French Economy Minister Le Maire at Sudden Agricultural Talks, as UK eyes BREXIT via Macron +Agri !
*Strasbourg/EuroFair/Angelo Marcopolo/- Un UnExpected Long Meeting of Key French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire on Agricultural Issues, curiously durating much Longer than his Planned Inauguration of Strasbourg's 2019 Euro-Fair, whose Schedule was seriously Disrupted,
Surprisingly occured at the Same Moment that, in the UK, Topical BREXIT News, (After a Political Deadlock at Westminster's Parliament), are Exceptionally, Focused on France's position, in a way Including mainly a possible Agri-Food and Plants' Deal with the EU !
(BREXIT's No 1 Top News on France's position, when BLMaire Visits Strasbourg on 6/9/2019)
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Just After embattled UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson (an atypical Conservative, who has notoriosuly Vowed to realize BREXIT inside the Time Deadline fixed by an EU Summit for the End of October 2019, and, Meanwhile, Suspended a recalcitrant Parliament's work for 1 Month, seeking to Facilitate that), vowed to Persist Struggling until the UK Leaves the EU, with an Agreed Deal or Even Not, but WithOut Any Delay, Despite House of Commons' Opposition Votes, Recently Excluding any Non-Deal BREXIT, and Asking another Delay, until January Next Year (2020 !), while even Excluding any Democratic Election meanwhile, suddenly, the Focus turned towards France :
- Indeed, as Boris Johnson Excluded to Obey to those Controversial Conditions imposed by the Opposition and a Few Turn-Coat MPs that he's just Thrown Out from his own (Conservative) Party, Even if he reportedly Risked to go to Prison for doing that, the Number 1 Hope for a Majority of BREXITERS among UK People (according to Polls), became the alleged Refusal of French President, Emmanuel Macron, to accept anOther Delay, even without any serious perspective for an imminent UK-EU Deal, Hoping that this would result into the EU "Kicking Out" the UK, quasi-Automatically, After the 31th of October (Comp. Supra)...
=> In real Practice, according to the Latest Infos, this Mainly boiled down into Urgent UK-EU Talks, including Ireland, around Modifying that Controversal "BackStop" Clause in the Current Draft Deal for BREXIT, (which Excludes "Hard Borders" between Northern Ireland's area and the EU), by Agreeing, Instead, on certain Sanitary Controls on Agri-Food and Plants' Trade there, (which, Obviously, interest Particularly France, as the Nearest and Biggest Agricultural EU Country)...
>>> Bruno Le Maire is personaly a Key for such Matters, since he has a valuable Relevant Experience, as Former Minister of Agriculture, as well as for EU Affairs, in Addition to his Current Status as Minisister of Economy, and Often Accompagnies Macron at International Summits, (as, f.ex., at the Latest "G20" Summit in Hamburg, Germany, on 2017, where "Eurofora" met him aside the French President : Comp. http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macrontoprotectcyprusisraelenergyforeurope.html, etc).
+ Meanwhile, "Eurofora" had just Agreed, Today in Strasbourg, with Le Maire's Press Attaché, (an Experienced Officer, formerly working at the Elysée Presidential Palace in Paris, during a Long Period of Time), about a Direct "Press Point" with the French Minister, shortly after his Speech on the Inauguration of Strasbourg's 2019 "Euro-Fair", and Before he mades the Traditional Visit of its main Stands, between the Hilton hotel and EU Parliament's building.
- It's also Today that "Eurofora" said to that Le Maire's Press Attaché, that the "Most Topical" of the Questions that we'd like to Raise was, precisely, the Fact that, UnExpectedly, France had Just Become the Focus of Public Attention in the Latest BREXIT-related Developments (Comp. Supra), anOther possible Question concerning Digital Innovations, (that the French Minister had evoked in his Speech).
- It may be Better to "Let them Do what They Wish !", immediately Reacted Le Maire's experienced Press Spokesman, to "Eurofora"s above-mentioned Point, obviously referring to the Majority of Brittish People wish for BREXIT, Despite the "Sadness", that the French Minister had just, repeatedly, Expressed anew, at his earlier Speech Today, (withOut, however, Adding Anything More in Public on that issue, at least for the moment)...
- But, UnExpectedly, Bruno Le Maire himself, After Kindly Saluting "Eurofora" when he Arrived for the Scheduled "Press Point", and Despite the Fact that he is well Used to give Immediate Replies to various "Eurofora"s Questions on Topical Issues throughout his Career, (See, among others, also, f.ex. : Already since 2009 http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/shipgas.html, as, among others, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchministerlemaireonagriculturalpotential.html 2012, http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/internationalpressdebateongermanelection.html Paris, 2013, etc, and Statements, also http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/irish/sarkobigprojects.html (2008), http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/irish/2009_2010.html 1/2009, http://www.eurofora.net/brief/brief/blablablablabla.html 4/2009, including at meetings of "Eurofora" with President Macron at "G20" Summit in Hamburg, Germany 2017, Comp: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macrontoprotectcyprusisraelenergyforeurope.html, and during his EU Parliament visite, followed by EU Commission's vice-Presiden Vestager in Strasbourg's City Hall, on 10/2018 http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/taxgafaandbuildeudigitaltech.html), etc), nevertheless, this time, he exceptionaly Asked "Eurofora" to Postpone that matter for "Later-On" Today, (i.e. before, during, or after his Scheduled Visit of Strasbourg's 2019 "EuroFair" Stands : See Infra), and Suddenly Looked, almost Anxiously, Behind us, Towards an adjacent Room, where a Not Previously Announced Delegation, just Arrived, was apparently Waiting for him !
- "Eurofora" was immediately told that this was a "Special" Meeting with "Representatives of Agriculture", (from which stems, by a Coincidence, even the current President of the Biggest European Party in the EU : Joseph Daul, former Long-Time MEP of Strasbourg and f. Chairman of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group in EU Parliament, who had Met Le Maire here in the Past, in Our Presence : See, f.ex., ..., etc), as well as that the French Minister had to Leave, Afterwards, Not with the High-Speed Train, as usual, But, Exceptionally, this time, "with an Airplane-Jet", in order to Rapidly "Meet with President Macron", elsewhere, (See Infra).
>>> However, such a Meeting with Agriculture's representatives, (in a Room of Strasbourg's "Palace of Music and Congresses", Before he Visits the EuroFair's Stands, nearby), had NOT been Included at all in the Official "PROGRAM" of Le Maire, that the Press Service of the Economy Ministry and of Strasbourg's Prefecture had Send to "Medias' Editors", including "Eurofora", just Yesterday (5/9/2019) Noon !
Indeed, it Only Mentioned, vaguely, the usual, various brief "Meetings with Professional Organisations" in general, exclusively During his Subsequent, OutDoors "Visit of the Exhibition's Parc", and "Visit of Stands", After "Crossing Halls 2 and 3", (i.e., practically, as he would approach Strasbourg Area's "Alsace's Chamber of Crafts", etc., as usual in these Annual events), which, Obviously, is a Totally Different thing, (See relevant PhotoCopy of that Official Document, herewith)...
=> A +2 HOURS UNEXPECTED DELAY !
+ Moreover, at the great Surprise of All Other Officials, Politicians, Diplomats, MEPs or Journalists also Waiting to Accompagny the French Minister, as usual, to his Subseqent Visit, Initially Due to Start in a Few Minutes, on the Contrary, ...Took an UnExpected, awfull lot of Time, Delaying, Far Beyond any Expectation, his Scheduled Next Moves, to the Point that Several Important Officials and/or Top Politicians were Obliged, Meanwhile, to Leave, Unable to Wait still Longer, while, Even his own Agenda had to be, After that, Modified, at the Last Minute, sharply Shortening or even Cutting various initially Scheduled Moves...
- Indeed, while Le Maire's Official Program (send to the Medias, including Eurofora) indicated that, Immediately After a Speech, in Strasbourg's "Palace for Music and Congresses", at "10.15", he would Go Straight Outdoors, to the "Exhibitions' Parc", at "11" h. in "the MORNING", on the Contrary, after Brief Statements to Journalists (including "Eurofora": See ..., etc) for a Few Minutes, the French Minister, following his Unexpected, Subsequent Meeting, in a PMC's Room, with some unnamed "Agriculture's Representatives", nevertheless, he was, Finally, Delayed more than ...2 whole Hours (sic !), Compared to his Initially Scheduled Program, thus Obliged to reach the "Exhibition Parc"'s Middle area Only as Late as ...13h.45+, i.e., practically, in the AFTERNOON, (while his Schedule had foreseen, on the Contrary, to catch up his ...Airplane at "13h.35"), as "Eurofora" witnessed on the spot !
- To the point that "Eurofora"' co-Founder, (having, these Last Years, become slightly Handicaped and Obliged to Walk Slower than usual, with Crunches, particularly through Long Trajectories), narrowly Missed the Next RDV, inside Strasbourg's 2019 "EuroFair", (this time, Exceptionaly surrounding the Hilton hotel), Even if Bruno Le Maire, Smiling, came, unexpectedly, to anew Salute us, Right in Front of the only Stand where We had radomly Chosen to Wait for his arrival, (by anOther Coincidence : of Agricultural Products - Fruits/Vegetables' Natural Juices...), nevertheless, he was immediately Surounded by intrusive "Paparatzi" and other various bystanders, practically Hindered to make a Free Exchange on Serious Political Issues, and, therefore, it became impossible, in such exceptional cirunstances, to have more than an Original Photo of him Approaching "Eurofora" with a Smile, while being rushed by Local Officials, to Urgently Run Fast to catch-up with a Last Brief Stand-Meeting, before reaching a Series of Official Cars ad motorcyclistes, Nearby, which had Already Left Before in order to Wait on the spot to take him the Soonest possible, directly at the Airport, (as "Eurofora" had been Warned)...
=> The very Sequence, as well as Context, of such a Long Series of Exceptional, mostly UnExpected, but Coherent, UnPrecedented Events, largely Out of Schedule, clearly Offers itself for a Coherent Interpretation, more or less Linked with the above-mentioned Sudden "U-Turn" that BREXIT's Latest Developments have Surprisingly taken in the UK, concerning the EU and particularly France, reportedly Narrowing down around Agricultural Matters linked to Top Politics, (Comp. many Facts cited Supra).
+ Significantly, Moreover, Le Maire's meeting with President Macron, Immediately after Strasbourg, at Evian, was Also around Economy and European Politics, including many Business Representatives from France and Germany, etc., Together with Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Europe.
>>> Last, but not least, the above-mentioned Concrete Details about BREXIT's "BackStop"-related Matters to Urgently Settle in view of a Possible Alternative Solution from the Current Political Deadlock in the UK (Comp. Facts cited Supra), eeem to be, reportedly, around Sanitary (Health) Controls on Agricultural Foods and Plants' Trade at the possibly Future "Borders" between the EU and the Northern Ireland region of the UK, which Traditionally is a quite Well-Known Technico-Economic Issue of potentially Big Political Importance in International Relations :
- Indeed, it's, Paradoxically, around some, so-called, ..."Phyto-Sanitary Certificates" (sic !), that a Huge Political Battle had been Earlier Fought, soon after 2000, (Both at Legal level, in front of EU's Court of Justice, at nearby Luxembourg, as well as inside EU Commission, Parliament and Council, added to relevant UN Top Political Instances), on anOther, and very Different, Occasion related to illegal Attempts for Trade with the EU accross the UN Peace-Keeping demarcation Line surounding the Occupied Territories illegaly controlled by Turkey's Foreign Invasion and Occupation Army since 1974, in Nowadays (from 2004) EU Member State Cyprus !
Such UnExpected "Coincidences", obviously contribute, together with a lot of various Other Converging Facts, (Comp. Supra), to underline the potentially very Important Political Significance that, as several UK Medias Nowadays observed, a possible simple Move by France might, potentially, have for an eventual Solution of the BREXIT issue, Out of the Current Deadlock (Comp. Supra) :
- IF French President Macron helped Settle, with such a Punctual, Simple and Unique Modification, that Controversial "BackStop" Issue, which had Notoriously Blocked the Current Version of the Draft EU-UK Agreement, Earlier Negiotiated with former UK Prime Minister May, (Comp., among others, also, f.ex. : ..., etc),
=> then, New UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, could Immediately Bypass the Obstacles recently set up by some even More Controversial Attempts, by a Currently ImPopular in the UK House of Commons, to OutLaw a "Clean", "No-Deal BREXIT", while, at the Same Time, Imposing a Further Delay until Next Year (2020) at any case, and Even UnDemocratically Prolonging its own existence, meanwhile, by Refusing any Election which could Allow, for the Brittish People, to freely and Democratically express, Directly by their Votes, Their prefered Choice for their own Country's forseable Future, (Comp. Supra)...
>>> Indeed, such a possible Move, could Simply be presented as 1 Simple UK-EU draft Agreement's Modification, Allowing to Respect Both the Brittish People's verdict at the Popular Referendum for BREXIT since 2016, (Comp., f.ex.: ..., etc), and Even the Latest, Controversial 2019 Resolutions of UK's Parliament, (Comp. Supra) while Also, eventually Opening a Way for possible Fresh, Democratic Elections, (If, perhaps, still Necessary), ipso facto.
(../..)
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The official presentation of a "Program" respecting People's choices voted in the June 7, 2009 EU Elections, to be debated in EU Council and EU Parliament during its 1st Session on July in Strasbourg, is the No 1 Priority, according to Democratic principles, for the Franco-German axis, said the main winners at the ballot box, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angie Merkel.
They stressed that the New EU Commission's President must have a "Program" in favor of an EU which "protects" its Citizens, regulates financial markets and aims at a "Political" Europe" : a wording they have used as incompatible with Turkey's controversial EU bid.
They also declared ready for a "political" endorsment of "Mr. Barroso's candidacy" in June's EU Council, considering that an official decision would have to be made after EU Parliament's debates and votes, possibly from next month (July), with the legally necessary final acceptance shortly after Lisbon Treaty's entry into force, hoped for September or October.
- "A Program, and Mr. Barroso" : This resumes, in substance, the anouncements made by Sarkozy and Merkel, on the question of current EU Commission's President, Barroso's declared wish to succeed to himself for a second mandate, to be extended during the following 5 years.
In their 1st meeting after EU Elections, they observed that "the Franco-German axis counted in European Elections' campaign... But, we both keep a realistic view : We saw the number of those who abstained, and we must absolutely give them an answer. We also see the disilusionment of an important number of Europeans vis a vis Europe, and we are aware of the responsibilities we have".
- The "Duty" of the new EU Commission's President, after June 7, 2009 EU Elections' result, "is to act for a Europe which protects the Europeans, to commit himself into working for a better Regulation of Financial transactions, ... and to have a Political will for Europe", underlined Sarkozy.
Therefore, "we have asked M. Barroso... to clarify, to officialy present the intentions he has", he anounced.
- "We want to speak also about the Programme", explained Merkel.
- "It's important that for the next EU Parliament's mandate (2009-2014) we take the right Decisions for Europe. Obviously on Persons, but mainly Decisions on Issues", she stressed.
- "It's not simply a question of a Person, it's also a question of a Programme". We are "really asking Mr. Barroso to commit himself on a Program, and on Principles, on Values", Sarkozy added.
EU President-in-office, Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer, accepted the Franco-German stance :
- "Barroso must present his Programme. The Czech Presidency agrees with that", Fischer reportedly said later, after meeting Sarkozy.
But Press reports from Brussels claimed that Barroso had preferred to be officially appointed by EU Council since June, (i.e. next week), "because this was implied by the current Treaty of Nice, according to him", and considered any delay until the possible ratification of the new, Lisbon Treaty on September/October, as "undemocratic".
- "At any case, independently of what Germany and France ask, it's also EU Parliament's wish". "We shall propose Mr Barroso's candidacy... But even in the framework of Nice Treaty, EU Parliament has to be associated in this Decision", the French President observed.
If this is correctly done, then "we support Mr. Barroso's candidature", and "if the (EU) Parliament agrees, we might ratify this decision since July", (i.e. next month), they both said.
- "France and Germany support Baroso's candidacy, But we want to speak also on the Program. We believe that this Program should be established in close cooperation with EU Parliament, and that's why we have followed an appropriate way", said Merkel. - If EU Parliament wants, this election can take place on July, but this must be done in full agreement.
- "We shall support Mr. Barroso's candidacy, without doubt", said Sarkozy. "But we have asked from Mr. Barroso, as I told him yesterday, to put into detail.. his intentions, at the eve of his 2nd mandate, if the situation avails itself.
France and Germany "don't want to take an Official Legal Decision by writting" during "the next (EU) Council" (on June 18-19), declared Sarkozy. Because they prefer, at this stage, only "a Political decision" on June, "so that we (EU Council) can work together with EU Parliament", which starts to meet only Next Month, since July in Srasbourg, "leaving a Legal decision by writting for later".
- "If the Conditions are fuillfiled in EU Parliament, we (EU Council) are ready to give the agreement and make it offficial", said Merkel
- "But, now we are working in the base of Nice Treaty. If tommorow we want to work in the spirit of Lisbon Treaty, we have to find a proper way", she added.
- "Of course it's Legally complicated, because we are going to make a Political proposal to the forthcoming Council, for an EU Commission's President, on the basis of Nice Treaty : So, we (EU Council) will not appoint the Commissioners. Only the President. If EU Parliament agrees, it could endorse this position on July", explained Sarkozy.
But, on Autumn, "if Ireland ratifies Lisbon Treaty, there will be, at any case, a 2nd Decision, to appoint the Commission's President, this time on the basis of Lisbon treaty, and then, we, the EU Member States, would have to appoint (also) the EU Commissioners", he added.
As for the precise Timing : - "Everything is suspended until the Irish vote... Now, we must all make everything possible to help Ireland to say "Yes"" to Lisbon Treaty... The Irish Referendum, ..will take place either on September or on October. It's a Question which depends on the Irish. And, then, we shall have the Choice of the Candidates for the permanent Institutions of Europe".
However, "if Ireland says No, we, French and Germans, have to assume our responsibilities, and we'll do so", he concluded.
But British and Swedish governments were reportedly eager to have a final EU Council decision on Barroso since this month, on June's European Council. While the other EU Member Countries are divided, several of them preferring to wait until EU Parliament pronounces itself, on July, and/or until Lisbon Treaty might be ratified by Ireland at the beginning of the Autumn. Barroso's current mandate ends on November.
There are also various, contradictory and/or unpredictable reactions inside EU Parliament vis a vis Barroso's wish to continue a 2nd mandate, because many MEPs are openly or secretly opposed, reluctant, or hesitating.
In the biggest EU Countries, as France and Germany, EU Citizens voted on June 2009 EU Elections for a renovated, non-technocratic but Political Europe which cares for its Citizens, with an Identity, Values and Borders, declared incompatible with Turkey's controversial EU bid, by mainstream, pro-European Governing Parties. Similar choices were also supported in several other small or medium EU Countries.
On the contrary, whenever, in other Countries, Governing and other mainstream Parties didn't make these choices or eluded them, EU Citizens massively voted for euro-Sceptics whenever they were the only ones to to promise anti-bureacratic change and oppose Turkey's demand to enter into the EU, (f.ex. in the UK, Netherlands, etc).
It's seems to be an Open Question whether Sarkozy and Merkel's conditions will be really accepted by Barroso, who was appointed on 2004 in a different political context, (with Socialist Prime Ministers in Germany, France, etc), had rejected in the Past the idea of EU becoming "equal to the USA" as "ridiculous", and pushed for Turkey's contoversial EU bid, trying to "soften" or contain the changes desired by the People who voted for Merkel and Sarkozy with another policy vis a vis Turkey on 2005 in Germany and on 2007 in France, as they did all over Europe on 2009.
In addition to many EPP Governments, it's 3 remaining Socialist Prime Ministers : Gordon Brown in the UK, Zapatero in Spain, and Socrates in Prortugal, who support Barroso, as well as Liberal Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt. But their Parties lost the June 2009 EU Elections.
Questioned whether there was still "Time" for "other" possible "Candidates", Sarkozy and Merkel did not deny, nor made any comment on that, but simply said that "it's not for us to make publicity for any candidates. We anounced our choice ("A Program, and Mr. Barroso"). But we respect any other candidate".
Among various other names cited are former Belgian Prime Minister Verhofstadt, former UNO's Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson of Ireland, Italian former EU Commission's vice-President Monti, etc. Meanwhile, Luxembourg's PM Juncker, (who had been unanimously accepted by EU Council for EU Commission's Presidency on 2004, but refused), announced his intention to resign from "EuroGroup"'s Chair. Thus, he might be available for another Top EU job.
As "EuroFora"'s "opinion" said (See publication dated 9/6/09) : - "If the current candidates (i.e. Barroso, etc) to the Top EU jobs promise and guarantee to respect People's democratic choices, then, it's OK".
"Otherwise, Europe must find new candidates, really motivated and able to implement these democratic choices of the People."
Because, "in Democracy, the forthcoming choices for EU's Top Jobs,...should be made according to EU Citizens' Votes in June 7, 2009 European Elections, and main EU Governments' strategic policies".