French Minister Pinel+ to EuroFora:MultiLingual Media key for Shanghai idea on Business Mega-Centers

 

*Strasbourg/PMC+Prefectoral palace/Angelo Marcopolo/- The development of a pioneer idea, born in Shanghai during the World Exhibition and the Head of States/Governments' meeting of 2010, on European/International Business Tourism, spreading from Congresses up to Political Summits, needs both European/Global Press and a Multi-lingual dimension in order to fully succeed, replied in substance to an "EuroFora"s question the competent French Minister for Trade, Tourism and Crafts, Silvia Pinel, who visited Strasbourg in order to inspect the progress towards 2 Mega-Projects to triple the available space in the Palace of Music and Congress (PMC X 3), which has hosted NATO's 60th Anniversary Summit, and the creation of a huge Exhibitions' Parc (PEX) due to surround Hilton, in parallel to a new International Business Quarter to build in front of EU Parliament, amidst a splendid Natural Environment with a Rivers' crossing, various Sport installations, Green areas, etc., close to the PanEuropean CoE and to the ECHR, ARTE Radio-TV, etc., less than a Year before the forthcoming 2014 EU Elections that many feel as a prelude to a 2015 EU Convention around EU Parliament and National Houses, Civil Society representatives, etc., which might be needed in order to prepare Europe's next steps.

 

 
Both installations' projects (PMC X3 and PEX) would cost more than 250 Millions € until their completion, due on 2016 and 2017, and their Financial Plans imply mainly some + 30 % to 40 % "augmentation of International Events", pointed out organizers, adding also Statements by experienced MEP Catherine Trautmann, Head of the French Governing Socialist Party's Delegation to EU Parliament, and vice-President of Strasbourg's Urban Community, in charge also of Rhein River's Autonomous Port, vice-President of Alsace Region and Head of the Regional Tourism Office, Marie-Reine Fischer, from the ChristianDemocrat/EPP "UMP" party, and Delphine Mann, Head of Tourism and International/InterCommunal Cooperation Development for Colmar, and vice-Mayor (ChristianDemocrat/EPP : "UMP") of the City,  to "EuroFora" (See Infra).

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 - "In order to succesfully meet the challenge of Business Tourism in Strasbourg's Region Alsace and develop accordingly the current International Tourism boom in France, taking also into account Strasbourg-based EU, CoE, Shenghen, EUROCORPS, ARTE and other European/PanEuropean Organisations, do you think that the Press, and particularly its European/International and MultiLingual segments could be helpful ?", "EuroFora asked Minister Pinel.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
 - Indeed, "there is an aspect of Promotion, Commercialisation in this Destination-Contract" focusing on International Business Tourism, signed earlier today by the French State with Alsace Region and the Cities of Strasboug, Mulhouse and Colmar, replied positively the competent French Minister as far as the 1st point on Media is concerned, (Comp. Supra).

+ "And there is also an aspect of Training. F.ex. in the Quality of Welcoming (Business Tourism). And when we speak about "Quality of Welcoming", this also includes, obviously,  a Training in Foreign Languages", she added on the 2nd, MultiLingual point raised by "EuroFora".

 - "When I took over my mission, I said to Michel  Sapin", (Minister of Work, Employment, Training and Social dialogue), that we should work together in ameliorating Foreign Languages' learning. Because, as you know, Foreign Languages are an issue on which France has still some margins for Progress", as Sylvie Pinel reminded, smiling.

 

 

 - "Thus, we have in this Contract (with the Regional/Local Authorities) an important part on Training, in order to become more Competitive and Better in this area,  because, as we know, and according to what International Reviews show, France has many undeniable Advantages, that's true, but we (France) also have a Margin for Progress" to make.

 - "In this area we have also the Quality of Welcoming, the Training of Professionals, as well as to understand the fact that Tourism is a very important factor for Redressing the Economy,  because it's a sector which Resists Better than others to the Global Crisis, and is still creating jobs", she pointed out in Conclusion.                                 -----------------

- "You are Inventors, Precursors in this domain", i.e. International Business Tourism, Minister Pinel said earlier for Alsace Region and its 3 main cities : Strasbourg/Mulhouse/Colmar, ans "that's just the 2nd "Destination-Agreement" that I sign", between the French State and Regional/Local Authorities, from whose "active involvement" depends Succcess, "particularly when they firmly believe that Tourism is a Levy for Economic Development".

- "And you have some Nice Tools" for that purpose, which implies a Strategic "New U-Turn", "through which, what  is at stake is France's image, its marque and Attractivity in Europe and all the World, she pointed out at a brief speech, referring to the PMC X  3, PEX, International Business Quarter, e.a. projects already earmarked in this regard (Comp.Supra and Infra).
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    - All this was "a Shanghai-born Idea", during the 2010 World Exhibition revealed on this occasion another Key-Player, the vice-President of Alsace Region and Head of the Regional Tourism Office, Marie-Reine Fischer, from the ChristianDemocrat/EPP "UMP" party.

    + Replying to an "EuroFora"s Question, President Fischer explained that, - "In fact, it all started at Shanghai, when I had a Meeting in the "pavillon Alsace" with the President of Strasbourg's Urban Community, the Director of Mulhouse city's Tourism Office, and other Officials, during which we discussed several ways of working together" for the development of "Business Tourism" in Strasbourg's Region Alsace.

    - "50%  of that project is funded by Alsace Region, for this 1st year", during which it's due to cost a little bit more than 248.000 €" in all, "the rest is partly funded by the (French) State and "Atout France" National Organisation, as well as all the 3 involved Cities, the French State adding  almost 50.000 €,  and the remaining being covered by the operation, she added speaking in parallel to Journalists including "EuroFora".

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    +  Experienced MEP Catherine Trautmann, Head of the French Governing Socialist Party's Delegation to EU Parliament, and vice-President of Strasbourg's Urban Community, in charge also of Rhein River's Autonomous Port, replying earlier to other "EuroFora"s Questions, expressed mainly her "Hope that these installations (PMC X 3 + PEX), by stimulating animation and offering opportunities for work to businesses, creating jobs and developing Economic Activities, will dope buying Real Estate and the Establishement of New Enterprises in the Business Quarter", facing EU Parliament's building,

    + Asked by "EuroFora" to comment on the quasi-parallel realisation of Strasbourg's Euro-Business Quarter, facing EU Parliament's buildings, and of the PMC-3 as well as PEX new installations, Trautmann replied that "this is very Important", because one project would stimulate the other, "both by the Simultaneity of their construction, and since the PMC X 3  and PEX projects, by developing Business Tourism, Congresses and Conventions, can boost European/International interest for the Business Quarter, but, at the same time, the International or Local Enterprises which will establish themselves in the EU Business Quarter, will be able to contribute to the finalisation and development of those new Installations". And "it's important to accompagny Businesses right from the start, when they are created, up to their further Development, as well as International Congresses, and, therefore, Business Tourism", she noted earlier.

    - Meanwhile,  -"I'm in touch with various EuroCongresses which had earlier left for elsewhere, because of reasons of Space, Ventilation, and other such technical details. Thery are currently waiting to see how our projects will evolve... I have good hope that we shall find anew those EuroCongresses which have been Born here, in Strasbourg, and I hope that they will return back for life", Trautmann replied Positively with a crystal-clear -"Yes" to another "EuroFora" Question where we citted F.ex. of "Geo-Science", a.o. Scientific/Technological Mega-Congresses, based in Strasbourg also on a solid "Earth Science" Institute of the Globe, of Global Reputation, (including on Seismology, Oil/Gas findings, etc).

    + Moreover, "the Business Quarter will be established close to EU Parliament, and MEPs will be in contact with the real Economy's life. In addition, by having these 2 new Installations near EU Parliament and CoE, would allow a Simultaneous holding of  big International Events and of the (EU Parliament's Plenary) Session, which has a very good Complementarity", the experienced Top MEP added. 

    - As for "International Events, they can be Congresses, Exhibitions, but also International Conferences, as f.ex. that organized for NATO's 60th Anniversary, by French former President and German Chancellor Merkel, who welcomed USA President Obama's 1st official visit to Europe, back on April 2009, (Comp. "EuroFora"s NewsReports from that Historic NATO's Summit in Strasbourg). -"That's the Message that we are sending to Heads of State and Governments : To choose Strasbourg in the Future in order  to hold a certain number of Conferences which are almost systematically lacking"  until now.

=> When "EuroFora" evoked an eventual possibility for a New EU Convention to be organized  around  Euro and National MPs after the 2014 EU Parliament's Election in Strasbourg, f.ex. on 2015-2016, i.e. practically at the eve of the PMC-3 Project's scheduled opening, in a New Way, hopefully able avoid some Errors of the Pasts, (when a Brussels' based Convention for an EU Constitution Failed after facing 3 "No" to French, Dutch and Irish EU-Referenda between 2005-2007, falling notoriously victim mainly of Turkey's controversial and Unpopular EU-bid), as even the experienced EU Convention's Chairman, former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaign has recently found probable and even necessary, from the point of view of European edification's History, experienced Top MEP Trautman smiled positively :

- "Yes, it might look now as a kind of Policy-Fiction, (as "EuroFora" had noted), but nobody knows Today how Europe is going to evolve, and, however, at any case, 2 points are certain :

- "1) Democratic and Parliamentarian Europe was born in Strasbourg, where it has its Roots, so that it's Important for it to be urther Developed here" in the Future, -"2) We have always proven that we are able to Adapt ourselves", and, "even if we don't yet have the Quantity, nevertheless, we have the Strategic Possibility to welcome important European/International Events, and this is exactly the Message to send today", she concluded in reply to "EuroFora"s questions.

    => Developing further this line earlier, Strasbourg's Mayor, Senator Roland Ries (PSoc.) strongly stressed the fact that the main Aim of PMC-3's and PEX's creation was, indeed, to attract more and more often, Franco-German, €uroZone, EU, CoE, and other European, PanEuropean and International Summits of Heads of State/Government, based also on Strasbourg's History and European Identity, as he said.
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    + By a coincidence, another topical reference to China, also qualified "Empire du Milieu" in French, ("Mittel-Reich" in German, "Middle-Empire" in English), was unexpectedly made, on this occasion of this same event, also by Mrs Delphine Mann, Head of Tourism and International/InterCommunal Cooperation Development for Colmar, and vice-Mayor (ChristianDemocrat/EPP : "UMP") of the City which is located, precisely, ... "in the Middle" between Strasbourg and Mulhouse, as she reminded...

    Colmar, a beautiful and strategically located city, Headquarters of Alsace Region's Development Agency, at the foothills of Majestic "Saint-Koenigsbourg" Castle's Mountain, equiped even with the Biggest Replica in the World of the "LIberty" Statute at New York's Long Island, (as Motherland of its Sculptor : Bartholdi, who was born precisely in Colmar, explaining former French President Jacques Chirac's personal support to the symbolic 2004 event which established that huge Replica : See "EuroFora" co-Founder's NewsReport from the spot, back on 2004, with relevant Statements that gave us then France's 1st Lady Bernadette Chirac, etc), is also host to a prestigious International Music Festival, operating in splendid Historic and Cultural Monuments, under the direction of World-famous Pianist and Orchestra Head Spivakov, (well known also by his emotive Moscow 2004 recital in Memory of the many Children of Beslan School who had been atrociously killed at Norther Caucusus, after being held Hostages together with many of their Mothers and/or Fathers by armed Islamic Terrorists from Chechnya who didn't find then any public show of affinity but only from a minoriy of demonstrators in Turkey's Istanbul, curiously left totally unpunished : Comp. "EuroFora"s co-founder's September/October 2004 Publication on the "Beslan School-Children" Massacre).

    + But Colmar is also famous for its Historic "Resurrection" of Christ : a unique, wonderful Masterpiece of Art, painted by Grunenwald, which pictures  a rising Christ in the middle of a Huge Sun surrounded by Stars in a dark Blue Sky, showing the marks of the wounds that he suffered, but looking with a superbe calm far ahead, while the armed guards who had ill-treated and killed him are falling down, surprised and afraid by the spectacle of an unexpected Giant Source of Light piercing throughout the formerly dark Prison, symbol of an Oppression of the Past...

    - " It's of an incredible Modernity", but also profound, "and it really marks you", said Delphine Mann in reply to a relevant "EuroFora"s question. But, in fact, Gunenwald was so Esoteric that he didn't even create a School after his art, contrary to what was usualy done at that Medieval period, she observed, welcoming, in principle, the intention of a very Ancient but still existing Christian Monastic Order of Nuns with World-wide links, established Centuries ago in Alsace, to try to safeguard and hopefully restore the Historic Building in which artist-painter Grunewald had conceived and created a series of such unique Masterpieces at the neighbouring Issenheim village.

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