MAKE REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS FEEL WELCOME AND AT HOME!

We hear and see a lot these days about Pride Parades.  They also took place in Copenhagen this summer. They are celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex culture and pride.   These parades have become huge and very popular.  And they have the full and active support of almost all political parties, incl. the prime minister.   This is very good and very positive. Some people will perhaps not understand them.  But one of the most important European values is to protect all minories whoever they are and wherever they are.  Let us be VERY proud of that. Especially when we do something about it.  I am sure that the people most involved in these parades feel that they are well accepted and feel at home.

Now, what can and should we use this very positive experience for too?   Imagine that similar big, regular and festive parades were made for our refugees and our migrants!  And also with full and active support from all important political parties and personalities !  This would really be a positive game-changer!  The refugees and migrants would feel much more welcome and at home. And not just because they know that very many of them contribute actively to our society and our welfare.  But because all serious groups and persons in Denmark did something to show that they are  very welcome and appreciated.

Think about it!   No, more.  Do something about it!   And imagine also how such an initiative will contribute to a much more positive image of Denmark ( and other countries taking this initiative ).  Also among the refugees going back to their home country some day.  Their host country would all of a sudden get many more positive ambassadors around the world.  And I am sure that we all agree that this is also a very good thing!

NO MORE TALK - NOW DO SOMETHING FOR REAL ABOUT IT !

The end is near!  That's what Frank Sinatra sings in the famous song MY WAY.  That is also what we hear and read almost every day about Europe.  But as Mark Twain once said:  The rumours about my death are strongly exaggerated!  This is certainly also true when Europe is concerned.

Many problems discussed by the politicians and in the media are perceived problems - not real problems. Take the number of refugees and migrants coming to Europe.  For 2018 we are talking about 44.000 for the whole of Europe. In 2017 the figure was 172.000, in 2016 363.000, in 2015  1.000.000 and in 2014 216.000.     Let us try to see things in perspective. We are after all more than 500 million inhabitants in the EU. And all agree that we are in need of people from outside.  Why all this moaning and shouting then !   In other words:  let us train our politicians in dealing with the real problems and not with invented ones!

But there are, of course, lots of very important tasks for us to address here and now. Let us mention a few:

1) The now seven year long war in Syria must come to an end.  The Syrian people deserve it. The country deserves it.  The Syrian refugees deserve to get a functioning and peaceful country to come back to.  And we deserve it - giving us the possibility to help the Syrians at home and not a panic-like help to millions of Syrian refugees, who of course have the right to all the help we can give them, as long as it is needed.

What is Europe in concreto doing to get peace in Syria?  What can we do?  Isn't it upon time to push Putin very hard to make him behave well in Syria - perhaps leave? And how do we use our support for the Iranian deal to get the Iranians to change their behaviour also in Syria?  Real peace in Syria will make a huge and positive difference for all of us.

2) A Marshall Plan for Africa:  great idea. That continent needs help.  Many, also in the EU, say so.  But where are the concrete plans? Who is doing what?  Europe should take the lead in this task too.  And get others on board. But first we have to prepare and present a realistic and efficient plan.

3) Europe will more and more need people from outside to ensure that we can continue our welfare states.  Most people agree to that.  Where are the in-depth short-term and long-term analysis and recommendations?  And what concrete measures will be taken by whom to ensure that all this happens in a coordinated and for all proper way?

4) We have to strengthen Europe's external borders. Yes, all agree. The new Austrian EU presidency wants to make this a priority.  EU's Border and Coast Guard agency FRONTEX is working and getting strengthened step by step.  But most of the work is done by national border guards.  But what are the concrete plans for a further strengthening?  EU has about 80.000 km sea borders and ca. 8.000 km land borders to third countries.  How do we organise a stronger, efficient and high-tech control at these borders, so that all cries for starting permanent controls at internal borders between EU countries stop?

These are just a few of the very concrete huge tasks in front of us.  Stop TALKING. Start ACTING.

#EUROPE-AT-WORK

With all the massive fake news and outright lies circulating everywhere it is upon time to get some solid facts on the table, at least when Europe is concerned.  Not ideas or long term plans and strategies.  But concrete, indisputable facts on what is actually happening in Europe every single day. In particular on areas of direct importance to us citizens.

Therefore, visit my blog:  "EUROPE-AT-WORK   on:

www.europe-at-work.be

More short, up-to-date and very factual articles will be added step by step.

EXCITING NEWS ABOUT THE FUTURE

You cannot do anything about the past. But you can engage in what the future brings.  Follow it, get involved, influence it.

If you want to follow the news about the future, you should often go to this website:
www.futurism.com  

And you should also read this new book written by a Swedish author:

Johan Norberg: PROGRESS: TEN REASONS TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.

You can buy the book for your Kindle (if you have one) on Amazon.

Of course, you will not agree to it all.  But both sources give you a lot of information - and a lot of stimulation for your thoughts!

BREXIT's FREE FALL

All sensible people know that the Brexit vote was based on outright lies, fantasies and very widespread ignorance. And that it was followed by many turncoat politicians now in government.
Time has come for responsible leaders to come to terms with these very dangerous mistakes - and to bring the UK back among dynamic and forward-looking nations!

SPANISH POLITICIANS MUST DO BETTER!

The present very messy situation around Catalunia and Spain happens thanks to a very clumcy behaviour on both sites. It is in nobody's interest to continue like. Put your pride aside and sit down and talk. Where there is a will there is a way!

MACRON's GREAT INITIATIVE ON EUROPE

It is really GREAT news that the French president has now made a very interesting and operational proposal on how Europe should develop in the months and years to come!

Now his plan is on the table. You can see an English summary on my Europe site here: 
http://www.europe-at-work.be/436865280

Of course, you do not have to agree to everything. This is a vision - a proposal.   Chancellor Angela Merkel and many others have welcomed it.  Just a few leaders do not seem to have understood that now is the time for reforms. 

This plan will now dominate the debate.  We should all contribute actively.   Our NGO initiative EUROPE's PEOPLE's FORUM ( www.europespeoplesforum.eu ) gives everybody a possibility to be actively involved and engaged in this very important work.

EUROPE MOVING FORWARD AGAIN !

It is great to see Europe moving decisively forward again.  Politically president Macron has given new dynamics with concrete proposals for a stronger Euro-zone with its own budget and institutions  - supported by Merkel and several other Euro-countries.  His new initiatives for the French labour market are part of the same.  The European economy is also coming in better shape. And a number of important European political initiatives such as attacks on the non-European behaviour of Poland and Hungary and of Turkey shows a determined Europe on the move.  In this context the Brexit process is just a sideshow. 

AFTER ALL: DO NOT FORGET THE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE US AND THE UK

President Trump and his folks can easily spoil a nice day for any of us.  But do not despair ! There is a different America. A very different one. And it is most certainly on its way forward. You can say the same about the UK.  The Brexiteers with all their fantasies might have some headlines for the moment. But there is a different Britain. The 48 %, who last year voted for Remain.  And they are certainly also gaining strength all the time.    And in the middle of all that Europe is more supported and more active than for a long time.  Not least because of Trump and because of Brexit !

PRESIDENT MACRON's NEXT STEPS

I have just listened to president Macron's very impressive speech to the houses of Parliament this afternoon. Lots of important things on the move. And in my view on the move in the good direction. New thinking. New drive. We need Macrons in many of our countries !

NEED FOR MACRONS IN MOST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

What a pleasure it is to follow president Macron and the way he is able to mobilise people, not least young people.  We now see the same trend in other countries such as in the recent elections in the United Kingdom and in The Netherlands.  Old habits, old policies and old structures are fundamentally changed.  And changed to look forward - not backwards.

I wonder, if it wouldn't be a very good idea to mobilise a MACRON in most of our countries?!

We should in my view certainly support the already on-going spill-over effect in that direction from France.

GERMAN CARS AND THE US - WHAT TRUMP TOTALLY IGNORES - OR PROBABLY DOES NOT KNOW :-(

“The Germans are bad, very bad. Look at the millions of cars that they sell in the U.S.
Terrible. We’re going to stop that.” – President Donald Trump

This is Trump at his worst.  A statement repeated several times during the last week. But totally ignoring the following hard core facts:

Through the first four months of 2017, Germany-based automakers and their respective subsidiary brands have sold 413.000 new vehicles in the United States.

Of these 413.000 altogether 114.000 ( 28 % ) were produced in the US on plants in Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina.

In addition the US based German owned car factories during the same four months produced 167.000 cars for export from the US.

As a matter of fact the value of these US produced German cars is higher than the export value of American cars.

Imagine how many Americans are employed in producing these 281.000 German cars.

Will president Trump ever get his facts right?!

And by the way, why do so many Americans want to buy German cars?  Probably because they are so good!  Again, reason for some reflection in the American car industry.

Source: The US website:  thetruthaboutcars.com  

DEFENSE COSTS ARE MANY THINGS

President Trump is also showing his one-track-minded perception of many things in his campaign around defense spending.  His amazing speech at the NATO summit was no exception.  He seems to think that the more money you spend on defense hardware, the better it is.  More missiles, more jet fighters, more frigates, more tanks - the more peaceful the world will be.    And those NATO countries, which pay less than 2 % of the GNP for defense, are to be blamed.

This is one point of view.  I believe that we Europeans have - as in many other cases - a more sophisticated and realistic view on how things are.

First of all, the US has decided to be pro-actively present in most parts of the world with their defense forces.  I am not saying that this is wrong. I am saying that this costs money. Therefore, it is not reasonable to compare US costs with those of most other countries.

Secondly, there is much more to an efficient defense than military hardware. Solid trade agreements with other countries are part of defense. Development aid can be seen also as part of it. Humanitarian assistance too. Education of people in and from potentially dangerous countries is also a defense investment.  And last , but not least all the efforts all our countries are doing these days to fight external (such as Russian) electronic interference into our societies are definitely also an increasing part of our smart defense efforts and costs.

So, Mr. Trump - also in this area I believe you have more important home work to do!

PRESIDENT MACRON: EUROPE IS AT THE CENTRE

France's new president Emmanuel Macron has put Europe at the centre of his policy. He has a very clear and forward-looking European policy, which he wants to pursue.

As a clear sign of his priorities he has given the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs a new name:
MINISTRY FOR EUROPE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

Why?  Because Europe is not foreign affairs.   It would be great, if other member states of the EU made the same change in order to get in line with realities.

DEMOCRACY A PROTECTION AGAINST STRONGMEN

Last night we saw two very interesting programmes on French TV. They dealt with the immediate aftermath for citizens in 1945-48 of the second world war. And with the nazi leaders and their many followers -  and their incredible crimes towards humanity. This story cannot be told often enough.  And this time with shocking films from that time.

We often think: this could never happen today. That is wrong.  Do not be mistaken.  There are at all times and in all our countries many people, who are willing to do similar crimes, if they get the chance.  Therefore, it is of immense importance that we have solid democratic systems, also at European level, which make this de facto impossible. These systems so to speak protects man against himself!  

We should constantly have this fact in mind, also when we see nationalistic and populist forces with their lies and alternative facts trying to dominate the political scene.

EUROPE DAY CELEBRATION

Today it is May 9.  EUROPE DAY.  This is the best day to celebrate that populism in Europe is strongly on retreat. First in Austria, then in the Netherlands, then in the local elections in the UK last week, where UKIP was wiped out, and now in France.  So far so good !

But at the same time we have to ask ourselves: why did these populist forces with their lies, alternative facts, right-wing nationalism, etc. have success for some time. Why?  What can and should we all do to prevent it from happening again?

GREAT NEWS FROM FRANCE !

Great news from France! A new European spring has begun. So much to do. So much will now be possible! En Marche!

FIGHT THE RUSSIAN HACKERS MORE ACTIVELY !

Now again, huge hacking in the French elections. Why are the extremist parties never hacked? The answer is simple: It is because these hackers are controlled by Kremlin. And Kremlin is a great friend of most extremists in our democracies.  We know from Russian hacker specialists, who escaped Russia because they did not want to take part in this activity, how it is all organised.  They were most certainly also supporting the Leave people in Brexit. Serious examinations are under way. And hopefully democracies with coming elections are giving the fight against these hackers and their controllers TOP priority !

EU-27 IN FULL AGREEMENT ON BREXIT GUIDELINES

The heads of state and government of EU-27 have on April 27, 2017 unanimously agreed their clear Guidelines for the coming Brexit negotiations:

European Council (Art. 50) guidelines for Brexit negotiations - Consilium
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/04/29-euco-brexit-guidelines/

They are very clear and precise. And on many points very different from what the British government wants.

DENMARK LESS SAFE - THANKS TO THE ANTI-EUROPEANS

May 1, 2017 is a very important day in the fight against cross-border crimes. On that day EU's agency for fight against those crimes EUROPOL is strengthened - made even more efficient - by becoming an integrated part of the EU.

Therefore, it is very sad and very regrettable that Denmark on exactly that day is leaving EUROPOL. Why? Because the anti-Europeans in a referendum voted against continued membership. Result: Denmark (which so far has been one of the most active users of EUROPOL) will be less safe.   Thank you very much, "dear" anti-people.  Once again you have done a serious disservice to our country!