FRANCE : MOANS AND GROANS EVERYWHERE !

There is a general ill feeling in France that nothing changes !   Farmers repeatedly block roads and unemployment keeps rising just like the cost of living.   Yet there always seems to be a reason why nothing can change.

For example....

Farmers complain they are squeezed by supermarkets who buy their products at ever decreasing prices. To survive some Farmers depend on financial aid from the State.

Trade Unions stubbornly oppose all attempts to simplify the 35 hour working week rules, the introduction of work on Sundays and to postpone the age of retirement despite increasing  longevity.  This frustrates Employers because their companies are strangled by rising social costs, which make them less competitive on International and even National markets ! 

To cure this stale mate situation, President Hollande has appointed Emmanuel Macron as Minister of the Economy.  His main objective is to introduce the necessary Legislation, but even Hollande baulks when this could lead to longer working weeks !  

Finally, there are repeated strikes by traditional taxi drivers who want covert "cowboy" drivers, using  computer technology to steal customers, to be outlawed !   No solution has been  proposed.   Originally, traditional taxi drivers had to qualify and pay for their official license and the attached rights !

These examples of moans and groans in France justifiably beg the question : "Who rules in France" ?

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UK DEBATES ANTICIPATE EU "CONCESSIONS" !

The latest preliminary contacts David Cameron has had with Donald Tusk, the President of the EU Council, and the "promises" he has obtained, are being heatedly discussed, even debated, by everyone in Britain as if they have already been adopted by the EU Parliament !

These "promises" will probably not even be rubber stamped by a vote at the Meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 19 and 20, 2016 ! 

There are other Countries in the EU, and they have even more urgent issues, which need attention.  These are centred on the Middle East war against Muslim Extremists and the invasion of Migrants from all over the World !

EU countries do not want a "Brexit", Britain leaving the EU, and everyone knows that out of date Treaties need changing.  What really should be debated and accepted in Britain is that no date can yet be realistically fixed for the Brexit or Referendum !  

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DONALD TUSK COMFORTS CAMERON, and now...?

Prime Minister David Cameron has been encouraged during their recent meetings by Donald Tusk, the President of the EU Council, who is preparing the Agenda for the next Council meeting of all the EU Leaders, scheduled for February 19 and 20, 2016. 

Exactly what will change in the EU will be voted by all the participants.  This will then reveal what David Cameron has really obtained after all his talks and visits to many of the EU Leaders.  The approximate date for the British "Stay-in or leave the EU" Referendum could then become clearer !

There are also many other urgent and important issues to be resolved.  If the Schengen Treaty needs "rewording" this will also  take time.  Cameron also knows that several countries  want Policy decisions and action on Frontier Controls to limit the invasion of "Migrants", whether they are Middle East "refugees" or any other type of "visitor or immigrant" !

All current, unresolved, EU issues are well known and documented.  The conflict in the Middle East and the Acts of Terrorism in some countries of the EU, have highlighted the weaknesses of the EU.  More cohesion everywhere must be  planned and introduced !

Is only a two-day Meeting of all Leaders really sufficient time to cover properly ALL the problems ?

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ZIKA VIRUS SPREADS - WORLD WIDE ALERTS !

The World Health Organisation and at least 20 Countries have issued alerts of the ZIKA VIRUS and the danger it is for  pregnant women.

Today the virus is mainly present in the Northern Countries of South America, the Carribean Countries and in the South of the USA.  India too has issued an alert. 

This Virus is spreading rapidly to other areas through a mosquito.  It is the female that bites and it lays eggs in stagnant waters.  Women contaminated with this virus have already given birth to babies with abnormal brains !

As is usual, all Religious Leaders, like Pope Francis, will issue guidance to their followers.   There are big Catholic Communities in Latin America !

Politicians will not fail to underline the importance of the danger of the Zika Virus, but this should not become a "points scoring" opportunity in political debates !

Already too many women who expected a happy event have been shattered when they gave birth to a handicapped child.  Such children will need caring help throughout their whole lives.

The economic impact for poor families, particularly in poor countries, will make life very difficult, even if one ignores the mental suffering of the parents.  

Every country must revise its policies and laws to ensure all is done to help these parents as much as possible.  

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WHO CARES ABOUT STARVATION IN SYRIA ?

The population in 15 different locations near Damascus in southern Syria is starving and there are hundreds of dying and dead civilians !   Only rare deliveries of food by the United Nations have been possible.

A Civil War between Government Forces and Opposition Forces has been raging for more than two years.  In addition both sides are also fighting Jihadist Militants of the Islamic State, which  wants to conquer and keep the whole of Syria !   Many towns in Syria have been destroyed.

There is one evident and simple observation which can be made.  All the Troops fighting for the Government, the Opposition and for The Islamic State have, like all their Leaders, been well fed and watered !  They also have the Arms to fight !  

The fact that hundreds of Civilians are dying from starvation  seems to be of secondary importance !

Today talks have started in Geneva between Government and Opposition Leaders to end the Civil War.   Perhaps they could also agree to fight together against the Jihadists of the Islamic State and in this way recover the control of their country !

If Bachar al Assad or Opposition Leaders expect that Syrian Civilians will vote to have them as their future Leaders after the Wars, this could become the next problem !  

What kind of future can Syrians really expect for their country ?  Will "Uncle Putin" help them, or the United Nations ?  Who will rebuild Syria ?  When ?   With what money ?

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HOLLANDE RE-ELECTION HOPES NOSEDIVE !

President Hollande is still fighting and desperately hoping that he can be re-elected in May 2017 for a second term as President, but increasing unrest in France indicates that his chances of getting that chance and winning are almost zero.

The general Public Opinion is that his economic policies have been a complete disaster...

   -  Unemployment has never decreased,
   -  Taxes and the cost of living have regularly increased,
   -  Government expenses have never been trimmed
   -  The National Debt, as a consequence, has risen.

For the first half of his five year Mandate as President , Hollande dithered and waited for Unemployment to fall.  Alas, it regularly increased, by more than 600 000 since his Election in May 2012 !

Last year there were Terrorist Attacks in Paris and now there is a feeling of insecurity and, quite rightly, a State of Emergency has been declared ! 

Also there are repeated strikes by Taxi Drivers and Farmers which are examples of the general unease in the Country.  

He was elected with the support and the votes of the Socialist Party and its Coalition Partners when he defeated Sarkozy, the previous President.   The Coalition partners will present their own Candidates, but the Socialist party is split !   

Some Socialist Party members now want a Primary Election to select the Official Socialist Candidate to fight for the Presidency.       

The Republican Party led by former President Nicolas Sarkozy, will hold a Primary Election but it is not at all certain that  Sarkozy will win the Primary !

President Hollande now needs a miracle to get the backing support  to  win the second term he so desperately wants !

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EU MUST REVISE SCHENGEN ...

The End of the War in the Middle East may take longer than expected, and afterwards Extremist Muslim Terrorist cells in every EU country will continue the "Struggle for Totalitarian  Islamic rights" !   They will still kill and destroy until they get what they want, or are "wiped out" !  Many are prepared to die like Martyrs !    

Refugees or Migrants, from wherever they come, will always  seek shelter in a prosperous and "peaceful" country of the EU until there is Peace in their homeland.   Only then, will a few  "temporarily sheltered" Migrants have the courage to return to help rebuild their devastated Homeland.  

The photos of the total destruction of buildings in this Middle East conflict are particularly depressing, even disturbing.  How could anyone really want to go back there again ?  
   
The World in which we live changes naturally as time goes by !  The same cannot be said of some of the older EU Treaties, like the 1985 Schengen Treaty !   It now contains several outdated and undefendable principles which prevent the simplest  of actions to be taken rapidly.    It must must be reviewed and updated.  This would help in emergencies as and when they   arise.
 
The Treaty of Schengen has become a major stumbling block and is now quite simply an excuse for "inaction" !   

Many politicians in the EU realise this.   Even Electors in many countries who have expressed their dissatisfaction by voting for new extremist Parties, in Germany and France for example.   Electors want Action and Security !  Elected MPs also.  They are all worried !

Donald Tusk must ensure that a "Schengen Treaty Revision" is included in the Agenda for the next EU Council meeting, even if Jean-Claude Junker is opposed to the idea, or if Chancellor Merkel of Germany does not want such a revision.   Working Groups must be formed to identify the changes required to Schengen and perhaps also to other Treaties as a consequence.

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