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Category: CTF

  • MIL-OSI Economics: OEUK news Record increase in offshore wind capacity critical to Clean Power 2030 goal, says OEUK report 15 May 2025

    Source: Offshore Energy UK

    Headline: OEUK news

    Record increase in offshore wind capacity critical to Clean Power 2030 goal, says OEUK report

    15 May 2025

    In its 2025 Offshore Wind Insight, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) warns that without action to address price inflation, capital cost and UK supply chain competitiveness, the UK will fail to meet the government’s Clean Power 2030 (CP30) target of between 43 and 51 GW of installed offshore wind capacity.

    The UK has the capacity to become a major exporter of wind energy, but if it is to meet CP2030 objectives the September wind allocation round (AR7) will have to be the biggest ever with more than 8GW of new licences awarded.

    As the halt to Hornsea 4 wind farm last week shows, cost inflation, finance costs and market outlook make investment in offshore wind all the more challenging, putting additional pressure on CP30 delivery.

    North Sea oil and gas have provided the primary source of energy for more than 50 years and the UK will continue to need homegrown oil and gas as part of an integrated energy mix for years to come alongside the build out of renewables. As the focus on decarbonising the economy gains momentum, electricity is expected to dominate the future low carbon energy mix. Much of this will be generated by offshore wind installations fixed to the seabed as well as floating offshore wind (FOW) structures but unless the pace of change quickens, the UK stands to achieve only 35GW by 2030, short of the CP30 target.

    In 2024, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) published the Clean Power 2030 (CP30) report, setting out recommendations to the UK government on the design of a clean power grid by 2030. With a goal to accelerate progress to net zero by eliminating emissions that currently come from electricity generation, CP30 also aims to ensure that heating, transport and industry sectors are powered by electricity.

    The plan sees a huge build out of renewables including 43-50 Gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind, 27-29 GW of onshore wind, and 45-47 GW of solar power. Noting all renewables play important roles in delivering a clean power grid, whereby Britain will generate enough clean power to meet 95% of total annual electricity demand by 2030, NESO highlighted the critical role of offshore wind.

    OEUK’s Wind & Renewables Manager, Thibaut Cheret says:

    “Meeting the government’s 2030 target of 43 and 51 GW of installed offshore wind capacity means securing £15bn of private investment in offshore wind each and every year between now and 2030. The government’s next Contract for Difference auction in Allocation Round 7 (AR7), which incentivises new low carbon electricity generating projects, will need to secure historic levels of renewable energy procurement. AR7 needs to clear a record 8.4GW of offshore wind capacity to maintain the course toward CP30.”

    “With the flexibility to supply oil and gas installations or the national grid, Floating Offshore Wind (FOW) will become a critical tool for delivering CP30 and beyond. Offshore wind leasing rounds released by Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) under the auspices of Crown Estate Scotland are helping decarbonise offshore oil and gas production whilst accelerating deployment of the first floating offshore wind project at commercial scale.

    “As Floating Offshore Wind projects will have access to windier areas in deeper waters around the UK, it is set to become the growth engine beyond 2030 with investment in FOW likely to overtake fixed-bottom wind in 2033. More than 50 years oil and gas experience means that our UK supply chain is well equipped to capture a sizeable stake of the floating wind market, but a significant portion of the spend required is beyond the reach of many UK companies, which highlights the need for strategic investment in innovation, skills and infrastructure. Getting this right means the UK can become a market leader in wind power generation and play a major part in delivering a homegrown energy transition.”

    Wind power remains a key component of the UK’s energy system, its share for UK’s electricity amounting to 29.5% in 2024. Of that, offshore wind contributed 17.2% of total electricity generation. Its ability to outperform onshore wind generation relative to installed capacity is down to newer, larger turbines installed off the coast of Britain, where wind speeds are often stronger for longer and efficiency is likely to be higher. This makes offshore wind one of the most attractive of the renewable energy technologies.

    Key report recommendations:

    • Development plans should be front-loaded to meet CP 2030 – The UK is not on track to meet CP 2030 target so Allocation Round 7 (AR7) needs to be the most ambitious auction round yet. It will need to secure 8.4 GW of new offshore wind capacity if the UK is to stay on course for CP30.
    • Timely delivery of transmission infrastructure will be essential– Rebuilding the National Grid electricity transmission grid will be a massive task. A grid investment programme of £58bn will be required to support 50 GW offshore wind by 2030.
    • Investment in UK energy should be to the long-term benefit of the UK economy– £65bn will be invested in UK offshore wind over the next five years – this has the potential to transform the growth outlook for the UK. The forthcoming UK industrial strategy should make developing a competitive homegrown energy supply chain equipped to make the most of these opportunities one of its key objectives.
    • Energy security is as important as a predominantly renewables-based power system-There should be a focus on homegrown energy, making the most of UK resources. There will be a continued role for gas-fired power generation to balance the grid. This should see the progressive deployment of gas with CCS and in due course hydrogen-fuelled power generation. Interconnectivity will help. A North Sea integrated grid can save £37bn/yr and cut wholesale prices by a fifth and would avoid system duplication.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Thales inaugurates GenF, a first step towards nuclear fusion energy

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Thales inaugurates GenF, a first step towards nuclear fusion energy

    • Thales, a global leader in high-power lasers, will inaugurate GenF on Thursday 15 May 2025 in Le Barp (Bordeaux). GenF aims to take a major step toward in developing a new energy source that is safe, abundant, competitive and low-carbon, through inertial confinement nuclear fusion.
    • GenF is working in collaboration with the CEA, CNRS, École polytechnique and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region to design a first inertial confinement fusion reactor.
    • Thales is contributing its expertise in high-power lasers, developed at its Élancourt site, which enabled the company to build the world’s most powerful laser system, currently in operation in Romania.

    Energy production through nuclear fusion is now identified as one of the solutions to address two crucial challenges: the need to reduce global carbon emissions and the ever-increasing energy demand across various sectors of the economy, such as transport, construction, agriculture and the digital industry. According to the IEA (International Energy Agency), electricity consumption by data centres is expected to more than double by 2030, particularly due to the rise of AI.

    Nuclear fusion is therefore regarded as a tremendous opportunity to create a new energy source that is safe (it carries no risk of runaway reactions), abundant (its resources are widely available in nature), competitive and low-carbon (it emits no greenhouse gases). Furthermore, nuclear fusion generates one million times less radioactive waste than fission, and this waste can be eliminated more quickly.

    To achieve nuclear fusion, extensive research is being carried out on two methods: magnetic confinement and inertial confinement. The inertial confinement method requires the use of high-energy lasers to compress matter and reach the thermonuclear conditions required for fusion. Significant scientific progress is still needed for this method of energy production to be deployed.

    To ensure that France remains one of the pioneering countries in this field, the government, via BPI France, launched a call for projects on “innovative nuclear reactors” in June 2023, under the France 2030 initiative. Drawing on its expertise in high-power lasers, Thales submitted the TARANIS project, in partnership with the CEA, the CNRS and École polytechnique, to demonstrate the feasibility of designing a first inertial confinement nuclear fusion reactor. The project was selected in February 2024, giving it access to a €18,5 million budget for its initial development phase. To bring together the essential complementary expertise, Thales created the company GenF, officially launched in January 2025, and signed a first contract worth several million euros for the development of its fusion laser.

    GenF will progress through three development phases:

    1. By 2027, GenF plans a first phase of modelling and simulation, calibrated through experiments on existing facilities such as LMJ;
    2. From 2027 to 2035, a second phase will focus on the maturation of fusion technologies such as multiple laser synchronisation, the production of cryogenic targets and the development of new materials for the reactor wall;
    3. From 2035, a third phase could lead to the scaling-up of the reactor, with the construction of a first prototype.

    GenF currently brings together around ten scientists, engineers and industrial experts and involves about forty people from all the institutions combined. The company will inaugurate its premises in Le Barp (Bordeaux) on Thursday 15 May 2025, with support from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council—region that already brings together many areas of expertise in nuclear fusion, including the Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications (CELIA – CNRS/University of Bordeaux/CEA) and the Centre d’Études Scientifiques et Techniques d’Aquitaine (CESTA – CEA).

    Thales has 40 years of experience in high-power lasers. From design and development to installation, team training and operational support, Thales masters the entire high-power laser expertise chain, which includes laser sources from 10 TW to 10 petawatts, beam transport lines, target focusing optics and quality control systems. Thales has also been active in nuclear fusion for over 25 years, particularly as a lead contractor for subassemblies as part of the Laser Mégajoule programme, a research initiative on inertial confinement fusion developed by the CEA. In addition, at its Vélizy and Thonon sites, Thales develops high-power electronic tubes for magnetic confinement fusion reactors, including for the international ITER demonstrator.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Thales boosts Air Traffic Management System for Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services SMATSA

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Thales boosts Air Traffic Management System for Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services SMATSA

    • Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services SMATSA will use Thales’s modular Air Traffic Management (ATM) solution, TopSky – ATC One complemented by TopSky – Sequencer powered by AI, to enhance its operational capabilities, optimize air traffic flow management, increase runway capacities, and reduce delays.
    • This future-proof, scalable solution positions SMATSA at the forefront of air traffic management, ensuring safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
    • SMATSA also joins the upgraded TopSky – ATC user group, to help shape the future of ATM systems.
    SMATSA and Thales representatives at Airspace World, Lisbon, © Marker Production

    Thales’s TopSky – ATC One offering, complemented by TopSky – Sequencer, will modernize SMATSA’s air navigation infrastructure. It introduces advanced software and features designed to optimize air traffic flow management, maximize runway capacities, and minimize delays. These improvements will not only support SMATSA’s operational goals, but will also enhance safety, productivity, and decision-making capabilities across the air traffic network.

    One of the main reasons that SMATSA selected the TopSky – ATC One offering is its modular, open-architecture design, which ensures that the platform will remain adaptable, scalable, and future-proof. This enables SMATSA to continuously evolve its ATM system, in line with emerging technologies, regulatory requirements, and the ever-growing demands of air traffic management.

    SMATSA’s move to the upgraded TopSky – ATC One offering also means joining the group of Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) using Thales’s TopSky – ATC One. This structure fosters collaboration, shared decision-making and ownership. By adopting this collaborative and unified solution, SMATSA can leverage a single baseline product that evolves according to a shared roadmap of future upgrades. This ensures alignment with industry regulations and the collective needs of the air navigation community.

    Alongside the technological upgrade, SMATSA is also committed to workforce development. The upgrade will provide extensive market-relevant training and strategic workforce management initiatives, focusing on attracting young talent and improving gender diversity in the aviation sector. As part of its broader inclusivity efforts, SMATSA aims to increase the representation of women in the aviation industry, positioning itself as an employer of choice.

    “We are proud to partner with Thales for this significant upgrade of our air traffic management system,” said Raša Ristivojević, SMATSA CEO. “The TopSky – ATC One system will modernize our operations, allowing us to better manage air traffic and enhance our service quality. This is an important step forward in ensuring SMATSA continues to meet the growing demands of regional traffic, while also investing in our workforce and promoting inclusivity in the sector.”

    “We are excited to see SMATSA adopt our TopSky – ATC One offering, a solution that will keep them at the forefront of air navigation services,” said Youzec Kurp, Vice President of Airspace Mobility Solutions at Thales. “This upgrade demonstrates SMATSA’s commitment to technological innovation, operational excellence, and its vision for a sustainable, future-ready air traffic management system.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Piero Cipollone: Harnessing the digital future of payments: Europe’s path to sovereignty and innovation

    Source: European Central Bank

    Speech by Piero Cipollone, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the France Payments Forum event “Digital euro and the future of payments in Europe”

    Paris, 15 May 2025

    Thank you for inviting me to discuss the future of payments and the digital euro.

    Most people associate the adoption of the euro with the launch of euro banknotes and coins. While the euro was introduced for accounting purposes in 1999, we tend to feel it only became our money three years later once we started paying in euro cash around Europe. Euro banknotes and coins made the currency the tangible symbol of a united Europe.

    A strong currency also comes in tandem with strong payment systems. We offer payment infrastructures that form the plumbing of the financial system. Though less visible than banknotes and coins, these infrastructures are key to our monetary and financial integration.

    Retail and wholesale payments are hence an integral part of our tasks at the central bank. We issue cash, supply reserves – the ultimate liquid asset – to banks and operate payment systems, thereby supporting our economy by enabling euro area transactions that are secure, risk-free and European. This is what preserves our economic stability and our monetary sovereignty.

    Building on this reliable base, private sector firms can then offer their own solutions, without their customers having to worry about the money they use. One euro is one euro, because private money can be converted to cash at all times and because financial transactions can be settled in central bank money – the only risk-free asset there is.

    So today, I want to focus on how we can make our currency future-proof and enhance the integration, competitiveness and resilience of European payments in the digital era.

    As people increasingly prefer to pay digitally and online commerce expands, the role of cash as a universal payment solution is declining. We thus risk being left without a European solution that allows us to pay throughout the euro area in all situations. To restore the central role of cash, we need to complement physical cash with its digital equivalent, a digital euro. Making central bank money available in digital form might seem like a small and obvious step, but it is in fact an essential one for overcoming the entrenched and longstanding fragmentation of our payment market. The digital euro will achieve this directly by modernising the supply of public money and indirectly through its infrastructure and acceptance network, which private payment service providers can leverage to expand and innovate on a European scale. Ultimately, a digital euro will enhance the competitiveness of European providers and their ability to offer all types of digital payments to European consumers.

    The situation is different for wholesale financial transactions as we already offer settlement in digital central bank money and do not face the same dependencies. However, market participants increasingly expect that tokenisation and distributed ledger technology (DLT) will transform financial transactions by enabling assets to be issued or represented as digital tokens. We are currently expanding our initiative to settle DLT-based transactions in central bank money. By making central bank money available, we avoid the risk of other settlement assets being used, such as US dollar stablecoins, which would reintroduce credit risk, fragmentation and a dependency on non-European solutions.

    We are progressing on the retail and wholesale fronts in parallel. In both cases, Europe needs its own, sovereign money for the digital era, so that it can harness the benefits of integration, innovation and independence. In the words of the late French economist Michel Aglietta, money is not just a technical device, it is an essential institution.[1]

    A digital euro for everyday payments

    Let me first discuss the rationale for the digital euro and the benefits it will bring.

    Currently, cash is the sole sovereign payment method across the euro area. It offers Europeans a convenient, secure and universally accepted way to pay and store value, ensuring financial inclusion. Cash also upholds the resilience of our payment systems and economies, acting as a reliable fallback during crises such as cyberattacks or power outages. This is why we remain strongly committed to cash.[2]

    However, digital payments have gained popularity, with online shopping accounting for more than a third of our retail transactions. This means that acceptance of and access to cash are no longer sufficient to cover a growing share of payment situations. In value terms, cash payments made up only 24% of day-to-day payments in the euro area last year.[3]

    Lacking a genuine European payment solution that works across the euro area, we are left critically dependent on foreign payment providers.[4] Currently, nearly two-thirds of euro area card-based transactions are processed by non-European companies while 13 euro area countries depend entirely on international card schemes or mobile solutions for in-store payments.[5] And even where national card schemes are available, they require co-badging with international card schemes to facilitate cross-border payments within the euro area or online shopping. Moreover, mobile apps and e-payment solutions are dominated by foreign solutions like PayPal, Apple Pay or Alipay. And they partner with international card schemes to further reinforce their position and expand their reach: PayPal has just announced that it will start enabling contactless payments in Germany, using Mastercard technology.[6] Looking ahead, our dependency could soon extend to foreign stablecoins, 99% of which are dollar-denominated in terms of total value.[7]

    As a result, European payments face three significant challenges.

    First, we need to ensure our strategic autonomy and monetary sovereignty. Our overreliance on foreign payment providers makes us dependent on the kindness of strangers at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions. I trust that this risk is well understood in the country of De Gaulle. There is no true sovereignty without sovereign money.[8] As my dear colleague Banque de France governor François Villeroy de Galhau has remarked, this is as true in the 21st century as it was in the past.[9]

    Second, we should simply ask ourselves why there is no Europe-based international card scheme. I would say it’s because we suffer from a lack of competitiveness and innovation. European payment service providers focus on their home country and struggle to compete on a European level, let alone on a global one, limiting their ability to drive large-scale innovation. The cost of investing in a European-wide acceptance network has often discouraged European payment service providers from offering a European card payment solution.

    These failures come at a high price: the dominance of non-European providers stifles competition, leading to higher costs for merchants and consumers. And when transactions are conducted through international card schemes, European banks lose fees. When transactions are made on apps such as Apple Pay or PayPal, they lose fees and data. And if the use of US dollar stablecoins becomes more widespread, the banks could lose, fees, data and deposits.

    Third, user experience is still poor for Europeans, who juggle multiple payment solutions to meet various needs. Despite the euro’s 25-year legacy, we still lack a digital payment solution that can be used across all euro area countries.

    By introducing the digital euro, we aim to tackle these challenges head-on.

    Importantly, the digital euro would make payments more convenient. It would provide a digital payment method that complements cash, extending its benefits into the digital realm. For instance, it would have legal tender status, meaning that it would be accepted wherever one can pay digitally. And it would also be available offline, offering users similar privacy to paying with cash and allowing them to pay even in the absence of a network connection. A digital euro would give European consumers a simple and safe digital payment option, free for basic use, that covers all their payment needs everywhere in the euro area.

    In fact, one simple reason for introducing the digital euro is that people want it. Even at this early stage, surveys show that close to half of respondents would be likely to use the digital euro – a number that has significantly increased over time.[10] This trend is confirmed by several surveys[11] conducted by national central banks which suggest that many Europeans are open to the idea of using a digital euro.

    Launching the digital euro would also ensure that the euro area retains control over its financial future. By offering a secure and universally accepted digital payment option which would be suitable for all use cases – and, crucially, under European governance – it would reduce our dependence on foreign providers. This would protect European merchants from excessive charges, strengthening their bargaining power with those providers and offering an attractive alternative.[12] At the same time, European banks would be able to retain their customer relationship and be remunerated for their role in distributing the digital euro. And the digital euro would limit the likelihood of foreign currency stablecoins becoming widely used for retail payments within the euro area.

    Moreover, the digital euro would be based on a core public-private partnership that would leverage synergies, enabling private initiatives to scale up across the euro area. For instance, domestic card payment solutions could co-badge with the digital euro to cover transactions currently beyond their reach. At the same time, banks’ wallets and internet banking solutions could integrate the digital euro as an alternative way to pay that is accepted throughout the euro area and supports both contactless and QR-based payments.[13] The open digital euro standards – which can be finalised as soon as the regulation on the digital euro is adopted and can start being used even before the digital euro is issued – would facilitate cost-effective standardisation, allowing private providers to launch new products and functionalities on a European scale. This would unlock innovation and create new business opportunities. In fact, research shows that stock prices of European payment firms increase in response to positive announcements on the digital euro, whereas those of US payment firms decrease.[14]

    Last October we issued a call for expressions of interest in innovation partnerships for the digital euro. Some 70 merchants, fintech companies, start-ups, banks and other payment service providers – including four from France[15] – have now joined us in exploring the potential of the digital euro to drive innovation.[16] Our innovation platform simulates the envisaged digital euro ecosystem, in which the ECB provides the technical support and infrastructure for European intermediaries to develop digital payment features and services at European level. One of the areas we are exploring is broadening the set of possible conditional payments, such as making payments dependent on successful delivery of goods or services.

    In July we will release a report on these innovation partnerships. It will include the technical information shared with the participants, enabling the entire market to replicate these activities, thereby further supporting innovation by the private sector. Additionally, based on the positive feedback from the pioneers, we will extend the exercise until the end of June, which will allow us to test new functionalities of conditional payments, incorporating fresh ideas and suggestions from our private sector counterparts.

    The digital euro’s success in reclaiming our autonomy in the retail payment space and boosting innovation capacity hinges on collaboration. In recent years we have engaged extensively with market stakeholders, gathering input from consumers, merchants, banks and payment service providers. We have also started working with market participants on the digital euro rulebook – a single set of rules, standards and procedures for digital euro payments.[17]

    This inclusive approach helps us to address everyone’s needs and perspectives, crafting a robust payment solution and platform that will benefit all Europeans, support private sector innovation and preserve the future of our money – the euro.

    The role of central bank money in shaping a European market for digital assets

    Let me now turn to wholesale transactions, a domain where technology holds tremendous potential for transformation.

    Currently, we facilitate transactions between financial institutions through our TARGET Services: T2 processes over 90% of large payments, while T2S handles securities transactions.

    These services have significantly enhanced the efficiency and integration of post-trade platforms in Europe. And we plan to continue improving them: in 2023 we extended T2 operating times to 22.5 hours on weekdays and we are about to launch a consultation paper investigating stakeholder needs and their interest in a further extension of operating hours. In a month’s time we will also launch the European Collateral Management System, which will provide a single, harmonised framework for handling collateral in the 20 euro area countries.[18] And in October 2027 we will move to T+1, shortening the settlement cycle from two days to one. Meanwhile, emerging technologies such as DLT and tokenisation have the potential to bring about a step change in wholesale markets.

    These technologies are no incremental improvement: they represent a fundamentally new way of operating by allowing assets to be issued or represented in digital token form. This innovation would enable market participants to manage trading, settlement and custody on a single platform, available 24/7, 365 days a year. It would also synchronise trading and settlement. And it would enable new business models, as tokenised money can be used to automate conditional transactions. DLT and tokenisation could also reduce the cost and barriers to access capital markets, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises.

    In fact, the emergence of these new technologies is an opportunity to establish an integrated European capital market for digital assets from the outset – a digital capital markets union – which would contribute to better channelling our savings into productive uses and boosting Europe’s innovation potential.[19] It could help European capital markets to become a hub for DLT-based financial services.

    European banks are active in this space, with over 60% exploring or using DLT and 22% already implementing DLT applications. On the securities front, there is a growing number of high-profile issuances on DLT.

    The availability of central bank money for settling transactions using these new technologies is crucial for two reasons. First, without central bank money, other settlement assets like stablecoins or tokenised deposits may be used, reintroducing credit risks and fragmentation into the financial system. Second, the market views the ability to settle in central bank money as a key factor in adopting new technologies.

    Last year the Eurosystem conducted exploratory work with DLT for settling wholesale transactions in central bank money, using three different solutions to ensure interoperability between our infrastructures and market DLT platforms.[20] The results were highly promising, with 60 industry participants settling real transactions in central bank money or conducting experiments with mock transactions. A wide range of securities and payments use cases were covered, including the first issuance of an EU sovereign bond using DLT. A total of €1.6 billion was settled over a six-month period, exceeding values settled in comparable initiatives in other parts of the world.

    As the next step, we have already announced plans to provide a solution to settle DLT-based transactions in central bank money in the short term.[21] Looking further ahead, the Eurosystem will explore a more integrated, long-term solution. A critical risk is indeed that DLT application fragmentation and a lack of interoperability could hinder the development of liquid DLT-based markets in Europe, imposing high costs on investors and issuers connecting to multiple platforms. So we need to create a more harmonised and integrated ecosystem.

    One way to achieve this would be to move towards a shared ledger: a programmable platform bringing together token versions of central bank money, commercial bank money and other assets, on which market players can provide their services. Another option could be the coordinated development of an ecosystem of fully interoperable technical solutions, which might better serve specific use cases and enable the coexistence of both legacy and new solutions.

    This approach will help us enhance the efficiency of European financial markets through innovation, aligning with the Eurosystem’s goal of achieving a more harmonised and integrated European financial system.

    However, we cannot do this alone. As we enter this new exploration phase, collaboration with public and market stakeholders will be crucial.

    Conclusion

    Let me conclude.

    The journey toward a digital euro and the integration of new technologies in wholesale transactions represents a pivotal moment for Europe. By embracing these innovations, we can strengthen our monetary sovereignty, enhance our competitiveness and pave the way for a more integrated and resilient financial system.

    The digital euro will ensure that Europeans have access to a secure, reliable and universally accepted digital payment solution that complements cash while reducing our reliance on foreign providers. Meanwhile, leveraging central bank money in DLT-based transactions will foster a dynamic and unified digital asset market, driving innovation and unlocking new business opportunities across the continent.

    In this transformative era, collaboration is key. We must bring together all stakeholders – public and private, national and European – to craft solutions that reflect the diverse needs and perspectives of all Europeans. Together, we can harness these technological advancements to build a financial ecosystem that is not only more efficient and innovative but also more inclusive and secure.

    We have inherited a united Europe and a currency embodying this unity. Our legacy should be European sovereignty and a euro that is fit for the future. This is our collective responsibility, in the public and private sector alike.

    Thank you for your attention.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Thales powers one million digital payment experiences with Vipps mobile wallet in Norway

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Thales powers one million digital payment experiences with Vipps mobile wallet in Norway

    • Thales fully supports the success of Vipps, Norway’s leading mobile wallet, which has enabled over one million users for mobile contactless payments since December 2024.
    • Vipps wallet users are the first to benefit from a third-party mobile contactless payment solution on iOS, enabled by Thales D1 technology that securely digitizes payment cards on smartphone.
    • This milestone highlights Thales’ continued leadership in digital payments and its commitment to support fast, large-scale innovation in partnership with financial players.

    With the launch of NFC payments for iPhone and Android devices, Vipps became the first third-party wallet on iOS to offer this feature—an industry first. Behind this innovation, Thales provided the technology foundation, its D1 platform, that made this achievement possible, ensuring a smooth, secure, and scalable experience for Norwegian consumers.

    A breakthrough in everyday payments

    In just 24 hours after the launch, more than 200,000 digital cards were activated—clear proof of the demand for simple and secure digital payments. Behind the scenes, Thales D1 technology enabled users to get a digital payment card – just in few seconds – on Vipps’ wallet, and proceed with contactless payment at shops, getting on top real time transaction notification on their iPhones. Since the launch, Vipps users enjoy a fast and convenient alternative to traditional mobile wallets for everyday purchases.

    Currently supporting Norway’s domestic BankAxept cards, Vipps will expand to include international schemes such as Visa and Mastercard in the coming months, broadening its reach and usability across borders.

    Thales D1 platform boosting innovation ​

    Built for innovation, the D1 platform supported Vipps by adding contactless payment to their wallet. This showcases the platform’s ability to consistently add new innovative use cases, while providing a scalable and secure solution that grows with customer needs.

    The D1 platform is cloud-based and works in real time, making it easy to integrate with existing systems. It helps Thales customers respond to today’s expectations for secure, flexible, and instant payment services — such as modern card issuing, tokenization, or transaction control — while also preparing for the future of payments.

    Trusted collaboration driving success

    “Everything we do at Vipps is about simplifying life for people and businesses. Hitting one million users for contactless payments shows that this is something people really want. Now, we are looking forward to when our users can add Visa and Mastercard to Vipps, enabling them to tap their phones and pay with Vipps across the world. Our collaboration with Thales has been key to making all this happen.” Rune Garborg, CEO of Vipps MobilePay.

    “Driven by strong collaboration between our teams, we successfully met ambitious launch timelines and proved the strength of our operations — delivering a reliable, high-performance service that handled both the surge in demand at launch and the steady, high-volume usage that continues today.he D1 platform is also a key enabler of innovative digital payment services, helping financial players expand and thrive in an increasingly competitive payments landscape.” François Chaffard, Vice President Digital Payment Services at Thales.

    With this milestone, Thales reaffirms its role as a trusted partner in the future of digital payments, helping financial institutions offer flexible, future-ready solutions that meet consumers’ evolving expectations.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: West Country water lovers urged to lend a hand to bathing waters

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    West Country water lovers urged to lend a hand to bathing waters

    Communities who campaigned to turn their favourite spots into official bathing waters asked to help the Environment Agency make them cleaner to swim in.

    The first sample of the season being taken from the River Tone at French Weir Park in Taunton

    3 rivers in Somerset and Hampshire were officially chosen as ‘designated bathing waters’ last year. Meaning they ticked the boxes of being easy to get to with parking and toilets nearby. But contrary to public opinion, being ‘designated’ doesn’t automatically mean the water met set standards of public hygiene.  

    Environment Agency monitoring of the 451 beaches and rivers on England’s list of designated bathing waters this summer has begun. Water samples will be taken weekly or fortnightly at consistent points in seas and rivers and sent for testing in the lab.  

    The results of these samples show how clean the water is and will be available online at Swimfo to inform public choice of where to swim or paddle. These sample results will ultimately help dictate what classification a beach or river location will be given later in the year. Any classification from ‘Sufficient’ and above means the water quality is good enough to swim in.  

    The classifications for all 3 river bathing waters at Taunton, Farleigh Hungerford near Bath and Fordingbridge in Hampshire came back as ‘Poor’ – meaning swimming was not advisable.  

    In response, groups including campaigners, swimmers, councillors, MPs, water companies and the Environment Agency have formed to turn around water quality at these sites. 

    This includes the River Tone at French Weir Park in Taunton. The group has come together to create an action plan which will drive improvements to reduce pollution affecting the bathing water quality where swimming takes place.  

    Jim Flory of the Environment Agency said:

    We routinely monitor rivers to check that the water quality for wildlife and the natural ecology of our rivers is protected. 

    But the standards needed to protect human health are different to those needed to safeguard the ecology and wildlife in our rivers and a lot of teamwork is needed to clear that bar. This will be a marathon not a sprint.

    Environment Agency officers will patrol the surrounding area looking for obvious sources of pollution entering the watercourse. As well as inspecting water company pipes and other types of equipment that discharges water into the river. 

    Public interest also saw a Dorset beach return to the Environment Agency’s list of 450 monitored bathing waters last year. Water sampling began again at Church Cliff Beach in Lyme Regis after an absence of 9 years. The site lost its designated status due to the low number of people going into the sea.  

    The beach was given a classification of ‘Poor’ after its first bathing water season. Nevertheless, public support from the River Lim Action Group, Blue Tit Swimmers and local officials is strong and committed to improving water quality. 

    Throughout the season, 15 May until the end of September, the Environment Agency will be taking more than 7000 samples at 451 designated bathing waters across England.    

    Today also marks the re-opening of applications for new bathing waters which have been closed since October 2023. Since then, the government has announced significant reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations to better reflect public use of iconic swimming spots. Successful sites will be announced next year.  

    Background 

    • Bathing waters are officially designated outdoor swimming sites. England has 451 designated bathing waters, which are monitored and classified by the Environment Agency.   

    • Applicants are encouraged to use the bathing water season to gather evidence for their applications. Prospective sites will be assessed for their suitability as a designated bathing water. Applications for the 2026 season will close on 31 October 2025.   

    • The Environment Agency has driven £2.5 billion of investment and facilitated partnerships to dramatically improve our bathing waters.   

    • Last year, nearly 92% of bathing waters in England met the minimum water quality standards. More information on 2024 bathing water classifications is available here.  

    • The UK Health Security Agency and Environment Agency also offer advice in their ‘swim healthy’ guidance, which is available to read before making any decision on swimming.  

    • Bathing waters are stretches of water throughout England which we monitor for two types of bacteria: E.coli and intestinal enterococci. We monitor for these two bacteria because they indicate that there are germs in the water which can make you ill.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fraudulent social media account related to Bank of Singapore Limited

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

    The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of Singapore Limited relating to a fraudulent social media account, which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
     
    The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
     
    Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the social media account concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leader demands Ministerial action as octopus crisis continues

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Plymouth City Council Leader has escalated his call for urgent reform of crab potting rules.

    An explosion in octopus numbers across the south west’s inshore waters is wreaking havoc on local fisheries — but while Cornish crabbers are hauling in pots full of valuable catch, Plymouth fishermen are left with empty traps and mounting bills.

    Council Leader Tudor Evans has now written to Fisheries Minister Daniel Zeichner, urging immediate intervention. This follows his letter earlier this week to the Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA). 

    “This is a crisis,” said Councillor Evans. “The Devon and Severn IFCA must act now to support our fishermen by removing the requirement for escape hatches in pots — a rule that’s now doing more harm than good.”

    Under current DS IFCA regulations, pots must include escape gaps designed to let undersized crabs and lobsters out. But with a surge in Octopus vulgaris — a highly efficient predator — these same escape hatches are allowing octopus to enter, feed on the catch, and slip away undetected.

    “Elsewhere, fishermen are able to retain and sell the octopus they catch. But here, our pots are being raided and left empty — and our fishers are left with nothing,” Evans added. “It’s a cruel irony that a conservation measure is now helping predators destroy the very stocks it was meant to protect.”

    Tudor stressed that the long-term ecological impact of the octopus boom is serious, but that allowing fishermen to catch and remove them is part of the solution — not the problem.

    “Fishing families can’t wait. Their bills don’t stop just because the octopus have shown up. We need urgent, practical action — and we need it now.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Emergency fund injects over £3m into the city’s third sector

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Charities losing funding from the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) are to receive urgent support from the City of Edinburgh Council.

    One-off funding of £2.037m will be provided to 46 organisations and projects across Edinburgh which are working to prevent poverty and support vulnerable residents.

    An additional £1m will help six third sector advice providers to support residents to maximise their income through accessing welfare benefits, reducing everyday living costs including debt management and improving access to work. A grant has also been provided to support the continued development of the Edinburgh Advice Network.

    The decision by the Policy and Sustainability Committee this week (Monday 12 May) will allow funds to be released to prevent the closure of a number of organisations and avert the redundancies of many employees.

    Decisions on how to allocate an outstanding £423,400 will be made when Councillors meet again later this month (Tuesday 27 May).

    The emergency package of support is provided ahead of a long-term review of the relationship between the Edinburgh Partnership, public sector and third sector in Edinburgh, with the aim of improving funding certainty in future years.

    As part of this review, the Edinburgh Partnership is asking voluntary organisations, social enterprises and charities to participate in an online consultation. Workshops will also take place in the coming weeks.

    Council Leader and Chair of the Edinburgh Partnership, Jane Meagher, said:

    “The third sector provides vital support to our local communities, and we need to provide stability to projects which have been put at risk of closure. Our funding will quickly and directly prevent many charities from redundancies and from reducing the very important services they provide.

    “While I’m pleased that we’ve reached a decision to prioritise this work – and to make sure we protect more people from entering poverty – we cannot become complacent. We need longer-term change so that organisations like these, and the many residents who rely on them, are at less risk and have greater stability.

    “We want to hear about how we can make helping vulnerable people simpler. Please take part in the consultation we’ve recently launched, as the Edinburgh Partnership seeks views on strengthening our city’s third sector.”

    In a deputation to Policy and Sustainability Committee, Bruce Crawford, CEO of EVOC and speaking on behalf of the Third Sector Reference Group said:

    “The decisions made by Councillors to support these third sector organisations shows a real understanding of the role that the third sector play in communities across Edinburgh.

    “The impact that these Resilience Fund payments will make cannot be underestimated in the way that they will support some of the most vulnerable people in our city. These grants will provide stability to the organisations in receipt of them and allow them to continue to serve their local communities. Longer term solutions need to be developed, and we are prepared to work with the council in planning for the future, beyond the current financial year.”

    Visit the Council’s website for more information about the Third Sector Support Review, the one-off Third Sector Resilience Fund and to access cost-of-living support.

    Full list of organisations and projects confirmed to receive urgent funding from the Third Sector Transitional Fund:

    1. ACE IT Scotland
    2. Art in Healthcare
    3. B Healthy Together
    4. Bridgend Farmhouse
    5. Calton Welfare Services
    6. Care for Carers
    7. Caring in Craigmillar
    8. Community Renewal Trust
    9. Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland
    10. Drake Music Scotland
    11. Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust
    12. Edinburgh Community Food
    13. Edinburgh Community Health Forum
    14. Edinburgh Headway Group
    15. Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre
    16. Eric Liddell Community
    17. Feniks
    18. Fresh Start
    19. Health All Round
    20. Home-Start Edinburgh West and South West (HSEW)
    21. LGBT Health and Wellbeing
    22. Libertus Services
    23. MECOPP
    24. Murrayfield Dementia Project
    25. Pilmeny Development Project
    26. Pilton Equalities Project – Mental Health
    27. Pilton Equalities Project – Day Care
    28. Portobello Monday Centre
    29. Portobello Older People’s Project
    30. Positive Help
    31. Queensferry Churches Care in the Community
    32. Rowan Alba Limited
    33. Scottish Huntington’s Association
    34. Sikh Sanjog
    35. South Edinburgh Amenities Group (SEAG)
    36. The Broomhouse Centre (The Beacon Club)
    37. Vintage Vibes Consortium
    38. The Dove Centre
    39. The Health Agency
    40. The Living Memory Association
    41. The Open Door
    42. The Ripple Project
    43. The Welcoming Association
    44. Venture Scotland
    45. VOCAL
    46. Waverley Care.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dounreay awarded Gold status for fourth year by ECITB

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Dounreay awarded Gold status for fourth year by ECITB

    NRS Dounreay has been awarded Gold status for skills and training for the fourth consecutive year by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board.

    Dounreay representatives receiving the award from the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board

    The engineering construction industry values its members, who design, construct, maintain, renew and dismantle the UK’s strategically important industrial infrastructure. Not only is it essential that these individuals are highly skilled and competent, but it is also essential that their competence is properly recognised and validated.

    Dounreay’s P3M Head of Profession, Simon Coles, said:

    For NRS Dounreay, achieving the highest score possible in the assessment showcases the dedication and excellence of the training and development team.

    Training and Development Specialist Rhona Gill and Simon Coles were photographed receiving the award from representatives of Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).

    ECITB’s Relationship Manager, Sophie Anderson, said:

    I am delighted that NRS Dounreay has been awarded Gold status through the ECITB Skills and Training Charter for the fourth consecutive year.

    Achieving Gold means NRS Dounreay continues to actively engage across the ECITB strategy and reinforces its pledge to train and develop a highly skilled and competent workforce.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Tough Drill at Witch Hazel Hill

    Source: NASA

    Written by Alex Jones, Ph.D. candidate at Imperial College London 

    After a busy few months exploring the outer slopes of the Jezero crater rim at an area named “Witch Hazel Hill,” the Perseverance Science Team was eyeing another sample of these truly ancient rocks, which likely predate Jezero crater itself.  
    The target? A rock containing spherules, which could shed a light on volcanic- or impact-related processes occurring in Mars’ most ancient past. After a search of several outcrops, the “Hare Bay” abrasion patch at “Pine Pond” revealed suitably accessible and spherule-bearing bedrock for sampling. 
    On Sol 1483 of the mission, sampling was a-go… But Mars wasn’t keen to give its secrets away too easily. 
    As data began arriving on Earth, it became clear Perseverance had managed to drill into the rock but had stopped short of retracting the drill and storing the sample. It transpired that this rock was particularly hard — a far cry from the crumbly rocks of the upper crater rim that fell apart when faced with Perseverance’s drill bit.  
    This isn’t the first time a hard rock has gotten in the way of sampling; an extremely hard-to-crack boulder on the Jezero fan top stopped the drill short. This time though, the drill penetrated the rock as expected, but faulted during retraction. After a few sols of hard work by the engineering team, however, there were smiles all round as images of the successfully retracted drill reached Earth.
    But Mars wasn’t finished with surprises yet.
    The “Bell Island” core contained the spherules the team were looking for, but the sample tube was overfilled. This meant that excess core length would prevent the sample from being sealed. In the end, the team opted to execute a dump activity to clear at least some of the sample out of the tube. This activity succeeded in removing enough sample that the tube can now be sealed in the future. As has been the case in the past on Mars, the most exciting discoveries often require a little Perseverance…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Eclipses, Auroras, and the Spark of Becoming: NASA Inspires Future Scientists

    Source: NASA

    In the heart of Alaska’s winter, where the night sky stretches endlessly and the aurora dances across the sky in a display of ethereal beauty, nine undergraduate students from across the United States were about to embark on a transformative journey. These students had been active ‘NASA Partner Eclipse Ambassadors’ in their home communities, nine of more than 700 volunteers who shared the science and awe of the 2024 eclipse with hundreds of thousands of people across the country as part of the NASA Science Activation program’s Eclipse Ambassadors project. Now, these nine were chosen to participate in a once-in a lifetime experience as a part of the “Eclipses to Aurora” Winter Field School at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Organized by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and NASA’s Aurorasaurus Citizen Science project, supported by NASA, this program offered more than just lectures—it was an immersive experience into the wonders of heliophysics and the profound connections between the Sun and Earth.
    From January 4 to 11, 2025, the students explored the science behind the aurora through seminars on solar and space physics, hands-on experiments, and tours of cutting-edge research facilities like the Poker Flat Research Range. They also gained invaluable insight from Athabaskan elders, who shared local stories and star knowledge passed down through generations. As Feras recalled, “We attended multiple panels on solar and space physics, spoke to local elders on their connection to the auroras, and visited the Poker Flat Research Range to observe the stunning northern lights.”
    For many students, witnessing the aurora was not only a scientific milestone, but a deeply personal and emotional experience. One participant, Andrea, described it vividly: “I looked to the darkest horizon I could find to see my only constant dream fulfilled before my eyes, so slowly dancing and bending to cradle the stars. All I could do, with my hands frozen and tears falling, I began to dream again with my eyes wide open.” Another student, Kalid, reflected on the shared human moment: “Standing there under the vast Alaskan sky… we were all just people, looking up, waiting for something magical. The auroras didn’t care about our majors or our knowledge—they brought us together under the same sky.”
    These moments of wonder were mirrored by a deeper sense of purpose and transformation. “Over the course of the week, I had the incredible opportunity to explore auroras through lectures on solar physics, planetary auroras, and Indigenous star knowledge… and to reflect on these experiences through essays and presentations,” said Sophia. The Winter Field School was more than an academic endeavor—it was a celebration of science, culture, and shared human experience. It fostered not only understanding but unity and awe, reminding everyone involved of the profound interconnectedness of our universe.
    The impact of the program continues to resonate. For many students, that one aurora-lit week in Alaska became a turning point in the focus of their careers. Sophia has since been accepted into graduate school to pursue heliophysics. Vishvi, inspired by the intersection of science and society, will begin a program in medical physics at the University of Pennsylvania this fall. And Christy, moved by her time at the epicenter of aurora research, has applied to the Ph.D. program in Space Physics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks—the very institution that helped spark her journey. Their stories are powerful proof that the Winter Field School didn’t just teach—it awakened purpose, lit new paths, and left footprints on futures still unfolding.
    Eclipse Ambassadors is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number 80NSS22M0007 and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about how Science Activation connects NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond: https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fires Erupt in North American Forests

    Source: NASA

    Wildland fires broke out in forests along the Manitoba-Ontario border in Canada and in northern Minnesota in the United States in May 2025. Several blazes grew rapidly in size amid hot, dry, and windy conditions in the region.
    Smoke from multiple fires drifted hundreds of kilometers across northern forests on the afternoon of May 13, when the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image. Some of the largest fires seen here started the previous day and had expanded rapidly by the time this image was acquired. For comparison, the right image shows the same area in false color (MODIS bands 7-2-1) to help distinguish smoke (cyan blue) from clouds (white). Bright red-orange indicates visible fire fronts.
    Large smoke plumes billowed from blazes near Lac du Bonnet in eastern Manitoba. One fire close to the rural municipality burned thousands of hectares and threatened infrastructure. Another one, to the northeast near Nopiming Provincial Park, exhibited “extremely volatile fire behavior” on May 13, officials said, and grew to 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres). Authorities closed multiple provincial parks due to the fires and issued evacuation orders for several communities in both Manitoba and Ontario.
    In the U.S., multiple fires broke out in northern Minnesota on May 11 and 12. The two largest, Camp House and Jenkins Creek, had burned a combined 7,600 hectares (18,800 acres) about 65 kilometers (40 miles) north of Duluth as of May 13. In and around the town of Brimson, they destroyed more than 100 structures and damaged bridges and roadways, according to news reports.
    Unseasonably hot and dry conditions elevated fire risk in the region. Winnipeg, Manitoba, reached 35.2 degrees Celsius (95.4 degrees Fahrenheit) on May 12, topping the previous daily high temperature record set in 1958. Duluth, Minnesota, saw a high temperature of 30°C (86°F) that day, also a new record. Eighty of Minnesota’s 87 counties were under a Red Flag Warning due to the extreme fire danger on May 12.
    April and May are typically busy months for wildland fires in the state, said Patty Thielen, forestry director for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, in a briefing. However, she noted, the area already burned statewide in 2025 is roughly triple the amount burned in an average year.
    NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Lindsey Doermann.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Awards Launch Service Task Order for Aspera’s Galaxy Mission

    Source: NASA

    NASA has selected Rocket Lab USA Inc. of Long Beach, California, to launch the agency’s Aspera mission, a SmallSat to study galaxy formation and evolution, providing new insights into how the universe works.
    The selection is part of NASA’s Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. This contract allows the agency to make fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity launch service task order awards during VADR’s five-year ordering period, with a maximum total contract value of $300 million.
    Through the observation of ultraviolet light, Aspera will examine hot gas in the space between galaxies, called the intergalactic medium. The mission will study the inflow and outflow of gas from galaxies, a process thought to contribute to star formation.
    Aspera is part of NASA’s Pioneers Program in the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, which funds compelling astrophysics science at a lower cost using small hardware and modest payloads. The principal investigator for Aspera is Carlos Vargas at the University of Arizona in Tucson. NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, manages the VADR contract.
    To learn more about NASA’s Aspera mission and the Pioneers Program, visit:
    https://go.nasa.gov/42U1Wkn
    -end-
    Joshua Finch / Tiernan DoyleHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / tiernan.doyle@nasa.gov
    Patti BiellingKennedy Space Center, Florida321-501-7575patricia.a.bielling@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pretty in Pink

    Source: NASA

    The spiral galaxy known as Messier 81 (M81) has a rosy tint in this June 1, 2007, composite image that incorporates data from NASA’s Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes, and NASA’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer. Discovered by the German astronomer Johann Elert Bode in 1774, M81 is one of the brightest galaxies in the night sky. It is located 11.6 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major.
    The galaxy’s spiral arms, which wind all the way down into its nucleus, are made up of young, bluish, hot stars formed in the past few million years. They also host a population of stars formed in an episode of star formation that started about 600 million years ago.
    Learn more about M81 in Hubble’s Messier Catalog.
    Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA/Harvard-Smithsonian CfA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ireland’s Competitiveness Confirmed – Minister Peter Burke

    Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation

    15th May 2025

    The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, has welcomed the publication of Re-estimating Ireland’s International Competitiveness Performance, the latest bulletin by the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC).

    Minister Burke said:

     “This analysis marks a very welcome contribution by the Council and confirms that the Irish economy is internationally competitive. However, we cannot become complacent, and there remains work to do in many areas. The Council’s findings will make a valuable contribution in the preparation of the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity.”

    “Despite our strong international performance, we are also aware that there are challenges, and it is important that we do not take our current strengths for granted. This is reflected in the decision taken by Cabinet to expedite delivery of the Action Plan, which will play a key role in addressing these challenges and safeguarding our competitiveness performance into the future.”

    This Bulletin explores how Ireland’s performance in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2024 is affected when selected indicators are rescaled using Modified Gross National Income (GNI*) in place of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

    The findings show that Ireland’s competitiveness performance remains strong with this adjustment. In fact, it rises by one position in the ranking, with improvements in three of the four pillars. The analysis explores how Ireland’s competitiveness profile changes when key metrics are recalibrated to better reflect the scale of the domestic economy.

    The IMD World Competitiveness Ranking is a widely used international benchmark, assessing over 60 economies across four key pillars and 20 sub-pillars, and based on 250 individual measures. In the 2024 IMD results, Ireland was ranked 4th overall. The analysis included in this Bulletin involves replicating the IMD methodology from the ground up, in order to facilitate the substitution of GNI* for GDP for Ireland. 

    Key findings from the Bulletin include:

    • Ireland’s competitiveness ranking improves by one place when GDP-based indicators are adjusted using GNI*, with notable gains in Economic Performance (up seven places) and Infrastructure (up two places). Business Efficiency is unchanged, while Government Efficiency declines slightly, reflecting a more constrained fiscal profile when public finance metrics are expressed over a smaller income base.
    • The analysis underscores the importance of context-sensitive benchmarking, especially when using international indices to inform national policy. This Bulletin highlights the need to interpret international indices critically, understanding their underlying assumptions, and where necessary, supplementing them with alternative analyses that better capture national circumstances.

    NOTES TO EDITORS

    The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) was established in 1997 (then the National Competitiveness Council) to report to the Taoiseach, through the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, on key competitiveness issues facing the Irish economy.   In 2019, the NCPC was designated as Ireland’s National Productivity Board. 

     As part of its work, the NCPC makes recommendations on policy actions required to enhance Ireland’s competitive position. The NCPC publishes three main research outputs:

    • The Competitiveness Scorecard benchmarks Ireland against international competitors on areas of competitiveness and productivity. This is published every three years (and was last published in 2024).
    • The Competitiveness Challenge is an annual publication in which the NCPC makes recommendations for Government on key challenges to Ireland’s international competitiveness.
    • NCPC Bulletins are short and focused research notes, examining specific topics within the sphere of competitiveness and productivity. The NCPC releases multiple Bulletins each year. These short pieces often feed into the NCPC’s main Challenges report.

     The members of the Council are:

    Dr. Frances Ruane      Chair, National Competitiveness and Productivity Council

    Dr. Laura Bambrick    Head of Social Policy & Employment Affairs, ICTU

    Edel Clancy                Group Director of Corporate Affairs, Musgrave Group

    Kevin Sherry               Interim Chief Executive, Enterprise Ireland 

    Ciaran Conlon             Director of Public Policy, Microsoft Ireland

    Luiz de Mello             Director of Country Studies, Economics Department, OECD

    Maeve Dineen             Chair of Ireland’s Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman

    Brian McHugh            Chairperson, Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

    Gary Tobin                 Assistant Secretary, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

    Michael Lohan            Chief Executive, IDA Ireland

    Liam Madden             Independent Consultant, Semiconductor Industry

    Neil McDonnell          Chief Executive, ISME 

    Bernadette McGahon  Director of Innovation Services, Industry Research & Development Group 

    Danny McCoy             Chief Executive, IBEC

    Michael Taft               Research Officer, SIPTU

    Representatives from the Departments of An Taoiseach; Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Environment, Climate and Communications; Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Social Protection; Finance; Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Justice; Public Expenditure and Reform; Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Transport attend Council meetings in an advisory capacity.

    Research, Analysis and Secretariat from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment:

    Dr. Dermot Coates      

    Rory Mulholland                    

    Dr. Keith Fitzgerald

    Pádraig O’Sullivan                 

    Erika Valiukaite

    Jordan O’Donoghue

    Patrick Connolly

    ENDS

    Back to Department News

    Back to Top

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – The future of International Development Cooperation – What role will ODA play – Committee on Development

    Source: European Parliament

    The Committee will have an Exchange of Views with the Chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since March 2023, Mr. Carsten Staur. Before being elected OECD DAC Chair, Mr. Staur served as a prominent Danish diplomat, holding positions among others as Director and Under Secretary in the field of development cooperation, and as Danish ambassador to the OECD and UNESCO from 2018-2023.

    ODA saw a decrease in 2024 after five years of continuous growth. The Exchange of Views will be an opportunity to discuss how to maintain a strong focus on poverty eradication and on the most vulnerable countries and population groups, in light of declining ODA.

    The increasing pressures on development finance are of concern to Committee MEPs and underline the need to strengthen aid effectiveness and advancing policy coherence for development, as well as mobilising additional funding. The EU institutions play a key role in this respect, also considering the current process of revising EUs financial framework for development cooperation.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Commission invests €1.25 billion in researchers and invites them to ‘Choose Europe for Science’

    Source: European Commission

    European Commission Press release Brussels, 15 May 2025 Europe is stepping up its ambition to cement the position of a global leader in research. New calls worth over €1.25 billion in 2025 under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) open doors for new talents.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU industrial priorities: will the Commission acknowledge mistakes and take real action to save the European steel sector? – E-001863/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001863/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Piotr Müller (ECR)

    For years, the Commission has stood passively by as Europe has deindustrialised, imposing costly regulations and ignoring the consequences of China’s increasing industrial overproduction and the US’s recent tightening of customs policy aimed at protecting its heavy industry. Now, facing pressures from rising unemployment, dependence on external suppliers and the threat of losing industrial sovereignty, the Commission is trying to save the steel sector, which employs more than 300 000 EU citizens.

    I would therefore like to ask three specific questions, which require equally specific answers:

    • 1.Is the Commission prepared to explicitly acknowledge that its current regulatory approach – lacking any effective mechanisms to protect strategic industry – has contributed to the loss of production capacity and has deepened Europe’s dependence on external economic powers?
    • 2.In light of the facts (mass lay-offs, steelworks closures, falling exports and growing trade deficits), will the Commission acknowledge that maintaining industrial production in the EU must become an absolute priority, even if it means having to adapt the decarbonisation agenda?
    • 3.Will the Commission review the application of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) to the steel industry and consider temporarily suspending or permanently modifying it, given that, as currently designed, the ETS makes it impossible in practice for European steel producers to compete with operators outside the EU?

    Submitted: 8.5.2025

    Last updated: 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Commission’s assesment of EIOPA findings regarding NOVIS case – E-001855/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001855/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Rada Laykova (ESN)

    On 16 May 2022, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) issued a recommendation requiring Národná banka Slovenska (NBS) to act against a Slovakian insurance company. The Commission, referencing evidence the EIOPA had gathered, subsequently issued a formal opinion requiring the NBS to act in the case.

    Serious questions have been raised about key assumptions that informed the EIOPA’s conclusions regarding an alleged breach of the minimum capital requirement in this case.

    Can the Commission answer the following questions:

    • 1.Did it base its formal opinion on an independent, Commission-conducted analysis, or did it largely depend on the EIOPA’s analysis?
    • 2.Did it use the EIOPA’s figures on (a) the yearly future cancellation rate of insurance contracts and (b) the costs of servicing insurance contracts in its analysis?
    • 3.Did it independently assess the ‘evidence’ used in the EIOPA’s analysis?

    Submitted: 8.5.2025

    Last updated: 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Commission decision to disband the Social Economy Unit within DG GROW, which is responsible for industrial policy – E-001858/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001858/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Eero Heinäluoma (S&D)

    The Commission’s decision to disband the Social Economy Unit in DG GROW – which is responsible for industrial policy – as of 1 May 2025 is deeply worrying. As a result of this change, in the area of EU economic and industrial policy at the Commission there will no longer be a separate entity to promote the role of social enterprises and the social economy in the internal market.

    Excluding the social economy from the EU’s industrial strategy is illogical, because the social economy plays an important role in maintaining a welfare state and creating sustainable well-being.

    • 1.How does the Commission justify its short-sighted decision to disband the unit concerned when it has previously recognised the role of the social economy in areas such as the green transition, building local value chains and strengthening democracy?
    • 2.In what way does the decision put into practice the Commission’s previous policy on cooperatives?
    • 3.Does the Commission intend to appoint a new high-level official with the resources and remit required for the social economy to be taken into account in the EU’s industrial and internal market policies?

    Submitted: 8.5.2025

    Last updated: 15 May 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – DROI ad hoc delegation mission to Geneva – 19-20 May 2025 – Subcommittee on Human Rights

    Source: European Parliament

    United Nations, Geneva © Image used under license from Adobe Stock

    On 19-20 May, DROI Subcommittee will travel to Geneva for meetings with the United Nations Human Rights Council, other UN bodies active in the field of human rights, relevant Geneva-based international organisations, and civil society organisations.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Victims and escalation of urban violence due to the misuse and spread of illegal weapons in European cities – E-001789/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001789/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Giuseppe Antoci (The Left)

    The recent shootings in European cities, such as those in Sicily[1], Brussels[2] and elsewhere in the continent, have caused civilian casualties and confirm an upsurge in urban violence linked to the spread of illegal firearms. There are, it is estimated, over 35 million unregistered weapons in circulation in Europe[3]many held by young people and criminal groups.

    The new ‘Protect EU’ strategy cites firearms as a key factor in the rise of violence and commits to proposing common criminal law standards on illicit gun running[4]. The EU Council has also adopted new rules to improve traceability, enhance customs cooperation and make the weapons trade safer³.

    Law enforcement go hand-in -hand with a strategy to promote a cultural shift towards civilian disarmament and combat the subculture of armed violence.

    As part of the Internal Security Fund, the Commission has launched a specific call for projects to combat illicit weapons trafficking[5].

    Can the Commission therefore say:

    • 1.Whether it can it provide updated data on the illegal circulation of firearms in Europe?
    • 2.Whether it plans to allocate new resources to improve preventive measures and law enforcement, particularly in the most vulnerable urban areas[6], by supporting local authorities and law enforcement agencies in disarmament and youth prevention programmes?

    Submitted: 2.5.2025

    • [1] https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2025/04/27/sparatoria-a-monreale-tre-morti-fermato-un-19enne_315f73cd-3cab-4fdb-b123-bb84ccc5b403.html.
    • [2] https://www.ansa.it/europa/notizie/rubriche/altrenews/2025/04/17/nuova-sparatoria-a-bruxelles-in-area-segnata-da-guerra-tra-gang_62a9f373-4fbf-4984-be53-ff74a0ae2317.html.
    • [3] These figures are for 2017.
    • [4] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/internal-security/organised-crime-and-human-trafficking/trafficking-firearms_en.
    • [5] https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/isf/wp-call/2023-2025/call-fiche_isf-2024-tf2-ag-protect_en.pdf.
    • [6] Siap, the Italian police union, recently stated that there are actual lawless urban ‘no-go zones’ where the availability of weapons is both a symptom and a cause of a deep-rooted social crisis.
    Last updated: 15 May 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Continued needs-based humanitarian funding in line with the humanitarian principles – Committee on Development

    Source: European Parliament

    How to make the case for continued needs-based humanitarian funding in line with the humanitarian principles Exchange of views with Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council

    On 20 May the Committee will exchange views with Mr Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council on how to make the case for continued needs-based humanitarian funding in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. This debate takes place in a context where the legitimacy and principled nature of global humanitarian action is increasingly under fire and the humanitarian funding gap is growing due to decreasing donor contributions.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – BUDG-CONT-LIBE – Joint hearing on Smart Conditionality – 13.05 – Committee on Budgetary Control

    Source: European Parliament

    Rule of law concept © Image used under the license from Adobe Stock

    The objective of the joint public hearing was to provide the Members of the BUDG, CONT and LIBE Committees with input from academics and practitioners on how to ensure that final beneficiaries and recipients can continue to receive EU funding where the EU has suspended payments to a Member State due to rule of law breaches by the central government.

    Although the Rule of law Conditionality Regulation explicitly requires Member States whose EU funds have been (partially) suspended due to rule of law breaches to respect their obligations towards final recipients and beneficiaries, in practice, the latter are often deprived of EU funding. The concept of ‘smart conditionality’ should ensure that final recipients and beneficiaries, including local and regional authorities, NGOs, students and other stakeholders, are not punished for the rule of law violations by the central government. The public hearing should feed into Parliament’s forthcoming implementation report on the Rule of law conditionality Regulation and the political discussions on the EU’s post-2027 multiannual financial framework by gathering input on how smart conditionality can be implemented in practice. This includes in particular the necessary legislative changes, if any, to implement the concept.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB and the Luxembourg Space Agency join forces to enhance solutions for European Space for Finance

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • EIB and Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) to support expanded use of satellite information in the financial domain
    • The new Research and Development Pilot programme will be led by the LSA with the support of the EIB
    • The partnership aims at bolstering European strategic autonomy of space data related to financial transactions

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) announced today a collaboration to enhance the integration of European space applications in the financial sector, ultimately benefitting industries such as investment banking and insurance. Leveraging Europe’s strengths in Earth Observation and navigation applications, the Space for Finance initiative aims to improve financial services’ reporting and sustainability efforts through innovative satellite-based solutions. For example, satellites can regularly collect data about the environment and climate, helping companies track how their sites are performing, predict and manage risks, and easily compare results across different locations and businesses.

    As part of this collaboration, the R&D Pilot Programme will explore the full potential of using satellite imagery and other space data for project monitoring and impact assessment using concrete pilot projects. This will pave the way for launching a call for projects aimed at industry players. This initiative, signed today in Luxembourg, aims to enhance the integration of satellite data into financial practices, ultimately benefiting sectors such as investment banking and insurance.

    EIB Vice President Robert de Groot stated, “Space is no longer just about exploration, it is increasingly about innovation that drives real-world solutions. Our partnership with the Luxembourg Space Agency allows us to use the power of satellite data to enhance financial monitoring and drive sustainable development.  Together, we will explore and redefine how space applications can enhance the European strategic autonomy and support the financial sector in creating a more resilient and forward-thinking economy.”

    Through this collaboration, the EIB reinforces its ongoing efforts to bolster the competitiveness of the European space sector, with a specific emphasis on Luxembourg’s growing role in the commercial space arena. LSA has been instrumental in promoting the space industry in Luxembourg, providing support to new and existing businesses, developing human resources, and facilitating access to financial solutions. Working closely with financial intermediaries, such as the EIB, could accelerate the development of Space for Finance solutions, facilitating their market uptake.

    “The space sector drives innovation and economic growth in Luxembourg and across Europe, and it’s also key to our security in a fast-changing world. By working with the European Investment Bank, we are showing our commitment to using space technologies to benefit society and the financial sector. This partnership reflects our goal to support innovation and ensure that space activities in Europe are sustainable, secure, and competitive—for the good of everyone.” emphasizes Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism.

    Moreover, this collaboration underscores the importance of setting security standards and protocols for space data in the domain of finance. Both parties recognize that safeguarding the strategic autonomy of European financial transactions is crucial as they advance their efforts in utilizing space for finance technologies.

    The partnership will facilitate the development of new services driven by satellite data. By working together, the EIB and LSA aim to set new practices in the utilization of space technologies, driving growth and ensuring that Europe continues to lead in the development of space applications for finance.

    Background information   

    EIB Group

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, the EIB finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.    

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of the EIB Group’s headquarters for media use are available here. 

    About LSA

    Established in 2018 by the Ministry of the Economy, and placed under its authority, with the goal of developing the national space sector, the Luxembourg Space Agency fosters new and existing companies, develops human resources, facilitates access to funding and provides support for academic research. The agency implements the national space economic development strategy, manages national space research and development programs, and leads the SpaceResources.lu initiative. The LSA also represents Luxembourg within the European Space Agency, as well as the space related programs of the European Union and the United Nations.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Missions – DROI mission to Geneva, 19-20 May 2025 – 19-05-2025 – Subcommittee on Human Rights

    Source: European Parliament

    On 19-20 May, DROI Subcommittee will travel to Geneva for meetings with the United Nations Human Rights Council, other UN bodies active in the field of human rights, relevant Geneva-based international organisations, and civil society organisations.

    Location : Geneva

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Spain: ICF, EIB and CEB join forces to mobilise up to €400 million investment in social infrastructure in Catalonia

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • Institut Català de Finances (ICF) has signed a €100 million loan with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and a €50 million loan with the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB).
    • The loans will support projects to develop care homes, day centres and assisted living facilities for the elderly, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in the region.
    • These agreements will allow ICF to finance non-profit social organisations, foundations, local administrations, public and private companies, unlocking up to €400 million in investment for social infrastructure projects.
    • The EIB loan is backed by InvestEU, an EU flagship programme to mobilise public and private sector investment to support EU policy goals.

    ICF, the public development bank of the Government of Catalonia, has signed a €100 million loan with the EIB to promote the construction and rehabilitation of social infrastructures in Catalonia, Spain. This is the first tranche of a loan approved for a total value of €150 million. ICF has also signed a €50 million loan with the CEB with the same aim. These agreements will allow ICF to finance non-profit social organisations, foundations, local administrations, public and private companies, unlocking up to €400 million investment for social infrastructure projects in the region.

    The loans will support the construction, refurbishment and improvement of care homes, day centres and assisted living facilities supporting the elderly, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups across Catalonia. The financing provided by the three financial institutions is expected to support the creation of approximately 7.500 new residential care places in Catalonia. All funded projects must meet European sustainable building standards, specifically nearly-zero energy building (NZEB) requirements.

    María Serrano, EIB’s Head of Division Public Sector in Spain, remarked, “The EIB continues to strengthen its commitment to social infrastructure to meet the most pressing needs of Europe’s people. This financing agreement with the ICF will help to strengthen and expand the range of care facilities for elderly and dependent individuals in line with the highest standards of quality and sustainability, for the benefit of all”.

    As emphasised by Maria Sigüenza, the CEB’s Country Manager for Spain, “We are pleased to expand our ongoing partnership with ICF. This new loan reflects the CEB’s strong commitment to social inclusion and the reduction of inequality in Spain. Moreover, it exemplifies the importance of cooperation and joint action among multilateral development banks, such as the CEB and EIB, in building stronger communities and delivering high-impact social projects.”

    Vanessa Servera, CEO of the ICF, described the agreement as “a new success story in public-private cooperation,” emphasising that “the EIB and the CEB are providing the financial resources, we are taking on the management and financial risk, and it will be public entities and other actors that will launch the projects and investments the Catalan social services network needs to meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.”

    The agreement with ICF contributes to the EIB Group’s strategic priority of reinforcing Europe’s social infrastructure. This is one of the Group’s eight priorities set out in its Strategic Roadmap for the years 2024-2027.

    The EIB loan is guaranteed by InvestEU, the flagship EU programme to mobilise over €372 billion of additional public and private sector investment to support EU policy goals from 2021 to 2027.

    As the social development bank for Europe, investing in social infrastructure is the CEB’s main mission, as emphasised by its Strategic Framework 2023-2027. By signing the agreement with ICF, the CEB continues to respond flexibly to evolving social development and inclusion challenges in Spain.

    Background information

    ICF

    ICF has been the public promotional bank in Catalonia for 40 years, and in that period it has financed 37,000 clients for a total of €16 billion. Its main mission is to promote the financing of companies and entities in order to contribute to the growth, innovation and sustainability of the Catalan economy. ICF acts as a complement to the private sector, offering a wide range of financing solutions focused on loans, guarantees and investment in venture capital. Since 2014 it has been a member of the European Association of Public Banks (EAPB), which brings together a large number of the public promotional banks and financial entities operating in Europe.

    EIB

    The ElB is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by the Member States. Built around eight core priorities, it finances investments that pursue EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund, signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Agreement, as pledged in the group’s Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects that contribute directly to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and a healthier environment.

    In Spain, the EIB Group signed €12.3 billion of new financing for more than 100 high-impact projects in 2024, helping power the country’s green and digital transition and promote economic growth, competitiveness and better services for inhabitants.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    InvestEU

    The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investment for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners that invest in projects, leveraging on the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increasing their risk-bearing capacity and mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment.

    CEB

    The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) is a multilateral development bank, whose unique mission is to promote social cohesion in its 43 member states across Europe. The CEB finances investment in social sectors, including education, health and affordable housing, with a focus on the needs of vulnerable people. Borrowers include governments, local and regional authorities, public and private banks, non-profit organisations and others. As a multilateral bank with an excellent credit rating, the CEB funds itself on the international capital markets. It approves projects according to strict social, environmental and governance criteria, and provides technical assistance. In addition, the CEB receives funds from donors to complement its activities.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – Promoting democracy and observing elections – 14-05-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Supporting democracy worldwide is a priority for the European Union. Democracy remains the only system of governance in which people can fully realise their human rights, and is a determining factor for development and long-term stability. As the only directly elected EU institution, the European Parliament is particularly committed to promoting democracy.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – The common agricultural policy – instruments and reforms – 14-05-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The common agricultural policy (CAP) has undergone six major reforms, the most recent of which were in 2013 (for the 2014-2020 financial period) and 2021 (for the 2023-2027 financial period). The latest reform and new legislation came into force in January 2023.

    MIL OSI Europe News –