newsitems

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/-Speaking to "Eurofora" on the sidelines of an Exceptional CoE-OSCE Joint Conference on Internet Freedom and Democratic Security, OSCE's Representative on Media Freedom, Ms Dunja Mijatovic, called, in substance, for all WebNews Actors to be Protected from any kind of serious Aggressions, Oppressive Measures, and/or Threats against Journalists :

    "Eurofora" asked the OSCE's Representative on Media whether she agreed with those who Support for serious WebMedia Actors, who are Regularly Engaged into Investigating, Writing and Publishing Original News about Important Topical Issues (including Human Rights) which Affect the Lives of many People and/or the Society at large, while also Respecting elementary Press Deontology Principles, have their Basic Press Freedomsbe Protected as all Other Journalists, with0ut Limiting that Only to a mainly "Fiscal" Criterium related to...Money,  Commercial Businesses, Job-Markets, Corporatist Lobbies, and so on, (as, f.ex., it's, scandalously, sometimes, still the case in some Countries and/or Quarters). I.e., in other words, to put it in a nutshell, whether it's ECHR's well established Case-Law Principles on Freedom of Expression, (Art. 10 of ECHR), which should be Applied here, or not.

- "..."Definitively, they Need to enjoy Protection", she clearly stressed from the outset.

+ Of course, "We (CoE/OSCE) Need to Find a very Thin Line"on that matter, she noted, however, apparently as far as the Definition of those Media Workers is concerned.

-But, at any case, "It's Absolutely Out of Question that they should Not be Protected !", she strongly Ensured.

+ "They should Also be given Access to Public Events", Mijatovic added, - i.e, such as Press Points, Conferences, etc., as she specifically confirmed, in Reply to a supplemantary, Clarification Question by "Eurofora".

----------------------

  OSCE's Representative heard also "Eurofora"s account of the Inter-American Human Rights Court's 2 landmark Decisions  which Unanimously declared illegal 2 Draft Legislative Bills,  tabled at a Parliament by the incumbent ruling Government  of a Latin-America Country, pushed by some Corporatist Lobbies, against Media Workers and even several National and Foreign, or International Media Businesses, Cutting Short to such an attempt to Restrict the Legal Status of Journalist into Only a feeble Grouplet of some Corporatist "Card" Holders, i.e. Regardless of the Substance of the Content that each Person regularly produced in real practice, from the point of view of a Democratic Society's General Interest for Pluralist Debates on Topical Issues affecting many Citizens' Lives, inline also with ECHR's case-law, (Comp. Supra).

Such controversial attempts were Unanimously Condemned by the IACHR as blatant Violations of the Human Right to Freedom of Expression, which us exactly the Same as that which ECHR uses in order to Protect all Journalists, (Art. 10).

Those Historic, landmark 2 IACHR Decisions had been Officialy Published, already as Early as about 30 Years ago, (1985-2016), and were recently Reminded by a CoE's Top Expert, (Experienced former President of CoE's Steering Commitee on Media), during a landmark, 2 Days-long, International Conference on Freedom of Expression Issues, held on Autumn 2015 in Strasbourg, (by a coindidence, shortly before the November 13, 2015, Islamistic Terrorist Attacks killing innocet Civilian People in Paris), who Called the PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, to, "at last, acknowledge that the Time has come to Adapt some Older Definitions of Journalism to our New Era").

-"I cannot tell..." before Reading the full text of it, she simply reacted,  for the Moment, withOut Excluding at all that she might, eventually, Use that  interesting IACHR input in the foreseable Future.

-"Thank you so much",  OSCE's Media Freedom Representative said, in conclusion,  to "Eurofora", who had brought to her attention that landmark, Historic Reference of International Human Rights' Law,  (on which, See a through Analysis, with many Abstracts from the Original AICHR Text, at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/iachrcoebookandefjsgonjournalismdefinition.html).

 

A relevant Official Stetement was recently issued by UNESCO's Head, Irina Bocova, on the case of a Web-News Site Owner, Do Carmo''s cold-blood Murder, about whom "Eurofora" had already Published an Article one Month earlier, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/brief/brief/webeditorkilled.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/unescoheadslamswebeditorsmurderasksjournalismprotection.html).

----------------------------------

 

+ Moreover, Mijatovic added a Strong Denonciation, in Wider Terms, against all those who might also attempt to Abuse of some so called "Security Measures", which might, eventualy, "bear the Biggest Threat" againtt Freedom of Expression in the Media. when,  Even if, obviously, "we have to Fight Threats and Terrorism", nevertheless, "Unfortunately, Most of the Times, these (Measures) are Used as a Pretext to Silence Critical Voices !".

- Such Risks may emerge "even in Countries which used to be the Cradle of Democracy", (and not only in some far away African, Asian or Latin-American Countries), as she Criticaly observed Earliea, at her Keynote Speech at the Beginning of Today's PanEuropean Convention, where she was Largely Applauded by the Numerous Participants in an exceptionaly overCrouded CoE's Big Conference Room, which had just been officialy opened by CoE's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jagland.

 

CoE's Chief focused also on the Question whether "journalists can operate freely and without censorship" at the Internet, and Praised  Dunja Mijatovic as "a tireless Champion for Journalists’ Rights – something we Care Deeply about here at CoE", as Jagland stressed.

Mijatovic, after serving Earlier, also as President of CoE's Group of Specialists on Freedom of Expression and Information in times of Crisis" in Strasbourg, was later Elected by a "Consensus" Decision of OSCE's 57 Member States at Wien, i.e. something which is, usualy, "Not Easy" to obtain, but, once achieved, it gives a large Legitimacy and Political Importance to the Personalities who have managed to Attract such a Widespread Support, obsrved, as a matter of General Principle, Frane Maroevic, OSCE Media Freedom Representative's Office Director.

 

Today's Euro-Atlantic Conference on Internet Freedom and Democratic Security, was co-Organized by the Estànian Presidency of CoE's Committe of Ministers, (i.e.bya Country which is also due to Chair the EU itself Next Year : 2/2017, as an Estonian Government  Officer reminded "Euroforza"), as well as by the Euro-Atlantic OSCE, currently Chaired on 2016 by Germany. 

 

 

 

According to CoE's, 47 Member States-strong Committee of Ministers' latest, April 2016 Recommendation "on the Protection of Journalism and Safetyof Journalists and Other Media Actors", "it is Alarming and Unacceptable that Journalists and Other Media Actors in Europe are Increasingly being Threatened, Harassed, Subjected to Surveillance, Intimidated, Arbitrarily Deprived of their Liberty, Physically Attacked, Tortured and even Killed, because of their Investigative Work, Opinionsor Reporting, particulary when their Work Focuses on the MisUse of Power, Corruption, Human Rights Violations, Criùinal Activities, Terrorism and Fundamentalism".

Indeed, "Journalists and Other Media Actors are Often, specifically Targetedon account of ...(this or) other Particular Characteristics, which may Expose them to Discrimination and Dangers, in the Course of their Work".

Moreover,"these Violations are  incresingly taking place On-Line",  CoE's Ministers observed, in Addition.

In Consequence, "there is a Need for Urgent, Resolute and Systemic Responses", the PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law", urged.

-----------

 

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Today's Final Results at the key German Federated State of Mecklenburg-Voprommern, Chancelor Angie Merkel's cradle, (where G7 Heads of State/Government Summit took place, back on 2007, at Heiligendam : Comp. "Eurofora" co-Founder's NewsReport from Heiligendam, then pubished at "TCWeeky"), are crystal-clear :

- Obviously, the Division of the Right side of the Political Spectum, transforms what is, in Fact, a Majority of People  into a mere .. Minority of MPs !

With More than 46 % of Votes for the various Parties of the Right, against Only 43 % for the Left, (4,8% of the Greens being set aside, since they use to make Various Coalitions, sometimes with the Socialists, sometimes with the Center-Right -as, f.ex., at Nearby Baden - Wurttemberg, etc - while even among the "Various" Other Small Parties or Individuals, who scored up to 5,6%, are most often at the right).

Indeed, AfD (which came 2nd Party, for the First Time in History, closely bypassing CDU, since it's in a Controversial Coalition with the Socilialists), attracts about 21% of Votes, CDU 19%, FDP's Liberals 3% and NPD Rightists another 3%.  At the Other Side, Socialists get 30,6% and the Leftists 13,2%.

 

 

 

Without the "Extreme" Parties of the Rightists and Leftists, the Precedence of Mainstream Parties of the Right in People's Votes strikes an even Bigger Win : 43 % against Only 31% for the Left (Socialists alone).

Nevertheless, at the Same Time, the Left Side of the Political Spectrum is been Given a ...Majority of 37 MPs (Socialists + Leftists), against Only 34 MPs for the Right (Rightists and CDU) !

This Strange (in terms of Democratic Principles) "Alchemy" is, obviously, the Result of the Division of the mainstream Right, (AfD - CDU - FDP - Various), while the Left appears United (Socialists), and, thus, gets a "Bonus Plus" of MPs.

It Confirms the overall impression also resulting, in this regard, by several other similar cases, elsewhere, mutatis-mutandis.

Apparently, however, it's also a Fact that, once again, a spectacular growth of the Rightist AfD Party results not only by a Transfert of votes from the Center-Right CDU Party, but also from a Synchronsous Diminution of the Votes of the Socialist, Leftist, Green and NPD Parties, (i.e. practicaly All Other Parties, except from the FDP Liberals).

Astonishingly, even, that Transfert of Votes from the CDU appears slightly Lesser than all others, comparatively. 

 On the Contrary, a closer Analysis of the Votes by ARD Radio-TV, (published by mainstream "Die Welt" Newspaper), claims that, in Fact, the Biggest Votes' Transfert to the AfD Rightists would come from the Center-Right CDU Party, with an Even More Greater quantity of Fresh Votes emerging from Previouly Abstaining People. (See relevant Estimations).

 

 

 
In that case, all Other Parties' Vote Dimunution (FDP Liberals excepted) would mean that their former Voters Abstained, Aspiring for Something Better in the Future.

 

(../..)

 

 

***

(Graphics = "Die Welt")

 

***

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Strasbourg/International Space University/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking after an Exceptional Meeting with Public and Private Scientific and Technological Innovation Actors, at the International Space University (ISU : a landmark Global Science/Engineering Education/Training organization, with World-wide outreach, which celebrates 30 Years since its Creation here), French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, announced to "Eurofora" and other Press/Science participants that he intends to "ReView" soon forthcoming, Crucial Policy Choices, and probably revisit anew Strasbourg, before the End of the Year (2016).

    - Indeed, Valls has to take soon at least 2 main Decisions related to Strasbourg, Headquarters : Next Week he's expected due to co-decide on the allocation of "Projects for the Future" RST Funds, "which is due to Mark the Next 10 or 20 Years", as he acknowledged, agreeing with relevant observations by several other participants), while, later-on, it will be the Turn for the New, 2017-2019 Three Years Contract with this EuroMetropol to be Signed, as he announced Earlier Yesterday, during the Inauguration of "Euro-Fair 2016".

    => "The Choices that we Make Today, will Count for the Next 10 or 20 Years", warned Valls at the Conclusion of this Exceptional meeting in the ISU.

 

    But, Meanwhile, an Unexpected Explosion, at the Eve of his Official Venue at the ISU, of Pioneer Private American Company "SpaceX"'s flag-ship Rocket, threatened to Smash rennaissant aspirations to relaunch Space Exploration and Human Space-Flight in the foreseable Future, after of almost a Decade of an Unprecedented and Controversial Restriction, by the Out-Going US President Obama, of NASA's activities  mainly on ISS, which was Focused predominantly on BioTech. "Tests" about Genetics, as that MIT Professor (....) entrusted by the White House for Supervising those ISS Tests, had Revealed to "Eurofora" earlier, during a Visit in Strasbourg on the occasion of a previous ISU Summer Session, organized by Australian Scientists, (Comp., f.ex. : .....), about a Dispute with several NASA and World-Famous Austronaut Neil Amstrong, who supported Human Space Flight and, more generaly, Ambitious Space Exploration projects, as f.ex. those Drafted aso by former US President GWBush, but also the unforgettable John Kennedy, who managed to Send the 1st Man on the Moon, before being Murdered, as early as since the 1960ies. (See relevant Publications at "Eurofora"s NewsReports and Forum, where they've marked a Record-High Audience with Many Tens of Thousands Readers each, f.ex. at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/isusymosiumandobamanasabudget.html + http://www.eurofora.net/forum/index.php/topic,578.0.html, etc)

French Prime Minister Valls at ISU with Austronaut JJ.Favier + President Peters

on Human Space Flight History

------------------

    - On the Contrary, famous French Austronaut and Scientist in Physics, Jean-Jacques Favier, who has become Recently also Professor at ISU, told "Eurofora", as well as to Valls himself, that he had just been,  currently, in the process of  Planning Master/PhD courses around "New Materials"  which were due to become Necessary, as the expected relaunch of Space Flights to the Moon, Mars, etc., would, Otherwise, be obliged to use Older Materials "which are, until now, very Expensive".  Indeed, as Experienced ISU President, Walter Peters, (Comp. several Peters' Statements to "Eurofora" also in the Past, f.ex.: .....+ .....,  etc), had just Officialy Announced in an Exceptional Publication for the "30 Years" Anniversary of ISU and its Projects for the Immdiate Future "2017-2018", Nowadays "Space Agencies all over the World, are Developing the Post-ISS era", with, f.ex., "Plans for Cis-Lunar projects and a Base on the Moon", and "Critical Technologies to be Developed for the Major Step of this Cenury by Humankind  - a 1st Human Base on Mars", "providing a Great Field of Action, for (the) Present and Future..., Both at Governemental level, as well as for Enterpreneurial endeavours". Meanwhile, "47 Years After" being "one of the First People to put a foot on the Moon, on 20 July 1969", in the context of the "Gemini" Program, " Appolo Astronaut, and recently appointed ISU Chancellor, Dr. 'Buzz' Aldrin, "Now ... is sharing his Vision to Establish a Pzermanent Human Presence on Mars : "Let's go for it !", Chancellor Aldrin recently stressed, ISU's latest News reported earlier this Summer 2016.

It's true that, already much Earlier, about 40% of Tests realized in a Weightless area On-Orbit, around Earth, were destinated for lato-sensu Life-Sciences, (including, particularly, Crystalisation of Mega-Molecules, f.ex. DNA Genetic Structures, as one among the Pioneer ISU Presidents, Experienced former Head of Japan's Public-Private Science/Technology Monitoring body, had Warned "Eurofora" in the Past, etc).

 

But what Followed, Yesterday Afternoon, (after a Brief Introductory Intermezzo with an ISU Expert who claimed that the "Search for Life on Mars" would be Facilitated by Examining on-orbit some Micro-Organisms, etc), went Much Further from what could have been normaly Expected :

French Prime Minister Valls radiant after visiting a Russian Space Rocket Capsule at ISU

-------------------------

Astonishingly, indeed, just a few Minutes later, almost All the Public or  Private Sector Actors present in an Important subsequent Collective Meeting with French Prime Minister Valls at an adjacent, ISU-Presidential Conference Room, (where only 2 or 3 Journalists assisted, including "Eurofora"), were either coming from, or Focused on the Sole ...BioTech (and ,apparently, mainly Genetic) Business area, almost Exclusively ! Among them, f.ex., also the Head of Global Multinational Company "Novartis", ...., a Senior Official from Texas (US) Headquartered Company "Lilly", various Bio-Tech "Start-Ups", the President of Strasbourg Region's Alsace "Bio-Valley", etc. Even those Few Speakers who were supposed to Address General "Innovation" Issues, (including Strasbourg University's current President, Professor Beretz, a Specialist in Pharmaceutics himself, and/or an Expert on High-Tech Start-Up Businesses, etc), in Fact, didn't touch upon Any Other Sector of the Economy and/or Technology, than, once again, Only "Bio-Tech" matters, (particularly "Pharmaceutics" and New "Drug" fabrication, and so  on)... On the Contrary, Top Experts known for their Interest in Any Other, Differend Modern Technology Issue, were Either, curiously, Absent from that Meeting, or completely Silent during it, (f.ex. ISU's President, Professor Peters, from Holland, and/or French Professor and former Austronaut Favier : Comp. Supra, etc).

=> Could it only be due to a kind of "After-Shock" following that Spectacular, Front-page News making, Unexpected Sky Rocket Explosion, in Out-going US President Barack Obama's Northern America, just Yesterday Night (Comp. Supra) ? Or, perhaps, that last-minute, Spectacular Incident just served simply to Accentuate an already pre-existing, and, probably, Previously Arranged Strategic Choice by some -currently Influent- Lobby of Exclusively "Bio-Tech" Interests ?

At any case, it's an Astonishing Fact that All Other Sectors of Science and/or Modern Technology, (including, f.ex., even EU and ECHR Law developments, or PanEuropean CoE's GeoPolitcs, obviously Important for "a European Capital" as Strasbourg, "Earth Science" issues, where f.ex. Strasbourg's Sismologists are Historicaly World-Famous and consulted by Global Media even for far away events such as Haiti Earthquake, particularly Now, at the Aftermath of the Recent Central Italy Deadly Quake, added to Oil/Gas Search matters, etc., notoriously Topical Digital Society affairs, from Industrial Robotics to SmartPhone/PC Hard and Software, as well as CyberSecurity Topical matters [See Innovation + Digital Society Minister Axelle Lemaire's Statements to "Eurofora" at : ....], even any Space High-Tech Innovation issue, obviously relevant to ISU itself, etc), were Totaly Ommitted, Skiped without any explanation, Nor even the slightest Pretext !

Even when Young French Innovation and Digital affairs Minister Axelle Lemaire, (Comp. her Earlier Statements to "Eurofora" at: .....), raised a General Question about Private Sector's current Hesitation to Invest Enough in Projects supported by a Government which tries also to Facilitate their Legal and Social Environment, the Only Reply she got, on behalf of the Numerous Participants (including several Chiefs of Big Private Businesses) was Based on the Example of New ...Drug development only ! (To put it in a nushell : Innovation in Drugs may cost just some 2 or 3 Millions € at its Initial, Start-Up Stage, but, Afterwords, comes a "2nd Stage" where it may Often Cost several Dozens of Millions €, that most Innovative SMEs and sometimes even Bigger Corporations wouldn't always afford to pay alone, without any important External Help). Thus, Axelle Lemaire was, characteristicaly, incited to Change her Initialy Space-Enthousiasm-driven Announcement about .."Going to Mars, via (Strasbourg's Region) Alsace", thanks to her "1st Visit on Innovation at the International Space University" here, ...

 

 

...into a more Sober "Innovation Investment Boost" on "BioTech" and "MedTech" at "Strasbourg", subsequent Announcement, (Comp. f.ex.  2 Differend "Tweets" that she issues, one after the other)...

---------------------------------------

 

However, as Strasbourg's "EuroMetropole" President, Robert Hermann, (a Socialist chairing an Exceptional recent Local Coalition with mainstream Center-Right), observed, this area "has a Potential allowing to become a Pole of Excellence at a European/Internationalm level", based on "a Sacred Alliance between University and Research", at "a Unique GeoPolitical Location", (i.e. between France and Germany, inside, now, a "Great East" Region, extending from Switzerland up to BENELUX Countries, as Luxembourg and Belgium, i.e. Brussels), where "more than 20 Billions € have been already given (by the French State and its partners), as part of High-Tech "Investments for the Future, throughout the overall Alsace Region", "most of them in Strasbourg", which benefits from "more than 300 Millions € from the Local/Regional Authorities"(City, Department, Region), "allowing, Together with State and EU Fundings, to obtain a volume of about 700 Millions €, for the Period of 2010-2020".

Brand New "Great East" Region President Philippe Richert, from the Mainstream 1st Opposition "Republican" Party, observed that Recent Territorial Reforms Focused almost everything on the Mega-City and the Region, diminishing the role of Departments, but "the (Private) Industrial World is making here a notable Contribution", as he pointed out. But, "in order to Advance Furthe Ahead, using that Great Eastern Region's Potential, we must Reach a Volume of at least 3% of the GDP for (Scientific and Technological) Innovation before 2020", he stressed.  "We were at almost 3% in Alsace Region, but Now, in the Current, Enlarged "Greater Region" (i.e. with the Addition of Lorraine and Champagne-Ardennes), we are Only 1,3%, while, on the Contrary, it already stands at 5% in the Neighbouring, (German), Baden-Wurttemberg Region", he Criticaly Warned, calling to "Find a way to Face such Challenges in the Future". Moreover,  "the Private Sector Contributes for More than 3% of the GDP (i.e. the Majority of Funds)  in Baden-Wurttemberg's Budget for Innovation, while it's not yet the case here", he Criticized. Meanwhile, "f.ex., when" High-Tech Car Maker Industry, including  "(French) Peugeot-Citroen wanted to ally itself with (German) BMW", planned Joined HeadQuarters,  they looked in Paris and/or in Munich, instead of Simply looking at Mulhouse" City, Strategicaly located Between them, at the Southern Part of Alsace, near Switzerland, "so that we could attract here, (i.e. in the Middle, Between Paris and Berlin or Munich), not just Industrial Production, but also more Innovation", Richert suggested. Last, but not least, "while German Innovation is largely De-Centralized, with at least 1 Pole of Excellence in Each Laender, in France we have to do More in order to attract and Stimulate performant Industrial Enterprises at the Regions, because, in Fine, Innovation's Success will be Measured in terms of more or less Performant Businesses", he concluded, Urging to "Advance more Towards that Regional DeCentrelisation that had wished also the (Historic, former Long-time French President) General De Gaulle''.

------------------------------------

 

 

Strasbourg University President, Professor Laurent Beretz, pointed at the Fact that, Contrary to some False Appearances, here, "Businesses and University Scientific/Technological Reseach were Closer Interwoven Together, than some Believed. In addition, Industry wasn't Limited Only in "Applied", but "also in Fundamental Research". And, "the Other Way Round, Strasbourg's University has also interested in Applied Research, (as, f.ex., in the case of World Famous, Louis Pasteur Inventor also of Vaccination methos, who was "also bery Keen on Research's Applications", as he reminded). Scientific/Technological Research and Development work in Continuum,  without artificial  Distinguos, and only "Need an Easier, Smoother Transmission of Fundamental Research's Findings into Technological Applications", he pointed out.

Last, but not least, many Think that "an Indicator of STR Vitality would be just the Number of High-Tech Start-Up Businesses". But Beretz cited "a Recent Study of the Ligue of European Research Universities", that he currently Heads, "on the Economic ByProduct of Universities with a so-called <<Intensified Research>>, according to which, Fund a a University "is Not Spending, but Investing" : F.ex., in France, just 3 Universities : Sacley, (?) Southern Paris and Strasbourg have Generated, on 2014, more than 7,5 Billions €, and 4.300 Jobs". As for "All European Universities, taken Together, they Contribute for some 300 Billions € in the European Economy, with 3,8 Millions of Jobs inside Europe, favorably Compared to Pharmaceutics, Steel, and/or Car Industry". But "the Intellectual creation, Innovation Transfert, Patents, etc. is just 31% of the Total", while "the Most Important Part is the Overall Activity of Universities, which represent also a Social, Commercial, Training, a.o. Force, with 33% of the Total ByProduct". Another "22% are the so-called <<Graduate Revenues>>, which come from the Diplomas attributed" by Universities, while even "our Dear Students, have an Economic Impact estimated at about 14% of the Total" ByProduct of Universites', that Includes "also the creation of Mobility, by Attracting Students from Elsewhere, Irrigating accross Territories", he concluded, Welcoming the active Contributions of "the State, the Local/Regional Authorities, Businesses and Universities themselves, as Key Components of Economic Competitivity".

    - Prime Minister Valls stressed from the Outset that "Innovation and Scientific Research are very Important matters, Both for France and for all Europe", which should not be overShadowed by some controversial "Debates always focusing only on Selection and Fees". France and Europe "are Able to Create Innovation and be Inventive", he underlined, while also Welcoming the "Cooperation between the State, Local/Regional Authorities, Universitarians and private Businesses".  But  "the Main Reason" of his Venue here, was "to Exchange" Ideas with the various Participants, particularly in order to find out "what could be Ameliorated".

    - CEO of Texas (USA) HeadQuartered MultiNational BioTech Company "Lilly"'s European outlet in France, Marcel Lechanteur, who supports collaborative "Training" and Strasbourg University's "Foundation" (Open to Participation also of Businesses, Individual Experts, Politicians, Journalists, interested Citizens, Donors, etc), said that he had been "Seduced", already "from 2012", by a relevant "Project", inspired by an American practice : "We have 2 Investment Poles", "one for Human Capital", to which we dedicate "5 to 6% of the Total Salary Mass" that includes about "1.500 Persons", with some 300 Dedicated to "Quality" Monitoring and Enhancing, mainly in order to "Attract Talents" and make them "Stay Productive as long as required, so that any "Chain of Production Disrupting would be Prevented", at the "Same Time that Staff's Competences would be UpGraded", while also "Stimulating a Spirit of Networking", he explained. "In the USA, even if everything isn't perfect, nevertheless, a Key to most of their Succesful Economic model, is a kind of Dense "Matrix" between Universities and Small or Big Businesses", particularly on Staff "Training", he observed

    + "A 2nd Investment's Pole, is Technology", to which "we ("Lilly-France") have Invested some 250 Millions € these years", he claimed, Stressing that "it's Important to have such a Balanced approach", between Human Training and Technology Investment, "in order to remain Competitive".

    => The "Suggestion" made, in fine, to the French Prime Minister by MultiNational "Lilly" BioTech Company was to "have a Vision", on equal terms between Big and Small-Medium Enterprises, ("65% of our Turnover being related to SMEs", as he said), thanks to which the forthcoming "Difficult Choices" that "the Government" would have to make "Soon", (particularly in a "Fragile Environment, which should Not be over-Perturtbated", he Warned), as well as its wider relevant Activities, would follow a Policy with sufficient "Visibility".

------------------------------------

 

      Followed "Drug Industry" Representative, Philippe Lamoureux, ("LEFM"), who Stressed the "Importance of such kind of Meetings, as this at the ISU, in order to have a Dialogue with the Public Authorities". - Part of "Health Industries, which are also an Investment for the Future", the "Pharmaceutical Industry represents some "45.000 Jobs", in "270 Production Sites, disseminated around almost all the Territory of the Country", but "mainly around Normandy, the Center, and Pays de Loire", which "represent a Landmark Potential, that we should Protect and Develop", he observed.

    - At Present, "we are in the process to evolve from Pharmaceutical (i.e. Chemistry-Based) Drugs, to Bio-Technology (i.e. Genetics-Based) Drugs", which  "will require a real ReConversion of our Work, even a Fundamental Transformation of our Culture of Production, and, in Consequence, also of the Professional Training for our Workers", he pointed out.

    + "Moreover, Medical Drugs will become Only a Part of a much Wider Health Panoply, which will Include also various "Other Health Technologies" Tools, with "Diagnostics, Genomics, and a Lot of Differend Sciences", he added, pointing, f.ex., at certain Pioneer Projects, currently "Evolving in Strasbourg", (one of which had just been Visited, Earlier Yesterday, by Valls).

    Lamoureux went on to Claim that, Nowadays, Drug Industry is one among the Few which "Can have a Stable Number of Jobs", has recently "Doubled the Number of its Aprentees", and is even "Able to Offer a Job to nearly All those who are Trained in our Network", as he said.

    => In Conclusion, Given also the curent "Double Crisis, Both in Health Policies and Industries", as well as relevant Developments "also in Germany", etc., "we shall Follow very Closely the Decisions that you are Going to Take" soon, he warned the French Prime Minister.
--------------------------

    - Among the Biggest in the World, MultiNational Bio-Tech Company "NOVARTIS-France" President, Philippe Baroin, an Experienced CEO and Manager at International contexts, reminded, from the outset, that his Mother Company is "Global", and "Headquartered at Basel", i.e. at Nearby Switzerland, "only about 100 km. from here", and has "more than 1.500 Jobs inside (Strasbourg's Region) Alsace", (where it had, Earlier, also Planned to Transfert even its European Headquarters, before Changing its Mind at the last minute, to the point that even a Prestigious Big Building, which had been Destinated for "Novartis", has stayed for Too Long without any clearly designated Successor at the "European Business Quarter" of Strasbourg-Schiltigheim), while it has also "Just Announced a more than 100 Millions € Investment in France", in Addition to "a Project to Train and Hire about 100 Highly-Skilled Engineers at an Institute of Strasbourg's University", for "a ReNovated Bio-Tech Factory, due to Work 24/24 Hours, 7/7 Days a Week, and 365/365 in each Year, as he noted.

 

    - "Concerning Innovation, we (NOVARTIS) Spend about 17 Millions € in Research and Technologies' Development, Each Year", and are Interested particularly in "Strasbourg's University, because of its Openness towards Switzerland, his Application-Oriented Research, and a Dialogue Favorable to the Development of various Cooperations", added Baroin.

    >>> But "Pursuing NOVARTIS' presence in France, depends" on certain, currently evolving Issues, including some Social Security schemes as well as "Previsibility" of the fothcoming French Government's Decision-Making Angenta, he stressed.

    - Recently, we had a Happy Event : A Young Girl aged only 11 y.o., who was Suffering from Leucemy and was Seriously Threatened, succeeded to be Healed by Cellular Therapy, that I'd like to see also in France, Germany and all the EU soon", since we have to "Meet Innovation's Challenges", the Swiss Multinational BioTech Company's Head, added.

----------------------------

 

    - He was succeeded by  Nicolas Carboni, Head of "Connectus", a Network aiming to Promote all Public Sector Research in Strasbourg's Alsace Region, f.ex. by Universities, Local Authorities, Deconcentrated State Administrations, Public Enterprises, etc., which was itself Created thanks to French Government's "Investments for the Future", (that had Started to be Awarded Nationwide since 2011-2012). It has already "Simplified" things, since Now "all Public Research Actors in Alsace have Pooled Together the Promotion of their Projects into just 1 Body ("Connectus"), so that they Can Accomplish f.ex. various Formalities Only in a Few Weeks' Time, there where, Previously, they Needed to Contact 6 or 7 Differend Interlocutors, during several Months or even More than a Year", as he said.

    - "This Simplification is mainly used vis a vis various Cooperations with our (Private) Industrial Partners", concerning "all Colaboration, Projects, Work, Access to Instruments, etc", with a Total of 30 Millions € Funds from Industry brought into Labos, where Businesses are interested in a Turnout which Augmented + 25% during the Last 2 Years", he pointed out. "Connectus" Manages Intellectual Property, and Invests to its Maturity, i.e. Absorbs a great part of Risks linked with an Innovation. During the Last 12 Months, an average of 2 Business each Month Sign with it, in order to have Access to a New Technology, Generating by Licences such Revenues that, in 4 Years, they were Multiplied 8 Times",  Carboni concluded.

    - "An Example" is that of a "Director of Research at French CNRS", Alain Weber, who, said that he "published a Patent" and "Created 4 Start-up Companies, the First 15 Years ago". (../..)

    During the Discussion which Followed, it was also said, by a Participant, that, f.ex., "in order to Create a (New) Drug, there is a Need for Tens of Millions €". That "Money Exists", but someone must Bid for a given Project, in order to Help it aquire a Critical Dimension.
---------------------------------------------  

    - Minister Axelle Lemaire, in charge of Innovation and Digital Society, noted that most Speakers had Focused mainly on the Role played by the State, the Local Authorities, even of Aprenteeship, etc., "But You did Not Analyse sufficiently the Role of Private Investment", as she said.

    => "Don't you think that there might be a Gap there, that we'd have to Fill ?", Axelle Lemaire wondered. - "What is Lacking, there, in order to Bring those Private Funds where they should be ?", she asked.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

    - A Participant started to Reply that, particularly in Certain Countries, Private Investment Must be Made Easier, f.ex. by being Accompagnied also by some Public Investments, "at least in a 1st Stage", as when "a New Drug" might Need something like "3 Months of Clinical Essays", he estimated.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

    - "This is, very probably, a Key Debate", estimated Prime Minister Valls.
I.e. "How to Transform a Result of Scientific Research, into a concrete Economic Potential, Ready to be commercialy Exploited", as he pointed out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    - "Concerning, f.ex., a Medical Drug, at a 1st Stage, some 2 or 3 Millions € could be enough in order to Show, with Tests on Animals, that it's Active, but No Toxic, etc.

    + However, Afterwards comes a kind of Qualitative "Jump", at a "2nd Stage" : It will, probably, Cost something around "10 or 15 Millions €", because, "once Transfered" to an Enterprise", the Result of a Scientific Research, might Need also a Lot of More Work to do, (such as, "f.ex., on Regulations,  Chemical Optimisation", perhaps +Human Clinical Trials, etc).

    => "But, Private Investment in the USA provides, generaly, at that stage, X 5 Times More Funds, than in most Countries in Europe, even if the Projects are Similar, so that Inventors have to Seek Fund-Raising Elsewhere", he Warned.

    Perhaps not only for purely Financial or Commerial reasons, but also -or even much More - Because of certain French and/or European Legal Safeguards against eventual Risks from some, eventualy Hasty Attempts by one or another unscrupulous "Bio-Tech" Company (as it Recently Happened during a Scandalously Deadly or Health-Damaging, New Drugs' Tests on Humans in Rennes) to use various potentialy Dangerous Genetic or other Medical Substances on unaware People, withOut sufficient Previous full Scientific Research about Safety, despite Established Rules enshriing the "Precaution Principle", and/or for the Protection of Human Dignity and/or Health, (as, f.ex., a previously mentioned Critical mention in the Intervention by a Global Multinational "NOVARTIS" Corporation's Senior Official, into this ISU Debate, probably meant, in fact : Comp. Supra).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    + AnOther Participant observed that "we (Strasbourg's area of Alsace) have a Well-Organized Territory for Innovation" here, "But, Not even one among our Start-up Companies doesn't bypass the 5 to 10 Millions €".

-------------------------------------------------

    => A Point that was underlined also by French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who Noted the Existence of "a Competitivity Pole", "a Territory for Innovation", several "Billions €" of State Aides, "a University with Strong Research" capabilities, (etc)., so that "We Have the Right Eco-System", ("on the Condition, naturaly, to Simplify" its procedures).

    - "But, what is Clear, is that there is a Weakness mainly concerning the Size of our Enterprises, on which we Must Work", as he said.

-------------------------------------------------------

    - Indeed, "there is a Gap" : "When, in France, we are Searching for 3 Millions €, on the Contrary, in the USA, they immediatey Speak about 50 Millions €, for the Same Project. Why ?", Wondered anOther Participant.

    - At any case, "1 Reply is the "French Tech." : "I.e., Stop making Complexes", because "there are some Wonderful Things in France, we Have What is Necessary, and Superb Dynamics. A proof is also the Fact that when the USA Search for some Interesting "Start UPs", they Come Here...", he estimated.

    - "Often, they want to Work with us, but they say : No Problem, However it would be Easier if you came to America"... Why ?  It's Because there is that Bad Image of Strikes, of Too Many Staff Workers, with Corporative Revendications on Wages, etc., on which we have to do some HomeWork", he replied.

    - "Now, what is most Needed, is, I think, to Create a kind of "Signature" for our Interesting "Start-up" Enterprises, to Help them Work their Way Up, by Networking, etc", without Forgeting that, even in the USA, "Microsoft" was Created inside a ...Garage !"

    => A Pragmatic Solution, associating what is already Possible, with an Ambition for the Future,

 would be to Focus on those among our Best Start-up Businesses which are the Interesting for Investors, and Network them, i.e. Combine Together their Forces, in order to create a Joint Product, eventualy Associating SMEs and Big Banks, Corporations, etc", he suggested.     

----------------------------------------------------------------

    - However, Catherine Trautmann, former MEP, Minister of Culture, and Strasbourg's Mayor, currently in charge of Big Infrastructures, re-Focused on Bio-Tech Only, presenting a Local "Decision to Create a Medical Technology Park", from which she Expects to Attract Investors and "some 50 More Businees able to create 1.000 Jobs".
    Medical Technologies are anOther Aspêct of Development, Together with Chirurgy, Diagnostic Tool, and Tele-Medicine, etc. Because we also have here a Medical Faculty, a Faculty of Pharmaceutics, INSERM and Alsace BioValley, she observed.

---------------------------------------------------------

 
    + Indeed, "we Need a Common Space", agreed also the President of "Alsace BioValley", Severine Sigrist, herself a CEO of a Start-up Company specialized in Fabricating and Grafting of Artificial Body Parts, (such as, f.ex., an Artificial Pancreas and Other Organs, etc).

    Sigrist also, repeatedly evoked Issues related to Local/Regional "Territories"' "Cooperation" and/or "Attractivity", as well as on Strasbourg "Region"'s relevant Importance for RST Projects' boosting, as well as that Scientists should "Work Together with All (concerned) Territories", etc., thereby, inevitably Opening (voluntarily, or not) towards some very Interesting, Latest Developments on RST Policies and Choices at Strasbourg's Recently Enlarged "Great East" Region :

-------------------------------------------

    "BioValley"'s Bio-Tech Lobby had become in the Past an almost Exclusive Innovation Interlocutor in Strasbourg's Traditional Region Alsace, some Years ago, but, Now, it has just Lost that capacity, after the recent Enlargement to the "Great East", brand New and much Bigger Mega-Region, which includes, Now, also Lorraine and Champagne-Ardennes, bridging together instead of only 1, in fact 6 various "Competitivity Poles", such as, not just Health Sciences, but also Water, Bio-Agriculture, New Materials, Sustainable Buildings, New Vehicles and Mobility of the Future.

    They are just Starting to search an overall Coherence and to Develop Cooperation Projects, throughout a Huge area Linking Paris' surroundings to the German and Swiss Borders on the Rhine river, Including also to Luxembourg and Belgium : A 1st Partnership Agreement, on Scientific Research and Technological Development cooperation Projects, as well as International prospection, Funds-Raising, etc., was already Signed beteween those 6 Competitivity Poles of that New Strasbourg's "Great East" Region, which have also reportedly Agreed, Recently, on Identifying 3 joint Priorities for the Future : "Agro-Materials", "Enhanced Reality", and "Connected Objects", (i.e., quite a lot about Digital Society too)...

    Something which might have incited, and/or, at any case, certainly interested French Minister Axelle Lemaire, particularly when she Evoked, a bit Later-on, during this Same Discussion with a Science Community inside ISU, the "Competitivity" Issues, (fitting quite well with the New Strasbourg's "Great East"  Enlarged Region's ... no less than 6 Competitivity Poles).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    + In Addition, the even More Recent Creation of a "European Campus" Headquartered in Strasbourg (since May 2016), in order to Bring Closer Together all Universities of French, German and Swiss Local Areas, (f.ex. Bas-Rhin Department around Strasbourg, Ortenau Creis in Germany, and Bales' area in Switzerland), due to Mutualize their Infrastructues (Labos and Machines, Buildings with Offices and Conference Rooms, Libraries and Archives, etc), Cooperate and even Present Joint Research Projects for Common EU a.o. Funding Demands, etc., (See Euro-Campus' President, Professor .... from Germany Statements to "Eurofora" at .... + .....), naturaly Stops the Monopoly of an Exclusive "Bio-Tech" Lobby alone over Strasbourg, as in a recent Past, and Opens even Wider Pluralist Horizons for Democratic Scientific and Technological Choices for the foreseable Future.

    Both those 2 Brand New Strategic Developments, about France's National Organisation and EU core's Integration, obviously are also More Harmonious with ISU's own realities and overall Philosophy of All Sciences'-Enhancing Human Space Flight...

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
    F.ex., among many others, also the above-mentioned "Connected Objects" Joint Research Priority of All the New Strasbourg's "Great East" Region's 6 Competitivity Poles, agreed after the Recent Developments on 2016 (See Above), certainly would Remind to Prime Minister Valls, particularly Now, that other "Connected Objects" Strasbourg Event that he Chose to Visit among the First (just after Agriculture) during the Inauguration of Strasbourg's Annual 2016 "EuroFair", Yesterday Noon, on the 115th Anniversary of prestigious European Innovation Award Competiton "Lepine", (Comp. its President, Gerard Dorey's Statements to "Eurofora" at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/innovationawardpresidentondroneneareuparliament.html ).

---------------------------------------

    + Such a Digital Society (Dear to French Minister Axelle Lemaire : Comp. Supra) and Internet-related, Topical Reference, would Also Remind Valls his Visit to the 2016 "Guest of Honour" Country, at the Inauguration of Strasbourg's Annual "EuroFair", Yesterday Noon, i.e. Tunisia, at the area of which he met the Tunisian Consul General Trabelsi (Comp. the Consul's previous Statements to "Eurofora" at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/tunisiaconsuloneufaireconomyandconstitution.html), as well as its Tourism and Crafts' Minister, etc.

-----------------------------------

    It was also during his Official Speech for the Inauguration of that same 2016 Strasbourg's "EuroFair", Yesterday Noon, at the Superbly ReNovated and Enlarged, Huge "Convention and Exhibition Center", inside the landmark "Palace for Music and Congresses'" Building "Pierre Pflimlin", that the French Prime Minister stressed particularly the Indispensable "Security Culture" that all Citizens, Civil Society and Public Authorities, have a Vital Need to Learn how to Adopt and Use, in EveryDay Life, after the Recent Deadly Terrorist Attacks by Islamistic Terrorists, in France, at nearby Germany, and various Other European Countries, (such as the UK, Austria, Switzerland, etc.) even in the USA, this same 2016 Summer, (Comp., f.ex. : .... + ...).

 

 

    I.e. a "Security" which can be notoriously Enhanced also thanks to the Development of High-Tech "Earth Observation" a.o. EU Space Projects, fitting well with Valls' visit to the International Space University (ISU) Yesterday Afternoon, that EU Parliament Supported by a Public Plenary Debate and a Resolution adopted with a Strong Majority, Recently in Strasbourg, (See "Eurofora"s NewsReport for that event : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euparliamentonspace.html), while EU currently Prepares its 27 Heads of State/Government 1st Independent Post-PREXIT Summit on Europe's Future at Bratislava (Slovakia : the current Holder of EU Council's rotating Presidency), later in the Middle of this Month, (16/9/2016), which is expected to Focus also on Boosting EU's Security and Defence Policy and Capabilities, whose indispensable Autonomy (also Required by another relevant EU Parliament's Resolution recently adopted in Strasbourg : See ......) urgently Depends also, in real Practice, from the Development of some  Space "Early Warning" and "3CCC" New High-Tech, (as an EADS' European AirSpace Giant Company's Top Strategy Advisor, Experienced former Long-time French Army General, had Earlier told "Eurofora")...

 

------------------
    - "The Question of Pathways (Networks) is Essential !", stressed, indeed, French Prime Minister Valls, Yesterday Afternoon, at this Exceptionaly Important ISU Meeting. Inter alia, also Because "it allows Major Investments, which must be pursued", while "for those who are Not inside such Pathways, it becomes Difficult", he Warned. Therefore, this must be done "in Discussion with All Actors".

 

    + Because, "the main Role of the (National) State is to Stimulate" relevant developments, "and help connect into Networks", after making various necessary "Reforms" for that purpose, (f.ex. by "Reforming Universities and Research", "Lowering Taxes on Businesses", "Focusing Industries on the Pathways of the Future", etc).

    - For the Rest, "during the Last 30 Years", a lot of "Extraordinary Transformations" have taken place "in the Political Life", he Outlined : F.ex. "DeCentralisation is a Quiet Revolution", which "is being Pursued" even further "Calmly". Something Similar goes also for "the Autonomy of Universities", which "must be Continued", etc. So that, Nowadays, "Elected Local Authorities", "particularly Together with All Partners : Enterprises, Universities, various other Entities, etc", Work all Together, "Creating a Collective Intelligence", he observed.

    - But "Time is Needed in order to Build the Future in a Key Sector", the French Prime Minister also felt Now. There are things thet "Must be Continued", and "Others" that "have to be Rectified". "But", at any such case, "all this is done for the Long-Term" : F.ex. "The Choices that we Make Today, Will Count during the 10 or 20 Years Ahead", Manuel Valls Concluded.

 

----------------

    => A Fortiori, for all those reasons and much more, Shouldn't really ALL relevant, interested and/or affected such "Partners", useful for the General Interest of France and Europe, at least from All those "6 Competitivity Poles" currently existing in Strasbourg's brand New "Great East" Region, (Comp. Supra), and even more, be Invited to Express their Views and eventualy Present also various other Interesting Projects, (instead of Only 1 Lobby, at the Exclusion of All Others : Comp. Facts cited Supra) ?

    F.ex., Among Many Others, at Nearby Baden-Wurttemberg (Germany), the Famous Owner of the "Burda" Media Empire, (which includes also "Focus" Magazine, and various Other MM, etc), had already Proposed, as Early as from December 2010 (Comp. "Eurofora"s NewsReport from Neighbouring Offenburg's meetintg of the "Superior Rhine" Franco-German-Swiss Trans-Border Cooperation body, and Statemsnts that gave us f. EU Affairs Minister of Germany, Werner Hoyer, currently EIB's President, at the Eve of an Exceptionaly Important, then, Franco-German Summit in Freiburg : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/hoyeronfrancogermansummit.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/sarkozymerkelforeuintegration.html ), inter alia, also to Create a kind of Modern Electronic Networks conglomerate, including an "Internet Networks Valley", all accross Both Sides of the Rhine River.

    Is it just a Coincidence, or, may be, a "Lapsus Significativus", that, even Now, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, (a Personal Example of Franco-Spanish EU Integration, following, f.ex. former French President Nicolas Sarkkozy's Franco-Greco-Hungarian + Italy example, among others), repeatedly Spoke, at the ISU in Strasbourg, about, not just a mere "Bio-Valley", but also of a kind of ..."Silicon Valley" ?

    Relevant examples could naturally be Multiplied, here :

F.ex., also for what the Strasbourg-based "European Foundation of Sciences" had named, as Early as already since a Landmark 2005 Report, the lato-sensu "Earth Sciences", (Historically Strong here), including Space issues, since Both the Historicaly World Famous "Seismology" Centre, part of the Oil-Gas Experienced "Globe Institute", and ISU (both in Strasbourg), "ReNewable Energy Sources" Technologies (f.ex. Solar, Waterfalls, WindFarms, GeoThermy, etc), as also ESA's Space Control Center (at nearby Darmstadt), Natural Environment Protection Experience (partidularly on Water, Air-Pollution and/or Mountains, etc) is Important, from Strasbourg up to Munich, and the "Family" Company which got EU's Contract for "GALILEO" Satellite Navigation System's fabrication of a 1st Series of Satellites (HQ at nearby Stuttgart).

And/or what anOther German University Professor had suggested, since 2010, about Developping a Unique Network of "Supreme" or "Human Rights' Courts" Legal Analysis research, Thanks to the Presence, here, of both ECHR, (Strasbourg), Germany's important Constitutional Court (Karlsruhe), and EU's Court of Justice (Luxembourg), all along the European Borders of Strasbourg's brand New "Great East" Region...

    Why Not ?

    Particularly when a Pioneer "European Campus" inter-linking French-German-Swiss Universities has just been Launched, since Spring 2016, in Strasbourg, (See, f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eusciencecomissioneronchinaandeuuniversitiesgroup.html + ...), and, even more, when we take into account also the Historicaly Important New Fact that, in this Summer 2016's Post-BREXIT Europe, EU is notoriously Searching New, Performant and EU Citizens-Friendly ways to adequately Boost a Deeper Integration, (which had recently been Delayed too much, since 1999-2005+) ?

    Naturaly, one among all those Valuable Potentials, (and even More), simply evoked here, doesn't exclude another. On the Contrary, most of them should and could be, more or less, Integrated inside an Overall Coherent, High-Tech, European "Competitivity" Strategy.

WithOut, on the Contrary, Excluding a priori Everything, just to Focus Exclusively on Only 1, alone, even without any clearly known, previous Public Debate, that French Prime Minister Valls had, however, Considered as a "Must" in such crucialy Important matters which can contribute to Shape the Future, (Comp. Supra).

 

Sometimes, one must Dare even "Grasp the Bull by the Horn", a well known Popular Proverb says, as Manuel Valls Symbolicaly did, just a few Hours Earlier, while Inaugurating Strasbourg's 2016 "Euro-Fair" (See relevant Photo)...     

 

 

 

 Why not also a "Real" one, about Strategic Innovation Funds' hard Choices, Crucial for many People's foreseable Future ?

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

*Strasbourg/PMC/Angelo Marcopolo/- While preparations are currently Intensifying to the forthcoming Bratislava EU-27 Heads of State/Government Summit, the 1st without the UK and Focused on the Future shape of Europe, expected to revive projects for the creation of an EU Security and Defense Policy, as recently both the 3 Biggest EU Countries' Leaders, of Germany, France and Italy, proposed, as well as the "Visegrad Group" 4 Central-Eastern EU Countries supported, (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia (the current holder of EU Council's rotating Presidency for the period of July - December 2016), Today, the Chief of EUROCORPS, Spanish General Alfredo Ramirez from Spain, speaking to "Eurofora", ensured that the Strasbourg-based European MultiNational and Multi-Modal Army Heads of Staff  body, is "Ready to Go !".

    EU Parliament, which holds its Summer Return full Plenary Session between 12 - 15 September in Strasbourg, i.e.just at the Eve of that Exceptional Bratislava EU Summit, scheduled for September 16, has Repeatedly Supported, in a Series of Resolutions, the Development of EUROCORPS' potential role as the Backbone of a Future EU Defense policy that a large Majority of MEPs welcomes, (Comp. also ChristianDemocrat/EPP party's President, experienced former Long-time MEP, Joseph Daul's relevant Statements, during a recent event, co-organized by the European Movement and the University of Strasbourg, at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eppheaddauloneuexternalborders.html).

 

    -"But it all Depends on the Decisions that might take the Heads of (EU Member) States/Governments", pointed out to "Eurofora", in this regard, EUROCORPS' Commander Ramirez, whose Mandate durates also for more than a Year Time in the Future.

    ++ Meanwhile, General Ramirez is Soon due to visit personaly "the Central African Republic", where "we (EUROCORPS) are already present, since some Time ago, in the Context of an EU operation", as he furthermore anounced to "Eurofora".

    EUROCOPS Senior Officers have already Served, in Active Duty at the recent Past, also in Kosovo, later in Afghanistan, (where its Commander Headed the International Force as Chief of Staff), etc. , and has recently made Mlitary Exercises in order to Develop its "Inter-Modal" Capabilities, (i.e. to Coordinate Air  - Sea - Land comlex operations), while it had also been conceived, almost from the Start, as Destinated to Serve not only strictly Military, but even "Dual" Missions, including, f.ex., additional Civic Protection Missions, f.ex. in case of Natural or Man-made Catastrophes, Epidemics, Massive irregular Migrants' influx Crisis, etc.

    - In Recent Years, to its Inital 5 "Founding Nations", (i.e. France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands Belgium and Luxembourg), EUROCORPS Added also Poland, "which has already send more than 120 Officers and Soldiers to Strasbourg"'s HQ of the European "Etat Major", as Ramirez reminded to "Eurofora".

    + But, naturaly, in view of the possible Creation of a fully-fledged European Defense policy, "it would really be good if Italy also joined us", something to which Rome would be probably interested, EUROCORPS Commander agreed with "Eurofora", as far as the foreseable Future is concerned. Italy, (as well as several Other EU Member Countries, as f.ex. Greece, etc), already has "Liaison Officers" at EUROCORPS Headquarters in Strasbourg.

    
(../..)