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Home arrow newsitems arrow CoE Human Rights Commissioner Mijatovic to EF on Journalism Safety: PACE Extends to All Media Actors

CoE Human Rights Commissioner Mijatovic to EF on Journalism Safety: PACE Extends to All Media Actors

Written by ACM
Wednesday, 25 April 2018
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*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking to "Eurofora", the New CoE's PanEuropean Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović (2018 - 2024), announced that she would "Follow" closely CoE Assembly's Debate on the "Status of Journalists in Europe", Today in Strasbourg.


- The main Reason is "because I Intend to Work, particularly, on the Safety of Journalists", i.e. a Topical Issue, which has a Special Importance Nowadays, and that CoE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly wants to Extend to All "Medias' Actors".


This became Clear when MEPs Voted to adopt 2 Amendments to a Report on the "Status of Journalists in Europe", which, in Addition to Traditional Journalists, Extended its Scope also to "Other Medias Actors".


Mijatovic has a Good Personal Experience of the Issues of Press Freedom and Journalists' Safety, etc., since this area was her proper Area of Action for Years Before, as former OSCE's High Representative on Free Speech for a Long Period, during which she met with "Eurofora", and gave us various Replies to our Questions on several Topical Issues, (as, f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/oscemediafreedomrepresentativeonwebnewsactors.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/unrappporteuronfreespeechandechrjudgementsexecution.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coepressfreedominturkey.html, etc).  

 

 -  Even if there is a "Need to Find a very Thin Line" in that matter, (about which Media Workers should be included), nevertheless, particularly when there are People who even Take Risks in order to dare Investigate and reveal some thorny Truths of General Interest to the Society (as we had evoked), - "It's Absolutely Out of Question that they should Not be Protected !", Mijatovic had earlier told us, in this regard. + And "They should Also be given Access to Public Events", she had added, when she still was in charge of Press Freedom at the OSCE (See:
http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/oscemediafreedomrepresentativeonwebnewsactors.html).

 

- New CoE's Human Rights' Commissioner's Focus on the "Safety of Journalists", in her Statement to "Eurofora" Today, (Comp. Supra), obviously refers also to COE's  Highest Political Body, its Committee of Ministers' Recommendation of 2016 (4) on "the Safety of Journalists and Other Media Actors", that Member States were explicity called to "Implement", with an Amendment adopted now by CoE's Parliamentary Assembly.

 

According to that CoE's CM Recommendation, "Ongoing Technological Developments have Transformed the Traditional Media environment, ... leading to New conceptions of Media". In particular, "UN Human Rights Committee has ... stated that “Journalism is a Function Shared by a Wide range of Actors, including ...(those) who Engage in forms of Self-Publication ...on the Internet". The UN General Assembly has also acknowledged that “Journalism is continuously Evolving, to include inputs from Media institutions, private Individuals and a range of Organisations that Seek, Receive and Impart information and Ideas ..., OnLine, as well as offline … thereby contributing to Shape Public Debate” in a Democratic Society. According to the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, “the Protection of Journalists ...should Cover Others ... who may be using New Media, as a means of reaching their audiences”.


Indeed, CoE Assembly also Adopted, Today, Unanimously, anOther Amendment, which Urges Member States to "fully implement their Obligations stemming from Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights, as regards ...Media Actors' Freedom of Expression, and in particular their Right Not to reveal Journalistic Sources, and their Right to Receive or Impart Information".


As CoE Assembly's Legal and Human Rights Committee has already Stressed, in its Written "Opinion", concerning "the Definition of Journalist", "References ... to Protection of Freedom of Expression, including Protection of Sources, and Prevention of Impunity for Threats and Reprisals, should take a Wider ...Aproach, reflecting Contemporary Realities in how Infiormation, Analysis and Comment are Generated and Publicly Shared", (as CoE's Committee of Ministers, and UNO's Human Rights Committee, among others", have "Already" done : Comp. Supra).


+ By a Timely Coincidence, Today's Move was Combined also with the Official Announcement of mainstream ChristianDemocrat MEP Peter Omzigt's nomination by CoE's Assembly as Rapporteur for the Investigation of the Recent Brutal Murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a Dissident and Critical, as well as Investigative Journalist, particularly on Anti-Corruption Issues related to Top Politicians in Malta, where her Car Exploded by a Bomb triggered near her Family Home, (See "Eurofora"s 1st NewsReport on that case, at: ...).


The Victim's Sons had told "Eurofora" that, in Fact, Daphne's former Traditional Media, a Weekly Newspaper, did Not Allow her to really use her Freedom of Expression, since Most or All of her most Critical Draft Papers were Censored or Otherwise Hindered to be Published, Because some Government Agents exerted Heavy Pressure on her former Employers to Skip her Criticism, (f.ex. through the Allocation or Refusal of Paid Government Publicity, Adds, etc). So that she had been practicaly Obliged to Set up her own, Independent, Web-News Media, from which she was Able and Free to Write and Publish whatever she wanted, and whenever she wanted. It was her Sharply Critical, and Independent Investigative Web Media which had, obviously, attracted the Hostility of those who Slyly Murdered her. (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/webjournalistmurder.html , http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euparliamentpresidentoncoeandjournalistmurder.html , http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/daphnewebjournalistmurderenquiry.html , etc).


Already, Earlier, the Experienced former Long-Time UNESCO's Director General, and f. Foreign Minister, Irina Bocova, had Issued a Press Release with a Strong Denunciation of the Murder of Miranda Do Carmo, a former Employee in a Brazilian Municipality, who had Created a Local News Website, when he had been Oblighed to Resign from his former Job, and Started to Investigate and Criticize the Management of the New Team, particularly on Issues of alleged Corruption or Other Abus, apparently also in view of the forthcoming Local Elections, where he might have participated as a possible Candidate, (Comp., f.ex., at http://www.eurofora.net/brief/brief/webeditorkilled.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/unescoheadslamswebeditorsmurderasksjournalismprotection.html , etc).

 

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=> Such WebNews Publishers, who "are an Essential Source of Independent Reporting and Comment", are "Crucial for the preservation of Political and cultural Pluralism", so that "we (CoE) should Expand the Definition of Journalism, to Include certain Categories" of such Websites, urged, the vice-President of the Socialist and Green Group, Icelandish MEP Sunna Aevarsdottir, speaking on behalf of CoE Assembly's Legal and Human Rights Committee.


- "Protecting our Democraties through Critical Reporting and acting as a Defence against Corruption of Power", is a "Role" which "should not be underestimated", since "Freedom of Expression underlies All aspects of a Free Society", she stressed, as far as "the Role and the Status of Journalists" is concerned.

 

not_trustyworthy_traditional_media_commercial_or_political_bias_polls__coe_rapporteurs_side_400


+ At the Same Time, "57% of EU Citizens" believe that the Traditional "Media are subjected to Commercial or Political Pressures", (and 60% that Public Service Traditional Medias face Political Pressure), showing that the Popular "Trust of Medias is seriously Affected", as the 2017 EuroBaremeter Poll revealed, (and equivalent USA Polls could probably show an even Bigger Popular Rejection of Establishment's Medias), pointed out, on behalf of PACE's Culture, Science and Médias Committee, the President of the "Free Democrats" Group, Italian MEP Adele Gambaro, who was finally chosen to Replace Both Rapporteurs of the "Status of Journalists" and "Editorial Integrity" Reports, whose Authors were Hindered to do so, (Comp.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/changeincoemediadebate.html).


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


Indeed, "as a Result of Technological Progres, and of the Development of On-Line Media, the profession of Journalist is currently undergoing Major Changes", stresses from the outset the Official "Summary" of CoE's Report on "the Status of Journalists in Europe".


Inter alia, after "the Collapse of Traditional Funding models, (and) Competition from New Media", (etc), CoE's "Member States should ReView the National Legislation on the Status of Journalists"', and "Explore Alternative Sources of Funding, attuned to the New Media EcoSystem".


On this Last Point, Participants to PACE's Debate cited, f.ex., the possibility to Seek Remuneration for Producing Web Content by Sharing the Revenues of Internet Research Websites, (f.ex. such as "Google", "Bing", etc).


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


During the Debates, among others, f.ex. the Representative of the Conservative Group of MEPs Warned Against a perceived Attempt by some, inside PACE's Culture and Science Committee, "to Control the Press", Urging, on the Contrary, to better Respect the "Press Freedom".


+ In Addition, the Representative of PACE's Legal and Human Rights' Ciommittee, repeatedly Denounced also another Strange Trend by some inside the Culure/Science Committee, to Restrict the Legal Definition of Journalism, along Older and Out-Dated Models, instead of adequately Enlarging it, according to New Realities.


Indeed, even Corporatist "Trade Unions and Journalists' Associations", etc., are "Called", by the Resolution Adopted Today by CoE's Assembly (PACE), to "Adjust to rapid Societal Changes, including with regard to the Status of Journalists, which should be Adaptable, as its ESSENCE LIES IN THE TASK".


=> Already, for CoE's Committee of Ministers (Recommendation No R (2000) 7), "the Term <<Journalist>> means any ...Person who is Regularly ...Engaged in the Collection and Dissemination of Information to the Public, via any means of Mass Communication", the Report Adopted Today (25 April 2018) by the PACE observes.

 

>>> From All this, Obviously Results also the Fact that "the Status of Journalist is Not Linked to the possession of any kind of "Press Card", which is Not Obligatory at all, and has Nothing to dop with the Definition of Journalism", as even the Representative of CoE Assesmbly's Committee for Culture, Science and Medias, Mrs Gambaro (President of FDGroup) pointed out.


- "In Germany, f.ex., the Definition of Journalist derives Directly from Article 5 of the Constitution, which SafeGuards Freedom of Thought, of Expression, and of the Press, and Prohibits Censorship". So that, "Journalists in Germany do Not have to undergo Formal or Mandatory Procedures. The Profession is Open to Everyone, with No Training or Selection Requirements. German Journalists ...have Always been Opposed to a Binding or Regulatory Legal Definition, Fearing that ... the Political Authorities ...would Restrict their Freedoms", CoE Assembly's Report observes.


- According to "the German Association of Journalists", ... a Journalist "Must be Involved in the Production and Dissemination of News, Opinions, and Entertainement, via the Media, by means of Written Articles and Reports, Pictures or Sounds, or a Combination of them".


- On the Contrary, the particular "Situation in Italy is Unique in Europe, if not in the Entire World", CoE's Report points out : Indeed, Journalism, there, "is Governed by the Italian <<Order of Journalists>> ("Ordine dei Giornalisti") - apparently a residue of Mussolini's notorious "Corporatism" from the era of Fascism of the Past- "which issues Press Cards, and has a Disciplinary Board" (sic !), while the Italian "Law Requires that Journalists must be Registered with the ODG as professionals", with "Requirements with refard to Age, Length of Practice and Training", (etc)...


>>> Opposite to that, the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights has clearly Rejected such Restrictions as illegal, in 2 extensive Decisions already Published as Early as since ... 1985 ! (See : .....)


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


Last, but not least, this Report of April 2018, after Attesting the Fact that, Still, "the Printed Press is populated, almost Exclusively, by Privately-Owned Media", "whereas the (Traditional) AudioVisual sector operates a system where Commercial and Public Services function alongside one another", inevitably also observes that "the Adven of a fully Digital Environment is Radically Transforming the Nature of News Work".


But, at least as Funding is concerned, it doesn't go further than to merely propose f.ex. to "Institutionalise CrowdFunding, ...by Giving Decision-Making Power to Donors (sic !) providing More than 1% of registered Capital", i.e. an "Hybrid Model, somewhat Between Foundations and Joint-Stock Companies"...  I.e. something "Ideal" in order to Hinder any Media from being Accredited as "Independent Press", since "Donations" are Notoriously considered as InCombatible !


>>> Most Worrying, several Observers pointed out the Fact that this Report, drafted by Socialist former MEP Ms Elvira Drobinski-Weiss from Germany, (who was Not Re-Elected by the German People in tha Latest 2017 National Elections to the Bundestag), and Presented by PACE's Culture/Science/Education Committee, (instead of its Legal/Human Rights Committee, more appropriate as far as Freedom of Expression and Democrartic Pluralism are concerned), was repeatedly Criticized, during CoE's Debates, particularly for "Restricting" the Definition of Journalism, and even for Seeking to Impose a "Control" over Medias Activities...

When it states that "the Lack of Legal Definition of the notion of Journalist should Not be a DisAdvantage in itself, as long as there is a Free and Non-Discriminatory Access to Information", it might be true. But,  Immediately afterwards, it Starts Pleading for "a Legal Definition of Journalists", mainly in order to "draw a clear Distinction" with what it calls ..."a Blogger" (sic !).


=> However, a Crystal-Clear and Modern Definition of real and substantial Journalism EXISTS, already since ... 1985 !


>>> Indeed, the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights, has already Designated as Press Medias and/or Journalist the Person who is Committed  and Engaged into Regularly Searching, Producing and Publishing Original News Articles on Issues of General Interest to the Society, (See IBID).


+ More or Less Similar Definitions have been used also by CoE's Committee of Ministers, (already since 2000, but also on 2016, 2017, etc), UNO's Human Rights Council, the UN General Assembly, etc., while this also, obviously, Fits even ECHR's Long-Standing case-Law on Article 10, about Freedom of Expression, (which is the Only Legal Protection for all Medias).


In other Words, (as this Report itself said above) : "The Essential is in the Task !"  (Comp. Supra).


+ The World-Famous, Long-Time former Secretary General of the European and International Federation of Journalists, Aidan White, tried to usefully Develop an Idea that we had Discussed with him at the CoE a Long Time ago, by Adding also a Dimension concerning Ethics or Deontology of Journalism, that "Eurofora" naturally Supports (Comp. Supra on this Website). His "Ethical Journalism" Network, and a Landmark Article published at a CoE's collective Book, which suggests an Innovative Solution concerning also pure, Autonomous, Digital Public Writers (or "Publicists", as Americans say, See: ...), obviously advance towards an Interesting Direction.


=> All this allows to Easily Distinguish between, f.ex., Occasional, Non-Creative, and/or UnEthical or Irresponsible, Private "Bloggers", "Copy-Paste" Websites, etc., from one side, and, from aNother side, those individuals or groups who don't have, in fact, Nothing Else to show than, just a ..."Card" given by a Shady Corporatist/Bureaucratic "Committee", (Comp. Supra), and/or the Strictly ... Fiscal, or Tax-Law related Pseudo-"Definition" of which some Scandalously and, in fact, illegaly, still Abuse in France (since it can be Contrary to ECHR's Case-Law !), about a mere ...Payroll or Checkpay, (i.e. the Majority of Revenues, which is a Purely "Fiscal Realism" Pseudo-"Definition", that has Nothing to do with the Substance of Real Journalistic Production, (since, obviously, Anybody might, eventually be Paid by a Businessman and/or a Politician controlling a Traditional Media outlet, withOut really doing any, or too Little of real Journalistic Creative Work : already there are Many known Cases)...


As for that Hypocritic ... "Neutrality" : Is it in order to Exclude f.ex. ... Emile Zola's World-Famous - "J'Accuse !" Article, shortly After the Publication of which he was, apparently, Murdered, Together with his Wife, by Blocking the Ventilation of his Family Home (as it was reportedly revealed only on 1953) ?...


>>> Or, will anyone Dare Claim that even ...Daphne, who was Brutaly Murdered on 2017 for what she wrote and Published in her own, personal WebNews Site, (Comp. Supra), might have been a mere ... "Blogger", and Not a real "Journalist" ?!...


Her Murderers, apparently, knew very well how to Distinguish a Real Investigative and Critical Journalist, from a Routine, Lazy and Selfish 
Cashy Job Holder, who has Nothing to do what is Best in Real Journalism !                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         


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


So, what really Happened, with a Strange, Last-Minute "Coup" on Amendements, at this CoE Assembly's Report, later Today Afternoon, looks really Fishy !


- While all had been Prepared, since Days, Weeks, perhaps Months ago, in order for CoE's Assemby to Vote a Resolution asking its Member Strates to Seek a Modern, New and adequately Enlarged, UpDated Legal Definition of Nowadays Journalism;


(F.ex. with Amendement 6, Tabled by the Legal/Human Rights Committee, Urging CoE's Member States to "provide a Legal Definition of Journalism, Wide Enough to encompass All Forms of Contemporary Journalistic Work, including Internet-based"),


Suddenly, the Already Distributed (since Tuesday Late Afternoon) CoE's Official "Compendiums of Amendments" for this Report on "the Status of Journalism", were, Curiously .... Withdrawn, (without anny previous Warning), and, Next Morning, the so-called "Final" Compendium was Replaced by a ..."REVISED" Compendium, which did Not Add Nothing Else than, just one (1) World : ..."Professional" (sic) !


This was the Only Way that a Last-Minute chosen Representative of the Cultural Committee "could" tell if he/she was in front of a Journalistic Work, or not... Curiously, this was Accepted by a Representative of the Legal Affairs Committee (contrary to what she had supported until now !), withOut Any Explanation at all, for that Last-Minute imposed Changte)...


and was Briefly Adopted by a Small Minority of some ...70 Only MEPs, out of the More than + 300 MEPs that CoE Assembly has  !   
 
Thus, all those CoE's previous "Concerns" about  "Pressure" on Journalists by "Commercialy owned" and/or "Politically controled" Medias, (Comp. Supra), suddenly... Vanished...

=> Given all these Facts, apparently, all those MEPs who had Previously Warned Against alleged Attempts to "Restrict" and/or "Control" real and active Journalism, by some Authors of that Report, (who, finally, were even .. Absent Today : Comp. Supra), after all, might have been, perhaps, Justified ?

 

And, by the way, is it really "Safe" to let just the ... "Swedish Democrats" get the Monopole of a crystal-clear "No !" to such a Controversial move, shortly before the forthcoming Elections, (as it was really the case Today) ?.. 

 

(.../...)


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 sarko_merkel_mieux

The official presentation of a "Program" respecting People's choices voted in the June 7, 2009 EU Elections, to be debated in EU Council and EU Parliament during its 1st Session on July in Strasbourg, is the No 1 Priority, according to Democratic principles, for the Franco-German axis, said the main winners at the ballot box, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angie Merkel.

They stressed  that the New EU Commission's President must have a "Program" in favor of an EU which "protects" its Citizens, regulates financial markets and aims at a "Political" Europe" : a wording they have used as incompatible with Turkey's controversial EU bid.

They also declared ready for a "political" endorsment of "Mr. Barroso's candidacy" in June's EU Council, considering that an official decision would have to be made after EU Parliament's debates and votes, possibly from next month (July), with the legally necessary final acceptance shortly after Lisbon Treaty's entry into force, hoped for September or October.


- "A Program, and Mr. Barroso" : This resumes, in substance, the anouncements made by Sarkozy and Merkel, on the question of current EU Commission's President, Barroso's declared wish to succeed to himself for a second mandate, to be extended during the following 5 years.

 In their 1st meeting after EU Elections, they observed that "the Franco-German axis counted in European Elections' campaign... But, we both keep a realistic view : We saw the number of those who abstained, and we must absolutely give them an answer. We also see the disilusionment of an important number of Europeans vis a vis Europe, and we are aware of the responsibilities we have".

sarko

 - The "Duty" of the new EU Commission's President, after June 7, 2009 EU Elections' result, "is to act for a Europe which protects the Europeans, to commit himself into working for a better Regulation of Financial transactions, ... and to have a Political will for Europe", underlined Sarkozy.

Therefore, "we have asked M. Barroso... to clarify, to officialy present the intentions he has", he anounced.

- "We want to speak also about the Programme", explained Merkel.

- "It's important that for the next EU Parliament's mandate (2009-2014) we take the right Decisions for Europe.  Obviously on Persons, but mainly Decisions on Issues", she stressed.

- "It's not simply a question of a Person, it's also a question of a Programme". We are "really asking Mr. Barroso to commit himself on a Program, and on Principles, on Values", Sarkozy added.

EU President-in-office, Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer, accepted the Franco-German stance :

- "Barroso must present his Programme. The Czech Presidency agrees with that", Fischer reportedly said later, after meeting Sarkozy.

But Press reports from Brussels claimed that Barroso had preferred to be officially appointed by EU Council since June, (i.e. next week), "because this was implied by the current Treaty of Nice, according to him", and considered any delay until the possible ratification of the new, Lisbon Treaty on September/October, as "undemocratic".

- "At any case, independently of what Germany and France ask, it's also EU Parliament's wish". "We shall propose Mr Barroso's candidacy... But even in the framework of Nice Treaty, EU Parliament has to be associated in this Decision", the French President observed.

If this is correctly done, then "we support Mr. Barroso's candidature", and "if the (EU) Parliament agrees, we might ratify this decision since July", (i.e. next month), they both said.

smerkem_400

- "France and Germany support Baroso's candidacy, But we want to speak also on the Program. We believe that this Program should be established in close cooperation with EU Parliament, and that's why we have followed an appropriate way", said Merkel.  - If EU Parliament wants, this election can take place on July,  but this must be done in full agreement.

- "We shall support Mr. Barroso's candidacy, without doubt", said Sarkozy. "But we have asked from Mr. Barroso, as I told him yesterday, to put into detail.. his intentions, at the eve of his 2nd mandate, if the situation avails itself.


    France and Germany "don't want to take an Official Legal Decision by writting" during "the next (EU) Council" (on June 18-19), declared Sarkozy.  Because they prefer, at this stage, only "a Political decision" on June, "so that we (EU Council) can work together with EU Parliament", which starts to meet only Next Month, since July in Srasbourg, "leaving a Legal decision by writting for later".

    - "If the Conditions are fuillfiled in EU Parliament, we (EU Council) are ready to give the agreement and make it offficial", said Merkel

    - "But, now we are working in the base of Nice Treaty. If tommorow we want to work in the spirit of Lisbon Treaty, we have to find a proper way", she added.

    - "Of course it's Legally complicated, because we are going to make a Political proposal to the forthcoming Council, for an EU Commission's President, on the basis of Nice Treaty : So, we (EU Council) will not appoint the Commissioners. Only the President.  If EU Parliament agrees, it could endorse this position on July", explained Sarkozy.

    But, on Autumn, "if Ireland ratifies Lisbon Treaty, there will be, at any case, a 2nd Decision, to appoint the Commission's President, this time on the basis of Lisbon treaty, and then, we, the EU Member States, would have to appoint (also) the EU Commissioners", he added.

    As for the precise Timing :  - "Everything is suspended until the Irish vote... Now, we must all make everything possible to help Ireland to say "Yes"" to Lisbon Treaty... The Irish Referendum, ..will take place either on September or on October. It's a Question which depends on the Irish. And,  then, we shall have the Choice of the Candidates for the permanent Institutions of Europe".

    However, "if Ireland says No, we, French and Germans, have to assume our responsibilities, and we'll do so", he concluded.

    But British and Swedish governments were reportedly eager to have a final EU Council decision on Barroso since this month, on June's European Council. While the other EU Member Countries are divided, several of them preferring to wait until EU Parliament pronounces itself, on July, and/or until Lisbon Treaty might be ratified by Ireland at the beginning of the Autumn. Barroso's current mandate ends on November.

    There are also various, contradictory and/or unpredictable reactions inside EU Parliament vis a vis Barroso's wish to continue a 2nd mandate, because many MEPs are openly or secretly opposed, reluctant, or hesitating.

    In the biggest EU Countries, as France and Germany, EU Citizens voted on June 2009 EU Elections for a renovated, non-technocratic but Political Europe which cares for its Citizens, with an Identity, Values and Borders, declared incompatible with Turkey's controversial EU bid, by mainstream, pro-European Governing Parties. Similar choices were also supported in several other small or medium EU Countries.

    On the contrary, whenever, in other Countries, Governing and other mainstream Parties didn't make these choices or eluded them, EU Citizens massively voted for euro-Sceptics whenever they were the only ones to to promise anti-bureacratic change and oppose Turkey's demand to enter into the EU, (f.ex. in the UK, Netherlands, etc).

    It's seems to be an Open Question whether Sarkozy and Merkel's conditions will be really accepted by Barroso, who was appointed on 2004 in a different political context, (with Socialist Prime Ministers in Germany, France, etc), had rejected in the Past the idea of EU becoming "equal to the USA" as "ridiculous", and pushed for Turkey's contoversial EU bid, trying to "soften" or contain the changes desired by the People who voted for Merkel and Sarkozy with another policy vis a vis Turkey on 2005 in Germany and on 2007 in France, as they did all over Europe on 2009.

    In addition to many EPP Governments, it's 3 remaining Socialist Prime Ministers : Gordon Brown in the UK, Zapatero in Spain, and Socrates in Prortugal, who support Barroso, as well as Liberal Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt. But their Parties lost the June 2009 EU Elections.

    Questioned whether there was still "Time" for "other" possible "Candidates", Sarkozy and Merkel did not deny, nor made any comment on that, but simply said that "it's not for us to make publicity for any candidates. We anounced our choice ("A Program, and Mr. Barroso"). But we respect any other candidate".

    Among various other names cited are former Belgian Prime Minister Verhofstadt, former UNO's Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson of Ireland, Italian former EU Commission's vice-President Monti, etc. Meanwhile, Luxembourg's PM Juncker, (who had been unanimously accepted by EU Council for EU Commission's Presidency on 2004, but refused), announced his intention to resign from "EuroGroup"'s Chair. Thus, he might be available for another Top EU job.

    As "EuroFora"'s "opinion" said (See publication dated 9/6/09) : - "If the current candidates (i.e. Barroso, etc) to the Top EU jobs promise and guarantee to respect People's democratic choices, then, it's OK".

"Otherwise, Europe must find new candidates, really motivated and able to implement these democratic choices of the People."

    Because, "in Democracy, the forthcoming choices for EU's Top Jobs,...should be made according to EU Citizens' Votes in June 7, 2009 European Elections, and main EU Governments' strategic policies".
        

***

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