newsitems

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking in EU Parliament in Strasbourg at the Eve of the Annual 2016 EU - China Summit, Next Week at Beijing (12-13 July), EU Commissioners Federica Mogherini, (EU's High Representative for External Action) and Violeta Bulc (in charge of Transports), designed a rare, Brief but Interesting, Overall Picture of EU's unfolding, multifacet "Strategy" vis a vis the Country with the Biggest Population and one of the Most Ancient surviving Civilisations in the World, as well as with a lot of Growing, Modern Geo-Political and Economic Potential in a Multi-Polar World, but also facing Common a.o. Challenges nowadays, followed by a subsequent Debate with MEPs on the Topical, High-Tech, Human Rights and Security Issue of Personal Data Protection, of interest both to Big Business Corporations and Civil Society, Citizens, etc, (See Infra).

On Both cases, a "G-3" eventual approach (Europe - China - USA) was, in fact, evoked several times, Together with a Multi-Polar, Wider International Horizon.

 Chinese President Xi Jiping is due to participate, for the 1st time, in such an EU - China Summit, also via a scheduled meeting with EU Council and EU Commission Presidents, Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, since his 1st Visit to Europe, back on Spring 2013, took place Before the Changes of May 2014 EU Election, while in the Latest, 2015 such Summit in Brussels, China was represented by Prime Minister Li Keqiang, who shall be also present now, (See "Eurofora"s NewsReports from the spot then, f.ex.. ..... + ....).

Mogherini, (who is now also a vice-President of EU Commission, and had served as former Foreign Minister of Italy, with an Educational background in Political Science), has just Published, during the Latest EU Heads of State/Governments' Summit, last week in Brussels, (Comp. "Eurofora"s various NewsReports from the spot, f.ex., inter alia, also : ..... + ....), a Communication on "Global Strategy for the EU's Foreign and Security Policy", which stresses EU's will to "Engage China", mainly by "Maximising the Potential of EU - China Connectivity", (also via ASEM and/or ASEAN), as well as by "Deepening Trade and Investment", while "Seeking a Level-Playing Field", "Intelelctual Property Rights" and "Greated Cooperation in High-End Technology", Together with "Dialogue" on "Economic Reform", "Human Rights" and "Climate", in parallel with a Multilateral, "more Politically-founded approach to Asia", in general,  for "a Greater practical Contribution to .. Security", but including also various "International Law" Issues, as she wrote.

 - EU's High Representative for External Action, speaking to MEPs in Strasbourg Yesterday Evening (Wednesday), after an important, Wider Debate, precisely, on that Overall, "Global" EU's CFSPolicy, (Comp. Supra), Focused, in Conclusion, for the First Time, on "EU's Strategy on China", by Stressing from the outset that, "10 Years" After the Previous EU Commission's Report on China, "the World has Changed .. very Rapidly", and EU "Needs to Update" its "Vision" and "Paths for Action", particularly in such "a Crucial Issue for (Europe's) Future" and even "Present", involving "one of the World's Greates Powers", since "a Number of Important China-Related Matters will Need to be Adressed in the Comming Weeks and Months".

- In particular, Pointing at "3 Main Areas" (Highlighted in a Communication Published Last June in Brussels for the Next Five Years of EU - China Relations) : (a) Economy, (b) Foreign Policy and (c) "Global Governance in a Multilateral context", Mogherini underlined that "the Core Principle of our (EU's) Strategy" is "to Step Up ...Engagement with China", "from Trade to Human Rights", etc., in a "principled, practical and pragmatic" way, since China has Become, during the Latest Decade, "much More of a Global Player", and "is More Confident, ...Outer-Looking and .. Assertive", despite "Some Frictions", while, even if the Wider "Asia's Security Environment Today looks more UnStable", nevertheless, "China has also sought Stronger Cooperation, with Other World Powers, including the EU", on various such "Global Issues". Nowadays, "We (EU) are their (China's) Biggest Trading Partner, and ... an important Security Provider in Asia, from Afghanistan to the Philippines", so that "We have an Interest in an Open, Stable and Cooperative China", as also "China .. has a .. Huge Interest in Good Relations with Europe", in "a Lot" of Issues "on which we Can and Should Work Together".

- F.ex., in "Economy", EU is interested to "a Greater Opening-up of the Chinese Market to European Business", for "Trading and Investing", with "Internal and External" Links, by seizing current "Opportunities" such as an "Agreement on Investment", "a Chinese Contribution to the (Juncker) Investment Plan for Europé", "Joint Research and Innovation", (a Key-point at the Latest, 2015 EU - China Summit in Brussels : See relevant "Eurofora"s NewsReport from the spot, at ......), as well as "new Connections inside .. EurAsia", ("Both Physical and Digital"), in order to "make Trade, Investment, and People-to-People Contacts, Faster and Easier", as she said.

+ But, speaking also about some percieved "Risks", "in a Delicate Moment of our Trade relations", where" China .. has (also) Obligations, and not simply Benefits", Mogherini pointed out that EU "must ... Shield (its) Industry from (so-called) Unfair Trade" in some alleged cases, while "China must make ... Cuts in .. OverCapacity", f.ex. "in .. Steel", but also "on Aluminium, Ceramics and Wood", while its own Economy "would benefit from Economic Reform, including the Elimination of State-induced Distorsions" of Market, according to a current official EU stance, (at least Part of which, has already been apparently Accepted by China, which has recently engaged in several such Reforms, even if it has also Rejected Some Accusations about "OverCapacity", and Asked from the EU more Fair "Anti-Dumping probe Criteria", as well as to Agree on "Granting China a Market Economy Status", as it has, in principle, been Scheduled by WTO Rules towards the End of 2016, while also wishing an EU-China "Free Trade" Deal at the Horizon of "2020").  

    But, at the Same Time, EU "has to Strengthen (its) Trade Defence Instruments" in General, (i.e. vis a vis All its Trade Partners : See, f.ex., .......), "Swiftly" enough, while, also, it "canNot Afford to be ..Conservative", having, rather, to "Try" to "Drive the Change", with "Better Rules" and "Reforms, through .. Engagement with the Wider World", as she acknowledged.

    ++ Moreover, on "the 2nd and 3rd Pillars" of EU's Strategy for China, (i.e. Foreign Policy and Global Governance : Comp. Supra), desirable "Reforms include ...Human Rights, ...Rule of Law, and ...Civil Society", through "Dialogue" and via the "EU-China Legal affairs" Cooperation "to Support and Accompagny China's Legal Reforms", which has just been "Launched" on June 2016 in Brussels, (according to an Agreement concluded at the Latest EU - China Summit on 2015 in Brussels : Comp. f.ex. "Eurofora"s NewsReports from the spot, then), reportedly Starting, particularly, with "e - Commerce" and "Consumer Protection", etc.

    - Even more Important, it's also on the Need to Face "InSecurity and Instability in East Asia", which "can only Spread to the rest of our Fragile World", including by Ensuring, f.ex., "Safety of Maritime Routes", and "Respect of International Norms", which "Concern the whole International Community" (i.e. USA included, etc), while EU "is Not Taking Sides on ... Territorial Claims in the South China Sea", but "Expects, in the Days ahead", a "full Compliance with International Norms, especially the .. UNCLOS, and a Peaceful Solution to any Disputes", that Mogherini pointed in addition.

    - At any case, "China is also an Essential Player in Other Issues", such as, f.ex., "Iran's Nuclear Programme", "Climate Change", (where EU's High Representative on External Action Welcomed Beijing's "Responsible Engagement" and "Role", including on the 2015 "Paris' Conference" of the UNCCC, "compared with their Attitude just a few Years Ago", (Back on 2009 in Copenhagen's International UNCCC Summit of Heads of State/Government, infamous for a so-called "G2" alleged Deal with US President Barack Hussein Obama, In-coming then, but Out-Going Now, Comp. "Eurofora"s NewsReports from that Copenhagen UNO Summit, f.ex. at : .....).  And Beijing has "an Essential Role to Play in Afghanistan", on which "We (EU) will Work Together" to prepare a "Conference .. in Brussels on October" 2016, as she Announced, while being also "a Relevant Actor in Africa and the Middle East", (f.ex. "in the International Support Group for Syria, and in the UN", where "Cooperation is Strong"), as well as "on Migration, ...Development Aid", etc.

    - Last, but not least,  as "None of our (EU's 28) Member States has the Size, nor the Power ... to engage ... with China", it's obviously "as a True Union, as European Union" that "We Can surely Do it", "as Part of the Global <<G 3>>" (Europe - China - USA), Mogherini concluded, speaking at a Moment when the recent UK Referendum for "BREXIT" re-launched various Calls to Boost Plans for Closer EU - Russia links, (existing since De Gaule's "Greater Europe, from the Atlantic to the Urals", and revisited on 2003 during the Controversial Invasion of Iraq, Strongly Criticized Yesterday even by the Famous British "Chilcot" Report Published on Wednesday in London about the UnPopular Dealings of former PM Blair), in order to Forge a Negotiating Block of about 700 - 800 Millions People, more able to Deal with China's more than a Billion.

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    => That "G-3" Vision, was also Highlighted at Mogherini's main Reply to various MEPs' observations, at the Conclusion of EU Parliament's relevant Debate, later-on, where she Pointed at the Fact that "Europeans ..., the Chinese, and the Americans" have almost "the Same Level in terms of Size, But ...very Different Standards", and "This is the (main) Issue we Have to Work on", (particularly in a Multi-Polar World vision, Dear to De Gaule and several Other European, but also Chinese Politicians, including President Xi).

    Meanwhile, EU Commission's vice-President ensured MEPs that she "Heard" their "Comments on the Challenges we are Facing", "particularly" on Industrial

"OverCapacity", "Human Rights", "Market Access", or "Market Economy Status" (MES), etc., to which she "add(ed)" also "Security in Asia", that "Few .. if None" among them "pointed out", even if "it Affects, ..somehow, Global Stability and .. our (EU's) own Security", as she Criticized in turn, noting even "the South Chine Sea issue".

    But for Mogherini, "MES" "is Not the Main Issue, Nor the Issue of the Strategy we Discuss Tonight". Moreover, on the Contrary, EU's China "Strategy aims at 2 things" : Not only at "Being ...Honest and Crystal-clear on the Challenges and Difficulties", (about "Security, Trade, ..Market, OverCapacity and Human Rights"), "But also to Create a Commong Ground ... on a Positive and Forward-Looking basis ... on the Opportunities, that We (EU) Can and Must Seize ...with China", as she Stressed, Concluding by a Call to EU Parliament to "Help" "Impement this (EU) Strategy" by "Tackling the Challenges in the most Useful Way for ..European Citizens and Businesses", while "also .. Getting the Benefits of a Relationship that is Strategic"

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    A somewhat Similar, mutatis-mutandis, EU Interest in a Recently Growing Potential to Develop much Further EU - China relations, including on High-Tech Sectors, while also Feeling a Need to Address asap certain Concerns by Taking adequate Measures, was obviously Ambiant even at a subsequent EU Parliament's Debate Today Afternoon (Thursday) on the "Transfert of Personal Data to China", i.e. in a Key Digital Economy and Society Modern Issue :

    - EU Commissioner for Transports, Violeta Bulc, (a former Minister of Development, Integration and Cohesion, from Slovenia, with a Background in Digital Technology and Innovation), observed from the outset that China "has Not Yet any Legislation on Personal Data Protection", Neither is it engaged into Bilateral Talks with the EU about a relevant Legal Reform until now, even if the EU currently has Discussions with APEC, where China is Member, to which is added also the Fact of  "Binding Corporate Rules", as she pointed out.

    - But, Meanwhile, Data Movements between EU Countries and China have already Started to Grow de facto, Despite the European Principle that Legal "Safety" of Personal Data is "Necessary" in order to "Enable their Transfert" regularly from one Country to anOther. Indeed, "Transfert of Data (from the EU) to Countries who don't have a Personal Data Legislation is Only Possible If there are Other equivalent Safeguards", which, "Include", f.ex., "Standard Contractual Clauses, or Binding Corporate Rules", etc,  as Bulc reminded.

    (That Latest Possibility, concerning mainly Big Multinational Companies, "is particularly relevant to <<Cloud>> Computing", i.e. a New Technique used more and more Often recently, as "Global Businesses Need to Trasfert and Store Data in Differend Locations").

    - Because, for the EU, "Personal Data Protection is a Fundamental Right", and, (in Addition to a Pre-Existing PanEuropean CoE's relevat Convention on PDP : Comp. f.ex. .....), an EU's New Directive on that area "Will Enter into Force on 2018", she observed. Meanwhile, Implementation and Enforcement of relevant Laws is entrusted "to National Data Protection Authorities and Courts", which have the Power to Order, f.ex. "the Blocking, Erasure or Destruction of Data, or to Ban Processing" them, definitively or provisionaly, (etc). "Without adequate Safeguards", Trasferts of Data "risk to create Trade Barriers" and/or "to Violate WTO Commitments", she Warned.

    - Therefore, EU is "Concerned", f.ex., about "Access of Public Security Authorities to Personal Data Transfered from the EU to China", concerning their "Localisation", etc, while it Hopes that "China's Security concerns will be Addressed in a Proportional way", according to EU Commissioner Bulc.

     - That Latest Observation (Comp. Supra) is related to "Cyber-Security" and "National Security" Issues, on which "China Adopted and/or Proposed several Laws during the Last 18 Months", she observed, however.

    - In this respect, EU also "Welcomed an Opportunity to be Consulted", and "China's engagement in Transparency on the Legislative Process" in that matter, Bulc nevertheless noted Positively.

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    Vice-President of EU Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs, German MEP Axel Voss, from the Governing ChristianDemocrat Party, speaking on behalf of the Biggest Group of MEPs (that of EPP), observed the Fact that, "already, Personal Data Transfert to China is a Reality, f.ex. by Cloud Computing, (particularly for Big, Multinational Companies, etc), or by using (Shanghai Headquartered) "Alibaba" e-Trade Platform, etc, and he expressed the wish for "an Adequate Level of Protection", Not very "far away" from what "we (EU) are Negotiating currently with the USA", as he said, (making Today another, indirect Hint to that "G-3" already refered to, Yesterday, by EU Commissioner Federica Mogherini : Comp. Supra).

    - But, "I learn from Collegues (MEPs) who are Activists on these matters", that there are some "Shortfalls", in this regard, and, "therefore, I Ask the (EU) Commission, How it can Guarantee", particularly "the Privacy Standards" of Europe, "for the Transfert of Data to China", "Better than what has been done so far", "Because I believe that it's, So Far, Too Little", Voss Criticized.

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    + Replying to this and various similar Observations also by several Other MEPs, EU Commissioner Bulc reiterated that Protection of Personal Data is inscribed both in EU's "Charter" of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (which entered into force on 2010), as well as in EU secondary "Laws" (Comp. Supra), while also "Underlying" that "Transfert of Data" is Not Legal "in the Absence of Adequate Safeguards", as a matter of General Principle.

    >>> Such Safeguards "Can, f.ex. be also included in Contractual Clauses", imposing "Obligations on Security and Protection of Personal Data, against Loss, Alteration, and/or Anauthorized Access", etc., she Suggested.

    + Moreover, "Multinational Companies" often include relevant Safeguards "in Binding Corporate Rules", (Comp. Supra), that even "Individuals" can invoke "as Third Parties", Bulc added.

    - In Legal Practice, the main Point is for "Rules", f.ex. on "Compensation in case of Breach", etc., to exist, as well as "a Possibility to make a complaint before an Authority for Data Protection and/or a Court", she explained.

    => Therefore, "EU Commission Will continue to Promote our (European) Principles" on "Data Flows" and Protection of Personal Data", both Directly with China, and via APEC or Other Regional/Internatiional Organizations, the EU Commissioner Concluded, speaking in Strasbourg just a Week before the forthcoming Annual EU - Chna Summit in Beijing, (Comp. Supra), and a few Months before PanEuropean CoE's 2 Important International Conferences here on "Freedom of Expression at the Internet", September 2016, and on "Cyber-Crime", November 2016, before UNO's Annual "GDF" in Mexico, December 2016.

     Until Now, CoE's classic International "Convention on Personal Data Protection", which exists since 1981, and is Open to Signature and Ratification by Any Country, is the Only Legaly Binding Treaty on that matter in the World. Strasbourg's PanEuropean Organization (which Includes Russia among its 47 Member States), has also a "Cyber-Crime Convention", opened to SIgnature at Budapest, with a similar Global Potential. USA and Other Non-European Countries from various Continents accross the World participated in the Preparation of Both these 2 Parallel Legal Instruments on the Modern Digital Society, and, even if Washington has not yet become an Official Member, nevertheless, several Other Countries from America, Australia, Africa or Asia have started to Join those CoE's Moves, while its Committee of Minister Started, Recently, to strongly Support the Perspective of a World-wide Expansion of Membership in these Legal Tools, that its Current, Estonian Presidency (May - November 2016) intends to Boost further, (See, f.ex.: ... + ...).

    It's alsoo True, However, that some CoE Member Countries, such as, particularly Russia, etc, have already expressed certain Reserves, mainly vis a vis a 2011 "Additional Protocol" to the above-mentioned CoE's Data Protection Cnvention, as well as to its Forthcoming "Review", scheduled for the End of 2016, but also on the PanEuropean Organization's "Cyber-Crime" Convention, particularly as far as it concerns "Trans-Border Data flows" and/or Data processed by National Govzernments for "Security" purposes. Various Technical and/or Legal Possibilities for Controversial Access to such Sensitive Data by Foreign Countries as f.ex. USA, etc., has , reportedly, played a Notable Role in this Issue, (as "Eurofora" has Witnessed at Various concrete Occasions in several International Conferences in Strasbourg, during these Post-9/11 Years, and mainly during Out-going USPresident Obama's terms of Office in 2008-2016, who has apparently taken a Growing Keen Interest on such matters).  

    However, such Issues as "Personal Data Protection", and/or "CyberCrime", etc., could, eventualy, become integral Parts of the above-mentioned, Wider "EU - China Dialogue on Legal affairs", which was Agreed on 2015 and has just Started since June 2016, with its Next Meetings Scheduled in Brussels for the Beginning of 2017, (Comp. Supra).

    At any case, Exceptionaly, EU Parliament did Not prepare, this time, any relevant written Resolutions for Vote, probably because sufficient Time lacked before the forrthcoming Annual EU - China Summit in Bejing Next Week, (Comp. Supra).

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- A First EU Parliament's Step towards fully Legitimising a similar kind of reaction as that of Greece's Neighbouring Countries at the Western Balkan Routes, who notoriously decided, Alll Together and Joined by the Visegrad Group, to establish Border Checks and even Blockades in 2016 as long as Athens' New Government persisted to abstain from Pushing Back mainly Turkish Smugglers' Ships illegaly crossing into EU + Shengen External Borders to Import a Massive Influx of 1,3 Million Asylum Seekers/irregular Migrants through Turkey in 2015/2016, (thereby Succeeding to Help consideraby Cut the Number of Mass-Tresspassers in Spectacular Proportions quite Fast, and even Before a Controversial, UnPopular and Costly EU - Turkey deal  entered into force, Later-on - See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/unpopulareuvisafreefor80millionsturksuseless.html ), seems well to have been made Today by a Strong Majority of MEPs after Adopting a series of Amendments on EU Commision's proposal for the Creation of an EU External Borders' Guard Agency.

Even if it could obviously become in Future a much-Needed Amelioration, (often Debated and Welcomed Recently both by EU Citisens and various Politicians, but also by EU Heads of States/Governments' Summits, etc), nevertheless, it's not so much the anounced Establishment of that Agency in itself, (which is Expected, after Official Endorsing by an EU Summit, to be set up from Autumn 2016), that represents The Most radicaly Ground-Breaking Point :

This New EU Tool, - obviously Indispensable for a Sovereign, Independent and Safe Europe which badly Needs to become Able to Control its own External Borders, as well as in order to Safeguard EU Citizens' Free Movement around Internal EU Borders particularly at the Shenghen Area,- nevertheless, is Not Yet a Really nor Sufficiently Big Move :

F.ex., inter alia, the projected Number of EU Border and Coast-Guards would gather, at the Horizon of 2020, Only One (1) such Guard per several Dozens of Kms of EU Coast-Line (sic !), EU won't have its own Agents, but will Depend on Mobilizing, Each Time, various Quotas of National Guards "Ready to Use", lended by EU Member States, and, if it Faces a Reluctant Member Country Obstinated into practicaly Leaving its Part of EU's External Borders UnProtected, even at the Detriment of the European General Interest, it could Only Act after a rather Heavy Procedure, including an EU Parliament's Information and Consultation, an EU Commission's Proposal, and an EU Council's Official Decision.

However, it's also true that the projected EU Border/Coast Guard will be a Mechanism Working with a "2 Levels" System, i.e. mainly by Organizing Europe-Wide Information Networks on Border Protection, and mainly by Intervening on the Spot, to Help any EU Member State facing an Emergency Situation at EU's External Borders, particularly by Adding a 1.600 - strong EU Force and relevant Equipment, whenever a National Government might, eventualy, Feel Necessary to Ask for its Support.

But, a more Important (and Hotly Debated) Innovation is that a Majority of European Countries could, from now on, take Action to Protect EU's General Interest vis a vis a Refusal to move eventualy opposed by a Recalcitrant Member State which Fails to Defend its Part of EU's External Borders, even when there is a Serious Threat to Disrupt EU Citizens' Freedom of Movement inside the Shengen Area and/or to Harm Europe as a whole, as has just Voted 483 MEPs, against Only 181 Today iN Strasbourg.

Perhaps the Most Interesting and Topical Point is also that, (as EU Parliament's Rapporteur on the EU Border/Coast Guard, Artis Pabriks, a mainstream ChristianDemocrat MEP from Latvia, Repeatedly Stressed, Both by Writting, and through Press Spokespersons, as well as in a subsequent Press Conference in Strasbourg), several European Neighbouring Countries will be able to Trigger Action to Establish Checks, on a Temporary basis, and Take Full Control of their Internal EU Borders vis a vis such a Recalcitrant EU Member State which might Fail to protect its part of EU's External Borders, while also Refusing an efficient EU Direct Help on the spot, despite an External Danger Threatening also its European Neighbours.

I.e. Something which is strikingly Similar to what has just Happened, from February/Early March 2016, at the so-called "Western Balkan Route", when Serbia, FYROM, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary and Austria, supported also by the rest of "Visegrad" Countries (Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia : the Incoming New EU President for July-December 2016, Comp. Statement of the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, in Reply to an "Eurofora"'s Question at a Press Conference during the latest EU Heads of State/Government Summit in Brussels : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/ficomigrationpolicymightpushbrexits.html), apparently with an Implicit Tolerance even from several Other Big EU Countries, finaly Had to Set up Internal EU Border Controls and even Closure in order to Start Stopping that Unprecedented 1,3 Million Massive Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants "Tsunami" comming through Turkey, as long as a New Government in Greece refused to Push Back the mainly Turkish Smugglers' Human Trafficking Ships (which have already provoked the Death of a Record-High Number of Refugees/Migrants by Drowning, particularly among the Poorest), at EU's External Borders in the Aegean Sea, while also using even Jet-Propulsed Tourist Luxury Big Ships, a well Organized Network of Busses and Trains in a Systematic Mass Public Transport (almost as Serbia also did by Rail, Croatia, etc), towards the Northern Borders of that Strategicaly Located EU and Shengen as well as €uroZone Member Country, (Comp. f.ex.: .....).

What is really at Stake, bypasses, indeed, even what EU Rapporteur Pebrics and the Text Adopted Today in Strasbourg by a Strong EU Parliament's Majority, with 483 Votes, against Only 181, have already Warned from the outset, (See f.ex. the 1st Article of the Official Proposal for an EU Directive), by Pointing out that its "Not Only" about "Monitoring Efficiently the Crossing of (EU's) External Borders, and multifacet "Migratory Challenges", but also about Various Other "Potential Future Threats at those borders", as well as in order to "Contribute to Address serious Crime with a cross-border Dimension, and to Ensure a High Level of Internal Security within the Union", while also "Safeguarding the Free Movement of persons therein". (I.e. obviously Including current "Terrorist threats", as the Recent Deadly Attacks by Extremist Islamic ISIL's atrocious HeHeaders even of Innocent and Defenseless Civilian People in Paris and Brussels, etc., proved, since Several among those Murderous Terrorists had, precisely, Arrived Hidden inside that Huge Refugees/Migrants' Infux through Turkey and via EU+Shenghen Member Greece, including 2 Turkish and Other origins' "Djihadists", 10 surviving Pals of whom, from Strasbourg's area, were just Condemned Today by a French Court to 6 or 8 Years in Jail, and a 2/3 Security Surveillance period, after their Trip and Active, Armed Stay in the Territories of Syria which remain still Occupied by ISIL's Terrorist Bands, despite the latest Advances by International Coalition Forces on the spot).

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- While Chilcot Iraq War Inquiry, mainly on Controversial former PM Blair's role back on 2003, is due to Publish its Long-Awaited Results later this Week, EU Parliament paid Today Hommage to the Victims of a Series of Bloody Attacks by ISIL's Terrorists which Killed Many Civilian People in Iraq, Yemen, Turkey and Bangladesh last week, apparently abused as a Morbid "Publicity" Tool by those Brutal and Inhuman Extremist Islamist Gangs who are reportedly Losing Ground recently both in the Iraq and in Syrian fronts on the ground.

The President of EU Parliament, Martin Schulz from Germany, (an experienced SocialDemocrat MEP since 1994 : Comp. f.ex. his 1st INTW to "Eurofora"s Co-Founder already as Early as since 1995, published then at "TCWeekly", etc), observed that "More than 300 People were Killed, and more than 500 Wounded", including even "Civilians, Women and Children", during those latest Terrorist Attacks, and Expressed MEPs' Strong "Condemnation" of such a "Monstrous Violence" and "Murderous Ideology", by a "Terrorism without Borders", which "can only be Combatted with a Global Cooperation", as he stressed.

President Schulz also expressed the European Parliament's wish to "Stand By those Other Regions of the World", as well as MEPs' "Condoleances" for the Victims (from "Different Origins, Religions and Nationalities", as he observed), of this Series of Deadly Terrorist Attacks, which were All Revendicated by ISIL's Terrorists, with the Only Exception of that latest strike in Turkey, which Targetted Foreign Tourists at the International Section of Istanbul's Airport, as also at the Diplomatic Quarter of Bangladesh's Capital Dacca.

At the Deadliest Terrorist Attack in Iraq since 2003, more than 210 Civilian People were reportedly Killed at a Market in Bagdad, including 20 Women and 25 Children. In Yemen, about 80 People, more than Half of them Civilians, were also Killed during a Series of Bombings and varViolent Clashes. In Turkey, a Majority of Foreign Tourists, from Many Countries around the World, as well as Security a.o. Staff, and about 9 Turkish Civilians were among the 45 Victims of 3 Suicide Bombers from Foreign Countries, attributed by Ankara to ISIL. But a Few Days Earflier, as many as 8 Other ISIL's Suicide Bombers had reportedly Attacked a Christian Village in Lebanon, near the Syrian Borders. As for Bangladesh, among the almost 30 Victims in a Hostage-Taking Attack at a Restaurant, were also, at least 7 European Civilian People, (including Women), mainly from Italy, (as ChristianDemocrat MEP Mrs Gardini pointed out at EU Parliament's Plenary).

Mainstream German Newspaper "Die Welt" Published Today an Article with Visual Documents and Factual Data revealing that ISIL's Deadly Terrorists and Atrocious BeHeaders even of Innocent and Defenseless Civilian People, are currently Exploiting a Long Series of Recent Attacks, from the USA (Orlando Massacre) up to Iraq and Bangladesh, etc., during a so-called "Ramadan Offensive" (sic !), also in order to make more Publicity for their "2nd Anniversary" since the "proclamation of the Khalifat" in the Territories of Iraq and Syria that their Armed Gangs had Occupied since 2014, by Claiming an International Terrorist Network including "Covert Armies" in Many Countries, even in Europe (France), as they boasted.

However, an Initial Intention by the Biggest Group of MEPs, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, to lodge a Demand for a Debate and the Vote of a Resolution on these latest Tragedies, was, Finaly, droped, at least for the Time being, for reasons which were Not Discussed in Public Now.

The above-mentioned, EU Parliament's brief Introductory Event, Right at the Beginning of the July 2016 Weekly Plenary Session in Strasbourg, Coincided, as Schulz noted from the outset, also with the apparently Natural Death, in the Age of 85 y.o., of former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard, a long-time Socialist, but who had also assumed a Mission on Hig-Tech Investments entrusted to hium by former President Nicolas Sarkozy, (currently Head of the main Opposition New "Republican" Party), who had just Published, just a Few Days Earlier this Month, an Exclusive, Frontpage INTW at a mainstream Review Magazine, Accusing "the French Left" to be "The Most Retrograde in the World", as well as with the Natural Death also of World Famous Writer Elie Wiesel, one of the Last Witnesses of the 2nd World War and NAZI/Fascist regimes' Inhuman Atrocities.

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Australia, (whose MPs' Delegation has a Special Status to CoE's Assembly in Strasbourg), seems to advance, recently, towards more and more "Strange" Electoral Results, with apparently Uncertain Governments, despite a Growing Popular Trend towards Various New or Old Forms of Center-Right Political Movements, which looks Crystal-clear in plain Democracy terms, partcularly by taking into account simply Australian People's Votes accross several Parties, which unquestionably Lean towards the Right side of the Political Spectrum, even if this passes also through various "Social-Conservative" Parties of Values.

Indeed, at First Sight, a wide-spread Feeling at many Media of the Establishment is a kind of "Pat" situation between the 2 Traditional Parties, (the Liberal-Nationals of the Center-Right, and Labour at its Left), threatening possibly a "Hang" Parliament, with New and/or Independent Movements still Growing Larger, in a quite Incomprehensible Political Landscape, which made a mainstream Media chose an Enigmatic Heading with the Open Question : - "What just Happened ?", while Citizens are invited to Wait, perhaps even ...a whole "Month" (sic !) in order to Learn the really Final Results, once a new mode of Counting would have been completed...

But, in fact, already many point to a Possibility, for the Center-Right Coalition to form a New Government, eventualy Supported by 1 or 2 similarly-minded Independent MPs (See Infra), since an eventual Labour - Greens - Independent makeshift Alternative might prove to be either Impossible or Too Unstable, incoherent and Shaky.

However, one thing stands for Sure : Australian People's Votes apparently gave at least a +7% Lead to an about 42%-Strong Center-Right Coalition (of Nationals-Liberals), compared to a Labour party Condemned to Stay at Only around 35%.

Even Despite the Scandal of Massive Mobile Phones' Messages, send at the Last Minute, at the Eve of that Election, apparently by Fans of the Left, with grossly False and Misleading Claims that the Center-Right would ..."Privatise" the National Health System, i.e. a Nonsense, which, however, Costed several Votes to the detriment of the Coalitiion...

And, probably, a Key Interesting Fact is that Most among those Numerous Growing New and/or Independent Political Movements, (which, taken All Together, represent Now More than + 12 %, Advancing Fast for about +7% More Votes than Before, while Traditional Parties lose, stagnate or get Only +1% more), seem clearly to be mainly Various Parts of a rather Conservative Values Popular Trend, Totaling an Important Amount of almost 660.000 UnRepresented yet Votes, in Addition to the 2 Independent MPs of the pre-existing "Kutter's Australian" and the New "Nick Xenophon" (a Cyprus-origin Politician) grouplets.

This goes, f.ex., also for several among manifold Movements such as "Family First", "Christian-Democrats", "One Nation", (the 3 Front-Runners, who are all Growing), "Rise Up Australia", "Australian Christians", "Defence Veterans", "Liberty Alliance", "Shooters, Fishers and Farmers", and various Other small "Independent" Candidates (Growing +1,5% up to almost 3%), etc.
I.e., mutatis-mutandis, a somewhat Similar Popular Trend that has been Recently Observed also in the Latest Elections in Ireland, Greece, partialy Spain, in Special Terms even at the USA, and several Other Countries accross Europe and the World.

Therefore, already, some Australian Politicians and Medias have reportedly Started to Launch a Call for the Governing National-Liberal Coalition to Get Back towards its "Conservative Values" original Sources, "Closer to the Peopl"e, whose Voice "Must be Heard", as the out-going Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull promissed, (even if this might, perhaps, include also a Return of his predecessor, Tony Abbot, in one way or another, among various possibilities).

Will this Australian People's message be really Listened to, and adequately Heard, or Not ?

Meanwhile, at least 4 MP Seats still remain Undetermined, (a Crucial Number for one among the Biggest Traditional Parties to eventualy reach or approch a Majority of 76), while a Growing Lot of Active Voters haven't still Found any adequate Representation to the Australian Parliament yet... 

(../..)

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("DraftNews", as already send to "Eurofora"s Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version might be Published asap).

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