Politique, Le Monde avoue qu'une fin approche

Rapport de sécurité de Munich : l’apocalypse est proche.

Date du Rapport : 17 février 2017

Le Rapport de sécurité de Munich de 2017 aboie la fin du monde. 

Ce qui révèle du jamais vu, selon John Wight1, le libéralisme occidental (pas l’Occident), qui a mené aux catastrophes dans plusieurs régions du monde, est maintenant en crise lui-même. 

© MSC/Koch/securityconference.de

La réunion de la Conférence sur la sécurité à Munich, Allemagne

À l'aube de la Conférence sur la sécurité à Munich de 20172, les organisateurs ont publié un rapport avec le sous-titre Post-vérité, post-Occident, post-ordre ? La question répond à elle-même, mais pas pour des raisons que les libéraux occidentaux accepteraient. 

Par souci d’exactitude, soyons clairs : ce n’est pas l’Occident, c’est le libéralisme occidental qui est en crise. Ce sont deux entités différentes, et en effet, comme les événements l’ont montré et le prouvent toujours, elles sont complètement antithétiques. 

Le premier paragraphe du rapport de la conférence de Munich sur la sécurité, se lit comme si la fin du monde était à nos portes.

« Le monde fait face à un moment non libéral. Dans l’ensemble de l’Occident et au-delà, les forces intolérantes gagnent du terrain. De l’intérieur, les sociétés occidentales sont troublées par l’émergence de mouvements populistes qui s’opposent aux éléments critiques du statu quo libéral-démocratique. Du dehors, les sociétés occidentales sont contestées par des régimes non libéraux qui essaient de mettre en doute la démocratie libérale et d’affaiblir l’ordre international. Et les Etats occidentaux eux-mêmes semblent peu disposés et incapables de surmonter efficacement les plus grandes crises de sécurité – la Syrie en étant le premier exemple3. » 

« Essayez d’expliquer au peuple de l’Afghanistan, de l’Irak, de la Libye, de la Syrie, de l’Afrique, de l’Amérique latine, qui ont vu leurs pays et sociétés être détruits au nom de la démocratie libérale, ce « moment non libéral » qu’ils doivent redouter. »

Cette déclaration sous-entend la supposition que le libéralisme, ou les valeurs libérales, devraient être considérées comme sacro-saintes, la condition sine qua non de la vertu culturelle, politique, économique et morale, et comme ces valeurs selon lesquelles tout pays, toute société et tous les peuples doivent exister, indépendamment des spécificités culturelles, régionales ou historiques.

C’est là le problème. Malgré le carnage, le chaos, l’instabilité, le conflit interminable, l’effondrement de la société, et les bouleversements économiques qui ont été forgés ces derniers temps au nom de ces mêmes valeurs libérales « intouchables » et de la démocratie libérale, ses défenseurs refusent toujours de voir le réalité. Essayez d’expliquer au peuple de l’Afghanistan4, de l’Irak, de la Libye, de la Syrie, de l’Afrique, de l’Amérique latine, qui ont vu leurs pays et sociétés être détruits au nom de la démocratie libérale, ce « moment non libéral » qu’ils doivent redouter. Tentez d’en raconter aussi au nombre honteusement croissant de victimes de la pauvreté, du manque d’éducation, des logements insalubres, des soins de santé de mauvaise qualité ou inexistants dans ces pays occidentaux, où les valeurs libérales prédominent.

Et quand il s’agit de la Syrie5, alléguée dans le rapport en tant que preuve d’une « crise de sécurité » que « les Etats occidentaux semblent peu disposés et incapables d’aborder efficacement », ces gens n’ont-ils pas de honte ? Cette sorte de barbarisme bestial et brutal qui a englouti la Syrie au cours des six dernières années, est le fruit d’une déstabilisation de la région causée par les guerres du « 11-Septembre » – une série de guerres et de conflits qu’ils ont déclenchés et qui ont éclaté à la suite de l’atrocité terroriste planifiée et réalisée par Al-Qaïda contre les Etats-Unis en 2001.

« Leur détermination à exploiter l’attentat du 11-Septembre comme prétexte pour un changement de régime au Moyen-Orient a ouvert les portes de l’enfer » 

Ce qui doit être considéré comme l’ironie de notre temps, Washington et ses alliés ont plutôt réussi à assurer la croissance et l’intensification d’une menace terroriste6 et de l’idéologie d’Al-Qaïda, au lieu de le détruire. Dit franchement, leur détermination à exploiter l’attentat du 11-Septembre comme prétexte pour un changement de régime au Moyen-Orient a ouvert les portes de l’enfer, d’où le monstre du djihadisme salafiste a émergé, déterminé au génocide, à la mort et à la destruction7 comme une fin en soi. Tout le monde peut en voir les graves conséquences sous la forme de la crise des réfugiés, qui est parallèle à celle qui a eu lieu au début de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, sous la forme du sectarisme religieux et de l’extrémisme, de la prolifération du terrorisme, à la fois régional et international, et de la souffrance humaine sur une échelle, en comparaison à laquelle le terme « civilisation occidentale » est dérisoire.

Plus loin dans ce rapport, on tombe sur la chose suivante :

« Les commentaires de Donald Trump prétendant que l’OTAN est « obsolète »8 ont provoqué une grande incertitude chez les alliés des Etats-Unis, surtout en Europe centrale et orientale. L’Union européenne est sous pression aussi, car elle doit faire face au Brexit, à une vague populiste, à la crise des réfugiés et à une rechute éventuelle de la crise de l’euro, aux attaques djihadistes, à la Russie révisionniste. »

Encore une fois, nous voyons la preuve d’une disjonction intellectuelle entre les convictions profondes du champion de l’hégémonie libérale et la réalité. L’OTAN n’est pas une force pour la paix universelle, ni pour la sécurité, ni la démocratie, ni la liberté, comme ses adhérents le proclament. En réalité, c’est une alliance militaire destinée à répandre la puissance impérialiste occidentale, celle qui a un héritage funeste de changement de régime – par exemple, en ex-Yougoslavie et en Libye. C’est un rudiment de la guerre froide qui a été ressuscité et qui a gagné en importance ces dernières années, en concordance avec le retour à un paradigme de la guerre froide – adopté pour détourner l’attention des épaves politiques, économiques et géopolitiques, que les valeurs et les normes libérales démocratiques ont laissées. 

Autrement dit, la Russie joue le rôle d’un épouvantail commode9 contre lequel les peuples des Etats-Unis et de l’Europe occidentale sont encouragés à se réunir, et qui est présenté comme une menace pour leur sécurité et leurs intérêts nationaux. Comme George Orwell l'a écrit, « La guerre c’est la paix. La liberté c’est l’esclavage. L’ignorance c’est une force ». 

« Remplacez « révisionniste » avec « forte », et vous arriverez au vrai problème que les impérialistes libéraux occidentaux ont avec la Russie en 2017 » 

Aucune personne raisonnable ne s’oppose à la conception d'une Europe unie, stable et sûre. Comment le pourraient-ils, si une telle Europe est dans l’intérêt de tout le monde ? Mais le principal obstacle qui empêche de parvenir à cette unité, cette stabilité et cette sécurité c’est l’idée que la Russie ne peut et ne doit pas faire partie de la solution à cet égard, et qu’elle doit être considérée comme une partie du problème.

Ce qu’ils décrivent comme la « Russie révisionniste » est vraiment un code pour la Russie qui refuse de se mettre à genoux devant l’impérialisme, la domination et l’hégémonie de l’Occident. Remplacez « révisionniste » avec « forte », et vous arriverez au vrai problème que les impérialistes libéraux occidentaux ont avec la Russie en 2017. Ils préfèrent de loin le pays qui a été ravagé et décimé par les fondamentalistes du libre-échange dans les années 1990, et exploiter le chaos et le choc qui ont suivi l’effondrement de l’URSS, pour faire une expérience de masse au désespoir humain sur l’ensemble de la société.

La sortie de la Russie de cette sombre décennie c’est quelque chose qui n’a jamais été pardonné par des gens comme Javier Solana, David Miliband et George Soros, qui sont tous membres du Conseil consultatif de la Conférence sur la sécurité de Munich.

Le contenu du rapport de 2017 confirme tout simplement qu’il n’y a rien de plus intolérant qu’un libéral qui voit le monde comme un échiquier géant, sur lequel les Etats, les gouvernements et des peuples entiers sont de simples pions qui doivent être déplacés selon son désir. Source 

NOTES : 

1. John Wight écrit pour de nombreux journaux et sites web américains et anglais, notamment The Independent, The Morning Star, Huffington Post, Counterpunch, London Progressive Journal et Foreign Policy. Il est aussi un commentateur régulier sur RT et BBC Radio. John Wight a été l'organisateur du mouvement pacifiste américain dans la période qui a suivi les attaques terroristes du 11-Septembre. 

2. Conférence sur la sécurité à Munich de 2017 

3. la Syrie en étant le premier exemple 

4. expliquer au peuple de l’Afghanistan 

5. quand il s’agit de la Syrie 

6. croissance et intensification d’une menace terroriste 

7. le djihadisme salafiste, génocide, mort et destruction 

8. l’OTAN est obsolète 

9. la Russie joue le rôle d’un épouvantail 

NWO, 2018, No more money in your wallet

In 2018, in the Europa, a proposal for an EU initiative on restrictions on payments in cash

Commission initiative in 2018.

WE  CAN  NO  LONGER  BUY  OR  SELL. 

This is a .pdf document*. Here is the following ORDER...

INCEPTION IMPACT ASSESSMENT

TITLE OF THE INITIATIVE :: Proposal for an EU initiative on restrictions on payments in cash

LEAD DG – RESPONSIBLE UNIT – AP NUMBER :: ECFIN.DDG1.C.5

DATE OF ROADMAP :: 23/01/2017

LIKELY TYPE OF INITIATIVE :: Legislative initiative

INDICATIVE PLANNING :: Commission initiative in 2018

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION :: (None)

This Inception Impact Assessment aims to inform stakeholders about the Commission's work in order to allow them to provide feedback on the intended initiative and to participate effectively in future consultation activities. Stakeholders are in particular invited to provide views on the Commission's understanding of the problem and possible solutions and to make available any relevant information that they may have, including on possible impacts of the different options. The Inception Impact Assessment is provided for information purposes only and its content may change. This Inception Impact Assessment does not prejudge the final decision of the Commission on whether this initiative will be pursued or on its final content.

A-   Context, Problem definition and Subsidiarity Check

Context

The Commission published on 2 February 2016 a Communication to the Council and the Parliament on an Action Plan to further step up the fight against the financing of terrorism (COM (2016) 50). The Action Plan builds on existing EU rules to adapt to new threats and aims at updating EU policies in line with international standards. In the context of the Commission's action to extent the scope of the Regulation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the Community1 , reference is made to the appropriateness to explore the relevance of potential upper limits to cash payments. The Action Plan states that "Payments in cash are widely used in the financing of terrorist activities… In this context, the relevance of potential upper limits to cash payments could also be explored. Several Member States have in place prohibitions for cash payments above a specific threshold." While a number of Member States already have (or have had) in place restrictions to cash payments as a measure to combat crime, this has not been addressed at Union level. In its Conclusions on the fight against terrorism, the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of 12 February 2016 called on the Commission to explore the need for appropriate restrictions on cash payments exceeding certain thresholds. Direct linkages exist with other initiatives stemming from the Action Plan to strengthen the fight against terrorism financing, in particular the Proposal for an amendment of the Anti-Money Laundering Directive2 (COM (2016) 450), which introduced stricter transparency rules and other measures targeted specifically at terrorism financing. Furthermore, the initiative should be seen in conjunction with the ECB's decision of 4 May 20163 to discontinue the production of the EUR 500 banknote and stop the issuance of this denomination by around 2018 to address concerns that these notes could be used in financing illicit activities. This initiative is complementary to the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Directive and shares the Action Plan's objective of bearing effect in a short and medium term future. Therefore, any measure restricting cash payments would be complementary to the specific actions addressed by the review of the AML Directive targeting risks posed, inter alia, by virtual currencies and prepaid instruments when they are used anonymously. Existing rules that apply in the Union in closely connected fields include the following instruments. 

- Third Anti-Money Laundering Directive covering dealers in high-value goods, such as works of art, precious stones or auctioneers, which requires that they apply customer due diligence measures, identification of customers and keeping records of transactions when receiving cash payments of €15,000 or more. 

- The Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, adopted in May 2015 and which is due to be transposed by June 2017, confirms the vulnerability of large cash payments to money laundering and terrorist financing and with this in mind, has extended the scope of application of customer due diligence measures to cash payments of €10,000 or more. The initiative has also direct linkages with the Proposal for an amendment of the Regulation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the Community (COM (2016) 825) and both frameworks should be coherent. In general, it is important to remember that cash is also the most accessible means of payment, and remains widely used. An important part of the public regards payment by cash as a personal freedom. Any change of policy would therefore be quite sensitive, and should start from the assumption that many could oppose restrictions on the use of cash and that such opposition could be built on sensible arguments.

Problem the initiative aims to tackle

Cash has the important feature of offering anonymity to transactions. Such anonymity may be desired for legitimate reason (e.g. protection of privacy). But, such anonymity can also be misused for money laundering and terrorist financing purposes. The possibility to conduct large cash payments facilitates money laundering and terrorist financing activities because of the difficulty to control cash payment transactions. In that context, there remains the lack of readily available and solid evidence on legitimate vs illegitimate cash transactions. It is difficult to quantify the legitimate or illegitimate use of cash. Information stemming from Law Enforcement investigations indicates that cash, both for criminal payments and money laundering purposes, remains the instrument of choice. There are also several studies and academic journals4 that indicate the strong linkages of criminal activities by organised criminal groups to money laundering and large scale payments in cash. On the international level, in its October 2015 report Money Laundering Through the Physical Transportation of Cash5 , the Financial Action Task Force estimated the amount of money involved as hundreds of billions of dollars globally. It described cash as ‘the raw material of most criminal activity’ and warned that as anti-money laundering measures around the world become even more stringent, money laundering through physically moving cash would become increasingly attractive to criminals. Potential restrictions to cash payments would be a mean to fight criminal activities entailing large payment transactions in cash by organised criminal networks. Restricting large payments in cash, in addition to cash declarations and other AML obligations, would hamper the operation of terrorist networks, and other criminal activities, i.e. have a preventive effect. It would also facilitate further investigations to track financial transactions in the course of terrorist activities. Effective investigations are hindered as cash payments transactions are anonymous. Thus restrictions on cash payments would facilitate investigations. However, as cash transactions are moved to the financial system, it is essential that financial institutions have adequate controls and procedures in place that enable them to know the person with whom they are dealing. Adequate due diligence on new and existing customers is a key part of these controls in, line with the AMLD. Terrorists use cash to sustain their illegal activities, not only for illegal transactions (e.g. the acquisition of explosives) but also for payments which are in appearance legal (e.g. transactions for accommodation or transport). While a restriction on payments in cash would certainly be ignored for transactions that are in any case already illegal, the restriction could create a significant hindrance to the conduct of transactions that are ancillary to terrorist activities, but which are in appearance legal and conducted with non-criminal counterparts that are eager to respect the law. The existence of cash payments limitations in some Member States, and their absence in other Member States, creates the possibility for criminals and terrorists to bypass the restrictions by moving to the Member States, which have not introduced any restrictions, while still conducting their illegal activities in the 'stricter' Member State. Furthermore, such diverging practices among Member States regarding restrictions on cash payments create an uneven playing field and these differing restrictions create distortions of competition in the internal market, with some activities moving across border to elude the cash restriction. The lack of approximated measures at EU level makes the (reinforced) controls by the Member States ineffective.

Subsidiarity check (and legal basis)

Currently, restrictions on cash payments have been implemented independently at national level and such restrictions are generally considered compatible with Union law. For the euro area, Recital 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 states that ‘limitations on payments in notes and coins, established by Member States for public reasons, are not incompatible with the status of legal tender of euro banknotes and coins, provided that other lawful means for the settlement of monetary debts are available'. While it could be indicative that Member States having introduced restrictions on cash payments have not raised any objection against the Member States which have not taken such measures or vice versa, it must be observed that the restriction of high value cash payments in some Member States has mainly been imposed so far to avoid tax evasion. 

However, there is a case for action at EU level, as the existence of cash payment limitations in some Member States, and their absence in other Member States, allows activities to be moved across border to elude the cash restrictions. Also, the lack of uniform-approximated measures at EU level makes the (reinforced) controls by the Member States ineffective. Action at EU level is warranted because national initiatives without coordination would impair effectiveness. Moreover, citizens and businesses have different options of payments such as electronic means of payments (e.g. credit and debit cards). Anyhow a measure restricting cash payments would only target higher amounts of payments. Therefore, such a measure would limit the options for terrorist networks to finance their terrorist activities. Against this background, (legislative) action at the EU level meets the requirements of proportionality and subsidiarity as enshrined in Article 5 (4) of the EU Treaty. The exact legal base will depend on the nature of the action proposed. In case a legislative proposal is put forward, Article 114 TFEU could potentially be considered as an appropriate legal basis for being the legal base of the Anti-Money Laundering Directive, which pursues similar objectives.

B-  Objectives and Policy options

In line with the Commission's above-mentioned Action Plan, the objective of the initiative is to swiftly reinforce the EU framework on the prevention of terrorism financing by enhancing transparency of cash payments through an introduction of a restriction of cash payments or by any other appropriate means. Organised crime and terrorism financing rely on cash for payments for carrying out their illegal activities and benefitting from them. By restricting the possibilities to use cash, the proposal would contribute to disrupt the financing of terrorism, as the need to use non anonymous means of payment would either deter the activity or contribute to its easier detection and investigation. Any such proposal would also aim at harmonising restrictions across the Union, thus creating a level playing field for businesses and removing distortions of competition in the internal market. It would additionally foster the fight against money laundering, tax fraud and organised crime.

Baseline scenario – no EU policy change

In the baseline scenario, the absence of Europe wide restrictions to and controls of cash payments will continue to facilitate the financing of terrorism and other criminal activities by ensuring the anonymity of these payments in many Member States, which hinders prevention, investigation and prosecution. Inconsistent national practices will continue allowing bypassing existing national restrictions, as terrorists or other criminals have the opportunity to organise their financial transactions in a way that takes advantage of non-existent or lower restrictions in some Member States. Furthermore, the existence of diverging national legislation complicates compliance by EU citizens, who need to be aware of the national legislation applicable. Finally, the existence of divergent practices is detrimental to an even playing field in the Internal Market. However, it should also be pointed out that the access to unrestricted cash payments also facilitates payments by EU citizens, who may not always have access to similarly cheap and simple alternatives, implying reliance on costlier alternatives.

Options of improving implementation and enforcement of existing legislation or doing less/simplifying existing legislation

At EU level no legislation exists which can be simplified or improved. Some Member States have legislation on cash payment limits at national level which however differ substantially from one another. Harmonising such legislation through EU action would certainly constitute a simplification of existing legislation and facilitate compliance and enforcement at EU level.

Options of a legislative initiative

Restriction versus declaration. As preventing the anonymity linked to cash payments is the main driver, the objective can be attained by restricting cash payments through an EU legislative instrument, and thereby forcing payments through means that are not anonymous (bank transfers, checks, etc.). But the same objective could also be attained by, while still allowing unrestricted cash payments, imposing a declaration to a competent authority. This would allow the continuous reliance on cash payments, with its benefits in terms of simplicity and cost. It could also constitute a more effective measure compared to a pure restriction, by inducing declaration by honest parties to any transaction, if the declaration had to be made independently by all parties to the payments (any party to a transaction could be enticed to still accept cash under the pressure of the other party, while such other party would have less control on whether the first party effectively filed a declaration). However, the obligation of declaration would also have drawbacks. First, it would impose an administrative burden on businesses and citizens and require organising the treatment of the numerous declarations (monitoring, investigation, etc.). Second, it would raise the question of the consistency and redundancy with existing national restrictions on cash payments, which ideally should be then abolished to still pursue an internal market objective, or with the obligation to declare cash when crossing borders. Finally, the obligation to declare payments in cash rather than restricting them has not been implemented by any MS, nor promoted by the law enforcement community, which could indicate that they consider such measure as less efficient than a simple restriction. When considering a restriction or a declaration obligation, the following options are also faced.

Level of the threshold. Existing national restrictions on cash payments vary widely. The higher the threshold, the more the convenience of cash transaction is preserved, but the higher the risk that criminal cash transactions fall through the net. The level of the threshold would also depend on whether it relates to a full restriction or only to a declaration obligation, in which case it could be assumed to be lower.

Single threshold or variable threshold per country within some bandwidth.  A single threshold is necessary to simplify existing practices, avoid distortions in the Internal Market and facilitate compliance by citizens. However, it must be observed that a single threshold may not take into account the diverging purchasing powers, payments practices and availability of alternative payment means in the EU. Variable thresholds could be contemplated either directly through the EU initiative, or by setting a highest limit and allowing Member States to establish lower ones.

Application to all transactions or only to transactions including a business party or specific businesses. While applying restrictions to all transactions would constitute a significant simplification, current national practices often differentiate transactions between purely private persons, which are sometimes exempted of any restriction, and transactions that include one or more business parties, or specific business sectors.

Exemption of non-residents.  Because a restriction on cash transaction supposes the availability of alternatives means of payments, nonresidents are sometimes excluded from the restriction because they are deemed not to have easy access to the domestic banking system.

Alternative policy instrument

Restrictions on conducting large payments in cash could be advocated at EU level through a Commission recommendation. However, considering the existing divergences, it is doubtful that such recommendation would lead to an adoption of harmonised restrictions in all EU Member States. Self-regulation does not appear to be a viable option considering the objectives pursued (fight against criminality and terrorism). None of the participants to high value cash transactions would have any incentive to adopt such behaviour.

Alternative policy approach

Abolishing altogether the use of cash would reach the objective pursued, but would lack any proportionality since cash payments still constitute a major mean of payments firmly grounded in every day's life, for which alternatives have all some drawback, in particular for smaller payments. Compatibility of such abolition with current Treaties could also be challenged. Restrictions on large payments in cash could also be pursued by withdrawing the availability of high denomination banknotes, which facilitate the conduct of large cash payments. The ECB has already decided to progressively phase out the €500 banknote. But as long as cash exists, large payments will remain possible even with lower denomination banknotes, which only render the transaction more cumbersome, but not impossible.

Options that take account of new technological developments

In view of the development of cryptocurrencies and the existence of other means of payments ensuring anonymity, an option could be to extend the restrictions to cash payments to all payments ensuring anonymity (cryptocurrencies, payment in kinds, etc.). On the other hand, restrictions on cash payments could promote the development of alternative payments technologies compatible with the non-anonymity objective pursued.

Preliminary proportionality check

No preliminary check has been done as there isn’t a previous legislative measure on this issue.

C-  Preliminary Assessment of Expected Impacts

Likely economic impacts

The proposal should not produce any visible global macroeconomic impact. Some specific sectors, relying significantly on cash payments, could be more impacted, although it is difficult to assess whether the impact will be permanent or whether the introduction of restriction will just lead to adapting practices. It has to be noted that the restriction would not apply below the threshold and would thus not affect small traders. The introduction of harmonised EU wide restrictions should prevent the distortions of competition (uneven playing field) occurring when restrictions exist only in some Member States and affect businesses unevenly within the internal market. Regarding the fiscal policy, the likely positive impact on money laundering and tax fraud is expected to be positive by increasing fiscal revenues.

Likely social impacts

Receipts of payments in cash constitute a cost-free and credit-risk store of value facilitating people to buy goods of high value such as cars. Similarly, relying on cash has been shown to limit the risk of excessive spending and indebtedness. A proposal in this area would also contribute, together with other policies against organised crime, terrorism and terrorism financing, to the security of European citizens and the European society as a whole.

Likely environmental impacts

None

Likely impacts on fundamental rights

While being allowed to pay in cash does not constitute a fundamental right, the objective of the initiative, which is to prevent the anonymity that cash payments allow, might be viewed as an infringement of the right to privacy enshrined in Article 7 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. However, as complemented by Article 52 of the Charter, limitations may be made subject to the principle of proportionality if they are necessary and genuinely meet objectives of general interest recognised by the Union or the need to protect the rights and freedoms of others. The objectives of potential restrictions to cash payments could fit such description. It should also be observed that national restrictions to cash payments were never successfully challenged based on an infringement to fundamental rights.

Likely impacts on simplification and/or administrative burden

Approximating restrictions at EU level will remove the burden of having to comply with diverging national legislations.

D-  Data Collection and Better Regulation Instruments

Impact assessment

An impact assessment is being prepared to support the preparation of this initiative and to inform the Commission's decision. The following DGs will be invited :

o DG ECFIN

o DG HOME

o DG JUST

o DG FISMA

o DG TAXUD

o SJ

o SG

o DG CNECT

o DG GROW

Data collection

Data on legitimate and illegitimate use of cash should ideally be collected to substantiate the need of the initiative. Such information will most certainly come from law enforcement authorities and Europol. However, it should be understood that, like for all underground and criminal activities, information will not be easily available, and rough estimates might have to be used. The initiative will also build on existing evaluations, in particular from a law enforcement perspective. The most relevant evidence is contained in the Europol report "Why is cash still king?"6 . Other sources include the various studies, reports and documents conducted and published by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the regional body, Moneyval7.

Consultation strategy

The affected stakeholders are :

· law enforcement, custom and tax authorities, whose action is affected by the use of cash, which allows the hiding of financial transactions,

· central banks, as the issuers of cash and beneficiaries of seigniorage income,

· businesses and citizens would be impacted by a restriction on cash payments because cash remains a significant mean of payments for both citizens and businesses.

In order to explore the relevance of potential upper limits to cash payments, the Commission carried out three informal surveys: one addressed to national authorities taking stock in some detail on the existing restrictions to cash payments at national level and why these were introduced, one addressed to law enforcement authorities on the issue of crime prevention and enforceability, and a third one on the views of the private sector and businesses. The latter one was not exhaustive, as only a selected number of stakeholders deemed potentially most affected were targeted. A wide-ranging open online public consultation should also be carried out to give all stakeholders the opportunities to express their view. The launch of this consultation will be announced on the 'Your Voice in Europe website' (http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/consultations/index_en.htm).

Will an Implementation plan be established ?

Depending on the complexity of the final proposal and the legal instrument used, an implementation plan might be established.

(End of the .pdf)

NOTES :

* Source : http://ec.europa.eu/smart-regulation/roadmaps/docs/plan_2016_028_cash_restrictions_en.pdf

1. Regulation (EC) No 1889/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2005 on controls of cash entering or leaving the Community, OJ L 309, 25.11.2005, p. 9.

2. Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing, amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Directive 2005/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Directive 2006/70/EC, OJ L 141, 5.6.2015, p.73.

3. https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2016/html/pr160504.en.html 

4. http://ftp.iza.org/dp8402.pdf, http://www.aaai.org/ojs/index.php/aimagazine/article/viewArticle/1169.

5. http://www.fatf-gafi.org/publications/methodsandtrends/documents/ml-through-physical-transportation-of-cash.html.

6. https://www.europol.europa.eu/content/why-cash-still-king-strategic-report-use-cash-criminal-groups-facilitator-moneylaundering

7. The Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism – (Moneyval) is a permanent monitoring body of the Council of Europe.

Re-AJOUT au 07 août 2017
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AJOUT le 7 août 2017
Publiée le 10 mars 2016 (08:40) vo.fr  ''Ténèbres. L'effondrement de l'euro et la mise en place de la monnaie unique'' 

AJOUT le 7 août 2017 (3:17) vo.de w. trad. fr. ''L'abolition de l'argent liquide approche : les épargnants doivent être dépossédés''

Religion, NASA proves two other biblical evidences

NASA discovers that the Bible is scientifically accurate 

Mr. Harold Hill, a consultant in space programs and President of the Curtis Engine Company in Baltimore, claims that recently all space scientists and astronauts at Green Belt, Maryland, experienced something extremely odd, which proves that the Bible is, in fact, true. 

The scientists were examining the positions of a number of space objects, including the sun, the moon, and the planets, as well as their positions in 100 and 1000 years. 

This event is done regularly to avoid collision between the satellites and the orbits of the planets. In order to prevent the space objects from interrupting their course, the orbits must be determined on time. During the inspection, the scientists discovered that the stories found in the Bible are true. 

The scientists prove the existence of the biblical "missing day" 

While examining the position of the space objects, a red signal put everything at a standstill, signifying that the computer calculations have found something wrong, either with the results or with the data. 

The scientists found out that there is a day missing in space in elapsed time. They called the service department, but nobody could solve this issue. 

Then, one Christian explained that he was told about the sun standing still in Sunday school. Expectedly, no one believed him, but no one had an answer either. The man took the Bible and showed them the Book of Joshua. 

In the book, Joshua is surrounded by the enemy, and he is concerned that they would overpower him if the darkness falls. So, he asks Lord to make the sun stand still. 

The Lord makes the sun stay still for about a whole day until the people avenge themselves upon their enemies1. 

The scientists have arrived at a conclusion that this was the missing day. After examining the computer calculations, they found out that the missing time was 23 hours and 20 minutes, and not a full day ! 

They read the Bible again and saw that the story says « about a whole day ». Even though the biblical story was true, the scientists were still in trouble because the 40 missing minutes could create problems in 1000 years. 

The Christian remembered that somewhere in the Bible there was a story in which the sun went backward. Again, no one believed him, but then they read these words in the Book of 2 Kings. 

In the story, Hezekiah is visited by the prophet Isaiah on his death bed, telling him that he is not going to die. 

Hezekiah requests for a proof, and Isaiah asks whether he wants to see the sun going forward 10 degrees or going backward 10 degrees. 

After choosing the latter, Isaiah speaks to the Lord, and the Lord brings the shadow 10 degrees backward, which is precisely 40 minutes2. 

In conclusion, the 23 hours and 20 minutes from the Book of Joshua and the 10 degrees, or 40 minutes, from the Book of 2 Kings account for 24 hours, or the missing day. par John Borsov Source 

NOTES : 

1. Joshua 10 :12-13  

2. 2 Kings 20 :1-11 

LIENS CONNEXES : 

Answers in Genesis 1:1 website  

Société, 10 jours en Corée-du-Nord

10 jours d'illusions de vie et de joie...

«The most important pledge we pass from generation to generation is to protect Kim Jong-Un with our own lives, because he's the cornerstone of our existence and our culture.»  Kim Chang Yun, Colonel of the Korean People's army.

Welcome to North Korea where you have to follow your guide’s instructions and only take pictures of what we say. To some the people are repressed, though they prefer to describe themselves as "protected", at least on camera. Life here is the result of a unique 70 year social experiment in which the people are "shielded" from the "corrupting influence" of the outside world. Few are ever allowed to travel abroad, use the internet or even see foreign films, music or media. The country's dynastic leader, Marshal Kim Jong-un, who inherited the job from his father and grandfather, continues their political heritage. They are still worshiped long after their deaths. An RT film crew was granted rare access to this unique country, which to many, seems to have leaped from the pages of a dystopian novel, to see first-hand what life is really like and what the people really think of their homeland and its leader. 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is perhaps the least known country in the world today. Based on a political ideology known as ‘Juche’, the socialist government controls every source of information and the national leader, Kim Jong-un, preserves the peace and defends the state’s historical, spiritual and cultural heritage. It’s hard to overestimate the Commander-in-chief’s role in the country: his likeness adorns the streets and squares in every city and village. Through official portraits and statues, he is, literally, everywhere and kindergarten children are taught to sing his praises. Locals adore Kim Jong-un and consider him the Father of the Nation, he encourages everyone to be patriotic and surpass all other nations.

Publiée le 7 nov 2014 (47:32) vo.eng w. s-t.eng.

Almost 15% of North Korea’s GDP is reserved for military spending, and long after the Korean War of the 1950s, the country has still not signed a peace treaty with its capitalist southern neighbor. As a result, thousands of families were torn apart by the political divide. The army remains a source of inspiration; it determinates the social structure and stimulates ordinary people to devote their lives to work in the faithful service of the Marshal. The people believe that this military ideology consolidates national spirit and guarantees stability and order. 

However, not even tough military methods and an ideological barrier around the country can solve the economic lag or the enormous social and economic gulf between South and North Korea. Self-reliance and self-sufficiency are in stark contrast to the economic reality. Despite developments in labour cooperation, a demilitarized zone, demarcated by a huge wall between the two states, is still amongst the most heavily armed areas in the world. 

President of the Korean Friendship Association, Alejandro Cao de Benos explains that due to the generally accepted ideology of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the people will never understand nor accept a western mind-set. From childhood, they are taught to be loyal to their leader and to beware of western values. 

For most viewers North Korea remains a mystery but this unique film offers a limited window of opportunity to view Korean lifestyle through the prism of North Korean peoples’ every day cares and joys. RT Doc meets ordinary workers and soldiers to hear first hand, how they lived before being isolated from the whole world. Source 

Société, Le Québec allait déjà mal

Au Québec, tout va (pas) bien...

Le modèle québécois :
si ça marchait, on le saurait !

Tout va bien ??? Tout est beau ?? Tranquille ?

Tranquille ?  Belle Illusion oui !!!

L'Illusion Tranquille est un film documentaire québécois

Synopsis
Ce documentaire d'opinion de 72 minutes est le résultat d'une initiative de deux citoyens de la région de Québec qui ont questionné des experts en politique, des jeunes et des gens de la rue, inquiets face à l'avenir du Québec et à l'héritage qui est laissé aux futures générations.

L'Illusion Tranquille cherche à mettre en perspective les causes réelles et profondes des malaises sociaux et économiques du Québec : culture des acquis, monopoles d'État et syndicaux, discours idéologique qui masque des intérêts corporatistes. Il remet en cause et critique sévèrement les fondations du temple québécois : 

• l'universalité et la gratuité des programmes sociaux ;
• les monopoles dans la fourniture des services publics ;
• les monopoles syndicaux ;
• les subventions clientélistes déguisées en politiques de solidarité. 

Publiée le 10 février 2012 (73:39) VOfr

Financement : Ce film a entièrement été financé par ses deux coauteurs, Joanne Marcotte et Denis Julien, et n'a bénéficié d'aucune subvention d'organisme ou d'un quelconque niveau de gouvernement. 

Distribution : Réalisation : Joanne Marcotte

Production : Denis Julien et Joanne Marcotte 

La page web du film.

COMMENTAIRE :

10 ans plus tard (2016), les syndicats utilisent toujours les mêmes arguments et autres revendications, sauf qu'ils en font moins encore comme travail, et qu'ils brisent le matériel mis à disposition... payé avec nos taxes. 

Une petite histoire veut qu'un enfant doit rendre un devoir d'école le lendemain. Il va donc consulter son père et lui demande :

_ Papa, peux-tu me donner le nom de trois rapaces que l'on trouve au Québec s'te-plait ? C'est pour mon devoir de classe. Un petit, un moyen et un grand.

_ Bien sûr mon fils ! Alors... il y a le gouvernement municipal, le provincial et le fédéral ! Content ?

_ ...? 

Bienvenue au Québec. 

Société, Compagnies maléfiques

Les entreprises au-dessus de tout soupçon ?

Rejoins-nous ou crains-nous...

Publiée le 22 mai 2015 (5:27)

Nature, 13 août 2015, Point de non retour

Économie environnementale, la fin de tout arrive.

Le 13 août 2015, fut le triste jour du dépassement : une triste nouvelle pour l’environnement. Cela signifie qu‘à partir de ce jour, les humains consomment plus que ce que la Terre peut fournir. Une surconsommation des ressources naturelles, qui s’aggrave. Et il y a pire en regardant le passé : en 1993, le jour du dépassement était le 21 octobre. Ce jour représente la date approximative à laquelle notre consommation de ressources naturelles dépasse la capacité annuelle de la planète à les renouveler. En 2003, cette date était le 22 Septembre… 

La tendance est claire : le jour du dépassement arrive chaque année plus tôt. 

Global Footprint Network fournit un bilan comptable de la demande de l’humanité en ressources et services naturels comparée à la capacité de la planète à les fournir. L’humanité épuise en (8) huit mois la capacité annuelle de notre planète à reproduire les ressources naturelles que nous consommons et à absorber le CO2 que nous émettons. 

Le jour du dépassement est un concept développé par l’institut de recherche anglais new economics foundation, partenaire du Global Footprint Network. Le jour du dépassement marque chaque année le moment auquel nous commençons à vivre au-dessus de nos moyens écologiques. Même si le jour du dépassement ne représente qu’une estimation des tendances de consommation des ressources, il constitue la meilleure approximation scientifique de l’écart entre notre demande en ressources et services écologiques et la capacité de notre planète à les fournir. 

À partir du 13 août 2015 donc, il faudrait 1,6 planètes pour subvenir à notre consommation actuelle. 

Pour ses calculs, l’ONG prend en compte de nombreux facteurs comme : la pêche, l’agriculture, la construction ou l’eau. En déplaçant l’analyse au niveau des pays, le Japon avec un coefficient de 5,5 est le plus mauvais élève de la planète. Pour répondre aux besoins annuels de sa population, l’archipel nippon devrait disposer d’un territoire cinq fois plus grand. L’Italie (3,8), et la Suisse (3,5) complètent le podium, en devançant des pays considérés comme les plus gros pollueurs de notre planète, à savoir la Chine (2,7) et les Etats-Unis (1,9). Ce constat est dû à la grande biocapacité de ces deux pays, leur superficie étant ici un avantage. Pour réduire ce déficit écologique, une seule solution : économiser les ressources naturelles. 

Cette vidéo explique tout :

Si le lien vidéo ne fonctionne pas, cliquez sur : Source : Euronews