english french german greek italian lithuanian russian serbian spanish
Αρχική arrow newsitems arrow Strasbourg Health Chief Feltz to EF: 2020 EuroFair = Test for 1st EU Parliament Plenary since Virus

Strasbourg Health Chief Feltz to EF: 2020 EuroFair = Test for 1st EU Parliament Plenary since Virus

Έχει γραφτεί από ACM
Thursday, 27 August 2020
strasbourg_health_chief_feltz__eurofair_press_conf__close_eurofora_400

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to an "Eurofora" Question at a Press Conference, the New Strasbourg City's Head of Health and Environment service, Dr. Alexander Feltz, stressed that the 1st InComing Large-Public Collective Mega-Event of the 88th "Euro-Fair", usually attracting Tens of Thousands of People, and scheduled for 4 to 14 September 2020, would be a real-life "Test" for EU Parlament's 1st Full Plenary Session in Strasbourg, since the Virus' Crisis, due immediately Afterwards, between 14 and 17 September, Despite a Europe-Wide recent ReBouncing of Infections towards the End of this Summer 2020, amidst a "Bumpy" DeConfinement (See, f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/hastydecofinementflop.html, etc), right at the Eve of this Year's Risky Entry of Classes at the Beginning of Autumn. 

                                                                                                                                 While France Reached Today +6.711 New Cases of Infections, (Approaching the Level of March), Nevertheless, the New Mayor of Strasbourg, "Green" Franco-Armenian Jeanne Barsheghian, hershelf a Succesful recent Survivant of the Virus, from which she had Just Recovered Before Winning, fespite a Hard Political Competition, at the June 2020 Municipal Elections, recently Stressed that, "Instead of Opposing" various Apparently Conflicting Issues, on the Contrary, she Prefers to Decisively Address them, Taken All Together, Finding a Way to Both Solve, f.ex., "Economic Development", and "Public Health", as well as "Environment Protection" Imperatifs, in Real Practice, almost at the Same Time, (Comp.  various other Topical Replies by Barsheghian to "Eurofora"s Questions, at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/strasbourgvotesarmeniangreenmayor.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/greencandidatemayorokseuroforaproject.html, etc).

strasbourg_2020_eurofair_press_conf_placard_in_pmc_eurofora_400 

 - Thus, f.ex., inter alia, Dr. Feltz, after Expressing a Wish for Strasbourg to Become, in the foreseable Future, Able to "ReCycle (Protective) Masks", as he Initially said at the Press Conference, appeared Eager to Urge to "Bring that also Here", Later-on, at a brief Bilateral Encounter, "Thanking" "Eurofora" for having Informed him that, Already, at least an Inventor at USA's Ohio, has reportedly Found Recently a Way to Safely Wash about 30 Times a Piece, even the Best Protective Gear of "N95" (Equivalent to French "FPP2") Filter Masks, making them quite Resilient, thanks to a Special Machine, Instead of People having to Throw Each one Away, after Only 1 Day, or Even some Hours' Use...

Meanwhile, EU Parliament's superb, Impessive Building in Strasbourg, including a Tower in the Middle of a Rivers' Crossroads, near Green Areas with Beautiful Family Homes and Traditional Gardens, Facing Brand-New High-Rise Modern Buildings, had been Used, During the "Peak" of the Deadly Virus' Crisis, as a HeadQuarters for the French "Great East" Region's Sanitary Services ("ARS"), Mainly for Massive Diagnostic Tests Helping to Fight the Virus, (as, in Brussels, its Restaurants and Taxi-Drivers had reportedly been Offered, by the President of EU Parliament, Italian MEP David Sassoli, in order to Prepare and Dispatch Food for Poor People, Hardly Hit by the Pandemic in the Middle of Europe).

After having, Suddenly, Faced an abrupt Lock-Down, Cancelling all its Full Plenary Sessions, (Traditionaly taking place Each Month in Strasbourg), since March 2020, EU Parliament Strived to Work in Brussels, Initially through Various, more or less Brief, "Video-Conferences", Before being Obliged to Hazard a Make-Shift But Restricted "Plenary" Session there on July, at the Eve of an Exceptionally Crucial EU Heads of State/Government Brussels' Summit for the Creation of a European ReVival Fund, (See relevant "Eurofora"s NewsReports, f.ex. at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euhardbutbigdealneedsmore.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euuturnforlongerbalanceddeal.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurevivalsummitneedseuropeanvision.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/merkel5pointsforeurevival.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/nonorchestrateddialoguewitheucitizens.html, etc), Finally re-Scheduling a Possibly Fully-Fledged Big Plenary Session anew in Strasbourg for the Middle of September 2020.

Germany Recently Issued a Travel Warning on Brussels' area, But Not yet Strasbourg's area, (Even if Paris and Marseille's French areas were Also Targetted), which means that Returnees have to pass a Health Check, or face Quarantine.

Euro-Fair and EU Parliament's September 2020 Dates in Strasbourg interlap Only on Monday 14, Sharing Mostly the Same Public Transport Network, Except from MEPs' exclusive Taxis and Staff's Special Bus.

 

strasbourg_eurofair_2020_logo_big_400

 - "Currently, we are in a Mode of Risk Reduction", and "Since the Virus is Staying, we have to Learn how to Live With it", Stressed from the outset Dr. Feltz, who is a Professional Medical Doctor himself. In this regard, "in order to Be Healthy, there are Many things to Invent", "in Practical terms of our Sanitary Policy", he urged.

    -  Inter alia, f.ex., this Euro-Fair 2020, in Addition to "Compulsory Protective Face Masks", available "Desinfectants", and "Social Distancing" precepts, "DesInfections After each Manipulation" at the Stands, "Boosted Ventilation", as well as a Considerable "Reinforcement of Sanitary Help Teams", it will also "completely De-Materialize Payments" (including with "E-Tickets") and "Even Press Badges" (Downloaded), etc., using "a Digital App. [for all Digitalisation Measures See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/2eurofairsphysicaldigital.html] for the Map and List" of Compagnies which are present and their Products, the "Time-table" of various Cultural Events, etc, Regular "Informations" about "Measures Protecting from the Virus", including "Proposals of Health Checks", (but "Not Compulsory"), while "Everybody will Give his Personal Coordinates" so that he/she "can be Contacted, if necessary, at any time" during his/her Stay. It will constantly "Count the Number of Visitors who Enter or Leave", in order "to Ensure that a Maximum Level of 5.000 at the Same Time has Not been Reached" inside a well "Protected Area", will let Visitors "Pass through a special Portal of DesInfection by Ionisation" (a Local Company's "Innovation", reportedly Checked as Safe), in order to help ensure that things are "Clean", will Organize the "Flows" of Visitors and their main "Pathways" in an "One Way Mode", and "Separating Entries from Departures", to "Prevent Bottlenecks" with a Smooth Transition, will make "Special Arrangements" for an "Obligatory Road-Map" and "Enough Space" for Distancing in Each Compartment of the Exhibitions, while a Wider Guarded "Protected Zone" is (already) Exceptionaly established "Around" the Event's area, (etc.).,.

strasnourgevents_ceo_pillaire_to_agg_after_2020_eurofair_press_conf._eurofora_400 

    - Indeed, as the CEO of "Strasbourg-Events" Administration, (responsible for Mega-Gatherings at the City's premisses Near EU Parliament, at the ReNovated "Congress and Music Palace" /"PMC", as well as for the "PE 3" New, ForthComing, Huge Excibition Hall), Miss Albane Pillaire, replied to a Relevant "Eurofora"s Question, Currently, Most Fairs are Still Prohibited because of the Virus, (Both in France and Most EU Countries), Unless they Receive a special "Derogation", Based on "Solid Measures of Public Health Protection", as in this case.

    => In Consequence, as the Present 88th Strasbourg's"Euro-Fair" seems to be a "Pioneer" and, perhaps, a kind of "Symbol", towards a possible Resumption of Collective Activities, in a Safe Way, (Both InDoor and OutDoor) in France and the rest of Europe, Since Last Autumn 2020's General "Lock-Down", "Eurofora" Asked Feltz whether it could be, concretely, a Useful "Test" in view of the Forthcoming 1st EU Parliament's Full Plenary Session in Strasbourg Since the Virus' Crisis (Comp. Supra), and, by the way, How the Preparations, of Also that Subsequent and Obviously very Important European Event, are going, until now.

strasbourg_health_chief_feltz__strasevents_ceo_pillaire_hearing_agg_questions_eurofair_press_conf__eurofora_400_01 

    - Strasbourg City's Public Health Chief, Replying to "Eurofora"s Question, agreed, in principle, that "Certainly", this 2020 Euro-Fair "Will be, partly, a Test for ForthComing Events, as those of EU Parliament, But Also various Other Collective Events currently Planned", as he Added. ("Strasbourg-Events"' CEO, Pillaire, f.ex. told, Later, "Eurofora", that she is Expecting to Host, during the Next Few Months, Also, f.ex., an Annual Mega-Event on "Contemporary Art", a "Salon" for Collector's items in Cars/Motos, as well as "an International Competition on Wines", (But with a "Lesser Public") etc, inter alia.

    - However, Feltz kindly but Carefully Declined, at This Moment, to "Advance" in concrete "Predictions" about EU Parliament's forthcoming Plenary, Diplomaticaly Observing that "it Depends, Also, on MEPs' own Wishes", "Because we are Living in a Democracy", and, in general, "We (the Public Authorities of Strasbourg City) are mainly Accompagnying, Preventing, Co-Organizing, Supervising, and Helping such important Events to take place" here, since relevant Key Activities "Must Continue to be Able to Work properly", as he Vowed.

    + At any case, "What we will do Now here, (with this Exceptional "Euro-Fair"), Will be, immediately Afterwards, Evaluated, in order to Reach practically Useful Conclusions for Other such Collective Events, Both Throughout France and elsewhere in Europe", Feltz also said earlier, in this regard.

    ++ Concenring an Eventual, Last-Minute Obstacle, "We canNot Exclude it a priori, If there is, f.ex., an "Explosion" of the Virus", as Pillaire realisticaly observes, (special Insurances seem Ready for such a Hazard), while Hoping that Strasbourg would Manage to Cope, finally, with that Challenge, given also the Socio-Economic Importance of EuroFair even as a Symbolic "Flagship" of much Needed ReVival, as well as many People's Expectations.

    +++ As for Which Political Personality might be Chosen this time, in order to Officially "Inaugurate" this 2020 "Euro-Fair", according to a well-Established Practice, "Strasbourg-Events"' CEO Pillaire said, in Reply to anOther "Eurofora" Question at the Press Conference, that, Even if some have already spoken about a "Possible" Venue of French Economy (and former EU Affairs) Minister Bruno Le Maire (Comp. various Le Maire Replies to "Eurofora"s Questions, including at the Previous, 2019 "EuroFair", among others, f.ex. at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frencheconomyministerlemaireoneu.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frencheconomyministerandbrexitagrideal.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/taxgafaandbuildeudigitaltech.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macrontoprotectcyprusisraelenergyforeurope.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/internationalpressdebateongermanelection.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchministerlemaireonagriculturalpotential.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/shipgas.html, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/irish/2009_2010.html, etc), Nevertheless, Nothing hasn't been Definitively Decided, Until Now, (inter alia, Also Because of some ImPrevisibility in Various Activities, directly or indirectly related with the Evolution of the Virus, and other, Still On-Going Developments : F.ex., probably even a Last-Minute Postponement, for 1 Week Later, of France's National Plan for EU's "Revival" Fund, etc), so that, in the Mean-Time, Strasbourg City's New Leadership (See: ..., etc) and the French Government are Continuing relevant Consultations, whose Result would be "Announced Later-on".

    At any case, However, "Eurofora" noticed that the "Press Club Strasbourg-Europe" has, Exceptionaly, Reserved the Early Morning of September 4, (i.e. the Date of "Euro-Fair"'s Inauguration), for a probable Press-point with our New Prefect, of Strasbourg's Wider "Great-East" Region, (Extended until it Exceptionaly Neighbours with 4 Other European Countries : Germany's 2 Lânder, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Even Belgium, See, f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/strasbourgregionpresidentrottneronhightech.html , http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/regionpresidentoneuropeantransportlinks.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/firsteuuniversityleadersonhorizon.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/strasbourgpregionprefectontransborderlinks.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchregionschiefrichertquits.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/francogermancoreregionleaderseyescienceandethics.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/prefetfrataccistrasbourgasgebevanyorshanghai.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchprimeministervallsonhightechfunding.html http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchregionspresidentricherttoeurofora.html http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/strasbourgregionpresidentrichertandfrencheconomyministermacrononhighspeedinternet.html  + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/newbigfrenchregionheadricherton5eustatesandchina.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/newstrasbourgbigregionprefect.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/alsacepresidentrichertonacaleuropeanprojects.html, etc), Miss Chevallier (means "Knight"). A quite Experienced Top Senior Officer, who served, Recently, also ... at the Other Side of France : as Prefect of the Far Southern Island of Corsica, in the Mediterranean Sea. There where, by a Coincidence, President Macron reportedly Prepares, currently, an Important "MED-7" Heads of State/Government Summit, also for September: See ..., etc)...

 
 

(../..)

 

("Draft-News")

 

-----------------------------

 

StartUpEU

Statistics

Επισκέπτες: 56815864

Archive

Login Form





Να με θυμάσαι

Ξεχάσατε τον Κωδικό Πρόσβασης;
Δεν έχετε λογαριασμό ακόμα; Δημιουργία λογαριασμού

Syndicate

RSS 0.91
RSS 1.0
RSS 2.0
ATOM 0.3
OPML

  imag0573_400

    An "Eugenic" loophole Amendment, which might expose to Dangers reminiscent of "3rd Reich's" notorious Genetic Abuses, hidden at the last minute inside an otherwise Good, larger Health policy Package scheduled to be voted on Thursday, was strongly denounced by a coalition of MEPs from various Political Groups and Countries, in a Press Conference held this afternoon at EU Parliament in Strasbourg.

    Mainly calling to "Select Human Embryos", via "Genetic Counselling" and "pre-implantation" Techniques including "Genetic Tests", in order to "Eradicate Hereditary rare Diseases", it might open ways to Dangerous Practices in Future, they denounced in substance.

    But they also made it clear that a much larger Report inside which this Controversial Amendment "No 15" was added in dubious circumstances, officialy destinated to struggle against "Rare Diseases", and drafted by Professor Antonios Trakatellis, was otherwise "an Excellent Report", aiming at a "completely Uncontroversial target" of Health policy on which "all MEPs and Experts are united, believing that Europe should act" to protect People's Health (See "EuroFora"'s earlier News).

    The controversy came at a particularly delicate moment for the EU in relation to Citizens, at the eve of June 2009 EU Elections, and shortly before Ireland re-votes for "Lisbon Treaty"..    

- Denouncing risks of "an Eugenic demand, very similar to what we had during the 3rd Reich in Germany, but now coming from some Scientisists themselves", German ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Dr. Peter Liese stressed that critical MEPs were against "Eugenic" engineering with "Selection of Human Embryos", and anything which might ultimately lead up to to a "Selection of Human Race". It doesn't help to "eradicate" Human Lives, he added.


    Several Experts and NGOs expressed "Deep Concern", as f;ex. DR M.C. Cornel of the "European Society of Human Genetics", which stressed, on this occasion, that "the importance of Non-Directiveness in Reproductive issues is a Central characteristic of Human Genetics, after the Atrocities committed in the name of Genetics in the first half or the 20th Century".

     - "This is completely Unacceptable", stressed Italian Liberal MEP Vittorio Prodi, on the Controversial Amendment, also because pushes to "eliminate early Human Life", as he noted.

     - "This opens a Dangerous Road, rather a Motorway", denounced Danish MEP Mrs Margrette Auken, from the "Greens", observing that various similar attempts were made in the Past "not only in Germany, but also in several other Countries, "even at the 1970ies", "f.ex. on forced Sterilisation of Roma" People, and other criticisable situations f.ex. in the UK, in Sweden, etc. as she said.

    + Other NGOs, as f.ex. "LebenHilfe" from Berlin, added that, among various other Risks, could also be that, by exploiting the pre-implantation Genetic Diagnostics and the Selection of "healthy" Embryos, some may "propagate" several "Eugenic" aims, starting f.ex. by pushing to eradicate Human Livies which might "Cost too much" to preserve, ultimately exposing to dangers reminiscent of the "3rd Reich"'s atrocious abuses.

    In consequence, ChristianDemocrats/EPP and "Green" MEPs "decided by Majority to vote against" this Controversial Amendment, anounced to Journalists the 5 MEPs who participated in the Press Conference, representing a wide spectrum, from Liberals to "Greens" and ChristianDemocrats, and from Hungary, Italy, Germany and Danemark up to Ireland (Gay Mitchell), etc.
----------------------------------
    Hungarian ChristianDemocrat MEP Laszlo Surjan said "that it was "Suddenly, at the End of the Procedure" in Committee, that "appeared this (Controversial) Amendment, which has nothing to do" with the main purpose of the Report, on which all agreed.

    He denounced an "Unhonest" move, and called to "avoid this kind of unacceptable situations". Nobody should "Select People", Surjan stressed.

    - "We (MEPs) had No Chance to Discuss" this last-minute Amendment earlier added at a Committee's level, said German MEP Peter Liese

    Speaking to "EuroFora", Dr. Liese, the Spokesman of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group in EU Parliament, said that MEPs didn't oppose other references of the Report f.ex. on "Genetic Tests", because they were "no proposals" to impose them, while, on the contrary, there was "a Problem" if anyone attempted to "impose" f.ex. this or that Genetic Technique and "Genetic Counselling", etc. to the People on human reproduction.
-------------
The precise Text :
-----------------
    Controversial parts of Amendment No 15 ask mainly "to lead finally to the Eradication" of "Hereditary" "rare diseases", "through Genetic Counselling .., and ..pre-Implantation Selection of healthy Embryos".

    But  EU Rapporteur Professor Trakatellis, said to "EuroFora" that fears should be alleviated by Guarantees that all this should be done only "where appropriate", when it's "not contrary to existing National Law", and "always on a Voluntary basis", according to other Parts of the Amendment.

    He stressed that the main aim was to allow "a free and informed choice of persons involved", without imposing them anything :  - "It's not an obligatory, but advisary" text, he said.

    To make that point clear, he was ready, in agreement with many MEPs, to eventually drop at least that part of the controversial Amendment which initially called for "efforts to ..lead finally to the Eradication of those rare diseases" "which are Hereditary".

    But, until late Wednesday evening, reportedly together with many other MEPs, he stood by all the rest of the controversial Amendment, (fex. on the "Genetic Counselling" and the "pre-implantation Selection of healthy Embryos"), so that critical MEPs, going from ChristianDemocrats as Dr. Liese, to "Greens" or "Ind/Dem", observed to "EuroFora" that "this was not enough" to close the dangerous loophole.

    Particularly since, as Professor Trakatellis noted himself, "this is already allowed to the U.K.", and "other National Legislations would probably follow, sooner or later" in a similar direction. As for a general call to "Eradicate Hereditary rare Diseases", this "should happen, at any case, in practice, de facto", to protect public Health.

    On the contrary, "our goal should be to help patients suffering from rare diseases, not to eradicate the patients. In case of genetic disease risk, the decision should not be guided by scenarios" made by politicians. "Perents who may decide to accept a child, even if handicapped or with genetic disease, must be respected and supported with solidarity", critical MEPs stated.

    - "Any Pressure" to "a patient or couple (who "should be able to make an informed choice consistent with their own values"),"from health Professionals, Public Health Policies or Governemental Institutions, or Society at large, should be avoided", stresses the "European Society for Human Genetics".

----------------------------------

Each MEP's vote will be registered !

-----------------------------------   

The Socialist Group requested a "Split vote" on the Amendment 15, first without, and afterwards with the words "lead finally to the Eradication" etc.


    But the first "split vote" leaves intact all the other parts of the Controversial Amendment, (i.e. "Genetic Counselling", "Selection of healthy Embryos", etc).

    That's why, 3 Groups of MEPs : ChristianDemocrats/EPP, "Greens/EFA", and "Ind/Dem", have asked for "Roll Call Votes", on everything regarding the Controversial Amendment No 15, and on the final outcome of the resulting Report as amended, which will register all the individual positions to be taken by each MEP.   

Something which will obviously make each MEP think twice before voting for one or another choice, to be sure that he/she will make the right choice in front of EU Citizens, particularly at these pre-Election times...


    Crucial Votes were scheduled between 12 Noon and 1 p.m. local Strasbourg time, in the middle of a long series of various other Reports, and after a long Public Debate on the larger Health policy package, from 9 to 11.50 am.

    The specific Report inside which was hidden the controversial Amendment is due to be debated between 11 and 12 am.

    So that more last-minute Surprises may not be excluded a priori...

    Particularly at the present Historic moment, when even the Institutional Future of the EU depends on the result of a second Referendum on "Lisbon Treaty", later this year, in ...Ireland, a mainly Catholic country, where People are particularly sensitive in such kind of socio-cultural and values issues...
 

      ***     
 
     (Draft due to be updated).
 
***

Polls

2009 EU Elections were won by Parties against Technocracy and Turkey's controversial EU bid, while the 1999-2004 Majority Abstention trend decelerated. What should be done in 2009-2014 ?

Αποτελέσματα

SMF Recent Topics SA

Copyright (c) 2007-2009 EIW/SENAS - EuroFora.net. All rights reserved. ISSN 1969-6361.
Powered by Elxis - Open Source CMS.