newsitems

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- By an irony of the sort, and/or by an Historic Symbolism, it's facing Winston Churchil's spiritual "baby"'s Headquarters, near the PanEuropean Organisation for Rule of Law, Human Rights and Democracy, the CoE, which currently celebrates its 70th Anniversary (1949-2019),

that embattled UK Prime Minister Theresa May and experienced EU Commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker, after Longer than scheduled, last-minute Talks, succeeded to Agree on a "Legal Mechanism" able to Fix the Backstop Problem in the BREXIT Deal, and allowing to open asap. fresh UK - EU Talks on their "New Relationship" for the Future, as they ensured Journalists in EU Paliament, including "Eurofora", in a Press Conference held just 1 Day before crucial Votes at Westminster, in London, and 1 Week before a Decisive EU Summit in Brussels, dedicated to those issues.

They were accompanied particularly by EU's Negociator on BREXIT, Michel Barnier, and spend Twice the laps of Time initialy scheduled for this Evening's Talks, (More than 2 Hours, from 9 pm up to 11 pm, instead of just 1, from 9 to 10, as it had been planed).

Meanwhile numerous Journalists were anxiously waiting at EU Parliament's PressRoom for an eventual, Hypothetic Press Conference, for which Nobody had appeared sure at the beginning, but almost everybody looked happy when, at last, UK's and EU's Flags were set up for that key event, shortly before Midnight...

Juncker stressed that the "Instrument" Agreed Today had a serious "Legal Force", helped address the controversial "Backstop" on Northern Ireland's Borders as a kind of "Insurance" only for a Limited period of time, added to a guarantee against undesirable effects, and anounced that the EU is Now "Ready to Immediately Begin Talks on our (EU - UK) Future Relationship".

May underlined that the British People will finally get what they had voted for, with an absolute Majority, at the BREXIT Referendum on 2016, including, among others, also, f.ex., "Regain Control of UK's Borders", Freedom from EU's Courts, from several EU Policies, as f.ex. on Fisheries, etc, would Spare a lot of the Money previously spend for EU Budget, etc, and, in exchange, they would Focus, in the Future, mainly on Trade and Safety, which would be "Good both for the UK and the EU".  

The Time that will be needed for an Agreement on their Future Relationship is, apparently, due to be much Shorter, than what had been necessary for the BREXIT Deal.

Meanwhile, the Backstop mechanism against Hard Borders at Northern Ireland, will Not Stay Indefinitively, and "Alternative Measures" must be prepared, towards the "End of 2020".

Meanwhile, Juncker has already spoken Today with EU Council's President, Donald Tusk, in order to Confirm the Endorsement of this Strasbourg's Legal Instrument, by the forthcoming EU Summit about BREXIT on March 20 in Brussels, while May met here also with EU Parliament's President, Antonio Tajiani, as well as with other Top MEPs, Heads of key Political Groups, as, f.ex, Guy Verhofstadt, Chairman of the Liberals, who is also EU Parliament's Rapporteur on BREXIT, etc.

Juncker welcomes May at EU Parliament in Strasbourg (Per Bang Thomsen for "Eurofora")

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*Strasbourg/- "Eurofora", as a PanEuropean Media, publishes 6 Translations of the Full Text of French President Emmanuel Macron's proposals "for a European Renaissance", adressed to "Citizens of Europe", in the run up to the forthcoming EU Elections of May 2019, in English, French (original), German, Italian, Spanish, and Polish. Moreover, a Free and Accessible Space for Debate will be opened at the adjacent Multilingual Forum of our Website asap, in the Wider context of Public Debates on these EU Parliament's Elections, "Decisive for the Future", as "Europe is Theatened", and there is a "Need" to "Stand Up", and Develop the "European Civilisation" nowadays, as he urges.  ACM.

***

For European renewal

Citizens of Europe,

If I am taking the liberty of addressing you directly, it is not only in the name of the history and values that unite us. It is because time is of the essence. In a few weeks’ time, the European elections will be decisive for the future of our continent.

Never, since the Second World War, has Europe been as essential. Yet never has Europe been in so much danger.

Brexit stands as the symbol of that. It symbolises the crisis of Europe, which has failed to respond to its peoples’ needs for protection from the major shocks of the modern world. It also symbolises the European trap. The trap is not being part of the European Union. The trap is in the lie and the irresponsibility that can destroy it. Who told the British people the truth about their post-Brexit future? Who spoke to them about losing access to the European market? Who mentioned the risks to peace in Ireland of restoring the former border? Nationalist retrenchment offers nothing; it is rejection without an alternative. And this trap threatens the whole of Europe: the anger mongers, backed by fake news, promise anything and everything.

We have to stand firm, proud and lucid, in the face of this manipulation and say first of all what Europe is. It is a historic success: the reconciliation of a devastated continent in an unprecedented project of peace, prosperity and freedom. We should never forget that. And this project continues to protect us today. What country can act on its own in the face of aggressive strategies by the major powers? Who can claim to be sovereign, on their own, in the face of the digital giants? How would we resist the crises of financial capitalism without the euro, which is a force for the entire European Union? Europe is also those thousands of projects daily that have changed the face of our regions: the school refurbished, the road built, and the long-awaited arrival of high-speed Internet access. This struggle is a daily commitment, because Europe, like peace, can never be taken for granted. I tirelessly pursue it in the name of France to take Europe forward and defend its model. We have shown that what we were told was unattainable, the creation of a European defence capability and the protection of social rights, was in fact possible.

Yet we need to do more and sooner, because there is the other trap: the trap of the status quo and resignation. Faced with the major crises in the world, citizens so often ask us, “Where is Europe? What is Europe doing?” It has become a soulless market in their eyes. Yet Europe is not just a market. It is a project. A market is useful, but it should not detract from the need for borders that protect and values that unite. The nationalists are misguided when they claim to defend our identity by withdrawing from Europe, because it is the European civilisation that unites, frees and protects us. But those who would change nothing are also misguided, because they deny the fears felt by our peoples, the doubts that undermine our democracies. We are at a pivotal moment for our continent, a moment when together we need to politically and culturally reinvent the shape of our civilisation in a changing world. It is the moment for European renewal. Hence, resisting the temptation of isolation and divisions, I propose we build this renewal together around three ambitions: freedom, protection and progress.
 
Defend our freedom

The European model is based on the freedom of man and the diversity of opinions and creation. Our first freedom is democratic freedom: the freedom to choose our leaders as foreign powers seek to influence our vote at each election. I propose creating a European Agency for the Protection of Democracies, which will provide each Member State with European experts to protect their election process against cyber attacks and manipulation. In this same spirit of independence, we should also ban the funding of European political parties by foreign powers. We should have European rules banish all incitements to hate and violence from the Internet, since respect for the individual is the bedrock of our civilisation of dignity.
 
Protect our continent

Founded on internal reconciliation, the European Union has forgotten to look at the realities of the world. Yet no community can create a sense of belonging if it does not have bounds that it protects. The boundary is freedom in security. We therefore need to rethink the Schengen area: all those who want to be part of it should comply with obligations of responsibility (stringent border controls) and solidarity (one asylum policy with the same acceptance and refusal rules). We will need a common border force and a European asylum office, strict control obligations and European solidarity to which each country will contribute under the authority of a European Council for Internal Security. On the issue of migration, I believe in a Europe that protects both its values and its borders.

The same standards should apply to defence. Substantial progress has been made in the last two years, but we need to set a clear course: a treaty on defence and security should define our fundamental obligations in association with NATO and our European allies: increased defence spending, a truly operational mutual defence clause, and the European Security Council with the United Kingdom on board to prepare our collective decisions.

Our borders also need to guarantee fair competition. What power in the world would accept continued trade with those who respect none of their rules? We cannot suffer in silence. We need to reform our competition policy and reshape our trade policy with penalties or a ban in Europe on businesses that compromise our strategic interests and fundamental values such as environmental standards, data protection and fair payment of taxes; and the adoption of European preference in strategic industries and our public procurement, as our American and Chinese competitors do.
 
Recover the spirit of progress

Europe is not a second-rank power. Europe in its entirety is a vanguard: it has always defined the standards of progress. In this, it needs to drive forward a project of convergence rather than competition: Europe, where social security was created, needs to introduce a social shield for all workers, east to west and north to south, guaranteeing the same pay in the same workplace, and a minimum European wage appropriate to each country and discussed collectively every year.

Getting back on track with progress also concerns spearheading the ecological cause. Will we be able to look our children in the eye if we do not also clear our climate debt? The European Union needs to set its target – zero carbon by 2050 and pesticides halved by 2025 – and adapt its policies accordingly with such measures as a European Climate Bank to finance the ecological transition, a European food safety force to improve our food controls and, to counter the lobby threat, independent scientific assessment of substances hazardous to the environment and health. This imperative needs to guide all our action: from the Central Bank to the European Commission, from the European budget to the Investment Plan for Europe, all our institutions need to have the climate as their mandate.

Progress and freedom are about being able to live from your work: Europe needs to look ahead to create jobs. This is why it needs not only to regulate the digital giants by putting in place European supervision of the major platforms (prompt penalties for unfair competition, transparent algorithms, etc.), but also to finance innovation by giving the new European Innovation Council a budget on a par with the United States in order to spearhead new technological breakthroughs such as artificial intelligence.

A world-oriented Europe needs to look towards Africa, with which we should enter into a covenant for the future, taking the same road and ambitiously and non-defensively supporting African development with such measures as investment, academic partnerships and education for girls.

 

Freedom, protection and progress. We need to build European renewal on these pillars. We cannot let nationalists without solutions exploit the people’s anger. We cannot sleepwalk through a diminished Europe. We cannot become ensconced in business as usual and wishful thinking. European humanism demands action. And everywhere, the people are standing up to be part of that change. So by the end of the year, let’s set up, with the representatives of the European institutions and the Member States, a Conference for Europe in order to propose all the changes our political project needs, with an open mind, even to amending the treaties. This conference will need to engage with citizens’ panels and hear academics, business and labour representatives, and religious and spiritual leaders. It will define a roadmap for the European Union that translates these key priorities into concrete actions. There will be disagreement, but is it better to have a static Europe or a Europe that advances, sometimes at different paces, and that is open to all?

In this Europe, the peoples will really take back control of their future. In this Europe, the United Kingdom, I am sure, will find its true place.

Citizens of Europe, the Brexit impasse is a lesson for us all. We need to escape this trap and make the upcoming elections and our project meaningful. It is for you to decide whether Europe and the values of progress that it embodies are to be more than just a passing episode in history. This is the choice I propose: to chart together the road to European renewal.

Emmanuel Macron

***

Pour une Renaissance européenne

Citoyens d’Europe,

Si je prends la liberté de m’adresser directement à vous, ce n’est pas seulement au nom de l’histoire et des valeurs qui nous rassemblent. C’est parce qu’il y a urgence. Dans quelques semaines, les élections européennes seront décisives pour l’avenir de notre continent.

Jamais depuis la Seconde Guerre mondiale, l’Europe n’a été aussi nécessaire. Et pourtant, jamais l’Europe n’a été autant en danger.

Le Brexit en est le symbole. Symbole de la crise de l’Europe, qui n’a pas su répondre aux besoins de protection des peuples face aux grands chocs du monde contemporain. Symbole, aussi, du piège européen. Le piège n’est pas l’appartenance à l’Union européenne ; ce sont le mensonge et l’irresponsabilité qui peuvent la détruire. Qui a dit aux Britanniques la vérité sur leur avenir après le Brexit ? Qui leur a parlé de perdre l’accès au marché européen ? Qui a évoqué les risques pour la paix en Irlande en revenant à la frontière du passé ? Le repli nationaliste ne propose rien ; c’est un rejet sans projet. Et ce piège menace toute l’Europe : les exploiteurs de colère, soutenus par les fausses informations, promettent tout et son contraire.

Face à ces manipulations, nous devons tenir debout. Fiers et lucides. Dire d’abord ce qu’est l’Europe. C’est un succès historique : la réconciliation d’un continent dévasté, dans un projet inédit de paix, de prospérité et de liberté. Ne l’oublions jamais. Et ce projet continue à nous protéger aujourd’hui : quel pays peut agir seul face aux stratégies agressives de grandes puissances ? Qui peut prétendre être souverain, seul, face aux géants du numérique ? Comment résisterions-nous aux crises du capitalisme financier sans l’euro, qui est une force pour toute l’Union ? L’Europe, ce sont aussi ces milliers de projets du quotidien qui ont changé le visage de nos territoires, ce lycée rénové, cette route construite, l’accès rapide à Internet qui arrive, enfin. Ce combat est un engagement de chaque jour, car l’Europe comme la paix ne sont jamais acquises. Au nom de la France, je le mène sans relâche pour faire progresser l’Europe et défendre son modèle. Nous avons montré que ce qu’on nous disait inaccessible, la création d’une défense européenne ou la protection des droits sociaux, était possible.

Mais il faut faire plus, plus vite. Car il y a l’autre piège, celui du statu quo et de la résignation. Face aux grands chocs du monde, les citoyens nous disent bien souvent : « Où est l’Europe ? Que fait l’Europe ? ». Elle est devenue à leurs yeux un marché sans âme. Or l’Europe n’est pas qu’un marché, elle est un projet. Un marché est utile, mais il ne doit pas faire oublier la nécessité de frontières qui protègent et de valeurs qui unissent. Les nationalistes se trompent quand ils prétendent défendre notre identité dans le retrait de l’Europe ; car c’est la civilisation européenne qui nous réunit, nous libère et nous protège. Mais ceux qui ne voudraient rien changer se trompent aussi, car ils nient les peurs qui traversent nos peuples, les doutes qui minent nos démocraties. Nous sommes à un moment décisif pour notre continent ; un moment où, collectivement, nous devons réinventer politiquement, culturellement, les formes de notre civilisation dans un monde qui se transforme. C’est le moment de la Renaissance européenne. Aussi, résistant aux tentations du repli et des divisions, je vous propose de bâtir ensemble cette Renaissance autour de trois ambitions : la liberté, la protection et le progrès.
 
Défendre notre liberté

Le modèle européen repose sur la liberté de l’homme, la diversité des opinions, de la création. Notre liberté première est la liberté démocratique, celle de choisir nos gouvernants là où, à chaque scrutin, des puissances étrangères cherchent à peser sur nos votes. Je propose que soit créée une Agence européenne de protection des démocraties qui fournira des experts européens à chaque Etat membre pour protéger son processus électoral contre les cyberattaques et les manipulations. Dans cet esprit d’indépendance, nous devons aussi interdire le financement des partis politiques européens par des puissances étrangères. Nous devrons bannir d’Internet, par des règles européennes, tous les discours de haine et de violence, car le respect de l’individu est le fondement de notre civilisation de dignité.
 
Protéger notre continent

Fondée sur la réconciliation interne, l’Union européenne a oublié de regarder les réalités du monde. Or aucune communauté ne crée de sentiment d’appartenance si elle n’a pas des limites qu’elle protège. La frontière, c’est la liberté en sécurité. Nous devons ainsi remettre à plat l’espace Schengen : tous ceux qui veulent y participer doivent remplir des obligations de responsabilité (contrôle rigoureux des frontières) et de solidarité (une même politique d’asile, avec les mêmes règles d’accueil et de refus). Une police des frontières commune et un office européen de l’asile, des obligations strictes de contrôle, une solidarité européenne à laquelle chaque pays contribue, sous l’autorité d’un Conseil européen de sécurité intérieure : je crois, face aux migrations, à une Europe qui protège à la fois ses valeurs et ses frontières.

Les mêmes exigences doivent s’appliquer à la défense. D’importants progrès ont été réalisés depuis deux ans, mais nous devons donner un cap clair : un traité de défense et de sécurité devra définir nos obligations indispensables, en lien avec l’OTAN et nos alliés européens : augmentation des dépenses militaires, clause de défense mutuelle rendue opérationnelle, Conseil de sécurité européen associant le Royaume‑Uni pour préparer nos décisions collectives.

Nos frontières doivent aussi assurer une juste concurrence. Quelle puissance au monde accepte de poursuivre ses échanges avec ceux qui ne respectent aucune de ses règles ? Nous ne pouvons pas subir sans rien dire. Nous devons réformer notre politique de concurrence, refonder notre politique commerciale : sanctionner ou interdire en Europe les entreprises qui portent atteinte à nos intérêts stratégiques et nos valeurs essentielles, comme les normes environnementales, la protection des données et le juste paiement de l’impôt ; et assumer, dans les industries stratégiques et nos marchés publics, une préférence européenne comme le font nos concurrents américains ou chinois.
 
Retrouver l’esprit de progrès

L’Europe n’est pas une puissance de second rang. L’Europe entière est une avant‑garde : elle a toujours su définir les normes du progrès. Pour cela, elle doit porter un projet de convergence plus que de concurrence : l’Europe, où a été créée la sécurité sociale, doit instaurer pour chaque travailleur, d’Est en Ouest et du Nord au Sud, un bouclier social lui garantissant la même rémunération sur le même lieu de travail, et un salaire minimum européen, adapté à chaque pays et discuté chaque année collectivement.

Renouer avec le fil du progrès, c’est aussi prendre la tête du combat écologique. Regarderons-nous nos enfants en face, si nous ne résorbons pas aussi notre dette climatique ? L’Union européenne doit fixer son ambition – 0 carbone en 2050, division par deux des pesticides en 2025 – et adapter ses politiques à cette exigence : Banque européenne du climat pour financer la transition écologique ; force sanitaire européenne pour renforcer les contrôles de nos aliments ; contre la menace des lobbies, évaluation scientifique indépendante des substances dangereuses pour l’environnement et la santé... Cet impératif doit guider toute notre action : de la Banque centrale à la Commission européenne, du budget européen au plan d’investissement pour l’Europe, toutes nos institutions doivent avoir le climat pour mandat.

Le progrès et la liberté, c’est pouvoir vivre de son travail : pour créer des emplois, l’Europe doit anticiper. C’est pour cela qu’elle doit non seulement réguler les géants du numérique, en créant une supervision européenne des grandes plateformes (sanction accélérée des atteintes à la concurrence, transparence de leurs algorithmes…), mais aussi financer l’innovation en dotant le nouveau Conseil européen de l’innovation d’un budget comparable à celui des Etats-Unis, pour prendre la tête des nouvelles ruptures technologiques, comme l’intelligence artificielle.

Une Europe qui se projette dans le monde doit être tournée vers l’Afrique, avec laquelle nous devons nouer un pacte d’avenir. En assumant un destin commun, en soutenant son développement de manière ambitieuse et non défensive : investissement, partenariats universitaires, éducation des jeunes filles…

 

Liberté, protection, progrès. Nous devons bâtir sur ces piliers une Renaissance européenne. Nous ne pouvons pas laisser les nationalistes sans solution exploiter la colère des peuples. Nous ne pouvons pas être les somnambules d’une Europe amollie. Nous ne pouvons pas rester dans la routine et l’incantation. L’humanisme européen est une exigence d’action. Et partout les citoyens demandent à participer au changement. Alors d’ici la fin de l’année, avec les représentants des institutions européennes et des Etats, mettons en place une Conférence pour l’Europe afin de proposer tous les changements nécessaires à notre projet politique, sans tabou, pas même la révision des traités. Cette conférence devra associer des panels de citoyens, auditionner des universitaires, les partenaires sociaux, des représentants religieux et spirituels. Elle définira une feuille de route pour l’Union européenne traduisant en actions concrètes ces grandes priorités. Nous aurons des désaccords, mais vaut-il mieux une Europe figée ou une Europe qui progresse parfois à différents rythmes, en restant ouverte à tous ?

Dans cette Europe, les peuples auront vraiment repris le contrôle de leur destin ; dans cette Europe, le Royaume-Uni, j’en suis sûr, trouvera toute sa place.

Citoyens d’Europe, l’impasse du Brexit est une leçon pour tous. Sortons de ce piège, donnons un sens aux élections à venir et à notre projet. A vous de décider si l’Europe, les valeurs de progrès qu’elle porte, doivent être davantage qu’une parenthèse dans l’histoire. C’est le choix que je vous propose, pour tracer ensemble le chemin d’une Renaissance européenne.

Emmanuel Macron

***

Für einen Neubeginn in Europa

    
Bürgerinnen und Bürger Europas,

Wenn ich mir heute erlaube, mich direkt an Sie zu wenden, dann tue ich das nicht nur im Namen der Geschichte und der Werte, die uns einen, sondern weil dringend gehandelt werden muss. In wenigen Wochen wird die Europawahl über die Zukunft unseres Kontinents entscheiden.

Noch nie seit dem Zweiten Weltkrieg war Europa so wichtig. Und doch war Europa noch nie in so großer Gefahr.

Der Brexit ist dafür ein Symbol. Ein Symbol für die Krise in Europa, das nicht angemessen auf die Schutzbedürfnisse der Völker angesichts der Umwälzungen in der heutigen Welt reagiert hat. Aber auch ein Symbol für die Falle, in der sich Europa befindet. Die Falle ist nicht die Mitgliedschaft in der Europäischen Union, sondern die Lüge und die Verantwortungslosigkeit, die sie zerstören könnten. Wer hat den Briten die Wahrheit über ihre Zukunft nach dem Brexit gesagt? Wer hat ihnen gesagt, dass sie keinen Zugang mehr zum europäischen Markt haben werden? Wer hat die Gefahren für den Frieden in Irland durch die Rückkehr zu einstigen Grenzen angesprochen? Eine nationalistische Abschottung hat nichts anzubieten, sie bedeutet Ablehnung ohne jegliche Perspektive. Und diese Falle bedroht ganz Europa: Jene, die mittels falscher Behauptungen die Wut der Menschen ausnutzen, versprechen alles Mögliche und sein Gegenteil.

Gegen diese Manipulationen müssen wir uns zur Wehr setzen. Stolz und nüchtern. Wir müssen zuallererst betonen, dass das vereinte Europa ein historischer Erfolg ist – die Versöhnung eines zerstörten Kontinents durch ein einzigartiges Projekt für Frieden, Wohlstand und Freiheit. Das dürfen wir nie vergessen. Und dieses Projekt schützt uns auch heute noch. Welches Land kann sich allein der aggressiven Strategien der Großmächte erwehren? Wer kann allein seine Unabhängigkeit von den Internet-Giganten behaupten? Wie könnten wir ohne den Euro, der die gesamte EU stark macht, den Krisen des Finanzkapitalismus widerstehen? Europa, das sind auch tausende alltägliche Projekte, durch die sich das Bild unserer Landstriche geändert hat, ein renoviertes Gymnasium, eine neue Straße, ein schneller Zugang zum Internet, der endlich eingerichtet wird. Dieser Kampf muss tagtäglich geführt werden, denn weder Frieden noch Europa sind Selbstverständlichkeiten. Ich führe ihn im Namen Frankreichs ohne Unterlass, um Europa voranzubringen und sein Modell zu verteidigen. Wir haben bewiesen, dass auch als unerreichbar geltendes – eine gemeinsame europäische Verteidigung oder der Schutz sozialer Rechte – möglich ist.

Aber es muss mehr getan werden und schneller. Denn die andere Falle ist, dass wir uns mit dem Status quo abfinden und resignieren. Angesichts der globalen Umwälzungen sagen uns die Bürgerinnen und Bürger nur allzu oft: „Wo ist Europa? Was unternimmt die EU?“. Europa ist in ihren Augen ein seelenloser Markt geworden. Aber Europa ist nicht nur ein Markt, es ist ein Projekt. Ein Markt ist durchaus nützlich, aber er darf nicht die Notwendigkeit schützender Grenzen und einigender Werte vergessen machen. Die Nationalisten irren, wenn sie behaupten, sie schützten unsere Identität durch den Rückzug aus Europa. Denn es ist die europäische Zivilisation, die uns eint, uns frei macht und uns schützt. Aber all diejenigen, die nichts ändern wollen, irren ebenfalls, denn sie verleugnen die Ängste, die sich quer durch unsere Völker ziehen, die Zweifel, die unsere Demokratien aushöhlen. Unser Kontinent steht an einem Scheidepunkt, an dem wir gemeinsam in politischer und kultureller Hinsicht die Ausgestaltung unserer Zivilisation in einer sich verändernden Welt neu erfinden müssen. Das ist der Moment des Neubeginns in  Europa. Deshalb biete ich Ihnen als Maßnahme gegen Abschottung und Spaltung an, diesen Neubeginn gemeinsam anhand von drei Ambitionen zu gestalten – Freiheit, Schutz und Fortschritt.
 
Unsere Freiheit verteidigen

Das europäische Modell beruht auf der Freiheit des Menschen, auf der Vielfalt der Meinungen und des Schaffens. Unsere wichtigste Freiheit ist die demokratische Freiheit, unsere Volksvertreter zu wählen, während bei jeder Wahl fremde Mächte unser Wahlverhalten zu beeinflussen suchen. Ich schlage die Gründung einer europäischen Agentur für den Schutz der Demokratie vor, die in jeden Mitgliedstaat europäische Experten entsenden wird, um seine Wahlen vor Hackerangriffen und Manipulationen zu schützen. Im Sinne dieser Unabhängigkeit sollten wir auch die Finanzierung europäischer politischer Parteien durch fremde Mächte verbieten. Wir müssen durch EU-weite Regelungen Hass- und Gewaltkommentare aus dem Internet verbannen, denn die Achtung des Einzelnen ist die Grundlage unserer Kultur der Würde.
 
Unseren Kontinent schützen

Die Europäische Union wurde für die Aussöhnung innerhalb ihrer Grenzen geschaffen und hat darüber die Realitäten der Welt aus den Augen verloren. Aber ein Gefühl der Zugehörigkeit zu einer Gemeinschaft kann nur entstehen, wenn diese Grenzen hat, die sie beschützt. Eine Grenze bedeutet Freiheit in Sicherheit. Deshalb müssen wir den Schengen-Raum neu überdenken: Alle, die ihm angehören wollen, müssen Bedingungen für Verantwortung (strenge Grenzkontrollen) und Solidarität (gemeinsame Asylpolitik mit einheitlichen Regeln für Anerkennung und Ablehnung) erfüllen. Eine gemeinsame Grenzpolizei und eine europäische Asylbehörde, strenge Kontrollbedingungen, eine europäische Solidarität, zu der jedes Land seinen Teil beiträgt, unter der Aufsicht eines Europäischen Rats für innere Sicherheit. Ich glaube angesichts der Migration an ein Europa, das sowohl seine Werte als auch seine Grenzen beschützt.

Die gleichen Anforderungen müssen an die Verteidigung gestellt werden. Dort wurden seit zwei Jahren erhebliche Fortschritte gemacht, aber wir müssen ein klares Ziel setzen. Wir müssen unsere unentbehrlichen Verpflichtungen in einem Vertrag über Verteidigung und Sicherheit festlegen, im Einklang mit der NATO und unseren europäischen Verbündeten: Erhöhung der Militärausgaben, Anwendungsfähigkeit der Klausel über die gegenseitige Verteidigung,  Europäischer Sicherheitsrat unter Einbeziehung Großbritanniens zur Vorbereitung unserer gemeinsamen Entscheidungen.

Unsere Grenzen müssen auch einen gerechten Wettbewerb gewährleisten. Welche Macht der Welt nimmt es hin, weiter Handel mit denjenigen zu treiben, die keine ihrer Regeln einhalten? Wir können nicht alles hinnehmen, ohne zu reagieren. Wir müssen unsere Wettbewerbspolitik reformieren, unsere Handelspolitik neu ausrichten: in Europa Unternehmen bestrafen oder verbieten, die unsere strategischen Interessen und unsere wesentlichen Werte untergraben, wie Umweltstandards, Datenschutz und eine Entrichtung von Steuern in angemessener Höhe; und in strategischen Branchen und bei öffentlichen Aufträgen zu einer bevorzugten Behandlung europäischer Unternehmen stehen, wie es unsere Konkurrenten in den USA und in China tun.
 
Zum Geist des Fortschritts zurückkehren

Europa ist keine Macht zweiten Ranges. Europa als Ganzes spielt eine Vorreiterrolle, denn es hat von jeher die Maßstäbe für Fortschritt gesetzt. Dazu muss es ein Projekt anbieten, dass eher dem Zusammenwirken als der Konkurrenz dient: In Europa, wo die Sozialversicherung erfunden wurde, muss für alle Arbeitnehmerinnen und Arbeitnehmer, von Ost nach West und von Nord nach Süd, eine soziale Grundsicherung eingeführt werden, die ihnen gleiche Bezahlung am gleichen Arbeitsplatz und einen an jedes Land angepassten und jedes Jahr gemeinsam neu verhandelten europaweiten Mindestlohn gewährleistet.

Wieder an die Idee des Fortschritts anzuknüpfen bedeutet auch, sich an die Spitze des Kampfes für unsere Umwelt zu stellen. Werden wir unseren Kindern in die Augen blicken können, wenn wir nicht auch unsere Klimaschuld begleichen? Die Europäische Union muss ihr Ziel festlegen – Reduzierung der CO2-Emissionen auf Null bis 2050, 50 Prozent weniger Pestizide bis 2025 – und ihre Politik diesem Ziel unterordnen: eine Europäische Klimabank für die Finanzierung des ökologischen Wandels, eine europäische Kontrolleinrichtung für einen wirksameren Schutz unserer Lebensmittel; eine vor der Bedrohung durch Lobbyismus schützende und unabhängige wissenschaftliche Bewertung von Umwelt und Gesundheit gefährdenden Substanzen usw. Dieser Imperativ muss all unserem Handeln zugrunde liegen: von der Zentralbank bis hin zur Europäischen Kommission, vom EU-Haushalt bis hin zum Investitionsplan für Europa – alle unsere Institutionen müssen den Schutz des Klimas zum Ziel haben.

Fortschritt und Freiheit, das bedeutet von seiner Arbeit leben zu können, und um Arbeitsplätze zu schaffen, muss Europa vorausplanen. Deshalb muss es nicht nur die Internet-Giganten durch die Schaffung einer europäischen Überwachung der großen Plattformen (schnellere Strafen bei Verstößen gegen Wettbewerbsregeln, Transparenz der Algorithmen usw.) regulieren, sondern auch die Innovation finanzieren, indem es den neuen Europäischen Innovationsrat mit einem Budget ausstattet, das mit dem in den USA vergleichbar ist, um sich an die Spitze der neuen technologischen Umwälzungen wie der Künstlichen Intelligenz zu stellen.

Ein weltoffenes Europa muss sich Afrika zuwenden, mit dem wir einen Pakt für die Zukunft schmieden müssen. Durch die Anerkennung eines gemeinsamen Schicksals, durch die Unterstützung seiner Entwicklung auf ambitionierte und nicht auf zurückhaltende Weise: Investitionen, Universitätspartnerschaften, Schulunterricht für Mädchen usw.

 

Freiheit, Schutz, Fortschritt. Auf diesen Säulen muss unser Neubeginn in Europa ruhen. Wir dürfen nicht zulassen, dass die Nationalisten, die keine Lösungen anzubieten haben, die Wut der Völker ausnutzen. Wir dürfen nicht Schlafwandler in einem erschlafften Europa sein. Wir dürfen nicht weitermachen wie bisher und uns auf Beschwörungsformeln beschränken. Der europäische Humanismus erfordert Handeln. Und überall möchten die Bürgerinnen und Bürger am Wandel teilhaben. Deshalb sollten wir noch vor Ende dieses Jahres mit den Vertretern der EU-Institutionen und der Staaten eine Europakonferenz ins Leben rufen, um alle für unser politisches Projekt erforderlichen Änderungen vorzuschlagen, ohne Tabus, einschließlich einer Überarbeitung der Verträge. Zu dieser Konferenz sollten Bürgerpanels hinzugezogen und Akademiker, Sozialpartner und Vertreter der Religionen gehört werden. Sie wird einen Fahrplan für die Europäische Union festlegen, indem sie die wichtigsten Prioritäten in konkrete Maßnahmen umsetzt. Wir werden uns nicht in allem einig sein, aber was ist besser: ein erstarrtes Europa oder ein Europa, das voranschreitet, zwar nicht immer im Gleichschritt, aber offen für alle?

In diesem Europa werden die Völker ihr Schicksal wieder wirklich in die Hand genommen haben; in diesem Europa wird Großbritannien, da bin ich sicher, einen vollwertigen Platz finden.

Bürgerinnen und Bürger Europas, die Sackgasse des Brexit ist eine Lehre für uns alle. Aus dieser Falle müssen wir uns befreien und der kommenden Wahl und unserem Projekt Sinn verleihen. Ihnen obliegt die Entscheidung, ob Europa und die Werte des Fortschritts, die es vertritt, mehr sein sollen als ein Intermezzo in der Geschichte. Das ist die Entscheidung, die ich Ihnen anbiete, damit wir gemeinsam den Weg eines Neubeginns in Europa betreten.

Emmanuel Macron

***

Per un Rinascimento europeo

    
Cittadini d’Europa,

Se prendo la libertà di rivolgermi direttamente a voi, non è solo in nome della storia e dei valori che ci riuniscono. È perché è urgente. Tra qualche settimana, le elezioni europee saranno decisive per il futuro del nostro continente.

Mai dalla Seconda Guerra mondiale, l’Europa è stata così necessaria. Eppure, mai l’Europa è stata tanto in pericolo.

La Brexit ne è l’emblema. Emblema della crisi dell’Europa, che non ha saputo rispondere alle esigenze di protezione dei popoli di fronte alle grandi crisi del mondo contemporaneo. Emblema, anche, dell’insidia europea. L’insidia non è l’appartenenza all’Unione europea ma sono la menzogna e l’irresponsabilità che possono distruggerla. Chi ha detto ai Britannici la verità sul loro futuro dopo la Brexit? Chi ha parlato loro di perdere l’accesso al mercato europeo? Chi ha evocato i rischi per la pace in Irlanda tornando alla frontiera del passato? Il ripiego nazionalista non propone nulla; è un rifiuto senza progetto. E questa insidia minaccia tutta l’Europa: coloro che sfruttano la collera, sostenuti dalle false informazioni, promettono tutto e il contrario di tutto.

Di fronte a queste manipolazioni, dobbiamo resistere. Fieri e lucidi. Dire innanzitutto cos’è l’Europa. È un successo storico: la riconciliazione di un continente devastato, in un inedito progetto di pace, di prosperità e di libertà. Non dimentichiamolo mai. E questo progetto continua a proteggerci oggi: quale paese può agire da solo di fronte alle aggressive strategie delle grandi potenze? Chi può pretendere di essere sovrano, da solo, di fronte ai giganti del digitale? Come resisteremmo alle crisi del capitalismo finanziario senza l’euro, che è una forza per tutta l’Unione? L’Europa, sono anche quelle migliaia di progetti quotidiani che hanno cambiato il volto dei nostri territori, quel liceo ristrutturato, quella strada costruita, l’accesso rapido a Internet che arriva, finalmente. Questa lotta è un impegno di ogni giorno perché l’Europa come la pace non sono mai acquisite. In nome della Francia, la porto avanti instancabilmente per far progredire l’Europa e difendere il suo modello. Abbiamo dimostrato che quanto ci dicevano inaccessibile, la creazione di una difesa europea o la tutela dei diritti sociali, era possibile.

Ma occorre fare di più, più rapidamente. Perché c’è l’altra insidia, quella dello status quo e della rassegnazione. Di fronte alle grandi crisi del mondo, i cittadini molto spesso ci dicono: “Dov’è l’Europa? Che fa l’Europa?”. È diventata ai loro occhi un mercato senz’anima. L’Europa invece non è solo un mercato, è un progetto. Un mercato è utile, ma non deve far dimenticare la necessità di frontiere che proteggono e di valori che uniscono. I nazionalisti sbagliano quando pretendono di difendere la nostra identità con il ritiro dall’Europa, perché è la civiltà europea che ci riunisce, ci libera e ci protegge. Ma anche coloro che non vorrebbero cambiare nulla sbagliano, perché negano le paure che attanagliano i nostri popoli, i dubbi che minano le nostre democrazie. Siamo in un momento decisivo per il nostro continente; un momento in cui, collettivamente, dobbiamo reinventare politicamente, culturalmente, le forme della nostra civiltà in un mondo che si trasforma. È il momento del Rinascimento europeo. Pertanto, resistendo alle tentazioni del ripiego e delle divisioni, vi propongo di costruire insieme questo Rinascimento su tre ambizioni: la libertà, la protezione e il progresso.
 
Difendere la nostra libertà

Il modello europeo si fonda sulla libertà dell’uomo, sulla diversità delle opinioni, della creazione. La nostra prima libertà è la libertà democratica, quella di scegliere i nostri governanti laddove, ad ogni scrutinio, alcune potenze straniere cercano di influenzare i nostri voti. Propongo che venga creata un’Agenzia europea di protezione delle democrazie che fornirà esperti europei ad ogni Stato membro per proteggere il proprio iter elettorale contro i cyberattacchi e le manipolazioni. In questo spirito di indipendenza, dobbiamo anche vietare il finanziamento dei partiti politici europei da parte delle potenze straniere. Dovremo bandire da Internet, con regole europee, tutti i discorsi di odio e di violenza, in quanto il rispetto dell’individuo è il fondamento della nostra civiltà di dignità.
 
Proteggere il nostro continente

Fondata sulla riconciliazione interna, l’Unione europea ha dimenticato di guardare le realtà del mondo, ma nessuna comunità crea un senso di appartenenza se non ha limiti che protegge. La frontiera, significa la libertà in sicurezza. Dobbiamo pertanto rivedere lo spazio Schengen: tutti coloro che vogliono parteciparvi devono rispettare obblighi di responsabilità (rigoroso controllo delle frontiere) e di solidarietà (una stessa politica di asilo, con le stesse regole di accoglienza e di rifiuto). Una polizia comune delle frontiere e un ufficio europeo dell’asilo, obblighi stringenti di controllo, una solidarietà europea a cui ogni paese contribuisce, sotto l’autorità di un Consiglio europeo di sicurezza interna: credo, di fronte alle migrazioni, in un’Europa che protegge al contempo i suoi valori e le sue frontiere.  

Le stesse esigenze devono applicarsi alla difesa. Da due anni sono stati realizzati importanti progressi, ma dobbiamo indicare una rotta chiara: un trattato di difesa e di sicurezza dovrà definire i nostri obblighi indispensabili, in collegamento con la NATO ed i nostri alleati europei: aumento delle spese militari, clausola di difesa reciproca resa operativa, Consiglio di sicurezza europeo che associa il Regno Unito per preparare le nostre decisioni collettive.

Le nostre frontiere devono anche garantire una giusta concorrenza. Quale potenza al mondo accetta di proseguire i propri scambi con coloro che non rispettano nessuna regola? Non possiamo subire senza proferir parola. Dobbiamo riformare la nostra politica della concorrenza, rifondare la nostra politica commerciale: punire o proibire in Europa le aziende che ledono i nostri interessi strategici ed i nostri valori essenziali, come le norme ambientali, la protezione dei dati ed il giusto pagamento delle tasse; e assumere, nelle industrie strategiche e nei nostri appalti pubblici, una preferenza europea come fanno i nostri concorrenti americani o cinesi.
 
Ritrovare lo spirito di progresso

L’Europa non è una potenza di secondo rango. L’Europa intera è un’avanguardia: ha sempre saputo definire le norme del progresso. Per questo, deve portare avanti un progetto di convergenza più che di concorrenza: l’Europa, in cui è stata creata la previdenza sociale, deve instaurare per ogni lavoratore, da Est a Ovest e dal Nord al Sud, uno scudo sociale che gli garantisca la stessa retribuzione sullo stesso luogo di lavoro, e un salario minimo europeo, adatto ad ogni paese e discusso ogni anno collettivamente.

Riannodare il filo del progresso significa anche prendere la guida della lotta ecologica. Guarderemo in faccia i nostri figli se non riassorbiamo anche il nostro debito climatico? L’Unione europea deve fissare la sua ambizione – 0 carbonio nel 2050, dimezzamento dei pesticidi nel 2025 – e adattare le sue politiche a questa esigenza: Banca europea per il clima per finanziare la transizione ecologica; forza sanitaria europea per rafforzare i controlli dei nostri alimenti; contro la minaccia delle lobby, valutazione scientifica indipendente delle sostanze pericolose per l’ambiente e la salute… Questo imperativo deve guidare tutta la nostra azione: dalla Banca centrale alla Commissione europea, dal budget europeo al piano di investimento per l’Europa, tutte le nostre istituzioni devono avere il clima per mandato.

Il progresso e la libertà significano poter vivere del proprio lavoro: per creare posti di lavoro, l’Europa deve anticipare.  È per questo che non solo deve regolamentare i giganti del digitale, creando una supervisione europea delle grandi piattaforme (sanzioni accelerate per le violazioni della concorrenza, trasparenza dei loro algoritmi…), ma deve anche finanziare l’innovazione dotando il nuovo Consiglio europeo dell’innovazione di un budget comparabile a quello degli Stati Uniti, per prendere la guida dei nuovi grandi cambiamenti tecnologici, come l’intelligenza artificiale.

Un’Europa che si proietta nel mondo deve essere volta verso l’Africa, con cui dobbiamo stringere un patto per il futuro. Assumendo un destino comune, sostenendo il suo sviluppo in modo ambizioso e non difensivo: investimenti, partenariati universitari, istruzione delle ragazze…
 

Libertà, protezione, progresso. Dobbiamo costruire su questi pilastri un Rinascimento europeo. Non possiamo lasciare i nazionalisti, senza soluzioni, sfruttare l’ira dei popoli. Non possiamo essere i sonnambuli di un’Europa rammollita. Non possiamo rimanere nella routine e nell’incantesimo. L’umanesimo europeo è un’esigenza di azione. Ed ovunque i cittadini chiedono di partecipare al cambiamento. Allora entro la fine dell’anno, con i rappresentanti delle istituzioni europee e degli Stati, instauriamo una Conferenza per l’Europa al fine di proporre tutti i cambiamenti necessari al nostro progetto politico, senza tabù, neanche quello della revisione dei trattati. Questa conferenza dovrà associare gruppi di cittadini, dare audizione a universitari, parti sociali, rappresentanti religiosi e spirituali. Definirà una roadmap per l’Unione europea trasformando in azioni concrete queste grandi priorità. Avremo dei disaccordi, ma è meglio un’Europa fossilizzata o un’Europa che progredisce, talvolta a ritmi diversi, rimanendo aperta a tutti?

In questa Europa, i popoli avranno veramente ripreso il controllo del loro destino; in questa Europa, il Regno Unito, ne sono certo, troverà pienamente il suo posto.

Cittadini d’Europa, l’impasse della Brexit è una lezione per tutti. Usciamo da questa insidia; diamo un senso alle prossime elezioni e al nostro progetto. Sta a voi decidere se l’Europa, i valori di progresso che porta avanti, debbano essere più di una parentesi nella storia. È la scelta che vi propongo, per tracciare insieme il cammino di un Rinascimento europeo.

Emmanuel Macron

***


Por un Renacimiento Europeo


Ciudadanos de Europa:

Si me he tomado la libertad de dirigirme a ustedes directamente, no es solo en nombre de la historia y de los valores que nos unen, sino también porque hay urgencia. Dentro de unas semanas, las elecciones europeas serán decisivas para el futuro de nuestro continente.

Nunca antes, desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial, Europa ha sido tan necesaria. Y, sin embargo, nunca ha estado tan en peligro.

El Brexit es ejemplo de todo ello. Ejemplo de la crisis de una Europa que no ha sabido satisfacer las necesidades de protección de los pueblos frente a los grandes cambios del mundo contemporáneo. Ejemplo, también, de la trampa europea. La trampa no es pertenecer a la Unión Europea, sino la mentira y la irresponsabilidad que pueden destruirla. ¿Quién les ha contado a los británicos la verdad sobre su futuro tras el Brexit? ¿Quién les ha hablado de perder el acceso al mercado europeo? ¿Quién ha advertido de los peligros para la paz en Irlanda si se vuelve a la frontera del pasado? El repliegue nacionalista no tiene propuestas; es un «no» sin proyecto. Y esta trampa amenaza a toda Europa: los que explotan la rabia, ayudados por noticias falsas, prometen una cosa y la contraria.

Frente a estas manipulaciones, debemos mantenernos firmes. Orgullosos y lúcidos. Recordemos primero qué es Europa. Es un éxito histórico: la reconciliación de un continente devastado, plasmada en un proyecto inédito de paz, prosperidad y libertad. No lo olvidemos nunca. Hoy día, este proyecto nos sigue protegiendo. ¿Qué país puede actuar solo frente a las estrategias agresivas de las grandes potencias? ¿Quién puede pretender ser soberano, solo, frente a los gigantes digitales? ¿Cómo resistiríamos a las crisis del capitalismo financiero sin el euro, que es una baza para toda la Unión? Europa es también esos miles de proyectos cotidianos que han cambiado la faz de nuestros territorios: una escuela renovada aquí, una carretera asfaltada allá, un acceso rápido a Internet que está llegando al fin… Esta lucha es un compromiso diario, porque Europa, como la paz, no viene dada. En nombre de Francia, abandero esta lucha sin descanso para hacer avanzar a Europa y defender su modelo. Hemos demostrado que lo que nos dijeron que era inalcanzable –como la creación de una defensa europea o la protección de los derechos sociales– finalmente era posible.

Con todo, hay que hacer más y más rápido. Porque hay otra trampa: la del statu quo y la resignación. Frente a las grandes crisis mundiales, los ciudadanos nos dicen a menudo: «¿Dónde está Europa? ¿Qué está haciendo Europa?». Para ellos, se ha convertido en un mercado sin alma. Pero sabemos que no es solo un mercado, que es también un proyecto. El mercado es útil, pero no debe hacernos olvidar lo necesario de las fronteras que nos protegen y de los valores que nos unen. Los nacionalistas se equivocan cuando pretenden defender nuestra identidad apelando a la salida de Europa, porque es la civilización europea la que nos une, nos libera y nos protege. Pero los que no querrían cambiar nada también se equivocan, porque niegan los temores que atraviesan nuestros pueblos, las dudas que socavan nuestras democracias. Estamos en un momento decisivo para nuestro continente. Un momento en el que, colectivamente, debemos reinventar, política y culturalmente, las formas de nuestra civilización en un mundo cambiante. Es el momento para el Renacimiento Europeo. Así pues, resistiendo a las tentaciones del repliegue y la división, quiero proponer que, juntos, construyamos ese Renacimiento en torno a tres aspiraciones: la libertad, la protección y el progreso.
 
Defender nuestra libertad

El modelo europeo se basa en la libertad individual y la diversidad de opiniones y de creación. Nuestra libertad primera es la libertad democrática, la de elegir a nuestros gobernantes allí donde, en cada cita electoral, hay potencias extranjeras que intentan influir en nuestros votos. Propongo que se cree una Agencia Europea de Protección de las Democracias que aporte expertos europeos a cada Estado miembro para proteger sus procesos electorales de ciberataques y manipulaciones. En este espíritu de independencia, también debemos prohibir la financiación de partidos políticos europeos por parte de potencias extranjeras. Asimismo, a través de reglas europeas, debemos desterrar de Internet el discurso del odio y la violencia, porque el respeto al individuo es la base de nuestra civilización de la dignidad humana.
 
Proteger nuestro continente

Fundada en la reconciliación interna, la Unión Europea se ha olvidado de mirar a otras realidades en el mundo. Ahora bien, ninguna comunidad genera un sentimiento de pertenencia si no tiene límites que proteger. La frontera es la libertad en seguridad. En este sentido, debemos revisar el espacio Schengen: todos los que quieran participar en él deberán cumplir una serie de obligaciones de responsabilidad (control riguroso de fronteras) y solidaridad (una misma política de asilo con las mismas reglas de acogida y denegación). Una policía de fronteras común y una Oficina Europea de Asilo, estrictas obligaciones de control y una solidaridad europea a la que contribuyan todos los países bajo la autoridad de un Consejo Europeo de Seguridad Interior. Frente a las migraciones, creo en una Europa que protege a la vez sus valores y sus fronteras.

Estas mismas exigencias deben aplicarse a la defensa. Pese a que en los dos últimos años se han registrado avances significativos, debemos establecer un rumbo claro. Así, un tratado de defensa y seguridad deberá definir nuestras obligaciones ineludibles, en colaboración con la OTAN y nuestros aliados europeos: aumento del gasto militar, activación de la cláusula de defensa mutua y creación de un Consejo de Seguridad Europeo que incluya al Reino Unido para preparar nuestras decisiones colectivas.

Nuestras fronteras también deben garantizar una competencia leal. ¿Qué potencia acepta mantener sus intercambios con aquellos que no respetan ninguna de sus reglas? No podemos someternos sin decir nada. Tenemos que reformar nuestra política de competencia, refundar nuestra política comercial: sancionar o prohibir en Europa aquellas empresas que vulneren nuestros intereses estratégicos y valores fundamentales –como las normas medioambientales, la protección de datos o el pago justo de impuestos– y adoptar una preferencia europea en las industrias estratégicas y en nuestros mercados de contratación pública, al igual que nuestros competidores estadounidenses o chinos.
 
Recuperar el espíritu de progreso

Europa no es una potencia de segunda clase. Toda Europa está a la vanguardia: siempre ha sabido definir las normas del progreso y en esta línea debe ofrecer un proyecto de convergencia, más que de competencia. Europa, que creó la seguridad social, debe establecer para cada trabajador, de este a oeste y de norte a sur, un escudo social que le garantice la misma remuneración en el mismo lugar de trabajo, y un salario mínimo europeo adaptado a cada país y revisado anualmente de forma colectiva.

Retomar el hilo del progreso es también liderar la lucha contra el cambio climático. ¿Podremos mirar a nuestros hijos a los ojos si no logramos reducir nuestra deuda con el clima? La Unión Europea debe fijar sus ambiciones –cero carbono en 2050, reducción a la mitad de los pesticidas en 2025– y adaptar sus políticas a esta exigencia: Banco Europeo del Clima para financiar la transición ecológica, dispositivo sanitario europeo para reforzar el control de nuestros alimentos, y, frente a la amenaza de los lobbies, evaluación científica independiente de sustancias peligrosas para el medio ambiente y la salud, etc. Este imperativo debe guiar todas nuestras acciones. Del Banco Central Europeo a la Comisión Europea, pasando por el presupuesto europeo o el Plan de Inversiones para Europa, todas nuestras instituciones deben tener al clima como prioridad.

Progreso y libertad es poder vivir del trabajo y, para crear empleo, Europa debe ser previsora. Para ello, no solo debe regular a los gigantes del sector digital, creando una supervisión europea de grandes plataformas (sanciones aceleradas para las infracciones de las normas de la competencia, transparencia de algoritmos, etc.), sino también financiar la innovación asignando al nuevo Consejo Europeo de Innovación un presupuesto comparable al de Estados Unidos para liderar las nuevas rupturas tecnológicas como la inteligencia artificial.

Una Europa que se proyecta hacia el resto del mundo debe mirar a África, con quien debemos sellar un pacto de futuro, asumiendo un destino común y apoyando su desarrollo de forma ambiciosa y no defensiva con inversión, colaboración universitaria, educación y formación de las niñas, etc.

 

Libertad, protección, progreso. Sobre estos pilares debemos construir el Renacimiento Europeo. No podemos dejar que los nacionalistas sin propuestas exploten la rabia de los pueblos. No podemos ser los sonámbulos de una Europa lánguida. No podemos estancarnos en la rutina y el encantamiento. El humanismo europeo exige acción y por todas partes los ciudadanos están pidiendo participar en el cambio. Así pues, antes de finales de año, organicemos una Conferencia para Europa, junto a los representantes de las instituciones europeas y los Estados, con el fin de proponer todos los cambios necesarios para nuestro proyecto político, sin tabúes, ni siquiera revisar los tratados. Dicha conferencia deberá incluir a paneles de ciudadanos y dar voz a universitarios, interlocutores sociales y representantes religiosos y espirituales. En ella se definirá una hoja de ruta para la Unión Europea que traduzca estas grandes prioridades en acciones concretas. Tendremos discrepancias, pero ¿qué es mejor, una Europa estancada o una Europa que avanza a veces a ritmos diferentes, manteniéndose abierta al exterior?

En esta Europa, los pueblos habrán recuperado realmente el control de su destino. En esta Europa, estoy seguro de que el Reino Unido encontrará su lugar.

Ciudadanos de Europa: el impasse del Brexit nos sirve de lección a todos. Salgamos de esta trampa y démosle un sentido a las próximas elecciones y a nuestro proyecto. Ustedes deciden si Europa y los valores de progreso que representa deben ser algo más que un paréntesis en la historia. Esta es la propuesta que les hago para trazar juntos el camino del Renacimiento Europeo.

Emmanuel Macron

***

Na rzecz europejskiego Odrodzenia

Obywatele Europy,

Jeśli pozwalam sobie zwrócić się do was bezpośrednio, to nie tylko w imieniu Historii i wartości, które nas jednoczą, ale dlatego, że istnieje pilna konieczność. Za kilka tygodni, wybory europejskie zadecydują o przyszłości naszego kontynentu.

Nigdy od czasów II Wojny Światowej, Europa nie była tak bardzo potrzebna. A jednocześnie, Europa nigdy nie była tak bardzo zagrożona.

Brexit jest tego symbolem. Symbolem kryzysu Europy, która nie była zdolna  odpowiedzieć  na potrzeby ochrony narodów w obliczu ogromnych wstrząsów współczesnego świata. Jest też symbolem pułapki europejskiej. Pułapką nie jest przynależność do Unii Europejskiej ; to kłamstwo i brak odpowiedzialności mogą ją zniszczyć. Kto powiedział Brytyjczykom prawdę o ich przyszłości po Brexit ?  Kto im mówił o utracie dostępu do rynku europejskiego ? Kto wspomniał o zagrożeniach dla pokoju w Irlandii po powrocie do granicy z przeszłości ? Nacjonalistyczne zamknięcie nie proponuje niczego ; to odrzucenie bez projektu. I ta pułapka zagraża całej Europie : ci, którzy wykorzystują gniew, wspierani przez fałszywe informacje, obiecują wszystko i nic.

W obliczu tych manipulacji musimy pozostać nieugięci. Dumni i przenikliwi. Przede wszystkim powiedzieć czym jest Europa. Jest to sukces historyczny : pojednanie zdewastowanego kontynentu w bezprecedensowym projekcie pokoju, dobrobytu i wolności. Nigdy tego nie zapomnijmy. I ten projekt, dzisiaj, nadal nas chroni : który kraj może działać sam w obliczu agresywnych strategii wielkich mocarstw ? Kto, może twierdzić, że jest suwerenny, będąc sam, w obliczu  cyfrowych gigantów ? W jaki sposób, bez euro, które jest siłą całej Unii,  moglibyśmy stawiać opór kryzysom kapitalizmu finansowego?

Europa, to są także te tysiące projektów życia codziennego, które zmieniły oblicze naszych terytoriów, te odnawiane licea, ta zbudowana droga, szybki dostęp do Internetu, nareszcie osiągalny. Ta walka jest codziennym zaangażowaniem, ponieważ ani Europa ani pokój nigdy nie są zdobyte na raz na zawsze. W imieniu Francji działam nieustannie dla rozwoju Europy i obrony jej modelu. Pokazaliśmy, że jest możliwe to, o czym mówiono nam, że jest nieosiągalne : stworzenie obrony europejskiej lub ochrona praw społecznych.

Ale trzeba zrobić więcej, szybciej. Istnieje bowiem  inna pułapka: status quo i rezygnacja. W obliczu wielkich wstrząsów na świecie, obywatele mówią nam bardzo często : « Gdzie jest Europa ? Co robi Europa ? » . Stała się ona, ich zdaniem, rynkiem bez duszy. Nie, Europa nie jest tylko rynkiem, jest ona  projektem. Rynek jest użyteczny, ale nie może nam pozwolić zapomnieć o konieczności granic, które chronią i wartości, które łączą. Nacjonaliści mylą się kiedy udają, że wycofaniem się z Europy,  bronią naszej tożsamości; ponieważ to właśnie cywilizacja europejska nas łączy, nas wyzwala, nas chroni. Ale ci, którzy nie chcieliby niczego zmienić też są w błędzie, ponieważ zaprzeczają lękom, które ogarniają nasze narody, wątpliwościom, które podważają nasze demokracje. Jesteśmy w  momencie decydującym dla naszego kontynentu ; momencie, w którym wspólnie, politycznie i kulturowo, musimy wymyśleć, formy naszej cywilizacji w zmieniającym się świecie. Jest to  czas europejskiego Odrodzenia. Dlatego też, odporny na pokusy zamknięcia się w sobie i pokusy podziałów, proponuję wspólną budowę tego  Odrodzenia wokół trzech ambicji : wolność, opieka i postęp.
 
Obrona naszej wolności

Model europejski opiera się na wolności człowieka, różnorodności opinii i tworzeniu. Naszą fundamentalną wolnością jest demokratyczna wolność wyboru naszych przywódców i to wtedy, podczas każdego głosowania, obce mocarstwa próbują wpływać na nasze głosy. Proponuję utworzenie Europejskiej Agencji Ochrony Demokracji, która zapewni każdemu Państwu członkowskiemu europejskich ekspertów dla ochrony procesu wyborczego przed cyberprzestępczością i manipulacjami. W tym duchu niezależności, musimy również zabronić finansowania europejskich partii politycznych przez obce mocarstwa. Musimy usunąć z Internetu, zgodnie z przepisami europejskimi,  wszelkie przejawy mowy nienawiści i przemocy, ponieważ poszanowanie jednostki jest podstawą naszej  cywilizacji godności.
 
Ochrona naszego kontynentu

Oparta na wewnętrznym pojednaniu, Unia europejska zapomniała przyglądać się realiom świata. Żadna wspólnota nie tworzy poczucia przynależności, jeśli nie ma granic, których broni. Granica to wolność w bezpieczeństwie. Dlatego musimy odnowić strefę Schengen : wszyscy ci, którzy chcą w niej uczestniczyć muszą wypełnić zobowiązania odpowiedzialności (ścisła kontrola granic) i solidarności (jednolita polityka azylowa, z jednakowymi zasadami  przyjmowania i odmowy ). Wspólna policja graniczna i Europejski Urząd ds. azylowych, ścisłe obowiazki kontroli, solidarność europejska do której przyczynia się każdy kraj, pod zwierzchnictwem Europejskiej Rady Bezpieczeństwa Wewnętrznego : w obliczu migracji, wierzę w Europę, która chroni zarówno swoje wartości jak i swoje granice.

Te same wymogi powinny mieć zastosowanie w odniesieniu  do obrony. W ciągu ostatnich dwóch lat zrobiono znaczne postępy, ale powinniśmy wskazać jasną orientację : traktat obrony i bezpieczeństwa powinien zdefiniować nasze niezbędne zobowiazania,  w porozumieniu z NATO i naszymi europejskimi sojusznikami : zwiększenie wydatków wojskowych, wprowadzenie w życie klauzuli wzajemnej obrony, Europejska Rada Bezpieczeństwa z udziałem Zjednoczonego Królestwa  w celu przygotowania naszych wspólnych decyzji.

Nasze granice muszą również zapewnić uczciwą konkurencję. Które mocarstwo na świecie wyraża zgodę na kontynuowanie handlu z tymi, którzy nie przestrzegają żadnej z jego reguł. Nie możemy poddać się nic nie mówiąc. Musimy zreformować naszą politykę konkurencji, zaktualizować naszą politykę handlową: karanie lub zakazanie w Europie przedsiębiorstw, które naruszają nasze strategiczne interesy i nasze fundamentalne wartości, takie jak normy środowiskowe, ochrona dannych i uczciwe płacenie podatków ; i zapewnić preferencję europejską w strategicznych gałęziach przemysłu i na rynkach publicznych, tak jak to robią nasi amerykańscy lub chińscy konkurenci.
 
Odnalezienie ducha postępu

Europa nie jest drugorzędnym mocarstwem. Cała Europa jest awangardą : zawsze potrafiła zdefiniować normy postępu. Dlatego powinna ona wnieść projekt,  raczej konwergencji niż konkurencji : Europa, gdzie zostało utworzone ubezpieczenie społeczne, powinna ustanowić dla każdego pracownika, ze Wschodu na Zachód i z Północy na Południe, osłonę społeczną gwarantującą mu takie samo wynagrodzenie w tym samym miejscu  pracy i europejskie wynagrodzenie minimalne, dostosowane do każdego kraju i omawiane zbiorowo każdego roku.

Pójść znowu drogą postępu, to też stanąć na czele walki ekologicznej. Czy będziemy mogli spojrzeć w oczy naszym dzieciom, jeśli nie zlikwidujemy naszego zadłużenia klimatycznego ? Unia europejska powinna określić swoje ambicje - 0 dwutlenku węgla w 2050 roku, zmniejszenie o połowę pestycydów w 2025 roku – i dostosować swoją politykę do tego wymogu: Europejski Bank klimatyczny w celu finansowania przemiany ekologicznej ; Europejska inspekcja sanitarna w celu wzmocnienia kontroli naszej żywności ; wobec gróźb ze strony środowisk lobbystycznych, niezależna ocena naukowa substancji niebezpiecznych dla środowiska i dla zdrowia...Ten imperatyw musi kierować całym naszym działaniem : klimat musi być mandatem dla wszystkich naszych instytucji, od Banku centralnego do Komisji europejskiej, od budżetu europejskiego do planu inwestycyjnego dla Europy.

Postęp i wolność, to możliwość życia z własnej  pracy : aby tworzyć miejsca pracy, Europa musi antycypować. Dlatego powinna ona nie tylko uregulować działalność gigantów cyfrowych, tworząc europejski nadzór nad dużymi platformami (przyspieszona sankcja za zakłócenie konkurencji, przejrzystość ich algorytmów...), ale także finansować innowacje, zapewniając nowej Europejskiej Radzie ds. Innowacji budżet porównywalny z budżetem Stanów Zjednoczonych, by osiągnąć wiodącą pozycję w dziedzinie nowych przełomów technologicznych, takich jak sztuczna inteligencja.

Europa, która zamierza odgrywać rolę światową musi być ukierunkowana na Afrykę, z którą powinniśmy zawrzeć pakt przyszłości. Przyjmując, że mamy wspólny los, wspierajmy jej rozwój w sposób ambitny i niedefensywny : inwestycje, partnerstwo między uniwersytetami, edukacja dziewcząt...

 

Wolność, ochrona, postęp. Na tych filarach musimy budować Odrodzenie europejskie. Nie możemy pozwolić nacjonalistom, nie mającym rozwiązania, wykorzystywać gniew narodów. Nie możemy być lunatykami w osłabionej Europie. Nie możemy poddawać się rutynie i czczym zaklęciom. Humanizm europejski to wymóg działania. I wszędzie obywatele proszą o uczestniczenie w przemianach. Do końca roku utwórzmy więc wspólnie z przedstawicielami instytucji europejskich  i Państw, Konferencję dla Europy, aby zaproponować  wszystkie zmiany niezbędne dla naszego politycznego projektu, bez tabu, nawet bez tabu rewizji traktatów. Konferencja ta powinna zaangażować panele obywatelskie, wysłuchiwać pracowników akademickich, partnerów społecznych, przedstawicieli religijnych i duchowych. Zdefiniuje ona harmonogram działań dla Unii europejskiej przekładając te główne priorytety na konkretne działania. Będą spory, ale czy lepsza jest skostniała Europa czy też Europa, która rozwija się czasami w różnym tempie, ale pozostaje otwarta dla wszystkich ?

W tej Europie, narody przejmą naprawdę kontrolę nad swoim losem ; jestem pewien, że w tej Europie, Zjednoczone Królestwo znajdzie swoje miejsce.

Obywatele Europy, impas Brexitu jest lekcją dla nas wszystkich. Wydostańmy sie z tej pułapki, nadajmy sens nadchodzącym wyborom i naszemu projektowi. Do was należy decyzja, czy Europa, wartości postępu, które niesie ona ze sobą, powinny być czymś więcej niż nawiasem w historii. Proponuję ten wybór, abyśmy razem utorowali drogę dla Odrodzenia europejskiego.

Emmanuel Macron

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- The currently on-going USA - China Top Contacts and Negotiations, due to culminate sometime during March 2019, have, in fact, a much More Important potential on "Hot" Topical Issues, than it might seem at first sight, with Europe and all the World being included in what is really at stake, but even all Humankind.

- Obviously, that big "Trade" Issue, (which includes also Monetary matters, Intellectual property, State's role vis a vis big Businesses, etc), is exceptionaly crucial for International Trade, Stock Markets and Growth, also at a World-wide level.

Apparently, according to the latest official News, it seems to be Advancing fairly well, to the point to postpone sine die earlier scheduled sanctions/heavy taxes, and even foresee a possible concluding Summit with a Deal asap.

However, inter alia, the latest developments at another topical issue : that of Korea peninsula DeNuclearisation, at the Trump - Kim Summit in Hanoi, show that Final Results depend on succesful political negotiations and other factors up to the last minute.

- But, what is, comparatively, less well known, and doesn't surface yet on headline news of mainstream Medias, is, in fact, an even More Important, Topical Issue, concerning particularly USA and China, but for which Europe has already started to show a keen interest, and which risks to affect very seriously all Humankind, with Crucial and Irreversible consequences :

>>> Indeed, Recent Developments have shown that, f.ex., a Chinese Doctor, educated and pushed by some USA Networks since the era of Former US President Barack Hussein Obama (Dems/"Socialist"/"Liberal"), has reportedly started to Violate Important Legal and Moral Norms on BioEthics, by imposing an artificial but Heritable Manipulation of the Human Genome, affecting even the Germline of Future Generations, with obvious Threats against Humanity itself, (See, f.ex. : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/heritablegenemaniptrumpxihumanity.html, etc).

In addition to serious Healh Risks (due to DNA disruption), in case of "CRISPR-Cas9" Gene Edditing Technology use on Embryos, at least as things stand Nowadays, what is certain is mainly that Heritable Genetic Manipulations of Germline obviously Threaten to impose, sooner or later, an abhorred "Eugenism" proned by NAZIs in the Past, and an Artificial Fabrication of various "Races", inevitably Dividing the Humankind into various Different and soon Opposed Categories of beings, some of which will obviously seek to Dominate the others, as if they were Slaves, or even "Animals" or Plants, etc., exploiting and/or mistreating them accordingly, as "inferior" beings.

Many and various, conscious Intellectuals, Activists, and other People have already Denounced such Threats against Human Dignity, which, in fact, risks to bring the End of Humanity, Warned against their Consequences, and Urged to Prevent them, already as early as since, particularly, the beginning of the 20th Century, until Nowadays.

That's why CoE's PanEuropean Treaty on Human Rights and Bio-Medicine, (known as "Oviedo" Convention : 1998), explicitly Prohibited that in more than 40 Countries around the World, including China's Legislation from 2004, and USA's Food and Drug Administration, which OutLaws any Federal Funding of such Research on those controversial and dangerous matters, (etc).

+ Moreover, Recently, EU Parliament hold a Public Debate, during its latest Plenary Session in Strasbourg on February 2019, where MEPs Urged EU Commission to push towards a "Global Ban" of such practices, while also Preparing a Resolution Against them, (See, f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eppvpresidentandmepsongermlinemanipban.html, etc), in addition to a parallel Condamnation also by official statements of a Chinese Minister, etc., (See, f.ex. the previously mentioned, Nov. 2018 Article, etc).

=> So that, Now, USA's new President Don Trump and China's President Xi Jiping, as Heads of the 2 more involved big Countries, particularly during the above-mentioned Top Political Talks and a probable Summit of March 2019, (Comp. Supra), have a Unique Opportunity, as well as a Crystal-clear Duty to act efficiently in order to Protect Humanity by Excluding any such awfull Risks the soonest. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
This may even be no only their 1st, but also their Last Chance to do so, since, if in the forthcoming, 2020 US Presidential and Congress Elections, eventually, Dems ("Socialists"/"Liberals") return back in power, then, it's certain that they will Push, on the Contrary, towards a Dangerous Slipery Slope inevitably leading towards the above-mentioned Dangers against Humanity : That's what the premonitory example of Former POTUS Barack Hussein Obama, (a Dems' "Socialist"/"Liberal" himself) has already proved, among others, also by a Scandalously Dangerous Report, by a team of Technocrats appointed by Obama, which had been prepared during his term in office, and was pubished soon afterwards, on Early 2017, which specifically seeks to Allow Heritable Genetic Manipulations of Human Germline under certain "conditions", (as it claims), which, in fact, do Not provide any real Guarantee to Prevent the above mentioned Horrors (Comp. Supra).

That's why Presidents Trump and Xi practicall have to start Acting efficiently Now (on Early 2019, i.e. before the US Primaries, and during their on-going USA - China Top Contacts), or never...

Technically, in Legal terms, this could be done quite Easily and Rapidly : F.ex., it would be enough, for them, to simply Sign and Ratify CoE's BioEthical Treaty, which outlaws any attempt to Manipulate the Heritable Human Genome's germline, (Comp. Supra), in a Text which is the Only one to be Legaly Binding, and Open to All Countries in the World.

USA has already a Special Observer Status inside the CoE, here in Strasbourg, and China has, apparently, been seeking, recently, some adequate Ways in order to approach CoE, which has also certain Legal Mechanisms destinated for a Global use, (as, f.ex., on CyberCrime, Money Laundering, Democratic Constitutions, Human Rights' Standards, Personal Data, Artificial Intelligence, Bio-Ethics, etc).

But in case that might, eventually, make some Hesitate, perhaps because of that CoE's Treaty's various Other Provisions, all on several Different points, (which are notoriously judged by Different Groups of CoE's Member Countries as either Too Strict, or, on the Contrary, Too Lose, etc), then, a Simple and New, Specific Treaty, targetting Only those controversial Manipulations of Human Germline, could do the job, (as it was done, f.ex., for the Prohibition of Human Cloning, etc).

Meanwhile, at least a Crystal-clear Political Statement by the Leaders of USA and China against Heritable Genetic Manipulations of Human Germline, urging all the Countries in the World to act accordingly asap, would naturally be an important "Plus", (particularly if it was Backed by an adequate Strengthening of the Legal Prohibition inside those 2 Big Countries).

From a Political point of view, there are valid reasons to think that such Measures would be quite Popular in China, while, moreover, New US President Don Trump, could certainly Find, there, a Serious and Topical way to Harvest an untapped but Big Potential of Popular Support, among various Conscious, and particularly Christian People, keen on BioEthics :

- F.ex., a Key relevant Point, in Trumps' Recent Speech to the traditional BiPartisan, American "National Prayer Breakfast" annual 2019 event, about "All Children, Born and UnBorn, (which) are made at the Image of God", linked to "the Miracle of Life and to the Majesty of Creation", as he said for the Human Embryos, was the most Widely and Lively Applauded by Thousands of People.

And we have personaly witnessed the Fact that several among his Socio-Political Opponents are, indeed, Afraid that the American President might be, sooner or later, enclined to Trigger and Stimulate also Christian and other such People's support on certain Key BioEthical Issues, (inter alia, perhaps inspired also by his predecessor, GWBush's similar succesful move at his brillant Re-Election of 2004, which had suddenly become UnExpectedly Popûlar), against the narrow-minded, petty interests of some selfish Lobbies which had copiously Paid Barack Hussin Obama's pre-Electoral Campaigns on 2009 and 2012.

After all, it's Also those Other People who are traditionaly opposed to "Racist" propaganda and/or practices, as they claim, that should, normally, be among the First to Fear, even More, any Risk to Artificially Create real "Races", by Heritable Alterations of Human Genome also in Future Generations, which Threatens to put an End to the History of Humanity, (Comp. Supra) !...

 Presidents Trump and Xi have Now, during those Top-Level Contacts, a rare, if not unique, Chance to make an Historic move in order to Settle, or, at least, Prepare and ensure the settlement of such a Crucial Issue, well Before the 2020 US Election.

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- ECHR confirmed that it "Postponed" the 1st Grand Chamber's public Hearing of an Inter-State case on the Ukranian problem, initially scheduled on February 27, shortly after Nadejda Savchenko's affair's links to the Crucial forthcoming Presidential Election of March 31, as well as to the Political Issue itself, were highlighted by recent events, including relevant Statements to "Eurofora" both by ECHR's President, Guido Raimondi, and CoE's 1st PanEuropean Commissioner for Human Rights, Gil-Robles, added to CoE's Director General for Legal affairs and Human Rights, Christos Giakoumopoulos, (See Infra).

Savchenko notoriously was the World Famous Ukraine's Heroin, back on 2014-2016, when she spend 2 Years in a Russian Jail, accused to facilitate Air-clashes which killed 2 Journalists at the Donbass, before being exchanged with 2 Russian Prisoners from Kiev, hailed by President Poroshenko and elected as No 1 MP in former Prime Minister Julia Timoshenko's Party's list, selected as MEP to COE's Assembly in Strasbourg.

Already since 2015, she had evoked (in Reply to Questions) the possibility to become Candidate for the 2019 Presidential Elections, and on 2016 she Started to Organise a New Political Party, which was Registered on 2017, as a "Political and Social Platform for Hope", naming her its representative to that Top Election. On the 26th of January 2019, this Party's Congress, with more than 100 Delegates from allover the Country, reportedly confirmed Savchenko unanimously as its Candidate for a New President of Ukraine.

But since Savchenko had started to held Direct Talks with the Heads of the pro-Autonomy Regions of Donetsk/Luhansk, engage in Prisoners' liberation through exchanges, and search for "Missing" Persons, reportedly evoked a possibility for Kiev to let Crimea's return to Russia in exchange of Donbass' regions, focused against "Corruption", for Reforms, and mainly "Peace", arguing that the original "Maidan" Square Popular Movement's Ideals had been "Betrayed", etc., then, she was Striped from her MEP Status inside her Party and at the CoE, falling in Disgrace among Kiev's main Establishment.

Then, on 2018, immediately after she denounced a Senior Ukranian Politician to have pushed those Deadly "Snipers" who Killed both Policemen and Demonstrators, back on February 2014 at Maidan Square, provoking thus a Violent and Bloody Confrontantion which Cancelled a Peace Agreement (for General Amnesty, a Government of National Unity, Elections in that Year, etc), Signed by All Sides, under the auspices of French, German and Polish Foreign Ministers, resulting, Instead, to the Division and the Political Problem of nowadays Ukraine, suddenly, Kiev's Prosecutor accused her for ... "Terrorism", including an alleged Plan to Overthrow by Force the Governent, Bomb the Parliament, Kill President Poroshenko (etc), Arrested and Imprisoned her in Jail, where she is being Held for a Year (2018 - 2019) until now, facing prosecution which threatens from 5 Years up to Life imprisonment.

(See also: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeandrussiain2019.html, etc).

The notorious incident of those strange, Deadly "Snipers" at Maidan square, (Comp. Supra), is also cited in a CoE's Report, prepared after enquiry by a High Level Panel headed by former ECHR President Sir Nicolas Bratza (UK), who Denounced the Lack of efficient Investigations by Kiev's Authorities on 2015.

=> So that, on 24 January 2019, the current ECHR's President, Guido Raimondi (from Italy), Replying to a relevent Question by "Eurofora", in his Annual Press Conference, ensured that, if an Application (on Savchenko's case) arrived to Strasbourg in that Context, then, the PanEuropean Court would certainly examine it very Seriously, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/echrcavchenko.html).

-------------------------------------------

- But on 7 February 2019, Kiev's Authorities Refused to register Savchenko as Candidate to the Presidential Election of March 2019, (where, on the contrary, about 50 Other Candidates were accepted), reportedly finding Pretext in the Fact that her current imprisonment Hindered her to deliver the required sum of Money for Registration on time, and stigmatized her, as so-called suspect for "Terrorism". 

(Previously, towards the End of 2018, the Jailed Woman had vainly declared another "Hunger Strike" in Prison, demanding from Kiev's Authorities to let her Access her personal Bank Account precisely in order to Pay the required Money for her Registration as Candidate to that crucial Election).

+ Shortly after that, on 15 February 2019, an Ukranian Court extended even further her ImPrisonment, for +2 Months more, until the 15 of April, (i.e. after the Elections).

=> Reacting, Nadeza Savchenko declared that "Time has come for Sanctions", "long overdue" particularly from "the ECHR", on those "Authorities of Ukraine" which are responsible for all that, Denouncing also the fact that the out-going President in Kiev, Pedro Poroshenko, "did Not make the Judicial Reforms that he had Promised", and accusing him to have "Lied".

++ In Addition, Later-on this same Month, for a Public Meeting at Kiev during the Week-End of 16 to 17 February 2019, Savchenko, (in a Message with a photo, brought by her younger Sister), stressed that "Citizens of Ukraine... have a Right to a Decent Life, Security and Justice", and launched a Wider Call for "a New Maidan" !

Already, the Initial information about those muysterious Deadly "Snipers", who curiously Targetted Both Policemen and Demonstrators, back on that Crucial Night of 22 February 2014, (provoking Violent Clashes, the Cancellation of a Peace Agreement, and the Division of Ukraine which has made much more than 10.000 Victims, including Many Civilian People), had been notoriously made (to former Foreign Minister of Estonia, Urmas Paet , currently MEP at EU Parliament, who said that to f. EU Commissioner for External affairs, Catherine Ashton, UK), by a Respected Lady, a Medical Doctor, working in one of the NGOs which were present at Maidan Square, (mainly on the basis of a striking Similarity of Victims' Wounds, Bullets' directions, etc) +Moreover, among various Other sources, even "New York Times" had observed, during those Crucial Kiev Events, (on 20 Feb. 2014), that "Snipers .... opened Fire, but it was Unclear which Side they were on", and that "Fighting Shatters Truce", (See: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/21/world/europe/ukraine.html).

- And Nowadays, as a Young PhD Researcher on "the role of NGOs in Conflict Resolution", studying precisely the case of "the Armed Conflict at Eastern Ukraine", (in cooperation between the French "Institute for Straregic Studies in the Military School", alias "IRSEM", and the "EHESS" : "Higher Education School  in Social Sciences"), told "Eurofora", during an Event organized by the Ministry of Defense, where "Eurofora" was invited Last Week in Paris, (See: ..., etc), indeed, even Today, many NGOs appear actively Engaged in trying to help find a Peaceful Solution to the Ukranian Problem asap.

=> Thus, such a kind of Original and Independent-minded, partly Civil Society - partly Populist approach, at Grassroots level, to boost Dialogue between all Sides, help settle the most Urgent Human Rights' Issues, while also aiming to actively contribute to Peace-building, as also Nadejda Savchenko seems to pursue, (at the Risk of her own Freedom, Career, Health and perhaps even Life), might be an Interesting and useful Voice to add in the Public Debate around the forthcoming Presidential Elections in Ukraine, which seem to be of Crucial lmportance for Key Political Developments in the foreseable Future.

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- So that it wasn't a surprise when CoE's Experienced 1st PanEuropean Commissioner for Human Rights (1999-2006), Professor in Law, Alvaro Gil Robles from Spain, (brother of EU Parliament's former President, José María Gil-Robles y Gil-Delgado), speaking to "Eurofora" earlier on 2019 at the COE in Strasbourg, made it crystal-clear that, as a matter of principle, the above-mentioned Case of Nadezda Savchenko "is really Important".

- Even more interesting, the very experienced and well informed on the Ukranian issue, CoE's Director General for Legal affairs and Human Rights, Christos Giakoumopoulos, who served also as CoE's Envoy to Ukraine, speaking recently to "Eurofora" in Strasbourg on the Savchenko affair, seen particularly from the above-mentioned point of view, Strongly observed that it seems to Raise also Important Human Rights Issues "Similar to those of the well-known ECHR Judgements in landmark cases of Julia Tymoshenko v. Ukraine (2013), Lutsenko v. Ukraine (2012), as well as Mammadov v. Azerbaijan (2014) !".

- Indeed, in all these ECHR's Judgements, (alike Nadeja Savshenko's case: Comp. Suipra), the Victims were engaged in Opposition Politics, (former Prime Minister, former Minister, or co-Founder of a Party, respectively), well Known also for Criticizing the current Government on Topical Key Issues, and aimed to participate in a forthcoming Presidential Election, from which they had been Hindered or Refused, practically by the consequences of their Prosecution and Jailing. And, as ECHR noted, the Circumstances of their cases indicated that the Actual Purpose for which a State Authority had taken restrictive Measures against them, was, in fact, also "Other" from the Reasons for which they had been prescribed by law.

I.e., in order to "Punish" them for their Political Opposition, Criticism or perceived "Lack of Respect" to the Authorities, and/or to Silence them for attempting to Disseminate what they believed to be True information, which the Government was trying to Hide, etc.

F.ex., at Tymoshenko's case ECHR pointed also at a "Punishment" for alleged "Lack of Respect" to the Ukranian Cour ; in Lutsenko's case, ECHR pointed mainly at his attempts to Speak out to the "Medias" ; and in Mammadov's case, ECHR pointed, in particular, at a Publication in his Blog about alleged Causes for a Popular Unrest in a remote Village.

That is to say, something very Similar to the  "Hotter" Savchenko's Denonciations (made at a Press Conference) on who had pushed the Deadly Kiev's "Snipers", who Murdered, provoked a Violent Conflict, and Topled a Peace Agreement signed by all Sides under EU Auspices, triggering the present Ukranian Problem, which has already Killed more than 13.000 People, Divided Europe and even Hampered its Economic Growth, (as f.ex. OCDE's Head, Angel Guria, has observed to "Eurofora", See: ...).

=> That's why, ECHR's established Case-Law, taking also into account the supplementary Fact that the Victims had been Hindered to Participate in Key forthcoming Elections, Contrary to their Wish, (Comp. Supra), concluded, in all such cases, that the respondent State "had Violated the Article 18 (Legal Purpose) in conjunction with Article 5 (Personal Liberty)", of the European Convention of Human Rights, because Restrictive Measures (as Jailing, etc) had been taken for "Purposes Other than those for which they have been prescribed", underlined Giakoumopoulos in Reply to an "Eurofora"'s Question on the Savchenko case.

+ Moreover, in the present case, it would also be Natural for ECHR to seek to take into Account Savchenko's personal Testimony, as an alleged Witness of mainsteam Kiev Politicians' implication in the affair of those Deadly Kiev's "Snipers" at Maidan Square on February 20, 2014, which topled a Peace Agreement signed by all sides, and triggered the Ukranian Problem, (Comp. Supra), BEFORE EuroJudges procede to that initially scheduled Public Hearing of the 1st InterState case "Ukraine v. Russia", initially due for February 27. Probably, that might be one of the Reasons for which it was suddenly "Postponed" sine die, (Comp. Supra).

    ++ In Addition, it has just been announced officially that UNO's World Council on Human Rights, at nearby Geneva, is due to Examine also the situation in Ukraine, during its Annual Session of 25 February  - 22 March 2019, including with an Interactive Debate on 20 of March...

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