newsitems EUDefense Coop with 3 FrancoGerman AirFighters+EUROCORPS in Strasbourg Later Enlarged to UK in Paris
EUDefense Coop with 3 FrancoGerman AirFighters+EUROCORPS in Strasbourg Later Enlarged to UK in Paris
*Strasbourg/Rhine Palace-Republic Square/Angelo Marcopolo/- It's in front of the superbe Rhine Palace, at Republic's Square, Top of the landmark "NeueStad" Historic part of Strasbourg City, recently Classified by UNESCO, that EU's Franco-German core, Symbolicaly kickStarted Today, by a "First", UnPrecedented Joint Flight of 3 AIrFighter Planes : 1 "EuroFighter" from Germany, and 2 "Rafales" from France, (See Photo), followed by "EUROCORPS"" Army HeadQuarters' Top Staff pioneer 9 EU Countries: 5 Framework Nations (France, Germany, Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium), and 4 Associated (Greece, Italy, Romania, Poland), a Movement towards a Wider European Defense Cooperation, UK included, due to be Highlighted Tomorrow in Paris.
The Main Symbol of this 2019 celebration of the French National Day in Strasbourg, i.e. the Joint Flight of 3 Fighter Airplanes from France and Germany, (which crossed Twice the Sky above the Officials and the People gathered for the Traditional Event, most vainly Trying to See those too Fast-Moving Flying Objects),
is Obviously a Timely Reminder of the Recent Franco-German Political Will to Create soon, Together, 1 New Joint Fighter Airplane of Top Efficiency, for the foreseable Future.
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EUROCORPS, already Created since 1993 in Strasbourg, has aquired an Important Experience for a really Multi-National and Multi-Modal (i.e. operating in Land, Sea, Air/Space) Force's Headquarters' Staff, by Leading Top Missions inter alia, also, f.ex. at Kosovo, Afganistan, Mali, Central Africa, etc. It can serve also as "Rapid Action Force" for NATO.
Currently it's Germany which holds the Rotating Presidency of 2 Years, with EUROCORPS' Commander the Lieutenant-General Jürgen Weigt, (See, f.ex., Eurocorps Commander's replies to "Eurofora" Questions at: ..., etc). But from September 2019, it's France which will take over the Presidency for 2019-2021.
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On the Contrary, the Subsequent relevant Event, which is due to Follow in Paris on Sunday (14/7/2019), significantly will include also the UK, among 10 European Nations, (France, Germany, UK, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Denmark, Estonia and Finland), on the framework of the "European Initiative for Intervention", created just 1 Year Earlier on an idea advanced mainly by New French President Emmanuel Macron, in order to "Share a Strategic Culture" in Europe, (including also Non-NATO Countries, as Finland).
Meanwhile, recently, France and Germany have Agreed also on the Creation of a "European Defense Council", Together with the UK, due to function even After an eventual "BREXIT", (i.e. probably After the current Deadline of October 31st, 2019).
In other words, Today Strasbourg emerges anew as a Symbol of Core EU Cooperation on Defense, (Often strongly Supported by EU Parliament), spearheaded by the Franco-German "engin", and including several Pioneer EU Countries, while, Tomorrow, in Paris, it will be mainly about a Wider Spectrum, designed to include also a "Post-BREXIT" UK, a NO-NATO Finland, etc, in the foreseable Future.
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Thus, it's Also a German Army Brigade, (Nowadays the "291st JägerBataillon"), Recently Hosted inside France, (as a French Brigade is also Hosted at Nearby Germany), which Participated to Strasbourg's event Today, and was kindly Applauded by the People, (as well as, naturally, the EUROCORPS).
But the Most Popular Favorite related trans-national unit, still remains, that which stands Closer to the People's everyday lives : the Franco-German ...Bike Squad, lively Applauded once again, as also in the recent Past !
French Gendarmes' and Police's Motorcyclists, as well as Fire-Fighters, were also Popular, (particularly the "New" Unit of "Young Fire-Fighters" trainees, including several Children, who concluded the 2019 Parade, applauded).
The overall Ceremony was placed under the Direction of Strasbourg's Military Governor, (who is due to Protect also EU Parliament's plenaries', CoE's and Schengen System's Secretariat's Headquarters, located here), General Ollier (Commander of the 2nd Armored Brigade),
who saluted also the 3 other Brigades of French Army forming the Main Bulk of the parade, (including even some Heavily Armed Guys ...led by a Woman ! But we are in the Country of Historic "Joan of Arc", whose Statute guards also Strasbourg's "European" Commuity's Church of Saint-Guillaume, nearby...).
General Ollier Surprised by taking the unusual Initiative to Salute also the various Invitees' present on the spot Today, arriving almost aside "Eurofora"s Press Photograph-taking post !...
Last, but not least, among the List of Officers awarded a "Legion d'Honneur" distinction by General Ollier, in our Times of not only Terrorist Risks, but also ..."Global Warming", (with most France, and particularly Strasbourg, having been the Target of a Record-High "HeatWave" from Africa, just a few Days ago), it's not only "Intelligence" Officers, but also a Medical Doctor, and even a ..."Meteorologist" who were chosen to be honoured this year.
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But, at the Same Time, Defense Issues become more and more Important for Europe in our Troubled Neighbourhood Nowadays, as Highlights, inter alia, also the Fact that the New Italian Minister for EU Affairs, Lorenzo Fontana, (close to popular vice-Prime Minister Mateo Salvini), who was appointed just a Few Days ago, notoriously considers that it's even the Historic "Roots of (Modern) Europe", which are linked with the Famous "Lepante Naval Battle" of 1.571, where a United European Army succeeded to Win against an Ottoman-Turc Military Ship Attack, taking the Lead throughout the Mediterranean Sea, which remained basically in Peace afterwards, after the European Countries (with a Strong Popular Support then) had decided to Concentrate their Forces in order to Punish the Massacre of Venician Soldiers who used to Guard Famagusta City in Cyprus, but had been Obliged by the Turks to render their arms in front of many Attacks, in exchange of a Promise to let them Go Free, which was, Later, Betrayed by the Ottoman-Turk Army, by Slaughtering those who had committed the Tragic Error to Trust them...
Lepante is, indeed, a landmark Historic Top Point in Europe's History, particularly because of that Popular European Cooperation on Defense, which Succeeded to bring Peace in the previously troubled Mediterannean Sea, since 1571, as, Later-on, it Started to be done also on the mainLand, f.ex. with the Succesful Defense of Wien, Austria's Capital City (1683), followed by the Liberation of Budapest (1691), the Capital of Hungary, (Semi-Occupied, until then, by the Ottoman-Turk Military Invasion and Occupation), and Afterwards All Hungary (1699), with a Growing Popular Support and Enthousiasm, as well as the English and the Russians Fighting, side by side, with the Italians, French and German-Speaking People, even the Russians, etc., at the Beginnning of the Historic Century of "Enlightenment".
- "Eurofora" (without going as far as Minister Fontana) had already used the Historic Reference to Lepante's Naval Battle of 1571, on December 2017, during the EU Summit in Brussels which Organized a special "PESCO" Event for the Beginning of EU Defense High-Tech Projects' Funding, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euhistoricdefenceevent.html), in order to Mark, with Friendly Irony, the Fact that such a Welcome, but Delayed Move, in fact, came ... "4,5 Centuries After the 1st European Army Victory" !
What to fill with Humility, but also Consciousness of the Duty to Take Good Care of the Few but potentially Important, European Defense Building Blocks, Nowadays existing in Strasbourg and elsewhere, at least the present French Local Officials, MEPs, National Assembly's vice-President and other MPs, "Great-East" Region vicce-President, Strasbourg's "Euro-Metropole" President, Prefect, Commander, etc., who closed this exceptionaly Simple, but Symbolic 2019 Annual Parade in fine...
(../..)
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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.
***
Multi-facet concrete activities at focus : Stimulus Minister Devedjian at the Political, Social and High-Tech fronts in Strasbourg...