiation for Cyprus itself", Bildt admitted.
- ''We (EU) can support, the (EU) Commission primarily, be technically helpful, and then, of course, there is a specific role for the UN, when it comes to the Cyprus' situation".
- "At least so far. It might not be for ever'. Certainly not for ever, but for this period of time", Bildt added, skiping now any reference to concrete threats on UNO's Peace keeping force in face of more than 40.000 Ankara's soldiers, contrary to some Press claims, (See previous NewsReports).
Replying to another "EuroFora"'s Question, if anyone might attempt to "impose a Deadline for the conclusion" of Cyprus' Talks on December 2009, Bildt avoided to speak of any precise Time-frame, and indirectly evoked the fact that 35 Years of Turkish Invasion/Occupation obviously durated too long :
'- "If I was from Cyprus, I would say that the Deadline was Yesterday ! '",
Bildt concluded.
Cyprus' Government Spokesman, Stephanou, reportedly pointed out that "a settlement is possible on December if Turkey changes its stance", accepting a solution for the reunification of the island based on UNO resolutiona and EU principles.
Earlier, EU Chair, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeld, highlighted an "historic opportunity" to "re-Unite" Cyprus according to EU's "basic Values"' (i.e. Human Rights) and 'Rules'", in a last-minute change of his draft speech to EU Parliament in Strasbourg.
The initial Draft spoke only about "healing" the island.
Significantly, Reinfeldt linked Cyprus' reunification with Turkey's obligations to respect EU's "Values" and "follow" EU's "common Rules" :
- What is "called Membership Negotiations" should lead, "at- the end of the day", into "sharing a set of common Basic Values (i.e. Human Rights, Democracy, etc), and following common Rules", stressed Reinfeld from the outset.
- "This is something that those on the Outside (of the EU), are now contemplating", up "to Ankara", for "a solution" on "Cyprus", observed the EU Chairman, immediately afterwards..
- "Both sides of Cyprus have been granted a historic opportunity to together reach an agreement on a solution to re-Unite the island, that has been divided for far too long", said Reinfeldt, modifying his draft text.
- "The Swedish Presidency will act ...in accordance with Commitments EU has made, on the basis of Criteria that apply", "as a Honest Broker", he promised.
- "To those on the inside (of the EU), allowing the membership process to become an opportunity to solve protracted disputes, can be tempting", he added.
"In such cases, we must find solutions that can benefit both sides, and open up a way forward. Otherwise, it would jeopardize the progress we have made towards EU integration", Reinfeldt said.