newsitems

*Brussels/EU-Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- When "Eurofora" asked French and German Delegations whether they had sufficiently "Coordinated" the Timing for the Press Conferences of the German Chancelor and of the French President on the Conclusions of this June 2017 EU Summit, so that European Journalists wishing to attend Both, in order to have an overall view on the Franco-German EU "core", could have at least some Minutes from each, successively, (according to a Practice which had Started some Years ago, after several such queries and suggestions), Nobody didn't yet expect what followed :

For the 1st Time in EU Brussels' Summits, new French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Angie Merkel, suddenly Decided, at the Last Minute, to hold a ...Joint Franco-German Press Conference, (which, for "space" reasons, took place at a hastily refurbished, former "French PressRoom", traditionaly located Side by Side with the "German" one) !

But, these "Good News" for European Journalists, was partly OverShadowed by anOther, Different, and even More UnExpected, relevant Incident, (which, apparently, did Not depend so much from the Will of the Franco-German couple itself, but rather from a Wider Context : See Infra) :

 - Initialy Scheduled for around "12.30" this Noon, (accordng to the Official EU Council's Press Agenda, confirmed Earlier Today), nevertheless, this Meeting of the French and German Leaders with the Press, including "Eurofora", on the overall Results of June 2017 EU Summit, (the 1st to be attended by Macron), suddenly was ...de facto Postponed for an UnDetermined Time-frame, Later-on, Obliging a lot of Journalists to spend almost ... 2,5 Hours into Waiting, ... Standing Exhausted, at EU Council's corridor, in front of a Closed Door, (reportedly due mainly to some "Technical" issues related to Material Changes from a "Single" to a "Double" Press Conference's installations, Air-Conditioning/Ventilation matters, etc), i.e. up to, approximatively ... 15 H.!

This was an Occasion for at least some well-known faces of Collegues usually following the "Elysée" Palace events in Paris, to Complaint that, Recently, the incoming Macron's Press Administration would have Multiplied, according to them, several UnPrecedented Changes in the way various Press points were practicaly Organized, so that they'd often Obliged them, f.ex., to stay Out of the main Building's Rooms, at the CourtYard, until, finaly, this or that New Set up was completed for this or that event, (as, inter alia : the Weekly Pres-point on the Regular Meeting of the Governement, each Wednesday, etc), now Presented in a "New" manner to "Communicate", reportedly due to "Mark" a "Different" approach from the Past...

But, soon, it became Evident that, in fact, the Real Reason, standing Behind that 12.30 - 15H, almost 2,5 Hours-long Delay, was anOther, quite Different Factor :

- Indeed, while the EU Summit's 1st Day's Press Conferences took all place at an Unusually ... Early stage :  around 16-17 o'clock in the Afternoon, i.e. just 1 or 2 Hours after the Beginning of EU Leaders' meeting, to the point that, (added also to some other, also Unprecedented, UnWarned Changes in the "Security" Blockades around the EU Council's Buildings and roads, apparently not so well organized or communicated to Accredited Journalists this time), some, even among the most "faithfull", were, in real practice, Exceptionaly Hindered to attend on Time, on the Contrary, during this 2nd Day of Brussels' Summit, that Unprecedented collective "Waiting" Stand-up (Comp. Supra), was Too Long to be due merely to a simple "Technical" modification...

Inevitably Exhausted, the Numerous Journalists who were, thus, practicaly Obliged to Stand Up, Waiting for almost 2,5 Hours at the Corridor (Comp Supra + relevant Photo, attached herewith), - during which, even the Only available Snack was Closed, without any pôssibility to have any Lunch at all, (not even with a humble sandwich, since also the EU Council's Bar had been, in the meantime, exceptionaly ... Emptied from any kind of "normal" food, until its Late Evening closure !), except from a Brief refreshing ..Glass of Water, graciously offfered, once, by an "Elysée" Press officer - realized that it was the EU Summit itself which had been, UnExpectedly, Delayed, at this Last Part of its work, Postponing its overall Conclusions for Later-on...

But Why ?

Not even so Thorny, Serious and Complicated Issues as, f.ex., the recently Growing Need to Face Deadly Islamist Terrorist Attacks even against innocent Civilian People throughout Europe, or the Development of EU's own Security and Defence policy, as well as the Economic Situation, including several Free Trade Deals, the Fight against "Dumping", but also "Climate Change", "BREXIT" Negotiations' Start, and various Topical Foreign Policy issues, (such as, f.ex. : Ukraine, Russia, USA, Turkey, etc.,  did Not Delay at all this June 2017 EU Summit, which, surprisingly, Succeeded to End its 1st Day (Thursday) at a ...Record Short Time-frame, letting everyne Free to Go, already as Early as since 11.30 Last Evening, (instead of Prolonging it all up to, around 3 or 5 a.m. in Early Morning, as it used to be the case, Most of the times in the Past) !

On the Contrary, it seems that it was Only issues linked to that mainly Turkey-imported, Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants' sudden Giant "Tsunami"'s aftermath, (and particularly a Controversial Re-Distribution and Re-Allocation of such Migrants between all EU Member Countries, according to a mechanism which seeks to Oblige the recalcitrant ones), which Provoked, alone, so many Contradictions, that it practicaly Divided EU Council, Delayed it, and exceptionaly HIndered it even from Publishing the slightest Conclusion on that matter...

Indeed, (according to the Official "Remarks" made, and the "Invitation Letter" send, by EU Council's President, Donald Tusk, to the 28 EU Member States), this June 2017 EU Summit in Brussels had, initialy, Aimed to Start Responding, with Concrete Measures, to the 3 Main Promisses that  EU Leaders made to "Protect" the European People, at their exceptional,  9/2016 Summit in Bratislava (Slovakia : Comp. "Euofora"s relevant NewsReports from the spot, then, f.ex.: ...) :

(1) Security/Defence, (2) mass Migration, and (3) uncontrolled Globalisation, (etc).

* Thus, f.ex., EU Leaders immediately Endorsed (already from Yesterday Afternoon) a set of Measures for "Internal Security and the Fight against Terrorism", as well as in order to Boost "External Security and Defence", including, f.ex., to "Fight the Spread of Radicalisation On-Line", at the Web, "Thwart the Financing of Terrorism", and facilitate the "Inter-Operability of Data-Bases" for this purpose. After the establishement at Helsinki of a "European Centre of Excelence for Countering Hybrid Threats", A "European Defense Fund" (both for High-Tech "Research ", and for "Capabilities"), is due to be Added to a relevant "Industrial Development Program", while the EU launched  a "permanent "Structured Cooperation", and decided that "BattleGroups" 'Deployment should be born "permanently" by EU-Managed "Athena" mechanism.  

* This June 2017 EU Summit also fixed a 1 Year Deadline, for "Deepening, Implementing and enforcing the Single Market in All its aspects", (i.e.: Digital, Capital, Energy, etc). Extend and Reinforce the European Fund for Strategic Investment". Called for Action to ensure "a strong and competitive Industrial Base". As well as for "WTO-Compatible Trade Defence Instruments" (TDI) against "UnFair or Discriminatory Trade Practices and Distortions", in Addition to "Analyzing Investment from 3rd Countries in Strategic Sectors"'. It also "encouraged progress" in Trade Deals with "Maxico, Mercosur and Asian-Pacific region", while, in the meantime, Talks with "Japan ...pave the way for a Political Agreement" soon (etc).

* Moreover, EU Member States "ReAffirmed their Commitment" to the 2015 "Paris Agreement" in the Fight against Climate Change", and "Highlighted the OverArching Importance of an ambitious Digital Vision for Europe, its Society and Economy, with an Holistic approach", (particularly on the Occasion also of the Incoming rotating EU Presidency by Estonia : July - December 2917).

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* Astonishingly, all these various Issues, related to Europe's strengthening and development, were Dealt with, almost as Scheduled, quite Harmoniously, and in a Record-Short period of Time, (Comp .Supra),

    while, on the Contrary, it's only ... on Mass Migration matters, that June 2017 Summit appeared deeply Divided, almost as Never Before, Did Not manage to Complete at all its Conclusions, and Provoked a Surprizingly, big Delay, Wasting a lot of Time, unexpectedly (Comp. Supra).

In fact, it's Not about the now Obvious Need to ensure an "Effective Control of (EU's) External Borders", in order "to stem and Prevent illegal Flows", with "Vigilence on All Migration Routes, including the Western Balkans' route", and "making Full Use of ... the European Border and Coast Guard, and other Agencies, "Training and Equiping the Libyan Coast Guard".  Neither of the "Key Objective" that remains "the Disrupting of he Business models of Human Smugglers and Traffickers", as June 2017 EU Summit's Conclusions stress.

+ EU's Move in Brussels came at the Same Day that  PanEuropean CoE in Strasbourg was organizing an International Conference, including UN Officials, on the Fight against Smugglers of Migrants : - "Smuggling Costs Lives !", reportedly warned, inter alia, CoE's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jagland, an experienced former Prime Minister from Norway and Head of Oslo's Nobel Peace Prize Committee.

- Indeed, "there is always Progress on the Issue of the Fight against the Cause of the Flight, and the SafeGuarding of the External Borders" of the EU, because  - "We (EU Leaders) are very, very United !", as German Chancelor Angie Merkel clearly stressed during her Press Conference with Emmanuel Macron, (See Infra).                  

* But all that well Organized, Natural and Well Functioning  European "Unity", among all 28 EU Member States, who had just Succeeded, these 2 Days in Brussels, into Dealing quite Efficiently with Numerous and Manifold, Various other Topical Issues, from Terrorism and Defence up to Trade, Climate and Digital Technologies, etc., (Comp. Supra),

    suddenly was Undermined, seriously Threatened, and, at least momentaneously, Smashed, by the Conseqences of ... Turkish Smugglers' sudden Massive Move to brutaly Throw an UnPrecedented Giant "Tsunami" of Mass Asylum Seekers/Irrefular Migrants, notoriously Mixed up also with several Thugs, petty Criminals or even outright ISIL's disguised Deadly Islamist Terrorists (as many Facts proved), without any Warning inside a wholy UnPrepared EU, up to More than 1 Million of densely packed-up individuals and/or Mobs, from whom Ankara's Government had systematical Excluded Qualified Persons, (as an EU Report has revealed in Brussels, Leaked to the mainstream German Press), almost All Heavily Islamized, Most Christian Minorities (who are, notoriously, facing the Most Grave Oppression by Armed islamist Gangs ISIL's Terrorists, etc) having been curiousky Excluded from that Turkish road, (to the point that even Pope Francis, who Wished to Invite 1 Christian Family of Refugees to the Vatican, Tgether with 2 Muslim Families, when he visited the overloaded Greek Islands, was Unable to Find not even one (1) such Christian Family, and was Obliged to take with him Only 3 out of 3 Muslim Families, (as if Christians did Not exist in Syria, where, nevertheless, they Traditionaly represent about 15% of the Population)...

The Turkish Government has notoriously Exploited those UnPrecedented Incidents, by exerting a Blackmail pressure on the EU, until it got Promises for ...3 Billions € during the next three Years, a relaunch of Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, a claim for "Free Visa" Status to 80 Millions of Turks, (that would allow them to stay into the EU durng at least 6 Months each Year, whenever they like), and even a mechanism accordng to which, for any such Migrant Returned Back into Turkey, Ankara would choose itself anOther one, among the many "Camps" it has set accross its Borders to Syria, (known for their "permeability" to ISIL's Islamist Terrorists' networks, logistics, recruits, etc). So that, at any case, the Total Number of Irregular Migrants Smuggled into the EU through Turkey, would Never be lowered !)...

But Several European Countries, mainly the Central-Eastern EU Member States of the "Visegrad" Group, (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, etc), particularly after the Recently Growing Deadly Islamist Terrorist Attacks against Civilian People inside Europe, committed by various such Pseudo-"Refugees", or even mere Thugs, throughout Europe, (from Paris to Berlin, Munich, Salzbourg, Copenhagen, Brussels, Nice, Saint Petersburg, Manchester, London, etc), but even in the USA, have notoriously Refused to Yield to a Controversial EU Comission's mechanism for "Relocation" by "ReDistribution" of such Immigrants throughout All European Countries, (even those who Never had before any kind of "Muslim" Groups in their Land).

Poland, moreover, has been Shocked also by the Horrible spectacle of a Poor Polish Woman Atrociously Massacrated with a huge Manchette by a so-called Syrian Refugee hired at a Turkish Kebab Shop in Nearby Germany, (Reutlingen), which apparently belonged to an Islamist Fondamentalist Network, to the point that it made Publicity for ...Islamist Prayers (inside the Kebab Shop !). She was one among 6 various Victims also Brutaly Attacked by her Killer with that Manchette, and, after Critical Questions were raised by the Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister of Poland, while even Public Demonstrations were Orgabized by Polish People at the spot where the Bloody Murder took place.

This was, notoriously followed also by the recent Murder of a Polish Truck Driver in Berlin by an Irregular Migrant coming from (and soon Returning Back to) Italy, after abusing of the Stolen Truck in order to Massacrate Dozens of Innocent People at the "Christmas Market", before fleeing at his usual Mosque, run by the Turkish DITIB.

As for Hungary, it has already received More such Mass Migrants in percentage of its own Native Population, than any other EU Member Country, (since almost All of that 2015-2016 Giant "Tsunami" of 1 Million People crossed its Borders)...  

 
The Czech Republic, (which currently Chairs CoE's PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy, and Rule of Law : May - November 2017), had Earlier accepted 12 such Mass Migrants, who had arrived in Europe at Greece through Turkey. But, after that Experience, Prague refused to receive not even one (1) more of the same, reportedly prefering to eventualy pay a Fine !                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
As for Slovakia, its Prime Minister, Robert Fico, inter alia, had reportedly Warned that if Groups ofradicaly Islamized Mass Migrants from Turkey enter the Country, they will be soon Asking to have also a Muslim Mosque there, so that, soon, even a over-Millenary Christian State would have Problems also from a Fast-Growing and Troublesome Muslim Minority hastily imported from the Turkish Borders close to areas controlled by various Islamist Armed Gangs until the Recent Advances of the Syrian Army. When Slovaks asked to Welcome, instead, some Christian Refugees from Syria, they Faced a Refusal, (since Not even the Pope himself wasN't able to find at least 1 Christian Refugee Family there : Comp. Supra). 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
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+ Curiously, instead of Thanking at least those Visegrad (particularly Hungary) and Western Balkan FrontLine Countries (as FYROM, etc), which managed to, at last, Stop an Otherwise irresistible, UnPrecedented sudden Giant "Tsunami" unleashed against Europe through Turkey, i.e. succeeded, in fact, to Protect Europe by taking Control of their Borders without any Help, (See UN - IMO relevant Data, for the 1st Time revealed by "Eurofora", as early as, already since May 2016 : f.ex. .....), on the Contrary, some parts of the Establishment didn't find anything better to do than to Threaten and even Attack these European Countries still Resisting to Forced Islamization, by pushing, recently, to launch a series of Legal Prosecutions to the Courts against them...

- "I Warned" them, "They didn't Believe it". But,"now they can see it", soberly observed EU Commission's President Juncker, only 2 Days ago in Brussels, speaking on the sidelines of an EU Parliaments' High-Level Conference on Migration management, to Journalists, including "Eurofora", (See:....) ....

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+ So, instead of speaking about High-Tech, Satellite or other Space Exploration Modern and Ambitious Technologies, a Decisive European, brand New Initiative on Strategic TeleCommunications and/or other Innovative Digital Technologies, etc., (or, at least, searhing to find how to Protect European People from even more Islamist Terrorists' Deadly Attacks, which persisted even recently),

on the Contrary, this EU Summit of June 2017 suddenly started to Lose Time and Energy in a long and counter-productive Dispute, attempting to exert Pressure on Central-Eastern European Countries, where, in Fact, it all boiled down into the Question whether, or not, even More Muslim Mosques should be built, mostly for the 1st Time, in ..."Mittel - Europa",
probably Funded by Foreign States, such as, f.ex, ...Qatar, (that even Arab Countries, as Egypt, Jordany, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, etc., have just Denounced as Accomplice to Terrorism, and New USA President Don Trump Criticized for Funding Islamist Radicalisation and Hate, even Islamist Terrorism !)  

Like, f.ex., that Strasbourg' Western Suburbs' new Mosque, (that Qatar decided to Fund just after the "Charlie Hebdo" Massacre of critical Journalists in Paris, January 2015 !), recently inaugurated on May 2017 by an out-going "Socialist" Mayor... Perhaps, in order to make ...Competition to that Other, Saudi Arabia - Funded Mosque in ...Brussels, astonishingly Near the Top EU Institutions at Schuman Square, (mainly EU Commission, but also EU Council, etc), where "New York Times" reported at least one Deadly Islamist Terrorist recently ?

Isn't really a Pity that Europe was almost Divided into Opposite Camps, and Quarelled these Days, over such Issues,

instead, f.ex. to Inspire itself, united, from the pré-existing, Positive Example of Spain and Morocco, (Geopolitical "Bridge" between Europe and Africa), which have notoriously succeeded, all this Time, to keep Mass Irregular Migrants far Away from Tresspassing into Europe, (and quite Safe, away from Smugglers' shaky Boats which already killed a lot of People trying desperately to cross the Mediterranean, for Italy, or the Aegean, for Greece, etc) ?

Paradoxically, at least until now, it's only ...Turkey who got more than 3 Billions € per Year from the EU, in relation with that Mass Irregular Migratio of 2O15-2016, while, on the Contrary, almost Nothing Similar wasN't yet given to the Well-Functioning Spain-Morocco, pre-existing Positive example...

However, it would be much "Better" if EU helped to Keep the Mass irregular Migrants from the African continent, usefuly occupied, somewhere around "here", told recently "Eurofora" a Morocco delegate at the CoE in Strasbourg. _ "I think that we could do it"...

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But, instead of Focusing, all Together, into a concerted EU effort to Help Neighouring Countries keep irregular Mass Migrants closer to their Homeland and Cultural space (Comp. Supra), while also Protecting EU's External Borders, and starting really to Rectify the Harm provoked by that sudden, unprecedented, Giant "Tsunami" through Turkey, since back on 2015-2016,

    on the Contrary, the Divisions between EU Member States, provoked by that latter fact, appeared quite Hard during this June 2017 EU Summit in Brussels...

The Quarrel, notoriously Started to emerge in Public by an Exceptional INTW that Macron gave to 6 or 7 Traditional Newspapers, (as his Press Attachés had informed also "Eurofora"), in which, he made a very "Hot" Criticism of the Recalcitrant EU Member Countries, accused, inter alia, for "chery-picking" among EU's various aspects, as if it was "a Super-Market", taking EU "Money" but droping some EU "Values", etc., in line, and even Harder than his known stance asking from all Central-Eastern EU Countries to apply all EU Rules, including on the Controversial issue of Migrants' "ReLocation", etc.

Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, reportedly replied that Macron was "a Newbie" in EU Summits, wrongly believing that he could "kick" on Central-Eastern EU Member States, and found that this was a "deception". Polish Prime Minister, Beata Szydlo, reportedly found that Macron would feel an "Antipathy" vis a  vis Central-Eastern Europe, and invited him to focus on "Facts", instead, calling for a Meeting between the New French President and the "Visegrad" Countries, which took place briefly, Earlier Today Morning.

All this led to a reported Break, during Friday's EU Summit's working session, which restarted Later-on, provoking the above-mentioned 2,5 Hours unexpected Delay (Comp. Supra), but also a "Blank" amidst this June 2017 Summit's official Conclusions :

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JOINT FRANCO-GERMAN PRESS CONFERENCE IN BRUSSELS : RELEVANT PARTS
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    - "Unfortunately, we have Not made Any progress on the issue of reDistribution (of Migrants) within the EU", acknowledged  the German Chancellor Angie Merkel, in Reply to a relevant Question, during Today's Joint Press Conference in Brussels, on the Conclusions of the latest EU Summit. .

    - "It was clear that we (the EU Summit of June 2017)  Could Not achieve Any progress", on this notoriously Disputed matter, she observed.

    - According to "My Vision of Europe", we should "sit Together at a Table", putting ourselves in the Situation of the Others, and "Find Compromises", Merkel soberly suggested.

In this regard, even if she spoke about "Solidarity", and reiterated her favorite reference to EU "Values", (earlier made also by Macron), Nevertheless, she ddn't say anything about Coercion.

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- Macron was much More Critical  - "We (EU Council) Failed" to see "always Solidarity and Responsibility in Europe... There was No Balance ... in the area of ... Migration", he Denounced. "I am Not sure" that "we had always enough Solidarity". And, "from this ImBalance, the Doubt has been born", in his view.

- Even "France did Not act very Gloriously", he acknowledged. But "this is a Symptom of ...the Fact that we have 10% of UnEmployment", Macron pointed out.

>>> - "From that time on, there was a Lack of Solidarity to Distribute the Burden. That's a fact", he stressed.

- Therefore, "what we are Working on Today is to achieve a real Solidarity, a real Responsibility... for these Refugee Flows", Macron concluded on this point, Highlighting but Not Repeating here (at least Not Explicitly) some Harsh Words previously launched against those EU Member Countries which are Recalcitrant to a Controversial, Imposed "ReDistribution" mechanism, (Comp. Supra), any reference to which, was, finaly, ommitted in EU Summit's Conclusions.

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+ But, when he vas Specificaly Questioned about the fact that, "with Other EU Leaders - f.ex. the Poles", he had "Not Hesitated to make things Very Clear, and Say that they are Turning their Backs on EU Values", as Macron had reportedly Accused them to do, in a joint Interview to "Figaro" and some Other Countries' Newspapers Earlier, (Comp. Supra), he did Not Deny that, (even if he did Not Repeat Explicitly similar Harsh Words, No More :

 - "Regarding the Interview you have mentioned, ... I stand behind my statements, just as I said", Macron insisted.

 -   Since "I've seen what the (EU) Commission itself has said : It has Triggered a Procedure against Infringement", (allegedly made by Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, etc). Because "Statements were made, that are Not on our (EU) line, and which are also likely to Trigger a Breach of (EU) Treaty", he Denounced.

    He was refering to the Legal Procedures against "Visegrad" Group Countries of Central-Eastern Europe, that EU Commission's President Juncker evoked Wednesday Evening, during a Press Conference in EU Parliament, by Simply saying : - "I had Warned them. They did Not Believe me. But Now they can See it"...

     -  "I have seen the Viségrad States this Morning", added now Macron. - "We have defined points where we have a Difference, and where we will Continue to see an Exchange, in order to see and understand how one or the other is, and which are the constraints", ....We can have quite Different opinions on certain topics and values ​​....Nevertheless, we can continue to Work ....to Reduce the Differences", he concluded.

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    => Finally, the June 2017 EU Summit's Conclusions, on the Chapter regarding "Migration", do Not even Mention that Controversial obligatory "Re-Location" schema...

    - EU Countries' Leaders simply "invited" EU "Commission ... to Explore possible solutions to Alleviate the Burden on Frontline Member States", in a way Open also to Various Other possibilities in the foreseable Future, according to the Official Text.

     + However, EU Parliament's New President, Antonio Tajani, official proposal, made Yesterday to EU Council, for the "Creation of Reception Centres", f.ex. "South of the Sahara", to "guarantee the Safety of Migrants", "provide Medical care, Water and Food", as well as "Properly apply the rules on Asylum and ReAdmission", (i.e. something which could, obviously, be duplicated also to South-Eastern Turkey, etc), at least for the moment, apparently fell also Victim to that Division among EU Leaders on the crucial Issue of how to Tackle Mass Irregular Migration, since Nothing similar exists in EU Council's Conclusions.        

Similarly for EU Parliament's suggestion to "Build a New Partnership with Africa", including "on Major Opportunities for Growth in that Continent" : A point which was made, Recently, at the G7 Summit's Conclusions in Taormina (Italy), and suggested Nowadays by Tajani also for the EU Council, but was Ommitted Today, perhaps also because it might be taken over by the Forthcoming "G 20" Summit in Hambourg (Germany), on July 2017.

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+ Meanwhile, however, new US President Don Trump, will visit Poland, at the Eve of that "G20" Summit, where he will also participate actively to a special Meeting with the "Visegrad" and Other EU Member Countries, making a keynote Speech which is due to be "very Important", according to the Press service of the "White House" ...

*Brussels/EU-Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to an "Eurofora" Question on the sidelines of a Press Conference in Brussels' PressRoom, the New President of EU Parliament, experienced former twice EU Commissioner and Long-Time MEP, Antonio Tajani, a ChristianDemocrat from Italy, (Comp. also Various Other Tajani Statements in Reply to "Eurofora" Questions also Earlier, on Different Issues, f.ex. from Space High-Tech, up to Economy and SMEs, etc), made it even more Clear that, in fact, the Organisation which is due to be the Most Democratic body of the EU, currently has a kind of Threefold approach on the "Hot" Topical Issue :

While being Adamant on Real Political Refugees' need for elementary Protection, and even Discussing some Economic Migrants' socio-economico-cultural Integration (partly in Europe, added to Wider Development Aid EU Policies at their Countries of Origin, mainly Africa etc, with some Interesting Ideas: See, f.ex., Infra), Nobody was Dupe, naturaly, also of the Risk that some, slyly push also various Traffick and other Criminal attempts, as Islamist Radicalization and even Deadly Islamist Terrorism, as a Growing Series of 2012 - 2017, unprecedented, Barbaric Incidents are proving.

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Tajani spoke Today with Journalists, including "Eurofora", in Brussels' Pressroom, well in direct Extension of his Joint Press Conference, held Earlier here, Together with EU Commission's President, Jean-Claude Juncker, and EU's High Representative for External and Security Action, former Foreign Minister of Italy, Federica Mogherini, (See relevant "Eurofora" Photo, right in the Middle of a High-Level Conference, precisely, on "Migration Management", at the Eve of a 2 Days-long EU Heads of State/Government Summit, here in Brussels, which is due to Discuss, and eventualy Decide, also on Migration Issues, in addition on the current Need to Boost EU's common Security/Defense, as well as certain Topical Foreign Policy issues.

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- "Eurofora" reminded to Tajani, in this Context, also Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos recent relevant Statements, in reply to MEPs' Questions, at CoE's PanEuropean Assembly in Strasbourg, (See: ....), in substance, that Real Refugees could be socio-culturaly Integrated, while Europe might also become Able to Cope even with several Economic Migrants, But, on the Contrary, Greek and Other CoastGuards at EU's External Borders, had Not yet the Necessary Capabilities that would enable them to really Check a growing part of various "Criminals", who are send by Smugglers, particularly through Turkey, (whose Authorities he Criticized for Allowing such things to happen from Territories that they Control. That's why, Pavlopoulos (who is the Unique Top Greek Official supported Both by the Rigt and the Left sides of the Political Spectrum) asked for a European level Response to Fix that Problem.

    - "What exactly was that 3rd Issue ?", querried, carefuly but Interested to Know, the New President of EU Parliament.

     => Indeed, that's Part of several Cases that we (EU) are Discussing nowadays here, Antonio Tajani, soberly but Sharply and Positively, Replied immediately to the above-mentioned "Eurofora"'s Question, (Comp. Supra).

    + He also hinted that, at least partly, Greek President Pavlopoulos' concern, recently expressed at the PanEuropean CoE in Strasbourg, is, (in addition to Internal EU JHA Policy), related even with EU's Foreign Policy, (f.ex. on Turkish Authorities' alleged trend to Let mainly Turkish Smugglers select mostly some quite Thorny Groups of Mass irregular Migrants, while reportedly Discouraging Educated/Qualified or Christian Asylum Seekers, even if Facing Brutal Oppression by ISIL and Other Islamist Terrorists, as Brussels' EU Reports, leaked mainly to German mainsteam Medias, such "Die Welt", etc, have recently Revealed and Denounced).

         - Indeed, more Widely speaking, currently, the Fight against various TransNational Criminal Organisations attempting to Exploit Mass Irregular Migration, (f.ex., for Smuggling, even Traffick of Childrens' Organs abused in Transplantation "Markets", Sexual Abuses on Women, Children, etc), in addition to notorious claims about Islamist Terrorists' infiltration, etc), are an "Absolutely Important", Top "Priority" of Europe, EU's High Representative on Foreign and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, stressed in reply to relevant Questions, earlierToday.

 + Significantly, such Moves come just after New USA President, Don Trump's 1st official Visits in Europe and to the Middle East, just after which, for the 1st  Time in History, even Arab Countries as Egypt, Jordany, Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc., Started to Jointly Denounce and punish with Sanctions, Qatar's role, particularly during the Last 5 or more Years, to Fund Both "Islamist Radicalism  Ideologies of Hate" and Violent Islamist Terrorism", as Trump clearly pointed out.

=> By the way, Tajani did not shy away from the recent Facts, when he acknowledged, later Today, (speaking to Journalists, including "Eurofora", in Brussels' EU Parliament's PressRoom, that, indeed, particularly after also the Recent various ISIS' Deadly Attacks throughout Europe and elsewhere in the World, Yes, "We are Facing a kind of War, especialy since ISIS is Losing around Raqua (Occupied Syria), starting to launch various Attacks in Different parts of the World: f.ex. from Europe to subSaharian Africa, Afghanista, or even Philippines, etc., as he observed.

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    Pointing out the Fact that he also spoked "after a Series of Attacks" these Last few Weeks, the competent EU Commissioner for Security Union, J. King, stressed that, Although Migration and Security should not be Mixed up as one single issue, nevertheless, "effective Integration, based on Values, are Key in Combatting Violent Extremism, Countering Radicalisation, and ensuring Security", as he characteristically stressed from the outset, into the EU High Level Conference here, Afterwards this Evening , (referring mainly to many People's expressed concerns, EarlierToday.

        + In this Context, 'EUROPOL"'s Director added, concerning also the above-mentioned Observation by Greek President Pavlopoulos, reminded to Tajani by "Eurofora", (Comp. Supra), that, in real Practice, "EuroPol's Officers" have just Started to Work Together with "FRONTEX's" Agents and EU CoastGuards, into Monitoring  EU's External Borders.

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    ++ Tajani, naturally, did not ommit at all, to Also Launch certain Vibrant Appeals for Well Deserved and Mutually Beneficial, Humanitarian Support to real Refugees, as well as Development Aid and various Economic Measures, Both inside and Outside of Europe, particularly at the Countries of Origin and/or Transit, in order to Help Succeed Mass Migrants' Lives there :

    - Not as a kind of "Slaves", but, on the contrary, while Respecting their Human Dignity, as they might get a Job, have a Home, a Family, etc., he evoked, especialy on the 1st point.

    - As for the 2nd -and quite Larger- point, Tajani stressed, that, at any case, Something Important must be done to Boost Development, particularly in Africa, etc., given also the Huge Mass of People who might be incited, Otherwise, to Move Towards Europe, in the Next Few Years, from Economic and Climate factors:  In this regard, he suggested even the Interesting Idea to use also Modern, High-Tech. Means for Space Monitoring, (such as "GALILEO", Earth Observation, etc), of the real Situation's developments on the Ground, (f.ex. about Mass Population Movements, devastated or revitalized Agricultural Lands,  etc). But also European "SMEs' Direct Cooperation" with African and/or Other affected Countries' own SMEs, (etc).

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

    - In fact, our mainTask here is to Discuss with EU Citizens on Hot Topical Issues as recent Mass Migration, and bring the outcome into the EU Heads of State/Government's Brussels Summit, the next two Days, he pointed out, Later this Evening, in Conclusion of a well Attended, multifacet and multilevel, High-Level Conference on Migration Management Today, which gathered about 800 Participants from all over Europe.

    Tajani is, indeed, very Aware, also of the Fact that one among the Main Issues in the forthcoming European Elections of 2019, will also be that unprecedented Mass Migration. as he observed Earlier Today, (also as part of his Presidency's Duty to Start preparing well that Crucial 2019 Democratic Rendez-Vous, already "from the Beginning of 2017", as EU Parliament's Secretary General, Klaus Welle, had Warned "Eurofora", already as Early as since Autumn 2016, (See : ....), and its Strasbourg's Franco-German area's Press and information  Director Martinez, later Confirmed to "Eufofora", on March 2017.

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Just after Leading Topical PanEuropean Debates particularly on Digital Media Internet Actors' Rights and Responsibilities, as well as Regulation or Self-Regulation issues, concerningon Medias' role when facing Terrorism, CoE's Media and Internet Director, Silvia Grundmann from Germany, as well as the President of CoE's, 47 Member States-strong, Committee on Media and Information Society, Elfa Gylfadottir, from Iceland, speaking to "Eurofora", Highlighted some of the Key Principles to observe during nowadays Fast-Developing relevant Events :

- First of all, "Press' Freedom was, and still is, always Under Attack !", stressed from the outset Grundmann, with a smile...

Inter alia, she was pointing, obviously, also to CoE's latest relevant Publication : an Official TextBook, prefaced by the PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jagland, (former Prime Minister of Norway, and Nobel Peace Prize Committee Head), which Warned about recent Findings Alerting on Journalists' growing "Self-Censorship"...

The main Cause was, according to that, most Recent CoE's Book, published just on March 2017, in Strasbourg, an evolving, multifacet "Pressure" on "Journalists", who, according to CoE's most recent "Definition", (updated by a select Committee of competent and experienced Experts, including also the new Secretary General of the "European Federation of Journalists" - "EFJ", HeadQuartered in Brussels, Ricardo Gutierrez: Comp. Interview to "Eurofora" at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/iachrcoebookandefjsgonjournalismdefinition.html), are "Persons who are Regularly Engaged in the Collection and Disseminaion of Informations, destinated to the Public, for "Journalistic" (i.e. Public Service) purpose".

 A Definition, already Faithfull to ECHR's well-established Case-Law on the only relevant Article on Human Rights: Number 10, as well as on a CoE's Highest Political body : that of its Committee of Ministers, Legal Recommendation, taken already as early as since 2000, as the 2017 CoE Book's Authors remind Nowadays. But, also well corresponding to a Pioneer Decision, explicitly taken by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, since...more than 32 Years: from November 1985 ! (See: ....).

- However, CoE's Media and Internet Director, Today expessed her Optimist and Voluntarist Belief, in Reply to an "Eurofora" Question, that "a Right Balance", between Press Freedom (indispensable for any Democratic Society), and Security, in Nowadays' Context, could and should prevail:

- In this regard, it's Interesting to See, f.ex., what will exactly happen with a forthcoming Draft Law, due to be Debated and Adopted "during this Summer" 2017, by Germany's Bundestag, she observed, (while it's also well known that new President Macron's French Government, also currently prepares a relevant Legislation, almost at the Same Time).

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

+ Meanwile, however, what has the Highest Ambition to become, perhaps, the World's Best Legal Status for On-Line Publishers, particularly from the point of view of Freedom of Expression, sensitive Data Protection, Defense against Cyber-Crime and/or abuse, is Still Developing in Iceland, as native Elfa Gylfadottir, President of CoE's PanEuropean Committee on Media and Information Society,  told "Eurofora" :
 

- Gylfadottir, (who has also served as the competent Head of Iceland's relevant "Steering" Commission for years), explained to "Eurofora", that, in fact, it's not only 1 or 2, but, on the contrary, a lot of Many and Various, related Legal Changes, Modifications, Adaptments, etc, which have to be considered and adequately decided, from several points of view, before good Final Decisions.

- Expected "possibly during Next Year" (2018), such Legal Modifications, on that Highly Topical, but also Sensitive issue, inevitably have also various Political impacts, and, at least partly depend from the overall Governmental policies.

At any case, one thing goes for sure :

- We want to Help f.ex. Human Rights' NGOs, "Whistle-Blowers", Investigative Journalists, really Independent Medias keeping a Critical Eye on Power, etc, but Not at all ...Porn Editors, shady Commercials, Tax-Evading outlets, or Terrorist cover-ups, etc., she pointed out.

=> For such purposes, we all need some Good and Crystal-clear Justifications and Definitions, CoE's Experienced, "Media and Information Society" PanEuropean Committee's Head, told "Eurofora", (Comp. f.ex.Supra).

*Strasbourg/Press Club/Angelo Marcopolo/- Vice-President of EU Parliament's Committee for NATO, and Rapporteur on Common Foreign/Security Policy, as well as "Dual Use" assets, Experienced former Chairman of EU Parliament's Security/Defense Committee, Arnaud Danjean, a Top MEP of French Main Opposition "Republican" Party (ChristianDemocrats/EPP), Replying to an "Eurofora" Question on the Recent Developments about BREXIT and the Need for Europe to develop an Efficient Security/Defense policy asap, appeared well Aware , but quite Optimist, about both Timing and Strategic issues :  

 - "Eurofora", particularly, pointed at the Latest Events which have apparently extended some Uncertainties, at least about the Precise Timing of the forthcoming Next Moves for the relevant EU - UK Negotiations. (Evoking mainly the Unexpected Outcome of June 8 UK Elections, the Manchester and twice London Islamist Terrorist Attacks, cowardly Targetting and Killing Civilians, followed by the Grenfell Tower's tragedy of more than 50 People killed in a huge Fire allegedly provoked by Electricity Incidents during Overload at a Key Moment of Muslim Ramadan, whose rituals recently spread in London City). I.e. just Before Next Monday's, 19 June initialy Scheduled, Official Opening of EU - UK BREXIT Talks in Brussels, (etc).

    In this Context, we Asked Danjean if he Believed that the EU would, despite all that, Succeed to Foster asap a Strong enough European Security/Defense Policy withOut more Undue Delays,  eventualy using also Alternative ways for EU-27 format Heads of State/Government a.o. Meetings, (f.ex. as Recently at Bratislava and Rome and Brussels 9/2016, 3/2017 + 4/2017 Summits : Comp. "Eurofora"'s NewsReports from the spots, etc), and any other adequate mechanism for that purpose. BREXIT, by theoreticaly giving some More Play, particularly, to the Franco-German couple and other Wiiling to move EU Stats (f.ex, Spain, Italy, Poland, etc), wouldn't be both a Callenge and an Opportunity, particularly on ESDP issues ?", "Eurofora pointed out in this regard.

    The event took place during a Press Conference organized at Strasbourg's Press Club, and with the Active Participation of Many Journalists, particularly those usualy Covering EU Parliament's related activities.

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

    - "On BREXIT, I know that there has been a Kind of Enthousiasm, in some European circles, saying f.ex. that, once the British would have gone, we'll Advance much Faster, as far as Defense is concerned", he reminded from the outset.

      - But, that "Partly True, Partly False !", Danjean Warned.

    - "It's true, that, Cosmeticaly, a certain Number of (EU) Decisions, are Easier to be Taken withOut the Brittish :"

     - "We shaw it, f.ex., in the Creation of that small European Structure for the Planification and the Conduct of Operations, a kind of European HQ (Etat Major) : It's True that, there, it was the UK which was Blocking", he reminded. "Very well : That,  is a UnQuestionable Success, and it was, indeed, Facilitated by the BREXIT", he acknowledged".

     - "However, in the Long Run, I'm much Less affirmative", inter alia, also "Because the British were Not the only ones who Blocked and Hesitated : Once they will be Gone, we (EU) are going to Find that, in fact, there were also Other Countries which were Hidding themselves Behind the Brittish Refusals, too opportunisticaly...(which Suited them)... F.ex. the Swedish, sometimes the Polish, etc."

    -  "So that we (EU) are going to Face Different, or even Similar Dificulties, but vis a vis Other Partners", he Warned, for the foreseable Future. And, "while it was Easy, in the Past, to systematicaly Blame the Brittish : something quite Conveniant, this will No more be possible", also Later-on : "We will have to take our Responsibilities", Danjean Warned.

     + A"2nd Point, which also Alleviates the BREXIT's (supposed) Virtues concerning (EU) Defense, is that England  -whether we Like it, or not, and even if one might Discuss its current Military Capabilities-  still Remains, However,  Together with France, one of the Main Military Components in Europe" !" 

    - "So that, if you Want to Develop something Ambitious in Europe, in the Military Field, while pushing the British aside, this does Not seem very Realistic, at least Not in the Long Run....", he Denounced.

    - "But, what are going to do the Brittish in the Future, it depends on them... "

    - However, "As we (France) already have Bilateral Deals with the UK" (on SDP), "which are Not Affected at all by the BREXIT", "I also Hope that, very Soon, it will also Become Possible for the EU, Collectively, to make Similar Arrangements "ad hoc", in order to Continue Working Together".

    - "I'm Not very Anxious" about that, "Because the Common Security and Defense Policy is something Very Flexible", so that "Cooperation with 3rd Countries, in CFSP, is Not so much Complicated. And we (EU) are always Happy to have such Deals with 3rd Countries, which Cooperate in several Operations", he explained.

    + Now, "concerning, specifically, Security issues, such as Counter-Terrorism operations, etc., I think that Nobody should Play Games to provoke Fear, particularly just after the Manchester Massacre" : In fact, "the Franco-Brittisj Cooperation is Strong, and Will remain Strong" also in the Future, Because it does Not pass through Brussels !", the Experienced MEP pointed out.

     - "This is Only done, Formally, in very Few Cases, Just for some Small Segments  - Such as "EuroPol, f.ex., which is going to be Affected by BREXIT, as well as Other EU Agencies. But, there too, "EuroPol" has several Cooperations with Other Countries, where it Integrates, very Rapidly, also 3rd Countries : F.ex. the USA Participate in EuroPol !. So, it wan't be so Difficult to have also the English there, who are Europeans", he indicated.

     - In general "Anti-Terror Cooperation goes mainly through (National) Capitals, Not Brussels, and, therefore, it woN't be very seriously Affected by BREXIT, and that's Good !", Danjean concluded on that point.

    + "The Essential Questions, therefore, are mainly Political :"

    -  "First, when Europeans are Blocked, as far as Their own Will on Defense Issues is concerned", (Comp. Supra), "that's the Time of Truth : they won't be, no more, able to Hide themselves behind the English, (as we've already seen Before)"....

    - "Second, I think that it's the British' own Interest to Continue in Contributing" to Europe's "Security/Defense Policy. And, I might be in Error, perhaps the Future might Belie me, but, I Bet that the Brittish are sufficiently Pragmatic, in order to Respond Positively, if we (EU) Mark some real Successes in the area of Defense". So that, "If the European Defense makes certain real Advances, I'm sure that the Brittish would like to Take a Part in that, in One Way, or AnOther", Danjean optimisticaly foresaw.

    - "F.ex., among some Modest, but Interesting Precedents in EU Security/Defense Policy, is also that of 2008, when Spain and France wished to Launch an Anti-Piracy operation around the Somalian Coasts, (i.e. near Suez Channel) : While it was, initialy, Spain and France who were Pushing in that direction, the British appearing UnWilling, nevertheless, it was Inconceivable for Great Britain, that a Franco-Spanish Maritime Operation might Work, withOut the UK ! So that, when it became a Success, not only they (the British) Started to Participate, but they (the UK) even... Took Over that Operation's HeadQuarters !", he reminded.

    + "Moreover, while the British, almost always, systematicaly Complaint against any EU's common Security and Defense Policy, nevertheless, whenever EU goes on with such an ESDP operation, almost Always, at a Key Position, there is a British Officer coming and going around there !", Danjean made People spontaneously laugh.. "Some might Claim that this culd, perhaps, be attempts to Sabotage. But, I'd say, Optimisticaly, that they just Want to Know what's going on : If they (the British) See something which really Works, then, they would like to Contribute into that", he concluded.     

    >>> "But, from Now on, it will be upon us (the EU) to Prove that it Can Work !", the Experienced Top MEP Warned.

    Timely, Danjean's observations came just before an important EU Summit in Brussels, Next Week, which is due to Focus also on CFSP.

    +Meanwhile, it's also "EURO-CORPS", the European Army HQ Organisation, based in Strasbourg, with Main Partners : France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and Poland, as well as Liaison Officers from Italy, Greece, and Other Countries, (that has already been entrusted with Missions to Kosovo, Afghanistan, Mali, etc), which is due to Officialy Celebrate its 25th Anniversary, at the Beginning of September 2017, on the occasion of the transfert of its Rotating Presidency from Spain to Germany, for 1 Year, (9/2017-8/2018), "Eurofora" was informed.

(../..)

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(NDLR : Fast Translation from the Original in French)

+

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

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