newsitems CoE to create PanEuropean "Early Warning" forum, linking Human Rights/Democracy and Peace
CoE to create PanEuropean "Early Warning" forum, linking Human Rights/Democracy and Peace
Chaired by CoE Assembly EDG Group President, British Conservative MEP David Wilshire, who enthousiasticaly stressed to "EuroFora" that "we must use all CoE's means to prevent conflicts where People are being killed", the 1st PanEuropean "Early Warning" Forum in Strasbourg succeeded to attract support by Top Politicians from France, Russia, Sweden (current EU chair), Spain, Switzerland (forthcoming CoE chair), etc. with a wide participation of key-Experts from EU, WEU, OSCE, UNO, scientists, MEPs, journalists, INGOs (as International Red Cross, etc).
He spoke almost a year after the August 2008 Russia - Georgia war clash at the Caucasus, where the outgoing CoE's Secretary General Terry Davis and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt (current EU chair-in-office) had vainly warned, since June 2008 at a Press Conference in Strasbourg, of the dangerous existence in that area not only of "frozen conflicts", but also of "sleeping volcanoes"... (See "EuroFora"'s publication from that event).
- "When people are killed in conflicts, it never happens all out of a sudden", as an earthquake. "Most of the times, there is, previously, a period of tensions and events which leads to that. It's there CoE could and should act. And when it comes to save People from being killed, all CoE's means should be used", Wilshire added to "EuroFora"
A written "Recommendation" to make CoE's Early Warning Forum "an Annual event", was adopted by PanEuropean gathering, after Wilshire seized on the fly a proposal made by CoE's Rapporteur on the "Future role" of Strasbourg's PanEuropean Organisation, Head of France's Delegation, ChristianDemocrat MEP Jean-Claude Mignon, to "regularly repeat it anew".
On August 2008, it was notoriously the fast-track and efficient intervention of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, (EU-Chairman then), which succeeded to stop the war at a crucial moment, after he flew immediately to Moscow and Tbilisi to meet Russian President Medvedev and his Georgian counterpart Saakashvili.
- "But we have only one President Sarkozy", while we need a permanently peaceful panEuropean area, said Mignon, smiling, to "EuroFora".
The idea surprisingly attracted even the anti-Militarist, experienced Swiss MEP, President of CoE Assembly's Socialst Group, Andrea Gross, who just drafted a new Report seaking to revitalize "UNO's reform", 4 years after the Historic 2005 New York Summit for the 60 Years of the International Organisation. -"Because, now, at New York, the UNO reform proces faces a deadlock. That's why parliamentarians should help to re-launch it", as Gross told "EuroFora".
UNO's key Expert, Mrs Annita Ernstorfer, Conflict Prevention specialist at UNDP's Bureau for Crisis' Prevention, also stressed that, we (UNO) need for Peace to be "sustainable". It makes no sense to draft Peace agreements which may break down soon, followed by new and sometimes worse conflicts. It's here that respect for Human Rights and Democracy can be useful, because they avoid conflicts and help to keep stability, she observed.
Now that Winston Churchil's original Historic idea to set up in Strasbourg a PanEuropan Organization has started to be realized, with East-West Europe's recent reunification after EU's 2004 Enlargement, a decade after Russia's entry into the CoE, a landmark Study titled "No Peace without Human Rights : CoE and Conflict Prevention", reminded the famous Brittish Conservative Prime Minister's prophetic words : - "There should come into being a Council of Europe... when created, (it) must eventually embrace the whole of Europe.. to prevent renewed aggression and the preparation of future wars".
Significantly, this interesting Study was drafted by the experienced former Director of CoE Assembly's Political affairs Committee and of CoE Secretary General's office, Jan Kleijssen from Austria, who is now Head of CoE's Human Rights' standard-setting mecanisms, (which spread from "Democracy through Law" Venice Commission, and anti-Torture watchdog CPT, up to anti-Discrimination and anti-Racism body ECRI, etc).
F.ex. - "Torture is said to be the best recruiting agent for armed insurgents or terrorist movements", the CoE's Senior Official noted. Even if ..."Fire-proof doors and carpets are less fascinating than a roaring fire engine", "CoE, .. better known for its protection of Human Rights, rule of Law and pluralist Democracy", is making a major contribution to conflict prevention exactly through these activities", observed Kleisjen.
Lengthy presentations by EU Commission and Council secretariat's competent Experts, described a series of Services, on the spot Offices, Agents, etc., and the recent creation of an EU's "Early Warning Network".
Certainly, all those recruited agents, offices, networks, secretariats, equipments and communications, budget funds, etc. would do a valuable job, worthy of EU taxpayers' money... But it's an undeniable fact, that, back during 2008's Summer, when the EU had to move urgently, at the beginning of August, to stop the War between Russia and Georgia before it arrives to Tbilisi, and save Human Lives and Homes from more Killings and Destructions, Sarkozy notoriously didn't find anyone ready to act from Brussels ! And he was obliged to take initiatives alone (as EU Chairman), after phone calls with German Chancellor Merkel, who was holidaying at South Tirol in Italy, and following even a dramatic call by Pope Benedict to save innocent civilian People from on-going destructive clashes, and prevent new divisions in Europe. (See "EuroFora"s Publication from Brixen/Bressanone, at the eve of Sarkozy's visit to Moscow).
- "CoE should re-integrate and develop several of WEO's activities on Security", said to "EuroFora" mainstream Spanish ChristianDemocrat MEP, Head of Delegation to the WEO's Assembly, Pedro Agramunt Font de Mora.
Russian meanstream MEP Sergey Markov, speaking to "EuroFora", said that he agreed with Strasbourg's move. It would be even better if it came in the larger framework of developing a genuinly panEuropean CoE, and a "new common area" where EU and Russia could usefully exchange together, as French President Sarkozy recently agreed with German Chancellor Merkel, (after discussing the idea also with new USA President Obama) : Russia can help boost Energy and High-Tech. exchanges (f.ex. in various Space applications, etc), while EU can help modernize Russia", said to "EuroFora" Markov.
Instead of those who search to isolate and push Russia away from the rest of Europe, we should create a really common area, spreading from the Euro-Asian and Central Asian space up to the Mediterranean and Africa, added Markov, finding interesting to apply a similar idea as that of the "Union for the Mediterranean", (created at Päris' Summit on July 2008, during the French EU Presidency) : It helps, f.ex. "Finland to act up to Africa's coasts". But this should not exclude Russia", Markov observed.
- The "existence of Political will and support" was underlined as an important point for the development of such "Early Warning" activities, by the President of CoE Assembly's Political affairs Committee, Goran Lindbland, ChristianDemocrat MEP from Sweden (current EU Chair).
President of CoE's Assembly, experienced Spanish Socialist MEP Jose Luis de Puig, concluded Strasbourg PanEuropean Conference's 2-Days work, also by stressing the links between Human Rights, Democracy, rule of Law and Peace :
- "We must put Peace at the Center of our concerns", and "CoE must invest in capacities to prevent Conflicts", declared De Puig : When the latest CoE Summit of Heads of State and Government, on 2005 in Warsaw, said that CoE must focus on Human Rights, Democtacy and Rule of Law, it also added that this should be done "in the light" and "in the perspective" of CoE's "priority to guarantee Peace between its Member States", he observed.
- "This goes both inside Europe and in relation to our neighbouing countries", CoE Assembly's President added.
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An "Eugenic" loophole Amendment, which might expose to Dangers reminiscent of "3rd Reich's" notorious Genetic Abuses, hidden at the last minute inside an otherwise Good, larger Health policy Package scheduled to be voted on Thursday, was strongly denounced by a coalition of MEPs from various Political Groups and Countries, in a Press Conference held this afternoon at EU Parliament in Strasbourg.
Mainly calling to "Select Human Embryos", via "Genetic Counselling" and "pre-implantation" Techniques including "Genetic Tests", in order to "Eradicate Hereditary rare Diseases", it might open ways to Dangerous Practices in Future, they denounced in substance.
But they also made it clear that a much larger Report inside which this Controversial Amendment "No 15" was added in dubious circumstances, officialy destinated to struggle against "Rare Diseases", and drafted by Professor Antonios Trakatellis, was otherwise "an Excellent Report", aiming at a "completely Uncontroversial target" of Health policy on which "all MEPs and Experts are united, believing that Europe should act" to protect People's Health (See "EuroFora"'s earlier News).
The controversy came at a particularly delicate moment for the EU in relation to Citizens, at the eve of June 2009 EU Elections, and shortly before Ireland re-votes for "Lisbon Treaty"..
- Denouncing risks of "an Eugenic demand, very similar to what we had during the 3rd Reich in Germany, but now coming from some Scientisists themselves", German ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Dr. Peter Liese stressed that critical MEPs were against "Eugenic" engineering with "Selection of Human Embryos", and anything which might ultimately lead up to to a "Selection of Human Race". It doesn't help to "eradicate" Human Lives, he added.
Several Experts and NGOs expressed "Deep Concern", as f;ex. DR M.C. Cornel of the "European Society of Human Genetics", which stressed, on this occasion, that "the importance of Non-Directiveness in Reproductive issues is a Central characteristic of Human Genetics, after the Atrocities committed in the name of Genetics in the first half or the 20th Century".
- "This is completely Unacceptable", stressed Italian Liberal MEP Vittorio Prodi, on the Controversial Amendment, also because pushes to "eliminate early Human Life", as he noted.
- "This opens a Dangerous Road, rather a Motorway", denounced Danish MEP Mrs Margrette Auken, from the "Greens", observing that various similar attempts were made in the Past "not only in Germany, but also in several other Countries, "even at the 1970ies", "f.ex. on forced Sterilisation of Roma" People, and other criticisable situations f.ex. in the UK, in Sweden, etc. as she said.
+ Other NGOs, as f.ex. "LebenHilfe" from Berlin, added that, among various other Risks, could also be that, by exploiting the pre-implantation Genetic Diagnostics and the Selection of "healthy" Embryos, some may "propagate" several "Eugenic" aims, starting f.ex. by pushing to eradicate Human Livies which might "Cost too much" to preserve, ultimately exposing to dangers reminiscent of the "3rd Reich"'s atrocious abuses.
In consequence, ChristianDemocrats/EPP and "Green" MEPs "decided by Majority to vote against" this Controversial Amendment, anounced to Journalists the 5 MEPs who participated in the Press Conference, representing a wide spectrum, from Liberals to "Greens" and ChristianDemocrats, and from Hungary, Italy, Germany and Danemark up to Ireland (Gay Mitchell), etc.
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Hungarian ChristianDemocrat MEP Laszlo Surjan said "that it was "Suddenly, at the End of the Procedure" in Committee, that "appeared this (Controversial) Amendment, which has nothing to do" with the main purpose of the Report, on which all agreed.
He denounced an "Unhonest" move, and called to "avoid this kind of unacceptable situations". Nobody should "Select People", Surjan stressed.
- "We (MEPs) had No Chance to Discuss" this last-minute Amendment earlier added at a Committee's level, said German MEP Peter Liese
Speaking to "EuroFora", Dr. Liese, the Spokesman of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group in EU Parliament, said that MEPs didn't oppose other references of the Report f.ex. on "Genetic Tests", because they were "no proposals" to impose them, while, on the contrary, there was "a Problem" if anyone attempted to "impose" f.ex. this or that Genetic Technique and "Genetic Counselling", etc. to the People on human reproduction.
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The precise Text :
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Controversial parts of Amendment No 15 ask mainly "to lead finally to the Eradication" of "Hereditary" "rare diseases", "through Genetic Counselling .., and ..pre-Implantation Selection of healthy Embryos".
But EU Rapporteur Professor Trakatellis, said to "EuroFora" that fears should be alleviated by Guarantees that all this should be done only "where appropriate", when it's "not contrary to existing National Law", and "always on a Voluntary basis", according to other Parts of the Amendment.
He stressed that the main aim was to allow "a free and informed choice of persons involved", without imposing them anything : - "It's not an obligatory, but advisary" text, he said.
To make that point clear, he was ready, in agreement with many MEPs, to eventually drop at least that part of the controversial Amendment which initially called for "efforts to ..lead finally to the Eradication of those rare diseases" "which are Hereditary".
But, until late Wednesday evening, reportedly together with many other MEPs, he stood by all the rest of the controversial Amendment, (fex. on the "Genetic Counselling" and the "pre-implantation Selection of healthy Embryos"), so that critical MEPs, going from ChristianDemocrats as Dr. Liese, to "Greens" or "Ind/Dem", observed to "EuroFora" that "this was not enough" to close the dangerous loophole.
Particularly since, as Professor Trakatellis noted himself, "this is already allowed to the U.K.", and "other National Legislations would probably follow, sooner or later" in a similar direction. As for a general call to "Eradicate Hereditary rare Diseases", this "should happen, at any case, in practice, de facto", to protect public Health.
On the contrary, "our goal should be to help patients suffering from rare diseases, not to eradicate the patients. In case of genetic disease risk, the decision should not be guided by scenarios" made by politicians. "Perents who may decide to accept a child, even if handicapped or with genetic disease, must be respected and supported with solidarity", critical MEPs stated.
- "Any Pressure" to "a patient or couple (who "should be able to make an informed choice consistent with their own values"),"from health Professionals, Public Health Policies or Governemental Institutions, or Society at large, should be avoided", stresses the "European Society for Human Genetics".
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Each MEP's vote will be registered !
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The Socialist Group requested a "Split vote" on the Amendment 15, first without, and afterwards with the words "lead finally to the Eradication" etc.
But the first "split vote" leaves intact all the other parts of the Controversial Amendment, (i.e. "Genetic Counselling", "Selection of healthy Embryos", etc).
That's why, 3 Groups of MEPs : ChristianDemocrats/EPP, "Greens/EFA", and "Ind/Dem", have asked for "Roll Call Votes", on everything regarding the Controversial Amendment No 15, and on the final outcome of the resulting Report as amended, which will register all the individual positions to be taken by each MEP.
Something which will obviously make each MEP think twice before voting for one or another choice, to be sure that he/she will make the right choice in front of EU Citizens, particularly at these pre-Election times...
Crucial Votes were scheduled between 12 Noon and 1 p.m. local Strasbourg time, in the middle of a long series of various other Reports, and after a long Public Debate on the larger Health policy package, from 9 to 11.50 am.
The specific Report inside which was hidden the controversial Amendment is due to be debated between 11 and 12 am.
So that more last-minute Surprises may not be excluded a priori...
Particularly at the present Historic moment, when even the Institutional Future of the EU depends on the result of a second Referendum on "Lisbon Treaty", later this year, in ...Ireland, a mainly Catholic country, where People are particularly sensitive in such kind of socio-cultural and values issues...