Macron to EF: EUCitizens Consultation before EU Decisions also After 2019 with Real Debates from Now
*Saint-Dié/Vosges Mountains/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to an "Eurofora" Question, French President Emmanuel Macron made it clear that he Intends to Advance Further than the current "EU Citizens' Consultations", just Launched Yesterday (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronlauncheseucitizenconsultations.html), for the Next 6 Months of 2018, and Help Open a New Era of Revitalized European Democracy in the foreseeable Future, as Logical Part of his Wider Plan for a Stronger "European Sovereignity", in Addition to the National one, in certain Key Areas of Crucial Importance, while also advancing even more closer to "Eurofora"s 1997-(and mainly: 2006)- 2018 Project.
+But, at the Same Time, Macron also Revealed, Today, pursuing his 3 Days-Long March up to the Vosges Mountains' Rural area, near Strasbourg, that he trully Believes to Real Exchanges with concerned Citizens on "Hot" Socio-Political Issues, Before Key Decisions affecting their Lives and/or Society at large, as he Clearly Proved Now on the spot, at Saint-Dié City :
I.e. a small but much needed and Timely "Political Miracle" at the Symbolic HeadQuarters of Vosges' Mountains Historic Christian Community, (by its ArchiBishopric at a Huge Cathedral, main Stop of his Visit),
as well as the "International Capital of Geography", proud to have given, for the 1st Time in History, the Name of "America" to the Continent facing Europe at the Other Side of the Atlantic Ocean, (thanks to a Landmark Edition of a World Map and relevant Book Published here as Early as since 1.507 AC). And also a City which had been Razed to the Ground, during Destructive Wars of the Past, its Population being Obliged to stay at the surrounding Forests, But Succeeded, Afterwards, to be Restored and ReVitalized. Almost, mutatis-mutandis, as Europe ?...
Macron Proved that, indeed, by Engaging Long and Hard, but Direct Debates even with several Groups of Initially Hostile Demonstrators, (including, f.ex., Railworkers Striking against a forthcoming Reform, due to introduce also some EU Competition, etc., as well as a Leftist Group of Melanchon's pro-"Resistance" fans Opposed also to Other Socio-Ecoomic Reforms, etc), by Spending several Hours to Speak and Exchange in Dialogue with them, until some Previously Insulting Cries, gave the way to Civilized Arguments, amidst an apparently growing Mutal Respect, (See Infra).
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- "Hi ! How are things going ?", a Smiling Macron suddenly Emerged in front of "Eurofora", Saluting Familiarly, after a Long Waiting Time, (See Infra).
- "Eurofora" immediately asked President Macron "if he Wished to Continue regular EU Citizens' Consultations (Before key EU Decisions) also in the Future, After 2019", (particularly considering EU Lisbon Treaty's relevant Article 11 which provides for the "Expression" of "Citizens"' Views on EU Activities, and even for "Regular Debates" with "Civil Society" on them : Comp. http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euombudsmandecisionandeuroforaproject.html , etc).
- "Yes ! Certainly !...", Affirmed, Clearly, the French President, in a Positive Reply to the above-mentioned "Eurofora"s Question.
- "At any case, that's what I Intend to do", Macron carefully Added, (while Walking away Slowly, still Hearing, Thoughtfully, and Looking Behind, as if he wanted also to make sure that everything was OK despite a somewhat rush movement by the Police among the Croud gathered around, apparently not always realizing the Fact that Elysée's Accredited Journalists had been Invited to Accompagny the President's walk through the People gathered at the Central Streets of the City).
- Indeed, that seems Logical in the overall Context of the President's Views, particularly for a More Democratic Europe, carefully but positively Confirmed also to "Eurofora", a Macron-Faithful, now Elysée Palace's Press Attaché, that we had also Questioned Today on this Same, Key point.
Something which, while naturally Including the 6-Months-Long current Citizens Consultations of April-October 2018, however, Goes also Well Beyond that important 1st Stage, stimulating Hopes to Open a "New Way" for a ReVitalized European Democracy at the foreseeable Future's Horizon.
I.e., an Obviously Natural Development, clearly Emerging from Macron's Landmark Speech of 7 September 2017, at the Symbolic BirthPlace of Democracy in the Historic "Pnyx" Rock, Facing Acropolis, in Athens, already introducing some key Elements of Systematic Citizens' Participation, sometimes going near to Direct Democracy, during a Crucial Period of the Ancient Greek Civilisation, at one of its Best Moments, which Marked All European Culture and well Beyond, (See "Eurofora"s NewsReport at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronatthehistoricsourcesofdemocracy.html).
During an Elysée Palace's Press Briefing, re-transmitted "Live" by Tele-Conference also to Strasbourg's invited Journalists, including "Eurofora", at the Eve of Macron's venue to EU Parliament in Strasbourg, (See "Eurofora"s NewsRaport at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronineuparliamentaskscitizensdebates.html), it was stressed that, at least the current, EU Citizens' Consultations of 2018, (due to Spread accross almost All EU Member Countries), could be usefully made also via the Internet, on Condition, always to "Restitute" their main Outcome at a Centralized Website, set up for that purpose.
-But, Yesterday (Tuesday) Evening, at the Official Launch of the 1st such "EU Citizens' Consultation" on Europe's Future, at nearby Epinal City, Administrative Capital of the Vosges' Mountains, near Strasbourg, (See "Eurofora"s NewsReport from the spot at : ...), Macron made it Cleaer that, Often, Personal Exchanges in actual, physical "Meetings", can also be Useful, by Adding a Human Dimension, helping a more Sincere Dialogue, (considering also the Fact that at least a Minority of People are Not Yet so Computer/Internet-Litterate as others).
+ More Important : The embattled, young French President, apparently ...Frustrated by a too "Nice" appearance for almost All his Interlocutors in that 1st Debate, (carefully "Prepared" by a Team under the EU Affairs' State Secretary, Mrs Loiseau), suddenly Felt the Need to ... Ask whether 1 "Anti-European" or, at least, "Euro-Sceptic" existed among that Audience, (getting 1 such Reply, by an unconvincing, however, alleged "Dissident" : See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronlauncheseucitizenconsultations.html).
However, Macron clearly Stressed and Repeated that EU Citizens' Consultations must Include also current Critics or even Opponents of the EU, sometimes also Calling those "Anti-EU" Dissidents to Add ...their Own "Citizens Consultations", in order to use real Logical Arguments, which can be Exchanged in other, various, even indirect Dialogues with All Other People.
=> And, Indeed, he Already gave, this same week, a First concrete Indication, by Chosing to Limit his Speech at EU Parliament's Plenary in Strasbourg, Yesterday (Tuesday) Morning, mainly into Focusing, precisely, on a Brief reminder of the Current Need for EU Citizens' Debates, in view of a Stronger, "Sovereign Europe", to be added to its Member States' National Sovereignities, there where EU's Bigger "Size" may be really Needed in order to be Efficient in nowadays World, while Spending, Most of his Speaking Time, into Discussing with MEPs (often of Different Opinions) on various Topical Issues related to Europe's present and Future, (See: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronineuparliamentaskscitizensdebates.html ).
>>> But, Today, at Saint-Dié City, this, UnExpectedly, Became a True and "Hard" Reality, also vis a vis Real Socio-Political Dissidents, (sometimes even some among the more Harsh, as f.ex. the "CGT" and/or "SUD" Trade Unions, Leftist Political Demonstrators, etc), litterally "on the Streets", including certain Sudden U-Turns and/or Surprizes, amidst the ambiant Tension of an on-going Railway Nation-Wide Strike, and Rapid Moves of Loudly Shouting Groups of initially very Hostile Dissidents or Political Opponents :
This Transformed what was initially supposed to be just a Friendly Stroll around Central City Streets to Greet the main Shop-Keepers patiently waiting for the French President's visit, in front of the Press and Local Fans, into a ...Real Arena of Hard Political Confrontations in several "Hot", un-foreseen Debates with Dissidents and/or Opponents...
Today, the new French President, Emmanuel Macron, proved in real practice, at Vosges Mountains' Saint-Dié city, that even Strong Disagreements on Issues of crucial Importance can and must be Democratically Debated, with elementary mutual Respect among initially Opposed parties :
- Indeed, contrary to an unrealistic "Nice, Gendle Mood" ambiant, just Yesterday, at the Official Launch of the 1st among a 6 Months-Long Series of EU Citizens Consultations throughout 27 EU Countries on Europe's foreseeable Future, that Macron inaugurated Tuesday Evening at nearby Epinal City's Congress Center ( See "Eurofora"s NewsReport from the spot at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/macronineuparliamentaskscitizensdebates.html),
this, subsequent event at Saint-Dié was, in fact, an unforeseen, Harsh Clash and Confrontation in public, at the Street, standing for Hours amidst a crashing Heatwave, between 2 really Opposed Views, on a Hard nut to crack, concerning the current Strikes by Railway Workers against a proposed Reform before EU Competition starts to be applied soon :
Macron was initially Aggressed, several times, by various Hostile Groups, smaller in number than his fans and simple friendly citizens, but much more Loud, Negative, and initially grossly Insulting, to an unprecedented level, without any formal Police authorisation to demonstrate so aggressively on that spot...
But, instead of sending the Police to disperse them, or merely Ignoring them by walking towards another street where he was awaited by friendly People, on the Contrary, the young French President bravely decided to go, meet and speak with those Opposed Dissidents, and Start Discussing with them for... Hours !
+ This was repeated also with some other Loud Dissident Groups, extending the program for 2 or 3 Hours more, until Angry Cries were progressively Replaced by Hard but Sincere Arguments.
A Young Elysée Palace's Press Officer, Jean Gaborit, who had followed Macron since a Long Time, (Together with his main Collegue, Marion Bayret, often met by "Eurofora" in Brussels' EU Summits, etc), told us that he had Never Seen Before, "at such a Level", a similar event elsewhere...
And even if there wasn't yet any breakthrough agreement in substance, at least, an obvious mutual Respect was apparently established (even some Applaud was heard sometimes afterwards, around those Dissidents, on certain points) !
"Eurofora" later, (while Departing, Earlier than other Elysée Group of Journalists, for Strasbourg, because of an EU Parliament's meeting to follow Tomorrow Morning/Noon in Strasbourg: See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euonukrainereformsbeforeelection.html), found several Trade Unionists and/or Other Critics in front of the City's Rail-Road Station, and/or aroud it, Ready to Discuss about their various Disagreements with Macron, But also willing to Admit that, at least, a Frank but Honest, Direct Dialogue had been Established, even with the Highest Political Authority of the Country...
=> In other word, it all seems as if a kind of ... Socio-Political "Miracle" had Started to Emerge, at this Symbolic "Saint-Dié" (means "Holy God") City, full of Simple, Rural People at Vosges' Mountains, whose Historic Saint (pictured at an Impressive, Huge Cathedral, in Front of which the French President concluded his Official Visit), is named "Deodace", i.e. something which obviously Reminds (even if it might not actually mean that) : "Deus" (i.e. God) and "Audacious" !
Macron might, perhaps, not exactly be a Traditional "Religious" man, even if he is a baptised Christian, as the Large Majority of French People. And, at any case, as President of the French Republic, he is notoriously Obliged to be Neutral on Religious affairs, in Principle left for the Civil Society and private life.
But, anyway, it's a Fact that it all looks as if the current Initiator of EU Citizens' Consultations really is an ..."Audacious" European Political Leader !
It's not for nothing that near the Saint-Dié City, where Macron chose to act as mentioned, was also Born the Famous "Jeanne d' Arc", France's National Hero, (but with Appeal also towards Germany, where the French President is due to meet German Chancelor Angie Merkel Tomorrow, in Berlin)...
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Before the end of 2009, France and Germany will take strong initiatives to open "new Horizons" needed by Europe and the World, going well beyond the current Crisis' management, anounced French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angie Merkel, reassuring that both a judgement on Lisbon Treaty by nearby Karlsruhe German Federal Court, and the forthcoming National Elections in Germany would confirm their capacity to act.
They were replying to Press questions in Berlin, after key-regional elections on Sunday, where Merkel's ChristianDemocratic party kept everywhere a strong 1st and won the possibility to forge a New Majority with Liberals at the largest of 3 Landers : Saxony (4 millions inhabitants), while its main competitor, the Socialdemocrat party fell to unprecedented lows : Tackled by the small "Linke" (left) party in Saarland (1 million inhabitants), it became even smaller than it in Saxony and Thuringen (3 million inhabitants), where SPD arrived only third. While its usual partners, the "Greens" also fell down, contrary to CDU's new partners, the FDP Liberals, who go up.
- "At any case, at the end of the year (2009), if things go as scheduled, we shall take strong initiatives, showing that Europe needs a Franco-German axis, as well as the World, even if it never excludes other" countries to join, replied Sarkozy to a question if France and Germany will revive the "European dream", by "relauncing the EU motor" for the Future, with actions going further than the mere management of the global crisis, (as it was done fex. in the Past with the creation of the "Euro" Monetary zone, etc).
- "I am convinced that the Franco-German friendship must be constantly nourished by New Projects", he added."There are many areas of cooperation where we intend to take, very soon, some Franco-German initiatives, which will allow to open more Horizons" to the EU, Sarkozy stressed.
But if "we don't speak about that now, it's only in order to avoid interfering in important elections coming in Germany", he observed. However, "we have already started to consider the Future with the (German) Chancellor, and what we can do in order to honour our predecessors". "We are already speaking about that, and we are preparing things". "I am working very well together with Mrs Merkel, and I wish that it goes on", Sarkozy concluded.
- "It's important for EU's credibility that France and Germany advance forward together", stressed Merkel from the outset. "Don't worry about Germany's capacity to undertake initiatives" with France, she added. "France and Germany will be perfectly able to make proposals" for the EU.
- "After-crisis" plans must be prepared, meanwhile, with measures "advancing progressively", Merkel anounced. And, for the short term, we must deal also with EU Citizens' dismay since they feel that it's a Scandal for some in the Financial Markets to be paid with excessive "Bonuses", etc, she agreed with Sarkozy.
- "Abuses in financial markets must stop", stressed also Sarkozy. Backing Merkel's announcement that France and Germany call for an EU meeting to forge "a crystal-clear European position" in view of the G-14 Summit at Pittsburg, he warned that "everyone will have to undertake his responsibilities, in front of World's Public Opinion. particularly those who don't want to make the same effort of regulation as France and Germany".
Moreover, "Global Trade cannot be correctly dealt, without taking into account also Environmental and Social rules", Sarkozy added, referring to recently expressed positions against Unfair Competition via Environmental and/or Social Dumping, (See earlier "EuroFora"'s publications).
Such moves are obviously linked to the need to ensure at least an elementary respect for Human Rights by Third Countries, (f.ex. exploitation of Children's work, etc) in order to avoid, precisely, any such Social Dumping.
- "EU has Values, protecting Human Rights and Human Dignity", and "it cannot close its eyes" in front of grave violations, particularly "Torture and/or killings", added, indeed, Sarkozy.
Thus, "the time comes, where decisions must be taken". But, in case of "Sanctions", "all International opinion should be convinced of the need to take action", he observed.
Expressed on the occasion of recent developments in Iran, the same principles should logically apply also to other similar cases, including fex. that of Hundreds of ECHR judgements' condemning f;ex. Turkey for grave crimes, (as Torture, brutal Killings, Enforced "Disappearances", Destruction of Family Homes, harassments and oppressive violations of Freedom of Speech, etc).
Meanwhile, questioned on (EU Commission's chair) Barroso's bid to succeed himself for a second mandate, they both expressed a "wish" or a "feeling" that "EU Parliament"'s various political Groups might fix a date for decisions "during September". However, is he is endorsed before the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, it will be legally necessary to re-vote anew for a full term of office afterwards, according to EU Legal Experts, revealed recently in Strasbourg the experienced former President of EU Parliament's Constitutional Committee, German Socialist MEP Jo Leinen. And Germany will not vote for Lisbon Treaty's ratification but only "on September 8 and 18", revealed Merkel, ( i.e. after EU Parliament's plenary session in Strasbourg).
- Therefore, "for EU Commissioners' appointment, it's too early yet, because we must wait for the ratification of Lisbon Treaty" by all 27 EU Member countries, including naturally Ireland's Referendum on early October, said to "EuroFora" the influential President of EU Parliament's largest group of MEPs, Joseph Daul, expressing, however, the hope that a controversial deal with the head of the Socialist Group of MEPs, Martin Schultz of Germany, might hold for Barroso alone, at a forthcoming vote due to fix the Strasbourg plenary's Agenda.
But MEPs reportedly just "postponed" for 1 week all their previously scheduled group meetings (See : http://www.euractiv.com/en/future-eu/barroso-unveil-summer-homework-week/article-184825 );
However, while the choice of a new EU Commission's President by EU Parliament is supposed, according to many MEPs' wish, take place according to EU policy issues, paradoxically, this would mean that Barroso's bid would pass before even the anouncement of France and Germany's "initiatives" for EU's "new Horizons"...