+EU Commission President Juncker to EF on Russia as EU-COE-USA moves unfold: "Big Issues" ?

*Brussels/EU Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to an "Eurofora" Question, EU Commission's President, Jean-Claude Juncker, revealed that he Spoke about Russia with CoE's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jagland, during an Exceptional Meeting, earlier this week in Strasbourg, just Before 2 Different but Synchronous Decisions on Russia were anounced Today, by EU's 28 Member States' European, and CoE's 47 Member States (including Russia, etc) PanEuropean, Organisations, on Various, but Both Topical and Important Issues, in Brussels and Strasbourg, respectively, concerning their Present and Future Relations to Moscow, (See Infra).

- French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking afterwards to Journalists, including "Eurofora" (See Infra), Today in Brussels, pointed at his recent Visit to Saint Petersburg (Russia), - which might be followed even by another one, soon, ...if the French football Team wins in the Mundial for the 4rth Round, as he had already announced from the start,-  Highlighting a Complex, but Dynamic situation, Open to eventual Developments, (See Infra), while an EU - Ukraine Summit is scheduled, here in Brussels, for July 8, 2018, in the run up to the 2019 Presidential Elections at Kiev.

+Given also the Fact that, almost at the Same Time, a long-awaited, Exceptionally Important, Top Bilateral Meeting between Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and the new USA President, Don Trump, is reportedly prepared for July 16, at Helsinki, Finland, (which is the Next CoE's rotating President for 11/2018 - 5/2019 : See Infra), closely Followed by an exceptional Juncker Visit to the USA, Soon After that, it looks as if a Wider Overhaul of Key, International Relations to Russia, could not be excluded.

Relevant developments certainly interest at the Highest Degree, even China, since Russia's Siberian Bridge Naturally and GeoPolitically is Beijing's most Direct, Continuous and Safest Road link to/from Europe, Nowadays, (given also the current, notoriously "Bumpy" Situation more at the South, which is not exactly the same as it had been, during the Times of Venice's Marco Polo, Back in History)...

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Since the Ukranian Conflict suddenly exploded, it Tragically Mutated a Peaceful,Historic Bridge, into a Monstruous Separating Wall,  during the Former US President Barack Hussein Obama, (a Globalist "Socialist", as also Bill Clinton, during whose tenure, it's the former Yugoslavia Bloody Conflict which had also Exploded, since the 1990ies).

+ Shortly Before that, during this Same Day, PaEuropean CoE's Parliamentary Assembly's (PACE° Highest Body, (its "Bureau"), decided, in Strasbourg to Publish Officially an Important Report, which contains Key Elements for an eventual Return of the Russian Delegation, which had been notoriously Pushed to Quit, during More than 4 Years (2014-2018), after a Minority of Registered MEPs, had Suddenly Voted a Controversial Amendment which Blocked a Compromise Deal, by Imposing more Heavier Sanctions to Russian MEPs than initially agreed, (See : ...), but have, recently, even Started to "Freeze" their Annual Financial Contribution to the CoE, just Before an eventual New PanEuropean Summit for 2019, due to re-Shape Strasbourg Organisation's main role, unless PACE guarantees the Immunity of All MEPs' elementary Voting and Participation Rights, (See: ..., and Infra).

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Juncker spoke to "Eurofora" at the Conclusion of EU Heads of State/Government's Summit in Brussels, (28-29 June 2018), just after the Official, General Press Conference, together with EU Council's President, Donald Tusk, and the rotating EU Chairman, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borisov, (Comp. f.ex. : ..., etc).

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EU Commission Presidents's UnUsual Visit to Strasbourg, to meet with Jagland at the Beginning of CoE Assembly's Plenary Session, earlier this Week on Monday Afternoon, (25 June 2018) had, curiously, not been clearly Anounced to Strasbourg's European Journalists, (Not even in the Official "Press Briefing" of Friday Morning, 22 of June 2018), and, even More Curiously, the Usual Official Document Warning about All CoE's "Press Events" in the forthcoming Week, had Not been (as normally) Distributed during that "Press Briefing", of June 22, Despite even the Fact that, Afterwards, it was found that it beared the Date of "June 21", i.e. a whole Day Earlier !... In Addition, it had been Scheduled Only as a mere "Photo" event, i.e. withOut any Possibilty to Raise a Question, and even withOut any Declaration, Contrary to almost All Other High-Level Political Meetings of this week...

- However, it's also true that the Incoming CoE's President-in-Office, the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic, Replying, Meanwhile, to an "Eufofora"'s Question, precisely on EU-CoE Cooperation, during a subsequent "Press point" with Jagland, the Next Morning, (i.e. on Tuesday, 26 June 2018), even withOut explicitly mentioning the Word "Russia", nevertheless, Concluded by Stressing "Items InterConnecting our (EU-COE) Work", ("instead of Dividing", as he characteristically added). (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/primeministerplenkoviconeucoecoop.html).

CoE's President-in-office spoke to "Eurofora" at the eve of a Crucial CoE - Russia High Level Meeting, Later that Evening, (Comp: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/russiaandpacecrisismayberesolved.html, etc), and just 1 Day after EU Commission's President, Jean-Claude Juncker exceptionally visited Strasbourg, (on Monday, 25/6/2018), to meet with CoE's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jagland.  "Eurofora" also learned, later-on, from Prime Minister Plenkovic himself, that he intended to stay in Strasbourg also on Wednesday, before Leaving for the EU Summit in Brussels afterwards. Meanwhile, the outcome of that Exceptionaly Important CoE - Russia meeting scheduled for Tuesday Evening (26/6/2018), behind Closed Doors, had become more or less known. (See, f.ex., the Replies given to "Eurofora"s Questions by the President of Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee, Leonid Slutsky, as well as from Dutch Senator Tiny Cox, President of EuroLeft Group and Rapporteur of CoE Assembly's Political affairs Committee on relevant issues, at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeassemblyreportandrussianmep.html).

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Juncker spoke with "Eurofora" Today in Brussels, just after the unique Official Press Conference of EU Council and EU Commission on this June 2018 Summit.

- "Eurofora" asked EU Commission's President if he had "Spoken about Russia, with (CoE's Secretary General) Mr. Jagland", last Monday Afternoon in Strasbourg (Comp. Supra), and  What he Wished, in this regard.

- Jean-Claude Juncker, after Carefully asking "Eurofora" to repeat the Question, Replied Positively :

- Indeed, I Spoke with (CoE's Secretary General) Mr. Jagland", he confirmed.

- In fact, it was "about ALL the BIG Problems" Faced Recently in Strasbourg, Juncker underlined, Obviously including also Russia.

- And, particularly, those "which make Upset Strasbourg's small World Upset", he indicated, in Reply to "Eurofora"s above-mentioned Question on Russia, (which has, notoriously, Freezed, all its Annual Financial Contribution, as long as its MEPs are still Threatened.

                                        
- "This is a very Pleasant Endeavor...", Juncker pointed out, with his notorious Black Humour,  (apparently evoking the Anxiety recently felt by a great part of CoE's staff, for the possible Negative Consequences on the PanEuropean Organisation's Budget, but also on its Activities and overall Role : Something that, inter alia, also, f.ex. some Radio-TV Journalists had already Started to Feel in Strasbourg, if we judge by the Angry row with which they Reacted to recent Anouncements of the Fact that, as things stand, from Now on, they would have to Pay Cash, the Cameraman and Studio Facilities, which were Traditionally offered Free of charge : Comp., f.ex. ..., etc).

Juncker is generaly considered to be an Experienced Top Specialist of EU - CoE Relations, as the latter's 47 Heads of State/Government have already officially asked him, as early as since CoE's 2004 Summit in Warsaw Poland, (Comp. "Eurofora" co-Founder's NewsReports from the spot, Published then at "TCWeekly"), to Draft a landmark Report on the Future of EU-CoE Cooperation, (See : his Replies to "Eurofora"s Questions during his Press Conference just after the Publication of his Report, in Strasbourg, at : ..., etc).

+ Earlier, concerning Don Trump's forthcoming Meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Juncker prefered to Decline from making any "Comment" on "other Contacts that the American President might have", and Stressed, instead, that "we should De-Dramatize these Relations", simply because "We (EU) Need those Relations", and "the US Needs these Relations". He is due to meet Trump, officially on Trade Issues mainly, soon after the USA - Russia Summit in Helsinki, expected on July 16.

 - At the same time, "in Washington", I will "present the European point of view", he added, Expressing his "Dislike" for "some ... who speak about Division". In Fact,, "when it comes to Europe, we have to show that we Exist, that we are United", Juncker stressed, (while Russia had just reportedly Filed a Legal Complaint at the WTO in Nearby Geneva, base on Similar Trade Issues as those which are also pointed out by the EU, mutatis-mutandis).     

- So that, even if it's "Not Sure", a priori, "that we'll Find an Agreement", nevertheless, "We will Try !", EU Commission's President vowed.

---------------------------------------                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                - Concerning specifically EU - Russia relations, Juncker has recently stressed that "Positive relations between the European Union and the Russian Federation are Crucial to the Security of our continent. Our common objective should be to re-establish a Cooperative Pan-European Security order", as he wrote when he Congratulated Vladimir Putin for his Re-Election, on Spring 2018.

+ PanEuropean "Democratic Security" is also due to be a Standard for a possible New CoE's 47 (including Russian) Heads of State/Government Summit on 2019, (See Infra).

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+ Meanwhile, in a Parallel Move on Russia Today, at the Same Time in Strasbourg, CoE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly's (PACE) Highest body : its Bureau has just Adopted a landmark Report on Crucial Reforms, after the Row which has notoriously resulted from Too Heavy "Sanctions" against the Russian MEPs (Comp. Supra).

- The Report asks to "strike a Right Balance" between PACE's role as a "Human Rights Watchdog" and a "PanEuropean Forum for Dialogue', noting that there is No clear Majority for one or another option.

- In particular, concerning the Key Issue of Challenging the Credentials of National Delegations, and subsequent "Sanctions", PACE's Report notes the Fact that "Views Vary very Substantially". In fact, even if "the Large Majority ... agree on Maintaining the Possibility of (some) Sanctions" against MEPs, nevertheless, Only "Some" wish "to Maintain the Current "Sanction System", while, on the Contrary, "a Larger Number of participants, Question" various "aspects" of it:

=> They propose to "Change", f.ex.  by "Excluding the Rights to Vote, and to Speak", from those of which MEP "can be Deprived". And/or to "introduce a Graduation of Sanctions", or to "Harmonise" Representation and Participation Rights "between the (Parliamentary) Assembly and the Committee of Ministers", so that some may be "Present or Absent on Both", but Not Only in One among them, (Contrary to what was the case until now, since, f.ex., Russian MEPs were Heavily Sanctioned in the Assembly, and pushed to Quit, while, in the Inter-Governemental Committee of Ministers, Russia kept its Full Rights).

Such and other (f.ex. for Requirements of a Special Quorum and/or Qualified Majority on Sanctions, etc), Proposals for "Changes" were Refered, Today by PACE's Bureau, to its Committee on Rules, for a specific Report and Decisions, while PACE's new President, Maury-Pasquier, reportedly stressed its identity, role and mission as a statutory organ of the COE and a pan-European Forum for interparliamentary Dialogue, which aims at having an impact in All CoE member States.

Russia's Official Position is that Depriving any MEPs from their Voting and Participation Rights is "Contrary to the essence of the Parliamentary system ...as No one has the right to Deprive Elected deputies of their powers, except for their Voters in regular Elections".

But, according to a Recent Analysis by "Eurofora", the real Situation inside the COE, right from the Beginning of the Ukranian conflict, allows, in Substance, for Russian MEPs' Safety to be, in Fact, Guaranteed against Risks of Abuse, IF some adequate Reform Measures, among those Currently Proposed above, are Adopted by PACE asap :

- A Key Point that "Eurofora" Discussed, earlier this week in Strasbourg, also with Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee's President, Leonid Slutsky, who, apparently, did Not Exclude, a priori, an eventual Compromise Solution on this, (See : ..., etc).

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    Today in Brussels, both French and German Leaders rejected an allegation that EU's Policy against Russia might be influenced by the UK :

    - Chancelor Merkel stressed, at first, that "We all contribute into Making the EU's Policy on Russia", where "every Country can bring something in".

    - But, on the substance, she only noted the Fact that "Yesterday, We (EU) Extended, Yesterday (June 28), the Sanctions, in relation with Ukraine and the MInsk (Agreements), as a Result of the later", she Simply added.

    Observers pointed out that, at any case, such a move would have to be, more precisely Finalized during July.

    - Russia reacted by Observing the Fact that there wasn't, apparently, any real Discussion, on that matter. And Warned that Kiev might, thus, find No Incitement to move at all...

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         However, Speaking Today in Brussels to Journalists, including "Eurofora", new French President Emmanuel Macron, Highlighted the Need to find a Right Balance between 2 Conflicting Trends:

    - "EU" is "Not for an Aggressive Policy vis a vis Russia", stressed Macron. "On the Contrary, we (EU) wish to Build a Sustainable Neighbourhood Strategy with her : I even supported that idea in my Recent Visit to Saint Petersburg, a Week Ago", he revealed.

     - "But we (EU) canNot, no more, Ignore what has Happened, particularly on Issues of Collective Security, including in Ukraine, where the Problem has not been yet Solved, and the Commitments undertaken with the Minsk Agreements, have not yet been met, even if they should be Respected, by All Sides", (i.e. Moscow and Kiev alike).

    - "Therefore, it would be Not Coherent, from our (EU's) Part, if by the Mere passing of Time, withOut any Developments in the Situation, we would Forget Both our Principles, and the Interests of our (EU's) Member States - f.ex. the Baltic States", etc             

    >>> However, "My Wish is to become able to Normalize this Issue, and, for that purpose, Both Russia and Ukraine should Find their Way towards Implementing the Minsk Agreements", the French President concluded.         

    Nevertheless, he didn't say what would happen if It might be the current Ukranian Regime which would, eventually, Block the Situation : Russia is supposed to be Motivated for a Solution, because of Heavy "Sanctions". But Kiev ?     

    All those who were closely Following the Developments about Ukraine, canNot Forget the undeniable Fact that, Back on February 2014, a written and signed Peace Deal,  had been agreed by an Elected Government and All the Opposition Leaders of Demonstrators, under the auspices and in the Presence of European Foreign Ministers from France, Germany and Poland.

    It promised General Amnesty, a National Unity Government, Presidential Elections before the end of the Year, etc.

    But, Suddenly, that EU-sponsored Peace Agreement, was trampled underfoot and broken into pieces, when some Deadly "Snipers" opened Fire, Curiously, against Both the Demonstrators and the Police, (as former Estonian Foreign Minister, and current MEP, Urmas Paet, notoriously Denounced : See, f.ex.: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2573923/Estonian-Foreign-Ministry-confirms-authenticity-leaked-phone-call-discussing-Kiev-snipers-shot-protesters-possibly-hired-Ukraines-new-leaders.html ), provoking Violent Clashes which Brutaly toppled the pro-Russian Government and Seized Power by Force.

    Such a Last-Minute Violent Move droped that Peace Deal, which had just been Agreed by the Government and all the Opposition, under the auspices of the EU, (that Barack Hussein Obama's former US Assistant State Secretary Nuland had just notoriously slandered by her infamous : -"Fuck the EU !", a few Days Earlier), and Marked the Beginning of a Violent, Brutal and Deadly Ukranian Conflict, which persists until Today.

    A CoE's High-Level Independent Committee of Enquiry, Chaired by former ECHR President Sir Nicolas Bratza, (UK), found, in a Report published later-on, that those Deadly "Snipers"' Mystery, had Not yet been properly Investigated at all by the New Ukranian Authorities, (See : ...).

    A similar Failure to Investigate, mutatis-mutandis, was Found, by that CoE's Top Independent Experts' Panel, in a 2nd Report Published on May 2015, also in the Dramatic case of Odessa's Brutal Attacks by Violent Mobsters (arriving by Trains/Buses from Elsewhere) armed with Clubs, Pistols, Fire-Bombs, etc., who Killed Dozens of Peaceful Demonstrators, mainly by Burning them Alive, (See, f.ex., Authentic Photos, Released during the Events overNight, including of the Famous, Young "Odessa Couple", published by "Eurofora" then, on May 2014 : ...), at Another Scandalously UnPunished yet Massacre of Dissident Civilian People.

=> Meanwhile, even Europe's Economic Growth inevitably Suffered a supplementary Loss of Potential, since that thorny Ukranian problem, provoked on 2014, as the Experienced OECD's CEO, Angel Guria, had told to "Eurofora" (See: ...).

    Recently, on March 2018, even the former "National Heroe" of Kiev's regime, Nadiya Savchenko, (who had notoriously been Jailed and Judged in Russia, before being Liberated after a World-wide Campaign, and becoming even MEP at CoE's Assembly in Strasbourg), just 1 Week After Denouncing that Kiev's Deadly "Snipers" (Comp. Supra) would have been orchestrated by some "Law-Makers" now inside the Ukranian Parliament, was suddenly Striped of her Parliamentary Immunity, Accused for a Plot to ..."Bomb" (sic !) the Parliament, and immediately Arrested and Jailed by Kiev's regime...

    Curiously, (but characteristically), Nadiya Savchenko's Downfall, among the current Kiev's regime, reportedly Started at ... Minsk (sic !), when she dared commit the "Crime" to merely ... Speak, in direct Dialogue, with her Compatriot Ukranians representatives from the Eastern, pro-Autonomy Regions of Donetsk - Luhansk !

Instead of being Congratulated, the Young Ukranian Woman MP, (who had been Elected at the 1st place, Heading the List of famous, former Prime Minister, Julia Timoshenko's Political Party : Comp. Timoshenko's Statements to "Eurofora", both Before, and After her own Imprisonment, by the Janukovich Regime of the Past, at: ..., + ..., etc), on the Contrary, she was Slandered and Accused of "Betraying" her Country, Excluded from her Party, Striped of her Accreditation to the CoE in Strasbourg, Harassed, (and Later Excluded even from the Parliament), etc.

In the MeanTime, Savchenko had Created a New Political Party, and had even Anounced her intention to take part in the Forthcoming, New Ukranian Presidential Elections of 2019.

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Precisely, when French President Macron, saluting Journalists at the end of his Press Conference at the Conclusion of the June 2018 EU Summit in Brussels, suddenly turned towards "Eurofora" and Greeted with a Smile, kindly asking - "Hi there ! How are things ?",

We Felt obliged to Reply by immediately Pointing at the Topical Substance of the matter :

- "Mr. President, Next Year, on 2019, when You shall become Chairman-in-office of the Widest European Organisation : that of the 47-Member Countries strong CoE, you shall have as Member State also Russia !", "Eurofora" Timely warned President Macron. The new French President apparently did not expect that, right at this moment, and, Surpized, given also the Big potential Importance of such topical matters, he appeared seriously Falling into ...Deep Thought !..

+ It's also on 2019 that PanEuropean COE is due to celebrate its 70th Anniversary, since its Creation, and even Elect a New Secretary General, (as the ...Russian semi-Official Press Agency "Tass" observed nowadays), as well as, the Series of Big Reforms of the ECHR arrive at its Culminating point, according to a prevision, already made since its Beginning, Back on 2010, at Schwitzerland's  InterLaken area, (Comp. "Eurofora"s NewsReports, then, from that superbe spot, at : ..., etc), even, perhaps, organize a New PanEuropean, 47 Heads of State/Governments' Summit, (etc), ... almost at the Same Time that EU Parliament's Elections of May 2019 may also Hide some more Surprises, with a more or less wide EU overhaul...

- "Hey, the President seems to Know you quite well !", Joked a collegue with a Friendly Smile., who had observed the moves.

- "Yeah, But....", we reacted, even more thoughtful :

A Piece of Paper, with the Name of our Famous Brittish collegue, "Adam Boulton, Sky TV" Journalist, usually plenty of Brittish Humour, was now the sole reminder of the fact that he used to sit at the Same Table, in EU Summit's main PressRoom, aside "Eurofora", ...until this Morning, 2nd Day of the June 2018 EU Summit, when BREXIT was Discussed between 27 EU Leaders...

=> But, Will the Franco-German couple, who, in 2019, will have got (After the BREXIT) the Main Responsibility for the EU, (Together with Italy and various Others), Succeed to ReUnite a Dangerously Divided European Continent ?, we inevitably wondered.