French Prime Minister Fillon: EU Energy from Sun + People: Save ITER, boost Science, Economy+Culture

France and Europe must overcome current threats to drop its new role as Leader of the most important International Project to invent Environment-friendly and abundant Energy of the Future by reproducing Sun's power via Nuclear Fusion (ITER), and, on the contrary, boost its Universities and Science/Research, as well as strengthen its Strategic Infrastructures and Industries, able to face a galoping Global Competition, while also using "the most essential... Energy which inspires the People" when EU Citizens become "proud" of their "History, Culture and Values", i.e. for their Identity, stressed French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, speaking at the eve of a crucial Regional Election in Strasbourg, where he succeeded to stir vibrant Popular applause in favor of EU Parliament's presence.

 - "We struggled all together, from the (political) Right to the Left, with former President Chirac,  to succeed that this Wonderful big Scientific Research Project that is ITER,  for which we (EU) were in Competition with Japan, the USA,  etc., that brings together World's Best Researchers, aiming to try to reproduce Sun's power in order to imagine the Energy of the Future, we struggled to have ITER in the EU, in France, in the Region of Provence-Cote d' Azur". 

 - "But "now, since 24 Hours, we know that if the "Greens" get hold of that Region, it will Not Fund no more this Wonderful Project !", he denounced.

This was confirmed even by the Leftist "Humanité" Newspaper, of the Communist Party, according to which, "Ecologists, with 10% of Votes, opposed to the Funding of the ThermoNuclear Fusion Reactor Project ITER, obtained from the Socialist Party's candidate that the Region will no longer fund the project in the Future : - Once the commitents honored (152 Millions €), "we shall give no more Money for what is called the Machine, i.e. the industrial equipment of research", reportedly declared SP's Michel Vauzelle, earlier this week.

The Threat seems serious and imminent, since "EuroFora" learned that Public Hearings on a Group's complaints against  ITER's Software, alleged risks for eventual small scale Pollution (even if considerably Less than pre-existent Nuclear fission Plants), strongly denied by most Scientists, etc. are due to start immediately after the Regional Elections, from Next Week...

 - "Even the High Speed Train, as TGV, for which we are Proud today", and is used in Europe and elsewhere, "wouldn't even exist if such a kind of PS-"Greens" were in charge 50 Years ago in France, when General De Gaulle and Pombidou had launched the initial High Speed Train project". The same can be said "for the big Nuclear Electricity project launched 50 Years ago by General De Gaulle and Pompidou, which guarantees Today a rare in the World Energy Independence", Fillon added, largely applauded.

  - " Here, in Strasbourg, France is committed for Europe, Peace and Development in our continent". That's why "I love Strasbourg, a European Capital",  stressed Fillon, strongly applauded by the People.

    Both points topically referred to a current controversy, in this week's Regional Elections in France, about Socialist Party's "Green" allies' refusal of High Speed Train links of European interest, (f.ex. the "Magistrale" Rail Network, between Strasbourg, Munich, Wiena and Budapest, Hungary, which takes over EU Presidency on Jan. 2011), but also on "Green" MEP Cohn Bendit's opposal against EU Parliament's work in Strasbourg, which, paradoxically, resulted into stimulating a stronger Popular interest for Europe...  (See previouse "EuroFora"'s Publication on 2010 French Regional Elections' European stakes).

 
    Fillon also pointed at the "Importance attached to Strasbourg's brillant University, which recently took Strategic Decisions". Recently "we gave to Universities their Autonomy, to be able to organize themselves as they deem right, and " in a few Years they should find anew their rank among the Best Universities in the World", very much applauded.

 
    Indirectly but surely he also referred to a (much applauded) call launched earlier by Senator Philippe Richert, the FrontRunner in Strasbourg's region Alsace's Elections, to  develop "a unified Area" between France and Germany for "Universities, Science, Research and Innovation", by using "TransBorder Cooperation" at the "Lower Rhine Region", and citting as a concrete example a proposal to create a New "Competitivity Pole" on "Eco-Technologies".

    This is in line with German Chancelor Merkel and French President Sarkozy's recent decisions to launch, between Strasbourg and Stuttgard a Unique in the World show-case for Modern, Hight Tech. Innovations on "Eco-Mobility" in Modern Transports, as well as to create Joint Franco-German University and Research "Poles of Excellence" (See "EuroFora"'s NewsReports from the February 2010 Paris' Summit).

 
    Such moves were also in harmony with CoE's Russian Rapporteur on Regional Authorities' role vis a vis the Economic Crisis, Svetlana Orlova, who stressed "investment in Green Technologies and Innovation", while the German President of the European Association of Border Regions, Karl Heinz Lambertz, was signing at the CoE an Agreement with Strasbourg-Kehl's Euro-Institute's President, Regional Counsellor, Monique Jung, and the City's deputy Mayor, Nawel Rafik-Elmrini, due to facilitate personal contacts mainly between researchers.

    President Jung, replying to an "EuroFora"s question, stressed the will to valorise the "immense Potential" in Universities, Public and private Research Labos concentrated at "Superior Rhine's tri-Region" (between France, Germany and Switzerland, which all participate in EU's Scientific Research/Technologic Development 7th Framework Program). While EABR's Secretary General, Martin Guillermo Ramirez, replying at the same "EuroFora"s question, highlighted the need to combat "Brain Drain" in Europe, which often pushes Young Scientists to search a Labo as far as in the US or even in Japan, without knowing that they already have excellent quality European Labos just a few kms from their Doorstep at a Neighbouring EU Member Country..

Richert focused on 3 main points : 1) Infrastructures-Economic and Scientific Development, 2) Environment/Climate, 3) Europe, and in particular EU Parliament's Plenary Sessions in Strasbourg, concluding by a call to revive a European "Dream" and "Hope" for the People living at EU's core.
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    - "We have an Absolute Priority : naturally the Economic Revival, which must stimulate" everybody, "and make Regions work together with the State" in the EU, stressed French Prime Minister Fillon.

    - "It's not easy to govern during the Hardest Global Crisis that the World ever saw since 1929. We faced an incredibly Brutal Schock. For the 1st time since 30 Years it's a Recession which has spread upon all he World", he observed.

    The main point is that France, Germany and other EU Countries "chose to Invest and help Investment and Businesses to save most Jobs", Fillon stressed.

    On the contrary, "for too long, Past Governments of the Left or of the Right, had preferred to respond to immediate demands, to give some supplementary Allocations, to set up some Subsidies, in order to calm down critics, here or there".  "Instead of Investing into the Infrastructures, Invest in the Labos, Invest in Universities, ..needed to prepare the Future", Fillon stressed, applauded. "We had to correct these errors".

    - "And that's what we are doing", fex. in France, "with President Sarkozy, ready to put up 35 Billions € from the great loan for the "Airplanes of the Future", in order to guarantee that, Tomorrow, the French and European Aeronautic Industry will remain at the 1st Rank of the World ; To prepare the "Train of the Future", because, even if we have the Best Trains in the World with TGV (or ICE,etc), the others (3rd Countries) continue to make progress. To prepare the Electric Car, because, Tomorrow, the Country that will be able to put into the Market the 1st industrialized E-Car will win a big Worldwide success. To invest in Broadband Digital Networks, to invest in Universities", etc. "we are doing exactly what General De Gaulle and Pompidou had done 50 Years ago, with the TGV, the Airbus, Nuclear Energy, Ariane, etc"., he concluded, largely applauded.

    - "On the contrary, Socialists had asked to Nationalize Banks and lower the VAT, but the UK (Socialist) Government lowered VAT, and their Consumption fell - 3%", while"Consumption grew onn 2009 +1%" in France.  And "we did better than several other EU Countries, by having on 2009 in France 2 times less Recession than the EU average, while 2010 estimations give us almost 2 times more Growth than the EU average", Fillon observed.

     - But, "in order to raise Growth, we have to augment the Competitivity of the Economy", he added. "Here, in Strasbourg, it's easy to realize that, compared, f.ex. to our German big Neighbours, we (France) have a Competitivity problem, (which) is not new, but was aggravated by erroneous decisions taken mainly by the Left. .. 20 Years ago, Industry's part in French Economy was almost equivalent to that of Germany's. But now, after some Past Erroneous Decisions, Industry is 30% of Germany's GDP, and 15% of the French GDP. That's the reality", he denounced.

    Recently, while "visiting the annual "Agricultural Exhibition" in Paris, "many Farmers told me that "we have too much Contributions to pay", and "how can it be explained that Milk in France is 20% more expensive than in Germany ? Germany hasn't lower Salaries. Germany isn't a Country without Social Protection. Germany is not a Poor Country. .. What they want is to pay less Contributions (Taxes). I'm ready to take the commitment to search, together with all involved, how to lower the Taxes which overburden the Economy, but this means to lower also the Public Expenses".

    - "It's not possible to complain against Taxes in the Morning, but, in the Afternoon, demonstrate against the Reform of Local Authorities, against the re-organization of the Administration, against the Simplification of State's activities !", he observed, applauded. "Because it's the same thing : We have a way of life which is over our means, and this provokes Debts which burden Growth and the Future of our country. So, it's together, that the State, Local Authorities and Social Funds, must search how to do the necessary Economies".

    - "And this must be done together : What's the use for the State to make Economies for 3 Years now, to continue reducing the Number of State Jobs, and make the Hard choice not to remplace 1 out of 2 retiring Civil Servants, economising 100.000 jobs, in order to return to an equilibrium in the public accounts, if, at the same time, Regions raise their Taxes, if Local Authorities hire even more staff, if the collective spending augments ? It's all together that we must engage in efforts to reduce the Public Expenses", he said at the eve of the 2nd round of Regional Elections.

    - "That's why we have proposed to suppress the Professional Tax, And that's why we have proposed to Reform the Local Authorities". "Socialists are accusing us today to threaten to provoke a situation where Local Authorities wouldn't be no more able to give Subsidies to nobody, wouldn't be able to help poor Communities, nor help the Rural world, neither the Associations, etc"But "all that is Lies, Lies ! What we want is simple : Make Communities act together, so that they can make Economies, and that Departments and Regions act together, because we don't want, in the Future, to have Civil Servants doing the same work at a Department and at a Region. The reality is that, those former "Leftists" have become Local Eminencies (Dignitaries) who defend their Privileges !", he denounced",  largely applauded.

    - "And, then, together, State and Regions must set up a real Industrial Policy, The Country suffers from DesIndustrialization. We have forged, with President Sarkozy, unprecedented Tools in order to help Stategic Industries, .. We created the Strategic Investment Fund, which allows, for the 1st time, to the State to directly take Participations in the Capital of Private Enterprises, big or small, which are considered of a Strategic Importance for the Future". "Thus, fex. we got 33% in the capital of .. Atlantic Shipyards, because it wasn't possible to abandon the .. Know-how in the construction of Liners, of Military Ships, or of Oil Tankers, to Foreign Countries". "It's in the same spirit that we invested 1,5 Billion € in various Businesses at all Strategic sectors for the Future".

    - "What did they (former Socialist Governments) do, between 1997 and 2002, when French Enterprises were submitted to restructuring ?  - "What were doing Mr. Jospin (former Socialist Prime Minister 1997 - 2001) and Mrs Aubry (PS' Head) when Renault closed its doors and Out sourced its (industrial) production out of the Country ?", Fillon wondered, (referring to a Controversial transfert of Low-Tech. Cheap Cars' factories out of the EU, to Turkey, in a deal partially involving even businesses controlled by the Turkish Army).

    -"We were accused, together with President Sarkozy, to be "Protectionists" when we said that Renault should produce more in France. But, Renault produces today 25% of its cars in France. If you look at the German Car Industry, ...it's 42% that is produced in Germany. And, if you look at PSA (Pegeault-Citroen : Higher-Tech Car Industry, which has notoriously invested in Artificial Intelligence-Robots, etc.), it's 47% of its cars produced in France. So, we are Right to say to Renault that only 25% of its cars produced in France it's not enough", he compared, largely applauded.

    - "It was Right also to support a French and European Agriculture which faced unprecedented Challenges. .. There are many reasons for that. First the Global Crisis : When the World is in Recession, the consumption of Agri-Food products diminishes. But there are also more profound reasons : It's the Competitivity of our Economy, the accumulation of burdens, strikes of Taxes, etc., which end up by hindering Farmers to produce. And then, it's that absence of European perspectives'" until now, he criticized.

    - "When we were confronted with that situation, together with the Agriculture Minister and President Sarkozy, we immediately engaged an Urgent Plan for 2 Billions € to help Farmers keep going. But we didn't limit ourselves only into that, because we know that it's not enough. We engaged a Law on the Modernization of Agriculture, which will allow for Farmers to stabilize their relations with the big Commercial Distribution, and avoid these abrupt changes in Prices which gravely affect them".  

    - "But, the most important : With President Sarkozy and Minister Bruno Le Maire, we visited all EU Member Countries, to convince them that the Liberalisation Wind which blew allover Europe after the (2004 and 2007) Enlargement had some Bad Results and was contrary to Historic Trends, particularly for Agriculture. Today, I'm proud to tell you that, thanks to President Sarkozy's commitment, we have brought together with us a Qualified Majority of European States which want to set up a new Regulation for a strong European Agriculture policy", he anounced.

 

    - "All Modernization policies can be resumed in one word : Succeed that France and Europe keep their rank face to the Globalization", Fillon stresssed, launching a "Call for more Unity" throughout the Country, and denouncing the "Left's aim to Divide the Country and abuse of Decentralisation as a Weapon against the Government". On the contrary, "We all face the same Challenge : to adapt our structures and our Economy and to protect our Social Model", he concluded.
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    - "But everything cannot be resumed into Reforms and Administrative Decisions  : "Much, may be the most Essential in this Struggle, depends on our Capacity to come together, to the Energy ... which inspires the People" :

    - "Those who think that it's by renouncing to our (National) Pride that we shall face Globalization, commit an error".  "We cannot reply to all those Continents which challenge us, by just telling them that  : - "We are Nobody !" "We cannot respond to the strength of Global Competition just by saying that  : - "We don't believe any more to ourselves !".  "And, most of all : We cannot integrate all those who receive, each year, the Nationality" of an EU Member Country,  "by just telling them : - "Welcome to Nowhere !".

    - "France" and Europe "is not a Fiction, without a Face, nor a Character". "It's not a country without History", neither "without Culture", nor "without an Heritage". "It's not a country without Rules, that everyone has to respect, because they are at the Foundations of our Social Pact",  

    - "Yes, we have inherited an exceptional History, for which we don't have to be ashamed. And the Republic means that each Citizen must give to his Country as much as he receives from it". Fillon added, applauded.

    - "It's also a Republic which agrees with all Religions. It's the result of a Dreadful History, which had led to Bloody Conflicts. And the result was that we found together a Compromise,... which means that, for us, all Confessions must be respected. Everybody should be able to practice his Religion as he wishes", he said, (referring to the Historic compromise mainly between Christian Catholics and Protestants, as well as Jews, finalised before the middle of the 20th Century).

    -"And the result was that we found a Compromise in the largest part of the country, and another compromise at your Regions", (as he said for Alsace and Lorraine Regions, at the border with Germany, where the State and Local/Regional Authorities exceptionally pay Priests and help Religious Monuments, contrary to everywhere else where Public Funds, in principle, stay out of any Religious activity, left to the Civil Society alone. A difference which notoriously provoked recent criticism, exploited by Rightists, when Alsace's authoriies were pushed to consider funding, for the 1st time, the construction of 1 to 3 Mosquees, while, on the contrary, French Christian Protestant's leadership recently denounced that Churches at nearby Lyon had been hindered to receive Grants allocated by Local Authorities, after an Association attaqued that decision to the Courts invoking the principle of a "Secular" State)...

    - "For us, all Confessions are to be respected. Everybody must be able to practice his Religion, and believe what he wants".

    - "But it's not the Aggressive Proselytism, nor the retreat into Communautarism (Cultural Ghetto)", the French Prime Minister denounced, applauded.

    - "A few Years ago, under President Chirac, I was one of the most committed to the Vote of the Law prohibiting the Islamic Scarf in Schools. At that time, some had claimed that it was "contrary to Liberties", and threatened us that "Muslim girls won't get to School anymore !" They accused us to "provoke animosities in all the Muslim World", he reminded, referring to an old conflict, fuelled by a refusal to go to School without an Islamic Scarf, and an attack against the French State before the Courts by another member of a Turkish group in Strasbourg (See the "Saglamer" affair).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            - "But, see what's the situation Today : We made a great step towars Liberty and Equality between Men and Women, and nobody contests, no more, that it's normal for Young Girls and Young Boys to go to School dressed in a similar manner". "In Democracy, noone lives with a Mask", he concluded.

    - "And that's why we decided, with President Sarkozy, to make a Law, on Spring, against the port of the Integral Scarf ("Burka"). "Because it contradicts our conception of an "open" Social Life, and looks contrary to the Principle of Equality between Men and Women".

     - "If we faced grave Political Crisis, as back on 2002, that astonishing situation in the 1st Round of Presidential Elections (where the Rightist "National Front" had excluded the Socialist Party's candidate by getting more Votes, followed by the 2005 "No" in the French and Dutch Euro-Referenda), it was because the ...People had turned its back to the Political System, because it had the impression that Governments, of the Left or of the Right, did not respect their Commitments", he reminded.

    F.ex., "the Left had been Elected in 1997 on a Program of the Left. But the 1st thing they did was to make more Privatisations than any Government of the Right ever did ever in History !", he denounced. "And we (Center-Right) had been elected in 2002 in order to raise Work's Values at Society's centre, and we must admit that we didn't" then, he acknowledged.

    Such symbolic moves came while also Germany searches the best ways to "Integrate" some immigrants, mainly of Turkish origin, which are notoriously too often pushed to live almost closed into a kind of "Cultural Ghettos", and shortly before EU is due to start debating on "Europe's Future", and therefors, "Identity", after the publication of an EU Wisemen's Report scheduled for June 2010.

    It's well known, indeed, that in USA's History, f.ex. Unity was largely built by using the "Energy" of simple People from various (mainly European Countries') origins, attracted together by a motivating original "American Dream", and that EU's obviously needs a similar kind of Cultural Integration in a coherent and motivating "European Dream" today, if it wants to seize unique Historic opportunities to realize its ambitions for a strong and harmonious development.