newsitems EU-CoE South Med. Program 2015-2017 kicks off in quest of New Tools for Democratic Stability
EU-CoE South Med. Program 2015-2017 kicks off in quest of New Tools for Democratic Stability
*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- The Quest of New Tools for Democratic Stability in South Mediterranean marked the overall ambiance of EU/CoE's Conference which kicked off in Strasbourg the South II joint Program for the period of 2015-2017, in the presence of CoE's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jagland, who stressed from the outset the importance it has Today to help "spread Europe's Values well beyond the continent", and particularly at its immediately Neighbouring Countries, when "facing" ISIL's Deadly Terrorists and other "growing extremism and anti-democratic forces" has become an urgent, vital need, where CoE's impressive institutional armature on Democracy and "against Human Traffickig, Corruption and Terrorism" can expand "a Common Legal Space" with Europe's Historic Neighbours.
- Speaking later to "EuroFora", the experienced Director of the PanEuropean Organization's Constitutional Law watchdog, known as "Venice Commission", Thomas Markert, observed from the outset that the Special Status of "Partner for Democracy", already attributed by CoE's Parliamentary Assembly to Morocco and Tunisia, might, indeed, be a useful instrument to spread wider in that area in the Future, but also warned of the currently obvious fact that, at least as things stand now, something similar doesn't yet seem possible f.ex. for Libya, while even in Jordany it might prove to be quite Difficult to realise soon enough, so that Progress should better be made Today through other EU/CoE's tools.
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- But it was mainly from the Southern Coast of the Mediterranean that came a First Call for a "New Tool" to boost the Euro-Mediterranean policy, after Barcelona's EuroMed. Program focused on Culture, and EU's Union for the Mediterranean's focus on Economy, apparently seeking a New Horizon, while others denouned the fact that, in substance, "20 Years were lost" in EU - South Mediterranean relations, as they criticaly said...
- The 1st vice-President of the Parliament of Morocco, Mohamed Yatim, at the Concluding Session of EU/CoE's Conference, suggested the Idea for those Southern Mediterranean Countries who already have an "Advanced Expertise" in CoE's Legal and Political instruments, to go Further Ahead in a way which "could ensure Success of Other Countries too", as he said.
+Speaking later to "EuroFora", vice-President Yatim explained, f.ex., that, in his view, it would be Easy for CoE's Assembly, - where Morocco and/or Tunisian MPs can Speak, (as representatives of those Southern Mediterranean Countries which have already become CoE's "Partners for Democracy"), but can't yet Vote, not even, Table a Draft Resolution, neither Amendments, nor become PACE's Rapporteurs, etc, - to give them, progressively, some More Possibilities to Act and react, together with all other PACE's full Members.
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- Meanwhile, the Experienced former President of CoE's International NGO's conference (INGOs), Jean-Marue Heydt, from Strasbourg's Region Alsace, who has recently been Elected as CoE's North-South Center's President, headquartered at Portugal's Lisbon, speaking to "EuroFora", found natural to try to use his acquired know-how in order to facilitate the development of Personal Contacts and "Networks" between the "Civil Societies" of teh Two Shores of the Mediterranean, in relation with EU/CoE's relevant activities.
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- As for the impressive CoE's Opening Session's Keynote Speaker, Mohammed Tozy, Director of Economics and Governance School of Rabat, and Head of CoE's Political School for Morocco, speaking later to "EuroFora", he advanced, inter alia, also the Idea to develop mutualy desirable contacts and projects, focusing also on cultivating the emergence of several People (Politicians, Officials, Experts, Journalists, Businessmen, etc), who could become both motivated and able to act and cooperate Together for the Common Interest of the Euro-Mediterranean area.
Last, but not least, curiously, the otherwise well-educated President of Tunisia's National Instance for the Fight against Corruption, Samir Annabi, said that we should all be inspired here also by what he called "the German word "Praxis"" (sic !), and, unfortunately, the otherwise efficient Moderator from Deutsche Welle Akademy, Patrick Leusch, didn't rectify at all, on the contrary almost repeating Annabi's Terminologic inaccuracy... It's a pitty, because, in fact the Word "Praxis" notoriously comes from Ancient Greek language, (stemming, in particular frrom the Verb : "Pratw", which means "I do" or "act"). It's true that German Scientists have, many times, Saved several parts of Ancient Greek Civilisation, often by renovating and/or completing them, as f.ex. with the Wonderful Work done by German Jurists in Medieval times on the "Pandekten-Recht", which stems from Legal Rules Codified by Byzance's Emperor Justinian since the 6th Century AC, etc. But it's, on the contrary, Unwise to make as if the Greek Language of Ancient Times didn't even exist Today : Regardless of whatever Errors some Contemporary Politicians in Greece might have committed on Financial policies, the Ancient Greek Civilisation doesn't belong to them, but to the Cultural Heritage of Europe, or even of the World. Particularly when it comes to the ...Mediterranean Sea's Countries, where the Ancient Greek Language notoriously used to be "Ligua Franca" for more than a Thousand Years, during which it was practiced by various People in everyday "Praxis"....
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The 2015 South II program launching Conference was attended also by the new Deputy Head of EU's Delegation to the CoE, Tanja Leikas-Botta, and various Representatives (Politicians, Scientists, Judges, Heads of Independent Authorities, etc) from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia, etc, as well as an impressibe tableau of CoE's Officials from manifold bodies experienced on Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of law issues, such as, f.ex., the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, ECHR, the "Venice Commission" on Democracy through (mainly Constitutional) Law, the Lisbon-based "North-South Center, the World Forum for Democracy, the Neighborhood Division, the Treaty Office and the Legal Cooperation Department,, the Action against Crime Department, "Group Pompidou" to Combat Drug abuse and Illicit Trafficking of Drugs, Economic Crime Unit, the Division for Independence and Efficiency of Justice and the CEPEJ, etc, under the guidance of Verena Taylor, Director General of Programs.
While Pilar Morales, Head of COE's Neighborhood Division was reading out for Discussion a Draft paper on the Conclusions of the 2015 South II Conference, it was anounced by the CoE that, already, a First Group of specialists from South Mediterranean Countries was due to come to Strasbourg Next Week in order to get familiar to ECHR's functioning and related matters.
(../..)
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It's important to create a synergy between "mutually stimulating" EU Countries' moves in order to overcome an "Unjust" Crisis "imported from USA", stressed new French Minister for Economic Revival, Patrick Devedjian, in Strasbourg, warning also that, while hoping for a vigorous Obama US Plan, nevertheless, "Time" is of essence for Europe...
In fact, it's EU's own interest to act Fast, before June 2009 EU Election, since, with Lisbon Treaty not ratified yet, it cannot face again the risk of a Majority Abstention, as back in 1999 and 2004, nor another "anti-EU" mood among Citizens, as in the 2005 French and Dutch "No", followed by the 2008 Irish "No", without endangering rare Historic opportunities, currently open for the EU, whose future is at stake.
From Social issues up to High-Tech Scientific Research, concrete action for Economic revival started from Strasbourg and its European dimension, for the new super-Minister Patrick Devedjian, who visited a Popular Social Housing and Infrastructure project at nearby Hagenau village, before meeting new leaders of Strasbourg's unified mega-University in a Scientific Labo at the Campus, close to EU Parliament and CoE headquarters.
Devedjian, who met also with all the spectrum of Local Political deciders of Alsace region, close to FrancoGerman borders, wants for deeds to meet the words, in real practice, whenever politicians speak about Strasbourg and Europe's development.
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Devedjan to "EuroFora" : "European coordination can act as a multiplicator by mutual stimulations"
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Devedjian was questioned by "Euro-Fora" on his expectations for reciprocal effects of coordinated European plans :
- "We are living in a (European and Global) system where borders are transparent : When we take measures in France, they produce effects also in Germany, in Belgium, Italy, Spain, or other EU countries, and vice-versa. "So, we can have mutually stimulating effects between national revival Plans, if they are somehow coordinated", ..."They can augment each other's effects, acting as multiplicators and levers". "As a State stimulates Local authorities and Private business, similarly, each EU country's economic revival plan may multiply the effects of other EU countries' actions", he told us.
- "F.ex., when I visited Strasbourg University's Scientific labos, they told me that part of the renovation, funded by France, is realized by German companies located only a few Kms away from the border. Thus, the French revival plan benefits also the German economy. And vice-versa : when Germany takes certain measures, they can have beneficial effects also for French companies"
In an era of Globalisation, "nobody can close and isolate himself inside a Fish-Bowl !", he concluded.
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Economy's revival starts from Strasbourg and Europe, for new French Minister Devedjian
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This could be one of the reasons for which the new French Minister for Economic Stimulus chose to make his 1st visit to Strasbourg, the headquarters of European and Paneuropean Institutions, in the Franco-German river borders at the heart of Europe.
- "It was President Sarkozy's idea", he revealed, adding also fresh "support to Strasbourg's European vocation, not only with words, but also with deeds" :F.ex., the completion of a High-Speed Train network, due to stimulate fast links with Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary and other central EU Countries.
- "This Crisis is Unjust for Europe, because it wasn't its fault". The greatest part of the "Crisis was imported from the USA, where problems are deeper than here'', in the EU. The Crisis "wasn't due to a bad managment by Europe", who was affected by problems which emerged elsewhere. That's why Europe must be united and active enough to face this challenge. said Devedjian, who has just won +5% in popularity...
- "I hope that there will be an "Obama-effect" also on Economy, and that the Plan of the New American President will be substantial enough to face this crisis, which is worse in the USA than in our area", Europe, he added.
"Economic Revival overcomes political divisions : F.ex. Strasbourg's Socialist Mayor "Ries agreed that State actions funded by Public Debt are justified during such exceptional circumstances", noted the Center-Right republican Minister.
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"Zeitnot" for 2009 EU Elections ?
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"My problem is Time", stressed Devedjian from the outset, at Strasbourg's University. "I have to engage 75% of funds in 2009, out of a total of 29 Billion euros", he explained later. "Monitoring will be of essence", because we must "avoid bureaucracy or delays. No project should get lost or neglected in complex meanders of adminstrative offices' moving sands", he warned.
- "I must create activities in the middle of the Crisis", he added. Questioned by EuroFora whether he aims to start creating some "hopes before the June 2009 EU Elections", Devedjian, a former leader of the Governing Political Party in France: UMP, did not immediately reply, but revealed, later, that he "hoped to start at least some Projects on May 2009, even if the bulk of Revival Plan's effects are "expected from Autumn 2009".
However, with only 30% of EU Citizens currently aiming to cast a vote at the forthcoming EU Elections on June, (See other NewStory), the coordinated moves' results are expected to be crucial for Citizens' participation and votes at the forthcoming June 2009 EU Elections throughout all 27 EU Member Countries...Thus, it's vital for all Europe's own Future that coordinated national Economic revival plans start to have concrete results and create hopes for new dynamics before the June 2009 EU Election...
A real challenge, since careful choices are needed : Our aim is to fund projects which "create activities", even "in the middle of the crisis", and have a "lever effect, attracting other investments", Devedjian said. Because the "Stimulus' Plan has 2 aims : A Tactical one : to create New Activities. And a Strategic one : Choose what can become efficient and useful also in the Long-term".
- "Are you ready ?", he asked Strasbourg University's new President, professor Alain Beretz, with some 700 million euros in his pockets for Education-Research in France. - "We are !", he replied.
- "The Minister's initiative can accelerate funds, and Time is important for us. This concerns the entire renovation of all our buildings", said to "EuroFora" President, Beretz. "I showed some Scientific Research Labos to Mr. Devedjian. But, If we had more time, I could show him also some Education Amphis, whose condition needs to meet Strasbourg's new Mega-University's ambition" to reach the 10 best in the World, as Prime Minister Fillon earlier anounced here.
(Devedjian kicks off his Economic Revival tour from Strasbourg University, meeting with its new chairman Beretz, at Scientific Institute Le Bel)
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Regional Prefectures should gather and select projects to be presented for decision before the end of January 2009.
A well-known close friend of President Sarkozy, who succeeded as EU Chairman to launch, in agreement with German chancelor Merkel and even British prime minister Brown, vigorous EU actions against the Financial/Economic Crisis, (starting from the 1st Historic Summit of EuroZone's Heads of State/Government, October 12 at Elysee Palace, followed by Washington G20 Global Summit), Devedjan will have a key role in the realisation of National and EU plans recently agreed in Brussels.
President Sarkozy is expected to arrive himself in Strasbourg, on the occasion of the official inauguration of its brand New Mega-Hospital, on the 9th of January 2009, at the eve of EU Parliament's session here, Elysee confirmed shortly after Devedjian's visit.
EU is due to review its economic revival plans at March 2009 EU Council in Prague, before the April 2 London Global Summit.
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Multi-facet concrete activities at focus : Stimulus Minister Devedjian at the Political, Social and High-Tech fronts in Strasbourg...