Crucial EU Summit discusses Right Economy, EU Citizens Free Movement +Foreign Policy Strategies

 

Even if Merkel calmly described to Journalists, including "EuroFora", this Summit as that of Croatia's Accession to the EU, (a move obviously due to strengthen EU's Cutural/Historic Identity and GeoPolitical Cohesion, probaby closely followed by Serbia, a.o.Western Balkan Countries), and of decisions to strengthen EU's Economic Governance by adopting several Tools, as well as on EU Citizens "Shengen" system for Freedom of Movement and Security, added to  EU's Southern Neigborhood policy (mainly on Syria and Libya, etc), while "Greece"s issue would be decided only afterwards, once that Athen's Parliament would have voted, according to Financial Ministers' earlier choice, nevertheless, it was obvious that the ambiant mood among Media and politicians was, for a large part, focused on €uroZone's imminent issues..  

- "We (EU) have to find practical solutions in order to advance forward, looking at the Future", resolutely stressed in his reply to "EuroFora"s question, the President of the biggest EU Parliament's political Group, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, Joseph Daul,

But, meanwhile, EU Parliament's President, Jerzy Buzek, later launched a crystal clear call to EU Heads of State/Government, to be Careful not to Harm EU Citizens' Rights to Freedom of Movement, as already enshrined for many Years in the Shengen system, which has become one of the most Popular Symbols of the Benefits of EU Integration to EU Citizens, contrary to obvious attempts to maniulate Europe by sly traps provoked from External factors, which, in fact, coud and shoud be adressed otherwise.

And, pointing at "New Perspectives at the Horizon", experienced former EU Commission's President, former Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jacques Santer, (a very Friendly to Journalists Top EU Official, as "EuroFora"s co-founder had personaly experienced), also recalled, during a special event at June 2011 EPP's Summit, the long and interesting History of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party in European politics and the construction of Europe. Santer's re-appearance inevitably reminded also the fact that it was only after a notoriously Manipulated, injstitutional Coup d' Etat, that a former "Socialist" Majority in EU Parliament ousted his Commission, back on 1999, under hollow Pretexts, in fact relating to Incidents which had been initially provoked during a previous, "Socialist" Delors' EU Commission's Chair, (including  "Security" Service Scandals, etc), that some managed to throw Europe in the Institutional and Financial Problems it had to face after the 1999-2001 intrusion of Turkey's unpopular and controversial EU bid (See relevant, earlier "EuroFora"s publications).

 Turkish repesentatives were furious that Ankara hadn't been given a "Candidate" Status already at the 1997 EU Summit at Luxembourg, whose EU Presidency preferred, instead, to focus on the creation of €uroZone to deepen EU Integration, (comp. the reaction of Jean-Claude Juncker to a Turkish Journalist insisting to press on Ankara's EU-bid even in a Press point in Srasbourg for a Conference on "Euro" Currency : - "We are speaking now about Venice, Not Istanbul !"..) Thus, the unexpected ousting of Santer in 1999 was just one amidst a long series of exceptional Incidents which suddenly started to hit Critics of Turkey's contoversial and unpopular EU bid, f.ex. EU Top Officials slandered and dismissed (f.ex. Jacques Santer : 1999); Key Ministers killed in "accidents" (f.ex. Yannos Kranidiotes, 9/1999); experienced Journalists harassed, aggressed, slandered and oppressed; crucial Elections snatched with Razor-thin votes' difference via obvious Manipulations (f.ex. Greece 4/2000, Germany 2002 : exit of Edmund Stoiber); even Women Political Prisoners in Turkey atrociously Burned Alive and Killed during Turkish Army Attacks in their Cells without noone reacting, etc.. This resulted, in 1998-2002+, in one of the Worst periods in EU History, Responsible for the 1999-2004+ unpecedented Majority Abstention in EU Parliament's Elections ;  the 2005 "No" to EuroReferenda which blocked EU's Institutional development ; and the 2008-2009 revealed "Greek" Debt Crisis, against €uro, (in fact provoked by the 1999-2001 "Turkey's EU bid in exchange of Greece's too early entry in the €uroZone" Politico-Financial Deal) etc. 

Precisely,  the obvious Question is : How could EU advance forward to a better future if it ignored some key errors of the Past and did nothing to rectify, invent new, differend solutions, and avoid any similar problem in the future ?

- "You are probably Right !", throughtfully replied the experienced former Prime Minister of Slovenia and former EU Chairman, EPP Party Leader Janez Jansa, to "EuroFora"s critical reminder of the 1999-2001 Politico-Financial Deal, between some former "Socialist" Governments, which let Athens enter €uroZone earlier than normal (i.e. without doing the necessary Reforms, mainly by disguising a growing Debt), in exchange of Athens' closing its eyes on Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, i.e. droping any previous objection on Human Rights/Democracy, War Threats, Egean Sea Territorial Revendications and Cyprus' Occupation by Turkey, etc... - "It's, indeed, Strange, that some alowed one EU Member Country (Athens of 220000) to enter €uroZone earlier than normal, while they delayed another EU Member State, f.ex. Lithuania, pretexting of a much smaller, comparatively, Debt, of only 1,2% : This proves that some had abused, in the Past, of "Double Standards !", Jansa denounced.

The well known results were a Political Blockade and Delay of EU's Institutional Development, by provoking 3 "No" to EuroReferenda in France, the Netherands and Ireland between 2005-2007, (recently overcome in 2007-2009, after French President Sarkoy and German Chancellor Merkel promised to the People that they'll oppose Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, allowing the Lisbon Treaty to go forward since December 2009/January 2010), as well as to push the Greek Economy into a slipery slope, with a growing Debt, (mainly due to many Nepotist Lackeys and a Mass of Clientelism who snatched too many, counter-productive Cushy Jobs in the State, the Public Sector, Media, etc.), until the Global Crisis (and George Papandreou's cry) pushed it all out to the blue, right in front of the Lime-Lights since late 2009... Thus, Global Financial Markets' Speculators found a rare opportunity to blow it up out of any proportion, or even attempt to abuse of this pretext in order to attack the €uro, la    ter-on, according to a well known story..

Meanwhile, the only beneficiaries were a former "Socialist" Government in Greece, which managed to stay in power (even with less than 1% more in controversial votes) for some 4 Years more (2000-2004), sticking to an electoral Base of some Cushy-Job Holders, Lackeys or even Corrupted public sector Agents who exploited the period of Nepotism since the 1980-2000 period, (See supra and Infra), and .... the Turkih Government, which receives, since then, almost 800.000 Millions € ieach Year from EU Taxpayers money, in Grants, (including the Poor, obliged to pay VAT+), as well as any other real Anti-European in the World, glad to see the EU face political and financial problems, just at the moment that Europe appeared ready to seriously face USA a.o. Economic Competition succesfuly.. Facing such facts, as that 1999-2001 "Turkey for €uroZone" Politico-Financial Deal (See supra), one may understand, today, EU Parliament's current wish to refuse, inside the Future EU Economic/Financial Stabilisation Mecanisms and €uro "Plus", to let room for Political Manoeuvering also in the Future, when it comes f.ex. to Sanctions versus one or more EU Member States for hacing failed to respect EU's Criteria, prefering, in this case, "Autiomatic" Sanctions...

But the EPP Brussels' Summit was, in fact, .."Hijacked" (both in the Media, and during more than "3 Hours of discussions", as well informed sources told Journalists, including "EuroFora") by the issue of "Pressure" allegedly exerted on the .. EPP Greek Opposition Leader, Antonis Samaras, in order to convince him to drop his objections to a Plan previously negotiated by the current "Socialist" George Papandreou Government, together with Liberal EU Commissioner Oli Rehn and the outgoing Socialist ECB President Claude Trichet, as well as EU Commission President Jose Barroso, an able EPP but initially elected back in 2004, i.e. when most EU Governments were "Socialists", as well as Jean-Claude Juncker, a good and experienced politician, including on several Past Coalitions with Socialists, particularly after a currently USA-led IMF, as well as US President Obama himself, reportedy started to press Europe to ask for more Guarantees for its Aid to face the "Greek" Debt that some had put on Greece's and €uroZone's shoulders, (as a French Socialist Media Journalist questioned later at an EU Council Press Conference tonight),including for it to be necessarily endorsed also by the Opposition, (i.e. mainy Samaras' "New Democracy" party, particularly as far as it concerns the "2012, 2013 and 2014 prospects", (according to Barroso"s observations on the Time Horizon).  

-    However, "we have a big Responsibility", as the Largest EU Parliament's political Group (thar of ChristianDemocrats/EPP) since the 2009 EU Elections (i.e. for the period 1999-2014), warned EU Parliament's President, Jerzy Buzek, at the EPP Summit, as "EuroFora" noted on the spot ...with a Pencil produced, precisely, during the 2009 EU Vote, as we explained to an astonished Samara's aid who pointed at it with curiosity... Antonis Samaras' main line, in fact, appears to be, in substance, that the main Opposition party (ChrtistianDemocrats/EPP of "New Democracy"), does share the principal Objectives on the need to make Economies in Public Spending, to decide Privatizations, etc., (and "we'd even advance further" on such points, as "EuroFora" was told in Brussels), but warns that this shouldn't have been agreed by George Papandreou alone, i.e. without any really efficient Measure on Developing the Economy, by stimulating Production, in order to avoid Recession, so that Greece can find inside its own Economy enough Resources to become able to pay back that Debt of the Past. 

- "Otherwise, Papandreou would be obliged to come back, only 3 Months later, and ask again and again for more Money !" (to pay to Banks' Speculators), "EuroFora" and other Journalists were told. Nevertheless, despite some Headline official declarations about having said "No to the Error", so that "Now, it's up to the Greek People to decide", (etc.), in fact, Samaras conceded in Brussels that he "Shall Vote" certain Key Points of the proposed Plan, at the forthcoming Greek Parliament's crucial session Next Week, so that it seems that all depends on what will be voted by a "ND-PASOK+" de facto, large coalition, and what won't be voted, but cleary rejected, by the main Opposition Party... An unknown to the Public factor, against which, the recent Movement of "Revoted People", (inspired from the "Tunisian "Jasmin"/Democratic Revolution, as it started also to spread even in some EU Countries, such as Portugal, Greece and Spain, (etc), has just anounced Tonight that it intends to multiply Mass Demonstrations in Athens' "Constitutional Square", right in front of the Greek Parliament.during the next few days...  

However, EU Council's President, Herman Van Rompoy, warned at the conclusion of a Press Conference for the 1st Day of EU Summit in Brussels tonioght, that, on this issue, "we are right at the Edge of the Precipice !": as he stressed, launching a call to all involved to agree a practical solution asap, as is also reflected in a Draft EU Summit's Conclusions' paper, which circulated to the Journalists, including "EuroFora", this late Thursday Evening.

Apparently in order to reply to Samara's partial objections to the Draft Plan agreed with George Papandreou (See supra), EU Commission's President, Jose Barroso, said to Journalsts in Brussels, including "EuroFora", that he reiterated, detailed and reinforced a recent "Initiative" to help Greece absorb the EU Funds for Structural policy projects that belong to her, but which Athens is currently hindered to use, because it has been deprived of the necessary Money to Co-Finance any such project : F.ex by lifting the co-financing threshhold up to 85%, (Greece paying 15%), by prividing Technical assistance to present new, interesting Projects, etc, as far as it concerns this almost 1 Billion € estimated unused EU Funds already earmarked from the Past to EU Member Greece.

Contrary to some Appearances, nevertheless, a legitimate Question remains : - How could be really  faced the challenge of that huge Debt steming from the Past 1980-2000 era, IF all that Salary Mass abused since the 1980-2000 by a large Number of Cushy-Job Holders, Political Lackeys, Corrupted or even, sometimes, Criminal Individuals who have exploited, during the recent Decades, the Nepotism, Discriminations, Corruption, or Crimes (even Deadly), notoriously committed by some Past "Socialist" a.o. Governments, to the detriment of the Greek People and Economy, as well as against the rest of €uroZone ?

 The Sum of Money at stake (i.e. Benefits, Salaries and various other "Advantages" payed    during all these Years to that residu of a notoriously Counter-Productive, Selfish, Corrupted, sometimes Criminal cast -in some cases  even Deadly) is already Huge. Taken together with the Fact that soon, almost or even all, of those unpopular and counter-productive Cushy-Job Holders, Lackeys, Corrupted and/or Criminals, now risk even to demand to be Paid without doing Nothing, by getting also "Retirement" rigts, for the Next 20 or 30 Years ! ... (while many of their victims, mainly Young People, would remain tragically unemployed or obliged to do anything just to survive).. Several Economists know perfectly well that all those counter-productive Salaries, and other benefits (often, .. 13th, 14th, even "15th Month salaries" !) represent a lot of Wasted Money, (at the same time that it's desperately needed elsewhere, either to Invest in Production, or to Help innocent People unjustly thrown in real need and threatened with extreme poverty and social exclusion).

It might very well be at this key-point that Ethics and Morality could become able to meet also Economic Efficiency, perhaps, thanks also to the Popular peaceful (mainly Young People) Demonstrators' movement, inspired from Tunisia's "Jasmin Revolution", and currently spreading even in Portugal, Spain, Greece, etc., which asks, (at least in the Greek case), for "Direct Democracy" against unpopular Bureaucrats, stresses the "Fight against Corruption", ("without Time Deadlines" : i.e. something Interesting  for the preconised Remedy, given the particular importance that the Period 1982-2002 has for it: See supra). Obviously, such adequate moves may Help to largely Reduce the provoked Debt...
---------------------
But, meanwhile, is really €uroZone's current situation so Hard today, as some claim, (particularly Overseas) ?

 

USA pressure on EU's Economy even made, tonight, EU Commission's President Jose Barroso, proudly demonstrate in front of all Journalists, including "EuroFora", the pages of his Report to the EU Heads of State/Government June 2011 Summit in Brussels, where he exhibits interesting and Topical Graphics clearly showing the fact that USA's Debt and Deficit are currently much Higher" than EU's ! ...

For all these reasons, German Chancellor Angie Merkel was justified to appear Serein, Proud and Optimist, earlier Today,  at her Landmark Speech to the ChristianDemocratic/EPP Summit, reminding its Activities, particularly during the recent 20 - 30 Years, also with EPP party President Wilfried Martens, etc, engaged in =efforts to advance forward European Integration, just after its Historic ReUnification, while also claiming a Political and Socio-Economic Strategy and Philosophy "based on the Values of Human Dignity", as she stressed.

Having exceptionaly chosen Belgium's Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences, a formerly Military School surrounded by a splendid Garden with huge Trees in the middle of Brussels, European People's Party (which notoriously holds today the large Majority of EU Member State's Heads of State/Government), has, indeed, the responsibility and Historic Mission (given by the 2009 EU Elections, as well as many National 2007-2010 Elections in a growing number of EU Countries) to decisively overcome any petty Bureaucratic deviation risks, and, timely inspired also by this June 2011 Symbol, conceive and realize the Right EU Strategy with Art.