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)...
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- 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.
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- 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.
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+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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Recent developments proved that Europe can suceed to overcome challenges by aiming at great objectives, and this is needed also in 2009, said EU chairman, French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
- "It's in the name of Great Ideas, Projects, Ambition and Ideals, that EU can overcome" challenges, stressed Sarkozy at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, in conclusion of a dense 7 months EU Chairmanship. "It's even easier for Europe to have Great projects, able to overcome national egoism, instead of limiting itself only to small projects" (unable to do alike), he observed.
- "Europe must remain Ambitious and understand that the World needs her to take Decisions". "The World needs a Strong Europe", which "thinks on its own, has convictions, its own responses, its imagination" : "A Europe which does not limit itself into following" others, (as it did in the Past, when it followed USA, f.ex. on Bosnia). On the contrary, "Europe should undertake its own responsibilities", he said, after a series of succes in stopping the War between Russia and Georgia, and organizing the 1st EuroZone's Summit in Paris, which incited the Washington DC G-20 Summit to extend similar decisions World-wide.
- "When you sweep it all under the carpet, prepare yourself for hard tomorrows", he warned. "What hinders decisions is the lack of Courage and Will, the fading away of Ideals", he stressed before EU Parliament's 2008 debate on Human Rights and Sakharov prize on Freedom of thought attributed by MEPs to Chinese cyber-dissident Hu Jia, followed by an EU - Turkey meeting on Friday.
- "I don't abandon my convictions" and "I will take initiatives" on EU level also in 2009, Sarkozy announced later. "France will not stop having convictions and taking initiatives" on Europe. + "It's an Error to wish to pass over the Heads of those who are elected in their Countries" : "It's an integrism I always fought against"', he warned.
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French EU Presidency faced 4 unexpected Crisis :
- An institutional crisis, with the Irish "No" to EU Lisbon Treaty, just before it started. A geopolitical crisis, wth the threat of War between Russia and Georgia risking to throw Europe back to Cold-war divisions, on August. A World-wide Financial and Economic crisis, arriving at a bad moment before crucial 2009 EU elections. And even a Strasbourg's mini-crisis, with EU Parliament's roof curiously falling down, from unknown reasons, in a brand new building on August, provoking an unprecedented transfert of the 2 September Plenary Sessions...
But it wasn't enough to stop Sarkozy ! On the contrary, it stimulated him...
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- "The better way to deal with the recent problems of EU institutions (as the "3 NO" by France, the Netherlands and Ireland) is to take them as a "Test" in order to find solutions closer to Citizens' concerns", said later in Strasbourg Sarkozy's new choice as Ministe for EU affairs, Bruno Le Maire.
- On the Institutional front, Sarkozy gave Time to the Irish to think about it, and stroke on December a deal including a New Referendum after the June 2009 EU Elections, in exchange of a promise to keep the rule of "one EU Commissioner for each EU Member Country", and some opt-outs on Defence and Fiscal EU policies, Abortion, etc. If the Irish get a "Yes" Majority, then the institutional package could be completed in 2010 or 2011 on the occasion of Croatia's probable EU accession.
He was accused in Strasbourg to upgrade EU Council and downgrade EU Commision, but he replied that "strong Political initiatives by EU Council reinforce also the more technical role of EU Commission, under the political-technical leadership of its President", all 3 "working together with EU Parliament".
- But, meanwhile, Sarkozy energetically spearheaded an Historic 1st Summit of EuroZone's 15 Heads of State and Government at EU's core, exceptionally enlarged to a partial participation of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, on October 12 in Paris' Elysee palace, which started to tackle succesfully the growing world Financial crisis.
It also paved the way for its endorsement by a subsequent Brussels' 27 EU Member States' gathering, before it all come to Washington's G-20 Summit. And "Europe was united, it asked for the 1st G-20 Summit, and it will also organise the next G-20 Summit on April in London", he observed.
But a Conference with EU, Russia, African and other Developing Countries, hosted in Strasbourg shortly after Washington G-20 Summit by the French EU Presidency, took a Resolution asking to enlarge participation to Global Economic Governance. Many found, indeed, illogic and unacceptable that f.ex. states as Turkey were given a seat at G-20 level, while all African Countries, and even the African Union itself, representing the greatest Continent on Earth, were excluded...
Meanwhile, even USA''s "Paulson No 3" Plan, was, in fact, inspired by Europe's No 1 Plan", Sarkozy observed, largelly applauded by MEPs.
And "Europe showed Solidarity" by mobilizing some 22 Billion credit for Hungary, 1,7 billion for Ukraine, as we do nowadays for Baltic States, etc., he added.
The move on Economy was extended on December by an EU stimulus' plan totalling some 200 billion Euros, including 5 Billions released by EU Commission for big Projects, as well as various parallel National plans for Economic revival, (fex. 26 billions in France alone). They might appear limited, compared to USA President-elect Obama's reported plan to boost the American economy with 800 billion $, but at least succeded to overcome Europe's divisions for the first time on Economic governance, opening new horizons.
- The French President stressed even harder the unique role of an active EU Council's chairmanship, when he moved swiftly and efficiently, at the beginning of August, to succesfully stop War between Russia and Georgia, at the last minute, which threatened to bring Europe back to Cold War division.
"We (EU) also wanted to avoid a situation like in Bosnia, in the Past, when EU was absent, so that our American friends took their responsibilitues, and EU only followed", despite the fact that the conflict took place in Europe. Now, it was the EU who took its responsibilities".
A roadmap towards a new PanEuropean Security policy, before which all unilateral moves to place new Missiles (from USA or Russia) would be freezed, was proposed by Sarkozy after a meeting with Russian president Medvedev, at the eve of Washington DC's G-20 Summit.
Ukraine's "European" character was stressed at a Sarkozy - Jushenko Summit, September in Paris, while EU adopted on December an "Eastern policy", in which, "I'm convinced that our (EU's) future is to find with our Neighbours the conditions for Economic Development. Peace and Security, by explaining them that.. they must respect (Human Rights') Values, and adopt behaviors different from the Past", explained Sarkozy in Strasbourg.
Meanwhile, the "Union for the Mediterranean" was created, since July's Summit if 45 Heads of State and Government in Paris, as "an organisation for a permanent Dialogue, that we need", mainly in order to tackle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, by bringing together, for the 1st time, Israelis and Arabs, where "Europe must be present, in order to avoid a frontal clash".
- "If Europe doesn't take its part for Peace in the Middle-East, nobody else will do that in our place", Sarkozy stressed.
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Meanwhile, other EU Agreements were brokered during the French EU Presidency on Immigration, (fex. common Asylum rules, etc), and Climat- Energy :
- On Climat-Energy, the 2007 German EU Presidency had fixed a triple 20% aim for 2020 (20% renewable Energies, 20% reduction of CO2 emmission, 20% energy efficience/economies), and the 2008 French EU Presidecny realized that, making the necessary compromises in order to modernize EU's industry, but without throwing some former Central-Eastern European Countries into abrupt Economic break down risking "social explosion".
- Defence-Security EU policy was mainly postponed for April 2009, since both German chancellor Merkel and French president Sarkozy want to strike a deal with the new American president Obama in Strasbourg's NATO Summit.
However, with all these 4 unexpected Crisis diverting attention to other urgencies, People wil wonder now, what happened to the famous deal proposed by freshly-elected French President Sarkozy on Turkey's controversial EU bid, back on August 2007, to continue EU - Turkey negotiations, but on the double condition that core chapters, intrinsequally linked with EU Membership, will be excluded, and that a collective Reflexion and Debate on Europe's future would start before the end of 2008.
It was meant to reply to the crucial question : What kind of Europe do we want in 10 or 20 Years from now : A large Market, or a Political Europe, with a popular identity ? In Sarkozy's thinking, presented in his 2 landmark speeches on Europe in Strasbourg, shortly before and after the 2007 Elections, (on February and July 2007), Turkey's controversial EU bid would be incompatible with the second choice.
It's true that EU Commision's Chairman, Jose Barroso, (who had notoriously declared, as former Portuguese Prime Minister, that he found "nonsense" the idea that Europe might become equal to the US), had repeatedly tried to avoid that Sarkozy's criticism on Turkey might start winning a larger audience in Europe, preferring a discrete "wismens' committee" work. And that most of the personalities later chosen in order to participate in a Committee on Europe's Future, are too much linked with Socialist parties and/or American policies, to be really critical of USA's notorious wish to impose Turkey to the EU, as Sarkozy had noted himself since March 2007..
- "It's on EU Council's presidency to take political initiatives. EU Commission has other competences", stressed Sarkozy. The "European Ideal" is to "build Europe with the States, not against them". "Ask Europeans to chose between their countries and Europe won't work. You don't choose between your two parents : We must add them together".
"France and Germany have an Historic Duty to work together, precisely because of what happened to the Past. We have to work hand by hand. We cannot be separated.It goes beyond me and Mrs Merkel today, Mr Schroeder and Mr. Chirac yesterday. It's not a choice, it's a duty to Europe and to the World". "We need Germany, as Germany needs Europe". Compromise is inevitable, here as everywhere, and each one made some steps towards eachother's positions.
But "it's true that Mrs Merkel didn't chose her Socialist partners, while I chose mine", Sarkozy said, in an indirect hint that the Socialist Minister of Finance in Germany might be a cause of minor past disagreements in Economy, which were overcome in recent negotiations.
"We (France and Germany) have particular duties in Europe", but "in a Europe of 27 Member States, it's not enough for France and Germany to agree between them.
"I always thought that Great Britain has a special role to play in Europe. ... Now, everybody "saw what it cost payed the UK for having been too exclusively open towards the US (and) Financial services. Europe needs the UK, but also the UK needs Europe" :- "We were able to face the hardest moment of the Financial crisis because the UK clearly chose Europe", stressed Sarkozy, reminding Gordon Brown's exceptional participation to the Historic 1st Heads of State/Government Summit of EuroZone, October 12 in Paris (See EuroFora's Reportage from Elysee Palace then).
- "Some look at Europe with old glasses aged 30 years ago. While we must look at her in relation to what it will be in 30 years" in the Future, Sarkozy concluded.