CoE Chair, Austrian dep-Chancelor Spindelegger to EuroFora: Move Forward on Safe Web+Media Freedom

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- The PanEuropean Organization of the 47-Member Countries' strong CoE must Now "Move Forward" into building a Safe and Efficient Space for On-Line Medias' Europe-wide Debates, with real Freedom for Journalists and sensitive Data Protection, replied in substance to "EuroFora"s Questions the incoming CoE's New Chairman-in-office, experienced Austrian vice-Chancelor and Foreign Minister, Michael Spindlegger.

Spindelegger, spoke to "EuroFora" right after taking over CoE's Top Political body, the Strasbourg-based PanEuropean Committee of Ministers, based in Strasbourg, that he knows personaly well since he has served also as a former EuroMP at EU Parliament as early as since the crucial period of 1992-1996, i.e. when EU prepared the current €uroZone, while the CoE accepted Russia as full Member and USA as Observer, (etc).

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"EuroFora" questioned him about a joint area, which makes a chiatus between his 2 Key Priorities : Safety of Journalists/Freedom of Expression, and "Internet Users", i.e. On-line Media's potential for the development of European Democracy.
Spindelegger practically agreed with "EuroFora", that, indeed, On-Line Media, have an interesting and useful Potential to contribute for the necessary building up of a new Area for Europe-wide Public Debates, "Offentlichkeit", in the sense traditionaly used by the Political Science Philosopher of nearby Frankfurt Schooll, Jurgen Habermas, in whioch, already, even several Austrian Internet Forums of quite good Quality, take their part in German Language, among various other concrete examples of several projects, also in different EU/CoE areas.

Both the Trans-Borders' Communication's potential of the Internet, and its Automatic On-line Translation facilities to many European Languages, offer to New Web Media, added to a Unique Press, Diplomatic and/or NGO Experience  that can be gathered at the famous "Triangle" : Geneva - Strasbourg - Brussels, to which is added also Luxembourg and Frankfurt as well as Bonn, etc, as Neighbouring and progressively interLiked Headquarters of EU, CoE and more or less Europe-related UNO premisses, (including even Wienn itself, given OSCE and the "Magistrale" Fast Train Links' project with Strasbourg, Munchen, etc), Europe's famous "Blue Banana" Central Corridor, (which can extend up to London and Rome via Milano, etc, usefully crossing the Franco-German Paris-Berlin vertical "axe"), may offer on-line Today the Human resources and the Technological Tools for a much needed common European Media area, for the 1st time after 2 Centuries of Divisions, Wars, Conflicts, etc, and the precious potential of this Historic Opportunity should be adequately Protected in terms of both On-line Journalists' Freedom and Data's Privacy, so that the 2013-2014 Austrian CoE's Presidency's main Priorities, presented Today at its Committee of Ministers by Spindelegger, come Timely.

This fits well also to current EU Projects, both on developing EU's Digital Economy, necessarily in parallel with EU Citizens and Politicians' Data Protection, as it was strongly highlighted at the latest EU Brussels' Summit, (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from Brussels on this Topical issue, specialy after the recent Scandal about USA' NSA alleged spying), and even on general Economic and Political terms : Spindelegger has, indeed, launched, together with EU Parliament's vice-President Othmar Karas, a vibrant call for "a Convention to debate EU's Future", the "soonest" possible, and most likely, shortly after the forthcoming EU Elections of May 2014, endorsing and extending a similar wish by experienced former French President and Chairman of the 1st EU Convention, Academician Giscard d'Estaing, last year in Strasbourg (See "EuroFora"s NewsReport from that landmark event), who was the 1st to point at 2015. EU Enlargement (including naturally the controversial and unpopular Turkey's EU bid, as former French EU President Nicolas Sarkozy had initially asked himself already from 2007, as one of the Conditions for Not Stopping the "Open-ended" EU - Turkey Negotiations, and out-going EU Commission's President Baroso had then promissed, resulting, however, in an obviously disfigured Report by a few "Wisemen", mainly "Socialists" or "Greens"  behind closed doors on 2010 : Comp. relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReport : ..), as well as EU's Decision-making process (f.ex. "Community-method" or Inter-State deals, etc), and, most importantly : How to increase EU's Democratic Legitimacy 

- A "hot" and central issue, on which, projects as such of "EuroFora"s to adequately combine forthward-looking EU News, together with EU Citizens' debates with Euro-Politicians, thanks mainly to New Communication Technologies as the Internet, etc., before particularly Important Decisions which affect their lives are due to be taken, and other such On-line Media aiming to stimulate and develop Europe-Wide Debates with the participation of both EU Citizens and EU Decision-makers, can obviously actively contribute to build the necessary Space for EU-wide Public Debates (Comp. Supra), for which, experienced German Minister Schaüble had recently deplored its current lack, stressing the Need to create it asap, (See relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReport from that Top Franco-German discussion at the CoE where was included also ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group of MEPs' Chairman, Joseph Daul from Strasbourg, France, who has just been elected in Brussels as new EPP Party's President : See : ...).
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 - "You have spoken very well about Freedom of Press/Information and also about Internet protection", "EuroFora" reminded Spindelegger. "But Austria is also very Important for the Pan-European  Space, "Offentlicheit", for EU-wide Public Political Debates. Do you think that On-line, Digital Media could usefuly and timely contribute to that ?", we asked the incoming CoE's Chairman for the crucial November 2013 - May 2014  period, pointing also at the "recent EU Brussels' Summit"s conclusions, at the end of October (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from Brussels), almost immediately followed by CoE's PanEuropean Ministerial Conference on Media, Data protection and the Internet held at Belgrade, Serbia, just a few Days ago, at the Beginning of November).

    - "That's Right ! Right !", Spindelegger spontaneously reacted Positively  to the initial "EuroFora"s suggestions.

    He significantly pronounced himself on these interrelated points just a week after COE's Ministers competent for Media decided at a PanEuropean Conference in Belgrade, Serbia, to strengthen Protection of "New (Web-based) Media"'s Freedom, as well as of Journalists against various Harassments, at the same time that they asked to boost Internet Data privacy (See Infra + specific NewsReport : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coenewdataprotectionrulesin1year.html ), while the forthcoming CoE's Annual "World Forum of Democracy", at the end of November, focuses this year on the Internet's potential for a better Citizens' participation in Politicians' decision-making (See infra).

    + As far as EU Brussels' Summit and CoE's Ministerial Conference at Belgrade (Serbia) are concerned, "We are discussing those .. Recommendations", on Digital Economy and Media/Internet Rules, respectively, Spindelegger observed.

    => - "And I think that we  have to come Forward !", the incoming CoE's Chairman for the period of November 2013 - May 2014, (i.e. practically until the forrthcoming crucial EU Parliament's Elections of 22-23 May 2014 !), anounced energetically,

    - Among other such issues, in particular, "we have just decided to have a Dialogue with the USA, you know, about these very "Special Affairs"", he reminded, obviously referring to the American NSA Spying Scandal.

    - "But, let's Wait and See, what will be the Outcome", he advised, with a smile,  obviously referring to the December 2013 Time Deadline, at least for Basic Rules on EU - USA relations, as the Franco-German initiative recently anounced in Brussels, and open to all other EU Member States' eventual participation, as it was officially noted by the Collective EU Summit's Conclusions, has proposed, (See relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReport from Brussels.

    - Our (EU's) "Relationship of Trust", "with the US", "has certainly Suffered from this", (i.e. NSA's spying Scandal), and "we Need to Re-establish" it, Spindelegger has reportedly stressed earlier, almost echoing his close Partner, German Chancelor Angie Merkel's own stance, (Comp. "EuroFora"s NewsReports from Brussels' EU Summit at the end of October).

    Significantly, Spindelegger's statements to "EuroFora" and to CoE's Ministerial Committee, were made during the Same Week that a brand New CoE's ad hoc Committee, created in order to Draft a New Version of the PanEuropeab Organization's personal Data Protection Convention, has just Started to work in Strasbourg, (See infra, and the specific "NewsReport" with CoE's Legal/Human Rights Director General Boillat's relevan Statements to "EuroFora" : .... ).

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    - Experienced on Historic Advances in CoE's History, Austria has always been a particulary "active" CoE's Membe State, f.ex. by Hosting, as early as since 1993 in Wien, the 1st CoE's Heads of State/Government Summit focused on the structures of "Post-Cold War Europe", Spindelegger reminded. In addition to an extensive Experience in Chairing the CoE's Committee of Ministers for 5 Times, since its entry a s a full Member back on 1956, having also given  a CoE's Secretary General, as well as 2 CoE's Parliamentary Assembly's Presidents, and the current CLRAE President (Herwig Van Staa: comp. various Van Staa's statements to "EuroFora" both earlier and particularly during  2010-2013), while also being a supporter of ECHR's reforms for more efficiency of the PanEuropean Mechanism for the Protection and promotion of Human Rights, "firmly Based on the Individual Right to Petition", as he stressed on this crucial for Citizens key point.

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+ Earlier, Spindelegger, "Highlighting certain Issues of Particular Importance" for the incoming Austrian Presidency of the CoE (November 2013 - May 2014), at CoE's Committee of Ministers, (where Journalists, including "EuroFora", had been Exceptionaly invited to attend), marked  the following main points :

- "First of all, Freedom of Expression" he stressed from the outset.  - "As  we all know,  our Democracies are based also on the Free Flow of "Information, Ideas and Opinions, without  Interference, and regardless of Borders, as a pre-condition for our Societies to remain Open" : "There cannot be any Active Civil Society without UnHindered Flow of Information", Spindelegger pointed out.

- "It is, therefore, wth Great Concern that we (CoE) note tendencies in some CoE's Member States who Restrict the Freedom of Expression", COE's New Head denounced. :
- In particular, "Journalists are decisive for providing Information of General Interest to the Public. They are also often referred.to as  "Guardians of Society". But Experience has shown, that Guardians need also to be Protected", Spindelegger warned. "It's important, therefore, to hold a Thematic Debate, in December, (in Strasbourg); on the isssue of Safety of Journalists", he officially anounced.
Spindelegger said that only a week after CoE's Ministers competent for Media adopted, in a PanEuropean Conference at Belgrade, Serbia, a series of important Decisions calling for the Protection of "New (Web-based) Media"'s Freedom of Expression, and of Journalists vis a vis various "Forms of Harassment", (See CoE's Director General for Legal/Human Righst' affairs, Phlippe Boillat's relevant Statements to "EuroFora", at another NewsReport : ......).
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+ "Second Priority : The Internet has become a Vital Tool for exchanging Information, connecting  People, and Participating in Democratic Processes", the incoming CoE's Chairman underlined, speaking shortly before CoE's Annual "World Democracy Forum", scheduled for the End of November, whose 2013 version focuses on "Connecting Institutions and Citizens in the Digital era", (i.e. very near to "EuroFora"project's  1997-2007 expressed Idea : See relevant Publications, officially registed Files, written and communicated Reports, etc).

=> "The Internet is a Global, Inclusive, and People-centred Space, where all Human Rights must be fully Respected", Spindelegger stressed. In particular, "the Rights to Privacy is Crucial in the context, and Needs to be Protected adequately". "CoE's Internet Governance Strategy is central in changing the Digital Environment in accordance with the Core-Values of the Organization". In consequence, "No State or Company has the Right to Collect Users' Data, without clear Legal Basis and Safeguards. Recent Developments (f.ex. on USA's National Securty Agency spying Scandal), show (that) we (CoE) must ...ensure that these Rights are effectively  Protected On-Line, as they are protected Off-Line", he pointed out.

That's why "New Threats and risks are raising serious Challenges for a Universal, Integral and Open use of the internet", where it's also "Crucial" "to improve the Knowledge Users have on their Rights, inter alia by making available a Compendium", as well as "in early 2014, a Mid-term Report on the implementation of (CoE's) (Digital Media), Strategy (which) will be submitted to the Committee of Ministers", adds the relevant Document on the Austrian CoE's Chairmanship's Program.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
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    + Mass Surveillance and lack of Privacy is also one of the current Human Rights problems inside CoE's PanEuropean area of more than 800 Million People throughout 47 Member States, alongside to Statelessness in certain Countries in some countries for many Thousands of Persons inside certain Countries and other challenging issues, denounced also Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Alexei Meshkov, speaking at the Committee of Ministers' session during the handover of its Chairmanship to Austria from Armenia, that he was the 1st to praise it for the "Succesful"  and "Satisfactory" work accomplished during the last 6 Months, (which also led up to CoE's Ministerial Conference on Media and Digital Society, last week in Belgrade, Serbia).  Russia enjoys the recent Positive and cooperative ambiance inside the CoE, which is one of its Priorities in Foreign Policy, and intends to help strengthen its Important role for a United PanEuropean space, mainly in Legal and Humanitarian issues, added Meshkov in substance.

    - Questioned by "EuroFora" on Internet issues, smiling, the Russian Minister replied diplomatically that he preferred to leave first the incoming CoE's Chairman in office, his Austrian collegue Spindelegger, to start by presenting initially to the Press his official intentions on that, before he might add his own comments....

    ++ In addition, it's also the Ambassador Matthew Johnson, Permanent Representative of the UK, the country which had initially Started to push for the Adoption of CoE's "Digital Governance Strategy" by the COE during its 2011 Chairmanship, following a landmark G 8 Heads of State/Government Summit, May 2011 at Deauville, where the Internet Governance and Freedoms were for the 1st time discussed at that level, at the initiative of France,  (See relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReports from the Brittish Presidency of the CoE, as well as from that G 8 Summit at Deauville). While the PR of Germany, Ambassador Julius Georg Luy, "ensured" Spindelegger  of Berlin's "Full Support in (his) Efforts to Shape the Digital Space, particularly preserving Human Rights, ...On and Off-line", as he stressed, i.e.pointing also to New, Web-based Media.

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    + Other topics of the Austrian Presidency, In addition to Freedom of expression and the safety of journalists, as well as internet governance,  will include, according to the Official Program, : Action against Trafficking in Human beings, gender Equality and human rights of persons with Disabilities, but also Education (Quality education and for democratic Citizenship), as well as Governance of Culture, and at the Local/Regional level. An interesting PanEUropean Conference on Fighting against Corruption at Local/Regional level is scheduled in that last regard for 2014 at Insbruck.

    + The 3rd Austrian Priority : Revisit "Human Traficking" challenges, as Spindeleger anounced, comes Timely not only because of the recent Lambedousa Tragedy, (which has also triggered an ongoing series of insufficient yet, but growing EU Responses, marked by recent Official Announcements made at the latest EU Parliament's Plenary Session in Strasbourg and EU Councl Heads of State/Government in Brussels, at the endof October, but also by Austria's on-going Membership and even Vice-Presidency at CoE's Human Rights Council, at nearby Geneva, up to the end of 2014 included, where Wien has also added, together with Rule of Law and Human Rights Education, not only Childrens and Womens' Rights, but even the Global-level "Fighting against Trafficking of Human Beings", (while having recently hosted  the UNO-sponsored 5th Global Forum for the Alliance of Civilisations earlier this year).

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Spindelegger in 2014 : Minister or Chancellor ?...
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    Last but not least, Spindelegger succeeded to have the quasi-Unanimous Agreement of CoE's Committee of Ministers for its next, full Pan-European session, scheduled for May 2014, (i.e. shortly before EU Parliament's Elections), to be exceptionaly held at Viena, in Austria, where he Invited all his 46 other collegue Foreign Ministers throughout all the European Continent, and from Iceland to Cyprus, Portugal to Russia.

    But, while this became now a certainty, officially resgistered as a CoE's Committee of Ministers formal Decision, on the contrary, it wasn't yet absolutely sure in what Capacity ...Spingelegger himself might be present at that May 2014 PanEuropean Ministerial gathering in Wien !

    Simply because the current Chief of Austria's ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party "ÖVP", is at present still engaged in a kind of Political Talks with the "Socialist" Party "SPÖ", (almost like Germany's CDU/CSU of Chancelor Angie Merkel...), for the eventual formation of another Coalition Government, as in the Past, with slightly more than 50% of votes this time, given the losses marked by both parties in the recent Elections where most Austrian People voted for anything else than a mere reconduction of the previous "cohabitation"...

    Indeed, Out-going Chancelor Fayman's "Socialists" lost more Votes than the ChristianDemocrats/EPP of Spindelegger, even if they still keep a smaller than before lead, and  don't have any logical possibility to form a Goverment with anyone else than the ÖVP. Moreover, the SPÖ have been crippled by Corruption Scandals, and lost one of the Bundesland Regions that they had before, which passed to the Rightists of the "Free" Party, the big Winner of the Vote. The Worse : According to the latest Polls, only a Tiny Minority of Austrian People : 11% would support a reconduction of the outgoing Cohabitation between ÖVP and SPÖ !

    => On the contrary, Spindelegger has also various other Alternative Solutions, from which he can choose the Best : A large Majority of Austrian People Voted this time for various Parties located at the Right side of the Political Spectrum, from the Center-Right of ÖVP up to the Rightists of FPÖ, including even 2 New Parties of the Right, which, all together, can reach up to almost 60% of Votes casted. "Greens" (the only Old party without Corruption scandals until now), could replace one or another among those Parties of the Right, or be simply Added to them, in a New Coalition representing more than 70% of Voters !

    Such a New Solution would not only Respect Austrian People's Democratically expressed Political Wish to mark a crystal-clear  turn towards the Right, but also Spindelegger's own preferences, already expressed during the Electoral Caampaign, to Slam Corruption, as well as to become the New Chancelor of Austria, while, moreover, this being the most Popular outcome. Therefore, it still remains to see if, finally, Spindelegger will prefer to choose a .. .brand-new  "Norwegian"-like 2013 solution, instead of  being obliged to repeat something unpopular (Comp. Supra) and similar to what notoriously blocks and/or delays necessary reforms in "Greece" since 2010-2011, (i.e. an eternaly remaining in Government "Socialist" Party, even crippled by Corruption a.o. Scandals, even more  and more abandoned by its former voters, a clear majoriy of the People prefering various political parties at the Right side of the political spectrum)...

    Hopefully, free flow of Information and New Internet Media might help to find out soon Spindelegger's final choice in this regard.

(../..)

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("DraftNews", as already sent, earlier, to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version might be published asap).

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