NewzIntel.com

Category: Balkans

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: OPEC Fund delivers record US$2.3 billion in development finance in 2024

    Source: OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund)

    Highlights in the 49th year of operation included:

    • Lending growth: 35 percent increase y-o-y to US$2.3 billion
    • Triple agriculture and food security investments
    • Climate Action Plan delivery ahead of target
    • Bond placements: US$500 million in January 2024
    • Advancing partnerships: A co-financing agreement with the World Bank Group; MoUs with IFAD, FONPLATA; Country Framework Agreements with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan.

    January 29, 2025: The OPEC Fund for International Development achieved a record US$2.3 billion in new commitments in 2024 — a 35 percent increase year-on-year. These commitments, distributed across 70 projects worldwide, are combating climate change, improving global food security, advancing the energy transition and fostering sustainable economic and social development.

    OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “In 2024, the OPEC Fund set a new benchmark in delivering impactful development finance to tackle global priorities. Our record commitments not only reflect our capacity to boost climate action and social resilience but also the strength of our cooperation with countries and development partners such as the World Bank and the Arab Coordination Group. As we approach our 50th anniversary, thanks to the strong support from our member countries and capital market investors, we are well positioned to maximize impact and create lasting benefits for communities worldwide.”

    In 2024, the OPEC Fund’s financing supported projects across the Middle East and North Africa & Europe and Central Asia (39 percent of total commitments), Sub-Saharan Africa (34 percent), Asia and the Pacific (13 percent) as well as Latin America & the Caribbean (11 percent). The remaining 3 percent of financing was provided to support regional and global projects. The funds were delivered through a range of financial instruments in public and private sector lending, trade finance and grants operations.

    The largest segment of last year’s funding was policy-based lending (19 percent), supporting government-led sustainable development programs and policy implementation in countries such as Armenia (US$50 million), Cote D’Ivoire (US$60 million), Jordan (US$100 million), Montenegro (US$50 million) , Morocco (US$100 million),  Sri Lanka (US$50 million) and Uzbekistan (US$70 million). 

    Significant delivery to support global food security and climate action:

    Compared to 2023, the OPEC Fund tripled its commitments to the agriculture sector, in line with its strategic priority to boost global food security. The OPEC Fund provided US$261 million in financing to promote agricultural sustainability in Benin (US$26 million), Eswatini (US$20 million), Honduras (US$15 million), Lesotho (US$20 million), Malawi (US$20 million), Rwanda (US$20 million), Tanzania (US$50 million) and Türkiye (US$50 million).

    In 2024, the OPEC Fund delivered on its Climate Action Plan ahead of target. Aligned with this strategy, renewable energy projects constituted nearly 40 percent of the institution’s energy sector commitments last year. These included the Begana and Gamri hydro project in Bhutan (US$50 million), the Suez wind farm in Egypt (US$30 million), the Rogun hydropower project in Tajikistan (US$25 million) and a 42 MW wind farm in Uganda (US$16.5 million). Additional energy investments targeted improved transmission and connectivity in the Dominican Republic (two US$60 million loans) and Mauritania (US$40 million), as well as expanded energy access in Uzbekistan (US$37.5 million), all contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 7 – Clean and Affordable Energy.

    Boosting sustainable and climate resilient infrastructure, significant funding (12 percent) was delivered to enhance connectivity in the transport sector. Major projects included investments in Madagascar (US$30 million), Oman (US$180 million), Paraguay (US$50 million), Senegal (US$38 million), Tanzania (US$41 million)  and Uganda (US$30 million).

    In the financial sector, the OPEC Fund allocated more than US$270 million to partner with governments and local banks for on-lending to small and medium-sized enterprises, driving job creation and enhancing access to finance in Armenia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Dominican Republic, Nepal, Paraguay and Uzbekistan. Another US$375 million in trade finance supported the movement of critical commodities and goods, including agricultural products, to and from developing economies.

    In 2024, the OPEC Fund strengthened partnerships with key institutions, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), Arab Coordination Group (ACG), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank (EIB); signed a co-financing agreement with the World Bank Group and MoUs with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and FONPLATA. The OPEC Fund also signed Country Framework Agreements with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan aiming to further deepen the institution’s impact in the Central Asia region.

    About the OPEC Fund

    The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$29 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and AA+, Outlook Stable by S&P. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Second Defendant Admits His Role in ATM Skimming Bank Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PROVIDENCE – A second Romanian national has admitted to a federal judge in Rhode Island that he participated in a conspiracy that installed card skimming devices on bank ATMs in at least six states, including Rhode Island, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

    Mario Demarco, a/k/a Marius Lupu a/k/a David Ademec, until recently residing in Queens, New York, pleaded guilty today to a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. A co-defendant, Stefano Garioli, a/k/a Dumitru Bogdan Pancu a/k/a Leon Vutkus, also of Queens, New York, pleaded guilty on December 11, 2024, to the same charge.

    According to information presented to the court, for more than two years, beginning in May 2022, the two men conspired together and with others to commit bank fraud by placing skimming devices on ATM machines in order to steal customer bank account information and PINs. The stolen information was used to clone counterfeit bank cards that were then used to fraudulently withdraw money from the bank accounts of unsuspecting customers. 

    The ATM skimmer conspiracy first came to the attention law enforcement on July 5, 2024, when a bank branch manager notified the Warwick Police Department that bank surveillance video had captured two men, later identified as the defendants, placing a skimming device inside a drive-up ATM. Nearby security video also captured images of the two men’s vehicle. The same vehicle was also identified as having been present two days earlier when a skimming device was placed inside an ATM at a North Kingstown bank branch.

    On July 6, 2024, Cranston Police reported that a vehicle matching the one recorded by bank security cameras had been captured on a Flock camera in their city. Warwick Police responded to the area of the camera and located the vehicle. Demarco was detained as he walked away from a nearby ATM; Garioli was located sitting in the vehicle.

    Further investigation determined that the two men had worked together and with others for more than two years placing skimmer devices on ATMs in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

    DeMarco and Garioli are scheduled to be sentenced on May 6, 2025. The defendants’ sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ly T. Chin.

    The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Warwick, RI Police Department, Cranston, RI Police Department, East Greenwich, RI  Police Department, North Kingstown, RI  Police Department, East Providence, RI Police Department, Boston, MA Police Department, New York City Police Department, and the Stratford, CT Police Department.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – European Commission interference in the annulment of the Romanian presidential elections – E-000200/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000200/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Georgiana Teodorescu (ECR), Adrian-George Axinia (ECR), Gheorghe Piperea (ECR), Claudiu-Richard Târziu (ECR), Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza (ECR)

    In an interview with the RMC channel on 10 January 2025, former European Commissioner Thierry Breton stated: ‘Let’s enforce our laws in Europe when they are at risk being circumvented and when they could, if not enforced, lead to interference. We did it in Romania, and we will obviously do it if necessary in Germany’, when asked about possible external interference, especially by Elon Musk.

    The French politician’s statements cast doubt on the European Union’s position on democratic principles and its respect for the sovereignty of the Member States, especially in the context of the recent elections in Romania and the implications for future electoral processes throughout the Union.

    Given that a former European Commissioner made this statement, we ask the following questions:

    • 1.What specifically does the European Commission’s involvement in national elections in a Member State consist of?
    • 2.What are the reasons why ‘the law was enforced’ and the presidential elections in Romania were annulled?

    Submitted: 17.1.2025

    Last updated: 29 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU accession negotiations with Albania – P-000165/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-000165/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Harald Vilimsky (PfE)

    In the context of the EU accession negotiations with Albania, the serious shortcomings in the rule of law and the effect these will have on the enlargement process needs to be addressed. Investments have been made, including EUR 14.7 million from Austria in the EURALIUS project, yet the reform objectives have not been met. The fact that Irena Gojka was given a position in the anti-corruption court in spite of all the controversy evinces the conflicts of interest and shortcomings in the rule of law. Furthermore, a planned ban on TikTok threatens freedom of expression and is viewed as a form of censorship to suppress critics. Shortcomings in the rule of law and restrictions on freedom of expression thus continue to be a problem in Albania.

    • 1.What is the Commission’s assessment of the effectiveness of Euralius-supported reforms in Albania’s judiciary, in particular as regards the independence, efficiency and accountability of the judiciary?
    • 2.What is its view on the planned TikTok ban in Albania as a measure which, according to critics, is intended to restrict freedom of expression?
    • 3.Does it think it is justifiable to open comprehensive accession negotiations when not only are significant reforms in Albania’s judiciary still pending but there is also considerable controversy around the choices made by the Albanian Government for key posts, and serious allegations of corruption persist and are virtually unresolved?

    Submitted: 15.1.2025

    Last updated: 29 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Russia must end its war and return to dialogue: UK Statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Ambassador Holland reiterates the UK’s support to Ukraine, and calls on Russia to end its war and return to dialogue and risk reduction – including in the Forum for Security Cooperation.

    Thank you Mr Chair, dear Cristobal, and to your Foreign Minister, for setting out Spain’s priorities for the Forum for Security Co-operation this Trimester.  You can count on the UK’s steadfast support, as you Chair our Forum at this crucial time for Euro-Atlantic Security. 

    Over the winter period, many of us marked Christmas and the New Year.  But the people of Ukraine have had no rest.  Today marks 1069 days of their ongoing defence of their homeland, from a full-scale invasion which continues to violate the UN Charter and to contravene the Helsinki Final Act’s core principles, including those on sovereignty, territorial integrity and the non-use of force.   

    That is why each week, we have met in this Forum to support Ukraine and to hold Russia accountable for breaching its commitments.  And that is why we particularly welcome Spain’s proposed FSC topic on Women, Peace & Security. 

    Mr Chair, our Ministers mandated the Forum to hold a weekly politico-military dialogue, with tasks that include risk-reduction.  They mandated the Chair to ‘ensure the good order and smooth running of meetings’.  To set the agenda.  And to select and invite guest speakers.  We fully support the Chair’s prerogative to execute its mandate. 

    Unfortunately, at the closing session last Trimester, we had to condemn the Russian delegation – for a fourth Trimester in a row – for its attempts to disrupt the FSC from functioning at all.  Once again, I express my thanks to Denmark, and to other previous Chairs, for keeping the Forum functional, despite Russia’s attempts to prevent it. 

    As we said repeatedly, there remains another path.  If the Russian state’s professed wish for peace is genuine, it must end this war by withdrawing all of its forces to outside of Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders.  And from Georgia and Moldova.  If the Russian state is serious about dialogue and risk reduction, it must stop trying to undermine our Ministerial mandate of this Forum meeting each week.   

    I wish to conclude by welcoming Estonia to the FSC Troika, and to thank Croatia for their work as they leave the Troika.  And most importantly, I wish you, Mr Chair, and your able teams here in Vienna and in Madrid the best of luck this Trimester.  You can count on the support of the UK delegation.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 January 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OLAF Unveils Fraudulent Misuse of EU Funds in Romania’s Danube Delta Development Projects

    Source: European Anti-Fraud Offfice

    Press release no 1/2025
    PDF version

    OLAF played a pivotal role in uncovering a major fraud case in Romania, revealing that EU funds intended for development projects in the Danube Delta were misused through fraudulent schemes. OLAF’s investigation carried out in close cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), unveiled a significant misuse of funds in over 30 EU-financed projects. 

    The Danube Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is among Europe’s most ecologically vital regions. The EU funds allocated to this region through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) are vital for its maintenance. 

    Acting on an initial request from EPPO, OLAF carried out an investigative analysis into allegations of EU fund mismanagement and delivered its results to the European Delegated Prosecutor. 

    One of the projects under investigation was co-financed under the Regional Operational Program 2014-2020. In particular, it sought to expand a transport company’s activities to include construction services, relied on EU and national contributions covering 70.95% of eligible costs. 

    OLAF revealed that the company’s legal representative had submitted falsified documents, including forged bank statements, to falsely portray financial capacity for the project, which led to their unlawful acquisition of the EU-funded tender.

    Financial recommendation for over half a million euro

    These fraudulent actions resulted in the unlawful acquisition of approximately EUR 593 000 in EU funds and EUR 104 000 from Romania’s national budget. Throughout the investigation, OLAF collaborated closely with the EPPO, sharing evidence and coordinating efforts to ensure a thorough and effective inquiry.

    In July 2024, OLAF concluded its investigation and issued a recommendation to the European Commission to recover EUR 593 000 as a result of the misappropriation of EU funds. This case highlights OLAF’s instrumental role in complementing EPPO’s efforts to safeguard EU financial interests and ensure the proper use of public resources.

    Recently, EPPO indicted one individual and one company implicated in the investigation. Should the individual be found guilty, he could face a prison term ranging from three to ten and a half years. The company, in turn, could incur fines of up to EUR 420 000 and risk confiscation.

    For more information, please see EPPO’s press release on the matter.

    OLAF mission, mandate and competences:
    OLAF’s mission is to detect, investigate and stop fraud with EU funds.    

    OLAF fulfils its mission by:
    •    carrying out independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, so as to ensure that all EU taxpayers’ money reaches projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe;
    •    contributing to strengthening citizens’ trust in the EU Institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU Institutions;
    •    developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.

    In its independent investigative function, OLAF can investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other offences affecting the EU financial interests concerning:
    •    all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;
    •    some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties;
    •    suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.

    Once OLAF has completed its investigation, it is for the competent EU and national authorities to examine and decide on the follow-up of OLAF’s recommendations. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent national or EU court of law.

    For further details:

    Pierluigi CATERINO
    Spokesperson
    European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
    Phone: +32(0)2 29-52335  
    Email: olaf-media ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
    https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
    LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

    If you’re a journalist and you wish to receive our press releases in your inbox, pleaseleave us your contact data.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coventry honours Holocaust Memorial Day and marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau

    Source: City of Coventry

    The people of Coventry came together this week (27 January) to honour the annual Holocaust Memorial Day, which this year fell on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

    The event was held at the Belgrade Theatre, and a large audience heard from city leaders and guest speakers, as well as schoolchildren and students from the city. 
     
    Cllr Abdul Salam Khan, Deputy Leader of Coventry City Council, hosted the service, with speeches from Lord Mayor, Cllr Mal Mutton and Council Chief Executive, Julie Nugent.  
     
    The main speaker was Lesley Urbach, from Generation 2 Generation, a Holocaust education charity, who told the story of her mother Eva Urbach and aunt Ulli Adler, who escaped to Britain and Argentina in 1938 and 1939.  
     
    The talk focused on what happened to their parents left behind in Germany, who were murdered at Auschwitz. 
     
    There was also a performance by actors from Time Will Tell Theatre, who enacted first-hand accounts of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, which will also mark its 80th anniversary this year. 
     
    The audience also heard music from Coventry Music Brass Quintet and Bluecoat School Choir, readings from students from the University of Warwick, and pupils from Cardinal Newman Catholic School talked about their personal experiences of conflict and the importance of learning about the Holocaust. 
     
    A candle was lit as the city remembered the victims of the Holocaust and other genocides including Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur, Afghanistan and Syria. 

    This year’s theme was ‘For a Better Future’, and Cllr Khan told the audience: “It is something our city works for continually, both here at home, and around the world, and it is a call for action that we can all be a part of. 

    “There are many things we can do to create a better future. We can speak out and stand up for others and we can challenge prejudice. We can learn from our past and from the Holocaust, genocides, and wars, and we can tell our stories and remember those we have lost to hatred and prejudice – as we do today. 
     
    “If we can all leave here with the determination to take one action or change one thing, then together, we can make a difference and help to build that better future.” 
     

    To learn more about HMD, visit the website. 

    Wednesday, 29th January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New Permanent Representative of New Zealand Presents Credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    Deborah Mary Geels, the new Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented her credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. 

    Prior to her appointment to Geneva, Ms. Geels held the position of Deputy Secretary of the Americas and Asia Group from 2022 to 2024, and before that of Deputy Secretary of the Multilateral and Legal Affairs Group from 2019 to 2022 at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    Ms. Geels served as Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations Office at Vienna from 2013 to 2017, with bilateral accreditation as Ambassador to Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. She served at the Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations Office at Geneva from 1997 to 2002.  She also served as New Zealand’s Deputy Head of Mission in Beijing from 2006 to 2008 and was earlier posted to Vanuatu. She has held a number of other positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade focusing on multilateral work, the Pacific Islands, Asia and development assistance.

    ________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media; not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Publication of the report on the investigation into TikTok under the DSA ahead of the May 2025 presidential election campaign in Romania – P-000253/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-000253/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Andi Cristea (S&D)

    The presidential elections in Romania have been rescheduled for 4 May 2025 (first round) and 18 May 2025 (second round). The Commission opened formal proceedings in respect of the TikTok platform on 17 December 2024 in relation to the alleged violation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) during the presidential elections held in Romania on 24 November 2024.

    The Commission asked TikTok to provide detailed information on the measures it has taken to prevent interference in electoral processes by 13 December 2024.

    The Commission has confirmed that it has received replies from TikTok and has indicated that it is in the process of assessing these.

    With the presidential election campaign in Romania soon to start, can the Commission state whether it will wrap up and present the conclusions of its investigation into TikTok prior to the start of that election campaign for the upcoming presidential elections?

    Submitted: 21.1.2025

    Last updated: 28 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The value of AI: How Microsoft’s customers and partners are reinventing how they do business today

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: The value of AI: How Microsoft’s customers and partners are reinventing how they do business today

    Organizational leaders in every industry around the world are evaluating ways AI can unlock opportunities, drive pragmatic innovation and yield value across their business. At Microsoft, we are dedicated to helping our customers accelerate AI Transformation by empowering human ambition with Copilots and agents, developing differentiated AI solutions and building scalable cybersecurity foundations. At Microsoft Ignite we made over 100 announcements that bring the latest innovation directly to our customers and partners, and shared how Microsoft is the only technology leader to offer three distinct AI platforms for them to build AI solutions:

    1. Copilot is your UI for AI, with Copilot Studio enabling low-code creation of agents and extensibility to your data.
    2. Azure AI Foundry is the only AI app server for building real-world, world-class, AI-native applications.
    3. Microsoft Fabric is the AI data platform that provides one common way to reason over your data —no matter where it lives.

    All three of these platforms are open and work synchronously to enable the development of modern AI solutions; and each is surrounded by our world-class security offerings so leaders can move their AI-first strategies forward with confidence.

    As we look ahead to what we can achieve together, I remain inspired by the work we are doing today. Below are a handful of the many stories from the past quarter highlighting the differentiated AI solutions our customers and partners are driving to move business forward across industries and realize pragmatic value. Their success clearly illustrates that real results can be harnessed from AI today, and it is changing the way organizations do business.

    To power its industrial IoT and AI platform, ABB Group leveraged Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service to create Genix Copilot: a generative AI-powered analytics suite aimed at solving some of the most complex industrial problems. The solution helps customers analyze key functions in their operations —such as asset and process performance, energy optimization and emission monitoring — with real-time operational insights. As a result, customers are seeing up to 35% savings in operations and maintenance, and up to 20% improvement in energy and emission optimization. ABB also saw an 80% decrease in service calls with the self-service capabilities of Genix Copilot.

    Serving government healthcare agencies across the US, Acentra Health turned to Microsoft to help introduce the latest AI capabilities that maximize talent and cut costs in a secure, HIPAA-compliant manner. Using Azure OpenAI Service, the company developed MedScribe — an AI-powered tool reducing the time specially trained nursing staff spend on appeal determination letters. This innovation saved 11,000 nursing hours and nearly $800,000, reducing time spent on each appeal determination letter by about 50%. MedScribe also significantly enhanced operational efficiency, enabling nurses to process 20 to 30 letters daily with a 99% approval rate.

    To ease challenges for small farmers, Romanian agribusiness group Agricover revolutionized access to credit by developing MyAgricover. Built with help from partner Avaelgo, the scalable digital platform utilizes Microsoft Azure, Azure API Management and Microsoft Fabric to automate the loan process and enable faster approvals and disbursements. This has empowered small farmers to grow their businesses and receive faster access to financing by reducing loan approval time by 90 percent — from 10 working days to a maximum of 24 hours.

    Building on its status as a world-class airline with a strong Indian identity, Air India sought ways to enhance customer support while managing costs. By developing AI.g, one of the industry’s first generative AI virtual assistants built on Azure OpenAI Service, the airline upgraded the customer experience. Today, 97% of customer queries are handled with full automation, resulting in millions of dollars of support costs saved and improved customer satisfaction — further positioning the airline for continued growth.

    BMW Group aimed to enhance data delivery efficiency and improve vehicle development and prototyping cycles by implementing a Mobile Data Recorder (MDR) solution with Azure App Service, Azure AI and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). The solution achieved 10 times more efficient data delivery, significantly improved data accessibility and elevated overall development quality. The MDR monitors and records more than 10,000 signals twice per second in every vehicle of BMW’s fleet of 3,500 development cars and transmits data within seconds to a centralized cloud back end. Using Azure AI Foundry and Azure OpenAI Service, BMW Group created an MDR copilot fueled by GPT-4o. Engineers can now chat with the interface using natural language, and the MDR copilot converts the conversations into KQL queries, simplifying access to technical insights. Moving from on-premises tools to a cloud-based system with faster data management also helps engineers troubleshoot in real time. The vehicle data covered by the system has doubled, and data delivery and analysis happen 10 times faster.

    Coles Group modernized its logistics and administrative applications using Microsoft Azure Stack HCI to scale its edge AI capabilities and improve efficiency and customer experience across its 1,800 stores. By expanding its Azure Stack HCI footprint from two stores to over 500, Coles achieved a six-fold increase in the pace of application deployment, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and enabling rapid innovation without disrupting workloads. The retailer is also using Azure Machine Learning to train and develop edge AI models, speeding up data annotation time for training models by 50%.

    Multinational advertising and media company Dentsu wanted to speed time to insights for its team of data scientists and media analysts to support its media planning and budget optimization. Using Microsoft Azure AI Foundry and Azure OpenAI Service, Dentsu developers built a predictive analytics copilot that uses conversational chat and draws on deep expertise in media forecasting, budgeting and optimization. This AI-driven tool has reduced time to media insights for employees and clients by 90% and cut analysis costs.

    To overcome the limitations of its current systems, scale operations and automate processes across millions of workflows, Docusign created the Intelligent Agreement Management (IAM) platform on Azure. Using Azure AI, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Logic Apps and AKS, the platform transforms agreement data into actionable insights to enhance productivity and accelerate contract review cycles. IAM also ensures better collaboration and unification across business systems to provide secure solutions tailored to diverse customer needs. For example, its customer KPC Private funds reported a 70% reduction in time and resources dedicated to agreement processes.

    Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) transformed its manufacturing operations by leveraging a hybrid environment with Azure Arc, Azure Stack HCI and Azure Kubernetes Service. This digital manufacturing platform resulted in 86% cost savings for AI image and video analytics and a 13-fold improvement in AI response times. The seamless hybrid cloud architecture has enhanced EGA’s operational efficiency and agility, supporting its Industry 4.0 transformation strategy.

    EY collaborated with Microsoft to enhance the inclusivity of AI development using Azure AI Studio. By involving neurodivergent technologists from EY’s Neuro-Diverse Centers of Excellence, they improved the accessibility and productivity of AI tools, resulting in more inclusive AI solutions, fostering innovation and ensuring that AI tools unlock the potential of all users. With an estimated 20% of the global workforce identifying as neurodivergent, inclusive AI solutions are crucial for maximizing creativity and productivity. Neurodivergent EY technologists also collaborated with Microsoft developers to make Azure AI Foundry more inclusive and help all users work productively to create innovative AI solutions.

    Colombian household appliance manufacturer Haceb integrated AI to optimize processes, reduce costs and improve service quality. Using Microsoft Copilot Studio and Azure OpenAI Service, the company created a virtual technical support assistant, saving its 245 technicians 5 minutes per visit — a total of 5,000 minutes saved daily. This AI solution has enhanced efficiency and boosted customer satisfaction by allowing for faster issue resolution. Haceb’s AI adoption has also empowered employees, boosted productivity and positioned the company as a leader in AI innovation in Colombia.

    To better serve its global patients, Operation Smile — in collaboration with partner Squadra — leveraged Azure AI, Machine Learning and Microsoft Fabric to develop an AI-powered solution to predict surgical outcomes and optimize resource allocation. This innovation resulted in a 30% increase in surgical efficiency, a 90% reduction in translation errors and improved patient outcomes. Additionally, report generation is now up to 95% quicker, and repeated medical events have decreased by 15%, enabling Operation Smile to provide better care to more children worldwide.

    Ontada — a McKesson business dedicated to oncology data and evidence, clinical education and point-of-care technologies — needed a way to generate key insights across 150 million unstructured oncology documents. Using Microsoft Azure AI and Azure OpenAI Service, Ontada developed a data platform solution called ON.Genuity to provide AI-driven insights into the patient journey, enhance patient trial matching and identify care gaps. The company also implemented large language models to target nearly 100 critical oncology data elements across 39 cancer types, enabling the company to analyze an estimated 70% of previously inaccessible data, reduce processing time by 75% and accelerate product time-to-market from months to just one week.

    As the UK’s largest pet care company, Pets at Home sought a way to combat fraud across its retail operations — particularly as its online business continued to grow. Working closely with its fraud team, it adopted Copilot Studio to develop an AI agent that quickly identifies suspicious transactions. The agent autonomously gathers relevant information, performs analysis and shares it with a fraud agent to enable a manual, data-intensive investigative process while ensuring a human remains in the loop. With this low-code agent extending and seamlessly integrating into existing systems, the company’s fraud department can act more quickly; what used to take 20 to 30 minutes is now handled by the AI agent within seconds. The company is identifying fraud 10 times faster and is processing 20 times more cases a day. Now, the company can operate at scale with speed, efficiency and accuracy — with savings expected to be in the seven figures as it continues to build more agents.

    Revenue Grid, a technology company specializing in sales engagement and revenue optimization solutions, partnered with Cloud Services to modernize its data infrastructure and develop a unified data warehouse capable of handling unstructured, semi-structured and structured data. By migrating to Microsoft Fabric, Revenue Grid can now deliver data-powered revenue intelligence, driven by a unified platform, elastic scalability, enhanced analytics capabilities and streamlined operations. Revenue Grid has reduced infrastructure costs by 60% while enhancing its analytical capabilities to improve real-time data processing, empowering sales teams with accurate and diverse data. 

    To better manage and integrate employee data across diverse regions and systems, UST built a comprehensive Employee Data platform on Microsoft Fabric. In under a year, UST migrated 20 years of employee data with all security measures to enhance data accessibility and employee productivity. The Meta Data Driven Integration (MDDI) framework in Fabric also helped the company cut data ingestion time by 50% so employees can focus more on analysis than preparation. As a result of this implementation, the company has seen an increase in collaboration and innovation from employees, helping put its values into action.

    The Microsoft Commercial Marketplace offers millions of customers worldwide a convenient place to find, try and buy software and services across 140 countries. As a Marketplace partner, WeTransact is helping independent software vendors (ISVs) list and transact their software solutions — and find opportunities for co-selling and extending their reach to enterprise customers through development of the WeTransact platform. Powered by Azure OpenAI Service, the platform is changing the way partnerships are being built by using AI pairing to facilitate a “plug and play” reseller network. More than 300 ISVs worldwide have joined the Microsoft Commercial Marketplace using the WeTransact platform, cutting their time to publish by 75%.

    The opportunity for AI to create value is no longer an ambition for the future — it is happening now, and organizational leaders across industries are investing in AI-first strategies to change the way they do business. We believe AI should empower human achievement and enrich the lives of employees; and we are uniquely differentiated to help you accelerate your AI Transformation responsibly and securely. Choosing the right technology provider comes down to trust, and I look forward to what we will achieve together as we partner with you on your AI journey.

    Tags: AI, Azure, Azure AI, Azure AI Foundry, Azure AI Studio, Azure Arc, Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Stack HCI, Copilot, Copilot Studio, Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft Ignite 2024

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Happy Data Protection Day!

    Source: European Union 2

    If someone asked you to answer 100 questions about your personal life to sell the answers, would you agree? Most likely not.

    It can be difficult  to keep in control over your personal data and to keep it safe. From online shopping and browsing to social media, with every click, share and login-in you leave behind a digital trail. The GDPR ensures that your data can only be used in ways you agree to and that you can access any information about yourself.

    But do people actually know how to protect their data? 
    We asked passers-by on the streets of Brussels.

    Happy Data Protection Day!

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: How do Chinese people celebrate Spring Festival?

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

    BEIJING, Jan. 28 — Even though the Spring Festival officially falls on Jan. 29 this year, the Chinese people have already entered the festive “Guonian” period, which translates to “crossing the year.” This special time is filled with a rich array of traditions and celebrations that mark the end of the old year and the joyful arrival of the new one.

    In December 2024, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added the Spring Festival, the social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional new year, to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This means the Year of the Snake marks the first “heritage edition” of the Chinese New Year.

    How do the Chinese celebrate their most important festival, now recognized as a cultural heritage of humanity? Here’s a guide to the traditions and festivities.

    WHAT ARE TYPICAL CELEBRATIONS OF SPRING FESTIVAL?

    According to UNESCO, “In China, the Spring Festival marks the beginning of the new year. It falls on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar.”

    While the new year technically begins at midnight, the real celebrations start a week earlier with the Little New Year. The festivities stretch all the way to the Lantern Festival, which falls on the fifteenth day and marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

    The festive atmosphere begins even earlier. The Laba Festival, celebrated on the eighth day of the twelfth month in the Chinese calendar, is often seen as the precursor to the Spring Festival. A popular rhyme in northern China says, “Kids, kids, don’t be greedy. After the Laba Festival, it’s New Year already!”

    On Laba, families enjoy porridge made from various grains and beans, which symbolizes harvest and prosperity. They celebrate the abundance of the past year and wish for a bountiful year ahead.

    The rhyme also outlines the preparations that begin with the Little New Year, including house cleaning, buying new clothes, and preparing delicious food. Families decorate their homes with red couplets, window paper cuts and New Year posters.

    Little New Year, observed on the 23rd and 24th days of the twelfth month in northern and southern China, respectively, is also known as the Kitchen God Festival. It is a time to honor the Kitchen God, the deity believed to protect the household. Families clean their homes to sweep away bad luck and prepare for a fresh start.

    After a week of bustling preparations, New Year’s Eve arrives, a day filled with the longing for family reunions. The centerpiece of the Spring Festival is the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner. No matter how far apart, families make an effort to gather and share this special meal. A popular song captures this sentiment perfectly: “Whether you have money or not, always return home to celebrate the New Year with your family.”

    As midnight strikes, the old year is symbolically cast away with the sound of firecrackers. The line, “Amid the boom of firecrackers, a year has come to an end,” from the Song Dynasty poet Wang Anshi, remains familiar to all Chinese people. Today, firecrackers continue to mark the end of the old year and serve as a tradition that dates back to scaring away the mythical beast Nian.

    Another custom is staying up late, or even all night, on New Year’s Eve. Families gather to welcome the New Year, creating a cherished moment of unity and celebration.

    The celebrations continue into New Year’s Day, which marks the beginning of a new wave of festivities. From this point, the focus shifts from family gatherings to exchanges of greetings and rituals with relatives, neighbors and friends. A common tradition is giving red envelopes filled with cash, typically from older generations to younger ones, as a symbol of good fortune.

    From the first to the tenth day of the New Year, relatives visit one another, and public events like temple fairs, Shehuo (folk performances), and lantern shows bring communities together. People extend New Year greetings to loved ones and enjoy the vibrant celebrations until the Lantern Festival, the first full-moon day of the year. This marks the end of the New Year celebrations and the conclusion of the festive period.

    WHAT VALUES DOES SPRING FESTIVAL CONVEY?

    The Spring Festival is not only the highlight of China’s cultural calendar but also embodies continuity and transformation. Families gather to honor their traditions, and the past and present intertwine through rituals, storytelling and communal gatherings.

    Far beyond a celebration, the Spring Festival promotes values deeply embedded in Chinese culture. It fosters social cohesion by uniting people around shared traditions and celebrations, strengthening community bonds. On a broader scale, the festival serves as a reminder of Chinese cultural identity, connecting people across generations and reinforcing a sense of pride in their heritage.

    It emphasizes family values, encouraging people to reunite with loved ones and honor ancestors through rituals. The goal is to seek protection from misfortune and wish for prosperity, stability, and a bright future. These values, along with the traditions passed down both informally within families and formally through education, shape the national character of the Chinese people.

    The values celebrated during the Spring Festival also align with China’s commitment to multilateralism and global cooperation. “The festival is celebrated with diverse customs, including the preparation of traditional dishes, the hanging of red lanterns, and vibrant performances featuring lion and dragon dances. These practices, deeply rooted in history, reflect the values of harmony, prosperity and renewal — values that resonate across cultures,” said Ljiljana Stevic, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Banja Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his video message for the upcoming Year of the Snake that the snake symbolizes wisdom, resilience, and renewal. “In the strained times, let us be guided by these qualities and renew our commitment to peace, equality, and justice.”

    Guterres also expressed gratitude to China and the Chinese people for their support to the United Nations. “I thank China and the Chinese people for your steadfast support of the United Nations, multilateralism and global cooperation. Let us embrace new beginnings with hope and determination to create a better future for all.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Holocaust Memorial Ceremony: UN Chief’s remarks | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Opening remarks by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the Holocaust Memorial Ceremony 2025 – International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

    ———
    UN chief said, “The history of the Holocaust shows us what can happen when people choose not to see and not to act.”

    Addressing the annual ceremony in remembrance of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust today (27 jan), Secretary-General António Guterres said, “I want to acknowledge that more than a year has passed since the appalling 7th October terror attacks by Hamas. We welcome, at long last, the ceasefire and hostage release deal. The deal offers hope, as well as much needed relief. The United Nations will do our utmost to ensure it leads to the release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.”

    He also said, “The responsibility belongs to every one of us. Remembrance is not only a moral act. Remembrance is a call to action. To allow the Holocaust to fade from memory would dishonour the past and betray the future.”

    He continued, “Hatred is being stirred-up across the globe. One of the clearest and most troubling examples is the spreading cancer of Holocaust denial. Indisputable historical facts are being distorted, diminished, and dismissed. Efforts are being made to recast and rehabilitate Nazis and their collaborators. We must stand up to these outrages.”

    Philémon Yang, President of the 79th Session of the General Assembly said, “We must never forget that the Holocaust did not begin in the gas chambers; it began in the minds of people, fueled by hate speech, propaganda, and systemic discrimination.”

    Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel, said, “On this historic day, we must commit to joining hands to defeat darkness and hatred, and work together to ensure the building of a shared future. This is the vow we must share, all of us, the family of nations: That what happened once, will never happen again.”

    Dumitru Miclescu, Roma survivor of the Holocaust stated, “Even today, in Romania, people do not know this history. Instead of calling it the genocide in Transnistria, they refer to it as the deportations from Transnistria. I want to be clear: what we lived through was a genocide—mass killings and injustice. Just because we were born Roma or Jewish.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQW46p8H_sk

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Liverpool marks Holocaust Memorial Day with a special service

    Source: City of Liverpool

    The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia have been marked by a reflective ceremony at Liverpool’s Town Hall.

    The theme of the service was ‘For a Better Future’ and residents are urged to learn about past horrors so that they never happen again. The Lord Mayor and Rabbi Fagleman from the Allerton Hebrew Congregation lit candles; there were prayers and also a speech delivered by Francine Palant, whose parents were both Holocaust survivors.

    The event opened with a performance by King David High School musicians. The Lord Mayor, Cllr Richard Kemp CBE also laid a wreath at St John’s Gardens. 

    At last week’s Full Council meeting, Liverpool City Council reaffirmed its commitment to advocating awareness of the Holocaust. The Town Hall, St George’s Hall and the Cunard Building were also lit up in purple to mark the day. 

    Lord Mayor, Councillor Richard Kemp CBE said: “This year is a significant milestone, given that it is 80 years since Auschwitz was liberated and 30 years since the genocide in Bosnia. 

    “Like each Holocaust Memorial Day, it is a time to reflect and to consider what we can do as a City and community to combat prejudice in all its forms.

    “Liverpool prides itself on being a diverse City and the better future we can work towards is where all communities can live together safely and with great respect for each other.  

    “Learning from the very worst things that humankind has done to itself is one of the most effective ways to prevent anything like this from ever happening again.” 

    Jeremy Wolfson, chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Planning Group at Liverpool City Council and a member of Liverpool’s Jewish community, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the Holocaust and subsequent genocides and raise awareness of not only what happened, but to try and ensure that the attitudes which led to them are not repeated.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – Constitutive Meeting, on 3 October 2024 – Delegation to the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee

    Source: European Parliament

    The constitutive meeting of the European Parliament’s Delegation to the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) took place on Thursday, 3 October 2024, in Brussels.

    During the meeting, the Delegation Members elected Mr Karlo RESSLER (EPP, Croatia) as the new Chair, as well as Ms Biljana BORZAN (S&D, Croatia), as first Vice-Chair and Mr Ivaylo VALCHEV (ECR, Bulgaria), as second Vice-Chair.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: A current flowing to the future

    Source: European Investment Bank

    Just 25 kilometres northwest of Mostar, another man is on a mission to save his local river. Boro Đolo grew up along the banks of the Lištica River. “Here, people learn to swim before they learn to walk,” he says.

    A soft-spoken grandfather, Đolo spends his free time working with a local organisation to restore the area’s native fish population. Professionally, Đolo has devoted 35 years to the water sector, working for the city of Široki Brijeg. There he leads a project aimed at improving wastewater services to protect the Lištica. The city has already built and rehabilitated 25 kilometres of sewer lines and four kilometres of storm drains and is currently constructing a treatment plant to serve its 15 000 residents.

    Flowing from a nearby spring, the Lištica River, carves through local landscapes before joining the Neretva near Mostar. “That’s why it’s crucial to keep the Lištica clean. We all live downstream,” Đolo says. “If someone upstream pollutes a river, that pollution affects everyone living downstream.”

    The projects in Mostar and Široki Brijeg are part of a larger effort, financed by the European Investment Bank, to improve water and sanitation across the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The €60 million invested in these initiatives is part of the Bank’s broader €240 million commitments to water infrastructure and flood protection in the country.

    “The project covers 19 municipalities and has significantly improved the quality of life for residents,” says Sukavata Bejdić, project lead at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry. Speaking in her crowded office, surrounded by stacks of paperwork, Bejdić maintains an optimistic attitude and an infectious smile. “Over the last 15 years, this project has brought clean drinking water and a better sewerage system to more than 500 000 people.” 

    Bejdić knows she’s making a difference. “It’s been a long process and a lot of hard work,” Bejdić says, “but I talk to people on the ground every day, and I’m happy I can do something for them.”

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Italy resumes controversial migrant transfers to Albania

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Italy has restarted its contentious program of sending asylum seekers picked up in the Mediterranean to Albania, months after judges in Rome ruled against the transfers.

    On Sunday, an Italian Navy vessel transported 49 male asylum seekers to Albania. The program involving Albania is part of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s strategy to curb the number of migrants coming to Italy.

    The plan is controversial as Albania is outside the European Union, meaning the refugees are not protected under EU asylum rules.

    Domestic critics in Italy said the program is costly and ineffective, considering its projected expense of 800 million euros (around $840 million) will address only a tiny fraction of the migrant influx to Italy each year.

    According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 66,000 asylum seekers landed on Italian shores in 2024, down dramatically from nearly 158,000 in the previous year. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Denuclearisation of the International Gulf of Trieste – E-000197/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000197/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE)

    The 1947 Peace Treaty with Italy adopted by United Nations Security Council Resolution S/RES/16, established the Free Territory of Trieste as a demilitarised and neutral state.

    However, the Gulf of Trieste currently hosts two military nuclear transit ports, the port of Trieste in Italy and the port of Koper in Slovenia, in violation of this Treaty.

    The European Parliament took note of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and recognised its vision for a nuclear weapon-free world[1].

    The denuclearisation of the Gulf of Trieste, as put forward by the NGO Mundo sin Guerras y sin Violencia (World without Wars and Violence) at the 2nd TPNW review meeting[2], would be the first foundation of a European ‘nuclear-weapon-free zone’[3].

    In view of the above, can the Commission clarify what actions it intends to promote, within the framework of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, in support of the denuclearisation of the Gulf of Trieste and in implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 16?

    Submitted: 17.1.2025

    • [1] European Parliament resolution of 15 December 2021 on the challenges and prospects for multilateral weapons of mass destruction arms control and disarmament regimes (2020/2001(INI)), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52021IP0504.
    • [2] https://docs-library.unoda.org/Treaty_on_the_Prohibition_of_Nuclear_Weapons_-SecondMeeting_of_States_Parties_(2023)/TPNW.MSP_.2023.NGO_.16.pdf.
    • [3] https://www.prif.org/fileadmin/Daten/Publikationen/Prif_Working_Papers/PRIF_WP_27.pdf.
    Last updated: 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The Constitutional Court of Romania’s decision from the perspective of rules on the rule of law – E-000133/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000133/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Erik Kaliňák (NI)

    The results of the presidential elections in Romania have been annulled by the Constitutional Court of Romania, but constitutional lawyers have raised a number of concerns with this decision. They point, for example, to the absence of a constitutional or statutory provision allowing the Constitutional Court to initiate ex officio proceedings to review the legality of presidential elections. According to the Law on Presidential Elections, candidates, political parties, political or electoral associations and members of national minority organisations represented in the Council are entitled to lodge a complaint. Furthermore, there is no provision in Romanian law allowing for the annulment of the entire electoral process. The law only provides for the possibility of cancelling and repeating one of the two rounds of elections for very specific reasons (fraudulent acts affecting the ranking of candidates eligible to participate in the second round or the granting of the presidential mandate). Thirdly, the law provides for a three-day period for lodging a complaint against the results of the elections, starting from the close of voting. There is no legal provision to allow proceedings to be initiated later (the decision of 6 December was issued 12 days after the close of voting).

    One can sympathise with the concerns raised by Romanian lawyers. In the light of the foregoing:

    • 1.Does the Commission not view the actions taken by the Constitutional Court without an adequate legal basis as being ultra vires and therefore a violation of the rule of law?
    • 2.What measures does it intend to take to protect the rule of law in order to prevent the abuse of judicial power for political purposes?

    Submitted: 15.1.2025

    Last updated: 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Enlargement without any concessions – E-002188/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The enlargement process is merit-based and depends on the objective progress made by each of the partners. The speed of the accession process depends on the speed and implementation of reforms.

    Credible reforms and irreversible progress especially on the fundamentals of enlargement are essential. This is at the core of the revised Enlargement Methodology[1] adopted in 2020 and continues to guide the process.

    The inclusion of some enlargement countries in the Rule of Law Report as of 2024[2] (Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) supports the implementation of the related recommendations under the enlargement package[3]. Other accession countries will be included in the Rule of Law Report as and when they are ready.

    Reaping the benefits of EU membership requires thorough preparation and the putting in place of appropriate safeguards against backsliding on reforms.

    The experience of the 2004 EU enlargement demonstrates the positive impact that membership of the EU single market and structural funds has on economic convergence.

    Accelerating socioeconomic convergence already prior to accession is being pursued through dedicated instruments such as the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans[4], as well as the association agreements, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs) with Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia.

    • [1]  COM(2020) 57 final.
    • [2] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/upholding-rule-law/rule-law/annual-rule-law-cycle/2024-rule-law-report_en
    • [3] COM (2024) 690 final.
    • [4] COM(2023) 691 final.
    Last updated: 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Contempt for the Prespa Agreement shown towards 12 EU ambassadors and four representatives of European bodies – E-001966/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Prespa Agreement is a bilateral treaty between North Macedonia and Greece. As such, it is binding under international law. The agreement sets an example of reconciliation for the region and beyond.

    To date, both parties have publicly confirmed their commitment to abide by the Agreement. As recalled in the December 2023 Council Conclusions[1] and in the Commission’s 2024 enlargement report on North Macedonia[2], the Prespa Agreement needs to be implemented in good faith by all parties.

    The EU regretted the fact that the new President of North Macedonia did not use the constitutional name of the country during the swearing-in ceremony. 

    After this event, the EU recalled again the importance of full respect for existing, legally binding agreements including the Prespa Agreement with Greece.

    Good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation remain essential elements of the enlargement process. The Commission will continue to call for adherence to such bilateral agreements.

    • [1] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-16707-2023-INIT/en/pdf
    • [2] SWD(2024) 693 final .
    Last updated: 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Atonement by Ian McEwan is a meditation on creativity in later life

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Amigoni, Professor of Victorian Literature, Editorial Board Chair, Keele University

    In Ian McEwan’s Atonement (2001), aspiring writer 13-year-old Briony Tallis glimpses a world of opaque “adult emotion”. Holding a pen and blank paper before her, she feels a powerful impulse to write in order to impose order and meaning on adulthood’s slippery uncertainties.

    Earlier on that hot summer’s day in 1935, she had witnessed a perplexing scene of seeming “ugly threat”. Her older sister, Cecilia, undressed in front of their cleaning lady’s son (and fellow Cambridge graduate) Robbie Turner. She then plunged, in her underwear, into an ornamental fountain.

    Briony’s urge to write is triggered when she reads the private note she had been tasked with delivering from Robbie to Cecilia. Within, she is shocked to discover Robbie’s desire for Cecilia, expressed through use of the unutterable “c” word. Later, looking through the door of their darkened library, Briony mistakenly believes she sees Robbie committing a violent assault on her sister.

    This article is part of Rethinking the Classics. The stories in this series offer insightful new ways to think about and interpret classic books, films and artworks. This is the canon – with a twist.

    McEwan’s novel presents a privileged English country house setting that descends into a chaos of mistakes, class resentment, educational ambition and sex, expressed both as desire and power. The latter is evident in the rape of Briony’s cousin Lola.

    Convinced that she has seen, and now read, the truth about “evil” Robbie’s “disgusting” obsession with her sister, Briony believes he is the culprit. She is confident that her writing will expose a “maniac’s” guilt. However, her urge to write upon the blank page is stronger than her sense of what precisely to say.

    In fact, what she writes at this crucial moment – “There was an old lady who swallowed a fly” – feels entirely strange. But just as the old lady of the nursery rhyme fatally bites off ever more that she can chew in swallowing a fly, a spider, a bird, a cat, so Briony’s tragically mistaken ideas about Robbie ends in his incrimination and incarceration.

    Robbie is free only when released to fight for the British Expeditionary Force in France in 1940. He strives to return to Cecilia via the horrors and heroism of that most resonant of British stories, Dunkirk.

    Life stages, ageing and creativity are important themes in Atonement. It is as an older lady writer herself that Briony atones for the incriminating stories that her juvenile writer self swallowed and multiplied.



    Read more:
    Dunkirk survivors’ terror didn’t end when they were rescued

    Creativity in later life

    Putting age and later life front and centre urges the reader to reassess McEwan’s renowned “twist”. That is, the moment readers discover that key scenes in the novel – meetings between Briony, Cecilia and Robbie following the latter’s evacuation from Dunkirk – never happened.

    As we are told on the penultimate page, the truth is that Robbie died of septicaemia in the dunes of Dunkirk and Cecilia was killed in the direct hit of a bomb on the Balham tube station in 1940.

    At this moment, we realise that what we have been reading is the final draft of the atoning conclusion to a work by now 77-year-old Briony. Like so many late stylists (a writer who, in later life, returns to earlier preoccupations and themes), Briony, an established author with a reputation for “amorality”, revisits her early work on her 77th birthday party. It’s an event that brings her back to the estate of her childhood, now converted into a hotel.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Briony’s later life shapes the closure of the story, but McEwan’s imaginative engagement with ageing affects every aspect of the novel. He presents readers with story-shaped anticipations of mid- and later life, even when the character will not live to see that age.

    Robbie, working-class protégé of Mr Tallis’s educational philanthropy, with a first in English literature from Cambridge, consciously awakens into his unacknowledged love for Cecilia while thinking about his age and future.

    The feelings coincide with his developing aspiration to train in medicine, and his imaginary anticipations of his life course.

    He thought of himself in 1962, at 50, when he would be old, but not quite old enough to be useless, and of the weathered, knowing doctor he would be by then, with the secret stories, the tragedies and successes stacked behind him”

    These will be embodied in books – more writings – “possessed in the thousands”. Briony and Cecilia’s migraine-suffering mother Emily, meanwhile, sees her ageing self grow “stiffer in the limbs and more irrelevant by the day”.

    Through the character of Briony, McEwan contests the ageism and invisibility that can be the fate of older women. McEwan may take her to the brink of a terminal neurological decline in 1999 – she is diagnosed with vascular dementia – but Briony resists the othering that ageism imposes on older people: “we may look truly reptilian, but we’re not a separate tribe”.

    The end of the novel presents readers with a view of active, meaningful later life as a creative time of collaborative, curatorial story telling.

    The older Briony was played by Vanessa Redgrave in the 2007 adaptation of Atonement.

    Readers become aware of the “sources” of the dramatic story of Robbie’s trek across northern France in the company of Corporals Mace and Nettle. Seventy-seven-year-old Briony donates the “dozen long letters from old Mr Nettle” to the archives of the Imperial War Museum, where she has been researching.

    This act of memory preservation returns readers to the meaning of the horrors, carnage and heroism of the Dunkirk evacuation which McEwan presents through that powerful central episode in the novel. The evacuation of more than 300,000 troops from Dunkirk, including a small proportion of volunteer boats, makes Dunkirk a nationally resonant story.

    Briony’s collaborative, later-life storytelling captures the heroism and sacrifice inherent in the perspectives of the wounded evacuee combatants. But so, too, their more sceptical, critical accents.

    They “were bitter about the newspaper celebrations of the miracle evacuation and the heroism of the little boats. ‘A fucking shambles,’ she heard one of them mutter.” Or more precisely, the older lady recalled hearing, and then wrote.

    Beyond the canon

    As part of the Rethinking the Classics series, we’re asking our experts to recommend a book or artwork that tackles similar themes to the canonical work in question, but isn’t (yet) considered a classic itself. Here is David Amigoni’s suggestion:

    Paul Bailey, who died in October 2024, was an excellent but under-acknowledged writer who deserves to be more widely read.

    His writing went against the grain is subtle ways. He was experimenting with ways of writing about later life at the beginning of his career in 1967, with the publication of At the Jerusalem, set in a home for older women. He was then in his early 30s.

    The Prince’s Boy (2014) was written when he was 77 – the same age as McEwan’s fictional Briony Tallis when she completes Atonement. It revisits key themes in Bailey’s earlier work: sexuality (he was a gay man), love, Proust, Romania and Europe.

    David Amigoni received funding from RCUK (now UKRI) for his work on ageing and late-life creativity. He is affiliated with The Conversation UK as Chair of its Editorial Board.

    – ref. Atonement by Ian McEwan is a meditation on creativity in later life – https://theconversation.com/atonement-by-ian-mcewan-is-a-meditation-on-creativity-in-later-life-244801

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What Davos delegates missed when they discussed green finance for business

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michael Harrison, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Finance, University of East London

    Addressing the climate crisis was one of the key themes at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Rustam Zagidullin/Shutterstock

    Every year, leaders from politics and business come together with economists, investors and even celebrities at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos. One of the five key themes of this year’s event was safeguarding the planet. The forum’s own figures suggest that human-caused climate change has cost the planet US$3.6 trillion (£2.9 trillion) in damage since 2000 alone.

    Many of the sessions at Davos focused on climate change, which was especially pertinent after US president Donald Trump’s decision to abandon for a second time the Paris Agreement – a framework to keep the warming of the planet to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century.

    In an online address to Davos delegates, Trump even argued that the oil-producers’ group Opec should reduce the price of oil. This is in stark contrast to the views of many other governments – exemplified by UK energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband’s assertion that net zero is “unstoppable”.

    But one of the less discussed elements of the path to net-zero by the year 2050 (a key target to keep the Paris Agreement on track) is the role of the financial sector.

    As economists, we believe that banks and financial institutions should play a key role in making the green transition happen. Companies that produce goods and services will need to invest in equipment and technology – either to make new greener products or to ensure that they pollute less.

    But this will cost money – likely money that firms do not actually have on their balance sheet or under their mattress. When banks assist in providing funding for this type of investment, it is known as green finance.

    Green finance from banks can take two forms. Either the banks underwrite corporate bonds, which means they sell bonds to investors in exchange for a fee. Or they become involved in the provision of a syndicated loan, which is when they collaborate with other banks to lend money.

    But both options are constrained by the rule that a bank will only provide finance out of self-interest. This means they act only when the profit they earn is proportional to the credit risk they take on. But this was in contrast to the message from Davos that businesses should take the lead, with the aid of finance from banks, in mitigating the risks of climate change.

    With easier access to finance, more firms could invest in innovative ways to go green like this car park with inbuilt solar panels in Leeds.
    Clare Louise Jackson/Shutterstock

    Sources of credit for businesses to make green investments include philanthropists, public finance and the private sector (that is, commercial banks). However, it is arguable that charity and public money are best used in partnership with private banks, to finance projects that are perceived high risk and low return. Banks alone would not support these because of their promotion of self-interest.

    However, philanthropy can be limited and inconsistent in providing funds for green projects. And the public sector has so many demands on its purse that its ability to support is also limited. This is where the private sector plays a key role in mitigating climate change and where partnerships between these three sectors could offer a way forward.

    This pathway was discussed at Davos but the speakers were not clear on what effective partnerships would look like. As academics who have researched the factors that influence green finance provision across multiple European countries, we would suggest a partnership structure between the public sector and the private sector, based on risk-sharing.

    In these cases where banks perceive the risk to be unbearable (and therefore not in their self-interest), governments could partner with banks in offering finance and so share the consequences of a bad project outcome. In other words, they would form a partnership with the bank to share the downside risk.

    A bank may consider an investment to be higher risk where a project has less certain outcomes, or requires funding for a longer period of time. Both of these factors are comparatively common in green financing deals. This could be because a firm is investing in new or untested tech or production methods – for example car manufacturers exploring new electric vehicle battery technologies.

    The struggle for smaller businesses

    This partnership approach could especially benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which make up 99% of Europe’s companies. But these businesses can struggle to access finance from banks due to their lack of capital, which can make banks see them as a high risk. And this of course is challenging for SMEs, which mostly have no other sources of external finance.

    Research shows that medium-sized firms often rely on loans for finance. Our work focuses on how companies in Europe and the UK source green financing. It has highlighted that larger companies, as well as more liquid and more profitable firms, tend to raise finance via bonds (issued by banks and bought by investors) rather than loans (from a bank or other financial institution).

    In fact, our research shows that in some European countries (including Latvia, Malta and Romania), domestic banks have no record whatsoever of providing green finance to companies.

    This means it is much easier for larger businesses to get green finance compared to their smaller peers. And smaller companies tend to obtain relatively lower amounts of green financing, creating a real risk that SMEs may not get what they need in order to play their part in reducing their emissions.

    Without a significant shift in allowing SMEs to get the finance they need to become greener, governments will struggle to get close to their net-zero goals. But, along with financial regulators, governments could lead the way to create partnerships with banks and other financial institutions to overcome the barriers that SMEs face.

    Sharing the risk would ensure banks continue their green lending activities and accelerate progress toward meeting government climate targets.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. What Davos delegates missed when they discussed green finance for business – https://theconversation.com/what-davos-delegates-missed-when-they-discussed-green-finance-for-business-248208

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Suspected Baltic Sea cable sabotage by Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ is ramping up regional defence

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matthew Powell, Teaching Fellow in Strategic and Air Power Studies, University of Portsmouth

    Numerous incidents of suspected Russian-linked sabotage of undersea cables in the Baltic Sea has seen tensions rise among nearby countries, and an increased Nato presence.

    In the latest incident, on January 26, the Swedish coast guard boarded a ship in the Baltic Sea on suspicion of anchor dragging and suspected sabotage of vital undersea cables providing power and communication across the region. Latvia also sent a warship to the incident to investigate damage to fibre-optic cables. The Bulgarian vessel is now under investigation. The owner of the ship has denied any involvement with sabotage.

    The nations along the Baltic Sea coast have become increasingly worried about suspected sabotage of their undersea infrastructure in recent months by vessels deliberately dragging their using anchors along the seabed and have started to station military vessels at sea every day.

    Critical undersea infrastructure can be easily damaged by anchor dragging. Russia has denied involvement in these incidents.

    But there have also been credible reports that Russia has actively been mapping undersea infrastructure.

    In response to rising concerns about infrastructure security, Nato increased its regional naval presence by launching the Baltic Sentry mission on January 14, which includes maritime patrol vessels.

    What’s the context?

    In recent months there have been several reports of damage being caused to undersea cables by vessels as they pass through the Baltic Sea. Attacks on undersea cables are comparable to traditional espionage and information operations . This is activity conducted at the level below that of warfare, designed to send certain signals to adversarial nations. The purpose could be to send a message that the capability exists to essentially cut off and isolate nations from the outside world.

    These cables are extremely valuable. They are used to transport gas, electricity and internet traffic between nations. And recent incidents have led to a reduction in the capacity of electricity that can be transported, although this has not yet caused widespread power outages. Another concern is that damage to internet cables can hold up the passage of information generated by the financial markets. This is particularly vulnerable due to its time-sensitive nature.


    PorcupenWorks/Shutterstock

    How can cables be protected?

    Protecting the cables is a challenging task. There is little that can physically be done to prevent other vessels crossing seas and oceans due to the concept of freedom of navigation of the high seas. And Russia has a right of passage for its ships, for example, from St Petersburg to the North Sea.

    Investigations into apparent threats can be conducted without actually seizing the vessel or impeding its progress in any way. This can done through the use of GPS tracking data and combining that with other evidence such as eye witness testimony.

    While these cables can get damaged through natural means, the targeting of them could be a way for a nation to operate against its adversaries in a more covert manner and below the threshold of armed conflict.

    The Finnish navy seized a ship suspected of involvement in sabotage.

    Much of the disruption to the traffic on these undersea cables is probably the result of accidental activity. But there have been concerns about greater activity by Russian military vessels in their attempts to map the Baltic sea floor. The most likely reason for the increased Russian sea mapping activity is to gain a greater understanding of the location of these cables. But it could be sending a message that this critical infrastructure is difficult to defend and vulnerable to attack and sabotage.

    Many merchant vessels are registered in overseas territories, and ownership can be hard to track. This gives a degree of plausible deniability over who may have ordered or overseen the operations that might have damaged cables.

    It makes it more challenging for action to be taken, but has given rise to accusations that these ships are acting as Russia’s “shadow fleet”.



    Read more:
    ‘Keep nine litres of water in storage’: how Baltic and Nordic countries are preparing for a crisis or war

    But this increased naval presence in the Baltic could act as a deterrent and provide greater security to the cables. Sweden has now boarded a vessel. But another obstacle here is that the nation where the vessel is registered is under absolutely no obligation to cooperate with any investigation.

    Other factors are also involved. The Baltic states and Finland have memories of the political control imposed upon them by the Soviet government prior to, and, in some cases, after the second world war, and this will be adding to the tension.

    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has increased regional fears about what could happen next. Moscow may be hoping to deter the Baltic nations from continuing to provide the support they are giving to Ukraine by increasing pressure on them along the coast.

    But aggressive activity in the Baltic Sea may well have the opposite effect by ramping up concern about Russia’s power. It might also mean Baltic and Nordic countries are more willing to increase their defence spending and make preparations for possible military action.

    Matthew Powell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Suspected Baltic Sea cable sabotage by Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ is ramping up regional defence – https://theconversation.com/suspected-baltic-sea-cable-sabotage-by-russias-shadow-fleet-is-ramping-up-regional-defence-248241

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Speech: PM speech at Holocaust Memorial Day UK National Ceremony: 27 January 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a speech at the Holocaust Memorial Day UK National Ceremony today.

    Earlier this month, my wife and I were in Block 27 of Auschwitz searching for members of her family in the Book of Names. It was harrowing.

    We turned page after page after page just to find the first letter of a name. It gave me an overwhelming sense of the sheer scale of this industrialised murder.

    And every one of those names, like the names we were looking for – was an individual person. Someone’s mother, father, brother, sister brutally murdered, simply because they were Jewish.

    Last week I met Renee Salt and Arek Hersh who somehow survived but whose loved ones were among those victims. I was humbled by their courage to speak of being in that place. I felt waves of revulsion at the depravity they described, at the cynicism.

    People told to bring their belongings like the piles of pots and pans I saw myself. The commandant living next door bringing up his family, the normalisation of murder, like it was just another day’s work.

    In Auschwitz, I saw photographs of Nazi guards standing with Jewish prisoners staring at the camera – completely indifferent – and in one case, even smiling. It showed more powerfully than ever how the Holocaust was a collective endeavour by thousands of ordinary individuals utterly consumed by the hatred of difference.

    And that is the hatred we stand against today, and it is a collective endeavour for all of us to defeat it.

    We start by remembering the six million Jewish victims and by defending the truth against anyone who would deny it. So we will have a National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre to speak this truth for eternity. 

    But as we remember, we must also act. Because we say never again, but where was never again in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur, or the acts of genocide against Yazidi.

    Today, we have to make those words mean more. So we will make Holocaust education a truly national endeavour.

    We will ensure all schools teach it and seek to give every young person the opportunity to hear a recorded survivor testimony. Because by learning from survivors like Renee and Arek we can develop that empathy for others and that appreciation of our common humanity, which is the ultimate way to defeat the hatred of difference.

    As I left Block 27, I saw the words of Primo Levi. It happened, it can happen again: that is the warning of the Holocaust to all of us.

    And it’s why it is a duty for all of us to make “never again” finally mean what it says: Never again.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM speech at Holocaust Memorial Day UK National Ceremony: 27 January 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a speech at the Holocaust Memorial Day UK National Ceremony today.

    Earlier this month, my wife and I were in Block 27 of Auschwitz searching for members of her family in the Book of Names. It was harrowing.

    We turned page after page after page just to find the first letter of a name. It gave me an overwhelming sense of the sheer scale of this industrialised murder.

    And every one of those names, like the names we were looking for – was an individual person. Someone’s mother, father, brother, sister brutally murdered, simply because they were Jewish.

    Last week I met Renee Salt and Arek Hersh who somehow survived but whose loved ones were among those victims. I was humbled by their courage to speak of being in that place. I felt waves of revulsion at the depravity they described, at the cynicism.

    People told to bring their belongings like the piles of pots and pans I saw myself. The commandant living next door bringing up his family, the normalisation of murder, like it was just another day’s work.

    In Auschwitz, I saw photographs of Nazi guards standing with Jewish prisoners staring at the camera – completely indifferent – and in one case, even smiling. It showed more powerfully than ever how the Holocaust was a collective endeavour by thousands of ordinary individuals utterly consumed by the hatred of difference.

    And that is the hatred we stand against today, and it is a collective endeavour for all of us to defeat it.

    We start by remembering the six million Jewish victims and by defending the truth against anyone who would deny it. So we will have a National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre to speak this truth for eternity. 

    But as we remember, we must also act. Because we say never again, but where was never again in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur, or the acts of genocide against Yazidi.

    Today, we have to make those words mean more. So we will make Holocaust education a truly national endeavour.

    We will ensure all schools teach it and seek to give every young person the opportunity to hear a recorded survivor testimony. Because by learning from survivors like Renee and Arek we can develop that empathy for others and that appreciation of our common humanity, which is the ultimate way to defeat the hatred of difference.

    As I left Block 27, I saw the words of Primo Levi. It happened, it can happen again: that is the warning of the Holocaust to all of us.

    And it’s why it is a duty for all of us to make “never again” finally mean what it says: Never again.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City comes together to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2025

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Jointly organised by City of Wolverhampton Council and Interfaith Wolverhampton, the event honoured the victims of Holocaust, Nazi persecution and other genocides recognised by the UK government such as Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia, Darfur and the Yazidi genocide.  

    This year’s theme, for a better future, served as a reminder that people must not forget the past and learn to ensure they take the correct actions to build a more inclusive and fairer society. This year’s event also marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia, bringing people from across the city to reflect on the lessons of the past and to hear stories of survivors through advocates.  

    The ceremony featured an address from His Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenant of West Midlands, Rajinder Mann OBE, and the Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Linda Leach who spoke about the importance of the memorial day, and its relevance to Wolverhampton.

    Powerful readings shared by community members and representatives of the council highlighted the ongoing fight against prejudice and discrimination, while a wreath laying and reading of the Kaddish Prayer provided moments for reflection and remembrance.  

    Mayor Councillor Leach said: “Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 is both a call to reflection and a call to action. Together, we remember the darkest chapters in human history, the Holocaust, the genocide in Bosnia, and others like them.

    “I am inspired by the courage of those who share their stories, stories of survival, of loss and of hope. These voices guide us in our efforts to ensure that future generations understand the devastating consequences of hatred and division.” 

    The event concluded with a blessing by the Bishop of Wolverhampton Tim Wambunya. More pictures from the event can be found at Flickr. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Enjoy the magic of the Ulster Orchestra right on your own doorstep

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Enjoy the magic of the Ulster Orchestra right on your own doorstep

    27 January 2025

    Lift your spirits with a special concert celebrating all the joy and energy of music inspired by folk traditions when the Ulster Orchestra return to the Alley Theatre in Strabane on 7th February at 7.30pm.

    Discover the magic of Bartók’s ‘Romanian Dances’, Bloch’s ‘From Jewish Life’, Vaughan Williams’s ‘5 Variants of Dives and Lazarus’, and movements from Dvořák’s ‘Legends Op.59’ and ‘Czech Suite’. Each piece draws on the composers’ deep connection to folk music, weaving traditional melodies into orchestral masterpieces. These concerts are a tribute to the enduring power of folk traditions to inspire and resonate through classical music.

    The Ulster Orchestra will welcome Rolf Verbeek to conduct the performance, while their own Cello Section Leader Thomas Isaac performs as featured soloist.

    The ‘On Your Doorstep’ regional concerts offer a unique opportunity for audiences across Northern Ireland to experience the richness of live orchestral music in their own communities. Don’t miss this joyous musical celebration that sees the full Ulster Orchestra onstage in the heart of Strabane.

    For tickets and more information, please visit The Alley Theatre website: www.alley-theatre.com or call the Alley Theatre Box Office on 028 71 384444.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 30 arrested in crackdown on Chinese human trafficking ring in Spain and Croatia

    Source: Europol

    On 17 December, law enforcement conducted raids at 14 properties across Barcelona (4), Madrid (9), and Toledo (1) in Spain, and one property in Zagreb in Croatia. These operations resulted in 30 arrests, among which were the leaders of the criminal network. In addition, EUR 180 000 in cash was also seized, alongside weapons, 70 passports, equipment to falsify passports…

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: €100 million money laundering scheme busted with help from Eurojust and Europol

    Source: European Union 2

    Investigations into the group began in 2023 when border police in Spain noticed suspicious trips from their airports transporting large sums of money. The trips to Cyprus by members of the criminal group were used to deliver criminal profits, which were then laundered. Authorities stopped the criminals from travelling and seized more than EUR 1.8 million.

    The authorities discovered that the group was running a sophisticated money laundering service for other criminal organisations. The group acted as a financial service to transfer criminal profits internationally. Cryptocurrencies were used to move cash profits between criminal organisations. To dispose of the cash profits, money was transported on commercial flights, mainly to Cyprus, and by public transport to neighbouring countries of Spain. The group was able to carry out four to six money laundering transactions per week. 

    Running this financial service required a professionally structured organisation consisting of at least 52 members, operating mostly from Spain and Cyprus. The group worked with contacts outside of their organisation to liaise with clients and receive the cash to be laundered. Their contacts are linked to several commercial companies around the world. 

    As the financial service was used throughout Europe, authorities had to work together to stop the criminal group. An international investigation was launched by setting up a joint investigation team (JIT) at Eurojust between Spanish, Cypriot and German authorities, Eurojust and Europol. Through the JIT, information from tax and judicial authorities was exchanged that led to the takedown of the criminal group. Europol supported this international operation with experts specialised in financial crime, fighting high-risk criminal networks, unravelling money laundering structures, and tracing cryptocurrency flows.

    A series of actions were carried out to stop the financial service. In October 2024, actions were carried out in Spain, France and Cyprus to dismantle the criminal group. This was followed by actions in November 2024 that targeted actors working with the criminal group. A total of 91 searches were carried out, 77 in Spain, 1 in France and 13 in Cyprus. Twenty suspects were arrested in Spain, one in France and two in Slovenia. Authorities seized a total of EUR 8 million in cash, 2 million in bank accounts and froze EUR 27 million in cryptocurrency. Investigations into the group and its financial service continue.

    The following authorities were involved in the actions:

    • Spain: Investigating Judge no 2 of El Prat de Llobregat; Public Prosecution Office of Barcelona; Guardia Civil Special Central Unit 3, Destabilizing Threat Group-UCO
    • Cyprus: Attorney General’s Office; MOKAS (Unit for Combating Money Laundering); Criminal Investigation Department (CID) (in collaboration with other police departments)
    • Germany: Public Prosecutor’s Office, Landshut; Customs Investigation Office, München
    • France: Judicial Court of Marseille, Interregional Specialised Jurisdiction against organised crime (JIRS) ; National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF), Marseille/Nice. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –