newsitems
newsitems
MACRON to EF+: It's up to the People of Europe to SEIZE THE CHANCE of EU Citizens' Consultations !
*Epinal (Vosges' Mountains)/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking briefly to Journalists, including "Eurofora", just after the Official Inauguration of the 1st in a 6 Months-long Series of EU Citizens Consultations between April and November 2018 on Europe's Future, new French President Emanuel Macron, suddenly turned around, Looking straight towards there where we were standing, and shouted aloud, with a particularly Strong Voice :
- "Democracy Belongs to the People !"
=> In consequence, "it's up to the People of Europe to Seize this Chance of Citizens' Consultations, and make them Spread" throughout 27 EU Member Countries (as scheduled),
+ as well as, eventually, advance even further in the foreseeable future, (See Infra + Following Article), according to the Wider Horizon of his landmark Speech, symbolically made at the Historic BirthPlace of Democracy in Acient Greece's Pnyx Rock, facing Acropolis in Athens on 9/2017, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronatthehistoricsourcesofdemocracy.html).
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Meanwhile, in Addition to his Surprising, Last-Minute Choice to Launch a "Long March" for these UnPrecedented EU Citizens' Consultations, just after his Debate with MEPs at EU Parliament in Strasbourg (See relevant "Eurofora"s NewsReports at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronlsongmarchtoconsulciti.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronineuparliamentaskscitizensdebates.html, etc), Not at an "Euro-Metropole", but ... Up to he Mountains of nearby Vosges, at Epinal City, (known as HQ of Historic "Social-Gaullist" Top Politician Philippe Seguin, and Birthplace of the Father of Sociology : Emile Durkheim with a Fort still ..Haunted by Napoleon's Ghost according to a Legend), at the Same Time that his LRM Party supporters Started their "March for Europe",
Macron made, Today, even anOther indirect Reference to ... Mao, concerning his Famous Appeal, at the Beginning of the "Cultural Revolution" back on the "Sixties" (1966+), to "let All Flowers (i.e. Political Ideas) flerish !", by Stressing from the outset, that, Nowadays "it's Time to find a New Debate", where "All Ideas on Europe must be presented !"
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+ And "We must always Hear even Critical Voices and Opposite Views too" : It's "an Indispensable Moment of (mutual) Recognition and Exchanges", Macron advised one of his own Fans, who had appeared anxious about several People's alleged "Misunderstandings" about Europe.
- "Afterwards, we must Explain, become Pedagogic, use Arguments".
>>> In fact, "Even Me, I might, perhaps, sometimes make an Error", and/or "Have Not Seen yet a Point that Others (our Interlocutors) are trying to Suggest", the new French President bravely and rightfully, Acknowledged, clearly Recognizing the Value of Debates' Dialectics also as a means and procedure in order to Seek and Find the Truth, (as World-Famous Ancient Greek Philosopher Platon notoriously supported, particularly through his writings about Socrates' Dialogues).
=> Therefore, Macron called interested EU Citizens to send their Debates to a special Website at the Internet, while Also practicing physical "Human Contacts" in actual Meetings, which are "Useful".
+ We must "Invite even People who are Against Europe, to do themselves some Citizens Consultations, because they are "Pedagogical" and "a Fundamental Tool", particularly during the present "Times, which, for Europeans, are of Essential importance, he urged.
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During a Press Briefing organized by the Elysée Palace, to which "Eurofora" and Other Strasbourg's Medias had been Invited to participate through Tele-Conference methods at the Eve of Macron's visit to EU Parliament here, the Accent had been put mainly on 2 Key-Points :
(A) that Everybody could Participate and/or Organize such a "Citizens' Consultation" on Europe's Future, by Internet and/or through Meetings, etc., i.e. not only Public Authorities, Politicians or Experts, but also Associations, Students, even a Simple Citizen.
(B) On the Condition to provide also for a kind of "Restitution" of the main Results of that Consultation, to a Centralized Body specially set up in order to Monitor the Organisation of such Events, Collect and Preserve their Outcome.
=> I.e., a Mechanism apparently Conceived to be Easy for EU Citizens to Replicate almost Everywhere throughout Europe, while also allowing to have an Overall View of the Total Input.
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QUESTIONS...
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Introducing to "1,5 Hour of Exchanges" <<Live>> between several Hundreds of registered EU Citizens and the French President at Epinal's Congress Center, (in the presence of various Politicians and Elysée's Press Pool of Paris and Strasbourg Accredited Journalists, just arrived from an EU Parliament RDV in a Special Bus, including "Eurofora",
Macron Started by briefly Resuming the main points of his short Presentation to the Debate with MEPs, Earlier this Morning, about his Preference for a "United, Democratic and Sovereign Europe" (See relevant "Eurofora"s NewsReport at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronineuparliamentaskscitizensdebates.html) :
- I.e, the "Capacity to give your Own Rules", and "to Exist in the World", in Addition to the National Sovereignity of each EU Member Country, but particularly for Issues such as Migration, Digital Technologies and Protection of private Data, Energy, (etc), where "Size" matters in order to be Efficient, f.ex. facing USA, China, etc., as he reminds.
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=> EU Citizens' Questions issued from that 1st such event, organized this time by a special team under the State Secretary for EU Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau, touch upon a Variety of Concrete Issues around Europe, and Receive Macron's Replies, one by one, taking enough Time to enter, in a Fast and Sharp, but Substantial way, into the Heart of the matter, real Practice included, whenever needed :
F.ex., among many others, (See Note at the End), it's also about:
- whether we should Speak about "Europeans", or not, (in Addition to every EU Citizen's National Identity, which remains valid and pertinent, practically co-existing with the EU level);
- the 2008 Economic Crisis, Banks and Speculation (resulting also to the Current Need for the EU to "Complete Banking Union", etc) ;
- whether the French "NO" Vote of 2005 (followed also by that of Netherlands, Ireland, etc, i.e. on the Occasion of a Draft EU Constitution, shortly After Opening controversial and unpopular EU "Accession" Negotiations with Turkey) corresponded to a Political "Error" (See also Infra) ;
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- the recent USA-UK-France AirStrikes in Syria (after allegations of Chemical weapons in Ghouta Suburb in Damascus Capital City, until recently occupied by Islamist Terrorists and Other Armed Rebels) ;
- Economic situation's Need to "Settle the Real Problems, Instead of Wasting Public Funds" aggravating a Public Deficit, (as f.ex, Germany did, back from 2009, when it "was in Greater Recession" than France, But managed to avoid more Deficit) ;
- Space High-Tech's developments in a World-wide competition and EU's role, (an anew Topical Issue, due to be partly debated also in an EU Parliament's STOA Committee's Panel of Experts, later this week in Strasbourg, on Thursday Morning, April 19) ;
- the eventual creation of an "EU ID Card", (in Addition to the National one, during the Next EU Mandate of 2019-2024, and also in order to Help Manage the recent Mass Irregular Migration Issues, etc) ;
- (anew : Comp. Supra) the 2005 "NO" Vote, which was just "Droped by Bureaucrats", making People wonder : - "Why Debate again ?", (Macron reacting by Finding "Better a Good Debate" going on the Substance of the Issues really at stake, "Instead of Only a Yes or No", but also Promising that there will be "Not any Structural Change withOut Asking the People"'s views, in order "Not to Repeat the 2005 ... Betrayal of Democracy", as he Harshly Criticized it);
- Why EU Countries do "Not yet Speak all in 1 Voice" on "Foreign Policy", (where Macron pointed, f.ex., to a succesfull Negotiation with Iran by EU's Representative, Federica Mogherini, and did Not Exclude that also in the Future, when CFSPolicy would become Identical for EU Countries, But Warning that there are "Not Yet" "Identical Views and Interests", due also to History/GeoPolitics, since f.ex. "some EU Member Countries were Invaded by Turkey", as he reminded, while Others had special links to Russia in the Past, etc., added also to the Fact that "there are Different Rules on Military Operations" : F.ex., "Only France can Act Fast", while "Others need Long Parliamentary Debates", etc);
- "Energy Sovereignity" for Europe, (apparently Not Possible in Short Term, Difficult in Medium, since, f.ex., France = Independent, but Others still Depend on Russia, or Turkey, etc. But we "Can Coordinate" actions Now, and "Afterwards Advance further, When our Interests are the Same". But, during the Next Decades, many EU Member Countries may still be based on some Different Foreign Policy options);
- "English Language" domination ? (a problem to be Solved via Pluri-Linguism : I.e. by systematically Learning at least 3 Languages = Mother Tongue, English, and anOther one, f.ex. French, etc. It's not normal for most French to be almost the Only in the World to stay Traditionally Uni-Lingual in practice. In such a context, Sometimes, even African Languages can be Useful to Europe : f.ex. they are of decisive importance for Development, etc);
- Several Rural Areas, (including, f.ex., even those Vosges' Mountains), "do Not yet really Profit from the EU", complained another, Local participant. (This concerns, mainly, Road/Rail Infrastructures, where Germany's experience of - 30% Less Cost for efficient Local/Regional Railroad Links can be Useful. On Agricultural Policy, National States still remain in charge, but they Need an EU Complement. It's true that "Metropolisation-Effects", visible f.ex. in Strasbourg, don't exist in Provinces. But the development of Digital Technologies and High-Speed Networks, spreading all-over the Country, added to "Tele-Work" and "if we get a Full Digital Market" in the EU, with Hundreds of Millions of potential Customers, could bring a Big Change, giving a Chance to Rural Areas, where the Quality of Nature and Everyday Life is often Better, rightfully observed Macron - who has had also an interesting Experience there, as former Minister of Economy, when he signed a relevant Agreement between the French State and Strasbourg's Alsace Region about Spreading High-Speed Internet Networks : See "Eurofora"s NewsReport from the relevant Press Conference, then, at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/strasbourgregionpresidentrichertandfrencheconomyministermacrononhighspeedinternet.html ).
- A partly Related, critical Question concerned specifically a key part of Agriculture : F.ex., an Animal Raising Farmer said that there were "Enough Roads", and even a "Good Sanitary Quality" of Farm Products, as milk, meat, etc., but they were "No More Competitive in the Jobs' Market" abroad. (Macron, inter alia, observed, in Reply, that, in fact, it's just a Part of that Jobs-chain which raised problems in trade, referred also to recent EU Debates and moves on the Wider Issue of "Posted Workers", and appeared optimist for the future. "Eurofora" remembers that Similar Questions had been raised, in a recent Past, also by Neigbouring Alsace Region Farmers, concerning, then, the Comparative Cost of Lowest Salaries for Seasonal Workers in Agriculture, particularly in adjacent German areas before the recent introduction of a Lower Salary Guarantee, where we were, indeed, Surprized to find that even the Price of Milk was Cheaper than in France, while most Cows were Born, Raised and Exported by France to Germany and other EU Countries !)
- Frustrated by the obvious Lack of any Radical, fully-fledged "Anti-European", or, at least, "Euro-Sceptic", be it from the Far Right or the Far Left area of the Political Spectrum, (that Mrs Loiseau's Team had, perhaps, found Difficult to discover when they organized that 1st Citizens' Consultation), President Macron, Finally, exploded with a sincere Cry : - But, isn't there anyone who has at least Doubts about the European Project ?...
- The guy who Dared raise his hand in public, apparently did his best, but didn't really convince about his supposed "Euro-sceptic" stance, (since we have all seen "Better", even among some EU Parliament's MEPs...) : He Briefly evoked "Migration" Problems, but preferred to Focus on the Price of everyday consumption goods. F.ex., even the Wine ("Picon") that I use to drink, Nowadays Costs almost X 3 Times More than in the Past, he complained...
- "Your Wine ("Picon")'s Price is Not Fixed by the EU", sharply Replied Macron. But it's True that there are, indeed, also some Other Popular, Everyday Consumption Goods, such as, f.ex., even Coffee, Bread, etc. in Paris too, whose Prices have gone up, some years ago, and this is another, Different Issue that We have to Fix, he observed.
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>>> Concluding this 1st EU Citizens' Consultation, the embattled French President applied his own Recipe, to be Pedagogical :
- Always Remember the Main things : "PEACE - FREEDOM - SIZE", he resumed :
=> EU Avoided Wars during More than 60 Years, stoping Military Domination Dreams as Never Before ; Helps Respect Citizens' Human Rights Better than several Authoritarian Regimes around the World ; offers a Market X more than 10 Times Wider than our National Market, and, more generally, EU has the Size required in order to be able to Deal with certain Big Issues in the World (Comp., f.ex., Supra, etc), as he Briefly, but Substantially, Highlighted in fine.
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Last, but not least : One of the Photo's published here by "Eurofora" was Kindly provided to us, upon our Request, (just after an Electricity Shortage interrupted our own Tool), by a Collegue, Journalist for Radio, Margaretta Svensson, from ...Sweden !
=> One concrete Proof more, that Macron's "EU Citizens' Consultations", may, indeed, have a real Chance to widely Spread accross most EU Member States, (including up to Scandinavia)s..
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(NDLR : Obviously, these are some Hasty, InComplete NOTES, taken "Live", on the spot, after 2 or 3 Days withOut Time even to Sleep overNight, particularly Because of some Strange, unjustified Practical Obstacles, including on Timeline Contradictions among Key Events in Strasbourg and Epinal, etc [Comp., f.ex., among others, also: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronlsongmarchtoconsulciti.html , etc]. So that, in order to have a really Full and Accurate View of all those Questions/Replies between EU Citizens and President Macron, one has also to Better seek to find a Full VIDEO, at least of the Main Event, which should not omit to Pop up on the Web, sooner or later, since there were some People placed at Key-points in order to take Shots, by just Pressing a Button, and afterwards Simply "Copy-Paste" all at the Internet. => In Consequence, Readers could Usefully COMBINE Both Tools, f.ex., by Chosing at the Above-Mentiioned Written List some Interesting Questions/Replies, and, According to the Approximative Order shown in this List, afterwards Search to Find at a Video on the Web, All or Part of what was actually said, on this or another concrete point).
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Macron in EU Parliament Focuses on Citizens' Debates before 2019
*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Half of French President Emmanuel Macron's EU Parliament's Speech, and Most of his Total Speaking Time here, this Morning, here, were surprizingly Focused, from the outset, to the Need to Strengthen European Democracy, particularly by vivid Public Debates before important Decisions, involving MEPs but also affected EU Citizens, near to "Eurofora"s Project...
The Other Half was dedicated to another Topical Need : That of Strengthening Europe's Sovereignity, from manifold points of view : Migration, Taxes on Global Web Players, Strengthen €uroArea, Naturally Security and Defence, but also Trade, Climat, Energy, Food, Digital Technologies, and Social Rights.
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Macron explicitly prefered to "Exchange Views" with MEPs, since "Programs and Proposals" for Europe's foreseable Future "have already been made earlier", mainly at his landmark "Sorbonne speech" in Paris, as he reminded.
And because, "Today, it seems Necessary to give Time for Exchanges", the new French President stressed, pointing also to the Exceptional Fact that, Later-on this Day, he is going to Launch the 1st Citizens' Consultation, among a 6 Months-long Series, between April and November 2018, Starting by nearby Epinal City, at the Heights of Vosges' Mountains (See : ....).
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=> "At this Moment", "our Discussions canNot be just Ordinary", he Warned, Because "it's a Special Context", where "Divisions provoke Doubts aboiut Europe", and certain "Great Challenges (as on Migration, Digital Technologies, Climate, etc) provoke Fears to some People", while we are also Shortly before the 2019 EU Elections, with Political Struggles on Ideas which Forge us", as he pointed out. Therefore, "our Responsibility is even Greater", Macron Warned.
>>> "In such exceptional Circumstances, "Democracy can be our Best Chances". Therefore, "We must Create that European Public Space, where we can ReVive Debates", he urged.
- Because, in Fact, "it's Not the People who Abandoned the European Idea, But the Betrayal of Bureaucrats/Technocrats ("la Trahison des Clercs"), which Threatens that", Macron pointed out in substance.
=> Therefore, "The Anger of the People of Europe, nowadays, Must be Heard !", he stressed, as a matter of principle.
==> So that, "in order to ReVitalize a popular Europe, we have to Act Otherwise : Return Back to the Source of Democracy, and Look Staight on the Face of the Facts :"
- F.ex., "How could we be Satisfied of such EU Elections where Less than 1 Citizen out of 2 accepts to Go Vote ?", he Denounced, as far as the Post-1999 growing Electoral Abstention is concerned.
- "Today, we canNot just do as we used to do Yesterday", (i.e. Refuse to Speak, ...Share the Top Jobs, and Blame Brussels and Strasbourg for everything". Instead, "we have to Build .... the reality of a Structured Debate on (Political) Beliefs and Proposals", Macron incited.
=> "It's for this Purpose, in order to Try and Innovate, that I proposed the (EU) Citizens' Consultations, already from this year (2018)", he explained.
- So, "I will Launch in France, from this very Afternoon, a Frank Debate, Open, Hard, but Necessary, in order to Know what Unites or Separates us, in order to Drop that over-Simplified Alternative between "Yes" and "No", (as in a Hasty Referendum), on an Issue that has Not yet been seriously Examined (Studied)"...
- On the Contrary, "we shall have a Critical Democratic Debate on that Europe which is ours", Macron incited.
+ "And iIUrge You, Each one of you, Both in your Countries and Everywhere in Europe, to Boost, Participate in such Substantial Debates, which are the Condition of our Democratic Vitality !"
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>>> However, "I'll Never make a Structural Change, withOut giving to the People a Fair Chance to Decide", the French Presiden also promised in fine, at the Conclusion of the subsequent Debate with MEPs.
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Macron starts Long March of Citizen Consultation on Vosges Mountain after EUParliament with obstacle
*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/News-Viewpoint/- Embattled New French President Emmanuel Macron's deep awareness of the Fact that Europe needs, nowadays, to be reVitalized by certain profound and innovative Changes, largely depends, in practice, also by the more or less important Impact that the EU "Citizens' Consultations" (during a 6 Months-Long Series, which Starts Tomorrow, after his EU Parliament's Speech here) may have, or not, particularly throughout all or most of EU Member Countries.
Symbolically - but also for Practical, Socio-Political Reasons : i.e. for OutReach to the Real People, as his 3 Days-Long Program, through Industries, Tradesmen, Peasants and too often "Forgotten" Rural Populations (a ... Don Trump's/Boby Sander's concept ?) obviously reveals - the Young Top EU Political Leader chose, almost at the Last Minute, the UnExpected, but Spectacular Format of a kind of ... "Long March" on the nearby Vosges' Mountains, (significantly Kick-Starting by a "Social Gaullism" Historic Stronghold, Tomorrow Afternoon at Epinal), for a Political Fight which will be Hard to Win, but Not Impossible.
However, it's also true, that the French President could not, no more, neglect at all, the Symbolic Franco-German ReConciliation and Peaceful Cooperation's landmark City of Strasbourg, Host of many and various EU and/or PanEuropean Organisations, (EU Parliament's full weekly plenary sessions, 47-Member Countries strong CoE, the ECHR, EU's Ombudsman, Shenghen system, Euro-Corps Army HQ, "ARTE" EU-RadioTV, and, recently, even of the "1st European University" : See ..., etc).
Therefore, an Important group of various Meetings with the European Community of Strasbourg was also Organized, on the occasion of the Official Signature of a New "3 Years-Long" overall Agreement between Strasbourg's Municipality, District, and "Great-East" Region (which has Recently Extended up to Bring closely Together 5 Core European Countries :France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium, through their Common Borders, from Strasbourg right to Brussels, through Luxembourg City !), at the Emblematic Location of "Europe's Area" ("Lieu d'Europe"), Facing ECHR, CoE and EU Parliament, while also remaining surrounded by a Luxurious "Green" space, at what had been, once, the Family Home and private Office of the 1st CEO, Director of the City's Modern Newspaper : "The Latest News of Alsace" (DNA).
But, Curiously, it all looks that this was practically organized in a quite Thorny way, particularly from the "Timing" and Transports' point of view, which reportedly Risks to Exclude, in fact, several interested People (even committed and active Pro-Europeans), and an important part of Strasbourg's Journalists from Covering Both the French President's meetings with the City's European Community, at that "Lieu d'Europe" (Comp. Supra), and the Launch of the 1st EU "Citizens' Consultation" at nearby Epinal (Comp. Supra), apparently because of some Tricky and apparently AbNatural Problems of mere Logistics, (which, normaly, should not exist, and were never seen before by "Eurofora" during more than 24 Years of European/PanEuropean/International Press Experience throughout our Continent and even in the USA : +9/1993-2018) !
Indeed, it seems, that, unless to be on board of the Presidential Airplane (where there are only a few seats, mainly for various Officials, etc), People (including even Accredited European Journalists, etc) would be Obliged to "Choose" between having to Leave for Epinal with a Special Bus scheduled Too Early in order to Cover the "Lieu d'Europe" Macron's meetings with the European Community of Strasbourg, and, therefore, Miss it entirely, OR to participate into those Meetings here, and ...practicaly Lose Any real Chance to Arrive at Epinal, for the Launch of the 1st EU "Citizens' Consultation" on Time, (given the Distance, and the Time needed for Ordinary, Public and/or Private Road and/or Rail Transports, compared to the Precise Timing Fixed for those 2, now Competig - instead of Harmoniously Cooperating- Related Events)...
Naturally, "Eurofora" has already been inside a French Presidential Airplane, (together with other Accredited collegue Journalists), but it was, then, in order to Travel some very Long and TransBorder Distances, as, f.ex., between Paris and Berlin, as well as the Other Way round, (with a Natural, Inevitable strong Wish to ...Jump by Parashute while Flying over Strasbourg City, located almost in the Middle of that road !), and NOT just such a Short, Local Distance only Between 2 Villages or Cities practically Located almost inside the Same Geographic Area, and/or in adjacent, Neighbouring Districts, as, f.ex. is the (Comparatively Tiny), much Shorter Distance between Strasbourg and Epinal, (i.e. Alsace and Lorraine), Both touching upon Vosges Mountains' borderline !
Who (and Why) provoked, suddenly, without even any previous Warning, out of the blue, such Exceptional, absolutely UnNecessary, and Strange but Real Logistical Obstacles, (which practicaly Oblige People to ..."Chose" between their Left and Right Hands) ?...
And Why Risk to seriously Diminish the overall (and mainly Mediatic + European) Impact that French President Macron's (as well as EU Citizens Consultation's) Ideas and proposals for ReVitalizing Europe could and should have, as well as an adequate Information of EU Citizens, throughout all our Continent ?
(../..)
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EU/CoE Digital Resistance project=Double-Edged say Experts to EF among Vote/Data/CitizenConsultation
*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to an "Eurofora"s Question, the Leading Experts of a Pioneer EU/CoE's New Joint Program "Digital Resistance", Richard Heise and Bastian Vasen, from the Leibniz University of Hannover (Germany), agreed, in substance, that Internet is not only a vehicle of Challenges, (such as "Fake News", Spying on Personal Data, Bullying, Discrimination, Indoctrination/Manipulation, etc, but Also a potentialy Wonderful Tool Facilitating Verifications, Fack-Checking and Search of Truth, key Discoveries, World-wide Publications, Access to Knowledge, Overcome InEqualities, Fight against Censorship and for Freedom of Expression as well as Press/Medias' Freedom, etc.
Significantly, that Pioneer EU/CoE Project, backed by Teams from 5 Universities accross the EU (Austria, Germany, Italy, Romania and Greece), was officialy introduced during a PanEuropean Conference in the 47 Member Countries strong CoE (including Russia, etc), at the Beginning of EU Parliament's Plenary Session of April 2018 this week in Strasbourg, where MEPs are due to Discuss on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, also Topical Issues on Private/Personal Data Protection and Elections' Manipulation, with EU Commission and EU Council's Representatives, and just at the Eve of new French President Emmanuel Macron's official visit and Speech in EU Parliament, Tomorrow Morning, Tuesday, Aprl 17, before Launching, later-on, during the Afternoon, at the Vosges' Mountains, (See : ...), the 1st EU Citizens' Consultation in a 6 Months-Long Series (April - November 2018) on Europe's Future, (where Web's use was explicitly underlined, in Addition to actual Meetings, also in a Press Briefing organized by the Elysée Palace for Journalists including "Eurofora", during the Week-End).
- Indeed, that Education Project is due to Focus mainly on Young Students "up to 18" Years of Age, while Macron's Citizens Consultations (due to Extend throughout almost All EU Member Countries), reportedly would Start since 16 y.o.
And, even if the Bottom-Line seems still UnClear, as far as Age is concerned, on the contrary, at least one thing is certain : - F.ex., "among by 3 Sons, it's only the Youngest one who is really a fully-fledged "Internet Native !", as told "Eurofora" CoE's Experienced, Education Manager Christopher Reynolds (from the UK), in charge of all "Digital Citizenship Education" projects. Moreover, in fact, Internet Use, Nowadays Starts already from Small Kids of no more than 4 or 5 Years old, even Before they get into mainstream School, added Reynolds...
So that, even if it's true that the CoE had Previously Worked on some kind of "Digital Citizenship" and/or Internet Education projects, (f.ex. alreeady since 2014, etc, as he reminded to "Eurofora"), nevertheless, it's also a Fact that, as, f.ex., EU Commission's Policy and Investment's Strategist, at the Education/Culture DG, colorfully said, Smiling,: - "It's the 1st Time that I come to the COE in Strasbourg for such kind of projets"...
- However, this is Part of a much Wider, and quite Older Category of the PanEuropean Organization's "Cooperation" projects in the Human s"Capacity Building" sector, as the Compoetent CoE's Senior Official, Ms Arzu Burcu Tuner reminded to "Eurofora".
=> Indeed, a Brand New and Extended 2018 Edition of a relavant CoE's older Capacities Toolkit "Box", whose imminent Publication was Announced Today by Reynolds, surprinzingly, got, in just a few Minutes-Time, an overwhelming Majority among the Participants of this Conference from various European Countries, spontaneously Interested to Ask ... where, when and how could they have themselves at least one precious Copy asap !
Reynolds, trying to keep a Solid British "Cool" Temper, (since, anyway, as a CoE's Officer us Not persobally concerned by EU's "BREXIT" Time-Deadline related matters), diplomatically promised to inform all of them asap, but carefully declined to explicitltly name a precise Date/Hour of actual Delivery...
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1st EU University aims Integration First but Development can go Fast tell EF French+German Officials
*Strasbourg/Great East Region HQ/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking to "Eurofora" on their Decision, Today, to start Building here the 1st European University, Key Franco-German Actors at this EU's Core Area, as, inter alia, also, f.ex, Baden-Wurttemberg's Minister-President Kretschmann, Euro-Campus' President, Professor Schiewer, French EU affairs Minister Loiseau, Strasbourg's "Great-East" Region's Education, Research and European affairs' Committee President Werner, Academy Rector Bejean, etc, (See Infra), Highlighted mainly the 1st Priorities and a Time-Horizon, as things stand Today, at the foreseable Future.
The Ambitious Project, had been already Evoked at an "Eurofora" Question, back on 2016, in the Press Conference which had Marked the Creation, as a 1st Step, of the Franco-Germano-Swiss "European Campus" here (Comp.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eusciencecomissioneronchinaandeuuniversitiesgroup.html, etc), and even as Early as in a Press-point by f. Rapporteur on Science for Alsace Region, f. University v.President responsible for Research, Professor Michel Granet, already from 2012, but Discussed also from the Beginning of 2018 with Strasbourg University's President Deneken and Prefect Jean-Claude Marx, (who had a ...Premonitory feeling, pointing at Franco-German Leaders' forthcoming moves: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/strasbourgregionprefectoneuropeanuniversity.html ).
Meanwhile, it has Become a Key part in New French President Emmanuel Macron's EU-ReVival Project, presented at his landmark Speech at Sorbonne University in Paris on 2017, and probably also of his overall Project for the Future of Europe, that he's expected to Debate with MEPs Next Week at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, just before Launching (at the Vosges Mountain's Hights) the 1st EU Citizens' Consultation in a Long Series in the run-up to the forthcoming EU Elections of May 2019.
- Put Science Nowadays, at the Place of Coal and Steel, in the Beginning of EU Integration, could realistically Revive the European Dream, while History always Advances based on Necessities, stressed in Substance from the outset the New President of Strasbourg's "Great East" Region, (which Extends from Swizerland up to Belgium, and Brings Together 5 EU Countries at the Core of Europe, Together with France, Germany, and Luxembourg, by Sharing Common Borders), Jean Rottner, giving the tone.
"Eurofora" was Surprized to be given the floor to Raise the 1st Question among Journalists in a Press-Point organized just after the Officials' Announcements and the Signature of a Formal Declaration of Intent for the Creation of the 1st European University, asked, in substance, whether the Priority, at the Beginning, would be Integration at the Franco-German Core of the EU, or, rather, to Focus from the outset into Dealing with the Most Developed Science centers in Europe and the World, as, f.ex. in USA, Russia, China, etc, (the one, obviously, not excluding the other)...
- The First thing to do, naturally is to launch an Efficient Integration, creating a Common Organisation, withOut various Obstacles provoking Division, but f.ex. Common Courses, Joint Infrastructures, Planification, etc. But this is certainly due to evolve, at a 2nd Stage, in Joint Projects able to Succesfully Face Global Competition, stressed, in substance, in Reply to "Eurofora"s Question, the President of "Euro-Campus", Professor Hans-Jochen Schiewer, from the University of nearby Freiburg.
- The Franco-German+ Integration aims to create an Avant-Guard Able to UpGrade All the EU", since it acts according to the General European Interest, reacted, in substance, to "Eurofora"'s Question, afterwads, the New French Minister for EU Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau.
+ At the Same Time, in Parallel, Strasbourg University's President, Michel Deneken, speaking to "Eurofora", declared also his Interest to take a Leading Part in a possible realisation of the proposal made by new COE Assembly''s President, Michele Nicolletti, to create PanEuropean "University Networks" around Research on the Content and the Implementation of CoE's main Legal Treaties, as that on Human Rights, BioEthics, etc..
+ Nevertheless, When "Eurofora" started Asking the main participants about a more or less concrete "Time Horizon" for the real Beginning of the overall Project to Build the 1st European University at EU's Core, there were Various, but, in fact, Convergent reactions :
- Winfried Kretschmann, the Minister-President of Baden-Wurttemberg's Federated State (Länder), at Neighbouring Germany, Replying to a relevant Question by "Eurofora", pointed a the Need to Consult, at First, collectively the Academia, about its own concrete Preferences, and, the, in about one years' time, really start to move collectively. But, already, in the Meantime, there are at least "2 First Pojects", almost Ready to Boost, one including Quantum, the other Chemistry, etc., as Kretcshmann told us, (speaking also in the vicinity of NOBEL Prize Winner in Chemistry, Professor Jean-Marie Lehn, from Strasbourg)...
-------------------
- F.ex., the Rector of the Academy of Strasbourg, (who represented there also the French Minister of Education and Scientific Research), Sophie Bejean, told us, in substance, that a very Probable RDV might be around the "End of 2018", i.e. just "Before" the May 2019 EU Elections.
- Because, inter alia, also Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Commission's President, has expressed the Wish to See the First Projects from European Universities to Start be presented for EU Funding at approximatively that Period of Time, she explained.
------------------------
- At any case, "If they (Public Authorities) don't Move Fast Enough, then, it's the Society which will Start doing things by itself !", Warned, with Voluntarism, Francois Werner, the President of Strasbourg's "Great East" Region's Committee for Education, Research and European affairs...
Already, "Euro-Campus" brings Together 5 Universities around the Superior Rhine (Ober-Rhine) Trans-Border area, (Strasbourg, Freiburg, Basel, Kalrsruhe and "Haute Alsace" - i.e. Colmar+Mulhouse), with more than 15.000 Scientists, 10.000 PhD Young Researchers, and 120.000 Students. Without excluding a priori also an eventual Future Extension up to Luxembourg and particularly Belgium, (since the New Strasbourg's Region of "Great-East" was, meanwhile, Extended up to there too, adding also another German Länder as Neighbour by the way), where "the Universities are Ready", as President Werner spontaneously reacted to a relevant "Eurofora"s query.
----------------
+However, Science/Research are expected to Develop also the Economy, as "Great East" Region's President Rottner had already stressed Earlier Today, and, indeed, the Franco-German Regional Presidents Rottner and Kretschmann's Working Meetings didn't stop there at all, but fully Extended also during a busy Afternoon, as "Eurofora" found, Focusing, inter alia, particularly on the preparations of a Joint Franco-Germano-Swiss Mega-Exhibition on the "Industries of the Future" ("ZukunftsIndustrie"), scheduled on November 2018 at nearby Mulhouse, where Automatisation/Robotisation and Digitalisation seem to play the overall Music's main tune...
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The incoming Swedish EU Presidency (July-December 2009) may still remain in favour of Turkey's controversial EU bid, despite June 2009 EU Elections' results, but it has "very strong demands on Turkey"'s obligation to respect EU Rules, said the Head of Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service, Cecilia Julin, to "EuroFora", reacting to critical Press reports.
- "I know (that) the link is often made also to Sweden's position on Turkey"'s controversial EU bid. Indeed, "we (Swedish EU Presidency) are very much engaged in the future membership of Turkey, but not without fullfiling all the Criteria".
- "It's very clear that we (Swedish EU Presidecny) have very Strong Demands on Turkey, in a sort of concept for Future membership of the Union, ...which will be a Long Process...", she stressed.
This means, in particular, "the Copenhagen Criteria (on Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law), and also the adaptation to the Acquis of the European Union".
- "If you listen to what Mr. Bildt (the Swedish Foreign Minister) says on Turkey at different occasions, it's very clear : We want Turkey to become part of the Union, in the Future. But we want it to fullfil all the Criteria : The Acquis of the European Union. That's very clear", she concluded.
The Senior Official of the Swedish Foreign Ministry was reacting to critical Press Reports, from Brussels' Journalists invited by EU Commission's secretariat to Stockholm, who claimed that Bildt was abusing of a ..."Whip" (sic !) against Cyprus, by "threatening" the presence of UNO's Peace-keeping force at the "Green line" which separates the island's Government-controlled areas from the territories occupied by Ankara's army, if Nicosia didn't accept any political solution, regardless of Turkey's demands, before the end of 2009.
Governing AKEL Party's new Secretary General, Andros Kyprianou, reacted by declaring that no-one can threat the People of Cyprus : -"We shall decide for our Future, and nobody else", he reportedly said, asking to "keep calm". "In order to find a Solution soon, certain basic Principles must be respected", he stressed, calling those who feel an urgency to use their influence on Turkey. Other Political Parties were more critical.
This was a reference to recently reported statements by Turkish Minister Bagis, Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan and Turkey's National Security Council (a Military-Political body), accused to push towards a partitionist "2 States" solution, contrary to UNO SC Resolutions for Cyprus' reunification.
December 2009 is a crucial moment for EU's appraisal of Turkey's controversial EU bid, because EU Council has decided to review then Ankara's compliance with the European position on the recognition of Cyprus' Government, which was clearly set out by an EU reply of 21 September 2005 to Turkish Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan's claims, refusing to recognize even the existence of EU Member Cyprus, in controversial statements he made to London (former EU chair) on July 29, 2005.
EU Parliament's latest Resolution on Turkey, adopted on March 2009 in Strasbourg, warned Ankara that "the non-fulfillment of Turkey's commitments... by December 2009, may further seriously affect the process of Negotiations" with the EU.
In practice, the issue boils down to Ankara's "embargo" against Ships and Airplanes using Cyprus' seaports or airports at the strategic EU island, which traditionaly hosts one of the World's biggest Shipping flags. EU has already "freezed" 6 relevant Chapters in EU - Turkey Negotiations since December 2006, after Ankara refused to fullfil a commitment it had undertaken when EU had decided to open controversial "accession" negotiations with Turkey, back on December 2005.
- "As far as EU - Turkey relations are concerned, it's clear that Turkey needs to fullfil its obligation of full, non-discriminatory implementation of the additional Protocol (to "EC-Turkey Association Agreement"), This is an important issue....and should be addresseed as soon as possible as it clearly affects the pace of the accession negotiations.Issues covered by the Declaration of September 2005 will continue to be followed up, and progress is urgently awaited", warned earlier in Strasbourg the out-going Czech EU Presidency (former vice-Prime Minister Alexander Vodra).
But the Head of the Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service, Cecilia Julin, dismissed "interpretations" by "some" that Foreign Minister Carl Bildt was reportedly "threatening" Cyprus with consequences on the UNFICYP, if it doesn't accept any solution until December 2009, while Turkey is reportedly delaying in an attempt to impose a partitionist "2 States" solution.
On the contrary, Julin, stressed that "Sweden has strong demands on Turkey'"s respect of "Copenhagen Criteria and EU Acquis".
Meanwhile, Sweden is "concerned" about the risk of "Stalemate" in Cyprus' Talks, but is well aware that "the main responsibilities lie with the two leaders and the UNO", Europe playing only a role of "facilitator".
After carefully verifying, the Head of Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service, stressed to "EuroFora" that Bildt's reference to UNFICYP "was not linked to a Threat", and dismissed those who "interpreted" it so.
On the contrary, the Swedish EU Presidency acknowledged the fact that Peace Talks are mainly for the UN and the leaders of the Cypriot communities, EU's role being limited into that of a "facilitator".
As for Turkey's reported attempts to impose a "2 States' solution", the Head of the Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service sharply replied by stressing that Turkey must respect the "EU Acquis" rules.
In particular :
- "Basically he (Bildt) underlined that it's the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus and the UN that have the main responsibilities for solving the problem", started to say the Swedish Senior Official to "EuroFora", referring to the above-mentioned "briefing".
- "But the EU had a role in sort of pointing out the benefits and facilitating a little bit the outcome for the settlement of the whole Cyprus' issue", she added.
- "And he did state the Fact, that the rest of the World (i.e. USA, etc) will, of course, look at the differend issues which are at the table, and the future of the UN Peace keeping force is part of what is at the table", she admitted.
- "I understand that some have interpreted that as a Threat, by the Swedish Minister" "But", in reality, "it's a statement of a Fact, that, when we'll look at the differend issues, one of the issues on which we shall have to take a stand on, is the future of the UN Peace keeping force in Cyprus".
Indeed, one of the questions usually raised for a Solution of Cyprus' issue is what International and/or European or other Guarantees, by a Peace-keeping force, might be needed afterwards, eventually for a transitory period.
Questioned anew by "EuroFora" whether (according to critical Press Reports) this could be taken as a veiled warning that, if Cyprus didn't accept any Turkish demand for any solution whatever, it might be left alone to face Ankara's Military Invasion/Occupation, she denied :
- "He (Bildt) didn't say it in that way"... "It was not linked to a threat, or anything like that", the Head of the Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service stressed.
On the contrary, "he (Bildt) underlined that the main responsibility lies with the parties concerned on the island". "The EU can try to facilitate and show the benefits of reaching a settlement. But also, when the EU and the rest of the World (i.e. USA) will have to look at it, they will look at all the Facts on the table, and the presence of the UN Peace-keeping force is one".
And "he (Bildt) didn't speak about that at all", she replied to "EuroFora" question on Turkey's reported attemps to impose, in one way of another, a partitionist "2 States solution".
Asked whether Bildt's aim was to incite both parties to move forward efficiently, she agreed :
- In fact, "the EU is really very concerned with the Stalemate in the situation. Yes !", the Head of Sweden's Foreign Ministry's Press Service anounced. That's why Bildt "was hoping for the two parties (i.e. for Turkey's also) to engage and break, a little-bit, the present stalemate, come to a solution of the issue" of Cyprus.
But, replying to a "EuroFora"s question on the risk, denounced by several politicians in case of strict Time Deadlines, for Turkey to provoke a stalemate and wait for the time to come to impose a partitionist "2 States' solution", she reacted by pointing at Turkey's obligation to respect "EU Acquis" :
- "Turkey must fullfil the EU Acquis : That's clear !", the Swedish Senior Official stressed.
More details are expected when Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt will debate his Programme with new MEPs at EU Parliament's plenary mid-July in Strasbourg, that he has visited already in 2008.
Foreign Minister Carl Bildt became familiar with Strasbourg's CoE last year, when Sweden chaired the PanEuropean organization of Human Rights. As EU chairman-in-office, he will also chair the 27-member States strong EU Group inside the 47-member States strong CoE.
Minister for EU affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom is well known at EU Parliament, where she has been an active MEP of the Liberal Group for many years, following also Press Freedom issues.
Both have already made various statements at "EuroFora", on differend topical matters.
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