newsitems

*Brussels/EPP Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to an "Eurofora"s Question on the "Hot" Topical Issue of the unfolding French Presidential Election, Crucial for All Europe, the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Parties' President, Joseph Daul, simply Stressed, exceptionaly Tight-Lipped and Enigmatic, that : - "I Wait for the Vote of May 7", 2017.

The main-stream Center-Right "Republican" Party in France, has recently shown notorious signs of various Evolving Contradictions and "Hot" Debates between its Leaders, Members and/or Popular Supporters, Fans and/or Sympathizers, after the Unexpected Results of the 1st Round of these 2017 Presidential Elections, with Many Calling to Vote Emmanuel Macron, (a former Counselor and Minister of Out-going Socialist President Hollande, who hastily made his own makeshift Movement only recently), but several Urging, Instead, to do Anything Else (f.ex., Vote "Blanc" or Abstain, etc) Except from Voting for Marine Le Pen the Former Head of the Controversial Rightist "National Front" Party, (f.ex. Young Laurent Wauquiez, former Minister and now Head of Region, etc), Others Simply prefering to Leave Citizens Free to Decide themselves, (f.ex. the Popular "Manif pour tous" BioEthical Movement,etc), while Some Called even to Vote for Marine Le Pen, (who just Left the "FN" Party's chair), adding, inter alia, also to Neo-Gaullist Dupont-Aignan's declared Support to MLP, Today, (andhe  may become Prime Minister, if she won).

The Socialists have Notoriously Exploited a provoked Division of the Right, between the MainStream Center-Right, and the Controversial "FN"s Rightists, since a Long Time  ago, already from former Socialist President Mitterand's era during the 1980s, also in the 2012 Presidential, until now.

But, Recently, in the Diferend Circumstances of some Other European Countries, several MainStream Center-Right Parties have already Started to Forge Governemental Coalitions with previously Controversial Rightist Parties, f.ex. in Norway, Denmark, possibly Finland, etc., as well as, by a Coincidence, this very Same Week also in Bulgaria, where ChristianDemocrat/EPP f. Prime Minister Boris Boykov is even due to Chair the EU from January 2018...

French Polls' Estimations for the Final, 2nd Round of the Presidential Elections, on May 7, are, at least for the Moment, quite Sketsy and/or Contradictory, (mainly showing still a Macron's Victory, but also a Fast Growing Popular Support for Marine Le Pen, etc), considering also the UnExpected and Totaly UnPrecedented character of this New Situation.

A Final Decision of Leftist Melenchon's 19 % Supporters, who are Mostly Critical against Macron, is expected for Next Monday.

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Interestingly, Daul was Speaking at the very Conclusion of EPP's Summit of Heads of State/Government and Party Leaders, in Brussels, ahead of Today's EU's 28 Summit.

*Brussels/Angelo Marcopolo/- Experienced vice-President of EU Commission, in charge of Energy and Climate, Maros Sefcovic, replying to an "Eurofora" Question, Today, in Brussels, on the currently unfolding Projects for Gas Findings and Direct Transports to Europe, in EU Member Cyprus, in cooperation with Israel, Egypt, etc., stressed that, in his view, they are "Important" for Europe, and "Developing Well" :

- "They could Become a Second Norway !", the competent EU Commission's vice-President stressed to "Eurofora" in this regard, pointing, for South-Eastern Mediterranean, to the notoriously Most Important European Oil-Gas field at the Northern Sea, which is, however, reportedly, becoming more and more Limited, recently, Obliging the EU to Search also Other, New Sources.

Recently, at the Beginning of April 2017, a preliminary stage for the related "East-MED" Pipeline and Sea Transport Project was Officialy Inaugurated, with the Participation of Energy Ministers from Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, etc., at Haifa, and is due to reach a Decisive point at around 2022.

+ Sefcovic also told "Eurofora" that even anOther Deep Sea Energy Resources inside EU areas is currently Prepared in Romania's Black Sea exclusive economic zone  (EEZ). Its Completion would require, however, the "Modernisation" of the Romanian Energy Transport System, he added.

*Brussels/EPP Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- Even After a now possible BREXIT, however, the UK would still be "in Europe", stressed Today the Frontrunner Main Opposition Party' Head in Greece, Kyiakos Mitsotakis, President of the "New Democracy" Party, speaking to the Press, including "Eurofora".

Already, certain other European Countries as Norway and Switzerland, Lictenstein, etc., are Not yet EU Members, but have Special Agreements with the EU, f.ex. in the framework of the "European Economic Area", on  "Shenghen", even on Scientific and Technological Research (f.ex. from Switzerland), and, in the particular case of the UK, (EU Member since 1973), normaly EU Links should be even much Stronger, observers noted, agreeing with Mitsotakis' Press Spokeswoman.

Mitsotakis, whose Party is Recently Accredited with an evolving Strong 1st Place in People's preferences by All Polls, spoke just after the conclusion of an Important ChristianDemocrat/EPP Summit in Brussels, with the participation f.ex., of German Chancelor Angie Merkel, the EU's "BREXIT" Negociator Michel Barnier, EU Commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker, and EU Council's President Donald Tusk, EU Parliament's President Antionio Tajani, and other Political Leaders, invited by experienced EPP's Head Joseph Daul, (a former Long-Time MEP from Strasbourg, and f. Chairman of EPP's Group of MEPs in EU Parliament).

Since the Move took place Ahead of EU's Heads of States/Governments' Summit, later Today, here in Brussels, dedicated mainly to "BREXIT", Kyriakos Mitsotakis also Focused on the Main Conditions of particular Interest of that to Greece :

- I.e., the respect of UK's Financial Obligations to the EU, the Protection of EU Citizens' Rights (more than 70.000 Greeks currently Living in the UK), and the Future state of relevant EU's External Borders, f.ex. at the North of Ireland, etc.

At a Different area, UK notoriously keeps 2 British Military Bases in EU Member Cyprus, which is also Member of the British Commonwealth, as well as the current EU Chair, Malta.

*Strasbourg/CoE/+Brussels/EPP Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- The sudden Big Row about CoE Assembly's President, Pedro Agramunt, (a ChristianDemocrat/EPP from Spain), Hotly Denounced by several Critics for a Hasty Trip to Syria, where he met President Assad, with the Help of Russian MEPs, accused to have Ommitted to previously Warn PACE's Bureau, etc., while, possibly, rushing to seize any opportunity to help Peace through Dialogue, (See also Infra, on Agramunt's initial Explanations), has now Reached Proportions withOut Any Precedent in History, on which the Presidents of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP, Socialist and Left Group of MEPs, Axel Fischer, Michele Nicoletti, and Tiny Cox, respectively, briefly but Topically spoke with "Eurofora":

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To put it in a nutshell :

    President Agramunt, (after Initially providing a first Explanation to Critics, Earlier this week in Strasbourg), he did Not Participate, this Time, to an Exceptional Meeting of PACE's Bureau, due to Focus on againg Criticizing him, and, apparently, Left from CoE's Building, probably even from Strasbourg. According to PACE's Rules, there isn't any Legal means to Oblige him to do otherwise, Neither to eventually Resign.

    A PACE's Bureau Majority published a Critical Note against its President, Agramunt, calling to Strip him from many of his prerogatives, (f.ex. to Speak on Behalf of the Assembly, etc), and Elected its Senior Member, British Conservative MEP Sir Roger Gale in order to represent them, according to a Press Statement that he has just Read to Strasbourg's Journalists, including "Eurofora".

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   Lithuanian ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Egidijus Vareikis, observed that there were several Absents, as well as Critical MEPs who didn't understand why Agramunt would have, necessarily, to Resign, and noted the Fact that, according to PACE's Rules, a simple Majority inside the Bureau could Not Destitute an Elected PACE President.

   Center-Right French MEP Ponzo di Bongo expressed his Anger for, curiously, Not being Informed at all, about what really happened, by the out-going Chair of his National Delegation, MEP ... from the Socialist Party, (who appeared in a Hurry to immediately Phone somewhere).

   After an apparently Unconclusive meeting (with Many Absentees, as "Eurofora" witnessed on the spot) of PACE's Biggest Political Group : That of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, (Agramunt's Political Family), its President, German CDU MEP Axel Fischer, anounced to "Eurofora" and other Journalists present in Strasbourg, his intention to Travel to Brussels in order to Speak about that Agramunt issue with the President of the European ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party (which Federates together All National Center-Right ChristianDemocrats/EPP parties in all European Countries), the Experienced Joseph Daul.

 

   Daul, speaking to "Eurofora", Afterwards in Brussels, at the Conclusion of an EPP Summit of Heads of State/Government, while locacious on various Other Topical Issues, on the Contrary, prefered Not to make yet Any Public Statement on Agramunt's case, but Told us that he, indeed, just Met with Fischer and they spoke about that matter. His momentaneous Silence might, perhaps, be due also to the Fact that, Exceptionally, the Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy wasn't present at that EPP Summit, while Daul himself, even if he was an Experienced former Chairman of EPP Group in EU Parliament, and Long-Time MEP of Strasbourg (CoE's Headquarters' City), nevertheless, had not a frequent opportunity to deal with CoE Assembly's Internal Affairs as such, (two Points obviously pleading for a Careful Approach of such a Delicate and UnPrecedented Issue).  

  Meanwhile, while already in Strasbourg, "Eurofora" had also a brief but Topical encounter with the President of the Socialist Group in CoE's Assembly, Italian MEP Michele Nicoletti, (who had just met also with Other Strasbourg's Journalists earlier, but obliged to decline for several others, from various CoE Member Countries, for exceptional reasons Independent of his free will).

 Nicoletti told us, in substance, that his Group was among those who believed that Agramunt should Resign, but claimed that, in fact, this would be UnRelated to the existence or absence of a Political Will for Good Relations with Russia and for a Peace Deal in Syria, that his National Government in Italy, (including EU's High Representative for External Action, Federica Mongerini : originating from the Same Political Family as his own), reportedly supported. Indeed, Nicoletti prefered to Focus on matters of General Principle, particulalry as far as CoE Assembly's working methods are concerned, Criticizein mainly an alleged Lack of previous Warning of PACE's Bureau by Agramunt about his imminent Meeting with the Syrian President Assad, escorted by a Russian Delegation.

    Agramunt, (who had been, in fact, Accompagnied also by some Other PACE's Top MEPs, including, f.ex., the President of the Liberal Group, etc), had already presented his Excuses, for not being able to meet, Previously, with PACE's Bureau, and stressed, earlier this week in Strasbourg, that he visited Syria as part of a National Team from Spain, (where he is Senator), and had informed his Foreign Ministry. He did not felt personally responsible for any eventual exploitation that others might have done of his participation to that trip, while he was deeply Committed to the Need to Help Find a Peaceful Solution to the Syrian Conflict, through Political Dialogue, as a matter of General Principle. But, despite having briefly met him Earlier this week in Strasbourg, at a entirely Different occasion, "Eurofora" (and several Other Strasbourg's Journalists) had Not any opportunity to Timely and clearly know what, in fact, was PACE President Agramunt's real and full Version for what happened nowadays, the Criticism and Measures take by a Majority in PACE's Bureau.

    President Nicoletti, (who is also Expected, according to a usual Agreement between the Biggest PACE's Political Parties, to eventually take over PACE's Presidency since Next Year, from January 2018 : A Possibility the he did Not Deny, while also Avoiding to Confirm Now Explicitly, with a kind Smile), however told "Eurofora" that he "Understood" the personal Sorrow of Pedro Agramunt, (who due to Conclude his Mandate as PACE's President, normally, towards the End of this Year), and, at any case, would not have any objection for that Job to be, eventually, entrusted, in the MeanTime, to anOther Member of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group. But he Firmly Excluded any eventual Compromise that might imply for Agramunt to Stay Longer in PACE's Presidency now, as things stand.

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    + A priori, even more Surprizing appeared the Strong Criticism of Left Group's President, Tiny Cox from the Netherlands, who is, however, a frequent Ally to Russia's attempts to Explain its Position during PACE's various Debates, as well as traditionally against Militarist Interventions and Wars, but favorable, in Principle, to any attempts to find Peaceful Solutions to Conflicts : Indeed, speaking to "Eurofora", Cox Strongly Denounced mainly the (uncontested) Fact that Agramunt should Not have given any Impression (even Involuntary) to eventually Represent Officially CoE's Assembly in such a Controversial Top Political Meeting withOut Previously Informing PACE's Bureau, and Lacking its Previous Agreement.  

    [NDLR : UPDATE = New French President Emmanuel Macron's subsequent Statements in Brussels, about Accepting Syrian President Assad's role in a Desirable Peace Deal for the Future, were Not yet Known neither to Nicoletti, nor to Fischer or to Cox, when we spoke with them at the CoE in Strasbourg]

    In the MeanTime, "Eurofora" confirmed, in parallel, that an Exceptionally Important PACE's Draft Report on the most "Explosive" BioEthical Issue Nowadays, about Interventions on the Genome of Human Beings, (which, notoriously, can have Crucial Consequencies on all Humanity's Future), is Still on the Pipeline for a possible Public Debate and Vote of a Resolution by a PACE's Plenary, apparently Before the End of this Year (2017).

    Curiously, that "Hot" Report's preparation has been entrusted to a Socialist MEP from Belgium, whose Previous Drafts, on Various Other BioEthical Issues, had notoriously provoked Exceptional UpHeavals and Strong Reactions by Critics in the Recent Past, (Resulting, f.ex., in Referrals Back to Committee, and/or Votes of many Amendments radically Changing her Initial Draft, etc). And, usually, it was mainly (even if Not Only) the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group of MEPs (i.e. Agramunt's Political Family) which freqently intervened in order to Rectify various eventually Dangerous Shortcomings, by such Controversial Drafts, inside CoE's Assembly.

    In such Contexts, normally, the successive Presidents of PACE's ChristianDemocrat/EPP Groups in CoE's History, (f.ex., among others, also Luc Van Der Brande, Lucca Volonté, Pedro Agramunt, etc), used to play an Important (even  if Discreet) Role in the Way that such "Hot" BioEthical Issues were Dealt with, already several Times in the Past, until recently.

    But, now, one among the Various Consequences of that UnPrecedented Row against Agramunt, (current PACE's President, and former ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group's President previously), is that it obviously may put such a Mechanism in Jeopardy : Only the forthcoming Future will tell...

 (../..)

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(NDLR : Partly UPDATED on 29 April 2017)

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