newsitems

 

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/News-Viewpoint/- Embattled New French President Emmanuel Macron's deep awareness of the Fact that Europe needs, nowadays, to be reVitalized by certain profound and innovative Changes, largely depends, in practice, also by the more or less important Impact that the EU "Citizens' Consultations" (during a 6 Months-Long Series, which Starts Tomorrow, after his EU Parliament's Speech here) may have, or not, particularly throughout all or most of EU Member Countries.

Symbolically  - but also for Practical, Socio-Political Reasons : i.e. for OutReach to the Real People, as his 3 Days-Long Program, through Industries, Tradesmen, Peasants and too often "Forgotten" Rural Populations (a ... Don Trump's/Boby Sander's concept ?) obviously reveals - the Young Top EU Political Leader chose, almost at the Last Minute, the UnExpected, but Spectacular Format of a kind of ... "Long March" on the nearby Vosges' Mountains, (significantly Kick-Starting by a "Social Gaullism" Historic Stronghold, Tomorrow Afternoon at Epinal), for a Political Fight which will be Hard to Win, but Not Impossible.

However, it's also true, that the French President could not, no more, neglect at all, the Symbolic Franco-German ReConciliation and Peaceful Cooperation's landmark City of Strasbourg, Host of many and various EU and/or PanEuropean Organisations, (EU Parliament's full weekly plenary sessions, 47-Member Countries strong CoE, the ECHR, EU's Ombudsman, Shenghen system, Euro-Corps Army HQ, "ARTE" EU-RadioTV, and, recently, even of the "1st European University" : See ..., etc).

Therefore, an Important group of various Meetings with the European Community of Strasbourg was also Organized, on the occasion of the Official Signature of a New "3 Years-Long" overall Agreement between Strasbourg's Municipality, District, and "Great-East" Region (which has Recently Extended up to Bring closely Together 5 Core European Countries :France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium, through their Common Borders, from Strasbourg right to Brussels, through Luxembourg City !), at the Emblematic Location of "Europe's Area" ("Lieu d'Europe"), Facing ECHR, CoE and EU Parliament, while also remaining surrounded by a Luxurious "Green" space, at what had been, once, the Family Home and private Office of the 1st CEO, Director of the City's Modern Newspaper : "The Latest News of Alsace" (DNA).

But, Curiously, it all looks that this was practically organized in a quite Thorny way, particularly from the "Timing" and Transports' point of view, which reportedly Risks to Exclude, in fact, several interested People (even committed and active Pro-Europeans), and an important part of Strasbourg's Journalists from Covering Both the French President's meetings with the City's European Community, at that "Lieu d'Europe" (Comp. Supra), and the Launch of the 1st EU "Citizens' Consultation" at nearby Epinal (Comp. Supra), apparently because of some Tricky and apparently AbNatural Problems of mere Logistics, (which, normaly, should not exist, and were never seen before by "Eurofora" during more than 24 Years of European/PanEuropean/International Press Experience throughout our Continent and even in the USA : +9/1993-2018) !

Indeed, it seems, that, unless to be on board of the Presidential Airplane (where there are only a few seats, mainly for various Officials, etc), People (including even Accredited European Journalists, etc) would be Obliged to "Choose" between having to Leave for Epinal with a Special Bus scheduled Too Early in order to Cover the "Lieu d'Europe" Macron's meetings with the European Community of Strasbourg, and, therefore, Miss it entirely, OR to participate into those Meetings here, and ...practicaly Lose Any real Chance to Arrive at Epinal, for the Launch of the 1st EU "Citizens' Consultation" on Time, (given the Distance, and the Time needed for Ordinary, Public and/or Private Road and/or Rail Transports, compared to the Precise Timing Fixed for those 2, now Competig - instead of Harmoniously Cooperating- Related Events)...

Naturally, "Eurofora" has already been inside a French Presidential Airplane, (together with other Accredited collegue Journalists), but it was, then, in order to Travel some very Long and TransBorder Distances, as, f.ex., between Paris and Berlin, as well as the Other Way round, (with a Natural, Inevitable strong Wish to ...Jump by Parashute while Flying over Strasbourg City, located almost in the Middle of that road !), and NOT just such a Short, Local Distance only Between 2 Villages or Cities practically Located almost inside the Same Geographic Area, and/or in adjacent, Neighbouring Districts, as, f.ex. is the (Comparatively Tiny), much Shorter Distance between Strasbourg and Epinal, (i.e. Alsace and Lorraine), Both touching upon Vosges Mountains' borderline !

Who (and Why) provoked, suddenly, without even any previous Warning, out of the blue, such Exceptional, absolutely UnNecessary, and Strange but Real Logistical Obstacles, (which practicaly Oblige People to ..."Chose" between their Left and Right Hands) ?...

And Why Risk to seriously Diminish the overall (and mainly Mediatic + European) Impact that French President Macron's (as well as EU Citizens Consultation's) Ideas and proposals for ReVitalizing Europe could and should have, as well as an adequate Information of EU Citizens, throughout all our Continent ?  

                                        
                          (../..)


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

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to an "Eurofora"s Question, the Leading Experts of a Pioneer EU/CoE's New Joint Program "Digital Resistance", Richard Heise and Bastian Vasen, from the Leibniz University of Hannover (Germany), agreed, in substance, that Internet is not only a vehicle of Challenges, (such as "Fake News", Spying on Personal Data, Bullying, Discrimination, Indoctrination/Manipulation, etc, but Also a potentialy Wonderful Tool Facilitating Verifications, Fack-Checking and Search of Truth, key Discoveries, World-wide Publications, Access to Knowledge, Overcome InEqualities, Fight against Censorship and for Freedom of Expression as well as Press/Medias' Freedom, etc.

 

Significantly, that Pioneer EU/CoE Project, backed by Teams from 5 Universities accross the EU (Austria, Germany, Italy, Romania and Greece), was officialy introduced during a PanEuropean Conference in the 47 Member Countries strong CoE (including Russia, etc), at the Beginning of EU Parliament's Plenary Session of April 2018 this week in Strasbourg, where MEPs are due to Discuss on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, also Topical Issues on Private/Personal Data Protection and Elections' Manipulation, with EU Commission and EU Council's Representatives, and just at the Eve of new French President Emmanuel Macron's official visit and Speech in EU Parliament, Tomorrow Morning, Tuesday, Aprl 17, before Launching, later-on, during the Afternoon, at the Vosges' Mountains, (See : ...), the 1st EU Citizens' Consultation in a 6 Months-Long Series (April - November 2018) on Europe's Future, (where Web's use was explicitly underlined, in Addition to actual Meetings, also in a Press Briefing organized by the Elysée Palace for Journalists including "Eurofora", during the Week-End).

- Indeed, that Education Project is due to Focus mainly on Young Students "up to 18" Years of Age, while Macron's Citizens Consultations (due to Extend throughout almost All EU Member Countries), reportedly would Start since 16 y.o.

And, even if the Bottom-Line seems still UnClear, as far as Age is concerned, on the contrary, at least one thing is certain : - F.ex., "among by 3 Sons, it's only the Youngest one who is really a fully-fledged "Internet Native !", as told "Eurofora" CoE's Experienced, Education Manager Christopher Reynolds (from the UK), in charge of all "Digital Citizenship Education" projects. Moreover, in fact, Internet Use, Nowadays Starts already from Small Kids of no more than 4 or 5 Years old, even Before they get into mainstream School, added Reynolds...

So that, even if it's true that the CoE had Previously Worked on some kind of "Digital Citizenship" and/or Internet Education projects, (f.ex. alreeady since 2014, etc, as he reminded to "Eurofora"), nevertheless, it's also a Fact that, as, f.ex., EU Commission's Policy and Investment's Strategist, at the Education/Culture DG, colorfully said, Smiling,: - "It's the 1st Time that I come to the COE in Strasbourg for such kind of projets"...

- However, this is Part of a much Wider, and quite Older Category of the PanEuropean Organization's "Cooperation" projects in the Human s"Capacity Building" sector, as the Compoetent CoE's Senior Official, Ms Arzu Burcu Tuner reminded to "Eurofora".

=> Indeed, a Brand New and Extended 2018 Edition of a relavant CoE's older Capacities Toolkit "Box", whose imminent Publication was Announced Today by Reynolds, surprinzingly, got, in just a few Minutes-Time, an overwhelming Majority among the Participants of this Conference from various European Countries, spontaneously Interested to Ask ... where, when and how could they have themselves at least one precious Copy asap !

Reynolds, trying to keep a Solid British "Cool" Temper, (since, anyway, as a CoE's Officer us Not persobally concerned by EU's "BREXIT" Time-Deadline related matters), diplomatically promised to inform all of them asap, but carefully declined to explicitltly name a precise Date/Hour of actual Delivery...

*Strasbourg/Great East Region HQ/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking to "Eurofora" on their Decision, Today, to start Building here the 1st European University, Key Franco-German Actors at this EU's Core Area, as, inter alia, also, f.ex, Baden-Wurttemberg's Minister-President Kretschmann, Euro-Campus' President, Professor Schiewer, French EU affairs Minister Loiseau, Strasbourg's "Great-East" Region's Education, Research and European affairs' Committee President Werner, Academy Rector Bejean, etc, (See Infra), Highlighted mainly the 1st Priorities and a Time-Horizon, as things stand Today, at the foreseable Future.

    The Ambitious Project, had been already Evoked at an "Eurofora" Question, back on 2016, in the Press Conference which had Marked the Creation, as a 1st Step, of the Franco-Germano-Swiss "European Campus" here (Comp.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eusciencecomissioneronchinaandeuuniversitiesgroup.html, etc), and even as Early as in a Press-point by f. Rapporteur on Science for Alsace Region, f. University v.President responsible for Research, Professor Michel Granet, already from 2012, but Discussed also from the Beginning of 2018 with Strasbourg University's President Deneken and Prefect Jean-Claude Marx, (who had a ...Premonitory feeling, pointing at Franco-German Leaders' forthcoming moves: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/strasbourgregionprefectoneuropeanuniversity.html ).

Meanwhile, it has Become a Key part in New French President Emmanuel Macron's EU-ReVival Project, presented at his landmark Speech at Sorbonne University in Paris on 2017, and probably also of his overall Project for the Future of Europe, that he's expected to Debate with MEPs Next Week at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, just before Launching (at the Vosges Mountain's Hights) the 1st EU Citizens' Consultation in a Long Series in the run-up to the forthcoming EU Elections of May 2019.

    - Put Science Nowadays, at the Place of Coal and Steel, in the Beginning of EU Integration, could realistically Revive the European Dream, while History always Advances based on Necessities, stressed in Substance from the outset the New President of Strasbourg's "Great East" Region, (which Extends from Swizerland up to Belgium, and Brings Together 5 EU Countries at the Core of Europe, Together with France, Germany, and Luxembourg, by Sharing Common Borders), Jean Rottner, giving the tone.

"Eurofora" was Surprized to be given the floor to Raise the 1st Question among Journalists in a Press-Point organized just after the Officials' Announcements and the Signature of a Formal Declaration of Intent for the Creation of the 1st European University, asked, in substance, whether the Priority, at the Beginning, would be Integration at the Franco-German Core of the EU, or, rather, to Focus from the outset into Dealing with the Most Developed Science centers in Europe and the World, as, f.ex. in USA, Russia, China, etc, (the one, obviously, not excluding the other)...

  - The First thing to do, naturally is to launch an Efficient Integration, creating a Common Organisation, withOut various Obstacles provoking Division, but f.ex. Common Courses, Joint Infrastructures, Planification, etc. But this is certainly due to evolve, at a 2nd Stage, in Joint Projects able to Succesfully Face Global Competition, stressed, in substance, in Reply to "Eurofora"s Question, the President of "Euro-Campus", Professor Hans-Jochen Schiewer, from the University of nearby Freiburg.

 - The Franco-German+ Integration aims to create an Avant-Guard Able to UpGrade All the EU", since it acts according to the General European Interest, reacted, in substance, to "Eurofora"'s Question, afterwads, the New French Minister for EU Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau.

    + At the Same Time, in Parallel, Strasbourg University's President, Michel Deneken, speaking to "Eurofora", declared also his Interest to take a Leading Part in a possible realisation of the proposal made by new COE Assembly''s President, Michele Nicolletti, to create PanEuropean "University Networks" around Research on the Content and the Implementation of CoE's main Legal Treaties, as that on Human Rights, BioEthics, etc..

+ Nevertheless, When "Eurofora" started Asking the main participants about a more or less concrete "Time Horizon" for the real Beginning of the overall Project to Build the 1st European University at EU's Core, there were Various, but, in fact, Convergent reactions :

 - Winfried Kretschmann, the Minister-President of Baden-Wurttemberg's Federated State (Länder), at Neighbouring Germany, Replying to a relevant Question by "Eurofora", pointed a the Need to Consult, at First, collectively the Academia, about its own concrete Preferences, and, the, in about one years' time, really start to move collectively. But, already, in the Meantime, there are at least "2 First Pojects", almost Ready to Boost, one including Quantum, the other Chemistry, etc., as Kretcshmann told us, (speaking also in the vicinity of NOBEL Prize Winner in Chemistry, Professor Jean-Marie Lehn, from Strasbourg)...

 -------------------

- F.ex., the Rector of the Academy of Strasbourg, (who represented there also the French Minister of Education and Scientific Research), Sophie Bejean, told us, in substance, that a very Probable RDV might be around the "End of 2018", i.e. just "Before" the May 2019 EU Elections.

- Because, inter alia, also Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Commission's President, has expressed the Wish to See the First Projects from European Universities to Start be presented for EU Funding at approximatively that Period of Time, she explained.

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

- At any case, "If they (Public Authorities) don't Move Fast Enough, then, it's the Society which will Start doing things by itself !", Warned, with Voluntarism, Francois Werner, the President of Strasbourg's "Great East" Region's Committee for Education, Research and European affairs...

 Already, "Euro-Campus" brings Together 5 Universities around the Superior Rhine (Ober-Rhine) Trans-Border area, (Strasbourg, Freiburg, Basel, Kalrsruhe and "Haute Alsace" - i.e. Colmar+Mulhouse), with more than 15.000 Scientists, 10.000 PhD Young Researchers, and 120.000 Students. Without excluding a priori also an eventual Future Extension up to Luxembourg and particularly Belgium, (since the New Strasbourg's Region of "Great-East" was, meanwhile, Extended up to there too, adding also another German Länder as Neighbour by the way), where "the Universities are Ready", as President Werner spontaneously reacted to a relevant "Eurofora"s query.

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

+However, Science/Research are expected to Develop also the Economy, as "Great East" Region's President Rottner had already stressed Earlier Today, and, indeed, the Franco-German Regional Presidents Rottner and Kretschmann's Working Meetings didn't stop there at all, but fully Extended also during a busy Afternoon, as "Eurofora" found, Focusing, inter alia, particularly on the preparations of a Joint Franco-Germano-Swiss Mega-Exhibition on the "Industries of the Future" ("ZukunftsIndustrie"), scheduled on November 2018 at nearby Mulhouse, where Automatisation/Robotisation and Digitalisation seem to play the overall Music's main tune... 

 

*Strasbourg/ECHR/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking to "Eurofora", International Human Rights' Foundation "René Cassin"'s Chairman, former Long-Time ECHR President, Professor Jean-Paul Costa, appeared Adamant :

- "We did Not Judge the Content of this Case. If we had done that, the Outcome would, most probably, be quite Different !", he ensured us.

He was Replying to "Eurofora"s Questions about the UnExpected Award of the Prestigious, Annual "René Cassin" Contest's Prize for 2018, Not to the Team which pleaded for a persecuted and oppressed WhistleBlower sacrificing her career in order to Reveal a Big Scandal of Government-ordered Murders, But, on the Contrary, Surprisingly, to an Opposite Team of Young Jurists, who had seeked Justifications for such an awful Regime...

- In Fact, President Costa was pointing at the Same Direction with Strasbourg University's Professor Florence Rohmer-Benoit, who had just stressed, Earlier, to "Eurofora", that the Jury's Decision to give the "Rene Cassin" Award for 2018 to the Team which Defended that Controversial "Government", in the present Mock-Hearings at the ECHR, had mainly "Focused on their Way to Deal with the Legal Proceedings" in such kind of cases, in general, and Not on the Substance of the Particular (Imaginary) Affair, which had simply given a technical pretext for this Annual Competition.

+ And, "indeed, there was an Overwhelming Majority, almost a quasi-unanimity on the Choice that we made" in Awarding the (2018) Prize to the Defenders, (i.e. the Team which represented the State whose Government had reportedly ordered targetted killings, and put Heavy Sanctions on the WhistleBlower who tried to Reveal that Scandal), said to "Eurofora" Harry Roselmack, a well known Black French Martinican TV Journalist himself too, (Radios, TF1, Euronews, etc), who had been Exceptionaly Chosen to Chair the ECHR Mock-Legal Hearing, (playing even the prestigious Role of ECHR's President !)..

 

- So that, in Response to "Eurofora"s 2nd Question : - "But, aren't YOU Afraid to be Criticized by Most Collegue Journalists for Letting Down a Whistle-Blower, (who acted in the name of Freedom of Expression, in a case where a Journalist was Killed in suspicious circumstances) ?", (as we asked, Half Joking, Half Seriously), Roselmack (who has just Won a Prize in UK's "Chelsea Film Festival" for his 2017 new film "Fractures", around the Hard Issue of Deadly Islamist Terrorism's pernicious propaganda), reacted with very Calm Smile, pointing anew at what he presented as a "Widespread, General Feeling", among Most Members of the jury.             

However, it's also a Fact that, at least at First Sight, a Strong Impression results by simply Reading the main Contents of the (Imaginary) Case chosen for 2018's Mock-Legal Proceedings inside the ECHR's great Chamber in Strasbourg, that the "Good" Guys, Obviously, couldn't Stand but Only in Favour of the Complaint lodged by the Whistle-Blower (a Young Woman Civil Servant at a Ministry, Fired, even Striped from her Nationality, and Prosecuted for Treason, etc), against the Government of a State seriously accused to have Ordered Targetted Killings of several Individuals, that some had Tried to timely Denounce in Public, through a Journalist (another Lady), who had, finally, been found Dead, Later-on, in non-elucidated circumstances...

A fortiori when that Complaint (mainly for Violations of the Human Rights to Freedom of Expression, Fair Trial, etc), had been quite Efficiently Presented, by a Team of Young Students of Law from the Angers University, who (by another Striking Coincidence) were All Young Ladies  : i.e. with more than 5 Women for a Total of 5 Persons on the "Good" Side of Supporters of the Truth... (Which, by the way, is also Feminine, as Word, in the Original French Language in which the "Rene Cassin" Annual Competition traditionally takes place, with the Participation of several Dozens of Universities almost from all over Europe and beyond, including this time, f.ex., in addition to Paris, Strasbourg, Grenoble, etc, also Switzerland, Bruges' "College of Europe", Romania, Armenia, the Netherlands/Maastricht, Brussels, Moscow, etc, among the Finalists).

- But, as also the Experienced, former Long-Time CoE's Director-General on Legal and Human Rights issues, Philippe Boillat from Switzerland, (a Member of Today's "Court" in ECHR's main Room), agreed with "Eurofora", it's precisely this rare Overload so Many "Good" Arguments and Noble Values to support, from the Side of that WhistleBlower's Legal Complaint on Basic Human Rights grounds, that might have Incited its Team to Rely, perhaps, too much, on the intrinseque Value of the Content of its Cause, that it looked a little-bit ...Too Calm and almost Sure to Win.

- While, on the Contrary, the obviously too "Hard" job of the Adverse Team : that of the Defenders of the above-mentioned State's Government, who were Obliged to represent, apparently, the "Bad" Guy, (i.e. a Government seriously accused to Order Targetted Killings, and harshly persecutes the WhistleBlower who dares Reveal that Scandal in the Public : Comp. Supra), seems to have kind of ...Stimulated the Other 2 Young Students of Law, (them : All Young Men !), Obliging them to Make much More and Hard Efforts, Struggling with even more Fighting Spirit, etc., in order to Try to Face the Huge Challenge that they were Facing in such a thorny affair...

+ Moreover, they (as Real Human Persons), were ... "Innocent" themselves, since their assigned Role as Legal Defenders of that State, had Not been Freely Chosen, But, on the Contrary, it had been Imposed upon them, "by Drawing Lots", as the Chairwoman of this 2018 "René Cassin" International Competition, Professor in Law, Peggy Ducoulombier, said to "Eurofora".

>>> And, Indeed, one main Line that they adopted in Defense, was, apparently, Inspired by the Substance of Ducoulombier's own PhD Thesis, which she had dedicated to the analysis of "Contradictions Between Human Rights" ! (here at the ECHR, for Strasbourg's University, where she returned after Working also in Scotland/Aberdeen, UK, with American/USA Universitarians, as well as the CoE itself, etc)...

=> Thus, f.ex., to the Freedom of Expression, they Opposed the Protection of Private/Family Life and of Personal Data, (f.ex. even of the State Agents supposed to have been Ordered to facilitate of commit Targetted Killings, but Risked to see their own Family Home Address, Mobile Phone, etc. thrown to the Public, etc), as well as, (Most of all), that State's Duty to "Protect its Citizens from the Dangers of Violent (and often Deadly) Terrorism", as they repeatedly Claimed.

+ In Addition, the overall Method that had been Chosen by the Organizers this Time (for the 2018 Competition), by Exceptionaly Giving to All the Members of the "Court" to Raise and Ask Questions at Both Sides (Complaint and Defense) at Any Moment they wanted, During this Hearing's Plaidoyeries, (Something which is normaly Excluded at a Real ECHR Hearing, where Euro-Judhes can Ask Questions Only AFTER the End of the Oral Presentations initially Made by the Parties), indeed, considerablly Contributed into Making this Hearing much more "Sharp" than usual, almost Constantly requiring from Both Teams of Young Students of Law to remain at the "Cutting Edge", Ready to React Fast, Right, and Strong...

>>> A Culminating point was, at the very End of that Debate, the Replies given to a Key Question, of General Interest, about IF, and How, that WhistleBlower might, eventually, have some Other Means, Less Controversial, to Reveal to the Public those reportedly Planned Killings, in  a Timely and Efficient Way ?

- From the Side of the Legal Complaint (i.e. speaking for that WhistleBlower), the Obvious Answer was "NO" : F.ex., in such a case, the Defence Minister (accused to Order the Killings) was Out of Question, his Chief of Staff had No real Independence, the Minister of Justice could Not be Trusted to act as he should, and even the Attorney General wasn't really 100% Independent nor fully reliable, (etc). So, it was Just the Press (the Journalist who curiously Died, Shortly Afterwards) that had the Practical Capacity, Independence and Will to Help reveal the Truth to the People.

- But, from the Side of the Legal Defense (i.e. speaking for the respondent State), they were, obviously, Obliged to Strongly Fight Back : It was their Last Chance... Among Many and Various Other Arguments, (more or less unconvincing to "Eurofora"s view), what Singlet out was, particularly, the Reply given as far as it concerned the Possibility to Alert the Attorney General : - Indeed, he would be, in Principle, more Independent than Others, (Comp. Supra), from a fully Hierarchical Subordination, he even had a Legal Duty to act for the General Interest, and, Moreover, he (as a fully-fledged Jurist) would have Certainly taken, at least, the elementary Precaution to Distinguish and CHOOSE, among All those Numerous Data contained in the Papers that the WhistleBlower simply Photo-Copied as such, and Gave to the Press, Only those really Needed in order to Prove the Scandal of those Ordered Killings, while, on the Contrary, Ommitting to make public, i.e. Protecting Any Other Data of Private, Personal or Professional Nature, concerning several Individual Agents of the State, simply Ordered to do this or that, by their Superior (Comp. Supra), as well as any Other Delicate Secret of State, which might, eventually, be Necessary for the National Defense and/or National Security, as well as its Citizens Protection from Terrorism.

+ But, when "Eurofora", shortly Afterwards, discreetly Questioned Both Teams on what they thought about the Real Independence of an Attorney General in such kind of cases, the Reply from the Legal Complaint's side (for the WhistleBlower) Simply was that "it Depends on the National Legislation of Each Country", and that from the Legal Defense (for the respondent State) merely was, in substance : - "But, at least, he is a Magistrate !" I.e., something which, honestly, more or less Deceived us, apparently still Leaving that Question Open to Necessary Debate...

=> What a Surprize, then, when, Shortlty Afterwards, we shaw our Main Interlocutor from the Side of the Winners of this 2018 Contest, i.e. the "Defending" Team, (that of "Jean Monnet" University from Saint-Etienne), a Young Student in Law mysteriously named "Yannis Berthelier" (naturally looks like Franco-Greek, but he Laughed several Times, playing with "No !", when we asked, until a Young Lady who knew him told us that it's rather True..), who Finally Received, Personally, the Greatest Honor, (Officially attributed by the President of the "René Cassin" International Foundation for Human Rights, f. ECHR President, Professor Jean-Paul Costa himself), that of the 2018 Prize "for the Best (Legal) Eloquence"...

The Event (including the Official Distribution of All Other relevant Awards to the recipients : i.e. Winners, Finalists, Team, Participation, etc, including a Weekly Training Invitation at the prestigious French "Conseil d' Etat" in Paris, etc), took place (as it's traditionally used) at the Superbe, Brand New main Room of the "Great East" Region, (Alsace+Lorraine+Champagne+Ardennes), which links, since 2015, Five core European Countries Together, through joint Borders at the historic "Heart" of Europe (France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium, timely Facilitating Links between UNO's PanEuropean Headquarters at Geneva, Strasbourg's European Institutions, Luxembourg's EU Court, and Brussels), located Nearby.

 

+ There, all Participants were warmly Welcomed by the vice-President of that New and Big "Great East" Region, the young Elsa Schalck, Jurist herself, who Linked the European Project with Peace, mainly through Human Rights and Democracy, urged the Young Students in Law to Remember Well what they learned and/or will learn about these Values, when they shall be Called to Use them as Lawyers throughout the Courts, later on, and Concluded with a Balanced Call to Never Forget the Fact that "Human Rights canNot Exist withOut Rule of Law", as she significantly said.

- Elsa Schalck, speaking afterwards to "Eurofora", indeed, Stressed that, as a Lawyer herself, Based in front of the Historic Franco-German Borders near Strasbourg, she Strongly Believed that the appropriate development of a Human Rights/Rule of Law joint Culture and practice, at EU's and €uroArea's Core, including through Training Young Students in Law, i.e. mostly Future Lawyers, etc., has become, Nowadays, really a "must" for all involved in Europe's foreseable Future.

By the way, the Fact that the Annual International "Rene Cassin" Human Rights Competition traditionally takes place, each Year, on a New, but purely "Imaginary" Case, Faithfully and Accurately immitating ECHR's normal Legal Proceedings, (But, naturally, often, "Inspired" by the Actural Reality in Nowadays Society), did Not Hinder, the Experienced former Long-Time Director-General on Legal and Human Rights issues, Philippe Boillat from Switzerland, while Speaking with "Eurofora" and Top Winner Yannis Berthelier (Comp. Supra), etc. to Sincerely Raise a, obviously Capital Question, which was, indeed, always kept in our mind :

- "But, Curiously, Nobody did Not Raise yet the Issue of the Fate of that Journalist (in this Year's Mock-Case) who was found Dead (Comp. Supra) !"

Both "Eurofora" and Yannis Berthelier, surprized, but inevitably Moved, raised their eyes, thougtfully...

=> After all, as they use to say, in such "René Cassin" International  Human Rights Annual Contests : - "It May Happen, Tomorrow, Really to You !"