

French Economy Minister Le Maire at Sudden Agricultural Talks, as UK eyes BREXIT via Macron +Agri !

*Strasbourg/EuroFair/Angelo Marcopolo/- Un UnExpected Long Meeting of Key French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire on Agricultural Issues, curiously durating much Longer than his Planned Inauguration of Strasbourg's 2019 Euro-Fair, whose Schedule was seriously Disrupted,
Surprisingly occured at the Same Moment that, in the UK, Topical BREXIT News, (After a Political Deadlock at Westminster's Parliament), are Exceptionally, Focused on France's position, in a way Including mainly a possible Agri-Food and Plants' Deal with the EU !
(BREXIT's No 1 Top News on France's position, when BLMaire Visits Strasbourg on 6/9/2019)
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Just After embattled UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson (an atypical Conservative, who has notoriosuly Vowed to realize BREXIT inside the Time Deadline fixed by an EU Summit for the End of October 2019, and, Meanwhile, Suspended a recalcitrant Parliament's work for 1 Month, seeking to Facilitate that), vowed to Persist Struggling until the UK Leaves the EU, with an Agreed Deal or Even Not, but WithOut Any Delay, Despite House of Commons' Opposition Votes, Recently Excluding any Non-Deal BREXIT, and Asking another Delay, until January Next Year (2020 !), while even Excluding any Democratic Election meanwhile, suddenly, the Focus turned towards France :
- Indeed, as Boris Johnson Excluded to Obey to those Controversial Conditions imposed by the Opposition and a Few Turn-Coat MPs that he's just Thrown Out from his own (Conservative) Party, Even if he reportedly Risked to go to Prison for doing that, the Number 1 Hope for a Majority of BREXITERS among UK People (according to Polls), became the alleged Refusal of French President, Emmanuel Macron, to accept anOther Delay, even without any serious perspective for an imminent UK-EU Deal, Hoping that this would result into the EU "Kicking Out" the UK, quasi-Automatically, After the 31th of October (Comp. Supra)...
=> In real Practice, according to the Latest Infos, this Mainly boiled down into Urgent UK-EU Talks, including Ireland, around Modifying that Controversal "BackStop" Clause in the Current Draft Deal for BREXIT, (which Excludes "Hard Borders" between Northern Ireland's area and the EU), by Agreeing, Instead, on certain Sanitary Controls on Agri-Food and Plants' Trade there, (which, Obviously, interest Particularly France, as the Nearest and Biggest Agricultural EU Country)...
>>> Bruno Le Maire is personaly a Key for such Matters, since he has a valuable Relevant Experience, as Former Minister of Agriculture, as well as for EU Affairs, in Addition to his Current Status as Minisister of Economy, and Often Accompagnies Macron at International Summits, (as, f.ex., at the Latest "G20" Summit in Hamburg, Germany, on 2017, where "Eurofora" met him aside the French President : Comp. http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macrontoprotectcyprusisraelenergyforeurope.html, etc).
+ Meanwhile, "Eurofora" had just Agreed, Today in Strasbourg, with Le Maire's Press Attaché, (an Experienced Officer, formerly working at the Elysée Presidential Palace in Paris, during a Long Period of Time), about a Direct "Press Point" with the French Minister, shortly after his Speech on the Inauguration of Strasbourg's 2019 "Euro-Fair", and Before he mades the Traditional Visit of its main Stands, between the Hilton hotel and EU Parliament's building.
- It's also Today that "Eurofora" said to that Le Maire's Press Attaché, that the "Most Topical" of the Questions that we'd like to Raise was, precisely, the Fact that, UnExpectedly, France had Just Become the Focus of Public Attention in the Latest BREXIT-related Developments (Comp. Supra), anOther possible Question concerning Digital Innovations, (that the French Minister had evoked in his Speech).
- It may be Better to "Let them Do what They Wish !", immediately Reacted Le Maire's experienced Press Spokesman, to "Eurofora"s above-mentioned Point, obviously referring to the Majority of Brittish People wish for BREXIT, Despite the "Sadness", that the French Minister had just, repeatedly, Expressed anew, at his earlier Speech Today, (withOut, however, Adding Anything More in Public on that issue, at least for the moment)...
- But, UnExpectedly, Bruno Le Maire himself, After Kindly Saluting "Eurofora" when he Arrived for the Scheduled "Press Point", and Despite the Fact that he is well Used to give Immediate Replies to various "Eurofora"s Questions on Topical Issues throughout his Career, (See, among others, also, f.ex. : Already since 2009 http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/shipgas.html, as, among others, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchministerlemaireonagriculturalpotential.html 2012, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/internationalpressdebateongermanelection.html Paris, 2013, etc, and Statements, also http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/irish/sarkobigprojects.html (2008), http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/irish/2009_2010.html 1/2009, http://www.eurofora.net/brief/brief/blablablablabla.html 4/2009, including at meetings of "Eurofora" with President Macron at "G20" Summit in Hamburg, Germany 2017, Comp: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macrontoprotectcyprusisraelenergyforeurope.html, and during his EU Parliament visite, followed by EU Commission's vice-Presiden Vestager in Strasbourg's City Hall, on 10/2018 http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/taxgafaandbuildeudigitaltech.html), etc), nevertheless, this time, he exceptionaly Asked "Eurofora" to Postpone that matter for "Later-On" Today, (i.e. before, during, or after his Scheduled Visit of Strasbourg's 2019 "EuroFair" Stands : See Infra), and Suddenly Looked, almost Anxiously, Behind us, Towards an adjacent Room, where a Not Previously Announced Delegation, just Arrived, was apparently Waiting for him !
- "Eurofora" was immediately told that this was a "Special" Meeting with "Representatives of Agriculture", (from which stems, by a Coincidence, even the current President of the Biggest European Party in the EU : Joseph Daul, former Long-Time MEP of Strasbourg and f. Chairman of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group in EU Parliament, who had Met Le Maire here in the Past, in Our Presence : See, f.ex., ..., etc), as well as that the French Minister had to Leave, Afterwards, Not with the High-Speed Train, as usual, But, Exceptionally, this time, "with an Airplane-Jet", in order to Rapidly "Meet with President Macron", elsewhere, (See Infra).
>>> However, such a Meeting with Agriculture's representatives, (in a Room of Strasbourg's "Palace of Music and Congresses", Before he Visits the EuroFair's Stands, nearby), had NOT been Included at all in the Official "PROGRAM" of Le Maire, that the Press Service of the Economy Ministry and of Strasbourg's Prefecture had Send to "Medias' Editors", including "Eurofora", just Yesterday (5/9/2019) Noon !
Indeed, it Only Mentioned, vaguely, the usual, various brief "Meetings with Professional Organisations" in general, exclusively During his Subsequent, OutDoors "Visit of the Exhibition's Parc", and "Visit of Stands", After "Crossing Halls 2 and 3", (i.e., practically, as he would approach Strasbourg Area's "Alsace's Chamber of Crafts", etc., as usual in these Annual events), which, Obviously, is a Totally Different thing, (See relevant PhotoCopy of that Official Document, herewith)...
=> A +2 HOURS UNEXPECTED DELAY !
+ Moreover, at the great Surprise of All Other Officials, Politicians, Diplomats, MEPs or Journalists also Waiting to Accompagny the French Minister, as usual, to his Subseqent Visit, Initially Due to Start in a Few Minutes, on the Contrary, ...Took an UnExpected, awfull lot of Time, Delaying, Far Beyond any Expectation, his Scheduled Next Moves, to the Point that Several Important Officials and/or Top Politicians were Obliged, Meanwhile, to Leave, Unable to Wait still Longer, while, Even his own Agenda had to be, After that, Modified, at the Last Minute, sharply Shortening or even Cutting various initially Scheduled Moves...
- Indeed, while Le Maire's Official Program (send to the Medias, including Eurofora) indicated that, Immediately After a Speech, in Strasbourg's "Palace for Music and Congresses", at "10.15", he would Go Straight Outdoors, to the "Exhibitions' Parc", at "11" h. in "the MORNING", on the Contrary, after Brief Statements to Journalists (including "Eurofora": See ..., etc) for a Few Minutes, the French Minister, following his Unexpected, Subsequent Meeting, in a PMC's Room, with some unnamed "Agriculture's Representatives", nevertheless, he was, Finally, Delayed more than ...2 whole Hours (sic !), Compared to his Initially Scheduled Program, thus Obliged to reach the "Exhibition Parc"'s Middle area Only as Late as ...13h.45+, i.e., practically, in the AFTERNOON, (while his Schedule had foreseen, on the Contrary, to catch up his ...Airplane at "13h.35"), as "Eurofora" witnessed on the spot !
- To the point that "Eurofora"' co-Founder, (having, these Last Years, become slightly Handicaped and Obliged to Walk Slower than usual, with Crunches, particularly through Long Trajectories), narrowly Missed the Next RDV, inside Strasbourg's 2019 "EuroFair", (this time, Exceptionaly surrounding the Hilton hotel), Even if Bruno Le Maire, Smiling, came, unexpectedly, to anew Salute us, Right in Front of the only Stand where We had radomly Chosen to Wait for his arrival, (by anOther Coincidence : of Agricultural Products - Fruits/Vegetables' Natural Juices...), nevertheless, he was immediately Surounded by intrusive "Paparatzi" and other various bystanders, practically Hindered to make a Free Exchange on Serious Political Issues, and, therefore, it became impossible, in such exceptional cirunstances, to have more than an Original Photo of him Approaching "Eurofora" with a Smile, while being rushed by Local Officials, to Urgently Run Fast to catch-up with a Last Brief Stand-Meeting, before reaching a Series of Official Cars ad motorcyclistes, Nearby, which had Already Left Before in order to Wait on the spot to take him the Soonest possible, directly at the Airport, (as "Eurofora" had been Warned)...
=> The very Sequence, as well as Context, of such a Long Series of Exceptional, mostly UnExpected, but Coherent, UnPrecedented Events, largely Out of Schedule, clearly Offers itself for a Coherent Interpretation, more or less Linked with the above-mentioned Sudden "U-Turn" that BREXIT's Latest Developments have Surprisingly taken in the UK, concerning the EU and particularly France, reportedly Narrowing down around Agricultural Matters linked to Top Politics, (Comp. many Facts cited Supra).
+ Significantly, Moreover, Le Maire's meeting with President Macron, Immediately after Strasbourg, at Evian, was Also around Economy and European Politics, including many Business Representatives from France and Germany, etc., Together with Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Europe.
>>> Last, but not least, the above-mentioned Concrete Details about BREXIT's "BackStop"-related Matters to Urgently Settle in view of a Possible Alternative Solution from the Current Political Deadlock in the UK (Comp. Facts cited Supra), eeem to be, reportedly, around Sanitary (Health) Controls on Agricultural Foods and Plants' Trade at the possibly Future "Borders" between the EU and the Northern Ireland region of the UK, which Traditionally is a quite Well-Known Technico-Economic Issue of potentially Big Political Importance in International Relations :
- Indeed, it's, Paradoxically, around some, so-called, ..."Phyto-Sanitary Certificates" (sic !), that a Huge Political Battle had been Earlier Fought, soon after 2000, (Both at Legal level, in front of EU's Court of Justice, at nearby Luxembourg, as well as inside EU Commission, Parliament and Council, added to relevant UN Top Political Instances), on anOther, and very Different, Occasion related to illegal Attempts for Trade with the EU accross the UN Peace-Keeping demarcation Line surounding the Occupied Territories illegaly controlled by Turkey's Foreign Invasion and Occupation Army since 1974, in Nowadays (from 2004) EU Member State Cyprus !
Such UnExpected "Coincidences", obviously contribute, together with a lot of various Other Converging Facts, (Comp. Supra), to underline the potentially very Important Political Significance that, as several UK Medias Nowadays observed, a possible simple Move by France might, potentially, have for an eventual Solution of the BREXIT issue, Out of the Current Deadlock (Comp. Supra) :
- IF French President Macron helped Settle, with such a Punctual, Simple and Unique Modification, that Controversial "BackStop" Issue, which had Notoriously Blocked the Current Version of the Draft EU-UK Agreement, Earlier Negiotiated with former UK Prime Minister May, (Comp., among others, also, f.ex. : ..., etc),
=> then, New UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, could Immediately Bypass the Obstacles recently set up by some even More Controversial Attempts, by a Currently ImPopular in the UK House of Commons, to OutLaw a "Clean", "No-Deal BREXIT", while, at the Same Time, Imposing a Further Delay until Next Year (2020) at any case, and Even UnDemocratically Prolonging its own existence, meanwhile, by Refusing any Election which could Allow, for the Brittish People, to freely and Democratically express, Directly by their Votes, Their prefered Choice for their own Country's forseable Future, (Comp. Supra)...
>>> Indeed, such a possible Move, could Simply be presented as 1 Simple UK-EU draft Agreement's Modification, Allowing to Respect Both the Brittish People's verdict at the Popular Referendum for BREXIT since 2016, (Comp., f.ex.: ..., etc), and Even the Latest, Controversial 2019 Resolutions of UK's Parliament, (Comp. Supra) while Also, eventually Opening a Way for possible Fresh, Democratic Elections, (If, perhaps, still Necessary), ipso facto.
(../..)
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The incoming Swedish EU Presidency (July-December 2009) may still remain in favour of Turkey's controversial EU bid, despite June 2009 EU Elections' results, but it has "very strong demands on Turkey"'s obligation to respect EU Rules, said the Head of Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service, Cecilia Julin, to "EuroFora", reacting to critical Press reports.
- "I know (that) the link is often made also to Sweden's position on Turkey"'s controversial EU bid. Indeed, "we (Swedish EU Presidency) are very much engaged in the future membership of Turkey, but not without fullfiling all the Criteria".
- "It's very clear that we (Swedish EU Presidecny) have very Strong Demands on Turkey, in a sort of concept for Future membership of the Union, ...which will be a Long Process...", she stressed.
This means, in particular, "the Copenhagen Criteria (on Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law), and also the adaptation to the Acquis of the European Union".
- "If you listen to what Mr. Bildt (the Swedish Foreign Minister) says on Turkey at different occasions, it's very clear : We want Turkey to become part of the Union, in the Future. But we want it to fullfil all the Criteria : The Acquis of the European Union. That's very clear", she concluded.
The Senior Official of the Swedish Foreign Ministry was reacting to critical Press Reports, from Brussels' Journalists invited by EU Commission's secretariat to Stockholm, who claimed that Bildt was abusing of a ..."Whip" (sic !) against Cyprus, by "threatening" the presence of UNO's Peace-keeping force at the "Green line" which separates the island's Government-controlled areas from the territories occupied by Ankara's army, if Nicosia didn't accept any political solution, regardless of Turkey's demands, before the end of 2009.
Governing AKEL Party's new Secretary General, Andros Kyprianou, reacted by declaring that no-one can threat the People of Cyprus : -"We shall decide for our Future, and nobody else", he reportedly said, asking to "keep calm". "In order to find a Solution soon, certain basic Principles must be respected", he stressed, calling those who feel an urgency to use their influence on Turkey. Other Political Parties were more critical.
This was a reference to recently reported statements by Turkish Minister Bagis, Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan and Turkey's National Security Council (a Military-Political body), accused to push towards a partitionist "2 States" solution, contrary to UNO SC Resolutions for Cyprus' reunification.
December 2009 is a crucial moment for EU's appraisal of Turkey's controversial EU bid, because EU Council has decided to review then Ankara's compliance with the European position on the recognition of Cyprus' Government, which was clearly set out by an EU reply of 21 September 2005 to Turkish Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan's claims, refusing to recognize even the existence of EU Member Cyprus, in controversial statements he made to London (former EU chair) on July 29, 2005.
EU Parliament's latest Resolution on Turkey, adopted on March 2009 in Strasbourg, warned Ankara that "the non-fulfillment of Turkey's commitments... by December 2009, may further seriously affect the process of Negotiations" with the EU.
In practice, the issue boils down to Ankara's "embargo" against Ships and Airplanes using Cyprus' seaports or airports at the strategic EU island, which traditionaly hosts one of the World's biggest Shipping flags. EU has already "freezed" 6 relevant Chapters in EU - Turkey Negotiations since December 2006, after Ankara refused to fullfil a commitment it had undertaken when EU had decided to open controversial "accession" negotiations with Turkey, back on December 2005.
- "As far as EU - Turkey relations are concerned, it's clear that Turkey needs to fullfil its obligation of full, non-discriminatory implementation of the additional Protocol (to "EC-Turkey Association Agreement"), This is an important issue....and should be addresseed as soon as possible as it clearly affects the pace of the accession negotiations.Issues covered by the Declaration of September 2005 will continue to be followed up, and progress is urgently awaited", warned earlier in Strasbourg the out-going Czech EU Presidency (former vice-Prime Minister Alexander Vodra).
But the Head of the Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service, Cecilia Julin, dismissed "interpretations" by "some" that Foreign Minister Carl Bildt was reportedly "threatening" Cyprus with consequences on the UNFICYP, if it doesn't accept any solution until December 2009, while Turkey is reportedly delaying in an attempt to impose a partitionist "2 States" solution.
On the contrary, Julin, stressed that "Sweden has strong demands on Turkey'"s respect of "Copenhagen Criteria and EU Acquis".
Meanwhile, Sweden is "concerned" about the risk of "Stalemate" in Cyprus' Talks, but is well aware that "the main responsibilities lie with the two leaders and the UNO", Europe playing only a role of "facilitator".
After carefully verifying, the Head of Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service, stressed to "EuroFora" that Bildt's reference to UNFICYP "was not linked to a Threat", and dismissed those who "interpreted" it so.
On the contrary, the Swedish EU Presidency acknowledged the fact that Peace Talks are mainly for the UN and the leaders of the Cypriot communities, EU's role being limited into that of a "facilitator".
As for Turkey's reported attempts to impose a "2 States' solution", the Head of the Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service sharply replied by stressing that Turkey must respect the "EU Acquis" rules.
In particular :
- "Basically he (Bildt) underlined that it's the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus and the UN that have the main responsibilities for solving the problem", started to say the Swedish Senior Official to "EuroFora", referring to the above-mentioned "briefing".
- "But the EU had a role in sort of pointing out the benefits and facilitating a little bit the outcome for the settlement of the whole Cyprus' issue", she added.
- "And he did state the Fact, that the rest of the World (i.e. USA, etc) will, of course, look at the differend issues which are at the table, and the future of the UN Peace keeping force is part of what is at the table", she admitted.
- "I understand that some have interpreted that as a Threat, by the Swedish Minister" "But", in reality, "it's a statement of a Fact, that, when we'll look at the differend issues, one of the issues on which we shall have to take a stand on, is the future of the UN Peace keeping force in Cyprus".
Indeed, one of the questions usually raised for a Solution of Cyprus' issue is what International and/or European or other Guarantees, by a Peace-keeping force, might be needed afterwards, eventually for a transitory period.
Questioned anew by "EuroFora" whether (according to critical Press Reports) this could be taken as a veiled warning that, if Cyprus didn't accept any Turkish demand for any solution whatever, it might be left alone to face Ankara's Military Invasion/Occupation, she denied :
- "He (Bildt) didn't say it in that way"... "It was not linked to a threat, or anything like that", the Head of the Swedish Foreign Ministry's Press Service stressed.
On the contrary, "he (Bildt) underlined that the main responsibility lies with the parties concerned on the island". "The EU can try to facilitate and show the benefits of reaching a settlement. But also, when the EU and the rest of the World (i.e. USA) will have to look at it, they will look at all the Facts on the table, and the presence of the UN Peace-keeping force is one".
And "he (Bildt) didn't speak about that at all", she replied to "EuroFora" question on Turkey's reported attemps to impose, in one way of another, a partitionist "2 States solution".
Asked whether Bildt's aim was to incite both parties to move forward efficiently, she agreed :
- In fact, "the EU is really very concerned with the Stalemate in the situation. Yes !", the Head of Sweden's Foreign Ministry's Press Service anounced. That's why Bildt "was hoping for the two parties (i.e. for Turkey's also) to engage and break, a little-bit, the present stalemate, come to a solution of the issue" of Cyprus.
But, replying to a "EuroFora"s question on the risk, denounced by several politicians in case of strict Time Deadlines, for Turkey to provoke a stalemate and wait for the time to come to impose a partitionist "2 States' solution", she reacted by pointing at Turkey's obligation to respect "EU Acquis" :
- "Turkey must fullfil the EU Acquis : That's clear !", the Swedish Senior Official stressed.
More details are expected when Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt will debate his Programme with new MEPs at EU Parliament's plenary mid-July in Strasbourg, that he has visited already in 2008.
Foreign Minister Carl Bildt became familiar with Strasbourg's CoE last year, when Sweden chaired the PanEuropean organization of Human Rights. As EU chairman-in-office, he will also chair the 27-member States strong EU Group inside the 47-member States strong CoE.
Minister for EU affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom is well known at EU Parliament, where she has been an active MEP of the Liberal Group for many years, following also Press Freedom issues.
Both have already made various statements at "EuroFora", on differend topical matters.
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