newsitems

*Paris+Strasbourg+Brussels/Angelo Marcopolo/- Stronger than expected Announcements on emblematic Space High-Tech Cooperation with China, anchored on a larger Will for a Multilateral Global Governance, with Europe and China firmly involved, Marked the Spring 2019 Visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to French President Emmanuel Macron, flanked by German Chancellor Angie Merkel, and EU Commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker, these days in Paris,

while, almost at the Same Time, EU Parliament in Strasbourg was Voting on an Inter-Institutional Agreement about EU's Future Space Policy and even the Creation of a specific EU Agency,

shortly before the forthcoming EU - China Summit on April 9, in Brussels.

Both Moves come shortly after a premonitory "Eurofora"'s Question/Reply Topical exchange with EU Commission's vice-President Jurki Katainen, Earlier this Month in Strasbourg, about current Prospects for EU - China Cooperation on Space, on the occasion of the adoption, then, of a wider Draft EU "Strategy" on China in general, (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eucommissionvpresidentonchinaandspace.html).

But, how "Deep" will really be EU - China Cooperation, at least, on the most "Burning" Global Issues, when, in addition to "Peace", and "World" Trade or other matters, are Added also key References to "Humanity", particularly at a moment when even basic BioEthical values are at stake ? (See Infra)... 

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- "Our two Countries have Decided to Develop their Cooperation on Space, in the areas (not only) of Satellites" (as until recently), (but also) and "of Outer Space Exploration", announced Chinese President Xi Jinping, at a Press-point after a key bilateral France-China Summit, Yesterday in Paris' Elysée Palace, (on the Anniversary of 55 Years since De Gaulle recognized officially China, starting Diplomatic Relations).

- Since "our (Beijing's) Satellites have landed at the Hidden Side of the Moon" recently, "and we are preparing a Space Station" asap, therefore, "we are Ready to cooperate with France in these areas", Xi added in concreto.        

+ He was reacting positively to a Deal and a Proposal announced Earlier by French President Macron in this direction :

- "On Space, after having Launched, on October 2018, our 1st Joint Observation Satellite (for Oceans+), We (China and France) have Concluded, Today, a Strategic Partnership on Astro-Physics, Environment Monitoring, Climate, and Space Exploration", had ambitiously revealed Macron.                                                         

- In this regard, the French President "Congratulated" China for its "Succesfull Landing at the Hidden Side of the Moon", recently, and stressed France's Will to Develop Partnership not only on Earth, but also around all other Celestial Bodies" too, as he characteristically highlighted.

This Macron's formula obviously opens towards Wider Perspectives, i.e. not only at the Moon (Comp. Supra), and/or at Planet Mars (where the EU has already a Project with Russia soon), as well as accross various other Space Objects flying inside and/or Beyond our Solar System, (as, f.ex., that Key big Asteroid that USA's NASA has recently crossed and observed in detail, for the 1st Time in History, before Flying Further across our Galaxy, making the Big Headline News Globally at New Year's Eve)...

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+ The Next Day, speaking at an Exceptional Joint, wider, Multilateral Event, including the Conclusions of a Conference on "Global Governance", Together with French and German Leaders, President Macron and Chancellor Merkel, as well as EU Commission's President Juncker, the Chinese President, significantly, expressed anew his Will to Advance EU - China Cooperation in the Key area of Space too :         

- "In the New Context" of "Major Challenges", with "Deficit(s) in (Global) Governance", "Trust", and "Peace" (including "protracted Coflicts", Islamist "Terrorism", "even against Women and Children", etc), as he denounced, Xi pleaded for "a concept of Common Security, cooperative and sustainable", where "Globalisation and (High-Tech) Innovations should  Benefit All Peoples of the World", hy "adopting a Higher View and  working to Strengthen our (EU - China) Cooperation", particularly by "Deepening" it in "areas such as ...Air-Space" etc., (as well as "accelerating" in "Digital, Artificial Intelligence", etc).

- Space's traditionally Emblematic prominent Worldwide Image, High-Tech innovative content, and notorious offspring Utilities Both for Security-Defense and Civil Economy boost, Fitted particularly Well in the Wider Strategic Context of China's declared Wish to Stand by an even Stronger Europe, in the middle of a "Multi-Polar World", as he stressed earlier, vowing that "China will resolutely Support the European Integration".

- German Chancellor Angie Merkel, inter alia, after pointing to the "EU Presidency by Germany on 2021", during which she announced a new "EU - China Summit", she pleaded also for a "ReinForced Multilateralism", particularly at forthcoming "Reforms of UNO, WTO, etc", and including the "Triangle EU - China - USA", (since the success or failure of the current "USA-China" Trade "Talks" may Affect also Europe, as she warned).

+ In this context, Merkel added that, in her view, peaceful International "Competition" per se, may have also "Positive" aspects, since it Stimulates all players to "prove their Capacities", mainly through High-Tech "Innovations", (where Space would naturally be ideal for such a purpose).

(By the way, the current Political Will for an even Stronger Franco-German Integration, from EU up to UN matters, seems undeniable, as, inter alia, it results also by the Fact that French Foreign Minister Minister Drian, after this Elysée's Conference on "Global Governance", is due to go straight to Berlin, in order to participate in Tomorrow's Meeting of the German Government, before Flying to New York, where France and Germany are due to Start, for the 1st Time, a Joint 2 Months-long Presidency at UNO's Security Council, according to the recent Treaty of Aachen).

++ Experienced EU Commission's President, Jean-Claude Juncker, timely went on to add, at this juncture, his feeling that "China and Europe should Do something Big Together", nowadays, as he Stressed from the Outset, (even if most of the rest of his intervention focused mainly on Economy and Business' cooperation aspects).

+++ Meanwhile, by another again Timely "Coincidence", USA's new President, Don Trump, as if he seized the ball set flying by Merkel on the Positive aspects of Competition via High-Tech Innovations, in the Wider Context of the MultiPolar World ambiance Nowadays in Paris, (Comp. Supra), reportedly Extended recently even Further his declared Wish for NASA to Boost "Space Exploration", with an Exceptionally Big Budget, and Urged, inter alia, for a Prompt realisation of his Aim to put "Men on the Moon" Sooner than some had earlier scheduled (2024)...

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++++ Almost in Parallel, at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, by one more Coincidence, its Committee on Industry, Energy and Research (ITRE), chaired by the Polish Scientist, former EUP's President, Jerzy Buzek, Voted on Monday Evening to Adopt a "partial Agreement, resulting from Inter-Institutional Negotiations", between MEPs, EU Heads of State/Government, and EU Commissioners, for the Establishment of EU's "Space Program", as well as the Creation, for the 1st Time, of an "EU Agency for Space programs", (due to go well Beyond the pre-existing ESA, which always was, in principle, Independent from the EU).

This was done on the base of a relevant Report, drafted by mainstream Italian MEP Massimiliano Salini, from the same Political Group of ChristianDemocrats/EPP as also his compatriot, the current President of EU Parliament, Antonio Tajani, (himself a former EU Commissioner also ...on Space : Comp. f.ex., relevant Tajani's reply to "Eurofora"'s Question, f.ex., at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/tajaniindustrygalileo.html, etc). Italy was (by a series of converging "Coincidences"...), this time, the 1st EU Country that Xi Visited in his 2019 European Trip, before Concluding in Paris' Multilateral meetings.

=> Boost EU's capacities for an "Autonomous Access to Space", and "Strengthen EU's Space Diplomacy, encourage International Cooperation to raise awareness of Space, promote EU Technology and Industry", as well as "foster ...reciprocity and fair competition at International level", were among the Amendments Voted and Adopted by MEPs in the ITRE Committee of EU Parliament in Strasbourg Yesterday (Monday) evening, (Comp. Supra).

+++++ The Next Step : EU - China Summit in Brussels, may Attract a Wider Interest, up to Top Level, on April 9, since, almost at the Same Time, EU Council has decided to hold also an Exceptional Heads of State/Government's Summit just 1 Day Earlier there, on "BREXIT", (on Monday, April 8).

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+ "Humanity"...

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>>> Moreover, Significantly, China's President Xi Jinping, during the above-mentioned Paris' events (Comp. Supra), also added, in his Concluding Statements, a stern Warning about the Fact that, Nowadays, "Humanity faces Major Challenges".

=> Therefore, plearing for "a New Form of International Relations", Xi, characteristically, Advanced even Further than his favorite (de Gaulle's) "Multi-polar World" issues, and vowed that the "Final Aim" should be an "Harmonious Cooperation of All Humanity".

+ This appeared to Join also French President Emmanuel Macron's initiative, to Invite the Chinese President, earlier this week, "at a Monument inspired by Ancient Greece", as he noted, "for a European ReNaissance" (Heading of his Recent public Call for the forthcoming EU Elections of May 2019 : See, f.ex. ...), because "I believe in the force of Symbols !", as he indicated :

>>> Macron pointed by that at an Emblematic Historic Monument in South-Eastern France's Mediterranean Coast, known as "Villa Kerylos", built at the Begining of the 19th Century by Franco-Germano-Swiss Archeologist, Lawyer and Politician Theodor Reinach, who Designed it according to "what represented" for him "the very Essence of a Civilisation with an essentially Human face, like that of the (Ancient) Greeks" :

- "A Model ... and a set of ...Values that ancient Greece has passed on to us (Modern Europe). The Greek Spirit was for him both Dream and Reality", stressed, later-on, his GrandSon, Fabrice Reinach.

    Indeed, "Villa Kerylos", (nowadays a Museum managed by "Institut de France"), a Superbe 3 Floors' big Home with Garden at the Mediterranean Seaside, was thoroughly Designed and Furnished according to Plans reportedly found at "Delos", an Historic Island in the Middle of the Aegean Sea, which had notoriously served, during the Best Century of the Ancient Greek Civilisation, as the HeadQuarters of ...the 1st International Organisation  (a kind of ONU's precursor !) for Peace, Trade,  etc., throughout Many Nation-Cities, among the Eastern and Western Coasts of the Aegean, as well as its Islands, starting from shortly after the Ancient Greeks, United all Together, had just Succeeded to Defend Europe's External Borders at the East, towards Asia, (where Turkey is located nowadays).

=> But Xi's above-mentioned, crucial References to "Humanity", (and Not Only to nowadays "World"), added to Macron's Initiative with a "Symbol" for the "Renaissance" of a "Civilisation with a Human face", (Comp. Supra), added to Merkel's "ChristianDemocrat/CDU" background, and, perhaps, even to Juncker's (another "ChristianSocial/EPP" politician), wish to do "Something Big Together", (Ibid), given Today's Context, may also Point at a probable Joint Concern, (which was Not Yet explicitated in these Top Talks, ahead of the forthcoming EU-China summit in Brussels, on April 8), about a much Needed common Action to SafeGuard the Humankind also from some UnPrecedented and Serious Threats currently Threatening, for the 1st Time in History, even its own Biological and BioEthical Existence as a Species :

- I.e., particularly after the Recent Birth of 2 Genetically Manipulated Babies in China, whose DNA had Scandalously undergone a Heritable "Gene Editing" affecting even their Next Generations by Artificial Interventions, from a Technocrat of Chinese Origin, but Educated, Guided and Publicized by some USA''s Networks mainly from the Former President Barack Hussein Obama's "Socialist/Liberal"("Democrat") Lobbies, (See, Facts mainly, at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/heritablegenemaniptrumpxihumanity.html , + ..., etc).

>>> Given the Serious Risks against Health, and even More to provoke, by Altering the GermLine, an irreversible and dangerous Division among Humans, across Different and/or Diverging Races, possibly Fabricated Artificially by some Technocrats in the foreseable Future, which could lead even to an Extinction of the Human Race as such, progressively Downgraded to a level Similar, more or less, to a kind of Animals, as many World-Famous Writers or Film Directors have already Warned since long,

=> the Chinese Government reportedly Condemned such a Dangerous practice, which is also OutLawed by the PanEuropean Convention on BioEthics (Biology, Medicine and Human Rights), known as "Oviedo Treaty" of the CoE, while New USA's President, Don Trump, (a Conservative), recently felt a need to Stress that Human Embryos ("the UnBorn Children") are "Created at the Image of God", for Christians, (See, f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/usachinaontradeandbioethics.html, etc), as EU Parliament was holding, earlier this year in Strasbourg, a Plenary's Public Debate, with the participation of EU Commission, where MEPs asked for a "Global Ban" of such abhorrent practices, (See: ..., etc), in Parallel with a relevant Motion for a Resolution reportedly pushed mainly by the Biggest Political Group in EU Parliament, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, as its vice-President Pons told "Eurofora", (See, f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eppvpresidentandmepsongermlinemanipban.html, etc).

 - Will all this Alert also EU Council's Leadership, timely and adequately before the forthcoming EU - China Summit of April 8 in Brussels, so that such Crucial Nowadays' Issues affecting all "Humanity", (according to President Xi's Words : Comp. Supra), can be seriously Discussed and Efficiently settled, (before it becomes too late) ?

At least, on the occasion of both China's recent Landing at the Dark Side of the Moon, and EU's New Space Program, coinciding with Xi's nowadays Visit to Italy and France, including the Symbolic Ancient Greek Civilisation Monument of "Villa Kerylos", eve of a Franco-German + EU Commission meeting in Paris on Global Governance, where "Humanity" was a Key Word more that Twice, (Comp. Supra),

- People can only Hope that such a North Mediterranean Wind might Help also incite the forthcoming EU - China Summit of April 8 in Brussels, to Inspire itself from the Introductory Words of World Famous American Rock Group "Pink Floyd"'s most Popular Long Play Disk, precisely titled :

..."At the Dark Side of the Moon", and Starting by the Call :  - "... DoN't be Afraid to Care !"...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLOth-BuCNY

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I.e., as EU Council's President Donald Tusk from Poland, certainly Remembers : Similar to a Key Phrase by former Long-Time Pope John-Paul II, also from Poland, who Fought up to his Last Days in Life to Safeguard some elementary Human Values in BioEthics, including against Genetic Manipulations of Human Embryos, at an International Level, mainly via UNO+...

+ An Interesting point also for the Forthcoming Debate and Vote, in CoE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg, of a new Report on CoE - UNO Cooperation betweeen UNO and the 47 Member Countries-strong (including Russia+) PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, during its Plenary Session of this Spring, Later on Mid-April 2019.

(../..)

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*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Experienced CoE's Director for Information Society and Fight against Crime, Jan Kleijssen, from the Netherlands, Speaking to "Eurofora" on the occasion of a 2 Days Conference on Medias and Pluralism, particularly in the Modern Digital landscape, organized by the CoE together with "Reporters without Borders' NGO for Press Freedom, observed that the Legal Protection of Journalists would have to be Extended also to certain New Media Actors, (as the CoE has already started to officialy acknowledge : See Infra), in order to become able to succesfuly Face the Challenges for Pluralist Democracy Nowadays.

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- My main "Message" to this 2019 Conference is that,  while, "Still, the Old Challenges on Regulators, to ensure Medias Ownership's Transparency, and about Finances, on Concentration, etc, they stay", nevertheless, "there are also New Challenges, with the Digital Media Platforms", Kleijssen told "Eurofora" from the outset.

- Particularly "when they are acting whether with Less and less Human Editing, but More and more Automated Editing, (i.e. Artificial Intelligence), because there is a lot of Algorithms in it, a lot of Processes in it, (mainly on Web News Distributed via Artificial Intelligence : "that's an Issue"). => "So, it's important to make sure that Regulators (i.e. States, European/International Organisations, etc) can face these Challenges too".

+ And, "f course, a Challenge that underlies it all, at the Moment, is also about the Physical Safety of Journalists", as it's noted in "the (CoE's) Secretary General's (Thornbjoirn Jagland's) Latest Report (2018), with very Worrying Results of the Surveys carried out in Europe", which show how Many Journalists" faced such serious problems, he reminded.  

- "F.ex., Everybody knows the case of Daphne Caruana Galicia in Malta, (a brutal Murder, where investigations still Delay in lots of things), followed by another one in Slovakia, (with investigation apparently Advancing much faster), as very High-Profile cases (of Killings of Journalists), where, what happened is, of course, Absolutely UnAcceptable", Kleijssen denounced.

+ "But, in addition to that, there is a Lot of "Low Intensity" Intimidation, Harassment, etc., of Journalists. And this is something on which we (CoE+) have to be Alert too, for Medias' Pluralism, as it's part of it", Jan Kleijssen concluded, as far as the 2019 "Cornerstones" are concerned.

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- In relation to that, "Eurofora" Questioned the CoE's Director for Information Society, about the Controversial Views of "Some (who) Persist to abuse of an Old kind of "Fiscal" Definition of Journalism, claiming that it would Merely mean ...+51% of Revenues paid by any Media Business, regardless of the Content of the Work provided. Thus, f.ex., even a lazy and passive, simple Radio-TV Presenter might have much More Rights and Protection, than a Creative Writer who Risks even his/her LIfe to Investigate "Hot" Issues, Help Discover all the Truth, and reveal to the People the full Findings, when he believes that they affect the General Interest in our Society, as we denounced.                               

 - "No !", reacted Kleijssen. In fact, "there are Texts of CoE's Committee of Ministers which have already said that the Definition of "Medias", and their (Legal) Protection, should be "Extended".

- This includes, f.ex., also certain Bloggers, and Other New Media Actors, who Publish News Regularly, and, may be More Read than Traditional Newspapers, also, sometimes highly Succesfully".

- He said that in Reply to "Eurofora"'s reminder of the case of Daphne Caruana-Galicia, brutaly Murdered in Malta, who had been Hindered, by a Chief Editor, to Publish Critical News in her Traditional "Weekly" Newspaper, (as her Family had revealed to "Eurofora"), and was obliged to create a WebNews Site where she Published Alone, Dangerously Exposed,(See, among others, also: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/webjournalistmurder.html, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euparliamentpresidentoncoeandjournalistmurder.html, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/daphnewebjournalistmurderenquiry.html, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/daphnepressfreedomandcorruption.html, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/rsfleaderondaphnemurderandjournalism.html, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eucoenewsondaphnemurder.html, etc).

- Concerning Daphne's Husband's recent Denonciation, at another event, previously in Strasbourg, that "the (official) Investigation its Stuck !" (See: ..., etc), Freedom of Speech NGO "Reporters wihout Borders"' International Director, Dr. Michael Rediske, replied to an "Eurofora" Question with a Bitter Denonciation of the fact that "those who have the means to act, do Not want to do so ! But, unfortunately, we can't send them to the Haye International Criminal Court"...

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+ Such a Topic (as Journalists' Protection Status being Extended also to New Medias Actors at the Web), "might also be discussed", during this Conference, later Today, and/or in various other Events on Medias' "Pluralism", where "there will be a lot of Angles", Kleijssen guessed.

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>>> In this regard, 2 landmark CoE's Books, about "Journalism at RISK : Threats, Challenges and Perspectives", and "Journalists under PRESSURE : Unwarranted Interference, Fear and Self-Censorship in Europe", Published on 2015 and 2016, respectively, had been rightfully Chosen by the PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law of Strasbourg, in order to be Displayed on the spot and Offered to the Participants in this Conference.

+ Between them, had Also been Published a Relevant "Eurofora"s Article, with an Interview of the New Secretary General of the European Federation of Journalists, Ricardo Gutierrez, and the mention made by a representative of CoE's Committee of Ministers, during an International Conference on "Freedom of Expression", to certain Important Decisions taken by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, precisely on that Question of "Journalist"s  Definition, (Comp. Supra) :

(1) In the First CoE's Book "Journalists at Risk", 2015), Aidan White (Long Time former Secretary General of the Internationonal/European Federation of Journalists, and Nowadays of the "Journalists' Ethical Network", in an Exceptionaly Long Article, basically Urges to Extend most of Traditional Journalists' Legal Protection also to some "Other Actors" of Medias in our Digital Society, on the Condition that they will Accept to Practice the main Principles of Press Deontology, (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/iachrcoebookandefjsgonjournalismdefinition.html . An Idea that "Eurofora" had Initially suggested to White as Early as since 2009-2010 : See  http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/digitalpress.html, http://www.eurofora.net/brief/brief/webmedia.html , etc).

(2) In the relevant "Eurofora"s Article" (November 2015 : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/iachrcoebookandefjsgonjournalismdefinition.html), we refer to 2 Decisions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (cited by a CoE's CM Representative : Comp. Supra), which stressed mainly that : "Journalism canNot be equated to a Profession", i.e. Not "Only through those who are Enrolled in a certain Professional "Colegio" (Corporation)", "because", in fact, "Journalism is the Primary and Principal Manifestation of Freedom of Expression of Thought, .... which is an Inherent Right" of a Person, "and has a Double Dimension  : Individual and Collective", including Both "the Right of an Individual to Express himself Freely, AND that of Society as a whole  to Receive Information", so that any "Violation" of that, Threatens also "to Deprive Society of possible Sources of Information", affecting "a CornerStone upon which the very Existence of a Democratic Society rests", since "it's Indispensable for the Formation of Public Opinion", and "a Condition sine qua non for the Development of Political Parties, Trade Unions", etc., and "the Means that Enable the Community, when Exercising its Options, to be Sufficiently Informed", given the Fact that "a Society that is Not Well Informed, is Not a Society that is Truly Free". + That's why, the very "concept of Public Order in a Democratic Society, requires the Guarantee of the Widest possible Circulation of News, Ideas and Opinions, as well as the Widest Access to Information by Society as a Whole", and "is not conceivable without Free Debate, and the possibility for Dissenting Voices to be Heard".

<< => In consequence, "Journalism is the Primary and Principal Manifestation of Freedom of Expression", and "the Thing that Journalists do, involves, precisely, the Seeking, Receiving and Imparting  of Information", since "the PRACTICE OF JOURNALISM ...Requires a Person to ENGAGE (Him/Herself) in Activities that define or embrace the Freedom of Expression", so that "the Professional Journalist is not, nor can he be, anything else, but Someone who has Decided to Exercice Freedom of Expression in a Continuous, Regular" way.  As for "the Circumstance, Whether, or Not, that Right is Exercised as a Paid Profession, canNot be deemed Legitimate in Determining whether (a) Restriction" might be acceptable, since "that's Not a good enough Reason to Deprive Society of possible Sources of Information". "Unlike Journalism", "the practice of Law or Medicine, that is to say, the Things that Lawyers or Physicians do, is Not an Activity Specifically Guaranteed by the Convention" on Human Rights, and, therefore, it could be Restricted,  for "Reasons ... that May... Justify Compulsory Licencing of Other Professions", but canNot be invoked in the case of Journalism, because .... this could Violate the Basic Principles of a Democratic Public Order", (Comp. Supra), IACHR Distinguished.>>

(3) Shortly Afterwards,the Second CoE's Book, cited above, ("Journalists under Pressure": 2016), clearly Adopts a Similar "Definition" : "Journalist = A Person who is Regularly Engaged in Collecting or Disseminating Information to the Public, with a Journalistic (Public Interest) Purpose". (P. 11). 

+ "Definition of Key Terms : ... Journalist = ... The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, in 2000, Defined a Journalist as "any ...Person who is Regularly (Or professionally) Engaged in the Collection and Dissemination of Information to the Public, via Any Means of Mass Communication". (Appendix to Recommendation No. R (2000) 7..." + "Recommendation CM/Rec (2011) 7, on a New Notion of Media, Recognized that the New Media, Created by both Technological and Social Change, has seen the Entry into scene of a New Breed of Reporters : Bloggers, Citizen Journalists, and Others, who Create user-generated Content. The Adoption of this New Notion of Media, Necessitates the Recognition that "the Scope of Media Actors has Enlarged, as a result of New forms of Media in the Digital Age". CoE 2014". (P. 24).

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Meanwhile, CoE's 2019 Conference on Medias and Pluralism Today, (Comp. Supra), advanced by stressing the Growing Importance of New, Digital Medias, Both in Quantitative and Qualitative terms, i.e. as being also, potentially More Efficient than Traditional Newspapers, particularly in Stimulating Pluralist public Debates in Nowadays Democratic Societies, i.e. to meet the main Purpose of Journalists' Freedom of Expression (Comp. Supra): 

- "Often, Web Medias Bypass Traditional Medias", observed, f.ex., Nouri Lazmi, President of Tunisia's Independent High Authority for AudioVisual Communication.

- Already, "for Young People aged 16 - 24 y.o.", the "Web has become the 1st main Source of News", noted Maria Donde, "Ofcom"s Expert for International Content Policy, (even if Radio-TV still remains "the Most viewed", according to a recent Poll on "Web Medias' Consumption", at least in the UK).

+ Moreover, their "Real Consumption is "Under-Reported", Donde found. Perhaps, it's also because "Most On-Line News" are read through "Smart-Phones", and "when Passively Strolling".

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- But they are bringing Both "Good and Bad Journalism", or "Risks of Fake News", Lazmi warned.

+ Most of such Medias use to "Behave as Political Opponents in an Arena", with "Strong Political polarisation". On the Contrary,  "Neutral Medias are Marginalized", f.ex. in Libya, etc., regretted Professor Carola Richter, from Berlin's Freie University.

- The "Bad" aspects are the Excessive Role of "Interest Groups", and the InSufficient dimension of "Deliberation" and/or "Consent-Building" functions, he Criticized.

=> But the "Good" aspects, are that Web Medias "Allow People to Speak out", with a "Diversity of Perspectives in Public space", Professor Richter stressed.

+ This Importance of this Key point was particularly underlined by Tarlach McGonagle, Senior Researcher/Lecturer at the Information Law Institute of Amsterdam University, "as part of a Wider Participation in Public Debate".

- Indeed, ECHR has already underlined (f.ex. since "2010") "States' Obligation" to support structural "Pluralism", for which "States must be Guarantors", he observed.

>>> And, those New, Web Medias, precisely, help boost a kind of "ReConfiguration of Public Debate".

- This is achieved now Both with Traditional "Journalists", but "also with Oher Actors" at the Web, such as various "Bloggers", "Corporations", etc., he reminded, on this Focal point, (Comp. Supra).

- Indeed, a "Pluralist" debate for Democracy, notoriously is the main Ideological Legitimation and the Political "Raison d'être" of "Freedom of Expression", on which is Based ECHR's overall "System for Protection of Authors", (as McGonagle noted)

=> I.e., Nowadays, including that necessary "Extension" of Traditional Journalists' Legal Status, also to certain "Other Media Actors", (as CoE's Director for Information Society and Fight against Crime, Jan Kleijssen, has just Highlighted, in Reply to a relevant "Eurofora"s Question : Comp. Supra).

 - In fact, "Europe seems to be in Transition" nowadays, concluded CoE's specialized Head of Information Society Department, Patrick Penninck, towards the End of the "Medias and Pluralism Regulation" Debate, (astonishingly using an Expression that French former EU Parliament's President, the famous Simone Veil, had previously used with "Eurofora" in Sorbonne, Paris, almost a Decade earlier, concerning the different, but also Topical Issue of Popular Participation to EU Elections, (See: ...).   

(../..)

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*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Days before Chinese President Xi Jiping is due to meet with European and USA Leaders (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/usachinaontradeandbioethics.html, and Infra), the Experienced Director of CoE's PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, (which has 47 Member States, including Russia, etc) competent also on Fight against Crime, Jan Kleijssen from the Netherlands, speaking to "Eurofora", strongly Denounced the recent Heritable Genetic Editing of 2 Babies by a Chinese Doctor Educated by, Linked to, and Publicized through a "Socialist"/Liberal USA Network of the former Barack Hussein Obama's era, (See : ...), and stressed that it must be Banned, reminding that also the Cloning of Human Beings identical to others, had Started to be Outlawed already since the 1990ies.

CoE is the Only Multilateral Organisation in the World which has a Legaly Binding Convention on Bio-Medicine and Human Rights, called "Oviedo" Treaty, as early as since 1998, which is Open for Signature and Ratification even to 3rd, Non-European Countries, accross the World.

Kleijssen made it clear that, as a matter of General Principle, most Bio-Medical Research and Technologies, as well as many others, are neither "bad", nor "good" in themselves, but depending on the way in which some Use or Abuse of them. That's why, Bio-Ethical Rules should, in general, EnLighten and Guide Practitioners on what, when and how a given Technology might be, entirely or partially, admissible, or not, he recalled.

But, sometimes, there are also certain "Red Lines", CoE's Top Official pointed out. F.ex., CoE called to "Prohibit" the Cloning of Humans, (i.e. the ReProduction of Identical Human beings to another individual, alive or dead), Denounced as Contrary to "Human Dignity", (to which were Added, Later-on, Worrying Findings about Negative Genital Malformations of Cloned Animals, as the Famous Ship "Dolly", Dead after Sufferings), with a Protocol to its above-mentioned Convention on Biology, Medicine and Human Rights, (the "Oviedo" Treaty), opened to signature in Paris since January 1998, he Reminded.

So that Countries going from Germany up to Australia, etc, already Imposed such a Ban against Cloning of Human Beings, via Legal Rules threatening with several Years of Jail, Financial Sanctions, etc., and USA's former President G.W.Bush had also adopted a similar Measure, before the Bill stahled in the Congress.

+ Moreover, several More Countries throughout the World, including, f.ex., among others, also Italy, Spain, the Philppines, USA, the Holy See, Costa Rica, Portugal, most Latin America Countries, backed in substance by France and Germany, etc, pushed for an International Ban against "Cloning" Humans, at the level of the UNO, followed also by several other Countries which were for a Partial Ban, on 2005, finaly Resulting, then, into a Global UN Declaration.

>>> But, Nowaday's Threat for Heritable "Editing" able to Manipulate the Human Genome also in Future Generations, in an Irreversible way, (as it Started to already occur since the Autumn of 2018 : Comp. Supra), -"is, indeed, very Frightening !", denounced CoE's experienced Director against Crime, (who has also Served as CEO of CoE Assembly's Political Committee, Head of CoE Secretary General's Office, etc).

=> Therefore, we (CoE) should make it clear that this Controversial Technique "Crosses a Red Line", by Prohibiting it, with a Legaly Binding Measure which can be extended Worldwide, f.ex., based on CoE's above-mentioned Convention on Bio-Medicine and Human Rights, which already Prohibits any Intervention aimed at Modifying the Human GermLine, (i.e. to Manipulate the Human Genome also for Future Generations : "any Modification to the Genome of any Descendants", as its Article 13 says), Kleijssen urged.

+ In Parallel, 2 New CoE Experts' Reports on Editing Human Genome are reportedly in Preparation : Both a Survey of All Member Countries' relevant Legislation, and a BioEthical Analysis of what is really at stake.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

++ Meanwhile, a fresh Call to establish "a Global Ban" against Heritable Genetic Manipulations on Humans was Recently Launched by MEPs during an "ad hoc" EU Parliament's Debate in Strasbourg, with an EU Commissioner promissing to "Explore" that possibility asap, while the vice-President of the Biggest Political Group, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, Pons from Spain, speaking to "Eurofora", announced that, already a relevan Draft Resolution circulates inside EU Parliament, with the aim to be voted and adopted, hopefully, before the forthcoming EU Elections of May 2019, (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eppvpresidentandmepsongermlinemanipban.html , etc).

+++ In Addition, a Chinese Government Official has Recently Condemned Strongly such Controversial and Dangerous Practices, (against Health and Humanity), as both "illegal" and "UnEthical", (See, f.ex.: ...), while US President Don Trump, in a Recent Speech to the traditional BiPartisan, American "National Prayer Breakfast" annual 2019 event, spoke for "All Children, Born and UnBorn, (which) are made at the Image of God", linked to "the Miracle of Life and to the Majesty of Creation", as he said for the Human Embryos, on a Key Point which was most Widely and Lively Applauded by Thousands of People.

Several among Trump's Socio-Political Opponents are Afraid that the American President might be, sooner or later, enclined to Trigger and Stimulate also Christian and other such People's support on certain Key BioEthical Issues, (perhaps inspired also by his predecessor, GWBush's similar succesful move at his brillant Re-Election of 2004, which had suddenly become UnExpectedly Popular), against the narrow-minded, petty interests of some selfish Lobbies which had copiously Paid Barack Hussein Obama's pre-Electoral Campaigns on 2009 and 2012, pushing to Drop BioEthical Values for Big Pharma's bucks.

To those, are naturally Added also Other People, particularly Opposed to "Racist" propaganda and/or practices, as they claim, who should, normally, be among the First to Fear, even More, any Risk to Artificially Create real "Races", by Heritable Alterations of Human Genome also in Future Generations, which Threatens to put an End to Humanity's History  !...

=> Until and during April, Presidents Trump and Xi have, on the Occasion of Top-Level Contacts for Trade, a rare, if not unique, Chance to make an Historic move in order to Settle, or, at least, Prepare and ensure the settlement of such a Crucial Issue.

++++ This is Also true for even Earlier expected Top Level Meetings of the Chinese President, towards the End of March, with key European Leaders as the French President Emmanuel Macron and the German Chancellor Angie Merkel, Together with EU Commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker, Next Week in Paris, at the Eve of Crucial EU Elections of May 2019, and well Before the decisive 2020 US Elections.

Between those Two Dates, an EU - China Summit (after EU Commission recently adopted its Draft "Strategy" on Beijing, earlier this March in Strasbourg : Comp: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eucommissionvpresidentonchinaandspace.html, to be Followed, Later this week, also by an EU Heads of State/Governments' Summit due to discuss and vote on EU's overall Strategy vis a vis China) is scheduled in Brussels for April 9.

(../..)

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Cela s'est passé après Longs Debats dans deux Réunions de plusieurs Centaines de participants, dans la prestigieuse Salle des Consels, à la Cité Administrative de l'EuroMetropole de Strasbourg, organisés le 8 février et 1er mars 2019, par le Maire-Adjoint de la Ville, Chantal Cutajar, chargée de la Democratie locale et Professeur d'Université, suivis de la rectification d'un Rapport préalable, officiellement déposé à Paris en mi-Mars 2019.

Afin de contribuer à dépasser le Blocage et les Tensions actuelles, par une serie des Compromis pratiques, qui sont aussi autant d'Avancées Democratiques, on propose, concretement :

- (A) la Reconnaissance d'un "Droit Citoyen au Dialogue" avec l'Administration Publique avant qu'elle prenne une Décision affectant la vie des personnes en cause et/ou la Société dans son ensemble ;

- (B) l'introduction d'un "Vote (ou Referendum) d' Ecoute du Peuple", (associé avec le 1er, ou indépendament).

Tous les deux offrent, d'evidence, moins que le "RIC" (Referendum d' Initiative Citoyenne) s'imposant avec force Obligatoire sur le fond des questions posées, comme il est demandé par les "Chemises Jaunes" et d'autres, mais que l'Etat ne parait pas prêt d'accepter maintenant, tel-quel,

mais ils ont une portée plus Large (puisqu'ils concernent aussi toutes les décisions prises à l'initiative de l'Administration publique), et, surtout, reconnaissent des Droits plus Nombreux aux Citoyens, que ceux qu'ils avaient dans le passé.

Le tout, en Avancant dans le sens d'une Democratie Participative moderne, et dans un cadre à la fois Fonctionnel et Apaisé, respectant aussi bien la Légitimité et le Dévoir d'Agir des Elus Politiques, que le "Dialogue" avec, et l' "Ecoute" du Peuple, (tout en aidant d' Eviter des Abus de pouvoir).

- Dans le 1er cas, l' affirmation d'un "Droit du Citoyen au Dialogue" avec l' Administration Publique avant qu'elle prenne des Décisions dans la plupart des domaines qui affectent la Vie des gens et/ou la Société, comprendrait la Transparence et l' Information à temps utile, mais aussi l' Echange, avec Obligation pour l'Administration de Repondre aux Arguments pertinents des Citoyens, avec des Faits Réels, de facon Juridiquement Correct, et avec une Motivation Suffisante. Le tout sous le Contrôle du Juge administratif, qui pourrait Annuler une Décision prise selon un processus qui manquerait à ces devoirs élementaires.

- Dans le 2e cas, (soit à la Suite du processus précedent, ou de facon Indépendante), une sorte de Referendum original pourrait être organisé, (Entre l' Obligatoire et le Consultatif), où, si la Majorité s'oppose, l' Administration Publique pourrait passer outre, mais seulement en cas de Necessité et de facon Proportionelle, (sous le Controle du Juge) : Une solution de compromis, qu'on pourrait appeler : "Vote d' Ecoute du Peuple".

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Le Rapport Officiel de la Ville de Strasbourg a été deposé au Site de Paris pour le "Grand Debat" au lien suivant : https://granddebat.fr/media/default/0001/01/e4dca60587d470b0c07473b544d8157220c06958.pdf

Il mentione les 2 mésures proposés par "Eurofora" aux pages 5 and 11:

+ Des Descriptions plus detaillées de ces 2 Mésures que nous avons proposées avaient été déjà Publiées ailleurs, (beaucoup plus tôt) : 

- à l'"Eurofora" (V.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/francegiletsjaunesdialogueavantdecisions.html),

- ainsi que, directement, au Site officiel du "Grand Débat" national, (à : https://granddebat.fr/projects/democratie-et-citoyennete-1/collect/participez-a-la-recherche-collective-de-solutions/proposals/droit-citoyen-au-debat-vote-des-decisions, et https://granddebat.fr/projects/democratie-et-citoyennete-1/collect/participez-a-la-recherche-collective-de-solutions/proposals/vote-ou-referendum-d-ecoute-du-peuple).

(.../...)