newsitems

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Pioneer Ideas for EU Citizens - MEPs' interaction thanks to New Information/Communication Technologies are due to be Reviewed by EU Parliament from the Beginning of Next Year (2017), in the run up towards the crucial Next European Elections of 2019, said in substance its Secretary General, Klaus Welle from Germany to "Eurofora" yesterday here.

"Eurofora" reminded to Welle an interesting relevant Official Report that he has produced some years ago on such matters, which we had evoked together on the occasion of an Earlier Meeting in Strasbourg (Comp.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euparliamentsecretarygeneralonmayelection.html), in relation also to our Initial 1997-2006/7  published Project for Public Debates with EU Citizens Before Final EU Institutions' Decisions which Affect their Lives and/or Society at large.

It was partly Combined with a Previous University original Research on Comparative Law in European Countries, Published as early as elready since 1980, main points of which are Recently gaining Momentum at Both en EU-Wide and even PanEuropean, CoE Legal developments' level, after some Steps during the 1990ies, particularly between 2010-2016, after the Entry into Force of EU "Lisbon Treaty", closely following Europe's ReUnification, with EU/CoE Enlargements, and ECHR case-law subsequent strengthening, etc., (Comp. f.ex.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eucoeabdcitizensinpublicdecisionmaking.html).

- Klaus Welle "welcomed" now Eurofora's Interest on that matter, and Confirmed that he is Aware of its "Importance", especially at this Crucial Period for EU's Present and Future.

- Moreover, he Anounced his Intention for EU Parliament to relaunch a more thorough "Examination" of these Issues, "from January 2017", as he told us now, speaking on the sidelines of EU Parliament's Plenary Session in Strasbourg this week.

 

- The Move would be done Both for its Own Value per se, but also in view of the forthcoming, 2019 EU Elections, just 2 Years later, which have obviously to be Prepared on Time, carefuly, adequately and efficiently.

 

 

Significantly, Welle emerged, Smiling, from EU Parliament's Presidential Reception Room, walking on the side where stands a Picture of the Longest-Serving former MEP and f. President of EU Parliament (2007-2009), currently Head of the prestigious "Adenauer" Foundation headquartered in Berlin, Hans Gert Poettering, present at almost All European Elections in History, right from the Start, (i.e. when EU Citizens' Participation used to be much Higher than After 1999), all the way between 1979-2014, with whom he had a rare Chance to Work closely together .
 

 

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"Eurofora" had already Raised the question of EU Citizens' debates with MEPs before Final Decisions, via New Technologies, with the EU Commissioner in charge of Communication policy and EU Parliament's vice-President in charge of Media, as Early as since a Press Conference held back on 2006 in Strasbourg, and, subsequently, with the former President of EU Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, from Poland, back on 2009, at 2 successive occasions, (an Interview and a Press Conference : See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/irish/buzekeurofora.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/buzekcitizens.html ). Buzek (a former EU Rapporteur on Scientific Research and Technology Development pluri-Annual Programs) had initialy reacted Positively, as far as the main Principle is concerned, and had been incited, then, to take the Initiative to make a First Step towards a Necessary for that, Timely "Tranparency" during the EU Decision-Making Process, by Starting to Regularly Publish all EU Parliament Committees' Meetings, with Debates and Votes, etc., at the Internet, so that interested People could, at least, be Informed about the Preparation of forthcoming Final Decisions.

But such "an Old Question, in New Circumstances" appeared Ready to Gain a long overdue, Fresh and Further Momentum, after the Recent Political Developments, following the June 2016 "BREXIT" Referendum in the UK, amidst a notoriously Rising "Euro-Scepticism" among many European People throughout several EU Countries nowadays, as a Fresh, in Principle Positive, Reply by the current EU President, Martin Schulz from Germany, to another such Question raised by "Eurofora" during his Press Conference during the 1st EU-27 Heads of State/Government Summit in Bratislava, on September 2016, clearly revealed, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euparliamentpresidentoncitizensandbratislavasummit.html).

In fact, even Strasbourg's particular characteristics, (as Host of EU Parliament's full week Plenary Sessions, CoE's PanEuropean Assembly's Debates and even ECHR Public Hearings, added to EU Ombudsman's "Good Administration" principles on EU's Decision-Making process after the "Lisbon Treaty", etc), seem to Fit exceptionaly Well something like "Eurofora"s project, in ordet to allow for "EU Citizens' Voice to be Heard" just before "voting Final Decisions here", as New , mainstream MEP Anne Sander spontaneously replied to a relevant Question that we raised Recently, (10/2016, See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/annesanderoneuroforaprojectideas.html).

The main Idea is, indeed, Popular among European Citizens Today, as it was Timely revealed,  inter alia, also by Last Week's (October 2016) astonishing Electoral Results in Iceland, (an undeniably culturaly European, peaceful and developed Country, and CoE Member, most probably due to Decide soon anew about its Accession into the EU), where People just Voted to Multiply by 3 Times (X 300% !), the MPs of a so-called "Pirate" Party, (notoriously present and quite Influential also in Sweden, Germany, etc), at the Same Time with a brand New, Center-Right "ReGeneration" Party, favorable to EU Accession, only a Few Years After the Head of the First one, MP Birgitta Jonsdottir, succeeded to Collectively Build a Program in whose "Core" lies something very Similar to "Eurofora"s main Idea, about Citizens' Right to have a Say on Public Authorities' Decisions which Affect their Lives and/or Society at large, thanks also to New Digital Technologies and Internet, (as she did since 2012, i.e. just 1 Year after Our Meeting and relevant Conversation at a CoE's PanEuropean Conference in Strasbourg, back on 2011 : See, then http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/internetcoejonsdottir.html , and Now : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/iceland2016electionresultsrightbutnew.html).

=> Who might become that Leading EU Politician who, at last, will succeed to harness that "Spirit of the Times", and adequately translate it, into a fully-fledged, live Reality ?

(../..)

 

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/-  Experienced British mainstream MEP of the Governing Conservative Party, from London, former Foreign Affairs Spokesman for the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group, and, later-on, also for the Conservative/Refiormist Group, who serves for more than Seventeen Years at EU Parliament (1999-2916), Charles Tannock, speaking to "Eurofora", expressed "Support" for Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to propose to the UK to Join, in the foreseable Future, a ReNovated EU.

Significantly, the Move came at the Eve of an Interesting EU Parliament's Plenary Debate on the Latest EU-28 Summit in Brussels, with the Participâtion, for the First Time, of New UK Prime Minister Theresa May, during which several MEPs got an opportunity to Discuss also certain BREXIT-related, Wider Topical Issues, on Wednesday Morning, (See Infra).

The former President of France (2007-2012), and recently elected Head of the main Opposition Party of "the Republicans", who is Now also a Frontrunner Candidate for the forthcoming, crucial 2017 French Presidential Election of April-May Next Year, has recently revealed his intention to Promote important Reforms for "a New E.U.", Focusing only on certain Key European Strategic Policies, (such as Industry, Agriculture, Energy, Scientific Research, Trade, etc.), while also Developing, in parallel, a Stronger Integration around €urozone's Franco-German core.  

 - "I heard this, and I Read" about it, Tannock acknowledged.

- Indeed, "He (Sarkozy) has this Ambition", and, "obviously, it's something that we should hail", he positively welcomed, while also revealing that, "Personaly", he "had Voted" for the UK "to Remain", inside the EU.

 - Actualy, "after Britain has Left (the EU), I would Never Exclude the Possibility of Joining again, and I would Hope  that it would be Possible, one Day, to Re-Join something Attractive", Tannock admitted.

- "Yeah, it's Sarkozy's Dream !", the Top British MEP observed.

- "But, I don't know if it's Possible, in a Short space of Time", the British MEP Carefully added, "because He wants to be President Next Year (2017). So, may be it's a bit Accelerated as Program...", he smiled.

 - Since, "We (the UK) will be Talking with the EU then. We are Not Leaving until  2019", Tanock speculated. In that case, "it's probably, Too Early", he found Now, at least for the Time being.         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
  - "But", nevertheless, independendtly of that, "I Wish him <<Good Luck>>, and, If he (Sarkozy)" really goes on, then, "I would be Supporting him, of course", he Promissed in Conclusion.

In Fact, already, as early as since 2011-2012, German Chancelor Angie Merkel, Together with Sarkozy, (then still serving as French President), had initialy Agreed a kind of unofficial Deal with then British Prime Minister David Cameroon, (from the Same Party as, nowadays, Theresa May), according to which, London would stay in an Enlarged and Weakened ("Light-Weight version) EU, while, on the Contrary, the Franco-German couple, together with all those Other EU Member Countries could rush to Complete a Fully Integrated Europe at the Center of our Continent, particularly using the entire Potential of the New, "€uroArea" Treaty, (Comp. various relevant, then, other "Eurofora"'s NewsReports, from Strasbourg, Paris' "Elysée" Palace, and/or Brussels' December 2011- January 2012 EU Summits).   

The main thrust of such a Move, may, obviously, Serve, also Today, to inspire, at least, the approximative Design of a possible Solution in the current, Post-BREXIT, 2016 EU Crisis, which was notoriously evoked by the New British Prime Minister, Theresa May, at Last Month's EU Summit in Brussels, (20-21 October 2016), as well as this Wednesday Morning's Discussion at EU Parliament's Plenary in Strasbourg, precisely on its Outcome.

Even if EU Council's President, Donald Tusk, simply reiterated the EU-27's established position that there would be "No Negotiation" officialy on the BEXIT, as long as London doesn't yet Trigger the relevant Legal Procedure foreseen by the Article 50 of EU Treaty, while EU Commission's President, Jean-Claude Juncker, curiously Skiped that point in his Introductory Speech at EU Parliament's Debate here in Strasbourg, resulting in EFDD Group Chairman, British MEP Nigel Farage (UKIP Chief) critisism about, reportedly, giving "Only 5 Minutes before 1 o'clock overNight" for a Brief Anouncement from the UK Prime Minister, as he claimed, nevertheless, in Fact, that obviously Crucial Matter seems to Seriously occupy the EU nowadays :

 

 

Juncker's real Response, was eventualy given Now through the Chairman of the Biggest EU Parliament's Political Group of MEPs, that of Christian-Democrats/EPP, Marfred Weber, who had a Long Personal Discussion with Juncker, Yesterday Evening in Strasbourg, as "Eurofora" witnessed,  (Comp. relevant Original Photo, herewith), followed even by a subsequent Juncker Debate with EPP's MEPs, during the Group's Meeting, at the Eve of this Wednesday Morning's EU Parliament's Plenary :  - "It's Better to Reform the EU, than to risk to Destroy it !", significantly pointed out Weber in substance after that.

Sarkozy's proposal, as discussed earlier also by "Eurofora" with Tannock (Comp. Supra), could, most probably, even Offer a Way to Seriously and Practicaly Reply to EFDD's Chairman Farage Complaint that the Majority of British People's Vote for the June 2016 "BREXIT" Referendum would currently Face Attempts to "Ignore it or Overturn it", as he Claimed Now.

Tannock's experienced Warning (in his above-mentioned Statements to "Eurofora") against eventual "ZeitNot" Problems to resolve on BREXIT's follow-up precise Timing, particularly if an eventualy, too much Delayed Legal Procedure might Practicaly Overlap also with possible Attempts to Reform/ReVitalise the European Institutions, (Comp. Supra), IF it's Timely and adequately Adressed, might Alleviate some Fears, (Recently Expressed, f.ex. to "Eurofora", inter alia, also by certain Well Informed sources from France, etc), that a Too Long BREXIT Procedure, which might, eventualy, Take More Years than strictly needed, would Add Various supplementary Problems, that would Provoke UK Government's insistance to "Fully Participate" inside EU's core Decision-Making processes, during All that Time that the "Leave" Procedure may take, (as even UKIP's Chief Farage Admitted this Wednesday Morning).

Last, but not least, something like Sarkozy's idea might also Prevent a Risk of Multiplying Similar "BREXIT" or "FREXIT" and other such Referenda, eventualy Spreading throughout European Countries, as, f.ex., anOther UKIP MEP incited "ENF" Group's Chairwoman, Marine Le Pen, (Chief of the currently Big Euro-Sceptic French Party "National Front"), to Launch a Call to set up everywhere inside the EU, during EU Parliament's Debate now...

Paradoxicaly, at the Same Moment that even a quite Different Situation in Iceland, has just pushed its People to spectacularly Multiply, at a Recent Election, the Votes and MPs Won by New and Atypical "Pirate" and "Regeneration" Political Parties, which advocate, precisely, a Popular Referendum on their Country's eventual Return back to - or Final Drop of - EU Accession Negotiations, (Comp.: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/iceland2016electionresultsrightbutnew.html).

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Experienced former EU Commissioner and currently EU Parliament's vice-President, Italian ChristianDemocrat/EPP long-time MEP, Antonio Tajani, speaking Today to "Eurofora", stressed that the potential role of core Humanistic Values in the Fight against ISIL-like Deadly and Destructive Terrorism, including through Inter-Religious Dialogue between Christians, Muslims, Jews, Budhists, a.o. confessions, is Crucial :

 - "I really Believe that. It's very Important !", vice President Tajani clearly underlined, inter alia, Replying to a relevant "Eurofora" Question this Evening in Strasbourg, on the sidelines of EU Parliament's October II Plenary Session here.

 

 

Tajani is Officialy in charge, since 2014, also of Inter-Religious Dialogue, as far as EU Parliament's policies are concerned, including for the Fight against Radicalisation provoked by propaganda and/or criminal acts recently inspired particularly by ISIL's Deadly Terrorists, atrocious BeHeaders even of Innocent Civilian People.
    
- In this Regard, he pointed at the Fact that, Nowadays, particularfly after the recent Terrorist Attacks  in several European Countries and even inside the US, there is "an Urgent Need for Fraternity", but "a Major Question is Which Pathway to follow for that ?" So that, instead of Dividing, we should Unite People in the "absolute Imperative" for an Efficient Fight against provoked Radicalisation.

 => Therefore, Tajani personaly confirmed and pointed today at a "Message" to try to Advance Further than the usual forms of Dialogue between Religions, which, for the EU, should be "part of the Solution", since, in principle, they all Defend the "Sacred Value of Human Life", as well as "Human Dignity", particularly by aiming to "Deepen" this towards the "Possible" Emergence of "a New Humanism".

EU Parliament's competent vice-President was reacting personaly Today to a reference made by "Eurofora" at a Letter with such mentions, earlier transmitted by his Office to a recent Collective Meeting on "Inter-Religious Dialogue and Fight against Radicalisation", organized  by Strasbourg's relevant Think-Tank Association "DECERE", (presented by an Experienced former Long-Time EU Parliament's Protocol Director , Francois Bernagel), in cooperation with Strasbourg area's "Council of Churches", headed by the Christian Catholic ArchBishop Mgr. Grallet, Together with other Religious Leaders, etc., Earlier this Month, at the prestigious "ENA" Higher School of France's Public Administration's Senior Officials, where "Eurofora" had been invited.        

 

                                             
Obviously, such an Idea, could also Alleviate Fears of some about alleged attempts to Impose a so-called rampant "Islamisation", since the main Aim would be, Not to let an Ideology Spread itself under Brutal Threats, to the Expense of Others, but, the Contrary, to strive to Build something in Common to all Religions and/or Free Thinkers, that would participate to such a joint endeavour.

Moreover, nowadays, both the concrete, astonishing example of even ...Libanese Hezbolah and Iranian Shiites Volunteers, joining Syrian President Bashar Assad, (a Muslim Politician in the Middle-Eastern Country which still Hosts, comparatively, the Greatest Percentage of Christians), in a Fight against Al Quaida offsprings such as ISIL or Al Nusra and other such Islamist Extremist, Deadly Armed Gangs, as well as Iraqi Government's mainly largely Shiite Armed Forces, Both aided, (as well as American and/or Russian Forces), in that purpose, also by Kurdish Fighters in Syria and in Iraq, added to Various Muslim People fallen Victims of indiscriminate ISIL Terrorist Attacks from Yemen, Iraq and Syria or Turkey, until even inside Europe itself, recently, Killed side to side with a Majority of Christian, Jewish and/or other People independently of their various Beliefs, clearly indicates that the Real Issue is, in Fact, quite Different and much Wider, than those who Hide themselves Behind such atrociously InHuman, Barbaric Islamic Terrorists cowardly aggressing even innocent and defenseless Civilians (Women, Children and Elders included), would pretend...

 

 

 

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- While Popular Mass Demonstrations for BioEthical Values (such as Opposal to "Same Sex Marriage" and/or Adoption of Children by Homosexual couples, Surrogacy, Genetic Manipulation of Human Embryos, Artificial in vitro fertilisation for Births Monitored by Technocrats, etc) re-Started to Gather in Great Numbers of People re-emerging at Paris, after an exceptional "intermezzo" imposed by a series of Unprecedented Islamic Extremist Terrorism's Deadly Attacks in France, almost at the Same Time, at another side of the EU, in Lithuania, a Surprizing Electoral result was Marked Today by a Big Win for a Center-Right which is also un Favor of Natural Family, by a Man and a Woman, normaly able to give Natural Births of their own Children, as Voters Threw an Out-going Socialist Government down to a 3rd Rank small party rejected at the opposition at least for the Next 5 Years.

Succeeding an Astonishing Boost from just 1 (one) MP until now, Suddenly Up to More than 55 MPs, an Original Center-Right, pro-Agriculture "Farmers' Party", (recently re-nenamed as "Union of Farmers and Greens") became, for the 1st Time in History, the Biggest Party of the Country, closely Followed by the Christian Democrats/EPP of the "Homeland Union" which Wins another 31 MPs, in the National Parliament which has a Total of 141 Seats, while the Socialists Fall Down to Only 17 MPs.

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 - "I do Not know an Area where the Current Government policy (of Outgoing Socialist Prime Minister Butkevicius) does Not Need to be Changed", except, perhaps, some Foreign Policy issues, reportedly Stressed the Head of the Winning Party, R. Karbauskis, a Businessman, (as Donald Trump in the US), who has build the biggest private Agricultural Enterprise in the country, with a Brother working as Director of "Mayakofsky Theater" in Moscow (Russia).

With an Economic Growth of more than + 2% to +3% of the GDP Annualy in Lirthuania, (one of the Highest percentages in the EU), the Voters were obviously concerned by anOther kind of Issues...

In Addition to a Refusal to provide Legal Recognition to Homosexual Couples, (a notoriously "Hot" Controversial Issue even in the USA during Out-going Obama's presidency, until now), the Popular Winner in that Historic European Country, has also Promised to Stop Massive Inflows of irregular Migrants, of the kind of those who were Smuggled in the EU through Turkey in Unprecedented Big Numbers from the Middle East, Pakistan/Afghanistan and other predominantly Muslim Countries, reaching More than 1,5 Million Last Year (2015/2016), as Never Before in recent History.

- "People got fed up !", reportedly Denounced the man who Led this Electoral Campaign for the Winning Coalition, Saulius Skvernelis, that rumours hold for the Country's New Prime Minister, and promised that his Party "will chose (in the Government) People who will Bring Changes".

Moreover, given the well-known current Global Threats against an Independent Agricultural Economy in Europe, the "Peasants and Greens" winning Parties have also promised an Active Role of the State f.ex. in the Wine Market, as well as in the Creation of a State-owned Bank, able to Compete in the Financial Markets together with the Private ones, many of whom are, directly or indirectly, more or less controled by some Foreign Networks.

Another, relevant Topical Issue reportedly was to Bring Back Home a lot of Expatriated Lithuanian Workers, currently spread throughout various Other EU Countries, such as the UK, etc, while, at the Same Time, the Population of Lithuania had shrinked from 3,3 to 2,9 Millions of People.