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EUParliament Culture Committee Chair Verheyen to EF on EAVO +Digitalisation of Films' Distribution

Written by ACM
Wednesday, 27 November 2019
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*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to an "Eurofora"' Question, EU Parliament's Culture and Education Committee's President, Sabine Verheyen, a ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP from Germany, stressed that Digitalisation can Help Boost Europe's AudioVisual Production, particularly on Distribution of AV Works, Cnsidering the relevaant Data Recently analysed by the PanEuropean Audio-Visual Observatory, Headquartered in Strasbourg.

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- Are you cooperating with CoE's AudioVisual Observatory, (which analyses mainly how Markets treat Films), and do you think Good for Europe to Develop Digital Forms of Distribution of Films, (whose Growing Importance is one of EAVO's Recent Key Findings), "Eurofora" asked, in substance.    

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EAVO is the PanEuropean CoE, 47 Member States-strong, including Russia, Independent Experts' Tool for Economic and Legal Analysis on AudioVisual Production in Europe and the World, while "Eurofora" raised those Questions during a Press Conference on the 2019 Award of "Lux" Annual Prize to a New Film co-Produced in Cooperation by 5 European Countries.

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     - "First of all, on the Question of Cooperation with the Audio-Visual Observatory : Yes, we, as EU Parliament, do cooperate with the EAVO". F.ex. "we get its Reports, and we regularly Exchange Views, while EU Funding comes from the EU Commission, even if EAVO has a Tight Cooperation with EU Parliament". F.ex. "when we worked on the MultiAnnual Financial Perspectives, we used a lot of Analysis done there by EAVO, which is a very Important Source of Information for us, also for what is going on in Other Countries" of the World, President Verheyen Started to Reply.

    -"On the 2nd Question you raised, about Digitalisation, indeed, in our Medias' Program we have a Number of (EU) specific Programs to Promote Digitalisation : One of them is KINOS, and we Also want to make our Content more Available, so we've got a Tool which looks on Demand Video Platforms, and Established that, at least 30% of the Content present in Video on Demand Platforms has to be of European Origin".

- "I think it's Important, when we are Dealing with the American Players at the Internet, we (EU) manage to get away from the American Mainstream, so that European Works can also be Found and made Available. And that's Important particular for the Public in Europe to have Access to the Works and Films that are Made in Europe", she stressed.

+ "It's Also Important for us (EU) to ensure that Certain Films, such as those Awarded the "Lux" Prize etc., have Easy Access to such Platforms, and, especially when they are Sub-Titled, they can be made Available Europe-Wide, they can be changed in the Right Formats and be exchanged. i know that in some EU Countries, they often Prefere to have Films Translated, Not SubTitled. But for a Growing Number of Cinemas, Subtitles are a very Acceptable Method : So, when a Film is going to be shown Accross Europe, it's Important that we (EU) can actually Promote that Multiplicity of Films : It's Important for the Winners of those Awards, and, even for some People with Disabilities, so that they can see these Films as well", she observed. => So, I think that it's Important to Support those Films to be Available for a Larger Public".

- "As far as Digitalisation is concerned, Yes, we (EU) are Promoting that, Because we Know, first of all, that the Young People use these (Web) Platforms on demand, to get Access to those Films". These require also CopyRight for access, to ensure that they have their Licences", she added.  "I think that it's Important for Europe to succeed to maintain our Diversity and Protect it through the Licences too", she concluded.


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EPP Head Weber to EF on Turkish threat to return ISIS Terrorists back in EU: Stop Accession Talks !

Written by ACM
Tuesday, 26 November 2019

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*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- The Chief of the Biggest EU Parliament's Group of MEPs : that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, Manfred Weber from Germany, Replying to an "Eurofora" Question at his Press Conference Today, on Erdogan's threat to Return ISIS' islamist Terrorists Back to Europe, launched a Call to Stop the controversial and unpopular EU Accession Talks with Turkey !

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- "Eurofora" pointed at notorious Recent Threats by the Turkish Government to Return Back to Europe arrested ISIS Islamist Terrorists asap, and stressed that this Raises not only an obvious Security Problem, but Also a Question of eventual Impunity.

Because, if there is No Trial on the Spot, there where ISIS' notorious Crimes Targetting Civilian People were Committed, where Witnesses and Victims' Families are living, and Traces remain, (i.e. somewhere between Syria and Iraq, near Turkey's Borders), but, on the Contrary, they might be send back to Europe, Separated among Various EU Member States, and Far Away from the events, then, in Addition to obvious Security Issues, it might even Become More Dificult to Do Justice, as Many Voices have Asked, including Yazidi Women Victims awarded EU and CoE Prizes, CoE's competent Rapporteur on ISIS' Crimes, Dutch MEP Peter Omzigt, etc.

Moreover, if a kind of International Court was Set up to Judge ISIS' Crimes there where they have been Committed, as some have Already Highlighted Recently, (included, f.ex., among the Global Coalition against ISIS, etc), similarly o, f.ex., the Courts for Ex-Yugoslavia, for Rwanda, etc., then, this could Also have a useful Pedagogical Effect, for the Public to Better Know and keep a Collective Memory of what has happened, "Eurofora" observed in Addition.

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 - "Security Issues are National Responsibility", skiped Weber, in his Reply to "Eurofora"s Question, the above-mentioned, on the spot International Court possibility.

 

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>>> - "But You are Referring also to the Bigger Question : how to Deal with Turkey", the Frontrunner "SpitzenKandidate" in the latest and popular 2019 EU Parliament's Elections, observed.

- "And there, you know, having the Last EU's Council Meeting in mind, when we Discussed also how to deal with Northen Macedonia, Albania, etc.,  

=> "for me, it's simply Not Undestandable that we (EU) Continue our Enlargment Talks wih Turkey, while we (EU) opt to Not Open Negotiaton Talks with North Macedonia and Albania :"  Because "it is Not possible to Explain that to any among our (EU) Citizens accross the whole EU !", he Denounced...

>>> - "So that, if there is a will to have a Broader Discussion, then, the pre-Condition is to Stop Enlargement Talks with Turkey, and sit Together fo find a Common Understanding on What to do" next, President Weber Urged.

 - On the Contrary, "the Provocative aproach of (Turkish) President Erdogan in the Last Weeks, is Not an approach where we can find, finally ,a Solution", he regretted.

- "And the EU must be Clear about this :  If there is a Readiness for Compromise, then, Both have to react to the other", the Head of EU Parliament's Biggest Group of MEPs pointed out.

 

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Sakharov Prize Sentsov to EF on 2014 Kiev shots: Investigation ended : No Snipers. +CoE Reaction.

Written by ACM
Tuesday, 26 November 2019
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*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- In a Press Conference with EU Parliament's President David Sassoli, the Sakharov Prize Winner, Ukranian Film-maker and former Prisoner Oleg Sentsov, who was Freed in an Exchange of Inmates with Russia, Replying to an "Eurofora"s Question, claimed that, at last, the Long-Awaited Investigation on those infamous Deadly "Snipers" notoriously suspected to have Killed both Demonstators and Policemen at Kiev on 2014, in order to Drop an EU-sponsored Deal for Peacefull Change, would have practically Finished, Nowadays, while also, allegedly, proving that, in fact, there were No Snipers at all Behind those First Killings, but only some Security Agents of the Previous Regime, according to his sources, (See Infra).

- Reacting, almost Immediately, the Experienced CoE's Director General for Legal and Human Rights issues, Christos Giakoumopoulos, (who has Also a unique Experience on these matters, as former Envoy of CoE's Secretary General to Ukraine), told "Eurofora" that, apparently, the CoE has Not yet been officially Informed about such an eventual development, at least not at his knowledge, as things stand at this moment.

- But, even before he makes a relevant Enquiry Now, to be sure, he did not exclude, eventualy, that Sentsov might, Perhaps, have some Faster Input from Kiev Nowadays, as sometimes it happens, in practice, f.ex. through involved Lawyers, (as, indeed, the Ukranian Film-Maker told "Eurofora" Today : See Infra).

 - As far as it concerns CoE's expectations from any such Investigation, and How it should be conducted according to ECHR's Standards, the PanEuropean Organisation of Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law sticks to the relevant Concrete Observations and practical Suggestions, already made, in a Crystal-clear way, by former ECHR President, and Chair of CoE's High-Level Group on Ukraine, Sir Nicolas Bratza, the competent COE's Director General Giakoumopoulos also told us now.

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- "Eurofora" asked, from the outset, to be Excused for Raising "a Hard Question, both Human and Political" :

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- "At the Beginning of Ukraine's Tragedy, there were Killings of Many Ukranian People, from Both Sides", we Reminded. "It seems that, according to a CoE Report supervised by former ECHR President Sir Nicolas Bratza from the UK, an Investigation to Find out Who was Behind those Mysterious "Snipers", as they are called, who Killed, behind their back, (NDLR: Symbolic Expression on Betrayal of Trust : In Fact, the Suspected Hotel Building was Aside the Victims, but apparently from their Political side), both Demonstrators and some Policemen, in order to Provoke a Blody Conflict, has Not been done, Until Recently"."At that moment (2/2014), there was a Peace Plan, under EU Auspices, signed by Everybody, (even by someone who became Prime Minister after the Uprising and Change of Regime), about Amnesty, National Unity Govenment, Elections, etc. to Prepare a Peaceful Change", "Eurofora" observed.

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=> - "What's Your Position, about that,  from the Overall Ukranian point of View, European, and Human, also ?", we Asked Sentsov.

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- "Our Position regarding Exactly What ?" "What Exactly ?", he Wondered, Concretely speaking.

 

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- "About whether the Investigation on Snipers, which has not yet been fully done, according also to the CoE (Comp. Facts cited Supra), should go on, and Find all those who Killed these People, and Why", "Eurofora" simply Replied.

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- The First Reaction of the 2018 Sacharov Prize on "Freedom of Thought" winner, Sentsov, astonishingly was to immediately Claim that "I think I Understand": Such (frequent) Press "Questions Seem to be formulated by using Slogans of Russian Propaganda" (sic !). "And I don't know ...about Snipers Killing behind the Back of the People" (etc: Comp. Supra). "Russia has been getting on about that for 4 Years !", he found.

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- "Eurofora"s main Sources are the Official Strasbourg Report and subsequent Kiev Press Conference, by the Head of CoE's High-Level Group on Ukraine, and former ECHR President, Sir Nicolas Bratza. A notoriously Leaked Phone Conversation of Estonian former Foreign Minister and Liberal MEP, Urmas Paet, with former EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, whose "Accuracy" was Confirmed, according to Mainstream Press, as UK's "Guardian", etc. As well as eventually added also to some relevant Mainstream German Big Medias' Press Enquiries on the spot in Kiev.

+ Recently, it's even the Famous, (Unique to have been Jailed Both in Russia and in Ukaine !), former Ukraine's "National Heroe", Nadeza Savchenko, who has Claimed that she Knew a pro-Kiev Politician to have pushed "Snipers" to Shoot Demonstrators and/or Policemen, back that Crucial Night of February 2014, after what, she was Suddenly Striped of her MP Immunity, Arrested and Jailed, under obviously Fallacious and/or Exagerated Accusations, until she was Freed when New Ukranian President Zelensky brillantly Won the 1st, decicive, Round in the Latest Elections, (See, inter alia, also : ..., etc).

Last, but not least, the above-mentioned Question by "Eurofora", (about the Need to Complete the Investigation on Kiev's Deadly "Snipers", at a Crucial Historic Moment : Comp. Supra), was Voiced after EU Parliament's President, David Sassoli, (a former Journalist himself) had Insisted Twice to let as Speak, clearly pointing towards "Eurofora", as Ebs' Video clearly shows.

- President Sassoli, (who had Also Strongly backed Ukraine's Territorial Integrity and Sentsov's Fredom), had, earlier, found that "it would be Nice", "if We (EU) improved Dialogue with Russia", "if  there were Available People for that", as he said as a matter of Principle.

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 - In fact : That "INVESTIGATION IS OVER !" Sentsov suddenly Claimed in Reply to "Eurofora"s Question, surprisingly

- Indeed, "Trials are under Way, for those who have been Convicted", he added.

- "This is the so-called "Special Forces" Compagny, called "Berkut", included", according to Sentsov, pointing Only at the Previous Regime (of Yakushenko).

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 - Moreover : "This is NOT "SNIPERS", but Machine Guns, Kalashnikofs, Operating from Short Distance", Sentsov Claimed, on a Crucial Factual Point.

+ "It Includes B, + S, [NDLR: Names pending Clarification], who came to Our Side and Helped us set Free our Activists", he added.  

- "She ("S": Comp. Supra) was my Defense Lawyer, when I was held in Custody in Ukraine", he reminded.

 - "Now she is Lawyer for all those People who Fell Victims", Sentsov claimed, (but withOout Certainty, yet, that this might really include Also many Former Policemen suddenly Killed then : Comp. Supra).

 - "I Saw her, and she Explained me all things, in Detail. all the Experts' Opinions". And "I Trust her, Fully", he stressed. :

=> There were No Shots in the Back of Protestors. All People Killed were Murdered with Shots from the Front ; From Machine Guns of the Spccial Forces, from Kalashnikofs, you see those People with Black Clothes and Yellow  bands. The Distance wasn't very far, and all Experts have s.. [NDLR: Point to Complete asap].

 - For the Time being, "We have some Internal Procedures : That's why the Investigation has Not been Finalized", he Tried to Explain for the 2014-2019 Delay.

 -  "But, as far as I am Concerned, I am Convinced that it will be done Appropriately !", Sentsov Hoped, in Conclusion, of his Reply to the above-Mentioned Question by "Eurofora", (Comp. Supra).

 

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EU Parliament : Many +Mainstream MEPs ask to ReBalance Climate Policy Measures

Written by ACM
Monday, 25 November 2019

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*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Surprisingly, while Most seem to Agree on the main Aims of the Fight against Climate Change and particularly Global Warming, nevertheless, Many, and even Mainstream MEPs, in an EU Parliament's Plenary Debate this Monday in Strasbourg, before to Vote a Resolution on Wednesday,  Voiced Strong Criticism on the concrete Measures due to realize that policy in real Practice, and Asked to "Re-Balance" EU's stance, while particularly Socialists, Greens and others were Pushing for a Loud Boost on Climate, at the Eve of COP 25 Summit next week in Spain.  

In Fact, such Dissident Views already Started to Emerge as early as Since Last Week, at a Top European Level, in the 2019 Tri-Annual Congress of the mainstream, Center-Right ChristianDemocrat/EPParty (currently the Biggest in Europe), at Zagreb, Croatia :

- Indeed, there, at a Press Conference, together with the Croat Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, (who will Chair EU Council's rotating Presidency from 1/2020), and EPP's Secretary General Antonio Lopez-Isturez of Spain, (where "Eurofora" had been Invited, but Hindered to Travel, by a Last-Minute Incident), the Experienced EPP President Joseph Daul, from France, while Expressing his Support to the Fight against Climate Change, at the same moment, Observed, Critically, that, currently, there is a Lack of Crystal-Clear and Well Balanced, Efficient Policy, as far as it conerns the Measures with which such an aim could be attained : - We all Say "Do it !", But Few dare explain "How" exactly this (f.ex. CO2 Emmissions' Restrictions) could and should be done, he Denounced.

- F.ex., I'm Not Sure that we (EU) have already Found how to Invent "New Bateries" for Cars, etc. And when a Peasant needs to Drive away even in order to Find Bread, because there is No More any Bakery in his Vilage, or an Old Widow with a Tiny Pension canNot Afford to Change her Home's Heating system, (etc), there are Questions inevitably Raised among the People, to which we must Give Real and Practical Answers, observed, inter alia, Daul, who got, Later-on, a Big Boost by more than 2000 Delegates from allover Europe, in a Moving Standing Ovation, and a Strong Eloge from German Chancellor Angie Merkel and various Other Top European Politicians, for his 6 Years-Long Presidency of the EPParty (2013-2019, After another 6 Years at the Head of EU Parliament's EPP Group's MEPs : 2007-2013), where he is succeeded by Donald Tursk, former Prime Minister of Poland, and until now President of the European Council.

- And, in his Official Speech, Later-on, during that EPP Congress in Zagreb, Daul also made a Friendly, but remarked, Observation, concerning the Austrian f. Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz, that he Personaly Likes very much, (See, f.ex.: among others, also, previous Daul Statements in Brussels : ..., etc) : - Please be Careful Not to Become "Too Much Green", But "Keep also the Blue" of ChristianDemocrats/EPP Political Leaders, he Advised, Smiling.

"Eurofora" has Supported even a Governing Alliance between "Greens" and ChristianDemocrats/EPP, already as Early as Since 2009 (F.ex.: ..., +..., ..., etc), and, indeed, after many Efforts, some Moves Started in that Direction, Including, f.ex., at Nearby Baden-Wurtemberg's German Länder (Regional Federated State), Strasbourg's "Great East" Region in France, and Other Areas in Germany, etc., while former Pope Benedict, in a Landmark Speech at the Bundestag in Berlin on 2011, boosted the key Idea of "Human Ecology", perfectly Fitting our own Concerns mainly about Genetic a.o. Manipulations of Human Persons Nowadays, etc., to which the Original, Historic "Green" Movement used to be very Sensitive, (f.ex. in Germany, etc), as well as EU Parliament's "Green" Group of MEPs' co-President Nawadays, Philippe Lamberts, (Comp. f.ex. his Replies to relevant "Eurofora"s Questions, Earlier on 2019, at : ..., ..., etc)

+ But, at Today's EU Parliament's Debate on Climate Change (Comp. Supra), while the Author of a quite Loud Resolution, French "Green" MEP Canfin, simply but pompously Urged MEPs to "Hear what the Scientists tell us", as well as some "Young People", on the Contrary, Many More than expected MEPs expressed Various Argumented Reserves or Criticisms :

- F.ex., in Addition to several Strong Opposals, mainly by Rightists of the "Identity and Democracy" Group, as French MEP Griset, who Denounced an attempt by "Globalists" to "Interfere against the Sovereignity of States", and some "Independent" MEPs, as Lagos from Greece, who slamed what he called "Climate Terror" (sic !), etc., various Other, often Mainstream Critics, were Milder, but clearly Critical :

- Thus, Danish ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Pernille Weiss, warned about the "Need to Win Citizens", who still have second thoughts.

- Polish Conservative MEP Wiśniewska wondered what will be done for "those People who canNot Afford" to Pay for Ecological Heating, etc., and asked if anybody had Noticed, f.ex., the Protests of "Yellow Jackets" in France.

- Italian Conservative MEP Pietro Fiocchi, said that when he Asked How we could reach the Goals of Paris' Agreement, he was merely told that "Taxes should be Raised" : "That's Not Good !", he pointed out. In fact, "We (EU) have a Duty to Explain to our Citizens, How we intend to Reach such Goals, withOut Killing their Livelihood", he stressed.

- German ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Hansen also warned that "We (EU) have to show to our Citizens that Climate can be Protected withOut Loss of Jobs".

- French mainstream ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Bellamy urged to "Reply to Emotions (on Climate Change) Rationally, and Not Irrationally" : F. Ex., he Denounced as "UnThinkable" a Call (by that Controversial Draft Resolution on Climate Change) to Stop Nuclear Energy, while it Helps to Fight against Global Warming !

+ And there, it is even a Socialist MEP, Robert Hajšel from Slovakia, who Agreed with him, and Asked if there is an Amendment to Save Nuclear Energy...

- Mainstream Italian ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Salini, advised to be "Realistic", and Warned that "EU People and Businesses do Not Want even More Expenses" nowadays.

- Polish ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Jarubas Called to Argue on the Basis of "Cost-Benefits" Analysis. Because, "Otherwise, Nobody will Follow us", he Warned. And we (EU) should "Help Poor Regions", which canNot Cope, if we (EU) want to advance "seriously", as he said.

- Irish ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Kelly, stressed that "People who Work" in Activities Threatened by Anti-Emmissions Measures, (and, therefore, risk to be Restricted or Stopped) "have to be Helped".

- Bulgarian ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Kanev, went Further :  - "We must go Back in History": At First, in the Past, "the Real Significance of the term" <<Nex Green Deal>> was Not "a list of Prohibitions, ...of Limitations, ...of Taxes Affecting those who already Suffer the most", he Denounced. On the Contrary, "it Was a large- scale public and private Investment programme, aiming at ambitious Development, Innovation, new Infrastructure, new Businesses, new models of Growth, new Jobs". So, also Nowadays, "our (EU's) New Green Deal in >Europe should be a deal for growth and jobs, for New Opportunities in the regions in transition, for new Hope for those Affected, for a new clean Technology, for science, Innovation, for Investment precisely in the Regions most dependent on Fossil Fuels and Suffering most from the present crisis", he Ambitiously Urged.

In Fact, even USA Presiedent Don Trump's notorious Opposal to the Paris' Agreement on Climate, is obviously related to Jobs and Growth matters, and Not at all in an Negation of Climate Change Risks. Thus, his Environment Protection Agency Director, Wheeler, has even Suggested, just after a First, Ministerial "G7" Summit on Environment at Metz, France, Last March 2019, a kind of ..."Re-Negotiation", at least as far as USA's Obligations are concerned, so that "it would Level the Playing Field for the US", as he said, (apparently Refering to an Equivalent of the well-known, General Trump's Standard about "Fair" International Trade).[See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/rugyforclimatedealwithtrumpresigns.html, etc].


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CoE BioEthics Head Lwoff to EF: Experts vote Plan+Debate. Check Germ-Line Change row, Outcome Later

Written by ACM
Friday, 22 November 2019

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*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- The experienced Head of CoE's PanEuropean, 47 Member States-strong (including Russia) Organisation's BioEthical Department, the Only in the World with a Mandate and Legal Tools to Protect Human Rights in Bio-Medicine, Laurence Lwoff, speaking to "Eurofora", revealed that the competent Experts' Committee just Discussed this week in Strasbourg the recent scandal of Heritable Genetic Manipulations, transmissible to Future Generations, (See: www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coebioethicsdebatechildrenforlesbiansandheritablegenemanip.html, etc), while also confirming the Adoption of CoE's "Strategic Action Plan" for the Next 5 Years, and "Guidelines for Public Debates" in that "Hot" area, of more and more Crucial Importance for Humankind's foreseable Future.

Curiously, CoE's Committee on BioEthics Voted on those 2 Far-Reaching and complex Reports concerning "Hot" Issues Only ...1,5 Month since the New Secretary General of the COE, Marija Buric, former vice-Prime Minister of Croatia, just took over, in practice from last October 2019, i.e., obviously, withOut enough Time for the New Direction's Team to really Analyse, Discuss and Decide on such Complex Normative Texts, which usualy need a Long Period of Preparations.

In Consequence, given also the Fact that this "Strategic Plan" is due to cover the Period of "2020-2025", (i.e. All and even More than the Duration of the New SG's Mandate !), Obviously, it would Risk to Deprive the New Team which enters Now at the Direction of the COE, (and the Political Majority which Voted for her Last June 2019 at the Parliamenary Assembly), from any Fair Chance to Have a Say on such a Crucial Matter Nowadays as the Latest Developments on BioEthical Issues and related New (mainly Genetic) Technologies, but, on the Contrary, to Impose, and Extend even much further in time, the Views of the Previous, Outgone Direction of the Past...

+ Taking into Account also the Big Differences Traditionally existing between Socialists and ChristianDemocrats/EPP on BioEthics, as well as the Exceptional Fact that, for the 1st Time in CoE's 70 Years of History, Socialists had been Holding the SG Top Job Continuously for 3 Times in a Row, During more than 15 Years now, (while ChristianDemocrats had been even Pushed Out of CoE's Parliamentary Assembly Leadership too, under Various Pretexts, particularly during Most of the Time at the Last 10 Years), Obviously, elementary Democracy would be InCompatible with the (Otherwise inevitable) Risk, for a Previously Pre-Fabricated "Strategy" from the Past, to be Imposed in that "Action Plan" for the Future 5 Years (2020-2025).

- Is it for that reason that a fully-fleged Publication of those Adoped CoE Experts' Reports (11/2019) was reportedly postponed for "the Beginning of Next Year" (1/2020), as Laurence Lwoff told "Eurofora" ?

- Lwoff aknowledged, indeed, the fact that there would, almost certainly, be some Changes, meanwhile, in those Texts, before their Final Public Version.

- But she said that this would be, in principle, Limited only into a kind of "Editorial Adjustments", and did not concern, Not even "Amendments" to those Reports, which would, thus, remain as they were just adopted this week.

- It's even Possible that "an Abridged Version" might, eventualy, become Public "in about a Week", or so, she added.

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+Meanwhile, concerning the currently most "Hot" and Recent Important Incident on BioEthics : the November 2018 Scandal of a Maveric Dr. having already Manipulated Genetically 2 New Born Babies with Heritable Modifications, Transmissible to Future Generations, (something Prohibited by CoE's International Convention on BioEthics, known as "Oviedo'" Treaty, since 1997, i.e. just 1 Year Before Also Banning the  "Clonning" of Human Persons, since 1998), 2 Other, Specific Reports, prepared, in parallel, by other CoE's Experts, (See: ..., etc), would now reach an Outcome, apparently "towards the End of Next Year", i.e. towards December 2020, as Laurence Lwoff told us Today.

This appears to be much Later than earlier Expected, Compared to Previous Lwoff's Replies to identical "Eurofora"s Question, last June 2019, which had Indicated a Timing around April or May 2020, (See ibid).

However, it's Not yet Clear if that Extended Time Deadline referred precisely to those Experts' Reports only, or, perhaps, Also to the substantial Conclusions that CoE's BioEthics' Committee might reach After those Texts' Completion and Discussion :

- F.ex. Lwoff told "Eurofora", on this same occasion, that it's "Not yet Known what they (CoE's competent Committee) might propose", "f.ex., perhaps a Reformulation" of CoE's "Oviedo" Convention (Comp. Supra), and/or a Debate (See Infra), or anyting Else".

Given the Fact that CoE's "Oviedo" Convention notoriously Prohibits any Heritable Manipulation of the "Human Genome", made with the "Aim", (something that some Prefer to Enlarge into any Genetic Manipulation which may "have as Effect" to do that) to "introduce any Modification in the genome of any Descendants", (Article 13), such a "ReFormulation", theoretically, might Either follow the Policy pushed by "Socialist/Liberal" former US President Barack Hussein Obama's appointed Experts, (who Concluded, at the beginning of 2017 (i.e., in fact, Before New US President Don Trump takes over in real practice) for a very controversial and dangerous "Conditional Permission" in many cases), Or, Otherwise, stick to the "Global Ban" Request of many MEPs, particularly ChristianDemocrats/EPP, expressed Recently in EU Parliament on 2019, (See: ..., etc), i.e. for an International Extension of the above mentioned Prohibition already existing at PanEuropean CoE's "Oviedo" Convention on "Human Rights and BioMedicine" since 1997, (Similar to the Ban of Human "Clonning", since its Additional Protocol of 1998, signed in Paris).

>>> This Issue is of Extreme and Urgent Importance, because here it's all Humanity which is obviously at Stake, since  Heritable Genetic Manipulations may also fabricate "Chimeras" (between Animals and Humans), and Various Other kinds of "Dr. Frankenstein" Monsters, real "New Races" of Beings, an aggravated and permanent "Appart-Heid" definitively Separating Humans between them, Set up various "Alien" Species, (etc), if they Fall into the Wrong Hands of some Maverick/Selfish Technocrats.

In Addition, Recently, various Health Problems were found in Heritable Gene Editing, (as in the Clonning, previously). There are some Speculations about eventual Technical Solutions in the Future, but, at any case, this is Not the Main Concern.

Indeed, as COE's BioEthics Committee stressed at an exceptional Statement of 2015, on the occasion of such CRISPR-Cas9 Heritable Gene Editing Technologies, the Main "Concern" focuses "in particular (on) the intentional Modification of Human Genome, so as to Produce Individuals or Groups endowed with Particular Characteristics". (Comp. Supra). In fact, "deliberate Germ-Line Editing in Human beings crosses a line viewed as Ethically Inviolable", Denounced also COE Assembly's Social and Health Affairs Committee, in a Declaration issued (after the October 2018 Incident) on December 2018.

Such Risks seem to have become Now (i.e. After that October 2018 Incident : Comp. Supra) inevitable, particularly in the Absence of any Known Technology able to Prevent, Spot, and/or Reverse a possible Heritable Manipulation, whenever a Human Embryo is exposed to any eventual Genetic Intervention, (f.ex. during Artificial Procreation Methods, IVF, etc).

But, even if, according to Other CoE's sources, it seems to be "currently a Prohibition on interventions aimed at Modifying the Germ-Line in Human beings in all EU, and many CoE, member States", (as a 2017 CoE Assembly Resolution says), nevertheless, there are also Many important Non-European Actors throughout the World in this domain, and, therefore, CoE's Committee on BioEthics has "launched, since 2015, a Call to use CoE's Oviedo Convention's Principles also for a Debate at International level", Lwoff topically reminded to "Eurofora".

Currently, one Side seems to attempt to use some kind of "Debates" in order to ..."Amend" CoE's BioEthical Convention, (as, f.ex., Socialist MEP Petra de Sutter's Report in CoE's Assembly, on October 2017), while anOther Side clearly seeks "a Global Ban" on Heritable Genetic Manipulations, as prescribed by that same CoE's Convention, (whose Full Name speaks "for the Protection of Human Rights, and Dignity of the Human Being, with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine"). Already, CoE's Highest Political Body, that of its Committee of Ministers has "invited" States to put a "Ban on establishing a Pregnancy with Germline cells or human Embryos having undergone intentional Genome Editing", since February 2018.

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+ At any case, in general, "given the recent Developments in New Technologies, and the Crossing of Borders implied often by them, there are More and more Appeals for what is called a "New Governance", in BioEthics, where 1 of its Key Aspects is to Integrate Public Debate", added Laurence Wolff to "Eurofora" Today.

=> - "And, concerning such a "New Governance", already, there is a Consensus for Public Debates to be involved much More from the Beginning, i.e., already since the (Scientific) Research on such New Technologies", told us CoE's BioEthics Department's Head, surprisingly approaching "Eurofora"s wider Project...

 

 

(../..)

("DraftNews")

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  imag0573_400

    An "Eugenic" loophole Amendment, which might expose to Dangers reminiscent of "3rd Reich's" notorious Genetic Abuses, hidden at the last minute inside an otherwise Good, larger Health policy Package scheduled to be voted on Thursday, was strongly denounced by a coalition of MEPs from various Political Groups and Countries, in a Press Conference held this afternoon at EU Parliament in Strasbourg.

    Mainly calling to "Select Human Embryos", via "Genetic Counselling" and "pre-implantation" Techniques including "Genetic Tests", in order to "Eradicate Hereditary rare Diseases", it might open ways to Dangerous Practices in Future, they denounced in substance.

    But they also made it clear that a much larger Report inside which this Controversial Amendment "No 15" was added in dubious circumstances, officialy destinated to struggle against "Rare Diseases", and drafted by Professor Antonios Trakatellis, was otherwise "an Excellent Report", aiming at a "completely Uncontroversial target" of Health policy on which "all MEPs and Experts are united, believing that Europe should act" to protect People's Health (See "EuroFora"'s earlier News).

    The controversy came at a particularly delicate moment for the EU in relation to Citizens, at the eve of June 2009 EU Elections, and shortly before Ireland re-votes for "Lisbon Treaty"..    

- Denouncing risks of "an Eugenic demand, very similar to what we had during the 3rd Reich in Germany, but now coming from some Scientisists themselves", German ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Dr. Peter Liese stressed that critical MEPs were against "Eugenic" engineering with "Selection of Human Embryos", and anything which might ultimately lead up to to a "Selection of Human Race". It doesn't help to "eradicate" Human Lives, he added.


    Several Experts and NGOs expressed "Deep Concern", as f;ex. DR M.C. Cornel of the "European Society of Human Genetics", which stressed, on this occasion, that "the importance of Non-Directiveness in Reproductive issues is a Central characteristic of Human Genetics, after the Atrocities committed in the name of Genetics in the first half or the 20th Century".

     - "This is completely Unacceptable", stressed Italian Liberal MEP Vittorio Prodi, on the Controversial Amendment, also because pushes to "eliminate early Human Life", as he noted.

     - "This opens a Dangerous Road, rather a Motorway", denounced Danish MEP Mrs Margrette Auken, from the "Greens", observing that various similar attempts were made in the Past "not only in Germany, but also in several other Countries, "even at the 1970ies", "f.ex. on forced Sterilisation of Roma" People, and other criticisable situations f.ex. in the UK, in Sweden, etc. as she said.

    + Other NGOs, as f.ex. "LebenHilfe" from Berlin, added that, among various other Risks, could also be that, by exploiting the pre-implantation Genetic Diagnostics and the Selection of "healthy" Embryos, some may "propagate" several "Eugenic" aims, starting f.ex. by pushing to eradicate Human Livies which might "Cost too much" to preserve, ultimately exposing to dangers reminiscent of the "3rd Reich"'s atrocious abuses.

    In consequence, ChristianDemocrats/EPP and "Green" MEPs "decided by Majority to vote against" this Controversial Amendment, anounced to Journalists the 5 MEPs who participated in the Press Conference, representing a wide spectrum, from Liberals to "Greens" and ChristianDemocrats, and from Hungary, Italy, Germany and Danemark up to Ireland (Gay Mitchell), etc.
----------------------------------
    Hungarian ChristianDemocrat MEP Laszlo Surjan said "that it was "Suddenly, at the End of the Procedure" in Committee, that "appeared this (Controversial) Amendment, which has nothing to do" with the main purpose of the Report, on which all agreed.

    He denounced an "Unhonest" move, and called to "avoid this kind of unacceptable situations". Nobody should "Select People", Surjan stressed.

    - "We (MEPs) had No Chance to Discuss" this last-minute Amendment earlier added at a Committee's level, said German MEP Peter Liese

    Speaking to "EuroFora", Dr. Liese, the Spokesman of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group in EU Parliament, said that MEPs didn't oppose other references of the Report f.ex. on "Genetic Tests", because they were "no proposals" to impose them, while, on the contrary, there was "a Problem" if anyone attempted to "impose" f.ex. this or that Genetic Technique and "Genetic Counselling", etc. to the People on human reproduction.
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The precise Text :
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    Controversial parts of Amendment No 15 ask mainly "to lead finally to the Eradication" of "Hereditary" "rare diseases", "through Genetic Counselling .., and ..pre-Implantation Selection of healthy Embryos".

    But  EU Rapporteur Professor Trakatellis, said to "EuroFora" that fears should be alleviated by Guarantees that all this should be done only "where appropriate", when it's "not contrary to existing National Law", and "always on a Voluntary basis", according to other Parts of the Amendment.

    He stressed that the main aim was to allow "a free and informed choice of persons involved", without imposing them anything :  - "It's not an obligatory, but advisary" text, he said.

    To make that point clear, he was ready, in agreement with many MEPs, to eventually drop at least that part of the controversial Amendment which initially called for "efforts to ..lead finally to the Eradication of those rare diseases" "which are Hereditary".

    But, until late Wednesday evening, reportedly together with many other MEPs, he stood by all the rest of the controversial Amendment, (fex. on the "Genetic Counselling" and the "pre-implantation Selection of healthy Embryos"), so that critical MEPs, going from ChristianDemocrats as Dr. Liese, to "Greens" or "Ind/Dem", observed to "EuroFora" that "this was not enough" to close the dangerous loophole.

    Particularly since, as Professor Trakatellis noted himself, "this is already allowed to the U.K.", and "other National Legislations would probably follow, sooner or later" in a similar direction. As for a general call to "Eradicate Hereditary rare Diseases", this "should happen, at any case, in practice, de facto", to protect public Health.

    On the contrary, "our goal should be to help patients suffering from rare diseases, not to eradicate the patients. In case of genetic disease risk, the decision should not be guided by scenarios" made by politicians. "Perents who may decide to accept a child, even if handicapped or with genetic disease, must be respected and supported with solidarity", critical MEPs stated.

    - "Any Pressure" to "a patient or couple (who "should be able to make an informed choice consistent with their own values"),"from health Professionals, Public Health Policies or Governemental Institutions, or Society at large, should be avoided", stresses the "European Society for Human Genetics".

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Each MEP's vote will be registered !

-----------------------------------   

The Socialist Group requested a "Split vote" on the Amendment 15, first without, and afterwards with the words "lead finally to the Eradication" etc.


    But the first "split vote" leaves intact all the other parts of the Controversial Amendment, (i.e. "Genetic Counselling", "Selection of healthy Embryos", etc).

    That's why, 3 Groups of MEPs : ChristianDemocrats/EPP, "Greens/EFA", and "Ind/Dem", have asked for "Roll Call Votes", on everything regarding the Controversial Amendment No 15, and on the final outcome of the resulting Report as amended, which will register all the individual positions to be taken by each MEP.   

Something which will obviously make each MEP think twice before voting for one or another choice, to be sure that he/she will make the right choice in front of EU Citizens, particularly at these pre-Election times...


    Crucial Votes were scheduled between 12 Noon and 1 p.m. local Strasbourg time, in the middle of a long series of various other Reports, and after a long Public Debate on the larger Health policy package, from 9 to 11.50 am.

    The specific Report inside which was hidden the controversial Amendment is due to be debated between 11 and 12 am.

    So that more last-minute Surprises may not be excluded a priori...

    Particularly at the present Historic moment, when even the Institutional Future of the EU depends on the result of a second Referendum on "Lisbon Treaty", later this year, in ...Ireland, a mainly Catholic country, where People are particularly sensitive in such kind of socio-cultural and values issues...
 

      ***     
 
     (Draft due to be updated).
 
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