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  • MIL-OSI Video: CBP Inauguration Security – Non-Intrusive Inspections (NII) | CBP

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided security and support for the 60th presidential inauguration.

    The Office of Field Operations (OFO) provided the use of Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) technologies to conduct inspections of cargo and conveyances for contraband as part of its mission to stop illicit imports to facilitate lawful travel and trade.

    Instagram ➤ https://instagram.com/CBPgov
    Facebook ➤ https://facebook.com/CBPgov
    Twitter ➤ https://twitter.com/CBP
    Official Website ➤ https://www.cbp.gov

    #cbp
    #inauguration
    #lawenforcement
    #president

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XcTnoMST4I

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: North West trunk road network ready for Storm Eowyn

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for wind affecting most of central and southern Scotland from 10am until 5pm today, Friday 24 January. This means very dangerous conditions and significant disruption, particularly in coastal areas.

    Police Scotland are advising the public not to travel in, or to, the areas affected by the red warning during the period of the weather.

    Transport Scotland’s operating company BEAR Scotland is mobilised and ready to deal with whatever Storm Éowyn brings to North West Scotland’s trunk roads, where safe to do so.

    All road works that were scheduled today have been postponed and new programme dates will be shared in due course.

    Ian Stewart, BEAR Scotland’s North West representative, said: “Conditions are expected to be hazardous across the network and Police Scotland have issued a warning not to travel to the areas affected by the red weather warning. We urge the public to pay close attention to weather warnings and comply with police advice to avoid travel during the storm.

    “Our teams will be fully mobilised to respond to and deal with any issues that arise on the trunk road network, such as fallen trees, flooding or bridge closures.”

    A video explaining how BEAR Scotland monitors and prepares for storms can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/ffmNM1HxX2Y

    Live traffic information is available from Traffic Scotland at http://www.traffic.gov.scot or on X at @trafficscotland.

    24 Jan 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: An open letter to the Minister for Public Finance

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    The Council Leader has formally written to the Scottish Government to declare Edinburgh’s intention to launch a Visitor Levy.

    Writing today (24 January) following the Council’s decision to introduce a Visitor Levy scheme, Council Leader Jane Meagher addresses the Minister for Public Finance, Ivan McKee.

    The letter states:

    Dear Minister for Public Finance,

    I am writing to formally declare Edinburgh’s intention to introduce a Visitor Levy scheme.

    A full public consultation period was carried out from 23 September 2024 – 15 December 2024, with the results published in a report with the final recommended scheme.

    During a Council meeting today, the details of our Scheme were agreed and will see a levy in place from 24 July 2026, applying to all bookings made on and after 1 October 2025. The full final scheme is available on our website.

    The overarching aim of the scheme and the reason for us to agree to proceed with it is to sustain Edinburgh’s status as one of the world’s greatest cultural and heritage cities and to ensure that the impacts of a successful visitor economy are managed effectively and in support of the priorities as set out in the Council’s Business Plan.

    I would like to thank you and the work of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill team. In advancing the legislation, the Scottish Government is giving Councils greater financial responsibility and strengthening local democracy.

    I am immensely proud that Edinburgh becomes the first city in Scotland to declare a levy. We were named Europe’s leading sustainable destination 2023 by the World Travel Awards and Edinburgh continues to be a world class destination with around 4 million visitors a year and a growing economy.

    The visitor levy will help boost the tourism industry with funds re-invested back into local facilities and services that will support the sustainable growth of the visitor economy. This new source of funding is urgently needed to sustain local services and spaces used by visitors and locals alike.

    I look forward to continued working between the City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government as we enter the implementation period.

    Yours sincerely

    Jane Meagher

    Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council

    Published: January 24th 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Leads Multistate Coalition to Defend NHTSA’s Fuel-Economy Standards for Passenger Vehicles and Trucks

    Source: US State of California Department of Justice

    OAKLAND — On behalf of California and leading a multistate coalition of 15 attorneys general, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed an amicus brief in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA)’s fuel-economy standards for passenger cars, light trucks, and heavy-duty trucks. The NHTSA standards are designed to enhance fuel efficiency for vehicles and benefit consumers across the country. Currently, Republican-led states and oil industry groups are not only challenging these federal fuel-economy standards but also using their lawsuit to attack California’s unrelated zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) standards. The amicus brief explains why that attack on state-law emission standards—designed to reduce smog-forming and planet-warming air pollution—has no place in a challenge to federal-law fuel efficiency standards.

    “Efficient vehicles and clean vehicles should not be partisan issues. Yet, we continue to see politically motivated attacks,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We are at a critical juncture in protecting our people and the environment, and that’s why, I, alongside attorneys general nationwide, are unwavering in our commitment to defend these standards that will better protect our communities.”

    The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA) requires NHTSA to prescribe Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards at the “maximum feasible” average fuel economy level that manufacturers can achieve. These standards are intended to conserve fuel, which, in turn, saves consumers money at the pump, insulates the U.S. from global oil price instability, and reduces the impact of oil consumption on public health and the environment. Last June, NHTSA announced updated standards for model years 2027 to 2031 requiring automakers to achieve higher fuel efficiency across their fleets of cars as well as light and heavy-duty trucks. NHTSA projects that the 2027-31 standards will save consumers nearly $23 billion in fuel costs by reducing gasoline consumption by about 70 billion gallons, which will also prevent 710 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through 2050.

    In trying to undo those fuel-economy standards, the challengers argue NHTSA is required to develop CAFE standards as if the millions of electric vehicles that automakers sell do not exist. That fiction would lead to artificially low, do-nothing standards, and NHTSA was right to reject it. The challengers also fault NHTSA’s model of the auto industry for recognizing that automakers are already selling electric vehicles at levels consistent with California’s ZEV standards. The challengers have used NHTSA’s modeling as an excuse to attempt to shoehorn into their lawsuit a claim that California’s ZEV standards are unlawful based on a baseless theory that courts rejected over a decade ago.  

    California’s ZEV standards are a critical component of California’s vehicle emissions program that protects Californians against the health and environmental effects of vehicle exhaust pollutants including ozone, particulate matter, and toxic emissions. These emission standards have nothing to do with federal fuel-economy standards, and the Clean Air Act explicitly allows California to set its own vehicle emissions standards. The Clean Air Act also allows other states to adopt those standards for themselves if they choose.

    In the amicus brief, the coalition expresses support for NHTSA’s stringent fuel-economy standards while defending California’s ZEV standards against the challengers’ improper collateral attack. Specifically, the amicus brief highlights that a federal rule challenge is the wrong place to attack state laws.

    Attorney General Bonta leads the attorneys general of Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia in filing this amicus brief. 

    A copy of the amicus brief can be found here.

     

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Delivers Localized State of the State Address to Business, Community, and Local Colorado Springs Leaders

    Source: US State of Colorado

    COLORADO SPRINGS/PUEBLO – Today, Governor Polis delivered his localized State of the State Address to leaders in Colorado Springs. Governor Polis discussed Colorado’s leadership in increasing the supply of housing people can afford, investing in a convenient transit system to save people time and money, protecting our clean air and public spaces, making our communities safer, preparing Colorado students for success, and creating a competitive business environment and workforce to foster growth and innovation. 

    “Over the past year, we have been laser-focused on saving people money and lowering the cost of living, and there’s a lot more we need to do. Colorado needs to lead the way in building more housing that Coloradans and families can afford, expand transit options to protect our clean air, make our communities and neighborhoods safer, and much more,I look forward to the work ahead to build on our successes, keep Colorado’s economy and workforce strong, and make Colorado a model of personal and economic freedom for the nation,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

    Earlier this year, Governor Polis delivered his seventh State of the State Address to the Colorado General Assembly. Governor Polis highlighted Colorado’s leadership across the board to lower the cost of living and protect the rights and freedoms of all Coloradans. He outlined work ahead to continue building more housing Coloradans can afford near jobs and transit options. 

    In his address, Governor Polis echoed his State of the State address to the General Assembly, and called for smart stair reform to empower builders to create apartments that fit in our neighborhoods, not just city blocks, allowing houses of worship to use the land they own to help address our housing shortage, and double down on Colorado’s investment in innovative modular housing solutions. 

    Governor Polis also will met with AmeriCorps members in Pueblo to learn how AmeriCorps is utilizing apprenticeships and increasing opportunities for members to get credentials that prepare service members for success and strengthen our economy. 

    “In Colorado, we are building a future where success and good-paying jobs are available to more Coloradans through many different low-cost educational paths. Connecting Coloradans with opportunities to gain credentials and develop skills with a paid apprenticeship will strengthen our workforce and economy, and I am thrilled that AmeriCorps is doing exactly that in Pueblo and around our state,” said Governor Polis. 

    Later today, Governor Polis will meet with Pueblo Community College President Dr. Chato Hazelbaker and will tour the school’s welding labs, which were renovated in 2020. These renovations were supported by remaining state funding from SB17-267, Sustainability Of Rural Colorado. This funding helped the weld shop expand to more than 6,000 square feet and add ten new welding stations along with numerous enhanced safety features, new lighting and dedicated space for major fabrication equipment. These facilities are helping strengthen Colorado’s workforce and helping more Coloradans get the skills they need to fill in-demand welding jobs. 

    “Strengthening our workforce and helping more Coloradans build needed skills that lead to good paying jobs is good for our communities and our economy. I applaud the work Pueblo Community College is doing to support Coloradans in working to build careers,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: HERSHEY – Shapiro Administration to Highlight Efforts to Improve Care for Mothers and Babies

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    January 27, 2025 – Hershey, PA

    ADVISORY – HERSHEY – Shapiro Administration to Highlight Efforts to Improve Care for Mothers and Babies

    Shapiro Administration officials will join Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine leaders in Hershey to highlight efforts across the state to improve care for pregnant women and babies.

    The Shapiro Administration funded the creation of four regional maternal health coalitions to support local organizations that will implement recommendations from the 2024 Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) report to improve maternal health outcomes for mothers and babies.
    The Administration has prioritized using data and recommendations from the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, feedback from a statewide survey, and participated in listening sessions to develop a multi-agency Maternal Health Strategic Plan.

    Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has charged his Administration with finding ways to improve the health of the Commonwealth’s mothers and babies. The Governor’s 2024-2025 bipartisan budget secured a $2.6 million increase for work to address and prevent maternal mortality, especially among Black mothers, who are disproportionately affected.

    WHO:
    Department of Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen
    Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones
    Department of Human Services Special Advisor Sara Goulet
    Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center President Don McKenna
    Penn State College of Medicine Dean Dr. Karen Kim
    Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Chair Dr. Richard Legro
    Penn State College of Medicine Assistant Professor Dr. Kristin Sznajder

    WHEN:
    MONDAY, January 27, 2025, at 12:30 PM

    WHERE:
    Penn State Health Children’s Hospital
    600 University Drive
    Hershey, PA 17033
    (Room T2500 – Second Floor)

    PARKING: Event parking can be obtained by contacting Penn State Health’s Public Relations and Multimedia team Lead, Scott Gilbert, by emailing sgilbert1@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or calling 717-782-1121.

    MEDIA RSVP: Media interested in attending must RSVP with the name of the reporter and photojournalist to ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Hosts Fifth Regional Convening on Immigrant Rights in San Diego

    Source: US State of California

    SAN DIEGO – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today held the fifth and final in a series of regional convenings with immigrant rights groups, elected officials, and others in San Diego, California. During the convening, the Attorney General and California Department of Justice (CADOJ) staff shared resources, heard concerns, and discussed CADOJ’s ongoing efforts to protect California’s immigrant communities. Over the past two months, the Attorney General has released a number of guidances to help California immigrants better understand their rights and protections under the law and assist law enforcement, prosecutors, and public institutions in complying with state law. The resources, many available in multiple languages, can be accessed at oag.ca.gov/immigrant/resources.

    “We’ve been preparing for this day for months – hearing concerns through these regional convenings and issuing guidance for immigrants, local law enforcement, prosecutors, school officials, and public institutions, all in anticipation of the President attempting to see through his destructive immigration agenda,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I’m disappointed, but not surprised, by the President’s executive orders. But I want to be clear that California will not waiver in its commitment to upholding the rights and protections of all of our residents, including the nearly 11 million immigrants who call this state home. We hear your concerns, and we will continue to use the full force of the law and tools of this office to stand up for you.” 

    Know Your Immigration Rights and Protections Under the Law  

    • You have the right to apply for and secure housing without sharing your immigration status. California law prohibits housing providers from asking about your immigration status unless you are applying for affordable housing funded by the federal government. Additionally, housing providers cannot harass or intimidate you by threatening or sharing information about your immigration status to ICE, law enforcement, or other government agencies.
    • You have the right to access emergency medical care. Federal laws and regulations ensure the rights of all people to access emergency medical care, including undocumented immigrants.
    • You have the right to an attorney. If you are arrested by police, you have the right to a government-appointed attorney. If you are detained by ICE and/or are facing immigration proceedings, you have the right to seek legal assistance through an attorney. 
    • State and local law enforcement cannot ask for your immigration status. California law expressly prohibits law enforcement from inquiring about a person’s immigration status for immigration enforcement purposes.
    • State and local law enforcement cannot share your personal information. This includes sharing your home or work address for immigration purposes, unless that information is available to the public or unless that information involves previous criminal arrest, convictions or similar criminal history.
    • State and local law enforcement cannot assist ICE with immigration enforcement, with very limited exceptions. This means they cannot investigate, cannot interrogate, cannot arrest, and cannot detain you unless it is as part of joint federal task force where the primary purpose is not immigration enforcement.  

    Guidance for Immigrant Students and Families

    • Right to a Free Public Education: All children have a right to equal access to free public education, regardless of their or their parents’/guardians’ immigration status.
    • Information Required for School Enrollment: Schools must accept a variety of documents from the student’s parent or guardian to demonstrate proof of child’s age or residency and schools are not required to keep a copy of the document used as proof of a child’s age.
    • Confidentiality of Personal Information: Federal and state laws protect student education records and personal information. These laws generally require that schools obtain written consent from parents or guardians before releasing student information, unless the release of information is for educational purposes, is already public, or is in response to a court order or subpoena.

    Protect Yourself from Immigration Scams

    If you need help applying for immigration relief, be careful who you hire. Watch out for immigration scams that can cost you thousands of dollars and/or harm your immigration status! Here are some tips and resources to help: 

    • Go to a legitimate legal aid organization for free legal help. Many nonprofit organizations provide free immigration help to low-income individuals, such as those found through the resources below. To find a legal aid organization near you, go to lawhelpca.org. 
    • Keep your original documents in a safe place. Don’t give your original documents to anyone unless you see proof that the government requires the original document. If you give someone an original, they may lose it or refuse to return it unless you pay them.
    • Do not hire an immigration consultant or a notary. Only lawyers, accredited representatives, and recognized organizations can give you legal advice or represent you in immigration court. Immigration consultants – who may call themselves immigration experts, notarios, notaries public, or paralegals – cannot do so.
    • Do not give money or personal information to anyone who calls, texts, or emails you claiming that there is a problem with your immigration matter. No federal or state agency, including USCIS, will ever ask for your personal information or payment over the phone, by email, or text.  

    Resources for the Reporting of and Response to Hate Crimes 

    In light of the President’s xenophobic rhetoric and an anticipated uptick in hostility toward immigrant communities, the Attorney General issued updated guidance and resources for law enforcement, prosecutors, and victims of hate crimes: 

    Guidance and Model Policies for Public institutions 

    Attorney General Bonta issued updated guidance to help staff develop practical plans to protect the rights of immigrants and their families to safely access public institutions by limiting support of immigration enforcement activity at these institutions. While the guidance is tailored to certain types of public institutions, any institution that is accessible to the public may choose to adopt a similar policy to protect the rights and safety of their patrons.   

    Guidance for State and Local Law Enforcement

    Attorney General Bonta issued an updated bulletin describing local and state law enforcement agencies’ obligations under SB 54, which prohibits the use of state and local resources to assist with federal immigration enforcement, with very limited exceptions.  The bulletin can be found here.

    Guidance for Prosecutors and Defense Counsel

    The Attorney General issued new guidance to provide defense counsel and prosecutors with information regarding their obligations under Section 1016.3 of the Penal Code to affirmatively let defendants know about the immigration consequences of a proposed plea deal. A copy of the guidance is available here.

    Access Free and Low-Cost Legal Assistance 

    Visit Law Help CA or Immigration Law Help to find immigration assistance near you.

    File a Complaint 

    If you believe your rights have been violated, report it to the California Department of Justice at oag.ca.gov/report. 

    If you believe you were subject to discrimination, harassment or retaliation, report it to the California Civil Rights Department at calcivilrights.ca.gov/complaintprocess/.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dartmouth — Nova Scotia RCMP release annual provincial impaired statistics for 2024

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    As Nova Scotia’s Provincial Police, road safety is a top priority. To keep citizens informed about enforcement on our roadways, the Nova Scotia RCMP is releasing statistics for all RCMP detachments in Nova Scotia for 2024 on drivers charged for driving impaired by drugs or alcohol.

    In 2024, Nova Scotia RCMP charged 1398 drivers with impaired related offences:

    • 695 charged with Impaired Operation of a Conveyance by Alcohol
    • 40 charged with Impaired Operation of a Conveyance by Drug (18 more awaiting lab results)
    • 166 charged with Refusal of a Demand Made by a Peace Officer
    • 479 issued driving suspensions for Impaired Operation.

    “Public education and awareness campaigns have been ongoing for many years, and still almost 1400 people were caught committing impaired driving offences in 2024,” says Constable Bryan Martell with the RCMP’s Southeast Traffic Services.

    Every year the Nova Scotia RCMP participates in MADD Canada’s Candlelight Vigil, remembering and honouring the victims and survivors of impaired driving.

    “I encourage everyone to visit MADD Canada’s memorial and tribute website (Tributes – MADD Canada Tributes) to look at the pictures and read the stories,” says Constable Martell. “It is a sobering reminder that these are family members, friends, coworkers – real people whose lives were cut short or otherwise affected by someone’s choice to drive impaired.”

    Remember too that road safety is a shared responsibility. The public is asked to call 911 immediately if you see a driver who is driving erratically or unsafely. Here are some signs of an impaired driver:

    • Driving unreasonably fast, slow or at an inconsistent speed
    • Drifting in and out of lanes
    • Tailgating and changing lanes frequently
    • Making exceptionally wide turns
    • Changing lanes or passing without sufficient clearance
    • Overshooting or stopping well before stop signs or stop lights
    • Disregarding signals and lights
    • Approaching signals or leaving intersections too quickly or slowly
    • Driving without headlights, failing to lower high beams or leaving turn signals on
    • Driving with windows open in cold or inclement weather

    Once you call 911, you will be asked to provide the following, if possible:

    • Your location
    • A description of the vehicle, including the license plate number, colour, make and model
    • The direction of travel for the vehicle
    • A description of the driver if visible.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: BitMart Celebrates the Year of the Snake with 300,000 USDT in Rewards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Mahe, Seychelles , Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, BitMart, the leading global cryptocurrency exchange, is thrilled to announce the Year of the Snake Campaign, featuring a 300,000 USDT prize pool in random tokens. From January 21, 2025, to February 11, 2025, users can participate in exciting activities and claim their share of rewards across trading, referrals, social media, and more.

    Event Highlights:

    Trading Competition – 100,000 USDT in Prizes
    Compete based on total trading volume and win big! The top 50 traders will receive rewards, with the 1st place winner taking home 10,000 USDT.

    New User Rewards – 50,000 USDT Giveaway
    Register and trade 300 USDT to earn 10-20 USDT in random tokens. Limited availability – first come, first served!

    Invite & Earn – 50,000 USDT Reward Pool
    Invite friends to trade and earn 3-5 USDT per referral. The top 10 inviters will receive exclusive airdrops.

    Daily Trading Rewards – 60,000 USDT Up for Grabs
    Trade at least 100 USDT daily to unlock 3-5 USDT daily rewards. Don’t miss your chance to earn every day.

    Social Media Airdrops – 30,000 USDT Bonus
    Follow, retweet, and tag friends to share 20,000 USDT, plus an additional 10,000 USDT in exclusive airdrops from projects like Mantle Network (MNT), Artela (ART), and more.

    BitMart AMA – 10,000 USDT in Prizes 
    Join BitMart’s AMA session, ask questions, and earn participation rewards.
    How to Participate:
    Get started by visiting the BitMart Year of the Snake Campaign Page: https://www.bitmart.com/activity/YearofSnake/en-US.
    Promotion Period:
    January 21, 2025, 04:00 AM UTC – February 11, 2025, 04:00 AM UTC
    BitMart continues to empower its global community with rewarding opportunities and innovative trading experiences. Join the celebration and make this Lunar New Year one to remember!
    About BitMart
    BitMart is the premier global digital asset trading platform. With millions of users worldwide and ranked among the top crypto exchanges on CoinGecko, it currently offers 1,600+ trading pairs with competitive trading fees. Constantly evolving and growing, BitMart is interested in crypto’s potential to drive innovation and promote financial inclusion. To learn more about BitMart, visit their Website, follow their X (Twitter), or join their Telegram for updates, news, and promotions. Download BitMart App to trade anytime, anywhere.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: January 24th, 2025 Heinrich, Senate Democrats Demand Trump Except All VA Employees from Hiring Freeze

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and 24 Democratic senators called on President Trump to put veterans first and immediately exempt all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees from the hiring freeze he issued on Monday. In a letter to Trump, the senators stressed concerns about the negative impact the hiring freeze will have on the delivery of veterans’ health care and benefits nationwide – if not quickly reversed.
    “As written, this Memorandum could dramatically impair the ability of veterans across the country to get the care and benefits they desperately need,” the senators wrote. “It could also delay or deny various other services across VA – from burial services to job training to assistance for homeless veterans to life-saving assistance from the Veterans Crisis Line. That is why it is imperative for you to provide an immediate, clear, and full exemption to this hiring freeze for VA so it can continue to deliver on its sacred mission for veterans.”
    The senators also underscored that despite assurances of exemptions, they have heard from employees on the ground that the hiring freeze will extend to certain positions promised to be exempt: “In your Memorandum, little detail is provided to understand the scope of its exemptions. And despite assurances that VA benefits would be exempt, we have become aware the hiring freeze will extend to the Veterans Benefits Administration – a decision that will dramatically impact the processing of disability claims, growing the backlog and making it more difficult for veterans to access their earned benefits, including those promised in the PACT Act.”
    The senators pressed Trump for scaling back on VA employees, rather than continuing efforts to address chronic workforce shortages Congress has implemented over the last few years: “Instead of building upon those efforts, one of your first actions was to stop them entirely, and to issue new directives to VA personnel across the country to not only leave vacancies unaddressed, but to revoke job offers that have already been made. That is a betrayal of trust to veterans on day one of your Administration, and it is a betrayal of trust to prospective VA employees intent on serving veterans – an action that will undoubtedly have long-term impacts on VA’s ability to effectively recruit and retain the physicians, nurses, and other critical positions that make VA the preferred option for care for veterans.”
    The letter was led by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). Alongside Heinrich, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
    The full text of the Senators’ letter is available here and below:
    Dear President Trump,
    We write with urgent concerns about the Presidential Memorandum issued on January 20, 2025, which instituted an immediate hiring freeze, with few exceptions, across the federal civil service. Veterans have earned and deserve the best quality health care and benefits possible. Delivering on that sacred promise starts with ensuring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has the appropriate personnel in place to serve them. As written, this Memorandum could dramatically impair the ability of veterans across the country to get the care and benefits they desperately need. It could also delay or deny various other services across VA – from burial services to job training to assistance for homeless veterans to life-saving assistance from the Veterans Crisis Line. That is why it is imperative for you to provide an immediate, clear, and full exemption to this hiring freeze for VA so it can continue to deliver on its sacred mission for veterans.
    In your Memorandum, little detail is provided to understand the scope of its exemptions. And despite assurances that VA benefits would be exempt, we have become aware the hiring freeze will extend to the Veterans Benefits Administration – a decision that will dramatically impact the processing of disability claims, growing the backlog and making it more difficult for veterans to access their earned benefits, including those promised in the PACT Act. Additionally, there is no explicit exemption for employees serving the more than 9.2 million veterans enrolled in VAhealth care.
    Veterans deserve the best care possible from the best medical professionals in the country. To deliver on that obligation, VA continues to utilize various hiring authorities and incentives provided by Congress to address chronic medical workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas. Instead of building upon those efforts, one of your first actions was to stop them entirely, and to issue new directives to VA personnel across the country to not only leave vacancies unaddressed, but to revoke job offers that have already been made. That is a betrayal of trust to veterans on day one of your Administration, and it is a betrayal of trust to prospective VA employees intent on serving veterans – an action that will undoubtedly have long-term impacts on VA’s ability to effectively recruit and retain the physicians, nurses, and other critical positions that make VA the preferred option for care for veterans.
    Mr. President, to prevent the delay or denial of life-saving services and benefits for our nation’s heroes, we urge you to provide an immediate, clear, and full exemption to VA personnel from your hiring freeze. Thanks largely to the PACT Act and the leadership of the Biden Administration, VA is providing more care and more benefits to more veterans than at any time in its history. We are hopeful to work with you to build upon our nation’s promise to these men and women, but we also vow to fight every effort that dishonors their service and reneges upon that sacred promise.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Case of Boualem Sansal in Algeria – P10_TA(2025)0005 – Thursday, 23 January 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to its previous resolutions on Algeria,

    –  having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A.  whereas on 16 November 2024 the Algerian authorities arrested French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who had publicly taken a robust stance against the authoritarian regime, calling for freedom of expression in Algeria; whereas his whereabouts remained unknown for over a week, during which time he was denied access to his family and legal counsel, contrary to international law; whereas Sansal was interrogated without his lawyer, violating his right to a fair trial; whereas he was subsequently charged with national security-related offences under Article 87bis of the Algerian Penal Code, a provision frequently used against government critics, including human rights defenders; whereas Sansal has been hospitalised several times;

    B.  whereas Algeria is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; whereas Algeria has undertaken to respect and promote freedom of expression in full compliance with its international obligations, the EU-Algeria partnership priorities, and its Constitution; whereas new amendments to the Penal Code were adopted in 2024 imposing significant restrictions on freedom of expression;

    C.  whereas freedom of expression in Algeria has deteriorated, with the country falling to 139th place on the 2024 World Press Freedom Index; whereas journalists have been placed under increasing pressure and are often detained and prosecuted; whereas at least 215 people are being held in Algeria as prisoners of opinion, according to Algerian human rights defenders; whereas censorship, trials and harsh punishment of independent media, often accused of colluding with foreign powers against national security, continue to increase;

    D.  whereas between 2021 and 2024 the EU disbursed EUR 213 million to Algeria under the Multiannual Indicative Programme;

    1.  Condemns the arrest and detention of Boualem Sansal and calls for his immediate and unconditional release;

    2.  Equally condemns the arrests of all other activists, political prisoners, journalists, human rights defenders and others detained or sentenced for exercising their right to freedom of opinion and expression, including journalist Abdelwakil Blamm and writer Tadjadit Mohamed, and calls for their release;

    3.  Urges the EU institutions and the EU Delegation to publicly share their concerns with the Algerian authorities, and to organise a medical mission to assess Sansal’s health;

    4.  Calls on the Algerian authorities to review all repressive laws restricting freedoms, in particular Articles 87bis, 95bis and 196bis of Algeria’s Penal Code, and the judiciary’s independence, in order to protect the freedom of the press as enshrined in Article 54 of Algeria’s Constitution;

    5.  Reiterates, as enshrined in the EU-Algeria Partnership Priorities, the importance of the rule of law in order to consolidate freedom of expression; stresses that renewing this agreement must be based upon continued and substantial progress in the aforementioned domains and underscores that all future disbursements of EU funds should consider the progress made in this regard;

    6.  Instructs its President to have this resolution translated into Arabic and forwarded to the Algerian Authorities, the Commission and the VP/HR.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Case of Jean-Jacques Wondo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – P10_TA(2025)0003 – Thursday, 23 January 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to its previous resolutions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),

    –  having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by the DRC in 1976, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,

    –  having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Fair Trial and Legal Assistance in Africa,

    –  having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A.  whereas Jean-Jacques Wondo, a Belgian-Congolese security, military and political expert, was invited to Kinshasa in February 2024 to lead reforms of the Congolese National Intelligence Agency, the ANR;

    B.  whereas Wondo was arrested following a failed coup on 19 May 2024, for which he was accused of being the ‘intellectual perpetrator’, despite consistently maintaining his innocence; whereas the charges were based on coerced and unreliable testimony;

    C.  whereas on 13 September 2024, Wondo and 36 others were sentenced to death by a military court in a process widely condemned for serious violations of due process and the absence of credible evidence;

    D.  whereas Wondo’s health has gravely deteriorated in custody and requires medical attention;

    E.  whereas the DRC lifted a moratorium on the death penalty in March 2024, leading to a sharp rise in death sentences, which contradicts its commitments under international human rights law;

    1.  Strongly condemns the sentencing to death of Wondo and others and the grave violations of their right to a fair trial;

    2.  Urges the DRC Government to immediately overturn the death sentences, reinstate a moratorium on executions and take steps towards the full abolition of the death penalty;

    3.  Expresses deep concern about Wondo’s deteriorating health, calls for him to be given immediate access to medical treatment and insists on his immediate release;

    4.  Denounces the misuse of military courts to prosecute Wondo and calls on the DRC to align its judicial practices with international and regional human rights commitments;

    5.  Reiterates its categorical opposition to the death penalty under any circumstances and calls for its universal abolition;

    6.  Encourages the EU delegation in Kinshasa, the European External Action Service and the foreign affairs ministers of the Member States to intensify their engagement with the DRC authorities, emphasising respect for human rights, judicial independence and the rule of law;

    7.  Calls for systemic reforms to be implemented in the DRC to rebuild the judiciary into an independent, fair and efficient institution that guarantees due process and the protection of fundamental rights;

    8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government and Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the African Union and other relevant international bodies.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine – P10_TA(2025)0006 – Thursday, 23 January 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to its previous resolutions on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,

    –  having regard to its previous resolutions on historical remembrance,

    –  having regard to the Charter of the United Nations,

    –  having regard to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC),

    –  having regard to the Geneva Conventions,

    –  having regard to Rule 136(2) and (4) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A.  whereas on 24 February 2022, the Russian regime declared the start of a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine based on false claims that it needed to protect civilians;

    B.  whereas, in fact, since 24 February 2022 the Russian Federation has been waging an unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, in continuation of previous aggressions since 2014, and continues to persistently violate the principles of the UN Charter through its aggressive actions against the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and to blatantly and grossly violate international humanitarian law, as established by the Geneva Conventions of 1949, in particular through the massive use of targeted attacks against the civilian population, residential areas and civilian infrastructure;

    C.  whereas the UN General Assembly, in its resolution of 2 March 2022, immediately qualified Russia’s war against Ukraine as an act of aggression in violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, and, in its resolution of 14 November 2022, it recognised the need to hold the Russian Federation accountable for its war of aggression, as well as legally and financially responsible for its internationally wrongful acts, and that Russia should pay reparations for the injuries and damage caused;

    D.  whereas Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is not an isolated act but a continuation of its imperialistic policy, which has included a war against Chechnya and military aggression against Georgia in 2008, and the occupation of Crimea and the start of a war in the Donbas in 2014;

    E.  whereas the start of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against neighbouring Ukraine was preceded by several public declarations by the president of the Russian Federation seeking to justify its use of force by means of historical revisionism, false claims and illegitimate demands for the recognition of its exclusive interests in Ukraine and other neighbouring countries;

    F.  whereas the Russian regime has been making widespread use of disinformation, including based on distorted historical arguments, and foreign information manipulation and interference in an attempt to justify its crime of aggression, to incite the Russian population to support its illegal regime and illegal war of aggression against neighbouring Ukraine, to interfere in the democratic processes of other countries and to reduce support among their populations for continued international assistance and support for Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression; whereas the Russian regime denies Ukraine’s distinct national identity, falsely claiming it as part of the Russian world (‘Russkiy mir’), a narrative rooted in imperialistic ideology; whereas Russia is demolishing Holodomor memorials and restoring demolished monuments to Lenin in the occupied territories of Ukraine;

    G.  whereas Russia has not only failed to acknowledge the unforgivable initial role of the Soviet Union in the early stages of World War II, for example through the 1939 Treaty of Non-Aggression between Nazi Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union) and its secrets protocols, commonly referred to as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939, in which both totalitarian regimes conspired to divide Europe into exclusive spheres of influence, and failed to assume its responsibility for the many atrocities and mass crimes committed in territories occupied by the Soviet Union, but the current Russian regime has also instrumentalised history and created a cult of ‘victory’ around World War II to ideologically mobilise citizens and manipulate them into supporting an illegal war of aggression;

    H.  whereas Russia has developed a growing disinformation campaign of historical revisionism for the purpose of denying Ukraine its national identity, statehood and very existence, and with the aim of justifying its claims to exclusive spheres of influence, which is reminiscent of how the Soviet Union agreed with Nazi Germany to invade and occupy parts of Poland and Romania as well as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine in the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact; whereas today, Russia poses a particular threat to Poland and the Baltic States and their sovereignty through this type of historical revisionism;

    I.  whereas Victory Day, celebrated annually on 9 May, has been turned by the current Russian regime into a tool of war propaganda in Russia, by exploiting the narrative of the ‘liberation of Europe from Nazism’ and thus ignoring the subsequent Soviet occupation of the Baltic States and the subjugation of central Europe; whereas this narrative of liberation from Nazism is being used today in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;

    J.  whereas in some Member States, communist symbols, as well as the symbols of the ongoing Russian aggression, are prohibited by law; whereas since 2009, 23 August has been commemorated across the EU as the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of all Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes; whereas since 2003, Parliament has held an annual commemoration for the victims of mass Soviet deportations;

    1.  Reiterates its condemnation, in the strongest possible terms, of Russia’s unprovoked, illegal and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine; calls on Russia to immediately terminate all military activities in Ukraine and to completely and unconditionally withdraw all forces, proxies and military equipment from the entire internationally recognised territory of Ukraine, to end its forced deportations of Ukrainian civilians and to release all detained and deported Ukrainians, particularly children;

    2.  Rejects the various claims made by the Russian regime as futile attempts to justify an illegal war of aggression that constitutes a blatant violation of the UN Charter and of the responsibility of the Russian Federation as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to maintain peace and stability and that was immediately recognised as such by the other permanent members of the UN Security Council, along with an overwhelming majority of the UN General Assembly; recalls that no consideration of whatever nature, whether political, economic, military, historic or otherwise, may serve as a justification for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine;

    3.  Condemns the Russian regime’s systematic falsification and use of distorted historical arguments, such as those related to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, in its attempt to manipulate Russian public opinion into supporting criminal actions such as the illegal war of aggression against neighbouring Ukraine, to undermine international support and assistance for Ukraine and to erase Ukraine’s distinct cultural and historical identity; denounces Russia’s claim that it is entitled to zones of exclusive interest at the expense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states as incompatible with international law;

    4.  Condemns the Russian Federation’s failure to establish accountability for Soviet crimes and its deliberate obstruction of historical research by denying access to and closing Soviet archives, as well as the fact that it has enacted legislation criminalising the truthful portrayal of Soviet and Russian crimes and persecuted civil society organisations investigating Soviet crimes, and has glorified Stalinist totalitarianism and re-created its methods; maintains that impunity and the lack of factually accurate historical and public debate and education has contributed to the current Russian regime’s ability to revive imperialist policies and instrumentalise history for its criminal purposes; condemns the persecution of civil society organisations investigating Soviet crimes or the crimes of the current regime, including the liquidation of International Memorial, the Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre, and the Moscow Helsinki Group, as well as the forced closure of the Sakharov Centre;

    5.  Recalls that the deliberate attacks of the Russian Federation on the civilian population of Ukraine, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, the use of torture, sexual violence and rape as weapons of war, the deportation of thousands of Ukrainian citizens to the territory of the Russian Federation, the forced transfer and adoption of Ukrainian children, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights constitute war crimes for which all perpetrators must be held accountable;

    6.  Reiterates, therefore, its full support for the ongoing investigation by the Prosecutor of the ICC into the situation in Ukraine based on alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide; welcomes Ukraine’s formal accession to the ICC as of 1 January 2025 as an important contribution to international efforts to establish accountability for serious international crimes; calls for the EU to make further diplomatic efforts to encourage the ratification of the Rome Statute and all its amendments globally;

    7.  Furthermore also reiterates its call for the establishment of a special tribunal to investigate and prosecute the crime of aggression committed by the leadership of the Russian Federation against Ukraine; reiterates its call on the Commission, the Council and the European External Action Service to provide all political, financial and practical support necessary for the establishment of a special tribunal; expresses its full support for the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine, based in The Hague and supporting the ongoing efforts of the Joint Investigation Team, as a first concrete step towards the establishment of the special tribunal;

    8.  Calls strongly for the EU and its Member States to further increase and coordinate their efforts, including with like-minded partners, to promptly and rigorously counter Russian disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference in order to protect the integrity of their democratic processes and strengthen the resilience of European societies, inter alia by actively promoting media literacy and by supporting quality media and professional journalism, in particular investigative journalism that uncovers Russian propaganda, its methods and networks, and by supporting research into new hybrid influence technologies;

    9.  Calls for the EU to expand its sanctions against Russian media outlets conducting disinformation and information manipulation campaigns supporting and justifying Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and calls on the Member States to swiftly and thoroughly implement these sanctions and to dedicate sufficient resources to effectively addressing this hybrid warfare; calls for the EU and the Member States to step up their support for the independent Russian media in exile in order to enable diverse voices in the Russian-language media;

    10.  Expresses deep concern about the recent announcements from social media companies’ leadership concerning relaxing their rules on fact-checking and moderation and how this will further enable Russia’s disinformation campaign around the world; calls on the Commission and the Member States to strictly enforce the Digital Services Act in response to these announcements by Meta and earlier by X, including as an important part of the fight against Russian disinformation;

    11.  Calls on EU citizens to critically evaluate information by questioning its origins and intentions, particularly when it pertains to narratives linked to Russia, and to crosscheck facts using diverse and reliable sources to resist attempts at manipulation by foreign malign actors;

    12.  Condemns Moscow’s exploitation of Orthodox religion for geopolitical purposes, notably through the instrumentalisation of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) as a tool to influence and exert control over Orthodox populations in Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Serbia and other countries;

    13.  Responds to the statement of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of 2 May 2023 on the ideology of ‘Ruscism’ by condemning the nationalist imperialist ideology, policy and practices of the current Russian regime; stresses the incompatibility of this ideology and policy and these practices with international law and European values;

    14.  Believes that Russia’s attempts to misrepresent, revise and distort the history of Ukraine undermine the collective memory and identity of Europe as a whole and represent a threat to historical truth, democratic values and peace in Europe; calls on the Member States, therefore, to invest more in education on and research into the common history of Europe and European remembrance, and to support projects that promote a better understanding of the impact of the division of Europe during the Cold War; expresses its support for the building of a pan-European memorial in Brussels for the victims of the 20th century totalitarian regimes; regrets the continued use of symbols of totalitarian regimes in public spaces and calls for an EU-wide ban on the use of both Nazi and Soviet communist symbols as well as symbols of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine;

    15.  Expresses its wish for the EU and its Member States to promote better knowledge and understanding of the human suffering of Europeans inflicted by the Soviet regime during the 20th century; in this respect, calls for remembrance and respect for the victims of Soviet crimes, such as the mass deportations, including of the Crimean Tatar people and from the Baltic countries, the Gulag system, the Holodomor, massacres such as the Katyn massacre, and the Upper Silesian tragedy;

    16.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the President, Government and Parliament of Ukraine, and the Russian institutions.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025 – P10_TA(2025)0007 – Thursday, 23 January 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to its previous resolutions on Venezuela, in particular that of 19 September 2024 on the situation in Venezuela(1),

    –  having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to other UN human rights treaties and instruments,

    –  having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

    –  having regard to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC),

    –  having regard to the Venezuelan Constitution,

    –  having regard to the statements of the Carter Center of 30 July 2024 on the Venezuelan election, and of 2 October 2024 legitimising the electoral records presented by the democratic opposition,

    –  having regard to the detailed findings of the independent international fact-finding mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela of 14 October 2024,

    –  having regard to the report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of 27 December 2024 on human rights violations following the elections in Venezuela,

    –  having regard to the statement of 10 January 2025 by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on behalf of the European Union on the events of 10 January 2025,

    –  having regard to the statement of 15 January 2025 by the Spokesperson of the European External Action Service (EEAS) on recent decisions by the Venezuelan authorities,

    –  having regard to the Partial Agreement on the Promotion of Political Rights and Electoral Guarantees for All, signed by Nicolás Maduro’s regime and the Venezuelan opposition alliance, the Unitary Platform, in October 2023 (the Barbados Agreement),

    –  having regard to Rule 136(2) and (4) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A.  whereas on 28 July 2024, the Venezuelan people voted peacefully and in large numbers to determine the future of their country, demonstrating outstanding civic and democratic behaviour; whereas after voting closed, the regime-controlled National Electoral Council (CNE) refused to publish the official record of electoral records (‘actas’) and falsified the results of the election, announcing the false victory of Maduro; whereas millions of Venezuelans voted for democratic change by supporting Edmundo González Urrutia by a significant majority (67,05 % of votes cast), according to publicly available copies of electoral records corroborated by the only credible and impartial international observers, the UN mission and the Carter Center;

    B.  whereas in the aftermath of the election, peaceful protests took place across the country to contest the fraudulent display by the Maduro regime; whereas these protests were met with extreme violence and repression, resulting in at least 23 deaths and over 2 500 arrests and enforced disappearances, including of approximately 120 children; whereas Venezuelan non-governmental organisations have reported that, as of 1 January 2025, there are at least 1 697 political prisoners in the country;

    C.  whereas several foreign nationals, including EU citizens, remain under arrest on false charges of ‘destabilisation’;

    D.  whereas the democratic opposition to the regime faced ongoing persecution even before the elections of 28 July 2024, but this harassment has escalated significantly since then, in particular through enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests; whereas María Corina Machado remains forced to live clandestinely because of threats against her life and Edmundo González Urrutia was forced to flee the country with his family as a result of serious threats; whereas since 20 March 2024, six close collaborators of Vente Venezuela have sought refuge in the Argentinian embassy in Caracas, where they continue to face increasing pressure and harassment by the Venezuelan security forces;

    E.  whereas human rights violations continue, including arbitrary detentions, excessive use of force, unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, harassment, persecution and prosecution of citizens exercising their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, as well as violations of due process; whereas in addition to the political and institutional crisis, Venezuela is experiencing a deep economic, social and demographic crisis that is severely affecting the lives of its citizens;

    F.  whereas on 19 September 2024, Parliament recognised Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate and democratically elected President of Venezuela and María Corina Machado as the leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela; whereas other democratic states in the region and throughout the world have recognised González as President-elect; whereas he should have been sworn in on 10 January 2025; whereas on 17 December 2024, Parliament awarded the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to María Corina Machado, as the leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela, and to President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia, representing all Venezuelans inside and outside the country fighting for the reinstitution of freedom and democracy;

    G.  whereas just days before 10 January 2025, the regime kidnapped Edmundo González’s son-in-law Rafael Tudares and his whereabouts remain unknown; whereas, in the same way, the regime harassed María Corina Machado’s mother in her own house; whereas many other politicians and staff of the democratic opposition to the regime have also faced persecution, arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances, including presidential candidate Enrique Márquez;

    H.  whereas on 9 January 2025, the Venezuelan people, led by María Corina Machado, protested in the streets against Nicolás Maduro’s latest attempt to illegitimately seize power; whereas María Corina Machado was abducted by the regime’s forces while attempting to leave the protest, and was later released, in a blatant act of targeted intimidation and harassment that received widespread international condemnation;

    I.  whereas on 10 January 2025, dictator Nicolás Maduro illegitimately took power in a fraudulent act, without any democratic legitimacy and verifiable evidence of electoral integrity; whereas the ceremony was attended by no democratically elected head of state or government; whereas the borders of the country were closed and the airspace was heavily guarded, which prevented Edmundo González Urrutia from travelling to Venezuela;

    J.  whereas since the fraudulent and illegitimate seizure of power, the Maduro regime has ordered the diplomatic presence of some EU Member States to be considerably reduced, in an arbitrary manner, which the regime justifies as being in response to ‘the hostile behaviour of the governments of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, France, and Italy, characterised by their support for extremist groups and their interference in internal affairs’;

    K.  whereas according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), around eight million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014, the largest exodus in Latin America’s recent history and one of the largest displacement crises in the world;

    L.  whereas on 10 January 2025, the Council decided to adopt a new package of targeted sanctions against 15 individuals responsible for undermining democracy, the rule of law or human rights in Venezuela;

    1.  Condemns in the strongest possible terms the usurpation of the presidency by Nicolás Maduro and highlights that his regime is illegitimate and his usurpation of the presidency constitutes an unlawful attempt to remain in power by force;

    2.  Recalls that on the basis of the electoral records submitted by the democratic opposition to the regime and as stated by the independent international organisations present at the elections on 28 July 2024, namely the United Nations mission and the Carter Center, Parliament recognised Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate winner of the presidential elections, a victory acknowledged by the EU and its Member States;

    3.  Reiterates its call in its resolution of September 2024, and also expressed on numerous occasions by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on the regime-controlled CNE to publish the electoral records of the elections of 28 July 2024;

    4.  Coincides with the Member States that the Venezuelan regime has missed a key opportunity to respect the will of the people and ensure a transparent democratic transition in the country and that as a result Maduro lacks any democratic legitimacy and therefore Parliament does not recognise him;

    5.  Welcomes the statement of the High Representative on behalf of the EU Member States recognising the victory of Edmundo González Urrutia by a significant majority, and Parliament considers that he should have taken the presidential oath on 10 January 2025; also welcomes the commitment by the EU to continue to address the urgent needs of the people of Venezuela, who are suffering the consequences of the long humanitarian crisis;

    6.  Commends the democratic opposition’s resilience and the Venezuelan people’s commitment to democracy in the face of repression and adversity; reiterates that respecting the will of the Venezuelan people as expressed in the elections remains the only way for Venezuela to restore democracy, allowing for a peaceful and genuine transition, and to solve the current humanitarian and socio-economic crisis; urges the Venezuelan regime to revoke the unjustified arrest warrant issued for Edmundo González Urrutia;

    7.  Welcomes the recent Council decision of 10 January 2025 to extend the targeted sanctions to 15 additional individuals; calls for these sanctions to be strengthened and expanded to include Nicolás Maduro, his inner circle and their families, including Jorge Rodríguez and Vladimir Padrino López, and all those responsible for violations of human rights, the illegitimate assertion of authority, the usurpation of official functions and all repressive acts in Venezuela;

    8.  Expresses concern for Alberto Trentini, an Italian citizen and a volunteer for the non-governmental organisation Humanity & Inclusion that helps people with disabilities, who was arrested by the Venezuelan authorities on 15 November 2024 during a humanitarian mission and of whom there has been no news since his arrest; highlights that Mr Trentini also suffers from health problems and does not have medicines or any basic necessities with him;

    9.  Further condemns the persecution perpetrated by the regime against the democratic opposition to the regime and the Venezuelan people, as well as against many EU citizens who have been arbitrarily detained and remain unjustly imprisoned; calls for an end to the systematic pattern of human rights violations; demands the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and arbitrarily detained persons; demands that the Maduro regime cease its policy of human rights abuses and violations and hold those responsible to account, and that it ensure that all fundamental freedoms and human rights are fully respected;

    10.  Fully supports the ICC investigations into the Venezuelan regime’s extensive crimes and acts of repression;

    11.  Urges the EU, its Member States and all democratic regional and international actors to unconditionally align, as a moral duty, with the democratic forces of Venezuela and to do their utmost to restore democracy in the country in order to show solidarity with and respect for the Venezuelan people and their legitimate will and right to live in freedom and peace in a democratic system; reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the Venezuelan people and to defending democracy, the rule of law and human rights; stands in solidarity with Venezuela’s democratic forces;

    12.  Welcomes the return to Caracas of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); believes that the OHCHR, the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, the ICC and relevant regional mechanisms should operate freely and without interference;

    13.  Draws attention to the fact that the illegitimate seizure of power by Maduro has exacerbated a pre-existing dire humanitarian crisis, which had already driven over eight million Venezuelans to seek refuge abroad, and will likely force even more to flee, leading to renewed and escalating migratory pressure that will be felt most acutely in the direct neighbourhood of Venezuela; recalls that the situation of Venezuelan refugees and migrants demands long-term solutions; recognises the numerous efforts by neighbouring countries to provide not only food and housing, but also regular legal documentation, schooling and medical support; calls for the EU to do its utmost to assist Venezuelans leaving their country in line with international standards and existing legal pathways;

    14.  Deplores the decision of January 2025 by the Venezuelan authorities to substantially reduce the accredited diplomatic staff of several Member States in Caracas and urges the immediate reversal of this unacceptable unilateral action;

    15.  Believes that in the disjunction between democracy and dictatorship, there is no room for ambiguity or middle ground, as one is either on the side of the democrats and those that suffer from repression, or on the side of the dictators;

    16.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit participants, the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, the Organization of American States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the authorities of the Venezuelan regime.

    (1) OJ C, C/2024/7215, 10.12.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/7215/oj.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Canaries migrant crisis: economic aid to the region – E-002575/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In 2024, Spanish authorities have applied for additional support from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) under the call ‘Reception capacity for Member States under pressure’ for EUR 9.5 million (supporting the increase of the reception capacity in the mainland and the Canary Islands), and under the call ‘Member States under pressure — unaccompanied minors’ (supporting the reorganisation of the care system for unaccompanied minors in Andalusia) for EUR 15 million. Both proposals were selected by the Commission and additional funding was added to the Spanish AMIF programme.

    Furthermore, upon the request from the Spanish authorities, the Commission granted support under emergency assistance twice in 2024.

    The first one for a total amount of EUR 20 million under the AMIF, with the objective to relieve the migratory pressure in the reception facilities in Canary Islands.

    The second action for EUR 17.5 million under the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI), to strengthen the capacity of the Canary Islands to assist and identify immigrants arriving on its coasts.

    In addition to the financial support described above, the Spanish authorities are receiving support by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) in the framework of the Agencies operational plans.

    Regarding the reception of unaccompanied minors, the EUAA is providing support to enhance the administrative capacity of the reception authorities of the Canary Islands through the Ministry of Childhood and Youth.

    Last updated: 24 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Systematic repression of human rights in Iran, notably the cases of Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, and the taking of EU citizens as hostages – P10_TA(2025)0004 – Thursday, 23 January 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran,

    –  having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A.  whereas the human rights situation in Iran has significantly worsened, with a sharp rise in executions, including over 900 individuals in 2024 alone, many of whom were women, political dissidents and individuals connected to the protests sparked by the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini;

    B.  whereas Kurdish activists, social worker Pakhshan Azizi and advocate for women’s rights Verisheh (Wrisha) Moradi, who fought ISIS in Kurdistan, were sentenced to death for ‘armed rebellion against the state’; whereas they were denied a fair trial and subjected to torture and solitary confinement;

    C.  whereas in January 2025 the Supreme Court of Iran upheld a death sentence against Pakhshan Azizi and others;

    D.  whereas dozens of innocent EU nationals have been arbitrarily detained in Iran, without access to fair trials, as part of Iran’s broader strategy of hostage diplomacy;

    1.  Denounces the Iranian regime’s unrestrained repression of human rights, in particular the targeting of women activists; strongly condemns the death sentence against Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi; demands that Iran immediately and unconditionally release all unjustly imprisoned human rights defenders and political prisoners, including Pakhshan Azizi, Wrisha Moradi and at least 56 other political prisoners on death row;

    2.  Reiterates its strong opposition to the death penalty and calls on the Iranian Government to introduce an immediate moratorium on and abolish it;

    3.  Calls for the EU and its Member States to increase support for Iranian human rights defenders and expresses its full support and solidarity with Iranians united in the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement;

    4.  Urges the Iranian authorities to immediately release, safely repatriate and drop all charges against EU nationals, including Olivier Grondeau, Cécile Kohler, Jacques Paris and Ahmadreza Djalali; strongly condemns Iran’s use of hostage diplomacy; calls for the EU and its Member States to undertake joint diplomatic efforts and work collectively towards their release;

    5.  Strongly condemns the murder of Jamshid Sharmahd; urges the Islamic regime in Iran to provide details of the circumstances of his death and for his remains to be immediately returned to his family;

    6.  Condemns the Iranian regime’s systemic suppression of human rights movements and persecution of minorities, including Kurds, Baluchis, Christians, facing persecution after conversion, and Baha’is, all of them facing ethnic and religious discrimination, arrest and violations of fundamental rights aimed at silencing dissent;

    7.  Reiterates its call on the Council to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organisation and to extend EU sanctions to all those responsible for human rights violations, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, Prosecutor-General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad and Judge Iman Afshari;

    8.  Urges the Iranian authorities to provide the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran and the UN fact-finding mission with full, unimpeded access to enact their mandates; calls for the EU and the Member States to fully support the mission and support the renewal of its mandate;

    9.  Reiterates its call for increased financial support for Iranian civil society;

    10.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Housing crisis in the European Union – E-002099/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    To address the housing crisis and promote more affordable and sustainable housing in the EU, the Commission will launch the first-ever European Affordable Housing Plan.

    The plan will offer technical assistance to cities and Member States, focus on investment and skills needed and support the construction sector.

    To promote investments in affordable and sustainable housing, the Commission will set up, together with the European Investment Bank, a pan-European investment platform.

    The Commission will work closely with international financial institutions, national promotional banks and institutions and other stakeholders in this work.

    The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) can support Member States in implementing principle 19 of the European Pillar of Social Rights ‘Housing and assistance for homeless people’.

    While ESF+ actions can include integrated support services for access to housing, including social housing, the ERDF focuses on the provision and improvement of physical housing infrastructure, including through energy efficiency measures.

    Moreover, Cohesion policy offers possibilities to use ESF+ and ERDF for housing initiatives in an integrated manner, addressing both the infrastructure and services dimensions.

    Young people often struggle to afford housing. ESF+ provides targeted support for the youth through programs combining housing assistance with employment or education opportunities, addressing multiple needs to foster independence.

    The existing EU legislative framework, notably initiatives of the Fit for 55 package, sets policies and measures contributing to affordable and sustainable housing. Its implementation is key and will be a priority.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Unreasonably high electricity prices – E-002091/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The issue of energy prices is of crucial importance both for the competitiveness of European companies and for the wellbeing of citizens.

    The Commission has been assessing the root causes for the high electricity prices in Southeastern Europe and has engaged bilaterally with the respective Member States.

    The Commission is in continuous discussions with Member States to support the implementation of adequate tools to respond to price spikes, without interfering with the proper functioning of the wholesale markets and the necessary investment needed for the energy transition.

    These tools include mobilising non-fossil flexibility, reducing demand during critical hours, increasing cross-border capacities, and protecting consumers .

    The existing internal market rules allow Member States to introduce all such measures, and the Commission is committed to support the Member States in their design.

    The Commission also underlines the importance of using existing interconnections between Southeastern Europe and the rest of Europe efficiently, and is engaging with some Member States to support the maximisation of the use of existing interconnections.

    European Union funding, in particular from the Connecting Europe Facility for Energy, is available for cross-border projects of common interest.

    The facility has notably provided funding for the electrical interconnection between Greece and Bulgaria that was commissioned in 2023.

    The Commission will actively work on affordability of energy. In this regard, already in the first 100 days of its mandate, the incoming Commission plans to adopt the Clean Industrial Deal, including an Action Plan for Affordable Energy.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Abolishing taxes on domestic fruit and vegetable production to tackle child obesity, cancer and diabetes – E-002474/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    When adopting the 2022 reform of the Value Added Tax (VAT) rates[1], Member States unanimously agreed on allowing for the maximum flexibility for food.

    Accordingly, Member States can choose to apply reduced or super-reduced VAT rates (below 5%) or a zero rate (VAT exemption) to the supply of foodstuffs.

    This decision is at the sole discretion of the Member States. In doing so, they must respect the principle of fiscal neutrality inherent in the VAT system, which prohibits treating similar, and therefore competing, products differently.

    On the proposal of using reduction of VAT rates as a policy instrument to reduce the final consumer price, experience shows that when VAT rates are reduced, the pass-on rate is relatively low, i.e. consumers benefit only to a limited extent, if at all, from the associated price reductions.

    The EU school scheme which aims at increasing the consumption of fruit and vegetables and milk and milk products and shaping healthier diets is being reviewed with the aim to explore how to enhance its contribution to sustainable food consumption.

    The promotion of fresh fruit and vegetables in the context of balanced diets has been defined as a priority for the EU’s policy for the promotion of agricultural products, with a dedicated budget since the 2019 annual work programme: the only product-specific topic.

    The annual work programme for 2025 maintains this commitment.

    • [1] Council Directive (EU) 2022/542 of 5 April 2022 amending Directives 2006/112/EC and (EU) 2020/285 as regards rates of value added tax, OJ L 107, 6.4.2022, p. 1.
    Last updated: 24 January 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Compatibility of Italy’s draft security law with the principles of the rule of law and fundamental rights in the EU – E-001926/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Human dignity, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and of association are respectively protected by Article 1, Article 11 and Article 12 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights[1] (the Charter) and the Commission is committed to ensuring their respect within the remit of its competences. However, according to its Article 51(1), the Charter applies to Member States only when they are implementing EU law.

    The Italian draft law on ‘Provisions on public security’ lays down, inter alia, national provisions introducing criminal offences related to ‘passive resistance’ or obstructing traffic on roads or railways during demonstrations, and the amount of the penalties for these offences. In so far as such provisions do not relate to a situation within the scope of EU law, they do not seem to fall within the scope of the Charter.

    The EU competence in the area of substantive criminal law is set out in Article 83 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and does not cover the areas of crime concerned by the Italian draft law on ‘Provisions on public security’.

    Furthermore, in accordance with Article 72 TFEU, Member States are responsible for maintaining law and order and safeguarding internal security.

    Therefore, in these cases, it is for the Member States, including their judicial authorities, to ensure that fundamental rights are effectively respected and protected, in accordance with their national legislation and international human rights obligations.

    As concerns the respect for the rule of law, the Commission monitors the respect for the rule law in all Member States, including Italy, in the context of the annual Rule of Law Report.

    • [1] Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, OJ C 326, 26.10.2012, p. 391-407.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – The legality of the law which lays down registration obligations for Spanish hotels hotels, tourist facilities and motor vehicle rental companies – E-002297/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. The Commission is aware of the Royal Decree 933/2021. It is currently assessing the Decree in the light of EU data protection law.

    2. For travel agencies and tourism companies, the processing of certain personal data is usually necessary also for the performance of the contract itself. At the EU level, the Commission aims to overall reduce administrative burden and bring simplification in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises, including tourism businesses. The Commission Communication sets a target of reducing burdens associated with reporting requirements by 25%, without undermining the policy objectives of the initiatives concerned.

    Last updated: 24 January 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Nord Stream pipeline blasts: failure to register the suspect in the Schengen register – P-002765/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission has no access to the data in the Schengen Information System and therefore cannot check if a person is subject of an alert. The Commission also cannot enter, correct or delete data contained in the Schengen Information System.

    Pursuant to Article 26(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1862[1], alerts on persons wanted for arrest for surrender purposes on the basis of a European arrest warrant (EAW) shall be entered at the request of the judicial authority of the Member State that issued the EAW.

    Pursuant to Article 9(2) of Council Framework Decision 2002/584/JHA[2] the decision to issue or not to issue an alert for the requested person in the Schengen Information System lays with the issuing judicial authority.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2018/1862 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 November 2018 on the establishment, operation and use of the Schengen Information System (SIS) in the field of police cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, amending and repealing Council Decision 2007/533/JHA, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1986/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Decision 2010/261/EU, OJ L 312, 7.12.2018, p. 56.
    • [2] 2002/584/JHA: Council Framework Decision of 13 June 2002 on the European arrest warrant and the surrender procedures between Member States — Statements made by certain Member States on the adoption of the framework Decision, OJ L 190, 18.7.2002, p. 1.
    Last updated: 24 January 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – AntiNero programme in Greece – E-002676/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission is closely monitoring the implementation of the AntiNero programmes, which are part of the Greek Recovery and Resilience Plan (measure ID: 16849).

    The Commission is in regular contact with the Greek authorities to ensure that the investment is implemented within the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) timeframe and according to the conditions set out in the annex to the Council Implementing Decision[1].

    As the RRF is a performance-based instrument, the Commission only pays out the amounts to each country when they have achieved the agreed milestones and targets towards completing the measures included in their plan.

    In relation to the Antinero programmes, Greece has currently fulfilled milestone 61 for awarding contracts for AntiNero programmes I and II, concerning the upgrade of 37 500 ha of degraded forest ecosystems.

    Future milestones and targets will be assessed at the time of their corresponding payment requests. The Greek authorities have not informed the Commission of any allocation of these grants towards other initiatives such as the ‘Saving Energy in Businesses — Changing my business’ energy system’ project.

    Should a programme be implemented in or nearby a Natura 2000 site so that it is likely to have a significant effect thereon, Greece will also need to verify wherever an appropriate assessment is required in line with the provision of Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive[2].

    Member States are primarily responsible to ensure compliance with EU law, including verifying individual cases of potential breach of the relevant rules or taking the necessary steps for enforcement, and the appropriate measures to address any matter that has arisen.

    In its role as the guardian of the Treaties, the Commission will monitor the situation and may decide to take appropriate action.

    • [1] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11858-2024-ADD-1/en/pdf
    • [2] OJ L 206, 22/07/1992, p. 7-50.
    Last updated: 24 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – P-002223/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    As underlined in the Joint Statement by the President of the Commission and the former High Representative/Vice-President on 4 October 2024[1], the EU reiterates the high value it attaches to its strategic partnership with Morocco, which is long-standing, wide-ranging and deep.

    Over the years, the EU has established a profound friendship and a solid and multi-faceted cooperation, which it intends to continue strengthening.

    The EU takes note of the Court of Justice of the European Union’s judgments joined cases C-778/21 P and C-798/21 P[2], and joined cases C-779/21 P and C-799/21[3] on the appeals against the judgment of the General Court of 29 September 2021 as well as the reply to the preliminary ruling request in Case C-399/22[4] on the labelling of fruit and vegetables from the territory of the Western Sahara.

    The Commission is currently analysing the judgments in detail. In this context, the Commission takes note that the European Court of Justice preserves the validity of the agreement on agricultural products for an additional 12 months.

    The Commission is not in a position to provide details of companies involved in economic activity under the agreements in question, as it does not hold such information.

    With regard to the Honourable Member’s second question, the Commission would like to inform that tariff duties are never paid to exporting countries.

    • [1] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/morocco-joint-statement-president-von-der-leyen-and-high-representativevice-president-borrell_en
    • [2] Judgment of 4 October 2024, Commission and Council of the European Union v Front populaire pour la libération de la Saguia el-Hamra et du Rio de oro (Front Polisario), joined cases C-778/21 P and C-798/21 P, EU:C:2024:833.
    • [3] Judgment of 4 October 2024, Commission and Council of the European Union v Front populaire pour la libération de la Saguia el-Hamra et du Rio de oro (Front Polisario), joined cases C-779/21 P and C-799/21 P, EU:C:2024:835.
    • [4] Judgment of 4 October 2024, Confédération paysanne v Ministre de l’Agriculture et de la Souveraineté alimentaire and Ministre de l’Économie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté industrielle et numérique, C-399/22, EU:C:2024:839.
    Last updated: 24 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – The future of cohesion policy: Current state of the debate – 24-01-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Discussions on the next EU multiannual financial framework are expected to begin soon. These talks on the allocation of future budget resources have a direct impact on all European Union policies, including EU cohesion policy. A reflection on the future of cohesion policy is underway, engaging EU institutions and advisory bodies, EU Member States, regional and local authorities, and stakeholders. The European Commission set up a high-level group of specialists to examine the direction of cohesion policy, which came up with a number of conclusions in March 2024. These conclusions fed into the ninth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion, which acts as a compass for the Commission’s reform options for the future design of cohesion policy. Nevertheless, there are still some crucial decisions ahead. This reflection process not only entails technical matters, but also touches upon many other policy issues, some of which have highly political content. Negative scenarios for the cohesion budget, competing thematic priority allocations, a possible recentralisation of funds, or the future relationship with the Recovery and Resilience Facility, all have the potential for political friction. Issues requiring discussion include simplification and flexibility, better coordination of European Structural and Investment Funds with other instruments, and a more focused ‘place-based’ approach to cohesion policy. Local and regional authorities across all EU Member States highly value and support EU cohesion policy. However, political division between budget net-recipient Member States and net contributors could lead to cohesion policy being contested, especially in the light of new emerging priorities for the EU (e.g. in immigration, security and defence, or enlargement). The appointment of a new College of Commissioners on 1 December 2024 and the beginning of a new legislative process provide a unique opportunity for regional and local stakeholders to influence national positions and those of the European institutions at an early stage. This is an update of an October 2023 briefing by Balazs Szechy.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Opinion on the welfare of Dogs and Cats – Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

    Source: European Parliament

    On 28 January, ENVI members will consider a draft opinion on Revision of EU legislation on the Welfare of Dogs and Cats and Their Traceability.

    On 7 December 2023, the Commission adopted a proposal for new rules on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability. The proposal would see the first EU wide minimum standards in place for the welfare of dogs and cats. The legislation aims to bring into force tighter rules to combat the illegal trade in dogs and cats by ensuring their traceability through microchipping. The proposal should also create a minimum standard in the breeding, housing care and handling of dogs and cats across the EU to ensure their welfare. ENVI members will consider a draft opinion on this proposal.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Discussion on a Report on Climate policies achieving major emission reductions – Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

    Source: European Parliament

    On 28 January, ENVI members will hold an exchange of views with one of the lead authors of the report “Climate policies that achieved major emission reductions: Global evidence from two decades”.

    The Climate Econometricians at the University of Oxford, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), and the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC), analysed 1.500 policies implemented between 1998 and 2022 across 41 countries from 6 continents. As a result, they identified 63 policy interventions that efficiently reduced CO2 emissions.

    ENVI members will hold an exchange of views with one of the co-authors, together with a representative from the Commission and the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses the inaugural function of the International Year of Cooperatives-2025 in Mumbai, Maharashtra

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses the inaugural function of the International Year of Cooperatives-2025 in Mumbai, Maharashtra

    Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cooperatives will pave the way for employment and prosperity for agriculture and rural areas in the coming days

    Under the leadership of PM Modi, the double engine government of Maharashtra will make the state a hub of cooperatives in a true sense

    Celebrating Year of Cooperatives in India will significantly expand cooperatives across the country

    During the International Year of Cooperatives, efforts will be made to increase the reach of cooperatives and to connect every person with cooperatives

    Under the leadership of PM Modi, the cooperative sector of India is moving forward with the principles of social harmony, equality and inclusiveness

    The cooperative sector running on the principle of ‘Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives’ will be economically self-reliant across the country 

    The ‘umbrella organization’ will integrate activities like digital banking, mobile banking, online transactions and trade with foreign countries with the Urban Cooperative Bank

    Soon, all cooperative banks will be equipped with the services of regular banks, which will lead to the development of cooperative banking

    Posted On: 24 JAN 2025 8:53PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today addressed the inaugural function of International Year of Cooperatives 2025 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Shri Amit Shah also inaugurated the corporate office of the National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation (NUCFDC). On this occasion, Minister of State for Cooperation Shri Murlidhar Mohol, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Ministers Shri Eknath Shinde and Shri Ajit Pawar, along with the Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperation, Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, and several other dignitaries were present.

     

     

    In his address, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the International Year of Cooperatives 2025. He mentioned that the Ministry of Cooperation has outlined a 12-month program to celebrate the Year of Cooperatives in India, which is being inaugurated today. He said that India will celebrate the Year of Cooperatives in a way that will significantly advance the cooperative movement across the country. He emphasized that during the International Year of Cooperatives, efforts will be made to expand the cooperative sector, bring transparency within it, strengthen cooperative institutions, increase the reach of cooperatives to new areas, and connect every individual in India to some form of cooperation.

    Shri Shah stated that by December 31, 2025, when the UN International Year of Cooperatives concludes, the growth of India’s cooperative movement will be both symmetric and inclusive, and the goal of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” will be largely achieved. He further noted that the cooperative sector will play a significant role in achieving the two major goals set by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi: becoming the third-largest economic power in the world and transforming into a fully developed nation by 2047. He added that the cooperative sector will advance on the principles of social harmony, equality, and inclusivity.

     

     

    The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the virtual inauguration of the umbrella organization for cooperative banks, the National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation (NUCFDC), took place today. He stated that this organization will provide multidimensional benefits to the urban cooperative sector. He added that within the next three years, all our scheduled cooperative banks will be equipped with services equivalent to those offered by national and private banks, which will significantly expand the scope of their services. Along with this, the focus will also be on better utilization of resources, improving banking processes, and unifying the accounting systems of all cooperative banks. Shri Shah mentioned that India currently has a total of 1,465 urban cooperative banks, nearly half of which are located in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The country also has 49 scheduled banks and over 8.25 lakh cooperative institutions.

    Union Minister of Cooperation stated that in the coming days, the principle of ‘Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives’ will be implemented across the nation. The ‘umbrella organization’ will do the work of integrating activities like digital banking, mobile banking, online transactions and trade with foreign countries with the Urban Cooperative Bank. All transactions and financial activities of cooperative institutions will be conducted exclusively through cooperative banks. Shri Shah emphasized that once the principle of Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives is effectively grounded in all states, it will lead to significant success, enabling the cooperative sector to achieve economic self-reliance.

    Shri Amit Shah stated that the Modi government has resolved several issues concerning urban cooperative banks with the Reserve Bank of India. He mentioned that in the coming days, strengthening the umbrella organization will help increase trust and business while removing all obstacles. He also highlighted that the training program for the 10,000 M-PACS (Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies) formed under the new bylaws is starting today, marking a new beginning. He further mentioned that the goal is to establish a PACS in every village panchayat across the country. To ensure the viability of PACS, model bylaws have been created, which have been accepted by all states.

    Shri Shah stated that under the model bylaws, PACS can now engage in a variety of new activities. He mentioned that the Modi government has spent Rs. 2,500 crore to provide computers and software to each PACS and has made efforts to link these various activities with PACS. He emphasized that to make this initiative successful, technology must be adopted. He also said that by bringing professionalism into PACS, the entire cooperative sector can be strengthened through them.

    Union Minister of Cooperation emphasized the importance of involving youth proficient in modern technology to make cooperatives self-reliant, whether in banks or PACS. He expressed confidence that the combined efforts of the ‘double engine government’ led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, along with Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Shri Eknath Shinde, and Shri Ajit Pawar, would transform Maharashtra into a true hub of cooperative excellence. He said that cooperatives can be a source of employment in every village.

    Shri Amit Shah highlighted the significant support extended by the Modi government to the cooperative sector, noting that the introduction of ethanol production has boosted the profitability of sugar mills. He mentioned that to ensure better prices for sugar, Prime Minister Modi recently approved the export of 10 lakh tonnes of sugar, benefiting Maharashtra’s cooperative sugar mills the most. He further stated that the Modi government is committed to advancing the cooperative sector and has introduced a ranking system to achieve this goal. The rankings will cover seven key areas: PACS, dairy, fisheries, urban cooperative banks, housing credit societies, credit cooperatives, and Khadi Village Industries. Shri Shah explained that the ranking system is based on several parameters, including audits, activities, services, financial performance, infrastructure, and branding, collectively weighted for 100 marks. This system aims to enhance transparency and reliability, ensuring that banks can confidently provide funding to PACS based on these rankings in the future.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the government is advancing with the vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through cooperation) and “Samriddhi se Aatmanirbharta” , which is self-reliance through prosperity. He announced the initiation of three key projects at the event: the inauguration of the International Year of Cooperative (IYC) 2025 related event calendar, the launch of the office for the umbrella organization of Urban Cooperative Banks – NUCFDC, and the first training session for 10,000 new MPACS members. Shri Amit Shah also revealed that in the upcoming budget session, the government will announce the establishment of the Tribhuvan National Cooperative University, named after the eminent cooperative leader of Gujarat, Shri Tribhuvan Das Patel. This university will focus on producing skilled professionals for various sectors. He expressed confidence that, under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the cooperative sector will drive employment and prosperity in agriculture, rural areas, and among the youth in the coming days.

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    Raj / Vivek / Priyabhanshu / Pankaj

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    Read this release in: Hindi

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NITI Aayog launches the “Fiscal Health Index 2025” in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 24 JAN 2025 8:30PM by PIB Delhi

    “The Fiscal Health Index report will be an annual publication focusing on the fiscal health of Indian states, offering data-driven insights that will be leveraged for informed state-level policy interventions to improve overall fiscal governance, economic resilience, and stability of the nation” – Sh. BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog.

    The Hon’ble Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, Dr. Arvind Panagariya, launched the inaugural issue of NITI Aayog’s report titled “Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2025” on 24th January 2025 in New Delhi, in the august presence of Shri Suman Bery, Hon’ble Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog; Dr. Arvind Virmani, Hon. Member, NITI Aayog; Shri BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog; Dr. Anoop Singh, Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog and other senior officials. The report provides a comprehensive assessment of the fiscal health of 18 major States, based on five key sub-indices: Quality of Expenditure, Revenue Mobilisation, Fiscal Prudence, Debt Index, and Debt Sustainability, along with insights into state-specific challenges and areas for improvement.

    The FHI aims to throw light on the fiscal status at the sub-national level and guide policy reforms for sustainable and resilient economic growth. The report ranks States on the basis of composite fiscal index, which is based on five major sub-indices viz, quality of expenditure, revenue mobilisation, fiscal prudence, debt index, and debt sustainability. With a cumulative score of 67.8, Odisha tops the ranking in fiscal health among 18 major States, followed by Chhattisgarh and Goa with scores of 55.2 and 53.6, respectively. The achiever States display strong fiscal health, excelling in revenue mobilization, expenditure management, and debt sustainability. Improvements are seen in states like Jharkhand, which has strengthened fiscal prudence and debt sustainability, while Karnataka faces a decline due to weaker performance in expenditure quality and debt management. These interstate disparities highlight the need for targeted reforms to address specific fiscal challenges and ensure sustainable growth.

    Hon’ble Chairman of the 16th FC, Dr. Panagariya, while launching the report, underscored the need for the States to follow a stable fiscal path for balanced regional development, long-term fiscal sustainability, and prudent governance. He mentioned that the FHI offers a comprehensive and systematic approach to measuring state-level fiscal performance and provides valuable insights into broader fiscal trends, allowing for a better understanding of fiscal health across the country. He emphasised that the FHI report helps to promote a more integrated approach to fiscal health and sustainable growth, reinforcing the shared responsibility of both levels of government in achieving national prosperity.

    Speaking on the occasion, Sh. Suman Bery emphasised that the FHI offers a roadmap for achieving fiscal consolidation, improving transparency, and fostering effective resource management. He further stated that FHI is not merely a ranking but a tool designed to assess and thereby improve the fiscal health of States. It provides a framework to evaluate the financial well-being of state economies through key fiscal indicators.

    Sh. B.V.R. Subrahmanyam highlighted that the FHI report will be instrumental in helping policymakers make informed decisions. He noted that the report provides an objective picture of the fiscal landscape across states and also offers actionable insights for strengthening fiscal resilience and ensuring sustainable economic development of the States. By focusing on major fiscal indicators, the FHI encourages states to align their fiscal strategies with national objectives, ensuring their contributions to the goal of a fiscally stable and prosperous India and, most importantly, promoting healthy competition among states. He stressed that the FHI’s findings are aligned with India’s broader vision of achieving “Viksit Bharat @2047,” where fiscal discipline at the state level plays a pivotal role in the nation’s economic transformation.

    Dr. Virmani congratulated the team and highlighted that the FHI report will underscore the critical role of cooperative federalism in strengthening India’s governance framework. He emphasized that fostering collaboration between the Centre and states is key to addressing regional disparities and driving holistic economic development.

    It is further informed that this report marks the launch of an annual series aimed at providing valuable, data-driven insights into the fiscal health of India’s states, fostering informed decision-making and policy interventions. The FHI is designed to assist policymakers by offering insights into states’ fiscal health and helping identify areas requiring intervention and strategic planning.

    The full report can be accessed at: https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-01/Fiscal_Health_Index_24012025_Final.pdf

     

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NHRC, India takes suo motu cognisance of the reported death of a Lineman due to electrocution in Gurugram, Haryana

    Source: Government of India

    NHRC, India takes suo motu cognisance of the reported death of a Lineman due to electrocution in Gurugram, Haryana

    Issues notices to the Chairman, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and the Gurugram Police Commissioner calling for a detailed report in two weeks

    The report is expected to include the status of the FIR and compensation if any, granted to the next of kin of the deceased

    Posted On: 24 JAN 2025 8:23PM by PIB Delhi

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that a lineman with the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) died on the spot due to electrocution while working on an electricity transformer in Sikanderpur Badha, Gurugram, Haryana on 21st January, 2025. Reportedly, the electricity supply was resumed even as he was working.

    The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious violation of the human rights of the victim. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Chairman, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and the Commissioner of Police, Gurugram calling for a detailed report within two weeks. It is expected to include the status of the FIR and compensation if any, granted to the next of kin of the deceased.

    According to the media report, carried on 22nd January, 2025, the family members of the deceased have reportedly alleged that the death occurred due to gross negligence by the electricity department.

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    NSK

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