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  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the urgent need to end Russian aggression: the situation of illegally detained civilians and prisoners of war, and the continued bombing of civilians – B10-0304/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Sergey Lagodinsky, Markéta Gregorová, Ville Niinistö, Jutta Paulus, Mārtiņš Staķis
    on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

    B10‑0304/2025

    European Parliament resolution on the human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the urgent need to end Russian aggression: the situation of illegally detained civilians and prisoners of war and the continued bombing of civilians

    (2025/2710(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous resolutions on Ukraine and Russia,

    – having regard to the UN Charter, the Hague Conventions, the Geneva Conventions and the additional protocols thereto, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,

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

    A. whereas three years ago, on 24 February 2022, the Russian Federation launched an unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, in gross violation of the UN Charter and its own international commitments, including the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances and the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation; whereas the Russian aggression against Ukraine started in 2014 with the occupation of parts of the Donbas region and the occupation and annexation of Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea;

    B. whereas since then, Russian forces have continued to carry out and escalate indiscriminate attacks against residential areas and civilian infrastructure; whereas heavy and intense bombardments, combined with ground fighting, have continued throughout 2025; whereas the UN has confirmed that more than 12 500 civilians, including hundreds of children, have been murdered since February 2022; whereas the actual civilian death toll is estimated to be in the tens of thousands; whereas many more civilians have been injured, tortured, forcibly ‘re-educated’, harassed, raped, kidnapped or forcibly displaced;

    C. whereas while their exact numbers are unknown, thousands of Ukrainians, both military personnel and civilians, are likely to be held in captivity currently, in Russia and occupied Ukraine;

    D. whereas the vast majority of Ukrainian prisoners, both civilian and military personnel, held by the Russian Federation are deprived of any recognised legal status or procedural safeguards, leaving them without rights, legal representation or the ability to contact their families; whereas in 90 % of cases, relatives do not know whether their loved ones are alive;

    E. whereas there is documented evidence of repeated extrajudicial executions of prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians by members of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, as well as other grave violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Conventions and other international humanitarian law instruments;

    F. whereas the Russian authorities have launched thousands of politically motivated criminal prosecutions against Ukrainian POWs and civilian detainees, often based on confessions extracted under torture and without credible evidence; whereas these fabricated charges commonly include terrorism, espionage and treason, with the charges of treason frequently following the forced imposition of Russian citizenship in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine;

    G. whereas families of Ukrainian detainees face institutional barriers to accessing legal recourse or filing official inquiries, as the Russian state requires the use of domestic digital identification platforms that are not accessible to non-citizens; whereas in some cases, relatives advocating publicly for detainees have seen their loved ones punished with extended sentences or re-arrested on additional charges;

    H. whereas the death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna in Russian captivity highlights the grave and growing dangers faced by Ukrainian journalists held by Russian forces; whereas others, including Iryna Danylovych, Dmytro Khyliuk and Iryna and Heorhiy Levchenko, remain in detention under life-threatening conditions;

    I. whereas the Russian authorities consistently deny POWs access to international organisations in an effort to hide the atrocities taking place, leaving POWs even more vulnerable to violations of international law; whereas the Geneva Conventions guarantee POWs the right to regular correspondence, access to medical care, and visits from international organisations; whereas Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian POWs amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity;

    J. whereas the Russian authorities have detained large numbers of civilians in all temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine; whereas they target, among others, local authorities, civil servants and journalists; whereas the scale at which Russia is conducting these enforced disappearances against civilians is clearly in compliance with a coordinated state policy;

    K. whereas in all temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine, Russian-installed proxy paramilitary structures and de facto authorities have played a key role in implementing Russia’s policy of repression and terror against the Ukrainian population by systematically engaging in intimidation, arbitrary detentions, torture and enforced disappearances of civilians under the guise of administrative or security procedures;

    L. whereas many victims of enforced disappearances are transferred either to local detention facilities or deported to Russia; whereas various forms of torture are reportedly commonplace in these detention facilities; whereas civilians regularly go missing for months if not years, with some dying in detention; whereas these acts also amount to crimes against humanity;

    M. whereas since the occupation and annexation of Crimea in 2014, the Russian Federation has systematically targeted Crimean Tatars with politically motivated prosecutions, enforced disappearances, intimidation and harassment; whereas Crimean Tatar leaders, journalists, civil society activists and religious figures have faced disproportionate repression, including under the guise of anti-extremism and antiterrorism charges; whereas these actions amount to violations of international human rights and humanitarian law and aim to erase the identity and presence of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people;

    N. whereas cases of punitive psychiatry, including forced institutionalisation, drugging and involuntary treatment of both children and adults, have been documented in at least 42 psychiatric institutions and psycho-neurological boarding schools located in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine; whereas Russian occupying authorities have revived Soviet-style psychiatric abuse as a tool of repression, targeting individuals for their perceived pro-Ukrainian views or their refusal to accept Russian citizenship; whereas such acts represent a serious breach of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;

    O. whereas the families are left traumatised as their loved ones are held incommunicado and the Russian authorities, in full violation of international law, refuse to provide information about people’s whereabouts;

    P. whereas the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine confirmed, in its latest report of March 2025, that the enforced disappearances committed by the Russian authorities in a widespread and systematic manner against the civilian population, in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, amount to crimes against humanity; whereas the same body documented countless cases proving that Russia’s use of sexual violence, including rape, as a form of torture is systemic in detention facilities and that this practice is clearly a deliberate policy, thus stressing that the Russian authorities committed the war crimes of rape and sexual violence as a form of torture;

    Q. whereas the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, whose Ukraine Conflict Observatory has been documenting Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children using biometric and satellite data and supported six International Criminal Court (ICC) indictments, has had its funding cut by the Trump administration; whereas the observatory has ceased all its work collecting data crucial for achieving accountability as of 1 July 2025; whereas the observatory’s database contains records on more than 30 000 Ukrainian children allegedly abducted by Russia from over 100 locations;

    1. Condemns, in the strongest possible terms, Russia’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine and demands that Russia immediately terminate all military activities in Ukraine, unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from the entire internationally recognised territory of Ukraine and compensate Ukraine for the damage caused to its people, land and infrastructure;

    2. Expresses its undivided solidarity with the people of Ukraine, fully supports Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and underlines that this war constitutes a serious violation of international law;

    3. Decries Russia’s policy of widespread and systematic use of enforced disappearance, incommunicado detention, torture and other forms of ill treatment against Ukrainian civilian detainees and POWs; demands that Russia notify the Ukrainian Government of the status of all POWs and allow international humanitarian organisations unhindered access; stresses that, under international law, Russia must provide adequate medical care to all Ukrainians in captivity and directly repatriate seriously sick and wounded POWs; urges Russia to release all unlawfully detained civilians without delay;

    4. Demands the immediate release of all Ukrainian civilians held in Russian captivity who do not fall under any category for lawful detention under international humanitarian law, with particular attention to women, children and elderly individuals; underlines that their continued detention places them at imminent risk and constitutes a grave violation of the Geneva Conventions;

    5. Condemns the ongoing persecution of Crimean Tatars in illegally occupied Crimea, including politically motivated detentions, torture, enforced disappearances and restrictions on freedom of religion, expression and association; calls for the immediate release of all Crimean Tatars imprisoned on political grounds and urges the EU and international organisations to enhance monitoring and advocacy on behalf of the indigenous people of Crimea;

    6. Calls for the EU, its Member States and international partners to launch an urgent international campaign aimed at documenting and publicising evidence concerning the imprisonment of Ukrainian minors and elderly civilians in Russian detention, including the use of documented case studies compiled by civil society organisations; stresses the importance of visibility for accountability and rescue operations;

    7. Demands immediate and unhindered access for international humanitarian organisations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to all known and suspected sites where Ukrainian civilians are held, with particular attention to women, children and elderly people;

    8. Insists on the immediate release of all Ukrainian journalists held in Russian captivity; calls for the international community to take urgent diplomatic and legal steps to secure their safety and freedom, and to ensure accountability for crimes committed against media professionals in the context of the war;

    9. Strongly condemns the use of punitive psychiatry by the Russian occupying authorities in Ukraine, including the forced institutionalisation of civilians, especially children and individuals with pro-Ukrainian views, in psychiatric hospitals under inhumane and degrading conditions; calls for urgent international monitoring of psychiatric institutions in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and the immediate release of all individuals detained on politically motivated psychiatric grounds;

    10. Insists that all perpetrators, in particular commanders and others within the Russian occupying forces ordering, soliciting or inducing the commission of crimes under international law, are held accountable in accordance with international standards;

    11. Calls for the EU and the broader international community to use all possible judicial and non-judicial accountability mechanisms, including universal jurisdiction, to pressure Russia to immediately cease its campaign of enforced disappearances and torture;

    12. Calls for the EU and the Member States to step up support for Ukraine to enable it to address the widespread mental health and psychosocial needs resulting from the armed conflict, by ensuring access to the relevant services for those returning from captivity, allocating resources to those services and enhancing their institutional coordination, legal regulation, monitoring and evaluation;

    13. Regrets the decision by the Trump administration to cut the funding of the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab and is concerned about the consequent major gap in accountability efforts; welcomes the transfer of the lab’s data to Europol and calls for the EU and the Member States, in cooperation with like-minded partners, to ensure the continuation of the observatory’s work;

    14. Commends the work of the ICC on its ongoing investigation into the situation in Ukraine from 21 November 2013 onwards, encompassing any past and present allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed on any part of the territory of Ukraine by any person; expresses concern about the worsening attacks on the ICC by the United States, and the impact this will have on the ICC’s ability to continue conducting its investigations; calls on the Commission to urgently activate the blocking statute and on the EU Member States to increase their diplomatic efforts in order to protect and safeguard the ICC as an indispensable cornerstone of the international justice system;

    15. Stresses Europe’s responsibility to curb Russia’s aggression, both in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and also for the sake of Europe’s own security; calls therefore for the EU and its like-minded partners to increase their efforts to shift the trajectory of Russia’s war against Ukraine and set the conditions for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace; urges the Member States and like-minded partners, therefore, to provide Ukraine with more arms and ammunition to enable Ukraine to liberate its territory and deter further Russian attacks; notes, in this context, that a number of Member States are militarily neutral and urges them to increase their non-military support for Ukraine in line with their constitutions;

    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 governments and parliaments of the Member States, the President, Government and Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and the President, Government and Parliament of the Russian Federation.

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – CAP simplification package: Omnibus on Agriculture – 02-07-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Two and a half years since the new rules on the common agricultural policy (CAP) started to apply, the Commission is amending them for the second time. The proposal comes just weeks before the Commission aims to make a separate proposal for the CAP rules that would be in force after 2027. While the first package of amendments, adopted in July 2024 after widespread farmer protests, lowered some of the environmental conditionality requirements and did away with the conditionality controls and penalties for farms under 10 hectares, this current package tackles further stakeholder complaints of overly complex CAP rules and procedures. It aims to offer more flexibility regarding the environmental requirements, greater use of simplified payments for small and medium-sized farms, less bureaucracy for organic farms, simpler procedures for supporting farms affected by climate change and severe weather, and less red tape for the national authorities. After the adoption of the final act, Member States would still need to amend their CAP strategic plans before they can apply the new rules. For the changes to be implemented in 2026, the final act would have to be adopted well before the end of 2025.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – DNAT meeting – 26 June 2025 – Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

    Source: European Parliament

    At the meeting of the Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (DNAT) Members elected the following Vice-Chairs: Vasile DÎNCU, First Vice-Chair (S&D, Romania) and Alexandr VONDRA, Second Vice-Chair (ECR, Czechia).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Situation in Cernăuți (Chernivtsi), Ukraine – E-002545/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002545/2025
    to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
    Rule 144
    Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă (NI)

    On Tuesday 17 June 2025, 20 young Ukrainians, some with their faces covered, physically assaulted several Romanian priests in Cernăuți Cathedral. One of the attackers had originally entered the church in a wheelchair, only to participate in the violent attack subsequently. According to reports, Father Pavel Pavlenco, one of the priests, who has eight children, was taken to A&E, while others also suffered serious injuries such as broken ribs, head wounds and kidney damage. The attackers then barricaded themselves in the cathedral and occasioned major damage. After the incident, members of the Romanian community – including priests – gathered peacefully to protest, but they were brutally dispersed, physically assaulted and exposed to tear gas.

    The Priests were assaulted, but Romanians have been discriminated against for years. They are not allowed to speak Romanian or to worship freely, and Romanian Orthodox churches have been shut down.

    Thus far, no official statement has been issued in response to what happened in Cernăuți.

    • 1.What is the Commission’s official stance on this incident?
    • 2.Can events such as this lead to Ukraine’s accession to the EU being put on hold until crimes against minorities, and in particular the Romanian minority, cease and respect for human rights in Ukraine is restored?

    Submitted: 25.6.2025

    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU funding of Israeli companies involved in the ongoing genocide in Palestine – E-002540/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002540/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Anthony Smith (The Left), Manon Aubry (The Left), Damien Carême (The Left), Marina Mesure (The Left), Arash Saeidi (The Left), Emma Fourreau (The Left), Rima Hassan (The Left), Younous Omarjee (The Left), Leila Chaibi (The Left)

    Last October, we sent the European Commission Question for written answer E-001930/2024/rev.1[1] on support from the Horizon Europe programme for Israeli companies involved in the ongoing genocide in Palestine. In response, the Commission said it was unaware of such practices and reiterated that the funded projects were closely monitored and conditional on respect for human rights in accordance with Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

    However, a recent investigation by journalists[2] has revealed that EUR 42 million from the European Defence Fund, as well as funds from seven other European countries, have been allocated to the ACTUS project. EUR 14 million of this funding were provided to a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries, Israel’s leading defence company, for building drones. This support is in addition to the millions of euros from the Horizon programme dedicated to military research involving Israeli ministries and military companies[3].

    In light of the above:

    • 1.Does the European Commission intend to condemn participation in the genocide in Gaza by Israeli companies receiving EU funds?
    • 2.Does it plan to stop these companies from receiving EU financial support?
    • 3.Will it propose suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement to the Council, in order to fully respect human rights commitments?

    Submitted: 24.6.2025

    • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2024-001930_EN.html
    • [2] https://disclose.ngo/fr/article/la-france-et-leurope-financent-sans-le-dire-lindustrie-militaire-israelienne.
    • [3] https://www.lecho.be/economie-politique/europe/general/des-fonds-europeens-de-recherche-financent-la-defense-israelienne/10609758.html.
    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – 40th anniversary of Schengen – a failed promise of security – E-002528/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002528/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mary Khan (ESN), Petra Steger (PfE)

    14 June 2025 marked the 40th anniversary of the entry into force of the Schengen Agreement. However, instead of a cause for celebration, this anniversary provides above all an occasion to deliver a sobering assessment: The former promise of secure and control-free internal borders has developed into a serious threat to internal security and public order in view of the ongoing loss of control at the EU’s external borders. Instead of an area of security, freedom and the rule of law, Schengen has become a gateway for people smuggling, organised crime and Islamist terror.

    A functioning Schengen system requires effective external border controls and a clear distinction between legal and illegal migration. In reality, neither of these is guaranteed, which is why Member States are increasingly forced to adopt their own protective measures in the form of internal border controls. However, the Schengen Borders Code allows this only temporarily – a paradoxical scenario, as these measures only become necessary in the first place due to the EU’s failure to fulfil its duties. These circumstances raise fundamental questions about the viability of the Schengen area in the future.

    • 1.What concrete measures is the Commission taking to finally protect the EU’s external borders effectively?
    • 2.Does the Commission recognise that, without a clear distinction between legal and illegal migration, Schengen has been gutted when it comes to security policy?
    • 3.Does the Commission consider it proportionate that Member States are allowed to respond only temporarily to systemic failures on the part of the EU, even though the threat of illegal mass migration is on the rise?

    Submitted: 24.6.2025

    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – A sustainable transport investment plan – 02-07-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    This European Parliamentary Research Service paper aims to inform Members on issues related to a forthcoming Commission initiative. It highlights the main choices that may shape the initiative and which Members may wish to explore ahead of formal European Commission adoption. Based on documentary and other sources, it reflects the information available at the time of writing. For further information on this topic, Members and staff of the European Parliament may contact the author. KEY ISSUES AT STAKE • Transport accounts for around a quarter of EU emissions. More sustainable transport in the EU is therefore crucial to achieving the European Green Deal aim to cut net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55 % by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, by means of sustainable fuels, modes, and technological solutions. • Uptake of electric vehicles (EV) in the EU has been slow and uneven, due to limited investment in EV charging infrastructure and EV supply issues. Frontrunners, such as the Netherlands, have a better regulatory environment, greater public investment and a more stable and affordable energy market. Business models and value chains are reluctant to adapt before technological solutions are sufficiently developed. • Implementation of initiatives such as the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and CO2 emission standards for new vehicles is challenging, with progress slowing due to uneven roll-out across EU, state, and regional levels, limited electrical grid capacity, and high sustainable fuel production costs. • The European Commission is expected to issue a sustainable transport investment plan in the third quarter of 2025, outlining measures to support the accelerated roll-out of recharging and refuelling infrastructure, as well as dedicated green trade and investment partnerships with third countries on renewable and low-carbon transport fuels.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Continued and substantial violations of the Prespa Agreement – E-002612/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002612/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Nikolaos Anadiotis (NI)

    The recent report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), of 24 June 2025,[1] supports the European path of the country with its capital in Skopje, without any reference to the continued and serious violations of the Prespa Agreement.

    The state and political leadership of this country continues ostentatiously and relentlessly – more than 700 instances recorded[2] – to flout the Prespa Agreement in three ways: (a) by systematically using the name ‘Macedonia’ without the intended geographical designation, (b) by maintaining the prominence of the Vergina Sun and (c) by using the term “Macedonian’ in public bodies and organisations, when this is expressly prohibited. These practices constitute not only irregularities but also fundamental violations of the Prespa Agreement, based on Article 60 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.

    In light of the above:

    • 1.Does the Commission acknowledge that these fundamental violations undermine the purpose and object of the Prespa Agreement?
    • 2.Does the Commission intend to ask the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) to include, in its report, its explicit reservations, as well as the above-mentioned violations by the country in question?
    • 3.Does the Commission intend to reconsider its position on the progress of the accession process?

    Submitted: 27.6.2025

    • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20250602IPR28709/european-parliament-backs-north-macedonia-s-eu-path-calls-for-bold-reforms
    • [2] https://epitropiellinismou.gr/post/3629
    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Climate impact of hydrogen leakage – E-002566/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002566/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Sara Matthieu (Verts/ALE)

    Given the prominent role envisaged for clean hydrogen in the EU’s decarbonisation agenda, questions around its full climate impact must be assessed urgently.

    There is strong scientific consensus that hydrogen’s global warming potential (GWP) is significantly higher than previously reported by the IPCC and referenced in current EU legislation. In addition, recent scientific research, including EU-funded projects and independent campaigns, will provide new evidence such as direct measurement and quantification of hydrogen emissions.

    Article 9(6) of the Gas Market Directive[1] mandates the Commission to submit a report evaluating hydrogen leakage and proposing maximum leakage rates, but it does not specify a publication timeline. Given the rapid pace of hydrogen infrastructure development and the investment decisions being made now, this regulatory gap poses immediate risks to achieving EU climate objectives.

    In light of this:

    • 1.Can the Commission agree that it is both feasible and critically important to submit the report on hydrogen leakage, and if so, what specific steps will the Commission take to ensure it is submitted before 2028?
    • 2.Does the Commission acknowledge the scientific consensus regarding hydrogen’s GWP and will this updated understanding inform upcoming legislative initiatives, including the upcoming delegated act on low-carbon hydrogen?

    Submitted: 25.6.2025

    • [1] Directive (EU) 2024/1788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on common rules for the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen, amending Directive (EU) 2023/1791 and repealing Directive 2009/73/EC (OJ L, 2024/1788, 15.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1788/oj).
    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – FISC mission to Dubin (Ireland) – Subcommittee on Tax Matters

    Source: European Parliament

    Members of the FISC Subcommittee will travel to Dublin, Ireland on 22 July for a day of exchanges on tax policies, the fight against tax avoidance and tax simplification.

    The delegation led by FISC Chair Mr Pasquale Tridico will meet with business representatives, including representatives of the Google group, the Meta group and Apple group. They will then have a discussion with Members of the Finance Committee and the Committee for Budgetary Oversight of the Oireachtas. The afternoon will be dedicated to exchanges with tax authorities, NGOs and academics.

    The objectives of the FISC delegation trip to Dublin are to better understand Irish tax policies and to have direct engagements with key policy-makers, tax authorities and stakeholders on critical issues, such as aggressive tax schemes, tax avoidance or tax simplification.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Systemic political repression – Russian hybrid influence undermining democracy in the EU’s Eastern Partnership – E-002502/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002502/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Krzysztof Brejza (PPE)

    On 23 June 2025, a Georgian court sentenced opposition leader Zurab Japaridze to seven months’ imprisonment and imposed a two-year ban on political activity. This follows a concerning trajectory of judicial repression orchestrated by the ruling Georgian Dream party, under the influence of oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. Numerous high-profile opposition leaders – including Mikheil Saakashvili, Nika Melia, Nika Gvaramia and Irakli Okruashvili – are currently imprisoned or facing imminent imprisonment under politically motivated charges.

    These developments constitute a systematic dismantling of democratic institutions, in direct violation of Georgia’s obligations under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, and align with Russian hybrid warfare objectives in the Eastern Partnership region – seeking to erode democratic governance, provoke instability and obstruct Euro-Atlantic integration.

    In this context:

    • 1.What immediate and tangible measures will the Commission adopt to secure the release of Mr Japaridze and other political detainees?
    • 2.What specific political, legal or financial instruments will the Commission activate to impose individualised sanctions on Mr Ivanishvili and affiliated enablers of repression?
    • 3.In view of Georgia’s democratic backsliding, when will the Commission initiate a formal review of the Association Agreement, and under what criteria?

    Submitted: 23.6.2025

    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Compatibility of the Barcelona-El Prat Airport expansion with EU environmental law – E-002519/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002519/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Diana Riba i Giner (Verts/ALE)

    The Government of Catalonia has resurrected the plans to extend Barcelona-El Prat Airport. This would directly affect protected natural areas such as La Ricarda and El Remolar, both of which are part of the Natura 2000 network. Independent technical studies warn that the expansion could cause irreversible ecological damage, and would affect dozens of protected species and sensitive habitats.

    A number of measures have been proposed to offset the environmental damage, but many reports argue that they would not be sufficient to prevent fragmentation of the ecosystem or to comply with the obligations laid down in the Habitats and Birds Directives.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Has the Commission had any communication from the Government of Catalonia regarding the compensatory measures required, or any other consultation or information on this project?
    • 2.Does it believe that an expansion that directly affects Natura 2000 sites can be compatible with EU legislation?
    • 3.If the project goes ahead, what procedure will the Commission follow to assess its compliance with EU law?

    Submitted: 23.6.2025

    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Instrumentalisation of migration omitted in the Commission’s proposal on preventing and countering the facilitation of unauthorised entry to the Union – E-002542/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002542/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mariusz Kamiński (ECR)

    In its proposal for a directive laying down minimum rules to prevent and counter the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and stay in the Union[1], the Commission has neglected to address the instrumentalisation of migration.

    I raised this issue by submitting amendments as part of Parliament’s legislative process[2]. I also highlighted several other significant shortcomings of the Commission’s proposal.

    • 1.Why has the Commission neglected to mention the instrumentalisation of migration in its proposal?
    • 2.Is the Commission aware of the amendments put forward by Parliament that remedy significant gaps in the proposal, and does it consider a broader and more substantial approach to the directive’s subject matter to be necessary?

    Submitted: 24.6.2025

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52023PC0755
    • [2] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/LIBE-AM-773119_EN.pdf
    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Checking compliance of Italian exports of military technology to Israel with the EU criteria in Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP – E-002559/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002559/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Danilo Della Valle (The Left), Mimmo Lucano (The Left), Carolina Morace (The Left), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Brando Benifei (S&D), Leoluca Orlando (Verts/ALE), Alessandro Zan (S&D), Dario Tamburrano (The Left)

    Article 2 of Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP lays down binding criteria for the granting of arms export licences by Member States, including:

    — Criterion Two: regarding the recipient country’s compliance with international humanitarian law, which requires licences to be denied if there is a clear risk that the technology might be used in breach of the law of conduct during war (jus in bello);

    — Criterion Six: regarding the behaviour of the recipient country, including compliance with international commitments.

    In view of the serious violations of international humanitarian law by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, documented by the UN, independent NGOs and academic institutions, and given the dual-use or military nature of the technologies involved, can the Commission please answer the following:

    • 1.With regard to Criteria Two and Six in Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP, does it consider the export of arms and military technology by Member States to Israel to be compatible with their obligations under the Common Foreign and Security Policy?
    • 2.In the context of military agreements or transfers of technology from third countries, are Member States required to apply the Council Common Position’s criteria mutatis mutandis, in line with Articles 21 and 24 of the Treaty on European Union and Article 205 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union?
    • 3.Does the Commission plan to recommend the reassessment of licences and military cooperation programmes with Israel under Article 5 of the Council Common Position?

    Supporter[1]

    Submitted: 25.6.2025

    • [1] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE)
    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The need to establish a dedicated Council configuration on gender equality – E-002421/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002421/2025/rev.1
    to the Council
    Rule 144
    Elena Kountoura (The Left)

    Gender equality has been enshrined in the European Treaties since 1957.[1] However, at the current rate of progress, it is estimated that it will take more than 60 years to achieve complete equality between men and women in the EU. Today, the EU has manifold challenges to face in the area of women’s rights and gender equality: eradicating all forms of gender-based violence, closing the gender pay gap between women and men, improving women’s access to the labour market, reinforcing women’s representation in politics and ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights.

    While the European Parliament has the FEMM Committee at institutional level, so far there is no specific configuration dealing with gender equality in the Council. According to the Council’s Rules of Procedure, the European Council is the body responsible for setting up its configurations.[2]

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Does the Council recognise the need to establish a dedicated configuration on gender equality, bringing together equality ministers and deputy ministers, with a view to adopting common policies and legislation on the challenges in the area of women’s rights and gender equality?
    • 2.Is the Council committed to inviting the European Council to set up such a configuration, so that equality matters are discussed at the highest political level in the EU?

    Submitted: 16.6.2025

    • [1] Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) sets out that men and women should receive equal pay for equal work and authorises the taking of positive measures to empower women. Article 153 of the same Treaty allows for Union action in the wider domain of equal opportunities and equal treatment in the workplace and employment. Furthermore, Article 19 of the TFEU establishes the possibility of adopting legislation to combat all forms of discrimination, including on the basis of sex.
    • [2] The establishment of new Council configurations is mainly based on Article 16(6) TEU, which establishes that the Council is to meet in different configurations, the list of which is to be adopted in accordance with Article 236 TFEU. The European Council, acting by qualified majority, has the power to determine or amend the list of Council configurations.
    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Irregular contracts connected to Begoña Gómez under investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office – E-002511/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002511/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jorge Buxadé Villalba (PfE), Hermann Tertsch (PfE)

    The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is investigating Juan Carlos Barrabés (businessman and co-director of a master’s programme at Complutense University), Begoña Gómez (wife of the Spanish President and other co-director of the master’s programme) and a manager at Red.es as part of its investigation into the alleged misuse of funds, influence peddling and misconduct in several EU-funded public contracts.

    The investigation found evidence that procurement processes had been manipulated, with subjective overvaluations made on the basis of recommendations from individuals such as Pedro Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez. In particular, the company backed by Begoña Gómez was awarded three contracts amounting to EUR 10.2 million, under the European Social Fund and NextGenerationEU.

    Considering the above:

    • 1.Is the Commission aware of the cases that EPPO is currently investigating in relation to Begoña Gómez?
    • 2.Has the Commission alerted OLAF of this issue and requested information from the Spanish authorities to ensure that the EU’s financial interests are safeguarded?
    • 3.Will the Commission launch regulatory procedures to recuperate these public funds if it were to be proven that they were awarded irregularly?

    Submitted: 23.6.2025

    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Missions – FISC mission to Dubin (Ireland) – 22-07-2025 – Subcommittee on Tax Matters

    Source: European Parliament

    Members of the FISC Subcommittee will travel to Dublin, Ireland on 22 July for a day of exchanges on tax policies, the fight against tax avoidance and tax simplification.

    The delegation led by FISC Chair Mr Pasquale Tridico will meet with business representatives, including representatives of the Google group, the Meta group and Apple group. They will then have a discussion with Members of the Finance Committee and the Committee for Budgetary Oversight of the Oireachtas. The afternoon will be dedicated to exchanges with tax authorities, NGOs and academics.

    The objectives of the FISC delegation trip to Dublin are to better understand Irish tax policies and to have direct engagements with key policy-makers, tax authorities and stakeholders on critical issues, such as aggressive tax schemes, tax avoidance or tax simplification.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Increased human rights violations in West Papua and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations with Indonesia – E-002569/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002569/2025
    to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
    Rule 144
    Catarina Vieira (Verts/ALE)

    Although negotiations on an EU-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) are ongoing, civil society groups have regularly pointed out significant democratic backsliding in the country during this period. The situation in West Papua has consistently been the most problematic.

    The 2019 Sustainability Impact Assessment highlighted the increased risk of human rights violations resulting from increased trade without an improvement in enforcement mechanisms protecting indigenous peoples.

    Since 2019, the Human Rights Dialogue has been infrequent, with a gap between 2021 and 2024, while civilian casualties have increased considerably and there are up to 100 000 internally displaced persons in West Papua. Furthermore, the statement of the European External Action Service (EEAS) on the Human Rights Dialogue in 2024 failed to address the situation in West Papua.

    Given the EU’s commitment to promoting and protecting human rights in EU trade policy, can the Commission:

    • 1.clarify how it and the EEAS are addressing the serious human rights violations in West Papua, including through the Human Rights Dialogue or other instruments?
    • 2.clarify what protections for indigenous people will be incorporated in the CEPA negotiations?
    • 3.confirm whether the human rights of West Papuans, including the humanitarian crisis arising from the displacement of civilians as a result of the armed conflict, are being addressed during the trade negotiations?

    Submitted: 25.6.2025

    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Resilience and improvement of the EU’s electricity grid infrastructure – drawing lessons from the Iberian Peninsula blackout – E-002516/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002516/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Harald Vilimsky (PfE), Georg Mayer (PfE)

    The large-scale blackout on 28 April 2025 in Spain and Portugal was an alarming demonstration of how fragile and compromised Europe’s energy supply has become. The explosive volatility of electricity prices and the consequences for consumers and industry are becoming increasingly worrying.

    • 1.Is the Commission planning to get national energy suppliers and operators more involved in the protection of critical infrastructure, or even a return to more state control in order to prevent supply disruptions in future?
    • 2.How will it ensure that renewable energy development does not continue to cause instability in prices and grids?
    • 3.In the light of recent events and the energy crisis, is it ready to subject the targets of the Green Deal and ‘Fit for 55’ package to a substantive review in order to minimise the risks to the EU’s energy supply and competitiveness, rather than sticking to ideological requirements?

    Submitted: 23.6.2025

    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Türkiye’s attempt to instrumentalise the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in violation of international law – E-002509/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002509/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Emmanouil Kefalogiannis (PPE)

    Türkiye has attempted to instrumentalise the meeting of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul, with decisions promoting Turkish positions in favour of a two-state solution in Cyprus but also of an alleged ‘Turkish minority’ in Thrace and a ‘Turkish’ community in the Dodecanese, which is at odds with the resolutions of the Security Council and the Lausanne Treaty, which defines the minority as religious.

    Paragraph 24 of the Declaration of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ states that they: ‘Support the aspirations of the Muslim Turkish Cypriots to secure their inherent rights […] and the importance of developing contacts […] in order to overcome the unjust isolation imposed upon them’, while paragraph 25 thereof, which deals with the Muslim minority of Thrace and the Muslims of the Dodecanese, states that they: ‘Reiterate [their] support for the Turkish Muslim minority of Thrace and the Turkish Muslim population of the Dodecanese in Greece’.

    A number of states, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, have expressed their reservations with regard to the above, stressing that the resolution conveys a completely misleading and critical image of Greece.

    What action does the Commission intend to take in response to the blatant violation by Türkiye – an EU candidate country – of international law, in particular of the Treaty of Lausanne and the Security Council resolutions on a solution to the Cyprus problem?

    Submitted: 23.6.2025

    Last updated: 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Egypt: President El-Sisi Speaks with President of Ukraine Zelensky


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    Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call from President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.

    Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the two Presidents discussed the latest developments in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. President El-Sisi emphasized the crucial importance of reaching diplomatic and political solutions, stressing the imperative to prioritize dialogue as a means of resolving the current crisis. The President reaffirmed Egypt’s full support for all efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful settlement at the earliest time possible.

    The call also focused on developments in the Middle East and ways to restore regional stability. The two sides underscored the necessity of upholding the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, affirming the urgent need to resume negotiations as a pathway to a peaceful resolution of the crisis. President El-Sisi also reviewed Egypt’s ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and ensure the delivery of desperately-needed humanitarian aid and assistance.

    President El-Sisi and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy also tackled ways to strengthen bilateral relations and explored prospects for cooperation across various fields, particularly in the economic, trade, and investment sectors, in a manner that serves the interests of both countries and their peoples.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa: Water and Sanitation on Clear Rivers Campaign


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    The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) urges all South Africans to roll up their sleeves and participate in cleaning polluted rivers as part of the 2025 Clear Rivers Campaign.

    The campaign, which is observed annually in July, is a nationwide effort, themed: “South Africa is a water-scarce country – clean up and protect our water resources,” to encourage communities to take ownership of their local rivers, streams, and wetlands by actively protecting and restoring these essential water ecosystems.

    In alignment with Nelson Mandela Month, the campaign promotes hands-on public involvement and aims to strengthen a culture of environmental responsibility and water stewardship across the country.

    The Clear Rivers Campaign was first introduced in 2016 as an initiative to inspire action and awareness around the state of South Africa’s water resources. Since then, it has grown into a cornerstone movement encouraging communities to dedicate time during the month of July, particularly on Mandela Day, to clean up nearby rivers, streams, wetlands and canals.

    Healthy rivers are not only essential for human survival and environmental health, but they are also central to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of communities. In many parts of the country, especially in rural areas, rivers are relied upon for drinking water, cooking, fishing, washing, and sustaining livestock. Indigenous riverbank vegetation also supports wildlife, helps prevent erosion, and provides materials for everyday use and small business crafts.

    Rivers hold deep cultural and spiritual meaning for many South Africans. From ancestral rituals to religious ceremonies such as baptism and ceremonial cleansing, clean and accessible rivers are sacred spaces for reflection, healing and heritage. The degradation of these natural sites does not just pollute the environment, it diminishes cultural identity and connection.

    Economically, rivers and wetlands are sources of natural materials used to build homes, weave baskets, craft mats, and support local artisanal trades. When managed sustainably, these resources can help strengthen local economies and create pathways to economic resilience and dignity.

    Beyond clean-ups, the Clear Rivers Campaign is part of a broader drive to entrench environmental awareness and behavioural change in everyday life. It highlights the need for integrated and inclusive water resource management, where individuals, communities, and institutions work together to protect freshwater systems from pollution, misuse, and neglect.

    The Clear Rivers Campaign further seeks to strengthen the country’s efforts to promote water security, environmental awareness and behavioural change.

    The Department encourages South Africans to take action in their communities, whether by organising river clean-up drives, adopting sections of rivers for long-term care, or educating others on the importance of keeping water ecosystems healthy and pollution-free.

    “By taking part in the Clear Rivers Campaign, citizens are not only cleaning rivers, but they are also helping to secure the country’s water future, protect biodiversity, and honour the legacy of a leader who believed in collective responsibility. Clean water begins with clean rivers and protecting them is a duty shared by all,” said departmental spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Water and Sanitation, Republic of South Africa.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Egypt: Dr. Rania Al-Mashat Participates in Several Events on Expanding Fiscal Space for Developing Countries, National Frameworks and Platforms, and Aligning Capital Flows with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)


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    As part of her ongoing participation in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain, within the Egyptian delegation headed by H.E. Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, on behalf of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, participated in a number of events concerning expanding fiscal space for developing countries, national frameworks and platforms, aligning capital flows with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and a new vision for debt.

    Expanding Fiscal Space for Developing Countries and a New Vision for Debt

    H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat participated in a panel titled “Expanding Fiscal Space: A New Vision for Debt and Development Finance,” with the participation of Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Chair of the UN Expert Group on Debt and the UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda; Ms. Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA); and Ms. Zuzana Brixiova, Director of Macroeconomics, Finance and Governance Division at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

    The Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation emphasized that the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development represents a pivotal moment for fulfilling the international community’s commitments for achieving SDGs, particularly after the successive crises the world is facing, which undermine the ability of developing and emerging countries to meet the requirements of the development path.

    H.E. Minister Al-Mashat highlighted the importance of implementing the recommendations of the UN expert group’s report on solving the debt problem in Global South countries. 

    These included 11 key recommendations, among them: redirecting and renewing resources of existing funds in multilateral development banks and the International Monetary Fund to enhance liquidity, adopting policies to extend maturities and finance loan repurchases, reducing debt service during crises, reforming the G20 Common Framework to include all middle-income countries, and reforming the Debt Sustainability Analyses (DSA) of the IMF and World Bank to better reflect the situation of low and middle-income countries, among other recommendations.

    H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat expressed her aspiration that the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development will contribute to taking concrete steps towards restructuring the global financial system, which has become inadequate for the magnitude of challenges and changes facing developing and emerging countries. She noted that rising debts and decreasing investments undermine the ability of developing and emerging countries to catch up. She also stressed the need to overcome global challenges and return to the multilateral development cooperation system.

    H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat reiterated Egypt’s efforts to promote financing for development through innovative mechanisms such as debt swap programs with Germany and Italy, and the signing of a new agreement with China. She pointed to the credibility and trust between Egypt and international financing institutions, which facilitated the mobilization of more than $15.6 billion in development financing for the private sector since 2020.

    Reforming the Global Financial Architecture: Aligning Capital Flows with Development and Climate Goals

    In a related context, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat participated in a high-level session titled “Reforming the International Financial Architecture: Aligning Capital Flows with Development and Climate Goals,” organized by the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and the Belt and Road Green Development Council (BRIGC).

    Participants included Professor Jeffrey Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN); Mr. Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA); Professor Kevin Urama, Chief Economist of the African Development Bank; and Ms. Carla Louveira, Minister of Finance of Mozambique, among others.

    H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat reaffirmed that achieving inclusive and sustainable development in the African continent cannot be based solely on borrowing or on mobilizing domestic resources. Instead, it is essential to integrate both approaches to ensure sufficient and sustainable financing for development projects.

    H.E. Minister Al-Mashat also emphasized that Egypt is working to achieve a delicate balance between domestic and international financing, guided by a clear vision that mobilizing domestic resources supports sustainability, while international partnerships provide momentum for implementing major strategic projects.

    Regarding the global financial structure,H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat added that the current international financial system has led to a deepening of the disparity in capital flows between developing, emerging, and developed countries, and limits financing opportunities in southern countries. She asserted that developing countries, especially African nations, still bear unfair financial burdens due to the high cost of financing compared to developed countries, and this disparity weakens our ability to achieve the SDGs within set timelines.

    H.E. Minister Al-Mashat mentioned that capital flows are moving in the opposite direction, away from the countries  with the greatest needs, despite the high-return investment opportunities these countries offer. She underscored that instead of capital flowing towards high-yield development opportunities, we observe outflows due to increased risks associated with global fluctuations, which limits the ability of countries to attract long-term financing. She concluded that serious reforms are urgently needed in the international financial system.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Surveys Major NJ TRANSIT, Amtrak Infrastructure Project

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    KEARNY, N.J. – This morning, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) was joined by NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri and Amtrak Acting Senior Vice President of Capital Delivery Jim Short for a tour and status update on the progress on the new Portal North Bridge, which spans the Hackensack River between Kearny and Secaucus. The ongoing project is set to replace the current 114-year-old swing bridge, which opens for maritime traffic and is a frequent source of delays and frustration for the 200,000 NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak customers that cross the Hackensack River each day.

    “Hundreds of thousands of people rely on NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak every single day. It’s imperative we take steps to bolster their operations at every turn so that our public transit infrastructure continues to serve our region’s economy and passengers along the Northeast Corridor. I’m proud to have helped secure significant federal funding for this $2.2 billion project, including $495 million from Amtrak and roughly 50 percent of the remaining $1.73 billion from key federal transit programs I’ve long championed. I was pleased to see the project’s progress and hear it is on track to open on budget and ahead of schedule in 2026,” said Senator Booker.

    “Senator Booker has been a tireless advocate for infrastructure that delivers real results, and his support has been instrumental in bringing the Portal North Bridge project to this point,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri. “His visit today comes as we mark major progress, with structural work complete and the first track set to open in 2026.”

    “Portal North Bridge continues to be a model for all major infrastructure projects across America, and Senator Booker’s championing of the project is a major factor in driving the successful construction of this project,” said Amtrak Acting Senior Vice President of Capital Delivery Jim Short. “Between the great progress taking place on the project and the strong collaboration with our partners at NJ TRANSIT, and the advocacy of the United States Department of Transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and so many more, this is a project that will make train travel in New Jersey better than it has ever been.”

    The Portal North Bridge is a new, modern two-track, high-level, fixed-span bridge that will improve service and capacity along this section of the Northeast Corridor. The new Portal North Bridge rises 50 feet over the Hackensack River, nearly doubling the height clearance and will allow marine traffic to pass underneath without interrupting rail traffic.

    The Portal North Bridge project remains on time and on budget, with both tracks set to open in 2026.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Statement on Republicans’ Voting to Slash Medicaid and Increase Costs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), issued the following statement:

    “In this moment where I have heard the stories of so many families who are struggling to afford their basic needs, like groceries, housing, health care, and monthly bills, the Republican Party has failed them. 

    “Donald Trump promised to lower costs and help Americans make ends meet. 

    “Instead, this bill has something to hurt almost everyone – and Americans who are already struggling will pay the harshest price.  

    “The only winners are the wealthiest few, and the biggest corporations. 

    “This bill will strip health insurance from nearly 17 million Americans, cut more than $900 billion from Medicaid, increase annual health care costs by as much as $900 for families, and leave hundreds of hospitals at risk of closure, denying people access to quality care. 

    “Families will now also be paying more for energy, with electricity rates in New Jersey expected to rise 20 to 30 percent. Over 3 million Americans will lose access to much-needed food aid when they need it to help make ends meet. And the national debt will climb nearly $4 trillion higher. 

    “For months, I’ve heard from people across New Jersey and throughout the country who will suffer as a result of this bill. They are seniors, working parents, people with disabilities, small businesses, farmers, and low-income families. By passing this bill, Senate Republicans have failed them all.

    “There is only one beautiful thing about this bill: it is a clarion call for change in Washington. 

    “As we fight for the change we deserve, I will continue to stand up for New Jerseyans, for working people, for our nation’s children, for people with disabilities, and for all Americans who will be hurt by these disastrous policies.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Statement on Paramount’s Decision to Settle Trump’s Bogus Lawsuit Against 60 Minutes  

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, July 2 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released a statement on Paramount’s decision to settle Trump’s bogus lawsuit against the program 60 Minutes.

    The decision by the Redstone family, the major owners of Paramount, to settle a bogus lawsuit with President Trump over a 60 Minutes report he did not like is an extremely dangerous precedent in terms of both the First Amendment and government extortion.

    Paramount’s decision will only embolden Trump to continue attacking, suing and intimidating the media which he has labeled “the enemy of the people.” It is a dark day for independent journalism and freedom of the press — an essential part of our democracy. It is a victory for a president who is attempting to stifle dissent and undermine American democracy.

    It’s pretty obvious why Paramount chose to surrender to Trump. The Redstone family is in line to receive $2.4 billion from the sale of Paramount to Skydance, but they can only receive this money if the Trump administration approves this deal. In other words, the Redstone family diminished the freedom of the press today in exchange for a $2.4 billion payday.

    Make no mistake about it. Trump is undermining our democracy and rapidly moving us towards authoritarianism and the billionaires who care more about their stock portfolios than our democracy are helping him do it.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Baldwin Statement on Wisconsin Supreme Court Striking Down 1849 Abortion Ban

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement on the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that strikes down the 1849 state law that had banned abortions in nearly every situation that went into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade:

    “Three years ago, the activist U.S. Supreme Court stripped millions of Americans of their constitutional right to make their own health care decisions, sending Wisconsin women to live under an 1849 criminal abortion ban. This archaic criminal abortion ban was passed before the Civil War, decades before women had the right to vote, and just a year after Wisconsin became a state,” said Senator Baldwin. “Today’s ruling tells women across Wisconsin that we will not go back. Today’s ruling tells women that our government trusts you to make decisions about your own body and your future. Today’s ruling tells women in our state that they are not second-class citizens. But, this fight is not over. Every woman, in every zip code, in every state deserves the same rights and freedoms. I will not stop fighting until we make that a reality and pass my bill to restore the right to abortion nationwide and allow women to make their own health care decisions without interference from judges or politicians.”

    Senator Baldwin has long led the charge to restore abortion access nationwide, including leading the entire Senate Democratic caucus in introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, legislation to guarantee access to abortion everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans. Last week, Senator Baldwin spoke on the Senate floor, underscoring the impact of the Dobbs decision in Wisconsin, which forced women to travel out of state just to access health care. Additionally, Senator Baldwin has introduced the  Right to Contraception Act, a bill at the federal level to put into law Americans’ right to contraception, which the Supreme Court first recognized more than half a century ago in its Griswold v. Connecticut decision, and the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act, legislation to provide women the support they need to access reproductive health services by providing grants to organizations, including abortion funds, to offset the cost of travel-related expenses.

    A video of Senator Baldwin’s floor speech from the anniversary of Roe v. Wade is available for download here.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Georgia Republicans Join Warnock in Bipartisan Fight to Save Jobs from Senate GOP Tax Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Georgia Republicans Join Warnock in Bipartisan Fight to Save Jobs from Senate GOP Tax Bill


    Today, Republican members of the Georgia State Legislature urged Senate Finance Committee leadership to preserve solar deployment and manufacturing credits, per Axios

    Senator Reverend Warnock has been a fierce advocate for protecting manufacturing jobs in Georgia, which are at risk as the Senate GOP looks to fund a billionaire tax cut

    Senator Warnock released a report that found that repealing clean energy tax credits could cost Georgia up to 42,000 jobs

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) was joined by 16 Georgia Republican state lawmakers in calling for the preservation of the Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit (AMPTC) and solar deployment tax credits, which will help create thousands of Georgia jobs. The GOP letter states that protecting these tax credits, which were championed by Senator Warnock, will “secure America’s energy supply and promote Georgia’s manufacturing jobs and investments.”

    “I’m glad Georgia Republicans are joining my commonsense effort to protect Georgia jobs and pro-business tax credits from the GOP tax bill,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.“Cynical Washington politicians are trying to kill Georgia jobs, which overwhelmingly benefit rural and Republican districts, in order to fund a tax cut for billionaires. If Washington were serious about bringing American manufacturing back to the United States, they would listen to these GOP lawmakers.”

    The GOP letter follows the release of the Senator’s comprehensive report that found Georgia risks losing up to 42,000 good-paying jobs if Washington Republicans repeal the clean energy tax credits. Since the tax credit’s passage as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, clean energy jobs and investments exploded across the country, but nowhere was that growth more potent than in Georgia. In less than three years, 51 new projects in Georgia worth over $28 billion have been announced or boosted by the clean energy tax credits. According to the Senator’s report, in Georgia, nearly all the new investments and new jobs are in counties outside of the Atlanta region. Over 70 percent of the new investments and 83 percent of new jobs are in counties with median family incomes below the national median. More than 95 percent of the new jobs and investments are in counties where the percentage of people with a bachelor’s degree is below the national average.

    Last month, Senator Warnock returned to his hometown to continue his public pressure campaign urging Congressional Republicans to protect clean energy tax credits fueling an expected 42,000 Georgia clean energy jobs. He also authored an op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia’s paper of record, making the case for protecting these good-paying jobs.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Carney meets with the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the leadership of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association and member CEOs.

    Prime Minister Carney and the leaders discussed ongoing negotiations with the United States, and the work to pursue a deal by July 21, 2025. They discussed the impacts on the sector and the need to build up a made-in-Canada supply chain as well as diversify our trading partners.

    The Prime Minister underscored the federal measures to safeguard Canadian auto workers and businesses from unjust tariffs, and the adjustment of counter-tariffs on July 21 based on the state of negotiations. Prime Minister Carney affirmed that the government’s focus remains on securing the best deal for Canadian workers and industries.

    The leaders also discussed opportunities to make Canada’s auto sector more sustainable and competitive in the face of shifting trade relationships, market conditions, and supply chains.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Announces $76,950 DOT Grant to Tazewell County Airport Authority

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    Griffith Announces $76,950 DOT Grant to Tazewell County Airport Authority

    The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded Tazewell County Airport Authority, based in Richlands, Virginia, a $76,950 grant. The funding supports a tree removal project that helps bring the airport into conformity with current standards. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

    “Local airports lead tree removal projects to mitigate potential safety hazards to aircraft and passengers.

    “This DOT grant for $76,950 helps Tazewell County Airport Authority identify and eliminate obstructions to its airport.”

    BACKGROUND

    As part of the grant funding, the Tazewell County Airport Authority will acquire easements for 5 of the 7 parcels containing obstructions.

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    MIL OSI USA News –