EU Core Regions Franco-German Leaders Kretschman+Richert eye Science+Ethics, Reply to Eurofora shows

 
*Strasbourg/Great East Region HQ/Angelo Marcopolo/- Cooperation between ChristianDemocrats/EPP and "Greens" can Advance Well, f.ex. in Important and Ambitious Science/Technology and Education developments at the Horizon, including the Crucial Today World-wide Issue of Bio-Ethics, but also Others, perhaps more than before, as in Socio-Cultural Integration, Fight against Terrorism, etc, especially in the EU Core "Superior Rhine" ("OberRhine") area, as it results from Today's Meeting between German Baden-Wurtemberg's Länder and French Great East new big Region, as its Leaders, Winfried Kretschmann and Philippe Richert, respectively, where, Both Leaders, (recently Democraticaly Boosted by Brillantly Winning Political Elections just a few Months Earlier), Supported as one Man the New Head of the 1st Euro-Campus TransBorder link between Univesities and other Research Centers in Europe, (recently Created in Strasbourg, in the Presence and with the Support of the competent EU Commissioner in charge of Science/Research, Carlos Moedas,: See relevant Moedas' Statements to "Eurofora", at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eusciencecomissioneronchinaandeuuniversitiesgroup.html), German Rector of nearby Freiburg University, Professor Hans-Jochen Schiewer, entrusting him to Reply to a Critical but Topical "Eurofora"s Question, at the Beginning of their Joint Press Conference, this Afternoon in Strasbourg, (See concrete Details Infra).

Significantly, in the Political play-Field, at this Crucial Period of Preparations for the Decisive on EU's Future, forthcoming National Elections in France and Germany on 2017, Both these two Leaders of Regions located at EU's Core have been recently re-Elected for the 1st Time mainly on an Original Basis, mutatis-mutandis, of one or another kind of Deal, in real Practice, between ChristianDemocrat/EPP and "Green" Voters, (See, f.ex. : .... +....)

 A New Pathway, that "Eurofora" and various others (including, apparently, at least a Symbolic Encourangement, regarding Nature and Human Life protection Values, even by Pope Emeritus Benedict, in a landmark Speech at Berlin's Bundestag, back on 2011 : Comp. also Vatican Press Director Lombardi's relevant Statements to "Eurofora" at nearby Friburg, then, at : ..., apparently also in line with New Pope Francis' Spring 2013 landmark Statements on Human Life and Nature protection, already before his 2015 Encyclic  : Comp. f.ex. : ...),  have Speculated and projected also at a National Governement level, (under certain Important Conditions of main Substance : See, f.ex., already as Early as since 2010's Convention of the German "Greens", at : ....).

But without having so far reached any such Ground-Breaking Fresh New point anywhere in Europe or elsewhere in the World yet, (with a Few initial, However, but still only Partial, Exceptions, in Various situations, f.ex. in an 1st Attempt in Germany, back on Autumn 2013, as well as in Cyprus, Austria, etc).

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Moreover, in Parallel, but Synchronous Moves, these Last Days, Both Winfried Kretschman and Philippe Richert have got a supplementary Symbolic Boost with various Exceptional Top Political Meetings, which seem to UpGrade their overall Political Standing : F.ex., Kretshcmann has just made an Official Visit in Paris Yesterday, where he met, inter alia, also with Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, followed by a Collective Gathering and Exchanges with Civil Society, Religious and Political representatives in Strasbourg, Earlier this Morning. While, almost at the Same Time, Richert was also Meeting, Negociating and partialy Agreeing also with Prime Minister Valls at the Historic and Symbolic City of Reims, (now part of the New, "Great East" Region of Strasbourg, which was recently Extended from Alsace also to nearby Lorraine and Champagne-Ardennes adjacent areas, inter-Linking, from now on, the Borders of 5 European Core Countries : France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium).

At Reims Philippe Richert also Chaired the 1st Annual Convention of the Brand New "Regions of France" union of 18 Regional Self-Administration Entities, that have seen Both their Competences and Territories considerably Extended since a Recent, partly Controversial but Important, Reform decided by the current National Government, and have Elected the Experienced, former Minister from Strasbourg as their President, (See relevant "Eurofora"s NewsReports, also from Reims, f.ex., at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchregionspresidentricherttoeurofora.html , etc+). While also Winfried Kretschmann, after Recently holding the rotating Presidency of Germany's Federal "Bundesrat", (an equivalent to France's Senate, but Composed by the Federated regional States, alias "Länder", as Baden-Wurtemberg, etc), has now reportedly become, Personaly, one among the Most Popular Top Politicians in Germany Nation-wide.

- "Eurofora" asked Today both Presidents Kretschmann and Richert whether, from a Franco-German Cooperation point of view, at the Level of Both Regions strategically located at the Core of Europe, they might, perhaps, Agree, or Not, with a perceived Risk to Limit almost All Strasbourg area's High-Tech. public Funding to go Only on some Bio-Tech Projects, particularly on Genetics, Implants, etc, quasi-Totaly Excluding almost All Other Areas of modern Science and/or Technology, (Despite Strasbourg and Stuttgart areas', both Historic and Actual, valuable Potential also in several Other Scientific Issues, f.ex. relevant to European/PanEuropean Legal/Socio-Political recent developments, "Earth" Sciences, and Materials/Technologies related to Natural Environment, etc), as it became Surprisingly Obvious particularly during an Important, Recent Collective Top Meeting between Big Companies, University a.o. Experts, and Government Officials, with the Participation also of French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, together with Innovation and Digital affairs Minister Axelle LeMaire, at the prestigious "International Space University" here : See "Eurofora"s NewsReport from that Exceptional ISU Gathering, at : ....).

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In particular, after making some Introductive, general Statements, the 2 Franco-German Presidents of the "Great East" Region and "Baden-Wurtemberg" Länder, at EU's core, unexpectedly, despite the existence of a quite Big Number of Collegues Journalistes at their Press Conference", (Held Today Early Afternoon, at the Strasbourg HeadQuarters of the New, recently Extended "Great East" Region, (which Now links the Borders of 5 EU core Countries : France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium), gave to "Eurofora" a Chance to Start Raising the 1st Question from the Press :

- "Eurofora" Focused from the outset on  "Cooperation in Science", and Asked both Franco-German Leaders, whether they Thought that, "after the Recent Creation of "Euro-Campus" (in Universities and other Research Labos), in Addition to the Superior Rhine (OberRhein) overall Euro-Region Trans-Border Grouping, (between German, French and Swiss Neighbouring Regions of Great East, Baden-Wurtemberg and Bale), "High-Tech Projects Funding, even if it, naturaly, Included <<Bio-Technologies>>, nevertheless, should Not Be Limited Exclusively to them, But, on the Contrary, Extend also to some Other Important Areas", (such as, f.ex., those related to ReNewable Energies, Earth Sciences, and much more domains), "which have Both an Historic and Current Potential here ?"

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    - Presidents Richert and Kretschmann, after Agreeing between them on the Best way to react to that "Eurofora"s Question, finaly decided to Point at Professor Schiewer, who is Rector of nearby German University of Freiburg, but also President of the "Superior Rhin" TransBorder Grouping of 3 Neighbouring Countries' Regions, and was Recently Elected even as Head of the Brand New Euro-Campus", as they Reminded, as he currently is the most Competent man in that area.

    - Professor Hans-Jochen Schiewer, Replying, thus, to "Eurofora"s above mentioned Question, "at First", he interestingly "Clarified" what he called "a MisUnderstanding" : In Fact, we have No Intention to be Limited into Only 1 Area of Science, such as "Bio-Tech" and so on, but, rather, to Cover, if not "All", at least, "Many Important Areas of cooperation between the 5 Universities" which are Now included in that New TransBorder Entity, he Stressed from the outset, as a matter of Principle.

    - Thus, among others, "f.ex., we have already presented a Project on Inter-Religious Studies, for EU Funding, and this Includes also the Science of Bio-Ethics", (i.e. one among the most Crucial Issues of Nowadays, considering the Huge Potential of New Inventions, but also of Eventual Risks for Human Beings and Society that many Bio-Technologies notoriously present Today),  the Head of Brand NewFranco-Germano-Swiss "Euro-Campus", observed, speaking also as a World-Famous Theologian, particularly at this moment, when Strasbourg University has just Elected, as its New President, also a Well-Known Theologian, Professor Deneken, (until recently, its 1st Vice-President : Comp. Deneken's various Replies to other Topical "Eurofora" Questions, at Various Other Occasions, Earlier, f.ex., recently on New University Libraries and Students/Researchers' well equiped Work-Areas, etc., at ... + ...).

    + "Moreover, we are currently Planifying the Future Creation of a Big Unit of (Scientific/Technological) Research Infrastructure at the Superior Rhine (OberRhein) Euro-Region, due to Focus mainly on Life-Sciences, New Materials, and Medical Technologies", Professor Schiewer also Anounced Today, in Reply to "Eurofora"s Question, (Comp. Supra).

    - French Strasbourg's "Great East" Region's President, Philippe Richert, added, later-on, that, "After an Initial <<Science Advance>> Project of 2011, estimated almost 15 Millions €, which Finaly gathered 10 Millions €", we aren Now at a 2nd <<Science Advance>> Project of 2016, which has Just Started" recently.

    - It includes also a 3,4 Millions € Financial Contribution by EU's <<INTERRREG>> Program, but Aims to Go much Further than that, particularly, f.ex., in the Cooperation between Big Infrastructures of Research and Higher Education entities, where we have, indeed, a Project to Create a Big Centre for Scientific Cooperation, with an estimated Total of some 250.000 €", Richert revealed, obviously pointing at the Same Direction as German Professor Schiewer's had just Anounced and HighLighted in Reply to "Eurofora"s Question earlier. (Comp. Supra).

    - "This will obviously give an Important New Impetus, with a New Dimension, at a New, much Bigger Scale", President Richert optimisticaly underlined, while also observing, however, that, for the Time being, "we (Franco-German Regions around Strasbourg) are Preparing Together that Perspective, whose Timeline has not yet started", as he noted Soberly.

    - In fact, "we have just Started with certain Projects of about 10 Millions €, After which, we'll Work for that (Above-mentioned) much Bigger Plan (Comp. Supra), in a Perspective which can become an Absolutely Exceptional Project for All the Area of Rhine river, (i.e. not only vis a vis Baden-Wurtemberg, but Also Rhenanie-Palatinat Lânder, from the German side, etc., as he HighLighted.

    -  "Its precise Timing has Not Yet been Fixed, but it could be Part of the Next EU Programming Period", (i.e. that whih Starts from 2020), Richert estimated.

    - As for Professor Schiewer, speaking anew on Behalf of President Kretschmann, he Noted, in this regard, that, at a 1st Stage, currently, a "Design Study, prepared under EU's INTERREG Program, would unfold "in 3 Years" Time, "After which, that Big (Franco-German) Research  Infrastructure Project should be officialy Endorsed by the National, French and German Plans, before being, Finaly, Inserted also at EU's RoadMap", (i.e., apparently, by the forthcoming Successor to EU's current "Horizon 2020" RST Program). So that "this is a Process of About 5 to 7 Years Time", he roughly estimated.

    - This was, more or less, Confirmed also by President Richert, speaking Later-on anew to "Eurofora", at the Conclusion of Today's Press Conference, who Speculated that such a Big RST Project, "Might be Ready at about 7 Years", but while also observing that, "in fact, we are Working at an Horizon of almost a Decade", (i.e. about 2015-2025).

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+ => Today's new Move, ostensibly Supported by Both Presidents Kretschmann and Richert, particularly on the Inclusion also of "Bio-Ethics" and several Other Areas of Modern Science/Technology, without Limiting public Funding Only to some "Bio-Tech" Interests alone, (Comp. Supra), comes Timely, inter alia, just After Prime Minister Valls' (France) statements to "Eurofora", 2 Days Earlier at Reims' 2016 RoF Convention, according to whom, most among the eagerly expected, Strategic and Long-Time Decisions on such exceptiobnaly Important Public Funding Choices among various possible Science/Technology Research/Development Projects, have NOT been Taken yet, i.e., leaving a Positive Impression that, probably, at least a Room for Fresh Debates and overall, more Balanced Compromises, might, indeed, Still Exist, enabling also to Take into Consideration several relevant Recent Developments, (See, f.ex. "Eurofora"s NewsReport with Valls' replies to our query at Reims : ......).

The Fact that, in a Spectacularly Harmonious Move, Both Presidents Kretschmann and Richert, not only Jointly Pointed at the "Superior Rhine"s and "EU-Campus" Head, Professor Schiewer, entrusting him to Start giving a Competent Reply to the above-mentioned "Eurofora"s Question, but Also, later-on took the Spontaneous Initiative to Express their Personal Support to Schiewer even by Spectacularly posing in front of Photo and TV Cameras (including, particularly, "Eurofora"'s) while Warmly Shaking Hands with him, for quite a Long time, (See relevant Photo), clearly indicates that, in that Reply to "Eurofora"s Query, he really Expressed Views which are Strongly Backed personaly by Kretschmann and Both 2 concerned Franco-German Leaders of this Core Euro-Region.

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    >>> Meanwhile, President Winfried Kretschmann, HighLighting an Interesting Political OverView of all relevant Topical Issues that he Discussed with Top French Officials (including the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the President of French Regions' union, etc), as well as with Civil Society representatives, duringh his Exceptional 2 Days-Long Visit to Paris and Strasbourg, (Comp. Supra), stressed that he mainly Focused on (ISIS') "Terrorist threats against Europe, and (relevant) Security issues", as well as on how to "Manage the (Mass) Refugees/Migrants problem", but also to Respond to what he called some "Populists"' "Anti-EU" claims, (See also Infra).

    - While, Today, even "60 years of Peace and Freedoms in Europe are Now Threatened by (ISIS') Terrorism", (as he Kretschmann Denounced, particularly after an Unprecedented Series of Deadly Islamic Extremist Attacks Killing Innocent Civilian People, including Defenseless Women, Elders,Young Children, etc, even inside previously Peaceful Regional Trains or Cities in Neighbooring Baden-Wurtemberg and elsewhere in Bavaria, Switzerland, Austria, France, even the UK, etc, as we saw for the 1rst Time this Summer 2016,  also, at the Same Time, he expressed a "Hope" that "those who Come into Our Land, would become also able to be Integrated", as he pointed out.

    - That's why, inter alia, he intends to Send his "Culture and Education Minister to Visit Strasbourg" asap, Kretscmann anounced, while also Speaking in Favor of President Richert's call to Defend "Cultural Heritage" in "Cooperation" between Neighbouring Franco-German Regions, (including, also by a Joint Franco-German Project for the "Struthof" Center of "Memory" against NAZI Crimes at a Former Concentration Camp near Strasbourg, which has been officialy Inaugurated, since 2005, also as "European Centre for (the History) of Resistants-Deportees" by former Long-time French President Jacques Chirac : See relevant NewsReport by "Eurofora"s co-Founder at that Event, published then by "TCWeekly").

    - In particular, as things stand Today, "it's Important to create Enthousiasm among Young Peuple about Europe", Winfried Kretschmann observed, Urging also to "Speak More Often about the Good Things that we are Doing" thanks to EU Help, etc.

    => That's one reason more, for which "Science", "a Beautiful Example of Franco-German TransBorder Cooperation" inside the EU, that "Must be Deepened even Further" Nowadays, would get at least "7 Millions €" more, at the Beginning of a "2nd Advance on Sciences" during the "Next Years", as he Anounced, near "Eurofora"s above mentioned relevant Question, (Comp. Supra).

    - "It's Important to Oppose Something Positive", also to those "Populist, Anti-European Rightists", as he called them, who are recently Growing in Germany and elsewhere throughout several EU Countries Today, he Warned.

    - Indeed, Experienced Kretschmann also Acknowledged the Fact that, Nowadays, it appears to have become "Very Difficult" to Struggle "Against Populists" mainly "of the Right", (as he callled them), since we are still "withOut any Ready-made Solution" which has Not Yet been Found, on that growing "Problem", (as Recent National Polls and Regional Elections in Germany have clearly revealed).

>>> In Fact, the Real Issue seems to be a much more Profound Movement spectacularly Spreading accross People's political views recently, as it is observed, mutatis-mutandis, not only in Germany, but also in several other European Countries, and even at the USA...
Comp., f.ex., mainstream German Newspaper "Die Welt"'s Graphics on the History of Electoral Votes at Berlin's Federated Länder, published recently, which Reveal that a Growing Number of People have been Searching to Find one or anOther New Political Party which might Care Better for Citizens' real Concerns, than some Elite Politicians of the Biggest Established Parties used to do, already during a Long Period of Time, from the ...mid-1970ies up to 2016 !

A probable Sign of the Fact that, perhaps, Something much More Fundamental, than what most superficial observers believe, might be really Happening, during, already, a Longer Period of Time, revealing a possibly More Important, "Structural" Change, that has Not Yet been clearly Elucidated, strongly Needing to ReVitalize Political Democracy nowadays.