EU Leaders Highlight Citizens role in foreseeable Future (10 Years)
*Rome/Campidoglio Hill/Angelo Marcopolo/- Developing Further, and Projecting at the Future, a Shift which had Emerged at Bratislava Summit (9/2016 - See relevant "Eurofora"s NewsReports from the spot : ...+..,etc), the 27 Heads of State/Governments of the EU, (i.e. - UK), clearly Marked a Series of Promises to EU Citizens role in European Policies which Affect their Lives:
- "We will promote a democratic, effective and transparent Decision-Making process", Stressed EU Leaders in Conclusion of their Official Political Declaration signed and Published Today in Rome.
+ In this regard, "We pledge to Listen and Respond to the Concerns Expressed by our Citizens", the 27 EU Heads of State/Governent promised officialy.
Meanwhile about 6 various Popular Demonstrations (both Pro-EU and Counter-EU, etc), Rocking Rome, almost Surrounded the Historic Campidoglio Hill, (from which stems also Washington DC' s "Capitol Hill"), on Top of which took place the Ceremonies for the 60th Anniversary since the Signing of the EU Treaties.
- "In these times of change", we are "Aware of the Concerns of our Citizens", they acknowledged.
- That's one reason more, for which, Rome Declaration concludes by a : - "We want a Union where Citizens have New Opportunities", EU Leaders Highlighted.
- Indeed, "Together, we are Determined to address the challenges of a rapidly changing world, and to offer to our citizens both security and new opportunities", the 27 EU Leaders said "United".
+ This Includes, among others, also "a (European) Union where all citizens feel Safe, and can Move freely", they Added in particular, among a Long Wish-List of targetted Aims.
All this goes from Safety, to Growth and Jobs, as well as Social Cohesion, but also a Stronger EU role in the World, etc.
- "We ... will Ensure that today's Agenda is Implemented, so as to become Tomorrow's Reality", on this and other serious Topical Isses, EU Heads of State/Governments Committed.
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The "Unity or Divide" problematic inside the EU, is, in Fact, much more Important Between EU Institutions and Citizens, than a merely Geo-Political aspect, too often highlighted by Critics, (which naturaly has also its own importance).
("Die Welt"s Frontpage)
The Latter was apparently adressed by a Compromise between those EU Countries who want to resolutely Advance towards Further European Integration, and those who wish that to remain an "Open" possibility for All in the Future, added to "Solidarity", etc.
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+ Paadoxically, despite its obvious, at least Symbolic Importance, this was perhaps the Shortest ever EU Summit of all :
Less than a Morning, and with a Press Conference exceptionaly Restricted into 14 Minutes only (Introductory Speech included), without National Press points, and even Facing a strange "Strike" (on Questions) by several Brussels' a.o. Journalists, as an Experienced College told us .
Apparently, such moves gave enough Time, f.ex., to the Greek and Belgian Prime Ministers, Tripras and Michel, to jointly attend a ... Football Match between Teams from their Countries, whlle staying at Rome...
On the Contrary, some Others Worked until Late Evening, these Days in Rome, as, f.ex. certain experienced French a.o. Journalists, pictured in an original "Eurofora" Photo inside a Campidoglio Hill Palace's PressRoom :
(../..)
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Facing a 70% Abstention threat in 2009 Election, EU endorses EuroFora's idea for Citizens' debates on crucial EU decisions !
- Different views on "Europe's Future", should be debated among Citizens at June 2009 EU Elections, thanks to political Parties' "Manifestos", says EU Parliament's Report
A main idea, initiated and promoted by EuroFora's founders since 1997: the vital need to develop European Citizens' democratic right to actively participate in multilingual debates on EU decisions, is formally endorsed by the EU from 2009 !
The move is a key attempt to overcome "catastrophic" Polls which warn that only ...30% of Citizens are ready to vote in the forthcoming June 2009 EU Election ! This was revealed by EU Commission's vice-president, in charge of Communication policy, Margot Wallstrom, during a "hot" meeting of EU Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education, during the December 2008 Strasbourg session.
Wallstrom faced criticism, but also suggestions from various MEPs, naturally worried by Abstention threats which herself found even "worse" than in 1999 or 2004...
A Report on "Active Dialogue with Citizens",examined at the same time, presented some useful practical tips, on "facilitating Interviews"; etc., but also a potentialy important call to "incorporate the conclusions of ...debates...into (EU) policies, and take into consideration the expectations that Citizens have of the EU when deciding". An amendment even implies that Citizens' participation in debates on EU decisions is a democratic "Right".
More importantly, it finds that a Debate "on the Future of Europe", (as French President Nicolas Sarkozy has asked since 2007), would be a good idea " for the 2009 European parliamentary Elections", because "clarifying the political differences between the EU political parties would help citizens to identify themselves with, and choose between various concepts", for which "all parties (should) present their Manifesto".
A "Joint political declaration on Communicating Europe in Partnership", co-signed by "the European Parliament, Council and ... Commission", confirms that they "attach the utmost importance to improving communication on EU issues", by "enabling European citizens to exercise their right to participate in the democratic life of the Union, in which decisions are taken as openly as possible and as closely as possible to the citizens, observing the principles of pluralism, participation, openness and transparency".
This should "enable Citizens to exercise their right to express their views and to participate actively in the public Debate on European Union issues", while also "promoting the respect of multilingualism". In this regard, EU confirms its "wish to develop synergies with national, regional and local authorities as well as with representatives of Civil Society".
It's since 1997 that a group of EuroFora's founders have officially presented a pioneer Project (then called "EIW", for "Europe in the World"), which aimed to develop Strasbourg's "Polyphonic music", by providing "Interactive information", on "main issues ... during the Decision-making process of European Organizations which engage in Transparent and Public Democratic Debates"
This should be done, inter alia, by "exploring the potential of New Communication Tools (mainly Internet)", as well as classic-form debates, the 1997 EIW pioneer project's anounced in its "Synopsis". It was formally "accepted for evaluation" by EU Commission in Brussels in order to be examined for a grant in the framework of the "Research/Technology/Development (RTD) Programme in the field of Information Technologies", then called "ESPRIT", as a "Best Practice Pilot Project".
But the vital, urgent Political need for EU to search new, efficient ways to reach the People and interact with European Citizens, was really felt in Brussels and elsewhere only after the unprecedented in History 1999 and 2004 Majority Abstention in EU Elections, followed by 3 "NO" in Referenda in France, the Netherlands and Ireland, on 2005 and 2008...
In this New Political Landscape, we prepared a new, actualised and more developed version of our initial idea, in a simplified and more efficient form, thanks also to a large Experience accumulated during many years of EU/CoE/UNO Press work and Multi-lingual debates, with the New project "EuroFora" :
On 2006 we presented in Public its main lines during Questions/Replies that we raised at two Press Conferences by EU Commission President, Jose Baroso, and mainly EU Commission's vice-President, in charge of Communication policy, Margot Wallstrom, together with EU Parliament's vice-president, Alejo Vidal-Quadras, in Strasbourg, (Videos available), and we reminded it at various brief contacts with Commissioner Wallstrom in 2007 and 2008.
Meanwhile, a new Text was also presented for "EuroFora" Project mainly to certain Political and other personalities, at European, National or Regional/Local level, mainly in 2007, but also in 2008..
Now, after the unexpected 2008 Irish "NO", and before the 2009 EU Elections, which are due to be of exceptionally crucial importance for Europe's Future, the moment has obviously come to launch that project, progressively, but in real practice.
Whoever really cares for Europe and its Citizens is welcome to join, in one way or another. Only anti-European, anti-democratic, obscure or ignorant groups might oppose or attempt to "steal" and deviate the main idea.
But European Citizens, incited by enlightened political leaders, are those who will finally write the real History.