Union européenne

Général : « Même dans le cas où nous quitterions l’Union européenne, nous ne quitterions pas l’Europe », a déclaré le maire de Londres Sadiq Khan en visite au Parlement à Bruxelles ce mardi 28 mars. « Que ce soit dans les domaines de la sécurité et de la défense, des finances ou de la culture, nous continuerons à faire partie de la famille européenne », a-t-il expliqué à l’issue de sa rencontre avec le Président du Parlement Antonio Tajani.

Source : © Union européenne, 2017 - PE

Général : Moins d’une semaine après l’attaque terroriste de Londres, le Ministre français de l’intérieur Matthias Fekl et son homologue allemand Thomas de Maizière se sont rendus au Parlement ce 27 mars pour un débat sur la sécurité. Devant les députés de la commission des libertés civiles, ils ont souligné d’une seule voix la nécessité de protéger les frontières extérieures, de mieux partager les informations et de faire face aux nouveaux défis du terrorisme tels que le chiffrement des communications.

Source : © Union européenne, 2017 - PE

Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT), Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights on the arrest of Ahmed Mansoor, human rights defender in the United Arab Emirates and 2015 Martin Ennals Award laureate:

"I call on the authorities of the United Arab Emirates to unconditionally release Ahmed Mansoor, following his arrest based on charges that include disseminating false information to promote sedition, hatred, and damage to national unity. All charges against him should be dropped, as they appear to be motivated only by his legitimate and peaceful human rights work. Equally, his and his family's total security and integrity should be guaranteed by the authorities and all his confiscated possessions be returned."
Full statement
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT), Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights on the arrest of Ahmed Mansoor, human rights defender in the United Arab Emirates and 2015 Martin Ennals Award laureate: "I call on the authorities of the United Arab Emirates to unconditionally release Ahmed Mansoor, following his arrest based on charges that include disseminating false information to promote sedition, hatred, and damage to national unity."
"All charges against him should be dropped, as they appear to be motivated only by his legitimate and peaceful human rights work. Equally, his and his family's total security and integrity should be guaranteed by the authorities and all his confiscated possessions be returned."

For full statement see link below.
Further information
Full press statement
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT), Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights made the following statement on the detentions following yesterday's demonstrations in Russia: "I regret and condemn the fact that yesterday's demonstrations in many cities across Russia were followed by a large number of arrests and detentions, including that of opposition leader Alexey Navalny and a number of journalists." For the full statement see link below
Further information
Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT), Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights made the following statement on the detentions following yesterday's demonstrations in Russia:

"I regret and condemn the fact that yesterday's demonstrations in many cities across Russia were followed by a large number of arrests and detentions, including that of opposition leader Alexey Navalny and a number of journalists."

Full statement
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Une rupture en cachera-t-elle une autre ? A la veille du lancement du Brexit, le Parlement écossais se prononce aujourd'hui mardi 28 mars sur la possibilité d'organiser un nouveau référendum sur son indépendance. Une consultation qui menace de dynamiter le Royaume-Uni et à laquelle Theresa May a souhaité apporter une réponse ferme.

Rosneft
Relations extérieures
Les mesures restrictives adoptées par le Conseil dans le cadre de la crise de l’Ukraine à l’encontre de certaines entreprises russes, dont Rosneft, sont valides

La commission des affaires économiques et monétaires a voté un texte visant à combler les lacunes permettant à certaines des plus grandes multinationales de ne pas payer d’impôts sur les bénéfices, et ce, en exploitant les différences entre les systèmes fiscaux de l’UE et des pays tiers.
Commission des affaires économiques et monétaires

Source : © Union européenne, 2017 - PE

Jeudi soir, Yann Barthès m’a invité pour parler de mon livre, «les salauds de l’Europe». Et figurez-vous que j’ai battu Hanouna, un vrai bâton de maréchal :-D ! Ouvrir une émission avec une interview de votre hôte, il fallait oser (Quotidien 1 434 000 soit 5,9%,TPMP 1 383 000 soit 5,7%, C à vous 1 143 000). Comme je n’arrive pas à intégrer la vidéo sur ce blog, voici le lien: https://www.tf1.fr/tmc/quotidien-avec-yann-barthes...

Les projets facilitant le transfert de fonds au sein du budget à long terme de l’UE, afin de relever des défis urgents tels que résoudre la crise migratoire, accroître la sécurité, encourager la croissance et créer de l’emploi, ont été adoptés en commission des budgets lundi. Le Parlement œuvre depuis longtemps en faveur d’une flexibilité accrue du cadre financier pluriannuel (CFP), qui s’appliquerait à la période restante du CFP 2014-2020.
Commission des budgets

Source : © Union européenne, 2017 - PE

Soixante ans après la signature du traité de Rome, les 27 chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement se sont réunis samedi 25 mars dans la capitale italienne pour célébrer l'anniversaire du texte fondateur de l'Union européenne et adopter une déclaration commune, sans la présence du Royaume-Uni. "Nous sommes fiers des réalisations de l'Union européenne : la construction de l'unité européenne est une entreprise audacieuse et visionnaire", ont rappelé les dirigeants européens. Quatre objectifs principaux sont définis dans cette déclaration, parmi lesquels "une Europe sûre et sécurisé" et "une Europe sociale". Les 27 s’engagent à "agir de concert, si nécessaire à des rythmes différents et avec une intensité différente, tout en avançant dans la même direction, comme nous l’avons fait par le passé, conformément aux traités et en laissant la porte ouverte à ceux qui souhaitent se joindre à nous plus tard". "Il y aura un 100e anniversaire de l’UE", a affirmé le président de la Commission européenne, Jean-Claude Juncker.

Célébration du 60ème anniversaire de la signature des traités de Rome

Général : « Le rêve d’une Europe unie était la voie à suivre pour laisser derrière nous une fois pour toutes le cauchemar de la guerre », a déclaré le Président du Parlement Antonio Tajani lors des célébrations du soixantième anniversaire des traités de Rome ce 25 mars. « Nous devons être fiers de l’héritage que nous laissons à nos enfants : la liberté de voyager, d’étudier, de travailler, d’entreprendre, d’innover », a-t-il expliqué en signant la déclaration de Rome.

Source : © Union européenne, 2017 - PE

Le ministre fédéral allemand de l’intérieur, Thomas de Maizière, et le ministre français de l’intérieur, Matthias Fekl, débattront avec la commission des libertés civiles lundi, de 17 à 19 heures, des mesures de l’UE visant à améliorer la situation en matière de sécurité en Europe et des défis à venir.
Commission des libertés civiles, de la justice et des affaires intérieures

Source : © Union européenne, 2017 - PE

Général : Le ministre français de l’intérieur Matthias Fekl et son homologue allemand Thomas de Maizière, le Président palestinien Mahmoud Abbas ainsi que le maire de Londres Sadiq Khan se rendront cette semaine au Parlement européen à Bruxelles. Au sein des commissions, les députés voteront une révision à mi-parcours du cadre financier pluriannuel pour la période 2014-2020 ainsi que de nouvelles mesures pour lutter contre l’évasion fiscale des multinationales.

Source : © Union européenne, 2017 - PE

Cette marche a été organisée par une plateforme rassemblant plusieurs mouvements associatifs et syndicats. Eulogos en faisait parti et de ce fait a été invité à prendre la parole pour quelques minutes, d’où ce texte dont vous pouvez prendre connaissance.

Cette marche du 25 mars ne fut pas la grande foule dont on aurait pu rêver ; mais ce fut un grand rassemblement de plusieurs centaines de personnes. Un succès limité mais méritoire à renouveler aussi régulièrement que possible.

Les membres de la plateforme organisatrice, comme Eulogos, ont pris la parole à tour de rôle, mais aussi tout personne, qui passant par là, souhaitait s’exprimer. Elle montait sur le podium et parlait. Une authentique prise de parole citoyenne.

Déclaration de Eulogos

L’Europe c’est nous !

L’Europe ne doit pas échouer. L’Europe c’est une grande alliance pour la paix dans le monde. C’est maintenant que nous devons agir et donner de la voix. Il faut que nous nous levions pour l’Europe, dès aujourd’hui.

Nous sommes tous responsable du succès ou de l’échec. Il est imprudent d’espérer simplement que tout ira bien sans les citoyens de l’Europe, tous ensemble.

Si elle ne se mobilise, pas la majorité silencieuse ne l’emportera pas sur les forces rétrogrades et négatives.

Les libertés européennes, le respect des droits fondamentaux, l’Etat de droit c’est ce que nous voulons car ils sont notre force.

Conscients des bienfaits de l’Union, nous le sommes aussi du chemin qu’il reste à parcourir. Des réformes sont nécessaires mais elles doivent répondre aux besoins des citoyens, être comprises et donc expliquées. Notre diversité et notre vivre ensemble doivent être préservées : c’est notre plus grande richesse .

Que voulons nous ? Construire une Europe juste, durable, démocratique, solidaire, sans exclusion ni discrimination.

Sans nier nos différences, conscients de nos réalisations communes, nous sommes fiers de l’Europe.

L’Europe c’est nous tous !

 

 

Classé dans:Citoyenneté européenne, Par des actions citoyennes

On March 25th 1957, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands signed the Treaties of Rome, establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom).

It was sixty years ago, the european institutions therefore use this occasion to take stock of the progress achieved since the launch of the building of Europe. Above all, they focus on the future of the European Union, in order for it to come through the different challenges and crises it is coping with. Several events have been set up this week for this purpose.

On Tuesday 21st March, there was the « citizens’ parliament », where hundreds of Europeans were invited to share their thoughts on the improvement of the functioning of the European Union. EP President Antonio Tajani indeed said a couple days ago that the 60th anniversary of the Rome treaty would be “an opportunity to bring Europe closer to its citizens and to promote our values in the world. (…) Now more than ever, what we need is unity. We must change, but by no means weaken the EU.”

With this aim in mind, today, Saturday 25th March, the EU’s Rome Declaration will be adopted and released. It is a solidarity statement approved by the 27 member states, highlighting the fact that Theresa May is going to trigger the withdrawal of the United Kingdom in four days, on March 29th.

As numerous organisations are against these signs of unraveling, they organized Marches for Europe in european capitals, obviously starting with Rome. EU-logos Athéna is a partner for the March for Europe in Brussels, come meet with us at 2pm to prove that the European Union is not an obsolete institution.

Marine Pernod

To find out more :

• Facebook event March for Europe Brussels 25/03 https://www.facebook.com/events/813253335479258/?active_tab=about
• http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170308IPR65669/summit-conclusions-and-future-of-the-eu-headline-wednesday%E2%80%99s-plenary-debates    
• http://www.egmontinstitute.be/?events=60-years-after-rome-treaty
• https://europaunited.eu/2017/03/16/why-25-march-is-a-joyous-occasion-worth-celebrating-and-why-we-as-citizens-of-the-european-union-are-invited-to-send-a-signal-on-that-day/
• http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170314STO66703/future-of-the-eu-parliament-gives-the-floor-to-citizens
• http://www.euronews.com/2017/03/23/keys-to-the-future-how-to-read-eus-rome-declaration

Classé dans:Fact of the day, Uncategorized Tagged: EU, RomeTreaty

Ministers from seven European countries met in Rome on the 23th of March to sign a declaration on a cooperation framework on High Performance Computing (HPC). This new EuroHPC cooperation is expected to give the European technological and industrial cooperation a new impulse, after the success of Airbus and the ongoing development of Galileo, the European GPS.

To this day, only 5% of High Performance Computers are located in the EU. The European Commission already pointed out this noteworthy technological lag of the European industry in its April 2016 “European Cloud Initiative”, where it urges Member States to act and cooperate in the field of HPC. This initiative sets an ambitious goal: to have at least one exascale European supercomputer in the global top 3. Germany, Portugal, France, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands believe it is not only possible but necessary to the scientific and industrial development. They estimate in the EuroHPC declaration that this new cooperation will allow the set up of exascale supercomputers by 2022. They also underline that any other European country is welcome to join “at any time”.

Such technology would allow remarkable progress in the fields of medicine, communications, online financial transactions, and even energy production through more accurate weather forecasting and better smart grids. The development of a European HPC would benefit both the European scientific community and private partners. These new facilities will be accessible to all, regardless of their country of location.

Andrus Ansip, the European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, congratulated the members of this new cooperation, calling it a “great step forward”. This initiative exactly follows the EU strategy for HPC that was laid out by the Commission in a February 2012 communication. This new EuroHPC cooperation will directly benefit from some of the €700 million invested by the Commission in Public Private Partnership (PPP) on HPC research. These public funds will be allocated from the Horizon 2020 programme budget. Participating Member States are also expected to contribute.

The EuroHPC declaration is good news. It addresses the future of the European research and the competitiveness of the industry. Europe must not lag behind its competitors, and individual Member States are not always big enough to develop such technologies. European cooperation has already lead to great technological and commercial successes in the past. Airbus is now seen as a European champion and a world class player. A new Airbus-sized alliance for supercomputers would put Europe back on the map in this sector as well.

Rémi Petitcol

Sources:

http://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/eu-hails-new-airbus-size-alliance-for-supercomputers/

Bulletin Quotidien Europe 11752, “La Commission présente un nouveau cadre d’interopérabilité européen ». 24/3/2017, Agence Europe

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/eu-ministers-commit-digitising-europe-high-performance-computing-power

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/high-performance-computing-contractual-public-private-partnership-hpc-cppp

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/%20european-cloud-initiative

Classé dans:BREVES, Cybersécurité, Fact of the day Tagged: computers, coopération, declaration, euroHPC, factoftheday, industrial, PPP, scientific

After a particular campaign often distinguished by anti-Islam, anti-Turkey, and anti-immigration rhetoric, the Dutch vote on the general elections held on Wednesday 15 March proved populists wrong giving another mandate to the Prime Minister Mark Rutte. His People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) managed to see off the anti-immigration Party for Freedom (PVV) led by Geert Wilders. Albeit the PVV gained votes, it wasn’t enough to make the impact Wilders had fought for. A coalition between at least four pro-European parties is expected to form the new Dutch government.

“The Netherlands, oh the Netherlands you are a champion!…Congratulations on this great result!”

Dutch election result has repercussions on the rest of the EU. It soothes European nerves after fearing a herald of populist spring in the Union. Rutte’s centre-right PVV lost seats, but even so managed to be the largest party in parliament. The Prime Minister victory, though pondering to the far Right, brought unspeakable relief for the pro-European neighbours. Several EU leaders congratulated Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte and voters for striking a blow against nationalism and populism. Italian premier Paolo Gentiloni wrote on Twitter: « No #Nexit. The anti-EU right wing has lost an election in the Netherlands. Let’s commit together to change and revive the Union!” Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel also said on Twitter that « populism didn’t pay off”. And Peter Altmaier, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff tweeted suddenly after first preliminary results: “The Netherlands, oh the Netherlands you are a champion!…Congratulations on this great result!

Did populism really fail to reach its goal?

Discordant interpretations are given to the Dutch election result. On one hand most media depicted it as the big defeat of nationalism in Europe after Brexit and Donald Trump’s election as US President. Whereas others are looking at the issue from a completely different point of view, stressing a certain consolidation of conservative and right-wing liberal parties in the Netherlands and the further fragmentation of the political landscape, as the main takeaway from this election.

“An evening in which the Netherlands, after Brexit, after the American elections, said ‘stop’ to the wrong kind of populism”

Had the Netherlands swung decisively behind Wilders, it would have given a huge boost to other populist parties across Europe. Nevertheless, Europeans need to be honest with themselves. It’s not yet the time to raise the glass to the victory. Rutte himself, after the election results were evident, said: “an evening in which the Netherlands, after Brexit, after the American elections, said ‘stop’ to the wrong kind of populism.” Far from reassuring Rutte’s statement leads to perplexity. He didn’t provide further explanation on what the right kind of populism might be.

Indeed, Rutte took an increasingly tough line on immigration in his campaign playing the populist card twice. First time when he told immigrants to “be normal”, and second when his government banned Turkish ministers from campaigning in the Netherlands ahead of Turkey’s constitutional referendum. These political manoeuvres have probably helped Rutte in beating Wilders’ far-right party.

How is that far-right wing forces have gained so much popularity?

Let’s take a step back. What did Wilders propose to the Dutch? Which was his political program? His 11-point “manifesto” released about a year ago is discriminatory, racist, inadmissible. Eleven short and clear-cut solutions to very complex problems EU is facing nowadays.

“Populists give easy questions to very complex questions”

Despite the Dutch case, there is no doubt at all that populism is rising everywhere in Europe and not only. This simply truth should lead us in engaging ourselves more actively in addressing the why, the how and the what as far as populism is concerned. Before complaining and asking what we should do to tackle the issue, it would be more effective to reflect on the reasons behind this rise of populism, why is it gaining so much space. Everything we take for granted in Europe is under attack recently by anti-establishment forces, anti- European parties, authoritarian populism.

Why are we letting some anti-European undermining what we have cherished all these decades in the EU?

Demanding back their sovereignty, separating the “real people” from “them” (politicians who don’t represent real people’s interests), asking to build walls instead of bridges; – these xenophobic forces are canalising the anger of some disillusioned people to reach their political goals. Among other capabilities, populists have shown to be able in addressing the right questions on the right moment but even so, providing some superficial answers. Although tempted to receive some immediate remedies for our “illnesses”, we should take caution when it comes to populism. There could be no easy answers to very complex questions.

Europe needs a positive political alternative fostering the gathering people under a new vision. We all know what kind of situations member states are facing today. But what populists promise lead to a mismatch between our intentionality and the way we engage to achieve our intentions. We live in a globalised world and shutting down all doors doesn’t offer the magic solution.

We have cherished our values and what we believe in step by step, slowly but progressively. Switching to a vision of world which is completely different from the one we use to know is not the remedy. If you want to shape your body or lose weight you have to exercise, to work out, eat healthy. Those who promise you 100% results just ingesting any substance or cutting off carbs and proteins are leading you to the wrong way.

Some final remarks

As far as Dutch election is concerned, some final comments have to be done.

Firstly, the so-called “great defeat” of populism was a weird victory “loose but win” for Rutte that although losing many seats comparing to last elections, managed to see his People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy on pole position.

Secondly, it is crystal clear that Dutch elections result shows a collapse of left-wing parties ( real losers) and a supremacy of right-wing ones ( winners).

Thirdly, the Netherlands test demonstrates that the biggest risk to Europe today is not the possibility for far-right parties to come in power, but their influence on policymakers. Instead of confronting the radical arguments of rising populist parties and defending policies based on rights, mainstream parties have altered their political agenda for fear of losing votes. Dutch elections give a clear illustration of this danger (as above mentioned Rutte himself used the populist card twice). This attitude legitimises and normalises the hateful agenda of the xenophobic, anti-Islam, anti-refugee populists, with none of the costs that go along with being in power and held to account.

Zana Çanaku

To find out more:

https://euobserver.com/opinion/137283

https://euobserver.com/elections/137259

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/19/dutch-election-rutte-wilders-good-populism-bad-

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/21/europe/dutch-election-official-result/

https://www.socialeurope.eu/2017/01/ten-theses-fight-right-wing-populism/

http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/opinion/populist-economic-policy-and-how-to-respond-to-it/

http://www.voanews.com/a/geert-wilders-dutch-coalition-talks-ignore-his-voters/3777804.html

Classé dans:#LaReplique, Face au populisme Tagged: Dutch elections, La Réplique, populism, Rutte, Wilders