French democracy in danger as Les Républicains (EPP) ally with Le Pen’s far right party

Mélanie Vogel, co-chair of the European Green Party, and French Senator, said: “In the last decade, we have seen liberals and conservatives in France making all of the same mistakes that the continent paid a horrible price for in the twenties and thirties. By failing to defend democratic values, by ‘normalising’ the ideas of the far-right, and by institutionalising their presence in the Parliament, they have paved the way for the worst.” “The responsibility of French President Emmanuel Macron (Renaissance; Renew Europe on the European level) is huge. With his irresponsible decision to dissolve the French parliament, Macron has put the entire French democracy and the stability of the entire European Union at risk”, Mélanie Vogel said. On the progressive side, the French Green party Les Ecologistes is playing a key role in ensuring that there will be a large movement able to beat the fascists at the next elections. Mélanie Vogel: “In 1936 in France, while Germany was engulfed in nazism, the « Front Populaire » managed to defeat the far-right and build democratic and social victories. This is what we need to do again in 2024. This is our historical responsibility. I call on all progressives, democrats, feminists, LGBTI people, unions, civil society organisations to join this struggle for democracy and justice. We cannot be sure of the best outcome. But we also cannot be certain of the worst. We can win. So let’s fight this together. I also call on all LR members to clarify their position and state whether they are still on the democratic side or not.” During the European elections campaign, the European Greens have consistently called on right-wing parties not to work with the far-right. We take note of the refusal of the Senate’s group of Les Républicains, and other LR members, to follow the call of LR party leader Ciotti.

French and Europeans: Stronger Together!/Français et Européens: plus forts ensemble!

The secound round of the French presidential election will be held on the 7 May 2017 and will be played out in a duel between Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron. We are hoping the victory of M. Macron, in order to reaffirm France’s attachment and influence in Europe, and to continue and deepen the challenging dialogue on which European integration has always been founded. This tribune, signed by Enrico Letta, President of Jacques Delors Institute, Pascal Lamy, President emeritus of the Jacques Delors Institute, and Yves Bertoncini, Director of the Jacques Delors Institute, provide three observations:
a decisive national election will have major consequences for Europe;
the French are note Europhobic and can put an end to the Brexit-Trump sequence;
we have to look to the outside world in order to become even more European.
Le second tour de l’élection présidentielle française oppose Marine Le Pen à Emmanuel Macron, dont la victoire est souhaitable pour réaffirmer l’ancrage et l’influence de la France en Europe, et pour poursuivre et approfondir le dialogue exigeant sur lequel a toujours reposé la construction européenne.
Cette tribune, signée par Enrico Letta, président de l’Institut Jacques Delors, Pascal Lamy, président emeritus de l’Institut Jacques Delors et Yves Bertoncini, directeur de l’Institut Jacques Delors, dresse trois constats:
cette élection nationale aura des conséquences majeures pour l’Europe;
les Français ne sont pas europhobes et peuvent interrompre la séquence “Brexit-Trump”; nous devons regarder le monde pour être davantage Européens. (photo: le pen-macron)

Security: committee debate with French and German ministers

German federal Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maizière and French Minister of the Interior Matthias Fekl will debate EU measures to improve the security situation in Europe and future challenges in the field with the Civil Liberties Committee. Effective protection of the EUs external borders, ensuring complete interoperability of all EU information systems, enhanced police cooperation among member states, the use of encryption and the need to revise the EU 2013 Cybersecurity strategy and prevent radicalisation are expected to be among the issues debated with the two ministers.

Etats Généraux de l’Europe: « Fiers d’être français, Fiers d’être européens»/ États Généraux de l’Europe 2017: “Proud to be French, proud to be European”

Lille Samedi 18 mars 2017 Nouveau Siècle, 17 Place Pierre Mendès France, 9h30 > 22h30. L’Institut Jacques Delors est partenaires du grand rendez-vous de la société civile européenne en France pour parler des 60 ans du Traité de Rome mais aussi de l’avenir de l’UE lors des 6èmes Etats Généraux de l’Europe qui se tiennent à Lille.Pendant la matinée auront lieu deux sessions d’ateliers participatifs citoyens visant à produire:des recommandations de la société civile qui seront transmises aux décideurs européens réunis le 25 mars à Rome,des questions qui seront posées aux candidats à la Présidence de la République française.L’après-midi acceuillera des personnalités politiques ainsi que des personnalités du monde économique, culturel, scientifique, et sportif, qui partageront leurs attentes et leur vision du projet européen lors de la session « l’Europe vue des étoiles ».En clôture de cette journée le Nouveau Siècle accueillera 3 groupes d’électro-pop pour un concert : EVRST, GYM et Sold-Out.
Lille Saturday 18 March 2017 Nouveau Siècle, 17 Place Pierre Mendès France, 9:30 a. m. > 10:30 p. m.In the morning, two sessions of citizens participative workshops take place in order to produce:the civil society recommandations to be given to the European leaders in Rome on the 25 March, the questions which will be asked to the candidates to the French Republic’s presidency. During the afternoon, politic, economic, cultural, scientific, and sports VIPs will share their vision of the European project during a sessions ” Europe seen from the stars”.

French company Seafoodexport achieves Friend of the Sea certification

Seafoodexport – a Marseille-based company specialized in seafood fishing and production – has achieved the Friend of the Sea certification for Omega-3, fish oil and fish meal from European anchovy and sardine.The fish is caught by Friend of the Sea approved Moroccan purse seiners in the Eastern Central part of the Atlantic Ocean, with no impact on the seabed. The target stock is neither overfished nor overexploited.The company has a strong and rigorous sustainability management policy and its quality management practices are at the highest levels in the industry.In addition, the company has developed its own golden value, “In Great Seafood We trust”, which ensures a complete compliance with its business mission and high-standard international support to customers.
“We are proud to be certified by Friend of the Sea,” says David Sussmann, President of Seafoodexport. “This certification reinforces our core values and commitment to sustainable fishing.”‘Seafoodexport oil division’ is part of Seafoodexport group, created in 1997 and headquartered in Marseille (France). Over the years, Seafoodexport has gained a strong reputation of excellence in the commercialization of seafood products. During the past ten years, the company gradually stood out on the omega-3 fish oil market by building different strategic agreements in Morocco and all over the world, including Kb Fish, Sepomer, Sovapec, Maromega, Daudruy Van Cauwenberghe and DSM. Today, Seafoodexport is the leading bulk supplier of small pelagic Omega-3 fish oils coming from Morocco with more than 60% of the total exports.
Friend of the Sea is an international certification program for products from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Over 450 companies in more than 50 countries have relied on Friend of the Sea to assess the sustainability of their seafood origins. Audits, based on best and most updated available scientific data, are run by accredited independent certification bodies.