Top Minister Alliot-Marie to EuroFora : Build the Justice of the Future for Citizens and help ECHR

Both in France and other key EU Countries, but also in Europe itself, we should all contribute to help, responsible and committed Jurists and people, find the material, High-Tech. a.o. tools, currently needed to build the Justice of the Future, for Citizens' Dignity and People's Unity, even if, at present, National Reforms are naturally spearheaded by Governments, who also "support ECHR"'s on-going "Initiatives" at a PanEuropean level area, as "France always did, and will continue to do", confirmed in substance to "EuroFora", speaking at a Crucial juncture for ECHR (and ECJ) on-going, Historic Changes, the very Experienced Top French super-Minister, f. Head of Governemental Majority Party and successively Minister of Defence, Security ("including for Citizens' Human Rights", as she was fond of saying since the 2008 French EU Presidency), and now of Justice and Liberties, Michelle Alliot-Marie, (well known also by her initials as MAM).

The point is of key Topical importance today, particularly when it comes shortly after European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)'s President, professor Costa's recent Statements to "EuroFora",  revealing that ECHR, despite marking recently some noteworthy 1st positive results since it started to apply in practice a New, Strategic Plan decided by CoE's Ministerial Conference at Interlaken (Swisse : see "EuroFora"s several NewsReports from the spot, as well as ECHR President's, CoE's Committee of Ministers' Chair's, a.o.'s long, interesting Replies to "EuroFora"'s Question at the concluding Press Conference), in addition also to other, converging Reforms provided by a Protocol 14, after it was, finally, signed and ratified also by Russia, nevertheless, the Strasbourg-based PanEuropean Court is currently engaged in an Important, parallel and unavoidable Effort to critically observe and analyse initial results, (f.ex. among Citizens, Lawyers and States, etc), think and invent how to create also an Internal Mechanism, monitored both by the experienced ex Registrar and ECHR's elected President, so that a Serious, Responsible, Transparent, Credible and Efficient enough Guarantee could be provided to numerous Citizens eventually facing a rejection of their applications as "manifestedly non-founded", "time-barred", or under any other among ECHR's conditions, (traditionally anounced by a 7 or more EuroJudges' fully motivated decision, but now possibly also by an only "one" EuroJudge new process, soon also by a Simple Legal Expert, etc, normally reserved only for obviously unfounded or unimportant cases), so that Citizens could be convinced that their case was seriously and fairly examined, excluding any risk of any eventual abuse out of the limelight. This obviously Crucial issue, has "not yet" been concluded, but on the making, ECHR's President revealed, (See Draft News already send earlier to "EuroFora"s Subsrcribers/Donors).

Because, not only EU's ECJ at nearby Luxembourg, but, first and foremost, even the Historic ECHR, based in Strasbourg, have both engaged in some far-reaching Reforms, including, here, in what might affect, in one way or another, even the Basic Citizen's right to directly lodge an Individual Application against an alleged Violation of Human Rights, in an undeniably necessary effort to save the ECHR from a recent risk to be "drown" under a "Spam" or "Filibustering" (according to the well known in USA's Congress/Senate obstructing practice, sometimes abused by political opponents), of a "Sea" of growing Number of cases, too often Obviously Unfounded and/or Superficial, threatening to exhaust ECHR's Time/Means/Energy and provoke a Dangerous Breakdown of this landmark PanEuropean System for Protection of Human Rights, more or less envied elsewhere in the World.

- Pointing to her visit at the European Court of Human Rights, where she met with its President, professor Costa, earlier today, "EuroFora" asked Alliot-Marie if France, looking well beyond its own particular cases, but thinking also of Europe as a whole, (as one of the notoriously key-role EU Nations which Historically support European, PanEuropean, and even International Visions), would contribute to help so that ECHR's currently on-going, Historic Reform, would unfold in Good conditions :

- "Yes, absolutely", Michelle Alliot-Marie replied positively to "EuroFora"s question on ECHR.

- Because "France has always supported ECHR", she reminded, "and, naturally, we are going to continue", clearly confirmed the competent and experienced French supe-Minister of State for Justice and Liberties.

- In particular, MAM explained, that, in real practice, "we (France) are  doing so", (i.e. "support ECHR"), in two, various, but converging, ways, which can advance both at the same time, in parallel :  

A) "By contributing (together also with  several other key CoE/EU Member Countries) with a certain number of Assets" (means or tools), which are not onmy Financial of Material, but also "in Personel" (staff) : i.e. "including in Experts", etc, "for  the ECHR".

 B) But also, this goes "as well as by Supporting  a certain number of the (PanEuropean) Court's Initiatives", she concluded, highlighting the key fact that ECHR had, indeed, started from Strasbourg, already since Jan. 2009, strong appeals towards all Capitals of CoE's 48 Member States' Paneuropean area (representing more than 800 Millions of Citizens, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey included), alerting them of the imperious need, then, to urgently find ways to properly deal with the growing number of incoming cases, taking the initiative to call for an Inter-Governemental Summit, enlarged with the presence of International NGO's, CoE's Parliamentary Assembly, LRA/s, CoE's Human Rights' Commissioner, etc, (more or less as it occured, on Feb. 2010, at Interlaken's PanEuropean Ministerial Conference, during the Swiss CoE's Chair : See relevant "EuroFora"'s NewsReports from the spot)...

    Justice/Home affairs have a key role to play in an overall Strategy for the "Modernization" of the Society, Michelle Alliot-Marie stressed earlier, (using a similar term as it's often attributed, precisely also on JHA issues, to Russian President Medvedev, notoriously close friend and long-time close cooperator of the experienced Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, f. president himself,the that French President Sarkozy recently praised after a Franco-Russian Summit).

 - Because, "Judicial Authorities are of essential importance for the Unity" of the People (of a Nation, as also throughout Europe, mutatis-mutandis),  since they "embody a Will of Living-Together, around a Common Destiny and shared Values", by "safeguarding Freedom, Order of Law and its Equal application all over a Land",  and that's why "Justice has a Mission to play a 1st rank Role in our Society", Michelle Alliot-Marie stressed at her Strasbourg speech,  from the outset

- That's why "Justice should be re-placed at the Heart of our Institutions", by "being Proud, at the Height" of its responsibilities "and Independent", "closer to the People, by revitalizing links made out of Trust and Mutual Comprehension", etc., in order become able to meet the "Ambition to allow Justice to take over its necessary role in the Modernization"

    In real practice, in addition to some 77 Million € exceptionally unblocked from 2010 for the Courts' system in France, as well as an Important Reform of Penal Procedure Law promissing better Guarantees for Citizens, (See infra), Michele Alliot-Marie also anounced her will to give a Strong Impulse in the development and use of "High-Tech" Innovations, mainly in IT, such as Software (f.ex. for "Security Alerts", etc), Computers' protection and efficiency, TeleComs, E-paper, etc. (f.ex. to definitively and resolutely conclude the "Immaterialization of Documents", "in consultation with Lawyers", etc), able to boost Courts' Efficiency by Simplifying its eventually remaining bureaucratic, useless paper-work only aspects, so that Qualified and Committed People would be able to focus on the Substantial issues of Justice.

    That "High-Tech" Modernization outlook, was naturally linked not only to simple Logic, but also to her "earlier experience as f. Minister of Defence", as well as to the fact that ... MAM stems from Biarritz's area, well known not only for its splendid Nature, but also for having Spearheaded, as early as since many Decades, to Pioneer, Innovative Projects to mark Strategic Breakthroughs particularly in the High-Tech. TeleCommunications, Video-Communications, a.o. crucial areas not only for France's but for all EU's Future, particularly now that EU Leaders, (including mainly French President Sarkozy and German Chancellor Merkel, together with several among their peers), notoriously stuggle to bring EU's Economy at World's forefront by augmenting its Competitivity and Investing in really Innovative HighTech, among which, IT has an important role to play : See relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReports).

    Moreover, "Modernization" already prepared in substantial issues included in recently "initiated Reforms prove" that Justice is "not" condemned to be ""fixed" and motionless", MAM went on to observe, symbolically speaking in Strasbourg, Headquarters both of ECHR and all CoE, which notoriously are currently undergoing much more important Reforms than it looks at first sight,  as well as EU Parliament's weekly Plenary sessions, where  Lisbon Treaty's "Charter of Fundamental Liberties"' entry into force was officially signed by all 2 EU Institutions (Parliament, Commission and Council) last December 2009, due to bring Historic Changes, both to the protection and promotion of EU Citizens' Legal Rights, as well as, probably, to the overall PanEuropean Inter-Institutional landscape, precisely on Human Rights issues, (among others , also since EU's accession to CoE's ECHR is explicitly scheduled).

Thus, currently planned Reforms in France will strengthen Principles such as that of a fair and due proces of law, defense's rights, audi altera partem, etc.,, MAM promised. Reform also aims to Reduce the Number of Detentions, outlaw integral body search, inform on the right to silence, allow a Lawyer's presence all along a person's detention in ordinary cases, etc., the French Minister of Justice and Liberties observed.

Concluding with a highly "Symbolic" reference to the really impressive Architecture of Strasbourg's High Regional Court, an Historic Building dating... 2 Centuries in the Past, MAM anounced her long awaited intention to "thoroughly renovate" it, re-building anew from scrach, with a New, Efficient and Modern Building, but in a way which will take care to safeguard the essential "Symbols' of its Emblematic, Historic Architecture  :

On that symbolic point, a remark made at the Inauguration of EU's ECJ New Building, back on 2008, by her predecessor and ally, former Minister and current EU Parliament MEP in Strasbourg, Rachida Dati, may provide a key  : - "Architects of these ECJ's New Buildings were largely inspired by EU Community method : They kept the Ancient Court's Palace, which is its Historic Identity, and added a 2 stage Building, 2 Towers and one gallery (tunnel) making the whole keep together : Similarly, Europe is built progressively, step by step, stage by stage, with Conviction and commitment". So that "these New Buildings offer a well-Balanced impression, with Transparency and Sereinity. They provide a Link between Tradition and Modernity in Europe", and "they also are, a symbol of Justice for all of us", the EU 2008 French Presidency's then representative, had said on that ECJ occasion.