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(FB - 1998)
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(FB - 2009)
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(FB - 2004)
"Europe's destiny is escaping the two "Greats" and it will come knocking on the door of the Europeans."
(FB - 1989)
"The history of Europe is a bit like a multifaceted diamond. Everyone sees the same diamond... but no one sees exactly the same facets."
(FB - E-storia project, 2004)
"Let us dare the future as the founding fathers of Europe did"
(FB - "From EU to Euroland", 2001)
"The European citizenship can not be decreed. The European citizen can only be born..."
(FB - 1992)
"Every state is a minority in the EU. In any case, let’s not forget that if all our states went into building the EU it is because they all felt too small to face alone both their future and the rest of the world."
(FB - 2003)
"From a single (EU) Currency to a single (EU) Citizenship. The euro is only an instrument."
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"An empire is always providing platforms where conflicts and wars prolife­rate... an empire needs enemies, whilst a Community requires partners."
(FB - 1992)
"Europe’s history has taught us that dreams and nightmares are the two faces of the same coin"
(FB - “Europe is Peace” 2006)
"Everybody wants to have a successful enlargement whereas it is a successful enlarged EU which is important."
(FB - 2002)
"It is clear that the existing national political parties can not serve two masters: national and European."
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(FB - 2005)
"There is nothing like one European. The European is a team of Europeans... the only way we can imagine a European, it is a team of people from different countries, not a single man or woman."
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"On the horizon with a heaven of freedom and a land of responsibility, this is perhaps the soul of Europe."
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"The future challenge for the European project is not about Europe anymore, it is about the Europeans."
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"The more Brussels speaks English, the less Brussels understands the Europeans"
(FB - 2004)
"Occupy the Future of Europe!"
("What do YOU want as a future for AEGEE?" Franck Biancheri at the 2012 Agora in Enschede)
"To combine new technologies and democratic principles to succeed in the entry of European integration in the 21st century or e-democracy at the service of Euro-democracy"
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"In the years 00 of the 21st century, democratization can only take place in the perspective of the democratic election of a European executive that remains to be invented."
(FB - EUSV, 2001)
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EGEE I, 1984

[:en] Little political comments from a Euro-citizen (1): Turkey accession, so many lies from the pro-accession side – by Franck Biancheri (2004)[:fr]Little political comments from a Euro-citizen (1): Turkey accession, so many lies from the pro-accession side – by Franck Biancheri (2004)[:]

[:en]From time to time, rather than making a longer editorial on one or the other EU current issues, I will try to elaborate those ‘little comments’ reflecting discussions, debates I have with average Europeans like me in various parts of Europe. With an average of a dozen conferences in 3/5 different European countries per month, in front of audiences ranging from students to diplomats, from farmers to metropolitan  elites,  from  NGO activists to  businessmen,  I  believe  that I am collecting an interesting sampling of ‘European people’s wisdom’. Something definitely worth sharing with our readers. And with, among them, many civil servants and decision makers from within the EU institutional system who too rarely meeting with the average European.

EuroMPs perks: There is something definitely rotten within the EU Kingdom!

Paraphrasing Macbeth, when ones learn about the huge amounts of money (till 200.000 Euros a year) which EuroMPs may be able to get from the lousy European Parliament funding system, one can only be shocked and feel ashamed for our democracies. When you combine it with the current scandal of E-mmunities (EU civil servants being protected by ‘bullet-proof’ lifelong immunities), no wonder why the European Parliament never seriously tried to attack those immunities. Most EuroMPs were much too afraid that EU civil servants will make public their own sins with their scandalous perks.

When I listen that the European Parliament would like to get control over the European Court of Auditor and therefore terminates its independence, it is more than frightening. It would be a democratic shame.

The Brussels/Luxemburg/Strasburg system has gone out of control because of money. EuroMps are under money addiction; many are suspecting that the EU civil servant judicial immunity has been used to cover up fraud and corruption. Europe is a great historical project; but its current servants (politicians and top-bureaucrats are definitely  up  to  the  challenge).  And  once  again  this  will  be  reflected  within  next  European elections.

E-mmunities: French Euro-Mps seem to be very much out of reality … or maybe they do not go enough to the European Parliament

E-mmunities is generating a growing interest everywhere we mention it, including among national and local politicians. Everywhere citizens are amazed that such an immunity was even able to be created. By next week, the magazine will publish the lists of those who are in favor of suppressing it, those who do care about real democracy and equality in front of the law; and of course the list of all the others, who think believe their own bureaucrats who tell them that this immunity is nothing serious (then why keeping it?), or who just do not care, provide they can going on receiving their own ‘perks’. Interestingly enough, French EuroMps seem to be very much entering this second category. More soon! -)

Turkey accession: So many lies from the pro-accession side

I do not know where are the European citizens supporting the accession of Turkey within the EU, because I keep on tracking them throughout Europe … and I cannot find them. Are they a new concept the ‘stealth citizen’, undetectable but to leaders and pollsters? Well, on the contrary, I bet that  they  will  be  very  visible  on  next  European  elections.  Meanwhile  I  am  amazed  by  the incredible number of lies and manipulative arguments used by the ‘pro-Turkey’ side. Because if you do not find citizens supporting the idea, you find a large number of ‘leaders’ doing so (is the fact that large lobbies are pouring out money to support the accession playing a role to explain that odd situation?).

Therefore here are some hints to my fellow European citizens: do not be intimidated or confused by those leaders saying the following things:

. Turkey  is  not  the  issue  of  next  European  elections: YES, IT IS! AND IT IS THE MAIN ONE. The EU will take a decision on whether start negotiations with Turkey or not by the end of 2004; and the Parliament has a strong say in the process.

. You are xenophobic if you do not support the accession of Turkey:  NO, YOU ARE NOT. The problem is not religion as the EU will take Muslim countries like Bosnia and Albania in coming decades; and it will not take Ukraine or Russia which are Christians. The question is that the European project was not sold to our 450 million citizens as bridging civilizations, continents and cultures; and that if we take Turkey, we will take also Russia, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, .. : the EU becomes something totally fair enough. If leaders and bureaucrats want to discuss this whole issue with citizens, fair enough, let’s do it and make a referendum. Otherwise every single democratically aware citizen should vote for a candidate saying ‘NO’ to the accession of Turkey.

. We will say ‘yes’ but it will take decades and we will ask for a European referendum before Turkey enters the EU: SHAME on those who say that. THEY LIE TO YOU as much as they intend to lie to the Turkish people. DO NOT TRUST THEM. This continuous lie, for 40 years, is a major part of the situation we are into by now. Our leaders lie to us for decades making citizens think that Turkey will never ever come on the agenda. It is now. Turkish leaders lie to their citizens for decades by telling them the EU will welcome their country, that democracy will come together with wealth. Lies again. And the oddest thing is that neither the generals want seriously their country to get into the EU (they will loose their control of the country); neither the AKP, ruling Muslim party, wants it too because they will not be able to push religion throughout the state apparatus (as they are doing by now). So, don’t buy these theories that ‘lies can lead to truth’.

. We  control  the  process  and  we  know  what  we  are  doing: THEY  LIE  AGAIN . NOBODY KNOWS HOW IT COULD BE DONE .  Nobody within the EU, in particular the forces within the Commission and Member states (such as Germany or UK) which are pushing hard for such an outcomes, has any idea of the political and economic cost of the accession of Turkey. They are as aware of the future process as was the US Administration aware of future developments in Iraq when they started the war!

. And last but not least, do not believe one second that ‘if we take Turkey, there will be less  Muslim  terrorist  attacks  on  Europe’. THIS IS COMPLETELY FALSE ;  the  contrary would probably more accurate.  As much amazing as it may be, I have been listening to such an argument in current public meetings for European elections. First of all, the very simple idea of linking as ‘brothers’ Turks and Arabs is an historical nonsense. To put it clearly, they tend to hate each other. Do not forget that Turks took over for hundreds of years the Arab countries! Second, who has ever seen Ben laden calling for the EU to take Turkey inside the EU? It would most probably be the contrary.

Too long on Turkey? Well, if you think so, then go to discuss in a pub, a bar or a Biergarten these days, and you will see that compared to all other topics combined, this one does attract the attention of European voters. And they are right to do so because it is about the future of the whole European project; it goes far beyond the question of Turkey itself. It is about who runs Europe: a small clique or its citizens?

Franck Biancheri, 25/05/2004 – Little political comments from a Euro-citizen (1) ©FB Doc

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More articles:

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[:fr](anglais) – From time to time, rather than making a longer editorial on one or the other EU current issues, I will try to elaborate those ‘little comments’ reflecting discussions, debates I have with average Europeans like me in various parts of Europe. With an average of a dozen conferences in 3/5 different European countries per month, in front of audiences ranging from students to diplomats, from farmers to metropolitan  elites,  from  NGO activists to  businessmen,  I  believe  that I am collecting an interesting sampling of ‘European people’s wisdom’. Something definitely worth sharing with our readers. And with, among them, many civil servants and decision makers from within the EU institutional system who too rarely meeting with the average European.

EuroMPs perks: There is something definitely rotten within the EU Kingdom!

Paraphrasing Macbeth, when ones learn about the huge amounts of money (till 200.000 Euros a year) which EuroMPs may be able to get from the lousy European Parliament funding system, one can only be shocked and feel ashamed for our democracies. When you combine it with the current scandal of E-mmunities (EU civil servants being protected by ‘bullet-proof’ lifelong immunities), no wonder why the European Parliament never seriously tried to attack those immunities. Most EuroMPs were much too afraid that EU civil servants will make public their own sins with their scandalous perks.

When I listen that the European Parliament would like to get control over the European Court of Auditor and therefore terminates its independence, it is more than frightening. It would be a democratic shame.

The Brussels/Luxemburg/Strasburg system has gone out of control because of money. EuroMps are under money addiction; many are suspecting that the EU civil servant judicial immunity has been used to cover up fraud and corruption. Europe is a great historical project; but its current servants (politicians and top-bureaucrats are definitely  up  to  the  challenge).  And  once  again  this  will  be  reflected  within  next  European elections.

E-mmunities: French Euro-Mps seem to be very much out of reality … or maybe they do not go enough to the European Parliament

E-mmunities is generating a growing interest everywhere we mention it, including among national and local politicians. Everywhere citizens are amazed that such an immunity was even able to be created. By next week, the magazine will publish the lists of those who are in favor of suppressing it, those who do care about real democracy and equality in front of the law; and of course the list of all the others, who think believe their own bureaucrats who tell them that this immunity is nothing serious (then why keeping it?), or who just do not care, provide they can going on receiving their own ‘perks’. Interestingly enough, French EuroMps seem to be very much entering this second category. More soon! -)

Turkey accession: So many lies from the pro-accession side

I do not know where are the European citizens supporting the accession of Turkey within the EU, because I keep on tracking them throughout Europe … and I cannot find them. Are they a new concept the ‘stealth citizen’, undetectable but to leaders and pollsters? Well, on the contrary, I bet that  they  will  be  very  visible  on  next  European  elections.  Meanwhile  I  am  amazed  by  the incredible number of lies and manipulative arguments used by the ‘pro-Turkey’ side. Because if you do not find citizens supporting the idea, you find a large number of ‘leaders’ doing so (is the fact that large lobbies are pouring out money to support the accession playing a role to explain that odd situation?).

Therefore here are some hints to my fellow European citizens: do not be intimidated or confused by those leaders saying the following things:

. Turkey  is  not  the  issue  of  next  European  elections: YES, IT IS! AND IT IS THE MAIN ONE. The EU will take a decision on whether start negotiations with Turkey or not by the end of 2004; and the Parliament has a strong say in the process.

. You are xenophobic if you do not support the accession of Turkey:  NO, YOU ARE NOT. The problem is not religion as the EU will take Muslim countries like Bosnia and Albania in coming decades; and it will not take Ukraine or Russia which are Christians. The question is that the European project was not sold to our 450 million citizens as bridging civilizations, continents and cultures; and that if we take Turkey, we will take also Russia, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, .. : the EU becomes something totally fair enough. If leaders and bureaucrats want to discuss this whole issue with citizens, fair enough, let’s do it and make a referendum. Otherwise every single democratically aware citizen should vote for a candidate saying ‘NO’ to the accession of Turkey.

. We will say ‘yes’ but it will take decades and we will ask for a European referendum before Turkey enters the EU: SHAME on those who say that. THEY LIE TO YOU as much as they intend to lie to the Turkish people. DO NOT TRUST THEM. This continuous lie, for 40 years, is a major part of the situation we are into by now. Our leaders lie to us for decades making citizens think that Turkey will never ever come on the agenda. It is now. Turkish leaders lie to their citizens for decades by telling them the EU will welcome their country, that democracy will come together with wealth. Lies again. And the oddest thing is that neither the generals want seriously their country to get into the EU (they will loose their control of the country); neither the AKP, ruling Muslim party, wants it too because they will not be able to push religion throughout the state apparatus (as they are doing by now). So, don’t buy these theories that ‘lies can lead to truth’.

. We  control  the  process  and  we  know  what  we  are  doing: THEY  LIE  AGAIN . NOBODY KNOWS HOW IT COULD BE DONE .  Nobody within the EU, in particular the forces within the Commission and Member states (such as Germany or UK) which are pushing hard for such an outcomes, has any idea of the political and economic cost of the accession of Turkey. They are as aware of the future process as was the US Administration aware of future developments in Iraq when they started the war!

. And last but not least, do not believe one second that ‘if we take Turkey, there will be less  Muslim  terrorist  attacks  on  Europe’. THIS IS COMPLETELY FALSE ;  the  contrary would probably more accurate.  As much amazing as it may be, I have been listening to such an argument in current public meetings for European elections. First of all, the very simple idea of linking as ‘brothers’ Turks and Arabs is an historical nonsense. To put it clearly, they tend to hate each other. Do not forget that Turks took over for hundreds of years the Arab countries! Second, who has ever seen Ben laden calling for the EU to take Turkey inside the EU? It would most probably be the contrary.

Too long on Turkey? Well, if you think so, then go to discuss in a pub, a bar or a Biergarten these days, and you will see that compared to all other topics combined, this one does attract the attention of European voters. And they are right to do so because it is about the future of the whole European project; it goes far beyond the question of Turkey itself. It is about who runs Europe: a small clique or its citizens?

Franck Biancheri, 25/05/2004 – Little political comments from a Euro-citizen (1) ©FB Doc

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More articles:

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