
newsitems
New CoE Chief, Buric (2019-2024) to Eurofora: For Dialogue between States and Citizens too

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Even if the Surprizing, Crystal-clear Absolute Majority Win right from the 1st Round, 159 Votes against just 105, and 6 Abstentions/Blank, in COE's Parliamentary Assembly's Summer Plenary Session Today in Strasbourg, (after having Faced, successively, 3 Strong Competitors of Various Kinds : See Infra), apparently was due mainly to GeoPolitical and/or PanEuropean Policy reasons, (See also Infra), nevertheless, the New Secretary General of the CoE for the period of 2019-2024, vice-Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Croatia, Ms Marija Pejcinovic - Buric, Replying to an "Eurofora"s Question, confirmed, with a bright Smile, that, indeed, among her Priorities will also be efforts to develop appropriate "Dialogue" between "States and Citizens" too, in the foreseable Future, in addition and in parallel to the Dialogue between the PanEuropean CoE's 47 Member States, (including Russia, etc.), that she stressed from the outset (See Infra).
- Indeed, in addition of having got a Relevant Experience also at the Direction of various Medias for "Civil Society" and "Public Administration", as well as in a Foundation "for Civil Society Development", in parallel with a Scientific Project on "Europeanisation" of the "Public Administration", (etc), Buric has Recently become also President of an "Initiative - Partnership" for "Open Government" since 2017, according to her CV, as published nowadays by the CoE.
In this regard, "Eurofora"s co-Founder has also, inter alia, Published an Legal Research of more than 1.000 Pages, focusing mainly on the Judicial Control of Public Administration's Decision-Making Process in relation to Citizens, which was presented for a Prize destinated to PhD Thesis by Strasbourg's Faculty of Law, on proposal by Paris II University Professor Paul Amselek, already as early as since the 1980ies ; followed by the Coordination of a Collective Project (with Other journalists, Strasbourg's University, etc), on Innovative Use of Modern Telecommunication Technologies, accepted by EU Commission for examination in the framework of EU's "ESPRIT" Programme (1997) ; and the announcement/discussion at an EU Parliament's Press Conference, (together with its Vice-President and the EU Commissioner for Medias), of "EuroFora" Project (for Public Debates between Public Administrations and Citizens before Decisions affecting their Lives and/or Society at large : 2006); followed by the Creation of WebNews Site "Eurofora.net" since 2007/2008, (with more than +1.800 Original Publications and 32,5 Millions Readers nowadays); active participation to the landmark, Days Colloque "Towards an Administrative Democracy ? From administrated subjects to Citizens", organized on 2010 by Strasbourg University and ENA; a 2016-2018 ReOrientation Plan for a State Doctoral Thesis on such Issues in France and Other Countries ; a Collection of Original Publications on Exchanges with Top EU/CoE+ Politicians/Senior Officers, Heads of State/Government, etc, during + 25 Years, around "Eurofora" Project (2017 + UpDated 2018); Registration of proposal for a Citizens' "Right to Dialogue" with Public Adminstrations before decisions, at the French "Grand Debat" Governemental Website, added also to Public Debate and Endorsement by the Collective Contribution of Strasbourg's Euro-Metropolitan City on "Participatory Democracy", to the National Great Debate organized by President Macron (2019) ; Registration of "4 D" Project (i.e. "Digital Debates in modern Democratic Decision-Making") for CoE's Annual "World Forum for Democracy"'s Labs, 2019, (Issue that we evoked with the current French Presidency and due to be re-visited anew also by the Next CoE's Presidency by Georgia (11/2019-5/2020, before Greece: 5-11/2020); relevant fresh University Research on Law due on 2020+ (etc).
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>>> Buric's wider, main Strategic Political Aim is to Help meet the current Europe's "Need of Unity", (i.e. not only in the Society, but also among PanEuropean CoE's 47 Member States), as she stressed from the outset, in her First Statements to Journalists, including "Eurofora", after her brillant Election, (Comp. Supra).
=> European "Unity" must be supported particularly by "Dialogue", she went on to Add. Because Europeans need nowadays "Peace and Prosperity", concluded Buric, in a Snap and Coherent Overview of her main aims.
Significantly, she stressed that the Same Day that CoE's Parliamentary Assembly Voted to Ratify the Credentials of Russian MEPs, on certain Conditions of Monitoring, but withOut more severe Sanctions (from now on excluded for all MEPs, whose Basic Rights are now Saveguarded), as those which had Sharply Divided the PanEuropean Organisation of Strasbourg, since the 2014 Controversy on the Ukranian Conflict, provoking the Departure of the Russian Delegation, followed by a "Freezing" of its Annual Financial Contribution to the CoE, etc. (Despite the Fact that the Real Causes which provoked the First Bloody Clashes in Kiev, still remain Non-Elucidated, as a CoE's Top Experts' Report has found, particularly concerning those Mysterious Deadly "Snipers", who reportedly Targetted and Killed Both Demonstrators and Policemen, until Violence erupts, Droping a Peace Agreement which had just been signed by all sides !...).
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This is, Probably, at least one of the Reasons for which Buric Won the race vis a vis 3 Other Strong Candidates to CoE's Top Job, such as f. Prime Minister of Lithuania, MP. Andrius Kubilius, f. Foreign Minister of Greece, Athens' Mayor and OSCE Head, Long-Time MEP Dora Bakogianni, including, Today, a Political "Heavyweight" such as Belgium's vice-Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Didier Reynders, (the other Finalist), currently "Informateur" of King Philip on preparing a New coalition Government in Brussels.
All of them were, more or less, linked to the ChristianDemocrat/EPP mainstream Right, (with a Difference, it seems, for Reynders, who was reportedly Backed also by "Socialists/Liberals", while Buric's "Political Family" was clearly "the Center-Right", as she reminded anew Today).
=> This Fact Opens a New Chapter, Nowadays, in CoE's recent History, since, Exceptionally, ...all its Latest Secretary Generals were "Socialists", (from British Terry Davis, to Norwegian Thornbjorn Jagland, twice).
>>> In particular, any New ChristianDemocrat/EPP CoE's Leadership of the Center-Right, would have to Harry up in order to strive to Catch up with a Series of Fast-Track Developments on the Crucial Issues of "Bio-Ethics", with an Important Impact on Humanity's foreseable Future. (F.ex. "Explosion" of the Number of Artificial Births, under various Pretexts, at the same Time that Heritable Gene Editing Technologies, irreversibly affecting all Generations, are emerging, etc).
+ Moreover, in the MeanTime, CoE's Group of Experts for the Protection of Human Embryo has been Dissolved, (as his former Long-Time Head, Denounced to "Eurofora"), while some Controversial Moves seem to have already Started, Recently, to Evolve inside CoE which might, eventually, lead into Diminishing even the already Insufficient Legal Protection of Human Embryo by pre-existing Legal Rules, so that, any New CoE's Secretary General, might be Soon placed in front of a "Fait Accompli", Deprived of sufficient Time in order to Prevent Risks of some Irreversible, serious Changes Downgrading the level of BioEthics' protection, even Before he/she could Start Taking Efficient Action, (See, f.ex.: ..., etc)... So, it's Urgent to really Take Control in that Fast Evolving Area, (including on some Controversial Moves recently evolving inside CoE's own BioEthical sector). To the point that it's not even sure that there might be Sufficient Time, not even Before the End of this Year (2019)...
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But Support for Buric has apparently come also from a part of the "Left" side in CoE's Assembly, as she Acknowledged Today.
So that the Main Reasons for her Succesfull Election seem to come, much more, from a Geo-Political point of view :
- First of all, as a Croat Top Politician, she is the 1st CoE's Secretary General, during its 70th Years of History, who comes from a former "Eastern" European Country, thereby, having an obvious Potential to Strengthen its PanEuropean Dimension.
Indeed, already, she Contributed Positively, during the Recent rotating Presidency of the CoE by Croatia, into Preparing the Compromise which facilitated Russia's return back into the CoE's Parliamentary Assembly, thanks to subsequent Moves during Finland's and France's Presidencies.
Moreover, Experienced f. Croatian Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the CoE, Miroslav Papa, (who became a Key Member of Buric's succesful Electoral Team), had Earlier spoken to "Eurofora" about the "Challenge" of that Issue, during the recent Croat Presidency of the CoE, and at least a Part of the Final Compromise allowing the Ratification of Russian MEPs' Credentials, on "Condition" of a Strong "Monitoring" process, as Voted Earlier Today, (Comp. Supra), clearly Reminds Ambassador Papa's recently expressed Support for CoE's "Monitoring" mechanisms in general, (See, f.ex., his Concluding Intervention at a relevant Conference, in http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeminoritiesprotection20yearsafter.html, etc).
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+ But CoE's clear Choice for a Croat Secretary General, obviously, can also be interpreted as a kind of Positive "Message" of Optimism for the Western Balkans' wider area, as Member of the European Family.
Added to Buric's intensive Experience in Working for Issues such as preparations of EU's Enlargement, Good Neighbourhood Policies, wider European Integration in general, etc., all this points towards a similar Direction.
++ To this was also Recently Added a very Interesting Buric's Reply to anOther "Eurofora"s relevant Question, during the Presidency of the CoE by Croatia, when she expressed her Belief in the "Positive Potential of Minorities" (from which the Western Balkans are Plenty, particularly in Croatia, etc), able to serve also as "Links" between Countries, useful for Regional Cooperation, working as Regional "Bridges", (f.ex. in Trade, Industry, Transports, Tourism, Environment, Culture, Science, etc : See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeminoritiesprotection20yearsafter.html , etc). Matters at least partially Familiar also to Buric's Top Expert, Ambassador Miroslav Papa, who has Studied Comparative Minorities' Legal Status throughout all the PanEuropean area.
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+ But, Croatia naturally has also a "Central European" Identity, that "Eurofora" had, f.ex. strived to regularly Support, for the General European Interest, during Zagreb's EU Accession process, often in cooperation with the Country's Longest serving f. Prime Minister, Ivo Sanader, (Comp. f.ex., at: ..., + ..., etc).
Marija Buric had already Published, in the Past, various relevant Texts, including, f.ex., in order to plead that its National "Identity" is not Incompatible at all with the European one, and/or that "Going West" should Not necessarily oblige to go "far away from God", (etc), as certain Headings of her Earlier Publications suggest.
+ By the way, even Croatia's Strategic Geographic Position, offering a Unique Link for PanEuropean Transports, between the Mediterranean Sea's Coasts and Danube/Rhine Rivers, (obvious in any MAP), underlines the PanEuropean Centrality of that Key Country.
No Need to Remind the Good Picture of European People engaged in Sport that gave us all the sympathetic National Football Team of Croatia during Last Year's (2018) FIFA's Championship in Moscow...
- What is more Important to observe Nowadays, is that even Buric's Mentor, the Prime Minister of the Country, former MEP Andrej Plenković, (Comp. Plenkovic's Reply to "Eurofora"s Question, earlier in the CoE, at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/primeministerplenkoviconeucoecoop.html , etc), plays an Important Role as one of EU Council's "Negotiators", for the EPP Political Group, in the currently intense Collective Efforts to Find an Agreement on EU's Top Jobs, between Heads of State/Government and EU Parliament's MEPs, this Week in Brussels, in order to be Ready on Time for the forthcoming MEPs' Public Debates and Votes on July in Strasbourg.
+ Last, but not least : After Today's brillant Election of Marija Buric as CoE's new Secretary General for the period of 2019-2024, it becomes obvious that an eventual Confirmation of anOther ChristianDemocrat/EPP, as the Winner Spitzen-Kandidate Manfred Weber, would naturally Facilitate EU Commission - CoE Cooperation in the foreseable Future.
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Many observed that Marija Pejcinovic-Buric (who will take over from Jagland on September 2019) is just the 2nd Lady elected at CoE's Top Job during the 70 Years-long History of Strasbourg's PanEuropean Organisation.
The 1st was France's Catherine Lalumiere, with whom "Eurofora" had started to work in the European Press.
Historic periods and Persons are Different.
>>> But they Both have Light in their eyes !
(../..)
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CoE Vote, Officials +Son to EF for Independent Public Enquiry on Web-Journalist Daphne Murder soon

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- After EU Parliament's recent call for an "independent International public Inquiry" on the Brutal Murder of Web Journalist Daphne Caruana-Galizia in Malta, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euparliamentvotesinternationalqueryondaphnemurder.html),
+ it's Now also the CoE's PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, which has just added another Call, "to Establish, ...within 3 Months, an Independent Public Enquiry" on that affair, with a Resolution largely Voted Today.
CoE's Resolution also Slamed "False Claims" by the Socialist Government of Malta, "about Progress in the Investigation", and, on the Contrary, reminded them their "Obligations, under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights", to Protect Human Life.
- There is Nothing serious done in that so-called Enquiry yet, and, if things stay like this, then, even the simple Executors risk to be Released soon, on August 4, without ever finding who masterminded and requested the Murder, Warned Today "Eurofora" the 2nd Son of the Victim, Andrew, who is himself a Journalist too.
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=> Meanwhile, Experienced CoE Assembly's Secretary General, Wojciech Sawicki, Replying earlier to an "Eurofora" Question, did not exclude the Possibility for the competent CoE's Rapporteur, Pieter Omtziegt, to eventually try to act, if necessary, as an Independent Investigator in that Brutal Murder case, particularly after EU Parliament's recent relevant call, followed now even by PACE's additional push.
- There are, at least, 2 relevant Precedents, mutatis-mutandis, concerning another CoE's Rapporteur, Dick Marty, Swiss Liberal MEP, in the Famous Cases of Serbian Prisoners allegedly Killed in order to Sell their Organs in an atrocious Traffick, between Kosovo and Albania, reportedly monitored by a Turkish "Doctor", and of the so-called "CIA Reddition Flights", with Secret Prisons, etc., against Suspects cought all over the World, Sawicki reminded.
- But, it's also true that Marty had himself a personal experience in such matters, since he was Attorney himself, he cautioned.
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+ At any case, soon afterwards, it's also CoE's competent Rapporteur on Daphnes' Murder himself, Dutch ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Pieter Omtziegt, who, Replying earlier to a relevant "Eurofora"s Question, has told us that he could really act to "Help" such an Independent Enquiry.
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Meanwhile, the "Socialist" Government of Malta Narrowly Escaped, at the Last Minute, a Collective Amendment asking to "Open a Monitoring procedure", "until Concerns are addressed in a satisfactory manner".
Earlier, in PACE's Committee for Legal Affairs and Human Rights, "a Large Majority" of MEPs had initially Voted in favour of that Sanction, observed the Committee's President, Icelandish MEP Sunna Aevarsdottir.
But, now, another "Socialist" MEP from the notoriously Collapsing SPD Party in Germany, Franck Schwabe, currently Chair of PACE's "Socialist" Group, intervened claiming that such a Sanction would be "Too Much" for a Country like Malta, fitting only to Countries like Turkey, etc. Curiously, such an Important Issue had been "Cornered" in PACE's Agenda, between a Last-Minute added Debate and Vote on the "Burning" matter of Russian MEP's Credentials, and the Anouncement of the Results of the Election of a New Secretary General for the CoE (See: ..., etc), resulting in an Exceptionaly and Abnormaly Low Number of Participating MEPs, so that a Sudden Displacement of Only ...15 (out of a Total of several Hundreds !), was enough in order to make evaporate the "Majority" in that Vote, at least for the Time being...
However, given that Long List of "Concerns" already denounced by MEPs now, (f.ex., among others, also : "No News on ..Inquiry's Progress","Conflicts of Interests" for "Magistrates", "Conflict of Interest" for "the Investigating Police Officer", "the Inquiring Magistrate ...Removed by the Prime Minister", No Investigation on a Minister who reportedly had Contacts with the Suspects, allegations that a Policeman Informed the Suspects Before they were arrested, "False Claims" about "Progress in the investigation", "Failure to request possible Evidence from German Authorities", "MisLeading Statements by persons close to the Prime Minister", etc)
...it's not obvious at all that there might, eventually, be any Other Chance for Valetta to Escape from CoE's "Monitoring", unless those Problems are Fixed asap.
(../..)
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CoE Anti-Corruption Enquiry on Risk to Cover-up illegal Political Funding, eve of Greek Elections

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- In an "Urgent" move, decided at the Eve of Crucial forthcoming Elections in Greece, CoE's Anti-Corruption Watchdog, nick-named "GRECO", decided to Launch an exceptional Enquiry on a Controversial attempt, by the Out-Going former Leftist Government in Greece, of "Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' "SYRIZA" Party, to Lower Down the Sanctions for Corruption on Funding Political Activities, (including Parties, Electoral Campaigns, etc), which is scheduled to Enter into Force at the Beginning of July 2019, i.e. practically almost at the Same Time as the Elections of July 7, largely expected to send a New Government from the Center-Right "New Democracy" Party, led by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, (ChristianDemocrats/EPP), while the Political Battle is Narrowing down into whether there will be a Sufficient Majority, or not, for an Independent Governance in Greece's foreseable Future.
Indeed, the 70 Years Old, and 47 Member State-strong Today, PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, based in Strasbourg, officially "Decided", at its Plenary Meeting of June 17-21 Last Week (during which EU asked to become Member and enhance EU-CoE Cooperation, with a demand presented by EU Commission's vice-President Timmermans: See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeanticorruptiongrecoandeu.html), "to Initiate an Ad Hoc Procedure in respect of Greece".
Such "Urgent", "Ad Hoc Procedures, in Exceptional Circumstances", are part of "Measures taken" by the CoE in respect of Member-Countries "Found Not to be in Compliance with" (i.e. Violate) "the Anti-Corruption Watchdog's Rules and/or Recommendations,
whenever "GRECO" "Receives Reliable Information ...indicating that a ... Reform ... or ... Change by that Member (State), May Result in ... (a) Serious Violation of a CoE Anti-Corruption Standard", (stresses the relevant "Article 34" of its "Rules of Procedure").
- This Affair is "concerning the Recently Amended Article 236 of the (Greek) Criminal Code, and its Impact on the Effectiveness of the Fight against Corruption" in Greece, according to the Official CoE's Decision.
- CoE, also, "may Name Rapporteurs", "and, if necessary, Carry out a Visit" to the Country, for Enquiry on the spot, (while also Gathering independent Information from various NGOs, Medias, Journalists, Witnesses, etc).
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Among others, it's also the "Union of Attorneys of Greece" ("EEE" : claiming to represent All the Officially sworn Attorneys of the Country), which Warned on June of a Danger to "Push to Fall into Prescription" a lot of "Pending Cases for Corruption of Important General Interest".
This would reportedly result by a Combination between a "Downgrading of Active Corruption" into a Simple Offense, instead of Crime, Added to a Restriction of the concept of "Civil Servant", etc.
That Controversial Reform is part of a Wider Reshuffle of the Criminal Legislation in Greece, which includes also Other, Various cases of drastically Lowering Sanctions, as, f.ex. in cases of Thefts committed by Gangs and/or Repeatedly, which reportedly risk to fall Down to the mere level of an ordinary Theft, unless the stolen object worths more than 120.000 €, (i.e. a criterium which has nothing to do with the Dangerosity, or not, of the Culprits, as a social reality), threatening to let go free Many Dangerous Criminals currently arrested, according to other Critical Press Reports, citting Police sources.
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+ Meanwhile, "Eurofora" had an opportunity to Speak, Earlier, a the CoE, with several "GRECO"s Experts or Officials, some of whom Expressed their Surprise for the Fact that such a Serious Measure related also to Corruption on "Political Funding", and reportedly Risking to Cover-Up "Serious" "Pending Cases", had been, Curiously, Scheduled by the Out-Going Government, to Enter into Force "Immediately After the forthcoming Elections !"
++ Several Judges, (including, f.ex. the 1st vice-President of the "Union of Judges and Attorneys", Panagiotes Liberopoulos, etc), have also Questioned the "Hurry" in which various such and other Important and Controversial Legislative Changes are Scheduled to be Adopted by the Parliament in a strange Procedure of "One (1) Vote" Only for the Entire Revised "Criminal Code", "as if it was 1 Article !", and, reportedly, WithOut Sufficient previous Public Dialogue, not even with Independent Experts, etc, so that Proposals were made to Postopone such a Vote for September 2019, without result.
However, Risks of Corruption around the Funding of (and/or by) Political Parties concerns particularly Electoral Campaigns, and All, Various, Big or Small, Parties, - including even of the Controversial Rightist "Golden Dawn", whose Public Funds have been Entirely "Freezed" since 2013, and all its Leadership initially Arrested and still Persecuted at the Courts, following the Death of an "Antifa" Militant after an alleged bullying against and a quarell with a Fan of that Party, (previously fan of the ...Communist Party !), while, on the Contrary, the un-provoked Murder of 2 Young Fans of Golden Dawn, and the Serious Wounds inflicted on a 3rd one, (who were Peacefully Guarding the Entrance of a Party's Office in Athens), in a Cold Blood Attack by a heavily Armed Gunman, (100% Filmed twice) soon afterwards, (Later Revendicated by a Self-Proclaimed, unknown yet, Far Leftist Extremist Grouplet), curiously still remain Totaly UnPunished, with Not even 1 Suspect having ever been prosecuted, Not Even almost 6 Years After those Murders (11/2013-2019) ! Meanwhile, to this, was Added, Recently, also a 2nd Rightist Party, which might, according to some Polls, eventually cross the required Threshhold for entering in the Parliament...
=> Thus, it's obviously a "Mystery" how the above-mentioned Party's MPs and overall Organisation practically Survives all these Years, withOut any due Public Funding, and while Facing also a quasi-Total "Boycott"/Censorship by almost All, Public and Private Medias, (except from a Few Websites, sometimes), whic Systematicaly Refuse to Publsh Any Information comming from that Controversial Rightist Party, Not even During Elections-Time. (Massive Censorhsip of which the Medias of the Left had Already Abused, even Against ...the Democratically Elected Government of Greece, by "New Democracy"s Center-Right ChristianDemocrats/EPP, f.ex. Back on 2013, during an Attempt to Reform the National Radio-TV "ERT", when the Goverment's Spokesman then, Minister Simos Kedikoglou, had Denounced to "Eurofora" that even the Official Governemental Press Releases of General Interest Issues for the People, were Not Published, by most Private or "Public" Medias, to the point that the Governing Party's ..."Youth" movement, was Trying to Publish the Official Announements in a Makeshift "Web-Radio" Internet Site !...
(Needless to say, CoE's competent Director on Freedom of Expression, then, was ...Stoned and made a great Effort to Understand what was really happening then, on August 2013 in Greece, when "Eurofora" called him ! But, finally, he managed to Find his words and Condemn, as a matter of General Principle, Any Violation of Freedom of Expression by systematic Censorship, including that committed by the PowerHolders in Private and Public Medias, even against the Democratically Elected Government of a CoE's Member Country)...
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+ Meanwhile, Concerning the 2019 CoE's Anti-Corruption Watchdog's latest Decision on Greece, (Comp. Supra), "Eurofora" Interviewed also 3 more Experts/Officials of the CoE who Expressed their View about the Serious Importance of that Matter, and Reminded, that more or less Similar "Urgent", "Ad Hoc Procedures" including "Rapporteurs" and on the spot "Visits for Enquiry", had also been decided by the "GRECO" Group in Some Other Cases, (as, f.ex., in Romania, Moldova and Austria, etc).
- But, Despite (or ..Because ?) of the Politically Topical and too "Hot" aspects of this Affair, finally, CoE's procedures, in real Practice, apparently ...Delayed the Follow up, since it was Asked for Greece to Present a Report only on ...September 2019, (i.e. 2 or 2 Months AFTER the Elections of July, and the Enter into force of the Controversial Legislative Changes), and the Matter was Referred to a Next Plenary Meeting of "GRECO" scheduled for ...December 2019 !
It's not yet Obvious to "Eurofora" if the above-mentioned "Pending Cases" of "Serious" Corruption ib Greece (Comp. Supra), might avoid, or not, too be, Meanwhile, Forced to Close Down, and be Definitively Droped, (i.e. practically Covered up), until that Time, (as Many had Warned)...
But, Independently of that, and Despite some (apparently "Anonymous") attempts to push inside CoE's Secretariat to Further Delay the Official Announcements to the Medias up to a "Briefing" of June 25, due to be Followed by a Publication On-Line around ...June 27 (sic !), (i.e. during a Notoriously Overloaded Period of COE's Parliamentary Assembly, immediately Followed by crucial EU Summits in Brussels and the New EU Parliament's 1st Plenary in Strasbourg, until the Greek Elections...), Nevertheless, "Eurofora" Firmly Believes that, at least, the Greek People and all its Political Leaders, should be well Aware, in advance, of what is really happening, in so Serious Cases concerning them, at the level of the CoE :
=> Therefore, and since the Official CoE's Decision has been Already Taken between 17-21 June 2019, the Time is Obviously Ripe, for a long overdue Publication, at least Now.
(../..)
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French President Macron compares his Election to that of EU Parliament's Winner Top-Candidate Weber

*Brussels/EU Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- The Mystery (See: ..., and Infra) about the real reasons of a curiously Delayed, Last-Minute Opposition, with too Harsh Words by some, versus the Winner EU Parliament's "SpitzenKandidate" for the job of EU Commission's President, ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Manfred Weber, Chairman of EPP's Group of MEPs, became even Deeper, after Fresh Statements by the embattled French President, Emmanuel Macron Today, in Reply to a Question raised by a German Journalist, during his Concludig Press Conference in Brussels, where "Eurofora" was present, just after the End of the 20-21 June 2019 Heads of State/Governnment Summit here.
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+ Significantly, Macron had already spoted "Eurorofa"s presence in France's PressRoom Today, since he Saluted us with a bright Smile and a few Words, already while Entering a fully packed room, (where we Exceptionaly had accepted a kind proposal to sit near "Elysée" Palace's staff, at a Special Row), and appeared to be Aware also of our relevant Publications of OverNight (Dated from Yesterday), with First News about the Controversy on the choice of the New EU Commission's President and EU Summit's well known Decision to Postpone the issue for Consultations with EU Parliament until June 30 - July 1st, as well as an Initial appraisal of German Chancellor Angie Merkel and the French President's respective Positions, as they had presented them in Brief Statements to Journalists who were present at that Late Hour, including "Eurofora", OverNight, (Comp.: ...+ ..., etc).
++ In the MeanTime, "Eurofora" had just Crossed, also, Chancellor Merkel, while she was walking towards her adjacent German PressRoom, traditionally aside the French, and we were Surprized by her spontaneous reaction to suddenly start Smiling while Looking towards us and speaking to her numerous Counsellors about something apparently related to "Eurofora", which, as we found out Later-on, most probably was that strange suggestion by Macron, Last Night, that EU Commission's Chair could, eventually, be offered to Merkel herself, (something that she had, in fact, already Declined previously twice, but had to refuse again anew Today, since another Journalist raised that Question, particularly after our Publcation too)...
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- "You became President of the Republic while still being very Young, without having a long Experience at a Top Political level. Why wouldn'it be possible for you to give Manfred Weber a Chance to become EU Commission's President ?", a German Journalist from "DPAgency" questioned Macron Today, in a straightforward way, which obviously Targetted one of his Repeated "Conditions" for a New EU Commission's President : to be "Experienced" and/or "Competent" enough in such kind of Top Jobs, as he had said earlier, (apparently in order to Contest that in the case of Weber).
- "Indeed, I had just a Short Political Experience, compared to Manfred Weber", acknowledged Macron.
- "But, at least, I had managed, meanwhile, to become Minister !", he immediately added.
Naturaly an Interesting and true point, But apparently irrelevant here : When the Aim is to get the Top Job of a President of European/International, MultiLateral Organisation, (as EU Commission here, etc.), Obviously, it's the Experience of having been Elected, previously, as Chairman of a Political Group of MEPs from 28 EU Member Countries, (and even of the Biggest in EU Parliament: that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP) that Counts Most, as Useful in real practice...
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+ Building even Further in such various concrete ways to Compare Macron's pathWay to that of Weber,
the embattled French Président reminded also the fact that, as he put it :
-"I was Elected after having presented myself in front of the French People. And the French People are the Judge".
- So, "if Manfred Weber presented himself in front of the European People, saying that he wants to become EU Commission's President, there would be No Problem", he reasoned.
- "But", instead, "he presented himself, at the Top of a List, in Germany, making a big fuss about it ! But it's Not enough"...., Macron criticized.
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- "For a quite Simple Reason :
- "I know how much Germans are rightfully attached to their Constitution. We have Texts in France, a Constitution, which says that President of the Republic is he who is elected by the French People".
- So, I presented myself in front of the French People. And the French Peuple Decided. With Sovereignity", he anew returned back to the Comparative format.
+ But, "we have also European Texts, and a(n EU) Constitution", which say that EU Commission's President, and others, are chosen by EU Council's leadership, and Endorsed by EU Parliament".
- "Like Germans do, ... I love Constitutions !"..., Macron concluded.
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=> - In Consequence, "If, one Day, the European People decide to build a Constitution which says that the EU Commission's President is Elected by the European People, in European Elections, then, we shall make Real European Elections !", he proposed for the foreseable Future.
>>> "In that case ANYONE (who wins), could directly become EU Commission's President", Highlighted Macron : That is to say, if and when such an EU Reform might be accomplished, then, the Conditions concerning the Candidates' Profile (Comp. Supra)
- "But that's not our (EU's) current situation", Regretted Macron, as things stand Nowadays.
----------------------------
This is an Interesting and Topical Exchange, because Macron seems to have been led to practically Drop or Downplay his Previous sine qua non Requirement for a special "Experience" and/or "Competence" of Candidates to EU Commission's Presidency (Comp. Supra),
>>> preferring to Focus, Now, on a general Demand for what he named as : "Real European Elections" (Comp. Supra).
+ And, (to "return" also his previous suggestion about Merkel : Comp. Supra), observers may easily guess, by carefully following this latest Macron's overall reasoning, (Comp. Supra), that he even ...Dreams for such an Opportunity to eventually be given to himself too, perhaps on 2024...
After all, why not ?
--------------------------
>>> However, even if it's like that, i.e. if the real reason for his Opposal to Weber's Election might, eventually, be the lack, until now, of an Authentic, fully-fledged, "Real European Election" as he said now (Comp. Supra),
=> then, WHY didN't he (and those "Socialists" who reportedly Changed stance, and Now Back that position), clearly WARN the People long BEFORE the May 2019 VOTES ?
Indeed, Where were all those Late "Critics" of the "SpitzenKandidat" Method in EU Parliament's May 2019 during all Public Events, Officially Organized by EU Parliament, EU Commission, and other various European Bodies, including Ebs TV, EuroVision, etc, under the Crystal-Clear Heading f.ex. "Candidates for EU Commission's Presidency" that EU Citizens were Called to Vote ? (See several relevant Pamphlets, Photos, Videos, etc)...
=> - This is "a Fraud on Voters !", denounces an Artice at Mainstream German Newspaper "Die Welt". Indeed, haven't EU Citizens been Deceived ?
There is a Strong EU Parliament's Resolution for that "SpitzenKandidat" Method, to which the EU Councl had given a quite Positive Response, and all that Practice systematically Followed by All related Public Actors, Both in the 2014 and in the 2019 EU Elections. All this canNot, normaly "Disappear", Suddenly, withOut any Warning, neither any serious explanation, just like Smoke...
Why even the Experienced current EU Commission's President, Jean-Claude Juncker, expressed now the view that "we have Not seen the End of the Spitzen-Kandidat procedure", "Not yet its Autopsy", (sic) ?
>>> All this, inevitably Augments the already ambiant Impression that a "Paradox", or even a "Mystery", might be Hidden in many converging Strange Facts concerning the Latest EU Elections of May 2019, (Comp. Supra: ..., etc), and their Aftermath.
(../..)
---------------------------------------
E
Merkel on Mystery for last-minute Opposal to EU Parliament Elections' Winner Leading-Candidate Weber
*Brussels/EU Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- Right from the Start, the 1st Question raised to German Chancellor Angie Merkel's Final and Largest Press Conference, at the Conclusion of this EU Brussels' Summit of 20-21 June 2019, was, precisely, on what "Eurofora" and any Honest Observer of the Facts, was "Burning" from Impatience to Raise,
after Yesterday Night's Blockade on the Choice of a New EU Commission's President, for the Period of 2019-2024, (See: ... + ...., etc), which has Regrettably shown France at Loggerheads with Germany, while UK's "BREXIT" still Looms around, Risking to Damage the Positive Outcome of the Latest EU Elections, where European People reached an Historic Record in turnout and Voters' Participation, giving an Absolute Majority to the Right side of the Political Spectrum, where Belongs Merkel's ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party, with which should, normally, be easy for Macron's Centrist/Center-Right Liberals to Find a Deal, (as it has already been done several Times in the Past, until Recently : F.ex. including the Election of 2017-2019 EU Parliament's President, Antonio Tajani, in Strasbourg, etc., Comp.: ...) :
>>> - Why Nothing wasN't done EARLIER to prepare an AGREEMENT, and prevent such a Last-Minute Deadlock, (Risking to be Damaging for EU's image vis a vis its own Citizens, but also the World) ?
Both key Facts : that Manfred Weber (ChristianDemocrats/EPP) was due to Win that Race and take a Lead for EU Commission's Top Job, But that Macron didn't like that "SpitzenKandidat" method, were, indeed, well Known, already a Long Time ago....
=> Merkel's Replies obviously had to pass in a very Diplomatic, semi-Automatic "Damage-Control/Reducing" mode, while also using her well-known Capacity to Smooth things, Focus on Stability, Urge for Hard Work, needed in order to be Finally Succesful. F.ex.:
- Before President Tusk consults EU Council's Members, We didn't know yet the position of may Other Countries, whose Votes Count for the overall Result. (But we might have guessed, f.ex. with a Timely UnOfficial Consultation, Couldn't we ?)...
- "in the context of ...Brexit, ...European forces must now show .. that they are Able to act in the EU. But, if we Now see that the Leading Cadidates' process may Not be Succesful,.. what will, this image of the EU give to the outside World ?" : (MERKÊL: ) - "I've said from the outset, that our Aim is to be able to make a Proposal by the time the European Parliament meets (i.e. July 2 in Strasbourg) so that it can be Elected smoothly. We have a Good Chance of Achieving this, even if we Still have a Lot of Work to do". "I am not particularly disappointed", but "l do not expect that we are already at the end of the process today".
- "Now we need to Talk to the EU Parliament" : The EU "Council ... must Propose a Name for EU Commission President, and the Parliament... must then ...Elect that person. So, they have to work Together". "I.e." we need "a Double Majority : ...there is a great deal to think about"... But, "we are still quite Well on schedule"...
- Question : "one of the Other Top Candidates ?"
- Merkel : "None of them has a Majority in EU Council".
-------------------
- Question: "...What is your Most important Principle? That the EPP ...puts the President of the Commission, respect for the Top Candidate principle, or Weber ?"
- Merkel : "...I canNot make any Statements Today. We just have to Wait .... I caN't go Beyond what I said Today. ...we have to reConnect with the political Party families first..."
-----------------------
- Question: "...the Most Difficult" = "Macron" ?
- Merkel : "No, really not. We respect each other ...I do not want to make a decision against France. I do not think France wants to make a decision against Germany either."
=> "We Must Unite. This is what distinguishes the Franco -German relationship".
---------------------------
- Question: "...are you still saying No to a Top Job in the EU ?"
- Merkel: "Yes, I still say No" .... this is a question that I am very often asked, ...I have Replied so Many times in the Same way"...
------------------------------------
- Question: "Could Germany claim the position from the ECB, so that Mr. Weidmann succeeds Mr. Draghi ?"
- Merkel: "...I take very seriously what Donald Tusk is telling us, that there is No Majority for ...the Top Candidates in the European Council. I will discuss this with Manfred Weber and the entire ...European People's Party".
-"We will Now Focus on the positions to be filled by Next Week" : "...it is Now, first and foremost, a question of the EU positions in relation to the European Elections".
+ "and, Then, (we will) look Further (f.ex. ECB, etc). That does Not matter in my thoughts, at the Moment.
----------------------------------
In other words, the "Mystery" for a Last-Minute Opposition to EU Parliament's Winner "Leading Candidate", Weber, remains stlll in Front of us all, (Comp. Supra), at least for the Time being :
- Why Not Before ?
+ Why so Harshly Aggressive, Negative, even grossly Insulting ?
++ Have EU Citizens been Deceived ? They were repeatedly told (by EU Officials) to Vote on "Candidates for EU Commission's presidency" !
=> Already, manstream Newspper "Welt" (Germany) used Sharp Headlines : = "Fraud on Voters ?"
+++ And, after all, isn't it even Contrary to EU Law, as it has evolved until Nowadays ? Indeed, EU Parliament has notoriously adopted a Strong Resolution on the "SpitzenKandidat" Principle, to which has Replied positively an EU Council's relevant Decision, while, in Addition, both EU Commission's, EU Parliament's and EU Council's real Practice, until now, was Ostensibly Pointing towards a Similar Direction...
=> Couldn't this matter, eventually, arrive even at EU's Court of Justice ?
(../..)
------------------------------
- Macron stresses Importance of EU Statement on Cyprus Energy v. Turkish Harassment
- Merkel focuses on EU Parliament cooperation for Top EU Jobs and doesn't exclude Weber yet
- Macron asks New Candidates for EU Top Jobs, chosen by the Council, and suggests... Merkel !
- EUCouncil Negotiator Prime Minister Karins to EF+: EPP eyes Solution for EU Top Jobs. Others=100% NO
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(Opinion)
Paris - Bruxelles - Strasbourg, 2 septembre 2008
Le spectaculaire succès du Président français, Nicolas Sarkozy, (en tête de l'UE jusqu'a décembre), à obtenir de suite un cessez le feu inattendu entre la Russie et la Georgie, immédiatement après sa visite aux Présidents Medvedev et Saakashvili, au pire moment de tensions et heurts violents meurtieurs, qui avaient tué plusieurs innocents et provoqué le deplacement forcé de réfugiés par milliers, lui donne incontestablement une stature vraiment européenne :
A ses liens personnels bien connus avec l'Hongrie, la Grece, l'Italie ou l'Espagne, en sus de son amitié avec la chancelière allemande Merkel, son souhait d'essayer d'attirer l'Angleterre au jeu européen, etc, s'y ajoute, maintenant, une réussite, fragile certes, mais importante, au combat pour la Paix dans la "grande" Europe du général De Gaulle, "jusqu'a l'Oural", qui inclut naturellement la Géorgie, l'Arménie et d'autres pays, et ne peut exister qu'avec rapports de confiance et partenartiat stratégique avec la Russie.
Apres avoir réussi à debloquer la situation au Liban, (pays avec liens culturels historiques en Europe), lors du Sommet pour la Méditerranée à Paris, juillet dernier, (comme atteste maintenant le prémier accord d'echange d'Ambassadeurs avec la Syrie), Sarkozy activa maintenant une présidence française de l'EU bien entreprenante, à l'autre bout de l'Europe, à Moscou, où, contrairement à Napoléon, il a été reçu avec soulagement par le nouveau président russe, ami de l'experimenté Vladimir Poutine.
Cet homme politique rélativement nouveau au plan politique européen, avec une vision souvent critique ou même critiquée, à tort ou a raison, mais ambitieuse et concrete a la fois, qui aime s'adresser aux "Européens", comme il dit, n'est-il pas bien placé pour stimuler le fameux débat sur l' "Identité de l' Europe", qu'il a proposé au Parlement Européen récemment à Strasbourg, moins d'un an avant les Elections européennes de 2009 ?
En 2007, il a réussi à faire monter spectaculairement la participation citoyenne aux élections présidentielles en France, obtenant des récords historiques :
N'est-ce pas, justement ce que l' Europe a bésoin, apres 2 abstentions majoritaires sans précedent aux Elections de 1999 et 2004, et 3 "Non" aux réferenda pour ses institutions en 2005 et 2008, pendant une décennie trouble 1999-2008, (marquée surtout par la demande controversée de la Turquie d'entrer dans l'UE eclipsant les avancées de la Monnaie unique et de la liberté de circulation à l'espace Shengen, avec consequences mal-ressenties par la majorité des citoyens, bien au-délà des clivages du passé), qui a failli stopper l'integration européenne ?
Et cela, au moment même ou une globalisation galopante met l'Europe devant un choix crucial entre saut qualitatif en avant, apte à valoriser une occasion historique exceptionelle à se développer résolument, après les vaines destructions, querelles et tensions des guerres "chaudes" ou "froides" qui lui ont couté son rang dans le Monde, ou réculer définitivement en décadence...
Alors, que certains de nos amis à la Commission en Bruxelles, lui laissent au moins un peu d'espace de mouvement, et qu'ils l'aident à tenter d'insufler de l' oxygène frais et vivifiant aux rapports entre les citoyens et une Europe qui a manifestement bésoin et mérite de retrouver d'urgence un nouveau dynamisme populaire, avec un souci de réalisme mais aussi une vision passionante pour son avenir !
Après tout, les Etats Unis d' Amérique ne se sont pas faits à coups de bureaucratie, nécessaire et utile, mais manifestement insuffisante : Sans l'impulsion d'hommes politiques originaux, d'intellectuels vraiment engagés, et, surtout, sans l'enorme énergie émanant de la conscience d'enjeux à la fois pratiques et grandioses, bien resentis par des millions de citoyens, stimulant leur adhésion active comme pioniers d'un nouveau avenir commun à construire, ils seraient encore une ex-colonie périphérique, affaiblie par stériles divisions, passif et impuissant spectateur des convulsions tragiques d'un Monde à la dérive...
Que les vrais "européens" ré-lisent au moins les fameux discours historiques sur l' Europe d'un Sarkozy bien inspiré à Strasbourg, aussi bien avant qu'après avoir gagné les élections françaises, le 21 février et le 2 juillet 2007, après son 1er sommet des Bruxelles, qui a adopté le nouveau Traité de l'UE en conclusion de la presidence allémande : Bonnes lectures pour cet été 2008, afin de préparer l' avenir qui s'ouvrira (ou fermera) à partir des élections européennes de 2009.
Peut-etre revelera-t-il plus, en ce sens, lors de ses 2 discours-debats prochains avec les eurodeputés, prévus lors des sessions plenières du Parlement Européen a Strasbourg en octobre et décembre 2008...
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner had already unveiled President Sarkozy's intentions, during a particularly "hot" Press Conference in Paris, where he faced some's insistance for "sanctions", with a call for "a common EU stance". In the meanwhile, he was consulting "all these days" most of his EU, Russia and Georgia counterparts, (as Sarkozy's Spokesman, P-J. Henin confirmed to "EuroFora"). This allowed him to obtained the desired result, as EU Chairman, at a short, exceptional EU Summit in Brussels, afterwards.
But, Sarkozy's No 1 official, Presidential palace's Secretary General Claude Gueant, active at Elysee during the 2008 Ambassadors' Conference, (together with his Top Diplomat, the experienced David Levitte), is well known for having an overall view : A link with 2009 EU Elections at the horizon ?