Macron to EF: EUCitizens Consultation before EU Decisions also After 2019 with Real Debates from Now
*Saint-Dié/Vosges Mountains/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to an "Eurofora" Question, French President Emmanuel Macron made it clear that he Intends to Advance Further than the current "EU Citizens' Consultations", just Launched Yesterday (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronlauncheseucitizenconsultations.html), for the Next 6 Months of 2018, and Help Open a New Era of Revitalized European Democracy in the foreseeable Future, as Logical Part of his Wider Plan for a Stronger "European Sovereignity", in Addition to the National one, in certain Key Areas of Crucial Importance, while also advancing even more closer to "Eurofora"s 1997-(and mainly: 2006)- 2018 Project.
+But, at the Same Time, Macron also Revealed, Today, pursuing his 3 Days-Long March up to the Vosges Mountains' Rural area, near Strasbourg, that he trully Believes to Real Exchanges with concerned Citizens on "Hot" Socio-Political Issues, Before Key Decisions affecting their Lives and/or Society at large, as he Clearly Proved Now on the spot, at Saint-Dié City :
I.e. a small but much needed and Timely "Political Miracle" at the Symbolic HeadQuarters of Vosges' Mountains Historic Christian Community, (by its ArchiBishopric at a Huge Cathedral, main Stop of his Visit),
as well as the "International Capital of Geography", proud to have given, for the 1st Time in History, the Name of "America" to the Continent facing Europe at the Other Side of the Atlantic Ocean, (thanks to a Landmark Edition of a World Map and relevant Book Published here as Early as since 1.507 AC). And also a City which had been Razed to the Ground, during Destructive Wars of the Past, its Population being Obliged to stay at the surrounding Forests, But Succeeded, Afterwards, to be Restored and ReVitalized. Almost, mutatis-mutandis, as Europe ?...
Macron Proved that, indeed, by Engaging Long and Hard, but Direct Debates even with several Groups of Initially Hostile Demonstrators, (including, f.ex., Railworkers Striking against a forthcoming Reform, due to introduce also some EU Competition, etc., as well as a Leftist Group of Melanchon's pro-"Resistance" fans Opposed also to Other Socio-Ecoomic Reforms, etc), by Spending several Hours to Speak and Exchange in Dialogue with them, until some Previously Insulting Cries, gave the way to Civilized Arguments, amidst an apparently growing Mutal Respect, (See Infra).
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- "Hi ! How are things going ?", a Smiling Macron suddenly Emerged in front of "Eurofora", Saluting Familiarly, after a Long Waiting Time, (See Infra).
- "Eurofora" immediately asked President Macron "if he Wished to Continue regular EU Citizens' Consultations (Before key EU Decisions) also in the Future, After 2019", (particularly considering EU Lisbon Treaty's relevant Article 11 which provides for the "Expression" of "Citizens"' Views on EU Activities, and even for "Regular Debates" with "Civil Society" on them : Comp. http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euombudsmandecisionandeuroforaproject.html , etc).
- "Yes ! Certainly !...", Affirmed, Clearly, the French President, in a Positive Reply to the above-mentioned "Eurofora"s Question.
- "At any case, that's what I Intend to do", Macron carefully Added, (while Walking away Slowly, still Hearing, Thoughtfully, and Looking Behind, as if he wanted also to make sure that everything was OK despite a somewhat rush movement by the Police among the Croud gathered around, apparently not always realizing the Fact that Elysée's Accredited Journalists had been Invited to Accompagny the President's walk through the People gathered at the Central Streets of the City).
- Indeed, that seems Logical in the overall Context of the President's Views, particularly for a More Democratic Europe, carefully but positively Confirmed also to "Eurofora", a Macron-Faithful, now Elysée Palace's Press Attaché, that we had also Questioned Today on this Same, Key point.
Something which, while naturally Including the 6-Months-Long current Citizens Consultations of April-October 2018, however, Goes also Well Beyond that important 1st Stage, stimulating Hopes to Open a "New Way" for a ReVitalized European Democracy at the foreseeable Future's Horizon.
I.e., an Obviously Natural Development, clearly Emerging from Macron's Landmark Speech of 7 September 2017, at the Symbolic BirthPlace of Democracy in the Historic "Pnyx" Rock, Facing Acropolis, in Athens, already introducing some key Elements of Systematic Citizens' Participation, sometimes going near to Direct Democracy, during a Crucial Period of the Ancient Greek Civilisation, at one of its Best Moments, which Marked All European Culture and well Beyond, (See "Eurofora"s NewsReport at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronatthehistoricsourcesofdemocracy.html).
During an Elysée Palace's Press Briefing, re-transmitted "Live" by Tele-Conference also to Strasbourg's invited Journalists, including "Eurofora", at the Eve of Macron's venue to EU Parliament in Strasbourg, (See "Eurofora"s NewsRaport at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronineuparliamentaskscitizensdebates.html), it was stressed that, at least the current, EU Citizens' Consultations of 2018, (due to Spread accross almost All EU Member Countries), could be usefully made also via the Internet, on Condition, always to "Restitute" their main Outcome at a Centralized Website, set up for that purpose.
-But, Yesterday (Tuesday) Evening, at the Official Launch of the 1st such "EU Citizens' Consultation" on Europe's Future, at nearby Epinal City, Administrative Capital of the Vosges' Mountains, near Strasbourg, (See "Eurofora"s NewsReport from the spot at : ...), Macron made it Cleaer that, Often, Personal Exchanges in actual, physical "Meetings", can also be Useful, by Adding a Human Dimension, helping a more Sincere Dialogue, (considering also the Fact that at least a Minority of People are Not Yet so Computer/Internet-Litterate as others).
+ More Important : The embattled, young French President, apparently ...Frustrated by a too "Nice" appearance for almost All his Interlocutors in that 1st Debate, (carefully "Prepared" by a Team under the EU Affairs' State Secretary, Mrs Loiseau), suddenly Felt the Need to ... Ask whether 1 "Anti-European" or, at least, "Euro-Sceptic" existed among that Audience, (getting 1 such Reply, by an unconvincing, however, alleged "Dissident" : See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronlauncheseucitizenconsultations.html).
However, Macron clearly Stressed and Repeated that EU Citizens' Consultations must Include also current Critics or even Opponents of the EU, sometimes also Calling those "Anti-EU" Dissidents to Add ...their Own "Citizens Consultations", in order to use real Logical Arguments, which can be Exchanged in other, various, even indirect Dialogues with All Other People.
=> And, Indeed, he Already gave, this same week, a First concrete Indication, by Chosing to Limit his Speech at EU Parliament's Plenary in Strasbourg, Yesterday (Tuesday) Morning, mainly into Focusing, precisely, on a Brief reminder of the Current Need for EU Citizens' Debates, in view of a Stronger, "Sovereign Europe", to be added to its Member States' National Sovereignities, there where EU's Bigger "Size" may be really Needed in order to be Efficient in nowadays World, while Spending, Most of his Speaking Time, into Discussing with MEPs (often of Different Opinions) on various Topical Issues related to Europe's present and Future, (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronineuparliamentaskscitizensdebates.html ).
>>> But, Today, at Saint-Dié City, this, UnExpectedly, Became a True and "Hard" Reality, also vis a vis Real Socio-Political Dissidents, (sometimes even some among the more Harsh, as f.ex. the "CGT" and/or "SUD" Trade Unions, Leftist Political Demonstrators, etc), litterally "on the Streets", including certain Sudden U-Turns and/or Surprizes, amidst the ambiant Tension of an on-going Railway Nation-Wide Strike, and Rapid Moves of Loudly Shouting Groups of initially very Hostile Dissidents or Political Opponents :
This Transformed what was initially supposed to be just a Friendly Stroll around Central City Streets to Greet the main Shop-Keepers patiently waiting for the French President's visit, in front of the Press and Local Fans, into a ...Real Arena of Hard Political Confrontations in several "Hot", un-foreseen Debates with Dissidents and/or Opponents...
Today, the new French President, Emmanuel Macron, proved in real practice, at Vosges Mountains' Saint-Dié city, that even Strong Disagreements on Issues of crucial Importance can and must be Democratically Debated, with elementary mutual Respect among initially Opposed parties :
- Indeed, contrary to an unrealistic "Nice, Gendle Mood" ambiant, just Yesterday, at the Official Launch of the 1st among a 6 Months-Long Series of EU Citizens Consultations throughout 27 EU Countries on Europe's foreseeable Future, that Macron inaugurated Tuesday Evening at nearby Epinal City's Congress Center ( See "Eurofora"s NewsReport from the spot at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronineuparliamentaskscitizensdebates.html),
this, subsequent event at Saint-Dié was, in fact, an unforeseen, Harsh Clash and Confrontation in public, at the Street, standing for Hours amidst a crashing Heatwave, between 2 really Opposed Views, on a Hard nut to crack, concerning the current Strikes by Railway Workers against a proposed Reform before EU Competition starts to be applied soon :
Macron was initially Aggressed, several times, by various Hostile Groups, smaller in number than his fans and simple friendly citizens, but much more Loud, Negative, and initially grossly Insulting, to an unprecedented level, without any formal Police authorisation to demonstrate so aggressively on that spot...
But, instead of sending the Police to disperse them, or merely Ignoring them by walking towards another street where he was awaited by friendly People, on the Contrary, the young French President bravely decided to go, meet and speak with those Opposed Dissidents, and Start Discussing with them for... Hours !
+ This was repeated also with some other Loud Dissident Groups, extending the program for 2 or 3 Hours more, until Angry Cries were progressively Replaced by Hard but Sincere Arguments.
A Young Elysée Palace's Press Officer, Jean Gaborit, who had followed Macron since a Long Time, (Together with his main Collegue, Marion Bayret, often met by "Eurofora" in Brussels' EU Summits, etc), told us that he had Never Seen Before, "at such a Level", a similar event elsewhere...
And even if there wasn't yet any breakthrough agreement in substance, at least, an obvious mutual Respect was apparently established (even some Applaud was heard sometimes afterwards, around those Dissidents, on certain points) !
"Eurofora" later, (while Departing, Earlier than other Elysée Group of Journalists, for Strasbourg, because of an EU Parliament's meeting to follow Tomorrow Morning/Noon in Strasbourg: See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euonukrainereformsbeforeelection.html), found several Trade Unionists and/or Other Critics in front of the City's Rail-Road Station, and/or aroud it, Ready to Discuss about their various Disagreements with Macron, But also willing to Admit that, at least, a Frank but Honest, Direct Dialogue had been Established, even with the Highest Political Authority of the Country...
=> In other word, it all seems as if a kind of ... Socio-Political "Miracle" had Started to Emerge, at this Symbolic "Saint-Dié" (means "Holy God") City, full of Simple, Rural People at Vosges' Mountains, whose Historic Saint (pictured at an Impressive, Huge Cathedral, in Front of which the French President concluded his Official Visit), is named "Deodace", i.e. something which obviously Reminds (even if it might not actually mean that) : "Deus" (i.e. God) and "Audacious" !
Macron might, perhaps, not exactly be a Traditional "Religious" man, even if he is a baptised Christian, as the Large Majority of French People. And, at any case, as President of the French Republic, he is notoriously Obliged to be Neutral on Religious affairs, in Principle left for the Civil Society and private life.
But, anyway, it's a Fact that it all looks as if the current Initiator of EU Citizens' Consultations really is an ..."Audacious" European Political Leader !
It's not for nothing that near the Saint-Dié City, where Macron chose to act as mentioned, was also Born the Famous "Jeanne d' Arc", France's National Hero, (but with Appeal also towards Germany, where the French President is due to meet German Chancelor Angie Merkel Tomorrow, in Berlin)...
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Scientific innovation joined to Faith for Human Rights, Eastern Partnership and fight against the Crisis, but above all, the need to overcome the "Crisis of Trust" from EU Citizens, are the main priorities for new EU Parliament's President, Polish Jerzy Buzek, that a 555-votes-strong majority of MEPs on July 14, Strasbourg made a living symbol of the fact that, 20 years after the fall of Berlin Wall (1989 - 2009) there is no more an Eastern or Western Europe, but only one Europe, as the head of the largest group of MEPs, ChristianDemocrats/EPP, Joseph Daul, stressed after the event.
Speaking later to a group of Strasbourg's Journalists, including "EuroFora", the new EU Parliament's President clarified his stance on concrete topical issues, as f.ex. that of Turkey's controversial EU bid, which was one of the main issues of the June 2009 Electoral campain, clearly won by his party of ChristianDemocrats/EPP : - "At present, Turkey does not fullfil none of EU conditions", he stressed, (See infra).
Buzek is well known in Strasbourg and to "EuroFora" as EU Rapporteur for the Framework Program of Scientific Research and Development of Technologies. A Natural Science Professor from the Historic and Religious landmark Polish City of Częstochowa, active in the famous Solidarnosk grass-roots social movement, he served 4 years as Prime Minister (1997-2001), before being elected as MEP in 2004 and 2009, after he brillantly won the latest EU Election at the head of his party (EPP) almost doubling the number of its MEPs from 15 to 28 !
- "Innovation" and "Energy safety", as well as fight against the "Cimat change", but also "Eastern Partnership", the "Mediterranean", "Strategic partnerships" with Russia, the USA, etc, and the search for "solutions to the Economic Crisis" that EU Citizens "expect" from us, will be his "priorities", announced from the outset the new EU Parliament's President, reminding also that the quest for "Human and Civic Rights" played an important role in his experience with the Solidarnosc grass-roots social movement in Poland's History
But, the most important of all, is the urgent need to overcome the "Crisis of Trust" between EU Institutions and the People he stressed : - EU "Citizens often don't understand us", denounced Buzek, launcing a call to "do anything for EU Citizens to understand our work" in EU Parliament : "We (MEPs) need to make EU Citizens involved" in "what we are doing every week, in Strasbourg and Brussels", he proposed. Pointing f.ex. to the hot "Debates" with "strong arguments" exchanged between MEPs during the preparation of their Legislative Decisions, in Committees, delivering often hard struggles between initially opposed points of view, long before forging a majority at the final vote, sometimes more than a year..
Therefore, EU Parliament will be "open to your criticism, for discussion and exchange of views", he promissed to Journalists in Strasbourg.
In this way, Buzek, in fact, highlighted "EuroFora"s main idea, that we strongly advocate since 1997-2007, to systematicaly and actively involve EU Citizens in public debates during the decision-making process of important EU measures, which affect their lives and the society in which they live, (and not only just a few weeks each 4 or 5 Years at the eve of EU Elections)...
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This is related also to the symbolic gift that Buzek chose to give to the out-going former EU Parliament's President, Hans Gert Poettering, (2007-2009), his collegue in the ChristianDemocrats/EPP, who brillantly won 2009 EU Elections in Germany : A genuine statute of sainte Barbara crafted in Silesia's black Coal by Polish Miners : Those simple but strong people who fought for social change against some technocrats and bureaucrats disguissed into so-called "real-socialists" of old times. (PHOTO).
It's enough to have seen a popular open air mass, at Warsaw's center, with many thousands of people, old and young, simple workers and intellectuals mixed together, with references to Poland's history and struggles for survival and liberty, through various ages, (as fex. that organized at the eve of CoE's 2005 panEuropean Heads of State and Government for the beatification of late Pope John-Paul II), in order to understand what such symbols mean..
But, overcoming the "Crisis of Trust" with EU Citizens obviously implies also to rectify any errors done in the past, fex. on Turkey's controversial EU bid, with controversial decisions taken in 1999 and 2004 to give a "candidate" status and to start EU negotiations, provoking an unprecedented series of 3 "No" to EuroReferenda and 3 Majoriy Abstentions in EU Parliament Elections : 1999, 2005 and 2009, (even if the latest one succeeded to decelerate and almost stop the drop of participation rates, opening hopes for vote's revival after an electoral campaign clearly critical to Turkey's claims in several mainstream EU countries)
Therefore, Buzek was faced with manifold critical Questions on EU Enlargement, most of them citting concrete examples of certain political problems : But his replies were almost always given as a matter of general principle :
F.ex. Questioned on the suspension of EU - Croatia talks because of a Border conflict with EU Member Slovenia, Buzek prefered to speak about principles :
- "We know that during Enlargement, the process can be blocked by failure to resolve this kind of issues", This concerns also other enlargments' cases", and "these rules are always in force" he warned.
But Buzek avoided to directly reply to a queston on "French and German EPP' calls to define the Borders of Europe", as a German journalist asked him by making a reference to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and German Chancellor Angie Merkel's, critical statements on Turkey at the June 2009 Electoral campain.
- "Concerning Enlargement, there's always the same rules : There have to be Criteria, which have to be respected if a Country wants to join the EU", he started to simply reply.
- "For my country (Poland) it took us 15 Years to fullfil these Criteria", Buzek reminded, indicating, if proportions are kept, that Turkey, fex. would have to spend some 25 years before eventually joining the EU..
- "Countries wishing to join the EU need to Change their Systems", as we (Poland and other former Eastern European Countries) did, he stressed.
- "'For me, meeting the condition of Human Rights is one of the Key conditions for membership in the EU", preferring again to speak from the point of view of General Principles, on the occasion of an untimely question on Serbia (which is not even a candidate yet)...
- "Turkey" has, "first of all", to fullfil (EU) Copenhagen criteria". Bevause, currently, none of them is fullfiled by Turkey", New EU Parliament's President, denounced, speaking later to a group of Journalists, including "EuroFora".
In particular, on Human Rights : - "We (EU) can never forget Human Rights", because "this is at the very Foundations of the EU", Buzek added.
On the contrary, when he referred to EU Enlargment for the "Western Balkans Countries ", Buzek appeared upbeat, finding "promising situations", despite "difficulties" in the Past, since "Countries are queuing to become EU members", and this "generated changes", as he said.
As for Russia, Buzek observed that it was a "very important" country, located "in the same Continent", Europe, "close to our borders", and "we need eachother". "But Russia' has 'differend poblems : "They claim that their system is Democratic, but rules are differend", and we must be "aware of such differencies", fex. "on Human Rights", that we can't ignore, as he said;
Concerning China, where a journalist observed that the recipient of EU Parliament's latest "Sakharov prize" for freedom of thought is "still in prison", Buzek found that since the 1999 events in Tien Amin square, "we see differencies on Human Rights still today", and expressed his "support" for those who try to ameliorate the situation.
On the contrary, speaking recently to "EuroFora" he strongly supported the idea for an EU - Ukraine cooperation, fex. between Airbus and Antonov, in order to build a less costly but more performant than the old and problematic A400M, new Military Transport Airplane : - "They (Ukranian Antonov Company) can certainly do it. I'm sure they can. It's a good Idea, and I'd be glad if it was done", he told us. (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/airbusantonov.html )