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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Direct funding to address drought on the islands – E-001890/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Between 2021 and 2027, Cohesion Policy funds[1] invest EUR 541 million in Greece’s water infrastructures, and EUR 85 million in water management and resource conservation[2].

    T he Common Agricultural Policy[3] funds moreover financially support soil improvements[4], more efficient irrigation, water reuse and climate resilient crops.

    There are a number of funds, under shared management, that Greece is currently using to finance sustainable water management. The Commission recently proposed an exceptional package of measures to encourage investments in water resilience.

    The next Multiannual Financial Framework will also be an opportunity to further support water resilience through investment and reforms[5].

    EU support for desalination requires that environmental degradation risks related to preserving water quality and avoiding water stress are identified and addressed in line with the relevant legislation[6].

    In the case of Greece, the Environment and Climate Change[7] programme supports desalination units — powered by renewable energy — on small islands facing water scarcity, where no viable alternative solutions exist.

    • [1] https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/stories/s/21-27-Sustainable-water-management/ehce-gj6d.
    • [2] https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/2021-2027-Categorisation/Water_2/2aig-bg4c.
    • [3] https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy_en.
    • [4] Greece’s Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (2023-2027) — 36.5% of the utilised agricultural area will receive support (under eco-schemes and agri-environment climate interventions) for practices beneficial for soil management to improve soil quality and biota.
    • [5] Commission Communication on a European Water Resilience Strategy, 4 June 2025, COM(2025) 280 final, on page 14, available at https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/european-water-resilience-strategy_en.
    • [6] Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2485, OJ 21 November 2023: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32023R2485 (Section 5.13).
    • [7] https://peka-program.gr/.
    Last updated: 7 July 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Borrowers of loans in Swiss francs – E-001484/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Member States have a primary responsibility to monitor the application of the relevant legal provisions and to take the necessary steps for enforcement. In its role as guardian of the Treaties, the Commission monitors the situation and may decide to take appropriate action.

    Directive 2014/17/EU[1] on mortgage credit agreements introduced specific rules to protect consumers where the credit is denominated in a foreign currency (e.g. explanations on the implications for consumers, right to convert the credit agreement into an alternative currency or other arrangements in place to limit the exchange rate risk ). The directive only applies to mortgage credit contracts concluded as from 21 March 2016.

    Directive 93/13/EEC[2] on unfair contract terms requires Member States to ensure that terms in all consumer contracts are fair and intelligible, and that consumers are not bound by unfair contract terms.

    The Commission does not intervene in contractual agreements between lenders and borrowers. In case of legal disputes, it is for Greek authorities and courts to assess, based on the circumstances of each case, whether Greek banks complied with their obligations regarding the fairness and transparency of contract terms, such as exposing the borrower to a foreign exchange risk[3].

    Regarding enforcement actions, the Commission does not have powers to intervene in individual consumer disputes or to review decisions of national authorities and courts.

    • [1] Directive 2014/17/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 February 2014 on credit agreements for consumers relating to residential immovable property and amending Directives 2008/48/EC and 2013/36/EU and Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010 Text with EEA relevance, OJ L 60, 28.2.2014, p. 34-85.
    • [2] Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts, OJ L 95, 21.4.1993, p. 29-34.
    • [3] Judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Case C-186/16 Andriciuc.
    Last updated: 7 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Weaponisation of migration by Russia and implications for EU security and border policy – E-001633/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Hybrid threats arising from the weaponisation of migration by Russia, assisted by Belarus, pose a risk to sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity of the concerned Member States, but also to the security of the EU as a whole.

    The Commission, together with EU Agencies, have provided support to Member States since Russia and Belarus started using migration for political purposes.

    In December 2024, the Commission adopted a communication on countering hybrid threats from the weaponisation of migration and strengthening security at the EU’s external borders[1].

    This communication recalled the legal context in which any exceptional measure to tackle this threat can be taken, taking into account the case-law of the Court of Justice of the EU that provides guidance as regards the conditions and limits.

    The Commission does not have aggregate figures relevant specifically to returns of those third-country nationals who crossed the EU borders with Russia and Belarus.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52024DC0570.
    Last updated: 7 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Police staff shortages in North Evros – E-001066/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. Between 2021 and 2027, the Greek authorities are set to receive more than EUR 1.5 billion under Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF)[1], Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI)[2] and Internal Security Fund (ISF)[3], a large part of which is allocated for the reinforcement of police presence at the Greek borders[4]. Additional funding will be made available to Greece[5] for the implementation of the Pact for Migration and Asylum.

    2. Under shared management, Member States are primarily responsible for the sound financial management of EU funds allocated to them. Member States have established management and control systems to monitor how the home affairs funds are used and they report on that to the Commission[6]. The Commission regularly monitors how Member States implement programmes[7] and carries out system and ex-post audits on the use of EU funding[8]. The Schengen evaluation of Greece has shown that the Greek authorities deploy a significant number of staff from other regional police units to Evros area using national and EU funding for staff redeployment and acquisition of mobile surveillance equipment. At the Greek-Turkish land border, the Greek authorities have implemented an integrated technical surveillance system to increase the detection and response capabilities. The Greek police has recruited and trained specialised border guards for border surveillance purposes in that area, with strong support of the Commission. The Greek army is also supporting the patrolling of the Greek-Turkish land border, including the Evros River, and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has been organising permanent patrolling operations since 2010.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2021/1147 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
    • [2] Regulation (EU) 2021/1148 establishing, as part of the Integrated Border Management Fund, the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy.
    • [3] Regulation (EU) 2021/1149 establishing the Internal Security Fund.
    • [4] For more information, please visit the Managing Authority’s website: https://tamey.gov.gr/.
    • [5] For more information on the resources to be allocated to Greece please find the following links (Section Thematic Facility: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/funding/borders-and-visa-funds/integrated-border-management-fund-border-management-and-visa-instrument-2021-27_en , https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/funding/asylum-migration-and-integration-funds/asylum-migration-and-integration-fund-2021-2027_en . To be noted that resources will be also made available following the Mid Term Review of the programmes, in line with the relevant provisions of the specific Home Affairs funds Regulations.
    • [6] In accordance with Articles 38 and 40 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy, s uch reporting is conducted through Annual Performance Reports and through Monitoring Committee meetings .
    • [7] The Commission’s monitoring is carried out in accordance with Articles 38, 39, 40 and 41 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, which includes conducting Annual performance reviews. As per Article 45 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1147, Article 28 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1148 and Article 29 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1149, the Commission also performs a mid-term evaluation of the programmes.
    • [8] In accordance with Article 70 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060.
    Last updated: 7 July 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Border management with regard to Lebanon and Syria – E-001464/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission pursues a comprehensive approach in cooperation on migration with partner countries, based on a whole-of-route approach and includes a broad-spectrum of topics, such as return and readmission, border management and prevention of irregular arrivals, legal migration, fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, international protection.

    The Commission supports Lebanon in strengthening border management capacities and enhancing border governance, including with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. This is done in line with EU and international standards and through a human rights-based approach.

    Support in the broader area of security aims to contribute to long-term capability of Lebanon’s security forces, including the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). In 2025, a measure worth EUR 60 million was adopted through the European Peace Facility to support the LAF[1].

    The Commission supports the people in Syria through an inclusive, peaceful, Syrian-owned and Syrian-led transition and is committed to play a proactive role in the stabilisation, socioeconomic recovery and future reconstruction of Syria. A package of EUR 175 million for 2024-2025 will be provided for recovery inside Syria.

    The EU aims to allow all Syrians, in the country and in the diaspora, to have an opportunity to reunify, stabilise and rebuild their country.

    • [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/01/21/european-peace-facility-council-adopts-the-third-assistance-measure-in-support-of-the-lebanese-armed-forces/.
    Last updated: 7 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Milestone reached in development of Fort William Transport Plan

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Issued in partnership with HITRANS

    A major step forward has been taken in developing a long-awaited integrated transport plan (ITP) for Fort William with the appointment of consultants.

    The need for upgrades in the town to ease traffic congestion and improve journey times on the A82 and A830 has been an issue for many years.

    Congestion and its effect on journey times, which can be exacerbated by high seasonal volumes of traffic, are key concerns for people who live and work in Fort William and the surrounding area.

    They include emergency services, with reports of staff being unable to reach work due to congestion, as well as delays to emergency vehicles accessing roads.

    Local businesses have also stated that network constraints have affected decisions to expand.

    Scotland’s second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) was published in December 2022 and recommended the development of an Integrated Transport Plan (ITP) for Fort William.

    A comprehensive plan will establish a proposed package of interventions, priorities, direction, responsibilities, funding sources and process for change for the area.

    It will be developed over the next 18 months by a partnership between AECOM and Stantec, two global infrastructure consulting companies.

    A Client Delivery Group was established in January 2025 comprising HITRANS (as lead), with Transport Scotland and The Highland Council as well as Highlands and Islands Enterprise and FW2040, to help coordinate the project with a shared vision for the future of Fort William and Lochaber.

    The project is being funded by Transport Scotland, HITRANS and The Highland Council.

    Councillor Ken Gowans, Chair of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee and a HITRANS Board Member, said: “This is a significant and long-overdue milestone for Fort William.

    “The appointment of AECOM and Stantec to take forward the Integrated Transport Plan brings renewed momentum and a real opportunity to tackle the long-standing issues of congestion and connectivity that affect residents, businesses, and emergency services alike.

    “By working in partnership and drawing on expert insight, we’re committed to delivering a more efficient, sustainable, and accessible transport system that meets the needs of our growing community.

    “This plan is a key step in shaping a better future for Fort William and the wider Lochaber area.”

    A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said: “Scotland’s Second Strategic Transport Project Review (STPR2) recommended a Fort William Integrated Transport Plan, and it’s great to see this important work getting underway.

    “The plan will explore and develop a combination of measures to improve local connections, access and enhancing the sense of place for those who live, work and visit the area along with safety and improved journey time reliability on the A82 through Fort William.

    “The plan will be an in-depth, multi-modal transport study that will respond to the current challenges and opportunities facing Fort William, whilst ensuring the development of robust proposals that meet current policy direction and support future investment decisions.”

    Richie Fraser, Project Director at AECOM, said: “AECOM is proud to work in collaboration with Stantec and HITRANS to lead the delivery of an integrated transport plan to improve travel conditions for people living, working and visiting Fort William.

    “As a global infrastructure leader, AECOM will bring our extensive transport planning expertise to the study and look forward to engaging with the community, from our Scotland offices.

    “Ultimately, our aim is to support a more efficient, sustainable and accessible transport system that local people can be proud of, and one that will connect communities, support businesses, and unlock growth across the region.”

    Emily Seaman, Director, Transport Planning, Stantec added: “Having worked closely and successfully with HITRANS on its Regional Transport Strategy, we’re incredibly proud to be appointed to support the Fort William Integrated Transport Plan alongside AECOM.

    “We’ll be leveraging our extensive local knowledge and respected position in the area, as well as our industry leading global expertise, to deliver meaningful benefits for communities that will enhance both connectivity and the regional economy.”

    The proposed study area borders Loch Eil, Loch Linnhe and along the corridors made by the Great Glen and Glen Nevis.

    The River Lochy, Nevis and Loch Linnhe flood risk areas influence where development can occur and where travel connections are feasible.  Similarly, the steep sides of the glens limit transport options.

    The area is served by the A82 and A830 trunk roads, as well as railway lines to Glasgow and Mallaig.

    It has an important port function and National Cycle Route 78 as well as other active travel links and serves as a West Highland hub for the coach network with services to Inverness, Glasgow, Oban, Skye and Ardnamurchan.

    The proximity of local junctions and queuing associated with opposed right-turns on the A82 are thought to have contributed to specific localised issues.

    When incidents occur, their impacts are compounded by the lack and length (up to 160 miles) of diversionary routes.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Work-life balance – E-000369/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Work-Life Balance Directive[1] provides for minimum standards on the rights to paternity and parental leave in the EU. These new rights make it easier to share care responsibilities between parents and to strike a balance between work and family life.

    The directive incentivises fathers to use their rights to paid paternity and parental leave, thereby making it easier for mothers to return to paid work.

    Under the directive, workers have the right to request flexible working arrangements such as reduced working hours and flexible working schedules.

    Article 18 of the directive requires Member States to report on the directive’s implementation by August 2027, and the Commission to draw up a report.

    The Commission currently monitors the implementation of the directive. If the Commission considers that a Member State’s legislation does not comply with the requirements of the directive, it may open infringement proceedings.

    Furthermore, the availability of affordable, accessible and high-quality care services has a strong impact on the employment of carers, mainly women.

    The Council Recommendation on early childhood education and care — the Barcelona targets for 2030[2] — encourages Member States to increase participation levels in this area. Article 11(a) recommends that Member States offer solutions for parents with atypical working hours.

    The European Social Fund and the recovery and resilience plans include work-life balance targeted measures and reforms to facilitate telework and early childhood education and care, included in the Child Guarantee action plans[3], that support parents’ return to the labour market. An example is the Rainbow Childcare and Activities Centre[4].

    • [1] Directive (EU) 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on work-life balance for parents and carers and repealing Council Directive 2010/18/EU, OJ L 188, 12.7.2019, p. 79-93.
    • [2] Council Recommendation of 8 December 2022 on early childhood education and care: the Barcelona targets for 2030 (2022/C 484/01).
    • [3] https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/social-protection-social-inclusion/addressing-poverty-and-supporting-social-inclusion/investing-children/european-child-guarantee/national-action-plans-and-progress-reports_en.
    • [4] https://thalia.com.cy/en/example-of-projects/rainbow-childcare-and-activities-centre/.
    Last updated: 7 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Aviemore among dozens of Scottish locations to see more people on bikes

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Issued in partnership with Cycle Scotland

    • B9152 road between Aviemore and Carrbridge, saw 53% growth in the number of people cycling over the first three months of 2025 vs the same period in 2024
    • Peaks in cycling around morning and evening commuting times, indicating people are travelling by bike for everyday journeys –

    Aviemore resident Sally Devlin riding her bike

    National cycle counter data has revealed growth in the number of people travelling by bike in Aviemore. It’s among 34 locations across Scotland seeing increases of over 30% in the number of cycle journeys in winter 2024-25 compared with the previous year.

    The B9152 road in the north of Aviemore saw 1,469 cycle journeys in January, February and March 2025, compared to 963 cycle journeys in the same period in 2024 – a 53% increase. Future improvements are planned for this location, with a 9km dedicated off-road route for walking, wheeling and cycling to be built during A9 dualling works. This will provide a safer, more direct link between Aviemore and Carrbridge, linking up with existing routes in the area.

    In addition to the growth in cycling, peaks at morning and evening commuting times indicate that people in and around Aviemore are predominantly travelling by bike for everyday journeys, like commuting to and from work.

    Significant year-on-year increases in cycling were observed at urban and rural locations in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Clackmannanshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Highlands, Inverclyde, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Perth and Kinross, South Lanarkshire and Stirling.

    Data was captured through the nationwide network of more than 800 automatic cycle counters managed by local authorities and partner organisations, and analysed by Cycling Scotland, Scotland’s national cycling charity.

    Convener of The Highland Council and Badenoch & Strathspey Councillor, Bill Lobban said: “We are encouraged by the growing levels of cycling in Aviemore, which reflect both local enthusiasm and a wider shift towards healthier and more sustainable travel choices. Aviemore’s unique location within the Cairngorms National Park makes it an ideal setting for active travel, and it’s clear from the statistics that residents and visitors alike are embracing cycling for both recreation and everyday journeys.

    “The Council remains committed to supporting this momentum through investment in safe, accessible infrastructure and we will continue working alongside our partners the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Transport Scotland and local communities to deliver infrastructure that makes cycling safer, easier, and more attractive for everyone.”

    Sally Devlin who lives in Aviemore and cycles to work each day, said: “It can often be, if not always, quicker to travel around Aviemore by bike. We have a good network of smooth off-road trails and quiet roads off the main street which means you get to your destination quicker, enjoy nature and stay away from traffic when getting from A to B. I no longer drive to work, and even though it’s just a five-minute cycle you feel so much better for getting outside, and a happy team means happy customers.”

    “Recently the speed limit through Aviemore was reduced to 20mph, and I find this makes riding on the road a much easier and more pleasant experience. I’ve also seen an increase in local businesses supporting cycling in terms of secure bike storage and encouragement of making journeys by bike. I hope the more people that see people like me and my colleagues making utility journeys by bike, the more who will give it a go.”

    Nick Montgomery, Monitoring and Development Manager at Cycling Scotland, said: “To see significant winter to winter increases in cycling is very promising, especially as the growth is close to locations that have seen improvements for cycling in recent years. The peaks in cycling recorded during morning and evening rush hours also show that people are using these routes to get around by bike for everyday journeys, such as travelling to and from work.”

    “What we see from the data is that where local authorities are investing in protected cycle lanes and improved networks of cycling routes, there are big increases in people travelling by bike. Future improvements would support even more people to benefit from cycling as a healthy, affordable, and environmentally friendly way of getting around.”

    A map of all 34 locations in Scotland to see increases of over 30% in the number of cycle journeys in winter 2024-25 compared with the previous year is hosted online on data visualisation platform, Flourish.

    Further data on cycle rates in Scotland can be found on the Cycling Open Data Portal

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Strategic independence from US software – E-001618/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In the light of the current geopolitical situation, the Commission is giving high priority to reducing the EU’s dependencies on external digital providers.

    Strengthening Europe’s capacity to develop, deploy, and maintain its own secure digital solutions is essential for long-term resilience. Open Source[1] technologies play a key role in this effort by offering transparent, interoperable, and sovereign alternatives to proprietary software.

    The Commission supports this transition through strategic initiatives. The Next Generation Internet[2] (NGI) programme mobilised EUR140 million to fund over 1 400 open-source projects across decentralised platforms, trust technologies, and privacy-enhancing tools.

    Its successor, the Open Internet Stack, will deliver validated, EU-compliant digital building blocks for public bodies and small and medium-sized enterprises.

    Additional efforts include SIMPL[3] for data sharing in trusted Data Spaces[4], and GenAI4EU[5]/OpenEuroLLM[6], which promote European open-source artificial intelligence infrastructure.

    While precise EU-wide savings are difficult to quantify due to varied national procurement practices, studies[7] suggest that open-source adoption could significantly lower licensing and vendor lock-in costs. More importantly, it enhances Europe’s strategic autonomy and digital competitiveness.

    As of 2024, about 45% of software publishers used by the Commission are US-based. All are procured via EU-registered entities in full compliance with EU procurement, data protection, and cybersecurity legislation.

    • [1] The European Commission adopts its new Open Source Software Strategy 2020-2023, available at https://shorturl.at/t88O5.
    • [2] https://ngi.eu/.
    • [3] https://simpl-programme.ec.europa.eu/.
    • [4] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/data-spaces.
    • [5] https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-accelerator/eic-accelerator-challenges-2025/genai4eu-creating-european-champions-generative-ai_en.
    • [6] https://openeurollm.eu/.
    • [7] Practical Guide for EU Governments: Evaluating Open Source Alternatives vs. Commercial Software, available at https://shorturl.at/1jhs2.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Possible measures to combat addictive behaviours among young people on social media – E-001715/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The protection of minors and children’s fundamental rights online is a Commission priority. The Digital Services Act (DSA)[1] sets out an unprecedented standard for providers of online platforms’ accountability in this area.

    The minimum age requirement of 13 years old for (most) social media platforms is a requirement set by the providers. The providers of online platforms may adjust the minimum age requirement, as long as they comply with relevant EU and national laws[2].

    Under the DSA, providers of very large online platforms and search engines need to ensure that minors and their fundamental rights are protected.

    The Commission has initiated proceedings against TikTok[3], Instagram, and Facebook[4] based on suspicions that they may have breached the DSA in areas related to addiction and other harmful effects on minors.

    Currently , the Commission is preparing guidelines on the protection of minors that will assist all providers of online platforms in providing a high level of privacy, safety and security for minors on their service[5].

    Other Commission initiatives addressing the points raised by the Honourable Member are the European Strategy for a better Internet for kids (BIK+)[6] which promotes the responsible use of technology, the Guidelines of the Digital Education Action Plan[7] that tackle disinformation and digital literacy and the upcoming Action Plan on Cyberbullying[8] and the Digital Fairness Act[9].

    Lastly, the Commission will carry out an EU-wide inquiry with the aim of having an evidence-based debate on the broader impacts of social media and excessive screen time on people, especially young people, and their wellbeing and mental health[10].

    • [1]  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM:4625430.
    • [2]  For example, under Art.8 of General Data Protection Regulation, Member States can set a minimum user age for platforms to process their data, provided it is over 13.
    • [3]  In 2024, following the opening of an investigation by the Commission, the provider of TikTok committed to permanently withdraw the TikTok Lite Rewards programme in the EU due to the potentially addictive feature of the app. https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/tiktok-commits-permanently-withdraw-tiktok-lite-rewards-programme-eu-comply-digital-services-act.
    • [4]  The Commission opens formal proceedings against Facebook and Instagram under the Digital Services Act | Shaping Europe’s digital future https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-opens-formal-proceedings-against-facebook-and-instagram-under-digital-services-act#:~:text=The%20European%20Commission%20has%20opened%20formal%20proceedings%20to,may%20have%20breached%20the%20Digital%20Services%20Act%20%28DSA%29.
    • [5]  EU Consultation: Digital Services Act-protection of children https://eu-for-children.europa.eu/activities-news/latest/consultation-eu-digital-services-act-protection-of-children_en#:~:text=Organisations%20and%20stakeholders%20are%20invited%20to%20share%20their,%28DSA%29.%20The%20consultation%20closes%20on%2010%20June%2C%202025.
    • [6]  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52022DC0212.
    • [7]  Guidelines published in 2022: https://education.ec.europa.eu/focus-topics/digital-education/action-plan/action-7.
    • [8]  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0117#:~:text=The%20upcoming%20action%20plan%20against,world%2C%20while%20reducing%20negative%20effects.
    • [9]  The Commission is expected to propose this in 2026.
    • [10]  b628b5a2-ac1e-4b9c-bbdd-35b82da0ac6b_en.
    Last updated: 7 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Supply of high-purity vacuum salt for European industry – P-002226/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission agrees that salt is an important industrial input. Salt is however currently not assessed regarding its criticality.

    The Commission plans to update the list of critical raw materials by 24 May 2027 in line with Article 4 of the Critical Raw Materials Act[1]. The technical assessment according to the methodology defined in Annex II of the regulation will start in the second half of 2025, which will include a decision on the scope of screened raw materials.

    Regarding the high market-entry barriers, the Commission published its Single Market Strategy[2] in May 2025, which addresses these issues among others.

    Several provisions in the Critical Raw Materials Act could benefit the production of all raw materials in the EU, such as better land-use planning, updated exploration programmes, increased permitting capacity or heightened awareness of the importance of raw materials both in the national administrations and general population, even though there are no directly applicable provisions.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1252-20240503.
    • [2] COM(2025)500.
    Last updated: 7 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Social situation at ArcelorMittal France and the future of steelmaking in Europe – P-001882/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    As acknowledged in the Steel and Metals Action Plan[1], the steel sector plays a vital role for the EU’s economic security and social stability. It is facing significant challenges, but several European instruments support its decarbonisation.

    Around 10 large clean steel projects received public support, either via state aid or the EU Innovation Fund[2] to accelerate the steel sector’s transition.

    The new Clean Industrial Deal[3] State aid Framework (CISAF) will further facilitate investments in industrial decarbonisation, including in the steel sector.

    The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund[4] offers one-off re-active assistance in case of major restructuring events to support workers affected by restructuring in their job-transition.

    The Commission proposed on 1 April 2025 to amend this regulation[5] to allow for earlier intervention before collective dismissals occur.

    The European Social Fund Plus[6] supports skills development and training of workers and the targeted amendment proposed on 1 April 2025 is meant to encourage Member States to allocate more funds to ‘support adaptation of workers to decarbonisation’. The future European Fair Transition Observatory will also be instrumental in monitoring the employment impacts of the transition.

    The Commission will consider introducing in the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act[7] sustainability and resilience criteria and minimum EU content requirements.

    These aim to create lead markets for low-carbon industrial products, while aligning with other legislative initiatives and the EU’s international commitments.

    Decisions in the area of nationalisation fall under the competence of individual Member States, provided they comply with EU competition rules.

    • [1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_805.
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02019R0856-20231121.
    • [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0085.
    • [4] https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/funding/european-globalisation-adjustment-fund-displaced-workers-egf_en.
    • [5] https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-proposes-broader-faster-eu-social-and-employment-funds-2025-04-02_en.
    • [6] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=LEGISSUM:4536659.
    • [7] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=PI_COM:Ares(2025)3570423.
    Last updated: 7 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – European Train Control System in Greece: implementation delays and the need for transparency – E-001129/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The deployment in Greece of European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) has been assessed by the EU Agency for Railways, on request of the Greek authorities.

    The assessment[1] revealed lack of a proper governance scheme to coordinate the implementation and use of the system, as well as shortcomings in relation to its deployment and maintenance. The Agency presented a set of recommendations to address these findings.

    The Commission has set clear deadlines for the deployment of ERTMS across the EU. The trans-European transport network (TEN-T) Regulation[2] requires Member States to roll out ERTMS by 2030, 2040 or 2050, depending on the specific part of the TEN-T network.

    The Commission closely monitors progress of the roll-out and offers additional support to Member States through the work of the ERTMS coordinator.

    The coordinator will publish by the end of 2025 his new work plan which will include the state of play of the roll-out. In the future, annual status reports will also be published.

    The Commission assesses the completeness and the compliance of national transposition measures with the Rail Safety Directive[3], whereas the EU Agency for Railways regularly audits the work of the national safety authorities which play a pivotal role in ensuring safety of the rail system in a Member State.

    On request of the Commission, the Agency may also perform a complex assessment covering all actors in a given Member State. For all identified findings, Member State prepares an Action Plan.

    In case of significant deficiencies, the Commission may open an infringement case as in the case of Greece (INFR(2023)2036, letter of formal notice of 16 December 2024[4]).

    • [1] Report ERA/REP/2-2023 of the European Union Agency for Railways regarding the assessment of maturity of ERTMS deployment in Greece and recommendations on the way forward, 21 March 2024.
    • [2] Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1153 and (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013, http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1679/oj.
    • [3] Directive (EU) 2016/798 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on railway safety, http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2016/798/oj.
    • [4] Associated press release: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_24_6006.
    Last updated: 7 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Financing civil defence in Poland – E-001481/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In the preparedness union strategy[1], one of the key actions is to ‘embed preparedness by design into EU policies and actions’. This means that preparedness and security considerations will be integrated and mainstreamed across EU legislation, policies and programmes.

    Under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM)[2], the Commission provides funds for emergency shelter capacities through rescEU[3]. These reserves consist of high-quality emergency shelter units, including light prefabricated structures, flat-pack containers, and emergency tents.

    In addition, the Commission co-finances the voluntary commitment of national shelter capacities to the European Civil Protection Pool[4] under the UCPM.

    Furthermore, under 2021-2027 cohesion policy programmes, investments for civil preparedness including shelters may be eligible subject to the compliance with the specific objectives set out in EU legislation, including in former coal mine sites.

    On 1 April 2025, the Commission tabled a legislative proposal[5] allowing Member States to adjust their 2021-2027 cohesion policy programmes during their mid-term review, by incorporating new strategic priorities to incentivise defence-related investments, which would also include the construction of shelters.

    The Commission endorsed a targeted revision of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Poland which will allow for financing shelters.

    The support is in the context of the Security and Defence Fund which will cover four areas: (i) protective buildings and civil protection infrastructure, (ii) dual-use infrastructure, (iii) cybersecurity and (iv) enterprise modernisation including research and development support.

    • [1] https://commission.europa.eu/topics/preparedness_en.
    • [2] https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/eu-civil-protection-mechanism_en.
    • [3] https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/resceu_en.
    • [4] https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/european-civil-protection-pool_en.
    • [5] https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/communication/mid-term-review-2025/communication-mid-term-review-2025_en.pdf.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Chemical submission leading to rape due to the inherent absence of consent – P-002080/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Combating and preventing violence against women and domestic violence remains a key priority for the European Union. In May 2024, the directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence[1] was adopted.

    In line with Article 26 thereof, Member States are required to provide, for rape cases or sexual violence, referral centres to ensure the clinical management of rape, including assisting in safekeeping and documentation of evidence. The centres shall provide referral to counselling for victims, where necessary.

    Member States shall also ensure that victims have access to medical and forensic examinations, and that all officials likely to come into contact with victims receive training (Article 36 of the directive). Member States will need to transpose this directive by 14 June 2027.

    The Commission is also supporting research on preventive technologies. Under the Horizon Europe programme[2], the Commission has funded projects aimed at developing advanced forensic tools to detect substances commonly used in chemical submission, such as gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB).

    These projects focus on creating reliable, easy-to-use detection methods for these substances in beverages and biological samples, which are crucial for timely intervention and evidence collection in sexual assault cases[3].

    In addition, the Commission Communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health[4], adopted in 2023, highlights the importance of early intervention and integrated care for individuals affected by trauma, including survivors of sexual violence.

    It promotes access to appropriate mental health and psychosocial support services across Member States, recognising the long-term psychological impacts of such experiences.

    • [1] Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence, OJ L, 2024/1385, 24.5.2024, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1385/oj.
    • [2] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en.
    • [3] https://cordis.europa.eu/search?q=contenttype%3D%27project%27%20AND%20programme%2Fcode%3D%27HORIZON-CL3-2023-FCT-01-02%27&p=1&num=10&srt=/project/contentUpdateDate:decreasing, https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101168416, https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101168195
    • [4] https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/comprehensive-approach-mental-health_en.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Strengthening EU action against organised crime networks’ use of AI – E-001832/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    To strengthen the EU’s capacity to detect, prevent, and combat the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies by organised crime groups, the Commission is taking a multi-pronged approach.

    The AI Act[1] requires high-risk AI system developers to implement risk management and mitigation measures, with similar rules for general-purpose AI models.

    The Horizon program funds research to equip law enforcement with tools to combat AI-related crimes. The Commission and the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation collaborate with digital businesses, such as technology and communication companies, to implement more efficient mechanisms for detecting and responding to the criminal abuse of AI technologies.

    Furthermore, in line with the EU Internal Security: ProtectEU Strategy[2] and in response to the recommendations of the High-Level Group on access to data, the Commission presented a Roadmap[3] setting out the way forward to ensure law enforcement authorities in the EU have effective and lawful access to data.

    The measures in this Roadmap will support better detection, prevention, and investigation of digital crimes and the misuse of emerging technologies, including the misuse of AI by criminals and the abuse of emerging technologies to conceal their digital footprints.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence.
    • [2] Communication on ProtectEU: a European Internal Security Strategy, COM(2025) 148 final, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52025DC0148.
    • [3] Communication on a Roadmap for lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement, COM(2025) 349 final, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52025DC0349.
    Last updated: 7 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Strengthening child protection through a harmonised European framework – E-001748/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission Recommendation on integrated child protection systems[1] reaffirms the EU’s commitment to combating all form of violence against children and is driving a coordinated approach to strengthen child protection mechanisms through legislative enhancements, regulatory enforcement and strategic initiatives.

    The Commission is working closely with Member States, stakeholders and civil society to move forward in the implementation of the recommendation, drawing on best practices and building on EU-level legislation, policy measures, and funding.

    Through its Technical Support Instrument, Member States can strengthen their child protection systems to address persistent challenges such as mental health wellbeing and digital safety.

    The EU’s framework includes several legislative instruments to address digital threats. The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD)[2], the Digital Services Act (DSA)[3] and the Better Internet for Kids+ strategy[4] are at the core of the EU toolbox to protect and empower children online.

    Under the DSA, the Commission has opened investigations regarding TikTok and Meta and more recently, commenced proceedings against four porn platforms.

    The Commission is preparing a package to enhance the toolbox which includes, DSA protection of minors’ guidelines[5], an Age Verification Solution[6], an Action Plan against Cyberbullying, an inquiry on social media and mental health, and an evaluation of the AVMSD.

    The Commission is advancing the EU Strategy to combat child sexual abuse[7] including the recast of Directive 2011/93/EU[8] and a new Regulation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse[9]. As announced in the Protect EU Strategy[10], the Commission will present an Action Plan on the Protection of Children Against Crime.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32024H1238.
    • [2] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/audiovisual-and-media-services.
    • [3] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/digital-services-act_en.
    • [4] https://better-Internet-for-kids.europa.eu/en/news/new-better-Internet-kids-strategy-out-introducing-bik.
    • [5] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/commission-seeks-feedback-guidelines-protection-minors-online-under-digital-services-act.
    • [6] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-age-verification.
    • [7] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0607.
    • [8] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2024%3A60%3AFIN.
    • [9] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52022PC0209.
    • [10] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52025DC0148.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Strengthening EU support for Cyprus in market surveillance of electrical appliances – E-001416/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. Member States are responsible for organising and carrying out market surveillance as provided for in Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on market surveillance and product compliance[1]. The Commission helps with coordination and advice, e.g. through the EU Product Compliance Network, and with joint actions. The Commission also designates EU testing facilities[2].

    2. Most unsafe products are sold via online marketplaces and directly imported in large volumes of individual parcels. The Commission is pursuing Priority Control Area controls in cooperation with all Member States to assess these products’ compliance with EU regulations at the border and will use all existing tools to enforce them.

    The Commission has proposed an ‘EU Customs D ata Hub’, a secure and cyber-resilient set of electronic services and systems to handle logistic and commercial data at EU-level. This will enable customs to proactively identify risks in e-commerce supply chains at EU-wide basis and take control and mitigation measures including the possibility of issuing ‘do not transport’ instructions to prevent non-compliant goods entering the EU. Through the implementation of the Customs Control Equipment Instrument, the Commission is supporting Member States with funding to enhance control capacities at border crossing points and in laboratories. To this end, two grant agreements were recently signed with Cyprus[3]. In the future, for products requiring a Digital Product Passport, customs will retrieve and use the information included therein also for risk analysis.

    3. According to Article 41 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020, Member States shall lay down rules on penalties applicable to non-compliance, that must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

    • [1] OJ L 169, 25.6.2019, p. 1-44.
    • [2] https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/goods/building-blocks/market-surveillance_en.
    • [3] https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-results?order=DESC&pageNumber=1&pageSize=50&sortBy=es_SortDate&isExactMatch=true&frameworkProgramme=43251534&countries=20000871.
    Last updated: 7 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Strengthening EU support for Cyprus in market surveillance of electrical appliances – E-001416/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. Member States are responsible for organising and carrying out market surveillance as provided for in Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on market surveillance and product compliance[1]. The Commission helps with coordination and advice, e.g. through the EU Product Compliance Network, and with joint actions. The Commission also designates EU testing facilities[2].

    2. Most unsafe products are sold via online marketplaces and directly imported in large volumes of individual parcels. The Commission is pursuing Priority Control Area controls in cooperation with all Member States to assess these products’ compliance with EU regulations at the border and will use all existing tools to enforce them.

    The Commission has proposed an ‘EU Customs D ata Hub’, a secure and cyber-resilient set of electronic services and systems to handle logistic and commercial data at EU-level. This will enable customs to proactively identify risks in e-commerce supply chains at EU-wide basis and take control and mitigation measures including the possibility of issuing ‘do not transport’ instructions to prevent non-compliant goods entering the EU. Through the implementation of the Customs Control Equipment Instrument, the Commission is supporting Member States with funding to enhance control capacities at border crossing points and in laboratories. To this end, two grant agreements were recently signed with Cyprus[3]. In the future, for products requiring a Digital Product Passport, customs will retrieve and use the information included therein also for risk analysis.

    3. According to Article 41 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020, Member States shall lay down rules on penalties applicable to non-compliance, that must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

    • [1] OJ L 169, 25.6.2019, p. 1-44.
    • [2] https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/goods/building-blocks/market-surveillance_en.
    • [3] https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-results?order=DESC&pageNumber=1&pageSize=50&sortBy=es_SortDate&isExactMatch=true&frameworkProgramme=43251534&countries=20000871.
    Last updated: 7 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: New boost for Regional Resilience Fund rollout, financing affordable housing, urban development and sustainable tourism

    Source: European Investment Bank

    ©VicaPhoto/ Shutterstock

    • The EIB has announced the signature of agreements with Arcano Partners and Buenavista Infrastructure totalling €410 million.
    • The agreements will channel new funding to urban development projects (including those promoting affordable housing) and others related to sustainable tourism.
    • The funds come from the Regional Resilience Fund financed by NextGenerationEU and implemented by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise with EIB support.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed agreements with Buenavista Infrastructure and Arcano Partners to channel a total of €410 million to new urban development projects (including those promoting affordable housing) and others related to sustainable tourism.

    The agreements were made possible by a contribution from the Regional Resilience Fund, part of Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and financed by NextGenerationEU. More specifically, this was facilitated by the launch of a new EIB-managed instrument to channel financing via financial intermediaries to back urban development and sustainable tourism.

    The intermediaries selected by the EIB will assess investment opportunities across the country to promote urban development in areas such as affordable housing, education, healthcare, social and cultural infrastructure, sustainable mobility, waste and water management, energy efficiency and sustainable tourism. The investment period runs until December 2030.

    The first two intermediaries selected for the distribution of these funds were Arcano Partners (with a €210 million signature) and Buenavista Infrastructure (€200 million).

    The first two intermediaries selected for the deployment of these funds were Arcano Partners and Buenavista Infrastructure. Arcano Partners has been allocated €210 million by the EIB, which it will channel through “Spanish Urban Development SICC” fund. Buenavista Infrastructure was allocated €200 million to be channelled through “Buenavista NextGen Urban SICC” fund. Both are regulated vehicles set up specifically for this action. Funding can happen in the form of both equity investment and debt, or a combination of both. The maximum allocation per project is 22 million while maximum recovery periods are 15 years for equity investments and 20 years for debt.

    “These agreements are a further step forward in the rollout of the EIB Group-managed Regional Resilience Fund and will drive new investment to promote urban development and sustainable tourism. The resources can also go to affordable housing projects, which is one of the EIB Group’s strategic priorities,” said EIB Director General of Financing and Advisory Operations within the European Union Jean-Christophe Laloux. “Close cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise made it possible to launch this new line of action for the Regional Resilience Fund, promoting key investments in Spain’s regions.”

    “Thanks to the signature of these agreements, the implementation of the intermediated instrument for urban development and sustainable tourism materialised. This instrument is one of the pillars of the Regional Resilience Fund. It will channel funds to relatively small projects that aim to invest in social and affordable housing and urban regeneration, as well as sustainable tourism activities. Furthermore, funds from the Regional Resilience Fund continue to be a crucial tool for the green transition in Spain, supporting projects that promote sustainability in key areas such as housing and tourism in various regions of the country,” said Inés Carpio, Director General of International Finance at the Treasury.

    Partner in Asset Management at Arcano Partners Eduardo Fernández-Cuesta added: “We are very proud to be once again have the confidence of the European Investment Bank to channel vital financing to bolster our national infrastructure, with a special focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. This combined debt and equity strategy will enable Arcano Partners to continue to diversify our capabilities and deliver the excellence we guarantee to our private investors and the public sector institutions that rely on us to manage investments.”

    Managing Partner at Buenavista Infrastructure Victoriano López-Pinto said: “We are very grateful for the vote of confidence in our judgment and expertise in facilitating the use of EU funds. With this new allocation, we have become one of the leading European fund managers by volume of European funds under management. Our team is one of the most experienced in managing public funds and we are excited to be able to contribute to this project promoting local connections, sustainable urban development and the renovation of our national tourism infrastructure to make it more sustainable.”

    Background information

    EIB

    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, we finance investments that contribute to 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 (EIF), 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 Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, 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. This financing is contributing to the country’s green and digital transition, economic growth, competitiveness and improved services for residents.

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

    Regional Resilience Fund

    The Regional Resilience Fund (RRF) was created to facilitate access to NextGenerationEU loans from the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan for the autonomous communities, with the aim of boosting investments and developing projects in eight priority areas: social and affordable housing; urban renewal; transport and sustainable tourism; the energy transition; water and waste management; the care economy; research, development and innovation; and the competitiveness of industry and SMEs.

    The fund is led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, which takes input from the autonomous communities and cities for investment decision-making and looks to the EIB Group as a strategic management partner.

    The initial phase of the RRF includes the activation of up to €3.4 billion in financing via:

    • a direct financing mechanism, to co-finance EIB-supported operations in sectors like renewable energy, clean transport and sustainable infrastructure;
    • an intermediated mechanism managed by financial intermediaries selected by the EIB, to support projects in urban development and sustainable tourism;
    • two instruments intermediated by the European Investment Fund that will facilitate SME financing for innovation, sustainability and competitiveness.

    Arcano Partners

    Arcano Partners, founded in 2003, is an independent global firm with more than 20 years of experience in international financial advisory and private markets’ asset management. Arcano currently has four business areas:

    • Asset Management, with more than €12.5 billion managed and advised since the start of its activity in 2006, and with six asset classes: Private Equity, Credit Strategies, Real Estate, Sus-tainable Infrastructure, Venture Capital and Aviation Finance; Arcano has a strong focus on sustainability and responsible investment, being one of the benchmark asset managers in ESG.
    • Investment Banking provides advisory services in M&A, refinancing, restructuring and capi-tal markets transactions to companies in various sectors; Arcano has specialized teams by sector, and additionally offers a transversal technology/digital approach.
    • Research & Consulting provides economic, real estate and differential market analysis, as well as geopolitical and technological analysis of both local and global trends. This analysis is extremely useful for optimizing business decisions, especially in environments of extreme uncertainty where the impacts of making mistakes are profound and can be mitigated by in-vesting in quality analysis.
    • Asset Finance, an area that allows investors to participate in the creation of solutions for the financing of real or intangible assets in Spain.

    Arcano Partners has a team of more than 260 professionals of more than 20 nationalities across 7 offices in Europe and the United States and has become one of the independent firms of reference in the European private markets industry.

    Buenavista Partners (www.buenavistaequity.com)

    Buenavista Equity Partners is an independent asset manager founded in 1996 that operates in the middle-market segment. It currently manages more than €1 billion through different Private Equity, Infrastructure and Venture Capital vehicles.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: New boost for Regional Resilience Fund rollout, financing affordable housing, urban development and sustainable tourism

    Source: European Investment Bank

    ©VicaPhoto/ Shutterstock

    • The EIB has announced the signature of agreements with Arcano Partners and Buenavista Infrastructure totalling €410 million.
    • The agreements will channel new funding to urban development projects (including those promoting affordable housing) and others related to sustainable tourism.
    • The funds come from the Regional Resilience Fund financed by NextGenerationEU and implemented by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise with EIB support.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed agreements with Buenavista Infrastructure and Arcano Partners to channel a total of €410 million to new urban development projects (including those promoting affordable housing) and others related to sustainable tourism.

    The agreements were made possible by a contribution from the Regional Resilience Fund, part of Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and financed by NextGenerationEU. More specifically, this was facilitated by the launch of a new EIB-managed instrument to channel financing via financial intermediaries to back urban development and sustainable tourism.

    The intermediaries selected by the EIB will assess investment opportunities across the country to promote urban development in areas such as affordable housing, education, healthcare, social and cultural infrastructure, sustainable mobility, waste and water management, energy efficiency and sustainable tourism. The investment period runs until December 2030.

    The first two intermediaries selected for the distribution of these funds were Arcano Partners (with a €210 million signature) and Buenavista Infrastructure (€200 million).

    The first two intermediaries selected for the deployment of these funds were Arcano Partners and Buenavista Infrastructure. Arcano Partners has been allocated €210 million by the EIB, which it will channel through “Spanish Urban Development SICC” fund. Buenavista Infrastructure was allocated €200 million to be channelled through “Buenavista NextGen Urban SICC” fund. Both are regulated vehicles set up specifically for this action. Funding can happen in the form of both equity investment and debt, or a combination of both. The maximum allocation per project is 22 million while maximum recovery periods are 15 years for equity investments and 20 years for debt.

    “These agreements are a further step forward in the rollout of the EIB Group-managed Regional Resilience Fund and will drive new investment to promote urban development and sustainable tourism. The resources can also go to affordable housing projects, which is one of the EIB Group’s strategic priorities,” said EIB Director General of Financing and Advisory Operations within the European Union Jean-Christophe Laloux. “Close cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise made it possible to launch this new line of action for the Regional Resilience Fund, promoting key investments in Spain’s regions.”

    “Thanks to the signature of these agreements, the implementation of the intermediated instrument for urban development and sustainable tourism materialised. This instrument is one of the pillars of the Regional Resilience Fund. It will channel funds to relatively small projects that aim to invest in social and affordable housing and urban regeneration, as well as sustainable tourism activities. Furthermore, funds from the Regional Resilience Fund continue to be a crucial tool for the green transition in Spain, supporting projects that promote sustainability in key areas such as housing and tourism in various regions of the country,” said Inés Carpio, Director General of International Finance at the Treasury.

    Partner in Asset Management at Arcano Partners Eduardo Fernández-Cuesta added: “We are very proud to be once again have the confidence of the European Investment Bank to channel vital financing to bolster our national infrastructure, with a special focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. This combined debt and equity strategy will enable Arcano Partners to continue to diversify our capabilities and deliver the excellence we guarantee to our private investors and the public sector institutions that rely on us to manage investments.”

    Managing Partner at Buenavista Infrastructure Victoriano López-Pinto said: “We are very grateful for the vote of confidence in our judgment and expertise in facilitating the use of EU funds. With this new allocation, we have become one of the leading European fund managers by volume of European funds under management. Our team is one of the most experienced in managing public funds and we are excited to be able to contribute to this project promoting local connections, sustainable urban development and the renovation of our national tourism infrastructure to make it more sustainable.”

    Background information

    EIB

    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, we finance investments that contribute to 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 (EIF), 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 Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, 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. This financing is contributing to the country’s green and digital transition, economic growth, competitiveness and improved services for residents.

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

    Regional Resilience Fund

    The Regional Resilience Fund (RRF) was created to facilitate access to NextGenerationEU loans from the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan for the autonomous communities, with the aim of boosting investments and developing projects in eight priority areas: social and affordable housing; urban renewal; transport and sustainable tourism; the energy transition; water and waste management; the care economy; research, development and innovation; and the competitiveness of industry and SMEs.

    The fund is led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, which takes input from the autonomous communities and cities for investment decision-making and looks to the EIB Group as a strategic management partner.

    The initial phase of the RRF includes the activation of up to €3.4 billion in financing via:

    • a direct financing mechanism, to co-finance EIB-supported operations in sectors like renewable energy, clean transport and sustainable infrastructure;
    • an intermediated mechanism managed by financial intermediaries selected by the EIB, to support projects in urban development and sustainable tourism;
    • two instruments intermediated by the European Investment Fund that will facilitate SME financing for innovation, sustainability and competitiveness.

    Arcano Partners

    Arcano Partners, founded in 2003, is an independent global firm with more than 20 years of experience in international financial advisory and private markets’ asset management. Arcano currently has four business areas:

    • Asset Management, with more than €12.5 billion managed and advised since the start of its activity in 2006, and with six asset classes: Private Equity, Credit Strategies, Real Estate, Sus-tainable Infrastructure, Venture Capital and Aviation Finance; Arcano has a strong focus on sustainability and responsible investment, being one of the benchmark asset managers in ESG.
    • Investment Banking provides advisory services in M&A, refinancing, restructuring and capi-tal markets transactions to companies in various sectors; Arcano has specialized teams by sector, and additionally offers a transversal technology/digital approach.
    • Research & Consulting provides economic, real estate and differential market analysis, as well as geopolitical and technological analysis of both local and global trends. This analysis is extremely useful for optimizing business decisions, especially in environments of extreme uncertainty where the impacts of making mistakes are profound and can be mitigated by in-vesting in quality analysis.
    • Asset Finance, an area that allows investors to participate in the creation of solutions for the financing of real or intangible assets in Spain.

    Arcano Partners has a team of more than 260 professionals of more than 20 nationalities across 7 offices in Europe and the United States and has become one of the independent firms of reference in the European private markets industry.

    Buenavista Partners (www.buenavistaequity.com)

    Buenavista Equity Partners is an independent asset manager founded in 1996 that operates in the middle-market segment. It currently manages more than €1 billion through different Private Equity, Infrastructure and Venture Capital vehicles.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with H.E. Mr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the margins of the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and discussed the situation in the Middle East.  The Secretary-General noted the importance of the consolidation of the ceasefire to lay the groundwork for the resumption of negotiations.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General Saddened by Loss of Life Caused by Floods in United States

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    SG/SM/22718

    The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

    The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life, notably of a large number of children, caused by the recent floods in Texas, which struck during what should have been a time of celebration over the holiday weekend.

    The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and expresses his solidarity with all those impacted, the people of Texas and the Government of the United States.

    For information media. Not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Secure all food, bait and rubbish on K’gari

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 2 Jul 2025

    Open larger image

    This dingo has removed the lid from a jar of peanut butter found in rubbish.

    Open larger image

    Dingoes will tear open tents and containers to access food and rubbish.

    Photos of damaged tents show the incredible sense of smell dingoes have, and their capacity for opportunistic feeding in the camping areas on K’gari.

    Taken by rangers from the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI), the photos show the results of food and rubbish being incorrectly stored by campers.

    Dr Linda Behrendorff said dingoes recently gorged themselves on accessible food and rubbish after breaking into a tent and then began hanging around the camping area.

    “Dingoes are opportunistic by nature and have torn open tents, can chew eskies open and knock over bins before ripping rubbish bags apart,” Dr Behrendorff said.

    “Wildlife scavenging around camping areas is a common occurrence, and the problem with leaving food or rubbish where dingoes or other wildlife can get it makes them less fearful of humans.

    “Dingoes don’t differentiate between food and rubbish, and they can start approaching people for food which puts dingoes and people at risk.

    “Even in fenced areas, campers must ensure that all food and rubbish is stored in strong, secure containers and kept in an inaccessible place, such as a vehicle cabin or an enclosed ute tray.

    “A tent or annexe is not a secure place, and dingoes have also taken people’s belongings such as clothing, toiletries or shoes that carry the smell of food.

    “Fishers should bury fish frames and unused bait at least 50cm deep in the sand to prevent dingoes digging it up.

    “During the school holidays, we’re asking everyone to secure your camping area, secure your food and shoo dingoes away if they’re lingering nearby.”

    Bins are provided on K’gari, and people are encouraged to use bins properly and never leave bags of rubbish beside bins.

    Reasons to prevent dingoes getting access to food and rubbish:

    • Opportunistic feeders: They will eat a wide variety of foods, including rubbish.
    • Habituation: Feeding dingoes or leaving food unattended can lead to them losing their natural fear of humans and becoming familiar and habituated to human-provided food, making them more likely to scavenge.
    • Food availability: There is plenty of natural food for dingoes on K’gari. They are opportunistic predators, and if food is readily available in the form of rubbish, they will likely scavenge for it, especially if it is easier to obtain than hunting.
    • Never feed dingoes: It is illegal and can have serious consequences for both people and dingoes.
    • If dingoes don’t find food at your camping area, they are more likely to hunt or scavenge for natural food.

    It is an offence to deliberately or inadvertently feed dingoes. On the spot fines include $2,580 for deliberately feeding a dingo and $464 for food availability. The maximum court-imposed penalty for feeding dingoes is $26,614.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: United Nations (UN) Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) committee publishes findings on Afghanistan, Botswana, Chad, Fiji, Ireland, Mexico, San Marino, Solomon Islands, Thailand and Tuvalu

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) today issued its findings on Afghanistan, Botswana, Chad, Fiji, Ireland, Mexico, San Marino, Solomon Islands, Thailand, and Tuvalu, after reviewing these States parties.

    The findings contain positive aspects of each country’s implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as the Committee’s main concerns and recommendations. Some of the key issues include:

    On Afghanistan, the Committee expressed profound concern at the institutionalized torture and ill-treatment of women, particularly on accusations of adultery, and the continued exclusion of girls from formal education. The Committee heard that some 78% of young women are now out of education, employment, or training, leading to increased child marriage, labour exploitation and poverty. It urged the de facto authorities to revoke the March 2024 decree allowing for women to be beaten or sentenced to death by stoning, abolish all corporal punishment and lift all education bans.

    On Botswana, the Committee was concerned about continued discriminatory sociocultural norms which reinforce male dominance and gender-based violence against women and girls. It recommended expanding dialogue between the government and traditional, religious, and private sector leaders on a national strategy to promote gender equality and eliminate patriarchal attitudes, and to criminalize sexual violence as well as improve support services for survivors.

    On Chad, the Committee noted that the country registered 1.8 million displaced or stateless people and 1.2 million as refugees in 2024 alone and commends its adoption of an asylum law granting equal rights to education, healthcare and social protection to refugees as to Chadian citizens. However, the Committee expressed concern that in practice. these groups have limited access to basic services and face intersecting forms of discrimination. It called on the authorities to address them.

    On Fiji, the Committee welcomed the adoption of laws and policies against gender-based violence but noted with concern its high prevalence and the continued judicial practice of referring to survivors’ prior sexual history during rape trials. It also expressed concern that Fijian women remain underrepresented in decision-making positions, urging among others the introduction of targeted measures to increase their representation.

    On Ireland, the Committee noted with regret that a proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine gender-neutral language about care within families was defeated in a referendum last year, and recommended that the State party, among other steps, undertake inclusive public consultations to find alternative wording, with a view to holding another referendum on the matter, so as to eliminate from the constitution stereotypical language on the role of women in the home.

    On Mexico, the Committee hailed the elevation of the National Institute for Women to a ministerial-level secretariat. It also expressed concern that the madres buscadoras (searching mothers) are still subjected violence and discrimination. It recommended effective and sustainable investment in women’s rights and gender equality programmes, and formal recognition of the “buscadoras” as a special category of human rights defenders.

    On San Marino, the Committee noted with concern that judges, lawyers, and the general public, including women, have limited awareness of the Convention and urged the authorities to take measures to make it widely known. It also noted with concern the lack of disaggregated data in key areas, including gender-based violence against women, and urged the State party to address the gap in gender data collection.

    On the Solomon Islands, the Committee acknowledged progress made in implementing the affirmative action strategy but noted with concern that comprehensive temporary special measures to accelerate substantive equality of women and men have yet to be adopted. The Committee State urged the government to take all necessary measures to eradicate intra-family sexual abuse against women and girls and repeal the criminalization of victims of incest over the age of 15.

    On Thailand, the Committee expressed concern that women and girls continue to be subjected to online gender-based violence, and called on the authorities to investigate and prosecute any such acts, to adopt policies to combat increasing misogyny online and offline and to exercise due diligence in creating a culture of respect for women and promote gender equality in the private sector, particularly in the innovation economy.

    On Tuvalu, the Committee acknowledged the existential threat posed by climate change to Tuvalu’s people, territory and culture, and its disproportionate impact on women and girls. It urged the State party to take measures to prioritize constitutional protections for women and girls over traditional norms and customs.

    The above findings, officially named Concluding Observations, are now available online on the session page.

    – on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa: Justice Committee Chairperson Says Justice Prevails in Sindiso Magaqa Murder Case

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr Xola Nqola, welcomed the sentence of long-term imprisonment for the man who was found guilty of murdering ANCYL secretary-general Mr Sindiso Magaqa, a former ANC Youth League Secretary-General and dedicated public servant.

    Mr Nqola said the conviction and the 25-year sentence mark a significant moment for the rule of law in South Africa and reinforces our collective belief that justice must be served — regardless of time, influence or status.

    Mr Ncengwa admitted that he was one of a group of men who were paid R120 000 to kill Mr Magaqa in 2017. Mr Ncengwa also implicated in the crime former city manager of the Umzimkhulu municipality Mr Zweliphansi Skhosana; the ex-mayor, Mr Mluleki Ndobe, who has since passed on, and former journalist and eThekwini municipality communications manager Mr Mdu Ncalane.

    Mr Magaqa was a passionate advocate for youth empowerment and integrity in public service. His untimely death was not only a loss to his family and community but to the nation.

    Mr Nqola said the committee commends the investigative and prosecutorial teams for their persistence in pursuing this complex case and hopes that this outcome brings some measure of closure to Mr Magaqa’s loved ones.

    “We urge continued support for law enforcement and the judiciary in their efforts to address politically motivated crimes and protect all who serve the public. South Africa’s democracy depends on the assurance that no one is above the law,” Mr Nqola said.

    – on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: A Continental Imperative: Launch of Africa’s One Health and Climate Health Strategies

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    In a landmark moment for public health and environmental stewardship, AU-IBAR and Africa CDC have jointly launched two pivotal strategies: the One Health Zoonotic Disease Prevention and Control Strategy (2025–2030) and the Africa CDC Strategic Framework on Climate Change and Health (2025–2029). These frameworks mark a unified, cross-sectoral approach to tackling the interlinked challenges of zoonotic disease and climate change on the continent.

    Speaking at the launch in Addis Ababa, Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, urged stakeholders to move from intention to implementation:

    “Let us move beyond declarations—now is the time for united, cross-sectoral action. I call on all stakeholders to embrace the One Health Strategy as a continental imperative. Together, we must forge a new era of health security, where animal, human, and environmental health are protected as one. Africa’s resilience depends on it, and our future demands it.”

    The strategies were developed through a collaborative, evidence-based process engaging Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), technical partners, and civil society. The goal is clear: to build a resilient Africa that manages risks proactively rather than reactively.

    The Deputy Director General of Africa CDC emphasized that the time for talk is over:

    “These frameworks are more than strategy documents; they are Africa’s collective commitment to protecting our people, our ecosystems, and our future. We must move from rhetoric to results. The time to act is now, and the responsibility rests with all of us.”

    Adding to the sense of urgency, Ethiopia’s Minister of Health reminded participants of the interconnectedness of Africa’s well-being:

    “Our health, ecosystems, and economies are deeply intertwined. We cannot protect one without investing in all. This is a call for action, not another declaration.”

    With over 75% of emerging human diseases originating from animals, and climate change exacerbating health risks, the new strategies offer a roadmap to strengthen surveillance, improve early warning systems, and integrate public, animal, and environmental health responses.

    These frameworks serve as a rallying cry to governments, RECs, donors, research institutions, and civil society organizations to come together under a shared vision. As the continent faces an increasingly uncertain health landscape, these strategies offer not just guidance, but hope—and demand decisive, coordinated action.

    – on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Taiwanese political parties and organizations held a rally in Taipei to mark the 88th anniversary of the start of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    TAIPEI, July 7 (Xinhua) — Representatives of more than a dozen political parties and organizations in Taiwan gathered in central Taipei on Monday, braving the rain, to mark the 88th anniversary of the start of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

    Participants in the rally held outside the Central Committee of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of Taiwan called for respect for historical facts and opposition to pro-Japanese historical narratives, demanding that the DPP authorities soberly assess the common history of resistance on both sides of the strait and acknowledge the historical fact of the Taiwanese people’s struggle against Japanese aggression.

    The DPP administration has been deliberately distorting history, pushing the “Taiwan independence” narrative and pursuing “de-Sinicization” in recent years, event organizers said, warning that these actions would damage the political foundation of cross-sea relations and push Taiwan to the brink of military conflict.

    As honorary chairman of the Taiwan Reunification Association Party Qi Jialing said, the anniversary of the beginning of the resistance of the entire Chinese nation against Japanese aggression reminds us of the need to oppose separatism aimed at gaining “Taiwan independence” and promote national reunification.

    He noted that in just a month after July 7, 1937, dozens of anti-Japanese protests took place on the island, and many young Taiwanese patriots rushed to mainland China to join the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

    “We came here today to remind the DPP authorities that Taiwanese people have a long tradition of patriotism,” said Observer magazine publisher Ji Xin, calling on the DPP administration to put an end to all separatist activities and safeguard the peaceful development of both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

    Several young people spoke at the rally and shared their thoughts on the modern significance of the 88th anniversary of the start of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Former Russian Transport Minister Found Dead on Day of His Resignation

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Moscow, July 7 (Xinhua) — Former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found dead on Monday, several hours after he was dismissed from his post the same day, various sources reported.

    “Today in the Odintsovo urban district, the body of the former Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Roman Vladimirovich Starovoit was found with a gunshot wound in his personal car,” said Svetlana Petrenko, official representative of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, on Monday. “Investigative bodies of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Moscow Region are working on the scene, establishing the circumstances of the incident. The main version is suicide.”

    According to a report published earlier on Monday on the Kremlin website, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the same day dismissing R. Starovoit from the post of Minister of Transport. As the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov told journalists, the wording of the decree does not contain the words “loss of trust.”

    Roman Starovoit was born in 1972 in Kursk. In May 2024, he was appointed Minister of Transport of Russia. Before that, he served as Governor of the Kursk Region. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dry cargo ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea – Houthis

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    SANAA, July 7 (Xinhua) — The bulk carrier Magic Seas has completely sunk in the Red Sea about a day after it was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saria said on Monday.

    “The bulk carrier Magic Sea sank completely in the depths of the Red Sea after it was attacked by our armed forces,” Yassir Saria told the Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV channel. The spokesman added that the attack was a response to the ship’s owner’s “repeated violations” of the Houthi-imposed ban on entering Israeli ports.

    “The latest of these violations was the entry of three of the company’s ships into occupied Palestinian ports last week, despite warnings from our navy,” said Saria, adding: “The moment of the sinking was recorded in audio and video.” –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –