newsitems

Long-time Prime Minister (1991-1998 and 2008 - 2014) and former President (1998-2002) of Montenegro, Milo Dukanovic, replying to "EuroFora"s questions at the CoE in Strasbourg, stressed that "Qu    ality before Speed", is the Strategic aim of the EU Accession proces, which might start in 2010 and complete in the next few years, for the small but Strategically located, more Peaceful Country at the former Yugoslavian Region, whose Stability and Economy is one of the Brightest, and beneficial to the surrounding Western Balkans' European integration developments.
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"EuroFora"s 1st out of 2 Questions was exceptionaly an "open" one :  - "If everything goes well, when do you hope that your Country will become EU Member ?", we simply asked Montenegro's Prime Minister.

    - "Our Plan is to meet expectations under a European Union Agenda", Dukanovic willingly admitted, "but we don't set any Time-Frames", he carefully stressed.

    - Because "we are sincerely guided by the Principle : "Quality before Speed", underlined Montenegro's Prime Minister, who also Chairs this Year (2010) the Central European, the South-East, and the Adriatic - Ionian Seas' EU Initiatives.

    - "We want to be part of the EU. But this is not our goal in itself. We want to make sure that in Montenegro we have a Quality of Life fit for European Citizens of 21st Century", he said.

 - "That's why we are primarily devoted to Reforms. Because Reforms ...enhance Quality of Life, and also lead to EU Membership", Dukanovic observed.

    -  In fact, "the actual (partial) goal that we Now have is to get this Year (2010) a(n EU) Candidate Status, and a Recommendation to start Accession Negotiations. We think that this role is absolutely Realistic", Montenegro's Prime Minister estimated.

 In other words, Dukanovic, (as he added later in Strasbourg) would like to avoid a situation similar to FYROM's, who hurried up to become EU Candidate, but hasn't yet got a Date for EU Accession Negotiations, (mainly due to the pertaining lack of a Solution to the issue of the Name "Macedonia" which is traditional also in Greece's Millenary History, so that an intelligent and adequate compromise has still yet to be found in order to allow an otherwise Friendly and mutually Beneficial Regional Cooperation in the framework of a Stable EU Integration).

        - "We also think that it is possible for Montenegro, within the Next Several Years, to succesfully complete Negotiations with the EU", carefully but Optimistically concluded in his Reply to "EuroFora"s 1st Question Dukanovic.

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     - Meanwhile, "on Economy, are there any important Projects on Infrastructures, f.ex. Sea Transports, Gas, etc, currently prepared ?", asked "EuroFora"'s 2nd Question the Prime Minister of Montenegro, (which is well known, not only for its Natural Landscapes, but also as Danube Riverside Serbia's outlet to the Adriatic Sea).

    - "The main Opportunities for Montenegro's Development in the Period Ahead are precisely what You have mentioned : These are Infrastructures, Energy, and, in addition, Tourism", the Country's experienced long-time Political Leader replied to "EuroFora".                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

    - "There is a Huge Interest from the part of Foreign Investors. The main foreign Investors come from the EU. During recent Years, Montenegro has been the Leader in Europe in terms of Foreign Investment per capita. This was so even in the Last Year (2009). And 80% of Foreign Direct Investments in Montenegro have been investments from the EU"

    - This is partly due also to the fact that Montenegro has already introduced, and will continue its Pioneer, Voluntary use of Euro € as Currency, despite problems and "hard Reforms" needed for that, considering that "National Debt was "only 36% of the GDP", i.e. "much lower than in some EuroZone Member Countries".. Meanwhile, Montenegro's Citizens have just got a "Visa-Free travel to Shengen Zone (EU) Countries" since December 2009, he added afterwards at CoE's Assembly,

 - "I' m sure that Montenegro will complete its commitments to the CoE and  then start fullfiling the conditions also for the EU", Djukanovic also stressed. And he explained that there is a close Link between certain Reforms, such as those required in order to fight efficiently against Corruption, (still widespread accross the whole South-Eastern area, particularly after the Econoimic Destructions provoked by the War iin the former Yugoslavian area in the recent Past), and Boosting the Judiciary, Rule of Law, etc,  (thanks also to a close cooperation with Venice Commission), as means to win, develop and safeguard IForeign Investors' remarquable "Trust".
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        As for Refugees/Displaced Person's Rights to Return and have their Homes Restored, (a wide-pread problem in South Eastern European, i.e. Balkan neighbouring Countries, as well as in the Caucasus, Turkey, occupied territories of Cyprus, etc), Montenegro's situation is, compared to others, so "Positive", that it has exactly the .. Opposite problem :

- Instead of delays to accept  Refugees/IDP's return, as it's more or less the case  elsewhere, (with the sole Exception of Turkish- Occupied Territories of Cyprus, where Ankara still refuses even to admit the Principle of Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDP's return),  on the Contrary, Montenegro is ... eager to accelerate the Return Home of numerous Refugees, from various other States of the Region, who have seeked an Asylum in that Country, because it remained always in Peace, without any violent conflict, as its President, Dukanovic, observed, launching a "Call" to all those involved and to the International Community to help Refugees' Return to their Homelannds asap...

That's one of the reasons for which Montenegro has a genuine Interest for Development and Stability in its  Neighbouring Countries accross the whole Region :
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- Montenegro's reforms "contributed  also to developments in the Region, and, therefore to  European Integration", praised, indeed, the Country, CoE's Secretary General Thornbjorn Jagland.

    - "From the CoE side, we are very satisfied by the Cooperation with Montenegro, and will be a partner for us also for the (PanEuropean Organisation's own) reforms" in Strasbourg, Jagland observed, giving a carefully Positive mark. - "I've commented Montenegro for its achievements, in particular ratifications of many CoE Conventions, I'm aware of the fact that we have more Work to do, and that the CoE will hopefuly cooperate also in the future with Montenegro, to fullfil all its commitments and continue all the ratifications. I also thanked very much the Cooperation of Montenegro Authorities with the Venice Commission, on Amendments to the Constitutional Law, (i.e. mainly on the Judiciary, Rule of Law, etc. : See supra) that we (CoE) find very important", CoE's Head added.

However, replying to another Journalist's question, Jagland, while being clearly Positive, nevertheless, he avoided to speak in terms of race for EU Accession, between the various Western Balkan Countries :

 - "I don't want to compare Montenegro's integration to others', in the Region", he simply said.  - "But I will reiterate that we are satisfied for the way Montenegro has fullfilled its commitments. There is some more Work to do. But it's by implementing (CoE's) Convention(s) (including, naturally, the most important : That on Human Rights), that Montenegro will advance further"

 - And "it's also important for us (CoE) to see the important role Montenegro plays in the Region" of the entire Western Balkans and South East Europe :  - "It's a Stabilizing Factor, which cannot be underestimated", Jagland concluded.

 

Front-runner EU candidate Croatia's New President (2010-2014) Prof. Ivo Josipovic, replying to "EuroFora"'s questions, stressed his willingness to fully respect "all" Refugees/IDPs Human Rights, find and punish Criminals responsible for War Crimes, "Missing" persons, etc., so that fulfilling basic EU Accession Conditions is completed asap, while also bringing a key contribution to the whole Region's Stability and  Economic Development : F.ex. by offering its long Sea Coasts, strategically linked with inland River Ports, particularly at Danube and other Rivers, in the run up to the forthcoming 2011 Hungarian EU Chairmanship, which is due to launch a "Danube Strategy", linking the Black Sea to EU's Franco-German a.o. industrial core since the 2001 opening of its Rhine connexion to grand gabarit Ships, and 2007 EU's Enlargment to Bulgaria and Romania, particularly useful for Direct EU Sea-River PanEuropean Highways for Liquefied Gas transport from Asia.

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- "You Highlighted efforts done to complete Refugees' Return, and to clear up individual War Crimes, "Missing" Persons, etc.. Do you think that Croatia could become a good example also for other Countries, to do alike, as a means for Reconciliation and Stable Peace, by ensuring People that Past Human Rights' violations will never happen again in the Future ?", "Eurofora" asked.

 

And, as far as Economy is concerned, is there an awareness and political willingness to use f.ex. Liquefied Natural Gas' Sea and River Ship Transport as a contribution of Croatia to European integration ?", we added.

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- "We are fully supporting ALL Refugees to come back to Croatia, (and) there is full support for People to have their Properties back" : This is a basic Political Statement by Croatia", stressed President Josipovic in reply to "EuroFora"'s 1st Question.

- "Croatia is faced with the issue of an important Number of People who are still Ot of their Homes", Josipovic admitted honestly.

- "But I have to stress that we did a quite Significant job : Many People are already in their Homes", the Croatian President observed.

- "And Croatia is fully supporting for ALL Refugees to go back to their Homes", Josipovic strongly reiterated, as a matter of Principle. (Something which is notoriously rejected, on the contrary, in the case of Turkey's controversial EU bid, mainly vis a vis more than 190.000 Greek Cypriot Displaced People, from whom, practically noone hasn't yet been allowed to return Home, even after some 25 Years of Legal struggles in Strasbourg and a many ECHR Judgements, which have notoriously recognized Refugees/Displaced persons Human Rights to find Restoration or Fair Compensation for their usurpated Homes and/or private Properties, and freely Return at their Ancestral Land, which has inspired even the UN, fex. in the famous "Pinheiro Principles").     

    - "Of course, this not only a matter of will : It's (also) a matter of Economical Development, because you cannot live from Houses alone,.... and Refugees, when they return, must find a proper Job and proper living conditions. It's not easy to fullfil all these requirements, particularly in Rural areas", he went on to explain, on how things really go in practice.

    - In fact, we must "help all the (Refugees/Displaced) People to have Sustainable Return back to their Homes. It's very important, because, if you just bring People back without the proper conditions, then, you create another problem", he pointed out.

    - "So, we are Now building a New Process, in Negotiation with the Neighbouring  Countries (i.e. mainly Serbia), on how to" do so, President Josipovic added, observing that, this bilateral cooperation on such an Humanitarian issue as organizing a proper Refugee's Return is something which is "expected" to be practiced "also by other neighbouring States".

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    - Even "my (own) Life and Professional career are based on (a) Firm Human Conviction.. for the Full Respect of Human Rights .. : I Believe that such Values cannot be Measured, or have a Price", Josipovic also said, referring to his personal work as Jurist, Lawyer, Expert and Professor of International Law, including by action "through Civil Society", as well as in relation to International Courts.
   
    - In this framework, after the "Serious Consequences of War and War Destruction" provoked, back in the 1990ies accross the former Yugoslavia's area, " a number of Individual Crimes were committed, against Persons belonging to other Ethnic Groups, .. or People upholding Differend Worldview and Opinions", Croatia's President clearly acknowledged. But "we are implementing a Policy of Zero Tolerance towards all persons who have committed Crimes, and we believe that the Punishment of Crime is an integral part of the (Democratic) Transformation" of Croatia and its surrounding region. "Croatian Citizens suspected of War Crimes are tried", he promissed earlier at the CoE, as a matter of General Principle.

 - But, for the Croatian President, "It's a Necessity... to Clarify Crimes committed in the War, and bring them back to where they belong : (I.e.) to the Sphere of Individual Perpetrators of Offenses, and Outside of the Impermissible Sphere of Collective Guilt", as he observed. Because, "No People in conflict ... is Guilty : It is the Individuals, demonstrable Perpetrators of Crimes that are Guilty, and they must be Punished for it", as he told CoE.
   
    Advancing further towards this direction, Croatia aims to give now "a Clear Message and Commitment .. to the Completion of the process of Transformation", because "Croatia wants to be a consolidated Democracy in which Values such as Demoracy, Human Rights, Freedom and Justice are promoted and Fully Respected". I want to "stress that Croatia is fully commited to European standards and hope that Croatia will soon become Member of the EU". President Josipovic anounced from the outset.

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CoE's Secretary General Jagland : Croatia is in the RIGHT TRACK
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- "Recognition of our Reconciliatory efforts in the Region", and "support for our EU Membership", "is important for Croatia". "I hope that this "waiting room" will soon become our permanent place" and Croatia will be full Member of CoE and EU". "I'm convinced that Croatia will fullfil all European Standards, and in particular on Human Rights", added later Josipovic, after meeting with CoE's Secretary General Thornbjorn Jagland.

- "All things are on the Right Track, and, of course, we welcome very much Croatia's Accession prospects in the EU, based on European Standards", stressed CoE's new Chief Jagland, after meeting with Josipovic.  "Croatia has prepared itself in a very beautiful way, and this "waiting room" was, in fact, beneficial" to the country. "Croatia is a very Good and active CoE Member State : We have no Unresolved issues. We can make progress in a couple of issues, but we are in a very good Dialogue.. (And) I commented the (Croatian) President's efforts for Reconciliation in the Region, .. (fex. on Bosnia Herzegovina, etc)", concluded Jagland.

Questioned by another Journalist about "where do you think that Croatia should push its efforts ?", Jagland said that "there is a couple of (CoE's) Conventions that we'd like to see ratified. But this is the case for most of CoE's Member States, among which not all Conventions have been ratified. So, I have put emphasis on Croatia's contribution for Reconciliation, particularly at the Region", CoE's Secretary General concluded.
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All this fits well with Josipovic's long-time job as Professor for Criminal procedure and International Crime law , acting as a Lawyer before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and as a CoE's Expert in checking Prisons' situation, f.ex.  in Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

 Brillantly elected with more than 60% of Votes on February 2010 against another Socialist candidate, Josipovic, has the same 1st Name  : "Ivo" as his famous compatriot, long-time former Prime Minister  Ivo Sanader, (See Sanader's earlier statements to "EuroFora", partly published here, in previous NewsReports), who guided the country from 2003 to 2009, succeeding to start Accession Negotiations with the EU in 2004, to "decouple from Turkey""s controversial EU bid (as he had said in Strasbourg) and to overtake it since 2006-2007, enter NATO in 2009 at Strasbourg's 60th Anniversary Summit, as well as to start receiving EU promisses (from 2008) for a possible 2010 EU Accession (including by EU Parliament's Resolutions voted in Strasbourg), before Croatia's EU course was threatened by political conditions raised by socialist Slovenian Government from the end of 2008, after which he was  suddenly and unexpectedly obliged to resign for unknown reasons on July 2009, replaced by other politicians in his party, who failed to pursue his legacy.
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- "Concerning Economic Questions, including the Energy sector that You mentioned, (i.e. NLG)", Croatia's President went on to say in his 2nd Reply to "EuroFora"'s 2nd Question (See supra), "of course, Croatia has a very Good (GeoPolitical) Position" :

 - " It's, somehow, a unique Crossing point and Transition from East to West", President Josipovic underlined, making  an obvious reference  to "EuroFora"'s observation on the Sea and River Ship Transport Potential of the Country for PanEuropean New, Strategic Links. 

    - "We have excellently placed (Sea + River) Harbours, we have a good position to be a place from (which) and to (which) Commercial Enterprises will keep (Move, Ship) their Goods and start a Trade between the East and the West. It's a very good position that Croatia is going to offer", together with "our good services, both to People from the East and from the West, in the Future", i.e. when it would become "EU's 28th Member State", possibly before 2012, he concluded.
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  Josipovic, who is also known for his Music composition work, (and had reportedly promised to compose an opera on John Lennon's non-eludated murder if he was elected), Symbolically came to Strasbourg when France was celebrating the Annual "Music Feast" day,.

.... including in the "Rhine's Palace", at Republic Square, Headquarters of the Rhine River Ship Navigation International Committee, (which develops recently natural links with the Budapest-based Danube Navigation international committee : Comp. supra).

 

 

An impressively strong, rare quasi-Unanimous EU Unity on 2010 - 2020 Economic Strategy, obtained in EU Parliament at the same time that a Wide Majority supported an ambitious text on Ec. Governance, evolved in parallel with Political Manoeuvering among MEPs Groups this week in Strasbourg, while an exceptionaly brief EU Heads of State/Government Summit in Brussels adopted EU 2020 Strategy, and advanced on EU Governance, but left final decisions for October-December.

For the 1st time in EU Parliament's Press Conferences' History, all the Presidents of 4 mainstream Political Groups of MEPs, from EPP/ChristianDemocrats' (who are the more Numerous) Joseph Daul of France and Liberals' Guy Verhofstadt of Belgium, up to SocialDemocrats' Martin Schultz and "Greens"' Rebecca Harms, both of Germany, exeptionally joined all together on Tuesday to present to Strasbourg's Journalists, including "EuroFora", a Common Position of the Large Majority of MEPs they represent, both on EU's Economic Strategy and Governance.


June's Unity appears as a striking difference to the previous situation of May, when Socialists and "Greens" had initially opposed EPP/ChristianDemocrats and Liberals' main Economic choices, attempting to push a very Critical stance against the majority of EU Heads of State/Government, (most of which are, indeed, supported by EPP and Liberals), but failing to pass through, because EPP/Liberals received, then, also the support of the new Conservatives/Reformists' Group, mainly led by MEPs from the Party of new British Prime Minister Cameroon, succeeding to form a strong, absolute Majority inside EU Parliament against Socialist/Greens' positiions. (See previous, relevant "EuroFora"s Publication of May).

But this time, EPP's President Daul appeared proud when he stressed to "EuroFora" that, what was New in the latest developments, was that, "now, we succeeded to build a Unified position in EU Parliament" on EU's Econolmic Policy, etc. The main thrust of this change in Socialists/"Greens"' stance, is that they finally accepted to support both a Rigorous, Public Expenditure reduction goal, in order to progressively diminish Public Debt, and the generally desired Growth aims. According to some other sources, this Change would be due mainly to the fact that even ...Socialist Governments in Spain, Portugal, etc. recently started to plan and make hard Economies on tax payers money, in order to try to meet Financial Markets expectations, particularly after they recently threatened to downgrade these Countries' Budgetary assets' ratings..           

- EU "Member States should increase their economic Performance by introducing Structural Reforms in order to Optimise Public Expenditure, (and) Decrease Bureaucracy", as well as "prevent ... a long-lasting period of economic Stagnation, (by) .. implement(ing), at the same time, a Strategy aimed at accelerating Sustainable Economic Growth", the Resolution on "Strategy", indeed, stresses from the outset.   

However, on the other hand, Socialists/Greens tried to explain their U-turn also by the fact that, this time (i.e. on June), a 2nd, separate EU Parliament's Resolution was added, in agreement with the EPP and Liberals, focusing on a rather ambitious EU "Economic Governance", which should be mainly depending on EU Commission, and not too much on EU Heads of State and Government :  - "Indeed, it's mainly because we added a 2nd Resolution on Governance based on the EU Community method (i.e. giving an important role to EU Commission) that both us and the Socialists agreed, this time, with the EPP and the Liberals", said the "Greens"' co-Chairwoman, Rebecca Harms, to "EuroFora".     

- In addition to a "Bolder Economic Governance" "needed" in "EuroZone", i.e. among the 16 Euro Currency Countries, also all the 27 Member States strong "EU needs to reform its system of Economic Governance" in order "to ensure the Implementation of its ... Europe 2020 Strategy", including by "giving to the Commission a proper and stronger Responsibility", while, at the same time, "reinforcing the Democratic Legitimacy of EU Governance, .. through a stronger .. involvement of EU Parliament", stresses, indeed, the 2nd Resolution.


This move was made in particular after the main results of EU's Franco-German core's Monday Night Summit in Berlin, where President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel reportedly agreed to institutionalize an EU Economic Governance, while keeping also always possible a simplified EuroZone's Summit, "whenever needed", as EPP's Head Daul observed.    


Shortly after EU Parliament adopted, on Thursday, the 2 Joingt Resolutions on EU's Economic Strategy and Governane in Strasbourg, EU's Heads of State and Government in Brussels officially adopted the "2020 Strategy", and "agreed" on the first "Orientations" for "a much Stronger Economic Governance", involving both EU Commission and EU Member States, with an obvious priority for the latter, but left final Decisions, after proper consultation also of EU Parliament, for October's Summit, (due to Timely focus also on "Innovation" EU policy).      

But, another important Change between May and June 2010 EU Parliament's stance (Comp. Above), was, meanwhile, also the Fact that the new, mainly Brittish-Polish "Conservatives/Reformists" Group, while always supporting the EU "Strategy" paper, (as it had already done since May 2009), on the contrary, was pushed to drop the EU "Governance", 2nd paper, which was added only from June.

In fact, a real Power Game seems to be Socialist and Green Group's attempts to avoid that a Center-Right absolute Majority might be cimented inside EU Parliament, (according to EU Citizens' votes on 2009 EU Elections, and practically confirmed at May 2010's Vote on EU Economic Strategy : See "EuroFora"'s 5/2010 Reporting), by searching a way to stir Divisions between former EPP Group MEPs, who could have a Decisive Power in 2009-2014 if they Unify together as in the Past, but lost this opportunity for the moment, after a Separatist move of some British and Polish MEPs who set up a small ECR new Group, agreeing with EPP on many, but not all issues.

After witnessing on May the fact that a Center-Right Unity of EPP/ChristianDemocrats and Liberals, together with Conservatives can be Strong enough to start using an absolute Majority inside EU Parliament on EU "Strategy", (See "EuroFora"'s relevant NewsReport of May 2010), the Socialists and the "Greens", apparently found, indeed, on June another way to .. divide anew EPP+Liberals from the Conservatives, by pushing forward a particularly ambitious "EU Governance" agenda...

However, nobody should underestimate EPP/ChristianDemocrats' (the Biggest MEPs Group's) Head Joseph Daul's new capacity (based on EPP's Brillant June 2009 EU Election Results) to shape main EU policies by artfully playing the role of a strong, central Political "Pivot", around which several punctual Coalitions can be forged, sometimes towards its "Left", other times towards its "Right" side, but always looking right Ahead to EU Future's Horizon.

EU Commissioner on Justice and Home affairs, experienced former Swedish EU Minister and MEP, Cecilia Malmstrom, replying to "EuroFora"s questions in EU Parliament on the New, revised USA - EU draft agreement on the controversial issue of EU Citizens' Bank Data communication to US Authorities on anti-Terrorism grounds, admitted that, despite new, and more protective safeguards, it's always "difficult" to find out whether an abuse might have been committed, in this, as well as in other such cases, and gave practical advise to EU Citizens on how to try to protect their personal Bank Data by using their new Access, Rectification and Redress Rights, which have been now reportedly recognized in the new draft EU - USA deal :

Malmstrom was speaking in a Press Conference organized at EU Parliament in Strasbourg in order to anounce a New, revised EU Draft Agreement with the US on a "Terrorism Financing Tracking" Programme, commonly known as "SWIFT", a previous and controversial version of which had been recently rejected by a Majority of MEPs who had called for Changes able to protect elmentary EU Citizens Personal Data privacy rights.

 - "EuroFora"s question referred to Malmstrom's anouncement "about (EU Citizens') Personal Data Protection", where she "spoke about Rectification (in case of Error), Erasure, etc", saying that SWIFT would have been brought now in line with fundamental EU Legal Standards. However, "a naive, but practical question" should be clarified, we observed :

 

   
     - "How could (EU) People know if there is, eventually, any (Personal) Data given (to US Authorities), in order to check if there is any Error, or not ? And which Institution" (is in charge in such cases) : "Is EuroPol the main (EU) Watchdog" (as Malmstrom had cited for EU checks on USA Officials' activities in Europe in general), or is there (also) anything else ?", asked "EuroFora".

 

      - "So, that is, of course, very Difficult to know", the competent EU Commissioner admitted, regarding the practical point on EU Citizens' awareness whenever there might be a need to check their Personal Data Protection in real practice, that was raised by "EuroFora"s question.

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    Meanwhile, former EU Parliament's Rapporteur on the EU - USA "SWIFT" Agreement, Liberal MEP Jeanine Hennis Plasshaert, (see her Replies to "EuroFora"s Questions at the eve of February 2010 crucial Vote : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/swift.html), has been just elected to the Dutch Parliament at a key position :

    Jeanine stood as High as at the 4th place in the list of Dutch Liberal VVD Party, which has just succeeded to become the Biggest party in the Netherlands, winning 31 MPs, and, given the overall recent Parliamentary Election Results, it's probable that she might find herself soon returning back to her familiar area including Personal Data Protection and SWIFT, but, this time, eventually from the EU Council's side, as Minister...

    Obviously, such a move could fit well also with the larger Personal Data Protection growing needs, particularly in the galoping developments concerning the new Digital Society, i.e. the area of competence for experienced EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes, who is also a Dutch Liberal... (Comp. EU Commissioner Kroes' earlier statements to "EuroFora", already send to Donors/Subscribers in previous Draft NewsReports).

    The former EU Parliament's Rapporteur had initially been sharply critical against the pre-existing situation on the EU - USA "SWIFT" issue, arguying that EU Citizens' Personal Data and privacy had been dangerously exposed to eventual abuse without the elementary EU safeguards, and, therefore, should be rejected by EU Parliament. (See "EuroFora"s relevant, previous publication, cited supra). But afterwards, she had praised US vice-President Joe Bident's recent commitment to build a new EU - USA Agreement, which, while being still efficient for real anti-terrorism concerns, nevertheless, it could also become much more respectful of EU Citizens' elementary privacy rights.

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    However, Malmstrom's advise about going "to the Treasury" in order to find practical ways to protect EU Citizens' personal Bank Data in relation with the draft EU - USA deal on a new SWIFT II, apparently referred only to the US Department of Treasury, an Executive office of the US Federal Government established to manage government revenue. Something which seems to leave open, at least for the time being, any question about how this could be done in Europe in the future, since it may be soon necessary for the EU to develop also its own European Bank account supervision system when it might be justified by anti-terrorism needs; But there is not yet any generally known EU Treasury able to help protect EU Citizens' Bank Data privacy..  

 

 By a Symbolic coincidence, the 1st USA's Secretary of Treasury was appointed by Historic US President George Washington, the same year that the 1789 French Revolution opened in Europe a way for the creation of Modern, Democratic Nation-States formally recognizing basic Human Rights, and was a Key Personality :  

 

- Alexander Hamilton, the famous Political Philosopher and Pamphleteer who had notoriously struggled with many landmark Publications (known as "The Federalist Papers") to make the American People aware of the fact that, in order to definitively avoid any recurrence of other counter-productive and dangerous Economic and/or Political Divisions, provoking internal Conflicts and/or Civil Wars, etc., the United States of America should advance well beyond a merely "Con-federal" structure of the Past, towards a future "Federal" one, starting by putting in tune, all together, their Economic, Fiscal and Budgetary policies in a joint, unified move serving their common General Interests.

I.e. in a similar Direction towards which, mutatis mutandis, EU Parliament's MEPs  and EU Council's Heads of State/Government are currently trying to build, in one way or another, in Europe, (surprisingly United this week), in view of the 17th of June 2010's EU Summit, in order tio succesfully pave EU's way out of the Global Crisis, towards a new era of strong, sustainable and inclusive Growth in Europe's "2020 Strategy" Horizon...

(Comp. relevant, recent EU Parliament's Newsdrafts prepared for "EuroFora"'s Donors/Subscribers).