newsitems CoE Assembly S.G. Sawicki to EuroFora: Ready at any moment for Greek Prime Minister Tsipras' venue
CoE Assembly S.G. Sawicki to EuroFora: Ready at any moment for Greek Prime Minister Tsipras' venue
*CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Providing a prestigious alternative and/or complementary PanEuropean Forum immediately after a Crucial forthcoming EU Summit in Brussels next Monday, the PanEuropean Organization for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law : CoE's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) is Ready and able to Welcome, Listen to, and hold a Public Debate with the new Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras, at any moment, even with a last-minute Change of its initial Agenda, ensured, in substance, smiling to "EuroFora", the Experienced Secretary General of the PanEuropean body, (which has Members from 47 Countries, including even Russia, Turkey or Armenia, Georgia, Switzerland and Norway, etc), Wojciech Sawicki from Poland.)
In fact, speaking at the traditional Press Briefing for permanent Press Correspondents at the CoE on PACE's Summer Plenary Session, next week in Strasbourg, (22-26 June 2015), earlier this Morning, Sawicki had anounced from the outset that, in principle, a Speech by Tsipras at the Plenary had been scheduled for Tuesday, 3.30 p.m., due to be followed, according to the usual practice, by a series of Questions and Replies with the MEPs of Strasbourg's PanEuropean Assembly. A Press Conference could be, eventualy, organized later on that same Afternoon, if there is enough Time, according to an established practice.
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Obviously, this could also give an Opportunity for the Prime Minister of Greece, to eventualy meet, briefly here, also with UNO's Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, who will be addressing CoE's Assembly earlier that Same Day, (Tuesday, June 23). Something which might be particularly useful, inter alia, also in view f.ex. of new prospects for efforts to solve the long-standing Cyprus issue, particularly since Cyprus' President Nicos Anastassiades has recently expressed his Hope that respect of Human Rights, for all People involved, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, appear quite Better since the New Leader of the Turkish Cypriot Community currently living at the Territories of Cyprus Occupied by Ankara's Army, Akintzi, (who is also known at the CoE in Strasbourg and/or at UNO's premisses in nearby Switzerland, etc, that he had visited in the Past, as simple Dissident Turkish Cypriot Politician, in principle favorable to a peaceful ReUnification of the island, where he had also met with "EuroFora"s Co-Founder then).
The Council of Europe had already Invited the new Greek Prime Minister earlier, but it's just now that a chance to visit and speak at the PACE had recently emerged, and, even if this had been, indeed, discussed, bilateraly, yesterday evening, nevertheless, the PanEuropean Assembly's leadership was waiting to recieve, possibly even later Today, a crystal-clear Confirmation from Athens, before making an Official Anouncement, Sawicki explained. In that case, the traditional Address to the PACE by CoE's Secretary General, Thornhjorn Jagland, a former Prime Minister from Norway, initialy scheduled for Tuesday Afternoon, would be transfered at around Noon.
However, questioned by "EuroFora", the Experienced Head of PACE's Secretariat promised that CoE could, in fact, wait even much more longer, until it receives a Final Confirmation from the Greek Government, during all the Week-End, and, possibly, even on Monday, after the formal adoption of PACE Session's Agenda, as usual, on late Monday Morning, since there is a clear understanding on the current imprevisibility of how Crucial Talks on the Debt affecting Greece might evolve at Monday's Exceptional EU Brussels' Summit (Comp. Supra), while, Sawicki personaly ensured that he knows well how to prepare any Last-Minute eventual Change in PACE's scheduled Agenda, if it might be necessary, as he told us, smiling.
Replying also to another relevant "EuroFora"s Question, CoE Assembly's Secretary General pointed at the Fact that PACE "is an important PanEuroprean Forum for Exchanges of Views" and Topical Debates, where, the existence of more than 47 Member Countries, (i.e. much more than EU's 28, by including Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaidjan, Moldova, etc, as well as Norway, Switzerland, etc, and even "Observers" from USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, etc), was also another added value, which might, eventualy, prove to be practicaly interesting in this case too.
CoE, the oldest European Organization, established in Strasbourg already since 1949, can, in theory, develop any kind of activity for cooperation and unity among its Member Countries, according to its Statute, except from the Military field, (and this had pushed it at a relative margin after the notorious 1954 Failure of a first attempt to create a European Security and Defense policy. But CoE had succeeded, at least, to serve for Decades as the only European Forum for Topical Political Debates, (and had been used as a "School" and/or a Window towards European Politics f.ex. by the New EU Commission's President, Jean-Claude Juncker, when he was still a Student at Strasbourg's Faculty of Law).
It was considerably ReVitalized, more recently, since its spectacular and Historic Enlargement at all European Countries, including those of the Center-East, up to Russia, etc., (that it was the 1st to Welcome inside a PanEuropean context, after the Berlin Wall's Fall), as well as by the ReNaissance of Strasbourg's PanEuropean Court of Human Rights (ECHR), a unique body in the World, working in the basis of a Legaly Binding Convention on Human Rights, both as early as since the middle of the 1990ies, (i.e., already long before the EU integrates just a Part among them).
But, after the April 2004 CoE's Heads of State/Government Summit, at Warsaw (Poland : Comp. "EuroFora" Co-Founder's NewsReports from the spot, then published at "TCWeekly" ,etc ), Strasbourg's PanEuropean Organization was officially Focused mainly on the Protection of Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law.
However, the CoE's competencies cover also elementary Social Rights, through its PänEuropean Social Charter, while, another Important factor is also that all the Members of its Parliamentart Assembly (PACE), are, at the same time, duly elected MPs, fully participating inside many European Countries' National Parliaments, (i.e. the same which are due to Vote any eventual Aide to Greece and/or other EU Countries), Directly Linked to all National Governments, (instead of being Cut Off, far away from them, as, sometimes, it might happen at least for certain MEPs at EU Parliament, who lack direct links to their National Parliaments, contrary to PACE's Members, who serve also as Elected National MPs....
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(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already send to "EuroFora"'s Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version might be Published asap).
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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".
- 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.
- "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".