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Αρχική arrow newsitems arrow EU Rapporteur on SWIFT, Hennis-Plasschaert to EuroFora: Vote it down or go to the Courts !

EU Rapporteur on SWIFT, Hennis-Plasschaert to EuroFora: Vote it down or go to the Courts !

Έχει γραφτεί από ACM
Wednesday, 10 February 2010

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A great number of critical MEPs would either "vote down" a current controversial deal on massive Personal Bank Data transfert to US Authorities under counter-terrorism laws, or go to the Courts, replied EU Rapporteur on "SWIFT", Jeanine Hennis Plasshaert, Liberal Dutch MEP, to "EuroFora"s questions, shortly before a crucial Vote scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) Noon in Strasbourg.

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Many top MEPs, from the Right to the Left, have criiticized the current "failure" of an "interim agreement" between EU Commission and US Authoriities concerning electronic transfert of Bank informations with EU Citizens' Personal Data, that EU Parliament (which recently gained the power to "Veto" EU's International Agreements) feels that it doesn't yet respet Civic Rights on several concrete points, (fex. Judicial Authorisation, Time limits, Rights of Access, Rectification, Compensation and Redress, Conditions on sharing such Data with 3rd Countries, etc).

But the practical strategy to follow in practice is still debated in Strasbourg, (where the issue just arrived, after several Letters from EU Parliament's President Jerzy Buzek), since MEPs seem rather divided on the attitude to follow, (accept, postpone or refuse), even if a short but clear 29 to 23 Majority has already asked, in the Civic Liberties' Committee, to vote down the controversial deal and to immediately start negotiations for another, more respectful to EU Citizens' rights.

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- "What is, at your knowledge, the position of tthe various Political Groups, on the vote which will take place tomorrow (Thursday noon) ?", "EuroFora" asked Jeanine Hennis-Plasshaert.

- "Well, I wish I would know.... Clearly, Pressure is extremely High. There is a lot of Pressure, by lobbying, from individual (EU) Member States Governmenrts, but also by US Authorities", replied the EU Rapporteur to "EuroFora"s question..

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-"I understand that lobbying, and I have great respect for their efforts to make us understand why it's all necessary, etc., but, at the same time, I also call upon some respect for the role of the European Parliament in this matter", she stressed.

- "So, clearly, some of my collegues (MEPs) are sensitive to the lobby, and while they may have considered "No", they might consider "Yes" at this moment. It is too close to call now on what the Majority will be".

- "But by god feeling is that we might have a Majority to vote down the interim agreement. If not, then, It's too bad. But, then, at least, we made our points clear".

- "If the outcome of the vote, tomorrow, is unsatisfactory, from your point of view, i.e. if (the controversial deal on SWIFT) went on without enough safeguards, what would critical MEPs do ? May be go to the Courts, after the (recent) entry into force of Lisbon Treaty, in Luxembourg" (ECJ) "or elsewhere ?" (fex. ECHR in Strasbourg), "EuroFora" asked.

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- "Obviously, we look at the possibility to go to the Courts". and "we'll be exploring in greater detail in the coming Days", the EU Rapporteur sharply replied.

- "Well, it's an Interim Agreement, with a duration of 9 Months... But, in any case, (EU) Parliament will call upon (EU) Council and Commission to, swiftly and ambitiously, push Europe forward, in terms of strategy of counter terrorism purposes,

and to start Negotiations with the US immediately.on a New Agreement, voted down, or not, tomorrow. So, we shall explore our possibilities", she added.

- "But I expect the (EU) Council to move also, because they acknowledged that this Interim Agreement is not, let's say, "ideal". So, there is commitment to move. But on very "fake" conditions... So, I don't think that we go to Court immediately, but let's see what happens", Hennis-Plasschaert went on to say on "Eurofora"'s question.

- "Let's wait and see tomorrow (Thursday Noon), and cross fingers", she concluded.

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Meanwhile, EU Chairman in office, Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero, reportedly send a Letter to Mrs Hennis-Plasshaert with a formal "Declaration", which was "appreciated", but didn't yet meet EU Parliament's requirements for EU Citizens' personal Data safety, as she observed. That "Declaration (was) extremely fake and jam. This House has been proposed jam for too long", EU Rapporteur criticized.

The only legitimate way to change things before tomorrow (Thurdsay) Noon's votes in EU Parliament in Strasbourg would, theoretically, be for EU Heads of State/Government, due to be gathered in Brussels for an exceptional EU Summit on Economic policy, to agree with the US Authorities enough changes in the current interim agreement for "Swift". But Mrs Hennis-Plasshaert, without excluding anything a priori, found unlikely a so rapid move, serious enough to really respond to EU Parliament's concerns : They had so much Time, since the latest, 2007 change, until now, on 2010, but they didn't do it yet, she observed.

- Too often in the Past, "this House was filled with Jam for tomorrow But we dont want no more fake promisses nor jam", EU Parliament's Rapporteur characteristically stressed.

- "A postponement of the vote, in effect would comedown to a "yes"" for the current, notoriously insufficient interim agreement, she argued earlier. - "If the strict conditions of the Parliament had been met, I would have called to postpone the vote. But they failied to do so. I asked for Safeguards, but they failed to reply", EU Rapporteur observed.

"EuroFora" learned, later this (Wednesday) evening, that the Conference of Presidents refused to drop the vote of Thursday Noon on Swift, which should, therefore, proceed as scheduled.

Despite some political Group's divisions between those who accepted to postpone the vote and those (apparently more numerous) who wanted to urgently proceed to a vote, since the interim agreement was legally applicable from February the 1st, Criticism appeared widespread among MEPs, from the Right to the Left political spectrum.

Among many other examples, the recent (unrelated but impressive) big Scandal of the abuse of so-called "anti-terrorist" legislation by some UK Authorities which reportedly blocked Bank Money transferts to ... Iceland on 2008, leaving the whole Country and its Economy exsangue and People starving, precisely at the moment that Iceland was competing with Turkey for a seat at UNO's SC at the UN GA in New York, has traumatised many people in Europe, as as, fex., the Head of EuroLeft's French Delegation, Mrs Marie-Christine Vergiat, replying to a relevant"EuroFora" question, stressed that she "agreed very much". What is needed is to seriously fight against real Terrorism in a responsible manner, without so excessively and uselessly endangering Citizens civic rights, she concluded.

Meanwhile, Iceland, after lodging various complaints, including at the CoE's Parliamentary Assembly and Committee of Ministers agains such an obvious gross abuse, is currently winning a symbolic "revanche" : Having lodged an application to become EU Member State, the undeniably European (from History, Culture and Human Rights Values) country of Iceland might enter into the EU quite soon, and certainly much earlier than Turkey's controversial EU bid might stagnate or conclude in one way or another...

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(NDLR : Some detailed infos, previously send to "EuroFora"'s subsrcibers/donors are not reproduced in the Public version of the text, because, meanwhile, they have now become available at EU Parliament's website as raw materials, without any original News value. So, please check both versions for your Archives).

***

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Sarkozy and Merkel : June 2009 solution to May 2005 "NO" ?

 - Will French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angie Merkel live up from June 2009 to their obvious Historic European mission to revitalize, and re-launch the "European Dream", after the series of 3 "NO" since May 2005 in France, the Netherlands and Ireland, by renewing, and changing the EU with fresh stimulus, big horizons, and values attractive for EU Citizens ?

Whatever views anyone might have, it's a Fact that, recently, EU's political spectrum didn't produce other more charismatic and popular EU leaders than Merkel and Sarkozy, starting from September 2005 and May 2007, respectively.

This trend was confirmed, in one way or another, both during the German EU presidency in 2007 (shared by Merkel with the SPD), and mainly during the French EU Presidency in 2008, (with Sarkozy "free" to move).


The positive 2009 EU Polls are a natural consequence :

- Both with 72% Sarkozy and Merkel are considered by EU Citizens to be "the most Influential" leaders in Europe, by far.

- They are the only EU political leaders to attract a Majority of "Positive" views by EU Citizens, (Merkel over 60%, Sarkozy over 50%, particularly in the continent).

- 60% of EU Citizens find the 2008 French EU Presidency "Good", (and the satisfaction grows up to 67,5% in continental Europe).

The Poll was made by "OpinionWay" in big EU countries as Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, (with the only exception of France), from 26 to 28 May 2009.

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But the most important is that both Franco-German leaders seem willing to, at last, really start serious business on EU's indispensable renovation and Renaissance from 2009 : Year of crucial EU and German Elections.

Therefore, this time, the joint European move by Sarkozy and Merkel, which just published a common Franco-German Manifesto, aims to stimulate aspirations and action not only in their respective countries, but also in many other EU "partners", as they say.

Both on EU economy, social values and scientifico-technologic research, as well as on Turkey's controversial EU bid, obviously incompatible with a popular Political Europe, whose Citizens can find a collective Identity and popular Values, they have already started to magnetize various growing voices accross the European landscape :

"Today, more than ever, it' time for action", they stress from the outset.

Facing "an unprecedented Global financial and economic Crisis", "Europeans must get resolutely involved if they want for the World which is being built to meet their Values of Liberty, Solidarity and Justice".

"That's what we want" and "propose to our Partners" :

* "A strong Europe, able to protect us" :

- "We refuse a Bureaucratic EU, which mecanically applies burdensome rules and is afraid of change. We want a European Union which listens what Citizens have to say, which innovates, stimulates".

- "We want a strong and united EU in the World, while also respecting its Member States' Diversity", which "brings Courageous Replies to the Questions of our Times, ensuring our Prosperity :  

This implies to "favor Research and Innovation", "Economic Coordination", to "develop real Policies on Immigrationn, Energy, Defence, and modernise  common policies, particularly Agriculture".

*  "EU must bring immediate replies to the Global Crisis".

- "Lawless liberalism failed". "The Model we want is that of a Responsible Market Economy, which favors Enterpreneurs and Workers, above Speculators ;  Long-term Investment, over immediate profiits".

- "We appeal upon the EU to take, from June, the first decisions to ensure a real European Regulation of Financial Markets, based on coordination and cooperation". "On speculative funds, on fiscal heavens, CEO's and financial operators' earnings, EU must give the example".

- "We call to change the rules of accounts, which are important for our Economy's revival : The competent normative authorities must take action". "The issue of a sufficient Credit offer is of central importance for our Economy". "We don't accept that, during this Financial Crisis, the European Banks' capacity to lend money might be unjustly reduced by Capital's requirements and accountant's rules

* "During the German and French Presidencies, EU has resoçlutely prepared itself for the fight against Global Warming... EU is the 1st and only area in the World to have adopted a package of ambitious and legally binding rules to comply with International Aims"

- "We have now to convince our Friends and Partners, to get involved, in order to atteint, next December at Copenhagen, a Global Agreement worthy of whay is at stake. Our closer ally, the US, but also other big industrial countries, must commit themselves with the same force as the Europeans".

"Green Growth is a Chance ... and an opportunity to create jobs turned towards the Future. Europe must be a leader".

- But, at the same time, we must ensure that our companies remain competitive in the World. The ambitious European involvements on Climat must not lead into a position where EU industry might become a Victim of Unfair Competition. Climat protection and Competitvity must go together. If our International partners refuse to associate themselves to our efforts, we are determined to take measures to protect European Industry"

* "Europe must be more ambitious for its Industry" : "It must favor the emergence of strong European enterprises at a Global level".

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* "The current Public Debt is too heavy... We must head anew towards sound public finance, as soon as we'd have passed the crucial stage in this crisis".
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* Last, but not least :  "Europe must play a top-level role in the World"

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- "In order to be strong, Europe must assume its Values and its Identity". "Human Rights .. are at the basis of our commitment for a Peaceful Development accross the World".

- "For that purpose, we shall strengthen our common Defence and Security policy".
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* "We are ready to contribute to activate the EU towards the realisation of these aims, with our EU Partners".

"In order to succeed", Europe  "needs the active involvment of all, starting by Citizens themselves. That's why the June 7 rendez-vous is important", and "we are calling all Europeans to vote".

"We are convinced that, if Europe wants, Europe can", they conclude.
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Precisely : - What can better forge "Europe's Will" than a "European Consciousness" emerging from political, democratic struggles to face Global Challenges, and open big New Horizons, including by crystal-clear Public Debates, with active EU Citizens' involvement, before the most important EU Decisions affecting People's lives ?

Precisely what "EuroFora"s project warns since 1997-2007, and unprecedented Majority Abstentions, since 1999-2004, added to 3 "NO" to EU Referenda in 2005 and 2007, proved meanwhile..

Let's hope that the Time wasted by some scandalous anti-European and anti-Democratic obstacles of the Past, will stimulate faster, simplified but substantial and persistent, efficient action.-

Polls

2009 EU Elections were won by Parties against Technocracy and Turkey's controversial EU bid, while the 1999-2004 Majority Abstention trend decelerated. What should be done in 2009-2014 ?

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