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CoE Top Spokesman Holtgen to Eurofora on Russia issue Solution effort: Don't lose Hope for June 2019

Written by ACM
Monday, 29 April 2019

 holtgen_eurofora_400


*Strasbourg/Press Club/Angelo Marcopolo/- Questioned by "Eurofora" whether he Believed that a much needed Solution might be Found by the CoE, before an Important Time Deadline of June 2019 (See Infra), on the crucial Russia issue, (which notoriously risks to Divide Europe since the 2014 Ukranian Controversy, after CoE's Parliamentary Assembly [PACE] striped Russian MEPs of their Rights, followed by Moscow's Suspension of its Financial Contribution to the CoE), the PanEuropean Organisation's experienced Chief Spokesman, and Press/Communication Director, Daniel Holtgen, a Geo-Economics PhD holder from Cambridge, of German-British origin, after reflecting, Replied with a Crystal-clear : - "I don't want to lose Hope !"

He was speaking after a Lecture on main current European Issues, given at Strasbourg's "Press Club", earlier Today, following which, he also Replied to other relevant Questions by "Reuters", "Eurofora", German Web-Medias, and other participants.

The Point about the June 2019 Rendez-vous, is that a Timely Settlement would allow to the New CoE's Secretary General for the period of 2019-2024 to be Elected also with the Votes of Russian MEPs, as normally required, while also Moscow could Settle its Financial Obligations before eventual threats of Sanctions by CoE's Ministers (See Infra). And all this Could be realized during the forthcoming French Presidency of the CoE (May - November 2019), which is followed by the Rotating Chairmanship of Georgia (11/2019 - 5/2020) and Greece (5 - 11/2020), etc.

- Currently, "Finland's Presidency tries to Find a Consensus on a Draft Decision by CoE's Committee of Ministers, which would be Based on a (recent) PACE's Resolution, while adding also their contribution", at the forthcoming CoE Foreign Ministers' Summit at Helsinki, on May, Holtgen advanced.

He was referring to the Resolution on Challenges for PACE's Role and Mission, drafted by Experienced Dutch MEP Tiny Cox, President of the Euro-Left Group, which was Debated and Adopted Earlier this Month (on April 10), through an "Urgent" procedure, calling, inter alia, also to "Avoid creating new Dividing lines" among CoE's 47 Member States, but, on the Contrary, "Preserve the Pan-European mission of the CoE". While criticizing what it calls "illegal Annexation of Crimea" by Russia, (that Moscow views as a Popular Referendum for ReUnification, following an illegal violent "Putch" at Kiev), nevertheless, "asks to Avoid a situation in which the Biggest member State would be asked to, or chooses to, Leave the Organisation", provoking negative "Geopolitical implications" and "Consequences for Russian Citizens". Thus, the Resolution "calls" on Russia "to appoint a Delegation" to the PACE, "and to Resume" its Contribution to COE's Budget, in order to prevent an eventual demand by its Ministerial Committee to "Suspend" Moscow's overall participation, and "Welcomes the efforts made by the Finnish Presidency" to saveguard the "PanEuropean" role of the CoE (Comp. Supra).

- "The Big Question is whether that will be enough, also for the Russians : I think, Yes", he estimated. (In this regard, 2 or 3 recent Public Statements by Senior Russian Officials, also indicated that, contrary to the Past, Nowadays, a rather Positive and promissing process might have really Started, inside the CoE, added to the latest Political Developments in Ukraine too).

- But, "in which Time Deadline ?", Holtgen wondered.  

- Many point at "January 2020", he reminded.

- However, in that case, "Won't they be able to participate in the Election of CoE's New Secretary General (on June 2019) ?"

 - "This could be rather a Symbolic Question, since Both 2 finalist Candidates, are not particularly opposed to Russia, so that with, or without Russian MEPs, this wouldn't be a big Difference", while it's also "50% of EuroJudges who have been Elected withOut the Russians", since 2014, "the New CoE's Commmissioner for Human Rights, etc. So that, perhaps, it's not so much a Substantial Question".  

 - "But, it's necessary for their Financial Contribution to become anew possible, (normally also from June 2019).

 - At least, "they (Russian MEPs) should come back on January (2020). That should be Possible", he concluded.

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- At this pont, in a Question raised by "Eurofora", we observed that, according to Senior CoE Officials' analysis, including prominent PACE Top Officers (as, f.ex., the exerienced PACE Secretary General, Wojciech Sawicki's relevant Replies to "Eurofora"s earlier Questions : See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeandrussiain2019.html, etc),

it would be Technically and Legally Possible, to act even Earlier, (almost at any moment of the Year), if there is enough Political Will in the Committee of Ministers, and a Majority in PACE.

 

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- Indeed, "in order to accredit National Delegations (of MEPs) DURING the Year (and not only on January, i.e. at the Beginning), a Change of Rules is Necessary, and, for this Change (to be done smoothly) a 2/3 Majority must exist in the Committee of Ministers, as well as a Positive Decision of the PACE too", Holtgen agreed in reply.  

+ "This practically means an Additional (PACE) Meeting, between May 17 (Ministerial Summit in Finland : Comp. Supra), and June 24" (i.e. PACE's Plenary Session for the Summer 2019, due to Elect also CoE's New Secretary General, etc), he pointed out, with accurate precision.

 

By the way, PACE's powerful "Standing Committee" (almost equivalent to a Plenary session) and other Important CoE's Meetings, are currently Scheduled for the End of May/Beginning of June, in Paris.

 

- It would be "Good also from the point of view of Financial Regularity", (i.e. the settlement of Russia's Annual Financial Contribution to the CoE : Otherwise, CoE's Ministers might Suspend all Russia's participation, after June 2019, until Payement : Comp. Supra).

-  "But it's not obvious whether all involved might be ready to move fast enough", he added as a Cautious reserve.                                                                                       

On the Contrary, Holtgen did not find absolutely necessary, at this juncture, that PACE also Changes its Rules of Procedure, as far as some Controversial "Sanctions" are concerned, (including, f.ex., MEPs' Right to Vote, Participation, etc), as a Collegue Journalist suggested at this point  :

- "I don't think that there might be a problem there for now,  since PACE has Recently Adopted the above mentioned, relevant New Resolution (Comp. Supra), CoE's Spokesman reminded, and, moreover, the Russian MEPs would rather prefer to Debate and Vote that (subsequent) Change of PACE's Rules just after they would have already returned inside the Assembly, in order to avoid, f.ex., that what they call as "Russophobe forces", might, eventually, hijack this move, he guessed.

+ Nevertheless, independently of that, there is also the fact that any CoE's Member States should, in principle, be Careful about issues concerning their Annual Financial Contribution, since, among others, f.ex., at least in certain CoE's Partial Agreements, as that of "GRECO" (against Corruption), there are some Rules which imply that if a Member does Not Pay its Contribution, then, it's quasi-automatically Out, he Warned, (given, in addition, that June is, normally, a Crucial Time Deadline for Regular Financial Settlements inside the CoE).

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

Almost at the same time, However, CoE's chief Spokesman, observed, in his speech, that while Russia has been considerably Changed by several CoE's Activities for Human Rights, Rule of Law and Democracy, on the Contrary, developments in Turkey have Deceived me, criticized the experienced Top Officer, who has worked also Together with the former EU Commission's vice-President, Gunter Verheugen, initially in charge of EU Enlargement, when he too used to support Turkey's controversial and unopular EU bid in the Past. (I.e. Before even the former EU Parliament's President and German Socialist Party's Candidate for Chancellor, Martin Schultz, more recently, notoriously Changed his stance on 2017, declaring his Opposition to Turkey's EU entry claims).


But, at another topical point, Holtgen (who spoke Both of CoE and the EU) regretted also those Eras of the Past, during which European Debates used to Focus on Big "Projects", such as the creation of the Common Market, Shengen area, Trans-Border High-Speed Train Networks, etc.

Something similar still lacks Today, at least for the moment, he rightfully criticized, shortly after showing Recent Polls where all European People's number 1 Concern currently is Security and Terrorism, followed by Natural Environment and Climate for South-Western Countries, or Mass Irregular Migration, for former Central-Eastern Countries, as Number 2 Concerns Nowadays...

 

 

(../..)

 

 

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(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already send to "Eurofora"s Donors/Subscribers, earlier. +Fast Translation from the Original in French. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be published asap)

 

 

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Spain Divided: People Move Rightwards +eye 36 New Parties. But System pushes Left Standstil/Pat...

Written by ACM
Sunday, 28 April 2019
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*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Real Facts on the latest Spanish Elections are far Away from the Biaised Impressions often given by most ordinary Ersatz Medias (or "LugenPresse") of the Establishment.

Both in terms of Equality between Right or Left, added to a wide and Crystal-clear Movement Rightwards, and in the spectacular Emergence of Many "New" Parties (+36 !).

To put it in a nutshell :

- Spain is obviously Divided today : Almost an Equal Number of People Voted for the Right side of the Political Spectrum, as for the Left side...

Indeed, it's all, aproximatively, cut in Two Pieces of around 47% to 48% of People's Votes, most Small Parties included.

I.e. about 47% for various Left Parties, (28,68% Soc. + 14,31% Podemos + 3,89% ERCatalonia, 0,99% Bildu [Basques], etc), facing almost 47% for various Parties at the Right, (16,7% PPE, 15,86% Citizens, 10,26% Vox,  1,51% Nationalist Basque, 1,91% JxCat, 0,53% Canarian Nationalists, 0,36% Galician Nationalists, etc)...

+ More Important Development : Recent Dynamics on People's Votes' Movements, clearly Mark a Schift, with a Trend TOWARDS the RIGHT Side of the Political Spectrum :

Indeed, the Greatest Part of Votes lost by the Moderate Right of "EPP" (-15,87%) notoriously goes to the Rightists of "Vox"(+10,06%), and Only a Small Part to the Center-Right of "Citizens" (+2,8%). In Addition, the Leftists of "Podemos" lose about -7% of Votes, which go Mainly at Their Right side: the Socialdemocrats (+6%), and Only a Tiny Part at their Left ("ERC" +1%). Even among Basques, the Traditionalist Nationalists Win slightly More Votes than the Left of "Bildu" : +32% instead of +22%... (etc).

=> To sum up, Notoriously, the Biggest Change in 2019 is "VOX" Rightists' spectacular Growth for about + 10,06% More People's Votes than ever Before, for the First Time in Spain's modern History.

An Interesting Fact is also that this Party was initially Created by an Experienced, former Long-Time vice-President of EU Parliament, re-Elected during 5 Times in a row, (who earlier was a Mainstream EPP MEP) !

+++ But the Most Spectacular, naturally is the potential Political "Explosion" formed by the Sudden Emergence of more than ... Thirty Six (36) brand "New" Parties, which Started to participate for the 1st Time in Spanish Elections on 2019 !

It's true that the Larger Number among them, appears to stem from various "Regionalist" Groups, (probably a Consequence of the current "Socialist" Government's controversial stance vis a vis several Secessionist-like moves by some, there) :

F.ex. "Regionalists for Cantabria", "New Canaries", "Proposal for the Isles", "Andalusia by Itself", "Coalition for Melilla", "We Are Region", "Extremadurans", "Riojan Party", "Puyalón" (Aragon), Regionalist Unity of Castile and León", "United Linares Independent Citizens", "Andecha Astur" (Asturian), "XXI Convergence" (Galicia),  "Andalusian Solidary Independent Republican Party", etc...

However, several other among those "New" Parties, have also various General Political Aims, of  specific nature, such as, f.ex. : "Free People–We Are Alternative–Pirates: Republican Front (Front Republicà)" (0,43%, i.e. More than what "Vox" used to have...), "Act" (founded by former judge Baltasar Garzón), "Progressive Voices", "For a Fairer World", "En Masse", "Communist Party of the Workers of Spain", (one more, among many such claims !), "Left in Positive", "Convergents", "Retirees Party for the Future. Dignity and Democracy" (sic !), "European Solidarity Action Party", "Feminism8", "Plural Democracy", "Centered", "Defense of the Public" (Dreaming to Copy what was just done in the latest Ukranian presidential elections ?), (etc).

=> Inevitably, in such a Context, the LAST one, (i.e. the Smallest "New" Party which took the Less Votes, arriving at the END of the List), was : -"UNION for everyone" in Spain !...

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>>> Despite all that, the System, Curiously, gave some very Different "Results", at the end of the Official pipeline, by attributing, Comparatively, much More MPs to the Left, than to the Right, even for en Equal number of People's Votes...

F.ex., the "Socialists" got +38 MPs more, for Only +6% Votes more, while, on the Contrary, "Vox"'s Rightists were given Less MPs (+24 only), for ...More People's Votes (+10,06%)... I.e. not even the Bigger number of MPs that the Centrists of "Citizens" got (+25) for much Less People's Votes (Only +2,88%) ! Similar phenomenon, apparently, even among Basques : the Traditionalist "Nationalists" were given Only one (1) MP, for ...More Votes (+0,32%) than their Competitors of "Bildu" (Left : +0,22% Only), who, received, However, the ...Double Number of New MPs : +2 ! (Such Examples could be Multiplied). 

Result : Spain has, in fact, become apparently UnGovernable, at least for the time being, withOut any Clear Majority, practically Returning Back to its Pre-Electoral situation, (with the Exception of he succesful emergence of the Rightist "Vox" Party).

=> In such Circumstances, it's Not Surprizing, that, at least some Spanish Voters, apparently, became, nowadays, so ...Exasperated, that they Felt Unable to find Better today, than to Vote for anOther "New" Party, brutaly nick-Named : ..."Death to the System" (sic !)...


Let's Hope than, for the sake of Spanish People and all Europe, Spain will finaly succeed, asap, to overcome its current problems, and Find Better Political Solutions in the foreseable Future !

 

(../..)

 

 

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EPP TopCandidate Weber to EF on EU Borders+Civilisation, with French Leader Wauquiez+Top MEP Bellamy

Written by ACM
Friday, 26 April 2019

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*Strasbourg/Palace of Congress/Angelo Marcopolo/- In a Joint Franco-German christiandemocrat/EPP Leaders' launch of a crucial Electoral Campaign, Today in Strasbourg, precisely 1 Month before the forthcoming EU Vote of May 26, 2019, headed by EPP's Spitzen-Candidate Manfred Weber from Germany, President of EU Parliament's biggest Political Group, that of EPP, together with French mainstream Opposition Leader, Experienced former many times Minister (from EU Affairs to Science, etc), Laurent Wauquiez, President of the Republican Party (Center-Right), as well as the New Chief of Republican MEPs, young Philosopher Francois-Xavier Bellamy, the current need to defend and develop the core of our common European Civilisation was confirmed as the main Focus.

- Stimulated also by a Largely spread Public Emotion, Europe-Wide and even well Beyond, in several Countries accross the World, just after the recent, UnPrecedented partial Destruction by Fire of the upper parts of Internationaly Famous, UNESCO Monument, and popular Historic Paris' Cathedral of "Notre Dame de Paris" on 2019 (Comp. f.ex. : .., etc), following the December 2018 Deadly Terrorist Attack in Strasbourg, against its 'Cristmas Market", cowardly Targetting Civilian People, during EU Parliament's plenary session here (See, f.ex. : ..., etc), Weber, who has also succeeded to attract the Support of several Popular EU Leaders, such as f.ex. Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary (etc), particularly for his promise to Protect EU's External Borders, appeared adamant in his Reply to a relevant Question by "Eurofora":

agg__weber_by_zl_eurofora_400 

- Indeed, President Weber smiled, and agreed with "Eurofora", on the serious issue raised recently, inter alia, also by the famous Italian creator of the succesful "5 Stars" Movement, currently co-Governing the Country, when he Criticized "FrontEx" and/or other EU CoastGuards for reportedly, instead of really Protecting EU's External Borders from Smugglers and Human Trafficking, particularly after that UnPrecedented "Tsunami" of more than 1,5 Millions of Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants, particularly Recalcitrant to Integration in Europe, who suddenly arrived through Turkey since 2015/2016, on the Contrary, they  in fact, their role, just into behaving as a kind of ..."TAXI" (sic !), by restricting their action only into ...Replying to Phone Calls asking for such Mass Migrants to be Transported from a makeshift Boat into a Real and Safe Ship bringing them all inside the EU...

=> With the notorious Result to Fill the EU, not so much with Real Refugees, but more and more with ...ISIS' Terrorist Killers, (as f.ex. at Bataclan in Paris since 2015, recently a mass-murderer of 25 Civilians, unmasked on 2019, etc), Rapers and/or Murderers (as f.ex. at nearby Freiburg, etc), Mass Brutal Aggressors of even underage Girls (as, f.ex. at Cologne 2016, UK 2017, etc), Aggressive and sometimes even Oppressive, heavily "Islamized" Radical Groups, InHuman and Brutal Thugs (as, f.ex. those who notoriously Attacked a Poor Homeless person sleeping at the street in Berlin, attempting to ..Burn him alive !), and/or Filling Poor Neighbourhood's Schoolclasses with an Excessive Number of Foreign "Kids" (often ..Adults, in fact), who doN't even speak the Language of the Host Country, with the result to make School-Life practically Impossible for Poor People's Children, threatening to provoke Heavy and Irreversible Delays of Education, which can leave irremediable Marks to the detriment of their whole Lives. Emergence of Socio-Cultural Ghettos, where EU Citizens can No more Recognize the Culture and History of their own Country, often follows, (etc)... I.e., Facts which obviously Push Desperate People far Away from the Mainstream Political area, towards various Extremes...

>>> In such Circumstances (Comp. Supra), the EU should, at least, ensure that about 90%, or even more, of verified Irregular Migrants, (i.e. No Real Refugees), Return Back to their Home Countries, reacted Weber to the above-mentioned "Eurofora"s Question.

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- On this Key and Topical point, the Leader of France's mainstream Opposition, Laurent Wauquiez, "Thanked" Weber "for having placed EU's External Borders' Protection as Number 1 Priority", he stressed, Later-on, in his Speech, (See Infra).

- In fact, "it's a Double Protection, that is Needed for EU's External Borders : A European one, and a National one. Because we Need an EU CoastGuards' Force, in Greece, Italy and Spain. We have to Bring Back those who come towards us, while Asylum Demands should be made, not inside Europe, but at Neighbouring Countries. So that, if someone enters Irregularly in Europe, he should never be given a legal permit : It's Time to put things in order !", Wauquiez vowed.

+ At the same time, we need also a National Protection of Borders, Not at all in order t bother legal TransBorder Workers, etc., but Only in order to be able to Control Irregular Migrants entering inside our Country, he explained. And, if one EU Country adopts a Policy which is Not Adapted to anOther EU Country, f.ex. because of Differences in Population Growth, Level of UnEmployement, etc., then, Each one should be able to act accordingly, Wauquiez added, applauded.

- So that, in this, as well as on other issues, we do Not Oppose Nations alone, to Europe alone, Contrary to what Others do, but prefer to have Both the Nations and Europe, he underlined.

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+ Such Issues were naturally linked also with the problem of Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, which had notoriously provoked EU's 1st Serious Crisis and Halt, back on 2005+, inciting the Leading Candidate of the ChristianDemocrats/EPP to clarify his position :

- "Turkey is Not a European Country, and will Never enter inside the EU ! We simply want to have Good Neighborhoud Relations with Ankara. If I become EU Commission's President, I shall do what is necessary in order to make that clear for ever, Manfred Weber vowed in his speech, largely applauded by the People.

+ But, at the same time, in fact, the Main Popular Issue, Today, with which all he rest was linked, in one way or another, obviously was was that of the Vital Need to Defend and Develop, Nowadays, the core susbtance of the European Civilisation :

=> So that Weber, who had just, Symbolically chosen to launch his PanEuropean Electoral Campaign from Greece, where he visited some impressive huge Ancient Monuments of white marble, together with "New Democracy" (Center(Right/EPP) Party's Head, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, a few Days ago, immediately went directly towards what was the main point for all ChristianDemocrats :

- "European Countries are quite Different, one from another, But they all have, at least, one Main Point Alike for all : Wherever you Visit,  (f.ex., from Greece to Denmark, and from Portugal to Poland, etc), you shall Always Find, here or there, a Christian Cross on the Mountains, and/or a Christian Church !", he stressed, lively Applauded, once again.

 

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- The recent Fire against the Historic Monument of "Notre Dame de Paris", in France, made European People Feel, all Together, what is a Key part of Our Common Cultural Heritage, Weber topically reminded.                                                      

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  - "Europe must rediscover its ideal of Human Dignity, developed in the Judeo-Christian tradition", the Head of the "Republican" Candidate MEPs in the crucial, May 2019 EU Elections, Young Philospher Francois-Xavier Bellamy stressed afterwards.

 + Adding that "it was a huge Error (back on 2001-2005) to Omit Europe's Judeo-Christian Roots from the EU Constitution, (when Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid was pushed by some, resulting in 3 "No" to EuroReferenda in France, the Netherlands and Ireland, which provoked a damaging Halt and Delay in the European Construction)...

 Bellamy reminded, however, that German intellectual Goethe had notoriously lived in Strasbourg, (whose Ancient University still hosts a beautiful Statute of him as a lively young man), long before, at his last moment, very old, he left this World with a famous demand for "Mehr Licht !", ("More Light !")...
 
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 - It's necessary, Today, "to Raise Politics Higher !", observed from the outset, as a matter of General Principle, the Leader of France's main Opposition Party, that of the "Republicans" (Center-Right), Experienced former Government Spokesman and many times Minister (of EU Affairs, Science/Research, etc), currently President of Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes' Region, (which unites France's "Massif Central" to the Swiss Mountains, the Highest in Europe), Laurent Wauquiez, pointing, in this regard, to the fact that, f.ex., Bellamy had characteristically chosen, during a Debate with all Other Parties' Top Candidates for EU Elections, to open the Book of ... Ancient Greek "Homer's Illiad !", as he had observed.

 

wauquiez_speech_eurofora_400 

- Nowadays, "whoever Believes in Europe, is aware that the main point is the Franco-German mutual Trust and Cooperation", that we should Strengthen and take also Higher, Wauquiez want on to add, Thanking Manfred Weber for his participation to this Symbolic and Timely Strasbourg's meeting on the Elections which will determine EU's Future for the period of 2019-2024.

- Revendicating the Historic Legacy of "our (Political) Group, which stems from Gaullism as well as ChristianDemocracy, and has Founded (modern) Europe", as he reminded, Wauquiez pleaded in favour of the "EPP Group (currently Headed by former Strasbourg's MEP, Joseph Daul, in Brussels) : the Biggest inside EU Parliament".

 - EU Parliament's plenaries are based in Strasbourg not only because of the importance of the Franco-German reconciliation and cooperation, but also as "a Sign" for the fact that real "Europe canNot be Only an Administration in Brussels" (i.e. EU Commision), but is also something More", thanks also to Alsace Region's Cultural contribution to "European Humanism".

+ Observing that Polls have recently noted a Growth of "+ 7% More, in just 2 Months", for the Republican Party, Wauquiez argued that this was "Because People want to have a Choice, between a risk of DeConstruction of Europe, against the "€uro", by the Rightists", and a stagnation, by Liberals who "haven't understood that, Nowadays, "Europe Needs a Change", instead of staying in "a Deadlock" made by even "More Enlargement, even to Countries which are very Different from us", "More Rules", "More Agencies", "More Taxes", "that Europe of Bureaucracy, that we doN't Want !"

- In fact, they have not understood that, "if one wants to ReVigorate Europe, we must Change it !", Wauquiez stressed. On the Contrary, "we Believe in Europe, and that's why we feel the need to Re-Think it anew", and put it on a good way ahead :

=> "The Europe that We Want, is that which we Loved, which Worked Well, the Europe which had a strong Soul, had Projects" : "a Europe Able to face both China and the USA", "to handle Climate issues and (mass) Migration", "a Europe which Protects and, at the same time, guarantees the Future of our Children", "the Europe which is Based on our Roots (Comp. Supra), and, simultaneously, has the Taste of the Future, and the Energy of Tomorow !", he Highlighted.

- "Others focus on Sovereignity or Federalism", etc., but, in fact, they do Not really Speak about Europe, which was Build by the Founding Fathers, "Conscious that they made a Choice of Civilisation", Laurent Wauquiez stressed.

 - While, Nowadays, the Question which is raised, is, while "having inherited a Wonderfull Civilisation", whether we might, perhaps, be "Obliged to Alter our Way of Life, of shall we be Able to Transfer to our Children, what we have Received, and Enable them to be Proud and Deserve to receive it too ? In other words : - "Has the European Civilisation Died ?, Or are we able to Give it a ReNaissance and New Energy ?", he wondered. - "That's what is really at Stake in these (May 2019) EU Elections !"

- Well, "I sincerely Believe that European Civilisation is Not Dead !" It's true that "there are Many Challenges, Competition is around us, there are threats of Islamism and MultiCulturalism, Dangers for our Ecohomy, etc. But, No : If we just Open our Eyes, the European Civilisation is Not Dead : It can be ReStructured, and is able to Restore Both France and Europe !", he vowed.

- "First of all, a Civilisation has Borders", Wauquiez practically pointed out, Promissing also to strongly Support Weber, if he becomes EU Commission's President, in his Plan to Put an End to the controversial and unpopular Turkey's EU bid, (Comp. on EU Borders, Supra).

- "But, in order to have a European Civilisation, we also need to have Common Projects", he stressed. "More Projects,  Less Rules"... F.ex., EU Commission could Help restore Rhin river's capacity to transport Big Ships ; Set up Digital Networks and/or "G5" throughout all Europe ; Unite and Boost Scientific Research against Cancer, and/or Alzheimer, (etc), he proposed.

 + "A Civilisation is also the Defense of a Culture, which is Threatened Today : Because there are people who Hate whatever we are. There are people who have been welcomed, born and raised here, but so full of Hate that they are ready to turn their weapons against those who gave them that chance, he pointed out. I become Angry when I See that, even after Deadly Terrorist Attacks, the Necessary Measures are Not Taken, Wauquiez denounced. Some make Big Speeches against Political Islamism, but afterwards they Continue as usual...

=> On the Contrary, we must Open our Eyes, and look what we have to Fight against : We have to Fight against Islamist Integrism. We Must Fight it, with all our Force !", he Urged. "Otherwise, More People will continue to be Killed", he Warned.

>>> Against that, Concrete Measures must be taken : F.ex., we Must Close Salafist Mosques in Europe !", Wauquiez stressed, applauded by many People. "We must Prohibit to Imams who preach Hate, to call for Killing others. We must Hinder Foreign States to Fund Mosques inside Europe, in order to Exploit them, afterwards, at the Dark of their Minarets, to spread Hate", he urged, also applauded.

+ And, "How it's possible for (French) Public Authorities to have Accepted the Return of 200 Jihadists who had Left the Country in order to Fight in Syria ?", he Questioned. On the Contrary, we must make it Clear : Those Jihadists have Betrayed Europe, and canNot Return here. They must be Judged and Imprisoned there where they are now (i.e. Syria or Iraq, etc). They have Nothing to do in Europe !", Wauquiez stressed, largely applauded by the People.

At that point, he also Criticized Rightist Politician Marine Le Pen for allegedly Refusing a controversial Mass Surveillance of all Airplanes' Passengers' private Data, as a means to struggle against Terrorism.

++ Morover, Contrary to the Past, when France had succeeded to Integrate various People who came from Different Countries, Europeans or even Africans, etc., Because they were Eager to Work, and also adhere to the European Civilisation (NB).

- Nowadays, paradoxically, some Inversed that order : Instead of those who came to be obliged to adapt to  our Civilisation, it's now, pratically us (Europeans) who should adapt to the way of life of new-comers, he denounced.

=> Progressively, we Renounced to proudly Transfer our Culture, Teach our History, Transmit our Litterature, and Spread our Way of Life, Wauquiez Criticized.

- But, "the Lesson given (recently) by "Notre Dame de Paris", is that "a Civilisation is precious", but there are "Visible Fires" and "InVisible Fires", he Warned : When someone is Blind or Coward, he Risks to Lose what was transmitted to him...

>>> If we do Not Teach in Schools the History of our Country, Neither "Shoa", while also abandoning Young Girls to be Obliged by Force to wear a Scarf, if we let some Hinder even Christmas' Cribs, (etc), all these renonciations are dangerous retreats, he warned.

On the Contrary, we should have the Generosity to transmit to our Children, and to those who arrive here, the Best of that Civilisation which was entrusted to us.  Be proud of it, and Share its Values, is the Best Way : Europe is a Struggle, it's also Believe that every human person can Become Eucopean, on one Condition : to Share its Civilisation !", Laurent Wauquiez concluded, applauded by the People.

 

 

(../..)

 

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

 

F.French President Hollande to EF on Notre Dame de Paris' Fire, stresses Need for full Enquiry

Written by ACM
Wednesday, 24 April 2019

 hollande_and_agg_eurofora_400

*Strasbourg/International Library Kleber/Angelo Marcopolo/- (EXCLUSIVE). Former President of France, Francois Hollande, during whose term, a planned Arson Attack against "Notre Dame de Paris" had been Prevented, Replying Today to an "Eurofora"s relevant Question, stressed, First of all, that a full Investigation is necessary on the recent Destructive Fire, without excluding anything.

 

 - "Eurofora" reminded the Fact that Hollande's Police had notoriously managed to Prevent a Terrorist Attack against "Notre Dame de Paris", by trying to set it on Fire, in the Past, and, by a striking Coincidence, a leading suspect of that attempt had just been Condemned to Prison only a few Days before the 2019 UnPrecedented Fire which Destroyed last week the Upper Part of that unique UNESCO Monument.

=> According to your Experience, do you think that it might have been a Terrorist Attack, so that this should be Investigated thoroughly, or should it be treated as just an "Accident" ?
                                                                                                                                                              

- Hollande, at first Heared Carefully "Eurofora"s above-mentioned Question, and Noded affirmatively when we evoked those Facts, (among many others).

-  Of course, a full Investigation must be made, on this event, (from all points of view), the former President of France, significantly chose to Stress  from the Outset, at the beginning of his Reply to the above-mentioned "Eurofora"s Question.

- Even if I think that it seems, more Probable, to be an Accident, he speculated, afterwards, referring to the controversial official version of an Attorney, (according to his Statements to the Press), but in a much more Limited way.       

However, the former French President, significantly, Abstained from going as far as to eventually claim that the Hypothesis of a Terrorist Attack might be Excluded from the Investigations a priori, (as some appeared to be enclined to do). On the contrary (Comp. Supra)...    

Indeed, among the above-mentioned Arrested Suspects Judged for a failed Attempt to Burn Down "Notre Dame de Paris" during Hollande's Presidency (Comp. Supra), one had reportedly personal Relations to some among the Worst ISIS' Deadly Terrorists, as that who Cowardly Murdered a Married Couple inside their Family Home and in front of their underage Child, whose Father was working in the Police, and another, who had participated in the Sly Murder of an Old Christian Priest inside a Church...               

notre_dame_de_paris_burning_400 

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

- "What were your Feelings during the Terrorist Attacks ?", was one among the most Frequent Questions raised to Hollande, as he revealed this April 2019, when he published 3 New Chapters to the previous, 2018 Edition of his Book, "Lessons from Power").  

- "People feel InSecure" Nowadays, from several points of view, so that "a reinforced Security", should be Part of a Strengthened Europe in the foreseable Future, he adds there, inter alia.

At the same time, his New Publication lied topically Near Books about "Notre Dame de Paris" in Strasbourg's famous "International Library Kleber", (Comp. relevant Photo)... 

hollande_books_extended_reedition__notre_dame_de_paris_eurofora_400 

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

Topicaly, Hollande was accompagnied mainly by Experienced former MEP, Philippe Bies, Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg, in charge, particularly, of Buildings, (from Homes up to Religious Monuments, the Cathedral excepted, etc), and Head of the Socialdemocrat Group in the Municipal Council of Strasbourg's EuroMetropol, (an atypical Socialist, who has also served as CoE's PanEuropean Rapporteur, f.ex. on Climate Refugees : Comp. his Replies to relevant "Eurofora"s Questions at: ..., etc), who saluted us.

Precisely, one among the Worrying Facts about "Notre Dame de Paris"' reportedly is that an Experts' Report Warning that the Historic Building was particularly Vulnerable to Fire, and Urging to take relevant Security Measures asap, including on Electricity, had been Classified (by a previous Government) and left without any Follow up, without taking any Measure to Rectify. If the classification of such a sensitive Report might be justified, on the Contrary, such a long inaction appears strange, questionable and Dangerous.

Particularly when ISIS' network had already published, since the Beginning of a long Series of Islamist Terrorist Attacks in France and other European Countries (2015-2016+), inter alia, also an Explicit "Fiction" Design, Picturing Paris under Fire and almost in Ruins, with many of its emblematic Buildings quasi-Destroyed, including one which looked very much as the Christian Cathedral of "Notre Dame de Paris", at the Top of which's Ruins was pictured an Armed Jihadist, as a Threat about what Risks to occur in the foreseable Future.

And, indeed, several "Sick" Reactions of "Joy" and/or Threats by various Extremist Islamists were notoriously spoted at the Internet (including by specialized Anti-Terrorist Organisations) Soon after "Notre Dame de Paris" was engulfed by Fire which brought down its Roof, Top Floor, and even the Spire, etc.

A Video picturing someone Walking at the Top of the Cathedral was also published at the WWWeb, and, even if it might be, perhaps, a Hoax, nevertheless, it's a Fact that both the CEO of a performant French Business, specialized in the Maintenance of such Monuments, and in charge of "Notre Dame de Paris" own maintenance work, as well as other sources, afterwards Denounced various cases of "Intrusion" attempts (more or less by different Individuals or Groups) to irregularly Enter inside the Building, particularly on the Roof, often from the South, (where the Fire seems to have Started in this case).

But, given the Fact that, already, during the Last Year (2018), a Record High Number of Arson and various Other Violent Attacks had reportedly targetted Christian Monuments in France, while, even just a few Days before "Notre Dame de Paris"' Fire, the Door of Paris' Biggest Church, "Saint Sulpice",  had faced a Criminal Arson Attack, as the Police was, finaly, obliged to acknowledge, later-on, the overall Context Obviously points More towards an Arson Attack also in the "Notre Dame de Paris" case, than to the  not-credible Hypothesis of a mere Tourist who might have accidentaly forgotten a cigaret while searching to watch the Sunrise...

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

+ In Addition to that Context, it's also the Incident's Core Hard Facts which seem, more and more, to plead Against a mere "Accident", but for something else :

- Among others, f.ex., even the Material used at "Notre Dame de Paris"' Burned parts, apparently does Not Fit with such an Hypothesis : Very Old Oak, aged many Centuries, as it was conditioned there, could Not be set Alight and Burn so Easily and Rapidly, argue many Critics.

- Moreover, there "wasN't any Hot Point" in the Works engaged for the Maintenance at that moment, repeats the CEO of the Only Compagny whose Workers were Present that Day on the spot. (A Performant, traditional but recently modernised Family Business, Specialized in many Prestigious Monuments' Maintenance, including Reims and Strasbourg's Cathedrals, and located Near Strasbourg, at North-Eastern France near the German Borders, by the way).

- But strange Discrepancies emerge, already from the outset, including, f.ex., on the exact Number of Persons Interviewed by the competent Police Investigation, which claimed to have immediately checked "All" Workers who were present that Day in the Maintenance Works going on in the Cathedral : An Official declared about 15 persons, but others, afterwards, spoke about only 11...

- Even more Surprizing : A 1st Alert was reportedly checked and found to be a "False" Alert, so that it's Only a 2nd, Later-on, which really Warned the People still present on the spot that a Fire was going-on !

+=> These Facts are Important also because they Lead towards certain Interesting Findings :

Most Publications about "Notre Dame de Paris" claim, indeed, that the Last Worker for Maintenance would have Left +"more than 1 Hour Before" the Fire appeared on the spot.

>>> But, this does Not seem True, simply because, according to official data, the Last Worker would have Left on "5.50 p.m." in the Afternoon, while the above-mentioned 1st Alert for Fire was given on "6.20 p.m", i.e. Only about 30 Minutes afterwards !

All Others had reportedly Left much more Earlier.

By the way, it's Not yet known in Public Who was that "Last Worker", (hired by the Company located near the German Borders, at North-Eastern France, and used so close to Christian Easter).

- In Addition, No Alerts were ever given by the Maintainance Company's 2 relevant machines, while Both those above-mentioned Alerts came from the Cathedral's own machines, (which, however, would be of a Different kind, and Located at Different spots).

(Etc+...)

- In such conditions, an Attorney's claim that "until now, Nothing (sic !) goes in the direction of a Voluntary Act", seems, at least, premature, Exagerated, and too Hasty...

+ Added also to Reports about some Public Officials Hindering certain Experts to Reply to relevant Questions in Public, (f.ex. to the Press), all this, inevitably, Raises UnAnswered yet, critical Questions.

=> Among them, how to avoid Suspicions that a Senior Official's announcement that "this Investigation will be Long (sic !) and Hard", might serve, perhaps, just to Keep People (both in France, and elsewhere in Europe) UnInformed in substance until ... the forthcoming, crucial 23-26 May EU Elections ?

EU Citizens' concerns about Security and Islamist Terrorism are, currently, the 1st Issue across all Europe, according to most recent Polls, European Officials told Journalists, including "Eurofora".

Manifold Reactions, indeed, revealed that Exceptional and Popular, Historic and Religious Monuments, as "Notre Dame de Paris", are widely felt as an important part of all Europe's Culture, Identity, History and Civilisation.

notre_dame_de_paris_the_sun__ef_400

(Graphics from British Newspaper "the Sun": <<More Popular than Eiffel Tower>> !)

The Future will tell.

But, already, according to a well known, traditional Saying, as a matter of General Principle, in the Political Life, "it' not enough for Caesar's Wife to BE Honest. She must also LOOK Honest !"

In these conditions, a Better and more timely Transparency of the "Notre Dame de Paris"' Investigations would certainly be Welcome...

 

(../..)

 

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

EasterTime April 2019

Written by ACM
Friday, 19 April 2019

 salvador_dali_christ_on_the_cross_1951__grunewald_christ_resurrection_1515_400_01

Salvador Dali (Christ on the Cross, 1951),

made a contrario, while studying Grunewald (Christ Resurrection, 1515)

 

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

 

 Good Easter 2019 Recess

to "Eurofora"s Readers !

 

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

 

Real Europeans

obviously need a European Resurrection,

between 2019 and 2024, at the latest... 

 

**********************

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 imag0972_400


    Scientific innovation joined to Faith for Human Rights, Eastern Partnership and fight against the Crisis, but above all, the need to overcome the "Crisis of Trust" from EU Citizens, are the main priorities for new EU Parliament's President, Polish Jerzy Buzek, that a 555-votes-strong majority of MEPs on July 14,  Strasbourg made a living symbol of the fact that, 20 years after the fall of Berlin Wall (1989 - 2009) there is no more an Eastern or Western Europe, but only one Europe, as the head of the largest group of MEPs, ChristianDemocrats/EPP, Joseph Daul, stressed after the event.

    Speaking later to a group of Strasbourg's Journalists, including "EuroFora", the new EU Parliament's President clarified his stance on concrete topical issues, as f.ex. that of Turkey's controversial EU bid, which was one of the main issues of the June 2009 Electoral campain, clearly won by his party of ChristianDemocrats/EPP :  - "At present, Turkey does not fullfil none of EU conditions", he stressed, (See infra).

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    Buzek is well known in Strasbourg and to "EuroFora" as EU Rapporteur for the Framework Program of Scientific Research and Development of Technologies. A Natural Science Professor from the Historic and Religious landmark Polish City of Częstochowa, active in the famous Solidarnosk grass-roots social movement, he served 4 years as Prime Minister (1997-2001), before being elected as MEP in 2004 and 2009, after he brillantly won the latest EU Election at the head of his party (EPP) almost doubling the number of its MEPs from 15 to 28 !

    - "Innovation" and "Energy safety", as well as fight against the "Cimat change", but also "Eastern Partnership", the "Mediterranean", "Strategic partnerships" with Russia, the USA, etc, and the search for "solutions to the Economic Crisis" that EU Citizens "expect" from us, will be his "priorities", announced from the outset the new EU Parliament's President, reminding also that the quest for "Human and Civic Rights" played an important role in his experience with the Solidarnosc grass-roots social movement in Poland's History

    But, the most important of all, is the urgent need to overcome the "Crisis of Trust" between EU Institutions and the People he stressed : - EU "Citizens often don't understand us", denounced Buzek, launcing a call to "do anything for EU Citizens to understand our work" in EU Parliament : "We (MEPs) need to make EU Citizens involved" in "what we are doing every week, in Strasbourg and Brussels", he proposed. Pointing f.ex. to the hot "Debates" with "strong arguments" exchanged between MEPs during the preparation of their Legislative Decisions, in Committees, delivering often hard struggles between initially opposed points of view, long before forging a majority at the final vote, sometimes more than a year..

    Therefore, EU Parliament will be "open to your criticism, for discussion and exchange of views", he promissed to Journalists in Strasbourg.

    In this way, Buzek, in fact, highlighted "EuroFora"s main idea, that we strongly advocate since 1997-2007, to systematicaly and actively involve EU Citizens in public debates during the decision-making process of important EU measures, which affect their lives and the society in which they live, (and not only just a few weeks each 4 or 5 Years at the eve of EU Elections)...
--------------------
    This is related also to the symbolic gift that Buzek chose to give to the out-going former EU Parliament's President, Hans Gert Poettering, (2007-2009), his collegue in the ChristianDemocrats/EPP, who brillantly won 2009 EU Elections in Germany : A genuine statute of sainte Barbara crafted in Silesia's black Coal by Polish Miners : Those simple but strong people who fought for social change against some technocrats and bureaucrats disguissed into so-called "real-socialists" of old times. (PHOTO).

    It's enough to have seen a popular open air mass, at Warsaw's center, with many thousands of people, old and young, simple workers and intellectuals mixed together, with references to Poland's history and struggles for survival and liberty, through various ages, (as fex. that organized at the eve of CoE's 2005 panEuropean Heads of State and Government for the beatification of late Pope John-Paul II), in order to understand what such symbols mean..

buzek_press_a_400

    But, overcoming the "Crisis of Trust" with EU Citizens obviously implies also to rectify any errors done in the past, fex. on Turkey's controversial EU bid, with controversial decisions taken in 1999 and 2004 to give a "candidate" status and to start EU negotiations, provoking an unprecedented series of 3 "No" to EuroReferenda and 3 Majoriy Abstentions in EU Parliament Elections : 1999, 2005 and 2009, (even if the latest one succeeded to decelerate and almost stop the drop of participation rates, opening hopes for vote's revival after an electoral campaign clearly critical to Turkey's claims in several mainstream EU countries)
    
    Therefore, Buzek was faced with manifold critical Questions on EU Enlargement, most of them citting concrete examples of certain political problems  :  But his replies were almost always given as a matter of general principle :

    F.ex. Questioned on the suspension of EU - Croatia talks because of a Border conflict with EU Member Slovenia, Buzek prefered to speak about principles :

- "We know that during Enlargement, the process can be blocked by failure to resolve this kind of issues",  This concerns also other enlargments' cases", and "these rules are always in force" he warned.


But Buzek avoided to directly reply to a queston on "French and German EPP' calls to define the Borders of Europe", as a German journalist asked him by making a reference to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and German Chancellor Angie Merkel's, critical statements on Turkey at the June 2009 Electoral campain.    

- "Concerning Enlargement, there's always the same rules : There have to be Criteria, which have to be respected if a Country wants to join the EU", he started to simply reply.

- "For my country (Poland) it took us 15 Years to fullfil these Criteria", Buzek reminded, indicating, if proportions are kept, that Turkey, fex. would have to spend some 25 years before eventually joining the EU..

- "Countries wishing to join the EU need to Change their Systems", as we (Poland and other former Eastern European Countries) did, he stressed.

- "'For me, meeting the condition of Human Rights is one of the Key conditions for membership in the EU", preferring again to speak from the point of view of General Principles, on the occasion of an untimely question on Serbia (which is not even a candidate yet)...

- "Turkey" has, "first of all", to fullfil (EU) Copenhagen criteria". Bevause, currently, none of them is fullfiled by Turkey", New EU Parliament's President, denounced, speaking later to a group of Journalists, including "EuroFora".

buzek_close_a_400 

In particular, on Human Rights :  - "We (EU) can never forget Human Rights", because "this is at the very Foundations of the EU", Buzek added.

On the contrary, when he referred to EU Enlargment for the  "Western Balkans Countries ", Buzek appeared upbeat, finding "promising situations", despite "difficulties" in the Past, since "Countries are queuing to become EU members", and this "generated changes", as he said.

As for Russia, Buzek observed that it was a "very important" country, located "in the same Continent", Europe,  "close to our borders", and "we need eachother". "But Russia' has 'differend poblems : "They claim that their system is Democratic, but rules are differend", and we must be "aware of such differencies", fex. "on Human Rights", that we can't ignore, as he said;

Concerning China, where a journalist observed that the recipient of EU Parliament's latest "Sakharov prize" for freedom of thought is "still in prison", Buzek found that since the 1999 events in Tien Amin square, "we see differencies on Human Rights still today", and expressed his "support" for those who try to ameliorate the situation.

On the contrary, speaking recently to "EuroFora" he strongly supported the idea for an EU - Ukraine cooperation, fex. between Airbus and Antonov, in order to build a  less costly but more performant than the old and problematic A400M, new Military Transport Airplane : - "They (Ukranian Antonov Company) can certainly do it. I'm sure they can. It's a good Idea, and I'd be glad if it was done", he told us. (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/airbusantonov.html )


(../..)

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