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Category: Balkans

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Piero Cipollone: Interview with Delo

    Source: European Central Bank

    Interview with Piero Cipollone, conducted by Miha Jenko on 10 July 2025

    26 July 2025

    Mr Cipollone, the ECB is actively exploring the digital euro, the project was launched in July 2021. What are your arguments in favour of the introduction of a digital currency? Is it just a must, something that is necessary in the era of fast-paced digitalisation and of many alternative payment systems and cryptocurrencies, including stablecoins?

    We definitely think that it’s a must, because we need to solve a fundamental problem.

    Central banks do one fundamental thing: they offer a means of payment to the public. Both for retail, day-to-day transactions, and for the wholesale transactions of banks. At the retail level, we provide cash and we will continue to do so. With cash you can pay throughout the euro area in almost every shop. Paying with cash is one of the fundamental freedoms people have.

    However, cash can not be used for a growing part of our day-to-day transactions: we all shop online, but to do that we cannot use cash. And Europeans increasingly prefer to use digital rather than physical means of payments. Today, there is no equivalent of cash for these transactions and we still do not have a European solution to pay digitally throughout the euro area for all our needs and occasions. As a result, we depend on non-European private payment service providers to perform such a basic activity in our life as paying.

    By issuing a digital euro that has exactly the same functions as cash but is digital, we would allow central banks to provide a means of payment to the public to enable them to pay in those cases where physical cash cannot be used. Essentially, we are preserving people’s freedom to pay with public money: cash would be made available in both physical and digital form. And because the digital euro would be legal tender like banknotes and coins, it would be accepted for any digital payments.

    What is the current situation on the way to the digital euro? How do you see the progress made and are you satisfied with the preparations so far?

    There are two dimensions here.

    The first dimension relates to the technical preparations for the digital euro, which is the responsibility of the ECB and euro area central banks. We are progressing on all technical aspects of the project and we are on schedule.

    The second dimension is the legislative process, which will define the digital euro’s regulatory framework. On this side, progress has also been made but the legislation still needs to be finalised. We hope the legislative process can be completed as soon as possible so that we can reflect the choices of the legislators in the development of the digital euro. At the same time we understand that this is a complex project. Both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU – which brings together the ministers from each country – need to fully understand and take ownership of this process.

    In short, while we hope that things move faster on the legislative side, we are making good progress on the technical side.

    Do you feel political support from the European legislators? What is the mood among the politicians?

    At the summit in March, European leaders clearly stated that “accelerating progress on a digital euro is key,” notably to support a competitive and resilient European payment system and contribute to Europe’s economic security. Some details have yet to be agreed upon and we are dealing with them. But we have the highest possible support, and the Heads of State have told us that we need to go ahead with this. For us this is very strong encouragement to continue.

    But what about the people? Europeans eventually expect that the digital euro will provide the highest standards of quality, security, privacy and usability in payment systems. How is all that achievable in the near future?

    This is what we have been working on since we started the digital euro project in 2021. It is a complex project but we have very capable people both at the ECB and at national central banks. We have been identifying the best technical solutions to ensure the greatest degree of simplicity, speed, security and privacy.

    Let me take the example of privacy. The digital euro will provide the highest level of protection.

    First, people will have the possibility to use the digital euro offline, something that so far no digital payment solution offers. In terms of privacy, this will be as good as cash. Only the payer and the recipient will know about the transaction, and no one else.

    Second, when it comes to privacy for the online use of the digital euro, we at the central bank will only see a code for the payer and the payee. By law, we will not be able to identify the participants to the transaction.

    Let me give you another example. We are working on the technical side to provide the very best user experience and we are designing the system so that it is ready for innovation.

    In particular, we are giving banks and payment service providers the possibility to leverage on the digital euro’s technical platform to develop new services that are not yet available today. For instance, we are exploring conditional payments. As of today, users can only link a payment to time: “Pay this person at this point in time.” But users could decide to make a payment conditional on other events, and this would improve people’s lives.

    Here is an illustration. We are experimenting across Europe, conducting tests with users, start-ups, universities, banks. One of the proposed projects involves buying tickets for trains or planes – currently, if you want to get reimbursed in case of delays, you have to go through a lot of hassle. With the digital euro, it would be possible for the payment to be made only if, say, the train arrives on time. This means that the payment is made only if the service is provided in full.

    On the other hand, we know that many Europeans still love cash. For example, in May this year, the Slovenian Parliament even initiated official proceedings to introduce the right to use cash into our constitution. What is your message to the people who are sceptical about using any form of digital money?

    My answer is simple: you will continue to be able to use physical cash. Cash will always be available and everyone will be able to use it. As I said, we are committed to providing cash to society. And we strongly support the legislative proposal by the European Commission to strengthen the mandatory acceptance of cash.

    Moreover, we are designing a digital euro to be a digital form of cash: simple, free, inclusive, protecting privacy and accepted throughout the euro area. In any case, it will only provide an additional option: we will not force anyone to use it. We are guided by one objective: protecting people’s freedom to decide how to pay.

    What about the very young people, the new generations, who frequently use mobile devices? Will you prepare any solution for them?

    We are testing and analysing user solutions and organising focus groups to see people’s preferences. We are asking people about their priorities and how they would use the digital euro. We want to make sure that the product is simple to use and that everyone can understand it. This is the key point: people don’t wake up in the morning thinking, “I’d love to pay for something” – they pay because they want to buy things. So, payments need to be as simple, fast and as reliable as possible. And because the digital euro will be legal tender, you will know that you have a solution you can use to pay wherever digital payments are accepted, in a simple way, by placing your phone next to the payment device. And that you don’t have to worry whether the shop will accept your card or mobile payment app.

    So is the basic idea that the main instrument for executing digital euro payments will be mobile phones and devices?

    We will also provide physical cards to include people who are technologically less savvy or do not have mobile devices. We want to be as inclusive as possible.

    By the end of this year the ECB’s Governing Council will decide whether to move on to the next phase of preparations. What will be the key considerations taken into account in that crucial decision?

    We will assess where we stand in our technical preparations. At the same time, we will look at the discussion at the political level. We will look at whether the circumstances are developing in favour of issuing the digital euro.

    It seems to me that there are important reasons for us to proceed with the project. Political leaders have expressed strong support and even asked us to accelerate progress. We are also seeing a growing public interest. People are telling us that they will use the digital euro if it is available. People understand the importance of having a digital form of cash in cases where it is not possible to use physical cash or where they prefer to pay digitally.

    Who are the main stakeholders you communicate with?

    We’re engaging with everyone – consumers, merchants, payment service providers, policymakers. We see a lot of support.

    For example, consumers are very interested and ask us to ensure that the digital euro will be simple, free for basic use, inclusive.

    Merchants are also very supportive because having an alternative to international card payments would reduce the high fees they pay for digital payment transactions. So they expect a reduction in costs, and they want to be sure that the digital euro will be easy to integrate with existing payment solutions. We recently had a meeting in Frankfurt with representatives of European merchant associations. Their main request was: do it, do it fast and do it simple!

    Banks and payment service providers understand the importance of strategic autonomy. They want to be reassured that there won’t be excessive deposit outflows from bank accounts to the digital euro. In fact, this is not a big risk because the digital euro, as I said, is intended for payments rather than as a store of value. The digital euro will not be remunerated, so we do not expect people to keep high amounts in their digital euro wallet, and in any case there will be a holding limit. Furthermore, even if people do not have enough funds in their digital euro wallet, they will be able to pay with digital euro through a link to their bank account. So again, there will not be a need to keep high amounts in the digital wallet. We are also discussing with banks how to ensure the use of the digital euro within their IT systems in a cost-effective and less burdensome way, and how they will be compensated for the costs they incur. Banks seem to understand the importance of the project.

    Currently, we are living in a very different world compared with two or three decades ago, when the euro project was designed and then launched into the lives of Europeans in the form of coins and banknotes on 1 January 2002. That was the biggest cash changeover in history. And presumably, we are heading to the euro digital changeover in the near future. When will we be able to pay with the digital euro?

    Technically, we will be ready to launch in the next two-and-a-half to three years after the legislation is in place. So a lot depends on the adoption of the legislation. We cannot finalise the digital euro development until the legislation is adopted.

    So we are talking about the year 2028 or 2029?

    Yes, from 2028 onwards. But it really depends on the legislative process. Just an example to help people understand. We are still discussing whether people will be able to have one or several wallets. Technically, this means a completely different design and a different degree of complexity. We cannot finalise the technical specifications until we know what the legislation requires of us. That is why the current timeline very much depends on the legislation being adopted.

    And should the legislation be adopted only at the EU level or also by the national parliaments?

    No, just at the European level. We need the Council and the Parliament to adopt their positions and sit down together with the Commission to agree on a final text.

    Will the digital euro also be used in the countries that haven’t adopted the euro yet?

    No, the digital euro is for the residents of the euro area and for people who travel to the euro area. If a country that is in the EU but outside of the euro area wants to allow its citizens to use the digital euro, it needs to have an agreement between the ECB and its central bank. For countries outside the EU, an agreement is needed with both the government and the central bank.

    In an interview for Expansión in March this year you pointed out that there is a growing sense of urgency as “the situation outside the euro area is a source of pressure and demands greater consideration of the risks we face in payments as a result of our fragility and our extreme dependence on foreign providers”. What kind of risks do you refer to?

    We are currently in a situation where as many as two-thirds of card payments are processed by non-European companies. When you pay by card, our banking sector and payment service providers pay them fees. In addition, mobile payments are expanding their market share and when you pay with a mobile device, banks are losing fees and data. And we know that stablecoins – which are mostly denominated in dollars – are coming, which could take deposits away from banks. This would be a further step toward a deeper dependency of Europe on foreign providers.

    This dependency is a concern for the central bank, as the resilience of payment systems is one of the mandates of central banks. We want to make sure that Europeans can pay independently of other regions of the world, so that we have the means to lead a normal life even if something happens outside the euro area. Right now, we do not have that certainty.

    Yes, we are facing many new geopolitical and economical challenges, many of them coming from the other side of the Atlantic or from China. Given this new context, how could the digital euro boost EU competitiveness and enhance its strategic autonomy, as you’ve just mentioned?

    What I wish to say is that we should be masters of our own destiny. Regardless of what happens. We wish to fix the problem we have. We have had a common currency for 25 years, but when we wish to use it online, we depend on somebody else. This is a concerning situation. And we need to fix it. Just to give you an example: if we do the digital euro, this means that Europe will have a unified infrastructure and a common standard for payments. Payment service providers are very innovative. For example, in Slovenia you have flik and they tell me that it is a very good solution for paying…

    Yes, it is great for small payments.

    So why cannot flik expand outside Slovenia? It is a good solution and people can use it, but the difficulty is the standards. If you have different standards in different countries, it is very difficult for small companies to expand abroad, even if they are very innovative. It is like having to face different languages. But if you have one single standard, one language in common, it is much easier for you to sell your product. That is what we should care about: creating an environment where our companies can compete, grow and become big.

    In an article you wrote in the economics journal Bancaria, you pointed out that digital payments stand at the intersection of information technology and finance. Could you elaborate a little more on that?

    When we discuss and compare ourselves to the United States in the long run and look at the sectoral composition of productivity, we see that the distance between the United States and us is mainly visible in those two sectors: IT and finance. They both have one fundamental characteristic: economies of scale are key, allowing you to increase your productivity. Our companies cannot grow because they operate in a fragmented market. Even if you invent something in Slovenia in these two sectors, it is very difficult to expand your business abroad because of market fragmentation. And you cannot reap the benefits of your increased activity.

    So we need to ensure that our companies in these two fields can easily expand and take advantage of the EU’s single market. A study by the International Monetary Fund, which has been replicated several times, says that the non-tariff barriers that continue to hamper trade within the EU are equivalent to a tariff of 44% for goods and more than 100% for services. So it is important that those two sectors expand as much as possible in Europe, and to do so we need to address remaining barriers within the Single Market. For those two sectors, finance and IT, and for activities at their intersection – such as digital payments – economies of scale are essential to grow and thrive.

    What is the experience of the countries that have already introduced their digital currencies so far? Could we eventually learn something from them?

    The most advanced digital project so far is the Chinese one. But this is a completely different context in terms of rules, for example, a different level of privacy for digital wallets.

    So we focus on addressing the needs of the euro area and the preferences of Europeans, for instance on privacy. It is also very important that the system is very resilient to fraud – that is of great importance to citizens, and is a point that European consumer organisations have placed particular emphasis on.

    In fact, a number of central banks outside the euro area are looking at the progress we are making and reaching out to learn from our work. We in the euro area have a particular sense of urgency because the fragmentation of our payments landscape along national lines is inconsistent with our monetary union and does not allow to reap the full benefits of the Single Market. A digital euro would unify European payments.

    How do you see the ECB’s latest interest rate decision this Thursday (24 July)? What is the rationale behind it? Could we expect more rate cuts in 2025?

    Inflation is at our 2% target and the economy has proven resilient so far in a challenging global environment, but we still face considerable uncertainty, notably in relation to the trade outlook. Against this background, we have decided to leave rates unchanged.

    Trade disruptions make it harder to assess recent data. In the first quarter, the economy grew more strongly than expected, largely because firms frontloaded exports and capital goods investment ahead of expected tariff hikes. In contrast, private consumption growth moderated and the savings rate increased.

    In September – and later this year – we will have more information, which will feed into revised macroeconomic projections. We will then reassess our stance, in line with our data-dependent and meeting-by-meeting approach. In particular, we will be in a better position to assess the trade situation and look through the volatility generated by frontloading effects. This will allow us to better discern the underlying momentum in the economy and its implications for the inflation outlook.

    For now, we see conflicting signals. Weak consumer confidence points to subdued consumption growth in the short term, while continued uncertainty and the unwinding of frontloading effects could weigh on business investment and exports. At the same time, the labour market has so far remained resilient, even as labour demand weakens, and real incomes are rising even as wage growth gradually moderates. Over time, higher public investment in defence and infrastructure is expected to support economic activity. Overall, we continue to see risks to economic growth as tilted to the downside, but the outlook for inflation is more uncertain than usual. In particular, we will need to see how prices in the euro area are affected by trade disruptions – including their impact on supply chains as well as on trade diversion that is already resulting in higher euro area imports from China.

    After ten rate hikes between September 2022 and September 2023, the ECB has lowered borrowing costs eight (or nine) times since last June. What lessons has the ECB learnt from addressing the inflation in the past four years?

    I can tell you the two key lessons I take from the recent episode. First, when sudden inflationary shocks occur, inflation dynamics may change, because there is so-called non-linearity in the system. Inflation can accelerate very fast, especially because firms tend to change prices much faster than we expected. They take many small steps, but frequently. This acceleration is very important and we must take this non-linearity into account.

    Second, the recent inflation spike has confirmed the benefits of keeping inflation expectations under control. If you are able to anchor inflation expectations to your target level, the system will also adjust to this in a soft way. This way the implications of your monetary policy for the real economy may be less severe once you bring inflation expectations back to your target and you can bring back interest rates to lower levels earlier once the inflationary shock unwinds. Keeping inflation expectations close to our 2% inflation target is very important, and it’s one of the principles that we stressed a few weeks ago in our updated monetary policy strategy.

    In this context: what are the main risks to the euro area inflation outlook? Are they to the upside or to the downside right now and why?

    In our latest forecast, in June, we assessed that these risks are really balanced and are tilted neither to the upside nor to the downside. We now see an additional appreciation of the euro and a slight increase in energy costs. The overall assessment therefore stays the same. At that time, we also saw higher trade tensions and some concerns for the global economic outlook, which has so far been resilient. Overall, it seems to me that the June assessment can be confirmed and that inflation expectations are balanced.

    And finally: what lies ahead for the euro area in the context of rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainties, fractured multilateral rules, Trump’s tariffs, increased defence challenges and spending? How to address all these issues and challenges and what should be the role of the ECB in this more complicated and changed world?

    We have one fundamental mission: price stability. So we take all these factors into account and design the monetary policy to make sure that inflation stays at our target level. Price stability and financial stability create the conditions for people and businesses to take their decisions in a stable context, with as little uncertainty as possible. This is the role of the ECB – to provide, within our mandate, a macroeconomic environment that fosters long-term investment and reduces uncertainty for people when taking decisions. That is our key contribution.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi: Nation to expand opening-up

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech after receiving the credentials of 16 new ambassadors to China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

    President Xi Jinping, who received the credentials of 16 new ambassadors to China on Friday, welcomed the envoys to their new posts in Beijing and sent a clear signal that China will resolutely expand its high-level opening-up.

    During a group meeting with the ambassadors, Xi also voiced optimism about China’s economic prospects, saying that the nation will share “the dividends of its supersized market”.

    Currently, China is advancing the building of a strong nation and the great cause of national rejuvenation on all fronts through the Chinese path to modernization, while its economy “continues its upward momentum amid steadfastness”, Xi said.

    The nation will turn its new development into new opportunities for various countries, and “inject more certainty into global economic growth”, he added.

    On Friday morning, as welcoming bugles sounded and honor guards of the People’s Liberation Army stood solemnly in formation outside the north gate of the Great Hall of the People, the new ambassadors of Vietnam, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Albania, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Angola, Egypt, Nicaragua, Iran, Chile, Ukraine, Benin, the United States, Israel and South Sudan arrived one by one to meet the president.

    Xi accepted the credentials presented by the envoys and also posed for photos with each of them. He also met with Nurlan Yermekbayev, secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

    After the ceremony, Xi delivered a speech welcoming the envoys and asked them to convey his best wishes to the leaders and the people of their respective countries.

    Xi expressed his hope that the envoys will gain a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of China, and make earnest contributions to deepening China’s friendship with various countries and enhancing its exchanges with the rest of the world.

    This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

    China stands ready to work with all countries to firmly safeguard the international system with the UN at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, Xi said.

    China is willing to work with all countries to practice friendly cooperation, promote mutual learning among civilizations, build a community with a shared future for humanity, and “join hands to create a better future for this planet”, he added.

    Xi emphasized that amid accelerating global changes and a turbulent international landscape, countries around the world need to enhance solidarity and cooperation more than ever before. They should embrace a broad vision to rise above divisions and conflicts, and bear in mind the future of all humanity, he said.

    China always cherishes its friendship with people across the globe, and stands ready to strengthen all-around cooperation and exchanges with other countries on the basis of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, Xi said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Action against ATM fraud in Romania and UK stopped by joint investigation team with Eurojust assistance

    Source: Eurojust

    Authorities in Romania and the United Kingdom have taken concerted action to block criminals who illegally withdrew cash from automated teller machines (ATMs) on a large scale. By using specialised computer programs and devices, the Romanian criminal network managed to steal an estimated EUR 580 000. The criminal group was also involved in other types of payment and card fraud. 

    During an operation in Romania, two suspects were identified and brought in for questioning. In the UK, prosecutions have already been initiated against eight members of the group, following an action day in December 2024.

    © DIICOT Poliția Română

    Eurojust supported a joint investigation team of the Romanian and British authorities, which investigated the case. The Agency also assisted with the preparation of the action day in Romania. Europol provided data analysis support, in addition to sending an analyst to Romania and organising meetings to prepare for the operations on the ground.

    The criminal network was formed last year in the Romanian city of Bacău, mainly consisting of family members and friends. They adopted a derogatory term aimed at the police as their so-called trademark, which they used on social media, on custom license plates and on clothes they wore.

    Most of the money was stolen in the UK by pretending to take money from an ATM with a bank card, removing the screen of the ATM and then cancelling the transaction. This allowed them to reach into the ATM itself and take all the cash inside, before ending the transaction.

    The criminals also counterfeited public transport cards, which they distributed across the UK with the help of individuals of Turkish origin. Furthermore, they committed card fraud by using software that identifies card numbers and then generates illicit income through fraudulent payments.

    The proceeds of the criminal activities were invested in luxury cars, jewellery, real estate and expensive holidays. The gang members being prosecuted in the UK and those brought in for questioning in Romania are suspected of cyber fraud, membership of an organised crime group, money laundering and forgery of payment instruments. 

    During the action day in Romania, a total of 18 places were searched and real estate, vehicles electronic devices and cash were seized. 

    The operations against the criminal network were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

    • Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) – Bacău Regional Service; Romanian Police – Anti Cybercrime Service of Bacău County Organised Crime Brigade
    • United Kingdom: Crown Prosecution Service; Eastern Regional Special Operations Unit

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Action against ATM fraud in Romania and UK stopped by joint investigation team with Eurojust assistance

    Source: Eurojust

    Authorities in Romania and the United Kingdom have taken concerted action to block criminals who illegally withdrew cash from automated teller machines (ATMs) on a large scale. By using specialised computer programs and devices, the Romanian criminal network managed to steal an estimated EUR 580 000. The criminal group was also involved in other types of payment and card fraud. 

    During an operation in Romania, two suspects were identified and brought in for questioning. In the UK, prosecutions have already been initiated against eight members of the group, following an action day in December 2024.

    © DIICOT Poliția Română

    Eurojust supported a joint investigation team of the Romanian and British authorities, which investigated the case. The Agency also assisted with the preparation of the action day in Romania. Europol provided data analysis support, in addition to sending an analyst to Romania and organising meetings to prepare for the operations on the ground.

    The criminal network was formed last year in the Romanian city of Bacău, mainly consisting of family members and friends. They adopted a derogatory term aimed at the police as their so-called trademark, which they used on social media, on custom license plates and on clothes they wore.

    Most of the money was stolen in the UK by pretending to take money from an ATM with a bank card, removing the screen of the ATM and then cancelling the transaction. This allowed them to reach into the ATM itself and take all the cash inside, before ending the transaction.

    The criminals also counterfeited public transport cards, which they distributed across the UK with the help of individuals of Turkish origin. Furthermore, they committed card fraud by using software that identifies card numbers and then generates illicit income through fraudulent payments.

    The proceeds of the criminal activities were invested in luxury cars, jewellery, real estate and expensive holidays. The gang members being prosecuted in the UK and those brought in for questioning in Romania are suspected of cyber fraud, membership of an organised crime group, money laundering and forgery of payment instruments. 

    During the action day in Romania, a total of 18 places were searched and real estate, vehicles electronic devices and cash were seized. 

    The operations against the criminal network were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

    • Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) – Bacău Regional Service; Romanian Police – Anti Cybercrime Service of Bacău County Organised Crime Brigade
    • United Kingdom: Crown Prosecution Service; Eastern Regional Special Operations Unit

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Plastic Greenpeace climbers abseil from Forth Bridge to block INEOS tanker in plastics protest An international team of Greenpeace activists has abseiled from Scotland’s Forth Road Bridge to block an INEOS tanker from delivering its cargo of fracked American gas to the Grangemouth petrochemical… by Graham Thompson July 25, 2025

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    An international team of Greenpeace activists has abseiled from Scotland’s Forth Road Bridge to block an INEOS tanker from delivering its cargo of fracked American gas to the Grangemouth petrochemical facility. 

    The Greenpeace protest is aimed at chemicals giant INEOS, owned by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, which is opposing efforts by UN Member States to secure a Global Plastics Treaty to curb plastic pollution [1]. INEOS is the UK’s biggest plastics manufacturer, producing 30-35 billion nurdles (pellets) daily at its Grangemouth plant – enough to make 60 million plastic bottles.

    The action comes less than a fortnight before governments meet in Geneva, Switzerland, for the sixth and final round of negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty (5-14 August). Greenpeace is calling for these talks to agree to a cut in global plastic production of at least 75% by 2040, and for the UN to exclude lobbyists from INEOS and other fossil fuels companies from the treaty negotiations. Plastics producers including INEOS have collectively sent hundreds of lobbyists to exert their influence at every stage of the talks so far. Lobbyists have used tactics such as intimidation and harassment, to block an agreement that includes caps on plastic production.

    The 10 climbers are confronting the giant INEOS tanker ‘INDEPENDENCE’. The vessel spent the last 10 days crossing the Atlantic carrying 27,500 cubic metres of ethane bound for Grangemouth where it will be used by INEOS in the production of virgin plastic.

    Amy Cameron, Programme Director at Greenpeace UK said:

    “Plastic pollution has reached a crisis point: it’s poisoning our land, seas, air, even our bodies. The Global Plastics Treaty offers us a once in a generation chance to tackle the problem for good, so it’s no surprise INEOS and its billionaire boss, Jim Ratcliffe, are doing everything they can to stop it.

    Ratcliffe tries to distract us with sports teams and sponsorships, but we’re not going to let him fill our planet with plastic, so he can fill his pockets with profit. Ratcliffe is trying to block a strong Global Plastics Treaty, so today we’re blocking him.”

    An international team of Greenpeace activists abseil from Scotland’s Forth Road Bridge to block an INEOS tanker from delivering its cargo of fracked American gas to the Grangemouth petrochemical facility. The Greenpeace protest is aimed at chemicals giant INEOS, owned by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, which is opposing efforts by UN Member States to secure a Global Plastics Treaty to curb plastic pollution. INEOS is the UK’s biggest plastics manufacturer, producing (pellets) daily at its Grangemouth plant – enough to make 60 million plastic bottles.© Luca Marino / Greenpeace

    The highly-trained Greenpeace climbers [2] abseiled from beneath the bridge’s service walkway, unfurling six giant ‘Plastics Treaty Now’ banners. They will remain suspended 25 metres above the main shipping lane of the River Forth [3], preventing the tanker from reaching port with its hazardous cargo. They are supported by a rescue crew on the bridge and a boat team in the river below. 

    The Greenpeace protest comes during Donald Trump’s visit to Scotland. Over the past three years, INEOS Energy has made investments exceeding $3bn in the US oil and gas sector, and the US petrochemicals industry is investing heavily in new chemical and plastics production projects. Like INEOS, US Fossil Fuel giants are attempting to weaken the Global Plastics Treaty to avoid caps on virgin plastic production. 

    ENDS

    Contact: 

    Greenpeace UK press office: press.uk@greenpeace.org / 020 7865 8255

    Greenpeace press officer on the ground at Forth Road Bridge: Kai Tabacek – 07984 127025

    Greenpeace spokespeople are available for interviews on the ground in Scotland and in London

    Please find all photos and videos of the protest HERE. Additional pictures and footage will be added as they become available.

    Notes to editors

    1. Speaking at the EFRA Parliamentary Committee on 8th July, on the UK Government’s priorities for the final plastics treaty negotiations, INEOS’s Technology Director, Peter Williams firmly opposed production caps because of potential “unintended consequences.”
    2. The international team of Greenpeace activists include climbers from: UK, Argentina, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Finland, France, Italy, Netherlands and Taiwan.
    3. The main span of the iconic Forth Road Bridge is a little over a kilometre long, around 50 metres above water level. The highly-trained Greenpeace climbers are spaced at intervals of around 20 metres in an attempt to block the INEOS tanker. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi receives credentials of new ambassadors to China 2025-07-25 17:01:28 Chinese President Xi Jinping received the credentials of 16 new ambassadors to China in Beijing on Friday.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

    Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech after receiving the credentials of 16 new ambassadors to China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

    BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping received the credentials of 16 new ambassadors to China in Beijing on Friday.

    The ambassadors are:

    — Pham Thanh Binh from Vietnam

    — Miguel Lecaro Barcenas from Panama

    — Jose Julio Gomez Beato from Dominica

    — Riza Poda from Albania

    — Jonathan Edward Austin from New Zealand

    — Thaddeus Kambanei from Papua New Guinea

    — Dalva M. C. R. Allen from Angola

    — Khaled Nazmy from Egypt

    — Ramiro Jose Cruz Flores from Nicaragua

    — Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli from Iran

    — Pablo Arriaran from Chile

    — Olexander Nechytaylo from Ukraine

    — Franck E. W. Adjagba from Benin

    — David Alfred Perdue Jr from the United States

    — Eliav Belotsercovsky from Israel

    — Morris Simon Batali from South Sudan

    Xi also received Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Nurlan Yermekbayev.

    Welcoming the envoys to their new posts, Xi asked them to convey his best wishes to the leaders and the people of their respective countries, expressing hope that envoys will gain a full and in-depth understanding of China.

    China cherishes its friendship with people across the globe, and stands ready to strengthen all-around cooperation and exchanges with other countries on the basis of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, Xi said.

    Xi pointed out that, at present, China is advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization, while its economy maintains a steadily improving momentum.

    Amid accelerating global changes and a turbulent international landscape, there is a pressing need more than ever for countries around the world to enhance solidarity and cooperation, embrace a broad vision to rise above estrangement and conflict, and bear in mind the future of all humanity, Xi noted.

    This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, Xi noted.

    Xi said China stands ready to work with all countries to firmly safeguard the international system with the UN at its core and the international order underpinned by international law.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech after receiving the credentials of 16 new ambassadors to China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: At UN High-Level Political Forum, UNECE calls for engagement of all enablers and partnerships to achieve SDGs

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    With just five years remaining to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the world faces a deepening social crisis. Economic insecurity, widening inequalities, and declining social trust undermine progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and threaten the foundations of peaceful, inclusive societies.  

    Taking part in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York (14 – 23 July), UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean outlined the tools, initiatives and partnerships from the UNECE region that can help develop efficient and inclusive policy solutions for some of the most pressing issues, including demographic pressure, education, employment, housing, and social care. This requires the full engagement of all of society and harnessing of several key enablers. 

    Enablers and partnerships to advance SDGs 

    To advance the 2030 Agenda, and identify efficient and inclusive policy solutions, UNECE engages key enablers and all relevant stakeholders: 

    These enablers and stakeholders play a strong role in co-creating and implementing standards and policies, guiding progress in many technology-driven areas, such as autonomous vehicles, the smart energy transition, cross-border connectivity, but also in environmental governance, namely transboundary water cooperation, noted the Executive Secretary at the HLPF regional session. 

    To unlock financing for the SDGs, UNECE prioritizes bringing together the public and private sectors through its PPP and Infrastructure Evaluation and Rating System (PIERS), a quality assurance tool that helps governments and stakeholders ensure that PPP and infrastructure projects are well designed and aligned with the SDGs and can therefore attract investors. They are crucial for building resilient infrastructure and maintaining public services. 

    Given the importance of local policies and action in advancing SDGs, UNECE’s Forum of Mayors promotes exchanges between cities and gives them a voice at the multilateral level.  

    Finally, with their valuable perspectives, civil society and youth play an important role in finding and devising policy solutions across many areas of UNECE work, which is why they are an important pillar of the UNECE Regional Forum on Sustainable Development.  

    Strengthening social inclusion and adequate housing 

    Despite considerable wealth and innovation, the UNECE region is witnessing deep and growing disparities: between urban and rural areas, generations, and different groups. Social protection systems facing significant demographic pressures, fiscal constraints, and new labour dynamics. This requires investing in inclusive education, training and re-skilling initiatives, especially for disadvantaged groups, such as youth, women and older people, noted the Executive Secretary at the UNDESA global policy dialogue “Accelerating Social Progress to Boost SDG Implementation.”  

    UNECE’s work in this area shows that investing in adequate care infrastructure is not only a social imperative but also economically beneficial as it empowers people to participate in society and the economy. The upcoming World Summit for Social Development in Doha offers an important opportunity to act on commitments from the recent 4th International Conference on Financing for Development and to align both public spending and private finance with inclusive objectives. 

    Access to adequate and affordable housing has emerged as an issue central to achieving social inclusion and the SDGs. Through its Committee on Housing, Urban Development and Land Management, as well as the Forum of Mayors, UNECE supports national and local governments to design and implement inclusive, energy-efficient and climate-responsive urban policies and help them transform housing into a pillar of social stability, the Executive Secretary stressed at the high-level dialogue on adequate housing, co-hosted by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and UN-Habitat. 

    The upcoming UNECE Forum of Mayors in October 2025 will feature a dedicated segment on adequate housing, with discussion feeding into a Ministerial Meeting on Housing Affordability and Sustainability on 8 October in Geneva. 

    Role of UNECE and other UN Regional Commissions  

    The UN Regional Commissions play a key role in convening, coordinating and driving innovative policy solutions. As the custodian of several global conventions, agreements and treaties with strong implications for multiple industries, UNECE plays a unique role in helping UN Member States to achieve social and economic wellbeing.  

    UNECE’s policy, standard-setting and capacity-building work across areas, such as energy, environment, trade, transport and many more, helps to boost predictability, investor confidence, as well as institutional, regulatory and policy conditions to facilitate bankable projects.      

    In that respect the UN80 initiative, which aims to strengthen efficiencies and coordination across the UN system, can unlock further benefits for member States, noted the Executive Secretary during her exchanges with representatives of Denmark, France, The Netherlands, Slovenia, United States, and Uzbekistan.  

    Photo credits: UN / UNECE

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Regular Press Briefing of the Ministry of National Defense on July 14, 2025 2025-07-25 On the afternoon of July 14, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answered recent media queries concerning the military.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

    On the afternoon of July 14, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answered recent media queries concerning the military.

    On the afternoon of July 14, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answers recent media queries concerning the military. (Photo by Sun Yue)

    Jiang Bin: First, I would like to announce two pieces of information.

    First, the Young Leaders Conference of China-Africa Peace and Security Forum will be held in Nanjing from July 15 to 19, with about 90 mid-and-senior level military officers from over 40 African countries attending. The Conference is hosted by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense and organized by the PLA Army Command College. With the theme of Building Peace Together for the Future, the conference is aimed at implementing the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and further boosting consensus, solidarity and cooperation between China and African countries on peace and security, so as to facilitate the building of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

    Second, army special forces of China and Serbia will carry out Peace Guardian-2025 joint training in Hebei in the second half of July. This will be the first joint training between Chinese and Serbian militaries. It will help strengthen combat capabilities of participating troops and deepen cooperation between the two militaries.

    Journalist: The Philippine Defense Secretary has recently said in an interview that China’s willingness to sign the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone was just a symbolic gesture. With one of the world’s largest nuclear arsenals, China should denuclearize first to show its sincerity. Do you have any comment?

    Jiang Bin: Some people in the Philippines often make groundless accusations against China’s efforts in preserving regional peace. Do they speak for themselves or stand for their country? We are not sure. Establishing the Southeast Asia nuclear weapon-free zone (SEANWFZ) is significant for strengthening the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and promoting regional peace and stability, and is conducive to the fundamental security interests of ASEAN countries. The Chinese side is firmly committed to such an undertaking, and has made clear our willingness to take the lead in signing the Protocol.

    China follows a policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, and has made an unconditional commitment of not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear weapon-free zones. China is the only nuclear-weapon state that has made such a commitment. China’s nuclear force and nuclear policy have been a significant contribution to world peace, which is widely recognized by the international community.

    Journalist: Sources from the Japanese government said that Japan plans to export six Abukuma-class frigates to the Philippines. Some analysts believe this is aimed at “China’s maritime expansion”. What’s your take?

    Jiang Bin: It is our consistent position that defense and security cooperation between relevant countries should not target at any third party or harm the interests of any third party. During WWII, Japanese militarists committed heinous crimes when they invaded and colonized Japan’s neighboring countries, including China and the Philippines, and occupied islands in the South China Sea. In recent years, Japan has breached its commitments under the pacifist Constitution and exclusively defense-oriented policy by continuously exporting weapons and equipment to other countries, attempting to build small cliques to stir up trouble in the South China Sea, which created destabilizing factors in the Asia-Pacific region. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. We urge the Japanese side to deeply reflect on and draw lessons from history, speak and act prudently on military and security matters, and do more to contribute to regional peace and stability.

    Journalist: The head of Taiwan’s military agency has reportedly announced the establishment of Taiwan’s first HIMARS company, and that it will greatly improve the Taiwan military’s precision strike and overall defense capabilities. In addition, Taiwan’s military agency has approved the acquisition of 168 units of US M109A7 self-propelled howitzers. Do you have any comment?

    Jiang Bin: In order to solicit US support for “Taiwan independence”, the DPP authorities are selling Taiwan’s interests to flatter the US and squandering the hard-earned money of the Taiwan people to pay protection fees. Buying US weapons to embolden themselves is useless and self-deceiving. Resisting reunification by force is a dead end. War provocations made by the “Taiwan independence” armed forces are futile, and will only lead to self-destruction.

    On the afternoon of July 14, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answers recent media queries concerning the military. (Photo by Sun Yue)

    Journalist: According to reports, the DPP authorities stated that the activation of the W121 extension of the M503 route by the Civil Aviation Administration of China intends to reduce the depth of Taiwan’s air defense and shorten its early warning time, which would ultimately eliminate the “median line of the Taiwan Strait”, thereby posing military threats to Taiwan. Some media reports said that the activation came just days before Taiwan’s Han Kuang military exercise, and might escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait. What’s your comment?

    Jiang Bin: Taiwan is a part of China and there is no so-called “median line of the Taiwan Strait”. The establishment and activation of relevant route is a routine work carried out by the competent authorities based on the needs of civil aviation development and management. It is beneficial to compatriots on both sides of the Strait. The DPP authorities used it as an excuse to hype up the so-called “military threats from the mainland” for their selfish gains, attempting to create security anxiety, intensify antagonism and confrontation, and obstruct cross-Strait exchanges. Their scheme would never be welcomed nor succeed.

    The root cause for the current tension across the Taiwan Strait lies in the DPP authorities’ collusion with external forces in their continuous provocations for “Taiwan independence”. We hope that all Taiwan compatriots can see through the true nature of the DPP authorities in seeking independence, realize the serious harm of “Taiwan independence”, firmly oppose “Taiwan independence” separatist activities, and jointly safeguard cross-Strait peace and stability.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: BSTDB Backs Renewable Energy Expansion in Bulgaria and Romania with €40 Million Loan to Renalfa IPP

    Source: Black Sea Trade and Development Bank

    Press Release | 24-Jul-2025

    Joint €315 million international financing to accelerate clean energy investments

    The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) is providing up to €40 million loan to support the development, hybridization, and expansion of Renalfa IPP’s renewable energy assets in Bulgaria and Romania. The financing forms part of a broader €315 million financing package secured from leading development finance institutions and commercial banks, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Kommunalkredit Austria AG, OTP Hungary, NLB Slovenia, and UniCredit BulBank.

    The funds will enable Renalfa IPP to upgrade its portfolio of renewable energy and battery energy storage systems (BESS), contributing to the decarbonization of Bulgaria’s and Romania’s power systems. The project will help diversify the countries’ energy mix, enhance energy security, and accelerate their transition to low-carbon economies. The BSTDB financing will also help catalyze further private and public sector investments, generate employment during both the construction and operation phases, and create long-term value for local communities. The operation represents a major step forward in the region’s transition toward cleaner, more secure, and sustainable energy systems.

    “This investment marks an important milestone in BSTDB’s efforts to support the clean energy transition in the Black Sea region,” said Dr. Serhat Köksal, BSTDB President.  “By backing the development of solar, wind, and battery storage infrastructure in Bulgaria and Romania, we are strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of their electricity sectors. The operation will play a key role in addressing the countries’ growing energy demands, while also reducing carbon emissions and supporting their commitments to climate goals. Moreover, it aligns closely with BSTDB’s Climate Strategy and reinforces our commitment to financing sustainable infrastructure and regional growth.”

    Ivo Prokopiev, CEO of Renalfa IPP, commented: “The successful raising of growth funding is an important milestone for Renalfa IPP and for our whole group. It proves the competitiveness of our integrated model for developing, investing and operating large hybrid assets. The early implementation of long duration co-located BESS allows Renalfa IPP to start offering green baseload products to market in CEE for the first time. We are proud, together with our partners from RGreen, to be on the frontier of energy transition not only in CEE, but in the whole EU.”

    Renalfa IPP is a leading independent power producer based in Vienna, specializing in the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy projects across Central and Eastern Europe. As an established platform with strong business model capabilities, Renalfa IPP works across the full value chains from project origination to asset operation. The company focuses on solar, wind, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), supporting the region’s transition to a sustainable and low-carbon energy future. Renalfa IPP is a joint venture between Renalfa Solarpro Group and RGREEN INVEST. 

    Renalfa Solarpro Group is a Vienna based clean energy and e-mobility investment group with a focus on renewable energy generation assets. Renalfa Solarpro is an established platform with strong business model capabilities, working across the full solar PV, wind, and BESS value chains from project origination to asset operation.

    RGREEN INVEST is an independent French mission-driven investment management company committed to helping investors channel their capital towards financing projects dedicated to accelerating the energy transition, mitigation, and adaptation to climate change.

    https://www.renalfa.com

    https://www.rgreeninvest.com

     

    The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) is an international financial institution established by Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. The BSTDB headquarters are in Thessaloniki, Greece. BSTDB supports economic development and regional cooperation by providing loans, credit lines, equity and guarantees for projects and trade financing in the public and private sectors in its member countries. The authorized capital of the Bank is EUR 3.45 billion. For information on BSTDB, visit www.bstdb.org.

     

    Contact: Haroula Christodoulou

    : @BSTDB

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Activities of Secretary-General in Spain, 29 June – 1 July

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, arrived in Sevilla, Spain, on Sunday, 29 June, to take part in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), which was being co-hosted by Spain and took place from 30 June to 3 July.

    In the afternoon, he met with His Majesty Don Felipe VI, King of Spain.  They discussed ongoing efforts to advance the international financing for development agenda.  During the meeting, the Secretary-General expressed his deep gratitude for Spain’s unwavering commitment to multilateralism and the UN system, as well as its leadership role in international cooperation and as a permanent bridge builder between the North and the South.

    In the evening, the Secretary-General attended a dinner hosted by H.H.M.M. the King and Queen of Spain.

    On Monday morning, 30 June, the Secretary-General had a bilateral meeting with the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón.  They discussed efforts to advance international financing for development and Spain’s cooperation with the UN in this regard.  The Secretary-General expressed his deep appreciation for the magnificent organization of the Conference and Spain’s warm hospitality.

    Soon after, together with President of the Government of Spain, the Secretary-General met and greeted Heads of State and Government.  This was followed by a family photo.

    Then, also with the President of the Government of Spain, the Secretary-General welcomed Don Felipe VI, King of Spain, and Queen Letizia.

    The Secretary-General then delivered remarks during the Conference’s opening session and underscored that financing is the engine of development, and right now, this engine is sputtering.  He warned that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, our global promise to transform our world for a better, fairer future, is in danger.

    The Secretary-General stressed that the Conference wasn’t about charity, it was about restoring justice and lives of dignity.  He also added that the Conference wasn’t about money, it was about investing in the future we want to build, together.

    Speaking to the media afterwards, in a joint press encounter with the President of the Government of Spain, the Secretary-General underscored that with the adoption of the Sevilla Commitment document, countries are proving their dedication to getting the engine of development revving again.  Above all, he added, Sevilla was about solutions and finding these solutions at a divided and difficult moment for the human family.

    The Secretary-General said that it was his hope that the collective efforts in Sevilla can inspire and motivate the countries of the world to work as one to solve other global challenges.

    In the afternoon, at the launch of the Sevilla Platform for Action, the Secretary-General highlighted that the Platform offers an ambitious, action-oriented response to the global financing challenge.  He pointed out that in the midst of a world of division, conflict and economic uncertainty, the Platform contains more than 130 specific initiatives that demonstrate what we can achieve by working together.

    Soon after, at the opening of the International Business Forum, the Secretary-General underscored that by uniting public and private sector leaders, regulators and development banks, we can ensure that the Conference is not an end, but rather a beginning.

    Later in the afternoon, the Secretary-General held a series of bilateral meetings, including with the President of the Republic of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa Azín, with the Prime Minister of Nepal, K.P. Sharma Oli, with the President of Estonia, Alar Karis,  with the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, and the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal.

    The Secretary-General also met Deemah AlYahya, the Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, and also held a bilateral meeting with Mark Suzman, CEO and Board Member of the Gates Foundation.

    Later in the evening, the Secretary-General attended a cocktail-style dinner hosted by the President of the Government of Spain with Heads of State and Government.

    On Tuesday morning, 1 July, the Secretary-General held a closed-door meeting with Heads of the multilateral development banks, which the President of the Government of Spain also participated, as well as the Deputy-Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed.

    He then had a meeting with Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia and the First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions, before leaving Sevilla, Spain.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Action against ATM fraud in Romania and UK stopped by joint investigation team with Eurojust support

    Source: Eurojust

    Authorities in Romania and the United Kingdom have taken concerted action to block criminals who illegally withdrew cash from automated teller machines (ATMs) on a large scale. By using specialised computer programs and devices, the Romanian criminal network managed to steal an estimated EUR 580 000. The criminal group was also involved in other types of payment and card fraud. 

    During an operation in Romania, two suspects were identified and brought in for questioning. In the UK, prosecutions have already been initiated against eight members of the group, following an action day in December 2024.

    © DIICOT Poliția Română

    Eurojust supported a joint investigation team of the Romanian and British authorities, which investigated the case. The Agency also assisted with the preparation of the action day in Romania. Europol provided data analysis support, in addition to sending an analyst to Romania and organising meetings to prepare for the operations on the ground.

    The criminal network was formed last year in the Romanian city of Bacău, mainly consisting of family members and friends. They adopted a derogatory term aimed at the police as their so-called trademark, which they used on social media, on custom license plates and on clothes they wore.

    Most of the money was stolen in the UK by pretending to take money from an ATM with a bank card, removing the screen of the ATM and then cancelling the transaction. This allowed them to reach into the ATM itself and take all the cash inside, before ending the transaction.

    The criminals also counterfeited public transport cards, which they distributed across the UK with the help of individuals of Turkish origin. Furthermore, they committed card fraud by using software that identifies card numbers and then generates illicit income through fraudulent payments.

    The proceeds of the criminal activities were invested in luxury cars, jewellery, real estate and expensive holidays. The gang members being prosecuted in the UK and those brought in for questioning in Romania are suspected of cyber fraud, membership of an organised crime group, money laundering and forgery of payment instruments. 

    During the action day in Romania, a total of 18 places were searched and real estate, vehicles electronic devices and cash were seized. 

    The operations against the criminal network were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

    • Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) – Bacău Regional Service; Romanian Police – Anti Cybercrime Service of Bacău County Organised Crime Brigade
    • United Kingdom: Crown Prosecution Service; Eastern Regional Special Operations Unit

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Clarification regarding the lifting of measures against Kosovo – E-002940/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002940/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Riho Terras (PPE), Davor Ivo Stier (PPE), Merja Kyllönen (The Left)

    We would like the Commission to clarify the procedure for lifting the measures against Kosovo.

    • 1.Is a unanimous vote by the Council required to approve the lifting of the measures and what kind of procedure applies in this case, given that these measures are not sanctions that need to be renewed by unanimity every six months? Furthermore, to our knowledge, no vote took place in the Council when the measures were imposed in 2023.
    • 2.Could the Commission share any information it has on the impact of the EU measures – such as details of which programmes were suspended and an estimate of how many projects were affected by the freezing of funds under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance?
    • 3.Last but not least: have the measures against Kosovo been successful in the opinion of the Commission, and what has the European Union achieved by implementing these measures?

    Submitted: 16.7.2025

    Last updated: 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – European support for Bulgaria’s accelerated energy transition to alternative fuels – E-002905/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002905/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Renew)

    In view of the European Union’s goals of achieving climate neutrality and pursuing energy independence from third countries, the accelerated transition to alternative fuels is of key importance for Bulgaria. Imports of petroleum products continue to account for a significant share of the country’s energy balance, making it vulnerable both economically and strategically. At the same time, national capacity for investment in sustainable energy solutions remains limited, particularly in the context of the socio-economic challenges associated with the transformation of the energy sector.

    In the light of this,

    • 1.what specific mechanisms and instruments does the European Commission envisage to assist Bulgaria in accelerating its transition to alternative fuels?
    • 2.Are there any targeted programs within REPowerEU, the Just Transition Fund, or other initiatives through which our country can receive financial, regulatory or technical support to reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and increase energy sustainability?

    Submitted: 16.7.2025

    Last updated: 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Retaliatory demolitions of properties in Albania – E-002943/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002943/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Fredis Beleris (PPE)

    Recently, the Albanian authorities seem to have engaged in demolitions of private tourist properties, with the most recent in the Thethi region, where some of the properties had been licensed by the authorities and taxes paid to the Municipality and the State for several years. The owners, both Albanians and European citizens, point out that these buildings are on their property and the demolitions are selective and occur without warning, during the tourist season. At the same time, they complain that the demolitions are retaliatory in nature and punish citizens for their actions in the recent elections, while the citizens in question were never given the right to appeal to the courts against the administrative acts of demolition.

    Acts such as these prove that the Albanian Government does not respect the separation of powers. As part of their accession process, candidate countries must fully comply with EU requirements on the rule of law, property and the right to a fair trial, as enshrined in Articles 17 and 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and Protocol No 1 to the ECHR. These practices call into question the commitment to the European path and raise issues of discrimination against specific communities.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Is the Commission aware of any cases of arbitrary demolitions of properties by the Albanian authorities?
    • 2.What measures does the Commission intend to put in place to ensure that every citizen’s right to a fair trial against any administrative act is respected?

    Submitted: 16.7.2025

    Last updated: 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Societe Generale: changes in share capital

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHANGES IN SHARE CAPITAL

    Regulated Information

    Paris, 24 July 2025

    Societe Generale announces that it has carried out a capital decrease through the cancellation of treasury shares and successfully completed a capital increase as part of the 32nd Global Employee Share Ownership Programme.

    Capital decrease through cancellation of treasury shares

    On 10 July 2025, the Board of Directors, upon authorization of the Extraordinary General Meeting of 22 May 2024, decided to reduce Societe Generale’s share capital by cancellation of 22,667,515 treasury shares as of 24 July 2025, i.e. 2.8% of the share capital. These shares were repurchased from 10 February to 8 April 2025 included for the purpose of cancellation for an amount of EUR 872 million.

    This amount of share buy-back and the amount of the resulting capital decrease have been determined by the Board of Directors in application of the distribution policy to shareholders for the 2024 financial year. This amount was also determined primarily to fully offset, for shareholders not participating in it, the dilutive impact of the capital increase of the 32nd Global Employee Share Ownership Programme.

    Capital increase as part of the Global Employee Share Ownership Programme

    On 24 July 2025, the Chief Executive Officer, upon authorization of the Extraordinary General Meeting of 22 May 2024, and delegation of the Board of Directors, noted the completion of the capital increase following the 2025 Global Employee Share Ownership Programme. The capital increase amounts to a total of EUR 269,310,884.40 and has resulted in the issuance of 7,531,065 new shares, i.e. 0.97% of the share capital after the share capital decrease carried out as a consequence of the previously mentioned share buy-back or 0.94% of the share capital prior to this decrease.

    The positive impact of this capital increase on the CET1 ratio will be around 7 basis points and will be effective in the capital ratio at the end of Q3 25.

    Approximately 51,000 Group employees and eligible retired former employees in 31 countries have subscribed to this transaction.

    Employee share ownership is a collective programme at Societe Generale to involve employees in the development of the company and to enable them to benefit from long-term value creation.

    New amount of share capital

    Following these two transactions, the share capital of Societe Generale is EUR 981,475,408.75, divided into 785,180,327 shares with a nominal value of EUR 1.25 each.

    Information on the total amount of voting rights and shares will be updated and available on the Societe Generale website under the section “Monthly reports on total amount of voting rights and shares”.

    Press contacts:
    Jean-Baptiste Froville_+33 1 58 98 68 00_ jean-baptiste.froville@socgen.com
    Fanny Rouby_+33 1 57 29 11 12_ fanny.rouby@socgen.com


    Societe Generale

    Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with around 119,000 employees serving more than 26 million clients in 62 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective – to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.

    The Group runs three complementary sets of businesses, embedding ESG offerings for all its clients:

    • French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance, with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank.
    • Global Banking and Investor Solutions, a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG.
    • Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services, comprising well-established universal banks (in Czech Republic, Romania and several African countries), Ayvens (the new ALD I LeasePlan brand), a global player in sustainable mobility, as well as specialized financing activities.

    Committed to building together with its clients a better and sustainable future, Societe Generale aims to be a leading partner in the environmental transition and sustainability overall. The Group is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe).

    In case of doubt regarding the authenticity of this press release, please go to the end of the Group News page on societegenerale.com website where official Press Releases sent by Societe Generale can be certified using blockchain technology. A link will allow you to check the document’s legitimacy directly on the web page.

    For more information, you can follow us on Twitter/X @societegenerale or visit our website societegenerale.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: The US has sanctioned UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese – here’s why she’s the wrong target

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alvina Hoffmann, Lecturer in Diplomatic Studies, Department of Politics and International Studies, SOAS, University of London

    The United States has imposed sanctions against the UN’s special rapporteur in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese. It’s an unprecedented situation. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, cited as the reason her direct engagement with the International Criminal Court “in efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute nationals of the United States or Israel”.

    The statement also described Albanese’s “threatening letters to dozens of entities worldwide, including major American companies” as an escalation of her strategies. The sanctions were framed as preventing “illegitimate ICC overreach and abuse of power” and as part of Trump’s Executive Order 14203 on imposing sanctions on the ICC.

    This raises the question: who are special rapporteurs and why would Albanese’s performance of her role elicit such a strong reaction from the US? Special rapporteurs are independent human rights experts, part of the UN Human Rights Council’s special procedures system established in 1979. There are 46 “thematic mandates” on issues such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and the environment, and 14 “country mandates”, including in Palestine.

    Experts on human rights from academia, advocacy, law and other relevant professional fields are appointed to fulfil a variety of tasks. These include undertaking country visits, sending communications to states about individual cases of human rights violations, developing international human rights standards, engaging in advocacy and providing technical cooperation based on their legal and thematic expertise.

    In 1967, 22 years after it was set up, the United Nations established institutional provisions for independent experts on human rights. This happened first in 1967 when it appointed an ad hoc working group of experts on apartheid and racial discrimination in southern Africa. In 1968 the same group of experts was appointed to investigate “Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories”. This is still in place today.

    Neither South Africa nor Israel allowed experts to enter their territories to inspect their human rights record at the time. But in 2003, nearly a decade after it first held democratic elections, South Africa issued a standing invitation to all thematic special procedures, meaning they committed themselves, at least in theory, to always accept requests to visit from rapporteurs.

    Attacks on individual rapporteurs

    Albanese, a specialist in international human rights law, is the eighth rapporteur since the creation of her mandate in 1993. She was appointed to this pro bono position in 2022 for three years, and her mandate was recently renewed for another period of three years.

    It was her most recent report from June 30 which led to her being sanctioned by the US. The report focused on the role of the corporate sector in “colonial endeavours and associated genocides” and named over 60 companies as “complicit”.

    A host of institutions and leading human rights figures have come to her defence. Agnes Callamard, a former special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, now the secretary general of Amnesty international noted the “chilling effects for all special rapporteurs” of the US decision. Top UN human rights officials denounced this dangerous precedent and called for its reversal.

    In February 2024, the government of Israel declared Albanese persona non grata in response to her remark that “the victims of the October 7 massacre were not murdered because of their Jewishness, but in response to Israeli oppression”. As with the newly imposed sanctions, she called this step a distraction and called upon the world to keep their focus on Gaza.

    Diplomatic immunity

    Special rapporteurs are granted diplomatic immunity which, in theory, should enable them to speak up or write critical reports without the fear of reprisals. But in 1989 and 1999 the ICJ had to intervene with an advisory opinion on two cases when this status was jeopardised after the home countries of two special rapporteurs tried to restrict their freedom of speech. This involved Romanian national Dumitru Mazilu, tasked with writing a report on “Human rights and youth”, and Malaysian national Dato’ Param Cumaraswamy, special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.

    Special rapporteurs wrote a collective letter denouncing the second case, when the Malaysian government filed several legal proceedings against Cumaraswamy. The body of experts called this “judicial harassment of a special rapporteur” and “a challenge to the status of the United Nations as a whole, its officials and its experts on mission”.

    Special rapporteurs occupy an ambiguous institutional position. They take their mandate from the Human Rights Council, but they act in their personal capacity, and hence are not considered to be UN officials. In practice, they need to balance relations carefully between the UN secretariat, civil society, state representatives and, at times, their own countries.

    The advisory opinions helped clarify that it was the secretary general, as the head of the United Nations, that entrusts them with the privileges of diplomatic immunity. The arrangement also leaves the door open for national courts to disagree with the secretary general. This enabled individual countries in some cases to exercise some form of control over their own nationals.

    The recent attack on Albanese adds to the broader budgetary crisis of the UN, as the Trump administration is withholding funds of about US$1.5 billion (£1.2 billion) in addition to other countries such as China, Russia and Saudi Arabia. These are serious challenges for the UN human rights and humanitarian aid programmes. As past cases of attacks against individual rapporteurs have shown, it is important for all rapporteurs to stand together as one body and defend the integrity of the system as a whole.

    Despite these attacks on her integrity and person, Albanese maintains faith in the human rights law instruments. As she stated during a public talk I attended at SOAS University of London in November 2024, we are yet to unlock the full potential of these instruments. This can only be done as a collective.

    Alvina Hoffmann has previously been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (UKRI).

    – ref. The US has sanctioned UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese – here’s why she’s the wrong target – https://theconversation.com/the-us-has-sanctioned-un-special-rapporteur-francesca-albanese-heres-why-shes-the-wrong-target-261788

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint Statement on the Invocation of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Joint Statement on the Invocation of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism

    UK and 40 other countries invoke the Moscow Mechanism to address ill treatment of prisoners of war by the Russian Federation

    Thank you, Chair.   I will deliver an abridged version of this statement this afternoon. The full statement will be circulated in writing and I request that it be attached to the Journal of the Day.  

    I am delivering this statement on behalf of the following participating States: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,  Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,  Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,  San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.   

    Today, our delegations will send the following letter to ODIHR Director Maria Telalian, invoking the Moscow Mechanism, with the support of Ukraine, as we continue to have concerns regarding violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law following Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, including with regard to ill treatment of Ukrainian Prisoners of War (POW).   

    Director Telalian, 

    With Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in its fourth year and as Russia’s illegal occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine has entered its eleventh year, we continue to witness large scale human suffering and alarming reports of violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and of international human rights law (IHRL), many of which may amount to the most serious international crimes.  

    Against the backdrop of the full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, launched by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022, a number of credible sources, including the Moscow Mechanism expert missions, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, as well as civil society organizations, have reported that the Russian Federation has consistently violated the rights of prisoners of war (POWs) throughout their detention and at multiple detention facilities within the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and the Russian Federation. There have been credible reports that the extensive and routine torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian POWs throughout their detention constitutes a continued systematic pattern of state policy and practice by the Russian Federation. Torture follows common patterns across different locations, indicating it is a coordinated, deliberate, and systematic practice.  

    In 2022, 2023 and 2024, 45 OSCE Delegations, following bilateral consultations with Ukraine under the Vienna (Human Dimension) Mechanism, invoked Paragraph 8 of the Moscow (Human Dimension) Mechanism. The reports of the independent missions of experts, received by OSCE participating States, confirmed our shared concerns about the impact of the Russian Federation’s invasion and acts of war, its violations and abuses of IHRL, and violations of IHL in Ukraine.  

    We remain particularly alarmed by the findings of the expert missions that some of the violations may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity as well as the identification of patterns of reported violations of IHL and IHRL regarding the treatment of prisoners of war.  

    The prohibition against torture in international law is absolute.  Parties to an armed conflict are obliged to ensure the rights of POWs as set out in the Third Geneva Convention of 1949 relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War and Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions. Prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity. No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatever. Prisoners of war who refuse to answer may not be threatened, insulted or exposed to unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any kin Torture and inhuman treatment of POWs are grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, and likewise war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. 

    ODIHR’s Ukraine Monitoring Initiative has continued to identify patterns of reported IHL and IHRL violations related to the treatment of Ukrainian POWs including in their Sixth Interim Report of 13 December 2024 and their Seventh Interim Report of 15 July 2025. Interviews with survivors and witnesses attested to a continued practice of systematic torture and other IHL and IHRL violations perpetrated against Ukrainian POWs  prompting serious concerns about the Russian Federation’s failure to comply with the fundamental principles that govern the treatment of POWs.  

    In equal measure, the OHCHR and the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) have reported on the systematic and widespread use of torture of Ukrainian POWs by Russian authorities. In its March 2023 report, the HRMMU documented violations of IHRL and IHL in 32 of 48 detention facilities in Russia and Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, related to torture and other ill-treatment,  dire conditions of internment  including inadequate quarters, food, hygiene, and medical care, along with restricted communication, forced labor, and a lack of access of independent monitors. .  Many were held incommunicado deprived of the possibility to communicate with family or the outside world. Russian authorities subjected Ukrainian POWs to unlawful prosecutions for mere participation in hostilities; using torture to extract confessions; and denying fair trials.   

    According to witness testimonies, there were numerous incidents whereby POWs died in captivity due to execution, torture, ill-treatment and/or inadequate medical attention as well as inhumane conditions during their captivity.   

    The OHCHR’s October 2024 Report on the Treatment of Prisoners of War further documented detailed and consistent accounts of torture or ill treatment in Russian Federation custody.   

    Survivors have described the wide-ranging methods of torture or ill-treatment of Ukrainian POWs including: severe physical beatings; electrocution (including the targeting of genitalia); excessively intense physical exercise; stress positions; dog attacks; mock executions (including simulated hangings); threats of physical violence and death; sexual violence, including rape; threats of rape and castration; threats of coerced sexual acts; and other forms of humiliation.   

    Since the end of August 2024, OHCHR also has recorded a significant increase in credible allegations of executions of Ukrainian servicepersons captured by Russian armed forces, involving at least 97 individuals.   

    The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine (UN COI) stated on 23 September 2024 that it has evidence of widespread and systematic torture by Russian authorities against Ukrainian civilians and POWs in the temporarily occupied territories and in Russia. They concluded that torture follows common patterns across different locations, indicating it is a coordinated practice.  In their March 2025 report, the UN COI again called on the Russian Federation to immediately end the widespread and systematic use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment committed against civilian detainees and prisoners of war  

    The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine is investigating the reported execution of 273 Ukrainian POWs, including 208 who were reportedly executed on the battlefield and 59 in the ‘‘Olenivka’’ colony. However, the real number of those executed is likely much higher. 

    We are deeply concerned about the severity and frequency of these violations and abuses. We are particularly appalled by reported executions of Ukrainian POWs and Ukrainian soldiers rendered hors de combat upon their surrender and by the desecration/mutilation of bodies.  We are also deeply concerned with the practice of filming and distributing images of these abhorrent incidents.  

    Following grave concerns over the ill-treatment of Ukrainian POWs, highlighted, inter alia, by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the OSCE, we call on all parties to the armed conflict ensure that POWs are treated in full compliance with IHL.  

    We recall that OSCE participating States have committed themselves to respect IHL, including the Third Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 1949, bearing in mind that the willful killing, torture, inhuman treatment, causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or health of persons protected under the Geneva Conventions, including prisoners of war, constitutes a war crime. No prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind which are not justified by the medical, dental or hospital treatment of the prisoner concerned and carried out in his interest. Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity. 

    We also recall that the prohibition of torture is a peremptory norm of international law without territorial limitation, which applies at all times and in all places.   Measures of reprisal against POWs are prohibited. 

    We call on the Russia Federation to end the torture and ill-treatment of all detainees and ensure adequate conditions of detention including the provision of basic needs such as food, water, clothing, and medical care. We further call for providing timely and accurate information on detainees’ whereabouts and legal status, and for granting international humanitarian organizations, like the International Committee of the Red Cross, unfettered access to such persons. 

    Gravely concerned by the continuing impacts of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, and gravely concerned by credible allegations of the torture, ill-treatment and executions of Ukrainian POWs, and soldiers hors de combat, the delegations of Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,  Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,  Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,  San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, following bilateral consultations with Ukraine under the Vienna Mechanism, invoke the Moscow (Human Dimension) Mechanism under Paragraph 8 of that document.  

    We request that ODIHR inquire of Ukraine whether it would invite a mission of experts to build upon previous findings, and:  

    To establish the facts and circumstances surrounding possible contraventions of relevant OSCE commitments; violations and abuses of human rights; and violations of IHL, including possible cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity, related to the treatment of Ukrainian POWs by the Russian Federation ; 

    To collect, consolidate, and analyse this information including to determine if there is a pattern of widespread and systematic torture, ill-treatment and execution of Ukrainian POWs and soldiers hors de combat and/or at detention facilities by the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories and in Russia and 

    To offer recommendations on relevant accountability mechanisms. 

    We also invite ODIHR to provide any relevant information or documentation derived from any new expert mission to other appropriate accountability mechanisms, including the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine or the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, as well as national, regional, or international courts or tribunals that have, or may in future have, jurisdiction.  

    Thank you for your attention.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 July 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU sends firefighting planes to Cyprus

    Source: European Union 2

    The EU has mobilised 2 Canadair airplanes from the EU’s joint firefighting fleet in response to a request for assistance from Cyprus, following a major fire in its Limassol district. The EU has already responded to several wildfire emergencies in Albania and North Macedonia this summer.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Beam Global Reports 21% ESS Revenue Growth and $2M Order from Major Customer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beam Global, (Nasdaq: BEEM), a leading provider of innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions for the electrification of transportation and energy security, today announced a 21% increase in energy storage solutions (ESS) revenue in the first half of 2025 vs. 2024. Additionally, a purchase order was received from one of its largest ESS customers, for approximately $2 million, scheduled to be recognized as revenue by the end of 2025. The surge reflects Beam Global’s growing role as a trusted ESS supplier for mission-critical energy storage applications and the Company views repeat customers purchasing in increasing volumes as a strong validation of the reliability of its products.

    Beam Global’s ESS business is experiencing material growth, driven by repeat orders from existing customers and the addition of three major new clients, including a Fortune 500 automotive company. The Company believes this continued momentum reflects both the strong loyalty of its current customer base and growing global demand for scalable and safe ESS solutions. Beam’s bespoke designs, superior safety and smart battery management system (BMS) continue to differentiate the Company from its peers.

    “Our efforts to diversify our revenue opportunities continue to pay off,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global. “Our energy storage group provides the expertise and bespoke products that we need to continue to make Beam Global products better and less expensive to produce. Simultaneously, we are growing external sales of this expertise and these products. These activities, along with our growth into Europe and now the Middle East, as well as our expanded product portfolio, are positioning us for diverse revenue and profit generation. The electrification of transportation will continue to be a global growth engine for many years to come but Beam Global is about much more than that with our energy security and storage business and our increasing presence in smart cities infrastructure. Each of these businesses support each other and offer opportunities for cross selling. Our long-term growth strategy is working.”

    Beam AllCell™ energy storage solutions use patented PCC™ technology that enables more power in a smaller, lighter battery. The advanced thermal management capabilities of PCC™ technology also mitigate thermal runaway propagation, delivering superior safety and the ability to operate efficiently in hot and cold environments. The ESS market is projected to grow from $7.8 billion in 2024 to $25.6 billion in 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.9%.

    About Beam Global
    Beam Global is a clean technology innovator which develops and manufactures sustainable infrastructure products and technologies. We operate at the nexus of clean energy and transportation with a focus on sustainable energy infrastructure, rapidly deployed and scalable EV charging solutions, safe energy storage and vital energy security. With operations in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East, Beam Global develops, patents, designs, engineers and manufactures unique and advanced clean technology solutions that power transportation, provide secure sources of electricity, save time and money and protect the environment. Beam Global is headquartered in San Diego, CA with facilities in Broadview, IL and Belgrade and Kraljevo, Serbia. Beam Global is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol BEEM. For more information visit, BeamForAll.com, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and X.

    Forward-Looking Statements
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    +1 858-327-9123
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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cumbria project named finalist in global river restoration awards

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Cumbria project named finalist in global river restoration awards

    Cumbrian River Restoration Partnership Programme selected as finalist in the Thiess International Riverprize Awards. Winner announced in Brisbane in September.

    Environment Agency

    The Cumbrian River Restoration Partnership Programme – led by the Environment Agency and Natural England – has been named a finalist in the prestigious Thiess International Riverprize Awards.

    The winner of the award, which sees the Cumbria programme’s work compete alongside finalists Chicago River, USA; Vjosa River, Albania and Klamath River, USA will be announced at a Gala event in Brisbane in September. 

    The Programme has restored nearly 100km of rivers and over 150 hectares of floodplain across the Eden, Derwent and Kent catchments. By reinstating natural river processes – such as reintroducing meanders, removing obsolete weirs and planting native trees – the Partnership is helping nature recover, build climate resilience, reduce flood risk, improve water quality, and boost biodiversity and support sustainable agriculture.  

    This international recognition follows the Programme’s previous win of the European Riverprize in 2022, cementing Cumbria’s place on the world stage for cutting-edge nature-based solutions. 

    Better Habitats and Building Climate Resilience

    Olly Southgate, Cumbria River Restoration Programme Manager at the Environment Agency, said: 

    The Cumbrian River Restoration Partnership Programme is about giving rivers room to breathe and nature the chance to recover while also supporting sustainable farming for the future. 

    By allowing rivers to flow more naturally, we’re not only creating better habitats for wildlife but in some cases, we’re also helping to protect our communities by building climate resilience. It’s a win for people and a win for the planet 

    This nomination is a huge honour and a tribute to the power of partnership. We’re proud to showcase Cumbria’s leadership on the world stage and we thank the many dedicated landowners, local communities and partner organisations who made it all possible.” 

    The Cumbrian River Restoration Partnership Programme is being led by the Environment Agency alongside partners including Natural England, National Trust, RSPB, Ullswater CIC, United Utilities, and the Eden, West Cumbria and South Cumbria Rivers Trusts. 

    100 Restoration Projects Delivered

    The initiative responds to centuries of river modification, across Cumbria, for farming and development, which has led to degraded habitats, increased flood risk, and the loss of wildlife. Over 100 projects have now been delivered throughout the region, combining practical restoration with community involvement, education, and landowner collaboration. 

    In line with the Environment Agency’s goal to leave the environment in a better state for future generations, this work is an example of how nature-based solutions can restore ecosystems at scale and support thriving landscapes and communities. 

    The Thiess International Riverprize, awarded by the International River Foundation since 1999, is the world’s most esteemed prize for river restoration. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Brisbane, Australia in September.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNESCO strengthens fire resilience in the Pantanal and Cerrado with support from local communities

    Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

    The initiative aims to protect areas recognized as World Natural Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves through the Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF).

    UNESCO is intensifying its efforts in Brazil to protect areas recognized as World Natural Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves in response to the rise in extreme wildfires driven by climate change. Through the Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF), the organization is leading a strategic initiative to bolster fire resilience in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso and in Goiás.

    A total of 60 volunteers were trained through this project: 30 in the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park (MT), 15 in Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park (GO), and 15 in Emas National Park (GO). Around 800 pieces of equipment were distributed, including firefighting tools and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Additionally, an action plan is being developed to guide volunteer firefighters, based on Integrated Fire Management (IFM) and UNESCO’s Fire Risk Management Guide.

    “The project funded by the Heritage Emergency Fund makes a significant contribution to local communities by recognizing and strengthening their vital role in fire prevention and control”

    Interinstitutional initiative in the Pantanal

    From 22 to 25 April 2025, the Serra do Amolar — a remote and hard-to-reach region between Corumbá (MS) and Cáceres (MT), on the border with Bolivia — hosted a community brigade training supported by UNESCO’s Heritage Emergency Fund. The activity took place in the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park, in collaboration with WWF-Brazil, GEF Terrestrial (Funbio), Ibama (PrevFogo), Ecoa (Ecology and Action), and the Brazilian Navy.

    Three brigades, made up of 30 Pantanal residents — including 14 women — took part in the training. Over three intensive days of technical and practical lessons, participants learned fire prevention and control techniques from specialists.

    In addition to traditional methods — such as the use of specific tools, fire front control, heat mapping, and surveillance — the training incorporated agroforestry practices adapted to the Pantanal context. “One innovation was the management of slash-and-burn plots and backyard gardens. These areas, besides being vital for local subsistence, serve as ecological corridors that can protect wildlife during fires”, explains André Luiz Siqueira, Director of Ecoa.

    Another innovation was the introduction of the Sigma tool, a software developed by SOS Pantanal, which sends real-time fire alerts to mobile phones. Using satellite imagery and data such as wind direction and temperature, the technology is accessible even to those with limited formal education.

    Support from the Brazilian Navy enabled the logistics for participants and specialists, including transport via small boats, 950 liters of petrol, and 870 kilograms of food. Accommodation was provided by staff from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).

    Geographical and climatic challenges in firefighting

    Corumbá, covering over 64,000 km², is the 11th largest municipality in Brazil. The rugged terrain of the Serra do Amolar and limited access via rivers or air pose logistical challenges for firefighting. The presence of peat — organic matter accumulated in wetlands — creates highly flammable biomass during the dry season, making fires frequent and intense.

    The region encompassing the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside three Private Natural Heritage Reserves, and is also recognized as a Ramsar Site — an international designation for wetlands of high ecological importance.

    “The Pantanal harbors great biodiversity and is vital for fish reproduction (ichthyofauna). This region is essential for traditional peoples, sustainable tourism, and the conservation of species such as the jaguar, giant otter, and giant anteater”

    In 2024, the Pantanal experienced one of the worst wildfire seasons on record. According to the Laboratory for Environmental Satellite Applications (Lasa/UFRJ), around 2.6 million hectares — 17% of the biome — were consumed by fire. This was the second-highest figure since the historical series began in 2012, surpassed only by 2020, when 3.6 million hectares were devastated.

    “The drought pattern has changed. Although climate change is intensifying, those combating the fires are now better organized. We have more brigade members, resources, support from the National Security Force, the Armed Forces, and a more structured state response,” says Márcio Yule, coordinator of PrevFogo/Ibama in Mato Grosso do Sul.

    Extreme drought — worsened by the El Niño phenomenon — combined with improper fire use, high temperatures, and low humidity, has increased vegetation vulnerability and impacted biodiversity and traditional community livelihoods.

    I’ve been a brigade member since 2001, and the training helps us in many ways. Having the right equipment, rather than just our bare hands, makes all the difference. As traditional people, we have knowledge of fire management and know the land. When firefighters arrive, they need to talk to the community to understand what’s happening here. This combination of our knowledge, training, and equipment allows us to care for the land and the Pantanal.

    She is a quilombola and indigenous woman from the Guató people, living in the Barra de São Lourenço community — on the banks of the Cuiabá River near the Paraguay River, on the border between Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso, and the frontier with Bolivia.

    Silas Ismael

    Despite the increasingly challenging climate scenario, the combination of community mobilization, traditional knowledge, and technology has proven effective in mitigating damage. “The formation of civil brigades is more than a fire response plan — it is a territorial adaptation strategy that supports autonomy and resilience in the Pantanal,” says Osvaldo Barassi Gajardo, Conservation Specialist at WWF-Brazil.

    With each new training session, more than just skills are developed — a living protection network is built, where nature, science, and community walk hand in hand. Brigade member Eliane has a dream for the world’s largest wetland. “We care for nature, and nature cares for us. My dream is a green Pantanal full of animals”.

    Rosi do Céu, rooted in the Cerrado

    Since childhood, 47-year-old Rosilene Rodrigues da Silva Santos has guided people through the beauties and unique features of the Cerrado biome in Chapadão do Céu, Goiás, Brazil.

    “I grew up in this region. When visitors came to our house looking for tours, my parents would ask me to show them the trails, explain the routes, and teach them how to reach Emas National Park”. Today, Rosi works as a guide at the park during weekend and holidays, volunteers as a firefighter, and has served as a primary school teacher for the past 28 years. Currently, she teaches first grade at a municipal school in Chapadão do Céu from Monday to Friday.

    In 2010, a massive wildfire devastated approximately 90% of the 132,000 hectares of Emas National Park and the surrounding region. “That was my first time volunteering. The fire lasted several days, and the entire community helped. We brought clothes, supplies, and food for those battling the flames. It was my first experience with fire”.

    In her view, “nature still hasn’t fully recovered” from that fire. “The animals didn’t all return, there are far fewer now. But the Cerrado is life. It regenerates. The trees are twisted, with thick bark and deep roots. It’s on purpose. When fire comes, it doesn’t consume the forest floor. The Cerrado survives, it’s resilient,” she explains.

    In April, Rosi participated in a fire brigade training coordinated by UNESCO, with support from the Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF), and with WWF-Brazil. Trainings were held at three sites: Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park (GO), Emas National Park (GO), and Pantanal Matogrossense National Park (MT) – addressing conservation efforts across the Cerrado and Pantanal biomes.

    The training was excellent. Now we’re better prepared to manage the park during the dry season, following the management plan. And if emergencies arise, we know how to fight fires strategically, safely, and effectively.

    But if you ask Rosi do Céu (Rosi of the Sky) what she loves most, the answer is nature and wildlife. “Some people admire celebrities. I admire those who love nature. I love the wilderness and care for animals”.

    Rosi also makes handcrafted items from bamboo and wood, and rescues snakes and wild animals when needed. “Just send me a message on WhatsApp. If there’s an opossum or any creature, people say, Call Rosi, she’ll take care of it.” In 2018, she rescued a tapir and named her Preciosa (Precious). “Every time I go to Emas National Park, near where she stays, I call her name, she comes and eats from my hand. It’s love,” says the firefighter, guide, teacher, artisan, and animal caregiver.

    Eliane: ancestral wisdom

    Eliane Aires de Souza, 58 years, carries in her eyes and hands the wisdom born of deep interaction with nature and ancestral knowledge. A Pantanal native, she lives in the community of Barra de São Lourenço (MT), shaped by the waters and the vibrant life that surrounds her. She is an Indigenous woman of the Guató people, with quilombola ancestry, and works the land with knowledge and care as an agroforestry practitioner. Since 2001, she has served as a civilian firefighter, confronting the wildfires that each year are increasingly threatening the Pantanal.

    Silas Ismael

    This is our way of life. The Pantanal is our home. Having proper training and equipment helps us take care of it and protect our collective house.

    Eliane is a mother, grandmother, and president of the Renascer Women’s Association, created to strengthen the dreams and autonomy of the women in her community. In her words, she highlights the daily challenges of keeping culture alive and staying connected to the land. “Here, we live off fishing, bait, and handicrafts”.

    Eliane feels the effects of climate change and the abandonment of the rivers. She speaks with sadness of the Rio Velho, which no longer flows as it once did. “It’s like a clogged vein in the body. If we don’t take care of the river, the whole body falls ill”. For her, protecting nature means protecting herself, her family, her community, and the future. “That tree behind you is like a vein, it gives life to other lives”.

    In her daily life, Eliane cultivates an agroforestry system at home. She nurtures and protects the land. “That’s what agroforestry is: we care for it, and it cares for us”. Drawing on ancestral wisdom, she explains the importance of nourishing the soil, preserving humidity, and ensuring shade, life, and food. She grows bananas, cassava, lemons, and oranges, and dreams of more. She envisions a seedling nursery and a green corridor that reconnects fragmented forest areas, providing food for animals and nourishing hope.

    “If we keep waiting, the soil will die. And with it, our way of life”. She refuses to depend on the city for basic needs. “It’s the dream that keeps us going”.

    And perhaps it is that persistent force of dreaming, that way of resisting with hands in the soil, body in the canoe, and soul in the crafts, that keeps the Pantanal alive. As long as there are Elianes and Rosis, there will be hope for rebirth.

    About the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund

    This activity was supported by the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF). We express our gratitude to its donors: the Principality of Andorra, the Qatar Fund for Development, Canada, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the French Republic, the Republic of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Principality of Monaco, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Poland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Republic of Serbia, and ANA Holdings INC.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Defence Medical Services senior appointments announced

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New Defence Medical Services senior appointments announced

    His Majesty the King has approved three new senior appointments in the Defence Medical Services.

    Brigadier Phil Carter KHP OStJ. MOD Crown Copyright

    His Majesty the King has approved the following three senior appointments in the Defence Medical Services (DMS):

    • Brigadier Phil Carter KHP OStJ as the next Surgeon General (SG), in the rank of Major General, from August 2025
    • Brigadier Antony Finn as the next Director Medical Personnel and Training in the rank of Major General, from November 2025
    • Air Commodore Darren Ellison KHP as the next Director Defence Healthcare in the rank of Air Vice-Marshal, from June 2026

    All three have had long and distinguished careers delivering health care to the Armed Forces as part of the Defence Medical Services.

    Brigadier Carter has undertaken a variety of deployments throughout his career, including to Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and Sierra Leon.  In 2008, he was appointed as the first Commanding Officer of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine Clinical Unit. He later became Commander Medical HQ in the British Army’s 1(UK) Division and Commander Defence Primary Healthcare, before being appointed Head of Army Health in 2024.

    As Surgeon General, Brigadier Phil Carter will be responsible for:

    • providing specialist health and medical support advice to the Military Strategic Headquarters on behalf of the Director General of the Defence Medical Services.
    • Force Design within the Defence Medical Services, ensuring the readiness of the medical capability supporting the Armed Forces
    • directing medical research, medical innovation, and continuous quality improvement in Defence
    • coordinating our international technical engagement with medical partners across NATO and the UK’s broader alliances

    Brigadier Phil Carter said:

    At a time of reform across Defence, to be entrusted with the making sure that our armed forces deployed on operations have the medical support they need is a significant responsibility. I am looking forward to the challenge and enormously grateful that I will be working with such a dedicated and innovative specialist team.

    Brigadier Antony Finn. MOD Crown Copyright

    Brigadier Antony Finn qualified as a General Practitioner in 2003. Following deployments to Afghanistan, Kenya and Iraq, in July 2010 he assumed command of 1 Medical Regiment and deployed to Afghanistan as Commanding Officer of the Close Support Medical Regiment.  In 2012 he was promoted to Colonel as Assistant Director of Medical Operational Capability, before promoting to Brigadier in March 2019 as Commander 2nd Medical Brigade. From 2021-24 he was Head of Army Healthcare, and since August 2024 has been Commander of the Joint Hospital Group. 

    As part of his role as Director Medical Personnel and Training, Brigadier Antony Finn will be responsible for:

    • leading strategic medical workforce planning for DMS, including training and placement, to support to support Strategic Command (soon to be Cyber & Specialist Operations Command) and wider Defence’s people plan people plan and operational needs 
    • overseeing the development and delivery of high-quality individual training, to all entitled personnel involved in medical support to Defence
    • delivering an optimally prepared and suitably qualified and experienced personnel (SQEP) medical workforce through the provision of high-quality placements within both the NHS and other providers

    Brigadier Finn, said:

    I am deeply honoured to be selected to be the next Director of Medical Personnel and Training. The Strategic Defence Review offers unprecedented opportunities for the Defence Medical Services and our partners. I look forward to exploiting these for the benefit of our patients, the medical workforce, Defence and beyond.

    Air Commodore Darren Ellison KHP. MOD Crown Copyright

    Air Commodore Ellison joined the RAF in 1999 as a medical cadet and has undertaken a variety of roles including deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. As a Wing Commander he was appointed as Officer Commanding Tactical Medical Wing in 2018, and then as Group Captain he served as Regional Clinical Director, Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC) Northern Ireland Wales and West. In 2022 he was appointed Commanding Officer of the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine, and then promoted to Air Commodore in Summer 2023 when he became Head Healthcare and Strategic Plans in HQ Defence Medical Services before being appointed Head of the Royal Air Force Medical Services and Head Health (RAF) in November 2024.

    As part of his role as Director Defence Healthcare, Air Commodore Ellison will be responsible for:

    • directing, overseeing and commissioning both primary and secondary military healthcare services in support of Defence outputs

    • directing, managing and delivering primary healthcare and dentistry service delivery in the UK and all overseas bases 

    • maximising the medical employability and deployability of Armed Forces personnel across Defence

    Air Commodore Darren Ellison said:

    It is an honour and a privilege to be appointed as the next Director Healthcare for the Defence Medical Services. I look forward to working with both the whole DMS team, and colleagues across the Military Commands, to shape and deliver a service that ensures our patients continue to receive the highest standard of safe, effective healthcare they rightly deserve, and we provide the critically enabling healthcare outputs that meet the current and future needs of Defence.

    Congratulating all three on their appointments, General Sir Jim Hockenhull, Commander Strategic Command (soon to be Cyber & Specialist Operations Command) said:

    I am delighted to see these three promotions within the Defence Medical Services.  Brigadier Philip Carter’s appointment as the next Surgeon General, on appointment to Major General, Brigadier Antony Finn’s appointment as the next Director Medical Personnel and Training, on appointment to Major General and Air Commodore Darren Ellison’s appointment as the next Director Defence Healthcare, on appointment to Air Vice-Marshal.  These selections will enable all to provide considerable support within DMS’s transformation journey and the implementation of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), I look forward to working with them and congratulate them on their promotion.

    Director General of the Defence Medical Services, Air Marshal Clare Walton added:

    I am delighted to see the announcement of these three crucial appointments. Brigadier Phil Carter, Brigadier Tony Finn and Air Commodore Darren Ellison all have extensive experience gained from multiple roles in the Defence Medical Services and are exceptionally well-placed to take on these critical positions. At a time of global volatility, their leadership will be pivotal in driving the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) forward to implementation, shaping the medical capabilities of the future, and embedding the One Medical Mindset, ensuring that Armed Forces personnel remain fit to fight and are fully supported in their recovery to fitness.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: INVL Renewable Energy Fund I company REFI Sun aims to raise up to EUR 15 million in public bond offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The INVL Renewable Energy Fund I managed by INVL Asset Management, the leading alternative asset manager in the Baltics, is seeking to raise up to EUR 15 million through an offering of bonds issued by REFI Sun, a company the fund owns. The bonds will be offered publicly to retail and institutional investors in the Baltic countries from 28 July to 15 August. 

    The bonds have a maturity of 2.5 years. The fixed interest rate on the debt securities will be set in the range of 7.5% to 8.5% and announced at completion of the offering. Interest will be paid to investors quarterly. The INVL Renewable Energy Fund I will provide guarantees to all holders of the REFI Sun bonds. 

    “Construction of the fund’s renewable energy projects in Romania and Poland is gaining momentum, so there is also a growing need for financing, which in part we aim to meet by issuing new bonds. Most of the money raised from investors will be used to refinance a loan previously obtained by one of the fund’s companies, the rest will go to the fund’s solar power plant construction projects,” says Liudas Liutkevičius, Managing Partner of the INVL Renewable Energy Fund I. 

    REFI Sun seeks to raise up to EUR 15 million in a public offer in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia under a base prospectus for EUR 25 million bond programme approved by the Bank of Lithuania. The minimum investment amount is EUR 1,000.  

    The lead arranger of the bond program is Artea Bank. Evernord will also participate in the placement in Lithuania, while LHV Pank and Signet Bank acting as distribution partners in Estonia and Latvia. The certified advisor to the issuer is the Sorainen law firm, while the bondholders’ trustee is the company Audifina. It is planned that the debt securities will be listed on the First North alternative securities market operated by Nasdaq Vilnius within three months after the issue date. 

    More information about the bond issue and the offering process is available on the website of the INVL Renewable Energy Fund I. 

    An online presentation and question-and-answer session for investors (in English) will be held on 31 July at 10:00. The link to join the session is here. An online presentation and Q&A session for investors in the Lithuanian language will be held on the same day at 14:00; the link to join that session is here.    

    In February 2025, the INVL Renewable Energy Fund I’s company REFI Energy successfully completed an EUR 8 million public offering of bonds with an annual interest rate of 8%. Demand for the bonds exceeded the issue size 1.7 times, demonstrating strong investor confidence in the Fund’s management team and strategy.   

    The INVL Renewable Energy Fund I is focusing on the Polish and Romanian markets, where the fund’s managers see big growth potential. Total capacity of the fund’s portfolio of projects in development in these markets is 389 MW. 

    In Romania, the fund is investing in projects for 8 solar plants with a combined capacity of 356 MW. In Poland, it is developing solar park projects with over 32 MW in capacity. Investments in  Romania and Poland are expected to exceed EUR 250 million. The fund has invested over EUR 90 million in acquisition and construction of the projects as of June 2025. Construction of all the solar parks should be completed by the end of 2027. 

    To date the INVL Renewable Energy Fund I has raised EUR 73.9 million from investors through investment units and bonds. 

    About the INVL Renewable Energy Fund I  

    The INVL Renewable Energy Fund I was established on 20 July 2021 by INVL Asset Management, the leading alternative asset manager in the Baltic States, as a sub-fund for informed investors. It invests in early- and mid-stage renewable energy projects (solar), including the construction of new power plants, the development and/or acquisition of the infrastructure necessary for the operation of power plants, and effective management of existing power plants in the European Union and member states of the European Economic Area. 

    INVL Asset Management is part of Invalda INVL, the leading Baltic asset management group. 

    Further information:
    Liudas Liutkevičius
    Managing Partner of the INVL Renewable Energy Fund I
    liudas.liutkevicius@invl.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: INVL Renewable Energy Fund I company REFI Sun aims to raise up to EUR 15 million in public bond offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The INVL Renewable Energy Fund I managed by INVL Asset Management, the leading alternative asset manager in the Baltics, is seeking to raise up to EUR 15 million through an offering of bonds issued by REFI Sun, a company the fund owns. The bonds will be offered publicly to retail and institutional investors in the Baltic countries from 28 July to 15 August. 

    The bonds have a maturity of 2.5 years. The fixed interest rate on the debt securities will be set in the range of 7.5% to 8.5% and announced at completion of the offering. Interest will be paid to investors quarterly. The INVL Renewable Energy Fund I will provide guarantees to all holders of the REFI Sun bonds. 

    “Construction of the fund’s renewable energy projects in Romania and Poland is gaining momentum, so there is also a growing need for financing, which in part we aim to meet by issuing new bonds. Most of the money raised from investors will be used to refinance a loan previously obtained by one of the fund’s companies, the rest will go to the fund’s solar power plant construction projects,” says Liudas Liutkevičius, Managing Partner of the INVL Renewable Energy Fund I. 

    REFI Sun seeks to raise up to EUR 15 million in a public offer in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia under a base prospectus for EUR 25 million bond programme approved by the Bank of Lithuania. The minimum investment amount is EUR 1,000.  

    The lead arranger of the bond program is Artea Bank. Evernord will also participate in the placement in Lithuania, while LHV Pank and Signet Bank acting as distribution partners in Estonia and Latvia. The certified advisor to the issuer is the Sorainen law firm, while the bondholders’ trustee is the company Audifina. It is planned that the debt securities will be listed on the First North alternative securities market operated by Nasdaq Vilnius within three months after the issue date. 

    More information about the bond issue and the offering process is available on the website of the INVL Renewable Energy Fund I. 

    An online presentation and question-and-answer session for investors (in English) will be held on 31 July at 10:00. The link to join the session is here. An online presentation and Q&A session for investors in the Lithuanian language will be held on the same day at 14:00; the link to join that session is here.    

    In February 2025, the INVL Renewable Energy Fund I’s company REFI Energy successfully completed an EUR 8 million public offering of bonds with an annual interest rate of 8%. Demand for the bonds exceeded the issue size 1.7 times, demonstrating strong investor confidence in the Fund’s management team and strategy.   

    The INVL Renewable Energy Fund I is focusing on the Polish and Romanian markets, where the fund’s managers see big growth potential. Total capacity of the fund’s portfolio of projects in development in these markets is 389 MW. 

    In Romania, the fund is investing in projects for 8 solar plants with a combined capacity of 356 MW. In Poland, it is developing solar park projects with over 32 MW in capacity. Investments in  Romania and Poland are expected to exceed EUR 250 million. The fund has invested over EUR 90 million in acquisition and construction of the projects as of June 2025. Construction of all the solar parks should be completed by the end of 2027. 

    To date the INVL Renewable Energy Fund I has raised EUR 73.9 million from investors through investment units and bonds. 

    About the INVL Renewable Energy Fund I  

    The INVL Renewable Energy Fund I was established on 20 July 2021 by INVL Asset Management, the leading alternative asset manager in the Baltic States, as a sub-fund for informed investors. It invests in early- and mid-stage renewable energy projects (solar), including the construction of new power plants, the development and/or acquisition of the infrastructure necessary for the operation of power plants, and effective management of existing power plants in the European Union and member states of the European Economic Area. 

    INVL Asset Management is part of Invalda INVL, the leading Baltic asset management group. 

    Further information:
    Liudas Liutkevičius
    Managing Partner of the INVL Renewable Energy Fund I
    liudas.liutkevicius@invl.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bigbank’s Unaudited Financial Results for Q2 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Bigbank’s total gross loan portfolio reached a record high of 2.44 billion euros by the end of the quarter, up 141 million euros (+6%) quarter on quarter and 537 million euros (+28%) year on year, driven by the strategic product lines of business loans and home loans. Growth in the consumer loan portfolio was more modest. During the quarter, the business loan portfolio increased by 54 million euros (+7%) to 862 million euros, the home loan portfolio by 53 million euros (+8%) to 717 million euros and the consumer loan portfolio by 19 million euros (+2%) to 860 million euros. For the first time in Bigbank’s history, business loans also became the largest credit product line in terms of portfolio size.

    On the deposit side, the savings deposit portfolio recorded strong growth in the second quarter, increasing by 154 million euros to 1.3 billion euros (+13%). However, the term deposit portfolio decreased by 59 million euros to 1.34 billion euros during the quarter. The stabilising interest rate environment has made the interest rates on more flexible savings deposits competitive with those on term deposits. Therefore, many depositors have opted for savings deposits when their term deposits have matured. At the end of the second quarter, the current accounts opened for retail customers in Estonia totalled 3.4 million euros. All current account holders earn interest at the rate of 2%, the best available on the market. The Group’s total deposit portfolio grew by 96 million euros (+4%) quarter on quarter and by 393 million euros (+17%) year on year, reaching 2.65 billion euros.

    Bigbank’s net profit for the first six months of 2025 was 18.7 million euros. Net profit for the same period in 2024 was 15.8 million euros. In the second quarter, Bigbank’s net profit amounted to 8.9 million euros, down 0.5 million euros from the second quarter of 2024 (-5%). In the second quarter, Bigbank’s profit before income tax amounted to 11.5 million euros, up 0,3 million euros from the second quarter of 2024 (+3%).

    Interest income grew quarter on quarter, because the growth in the loan portfolio had a stronger impact than the decrease in interest rates during the year. Interest income for the second quarter amounted to 45.2 million euros, an increase of 1.8 million euros (+4%) year on year. Due to the growth of the deposit portfolio and an increase in the volume of bonds issued, interest expense grew by 0.6 million euros (+3%) to 19.5 million euros. As a result, Bigbank’s net interest income grew by 1.2 million euros (+5%) year on year to 25.7 million euros.

    The quality of the loan portfolio continued to improve in the second quarter: the net allowance for expected credit losses and provisions totalled 1.4 million euros, down 4.4 million euros year on year. This positive trend is mostly attributable to an improvement in the quality of the consumer loan portfolio in all three Baltic countries. The credit quality of home loans remained very good, while that of the business loan portfolio was stable. The share of stage 3 (non-performing) loans decreased by 3.8 million euros in the second quarter, accounting for 4.7% of the total loan portfolio at the end of the quarter (-0.4 pp from the end of the first quarter). The relatively high share of stage 3 loans is mainly due to a small number of larger loans which are well secured and therefore do not increase expected credit loss expenses.

    Bigbank’s strong team, which is the driving force behind growing business volumes, continued to expand. At the end of the second quarter of 2025, Bigbank had 613 employees: 378 in Estonia, 102 in Lithuania, 91 in Latvia, 22 in Finland, 15 in Bulgaria and 5 in Sweden. Salary expenses for the second quarter totalled 8.2 million euros, up 1.8 million euros year on year (+28%).

    The second quarter saw significant progress in the development of everyday banking products. At the beginning of the quarter, Bigbank became a direct member of the SEPA Credit Transfer scheme. This enabled the Group to become fully independent of other financial intermediaries in the euro area. Bigbank has been a direct member of the SEPA Instant Credit Transfer scheme, enabling it to make instant payments independently, since 2024. Another significant milestone was reached at the end of June with the launch of the Bigbank mobile app. Initially made available to retail customers of the Estonian business unit, the modern and convenient app is expected to be launched in Lithuania and Latvia in the coming quarters.

    The value of the Group’s investment property portfolio was 72.3 million euros at the end of the second quarter. A significant change to the property portfolio was the decrease in the value of the agricultural land in Estonia, which fell by 1.7 million euros (around 5%) due to an overall decline in transaction prices in the market during the quarter.

    Two bond issues also took place in the second quarter. In May, Bigbank issued Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bonds totalling 2.44 million euros, thereby increasing its Additional Tier 1 capital by the same amount. In June, Bigbank carried out the first in a series of public unsecured subordinated bond offerings (T2) under a new programme. Due to strong investor interest, Bigbank increased the volume of the T2 bond offering from 3 million euros to 6 million euros, thereby raising its Tier 2 capital by the same amount.

    In the second quarter, Moody’s Ratings affirmed all of the ratings and assessments that it had assigned to Bigbank AS last year.

    • Long-term and short-term deposit ratings: Ba1/NP
    • Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) and Adjusted BCA: ba2
    • Long-term and short-term Counterparty Risk Ratings: Baa2/P-2
    • Long-term and short-term Counterparty Risk Assessments: Baa2(cr)/P-2(cr)

    The outlook on the bank’s long-term deposit rating was revised from stable to negative.

    After the reporting date and before this report was authorised for issue, Bigbank received the decision of the Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority of 7 July 2025, which waived the previously applied minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities. According to the requirement, the Group had to maintain a minimum ratio of own funds and eligible liabilities to total risk exposure amount (TREA) of 12.49%. Bigbank complied with this requirement throughout its effective term and would be able to continue to do so in the future. There is no new minimum ratio requirement set by Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority.

    Income statement, in thousands of euros Q2 2025 Q2 2024 6M 2025 6M 2024
    Net interest income 25,773 24,464 51,336 50,021
    Net fee and commission income 2,550 2,245 5,073 4,409
    Net income (loss) on financial assets 694 2,007 2,645 3,078
    Net other operating income -1,120 -977 -2,015 -1,826
    Total net operating income 27,897 27,739 57,039 55,682
    Salaries and associated charges -8,258 -6,351 -15,735 -12,763
    Administrative expenses -2,875 -2,285 -5,626 -5,954
    Depreciation, amortisation and impairment -2,176 -2,100 -4,313 -4,152
    Other gains (losses) -1,796 1,090 -1,782 -1,329
    Total expenses -15,105 -9,646 -27,456 -24,198
    Profit before loss allowances 12,792 18,093 29,583 31,484
    Net expected credit loss allowances -1,289 -6,811 -5,924 -12,531
    Profit before income tax 11,503 11,282 23,659 18,953
    Income tax expense -2,616 -1,857 -4,917 -3,132
    Profit for the period from continuing operations 8,887 9,425 18,742 15,821
    Profit from discontinued operations 0 8 0 29
    Profit for the period 8,887 9,433 18,742 15,850
    Statement of financial position, in thousands of euros 30 June 2025 31 March 2025 31 Dec 2024 30 June 2024
    Cash and cash equivalents 468,770 487,160 448,661 626,081
    Debt securities at FVOCI 42,508 49,431 22,334 9,907
    Loans to customers 2,438,608 2,297,987 2,196,482 1,902,001
    Other assets 109,143 109,603 110,939 89,255
    Total assets 3,059,029 2,944,181 2,778,416 2,627,244
    Customer deposits and loans received 2,656,328 2,560,513 2,401,689 2,264,137
    Subordinated notes 104,147 95,943 91,668 88,148
    Other liabilities 17,871 16,885 15,290 22,113
    Total liabilities 2,778,346 2,673,341 2,508,647 2,374,398
    Equity 280,683 270,840 269,769 252,846
    Total liabilities and equity 3,059,029 2,944,181 2,778,416 2,627,244

    Compared to the unaudited financial results published for Q2 2024, the net interest income and the net allowance for expected credit losses for the first six months of 2024 have been adjusted, both reduced by 1.3 million euros. The adjustment is related to an identified error, where interest income from impaired financial assets had been accrued on the gross exposure of the financial assets, rather than on net basis. This correction does not impact the net profit for the first six months of 2024.

    Commentary by Martin Länts, chairman of the management board of Bigbank AS:

    In the second quarter of 2025, Bigbank continued its strong growth across all core business areas, bringing the consolidated total assets above the 3-billion-euro mark for the first time. The growth of the loan portfolio lifted its volume beyond 2.4 billion euros, representing an increase of nearly one-third year on year. Strategic segments such as business loans and home loans continued to drive growth.

    Alongside loan portfolio growth, its quality also improved. The net allowance for expected credit losses and provisions decreased by more than fourfold compared to the same period last year, totalling 1.4 million euros in the second quarter. This positive change is mainly attributable to improvements in the credit quality of the Baltic consumer loan portfolios, which also supported growth in the bank’s net profit. Net profit for the first half of 2025 was 18.7 million euros, of which 8.9 million euros were earned in the second quarter.

    The deposit portfolio also continued to grow both year on year and quarter on quarter. The primary growth driver was the savings deposit segment, the volume of which has reached a similar level as term deposits, totalling nearly 1.3 billion euros at the end of the second quarter. People have become increasingly active in searching for interest-bearing options for their funds, finding an attractive opportunity in Bigbank’s savings deposit product, but increasingly also in our current accounts.

    As the first bank in Estonia, we offer all current account holders the opportunity to earn 2% interest on their account balances while maintaining daily access to their funds. Although our current accounts have only recently been launched in Estonia, we already see that more than 25% of our retail banking customers of the business unit have opened an account. We will continue expanding our daily banking functionalities, an important milestone of which was the launch of the Bigbank mobile app at the end of June. We also plan to roll out current account services to the Latvian and Lithuanian markets in the coming quarters.

    In May and June, we successfully completed two bond issues. Both transactions support the continued rapid growth of the bank, ensure compliance with regulatory capital requirements, and facilitate further expansion of our home loan and business loan portfolios.

    We thank all investors, partners, and customers of Bigbank for your trust, which enables us to grow our business volumes and create long-term value.

    Bigbank AS (www.bigbank.eu), with over 30 years of operating history, is a commercial bank owned by Estonian capital. As of 30 June 2025, the bank’s total assets amounted to 3.1 billion euros, with equity of 281 million euros. Operating in nine countries, the bank serves more than 174,000 active customers and employs over 600 people. The credit rating agency Moody’s has assigned Bigbank a long-term bank deposit rating of Ba1, along with a baseline credit assessment (BCA) and an adjusted BCA of Ba2.

    Argo Kiltsmann
    Member of the Management Board
    Telephone: +372 5393 0833
    Email: argo.kiltsmann@bigbank.ee
    www.bigbank.ee

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The prolonged suffering will have irreversible consequences that will last generations: Joint statement on conflict and hunger in Gaza

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Speech

    The prolonged suffering will have irreversible consequences that will last generations: Joint statement on conflict and hunger in Gaza

    A joint statement by the Permanent Missions to the UN of the Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Guyana, Ireland, Mexico, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Norway, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

    It is unacceptable that man-made and avoidable conflict-induced hunger continues to afflict civilians in Gaza. The prolonged suffering will have irreversible consequences that will last generations.

    From the May IPC Special Snapshot, we know that the Gaza Strip is facing a critical risk of famine. The entire population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with 500,000 people facing starvation and more than 70,000 children set to require treatment for acute malnutrition. 

    The latest figures are even more disturbing, and we are witnessing increased deaths due to malnutrition. This follows sustained denial of essential humanitarian assistance to civilians by Israel.

    To address this crisis, we call on all parties to fully comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. In particular, we call on Israel as the occupying power to adhere to its obligations under international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2417. Israel must:

    • Lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid and facilitate immediate, safe, rapid, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access by the UN and humanitarian organisations that ensures relief supplies at scale to civilians in need throughout Gaza.
    • Facilitate the effective delivery of life-saving nutrition, health, water, sanitation and other essential services by the UN and humanitarian organisations, as well as the fuel needed to sustain them.
    • Protect objects necessary for food production and distribution and facilitate the restoration of essential commercial supplies and market systems at scale.
    • Urgently ensure the protection of civilians, including aid workers, UN and associated personnel, and medical personnel, and allow their unrestricted access.

    We urge all parties to do everything to support efforts to reach agreement on a new ceasefire and hostage release deal. While humanitarian assistance is essential, the answer to conflict-induced hunger is peace.

    We need to ensure accountability for actors who deliberately cause or prolong conflict-induced hunger in violation of international law. Using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare may constitute a war crime.

    All Member States should use their influence to address conflict-driven hunger in Gaza and promote compliance by all parties to the conflict with international law.

    We call for rapid and full implementation of humanitarian commitments made by Israel including the steps agreed between Israel and the EU to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. This is imperative. We will follow delivery measures by Israel closely.

    We must all support the work of the UN-coordinated humanitarian system in Gaza led by OCHA. It is best equipped to ensure aid is delivered to civilians, apply established strong aid diversion prevention systems and adhere with humanitarian principles.

    UNRWA remains crucial to the delivery of humanitarian aid and essential services, despite increasing restrictions and attacks.

    The new Israel-approved aid delivery model is dangerous and is not operating in accordance with humanitarian principles. We condemn the killing of well over 800 Palestinians, including children, seeking water and food. 

    The 20 July incident where people came under Israeli fire beside a WFP convoy was terrible. Humanitarian action must be based on humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.

    We condemn the heinous attack by Hamas on October 7 2023. Hamas must release all hostages unconditionally now.

    Immediate action is needed to address this debilitating suffering.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Proliferation of tiger mosquitoes in southern regions of France and of Europe – E-002763/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002763/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Julien Leonardelli (PfE), Georgiana Teodorescu (ECR), António Tânger Corrêa (PfE), André Rougé (PfE), Rody Tolassy (PfE), Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain (PfE), Susanna Ceccardi (PfE), France Jamet (PfE)

    We are witnessing a veritable invasion of tiger mosquitoes in southern regions of France and of Europe. They are not only harmful, but also pose a health hazard. They are vectors of diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus.

    Cases of dengue (178 cases[1] in Occitanie[2] in 2024[3]) and chikungunya have been reported in southern France[4]. In 2023, 82 indigenous dengue cases were reported in Italy[5], and the species has spread to all regions of Romania[6] and Spain[7], even to the most inland areas such as Aragon or Madrid[8].

    Municipalities must carry out investment plans: install mosquito traps[9], eliminate stagnant water or introduce natural predators of the tiger mosquito[10].

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Does the Commission intend to unlock funds to enable affected European municipalities to invest in measures to combat the tiger mosquito?
    • 2.Will it support the measures to combat the health risk posed by tiger mosquitoes, in particular by releasing sterilised males to prevent their reproduction[11]?
    • 3.Does it intend to launch a European plan to combat tiger mosquitoes – which have been ravaging the southern regions of Europe for many years – in particular through mosquito eradication measures?

    Supporter[12]

    Submitted: 8.7.2025

    • [1] According to French Public Health Data, December 2024.
    • [2] Actu.fr (21 July 2024). ‘Tiger mosquito invasion in Tarn: mosquito control operation and measures’, Actu Occitanie, https://actu.fr/occitanie/albi_81004/invasion-de-moustiques-tigres-dans-le-tarn-une-operation-de-demoustication-et-des-mesures_59894192.html.
    • [3] According to the 5 November 2024 epidemiological update by the Occitanie Regional Health Agency (ARS Occitanie), there had been three confirmed indigenous dengue outbreaks.
    • [4] France 24 (18 June 2025). ‘Chikungunya: the two recent indigenous cases are the earliest ever identified in mainland France’, France 24, https://www.france24.com/fr/info-en-continu/20250618-chikungunya-les-deux-cas-autochtones-r%C3%A9cents-sont-les-plus-pr%C3%A9coces-jamais-identifi%C3%A9s-en-m%C3%A9tropole.
    • [5] Based on ECDC data.
    • [6] Romania Insider (8 May 2024). ‘Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus found in Bucharest’, Romania Insider, https://www.romania-insider.com/mosquitoes-west-nile-virus-found-bucharest-2024.
    • [7] Le Petit Journal, Madrid (June 2025). ‘Tiger mosquito in Spain: risk of dengue’, Le Petit Journal, https://lepetitjournal.com/madrid/sante/moustique-tigre-espagne-risques-dengue-388770.
    • [8] According to Carlos III Hospital in Madrid.
    • [9] Department of Tarn (n.d.). ‘The Department is taking action again the tiger mosquito’, Tarn.fr, https://www.tarn.fr/votre-departement/agit-a-vos-cotes/pour-la-sante/le-departement-agit-contre-le-moustique-tigre#:~:text=Le%20d%C3%A9partement%20du%20Tarn%20ne,sont%20concern%C3%A9s%20dont%20le%20Tarn.
    • [10] La Dépêche du Midi (26 May 2025). ‘“This plague is making life miserable for local residents”: how several municipalities in the Tarn region are combating the proliferation of tiger mosquitoes before the summer’, LaDepeche.fr, https://www.ladepeche.fr/2025/====doc–fleau-pollue-la-vie-de-nos-concitoyens-comment-plusieurs-communes-du-tarn-luttent-contre-la-proliferation-des-moustiques-tigres-avant-lete-12690547.php.
    • [11] Mousteek (n.d.). ‘The sterile insect technique tested in Italy’, Mousteek, https://www.mousteek.fr/moustique-tigre-sterile-italie/.
    • [12] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE)
    Last updated: 23 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaLota Honors Bytyqi Brothers, Presses Serbia to Prosecute Their Killers

    Source: US Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)

    HAMPTON BAYS, NY — Marking the solemn anniversary of their execution, Congressman Nick LaLota (R-NY-01) last week reintroduced H. Con. Res. 41, a bipartisan resolution in the House of Representatives demanding long-overdue accountability for the brutal murders of Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi—three American citizens from Hampton Bays—killed during the Kosovo War. LaLota’s resolution renews the call for justice and urges the U.S. government to press Serbia to investigate and prosecute those responsible.

    “We honor the memory of Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi—with heavy hearts and unshaken resolve. To mark the solemn anniversary of their tragic loss, I am reintroducing H. Con. Res. 41 to reaffirm Congress’s commitment: those responsible for the execution of three young American brothers must be held to account,” said LaLota. “Justice delayed is justice denied—but today, we send a clear message: we will not rest until the Bytyqi family receives the truth, the accountability, and the closure that has been too long withheld.”

    To read the full text of H. Con Res. 41, click HERE.

    Background:

    In 1999, brothers Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi—proud residents of Hampton Bays—traveled overseas to provide humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of the Kosovo War. While on a humanitarian mission, unarmed and in plain clothes, the brothers accidentally crossed an unmarked border into Serbian-controlled territory, where they were arrested by Serbian authorities on July 8, 1999, and later executed.

    Despite over two decades of promises and investigations, no one has been held accountable for their murders. In 2018, the U.S. State Department sanctioned Serbian official Goran Radosavljevic under Section 7031(c) for his role in the gross human rights abuses, including the murders of the Bytyqi brothers.

    LaLota’s resolution expresses the sense of Congress that:

    • Those responsible for the murders of U.S. citizens Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi must be brought to justice;

    • It is unacceptable that no one has ever been charged or convicted for these heinous crimes;

    • The Serbian government, including its War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office, must make investigating and prosecuting those involved a top priority;

    • The United States should continue to dedicate resources to assist and monitor Serbia’s efforts to bring those responsible to justice; and

    • Progress on this case should remain a critical factor in the future of U.S.-Serbia relations.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: API Bank a.d. Beograd Prepares Updated Corporate Governance Documents in Line with New Banking Law

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    API Bank a.d Beograd Logo

    BELGRADE, Serbia, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — API Bank a.d. Beograd announces that the General Meeting of Shareholders, chaired by Mr. Andrey Shlyakhovoy, has adopted updated editions of the Bank’s Statute and Incorporation Act. The revisions are intended to align with forthcoming amendments to the Law on Banks of the Republic of Serbia, which take effect on October 1, 2025.

    The updated documents reflect API Bank’s continued commitment to maintaining strong corporate governance and compliance practices. By proactively adjusting its foundational documents ahead of the legal changes, the Bank aims to ensure a smooth transition and full adherence to regulatory expectations.

    While specific provisions of the updated documents will come into effect following regulatory confirmation, the Bank’s leadership has worked to ensure that the revisions are consistent with both the spirit and letter of the upcoming legal framework.

    Final implementation of the revised Statute and Incorporation Act is subject to approval by The Regulator.

    About API Bank a.d. Beograd

    The Bank has been present in the Serbian market since 2008 and was established as greenfield investment in the banking sector of Serbia. With a change in ownership structure since 2018, the Serbian company AZRS INVEST d.o.o. became the 100% owner of the Bank. Focused on providing quality products and services, the Bank’s business network includes two branches in Belgrade and one branch in Novi Sad. The name of the Bank – API (Application Programming Interface) reflects a vision of the future that will bring technological progress and integration of practical solutions in everyday business. The Bank is focused on modernization and is committed to applying quality and innovative solutions using the latest financial technologies, digitalization, and expanding e-services that play a vital role for further development.

    Media Contact:
    API Bank a.d. Beograd
    Office of Corporate Affairs
    office@apibank.rs
    www.apibank.rs

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2ffbc1a5-38e1-4f6c-ab6a-3bd1b093541f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Economic and Social Council Concludes High-level Political Forum

    Source: United Nations 4

    2025 Session,

    36th & 13th Mtgs (AM & PM)

    ECOSOC/7216

    The Economic and Social Council concludes its High-level Political Forum under the theme “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind”.

    The Forum, which began 21 July is part of the Council’s high-level segment, which will run through 24 July.

    Member States will make statements this morning under the theme “UN@80:  Catalyzing Change for Sustainable Development” and in the afternoon conclude the Forum with the adoption of a ministerial declaration. 

    Also today, the Council will continue its voluntary national reviews, on Bhutan, Ghana, Iraq, Qatar, Nigeria, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, India and Lesotho. 

    Council President Bob Rae and Vice President Lok Bahadur Thapa will chair the reviews. 

    For information media. Not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –