

EUROCORPS Chief Buchsenschmidt to EuroFora: EU Defense doesn't lack Means, but needs Political Will

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Europeans don't lack Today material, human and institutional means to develop a more Autonomous Defense policy, complementary and, if need be, independent from NATO, despite various shortcomings, but it's mainly an issue of collective Political Will inside the EU, replied, in substance, to relevant "EuroFora"s Questions, the experienced Chief of EUROCORPS, Commander General Guy Buchsenschmidt from Belgium, who heads the European Force able to serve as Headquarters of Multi-modal, Land - Air - Sea, Defense - Security Operations, based in Strasbourg, with 6 full Member Countries (France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and soon also Poland), as well as several "Liaison Officers" from various other Countries, that EU Parliament has repeatedly supported in its Resolutions on EU's CFSP.
- Indeed, particularly since the entry into force, from 2010, of EU's Lisbon Treaty which opens possibilities for Reinforced Cooperations by certain EU Member Countries in various concrete areas of activities, the current problem of the lack of a Consensus among all the 28 EU Member States for the development of a European common Defense and Security policy, does not exist no agreed with "EuroFora" Buchsenschmidt, who, indeed, sees such a possibility only between a smaller number of EU Countries willing to advance forward and meet the growing Challenges of Today and of the foreseable Future.

EUROCORPS' Chief, who heads for 2 Years this unique Organisation, which has already been used to Head the Staff Officers of important MultiNational Forces, f.ex. at Kosovo and even in Afghanistan, etc., was invited as Key-note Speaker of a Conference organized by the "PanEuropa" Think Tank at EU Parliament this afternoon, with Moderator the experienced, mainstream Austrian MEP Paul Rubig, and he participation also of former Chairman of the Biggest EU Parliament's Political group, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, and current President of the EPP Party, headquartered in Brussels, recently elected also as at the Presidence even of the International Democratic Party, Joseph Daul from Strasbourg.
- Europeans should be prepared to become more "Autonomous" in Defense, since the USA are turning the focus of their attention towards other regions of the World, and given that we already have, despite delays, an important potential of capacities, in material and know-how in Europe, which could help us to become more Free to move in the Future, Buchsenschmidt added on this occasion.
- While regretting,; however, a recent trend to include Defense among the wider Budget Restrictions since the recent Global Crisis, despite the emergence even of New Challenges, (such as the ISIS, etc), Lietenant-General Buchsenschmidt, who doesn't find neither feasible, nor necessary, to create a fully-fledged "European Army" as such at all, nevertheless strongly believes that Europeans already have the means Today to organise an efficient Defense-Security Force, (competent both for Military and Civil Protection operations f.ex. against Natural or Man-made Catastrophes), mainly by pooling Together their assets under a Joint Command, where those EU Countries who wish to actively participate, should be able to do so, on the sole main condition of the existence of a common Political Will.
During the debates, Buchsenschmidt had, however, to reply (even if briefly) even to Questions on both how to address Russian President Putin's propaganda on Ukraine, judged to be sometimes too efficient and influential, and whether EU (and USA) should forge a Coalition with Russia against growing Threats by Brutal Islamic Terrorists of ISIL's BeHeaders, that he handled, apparently, as diplomatically as a Military Chief could..
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EUROCORPS, which is traditionaly used by EU Parliament for the official ceremonies involving Heads of State/Government, served also, Today Morning, in the Welcome ceremony for Pope Francis, during which, a Group of Soldiers from that MultiNational European Force, raised both EU's and Vatican's Flags, followed by the respective Anthems.
The Pope has repeatedly declared, on the occasion of the atrocious BeHeadings and Brutal Oppression against Christians and other Minorities in Iraq and Syria by the Islamic Extremist Terrorists of ISIL, that a reaction against "Unjust Aggression" would be Legitimate, but on the condition that it will be authorized by an Agreement of the International Community, i.e. mainly at the UNO.
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(NDLR : Fast Translation from the Original in French. + "DraftNews", as already sent to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be published asap)
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EU Rapporteur on Enlargment Strategy, maistream German MEP Elmar Brok, speaking to "EuroFora", welcomed the proposal made earlier this week by French President Nicolas Sarkozy for the EU to"start Now Talks with Turkey to create a common Economic and Security area", instead of full Accession, at a period when Ankara looks more and more unfit and/or unwilling to respect EU conditions.
- "For Europe to have strong Political will, it must stop dilutiing itself in an endless Enlargement. It must have borders...Diversities enrich, on the condition that they don't undermine European Cohesion, and don't weaken EU Unity", Sarkozy stressed.
- "Countries like Turkey share a part of common destiny with Europe, with which they have a vocation to build a Privileged Relation, to be closely associated, but not to become Member of the EU" : "Noone respects his friends by telling them lies. Noone respects his friends by making them promises that will be never kept", he added.
That's why "we'd better start, from now, negotiating with Turkey to create a common Economic and Security area", Sarkozy proposed.
Significantly, the French President was repeatedly and largely applauded by EU citizens, 3 times, when he made the Turkey point, (strategically placed between Europe's "Political Will" and its cultural heritage, historically open to mutually enriching dialogue with all the World, but never diluted).
- "We could propose such a great ambition also to Russia, which must not be percieved as an Adversary of Europe, but as a Partner. Thus, we'd create a wide area, of more than 800 Million inhabitants, sharing the same Security, the same Prosperity", he concluded.

Sarkozy's move was anounced at the eve of a Franco-German Top meeting with Chancellor Angie Merkel in Berlin on Sunday, to jointly launch the EU Elections campain, after an EU Summit at nearby Prague, to launch a new kind of relations, called "Eastern Partnership", with neighboring countries such as Urkaine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaidjan, etc, (to which Russia, reportedly, is not - and does not want to be - included).
As for Ukraine, which has already expressed her wish to join the EU in future, "Kiev will have a special place, and a very important role to play", replied earlier this week in Strasbourg, to an "EuroFora" question EU Chairman in office , Czech vice-Prime Minister Alexander Vodra.
- "This direction is more Realistic for Turkey than Accession negotiations", reacted immediately EU Parliament's Rapporteur for Enlargment Strategy, mainstream German MEP Elmar Brok, commenting Sarkozy's idea for "EuroFora"
Particularly "as far as it concerns the respect of EU Rules by both sides", he added, hinting at Turkey's now obvious inability and/or unwillingness to abide with EU Acquis, EU Commitments (fex. on Cyprus, etc), and European Democracy/Human Rights rules. (Comp. infra).
Brok added that, in his view, a similar proposal might be made also to Ukraine and other neighbouring Countries, regardless if they have, or not, a "European vocation". This would not necessarily mean that there couldn't be any accession prospects at all." for all the countries that might be included in this area, according to Brok. But it's preferable, particularly for Turkey, "because it's a more Realistic approach than full Membership".
On this point, Sarkozy's proposal, (which he'll share with German Chancellor Merkel), seems more crystal-clear.

- "Turkey does not fullfil EU Criteria, and will never fullfil EU Criteria" on Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law. "Some have been lying to Ankara, but we must tell the Truth, and have honest and close relations with her", said meanwhile to "EuroFora" on the same issue also the President of EU Parliament's largest Group of MEPs (ChristianDemocrats/EPP), Joseph Daul.
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"Hot" Debate at EU Parliament reveals CHANGE of mood towards "Suspension" of EU - Tukey talks.
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Earlier this week, many MEPs, and even some of those who were previously in favor of Turkey's controversial EU bid, strongly criticized the persistance and even aggravation of serious Human Rights violations in the country, that ECHR continues to "unanimously" condemn ":
- "After winning a big victory in the latest Local Elections, the pro-Kurdish party DTP almost doubled its Elected Mayors from 52 to 98", but afterwards "more than 400 politicians were thrown to Prison and prosecuted" by the Turkish Authorities, denounced on behalf of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group, Belgian MEP Frieda Brepoels.
At the same time, "more than 1.500 Children are closed in Turkish Prisons", she added. "What will the EU Commission do" against these facts ?
- "Turkey appears to be at greater Distance away from Copenhagen Criteria after 4 Years of accession Negotiations, than when they started !", denounced on behalf of the Liberal Group, German MEP Alexander Lambsdorf.
"On the central issue of Press Freedom, Critical Journalists face obstacles for their accreditation, others are prosecuted, condemned, fined and/or jailed, Media blocked or closed", he denounced.
- "EU Made 2 grave Mistakes with Turkey : To start accession negotiations, and to continue them", despite everything, criticized Dutch MEP Bastian Belder, on behalf of the Ind/Dem group.
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