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  • MIL-OSI Europe: New publications by GEMs Consortium offer further insights into emerging market credit risk

    Source: European Investment Bank

    Two new publications by Global Emerging Markets Risk Database (GEMs) Consortium provide granular default and recovery patterns for over three decades of development finance, and highlight the key drivers of investment risk in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).

    Luxembourg, October 15, 2024 — Two new publications released today by the GEMs Consortium  – a group of 26 multilateral development banks (MDBs) and development finance institutions (DFIs) – provide further insights on the level of credit risk in EMDEs according to the investment experience of Consortium members.

    The first publication covers the credit performance of lending to private and public counterparts. The average annual default rate of lending to private entities at 3.56% is broadly aligned with many non-investment grade firms in advanced economies, and the average recovery rate of 72.2% is higher than many global benchmarks. Although the GEMs statistics reflect the unique experience of MDBs and DFIs, these results provide valuable information on the investment risk in EMDEs, an area characterized by a lack of available credit risk data.

    The second publication provides default rates and – for the first time – recovery rates for sovereign and sovereign-guaranteed lending based on an expanded range of 40 years of data. Results shows an average annual default rate of 1.06% and an average recovery rate of 94.9% and complement the GEMs statistics on private and public counterparts to provide a comprehensive view on EMDEs credit risks.

    These increasingly granular statistical publications by the GEMs Consortium address the call by the G20 and other stakeholders to provide investors greater insights into credit risks in emerging markets, thereby allowing them to better guide their asset allocations. The new publications provide statistics at the country and sector level, as well as a range of newly introduced metrics.

    “The availability of credit statistics is critical to mobilizing more private investment into emerging markets and developing economies by helping investors better understand the risk profile of such investments,” said Román Escolano, Group Chief Risk Officer, European Investment Bank. “The updated publications, with greater disaggregation and analysis, address feedback from our key stakeholders, and GEMs plans to continue publishing such statistics in a timely manner.”

    EMDEs generally receive less investment than advanced economies. At the same time, developing countries need $4 trillion of annual investment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, and $2.8 trillion of annual clean energy investment by next decade to meet both rising energy demands and climate targets.

    “The GEMs statistics challenge the conventional view that emerging markets are high-risk destinations for investment,” said Federico Galizia, Vice President, Risk and Finance, International Finance Corporation. “With 30 years of default frequencies and recovery rates, and now even further levels of disaggregation, GEMs shows that emerging market investments should be within the risk appetite of a broad range of investors.”

    The GEMs publications include default and recovery rates for over three decades of lending by Consortium members to private, public, and sovereign borrowers. The disclosed historic default and recovery rates can be used by investors and credit rating agencies to refine their risk assessment and asset allocation, and provide a useful benchmark for risk and pricing models. Both new publications are available on the GEMs website (http://www.gemsriskdatabase.org).

    About GEMs

     Global Emerging Markets Risk Database (GEMs) Consortium is one of the largest credit risk databases for the emerging markets operations of its member institutions – multilateral development banks and development finance institutions. It pools anonymized data on credit defaults on the loans extended by Consortium members the migrations of their clients’ credit rating and the recoveries on defaulted projects in emerging markets and developing economies, thus providing an insight into geographies that are otherwise relatively poorly served in terms of empirical credit information.

    GEMs was established in 2009 as a bilateral initiative between the European Investment Bank and the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group). Since then, the GEMs Consortium has grown to include 26 members: African Development Bank (AfDB), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB), Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement (BOAD), British International Investment (BII), Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank Group (EIB), GuarantCo, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Inter-American Investment Corporation (IDB Invest), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), New Development Bank (NDB), Proparco, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Need to establish a European road transport agency – E-001981/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001981/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Elena Kountoura (The Left)

    With road transport continuing to be the most common form of transport in the EU, road safety is a major social issue. In 2023, 20 400 people died in traffic accidents in the EU[1]. Deaths fell by just 1% in 2023, compared with the 6.1% needed annually across the EU in order to meet the European strategy’s target of zero deaths by 2050 (‘vision zero’), and the target of the EU road safety policy framework 2021-2030 to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 50% by the end of the decade.

    The European Parliament had called on the Commission to consider establishing a European road transport agency, along the lines of the agencies for rail, sea and air transport[2]. The creation of an agency will help to improve road safety by coordinating Member States’ efforts to achieve safe, sustainable and smart transport, through ensuring the implementation of the existing European body of regulation, better data collection, information, harmonisation and exchange of good practice. In September 2022, the European coordinator for road safety announced the start of work by the Commission on the establishment of the agency.

    In view of this:

    Does the Commission plan to immediately move forward with the creation of a European road transport agency, with the aim of managing road safety and coordination in order to reach vision zero by 2050?

    Submitted: 8.10.2024

    Last updated: 15 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – AI and energy consumption – E-001977/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001977/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Nicolás González Casares (S&D)

    The EU is a pioneer in regulating artificial intelligence. However, although the legislation itself warns of the energy required by this technology, it does not include provisions on this aspect of its development. AI requires significant quantities of energy to function and the International Energy Agency estimates that the total demand from the use of artificial intelligence and data centres could double between 2022 and 2026. Big companies with investments in AI are trying to buy zero-emission electricity at above-market rates to obtain decarbonised electricity.

    In view of this:

    • 1.Has the Commission carried out any evaluations of the development of electricity use, and specifically of zero-emission electricity, in AI technology and its effects on climate goals, or of energy efficiency and of renewables in the EU?
    • 2.In light of the fact that this unchecked development could put the provision of zero-emission electricity to citizens and other industries at risk, what steps will the Commission take to tackle this issue?

    Submitted: 8.10.2024

    Last updated: 15 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: EasyGov.swiss: new trans-agency services for company relocations and business closures

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research

    On 9 October, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) again expanded EasyGov.swiss, the online portal for companies. Two additional cross-authority services are now available to companies: with the company relocation service, companies can report a change of address to all relevant authorities in one go. EasyGov’s business closure service assists companies with all the necessary process steps, from registering liquidation to deletion.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Commission seeking to fine all Elon Musk’s companies – P-001972/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001972/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Malika Sorel (PfE), Elisabeth Dieringer (PfE), Nikola Bartůšek (PfE), António Tânger Corrêa (PfE), Julien Leonardelli (PfE), Hermann Tertsch (PfE), Philippe Olivier (PfE), Valérie Deloge (PfE), Auke Zijlstra (PfE), Sebastian Kruis (PfE), Gilles Pennelle (PfE), Aleksandar Nikolic (PfE), Alexandre Varaut (PfE), Jorge Buxadé Villalba (PfE), Pierre Pimpie (PfE), Thierry Mariani (PfE), Jorge Martín Frías (PfE), András László (PfE)

    On 25 September 2024, we learned from press reports[1] that the Commission is considering imposing fines against Elon Musk. This decision follows the opening of an investigation in December 2023, and would target not only X (formerly Twitter), but also other companies owned by Musk, such as Tesla and SpaceX.

    • 1.Can the Commission confirm that it is planning to impose fines not not only on X but on all companies controlled by Elon Musk?
    • 2.Can the Commission confirm that its objective in this procedure is strictly linked to compliance with EU laws and not to a desire to increase the size of the potential fine?
    • 3.Does the Commission recognise that this could be seen as a targeted attack against Elon Musk, suggesting a personal vendetta rather than impartial action to punish a platform for possible breaches of EU rules, which would in turn expose European strategic interests to potential retaliation measures, for example in connection with the launch of the Galileo constellation of satellites[2]?

    Submitted: 7.10.2024

    • [1] https://www.lalibre.be/international/europe/2024/09/25/quelle-amende-risque-elon-musk-de-la-part-de-lunion-europeenne-un-montant-qui-pourrait-saverer-dissuasif-meme-pour-lhomme-le-plus-riche-du-monde-UU52PN5FDZFS3K3GJZGNE2D2RY/.
    • [2] https://www.lecho.be/entreprises/defense-aeronautique/spacex-designe-pour-lancer-quatre-satellites-europeens-galileo/10501093.html
    Last updated: 15 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Incidents on Ryanair planes – concerns for passenger safety – E-001973/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001973/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Flavio Tosi (PPE), Salvatore De Meo (PPE), Giusi Princi (PPE), Massimiliano Salini (PPE), Caterina Chinnici (PPE), Letizia Moratti (PPE), Marco Falcone (PPE)

    Over the past week, Ryanair aircraft have been at the centre of two incidents: one in Brindisi and the other in Bergamo (Italy). In Brindisi, 184 passengers plus the cabin crew were evacuated and the airport was closed after an engine caught fire. Bergamo airport was shut for a few hours too, following a tyre blowout on a plane coming into land.

    Fortunately no one was injured in either case, but the two are only the latest in a series of episodes and technical issues to hit the Irish airline over the past year. Such incidents not only carry implications for the safety of passengers, crew and security staff, but instantly cause significant disruption to air traffic and operations at the airports involved.

    Given the alarming frequency of such failures, can the Commission say:

    • 1.What action will the European Union Aviation Safety Agency take to ensure that the maintenance plans for Ryanair’s aircraft are in order?
    • 2.For the sake of passenger safety, how will it make sure that the only aircraft used is that which is authorised and fully fit to fly?

    Submitted: 7.10.2024

    Last updated: 15 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Michael McGrath – Democracy, Justice and Rule of Law – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Michael McGrath (born in 1976), is an Irish politician, a member of the Fianna Fáil party, which belongs to the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament. He holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from University College Cork (1997). Most recently, he was minister for finance (2022-2024) and before that, minister for public expenditure and reform (2020-2022). McGrath has been a member of the lower house of the Irish Parliament (the Oireachtas) for the Cork South-Central constituency since 2007. Between 2011 and 2020 he was lead opposition spokesperson on finance on behalf of Fianna Fáil. Before joining the Irish Parliament, McGrath was an elected local government representative on Cork County Council (2004-2007) and Passage West Town Council (1999-2007). McGrath’s professional experience includes being head of management information and systems at University College Cork (2003-2005), financial controller at RedFM (2001-2003), and a chartered accountant at KPMG (1997-2001), as well as a board member of Léargas (2000-2007). This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Apostolos Tzitzikostas – Transport and Tourism – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Apostolos Tzitzikostas has been First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) since 2022. Having joined the CoR in 2015, he served as its President from 2020 to 2022. Governor of the Central Macedonia Region since 2014, Tzitzikostas has been president of the Association of Greek Regions since November 2019. From 2010 to 2014, Tzitzikostas served as the deputy regional governor for the Central Macedonia Region and head of the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area. From 2007 to 2009, Tzitzikostas was a member of the Greek Parliament with the Nea Demokratia Party (EPP). Born in 1978, Tzitzikostas graduated in government and international relations at Georgetown University, Washington DC, in 2000. He then earned a master’s degree in European Public Policy and Economics from University College London. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Hadja Lahbib – Preparedness and Crisis Management; Equality – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Hadja Lahbib a member of the Mouvement reformateur (MR) party, which sits with the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament, has been serving as Belgian minister for foreign affairs, European affairs and foreign trade, and federal cultural institutions since 2022. She was elected as a member of the Parliament of the Brussels Capital Region in 2024 but is currently on leave to fulfil her ministerial duties. Before joining the Belgian government, she co-led the Brussels bid for the title of European Capital of Culture 2030. Born in Belgium in 1970 to a family of Algerian Kabyle origin, Lahbib obtained a master’s degree in journalism and communication from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. She then worked as a journalist and presenter for Belgium’s French-speaking public broadcasting company and other broadcasters, where she gained international experience in covering conflict zones, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. She produced several documentaries to highlight injustices, especially those against women in Afghanistan, Kenya and Belgium.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Ekaterina Zaharieva – Start-ups, Research and Innovation – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Ekaterina Zaharieva is currently a member of the Bulgarian National Assembly, representing the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party (EPP). Having served in several Bulgarian governments, Zaharieva held the dual position of deputy prime minister for judicial reform and minister of foreign affairs from 2017 to 2021. Earlier, she served as minister of justice from 2015 to 2017, as deputy prime minister for economic policy and minister of regional developments and public works in 2013 and 2014, and as deputy minister of regional development and public works from 2009 to 2011. Between 2011 and 2015, she acted as head of cabinet and secretary general to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria. After earning a master’s degree in law from Paisii Hilendarski University in Plovdiv, Zaharieva had followed a career as a lawyer, and then as a civil servant from 2017 to 2021. Zaharieva was born in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria, in 1975. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Glenn Micallef – Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    From 2020 to June 2024, Glenn Micallef served as the head of the Secretariat of the Maltese Prime Minister, Robert Abela, as well as his adviser on EU affairs, and as Malta’s sherpa at the European Council. Additionally, from 2021 to 2024 he held the position of president of St John’s Co Cathedral Foundation in Malta. Prior to these roles, Micallef worked as a research analyst for the Maltese Ministry for EU Affairs, focusing on the Council of the EU’s competitiveness configuration. He then headed the unit for external relations and preparations for the 2017 Maltese Presidency of the Council. Following this, Micallef served as the director-general of Malta’s EU Coordination Department at the Foreign Affairs Ministry from 2017 until 2020. Born in 1989, Micallef graduated from the University of Malta with a degree in commerce and economics. He also holds a master’s degree in European politics, law and economics from the same university. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Jessika Roswall – Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Jessika Roswall is a politician from the Moderate Party in Sweden, affiliated to the European People’s Party (EPP). Prior to her nomination for the post of Commissioner, Roswall was Sweden’s minister for European affairs, from October 2022 to September 2024. Between 2010 and 2022, she served as a member of the Swedish Parliament, holding the position of second vice-president of its EU affairs committee from 2019 to 2022. Roswall was also a member of the ‘transparency councils’ of the Swedish Consumer Agency (2015-2018), the County Administrative Board of Uppsala (2016-2022), and the Authority for Work Environment Expertise (2018-2019). Born in 1972 in the county of Uppsala, Jessika Roswall holds a law degree from Uppsala University. After graduating in 2002, she worked as a lawyer for the law firm Wigert & Placht, from 2002 to 2010.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Andrius Kubilius – Defence and Space – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Andrius Kubilius has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2019, where he sits in the European People’s Party (EPP) group. He has served among other things as a member of the AFET and ITRE committees and of the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI). He has also served as chair of the delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and thus also as a member of the Conference of Delegation Chairs, as well as a member of the delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee. Prior to his time in the European Parliament, he served two terms as Lithuania’s prime minister (from 1999 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2012). From 2003 to 2015, Kubilius chaired the Homeland Union (Lithuanian Christian Democrats) party. From 1992 to 2019, he served as a member of the Republic of Lithuania’s national parliament, the Seimas. When not in government, he had various periods when he held the position of leader of the opposition or first deputy speaker, and also had a spell as chair of the Committee on European Affairs. Andrius Kubilius was born in Vilnius, Lithuania, in 1956. He received a degree in physics from Vilnius State University and completed postgraduate studies there too. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Costas Kadis – Fisheries and Oceans – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Costas (Costantinos) Kadis is a scientist with a solid academic profile who has held ministerial portfolios in health, education and agriculture in various Cypriot governments. Kadis is professor of biodiversity conservation at Frederick University, where he also heads the Nature Conservation Unit and has been appointed as deputy president of the University Council. Between 2014 and 2023, Kadis served in two successive Cypriot governments without belonging to a political party. He was minister for education and culture (2014-2018), and minister for agriculture, rural development and environment (2018-2023). In the latter position, he was also responsible for fisheries and marine research. Born in Nicosia in 1967, Kadis graduated and obtained a PhD in biology from the University of Athens. After several research-related positions in Greece and Cyprus, he joined Frederick University in Cyprus in 2005, where he was appointed associate professor, founded the Nature Conservation Unit, and was Dean of the School of Education. He held these positions until 2014, apart from the period from July 2007 to February 2008 when he served as minister of health (as a member of the centre-right Democratic Party (DIKO). Kadis also chaired the Greek Cypriot Environment Committee from 2008 to 2014 as part of the government’s (unsuccessful) efforts to reunify Cyprus. This work did lead to important environmental cooperation agreements with the Turkish Cypriot community. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Maria Luís Albuquerque – Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Since 2022, Maria Luís Albuquerque has been independent non-executive director and a member of the Audit, Risk, and Nomination committees at Morgan Stanley and a member of the Operating Team at Horizon Equity Partners. She has been a member of the ISCTE University Institute of Lisbon’s Executive Education Advisory Board since 2019. Prior to her current roles, she was an independent non-executive director (chair of the Sustainability Committee) at the asset management firm Arrow Global Group (2016-2021), and a member of the High-level forum on the capital markets union, an expert group within the European Commission (2019-2020). In her political career, she has served as an elected member of the Municipal Assembly of Almada (2017-2021), a member of the Portuguese Parliament (2015-2019), minister of state and finance (2013-2015), and deputy minister for the treasury (2011-2013). Before that, she was director of the Department of Financial Management at the Portuguese Rail Infrastructure Company, and head of the Issuing and Markets Department at the Portuguese Debt and Treasury Management Agency. Born in 1967, Maria-Luís Albuquerque holds a master’s degree in financial and monetary economics from the Lisbon School of Financial and Monetary Economics (ISEG), and a degree in economics from the University of Lusíada. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Magnus Brunner – Internal Affairs and Migration – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Magnus Brunner has been Austria’s federal minister for finance since December 2021. Prior to this role, he served as a state secretary in the Federal Ministry of Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology from 2020 to 2021. From 2018 to 2020, Brunner was vice-president of the Federal Council of Austria, after having served as a member of this institution from 2009 to 2020. Additionally, he served on the Municipal Council of the Höchst Municipality from 2000 to 2004. From 2009 to 2020 Brunner was a member of the Federal Council of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), affiliated to the European People’s Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament. Brunner’s earlier professional experience includes serving as the political director of the Austrian Economic Association (2002-2005), as well as holding the position of head of corporate development, communication and strategic development at the Austrian energy company Illwerke VKw Group (2006). He was also on the Board of the Austrian energy company OeMAG (2007-2020). Born in 1972, Brunner is a graduate of King’s College London (LLM), the University of Innsbruck and the University of Vienna (where he obtained a PhD in law). This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Dan Jørgensen – Energy and Housing – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Dan Jørgensen has most recently served as Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Minister for Global Climate Policy. His role has been to oversee Denmark’s international development initiatives and global climate policies, including co-facilitating COP28 climate negotiations and co-chairing a number of working groups and alliances. Jørgensen is a member of the Social Democratic Party in Denmark, which is affiliated to the S&D group in the European Parliament. He has been a member of the Danish parliament since 2015 and previously served as Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, as well as Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, where he co-facilitated COP26 and COP27 negotiations and served as chair of the International Energy Agency’s Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions. Jørgensen was a Member of the European Parliament (2004-2013), where he served as vice-chair of the Committee on Environment, president of the Animal Welfare Intergroup and head of the Danish delegation of Social Democrats (2009-2013). Born in 1975, Jørgensen holds a master’s degree in political science from Aarhus University. His professional career also includes academic positions as adjunct professor and external lecturer. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Dubravka Šuica – Mediterranean – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Dubravka Šuica has served as a Member of the European Commission and Vice-President for Demography and Democracy since 2019. She was also the co-chair of the Conference on the Future of Europe. From 2013 to 2019, Šuica was a Member of the European Parliament, where she focused on issues relating to the environment, public health and food safety, and foreign affairs. In 2019, she was a vice-chair of the European People’s Party Group in the European Parliament. As a member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Šuica served three terms in the Croatian Parliament, from 2000 until 2011, also holding the position of vice-chair of the EU Integration Committee. From 2001 to 2009, Šuica served two terms as the first female mayor of Dubrovnik, her hometown. In 2006, she was honoured with the World Mayor Award. From 2004 to 2009, Šuica was a board member of the Union of the Association of Towns and Municipalities of Croatia. She later served as a councillor on the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Assembly. She also served as the president of the Croatian Delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe for a decade. Since 2012, she has chaired the HDZ Committee on Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, and has been the vice-president of EPP Women. Born in 1957, Šuica graduated in English and German language and literature. She started her career in education, first as a teacher and later as director of Dubrovnik High School.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Christophe Hansen – Agriculture and Food – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Christophe Hansen was re-elected as a Member of the European Parliament in June 2024 where he sits in the EPP group and is currently a member of the Committees for International Trade, Employment and Social Affairs, and Transport and Tourism. In the previous parliamentary term, Hansen sat on the Committee on International Trade and the Subcommittee on Tax Matters. He also served as Quaestor for a year, before stepping down after being elected to the Luxembourg Parliament in October 2023. In 2014, Hansen joined the Luxembourg Permanent Representation to the EU, chaired the Council of the EU’s Working Party on the Environment during the Luxembourg Presidency (July-December 2015), and served as an economic and commercial attaché at the Luxembourg Embassy in Brussels. From March 2017 to August 2018, Hansen represented Luxembourg in the European Economic and Social Committee. From 2007 to 2014, he had worked in the European Parliament as a political adviser to the centre-right MEP Astrid Lulling on agriculture, the environment, and economic and monetary affairs. Christophe Hansen was born in 1982 in Wiltz, Luxembourg. He earned a master’s degree in geosciences, environmental sciences and risk management from Louis Pasteur University in Strasbourg in 2007.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Urgent activation of the EU Solidarity Fund for Madeira – P-001692/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. The EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF)[1] can only be activated at the request of Portugal which has a deadline of 12 weeks as from the first damage occurred, demonstrating that the total direct damage exceeds the thresholds specified in Article 2 Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002. The EUSF may cover a part of the costs for emergency and recovery operations incurred by public authorities[2]. Pursuant to Article 2(3) of the above Regulation, the EUSF may provide support to outermost regions in cases of ‘regional natural disasters’ if the direct damage exceeds 1% of the concerned region’s gross domestic product (instead of the normally applicable excess of 1.5% of direct damage).

    Support is also available under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development[3] for prevention, restoration and resilience against fires, with a planned amount in Madeira of EUR 36.6 million for 2014-2022, and EUR 11.9 million for 2023-2027.

    2. In its communication on the Outermost regions[4], the Commission has committed itself to supporting actions on risk prevention and resilience as regards natural disasters, fostering knowledge exchange and giving due consideration when implementing the EUSF. The Commission is also fully committed to offer all possible support to Portugal and the outermost regions, including Madeira, in its fight against the wildfires.

    • [1] Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012
    • [2] This means, for example, the recovery of essential infrastructure, provision of temporary accommodation to the population, cleaning-up operations, and protection of the cultural heritage.
    • [3] Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013, OJ L 435/1, 6.12.2021.
    • [4] COM(2022) 198 final.
    Last updated: 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Water scarcity is causing serious problems in many parts of Greece – E-001474/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. Neither the Water Framework Directive[1], the Drinking Water Directive[2] nor the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive[3] establishes whether the management and supply of water should be done by the public administration or by private entities. Moreover, Article 12 of Directive 2014/23[4] explicitly excludes the water sector from its scope, leaving the organisation and governance of water services a matter of national competence.

    2. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU funding including for water infrastructures. Cohesion Policy[5] supports Greece with more than EUR 1 billion to modernise infrastructures including water transportation and wastewater treatment plants. For instance, in November 2022 Greece received EUR 21.1 million from the Cohesion Policy Funds[6] for upgrading its water infrastructures. Moreover, the European Regional Development Fund[7] and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development[8] also co-fund measures in Greece to improve regional water infrastructures. Importantly, the selection of projects under all these funds remains ultimately the responsibility of each Member State. Within Greece’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP)[9], a water regulatory authority has been established with the aim to strengthen the institutional framework, supervise the water sector and ensure the sustainability of water services, while Greece benefits from RRP funding for water supply and water saving infrastructures. Greece also participates in several research and innovation projects of Horizon Europe[10] for water resilience like ‘Water Security for the Planet’[11], ‘PRIMA’[12] and ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’[13].

    • [1] Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1-73, as amended by Commission Directive 2014/101/EU of 30 October 2014, OJ L 311, 31.10.2014, p. 32-35.
    • [2] Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (recast), OJ L 435, 23.12.2020, p. 1-62.
    • [3] Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment, OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40-52.
    • [4] Directive 2014/23/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the award of concession contracts, OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 1-64.
    • [5] https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/policy/what/investment-policy_en
    • [6] https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funding/cohesion-fund_en
    • [7] https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funding/erdf_en
    • [8] Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013, OJ L 435/1, 6.12.2021.
    • [9] https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility/country-pages/greeces-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en
    • [10] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en
    • [11] https://www.water4all-partnership.eu/
    • [12] https://prima-med.org/
    • [13] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/soil-deal-europe_en
    Last updated: 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – The Batteries Regulation – P-001565/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The powers conferred on the Commission to adopt delegated and implementing acts and the detailed requirements in terms of the subject, scope and timing of those acts are laid down in the Batteries Regulation[1].

    In adopting implementing acts the Commission is assisted by the committee established by Article 39 of Directive 2008/98/EC[2] (code C37000[3]). As regards delegated acts, the Commission consults the expert group on waste (code E03343[4]).

    Drafts of the delegated act on the calculation and verification of the carbon footprint of electric vehicle batteries and of the implementing act for the carbon footprint declaration were published for public feedback[5] on 30 April 2024.

    Following a dedicated meeting of the expert group and of the committee on 11 July 2024, the Commission is currently analysing the way forward in view of their adoption pursuant to Article 7 of the regulation .

    A draft delegated act on the calculation and verification of rates for recycling efficiency and recovery of materials pursuant to Article 71 of the regulation was published for public feedback[6] on 20 September 2024. This act is due to be adopted by February 2025.

    The Commission is also preparing implementing acts establishing rules for harmonised application of the labelling requirements for batteries pursuant to Articles 13 and 7, and the format for reporting on waste batteries pursuant to Article 76 of the regulation. These acts are due to be adopted by August 2025.

    Further work on secondary legislation, for example related to the collection of waste batteries and to recycled content in new batteries, is at early preparatory stages.

    The Commission will continue to carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work to implement the regulation.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2023 concerning batteries and waste batteries, amending Directive 2008/98/EC and Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and repealing Directive 2006/66/EC, OJ L 191, 28.7.2023, p. 1-117.
    • [2] Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives, OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3-30.
    • [3] https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/comitology-register/screen/committees/C37000/consult
    • [4] https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=3343
    • [5] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13877-Batteries-for-electric-vehicles-carbon-footprint-methodology_en and https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13878-Batteries-format-of-carbon-footprint-declaration_en
    • [6] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14265-Calculation-and-verification-methodology-of-rates-for-recycling-efficiency-and-recovery-of-materials-of-waste-batteries_en
    Last updated: 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Launch of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) – P-002000/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-002000/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Assita Kanko (ECR)

    On 3 September 2024, the Commissioner for Home Affairs announced that the new Entry/Exit System (EES) would finally launch on 10 November 2024.

    The EES Regulation[1] stipulates that the Commission should set an operation launch date only when eu-Lisa has declared the successful completion of a comprehensive test in cooperation with the Member States, and after the Member States have declared their readiness.

    As the launch of EES will challenge border infrastructure and is likely to increase traveller processing times, at least initially, any lack of preparedness may lead to long queues and disruption. While I fully agree that EES should be put in place as soon as possible to enhance security, everything should be done to avoid negatively affecting legitimate travellers who contribute to our economy and transport sector.

    I understand that three Member States have not yet declared their readiness. I also understand that the Commission is considering a partial launch of EES, which would be limited to the Member States that have declared their readiness.

    • 1.Can the Commission confirm that a full EU-wide launch will only happen when the required legal conditions are in place?
    • 2.Can the Commission explain what a partial launch would look like?
    • 3.Can the Commission confirm that contingency plans are in place should the launch of EES present difficulties, including excessive delays, for travellers?

    Submitted: 9.10.2024

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2017 establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES) to register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third-country nationals crossing the external borders of the Member States and determining the conditions for access to the EES for law enforcement purposes, and amending the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement and Regulations (EC) No 767/2008 and (EU) No 1077/2011 (OJ L 327, 9.12.2017, p. 20, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/2226/oj).
    Last updated: 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Denis Manturov met with the Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Urals Federal District Artem Zhoga

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Denis Manturov met with the Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Urals Federal District Artem Zhoga

    First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov held a meeting with the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the Urals Federal District Artem Zhoga. The meeting discussed issues of industrial development in the Urals, as well as increasing the efficiency of defense industry enterprises in the district.

    Let us recall that Denis Manturov is the curator of the Urals Federal District in the Government. Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Artem Zhoga as his plenipotentiary representative in the macro-region on October 2, 2024. Previously, this post was held by Vladimir Yakushev.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://government.ru/nevs/52995/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Impact of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement on the competitiveness of EU companies – E-001988/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001988/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Pierre Pimpie (PfE), Julie Rechagneux (PfE), Fabrice Leggeri (PfE), Valérie Deloge (PfE), Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain (PfE), Mathilde Androuët (PfE), Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE), France Jamet (PfE), Angéline Furet (PfE), Philippe Olivier (PfE), Aleksandar Nikolic (PfE)

    France’s opposition to the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement is justified. This draft agreement poses a serious threat to our food and environmental sovereignty. We have to protect our farmers against products that do not comply with the standards applied within Europe.

    There are also legitimate concerns about the agreement’s impact on the competitiveness of EU firms and fairness in international trade. This agreement could distort competition as a result of the discrepancy in the social and environmental standards in the two regions. Allowing products that do not meet our standards to enter the EU would weaken our farmers and the most vulnerable sectors.

    The competitiveness of EU firms is thus at risk from products from countries where the social and environmental standards are much less rigorous. Competition with less regulated countries undermines our competitiveness and the economic balance in the EU, irrespective of the repeated assurances from the Commission, which appear to be insufficient.

    In view of this:

    • 1.How will the Commission assess and prevent the economic and social impact of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement on the vulnerable sectors of the EU economy?
    • 2.What steps will it take to support our producers who are at risk from distortions of competition?

    Submitted: 8.10.2024

    Last updated: 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mission Possible: How Doctors at the A.S. Puchkov Emergency and Urgent Medical Care Station Save Patients

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A car with a red cross and flashing lights, a siren on, doctors and paramedics in blue uniforms – the ambulance service rushes to patients in the most urgent situations, when minutes count, and the price of delay can be human life. The fast and efficient work of one of the most important city services is ensured by its complex and well-thought-out structure.

    In anticipation of the 105th anniversary of Moscow’s ambulance service, which is celebrated on October 15, a mos.ru correspondent spoke with employees Stations of emergency and urgent medical care (SS and NMP) named after A.S. Puchkov and learned how the professionalism and dedication of doctors, combined with advanced technologies, save lives.

    Smart algorithms help process calls

    On October 15, 1919, a team of Moscow doctors went out for the first time to a patient with a broken leg. This date is considered the founding day of the Moscow ambulance service, which at that time occupied three rooms in the left wing of the Sheremetyevo Hospital (today, the N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Care. — Ed.). At that time, the service employed 15 doctors, 30 orderlies, and two service telephones.

    Today, more than a thousand medical teams make daily trips to the A.S. Puchkov Emergency and Urgent Medical Care Station. By dialing 103 or the 112 system, anyone can contact the single city dispatch center, where more than 60 dispatchers work around the clock. The response time to a call is three to four seconds – and after the request is processed, a team of doctors is sent to the patient.

    “Since 2017, we have been transitioning to a single center for receiving ambulance calls. Depending on the workload, for example, during peaks of seasonal illnesses, we connect additional operators to process calls faster. The system allows us to analyze calls using elements of artificial intelligence to determine whether an ambulance team is really needed, and if so, what kind of ambulance it is — emergency or urgent. This data is very helpful in our work,” says Georgy Vvedensky, Deputy Chief Physician of the A.S. Puchkov SS and NMP for medical affairs, Honored Healthcare Worker of Russia and laureate of the Moscow City Prize in Medicine.

    The digitalization of the Moscow ambulance service and its integration with the Unified Medical Information and Analytical System (EMIAS) have simplified the work of doctors and made it even faster. Now specialists can review the patient’s medical history on the way to him. To do this, they use digital tablets. After examining and providing first aid, doctors enter data into the system, which is available in the electronic medical record for both the attending physicians and the patients. If a person is hospitalized, information about his condition is transmitted to the hospital online. It is seen by specialists in the admissions department. Depending on the severity of the patient’s condition, doctors can begin preparing for his arrival in advance. This is especially important when every minute counts.

    Morozov Hospital Cardiac Surgeons Save Child with Complex Congenital Heart DefectMoscow doctors have developed a technique for diagnosing childhood strokes — Sobyanin

    A miracle happens every day

    All Moscow ambulances are equipped with modern equipment. The teams have a defibrillator-monitor with a capnometry function, a portable compressor inhaler, an electrocardiograph, an artificial lung ventilation device and many medical drugs. And a tablet connected to the information system allows you to quickly select a hospital with available operating rooms, angiographs, etc.

    “Over the past few years, the working conditions of doctors and the approach to providing emergency care to patients have changed. Modern equipment, ambulances and advanced information services have appeared. Recently opened flagship centers and admission departments of multidisciplinary hospitals operate according to the new standard of emergency care. If before the patient was taken to the hospital and there might not be any available equipment, now we know where it is. As a result, we manage to save many more lives,” continues Georgy Vvedensky.

    Georgy Vvedensky began his career as a nurse in his second year at the medical institute. Today, at the A.S. Puchkov Emergency and Urgent Medical Care Station, he oversees the most important issues – from organizational to modernization and digitalization projects.

    “Almost every day we see fantastic stories of rescue, when ambulance crews take very seriously ill patients, sometimes in a state of clinical death, and thanks to special equipment they take them to the operating room, where doctors bring them back to life. This can truly be compared to a miracle,” says Georgy Vvedensky.

    A Profession by Inheritance. A Surgeon at the V.M. Buyanov Hospital on How Work Becomes a CallingSobyanin: Grants from the city accelerate the development of new methods of treating patients

    Medical teams are advised by the best experts

    Specialists from the City Advisory Center for Anesthesiology and Resuscitation, a center for critical conditions founded in 2021, help doctors save patients. They provide online consultations to ambulance crews and doctors from the intensive care and intensive care units of hospitals, and also monitor patients in serious condition. One of the founders of the center is Petr Davydov, Deputy Chief Physician for Medical Affairs and Curator of the Resuscitation Service of the A.S. Puchkov SS and NMP.

    “The Critical Conditions Center was conceived as a platform where emergency or hospital doctors can seek advice in particularly severe cases. The most competent medical professionals from the capital’s hospitals and the best emergency medical workers work there. We monitor severe calls, and in such cases, the center’s specialists connect with medical teams, analyze extracts, tests, images, and research data that are uploaded to EMIAS, and then offer the necessary solutions,” says Petr Davydov.

    Anesthesiologist-resuscitator Petr Davydov has been working in emergency services for 15 years, he is one of the best specialists in his field. The mos.ru interviewee chose his profession in childhood, inspired by the example of his relatives.

    “I remember one of the first cases – I had just learned how to do tracheal intubation. A car hit a young man on Maryinsky Park Street, he received severe injuries. I arrived on call and used this method to provide artificial ventilation, administered painkillers and hemostatic drugs, and then we took him to the hospital. A few months later, a guy came to my work and said that he was the same patient whose life I saved. This made an indelible impression on me, a young doctor at the time. And subsequently, I could no longer work with less dedication than on that day,” recalls Pyotr Davydov.

    Sobyanin: Vascular centers received 8 angiographs with 3D modeling functionNeural networks helped the capital’s radiologists process 13 million studies

    A special medical team is rushing to help

    Petr Davydov is one of the leading specialists in Moscow working in the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) team. The professionals have unique equipment at their disposal, which can be compared to an artificial heart and lungs inside an ambulance. Advanced technologies help save the lives of patients whose blood circulation has stopped. Through cannulas inserted into the large vessels and vena cava of the patient, with the help of pumps, blood is pumped through an oxygenator, saturating it with oxygen.

    The first ECMO ambulance team appeared in Moscow in January 2022.

    “In recent years, the Moscow ambulance system has undergone dramatic changes. Thanks to digitalization, we can obtain information about the patient and pass it on to our colleagues in the hospital. The equipment inside the salons is regularly updated. In each district of Moscow, resuscitation teams work at ambulance substations. They are considered a medical special squad,” says Pyotr Davydov.

    As little time as possible should pass from the arrival of the resuscitation team to the patient’s hospitalization, during which time doctors need to have time to carry out intensive therapy and stabilize the person’s condition.

    “The main quality of an ambulance worker is the desire for constant development. A good doctor must analyze each case, improve their knowledge and identify inaccuracies in order to avoid them in the future. Stress resistance is formed together with professionalism, when you clearly know how you will act in a given situation,” the anesthesiologist-resuscitator believes.

    The plans at the A.S. Puchkov Emergency and Urgent Medical Care Station include the development of digital technologies. With their help, more and more results of examinations conducted by doctors and other patient data will be sent online to the critical care center and hospitals.

    Moscow has been digitalizing its healthcare system for over 10 years. The basis of this process is a single digital platform, which is being developed jointly by the Moscow Social Development Complex and the capital’s Department of Information TechnologyIt allows for personalized care of each patient at all stages – from diagnosis and treatment to follow-up.

    A large formation was removed from a patient’s heart at the N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency CareRobotic surgeons, transplantation and research. How Botkin Hospital became a scientific and clinical centerSergei Sobyanin spoke about the development of high-tech medical care for children in Moscow

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/145254073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Removal of hereditary peers from Parliament moves a step closer with Second Reading in the House of Commons

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The landmark legislation will remove the right of the remaining 92 hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords and is the largest constitutional reform to the UK Parliament in a quarter of a century

    • Bill will deliver largest constitutional change to Parliament in a quarter of a century
    • Removal of hereditary peers is an important step in creating a second chamber more reflective of modern Britain, inclusive of women and those from diverse backgrounds
    • The UK is one of two countries with a hereditary element to its Parliament

    Today [Tuesday 15 October] the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill moves a step closer to becoming law with its Second Reading in the House of Commons. 

    The landmark legislation will remove the right of the remaining 92 hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords and is the largest constitutional reform to the UK Parliament in a quarter of a century. 

    This Bill is the first step in delivering the manifesto commitment to update the UK’s constitution, delivering long overdue and essential reform to the heart of Westminster. 

    The UK remains one of just two countries in the world with a hereditary element in its legislature. The first steps to ending this were taken in 1999 when most hereditary peers lost their right to sit in the House of Lords under the House of Lords Act 1999. This new Bill, introduced last month, will complete that process and will be the first step in wider reform of the House of Lords.

    Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Paymaster General & Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, said:

    The Government’s commitment to reform the House of Lords is demonstrated by taking action in the first 100 days of governing. It is indefensible that, in the twenty-first century, there are seats in our legislature allocated by an accident of birth. This is a long-overdue reform and a progressive first step on the road of change.

    To maintain trust in our democratic institutions it is important our second chamber reflects modern Britain.

    Baroness Smith of Basildon, Leader of the House of Lords, said:

    The Government is determined to deliver on its promise to reform the House of Lords. Given the ambitious scale of reform it is right we consult on proposals, taking a phased and pragmatic approach to ensure change is delivered.

    Should the Bill pass its Second Reading today it will then progress to Committee Stage.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Elafibranor approved to treat adults with a rare liver disease known as primary biliary cholangitis

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved elafibranor (Iqirvo) to treat adult patients with a rare type of liver disease known as primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).

    PBC is a type of chronic liver disease in which the small bile ducts in the liver become injured and inflamed and are eventually destroyed. Where there are damaged bile ducts, bile builds up and causes liver damage. This disease can get gradually worse over time and without treatment may lead to liver failure.

    Elafibranor helps to improve how the liver works by reducing the amount of bile acids the liver produces and reducing the build-up of bile. It also acts by reducing inflammation of the liver.

    The recommended dose is one tablet, once a day, at about the same time each day for adult patients. Elafibranor may be given by itself or together with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).

    Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, said:

    Enabling safe access to high quality, safe and effective medicines is a key priority for us.

    We’re assured that the appropriate regulatory standards of safety, quality and effectiveness for the approval of this new formulation have been met.

    As with all products, we will keep its safety under close review. 

    The MHRA’s approval of the medicine is supported by evidence from a placebo-controlled main study involving 161 adults with PBC, the majority of whom had been taking UDCA for at least one year and continued taking it during the study (though some had stopped taking due to side effects).

    The measure of effectiveness was based on the number of patients whose blood levels of the substances Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin (markers of liver damage) decreased to a level considered normal (for both ALP and bilirubin) and by at least 15% (for ALP) after 1 year of treatment.

    The study showed that elafibranor was more effective than placebo at reducing the blood levels of ALP and bilirubin. Overall, levels decreased by the required amount in around 51% (55 out of 108) of patients treated with elafibranor, compared with around 4% (2 out of 53) of patients on placebo.

    A full list of all side effects reported with this medicine is available in the patient information leaflet or from the product information published on the MHRA website

    If a patient experiences any side effects, they should talk to their doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the product information leaflets.

    Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine is encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors  

    • The new marketing authorisation was granted for elafibranor (Iqirvo) on 04 October 2024 to Ipsen Ltd via National Procedure.
    • More information can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information leaflets which will be published on the MHRA Products website within 7 days of approval.
    • The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
    • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.  All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
    • For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

    Updates to this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Turkey: British Embassy Bilateral Programme Fund

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The call for bids under The British Embassy Bilateral Programme is now open

    The British Embassy in Ankara invites eligible organisations to submit project proposals for funding under the Bilateral Programme Fund. A total of £100,000 is available for projects in two thematic areas, with £50,000 allocated to each:

    Women and Girls Thematic Area

    • Improved Access to Education and Skills Training
    • Economic Empowerment

    Social Foundations Thematic Area

    • Improved Media Capacity and Training of Journalists
    • Greater Public Awareness of Climate and Gender Issues
    • Strengthened Civic Space

    Eligibility and Guidelines

    We are seeking proposals from NGOs, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and other relevant partners that align with the objectives of the Fund’s strategic priorities. Projects should demonstrate clear impact, measurable outcomes, and strong value for money.

    Given the limited time for implementation, applicants must adhere to the following deadlines:

    • Proposal Submission Deadline: 31 October 2024
    • Spending Requirement: At least 80% of the allocated funds must be spent by 31 December 2024

    Projects with innovative approaches, strategic partnerships, or pilot initiatives with the potential for scale-up are particularly encouraged to apply.

    How to Apply

    Please submit your proposals, using the required format (below), to bef.projects@fcdo.gov.uk by 31 October 2024. Late applications will not be considered.

    Contact Information

    For inquiries or further details, please contact us at bef.projects@fcdo.gov.uk

    British Embassy Bilateral Programme Fund

    Annexes:

    Annex 2 – Project Proposal Form above £10k

    Annex 3 – Activity Based Budget Template

    Annex 4 – Due Diligence Questionnaire

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Video: Nobel Peace Prize – Press Conference | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, on Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to Nihon Hidankyo for its work advocating for a world free of nuclear weapons.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am8L_GGXmww

    MIL OSI Video