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Pagina principale arrow newsitems arrow Sarkozy Counselor to EuroFora on French President statement that 2012 can give Birth to New Europe

Sarkozy Counselor to EuroFora on French President statement that 2012 can give Birth to New Europe

Scritto da ACM
Sunday, 01 January 2012
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*Metz/Angelo Marcopolo/- A French President Nicolas Sarkozy's Counselor, speaking to "EuroFora" on his New Year's eve anouncement, that "2012 will be the year to give Birth to a New Europe", reminded Sarkozy' Historic Speech on the "need for Europe's ReNaissance",  (made in Strasbourg on 2/7/2007 after 2 Electoral Victories and June 2007 EU Brussels Summit's decision on the "simplified" Lisbon Treaty), and pointed at recent developments on EU Economic Governance as well  as on €uroArea+, (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from the latest, December 2011 EU Brussels' Summit, from the spot),

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When Sarkozy had initially stressed the "Need for "Europe's ReNaissance", he had clearly explained that he felt accountable to his landmark pre-Electoral speech, back on February 2007 in Strasbourg, where he had replied to a Question by "EuroFora"s co-Founder by stressing that he "will never change what (he) said on Europe" that day, including f.ex. the need for a Political and Democratic, not Bureaucratic Europe, for an EU Identity and Cultural and Human Rights Values incompatible with Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, as well as for a strong EU Economic Governance, in order for Europe to become able to play an important role in the World, (See our 23 February 2007 Publication at TCWeekly+ Magazine)

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 - 4 Years later, the French President optimistically anounced that he is now  "convinced that, United together with our European Partners, we shall be Stronger in order to meet the Challenges which wait for us (expect us)" including to "Get out of the (Global) Crisis" and "build a New Economic model".

- Because "what goes on in the World, announces that the year 2012 wil be that of all Dangers, but also of all Possibilities. of all Hopes, if we know how to how to meet the Challenges. Of all Dangers, if we stay still (without moving)".

 - "The (Global) Crisis is serious : It sanctions 30 Years of Planetary Disorders in Economy, Trade, Finance, Currency issues, with an incredible crisis, which is, without any doubt the most serious since the 2nd World War, and this crisis has not yet finished", he warned. - "Nevertheless, there are reasons to Hope. We have to, and can keep Trust in the Future. Because, even if many (other EU) Countries faced hardships difficult to overcome", '"pushing in to sufferings Greece, Ireland, Portugal, but also so strong Countries as Spain and even Italy", nevertheless, (f.ex.) France kept going on, and resisted", up to now; thanks to Courage and Calm, to Rock-solid Institutions, Social Protection which guarantees a Solidarity in hardships, thanks to Reforms acomplished during the last years, (f.ex. on Retirement, etc), and to all Measures aiming to reduce Public Spending, which allowed to keep the Trust of those who lend their Savings in order to Fund the Economy",


=> However, "the History of Decades to come is written Now", in 2012. And, "the circumstances being Exceptional, (therefore) the Decisions must stand at the Height of (meet) this seriousness (Gravity)", strongly stressed Sarkozy from the outset, anouncing that  "among the Challenges which wait for us is also to give Birth to a New Europe".

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- "All the work done during the recent years, both on EU and €uroZone, up to the latest EU Summit (December 2011 : See "EuroFora's NewsReports from Brussels), including on "EuroArea"'s Governance, already goes in this direction, Sarkozy's Counselor stressed to "EuroFora".

+ According to the original logic of the "Renaissance" of a Europe with Identity and Values, the move naturally includes also the anouncement made today by the French President of his intention to officially raise the issue of a financial "Contribution" of Imports made by Foeign Countries with "Cheap Labour" obtained mainly through Human and/or Social Rights' Violations, (thereby concretely joining together both Real Politics and Human Rights' Values), Sarkozy'"s Counsellor confirmed to "EuroFora", (See infra).

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 - "I don't underestimate the consequences that Rating Agencies and the  Financial Markets' upheavals, as well as our Errors of the Past, can have on our Economy. But I say for anyone to hear, that it's not Markets, nor Agencies which will make France and EU's politics !",

In fact, the only way to preserve our Sovereignity is to master our Destiny and to choose .. the way of Structural Reforms, instead of that of last-minute Reactions, which only add confusion and disorder without restoring trust.

"The problem is not to Reduce again this year's Spending : What should have been done, has already been decided", he noted.

- "But, now, we must work, in priority, for Growth, Competitiveness, Re-Industrialisation, which, alone, will allow us to create Jobs and purchashing power". In this regard, 3 dominant issues emerge :


+ In addition to taking due care of Unemployed People, without excluding them, but, on the contrary, by Training and helping them to find their place in society, while also making Financial markets, which are largely at the origin of the current difficulties, should participate into funding the reparation of damages they provoked, f.ex. by implementing recent decisions on a Tax over Financial Transactions, etc., Sarkozy anounced also his intention to launch a new grounf-breaking 3rd Measure :


- The most innovating Measure anounced by the French President for 2012 seems, indeed, to concern "our Social Protection's Funding", which "can no more rely mainly on Work, so easiily outsourced", as the French President observed.  


=> Therefore, "we must reduce pressure on Work", he observed.


>>> Instead, it is " Imports which compete our products with Cheap Labour force"; which should pay, Sarkozy stressed :                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
- "We must make" them "conrtibute financially" to our Social Protection, the French President anounced.


- "This issue lies at the Heart of all our Debates since Years", (in France, the EU and the G 20), stressed Sarkozy.


- So that now, "I shall hear the proposals of Social Partners, (at a January 2012 Social Summit) and afterwards we shall decide"; he warned, apparently pointing at a RDV for the 2nd Half of January 2012. After "listening to the proposals of each one" among "the Representatives of Economic and Social forces", in a "meeting, together with the Prime Minister (Fillon) on January 18", so that, "before the End of January, we'd take and assume Important Decisions, because what is at Stake is Crucial", he underlined.                                                


+ The move concerns "particularly Imports from Countries with Serious Violations of Human Rights", through which they obtain an exceptionaly Low-Cost Labour Force, explained, agreeing with "EuroFora", a Sarkozy's Counselor.


++ He also agreed that this points mainly on the so-called "Social Dumping", which was strongly denounced by the French President in his famous Speech "at Urmatt", a Modern Wood Sciery near Strasbourg, as early as since 2009, (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from Urmatt).


=>  + So that, in fact; the move "also concerns Environmental Dumping", Sarkozy's Counselor naturally reminded to "EuroFora", given the fact that the French President had cited both these two Unfair Competition issues, in relation with France's and EU's Industry, starting by his 2009 landmark speech at Urmatt.


Afterwards,  the issue was again discussed on the sidelines of EU and G-20 Summits, in view of which, French Minister for Social and Health issues, Xavier Bertrand, speaking to "EuroFora" earlier in Paris, during an International Conference with Political and Experts' representatives from all G 20 Member Countries and related International Organizations, had anounced his intention to raise the problem of serious violations even of elementary Social Rights.

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During the latest, 2011 G20 Summit at Cannes, last November 2011, the problems related to "Social Dumping" and "Unfair Competition" to EU a.o. Industry, by abnormally "Cheap Labour" obtained mainly by serious Human Rights Violations in certain Countries, (notorious examples being f.ex. Turkey, Pakistan, etc), were anew raised and discussed both by  EU Business Associations, including Laurence Parisot, head of the French Business Association, as well as by ILO's President Somavia, from nearby Geneva, etc.


=> According to the Official Conclusions of the 2011 G20 Summit, as decided at Cannes, Heads of State/Government declared that they were "Committed to Strengthen the Social Dimension of Globalisation", because they "firmly believe that Employment and Social Inclusion must be at the Heart of .. actions and Policies to restore Growth and Confidence". In consequence, the G20 Summit "decided to set up a Task Force, which shall work as a Priority on Youth Employment", (including, naturally, the Interdiction of Children Labour, etc), as well as to "recognize the Importance of Social Protection Floors in each of our Countries, adapted to National Situations", and to "encourage ILO to continue Promoting Ratification and Implementation of the 8 core Conventions ensuring Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work".


In this regard, the 2011 G20 Summit, concluding about "Reforming Global Governance for the 21st Century", also decided to "call on International Organisations, especially the UN, WTO, the ILO", (etc), "to enhance their Dialogue and Cooperataion, including on the Social Impact of Economic Policies, and to intensify their Coordination".

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    Significantly, Sarkozy's counselor spoke on the above mentioned issues to "EuroFora" during today's visit of the French President at Metz, near Strasbourg, the city where he had Symbolically inaugurated a year ago (in 2010) an eye-catching, spectacular "Human Rights' parvis right in front of the brand New "Pompidou Center" for Culture (also as "a lever for Economic Development", as Sarkozy stressed then), in the famous and strategic Lorrain region, "surrounded by Borders of almost 4 Countries", but mainly close "Neighbour to Germany" :

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This fact giving an occasion to Sarkozy to change his scheduled speech and add a vibrant call to safeguard and resolutely develop further the "Fundamental Importance of the Franco-German Axis", as he stressed from the 1st Day of the New Year 2012, (See other NewsReport by "EuroFora" from Metz, attached herewith).
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+ Meanwhile, German Chancelor Angie Merkel, also spoke, in her New Year's eve address from Berlin, about a "long road, not without setbacks", "at the end of which wil emerge a Stronger Europe", than what it was before the present Crisis.


- In particular, "a common currency can only be really successful, if we Work Together in Europe, more than ever", she observed.


- "Especially now, when Europe faces its most serious chalenge in many Decades", Merkel warned.


- But, "despite hardships, we must never forget that the peaceful unification of our continent is an historic gift to us. It has taken us over half a century of peace, freedom, justice, Human Rights and Democracy", stressed the German chancelor.

***

(NDLR : "DraftNews", as alerady sent earlier to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate and/or complete Final Version may be published asap).

***

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Recent developments proved that Europe can suceed to overcome challenges by aiming at great objectives, and this is needed also in 2009, said EU chairman, French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

    - "It's in the name of Great Ideas, Projects, Ambition and Ideals, that EU can overcome" challenges, stressed Sarkozy at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, in conclusion of a dense 7 months EU Chairmanship. "It's even easier for Europe to have Great projects, able to overcome national egoism, instead of limiting itself only to small projects" (unable to do alike), he observed.     

- "Europe must remain Ambitious and understand that the World needs her to take Decisions". "The World needs a Strong Europe", which "thinks on its own, has convictions, its own responses, its imagination" : "A Europe which does not limit itself into following" others, (as it did in the Past, when it followed USA, f.ex. on Bosnia). On the contrary, "Europe should undertake its own responsibilities", he said, after a series of succes in stopping the War between Russia and Georgia, and organizing the 1st EuroZone's Summit in Paris, which incited the Washington DC G-20 Summit to extend similar decisions World-wide.  


    - "When you sweep it all under the carpet, prepare yourself for hard tomorrows", he warned. "What hinders decisions is the lack of Courage and Will, the fading away of Ideals", he stressed before EU Parliament's 2008 debate on Human Rights and Sakharov prize on Freedom of thought attributed by MEPs to Chinese cyber-dissident Hu Jia, followed by an EU - Turkey meeting on Friday.

    - "I don't abandon my convictions" and "I will take initiatives" on EU level also in 2009, Sarkozy announced later. "France will not stop having convictions and taking initiatives" on Europe. + "It's an Error to wish to pass over the Heads of those who are elected in their Countries" : "It's an integrism I always fought against"', he warned.
---------------------
French EU Presidency faced 4 unexpected Crisis :

- An institutional crisis, with the Irish "No" to EU Lisbon Treaty, just before it started. A geopolitical crisis, wth the threat of War between Russia and Georgia risking to throw Europe back to Cold-war divisions, on August. A World-wide Financial and Economic crisis, arriving at a bad moment before crucial 2009 EU elections. And even a Strasbourg's mini-crisis, with EU Parliament's roof curiously falling down, from unknown reasons, in a brand new building on August, provoking an unprecedented transfert of the 2 September Plenary Sessions...

But it wasn't enough to stop Sarkozy ! On the contrary, it stimulated him...
---------------------------------------

- "The better way to deal with the recent problems of EU institutions (as the "3 NO" by France, the Netherlands and Ireland) is to take them as a "Test" in order to find solutions closer to Citizens' concerns", said later in Strasbourg Sarkozy's new choice as Ministe for EU affairs, Bruno Le Maire.

- On the Institutional front, Sarkozy gave Time to the Irish to think about it, and stroke on December a deal including a New Referendum after the June 2009 EU Elections, in exchange of a promise to keep the rule of "one EU Commissioner for each EU Member Country", and some opt-outs on Defence and Fiscal EU policies, Abortion, etc. If the Irish get a "Yes" Majority, then the institutional package could be completed in 2010 or 2011 on the occasion of Croatia's probable EU accession.

He was accused in Strasbourg to upgrade EU Council and downgrade EU Commision, but he replied that "strong Political initiatives by EU Council reinforce also the more technical role of EU Commission, under the political-technical leadership of its President", all 3 "working together with EU Parliament".


- But, meanwhile, Sarkozy energetically spearheaded an Historic 1st Summit of EuroZone's 15 Heads of State and Government at EU's core, exceptionally enlarged to a partial participation of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, on October 12 in Paris' Elysee palace, which started to tackle succesfully the growing world Financial crisis.

    It also paved the way for its endorsement by a subsequent Brussels' 27 EU Member States' gathering, before it all come to Washington's G-20 Summit. And "Europe was united, it asked for the 1st G-20 Summit, and it will also organise the next G-20 Summit on April in London", he observed.   

 But a Conference with EU, Russia, African and other Developing Countries, hosted in Strasbourg shortly after Washington G-20 Summit by the French EU Presidency, took a Resolution asking to enlarge participation to Global Economic Governance. Many found, indeed, illogic and unacceptable that f.ex. states as Turkey were given a seat at G-20 level, while all African Countries, and even the African Union itself, representing the greatest Continent on Earth, were excluded...


    Meanwhile, even USA''s "Paulson No 3" Plan, was, in fact, inspired by Europe's No 1 Plan", Sarkozy observed, largelly applauded by MEPs.

    And "Europe showed Solidarity" by mobilizing some 22 Billion credit for Hungary, 1,7 billion for Ukraine, as we do nowadays for Baltic States, etc., he added.

    The move on Economy was extended on December by an EU stimulus' plan totalling some 200 billion Euros, including 5 Billions released by EU Commission for big Projects, as well as various parallel National plans for Economic revival, (fex. 26 billions in France alone). They might appear limited, compared to USA President-elect Obama's reported plan to boost the American economy with 800 billion $, but at least succeded to overcome Europe's divisions for the first time on Economic governance, opening new horizons.

- The French President stressed even harder the unique role of an active EU Council's chairmanship, when he moved swiftly and efficiently, at the beginning of August, to succesfully stop War between Russia and Georgia, at the last minute, which threatened to bring Europe back to Cold War division.

"We (EU) also wanted to avoid a situation like in Bosnia, in the Past, when EU was absent, so that our American friends took their responsibilitues, and EU only followed", despite the fact that the conflict took place in Europe. Now, it was the EU who took its responsibilities".

A roadmap towards a new PanEuropean Security policy, before which all unilateral moves to place new Missiles (from USA or Russia) would be freezed, was proposed by Sarkozy after a meeting with Russian president Medvedev, at the eve of Washington DC's G-20 Summit.

Ukraine's "European" character was stressed at a Sarkozy - Jushenko Summit, September in Paris, while EU adopted on December an "Eastern policy", in which, "I'm convinced that our (EU's) future is to find with our Neighbours the conditions for Economic Development. Peace and Security, by explaining them that.. they must respect (Human Rights') Values, and adopt behaviors different from the Past", explained Sarkozy in Strasbourg.

Meanwhile, the "Union for the Mediterranean" was created, since July's Summit if 45 Heads of State and Government in Paris, as "an organisation for a permanent Dialogue, that we need", mainly in order to tackle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, by bringing together, for the 1st time, Israelis and Arabs, where "Europe must be present, in order to avoid a frontal clash".

- "If Europe doesn't take its part for Peace in the Middle-East, nobody else will do that in our place", Sarkozy stressed.
-----------------------
    Meanwhile, other EU Agreements were brokered during the French EU Presidency on Immigration, (fex. common Asylum rules, etc), and Climat- Energy :

    - On Climat-Energy, the 2007 German EU Presidency had fixed a triple 20% aim for 2020 (20% renewable Energies, 20% reduction of CO2 emmission, 20% energy efficience/economies), and the 2008 French EU Presidecny realized that, making the necessary compromises in order to modernize EU's industry, but without throwing some former Central-Eastern European Countries into abrupt Economic break down risking "social explosion".

    - Defence-Security EU policy was mainly postponed for April 2009, since both German chancellor Merkel and French president Sarkozy want to strike a deal with the new American president Obama in Strasbourg's NATO Summit.

    However, with all these 4 unexpected Crisis diverting attention to other urgencies, People wil wonder now, what happened to the famous deal proposed by freshly-elected French President Sarkozy on Turkey's controversial EU bid, back on August 2007, to continue EU - Turkey negotiations, but on the double condition that core chapters, intrinsequally linked with EU Membership, will be excluded, and that a collective Reflexion and Debate on Europe's future would start before the end of 2008.

    It was meant to reply to the crucial question : What kind of Europe do we want in 10 or 20 Years from now : A large Market, or a Political Europe, with a popular identity ? In Sarkozy's thinking, presented in his 2 landmark speeches on Europe in Strasbourg, shortly before and after the 2007 Elections, (on February and July 2007), Turkey's controversial EU bid would be incompatible with the second choice.

    It's true that EU Commision's Chairman, Jose Barroso, (who had notoriously declared, as former Portuguese Prime Minister, that he found "nonsense" the idea that Europe might become equal to the US), had repeatedly tried to avoid that Sarkozy's criticism on Turkey might start winning a larger audience in Europe, preferring a discrete "wismens' committee" work. And that most of the personalities later chosen in order to participate in a Committee on Europe's Future, are too much linked with Socialist parties and/or American policies, to be really critical of USA's notorious wish to impose Turkey to the EU, as Sarkozy had noted himself since March 2007..

     - "It's on EU Council's presidency to take political initiatives. EU Commission has other competences", stressed Sarkozy. The "European Ideal" is to "build Europe with the States, not against them". "Ask Europeans to chose between their countries and Europe won't work. You don't choose between your two parents : We must add them together".

    "France and Germany have an Historic Duty to work together, precisely because of what happened to the Past. We have to work hand by hand. We cannot be separated.It goes beyond me and Mrs Merkel today, Mr Schroeder and Mr. Chirac yesterday. It's not a choice, it's a duty to Europe and to the World".  "We need Germany, as Germany needs Europe". Compromise is inevitable, here as everywhere, and each one made some steps towards eachother's positions.

    But "it's true that Mrs Merkel didn't chose her Socialist partners, while I chose mine", Sarkozy said, in an indirect hint that the Socialist Minister of Finance in Germany might be a cause of minor past disagreements in Economy, which were overcome in recent negotiations.

    "We (France and Germany) have particular duties in Europe", but "in a Europe of 27 Member States, it's not enough for France and Germany to agree between them.

    "I always thought that Great Britain has a special role to play in Europe. ... Now, everybody "saw what it cost payed the UK for having been too exclusively open towards the US (and) Financial services. Europe needs the UK, but also the UK needs Europe" :- "We were able to face the hardest moment of the Financial crisis because the UK clearly chose Europe", stressed Sarkozy, reminding Gordon Brown's exceptional participation to the Historic 1st Heads of State/Government Summit of EuroZone, October 12 in Paris (See EuroFora's Reportage from Elysee Palace then).

     - "Some look at Europe with old glasses aged 30 years ago. While we must look at her in relation to what it will be in 30 years" in the Future, Sarkozy concluded.

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