newsitems

 

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- In a Press Conference with EU Parliament's President David Sassoli, the Sakharov Prize Winner, Ukranian Film-maker and former Prisoner Oleg Sentsov, who was Freed in an Exchange of Inmates with Russia, Replying to an "Eurofora"s Question, claimed that, at last, the Long-Awaited Investigation on those infamous Deadly "Snipers" notoriously suspected to have Killed both Demonstators and Policemen at Kiev on 2014, in order to Drop an EU-sponsored Deal for Peacefull Change, would have practically Finished, Nowadays, while also, allegedly, proving that, in fact, there were No Snipers at all Behind those First Killings, but only some Security Agents of the Previous Regime, according to his sources, (See Infra).

- Reacting, almost Immediately, the Experienced CoE's Director General for Legal and Human Rights issues, Christos Giakoumopoulos, (who has Also a unique Experience on these matters, as former Envoy of CoE's Secretary General to Ukraine), told "Eurofora" that, apparently, the CoE has Not yet been officially Informed about such an eventual development, at least not at his knowledge, as things stand at this moment.

- But, even before he makes a relevant Enquiry Now, to be sure, he did not exclude, eventualy, that Sentsov might, Perhaps, have some Faster Input from Kiev Nowadays, as sometimes it happens, in practice, f.ex. through involved Lawyers, (as, indeed, the Ukranian Film-Maker told "Eurofora" Today : See Infra).

 - As far as it concerns CoE's expectations from any such Investigation, and How it should be conducted according to ECHR's Standards, the PanEuropean Organisation of Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law sticks to the relevant Concrete Observations and practical Suggestions, already made, in a Crystal-clear way, by former ECHR President, and Chair of CoE's High-Level Group on Ukraine, Sir Nicolas Bratza, the competent COE's Director General Giakoumopoulos also told us now.

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- "Eurofora" asked, from the outset, to be Excused for Raising "a Hard Question, both Human and Political" :

- "At the Beginning of Ukraine's Tragedy, there were Killings of Many Ukranian People, from Both Sides", we Reminded. "It seems that, according to a CoE Report supervised by former ECHR President Sir Nicolas Bratza from the UK, an Investigation to Find out Who was Behind those Mysterious "Snipers", as they are called, who Killed, behind their back, (NDLR: Symbolic Expression on Betrayal of Trust : In Fact, the Suspected Hotel Building was Aside the Victims, but apparently from their Political side), both Demonstrators and some Policemen, in order to Provoke a Blody Conflict, has Not been done, Until Recently"."At that moment (2/2014), there was a Peace Plan, under EU Auspices, signed by Everybody, (even by someone who became Prime Minister after the Uprising and Change of Regime), about Amnesty, National Unity Govenment, Elections, etc. to Prepare a Peaceful Change", "Eurofora" observed.

=> - "What's Your Position, about that,  from the Overall Ukranian point of View, European, and Human, also ?", we Asked Sentsov.

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- "Our Position regarding Exactly What ?" "What Exactly ?", he Wondered, Concretely speaking.

- "About whether the Investigation on Snipers, which has not yet been fully done, according also to the CoE (Comp. Facts cited Supra), should go on, and Find all those who Killed these People, and Why", "Eurofora" simply Replied.

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- The First Reaction of the 2018 Sacharov Prize on "Freedom of Thought" winner, Sentsov, astonishingly was to immediately Claim that "I think I Understand": Such (frequent) Press "Questions Seem to be formulated by using Slogans of Russian Propaganda" (sic !). "And I don't know ...about Snipers Killing behind the Back of the People" (etc: Comp. Supra). "Russia has been getting on about that for 4 Years !", he found.

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- "Eurofora"s main Sources are the Official Strasbourg Report and subsequent Kiev Press Conference, by the Head of CoE's High-Level Group on Ukraine, and former ECHR President, Sir Nicolas Bratza. A notoriously Leaked Phone Conversation of Estonian former Foreign Minister and Liberal MEP, Urmas Paet, with former EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, whose "Accuracy" was Confirmed, according to Mainstream Press, as UK's "Guardian", etc. As well as eventually added also to some relevant Mainstream German Big Medias' Press Enquiries on the spot in Kiev.

+ Recently, it's even the Famous, (Unique to have been Jailed Both in Russia and in Ukaine !), former Ukraine's "National Heroe", Nadeza Savchenko, who has Claimed that she Knew a pro-Kiev Politician to have pushed "Snipers" to Shoot Demonstrators and/or Policemen, back that Crucial Night of February 2014, after what, she was Suddenly Striped of her MP Immunity, Arrested and Jailed, under obviously Fallacious and/or Exagerated Accusations, until she was Freed when New Ukranian President Zelensky brillantly Won the 1st, decicive, Round in the Latest Elections, (See, inter alia, also : ..., etc).

Last, but not least, the above-mentioned Question by "Eurofora", (about the Need to Complete the Investigation on Kiev's Deadly "Snipers", at a Crucial Historic Moment : Comp. Supra), was Voiced after EU Parliament's President, David Sassoli, (a former Journalist himself) had Insisted Twice to let as Speak, clearly pointing towards "Eurofora", as Ebs' Video clearly shows.

- President Sassoli, (who had Also Strongly backed Ukraine's Territorial Integrity and Sentsov's Fredom), had, earlier, found that "it would be Nice", "if We (EU) improved Dialogue with Russia", "if  there were Available People for that", as he said as a matter of Principle.

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 - In fact : That "INVESTIGATION IS OVER !" Sentsov suddenly Claimed in Reply to "Eurofora"s Question, surprisingly

- Indeed, "Trials are under Way, for those who have been Convicted", he added.

- "This is the so-called "Special Forces" Compagny, called "Berkut", included", according to Sentsov, pointing Only at the Previous Regime (of Yakushenko).

 - Moreover : "This is NOT "SNIPERS", but Machine Guns, Kalashnikofs, Operating from Short Distance", Sentsov Claimed, on a Crucial Factual Point.

+ "It Includes B, + S, [NDLR: Names pending Clarification], who came to Our Side and Helped us set Free our Activists", he added.  

- "She ("S": Comp. Supra) was my Defense Lawyer, when I was held in Custody in Ukraine", he reminded.

 - "Now she is Lawyer for all those People who Fell Victims", Sentsov claimed, (but withOout Certainty, yet, that this might really include Also many Former Policemen suddenly Killed then : Comp. Supra).

 - "I Saw her, and she Explained me all things, in Detail. all the Experts' Opinions". And "I Trust her, Fully", he stressed. :

=> There were No Shots in the Back of Protestors. All People Killed were Murdered with Shots from the Front ; From Machine Guns of the Spccial Forces, from Kalashnikofs, you see those People with Black Clothes and Yellow  bands. The Distance wasn't very far, and all Experts have s.. [NDLR: Point to Complete asap].

 - For the Time being, "We have some Internal Procedures : That's why the Investigation has Not been Finalized", he Tried to Explain for the 2014-2019 Delay.

 -  "But, as far as I am Concerned, I am Convinced that it will be done Appropriately !", Sentsov Hoped, in Conclusion, of his Reply to the above-Mentioned Question by "Eurofora", (Comp. Supra).

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("Draft News")

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*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Surprisingly, while Most seem to Agree on the main Aims of the Fight against Climate Change and particularly Global Warming, nevertheless, Many, and even Mainstream MEPs, in an EU Parliament's Plenary Debate this Monday in Strasbourg, before to Vote a Resolution on Wednesday,  Voiced Strong Criticism on the concrete Measures due to realize that policy in real Practice, and Asked to "Re-Balance" EU's stance, while particularly Socialists, Greens and others were Pushing for a Loud Boost on Climate, at the Eve of COP 25 Summit next week in Spain.  

In Fact, such Dissident Views already Started to Emerge as early as Since Last Week, at a Top European Level, in the 2019 Tri-Annual Congress of the mainstream, Center-Right ChristianDemocrat/EPParty (currently the Biggest in Europe), at Zagreb, Croatia :

- Indeed, there, at a Press Conference, together with the Croat Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, (who will Chair EU Council's rotating Presidency from 1/2020), and EPP's Secretary General Antonio Lopez-Isturez of Spain, (where "Eurofora" had been Invited, but Hindered to Travel, by a Last-Minute Incident), the Experienced EPP President Joseph Daul, from France, while Expressing his Support to the Fight against Climate Change, at the same moment, Observed, Critically, that, currently, there is a Lack of Crystal-Clear and Well Balanced, Efficient Policy, as far as it conerns the Measures with which such an aim could be attained : - We all Say "Do it !", But Few dare explain "How" exactly this (f.ex. CO2 Emmissions' Restrictions) could and should be done, he Denounced.

- F.ex., I'm Not Sure that we (EU) have already Found how to Invent "New Bateries" for Cars, etc. And when a Peasant needs to Drive away even in order to Find Bread, because there is No More any Bakery in his Vilage, or an Old Widow with a Tiny Pension canNot Afford to Change her Home's Heating system, (etc), there are Questions inevitably Raised among the People, to which we must Give Real and Practical Answers, observed, inter alia, Daul, who got, Later-on, a Big Boost by more than 2000 Delegates from allover Europe, in a Moving Standing Ovation, and a Strong Eloge from German Chancellor Angie Merkel and various Other Top European Politicians, for his 6 Years-Long Presidency of the EPParty (2013-2019, After another 6 Years at the Head of EU Parliament's EPP Group's MEPs : 2007-2013), where he is succeeded by Donald Tursk, former Prime Minister of Poland, and until now President of the European Council.

- And, in his Official Speech, Later-on, during that EPP Congress in Zagreb, Daul also made a Friendly, but remarked, Observation, concerning the Austrian f. Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz, that he Personaly Likes very much, (See, f.ex.: among others, also, previous Daul Statements in Brussels : ..., etc) : - Please be Careful Not to Become "Too Much Green", But "Keep also the Blue" of ChristianDemocrats/EPP Political Leaders, he Advised, Smiling.

"Eurofora" has Supported even a Governing Alliance between "Greens" and ChristianDemocrats/EPP, already as Early as Since 2009 (F.ex.: ..., +..., ..., etc), and, indeed, after many Efforts, some Moves Started in that Direction, Including, f.ex., at Nearby Baden-Wurtemberg's German Länder (Regional Federated State), Strasbourg's "Great East" Region in France, and Other Areas in Germany, etc., while former Pope Benedict, in a Landmark Speech at the Bundestag in Berlin on 2011, boosted the key Idea of "Human Ecology", perfectly Fitting our own Concerns mainly about Genetic a.o. Manipulations of Human Persons Nowadays, etc., to which the Original, Historic "Green" Movement used to be very Sensitive, (f.ex. in Germany, etc), as well as EU Parliament's "Green" Group of MEPs' co-President Nawadays, Philippe Lamberts, (Comp. f.ex. his Replies to relevant "Eurofora"s Questions, Earlier on 2019, at : ..., ..., etc)

+ But, at Today's EU Parliament's Debate on Climate Change (Comp. Supra), while the Author of a quite Loud Resolution, French "Green" MEP Canfin, simply but pompously Urged MEPs to "Hear what the Scientists tell us", as well as some "Young People", on the Contrary, Many More than expected MEPs expressed Various Argumented Reserves or Criticisms :

- F.ex., in Addition to several Strong Opposals, mainly by Rightists of the "Identity and Democracy" Group, as French MEP Griset, who Denounced an attempt by "Globalists" to "Interfere against the Sovereignity of States", and some "Independent" MEPs, as Lagos from Greece, who slamed what he called "Climate Terror" (sic !), etc., various Other, often Mainstream Critics, were Milder, but clearly Critical :

- Thus, Danish ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Pernille Weiss, warned about the "Need to Win Citizens", who still have second thoughts.

- Polish Conservative MEP Wiśniewska wondered what will be done for "those People who canNot Afford" to Pay for Ecological Heating, etc., and asked if anybody had Noticed, f.ex., the Protests of "Yellow Jackets" in France.

- Italian Conservative MEP Pietro Fiocchi, said that when he Asked How we could reach the Goals of Paris' Agreement, he was merely told that "Taxes should be Raised" : "That's Not Good !", he pointed out. In fact, "We (EU) have a Duty to Explain to our Citizens, How we intend to Reach such Goals, withOut Killing their Livelihood", he stressed.

- German ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Hansen also warned that "We (EU) have to show to our Citizens that Climate can be Protected withOut Loss of Jobs".

- French mainstream ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Bellamy urged to "Reply to Emotions (on Climate Change) Rationally, and Not Irrationally" : F. Ex., he Denounced as "UnThinkable" a Call (by that Controversial Draft Resolution on Climate Change) to Stop Nuclear Energy, while it Helps to Fight against Global Warming !

+ And there, it is even a Socialist MEP, Robert Hajšel from Slovakia, who Agreed with him, and Asked if there is an Amendment to Save Nuclear Energy...

- Mainstream Italian ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Salini, advised to be "Realistic", and Warned that "EU People and Businesses do Not Want even More Expenses" nowadays.

- Polish ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Jarubas Called to Argue on the Basis of "Cost-Benefits" Analysis. Because, "Otherwise, Nobody will Follow us", he Warned. And we (EU) should "Help Poor Regions", which canNot Cope, if we (EU) want to advance "seriously", as he said.

- Irish ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Kelly, stressed that "People who Work" in Activities Threatened by Anti-Emmissions Measures, (and, therefore, risk to be Restricted or Stopped) "have to be Helped".

- Bulgarian ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Kanev, went Further :  - "We must go Back in History": At First, in the Past, "the Real Significance of the term" <<Nex Green Deal>> was Not "a list of Prohibitions, ...of Limitations, ...of Taxes Affecting those who already Suffer the most", he Denounced. On the Contrary, "it Was a large- scale public and private Investment programme, aiming at ambitious Development, Innovation, new Infrastructure, new Businesses, new models of Growth, new Jobs". So, also Nowadays, "our (EU's) New Green Deal in >Europe should be a deal for growth and jobs, for New Opportunities in the regions in transition, for new Hope for those Affected, for a new clean Technology, for science, Innovation, for Investment precisely in the Regions most dependent on Fossil Fuels and Suffering most from the present crisis", he Ambitiously Urged.

In Fact, even USA Presiedent Don Trump's notorious Opposal to the Paris' Agreement on Climate, is obviously related to Jobs and Growth matters, and Not at all in an Negation of Climate Change Risks. Thus, his Environment Protection Agency Director, Wheeler, has even Suggested, just after a First, Ministerial "G7" Summit on Environment at Metz, France, Last March 2019, a kind of ..."Re-Negotiation", at least as far as USA's Obligations are concerned, so that "it would Level the Playing Field for the US", as he said, (apparently Refering to an Equivalent of the well-known, General Trump's Standard about "Fair" International Trade).[See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/rugyforclimatedealwithtrumpresigns.html, etc].

(../..)

("DraftNews")

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*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- The experienced Head of CoE's PanEuropean, 47 Member States-strong (including Russia) Organisation's BioEthical Department, the Only in the World with a Mandate and Legal Tools to Protect Human Rights in Bio-Medicine, Laurence Lwoff, speaking to "Eurofora", revealed that the competent Experts' Committee just Discussed this week in Strasbourg the recent scandal of Heritable Genetic Manipulations, transmissible to Future Generations, (See: www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coebioethicsdebatechildrenforlesbiansandheritablegenemanip.html, etc), while also confirming the Adoption of CoE's "Strategic Action Plan" for the Next 5 Years, and "Guidelines for Public Debates" in that "Hot" area, of more and more Crucial Importance for Humankind's foreseable Future.

Curiously, CoE's Committee on BioEthics Voted on those 2 Far-Reaching and complex Reports concerning "Hot" Issues Only ...1,5 Month since the New Secretary General of the COE, Marija Buric, former vice-Prime Minister of Croatia, just took over, in practice from last October 2019, i.e., obviously, withOut enough Time for the New Direction's Team to really Analyse, Discuss and Decide on such Complex Normative Texts, which usualy need a Long Period of Preparations.

In Consequence, given also the Fact that this "Strategic Plan" is due to cover the Period of "2020-2025", (i.e. All and even More than the Duration of the New SG's Mandate !), Obviously, it would Risk to Deprive the New Team which enters Now at the Direction of the COE, (and the Political Majority which Voted for her Last June 2019 at the Parliamenary Assembly), from any Fair Chance to Have a Say on such a Crucial Matter Nowadays as the Latest Developments on BioEthical Issues and related New (mainly Genetic) Technologies, but, on the Contrary, to Impose, and Extend even much further in time, the Views of the Previous, Outgone Direction of the Past...

+ Taking into Account also the Big Differences Traditionally existing between Socialists and ChristianDemocrats/EPP on BioEthics, as well as the Exceptional Fact that, for the 1st Time in CoE's 70 Years of History, Socialists had been Holding the SG Top Job Continuously for 3 Times in a Row, During more than 15 Years now, (while ChristianDemocrats had been even Pushed Out of CoE's Parliamentary Assembly Leadership too, under Various Pretexts, particularly during Most of the Time at the Last 10 Years), Obviously, elementary Democracy would be InCompatible with the (Otherwise inevitable) Risk, for a Previously Pre-Fabricated "Strategy" from the Past, to be Imposed in that "Action Plan" for the Future 5 Years (2020-2025).

- Is it for that reason that a fully-fleged Publication of those Adoped CoE Experts' Reports (11/2019) was reportedly postponed for "the Beginning of Next Year" (1/2020), as Laurence Lwoff told "Eurofora" ?

- Lwoff aknowledged, indeed, the fact that there would, almost certainly, be some Changes, meanwhile, in those Texts, before their Final Public Version.

- But she said that this would be, in principle, Limited only into a kind of "Editorial Adjustments", and did not concern, Not even "Amendments" to those Reports, which would, thus, remain as they were just adopted this week.

- It's even Possible that "an Abridged Version" might, eventualy, become Public "in about a Week", or so, she added.

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+Meanwhile, concerning the currently most "Hot" and Recent Important Incident on BioEthics : the November 2018 Scandal of a Maveric Dr. having already Manipulated Genetically 2 New Born Babies with Heritable Modifications, Transmissible to Future Generations, (something Prohibited by CoE's International Convention on BioEthics, known as "Oviedo'" Treaty, since 1997, i.e. just 1 Year Before Also Banning the  "Clonning" of Human Persons, since 1998), 2 Other, Specific Reports, prepared, in parallel, by other CoE's Experts, (See: ..., etc), would now reach an Outcome, apparently "towards the End of Next Year", i.e. towards December 2020, as Laurence Lwoff told us Today.

This appears to be much Later than earlier Expected, Compared to Previous Lwoff's Replies to identical "Eurofora"s Question, last June 2019, which had Indicated a Timing around April or May 2020, (See ibid).

However, it's Not yet Clear if that Extended Time Deadline referred precisely to those Experts' Reports only, or, perhaps, Also to the substantial Conclusions that CoE's BioEthics' Committee might reach After those Texts' Completion and Discussion :

- F.ex. Lwoff told "Eurofora", on this same occasion, that it's "Not yet Known what they (CoE's competent Committee) might propose", "f.ex., perhaps a Reformulation" of CoE's "Oviedo" Convention (Comp. Supra), and/or a Debate (See Infra), or anyting Else".

Given the Fact that CoE's "Oviedo" Convention notoriously Prohibits any Heritable Manipulation of the "Human Genome", made with the "Aim", (something that some Prefer to Enlarge into any Genetic Manipulation which may "have as Effect" to do that) to "introduce any Modification in the genome of any Descendants", (Article 13), such a "ReFormulation", theoretically, might Either follow the Policy pushed by "Socialist/Liberal" former US President Barack Hussein Obama's appointed Experts, (who Concluded, at the beginning of 2017 (i.e., in fact, Before New US President Don Trump takes over in real practice) for a very controversial and dangerous "Conditional Permission" in many cases), Or, Otherwise, stick to the "Global Ban" Request of many MEPs, particularly ChristianDemocrats/EPP, expressed Recently in EU Parliament on 2019, (See: ..., etc), i.e. for an International Extension of the above mentioned Prohibition already existing at PanEuropean CoE's "Oviedo" Convention on "Human Rights and BioMedicine" since 1997, (Similar to the Ban of Human "Clonning", since its Additional Protocol of 1998, signed in Paris).

>>> This Issue is of Extreme and Urgent Importance, because here it's all Humanity which is obviously at Stake, since  Heritable Genetic Manipulations may also fabricate "Chimeras" (between Animals and Humans), and Various Other kinds of "Dr. Frankenstein" Monsters, real "New Races" of Beings, an aggravated and permanent "Appart-Heid" definitively Separating Humans between them, Set up various "Alien" Species, (etc), if they Fall into the Wrong Hands of some Maverick/Selfish Technocrats.

In Addition, Recently, various Health Problems were found in Heritable Gene Editing, (as in the Clonning, previously). There are some Speculations about eventual Technical Solutions in the Future, but, at any case, this is Not the Main Concern.

Indeed, as COE's BioEthics Committee stressed at an exceptional Statement of 2015, on the occasion of such CRISPR-Cas9 Heritable Gene Editing Technologies, the Main "Concern" focuses "in particular (on) the intentional Modification of Human Genome, so as to Produce Individuals or Groups endowed with Particular Characteristics". (Comp. Supra). In fact, "deliberate Germ-Line Editing in Human beings crosses a line viewed as Ethically Inviolable", Denounced also COE Assembly's Social and Health Affairs Committee, in a Declaration issued (after the October 2018 Incident) on December 2018.

Such Risks seem to have become Now (i.e. After that October 2018 Incident : Comp. Supra) inevitable, particularly in the Absence of any Known Technology able to Prevent, Spot, and/or Reverse a possible Heritable Manipulation, whenever a Human Embryo is exposed to any eventual Genetic Intervention, (f.ex. during Artificial Procreation Methods, IVF, etc).

But, even if, according to Other CoE's sources, it seems to be "currently a Prohibition on interventions aimed at Modifying the Germ-Line in Human beings in all EU, and many CoE, member States", (as a 2017 CoE Assembly Resolution says), nevertheless, there are also Many important Non-European Actors throughout the World in this domain, and, therefore, CoE's Committee on BioEthics has "launched, since 2015, a Call to use CoE's Oviedo Convention's Principles also for a Debate at International level", Lwoff topically reminded to "Eurofora".

Currently, one Side seems to attempt to use some kind of "Debates" in order to ..."Amend" CoE's BioEthical Convention, (as, f.ex., Socialist MEP Petra de Sutter's Report in CoE's Assembly, on October 2017), while anOther Side clearly seeks "a Global Ban" on Heritable Genetic Manipulations, as prescribed by that same CoE's Convention, (whose Full Name speaks "for the Protection of Human Rights, and Dignity of the Human Being, with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine"). Already, CoE's Highest Political Body, that of its Committee of Ministers has "invited" States to put a "Ban on establishing a Pregnancy with Germline cells or human Embryos having undergone intentional Genome Editing", since February 2018.

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+ At any case, in general, "given the recent Developments in New Technologies, and the Crossing of Borders implied often by them, there are More and more Appeals for what is called a "New Governance", in BioEthics, where 1 of its Key Aspects is to Integrate Public Debate", added Laurence Wolff to "Eurofora" Today.

=> - "And, concerning such a "New Governance", already, there is a Consensus for Public Debates to be involved much More from the Beginning, i.e., already since the (Scientific) Research on such New Technologies", told us CoE's BioEthics Department's Head, surprisingly approaching "Eurofora"s wider Project...

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("DraftNews")

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*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- At the Age that US President Trump just got a Medical Check by 12 Doctors to prepare himself for the 2020 Elections, suddenly, in Europe, the Head of the Biggest Party in the Continent : that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, French Long-Time MEP of Strasbourg, Joseph Daul, in a brief but topical phone Interview with "Eurofora", at the eve of EPP's Congress this week in Zagreb, Croatia, (next EU rotating Chair from January 2020), while the Sudden News about his Departure from EPP's Top Job, where he's due to be succeeded by Donald Tusk, outgoing EU Council's President and former Polish Prime Minister, had just Started to Circulate among Medias, claimed, clearly and strongly, that he, Simply, decided, in a Free and UnImposed way, that, simply, he didn't want to Stay President at 76 Years of age or more, (as he would be obliged to do, if he seeked to be re-elected anew now at Zagreb)...

 - "If Everybody could and wanted to Work until 76 Years of Age, our (EU's) Economy would thrive !", Joked, on this occasion, Daul, who Leads during More than 6 Years the Biggest European Party (2013 - 2019), but had reportedly Started to Work since 14 Years of Age, at his Family Agricultural production unit, near Strasbourg, at the Franco-German Borders, which is always active, continued by his Son, with the Help of his Wife.

A quite "Spicy" observation Nowadays, when the Public Controversies about the Age for Pensioners have become too "Hot" in France, in view of a Reform prepared by the Young President Emmanuel Macron, (Comp., also, a relevant "Eurofora"s INTW, recently, with the French Government Spokeswoman, Sibeth Ndiaye, on that issue, at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchgovernmentspokeswomantoef.html, etc)...

- "In Fact, I've been Thinking about it, already during almost a whole Year, now", Daul told "Eurofora", i.e. pointing at a Date Before the Latest, May 2019, EU Elections and their "Bumpy" aftermath, as far as EU Parliament's role, in relation to Heads of State/Government's EU Council was concerned this time...

Daul, Elected MEP since 1999, (reportedly incited by Historic President Jacques Chirac), after a Long Career as Top Representative of the Agricultural World, in France and Europe, since his Young Age on 1976, Mayor, Head of Family SME independent Business, Member of France's National and Economic Council (1991-1999), etc, and former Chairman of EU Parliament's Committee on Agriculture, became Chairman of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Political Group of MEPs at the European Parliament since 2007, (when "Eurofora"s co-Founder Published a 1st Interview that he gave us, then at "TCWeekly").

Meanwhile, inter alia, Daul had actively participated also in EU Parliament's Delegations to the WTO Global Ministerial Rounds at Seattle (1999), Doha (2001) and Cancun (2003), and engaged in the preparations at nearby Geneva, in Switzerland.

He Brillantly led the EPP at a Three-Fold, Landmark Victory in the 2009 EU Elections, Winning Both the 1st Place in his own Strasbourg's Region of Alsace, and at a National level in France, as well as throughout All European Union, (See main Facts at "Eurofora"s NewsReport, then : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/daulelections.html, etc).

On 2014 EU Elections, he managed to Kick-Start the so-called "Spitzen-Candidaten" Democratic Principle, due to Boost EU Parliament's role in the Choice of the influent New EU Commission's President, (Chief of EU's Executive Power), by strongly Electing the Experienced, Long-Time Prime Minister of Luxembourg, and former Chairman of €uroGroup, Jean-Claude Juncker, (a profoundly convinced ChristianDemocrat/Social, and Good-Tempered Top Politician, with a rare Sens of Fidelity but also of Humour), at the Top of EU Commission, after he Won the 1st Popular Vote among EU Parliament's MEPs.

Significantly, Juncker's pre-Electoral Campaign had practicaly Started at Daul's Agricultural SME Family Business, on a Beautiful Hill, at Pfetisheim Village, near Strasbourg, surrounded by Many Journalists, including "Eurofora", Back on 2014, (See f.ex. relevant Photo of Juncker and Daul in a tiny Agricultural Tractor, etc).

Later, on 2017, Daul praised Juncker for aiming to "place the European People at the Heart of his Vision for Europe’s Future", at the latter's "State of the Union" Annual Speech, and stressed that "there is No EU withOut its People :  It is high Time to Break the Image of Brussels’ "Ivory Tower". We Need ... to Address the main Concerns of our Citizens, and ... engage in direct Dialogue with them", (as he said then, obviously Approaching "Eurofora"s Project : Comp. also Juncke's relevant Statement, then, to "Eurofora", at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/schaublejunckerandmerkel.html, etc).

Meanwhile, Daul had practicaly succeeded, (initialy on a provisionary base, covering an Urgency), to EPP's Long-Time President, and former Belgium's Prime Minister, Wilfried Martens, (with whom he used to already Cooperate closely Together on several Topical Issues throughout Europe), at his demand, when he Faced Health Problems, back on Autumn 2013, and Decided, after 2014, to Resign from the EU Parliament, in order to Focus to his New Responsibilities in Brussels, as New Head of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Party, where he was initially Elected on 2015 in Madrid's EPP Congress, and Re-Elected, Later-on, (proving that Strasbourg's real Europeans can Work well also in Brussels)...

After the Deadly Incidents Provoked at Kiev, on February 2014, which led to a Conflict skiping a Peace Agreement earlier brokered under 3 EU Foreign Ministers' auspices, (from France, Germany and Poland), the Ukranian Problem with Russia Dividing anew the European Continent, Daul toured almost All European Countries Neighbouring Russia, meeting their Leaders, in order to both hear and alleviate their Concerns, but Also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom "We (EU) Must Talk and hold a Dialogue", as he stressed, (withOut, however, backtracking on his Criticism, whenever necessary), in Reply to an "Eurofora"s relevant Question at Strasbourg's Press Club, (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/daulonukraineandrussia.html, etc).

When, during the 2015-2016's UnPrecedented Giant "Tsunami" of more than +1,5 Millions of Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants Suddenly spread into Europe through Turkey, almost at the Same Time that ISIS Deadly Islamist Terrorists, Cowardly Targetting innocent Civilian People, had Started Horrible Massacres from Paris to Brussels, and elsewhere in Europe, (at least Some among them, having, even, entered the EU by coming from Turkey, via Greece, etc), Daul, in an Exceptional Conference at Strasbourg's University, was among the First to clearly Acknowledge and Denounce the Fact that "Turkey is Blackmailing Europe", concerning Ankara's notoriously Pressing Demands for More than 3 Billions € in full Grants each Year, "Free Visa" for 80 Millions of Turks, Boost Turkey's Controversial and UnPopular EU Accession bid, (etc : Comp. relevant "Eurofora"s NewsReport of March 2016, at : ..., etc).

In the MeanTime, while UK's Growing Anti-EU Scepticism, in general, even Before "BREXIT" Referendum, had, inter-alia, pushed Brittish MEPs to Leave the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group in EU Parliament, shortly After Juncker had Warned, at a premonitory Speech in Strasbourg's University, about a "Risk for the UK to Become, step by step, an Only Partial EU Member" (sic !), Daul was Criticized by some UK MEPs for Not Speaking Fluenty English, (sic !). To which, he used to Reply that, in fact, "with the French and German Languages, I managed to practical Tour All Europe, from the South, up to the Northern, Scandinavian Coutries, withOut any Problem", as he Claimed...

As a man from Strasbourg's Region of Alsace, widely BuiLingual, at the Franco-German Borders of Rhine river, Daul had been provocatively Questioned, by someone, when he had been Elected EPP's President, whether he Prefered to Pronounce his Family Name in French or in German, (i.e. "DOL" or "DAOUL"), to which he had Calmly Replied, with a serene Smile : - "Feel Free to Call me as you like, IF you make it Clear that you are speaking about me !"...

This Basic, Franco-German Dimension, of Daul's character, (Often Balanced, inter alia, also by a much Wider, "Christian" Dimension), might, also, have been Behind what reportedly made the current EU Group of MEPs' Chairman, Manfred Weber's (former "Spitzen-Kandidate") allegedly Regret the Strasbourg-born Politician's Not as "Hot" as he would have liked Stance, Against recent Pressure to Skip him as EU Parliament's 1st Candidate to the Job of EU Commission's President, after the May 2019 EU Elections, when, French Liberal President Macron, had notoriously said to Prefer, (curiously, at the Last Minute), someone Else, alegedly with More Government Experience, Speaking also French, etc, (as, f.ex., the current, new EU Commission's President-Elect, former Defense Minister, Ursula von der Leyen):  In fact, whatever Daul might have thought about it, it seems almost Inevitable, for such a Franco-German Politician, to feel Embarassed, whenever, Exceptionaly, there was No Franco-German Agreement...

+ Last, but not least, Speaking Today to "Eurofora", Daul appeared Proud also for the landmark Victory, among 4 Strong Competitors, of Marija Buric, former vice-Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Croatia, at the Recent, June 2019 Election as New Secretary General at the PanEuropean, 47 Member States-strong (including Russia, etc), CoE, the Strasbourg-based Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, for the Period of 2019-2024 :

Indeed, it's the 1st Time, After 3 Previous SG from the Socialist Party, during 15 Years, that CoE, at last, has anew a ChristianDemocrat/EPP Leader !

- "I know her quite well : I Campaigned for her !", spontaneously reacts Today the EPP President, Joseph Daul, obviously considering that as the latest Important Electoral Victory for Europe's Biggest Party, on 2019...

=> "I really Hope that she will be a Good" new CoE's Leader, Daul wished, in conclusion, speaking to "Eurofora", for Marija Buric.                             

Last, but not least, the Experienced Top European Politician, who holds a Long Practice of Both Multilateral Policies in EU Parliament, and on relations with Key Heads of State/Government at EPP's Summits in Brussels and elsewhere, in Addition to Awards of "Knight of the National Order of Merit" and "Knight of the Legion of Honour", etc., Surprisingly, told us, Today, that, at least, as things stand for the moment, he might not intend to Share yet his Extensive and Rich European/Paneuropean, EU/CoE History, (since he was Regularly Following Both Organisations' main activities, also with Regular Visits in Strasbourg, etc), with numerous interested readers in a forthcoming Book !

Hopefully, President Daul should Change Views on this Key Point, the soonest possible, for the General Interest of all European a.o. People...                                                              

(../..)

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