EU Parliament simplifies Citizens Access on Europe Day, but Debates potential remains to be explored

Exceptionally suspending the use of Electronic Counters to facilitate some 18.000 People's entry at EU Parliament's Tower Building in Strasbourg, brave enough to face an unprecedented May Heatwave for the 2011 Open Doors visit at the eve of Europe's Day, simplifying their roadmap through tens of various Stands in 3 Floors up to the spectacular Hemicycle, multiplying Musical choices at the Courtyard now equiped with confortable chairs, while bringing together High-Tech IT Exhibitons with Young Agriculturers' ..baby sheep and food, etc., the organizers of this year's annual event apparently tried to realize the wish expressed when Strasbourg's Mayor, Socialist Senator Roland Ries was welcomed by EU Parliament's 1st vice-President, Christian-Democrat/EPP's MEP Rodi Kratsa, (both posing with a smile to an "EuroFora"'s Photo),  for EU Citizens to "feel at Home" inside a Democratic European Parliament during the May 2011 "EU Feast", close to EU Parliament's biggest Group, ChristianDemocrats/EPP's Chairman, Joseph Daul's will to stress the need for "Social Cohesion" and a practical Human Touch during these years of Global Crisis, "if we want to have a Europe of Citizens", (See infra).

But, despite a rather nice general debate on an easy issue : 2011 EU Volunteering Year, this time, contrary to some initial claims, organizers didn't yet explore at all EU Parliament's immense potential to attract EU Citizens' interest for Public Debates with MEPs on "Hot" Topical Issues at the eve of important EU Decisions which seriously affect People's lives, as "EuroFora"s original Project has recommended (Comp. infra), obviously leaving huge untapped yet resources able to revitalize MEP's social role and popularity in the Future (comp. infra)...

Omni-present, EU Parliament's 1st vice-President Mrs Rodi Kratsa welcomed Citizens at the official openings both in Brussels and in Strasbourg, participating in Debates on the 2011 Year of European Volunteering, inciting People to use MEPs' Communication tools in the Hemicycle in order to exchange views with 3 EU Parliament's vice-Presidents, a Political Group Chairman and 2 other mainstream MEPs. Various Volunteering Experineces, as, f.ex. with Young Federalists for a United Europe in Switzerland, and/or with Associations helping to fight against Children's Cancer in Greece, etc., made her realize the need to encourage Young People's Mobility, as well as Training and International Cooperation, etc., she observed later-on.

European TV Channel "ARTE"'s Director, Klaus Wenger, (the only RadioTV  to have the unique chance to be Headquartered right in front of EU Parliament's Strasbourg Headquarters..),  moderating the debate, observed from the outset that Volunteering is important both Economically, since it already generates something between 1% and 5% of EU's GDP, and from the Moral or Ideologic point of view, since it may give a Meaning in many People's lives, but shouldn't, however, be used as a pretext for States' withdrawal from some socially vital sectors, as he said, prefering to point at Strasbourg's vocation as "Capital of EU Citizenship".

The President of EU Parliament's Culture and Education Committee, experienced German ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Doris Pack, focused on the fact that Volunteering should not replace jobs, neither State-organized services,  but is a valuable way for People to make an active contribution to the Society, and undertake Responsibilities which serve often in the USA as a criterium for future job applicants. Work done in the interest of Society  should be validated and Recognized in the EU, f.ex. with a kind of "EU Passport", as a possible outcome of the 2011 campaign.

The Chairman of EU Parliament's biggest Group of MEPs, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP,  French MEP Joseph Daul, stressed from the outset that Volunteering "helps keep Social Cohesion", particularly during the recent years of Global Crisis, by playing a similar role of Solidarity to that of large Families in Past traditions, that EU needs today to find anew, in one way or another, "if we want a Europe for Citizens". Already, more than 98 Millions of People, and some 24% of Adults throughout the EU are or have been volunteers, and should be encouraged and supported, f.ex. by providing them with Training, etc. In some areas, as Strasbourg's Region Alsace, People are used to volunteer, f.ex. as FireFighters, etc., even as long as 38 years, while, even recently, in his Home-village, when a Child became seriously handicaped, his Friends organized regular visits by rotation to keep him company 3 times each week, Daul observed, giving a Human touch.

EU Parliament's vice-President, experienced German MEP Reiner Wieland, noted that, despite a good tradition of Associations in Germany, nevertheless, today, among certain Young People, it may seem sometimes harder to stimulate similar motivations, at least with the exception of spectacular actions as that of Fire-Fighting, etc. But, contributing, f.ex. to a School's Magazine, may also give worthwhile experiences, which should be somehow validated.

Czech Socialist MEP Libor Roucek, another EU Parliament's vice-President, reminded that after the implosion of former "Socialist" regimes, various Civil Society activities emerged in former "Eastern Europe". But, what is more important now, is to try to work together accross EU Countries' Borders, for EU Ideals developing EU Identity.

Socialist MEP, former Minister, Catherine Trautmann, observed, among others, that, despite the Responsibilities that Volunteers may undertake, nevertheless, they still face some difficulties, f.ex. because their Legal status remains partly unclear, or because of the need to respect various Minorities, etc, as she acknowledged also in reply to some Citizens' questions.

Most of them, during the roughly 1 Hour available, were focused either on presenting certain specific initiatives launched earlier, on various kinds of Volunteers, f. ex. of a Christian Network launched in view of the ReUnification of Europe back in 1989, which had started by trying to bring together Western and Eastern Germany before spreading elsewhere (particularly applauded), or of a French Volunteers' network reportedly offering an unofficial validation of People's capacities, but seeking also some kind of Official Recognition, or simply consisted of Factual questions, asking mainly to encourage Volunteers, etc.  Attended by more than 500 or 600 sitting People irregularly rotating  throughout more than an Hour and added to the regular flow of visitors slowly strolling around EU Parliament's huge Hemicycle, this Debate apparently attracted about 2.000 Citizens in overall.
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Christian Democrats of the European People's Party (EPP), by far the biggest EU Parliament's Group, along with the traditional serious, concise Information Documents about its MEPs, EU's main Policies, etc.,  and a Childrens' educative playground, etc., added this time an IT stand on how to get in touch with its President, Strasbourg's MEP Joseph Daul (France), by using ... Twitter and Facebook Web "social networks", which apparently attracted some pretty young ladies... (See Photo).

Logically next to that, EU Parliament's DG-IT high-tech services had particularly friendly and smart presentators, as f.ex. young Reed Sommer, motivated by its mother-country : Estonia's famous investment on Internet (including f.ex., the invention of World-famous Phone/Visio-Conference tool "Skype", which is European, as also is Finland-made "Opera" Browser, or France's "Skyblog", etc.), with interesting PC demonstrations and CDs, as well as .. the best and more handy, pocket Block-Notes, particularly useful to Journalists, that "EuroFora" was grateful to receive and immediately start using...

The new Conservatives and Reformists Group, apparently eager to let People know what exactly might be this ...exotic fruit, focused on showing mainly its "Principles".

But the "Left" appeared more satisfied to mark its "Difference", compared to all other Groups, according to one of its most distributed pamphlets' headlines.

"Greens", on the contrary, prefered to Visually highlight "Bio" Food, versus genetic and other "modifications", and some relevant Reports, (including, naturally, a postcard expressing the controversial view that "Sun" should be the only acceptable "Nuclear" energy)..

Liberals exceptionally distributed a 2011-published, smart "Cartoons-like" Booklet, picturing a kind of .. James Bond, Spy, War or Criminal Story, describing, in fact, EU Parliament's law-making role, through an original Scenario which denounces the way that some Shady Interests might abuse even of Criminal Thugs' methods, in order to "Destabilize" one or another  actor of EU decision-making, who might be critical, and/or experienced enough to touch upon some exceptionally important Financial and/or Political Stakes, (f.ex. a key MEP, Commissioner, Officer, Journalist, Expert, ..), by sly Aggressions, Slandering, even Killing innocent People if need be, Manipulating others by provoked False Impressions, etc., in order  to Discredit his/her Person, undermine and/or Obstruct his/her activities inside the EU. That reminds something...

Surprise at the "Socialist" Group : Almost all stands were, for the 1st time, destinated mainly to ...young Children, with various proposed amusing or Educative playgrounds. Is it because "SD" MEPs wanted to stress the need to invest in EU's Future, (as friendly comments suggested), or, may be, because they prepared a Political Majority come-back in EU Parliament ...after 10 Years (as spicy critics wondered) ?..
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EU Chair, Hungary, presented a well-documented, landmark Exhibition on Budapest's re-unification, renaissance and development, after the grave damages and separation previously imposed by the Ottoman-Turkish Occupation of half of the country, (from which it was notoriously liberated thanks to an astonishing .. European Solidarity with many EU Countries sending troops and volunteers to fight together with the Hungarian People in order to liberate this Strategic European City, even today's Headquarters of the International committee for the navigation of Danube River : a key -"sister" of Strasbourg's Rhine Navigation's International Committee, the oldest Multi-National Organization in Europe).

 

Outside, at EU Parliament's main entrance, .. "Young Peasants'" associations surprisingly succeeded into attracting much more People than some "Institutional" stands, at the oher side of EU Flags' central line, probably profiting from a very Hot Sunny Weather by offering popular ...fresh "Farms' Icecreams", natural Food and Drinks, as well as Young Baby Sheeps, white goats or rosy pigs, still drinking Milk from their Mother's breasts, which became the No 1 attraction for Strasbourg and other Cities' Urban Children... : May be a good omen for EU CAP's future, particularly in these times of Food Global Markets' "volatility" and Health/Security concerns.

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The most astonishing fact was, however, the strange way with which EU Parliament's DSG-Expo's interesting Initiative to prepare and anounce, for the 1st time, a series of "Mini-Conferences" or "Mini-Debates" with Citizens on main EU Policies' areas, (f.ex. "Support to Democratization Worldwide", particularly topical with what is going now on among 3rd Mediterranean Countries, from Moroco up to Syria and Turkey in various ways, "Climate Change", "Development", "Trade", "Human Rights", "etc), was practically pushed aside on the spot, at least from what we saw in Strasbourg :

After vainly asking 2 or 3 "Security" Guards omni-present around EU Parliament, including close to the Hemicycle, we started asking Political Groups' representatives, who also knew nothing about it, and finally asked, in despair, various other EU Parliament's staff, (including "Interpretors", particularly visible, with Conference Translation Booths, etc., attracting Adults and Childrens' curiosity, etc), without any result : Nobody knew where it was ! Finally, an experienced EU Parliament's Information Bureau Official, contacted by Mobile Phone (that we were lacky enough  to have with us), confirmed that DG-Expo's Mini-Debates should, indeed, be located somewhere "out of the Hemicycle". But we turned around that for 2 or 3 Times, without seeing anything like that, nor finding anyone who knew where exactly it was...

Finally, the "Mystery" was solved with the help of a kind "Interpretor", who methodically started to ask one after the other among various EU Parliament staff's Stands, succeeding, after several essays, to, at last, find someone who "knew"  :  - "It's supposed to be just at that Table, at your side", he told us, showing an Empty, ordinary Table with a few Chairs and a Newspaper on it, exactly Similar to his own Table, (where CDs and pretty but too large Block-Notes were carefully piled up behind him, surrounded by several Citizens eager to pick up 2 or 3 large Block-Notes while the EU Agent was looking at another side : They even kindly offered as one, "EuroFora" being naturally happy to be served by EU Citizens faster)..

Absolutely Nothing, not even the slightest Sign or Inscription, Poster, Photograph, etc., didn't distinguish that particular Table from all others around it, so that No-one couldn't normally guess what was its purpose, unless he or she had some ... "Secret" information that the so-called "Mini-Debates" would be held there : Not even "EuroFora", who passed 3 Times in front of that area, without noticing anything, despite the fact that we were consciously searching to find that "Mini-Conferences"' area on purpose ! - "We tried, earlier this morning, to start there a "Mini-Debate", but there were not enough interested People", tried to stoically explain a nearby Agent. But, how on Earth could any EU Citizen visiting EU Parliament for the 1st time, know that he was offered a Chance to "Debate" on this or that EU Policy's current developments, if he was practically hindered even to see where such a proposed activity might take place ?...

+ Moreover, as "EuroFora"'s Project has repeatedly stressed, since 1996-2010, EU Citizens are eager to speak and engage in Real Debates with MEPs, their Political Representatives, mainly at the eve of Important EU Decisions that have to be taken on issues seriously affecting their Lives : Not just "in sbstracto" and/or "sub specie aeternitatis", with a simple (even the most educated) Administration's Staff instead of MEPs, nor independently of imminent EU Decisions..

Therefore, it's obviously a pitty that EU Parliament DG-Expo's Good Idea to prepare "Mini-Debates" wasn't really supported in Practice on the spot (See supra), and even more that it wasn't developed :

F.ex. by crystal-clear Anouncements to the Public beforehand, and distinctively Visible Areas for Public Debate offered to Visitors in clearly designated Areas, easy to find, Access and use. Even better, with the active presence of at least 1 or 2 MEPs, and focused on real EU Parliament's Decision-making, imminent Choices on Topical Issues which affect People's Life, (Comp. "EuroFora"s original, 1996-2010 Project, already communicated, also by writting, to several key-players among EU a.o. Officials, as well published on-line, since a long Time ago).

In these conditions (See supra) nobody could legitimatively claim that People might "not be interested" in EU Debates, since they were practically (in astonishing circonstances) hindered even to know if and where those DG-Expo "Mini-Conferences/Debates" might take place.. All Internet Forums, both in Europe and in the U.S. and elsewhere in the World, ostensibly attest of the fact that the Large Majority of People are almost everywhere eager to have an opportunity to Speak, Publish and Exchange their Views on Topical, "Hot" Political issues, even more when they might be given a chance to (directly or indirectly, immediately or at differentiated times) participate in a Public Dialogue with key MEPs, EU Citizens' Political Representatives...

- "The proof of the Pudding being in the eating", as they say, if anyone might, eventually, disagree or not think that EU Parliament might have that Potential aura  in which "EuroFora" strongly believes, then, let's just "Test" it, in Fair terms, in REAL practice : "Hic Rodus, his saltus" !