newsitems

*Strasbourg/Press Club+International Kleber Library/Angelo Marcopolo/- At an event co-organized by Strasbourg's Press Club and International Kleber Library, University Professor Chantal Cutajar, (Experienced on Transborder Financial Crime, where she helped build a European Network funded by the EU: See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eusciencefundsimpact.html), presented Today a Legal Experts' Analysis on the still contentious Issue of so-called "Paradise Papers" Scandal, where Controversies are still going on Worldwide, and she resumed later (*) to "Eurofora" the main substance of that Topical Debate, where she was associated also with French Expert on Corporate Criminal Law, Philippe Marchessou, (a long-time "Eurofora"s aquaintance from Strasbourg's Faculty of Law) :

  Cutajar is also Director of the European College for Financial Investigations and Financial Analysis of Crimes (see: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eucommissionerredingoneuprosecutorandtraining.html), as well as Head of GRASCO (the Group for Research and Action on Organized Crime), and her Research extends at a Wide area, including, f.ex., also "Cyber-Crime" via Internet, (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/cyberattaksandeurules.html), etc.

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 -  Here, "the Problem is that some have Claimed that the <<Paradise Papers'>> Set up might be Legal", she told "Eurofora" from the outset.

 - "So, we organized a Discussion about that, with Experts on Corporate Law and Fiscal Law, where it was demonstrated that, in fact, all that, cannot be really legal"...

 - In particular, "since that is used in order to Avoid Fiscal Obligations, it canNot be Legal", she stressed.

 - "Such cases concern Both Individual Persons and Corporations".
 - Especially "when they use all possibilities of Corporate and Fiscal Law in order to Avoid Taxes", Cutajar pointed out.

 - F.ex., "it was demonstrated that this was used even by the Queen of England, or Hamilton who bought his Airplane withOut paying Added Value Tax, a Corporation which created a Subsidiary Company in order to Corrupt for obtaining Procurements, etc"...

 - A Key point in that is the "use of Off-Shore Companies" : F.ex., "in Organized Crime cases, Money Laundering is done via Off-Shore Companies, and in Tax Fraud, the Tool is Off-Shore Companies".

 
 - That's why, "for me, My Struggle is for Transparency of Corporations. Because, as long as there is No Corporate Transparency, it will always be possible to do things in Secret", by abusing of procedures, "through a System of Intermediaries", etc., she Warned.

 - In Fact, all those who take Benefit from such shady moves, Bear at least a Responsibility for Faulty Negligence, if not for doing that on Purpose". Because "a Lawyer must Always Question the Aim of an Operation", Professor Cutajar underlined in Conclusion.

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- French Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the CoE, Jean-Baptiste Mattei, speaking to "Eurofora" on the occasion of the take-over of the PanEuropean (47 Member States-strong, Russia included) Organisation's AudioVisual Experts' Presidency by France for the Year 2018, agreed that, in addition to the fact that "the Human Right for Freedom of Expression includes the Access to Culture", as he stressed, "Culture" offers also that "Common Base of our Imaginary", with which "each one must be able to identify himself", for the "Cohesion" of those "fellow European Citizens" to whom French President Macron recently Appealed in order to "design a Great Project" and "ReVive a European Ambition", for a more Sovereign, more Democratic, and Better Europe for our People, as he said in his New Year Address, practically Joining German Chancellor Angie Merkel's parallel call for "Us, Europeans", to "Hold Together as a Community", that she named as "the Crucial Issue of the coming years", (Comp. : ....).

- In this regard too, European AudioVisual Observatory's (EAVO) capacity to offer "Reliable and Trustworthy Experts"' insight, to Economy, Political Decision-makers, and the Public at large, is particularly Useful, Ambassador Mattei noted earlier.

+ But, in order to Help Build such an "Imaginary", obviously, a Stronger "European Production" of original "AudioVisual" Works is needed, admitted the New Director on Economy in CoE's AudioVisual Observatory, Gilles Fontaine, speaking afterwards to "Eurofora", on the occasion of that same event Today in Strasbourg.

- However, while it's expected that the current Worldwide Trend towards Distribution of AudioVisual Works mainly by Internet Service Providers, through Modern Digital Technologies, would Accentuate Further on 2018, it's also a Fact that, until now, Most of them are USA Companies, and it remains a Question Mark whether they will Invest in European Audiovisual Production, and/or if New European Internet Service Providers will Emerge, or not, in sufficient number, strength and quality, as Fontaine observed.

>>> Meanwhile, the incoming 2018 French Presidency of the EAVO has Decided to Focus, this Year, mainly on the Topical Issue of "Internet Platforms providing Videos", as announced officially Today the Competent Representative of France in that CoE's Body's Executive Council, Elizabeth Le Hot, deputy Director on Cultural Economy's development at the Ministry of Culture. Inter alia, a relevant International Colloquy will be organized in Paris, on June 2018, at the prestigious Museum of Quai Branly/"Jacques Chirac", she added, (reminding the Historic, Long-Time former French Prime Minister and President of the Republic, with whom "Eurofora"s co-Founder has cooperated during many Years in the Past, both at Elysée Palace, and in EU Summits in Brussels, as well as in Berlin, Germany, etc, then via "TCWeekly"+).

++ Nevertheless, independently of all that, and in Addition, the Year 2018 is also due to be impacted, even in the European AudioVisual sector, by "BREXIT" Negotiations in view of UK's planned Departure from the EU after March 2019, Because "the UK is very Deeply Involved in Europe's Audio-Visual realities", as EAVO's Executive Director, Susanne Nikoltchev from Germany, told "Eurofora".

- Nikoltchev, (who holds also a important Experience as former Head of EAVO's Legal section in Strasbourg), made clear that this is Not Limited only to the, already Important, Fact that Many EU Radio-TV Companies use to have Established Offices in the UK also in order to Transmit AudioVisual products to several Other EU Member Countries, (as Fontaine had observed earlier). Indeed, BREXIT's possible Effects to the European AudioVisual sector can be much More Wider than that, and concern also Manifold Other AV-related Issues, CEO Nikoltchev stressed, believing that EU's Chief BREXIT Negotiator, Michel Barnier's staff should, normally, be Aware of that, for the needs of the 2nd Phase Talks about UK's Future Relations with the EU.

After Poland, which has just passed over its 2017 EAVO's Presidency to France for 2018, it is Italy which is due to take over Next Year, on 2019 : A series of Three Countries with a Traditionally Strong Role on European Production of AudioVisual works, which might Help give a much needed Boost to this, both "Classic", but also Fully ReNovated and Modernized Sector of Economy, (which is in the process of being more and more Spectacularly Transformed by Digital Web-related Technologies) with manifold big Socio-Political Stakes, (Comp., f.ex.: ...).

*Strasbourg/International Kleber Library/Angelo Marcopolo/- Independently of a recent Controversy around "Charlie Hebdo" horrible Massacre by Deadly Islamist Terrorists cowardly Targetting Journalists and other Civilian People for Expressing a Critical point of view in public, (and/or of Mr Ramadan's wrongdoings, etc), "Eurofora" finds that the opinion of an Experienced Journalist, former Long-Time Newspaper Editor, and co-Founder of a Web NewsMedia outlet, as Edwy Plenel from France (f. "Le Monde", now "MediaPart"), on current Attempts to Monitor Free Speech at the Inrernet and/or Web NewsMedias by States and/or Big Corporations, as it results from the Reply that he gave to "Eurofora"s relevant Question, deserves to be published and become Part of a Wider Discussion, Nowadays in Europe, the USA and the rest of the World, which has just Started.

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 - "Eurofora" asked Plenel, in substance, about his reaction, from the point of view of Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression, to various recent attempts, anounced both in France and some Other Countries in Europe and elsewhere in the World, sometimes even by European/PanEuropean Organisations, etc., to take certain Measures for Monitoring by Governments and/or Big Corporations of various Publications at the Internet, from Social Networks up to Web NewsMedias, etc.

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   - Concerning that "Question about Freedoms", (as he resumed the above mentioned "Eurofora"s Query), Plenel noted, inter alia, that, f.ex., recently in France, "there is an anouncement about a Draft Law on <<Fake News>>, by the President of the Republic".

 - "My position is very Simple, on that", he went on to Reply, adopting, for the rest, "Eurofora"s approach, from a General point of view, (Comp. Supra) :

 - "I wait to see, First", before judging, he Carefully said, as a matter of Principle.

 >>> -  "But I Always feel a DisTrust whenever a Political Power, an Executive Power, pretends to Control Freedom by itself a priori", the Experienced Journalist/Web Editor Warned from the outset, as a matter of General Principle.

 - Because, "in a Regime of Freedom, we are Accountable of what we say, we write, a Posteriori", he pointed out.

- "It's not a regime of prior autorisation or prohibition".

 - "Even if I observe that a Fight is necessary against saying anything, by anyone,  in a Democracy of Social Networks", Plenel found.

 - In fact, "for me, the Real Battle is to make obligatory to be able to Identify the Persons, In order to be Accountable of what they have said, if they have Hurt some. As, f.ex., in case of Slandering, or in order to Identify the Author of an Article", etc., he went on to add.

=> - "But, once again, I feel Distrust ("I find it Suspicious") when a Political Power - even for the Best Arguments in the World -  starts claiming that it wants to Decide by itself on what Can be Said, or canNot be Said", he concluded.

    I.e., a fortiori, when some Public Authorities empower a few Big private Multinational Corporations to exerce Censorship on the Web, even withOut Any Judicial and/or other Legal Guarantee against possible Abuse, mosty using, for that purpose, various Anonymous Individuals, often briefly Hired by Low-cost Intermediary Businesses, accross the World, withOut any serious Knowledge of Law and Ethics, Neither any Fair Legal Redress process clearly available to the possible Victims, (as several recent Blunders have recently Revealed in various Shocking Scandals, from Europe to North America, etc., including, f.ex., even a Parliamentary Group vice-President at the German Bundesrat, and the new US President Don Trump himself, with his Famous and Popular "Twitter" Account being Blocked by an obscure Turkish Migrant who had briefly come from Abroad, and left immediately afterwards !... Cf.: ...+ ..., etc).

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    + As for Plenel's (and others') recent Pressure to "Identify" the "Persons" of any Publication at the Internet, i.e. not just for Journalists' WebMedia NewsArticles, but Even for Simple Citizens' Publications at Social Networks, Web Forums, etc., apparently, it seems quite Dangerous, and Contrary to the Free Internet's principles since the Founding Fathers of the Web, to eventually Expose to Anybody the Personal Identity of any Net-Citizen who might Express a Political Opinion or Social View in a Public Debate at an Internet Forum.

    It's not for nothing, f.ex., that, in Democracy, every Political Vote is "Secret", as far as the Link with the Person who Voted is concerned... And how could, f.ex., a Civil Servant, dare Express any of his/her Political/Social Views at an Internet Forum, if he/she was always Obliged to Expose his/her Personal Identity to Anybody ? Obviously, he/she would Risk his/her own Professional Career, may be lose his/her Lob by Political/Social Hostility and/or Discrimination, etc., in real Practice. Last, but not least, even Simple Citizens might be Afraid to Freely Express their Socio-Political Opinions at Internet Forums or Social Networks, particularly on some "Hot" and Controversial Topical Issues, mainly Because of Fear of more or less Brutal Aggressions that they might Suffer from some Violent Socio-Political "Adversaries", among those who don't hesitate to abuse of Gross Insults and/or Various other Forms of Intolerance and Aggression against those who Think Differently : F.ex., even during a Public Debate held by Edwy Plenel himself, on anOther Issue, Today in Strasbourg's "International Library Kleber", a Young Person and/or others who dared Express some Critical, Dissident Socio-Political Views, were Brutaly and Repeatedly Bullied, facing even Loud gross Insults as, f.ex., among others, also : - "Bastard !" or "Corrupted  !" ("Pourriture !" in the original in French), "Sick Mind(s) !", "Red-Brown" (i.e. Communist-NAZI), etc...         

=> In order to Prevent such and/or even various Worse Aggressions which may Follow after a "Hot" Political/Social Debate on Topical Issues of Importance for the Society, it seems obviously much Better to Continue to Protect the Private Identity of each Participant at a Web Forum or Network, (Respecting a Founding Principle of the Internet), withOut Exposing it to Anybody.

    Otherwise, the Horrible Massacre of "Charlie Hebdo" isn't enough to Warn about various possible Dangers against Freedom of Speech nowadays ?

    However, on the Contrary, in case of Clear Abuse and/or Illegality, Slandering, etc., the Competent and Responsible Public Authorities should have the Legal Means to UnMask any eventual Wrong-Doer, in order to be able to use the traditional, adequate Legal Procedures if he/she really Aggressed someone else in an unjustifiable, Brutal and/or Damaging way. But, in Fact, it seems that this can Already be done, essentially, by the available Legal and Technical Instruments...



    However, on the Contrary, in case of Clear Abuse and/or Illegality, Slandering, etc., the Competent and Responsible Public Authorities should have the Legal Means to UnMask any eventual Wrong-Doer, in order to be able to use the traditional, adequate Legal Procedures if he/she really Aggressed someone else in an unjustifiable, Brutal and/or Damaging way. But, in Fact, it seems that this can Already be done, essentially, by the Available Legal and Technical Instruments...

    - So, why that Rush ?

(../..)

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*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- From Both sides of the Rhine river, French and German Leaders, Emmanuel Macron and Angie Merkel, (the Youngest and the most Experienced), joined their forces by launching parallel Vibrant Appeals, for the 1st Time directly addressed to "EU Citizens", speaking as "We, Europeans", etc., on the occasion of their Wishes for the New Year 2018, which point at an Horizon of forthcoming Crucial Public Debates and Moves for Europe's foreseable Future.

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 - "My dear fellow European Citizens : 2018 is a very Particular Year", because "it will be of Decisive importance on a European level", stressed from the outset French President Macron.

 - "As you know, I am fully Committed to this Fight, since I'm very deeply convinced that Europe is Good for France", and "that France can't succeed withOut a Stronger Europe" he reminded.

 >>> -  In fact, "I will Need You (EU Citizens), this Year". Because "I wish, indeed, that you'd be able to Express yourshelf, through (EU) Citizens' Consultations, (and) Say What you Want for Europe, some Months Before our European Elections" of May 2019, in order "to allow for your (EU Member Countries') Governments to Design a Great Project", he highlighted.

- Because "We Need to Find anew the European Ambition, to find a Europe with more Sovereignity, more Unity, more Democratic, because it's Good for our People".

- Indeed, "I profoundly Believe that Europe can Become that Economic, Social, Ecological and Scientific Power, which will be Able to Face China, (and) the USA, by supporting those Values which shaped our lives and are our Joint History", Macron vowed.

- "For that European UpSurge, I Need Your Determination, so that, Together, we don't yield anything, neither to (narrow-minded) nationalists, nor to euro-Sceptics"

- "As far as I'm concerned, I'll continue to Work with Each one of our European Partners, and particularly with Germany", he promised in this regard.

- Because "such an Intimate Colloquium with our German Friends is the Necessary Condition for any European Advance ; it doesn't exclude Dialogue with All our other (EU) Partners, but it's by this, that Everything Starts", he observed, (speaking just one year before UK's 2019 BREXIT).

- And "it's Necessary to Advance much Further, on that area too, Breaking up with the Habits of the Past", in order "to Find anew that shared Taste of a Future that We Decide for ourselves".

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- Making an indirect but crystal-clear Hint to a Method strikingly Similar to "Eurofora"'s 1997-2017 Project (for Public Debates between Citizens and EU Institutions Before they take Important Decisions affecting their lives or Society at large), Macron, characteristically promised, as far as the Decision-Making Process is concerned, to "Respect, and Always Listen" to "Many among you (Citizens) who don't share such a Policy Today". And "I'll make sure that All Debates take place, and All Voices - even Dissident - are Heard. But ... I won't stop Acting : I'll Always Listen, I'll Explain our situation and its Realities, i'll Respect (People's Views), and, at the End (of that Process), I'll Do, because that's what is Needed, and that's what you Expect", he described earlier, mutatis-mutandis.

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+ Almost at the Same Time, from the Other Side of Rhine river, German Chancellor Angie Merkel, stressed that "the Crucial Issue of the Coming Years" , "will be" the fact that "the 27 EU Countries (after UK's BREXIT) must be Motivated, more Strongly than ever, to Hold Together, as 1 Community".

- Indeed, regarding the "Challenges of the Future" and "the Needs of All our Citizens", "Germany's Future is InSeparable from the Future of Europe", "because the World will Not Wait for us", accross "All" main points, she observed :

- "We must Act Today to Create the Conditions ... to Thrive 10 - 15 Years from now. And (we'll) truly Thrive, when, .. Success Benefits Everyone, improving and Enhancing our Lives", the German Chancellor Highlighted :
- F.ex., "In this pursuit, the Key principle of the social market economy – that Economic Success and Social Cohesion are two sides of the same coin – can also be the Compass guiding us through this era of Digital progress".

=> "This means, on one hand: - securing existing jobs while also creating entirely new jobs for the future, - supporting companies even more when it comes to researching and developing innovative technologies, - making the state a digital pioneer,- and especially preparing ourselves and our children for digital progress through the best education and further training".

+ "And, on the other hand, it means: - focusing on Families, relieving the Financial burden on them, so that they can find an even better balance between the demands of professional and family life, - making good and dignified Care possible by strengthening the care professions and providing even better support to people who care for family members at home, - and – not least – providing for Equal living conditions in every region ..., whether in cities or in the countryside. And we will have to invest even more in a Strong state that Defends the Rules of our society, and provides for your Security – for all of our security"

>>> But the overall Main point "will be a matter of whether, WE : EUROPEANS, represent our Values in a Globalised and Digital World", Merkel characteristically underlined.

=> - "Germany and France want to work Together to make this a success, and in doing so help make Europe fit for the Future", she vowed.

- This must be done "assertively and in a spirit of Solidarity, both Internally and Externally, thus also working for an Economically Successful and Equitable Europe".

+ "As well as consistently standing up for the Protection of our External (EU) Borders, and the Security of our (EU) Citizens".

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 - In this regard, French President Macron vowed to "Win the Battle" "against the Islamist Terrorism", both in the Middle-East and at SubSaharian Africa, as well as inside Europe, but Also to "Win the Peace" at an "International" area, by "guaranteing the Stability of States, and the Respect of All Minorities".

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+ As Macron (Comp. Supra), mutatis-mutandis, Angie Merkel also pointed at "a Vibrant Democracy", "part" of which is "the Struggle to Find the right Answers", in "a Society with Many Voices, in the best sense", (i.e. via Public Debates too).

- However, "at the same time, we are United by the Values of ... Respect for the inviolable Dignity of every Individual, and of every individual's Liberties", the German Chancellor concluded.

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>>> But a Crystal-clear Common overall Concern, shared by Both Franco-German Leaders, is, for "2018," to Ensure the Social Cohesion" of EU Countries' People, as they described in extenso, (on a key point deserving a specific publication for itself).

    While "Social" measures, "Work", and "Education", etc. were cited, in this regard, from Both, Macron also added the "Need for a Cultural Imaginary of a Future, where Everyone can find his/her place".