EUParliament Secretary General Welle to EF: Citizens-MEPs Debates before Decisions, on Study 1.2017+
*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Pioneer Ideas for EU Citizens - MEPs' interaction thanks to New Information/Communication Technologies are due to be Reviewed by EU Parliament from the Beginning of Next Year (2017), in the run up towards the crucial Next European Elections of 2019, said in substance its Secretary General, Klaus Welle from Germany to "Eurofora" yesterday here.
"Eurofora" reminded to Welle an interesting relevant Official Report that he has produced some years ago on such matters, which we had evoked together on the occasion of an Earlier Meeting in Strasbourg (Comp.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euparliamentsecretarygeneralonmayelection.html), in relation also to our Initial 1997-2006/7 published Project for Public Debates with EU Citizens Before Final EU Institutions' Decisions which Affect their Lives and/or Society at large.
It was partly Combined with a Previous University original Research on Comparative Law in European Countries, Published as early as elready since 1980, main points of which are Recently gaining Momentum at Both en EU-Wide and even PanEuropean, CoE Legal developments' level, after some Steps during the 1990ies, particularly between 2010-2016, after the Entry into Force of EU "Lisbon Treaty", closely following Europe's ReUnification, with EU/CoE Enlargements, and ECHR case-law subsequent strengthening, etc., (Comp. f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eucoeabdcitizensinpublicdecisionmaking.html).
- Klaus Welle "welcomed" now Eurofora's Interest on that matter, and Confirmed that he is Aware of its "Importance", especially at this Crucial Period for EU's Present and Future.
- Moreover, he Anounced his Intention for EU Parliament to relaunch a more thorough "Examination" of these Issues, "from January 2017", as he told us now, speaking on the sidelines of EU Parliament's Plenary Session in Strasbourg this week.
- The Move would be done Both for its Own Value per se, but also in view of the forthcoming, 2019 EU Elections, just 2 Years later, which have obviously to be Prepared on Time, carefuly, adequately and efficiently.
Significantly, Welle emerged, Smiling, from EU Parliament's Presidential Reception Room, walking on the side where stands a Picture of the Longest-Serving former MEP and f. President of EU Parliament (2007-2009), currently Head of the prestigious "Adenauer" Foundation headquartered in Berlin, Hans Gert Poettering, present at almost All European Elections in History, right from the Start, (i.e. when EU Citizens' Participation used to be much Higher than After 1999), all the way between 1979-2014, with whom he had a rare Chance to Work closely together .
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"Eurofora" had already Raised the question of EU Citizens' debates with MEPs before Final Decisions, via New Technologies, with the EU Commissioner in charge of Communication policy and EU Parliament's vice-President in charge of Media, as Early as since a Press Conference held back on 2006 in Strasbourg, and, subsequently, with the former President of EU Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, from Poland, back on 2009, at 2 successive occasions, (an Interview and a Press Conference : See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/irish/buzekeurofora.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/buzekcitizens.html ). Buzek (a former EU Rapporteur on Scientific Research and Technology Development pluri-Annual Programs) had initialy reacted Positively, as far as the main Principle is concerned, and had been incited, then, to take the Initiative to make a First Step towards a Necessary for that, Timely "Tranparency" during the EU Decision-Making Process, by Starting to Regularly Publish all EU Parliament Committees' Meetings, with Debates and Votes, etc., at the Internet, so that interested People could, at least, be Informed about the Preparation of forthcoming Final Decisions.
But such "an Old Question, in New Circumstances" appeared Ready to Gain a long overdue, Fresh and Further Momentum, after the Recent Political Developments, following the June 2016 "BREXIT" Referendum in the UK, amidst a notoriously Rising "Euro-Scepticism" among many European People throughout several EU Countries nowadays, as a Fresh, in Principle Positive, Reply by the current EU President, Martin Schulz from Germany, to another such Question raised by "Eurofora" during his Press Conference during the 1st EU-27 Heads of State/Government Summit in Bratislava, on September 2016, clearly revealed, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euparliamentpresidentoncitizensandbratislavasummit.html).
In fact, even Strasbourg's particular characteristics, (as Host of EU Parliament's full week Plenary Sessions, CoE's PanEuropean Assembly's Debates and even ECHR Public Hearings, added to EU Ombudsman's "Good Administration" principles on EU's Decision-Making process after the "Lisbon Treaty", etc), seem to Fit exceptionaly Well something like "Eurofora"s project, in ordet to allow for "EU Citizens' Voice to be Heard" just before "voting Final Decisions here", as New , mainstream MEP Anne Sander spontaneously replied to a relevant Question that we raised Recently, (10/2016, See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/annesanderoneuroforaprojectideas.html).
The main Idea is, indeed, Popular among European Citizens Today, as it was Timely revealed, inter alia, also by Last Week's (October 2016) astonishing Electoral Results in Iceland, (an undeniably culturaly European, peaceful and developed Country, and CoE Member, most probably due to Decide soon anew about its Accession into the EU), where People just Voted to Multiply by 3 Times (X 300% !), the MPs of a so-called "Pirate" Party, (notoriously present and quite Influential also in Sweden, Germany, etc), at the Same Time with a brand New, Center-Right "ReGeneration" Party, favorable to EU Accession, only a Few Years After the Head of the First one, MP Birgitta Jonsdottir, succeeded to Collectively Build a Program in whose "Core" lies something very Similar to "Eurofora"s main Idea, about Citizens' Right to have a Say on Public Authorities' Decisions which Affect their Lives and/or Society at large, thanks also to New Digital Technologies and Internet, (as she did since 2012, i.e. just 1 Year after Our Meeting and relevant Conversation at a CoE's PanEuropean Conference in Strasbourg, back on 2011 : See, then http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/internetcoejonsdottir.html , and Now : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/iceland2016electionresultsrightbutnew.html).
=> Who might become that Leading EU Politician who, at last, will succeed to harness that "Spirit of the Times", and adequately translate it, into a fully-fledged, live Reality ?
(../..)
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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".
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