newsitems

*Strasbourg/ENA/Angelo Marcopolo/- Via a Series of Timely Symbols, Both in what he said to accredited Journalists, including "Eurofora", (See Infra), and, mainly, by Choosing to Speak Today in France's most European City:  Strasbourg, (Host of CoE, ECHR, and EU Parliament's weekly Plenary Sessions, Shengen and EU Citizens' Defensor/Ombudsman, etc), the Same Day that in Italy was revealed the Final Version of a New Government Plan, with much Debated Key Points on core European Issues, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, invited, in Substance, to be Careful Not to Weaken Europe, but to make necessary Profound Changes to the System, including National, as new French President Emmanuel Macron, is notoriously supporting, mutatis-mutandis, also in this Country, (See further Infra).

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Already, just one Day Earlier (on May 17), during EU Leaders' Summit in Sofia, various Explicit Comments were reportedly made on the much awaited "Draft" Plan for a New Government in Italy, agreed by the 2 main Anti-Establishment Parties of "5 Stars' Movement" and "Lega", headed by Di Maio and Salvini, respectively.  

And, indeed, the full Final Version of that Key Text, Published only Today, on May 18, as "Contract for the Government of Change", containing 30 Main Points, in 57 Pages, (in Advance of its Ultimate Endorsement also by "Lega"s supporters, later during the Week-End), was, Meanwhile, reportedly, Polished up on certain "Hot" Issues, (apparently including some Erased Notes on €uroArea, which might have, eventually, given way to MisUnderstandings or MisInterpretations, etc), Resulting in a somewhat "more pro-European" version, according to several informed observers, (including by urging for the creation of a European "Economic Union").

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- Shortly Afterwards, speaking at a fully Packed huge Amphitheater of ENA, the French Prime Minister announced, with a Smile, his Decision to Drop a Draft Speech prepared by his "Matignon" Office, because it was "too Technical", and, Later-on Criticized those who, All the Time, "at the Morning, Noon or Night", deal only with "Technical" aspects (instead of Focusing on the Substance of what was really at Stake), as he characteristicaly said...

 

 

 - He even seized an Opportunity given by ENA's new Director, Patrick Gerard, when he observed, from the outset, that Edouard Philippe was Both a Former Student of ENA, (as several other French Top Politicians), and "the 2nd Prime Minister to pay an Official Visit to ENA's Headquarters in Strasbourg, after that of (his Predecessor in 2006) Dominique de Villepin", (See "Eurofora"' co-Founder's relevant Publication then at "TCWeekly", etc), in order to Remind the Fact that, when he had been in Strasbourg as a Student at ENA, he had strived to Convince his Classmates to Adopt (according to a Traditional Custom) as the Top Emblematic Figure for their Group, that of University Professor in History, jailed, tortured ad executed Anti-NAZI Resistant, Marc Bloch, (who represented both an "intellectual" and a "Humanist", as he noted), after whom is also Named Strasbourg's Faculty of Human and Social Sciences,  instead of  (the famous Controversial Politician in Medieval Italy) ... "Machiavelli" !

- However, it was just "with a Tight Majority" that this Choice of Marc Bloch versus Nicollo Machiavelli was finaly made, then, by his ENA Classmates, Philippe reminded, - perhaps because of a still on-going Controversy about whether Nicollo was, indeed, what is commonly Criticized Nowadays as "Machavellian", (i.e. Cynical, full of Deceipt, even Brutal, etc), mainly Based on his Book "Prince", or, on the Contrary, a ..."Progressive" Avant-Guardist of Democratic "Enlightenment" Century, favored by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Diderot, etc, (as "Wikipedia" a.o. remind, particularly Based on his following Book : "Discourses" )...

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- At any case, Nowadays, everybody should be Careful, "Not to Take for Granted", Benefits such as "Democracy, Rule of Law, Human Rights, Ethics, Peace, Europe, etc", just since "they are here During a Long period of Time".

- In Fact, we must all "pay Attention, Not to Weaken them", Because, "even what pre-exists, might suddenly Collapse" and "impload, after an External Impact !", sternly but calmly, Philippe Warned.

- Significantly, this point was made just After having Described, earlier, Marc Bloch's own traumatic Experiences during the 1st and 2nd World Wars, the NAZI Occupation, etc (Comp. Supra), that the Historian had  Resumed in his "Book : <<Strange Defeat>>", which Denounced the fact that some among "those who Had Governed in the Past", "Beared certain Responsibilities", for what had Happened afterwards, so that this was a kind of "Prepared Defeat", by "the Absence of - and/or Bad-  Decisions".

+ Mutatis-Mutandis, it's also true that "the Meaning of the main Decisions" f.ex. of the Present, New French Government, as earlier conceived basically "by President Macron", Elected on Mid-2017, stems from "the Observation" that, in Fact, several things here are "Not Helpful" and "do Not Offer the same Opportunities, as in Other, Comparable Countries", often Because "a System pushed towards Too Many Compromises", the New French Prime Minister criticized.

=> Therefore, "we have to Profoundly Change such a System !", Philippe stressed, as a matter of Principle.

- That's why, the New President of  France, Emmanuel Macron, "Proposed to Re-Build anew" the way that the Country was Governed, and Succeeded to "Gather a Majority" of Voters, even well Beyond the Traditional "Left/Right" Borderlines, "in order to Transform" the overall situation, with the "Aim to Review certain Key Issues", (including, f.ex., even the "Education and acquisition of Competences", as here, in the ENA, etc).

- In fact, this is a Long-Term process, whose "Final Effects might Not Yet become fully Visible during this 1st Term of Government" (2017-2022), but is necessary, will advance, and, sooner or later, bring Results, he vowed.

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- Citting, Selectively, certain Concrete Examples, Prime Minister Philippe stressed, in particular, the "Need to put in Order the Public (Financial) Accounts", and "Fufill our Commitments", particularly on "Controlling the Public Expenditure", (i.e., as also in several Other EU Member Countries, after the Latest Global Economic/Financial Crisis, including f.ex. Italy, etc).

>>> Because, Otherwise, there is a "Risk to Loose Control", and "Loose a Key Part of our Sovereignity", "as in the case of Greece, which has already Lost a part its own Sovereignity", Philippe Warned.

- But, concerning the core Topical Issue of "Security/Defense", the French Government has allocated "much More Funds in the Budget", since, recent events warned that we must be "Ready" to Face a Dangerous World" nowadays, he pointed out, (after a Series of many Islamist Terrorist Deadly Attacks cowardly Targetting peaceful and innocent Civilian People).

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+ Moreover, speaking earlier to Journalists, including "Eurofora", the French Prime Minister, (in another, officially UnRelated, but Symbolic Coincidence with well-known Debates about EU Solidarity and/or Cohesion),  strongly supported a controversial Measure (Limiting Cars' Speed to prevent accidents), which basically  boils down into saying, in substance, that those who Run too Fast, should Contribute Financially to the Care due to eventual Victims, (even if they didn't provoke directly an accident, the point being that overall Fast-Track System as such)...

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=> In Fact, even withOut citting Explicitly not even once the Name of "Italy",  - probably in order to avoid any risk for a Friendly Advice (between Neighbouring Countries, Both Sharing the Common Responsibilities of being among the 4  [soon 3 after the BREXIT] Biggest EU Members, and having a Long History closely often interwoven Together) to be eventually Misunderstood or MisRepresented by some as a so-called "attempt to Interfere", etc, - the French Prime Minister, nevertheless, pursued Consistently, (using a Similar Wording wioth a Strong Joint Symbolism), accross various Other concrete Issues (See Infra + Supra), almost 1 and Same Main Line of Thought :

- "Don't be Afraid to Disobey, in order to Support (necessary) Transformations", But "Transform an Organisation (as, f.ex., a Business, Education, Public Finances, the EU itself, etc) from the Inside", by "Acting inspired by an Ideal of General Interest", Philippe added, Later on, Today Afternoon, at a 2nd Speech to Young Businessmen, at nearby Nancy City, making it Clear that he Made a Reference to New French President Emmanuel MACRON, that "we (the New Government) are trying to Help Change things", as he stressed.

- Reminding anew the relevant History, f.ex. of "that Strong Movement of Ideas", which was the Christian "Social Catholicism", of "Philosophers Marc Sagnier and Emmanuel Mounier" (in France, others in Italy, etc), he referred even to a landmark Speech by "General De Gaulle"' back on 1948, (which, however, had to Wait until ...1967, in order for its Ideas to Start being Realized, as, f.ex., Workers' Part of a Business' Benefits, in Shares, at the Governing Board, etc, where Ameliorations were announced by Philippe), with 1 "Common Point" :

=> "This (f.ex., an Enterprise, a Country, the EU, etc) is Not Only a area for Confrontations", (even if "this doesn't exclude to Support your Rights, ...to make Revendications, to hold "Frank Discussions", to spare or win Money, etc), But also "an area for ... Dialogue, for Innovation,... Challenge and Emulation, Learning and Reflection", even "Experimentation", which is well "Anchored inside a Territory, a Culture, a Natural but also Legal Environment", i.e., "inside an Entity (as the EU too) which gives Rights, but also Obligations",

as Philippe locaciously Added Today Afternoon, at his Subsequent Speech at nearby Nancy, (that the "Matignon"'s Prtess Service kindly send also to "Eurofora" in Strasbourg, where we had to Cover anOther Meeting with the French Minister for Medias and Culture, Francoise Nyssen, held almost at the Same Time, in the HeadQuarters of the Franco-German/European RadioTV "ARTE", just Facing EU Parliament's Building, (See Ministe Nyssen's Topical Reply to an "Eurofora" Question at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchministerondefiningjournalismbydeontology.html , etc).

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"Education + Competences"
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Speaking, in fact, Both in Strasbourg, this Morning, and at Nancy, later this Aftertnoon, about  Necessary "Transformations" and Changes mainly around (directly or indirectly) "Education and Competences", (as he stressed, at First, inside ENA's Top School for Public Administration's Senior Officers, shortly before Nancy at the National Federation of Young Businessmen), the new French prime Minister underlined the Fact that Human "Competences", that we all "Need in order to Develop our Activities", "Give to Work its Dignity, its Value, and its Meaning", and "it's what Makes us All Usefull inside a (Collective) Team", as he Characteristically said.

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+ In this regard, he also cited (this Morning at ENA), as anOther concret Example of necessary Changes, the well-known Problem of 60% of University Students during the First 2 Years Abandoning their Studies, which obviously results into a big "Waste", as he Denounced. Therefore, that System "must be Modified", f.ex., by Introducing a part of "Orientation" in the Choices made by the Students, (etc), he pointed out.

+ And, in Extension, Philippe also Criticized the Fact that France uses Less "Apprenteeship" than Other Countries, and pointed to the Fact that the New Government's recent Decision to affect about 13 Billions € "to Pay Apprenteeship", in order to "Prepare more Industrial Competitivity" for the Country, as he said.

- Meanwhile, at anOther side of the Wider Area concerning "Education and Competences", (which is, in general, at the Forefront of the New French Government's will to "Review" the current System), ENA's prestigious School for Public Administration's Senior Officials (Comp. Supra) still persists to be very Selective : Thus, in Average, "among about 1.000 Candidates each Year, Only 40 are Accepted" (sic !) as New Students, told "Eurofora" a Teacher of ENA in working on "Admissions".

- In order to Succeed, ENA's Candidates must have a Good Knowledge of Politics, Law and Economy, but also in European/International Issues, as well as Public Finances, even Medias, etc, the Main point being an Overall Capacity, Spreading Wider among All those Areas, Instead of any Specialisation in Only Some Among them, he also told us.

+ However, at the Same Time, it is well known that, an Augmentation of the Number of PhD-Holders in the French Universities, was provoked in France by Decisions taken Previously by "Socialist" Governments, from 1984 and 2000 up to 2016, to Stop the "Classic" Method of a Higher Quality and much Longer Time needing (often at least the Double !) "Doctorat d'Etat" (State Doctoral Thesis), which, among various Advantages, gave also a Right to Immediately postulate for a full-time, permanent Job of University Researcher/Professor, but Impose, instead, a Shorter Time needing, Smaller "PhD" Thesis. This had been allegedly done in order to Rectify some Excessive Time-Consuming "Doctorat d'Etat" cases, (which could extend even at about 15 Years for a Full-Time Student/Researcher, particularly in Human/Social Sciences), and also for the purpose to Provide Well Qualified Officials for Public and/or Private sector Organisations in a High-Level Labour Market. But it Resulted, in fact, to almost the Contrary Excess than that which had existed Previously : I.e. a relative Plethora of New (Shorter than in the Past) PhD Thesis Holders, while, at the same time, ENA appeared to Lack Well-Equiped Specialists in certain Key Areas of Growing Importance Nowadays.

=> Therefore, New French President Macron's Idea was to Create anOther, Special New Way of Access into ENA's prestigious and selective (Comp. Supra) Education/Training outlet for Public Administrations' Senior Officials, particularly made for PhD Thesis Holders (i.e. "Doctors" in Science), mainly (but not only) in certain Natural Sciences/High Tech. Sectors, etc. So, Nowadays, this matter "is still Under Discussion", and Possible Decisions are due to be Officially Announced if and when it would be Definitively Decided and well Crafted, Ready to be used immediately, ENA's well informed Sources told "Eurofora".

By one more Timely Coincidence, it's Also at the Italian "Contract for a Government of Change", agreed by Frontrunner Parties "5 Stars Movement" and "Lega", which was Published Today (Comp. Supra), that is found a Similar Trend, mutatis-mutandis, to Philippe's 2 Key References, made Today Morning and Afternoon, on "Education and Competences", as being of Central Importance to Necessary Changes, (Comp. Supra) :

Indeed, this Key Text for a New Government in Italy, in Addition to a partly Relevant, strong Chapter on "Culture", stresses also the Need to "Review" the overall Policy on "Schools", and dedicates 3 Long Pages for "Universities and (Scientific) Research", at its Conclusion, (significantly placed just After the chapter on "Europe" !),  full of several New Plans, (including More Links to the Society, etc), which Culminate in the Decision to "Create a (unified) National Agency for (Scientific) Research".

I.e. almost as France had already done, initially, with its Historic "CNRS", but Strengthened Considerably, Later-on, with the Creation of its "ANR" (also : "National Agency for Research"), more Focused on Funding Innovative Scientific Research/High Tech. in relation also with Other relevant Public and Private Actors, (that former Long-Time French President Jacques Chirac had Decided to Establish on 2005, just After a "Hot" Political Dispute with former UK "Socialist" Prime Minister Tony Blair, which had surfaced Both at a Bilateral Franco-British Meeting in Paris and at the subsequent EU Summit in Brussels, precisely on the foreseeable Future of Europe !

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+ As for Other "European", and/or Core "Franco-German" aspects of ENA's current Education/Training work, things are Naturally Evolving on an On-Going basis, other ENA's sources also told "Eurofora", (as the Head of Office of ENA's Director, Mrs Berger), including, among various other Activities, f.ex., also : The Further Development of a Franco-German MASTER;  a recent Meeting between a Network made of this Special Master's Former Students ;  Visits of ENA's Students to the ECB at nearby Frankfurt, followed also by another Visit to Neighbouring Karlsruhe (also Germany), where is located Both the Federal Constitutional Court, as well as another Higher Administration Officials' Training outlet, (etc);  shortly Before a forthcoming, mainly Franco-German relevant Conference with the ENA, scheduled in Paris at the Beginning of June 2018, (etc).

- For the Rest, ENA's New Director, Patrick Gerard, (who revealed a Human Personality very close to the "Serious, but also with Sens of Humour" Character that he attribted to Prime Minister Philippe, since he was a Young ENA's Student), speaking briefly to "Eurofora", appeared well Aware of the Fact that his 1st Press Conference to Strasbourg's Press Club, had been, curiously, organized (Not by his own choice, as we learned) precisely the ...Same Day that an important EU Heads of State/Government Summit was held in Brussels, (where "Eurofora" had already been Accredited for a Press Cover on the spot, there), so thet he Kindly accepted to Consider an adequate New Possibiity, in the foreseable Future, for a Better Organized Press Contact, with the participaton of "Eurofora", this time, particularly focusing, f.ex., on ENA's key Activities and/or Plans of European Interest, (which include, inter alia, the Publication of a useful scientific "Review of Public Administration", Franco-German and/or International Cooperation, EU/CoE courses and/or Training, Visits to EU/CoE, various Cooperation Plans, etc).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
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- Last, but Not Least, concerning also the French Prime Minister's main Conclusion at his improvised Speech this Morning, for ENA's Students to "Take very Seriously" their "Mission" to "Serve" the State and the General Interest of the Country, preferably by "giving a Priority to Action and Production, instead of just Control and Analysis", as he advised, ENA had Scheduled, for this Same Day, a special Test on "Rule-Making", where the Students of the prestigious School for Senior Officials of Public Administrations were going to Simulate, starting from this Afternoon, the Activities of a Government and a Parliament in Drafting, Debating and Adopting New Laws...

I. e., by just another Coincidence (in a Long Series, Today : Comp. Supra), mutatis-mutandis, almost a Similar Test of Hard but Good and Smart "Policy-Making", that, well Beyond various possible Legitimate Differences of Views, here or there, the rest of Europe obviously Hopes that our Italian Neighbours and Friends will, finally, Succeed to Achieve Efficiently enough, for the General Interest of All Europeans, at this Crucial Juncture for all EU Member States and People.

(../..)

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(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already send, Earlier, to "Eurofora" Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be published asap)

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*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- The 47 Member Countries" strong (including Russia) PanEuropean CoE's Director for Education, experienced Sjur Bergan, speaking to "Eurofora" on the sidelines of a 2 Days-Long International Conference of almost 140 Experts for the official Launch of a widely Popular New Tool for Language Learning, Teaching and Assessment (See Infra), stressed that among the Main Innovations of 2018 are not only "Digital"/Internet Technologies-related matters, but also a Brand New Dimension Focusing on "Mediation" Capacity-Building on interacting in real Social issues. (Comp. Infra. +For Other, earlier "Eurofora"s original INTWs on Bergan, See, f.ex., also : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeonperfectteacherfor21stcentiury.html , http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coedsgoneducation.html , etc).

By a Timely Coincidence, Bergan (who made the Opening Speech of this International Conference) is from Norway, whose Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, (the most "Favorite Prime Minister" for experienced German Chancelor Angie Merkel, as she has revealed earlier in Berlin), is a Keynote Speaker invited at the prestigious International Organisation OECD's Annual Summit, later this Month in Paris, together with Iceland's new Prime Minister, Katrin Jakobsdottir, by OECD's Long-Time Secretary General Angel Gurria, (Comp. several Gurria's Statements to "Eurofora", in Paris or Strasbourg, f.ex. at ... + ..., etc). And Education is among one of the main segments of the International Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, (where it includes also original Data from China, etc), of Growing Importance recently, (Comp. f.ex., the Replies by OECD's Education Director, Andreas Schleicher, to "Eurofora"s Questions at a recent Webinar for invited Journalists, at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/oecdeducationstagnationorgap.html ).

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+ Bergan also made it clear to "Eurofora" that, while CoE agrees with, and supports EU's prefernce for 3 Languages-learning in the Future, (Mother Tongue, English, and anOther Language of choice, as French President Emmanuel Macron recently Highlighted while Launching the 1st EU Citizens' Public Consultation at nearby Epinal City on April : See "Eurofora"s NewsReport from the spot at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronlauncheseucitizenconsultations.html ), nevertheless, the PanEuropean Organisation of Strasbourg is clearly Open also into Learning several More Languages (i.e. a 4rth, 5th etc), if possible...  

British Expert Brian North, who has a solid Experience in that matter (See Infra), told "Eurofora" that  a main characteristic of the New Approach is also to Boost Switching over, from one language into anOther, as a way to Solve practical Problems through Pluri-Lingualism, pointing at a Demonstration Video where Kids spontaneously search and use their Knowledge of various Other Languages, just in order to Translate some Key Wording at a given Language, (etc).

Widely Known as "Common European Framework of Reference", alias "CEFR", this CoE's Education Tool is Not due to have an Obligatory Force, but to Serve as a Handy Guide, both to Experts, Policy Makers and Praticians, as well as ordinary People, Teachers, Students, etc, and has been Largely Used both inside and outside of the EU Countries, since its 1st and Earlier, Complementary, Part, already Published during the 1990ies.

As Experienced Swiss Professor, from Freiburg University, Guenther Schneider, (the Keynote Speaker of this International Conference, whose Observations made a Net Impression to several participants, as we saw), told "Eurofora", initially, back on 1977, CoE's Education Ministers had rejected such an approach, prefering then to focus excusively on simply "Training Teachers", while, on the Contrary, the Wide-Spread use of Crystal-clear and accurate "Reference Descriptors" on Languages were, for the First Time, endorsed by the CoE after 1991, a Top Meeting in Switzerland.

The New, 2018 Book, (called "Companion volume", and crafted in order to be Used Together with the Previous one in real Practice),  has just been made Available by the CoE to Download On-Line, and will be Soon Published also on Hard Paper, most probably in a Few Months' time, as told "Eurofora" its Coordinator, Brian North, (Comp. Supra and See Infra).

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However, Bergan's main Aim was to Explicitly Focus on a Stronger and UpDated "Orientation" towards CoE's Principles for "Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law", pointing, inter alia, also to the Fact that Languages are also relevant the PanEuropean Organisation's most Recent Tool : anOther "Reference Framework of Competences", this time, directly on "Democratic Culture", which has just been Published in 3 Volumes on April 2018, (and of which "Eurofora" was handed a Hard Paper Copy : See relevant Photo).

>>> What Describes Best this Nowadays' Trend is the Addition of Proficiency for "Mediation" (Comp. Supra), whose "Proficiency" goes Beyond classical "Competences", towards real "Activities" and "Strategies", Adding to simple "Reception/Production/Interaction", also an ability to "Mediate", (See Infra).

This New Concept, (which, in fact, already existed somehow in the Past, but was Clearly Developed only Recently), was the Subject of a special, well attended "Working Group" of CoE's Experts, during the Second Day of this International Conference, whose Moderator was a "Heavyweight" Expert : German Professor Bernd Rüschoff, from the Institute of Anglophone Studies at the University of Duisburg-Essen, actively Involved in several EU and CoE's projects.

Focusing on the "Social" Utilisations of Language for Nowadays "Inclusive" Society, as Professor Enrica Piccardo from Canada's Toronto and French Grenoble Universities told "Eurofora", it includes f.ex. Capacities for Inter-Mediation in real Situations of Conflict, but also on how to Guide a Group of People (f.ex. Workers, etc) in order to Reach a certain Goal in various Circumstances, and even on how to use and behave in Internet Modern Digital Medias "On Line", (etc).

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  Some Experts, speaking to "Eurofora" on the sidelines of CoE's International Conference, indicated that a large part of such methods could be used also in order to Help "Integrate" recent Mass Migrants in the European Society (after their Sudden and Exceptionaly Massive Appearance, mainly through Turkey), notoriously raised some UnPrecedented Issues, even in real Refugees-Friendly Countries like Sweden, etc.

Meanwhile, withOut showing any link to that Issue, Bergan had already noted, from the outset, that a Group of Language Educators expressed a DisAgreement and Concern about this New "Companion CEFR". But he also found that a CoE's Committee of Ministers' relevant Recommendation has "largely adressed" such concerns, and promised to Distribute it to all participants.

- In Fact, "Mediation" lies "at the Heart" of some "Profound Developments" which emerged recently, mainly on 2017, corresponding also to "Political Expectations" and "Needs" for efficient "European References", which show that the matter is Not just "Technicist", but also fairly "Political", stressed in Conclusion of COE's 2 Days-Long International Conference, the experienced French Expert Francis Goullier, General Inspector of the National Education, in fine.

In order to find Concrete and Efficient Ways to Face such Big Challenges by Implementing this New Tool in Real Practice, (nick-named : "Companion CEFRL"), CoE organized 4 Introductory "Workshops" during the 1st Day of this International Conference, among which, "Eurofora" chose to attend the number 1, officially destinated to "Policy Makers".

Lively Debates among participants, as well as manifold concrete Proposals and Ideas were Shared, during a Friendly and Efficient Moderation by Experts Jonas Erin, Inspector General in the French National Education, and Nick Saville (Rapporteur), Director of Research at Cambridge University (a Specialist on Language Assessment), who organized meticulously the participants' concrete Ideas, (often Expressed in Simple Hadwriten Pieces of Paper sticked to a Board, almost as a ... Maoist "Dazibao"), f.ex. between "Political", "Cultural" and "Technical" Challenges, etc., as they felt according to their precious Experience in real Practice Situation, (where was also included a long Russian Contribution, among others).

"Eurofora" had the Chance to be Invited to sit, by a Coincidence, aside British/Swiss Expert Tim Goodier, Head of Academic Development for the "EuroCentres" Foundation, Headquartered in Switzerland and regularly Cooperating with the CoE in Strasbourg, who Resumed, the Day After, at the Final Plenary Session of that International Conference, the Recommendations for Draft Action Plans in the foreseeable Future, mainly by Stressing that CoE's New Language Policy is Developing a much "Broader" Scope of Issues, than what all were used to do in the Past.

Goodier, (who is accustomed to Work particularly with People often Switching over between English and French), seemed to Apply rather .. Strict Criteria of Language Capacity Assessment on himself, since, as he carefully Told "Eurofora", he has a "real Working Knowledge of 2 Languages", and "a Social Knowledge of 4", ...including Korean (as his Wife comes from Korea, which, by a Coincidence, is, Nowadays at the Forefront of a World-wide Attention for Peace-Making Efforts involving Top World Leaders and Nuclear and other Arms, etc).

However, his Experienced Compatriot, Brian North (Comp. Supra), told "Eurofora" that, Paradoxicaly, he personally Finds "quite Easy" to Learn the ..."Japanese" Language, apparently because of its "Simple Structure", as he claimed ! Nevertheless, the most Wide-Spread Chinese Language, apparently still remained quite a Mystery for him, but, Hopefully Not for CoE's New Tool...

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=> Finally, Concluding that International Conference by HighLighting the Main Targets for the Next 2 Years (2018-2019), CoE's Education Policy Head, Villiano Qiriazi, particularly Focused on "promoting Inclusivity" in Nowadays Societies, as well as on "Influencing Policy Makers to Broaden their Scope on Languages", (Comp. Supra), and Pleading for an "Holistic" approach of relevant "Skills".

For that purpose, inter alia, it's also by Supporting the actual "Implementation" of the CEFRL, in "Coordination with National Agendas", and by "Selection of Case-Studies", as well as Other relevant Draft Projects, that the CoE intends to resolutely Advance Forward on this Topical and Key role of Languages Nowadays, (including by a Hard Paper Copy Publication of CoE's New Tool, expected "by October or November 2018", initially "in English and in French", followed also by a German Translation, before it becomes really Multi-Lingual in the foreseable Future, as Qiriazi announced).

*Strasbourg/Institute of Political Science/Angelo Marcopolo/- In an event organized at Strasbourg's University by the European Movement for the Anniversary of Hague's Historic Congress of 1948 on Europe, the top Human Rights Professor Florence Benoit-Rohmer, former Dean of the Faculty of Law, who has teached also at Venice University and created a Paneuropean Network on Human Rights, reacting to an observation made by "Eurofora" during the Debate, Concluded by expressing her basic agreement on the Crucial Point that those who really support the Development of a Strong Europe in the foreseeable Future, should better "Wish to Build Europe Together with the People".

 

- "Eurofora", who had been invited to that special event, organized at the Institute of Political Studies (IEP) by the European Movement, basically observed that the Fact that, still, Nowadays, even the Strategic importance Deepening of €uroArea's Integration, needed, in order to be Succesfull, also to Strengthen considerably the links of the relevant European Institutions with EU Citizens, in order to Stimulate Popular Support, which is of Vital Importance nowadays.

It's mainly in this Direction that can be perceived, f.ex., the recent Calls by new French President Emanuel Macron to ReVitalize the European Democracy, f.ex. by Consulting EU Citizens before Important Strategic Decisions, (Comp.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronforcitizensdebatesalsoafter2019.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronineuparliamentaskscitizensdebates.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/tajaniandmacrontowardseuroforaprojectonapril2018.html , http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronatthehistoricsourcesofdemocracy.html, etc), to prepare Trans-National Lists for Candidate MEPs in the Future, eventually even to Create a kind of "EuroArea"s New Parliamentary Expression, etc., which have been, more or less, basically supported also by German Chancelor Angie Merkel, while even the Experienced, former Finance or Interior Minister, and Now President of the Bundestag, Wolfgang Schäuble, had clearly stressed, (f.ex. earlier in Strasbourg, at a joint event with ChristianDemocrat/EPP President Joseph Daul : See ...), that a Desirable "EuroArea"s Deepening should go Hand by Hand, Together with a decisive Strenghering of EU Democracy.

Benoit-Rohmer was Speaking together with German Professors in Modern History, Birte Wassenberg (Germany), and  Sylvain Shirmann (France), Experienced former IEP's Director and current Scientific Director of Schuman Foundation, before a Debate with the European Movement's Invitees on the 70th Anniversary of the Congress of Hague (1948-2018), where most pro-European Top Political Personalities had notoriously gathered, (including Churchill, Schuman, Cundenhove-Callergis, etc), making various Key Proposals for the Creation of a Modern Europe, many among which were, Meanwhile, Realized, or are in the process of doing so, (including, f.ex., the establishment of Council of Europe and ECHR, EU Parliament, €uro-Currency, European University and/or "Erasmus" EU Students' mobility, etc).

- Significantly, (particularly in this Preparartory Period for the Forthcoming EU Elections of May 2019),  Professors Wassenberg and Schiermann, together with Prof. Libera, have recently Published an interesting Original Research on: - "Abstentionism, Euro-Scepticism and Anti-Europeanism, at the European Elections between 1979 and 2014", (i.e. covering all of them, until now), edited by Franz Steiner Verlag, at nearby Stuttgart, as the latter confirmed to "Eurofora".

- In Fact, it seems to exist "a Desire for Europe" among many People still Nowdays. EU Parliament is, naturally, very Important, in this regard, but it's also a Fact that "the People were Absent" at that "Hague's Summit of 1948" (where 2 Tendencies were notoriously present : the "Federalists" and the "Unionists", supporting European Integration or Cooperation, respectively), and the way that EU Citizens are Consulted until now is "Not Enough", because the European "People should play a Greater Role" in the Future, stressed Professor Benoit-Rohmer, who resumed Today's Anniversary event in Conclusion, stressed, particulary after the above-mentioned "Eufora"s observation, (Comp. Supra).

=> Thus, Nowadays, "I wish that Europe is Build Together With the People", concluded Human Rights' Professor Florence Benoit-Rhomer in this regard.

 - Earlier, Benoit-Rohmer had also reminded that, while the 1948 Congress of Hague had inspired the Creation of the CoE and of the ECHR, already as early as since 1949, (i.e. just 1 Year later !), which notoriously Developed (particularly after the 2004 CoE Heads of State/Government's Summit in Warsaw (Poland : Comp. "Eurofora" co-Founder's NewsReports from the spot, Published, then, at "TCWeekly", f.ex. : ... + ..., etc), along the main lines shaped by "Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law", in fact, more Recently, it's also the EU's Reforms which have also Started to "Protect Human Rights", more and more, f.ex. with the relevant Developments in the European Court of Justice's (ECJ) Case-Law, the Lisbon Treaty's "Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms" (which Entered into Force on 2010), etc., and this Trend is, normally, due to unfold Further in the foreseable Future.

+ Meanwhile, History Professor Sylvain Schirmann (Comp. Supra), expresssed the view that it might be Better, and more Efficient in Practice, to Focus on "Building Concrete Elements which Create real Links" between EU Member Countries, (citting, fex., earlier, the possible Example of a ReinForced Cooperation on European Defense, etc). In Fact, as the Building of Modern Nations often took "several Centuries" before they become really Developed, also "Europe needs a Long Process of Building up", as he said.

I.e., apparently joining EU Commision President, Jean-Claude Juncker's surprizing Conclusion, at his Recent Speech, by a Symbolic Coincidence, ...exactly at this Same Place, i.e. at Strasbourg University's Istitute of Political Sciences (IEP), just a Few Months Ago, that, from the point of view of History,  "contrary to what some think, Europe has just ...Started to be built !" (See: ...). Not far away from what even the 1st EU Parliament's President, former Minister Simone Veil, had already said to "Eurofora", in Reply to a Question raised on the sidelines of her landmark Speech at Sorbonne University, previously in Paris, on 2009, (See : ... + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/simoneveileuropeintransition.html, etc), i.e. that, in fact, "Europe is in a Transition stage".

- But, at the Same Time, "Human Rigts" and Democracy have "become a Key part of the Foundations of Europe's Identity", observed German History Professor Birte Wassenberg, who also Warned on their Importance, particularly "Now that  EU's Foundations seem to be at a Crisis", as she noted.

-+ Joking, in an attempt to Stir up spirits, if not really believing it, she, However, suggested, with a Bright Smile : - "Sometimes, I Feel that, at least, our "Euro-District" (i.e. Strasbourg City, at the French side of Rhine's internal EU Borders, and Ortenau District, at the German side of that River), "might Become something like USA's .... <<Washingrton D.C.>> at Europe's Core", "leaving for Later-on the task to Bring Together also Paris' and Berlin's National Capitals of France and Germany"...

This, at least, Lighted up some Faces in the Audience : It was, precisely the Moment for a "European DREAM" section, as scheduled in the Program of Today's event... And, after all, why Not ?

 *Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- "Eurofora" was kindly Invited to "Cyber-Defense pledge" NATO International Conference, organized by both French Army Minister Florence Parly and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, as well as to EU Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly's Press Conference (respectively in Paris and in Brussels) this week.

But we were obliged, at the Last Minute, by various unforseen practical issues, (including an unprecedented Disruption of all our Phone/Fax/Internet Communications the 14/5/2018+) to cancel both planned visits.

The manifold Importance and our Interest for those two Topical European/Trans-Atlantic Events (including relevant Press Contacts), considering also certain Forthcoming Developments and/or Projects, are, however, unquestionably High.

 (../..)

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

 <<Presse / Press - Confirmation et informations utiles - Registration and access informations // Cyber Defense Pledge Conference - 15 mai 2018 à Paris
De:  Marie Perochain < >

1  Fichier (1.2 MB)
Programme_Conférence_Cyber_Defence_Pledge.pdf (application/pdf)
   
14/05/2018 18:48

Hello,


We are pleased to welcome you on the Cyber Defence Pledge Conference which will be held in Paris on Tuesday, May 15th.   Please find attached the conference final agenda.

 
The press entrance will be on École militaire’s  gate number 1, from 7:45 am to 8:30 am

Because of security measures, the access to the conference will be forbidden between 8:45 am and 9:15 am. It will be also essential to present an ID card of current validity at the entrance.

Adress et access :
- 1, place Joffre - 75007 Paris
- Metro : Line 8 - Stop : Ecole Militaire
- Bus : n° 28, 80, 82, 87, 92

Security check :
- present an ID card of current validity to the entrance (Otherwise, access will be refused)
- Plan to check-in before 8:30 am


We stay available for any question you may have.


Kind regards,

Press service of Defense Ministry

Centre presse du ministère des Armées
DICoD

09 88 67 28 33

>>

 ----------------------------

<<REMINDER: Invitation to the European Ombudsman's press conference on 17 May at 10h

De:  European Ombudsman News < >

   
15/05/2018 13:56

 European Ombudsman

Invitation

Press Conference

Thursday 17 May 2018 at 10.00

European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly
   
The Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration in the EU institutions, agencies and bodies. Any EU citizen, resident, or an enterprise or association in the EU, can lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman's powers include the right to inspect EU documents, call officials to testify, and to open strategic inquiries on her own initiative.

For more information:
www.ombudsman.europa.eu
Twitter:@EUombudsman


Contact:

Gundi Gadesmann,

Head of Communication
T. +32 2 284 26 09

   

Ombudsman O'Reilly will present and discuss the following:

·         Update on the inquiry concerning transparency in the Council of Ministers
·         Update on the Fast-Track Procedure for handling access to documents requests
·         Update on strategic work concerning the Brexit negotiations
·         Update on other major inquiries
·         Complaints against EU agencies
·         Complaints about EU contracts, grants and funding
·         Ombudsman Annual Report 2017  

Followed by Q&A


Venue:  Rue Montoyer 30, ground floor, Brussels.   >>