newsitems

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- At the Eve of an important forthcoming EU Brussels Summit, the embattled Prime Minister of Hungary, Victor Orban, a ChristianDemocrat/EPP Political Leader who is notoriosuly very Popular in his Country : Hungary, (where he's Won 3 Majority Votes in a Series of National and EU Parliament Elections in a row recently), and often Expresses "Visegrad" Group of Center-Eastern EU Member Countries on "Hot" Topical Issues, managed also Today to Win with More than an Astonishing + 98% an Exceptional Popular Referendum against an "Obligatory" reallocation of Irregular Migrants/Mass Asylum Seekers recently Tresspassing into the EU through Turkey, threatened to be Imposed by some EU Commission Officials even Against a Refusal by the National Parliament of the Country.

His Victory on the Greates Part of Voters being uncontested, the Opposed Minority mainly of the Socialist party and some affiliated NGOs, (including, obviously, those Funded by Controversial Millionaire Soros, as Recent "Wikileaks" revelations denounced), had notoriously Focused on various Attempts to Block that Popular Referendum from regularly Expressing the Hungarian People's Political Will, (See also relevant Concrete Facts noted Infra), mainly by "Boycotting" any Participation.

However, Despite that, and several Controversial Blockade attemps (See some Facts Infra), finaly, a Popular Turnout of reportedly about 43,5%, in which almost ALL Voters Supported Victor Orban's popular Critical stance, (alike that of all "Visegrad" Group EU Member Countries, and of much more, as well as of an Absolute Majority of People in France, Germany, the UK, etc., according a lot of recent Polls+), undeniably Succeeded to get a Big enough Support from the People, which is, in Fact, much Bigger than that of Most Other EU and/or even USA Leaders !

Indeed, by Getting a Positive Boost by almost ALL among 43% of Registed Voters Today, (i.e. More than 98% of +43,5% participants : Comp. Supra), Victor Orban is clearly Supported much More by his People than f.ex. EU Parliament's and/or EU Commission's experienced Presidents, (pârticularly since a 1999-2004 Sharp Fall of Participation in EU Elections, but even those elected Back on 2014 with Only a Smaller Part of the 43,9% participants, resulting in something around Only 29-30% of Registered Voters), and most USA's powerful Presidents, who use to get elected Often with Only a Part of just a 49% or 50% Turnout, (i.e., in Real Practice, something often Less than - 30% of Registered Voters !). And this Contrast is Even Bigger vis a vis US Senate and/or Congress, who notoriously use to have an even Smaller popular Participation at their main, "Mid-Term" Elections, each one among the 2 Big Parties getting, practicaly, a Small Minority of Registered Voters, with a Turnout which Fell Down to Only ... 33 to 37% of Registered Voters, already in 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2010, etc? (according to Official US Federal Government Data available at "Census.Gov", etc), Droping, more Recently, at 2012-2014, to "the Worst Turnout in 72 Years !", as New York Times reported...

Also, in Comparison, the current French President Hollande (Socialist) stays in power for 5 Years with Only a Minority of about 37% of Registered Voters, (i.e. just a 51% Part among 80% Participants, Minus some - 6% of exceptionaly Numerous Spoilt or Null Votes). Even the still Popular German Chancellor Merkel got in her Best ever Result, back on 2013, just about 30% of Registered Voters (i.e. 40% out of a 71% Turnout), needing a bumpy Compromise with the Socialists in order to hold a so-called "Gro-Ko" which used to have just a Minority of sme 46% of Registered Voters, before the Recent Fall of the Socialists, partly followed even by the CDU, in the Latest Polls and/or Regional Elections). As for former British Prime Minister Cameron, (succceeded by Theresa May after a Majority "BREXIT" Referendum on Summer 2016), he Governed alone, since Back on 2015, with Only roughly 26% of Registered Voters, (i.e. Less than 37% out of a Turnout of 66,4%). Similar real Figures are even Lower, in fact, at several Other EU Countries, such as Italy, Spain, Greece, and many more...

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Replying to Journalists' Questions, including "Eurofora", in a Press Conference at the latest EU Heads of State/Government Summit in Bratislava, the Hungarian Prime Minister had mainly Stressed that the Issue at Stake, on which he wished to Give a Chance for the People to Experss their Views, Threatened to adversely Affect and Alter his Country's Historic Cultural "Identity", echoing various Similar Criticismes already Expressed, mutatis-mutandis also by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, (an atypical Socialist, and current EU Council's Chairman : Comp. PM. Fico's Reply to a relevant "Eurofora" Question at his Press Conference to June 2016 EU Summit in Brussels, at : ....).

A quasi-Systematic Exclusion of Christian Minorities, from an almost Exclusively islamized Mass of Migrants "Filtered" through Turkey, inevitably Added substance in such Arguments, (to the point that, Contrary to his Initial wish, ...even Pope Francis didN't manage to Find Not even 1 Christian out of 3 Families from Syria that he Brought to Rome from the Greek island of Lesvos, near the Turkish Boders !).

More or less Similar Opinions have been Recently Expressed, on this Same, Controversial matter, about a notoriously Failed EU Commissioner's initial attempt to "ReLocate" by Biinding Measures Imposed to EU Member Countries, a Number of irregular Migrants/Mass Asylum Seekers arriving through Turkey, also by other Top Officials from the Czech Republic, and/or Poland, etc., who have also Added strong "Security" Concerns, particularly after the Recent Long Series of Extremist Islamic Terrorism Brutal Attacks against Innocent Civilian People in France, Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, etc, (especialy Warsaw, f.ex. after a Horrible Murder of a poor Polish Woman hit with a Machette by a heavily bearded Muslim Migrant from Syria, working at a Turkish Kebbab shop at nearby Reutlingen, which had Obvious links with Islamistic Fundamentalist Networks, See, f.ex., Facts noted at : ......), etc.

Last, but not least, such Issues notoriously played an Important Role also at the Recent "BREXIT" Popular Referendum in Great Britain, (given also UKIP's campaign main Focus, etc), on June 2016.

So that even EU Council President, former Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk's recent Official Letter to the 27 EU Heads of State/Government gathered in a Crucial Summit at Bratislava, included at least some approximatively, more or less, similar concerns, warning against the risk to ignore most People's real feelings after the recent events, (See, f.ex., the relevant "Eurofora's NewsReport, with extracts from Tusk's Original text, at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/tuskdramaticletterforbratislavaeusummit.html )

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The Fact that, due to a Technicality specific to some particular characteristics of Hungarian Law, usualy a National Referendum should have a Turnout of at least 50% of Registered Voters in order to become Legaly Binding, is obviously Irrelevant, here : Indeed, this mainly Concerns "Legislative" Referenda, which have Nothing to do with the Substance of the Real Issue which is at Stake Now. Moreover, if such a Logic was Equaly Applied Everywhere, then, it's, among Many Others, even ... several US Federal Elections, as well as .. All EU Parliament's Elections since 1999, and the French Presidential Election of 2012, (etc), which should, Logicaly, be also Declared as "UnGutlich" or "Null and Non-Void" !... Last, but not least, the above-mentioned, Important Political Significance of such a Big Percentage of Registered Voters Supporting Victor Orban's clearly declared Stance, (and not only of +98% among the Expressed Votes), which, by far, Bypasses even the Strongest EU Leaders' Popular Support, as we've already seen above, (Comp. Data and concrete, Comparative Percenages' Analysis, presented Supra), certainly canNot be Totaly Ignored by the EU, at least not as a really Democratic Institution, caring for European People's democraticaly and Clearly Expressed Views.

+ Particularly when, in Addition to a Nation-wide "Boycot" of Today's Popular Referendum in Hungary, Socialist and some other Municipalities holding from the Past an area covering almost 33% of the National Population, (and Totaling, combined, almost 3,9 Millions of Potential Voters), reportedly Deprived all Citizens there from any "Government Information", Refusing to publish it at all.

On the Contrary, the "Liberal" Party had called for a "Yes" Vote to the controversial, Obligatory EU Commission reallocation of Irregular Migrants/Mass Asylum Seekers coming through Turkey, even if the National Assembly clearly Refused to obey to that. By a "Coincidence", almost at the Same Time, a 1st level Court even Hindered a Municipality in France to give to its Citizens any Chance to Democraticaly Express their Views by a Popular Referendum on that same issue of the Obligatory Allocation of irregular Mass Migrants to their City, (at a Demand made by the current, Outgoing Socialist Government).

In consequence, Popular Demonstrations were Now in the process of being Organized by the Population of other affected Municipalities throughout France.

This comes just After various Similar Popular Movements also in Both Mainland Greece and in Frontline Islands facing the Turkish Borders, where Smugglers have notoriously re-Activated recently their illegal Traffick, despite a FRONTEX (and even ...NATO !) presence at the Aegean Sea, (where the current Government in Athens still refuses, however, to Stop Turkish Smugglers' Human Traffick from reaching EU's External Borders, provoking repeated Protests also from Many Other European Countries affected by the 2015-2016 Massive Influx through Turkey).

In Comparison, more than 1,5 Million irregular Migrants/Mass Asylum Seekers through Turkey have crossed (EU and Shengen area Member) Greece's and EU's External Borders at the Agean Sea on 2015-2016, while, on the Contrary, in the Recent Past, f.ex. on 2014, the Total Number of "Irregular Migrants" who entered the EU in Greece were "Only" ...77.000, according to the current Government's official figures, (and even Less on 2012-2013).

Significantly, it's Only during some former PASOK (Socialist) Governments, Back on 1995 or 2000 that the Number of "irregular Migrants" tresspassing into the EU at Greece had been, respectively, much Higher : 254.000 and almost 300.000, (that Last, Highest Figure coinciding with EU's notoriously Controversial and UnPopular 1999-2000 attempt to Give Turkey, for the 1st Time in History, a Status of so-called "Candidate to (full) Accession" inside the EU, provoking 3 "No" to Three Popular Referenda on a Draft EU Constitution in France, the Netherlands, and Ireland, between 2005-2007.

That Institutional Deadlock was Partialy Lifted only 5 Years Later, on 2010, when a "Simplified" EU Reform Version was adopted by the "Lisbon Treaty", following former French President Nicolas Sarkozy's crystal-clear Opposal to Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid since May 2007, (added to that of German Chancelor Angie Merkel's also Reluctant stance since October 2005 National, and May 2009 European Parliament Elections, while, already, a December 2006 EU Summit in Brussels had at least "Freezed" Many Negotiation Chapters with Turkey, due to Ankara's persisting Refusal to abide by its Obligations vis a vis EU Principles).

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Given All these Crystal-clear Facts, there is no need, Now, to re-play ..."Earth Band"/Manfred Mann's Alternative Rock Song "Angels at my Gate", with which they had the Premonition to Start, as No 1, an Historic Concert precisely at Hungary's Capital, Budapest, already as early as since 1983 (i.e. even Before the Fall of Berlin's Wall), whose Lyrics go almost like this :  

- "Numbers (are) in the Air" : Don't mind if it may be "63, 62, 61, 60", or "59, 58, 57, 56, ..54", etc. What matters is that, in Substance ... -"Good Angels (are) at My Gate !"...

- Or, should we also "Place anoOther bet", Now, "as the Stakes get Higher" ? (that same, by an astonishing Coincidence, almost Premonitory, No 1 Budapest Song went on to ask).

=> I.e. perhaps, a fully-fledged, EU-wide, European popular Referendum, giving to all European Citizens a Fair and Crystal-clear Chance to Democraticaly Express their large Majority Views on such and other Topical "Hot" Issues, (as a Topical Question raised, just a few Days ago, at the 1st EU-27 Summit in Bratislava Bratislava, crucial both for EU's immediate Present and foreseable Future ?...

>>> See relevant "Eurofora"s NewsReports from the Bratislava EU Summit, with Replies from EU Parliament President Martin Schulz and Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban to our Question, precisely on that Topical matter, raised as a matter of General Principle, by another Timely Coincidence, just Hours after the World Day for Democracy..., at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/victororbanoneuropeanandnationalreferenda.html + .....

- Why not ?

 
*Strasbourg/Great East Region HQ/Angelo Marcopolo/- Cooperation between ChristianDemocrats/EPP and "Greens" can Advance Well, f.ex. in Important and Ambitious Science/Technology and Education developments at the Horizon, including the Crucial Today World-wide Issue of Bio-Ethics, but also Others, perhaps more than before, as in Socio-Cultural Integration, Fight against Terrorism, etc, especially in the EU Core "Superior Rhine" ("OberRhine") area, as it results from Today's Meeting between German Baden-Wurtemberg's Länder and French Great East new big Region, as its Leaders, Winfried Kretschmann and Philippe Richert, respectively, where, Both Leaders, (recently Democraticaly Boosted by Brillantly Winning Political Elections just a few Months Earlier), Supported as one Man the New Head of the 1st Euro-Campus TransBorder link between Univesities and other Research Centers in Europe, (recently Created in Strasbourg, in the Presence and with the Support of the competent EU Commissioner in charge of Science/Research, Carlos Moedas,: See relevant Moedas' Statements to "Eurofora", at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eusciencecomissioneronchinaandeuuniversitiesgroup.html), German Rector of nearby Freiburg University, Professor Hans-Jochen Schiewer, entrusting him to Reply to a Critical but Topical "Eurofora"s Question, at the Beginning of their Joint Press Conference, this Afternoon in Strasbourg, (See concrete Details Infra).

Significantly, in the Political play-Field, at this Crucial Period of Preparations for the Decisive on EU's Future, forthcoming National Elections in France and Germany on 2017, Both these two Leaders of Regions located at EU's Core have been recently re-Elected for the 1st Time mainly on an Original Basis, mutatis-mutandis, of one or another kind of Deal, in real Practice, between ChristianDemocrat/EPP and "Green" Voters, (See, f.ex. : .... +....)

 A New Pathway, that "Eurofora" and various others (including, apparently, at least a Symbolic Encourangement, regarding Nature and Human Life protection Values, even by Pope Emeritus Benedict, in a landmark Speech at Berlin's Bundestag, back on 2011 : Comp. also Vatican Press Director Lombardi's relevant Statements to "Eurofora" at nearby Friburg, then, at : ..., apparently also in line with New Pope Francis' Spring 2013 landmark Statements on Human Life and Nature protection, already before his 2015 Encyclic  : Comp. f.ex. : ...),  have Speculated and projected also at a National Governement level, (under certain Important Conditions of main Substance : See, f.ex., already as Early as since 2010's Convention of the German "Greens", at : ....).

But without having so far reached any such Ground-Breaking Fresh New point anywhere in Europe or elsewhere in the World yet, (with a Few initial, However, but still only Partial, Exceptions, in Various situations, f.ex. in an 1st Attempt in Germany, back on Autumn 2013, as well as in Cyprus, Austria, etc).

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Moreover, in Parallel, but Synchronous Moves, these Last Days, Both Winfried Kretschman and Philippe Richert have got a supplementary Symbolic Boost with various Exceptional Top Political Meetings, which seem to UpGrade their overall Political Standing : F.ex., Kretshcmann has just made an Official Visit in Paris Yesterday, where he met, inter alia, also with Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, followed by a Collective Gathering and Exchanges with Civil Society, Religious and Political representatives in Strasbourg, Earlier this Morning. While, almost at the Same Time, Richert was also Meeting, Negociating and partialy Agreeing also with Prime Minister Valls at the Historic and Symbolic City of Reims, (now part of the New, "Great East" Region of Strasbourg, which was recently Extended from Alsace also to nearby Lorraine and Champagne-Ardennes adjacent areas, inter-Linking, from now on, the Borders of 5 European Core Countries : France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium).

At Reims Philippe Richert also Chaired the 1st Annual Convention of the Brand New "Regions of France" union of 18 Regional Self-Administration Entities, that have seen Both their Competences and Territories considerably Extended since a Recent, partly Controversial but Important, Reform decided by the current National Government, and have Elected the Experienced, former Minister from Strasbourg as their President, (See relevant "Eurofora"s NewsReports, also from Reims, f.ex., at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchregionspresidentricherttoeurofora.html , etc+). While also Winfried Kretschmann, after Recently holding the rotating Presidency of Germany's Federal "Bundesrat", (an equivalent to France's Senate, but Composed by the Federated regional States, alias "Länder", as Baden-Wurtemberg, etc), has now reportedly become, Personaly, one among the Most Popular Top Politicians in Germany Nation-wide.

- "Eurofora" asked Today both Presidents Kretschmann and Richert whether, from a Franco-German Cooperation point of view, at the Level of Both Regions strategically located at the Core of Europe, they might, perhaps, Agree, or Not, with a perceived Risk to Limit almost All Strasbourg area's High-Tech. public Funding to go Only on some Bio-Tech Projects, particularly on Genetics, Implants, etc, quasi-Totaly Excluding almost All Other Areas of modern Science and/or Technology, (Despite Strasbourg and Stuttgart areas', both Historic and Actual, valuable Potential also in several Other Scientific Issues, f.ex. relevant to European/PanEuropean Legal/Socio-Political recent developments, "Earth" Sciences, and Materials/Technologies related to Natural Environment, etc), as it became Surprisingly Obvious particularly during an Important, Recent Collective Top Meeting between Big Companies, University a.o. Experts, and Government Officials, with the Participation also of French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, together with Innovation and Digital affairs Minister Axelle LeMaire, at the prestigious "International Space University" here : See "Eurofora"s NewsReport from that Exceptional ISU Gathering, at : ....).

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In particular, after making some Introductive, general Statements, the 2 Franco-German Presidents of the "Great East" Region and "Baden-Wurtemberg" Länder, at EU's core, unexpectedly, despite the existence of a quite Big Number of Collegues Journalistes at their Press Conference", (Held Today Early Afternoon, at the Strasbourg HeadQuarters of the New, recently Extended "Great East" Region, (which Now links the Borders of 5 EU core Countries : France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium), gave to "Eurofora" a Chance to Start Raising the 1st Question from the Press :

- "Eurofora" Focused from the outset on  "Cooperation in Science", and Asked both Franco-German Leaders, whether they Thought that, "after the Recent Creation of "Euro-Campus" (in Universities and other Research Labos), in Addition to the Superior Rhine (OberRhein) overall Euro-Region Trans-Border Grouping, (between German, French and Swiss Neighbouring Regions of Great East, Baden-Wurtemberg and Bale), "High-Tech Projects Funding, even if it, naturaly, Included <<Bio-Technologies>>, nevertheless, should Not Be Limited Exclusively to them, But, on the Contrary, Extend also to some Other Important Areas", (such as, f.ex., those related to ReNewable Energies, Earth Sciences, and much more domains), "which have Both an Historic and Current Potential here ?"

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    - Presidents Richert and Kretschmann, after Agreeing between them on the Best way to react to that "Eurofora"s Question, finaly decided to Point at Professor Schiewer, who is Rector of nearby German University of Freiburg, but also President of the "Superior Rhin" TransBorder Grouping of 3 Neighbouring Countries' Regions, and was Recently Elected even as Head of the Brand New Euro-Campus", as they Reminded, as he currently is the most Competent man in that area.

    - Professor Hans-Jochen Schiewer, Replying, thus, to "Eurofora"s above mentioned Question, "at First", he interestingly "Clarified" what he called "a MisUnderstanding" : In Fact, we have No Intention to be Limited into Only 1 Area of Science, such as "Bio-Tech" and so on, but, rather, to Cover, if not "All", at least, "Many Important Areas of cooperation between the 5 Universities" which are Now included in that New TransBorder Entity, he Stressed from the outset, as a matter of Principle.

    - Thus, among others, "f.ex., we have already presented a Project on Inter-Religious Studies, for EU Funding, and this Includes also the Science of Bio-Ethics", (i.e. one among the most Crucial Issues of Nowadays, considering the Huge Potential of New Inventions, but also of Eventual Risks for Human Beings and Society that many Bio-Technologies notoriously present Today),  the Head of Brand NewFranco-Germano-Swiss "Euro-Campus", observed, speaking also as a World-Famous Theologian, particularly at this moment, when Strasbourg University has just Elected, as its New President, also a Well-Known Theologian, Professor Deneken, (until recently, its 1st Vice-President : Comp. Deneken's various Replies to other Topical "Eurofora" Questions, at Various Other Occasions, Earlier, f.ex., recently on New University Libraries and Students/Researchers' well equiped Work-Areas, etc., at ... + ...).

    + "Moreover, we are currently Planifying the Future Creation of a Big Unit of (Scientific/Technological) Research Infrastructure at the Superior Rhine (OberRhein) Euro-Region, due to Focus mainly on Life-Sciences, New Materials, and Medical Technologies", Professor Schiewer also Anounced Today, in Reply to "Eurofora"s Question, (Comp. Supra).

    - French Strasbourg's "Great East" Region's President, Philippe Richert, added, later-on, that, "After an Initial <<Science Advance>> Project of 2011, estimated almost 15 Millions €, which Finaly gathered 10 Millions €", we aren Now at a 2nd <<Science Advance>> Project of 2016, which has Just Started" recently.

    - It includes also a 3,4 Millions € Financial Contribution by EU's <<INTERRREG>> Program, but Aims to Go much Further than that, particularly, f.ex., in the Cooperation between Big Infrastructures of Research and Higher Education entities, where we have, indeed, a Project to Create a Big Centre for Scientific Cooperation, with an estimated Total of some 250.000 €", Richert revealed, obviously pointing at the Same Direction as German Professor Schiewer's had just Anounced and HighLighted in Reply to "Eurofora"s Question earlier. (Comp. Supra).

    - "This will obviously give an Important New Impetus, with a New Dimension, at a New, much Bigger Scale", President Richert optimisticaly underlined, while also observing, however, that, for the Time being, "we (Franco-German Regions around Strasbourg) are Preparing Together that Perspective, whose Timeline has not yet started", as he noted Soberly.

    - In fact, "we have just Started with certain Projects of about 10 Millions €, After which, we'll Work for that (Above-mentioned) much Bigger Plan (Comp. Supra), in a Perspective which can become an Absolutely Exceptional Project for All the Area of Rhine river, (i.e. not only vis a vis Baden-Wurtemberg, but Also Rhenanie-Palatinat Lânder, from the German side, etc., as he HighLighted.

    -  "Its precise Timing has Not Yet been Fixed, but it could be Part of the Next EU Programming Period", (i.e. that whih Starts from 2020), Richert estimated.

    - As for Professor Schiewer, speaking anew on Behalf of President Kretschmann, he Noted, in this regard, that, at a 1st Stage, currently, a "Design Study, prepared under EU's INTERREG Program, would unfold "in 3 Years" Time, "After which, that Big (Franco-German) Research  Infrastructure Project should be officialy Endorsed by the National, French and German Plans, before being, Finaly, Inserted also at EU's RoadMap", (i.e., apparently, by the forthcoming Successor to EU's current "Horizon 2020" RST Program). So that "this is a Process of About 5 to 7 Years Time", he roughly estimated.

    - This was, more or less, Confirmed also by President Richert, speaking Later-on anew to "Eurofora", at the Conclusion of Today's Press Conference, who Speculated that such a Big RST Project, "Might be Ready at about 7 Years", but while also observing that, "in fact, we are Working at an Horizon of almost a Decade", (i.e. about 2015-2025).

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+ => Today's new Move, ostensibly Supported by Both Presidents Kretschmann and Richert, particularly on the Inclusion also of "Bio-Ethics" and several Other Areas of Modern Science/Technology, without Limiting public Funding Only to some "Bio-Tech" Interests alone, (Comp. Supra), comes Timely, inter alia, just After Prime Minister Valls' (France) statements to "Eurofora", 2 Days Earlier at Reims' 2016 RoF Convention, according to whom, most among the eagerly expected, Strategic and Long-Time Decisions on such exceptiobnaly Important Public Funding Choices among various possible Science/Technology Research/Development Projects, have NOT been Taken yet, i.e., leaving a Positive Impression that, probably, at least a Room for Fresh Debates and overall, more Balanced Compromises, might, indeed, Still Exist, enabling also to Take into Consideration several relevant Recent Developments, (See, f.ex. "Eurofora"s NewsReport with Valls' replies to our query at Reims : ......).

The Fact that, in a Spectacularly Harmonious Move, Both Presidents Kretschmann and Richert, not only Jointly Pointed at the "Superior Rhine"s and "EU-Campus" Head, Professor Schiewer, entrusting him to Start giving a Competent Reply to the above-mentioned "Eurofora"s Question, but Also, later-on took the Spontaneous Initiative to Express their Personal Support to Schiewer even by Spectacularly posing in front of Photo and TV Cameras (including, particularly, "Eurofora"'s) while Warmly Shaking Hands with him, for quite a Long time, (See relevant Photo), clearly indicates that, in that Reply to "Eurofora"s Query, he really Expressed Views which are Strongly Backed personaly by Kretschmann and Both 2 concerned Franco-German Leaders of this Core Euro-Region.

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    >>> Meanwhile, President Winfried Kretschmann, HighLighting an Interesting Political OverView of all relevant Topical Issues that he Discussed with Top French Officials (including the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the President of French Regions' union, etc), as well as with Civil Society representatives, duringh his Exceptional 2 Days-Long Visit to Paris and Strasbourg, (Comp. Supra), stressed that he mainly Focused on (ISIS') "Terrorist threats against Europe, and (relevant) Security issues", as well as on how to "Manage the (Mass) Refugees/Migrants problem", but also to Respond to what he called some "Populists"' "Anti-EU" claims, (See also Infra).

    - While, Today, even "60 years of Peace and Freedoms in Europe are Now Threatened by (ISIS') Terrorism", (as he Kretschmann Denounced, particularly after an Unprecedented Series of Deadly Islamic Extremist Attacks Killing Innocent Civilian People, including Defenseless Women, Elders,Young Children, etc, even inside previously Peaceful Regional Trains or Cities in Neighbooring Baden-Wurtemberg and elsewhere in Bavaria, Switzerland, Austria, France, even the UK, etc, as we saw for the 1rst Time this Summer 2016,  also, at the Same Time, he expressed a "Hope" that "those who Come into Our Land, would become also able to be Integrated", as he pointed out.

    - That's why, inter alia, he intends to Send his "Culture and Education Minister to Visit Strasbourg" asap, Kretscmann anounced, while also Speaking in Favor of President Richert's call to Defend "Cultural Heritage" in "Cooperation" between Neighbouring Franco-German Regions, (including, also by a Joint Franco-German Project for the "Struthof" Center of "Memory" against NAZI Crimes at a Former Concentration Camp near Strasbourg, which has been officialy Inaugurated, since 2005, also as "European Centre for (the History) of Resistants-Deportees" by former Long-time French President Jacques Chirac : See relevant NewsReport by "Eurofora"s co-Founder at that Event, published then by "TCWeekly").

    - In particular, as things stand Today, "it's Important to create Enthousiasm among Young Peuple about Europe", Winfried Kretschmann observed, Urging also to "Speak More Often about the Good Things that we are Doing" thanks to EU Help, etc.

    => That's one reason more, for which "Science", "a Beautiful Example of Franco-German TransBorder Cooperation" inside the EU, that "Must be Deepened even Further" Nowadays, would get at least "7 Millions €" more, at the Beginning of a "2nd Advance on Sciences" during the "Next Years", as he Anounced, near "Eurofora"s above mentioned relevant Question, (Comp. Supra).

    - "It's Important to Oppose Something Positive", also to those "Populist, Anti-European Rightists", as he called them, who are recently Growing in Germany and elsewhere throughout several EU Countries Today, he Warned.

    - Indeed, Experienced Kretschmann also Acknowledged the Fact that, Nowadays, it appears to have become "Very Difficult" to Struggle "Against Populists" mainly "of the Right", (as he callled them), since we are still "withOut any Ready-made Solution" which has Not Yet been Found, on that growing "Problem", (as Recent National Polls and Regional Elections in Germany have clearly revealed).

>>> In Fact, the Real Issue seems to be a much more Profound Movement spectacularly Spreading accross People's political views recently, as it is observed, mutatis-mutandis, not only in Germany, but also in several other European Countries, and even at the USA...
Comp., f.ex., mainstream German Newspaper "Die Welt"'s Graphics on the History of Electoral Votes at Berlin's Federated Länder, published recently, which Reveal that a Growing Number of People have been Searching to Find one or anOther New Political Party which might Care Better for Citizens' real Concerns, than some Elite Politicians of the Biggest Established Parties used to do, already during a Long Period of Time, from the ...mid-1970ies up to 2016 !

A probable Sign of the Fact that, perhaps, Something much More Fundamental, than what most superficial observers believe, might be really Happening, during, already, a Longer Period of Time, revealing a possibly More Important, "Structural" Change, that has Not Yet been clearly Elucidated, strongly Needing to ReVitalize Political Democracy nowadays.

*Reims/Convention Palace/Angelo Marcopolo/- Experienced New President of French Regions' union, and recently Elected Head of Strasbourg's New "Great East" Region, which now Extends along the Borders of 5 European core States : France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium, (i.e, potentialy inter-Linking Geneva, Strasbourg, Luxembourg city and Brussels' European, Paneuropean and International Organisations' Headquarters in our Continent), former Minister on Territorial matters, Philippe Richert, (a ChristianDemocrat/EPP Top Politician), speaking to "Eurofora" at several occasion Today, on the sidelines of his Press Conference, Together with other Key Officials, and just after his Concluding Speach, at the 1st Annual Conventions of the recently Reformed 18 Regions of France, shortly after Fresh Elections of all their Political Leadership, (See : ..), strongly Stressed, in substance, the particular Importance of a New Period Ahead for Regional Decentralisation, Defended the Development of Digital New Networks throughout all concerned Territories, in principle against some "Digital Divide" well-known Risks, but also Pointed at the Importance for certain Crucial Final Decisions on New Big Regions' public Funding instruments, to be made by the French National Assembly in Paris during the Next few Months.

Symbolicaly speaking in the Historic City of Reims, in whose Cathedral the World-Famous Mythic Figure of Joan of Arc had Strived to Coronate the King of France who would Liberate the Country from a former English Military Invasion and Occupation of its Western Regions in the Past, (putting an End to a "100 Years War", and Starting a Long era of Peace, between the two Neighbouring Countries), Richert, at first, Smiled at "Eurofora"s half-Joking, half-Serious Query about the Fact that, instead of guessing, during this 2-Days long Collective Top Political Gathering with freshly Elected Representatives throughout All France, perhaps, Who might be "coronated King" at the Crucial, forthcoming French Presidential Elections of April/May 2017, on the Contrary, it seems, in Conclusion of the various Developments and Anouncements made during these 2 Days, that, in real Practice, it was rather another kind of "King" that was "Consecrated" now at Reims : that of the New French Regions' union... 

- Indeed, "the former simple "Association of French Regions", "does No Longer Exist : We have Now Created the <<Regions of France>> (RoF) union my Friend", brightly Smiled President Richert, spontaneously reacting to the above-mentioned "Eurofora"'s unusual Query, speaking under "RoF"s brand New Logo...

Philippe Richert, who is due to Topicaly Meet, Tomorrow in Strasbourg, also with his German counterpart, the Popular Winfried Kretchmann, President--Prime Minister of the Neighbouring German Länder of Baden-Wurttemberg, who has also served, until Recently, as President of the National BundesRat (Senate-like) in Berlin, which brings Together all Regional Länder of Germany, (almost as De Gaulle had notoriously wished to do also for France, with a Popular Referendum, as Early as, already Back on 1969), stressed that, in his view, the recent Advances towards a Wider Regional DeCentralisation in France, should be closely Linkes with a "Modernisation" of Regions, including in Research and New Technology, so that they would Better respond to several current Social, Economic and Political Challenges which concern Citizens Today.

+ In this regard, inter alia, Richert was also invited by "Eurofora" to react to a Call by French Senate President Gerard Larcher, (that he had invited to Speak Today in Reims' Convention Center during the RoF's Annual Plenary Top Political Gathering), to urgently Act adequately in order to "Prevent a Gap among (various) Territories", throughout France's 18 Regions, which extend from Paris' area up even  to OverSeas Territories located f.ex. in the Indian or Pacific Oceans, or in the Caraibean, Latin-America, etc.

He chose to Focus, in Priority, to "Digital Networks", (a Topical Issue, which was Discussed Today at RoF's 2016 Annual Convention in Reims, but also throughout all the EU Countries Nowadays, as results also by a relevant Franco-German-EU Summit Ysterday Evening in Berlin, between Chancellor Angie Merkel with the French and EU Commission's Presidents Hollande and Juncker : Comp."Eurofora"s NewsReport at .....) :

 - Indeed, "there must be No Digital Divide accross our Territories", Philippe Richert topicaly Replied to the above mentioned "Eurofora"s Query, as a matter of general Principle. And, at any case, already, as far as it concerns, at least, "in (Strasbourg's initial Region) Alsace, we have Recently Decided to Boost Modern, Broadband Digital Networks throughout the Entire Territory of the Region", he Reminded, as a Concrete Example, pointing at Recent Decisions signed between Richert and former Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron in Strasbourg, (See relevant Richert and Macron' Statements at "Eurofora"'s NewsReport from that event, at ....).

++ However, such Topical Issues, are interLinked, in real practice, also with some Important public Funding Issues, which are currently Pending in fact, including a landmark and Welcomed Strategic Decision to pass from a State Grant, decided annualy, to a systematic Quota of VAT, almost automaticaly reconducted each year, as far as All 18 French Regions are concerned, whose Principle was anounced officialy Today by Prime Minister Manuel valls here in Reims (Comp. + other Valls' statements to "Eurofora", at http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchprimeministervallsonhightechfunding.html).

=> In this regard, President Richert, stressed, in Conclusion, that he  Hopes for a Final Decision on 2017, and not on 2018, in that Key Issue, which depends, in practice, from Decisions to be Taken in Paris' National Assembly "in the fothcoming Days/Weeks", along the "Vote of the Annual Budget", as he confirmed to "Eurofora".

To this Fundamental Pending Issue, is also Added a purely Financial matter, on the Total Amount of public Funds for the New Regions' wider Competences transfered by the State, which is estimated by the RoF at about 600 Millions €, while Valls' current Anouncement stays at 450 Millions €, at the same moment that, in many Other European Countries, including, f.ex., not just Federal Germany or Belgium, but also Unitary States such as Italy, Spain, Nordic Countries, etc., the various Regional self-Administered entities benefit, Comparatively, from a much Higher Funding than in France nowadays, Philippe Richert clearly pointed out at FoR's 2016 Convention, (both during his Press Conference, Together with other FoR's Officials,and at his Concluding speech in the Plenary).

Something which should, however, logicaly also include a Comparative Estimation of each Country's regionaly DeCentralized main Competences, as well as Figures in terms of National GDP percentages, in order to give a Complete image of the real situation in practice, of an Issue which appears to be, at any case, undeniable.

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*Reims/RoF Annual Congress - Tau Palace/Angelo Marcopolo/- Final Decisions have not yet been taken, on Crucial, Long-Term, Strategic Choices concerning Funds for High-Tech Projects in Strasbourg region's "Competitivity Pole", said, in Substance, the Prime Minister of France, Manuel Valls, in Reply to a relevant "Eurofora"s Question, during an exceptional Gathering, at en extension of the Historic Cathedral of Reims, in Tau Palace, organized this Evening by the New President of the 18 Regions of France's union, Philippe Richert from Strasbourg, (recently Elected President of the New, "Greater East" Region of Alsace, Lorraine and Champagne-Ardennes).

Most Interestingly, Valls, (who spoke to "Eurofora" Tonight, shortly After a Recent Important Collective Meeting with Universitarians and Private sector Big Companies, etc, in Strasbourg's "International Space University" : See our relevant NewsReport at ....),  did Not Exclude at all that, perhaps, a Chance for a Fresh, New Look, might, eventualy, be given on such a Crucial and Long-Term issue, at least on some Controversial aspects of the overall Deal, especially After several, Converging, more Recent Changes and Developments, concerning Both Strasbourg's Local "Euro-Metropole", the latest Regional Reform and Elections, as well as some partialy relevant New Projects also on Trans-Border Cooperation, between certain Important European Countries' neighbouring Regions, among the 5 EU-core States which have Now become closely inter-Linked by Common Borders at the New, "Greater East" Strasbourg's Region, which brings Together France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium, (See., f.ex. : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/newstrasbourgbigregionprefect.html).

Inded, the French Prime Minister revealed to "Eurofora", first, that Final Decisions on that matter have Not Yet been Taken by the National Government, and, (after Carefuly asking us for more Concrete Details to Clarify the main point at issue), he Concluded by Pointing at a possibility for more relevant Debates, Proposals, Compromises, etc.,  in forthcoming Decisions, on which he appeared ready to Speak and Work, Together also with President Richert, (who was also actively Present at that Earlier Collective Gathering on High-Tech Projects' long-term Funding in Strasbourg : See "Eurofora"s NewsReport from ISU, at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchprimeministeroninnovationprojects.html ), already from "Tomorrow", as he told us, i.e. on Wednesday, September 29, 2016 Annual "Regions of France"'s Convention's Plenary session, here in Reims, where he has been Invited as Key-note Speaker.

One among those Pending, Controversial Issues, is also the Fact that, by Focusing Only on some Bio-Tech. projects, including, particularly, Genetics, Implants, etc, with an almost Total Exclusion of all Other areas of Science and Modern Technologies, (even some particularly linked to Strasbourg's well-known status as also "a European Capital", since it has the Chance to Host both PanEuropean CoE's HeadQuarters, as well as EU Parliament's full Week-long Plenary Sessions each Month, ECHR, EU-Ombudsman, Shengen area's Secretariat, EUROCORPS, etc), that ISU Meeting discussions appeared Needing at least to Examine also certain other, Partialy Alternative Projects' possible Choices, in order to Strengthen Strasbourg area's "Competitivity Pole", in a more Relevant, Inclusive and Balanced way.

This also Matches the Fact that, Meanwhile, the University of Strasbourg has Decided to Change his President, since its 1st and Long-term Head, Professor Alain Beretz, a Pharmacologist Expert, ended his Mandate, passing the hand to his Collegue (and fomerly 1s Vice-President, in Beretz's Team), Professor Deneken, a Theologian, (Comp. various, old and recent, Beretz and Deneken's Replies to "Eurofora"s Questions at several Press Conferencies, f.ex., also at: ....+ ...).

In Addition, France, Germany and Switzerland have also Launched, Recently in Strasbourg, in the presence of the Competent EU Commissioner in charge of Scientific Research, a Pioneer and comprehensive Project by Creating Together the 1st "Euro-Campus" in History, which aims to Unite the InfraStructures, as well as Open a Way for Joint Research Projects, including all or most of the Universities and other public Research centers, located in the "Superior Rhine" ("OberRhine") Euro-Region, which is Chaired by its President, Hans-Jochen Schiewer, an Internationaly active Professor of Theology at nearby Fribourg, (See President Schiewer's replies to "Eurofora"s Questions, during and after the Press Conference on the Creation of that Pioneer 1st Euro-Campus, f.ex. at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eusciencecomissioneronchinaandeuuniversitiesgroup.html + ...).

+ Moreover, (and most Importantly, concerning These Days' "Regions of France"'s Annual 2016 Convention at Reims : Comp. Supra), the Latest Big Reform of Regional DeCentralisation in France, by Creating a brand New "Great East" Region, which Extends Now throughout all 3 Former Regions of Alsace, Lorraine and Champagne-Ardennes, has Recently incited to advance towards also Starting to Build at least some New, Joint Projects, useful to All that, much Wider Area, which, until now, used to have Not one, but .. 6 Differend "Competitivity Poles", that will, logicaly, have, from Now on, to Find an overall Coherence for the forseable Future, (Comp. ibid).

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