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Home arrow newsitems arrow Double leap forward: EuroZone celebrates twice its 10th Anniversary. Strasbourg adding to Frankfurt

Double leap forward: EuroZone celebrates twice its 10th Anniversary. Strasbourg adding to Frankfurt

Written by ACM
Wednesday, 14 January 2009

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Double leap forward when EuroZone celebrates twice its 10th Anniversary :
 
 
- Strasbourg 2009 adds Political dimension to Frankfurt 2008.



    EuroZone's rare privilege to celebrate ..twice its 10 Years Anniversary, first at Central European Bank's Headquarters at nearby Frankfurt on 2008, and now at EU Parliament in Strasbourg on 2009, saw a big Change :  From classic Monetary Stability to innovative Economic Policy...

    Nobody among the Chiefs of State or Goverment or Senior Experts who had attended the CEB's Summit, could have imagine what followed :

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    - Back on June 2008, the accent was placed, indeed, mainly into stressing the fact that a strict Monetary Policy was also "Social", because it protected the People from risks of abrupt Devaluation, of which they had suffered in the Past, as German Chancelor Merkel had reminded then.

    The image of People suddenly losing their jobs, Businesses desinvesting, Factories closing, Banks stoping to lend money, Stock Markets going astray, Funds going bankrupt, Hundreds of Millions disappearing like thin air, in brief : The Global Financial and Economic Crisis which followed since September 2008, seemed still unthinkable...

    And EuroZone's President, Luxembourg's Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker's attitude to "EuroFora"s question on eventual perspectives for "EuroGroup" to acquire also a "Political" dimension, had been surprisingly moderate and low-key, as if he didn't really think that it might be desirable.

    At least that was the frustrating impression he gave us when we raised such questions with President Juncker also at EU Parliament or when he got a Honoris Causa Doctoral diploma" at Strasbourg's University.. This had surprised us, because it was in complete contrast with his, otherwise, voluntary, combative personality, fond of big challenges and great vision..

    However, even back in Frankfurt, at CEB's Headquarters, during its 10 Years' Anniversary, IMF's Senior Expert on Europe, Allessandro Leipold, presenting the conclusions of a check-up by the austere Washington DC Global Financial body, had already started to surprise :

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    IMF's diagnostics, while praising EuroZone's succes in achieving price Stability and building Confidence, at the same time, warned that Contradictions were growing and a Deceleration of Growth was possible : Therefore, FMI advised EuroZone to look after its own Cohesion and Economic Development.

    Joining the dots together, "EuroFora" had asked IMF's Senior Expert if this meant that EuroZone' countries should make "common European replies" to Global Market upheavels, (such as Oil or Food price sharp rises at that moment).

    Leipold's reply, even if it looked more like a "Yes !", was carefully covered by a typical Washington DC IMF's "diplomatic" foggy language, which left things rather vague and foggy. Wisely, he also postponed a definite appraisal for after the 2008 Summer...

    (A more detailed overview is available for EuroFora's subscribers).

    But now, January 2009, the change revealed at EU Parliament's special event for Euro's 10th Anniversary, organized in Strasbourg, compared its Frankfurt twin, was astonishing :

    The tone was given from the outset, when EU Parliament's President, German ChristianDemocrat MEP Hans Gert Poettering, described the succesful October 2008 1st EuroZone Summit, convened in Paris at the initiative of French President Nicolas Sarkozy :

    - " It wasn't merely a matter of Economy : The common European Decision proved that a Political Europe can exist !".

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    And here is "another", differend Juncker; now :  

    - "During its 50 Years, Europe often astonished by its capacity to formulate Great Ambitions, and also to develop the necessary mentality and Determination to apply, in a consequent way, the ambition it nourishes", he started.

    -  "Anniversaries have value only when they serve as Bridges for the Future" : "The Economic and Monetary Union is, certainly, an Economic project, but, above all, it's a Political project. In consequence, we must use the 2nd Decade of the Euro to finalise the Economic and Monetary Union by reinforcing its Political instances at the internal and external field", Juncker concluded.
    
    - " What matters most today is our responsibility for the Future. If New Challenges ..are faced with utmost Lucidity and Audacity, they can generate ..Powerful Ideas", concluded even the traditionaly auster CEB's President Jean-Claude Truchet..

    - "The symbol of integration which is Euro's success, must incite to advance further in the European construction... To the fatality of failure, let's oppose the Dynamics of Succes, called, here and now, Euro", added former French President, and Coordinator of the EU Constitution, Valery Giscard d'Estaing.

    But he also warned to avoid to give Euro "a Global dimension" : "Its a European Money and must express its specific Culture of reason and stability in the concert of other world money".

    Co-Rapporteurs German MEP Verner Langen and French MEP Francine Beres, added in the debate their main proposals, endorsed by EU Parliament earlier in Strasbourg, to "strengthen the Political dimension of the EuroGroup, both internaly and externally".

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    In vain, Brittish Nationalist MEP Nigel Farad, speaking for the IND/DEM Group recalled the "old Soviet times"' facticious "plans", expressing "doubts" if the Euro will survive another 10 Years, and accusing the EU to "stuck" national Governments "inside Euro straitjacket", which will be "tested for the first time" during this Global crisis, as he said...

    He was contradicted by Greek Communist Kostas Droutsas, who blamed Euro to be, on the contrary, one of "Capital's tools to intensify the exploitation of the working class".

    The fact is that, during this first Month of 2009, EuroZone penetrated inside the first former "Socialist" country to adopt it willingly ; Slovakia. This incited the Czech Republic, currently chairing the EU, to move : Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek anounced this same week in Strasbourg that his country intends to adopt the Euro currency asap, preparing another change at Prague...

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    As for EU Citizens, they are obviously glad to be able to move accross 16 EU Member States without being obliged, no more, to change money at each border, wasting time and paying exchange percentages, as in the Past.. But they's certainly like for EuroZone to become able to protect them also from Financial and Economic Crisis..

    Finally, this "big change" was nothing new for Strasbourg :

    - It's as soon as 1995, during a visionary "State of the Union" debate at EU Parliament here, that MEPs were told that the adoption of the Euro would "pave the way" for the emergence of a Political Europe :

    By tranferring to a European level the national States' traditional capacity to stimulate Economy by augmenting the mass of Money put into circulation, the creation of EuroZone would inevitably create the need to transfet to a European level also a responsibility for Economic Policy, the 1995 visionary debate had concluded.

    - "Vote for the Euro, and afterwards we shall have e Political Europe. Because if a Political Europe does not emerge to monitor the Monetary Europe, the People will never accept it, never", as former EU Commission's President, Jacques Delors had said earlier, Prof. Alain Lipietz, spokesman of the Green Group in EU Parliament, reminded.

    But Strasbourg's Mayor, Senator Roland Ries, in a special anouncement, after receiving President Poetterings' invitees at Rohan Palace, reminded also that "it was since 1989" that former French President Francois Mitterand had launched a call in Strasbourg, joined by German Chancelor Helmut Kohl and others, to boost a European Economic and Monetary Union..

    1995 - 2009, or even 1989 - 2009 : In fact, it's not only Ten, but ..almost 15 or even 20 Years !

- Isn't it late enough ? Will History give to Europe more Time to waste ?

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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.

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(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...

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