Category: Economy

MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Protocol on the Implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2024- 2029) (Resolution) – P10_TA(2025)0054 – Wednesday, 2 April 2025 – Strasbourg

Source: European Parliament

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the draft Council decision (12475/2024),

– having regard to the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2024–2029) (12189/2024)(1),

– having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 43(2) and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a) (v), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C10‑0108/2024),

– having regard to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines),

– having regard to the 2023 report entitled ‘Evaluation and analysis of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements’, commissioned by the European Commission(2),

– having regard to its legislative resolution of 02 April 2025(3) on the draft Council decision,

– having regard to the budgetary assessment by the Committee on Budgets,

– having regard to Rule 107(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Development,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A10-0040/2025),

A. whereas the overall objective of the EU-Guinea-Bissau sustainable fisheries partnership agreement (SFPA) is to enhance fisheries cooperation between the EU and Guinea-Bissau, in the interests of both parties, by promoting a sustainable fisheries policy and the sound and sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in Guinea-Bissau’s fishing zone in addition to development of the fisheries sector in Guinea-Bissau and its blue economy;

B. whereas the use of total allowable catches (TAC) under the previous SFPA is considered satisfactory overall;

C. whereas scientists(4) have warned of the overexploitation of pelagics in this region, which are under constant pressure;

D. whereas the EU-Guinea-Bissau SFPA is of considerable importance in the context of the SFPAs concluded by the EU with third countries, and is currently the second most important in terms of the funds involved, and offers the added advantage of being one of only three agreements that allow access to mixed fisheries;

E. whereas the EU-Guinea-Bissau SFPA is of importance for cooperation with Guinea-Bissau, international ocean governance actions, strengthening cooperation within forums such as regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) and fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing;

F. whereas Guinea-Bissau is one of the poorest, most unstable and least developed countries in the region and the contribution of its fisheries to the country’s wealth is very low (3 % of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018(5)) but the funds disbursed under the SFPA by way of financial compensation for access to resources will make a significant contribution to its public finances;

G. whereas artisanal catches are not sufficient to supply the local markets; whereas overexploitation of small pelagic species remains an urgent problem in terms of food security for the local population; whereas the increased production of fishmeal, which is processed mostly from small pelagic species, either on land in fishmeal plants or directly on factory ships, is one of the main factors contributing to the overexploitation of these stocks in the region; whereas there is a lack of transparency about who supplies these fishmeal plants and who are their beneficial owners;

H. whereas 97 % of the catches made in the fishing zone of Guinea-Bissau are landed outside the country, according to the 2023 ex post and ex ante evaluation(6);

I. whereas by comparison with the previous protocol, the EU’s financial contribution has increased from EUR 11 600 000 to EUR 12 500 000 per year as regards the annual amount for access to fishery resources and from EUR 4 000 000 to EUR 4 500 000 per year as regards EU support for Guinea-Bissau’s sectoral fisheries policy;

J. whereas during the period covered by the protocol, fishing opportunities will be in transition from a fishing effort basis (measured in gross registered tonnage (GRT)) to a catch limit basis (measured in tonnes – TAC); whereas that transition ought to be accompanied by the implementation of an electronic catch reporting and catch data processing system;

K. whereas during the period covered by the protocol, the fishing opportunities granted to EU fleets shall be as follows: 3 700 GRT for shrimp freezer trawlers, 3 500 GRT for fin-fish and cephalopod freezer trawlers and 0 GRT for small-pelagic trawlers, 28 tuna freezer seiners and longliners and 13 pole-and-line tuna vessels for highly migratory species;

L. whereas the first fisheries agreement between the European Economic Community and Guinea-Bissau dates back to 1980; whereas the previous protocol to the agreement expired on 14 June 2024; whereas the results achieved under the development cooperation component of the agreements (i.e. sectoral support) are not satisfactory overall; whereas improvements have nonetheless been recorded as regards capacity for fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance and sanitary inspection, as well as Guinea-Bissau’s involvement in regional fisheries bodies;

M. whereas sectoral cooperation involving local coastal communities needs to be stepped up in order to better promote the development of the local fisheries sector and related industries and activities so as to ensure that a greater proportion of the added value created through exploitation of the country’s natural resources remains in Guinea-Bissau; whereas the Commission should improve monitoring and ensure that sectoral cooperation is better targeted to local needs and that the aid contributes effectively to sustainable development in partner countries, as well as providing transparent information on how and where the support is used;

N. whereas development of the fisheries sector in Guinea-Bissau calls for the establishment of basic and functioning infrastructure, such as ports, landing sites, storage facilities and processing plants, which are still lacking or are being built by other third countries competing with the EU, with the aim of attracting landings of fish caught in Guinea-Bissau waters;

O. whereas 2021 saw the start of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030); whereas third countries should be encouraged and helped to play a key role in connection with resource and ecosystem knowledge; whereas EU Member States should play a supportive role in this respect;

P. whereas trade in fishery products from Guinea-Bissau has been banned by the EU for many years owing to the country’s inability to comply with the sanitary measures required by the EU; whereas the delay in the certification process for the analytical laboratory (CIPA) is the main barrier to exporting fishery products from Guinea-Bissau to the EU; whereas the Guinea-Bissau authorities and the Commission are working together in the certification process in order to lift the ban;

Q. whereas for the first time, the SFPA makes a reference in its preamble to the SSF Guidelines, with the aim of protecting small-scale fisheries, taking into account their contribution to food security and poverty reduction;

R. whereas it would be appropriate for Guinea-Bissau to ensure that a greater proportion of the added value generated through exploitation of fishery resources in the Guinea-Bissau fishing zone remains in the country; whereas the EU should encourage local authorities to apply this recommendation to EU vessels but also to foreign fleets operating in Guinea-Bissau’s fishing zone;

S. whereas unfortunately, direct job creation in the fisheries sector in Guinea-Bissau is uncommon and limited, even in the case of local crew members on board vessels and women working and earning their living in the fisheries sector; whereas a significant proportion of the sectoral support should be allocated to support artisanal fishery, women processors and local trade;

T. whereas by comparison with the previous protocol, the number of seafarers to be signed on in the EU fleet has increased significantly; whereas EU vessel owners must endeavour to sign on additional Guinea-Bissau seafarers; whereas however, the Guinea-Bissau authorities should fulfil their obligation to draw up and keep up to date an indicative list of qualified seafarers who could be signed on to EU vessels; whereas sectoral support may be provided for training local seafarers in accordance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards;

U. whereas after initialling the protocol, the Commission validated, with the Council, an amendment to point 4 of Chapter VIII of the annex to the protocol (‘Remuneration of deep-sea fishers’), replacing the word ‘wage’ by ‘remuneration’, this having received the approval of the authorities of Guinea‑Bissau;

V. whereas advances have been made in the fight against IUU fishing in Guinea-Bissau’s territorial waters as a result of stepping up the Guinea-Bissau exclusive economic zone’s (EEZ) surveillance resources, in particular those allocated to the Directorate-General for Fisheries and Fishing Inspection and Control , which includes a corps of observers and fast patrol vessels; whereas there are still shortcomings to be eliminated, including in connection with the satellite-based vessel monitoring system (VMS);

W. whereas access to beneficial ownership information is crucial for law enforcement, to uncover illegal fishing, reveal concealed networks and identify the individuals and companies benefiting from these activities by tracing the flow of profits;

X. whereas according to the most recent ex post and ex ante evaluation in July 2023, the advances made in the profiling of demersal fish stocks in the Guinea-Bissau EEZ are not sufficient to achieve maximum sustainable yield;

Y. whereas Guinea-Bissau is one of 13 countries coming within the scope of the European Fisheries Control Agency project ‘Improved regional fisheries governance in western Africa (PESCAO)’, adopted by Commission Decision C(2017) 2951 of 28 April 2017, which, among other objectives, aims to step up the prevention of and fight against IUU fishing by improving monitoring, control and surveillance at national and regional level;

Z. whereas incorporation of the recommendations previously made by Parliament into the current protocol was not entirely satisfactory;

AA. whereas Parliament must be kept closely informed at all stages of the procedures concerning the protocol, any changes to it, or its renewal;

1. Notes the importance of the EU-Guinea-Bissau SFPA, both for Guinea-Bissau and for EU fleets operating in the Guinea-Bissau fishing zone; emphasises that there could be more effective fisheries cooperation between the EU and Guinea-Bissau and reiterates its call on the Commission to take every step required to make the new protocol on implementing the agreement more ambitious than its predecessors so as to ensure that this SFPA satisfactorily supports the development of the local fisheries sector in overall terms and increases the added value for coastal communities, which will contribute to food security and sovereignty, and is consistent with the objectives referred to in UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development;

2. Welcomes the new SFPA social provision introduced by the Commission; recalls the important principles included therein, also covering equal working conditions for seafarers, including for fishers from countries in the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States who are working on EU vessels, and considers that this protocol should be monitored effectively during its period of implementation;

3. Highlights the importance of a structured framework for cooperation on fisheries with Guinea-Bissau, which will also enable better cooperation and coordination for common efforts in areas of international ocean diplomacy and international ocean governance;

4. Encourages the Commission to develop a more ambitious partnership agreement facilitating the export of fishery products that are sustainably processed on the African continent, provided it does not undermine the food security of the local population;

5. Considers that the objectives of the EU-Guinea-Bissau SFPA have been realised to varying degrees and that, while the agreement has offered and still provides fishing opportunities for EU vessels in the Guinea-Bissau fishing zone, in view of the considerable use made of those opportunities by European vessel owners, the same cannot be said of the local fisheries sector, whose development remains insufficient or unsatisfactory overall;

6. Advocates for infrastructure to be developed and fishery products to be exploited so as to ensure tangible results for local and artisanal fisheries, prioritising their needs and supporting infrastructure development and market access;

7. Supports awareness-raising and the inclusion of all possible actors in Guinea-Bissau’s fisheries sector throughout the process leading to an agreement, from the time of its drafting to when it is concluded and implemented, including as regards the use of sectoral support, and stresses the need to improve the participation of all possible stakeholders and the particularly important role of local cooperatives and representatives of local artisanal fishers and of coastal communities;

8. Stresses that, in Article 3, the protocol contains a non-discrimination clause whereby Guinea-Bissau undertakes not to grant more favourable technical conditions to other foreign fleets operating in Guinea-Bissau’s fishing zone that have the same characteristics and target the same species; calls on the Commission to closely follow and constantly monitor the EU fishery agreement applicable in Guinea-Bissau’s fishing zone; supports the Commission’s precautionary approach in setting TACs at 0 GRT for small-pelagic trawlers, but questions the ability of stakeholders to enforce an equivalent obligation for third-country-flagged fleets, including fleets flagged to Guinea-Bissau, considering the risk of infringement of the IUU Regulation(7);

9. Calls on the Commission, in order to improve the implementation of the IUU Regulation, to address the lack of transparency in the fishing sector in Guinea-Bissau which results, for example, from flags of convenience, flag hopping, complex corporate structures and a lack of public information on beneficial owners; asks Guinea-Bissau to communicate to the Commission the available information concerning flagged vessels or companies with EU ownership;

10. Recalls that IUU fishing damages food security and the livelihoods of people in coastal countries as well as the ocean’s ecosystems; notes with concern that Guinea-Bissau is fast emerging as a flag-of-convenience country; is concerned that the fight against IUU fishing is being held back by a lack of transparency regarding the ownership of fishing vessels in countries with a high risk of IUU fishing;

11. Reminds the Member States of their obligations to investigate and sanction any non-compliance with EU fishing laws by nationals under their jurisdiction, including those who own vessels flagged in third countries; requests that the Member States improve their cooperation and exchange of information with both EU and third countries to identify infringements of fishing rules, and that they cooperate to ensure that proportionate and deterrent sanctions are in place; recalls the Member States’ requirements under the IUU regulation regarding nationals supporting and engaging in IUU fishing activities, including obligations concerning beneficial owners;

12. Stresses that Guinea-Bissau’s GDP is heavily reliant on its marine resources; underlines that, although the fishing industry represents 15 % of total government revenues, it cannot export seafood to the EU as it has not met the health and sanitary requirements to export, while it is estimated that only 3 % of the catches made by foreign vessels in Guinea-Bissau are landed in Guinea-Bissau;

13. Recalls that small-scale fisheries make a major contribution to food security, with fish being the main source of protein available at an affordable price; underlines, therefore, the importance of reserving the access to pelagics for small-scale fisheries that catch fish for human consumption; recalls the EU’s responsibility to encourage these measures through its agreements;

14. Welcomes the contribution of EU vessels to food security in Guinea-Bissau through direct landings, as specified in Chapter V of the annex to the protocol, for the benefit of local communities and to promote internal fish trade and consumption; notes with concern the low tonnage of 94 tonnes reported in 2022(8); calls, in this regard, for an increase in landings under this new protocol;

15. Notes that the main problem facing the small-scale fisheries sector is the lack of infrastructure for landing, preserving and processing fishery products; stresses that the long-term food security needs of the local population should be prioritised and highlights the importance of maintaining sustainable fish stocks to ensure food security for coastal communities; recalls that 97 % of the stocks fished in Guinea-Bissau are landed in other countries; encourages European vessels, therefore, to land at least 2 % in Guinea-Bissau, for the local population;

16. Welcomes the fact that the preamble to the Guinea-Bissau-EU Protocol, for the first time in an SFPA, refers to the FAO’s SFF Guidelines; underlines that their inclusion in the protocol text shows the determination of both parties to make this sector a priority; notes, however, that artisanal fishing communities were not consulted at any stage in the process of drawing up the new protocol; stresses that the EU’s commitment to supporting the local fisheries sector in Guinea-Bissau entails involving them in identifying priorities for the use of sectoral support funds;

17. Calls on the Government of Guinea-Bissau and the Commission to improve the participation of coastal and small-scale fishing communities during the implementation of the new protocol, notably ahead of the Joint Committee meetings;

18. Considers the electronic reporting system for catches, data processing and vessel activity monitoring to be a challenge for this protocol; calls on the Commission and Guinea-Bissau to promote, without delay, appropriate and effective implementation that safeguards the necessary reliability and effectiveness of the electronic reporting system and the processing of catch data and stresses that this has to be done, without further delay, during the extension of the protocol;

19. Supports the need for significant progress in the development of the Guinea-Bissau fisheries sector, including as regards related industries and activities, and calls on the Commission to take all necessary measures, including a possible revision and strengthening of the sectoral support component of the agreement;

20. Takes the view that the EU-Guinea-Bissau SFPA will not achieve its objectives unless it contributes to establishing a long-term sustainable management system for the exploitation of its fisheries resources as well as responsible socio-economic arrangements; regards it as extremely important that the sectoral support provisions set out in the protocol be complied with, with the utmost transparency, in order to help fully implement the national strategy for sustainable fisheries; recalls that it is in the EU’s interests to highlight and demonstrate to the Guinea-Bissau citizens the long-term, positive and strategic role of the SFPA, compared with the lack of involvement of third countries in the welfare of the local population; points out, in this regard, that the EU should mobilise its technical and financial assistance as follows, and as a matter of priority, in order to:

	(a)	strengthen institutional capacities, notably regional fisheries governance strategies, so as to take account of the cumulative impacts of the various fisheries agreements involving countries in the region;
	(b)	strengthen capacities to monitor and control fishing activities in order to prevent IUU fishing; combat the risks associated with reflagging strategies by making flagging subject to sustainability criteria; implement measures to prevent any flag-of-convenience practices and ensure full transparency throughout the registration process;
	(c)	build, linked to the Global Gateway Initiative, key infrastructure tailored to fisheries and related activities, such as ports (both industrial and artisanal), landing sites, fish storage and processing facilities, markets, distribution and marketing structures, and quality analysis laboratories, with the aim of attracting landings of fish caught in the waters of Guinea-Bissau;
	(d)	strengthen the capacities of local artisanal operators in the fisheries sector by supporting fishers’ organisations and cooperatives of women processors and wholesale fish merchants;
	(e)	train fishing professionals upstream, including seafarers, and downstream in processing facilities, focusing, in particular, on the handling, hygiene and packaging of fish, and inform the vessel owners of the list of deep-sea fishers with the required skills, as provided for in the protocol;
	(f)	support small-scale fishing as regards access to resources, in line with the FAO’s SSF Guidelines, modernising seagoing capacities, on-board equipment and cold chain equipment for preservation of catches on land, these being basic building blocks for the cohesion of coastal communities and their food autonomy, as well as providing training on geolocalisation, security and safety at sea for pirogue masters;
	(g)	contribute to the good ecological condition of the marine environment, in particular by supporting the collection and recycling of waste and fishing gear by all actors, contributing to the fight against overfishing and promoting more selective fishing gear;
	(h)	recognise and enhance the role of women and young people in fishing, in the support of this SFPA, and improve how their roles are organised by supporting the necessary conditions for this, by funding training for women working in recovery facilities, creating all the necessary conditions for them to develop their work and have a work-life balance, such as appropriate childcare facilities close to the workplace and support for education;
	(i)	facilitate landings of species consumed locally, in the interests of local communities’ food security, and ensure access to the commodity for women processors and wholesale fish merchants, ensuring and promoting local human consumption of fish;

21. Calls for the proactive publication of and greater transparency on the activities financed by sectoral support funds, thus allowing more rigorous monitoring and greater consistency with other funds for development of the local sector, as publication would make the impact of those activities totally clear to the EU taxpayer and local populations;

22. Urges the Commission and the Member States, in their cooperation and official development assistance policies, to take into account the fact that the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe, including its 2021-2027 multiannual indicative programme, and sectoral support provided for in the EU-Guinea-Bissau SFPA should complement each other and be fully coordinated, with a view to strengthening the local fisheries sector in line with FAO rules and ensuring food security for coastal communities;

23. Stresses that the training of artisanal fishers, especially women, is a necessary condition for the development of the local fisheries sector; calls for the EU to also use sectoral support funds for this purpose;

24. Expresses its concern at the growing number of fishmeal and fish oil plants on the western African coast, which are also supplied with fish from Guinea-Bissau waters; underlines the fact that forage fishing runs counter to the principle of sustainability and providing valuable protein resources for the local community; welcomes expansion of port and landing facilities in Guinea-Bissau, but is concerned that this will be followed by the construction of new fishmeal plants;

25. Calls for the EU to step up its efforts to support the regional joint management of small pelagics and to end overfishing, including by creating a regional fisheries management organisation dedicated to this shared management;

26. Calls on the Commission and the Guinea-Bissau authorities to enhance their cooperation in order to establish the conditions for the export of Guinea-Bissau fishery products to the EU, in particular as regards the verification of the required sanitary conditions and certification of the analytical laboratory (CIPA), so as to overcome the current ban, boost the development of the local fisheries sector and, consequently, make progress towards achieving the SFPA objectives;

27. Supports the need to enhance the contribution of the SFPA to local direct and indirect job creation, both on vessels operating under the SFPA or in fishing-related activities, both upstream and downstream; considers that the Member States can play a key role and be an active participant in capacity-building and training efforts in order to achieve the objectives set;

28. Points to the unique nature of Guinea-Bissau’s marine and coastal ecosystems, such as the mangrove forests, which act as nursery habitats for fishery resources, and which require measures and targeted action to protect and restore biodiversity; calls for the EU to take these considerations into account for its external fishing fleet;

29. Recalls that Guinea-Bissau is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change; calls for the conservation of marine ecosystems, funding for efforts to combat coastal erosion, and broad mitigation measures to address the impact of climate change on fisheries;

30. Considers it useful for Guinea-Bissau to gather information on the benefits of implementing this protocol for local economies (for example, in terms of employment, infrastructure and social improvements) and compile this in a database, in order not to create administrative burdens;

31. Considers that there is a need to improve the quantity and quality of data on all catches (target species and by-catches), on the conservation status of fishery resources in the Guinea-Bissau fishing zone and, in general, on the impact of the SFPA on ecosystems, and that an effort should be made to develop Guinea-Bissau’s capacity to acquire such data; calls on the Commission to help ensure that the bodies monitoring implementation of the SFPA, namely the Joint Committee and Joint Scientific Committee, can operate smoothly, with the involvement of artisanal fishers’ associations, associations of women working in the fisheries sector, trade unions, representatives of coastal communities and Guinea-Bissau civil society organisations;

32. Considers it essential to improve the collection of data on catches in Guinea- Bissau; calls further for an improvement in the transmission of data generated by EU vessels’ VMS via the flag state to the African authorities; calls for better data system interoperability, with reciprocity for third countries on the basis of international standards;

33. Stresses that Guinea-Bissau’s GDP is heavily reliant on its marine resources; highlights the importance of supporting scientific assessments of fish stocks and ensuring that catch limits and quotas are adhered to in order to remain within sustainable limits and prevent the depletion of marine resources;

34. Encourages the Commission to promote the use of sectoral support to enhance surveillance and controls, and to develop scientific lab-based research on stocks in order to train local workers to EU standards on hygiene, fish processing and packaging; stresses that training is a long-term investment for the development of the local blue economy and the fish trade, and for the protection of local businesses and the environment;

35. Calls for updated reports to be published on the actions that have been given backing under sectoral support arrangements, to ensure the necessary transparency;

36. Considers that, should fisheries be closed or fishing restrictions be introduced, local fishing needs should be addressed first, on the basis of sound and structured scientific advice, in order to ensure that resources are sustainable, as laid down in the protocol;

37. Emphasises the importance of the surplus requirement for EU vessels fishing in third-country waters; recalls that robust and reliable data and transparent information are needed to calculate the available surplus; takes the view that targeting fish populations subject to overexploitation is contrary to that objective;

38. Supports the need to improve governance, control and surveillance of the Guinea-Bissau fishing zone and to fight IUU fishing, in particular by stepping up vessel monitoring (by VMS or any other leaner and cheaper geolocation and identification system), with a view to improving the sustainability of fishing activities for fleets operating in its fishing zone; welcomes the EU support for patrols at sea in recent years;

39. Calls for the improved implementation of transparency provisions, in particular entailing publication of all agreements with states or private entities that have granted foreign vessels access to Guinea-Bissau’s EEZ; highlights that the ex post and ex ante evaluation in July 2023 stated that information on access agreements was shared with the Commission but not made public;

40. Stresses the importance of allocating the fishing opportunities provided for by the SFPA on the basis of the principles of equity, balance and transparency, acknowledging historical catch levels and relative stability;

41. Calls on the Commission to make publicly available information provided under the transparency clause of the protocol;

42. Emphasises that it is important for landings of fish in Guinea-Bissau ports to contribute to local processing activities and food security, in terms of both species and quality; calls therefore on the Commission to strengthen that component in the next agreement; encourages the creation of national companies in the industrial fishing sector, capable of participating in the exploitation, by national fleets, of fishery resources that would be processed on land;

43. Calls on the Commission to raise awareness among the social partners of the EU Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Fisheries of the importance of coordinating and having collective working agreements determining a minimum remuneration under International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 188, which can be used for subsequent SFPAs; encourages the Commission to promote the ratification of ILO Convention 188 by all the Member States and third countries, including when negotiating SFPAs, and to take forward the requirements of the current conventions within the ILO; calls on the Commission to include any social clauses necessary to achieve those objectives in the mandate for SFPAs issued by the Council or during negotiations within regional fisheries management organisations;

44. Highlights the importance of clarifying the social clause included in the SFPA and takes note of the Commission’s intention to do so in the first upcoming Joint Committee meeting with Guinea-Bissau; points out the importance of the clause being in line with the commonly used remuneration model of the sector; calls on the Commission to take the necessary steps to amend point 4 of Chapter VIII of the annex to the protocol (‘Remuneration of deep-sea fishers’), as validated together with the Council;

45. Calls on the Commission, when assessing and renegotiating SFPAs, to determine whether all provisions of Chapter VIII of the annex have been implemented, in particular the provisions on pay actually received by local fishers; calls on the Commission to propose corrective measures where not all of those provisions have been complied with;

46. Calls on the Commission to address, in ocean diplomacy and in SFPAs, the implementation of the IMO Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel in order to promote better occupational safety standards in the fisheries sector and, if necessary, include the training component in sectoral support arrangements;

47. Points to the responsibilities of flag states for providing social protection for employees living on their territory and therefore calls on the Commission to ensure, through the technical committees implementing the agreement, that these measures are effective;

48. Calls on the Commission to present to Parliament, during the last year in which the protocol applies, and before negotiations on renewing it are opened, a full report on its implementation and the documentation necessary to assess the situation;

49. Calls on the Commission and the Guinea-Bissau authorities to provide more detailed information on the development of forage fishing activities in the region, in particular activities by third-country vessels or vessels from neighbouring countries;

50. Calls on the Commission to better incorporate Parliament’s recommendations into the EU-Guinea-Bissau SFPA and to take them into account in the procedures for renewal of the protocol;

51. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of Guinea-Bissau.

(1)	OJ L, 2024/2589, 3.10.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/prot/2024/2589/oj.
(2)	European Commission: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries et al. Evaluation and analysis of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) between the EU and third countries including an in-depth analysis of the sectoral support component of the SFPAs – Final report, Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.
(3)	Texts adopted, P10_TA(2025)0053.
(4)	European Commission: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Report of 10 September 2024 on the 10th Meeting of the Joint Scientific Committee to the EU-Guinea-Bissau Fisheries Partnership Agreement.
(5)	FAO, Fishery and Aquaculture Country Profiles. Guinea-Bissau, 2018, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division. Rome.
(6)	European Commission, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Évaluation rétrospective et prospective du Protocole de mise en œuvre de l’accord de partenariat dans le domaine de la pêche entre l’Union européenne et la République de Guinea-Bissau – Rapport final [Ex post and ex ante evaluation of the Implementing Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau – Final report], Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.
(7)	Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 of 29 September 2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, amending Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1936/2001 and (EC) No 601/2004 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1093/94 and (EC) No 1447/1999 (OJ L 286, 29.10.2008, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/1005/oj).
(8)	European Commission, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries et al., Évaluation rétrospective et prospective du Protocole de mise en œuvre de l’accord de partenariat dans le domaine de la pêche entre l’Union européenne et la République de Guinea-Bissau – Rapport final [Ex post and ex ante evaluation of the Implementing Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau – Final report], Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.

MIL OSI Europe News –

April 5, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Guidelines for the 2026 budget – Section III – P10_TA(2025)0051 – Wednesday, 2 April 2025 – Strasbourg

Source: European Parliament

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Article 314 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

– having regard to Article 106a of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community,

– having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021-2027(1) and to the joint declaration agreed between Parliament, the Council and the Commission in this context(2) and the related unilateral declarations(3),

– having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2022/2496 of 15 December 2022 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027(4),

– having regard to the Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027(5) (MFF Revision),

– having regard to its position of 16 December 2020 on the draft Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027(6),

– having regard to its resolution of 15 December 2022 on upscaling the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework: a resilient EU budget fit for new challenges(7),

– having regard to its resolution of 3 October 2023 on the proposal for a mid-term revision of the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027(8),

– having regard to its resolution of 27 February 2024 on the draft Council regulation amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027(9),

– having regard to Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 of 14 December 2020 on the system of own resources of the European Union and repealing Decision 2014/335/EU, Euratom(10),

– having regard to the Commission proposal of 22 December 2021 for a Council decision amending Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 on the system of own resources of the European Union (COM(2021)0570) and its position of 23 November 2022 on the proposal(11),

– having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast)(12) (the Financial Regulation),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’)(13),

– having regard to the EU’s obligations under the Paris Agreement and its commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,

– having regard to the EU gender equality strategy 2020-2025,

– having regard to its resolution of 10 May 2023 on the impact on the 2024 EU budget of increasing European Union Recovery Instrument borrowing costs(14),

– having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget(15),

– having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources(16),

– having regard to the Interinstitutional Proclamation on the European Pillar of Social Rights(17) of 13 December 2017,

– having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025(18) and the joint statements agreed between Parliament, the Council and the Commission annexed hereto,

– having regard to Enrico Letta’s report entitled ‘Much more than a market’, presented in the European Parliament on 21 October 2024,

– having regard to Mario Draghi’s report entitled ‘The future of European competitiveness’, presented in the European Parliament on 17 September 2024,

– having regard to Sauli Niinistö’s report entitled ‘Safer together – Strengthening Europe’s civilian and military preparedness and readiness’, presented in the European Parliament on 14 November 2024,

– having regard to the presentation of the EU Competitiveness Compass by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 29 January 2025,

– having regard to the joint white paper of 19 March 2025 for European Defence Readiness providing a framework for the ReArm Europe plan (JOIN(2025)0120),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2025 entitled ‘The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation’ (COM(2025)0085),

– having regard to the proposal of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2025 amending Regulations (EU) 2015/1017, (EU) 2021/523, (EU) 2021/695 and (EU) 2021/1153 as regards increasing the efficiency of the EU guarantee under Regulation (EU) 2021/523 and simplifying reporting requirements (COM(2025)0084),

– having regard to the Council conclusions of 18 February 2025 on the budget guidelines for 2026,

– having regard to Rule 95 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinions of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Transport and Tourism, the Committee on Regional Development and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development,

– having regard to the letters from the Committee on Budgetary Control, the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, the Committee on Culture and Education and the Committee on Constitutional Affairs,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A10-0042/2025),

Budget 2026: building a resilient, sustainable and prosperous future for Europe

1. Highlights the anticipated economic growth projected for 2025 and 2026 within the EU(19), accompanied by an easing of inflation; notes nonetheless the uncertainties stemming from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which directly threatens the security of the EU, and the worsening effects of climate change and the biodiversity crisis, also manifested in the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, which are compounded by new significant geopolitical changes and a deteriorating international rules-based order, heightened security threats and a rise in global protectionism; emphasises that, in such an increasingly volatile landscape, it is imperative for the EU to enhance its defence and security capabilities, social, economic and territorial cohesion and political and strategic autonomy, decrease its dependence, increase its competitiveness and ensure a prosperous future for the continent and its people, who are currently facing an increasingly high cost of living;

2. Is determined to ensure that the 2026 budget, by focusing on strategic preparedness and security, economic competitiveness and resilience, sustainability, climate, as well as strengthening the single market, provides the people in the EU with a robust ecosystem and delivers on their priorities, thus reinforcing a socially just and prosperous Europe; underlines the need for additional investment in security and defence, research, innovation, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), health, energy, migration, as well as land and maritime border protection, inclusive digital and green transitions, job creation, and the provision of opportunities for young people; insists that this be accompanied by administrative simplification, as indicated in the Competitiveness Compass; insists that the EU budget is the largest investment instrument with leverage effect, complementing national budgets and therefore enabling the EU to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world while ensuring prosperity, social cohesion and stability for its people; is strongly of the opinion that the EU should use this leverage effect to the maximum degree to boost the Union’s objectives and policymaking, as well as private investment;

Investing in a solid, sustainable and resilient economy

3. Is adamant that sound economic resilience and sustainability can be achieved in the EU by boosting public and private investment, increasing innovation and supporting competitiveness, including by addressing the skills gap and fostering more industrial production in Europe as a source for robust economic growth and quality jobs, and thereby guaranteeing the Union’s strategic autonomy, ensuring that the EU remains agile and self-reliant in the face of global challenges, disruptions and volatility; highlights the need to promote innovation, prioritise education, reduce costs and the administrative burden, and strengthen the single market, particularly as regards services;

4. Reaffirms, in this regard, that research and innovation remain crucial for the EU’s success in cutting-edge industries and new clean and sustainable technologies; recalls the long-standing goal of increasing research and innovation investment to 3 % of gross domestic product (GDP); calls, therefore, for increased funding to be provided under Horizon Europe to fund at least 50 % of all excellent proposals in all scientific disciplines, enable researchers as well as companies, especially SMEs, to bring new developments to the market, and to scale up, ensure solid economic growth and boost the Union’s competitiveness in the global economy, thereby preventing actors from leaving for competing regions while also ensuring that Europe has the knowledge base it needs to pursue the Green Deal commitments;

5. Highlights the importance of targeted support in encouraging public-private partnerships and accessible and increased financing to support SMEs as the backbone of the European economy and a vector for pioneering innovation, emphasising the role of the European Innovation Council, InvestEU and the SME component of the single market programme in empowering start-ups and scale-ups of innovative companies, supporting them in their growth and contributing to a greater role for the EU economy on the global stage; expresses its concern that, according to the interim evaluation of InvestEU, envelopes for many financial products may run out by the end of 2025 without budgetary reinforcements; takes note of the Commission proposal in this regard; underlines, furthermore, the importance of the single market programme to leverage the full potential of the EU’s cross-border dimension;

6. Stresses that the modernisation of the economy will require blending public and private investment; emphasises, in this regard, the necessity of private investments to maximise the leverage effect of public spending; recalls that these efforts should lead to simplification and reduce the financial burden for the EU’s SMEs while maintaining EU standards;

7. Underscores the urgency of further accelerating the digital and green transitions as catalysts for a future-oriented and resource-efficient economy that remains attractive for innovative businesses and that is based on market-driven investments providing quality jobs and leaving no one behind; advocates substantial investment in forward-looking digital infrastructure, underpinned by well-regulated, human-centred and trustworthy artificial intelligence and cybersecurity; stresses the need to improve citizens’ basic digital skills to match the needs of companies and to equip citizens to counter disinformation; stresses, further, the need to increase the resilience of the Union’s democracy in fighting malign foreign interference;

8. Recognises the strategic value of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for contributing to the economic, social and climate goals of the EU’s cross-border transport infrastructure; calls for network extensions, particularly towards candidate countries and the EU’s strategic partners, as regards the EU’s sustainable and smart mobility strategy and the complementarities between the TEN-T and the Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E);

A better-prepared Union, capable of effectively responding to crises

9. Underlines the need to enhance EU security and defence capabilities to create a genuine defence union and to better prepare for and respond to unprecedented geopolitical challenges and new hybrid security threats; stresses the essential role of common investment, research, production and procurement mechanisms, including in new disruptive technologies supporting an independent EU defence industry; considers that there is an EU added value in security and defence cooperation that not only makes Europe and its people safer but also leads to greater efficiency, potential savings, quality job creation and enhanced strategic autonomy; calls therefore for immediate upscaling and much better coordination of defence spending by Member States; stresses in particular the need to provide adequate resources to innovate and enhance Member States’ military capabilities, as well as their interoperability; takes note, in line with the Commission’s ‘ReArm Europe’ plan, of its call for the European Investment Bank (EIB) and other international financial institutions and private banks in Europe to invest more actively in the European defence industry while safeguarding their operations and financing capacity; recalls the importance of investing in and developing dual-use equipment and, particularly, of strengthening EU military mobility as regards funding dual-use transport infrastructure along priority axes; calls on the Commission to assess the possibility of using calls for this purpose under the CEF transport programme, in the light of the military mobility funding gap; underlines the urgent need to strengthen the EU’s cybersecurity capabilities to fight hybrid warfare;

10. Recalls the role of the EU’s space programme in enhancing the strategic security of the Union through a variety of civil and military applications; underlines that a strong European space sector is fundamental for European security, open strategic autonomy, secure connectivity, the protection of critical infrastructure and advancing the twin green and digital transitions, and therefore requires sufficient resources;

11. Highlights, in the face of new challenges in internal and external security, the importance of ensuring proper implementation of the Asylum and Migration Pact, in full compliance with international human rights law, and of respecting the principles of solidarity and the fair sharing of responsibility; stresses that effective management and protection of the EU’s external borders, inland, air and maritime, are essential for maintaining the freedoms of the Schengen area and crucial for the security of the EU and its citizens; emphasises the need to better protect people by preventing trafficking and enhance support to strengthen cross-border cooperation between the Member States and the Union in combating terrorism, organised crime, drug trafficking and criminal networks, particularly those involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking, so as to reinforce law enforcement and the judicial response to these criminal networks, as well as to support Member States facing hybrid threats, in particular the instrumentalisation of migrants on the Union’s borders as defined in the Crisis Regulation(20);

12. Expresses its deep concern over the fact that the Commission has funded or co-financed campaigns promoting the wearing of the veil, asserting, for example, that ‘freedom is in the hijab’; emphasises that the Union’s budget must no longer finance future campaigns that directly or indirectly promote the wearing of the veil;

13. Recalls the vital role that the Integrated Border Management Fund, the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund play in protecting external borders; calls, in addition, for adequate funding for border protection capabilities as an essential part of a comprehensive migration policy, including physical infrastructure, buildings, equipment, systems and services required at border crossing points, as provided for in Annex III to the BMVI Regulation(21), and for the requirements to be met in terms of reception conditions, integration, return and readmission procedure; reaffirms that cooperation agreements on migration and asylum management with non-EU countries in full respect of international law can help to prevent and counter irregular migration and strengthen border security;

14. Acknowledges the common agricultural policy (CAP) as a key strategic European policy for food security and greater EU autonomy in affordable and high-quality food production; stresses the crucial role of the CAP in ensuring a decent income for EU farmers as well as a productive, competitive and sustainable European agriculture; regrets that direct payments have significantly decreased in real terms due to inflation, while the administrative burden on farmers has increased due to the accumulation of bureaucracy; urges the Commission to reduce the administrative burden while maintaining high production standards and the requirement to implement EU legislation; calls for adequate resources and for direct payments to be protected to help farmers cope with the impact of inflation, fuel costs, changes in the global food and trade market and adverse climate events, affecting agricultural production and threatening food security, including in the outermost regions; highlights, in this regard, the role of the agricultural reserve; emphasises the need to help small and medium-sized farms and new and young farmers by supporting generational renewal and ensuring continued support for the promotion of EU agricultural products; underlines the need for appropriate support for research and innovation to make the agricultural sector more sustainable, including water management, in particular through the Horizon Europe programme, without reducing European agricultural production and while preventing European farmers from facing unfair competition from imported products that do not meet our standards; welcomes the Commission’s preparation of a second simplification package; underscores that food security is an essential component for geopolitical stability;

15. Stresses the strategic role of fisheries and aquaculture and the need for them to be adequately supported financially; acknowledges that the common fisheries policy ensures a stable income and long-term future for fishers by contributing to protecting sustainable marine ecosystems, which are key to the sector’s competitiveness; insists that special attention must be devoted to the EU’s fishing fleet in order to improve safety and security, including by combating illegal fishery actions and improving working conditions, energy efficiency and sustainability, as well as by renewing the fleet; reaffirms that the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund should support a human resources policy capable of addressing future challenges, in order to promote an inclusive, diversified and sustainable blue economy; expresses its concern about the effect of the end of the Brexit transition period in June 2026 on the fishing and aquaculture sectors;

16. Points out that, at the end of 2023, around 20 million children were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, which is roughly one quarter of all children in the EU; believes, therefore, that the EU’s budget needs to step up efforts to combat poverty among children, including migrant children, children with disabilities and children living in precarious family situations, in accordance with the European Child Guarantee; reiterates its earlier calls for the ESF+ envelope to include a specific and significant budget for fighting child poverty;

17. Stresses that enhancing energy security and independence remains fundamental for the EU; highlights the EU’s role in ensuring security of energy supply, assisting households, farmers and businesses in mitigating price volatility and managing price gaps in comparison to the rest of the world; calls, therefore, for additional investment in critical infrastructure and connectivity, including large-scale cross-border electricity grids and hydrogen infrastructure for hard-to-abate sectors, which are an essential prerequisite to the decarbonisation of European industry, in low-carbon and renewable energy sources and connectivity, in particular by properly funding the CEF, as well as in energy efficiency; highlights the need to adapt European infrastructure to meet future energy demands as part of the transition to a clean and modern economy; underlines the importance of investing in new, expanding and modernising interconnector capacity for electricity trading, in particular cross-border capacity, for a fully integrated EU energy market that enhances Europe’s diversified supply security and resilience to energy market disruptions, reducing external dependencies and ultimately ensuring affordable and sustainable energy for EU citizens and businesses; stresses, in this regard, the need to strengthen cooperation with Africa;

18. Recalls, in this context, the current housing crisis in Europe, including the lack of decent and affordable housing; calls, therefore, for swift additional investments through a combination of funding sources, including the EIB and national promotional banks, in areas with a positive impact on reducing the cost of living for households, improving the energy efficiency of buildings and deploying renewable energy sources; calls for a coordinated approach at EU level that respects the principle of subsidiarity, encourages best practices and effectively uses all relevant funding mechanisms in addressing this pressing challenge;

19. Is highly concerned by the strong impacts of climate change and the biodiversity crisis both in Europe and globally and by the fact that the year 2024 was assessed to be the planet’s warmest year on record; calls for sufficient funding for the LIFE programme to finance climate and environment-related projects, including in the area of climate change mitigation and adaptation, and for increased budgetary flexibility to adequately respond to natural disasters in the EU; regrets that increasing numbers of natural disasters have led to a high number of victims, as well as to long-term devastating effects on citizens, farmers and businesses based and working in the regions concerned, as well as in the ecosystems impacted; calls for increased funding for the EU Solidarity Fund, RESTORE (Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction) and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, including for increasing rescEU capacities, which allow for more cost-efficient capacity building, in order to support Member States quickly and effectively in overwhelming crisis situations; recognises the EU’s role as a hub for coordinating and improving Member States’ preparedness and capacities to respond immediately to large-scale, high-impact emergencies, and its added value both for Member States and citizens; stresses, in this regard, that the EU Civil Protection Mechanism is a tangible expression of European solidarity, reinforcing the EU’s role as a crisis responder; acknowledges that the European Union Solidarity Fund or any other fund alone cannot fully compensate for the extreme weather events of increased frequency and severity caused by climate change today and in the future; stresses the need to invest in and prioritise preparedness, prevention, and adaptation measures, prioritising nature-based solutions; stresses that it is crucial to ensure that Union spending contributes to climate mitigation, adaptation efforts and water resilience infrastructure; emphasises that these investments are far lower than the cost of climate inaction;

Enhancing citizens’ opportunities in a vibrant society

20. Insists that continued investment in EU4Health and Cluster Health in Horizon Europe are key to improving health and preparedness for future health crises, thereby improving the health status of EU citizens; stresses the need for health investments for maximum impact; highlights its support for a holistic regulatory and funding approach to Europe’s life sciences and biotech ecosystem, including the creation of cutting-edge European clusters of excellence, as a central pillar of a stronger European health union, to which a European plan for cardiovascular diseases and lifestyles should be added, focusing on primary and secondary prevention as key objectives to increase life expectancy in the EU; highlights the need to create a more supportive care system to respond to demographic challenges and the ageing population; reiterates its support for Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, as well as the importance of European investment in tackling childhood diseases, rare diseases and antimicrobial resistance; reiterates the importance of the gender aspect of health, including sexual and reproductive health and access to services; is highly concerned by the current mental health crisis in Europe, affecting in particular the young generation, exacerbated by recent global events, which requires immediate action to be taken; underlines the need to prevent shortages of critical medicines, medical countermeasures and healthcare workers faced by some Member States; calls, in this respect, for better coordination at EU level and joint procurement of medicines in order to reduce costs;

21. Stresses the importance of investing in young generations and their skills, as major agents of change and progress, by ensuring access to quality education; considers it essential that all students, without discrimination and in every EU Member State, should have full access to the Erasmus+ programme and underlines the essential role of Erasmus+ in facilitating cultural exchange, strengthening European identity and promoting peace through mutual understanding and cooperation, making it a cornerstone of European integration and unity; recalls the need to tackle the skills deficit, the brain drain and the correlation between market needs and skills; considers that for the EU workforce to remain competitive in the future, establishing key areas for training and reskilling is needed; stresses that further investment is required in modernising the Union’s education systems, by equipping them for the digital and green transitions, creating talent booster schemes and incentivising young entrepreneurs; points, in this respect, to the relevance of sufficient financial resources for EU programmes such as the European Social Fund Plus, Erasmus+ and the EU Solidarity Corps, which have proven highly effective in helping to achieve high employment levels and fair social protection, in broadening education and training across the Union, as well as in promoting new job opportunities and fostering skills, youth participation and equal opportunities for all; calls on the Commission to do its utmost so that all university students remain eligible to participate in the Erasmus+ programme, including in Hungary;

22. Recalls that families are the main pillar that supports the burden of social expenditure in the EU, especially those with children in their care; notes, at the same time, that families are also those who are suffering the most and enduring the consequences of the successive economic crises that we have suffered over the last 15 years; stresses, for all these reasons, that they must be the subject of special attention in the relevant aspects of the EU budget and of the European Pillar of Social Rights priorities;

23. Recalls the role of the EU budget in contributing to the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights; highlights the role of the EU budget in contributing to initiatives that reinforce social dialogue and facilitate labour mobility, including in the form of training, networking and capacity building;

24. Highlights the ever-increasing threats and dangers of organised and targeted disinformation campaigns against the EU by foreign stakeholders undermining European democracy; calls for the mobilisation of all relevant Union programmes, including Creative Europe, to fund actions in 2026 that promote inclusive digital and media literacy, in particular for young people, combating disinformation, countering online hate speech and extremist content, while encouraging active participation of citizens in democratic processes and safeguarding media freedom and pluralism for good cultural resilience, all of which are fundamental to a thriving democracy; deplores the recent decisions by the US administration to cut funding to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America and calls on the Commission and the Member States to explore all the possible options to provide further funding to these media outlets in the light of these developments;

25. Calls on the Commission to increase EU funding for protecting citizens of all religions and public spaces against terrorist threats, combating radicalisation and terrorist content online, as well as countering hate speech and rising antisemitism, anti-Christian hatred, anti-Muslim hatred and racism;

26. Regrets the increasing number of hate crimes directed against Christians and other religious communities; recalls that Christians are the most persecuted religious community in the world; further urges the Commission to dedicate funding to prevent the targeting of religious communities, and in particular Christian and Jewish communities, which have been targeted in Europe in recent months; urges the Commission to prioritise the protection of citizens and all religious communities and to support the combating of terrorist threats, particularly focusing on radicalisation and terrorist content online;

27. Calls on the Commission to ensure the swift, full and proper implementation and robust enforcement of the Digital Services Act(22), the Digital Market Act(23) and the Artificial Intelligence Act(24), also by allocating sufficient human resources; stresses the importance of tackling foreign interference, addressing the dangers of biased algorithms, and safeguarding transparency, accountability and the integrity of the digital public space;

28. Underlines the added value of funding programmes in the areas of democracy, rights and values; recalls the important role that the EU budget plays in the promotion of the European values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union and in supporting the key principles of democracy, the rule of law, solidarity, inclusiveness, justice, non-discrimination and equality, including gender equality; reaffirms, furthermore, the essential role of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme in promoting European values and citizens’ rights, in particular its Union Values strand, as well as gender equality, thereby sustaining and further developing an open, rights-based, democratic, equal and inclusive society based on the rule of law; stresses the need for targeted measures to address gender disparities and promote equal opportunities through EU funding allocations; stresses that supporting investigative journalism with sufficient resources is a strategic investment in democracy, transparency and social justice; reiterates the importance of the Daphne and Equality and Rights programmes, and stresses that necessary resources should be devoted to combating discrimination in all its forms, as well as tackling forms of violence;

29. Emphasises the valuable work carried out under the Union Values strand, which provides, among other things, direct funding to civil society organisations as key actors in vibrant democracies; stresses that citizens and civil society organisations, promoting the will and interest of citizens, represent the core of European democracy; underlines, in this regard, the importance of all EU programmes and increased funding in supporting the genuine engagement of civil society, particularly in the context of the impact of reduced funding for civil society by the EU’s international partners;

30. Calls for the full and urgent implementation of the Agreement establishing an interinstitutional body for ethical standards for members of institutions and advisory bodies referred to in Article 13 of the Treaty on European Union; believes that the Huawei corruption scandal adds special urgency to starting the work of the body without delay; commits to providing the necessary financial and human resources to allow the body to fulfil its mandate and implement its tasks properly;

31. Considers it essential for the Union’s stability and progress and its citizens’ trust to ensure the proper use of Union funds and to take all steps towards protecting the Union’s financial interests, in particular by applying the rule of law conditionality; underscores the undeniable connection between respect for the rule of law and efficient implementation of the Union’s budget in accordance with the principles of sound financial management under the Financial Regulation; reiterates that under the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation(25), the imposition of appropriate measures must not affect the obligations of governments to implement the programme or fund affected by the measure, and in particular the obligations they have towards final recipients; insists, therefore, that in cases of breaches of the rule of law by national governments, the Commission should explore alternative ways to implement the budget, including by assessing the possibility of diverting sources to directly and indirectly managed programmes, in order to ensure that local and regional authorities, civil society and other beneficiaries can continue to benefit from Union funding, without weakening the application of the regulation; highlights the role of the European Court of Auditors and its constant activity in defence of transparency, accountability and strict compliance with the regulations on all of the funds and programmes;

A strong Union in a changing world

32. Observes that the need for the EU to maintain and augment its presence on the global stage is increasingly crucial amid escalating global conflicts, geopolitical shifts and foreign influence efforts worldwide, particularly considering developments with other major global providers of aid; stresses that in order to achieve this, the Union requires sufficient funding and resources to act, including to respond to major crises in its neighbourhood and throughout the world, in particular in the light of the sudden decrease in international funding; stresses the importance of the humanitarian aid programme and regrets that resources are not increasing in line with record-high needs; underscores the need to strengthen the EU’s role as a leading humanitarian actor while effectively addressing emerging crises, particularly in regions facing protracted conflict, displacement, food insecurity and natural disasters; emphasises that the Union also requires sufficient resources for long-term investments in building global partnerships, and points out the importance of the participation of non-EU countries in Union programmes, where appropriate;

33. Underlines that the EU’s security environment has changed dramatically following Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine and unpredictable changes in the policies of its main allies; recalls the importance of enhancing citizens’ safety and of achieving efficiency in the area of defence and strategic autonomy, through a comprehensive approach to security that covers military and civilian capabilities, external relations and internal security; stresses the importance of the Internal Security Fund to ensure funding to tackle increased levels of serious organised crime with a cross-border dimension and cybercrime; recognises the pressure which increased defence spending represents for Member Sates’ national budgets; stresses the importance of Member States stepping up their efforts and increasing funding for their defence capabilities, in a consistent and complementary manner in line with the NATO guideline;

34. Stresses that, beyond the enormous sacrifices of the people of Ukraine in withstanding Russia’s war of aggression for our common European security, this war has also had substantial economic and social consequences for people throughout Europe; recalls that certain Member States, in particular those with a land border with Russia and/or Belarus in the Baltic region, and frontline Member States, as well as vulnerable sectors of the economy, remain particularly exposed to the consequences of the war and deserve support in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure and military mobility, in the spirit of EU solidarity;

35. Firmly reiterates its unconditional and full support for Ukraine in its fight for its freedom and democracy against Russian aggression, as the war on its soil has passed the three-year mark; underlines the ongoing need for high levels of funding, including in humanitarian aid and for repairs to critical infrastructure, and for improved capacity along the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes; welcomes the renewed and reinforced intention of the Commission and Member States to work in a united way to address Ukraine’s pressing defence needs and to further support the Ukrainian economy by providing regular and predictable financial support and facilitating investment opportunities; welcomes the agreement with the Council on macro-financial assistance for Ukraine of up to EUR 35 billion, making use of the proceeds of frozen Russian assets through the new Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism, in order to support Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction and modernisation, as well as to foster Ukraine’s progress on its path to EU accession; stresses the importance of ensuring accountability regarding core international crimes;

36. Insists on the benefits of pre-accession funds, both for the enlargement countries and for the EU itself, as the funding creates more stability in the region; welcomes the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans to further support the economic convergence of Western Balkan countries with the EU’s single market through investment and growth in the region; insists on the need to deploy the necessary funds to support Moldova’s accession process, in line with the EU’s commitment to enlargement and regional stability; underlines the role of the Reform and Growth Facility for the Republic of Moldova and highlights the necessity of securing sufficient financial resources for its full implementation; underlines the importance of sustained support for candidate countries in implementing the necessary accession-related reforms, in particular regarding the rule of law, anti-corruption and democracy and in enhancing their resilience and preventing and countering hybrid threats; calls on the Commission to allocate additional funding to support civil society, independent media organisations and journalists;

37. Underlines, furthermore, that EU neighbourhood policy, namely its Eastern and Southern Partnerships, contributes to the overall goal of increasing the stability, prosperity and resilience of the EU’s neighbours and thereby of increasing the security of our continent; stresses, therefore, the importance of reinforcing the Southern and Eastern Neighbourhood budget lines in order to support political, economic and social reforms in the regions, facilitate peace processes and reconstruction and provide assistance to refugees, in particular through continuous, reinforced and predictable funding and continuous implementation on the ground; recalls that the EU must continue to alleviate other crises and assist the most vulnerable populations around the world through its humanitarian aid programme, as well as by maintaining its global positioning with the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument for supporting global challenges and promoting human rights, freedoms and democracy, as well as for the capacity building of civil society organisations and for delivering on the Union’s international climate and biodiversity commitments, within a comprehensive monitoring and control system;

Cross-cutting issues in the 2026 budget

38. Underlines that the repayment of the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) borrowing costs is a legal obligation for the EU and therefore non-discretionary; notes that borrowing costs depend on the pace of disbursements under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) as well as on market fluctuations in bond yields and are therefore inherently partly unpredictable and volatile; insists, therefore, on the need for the Commission to provide reliable, timely and accurate information on NextGenerationEU (NGEU) borrowing costs and on expected RRF disbursements throughout the budgetary procedure as well as on available decommitments; expects the Commission to update the decommitments forecast when it presents the draft budget; recalls that the three institutions agreed that expenditures covering the financing costs of NGEU must aim at not reducing EU programmes and funds;

39. Recalls its support for the amended Commission proposals for the introduction of new own resources; is highly concerned by the complete lack of progress on the new own resources in the Council, in particular in view of increasing investment and unforeseen needs; considers that the introduction of new own resources, in line with the roadmap in the interinstitutional agreement of 2020, is essential to cover NGEU borrowing costs while shielding the margins and flexibility mechanisms necessary to cater for these needs;

40. Highlights again Parliament’s full support for the cohesion policy and its key role in delivering on the EU’s policy priorities and its general growth; reiterates that the cohesion policy’s optimal added value for citizens depends on its effective and timely implementation; in the same vein, urges the Member States and the Commission to accelerate the implementation of operational programmes under shared management funds as well as of the recovery and resilience plans so as to ensure swift budgetary execution and to avoid accumulated payment backlogs in the two last years of the MFF period, in particular through additional capacity building and technical assistance for Member States; reaffirms the imperative of a robust and transparent mechanism for accurately monitoring disbursements to beneficiaries;

41. Notes that particular attention must be paid to rural and remote areas, areas affected by industrial transition and regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps, such as islands and outermost, cross-border and mountain regions and all those affected by natural disasters; stresses that these regions should benefit from adequate funding to offset the special characteristics and constraints of their structural social and economic situation, as referred to in Article 349 TFEU; stresses the vital importance of the POSEI programme for maintaining agricultural activity in the outermost regions and bringing food to local markets; calls for the programme budget to be increased to reflect the real needs of farmers in these regions; notes that there has been no such increase since 2013, despite the fact that farmers in these regions face higher production costs due to inflation and climate change; stresses also that the Overseas Countries and Territories associated with the EU, as referred to in Articles 198-204 TFEU, should benefit from adequate funding for their sustainable economic and social development, in the light of their geopolitical importance for global maritime trade routes and key partnerships such as those on sustainable raw materials value chains;

42. Reiterates that EU programmes, policies and activities, where relevant, should be implemented in such a way that promotes gender equality in the delivery of their objectives; welcomes the Commission’s work on developing gender mainstreaming in order to meaningfully measure the gender impact of Union spending, as set out in the interinstitutional agreement;

43. Takes note that the climate mainstreaming target of 30 % is projected to be met by 33,5 % in 2025, while the biodiversity target will be below 8,5 % in 2025, and unless dedicated action is undertaken the 10 % target will not be met in 2026; stresses the need for continuous efforts towards the achievement of the climate and biodiversity mainstreaming targets laid down in the interinstitutional agreement in the Union budget and the EURI expenditures;

44. Stresses that the 2026 Union budget should be aligned with the Union’s ambitions of making the Union climate neutral by 2050 at the latest, as well as the Union’s international commitments, in particular under the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Agreement, and should significantly contribute to the implementation of the European Green Deal and the 2030 biodiversity strategy;

45. Recalls that effective programme implementation is achievable only with the backing of a committed administration; emphasises the essential work carried out by bodies and decentralised agencies and asserts that they must be properly staffed and sufficiently resourced, while taking into account inflation, so that they can fulfil their responsibilities effectively and contribute to the achievement of the Union political priorities, also when given new tasks and mandates;

46. Recalls that, in accordance with the Financial Regulation, when implementing the budget, Member States and the Commission must ensure compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and respect the Union’s values enshrined in Article 2 TEU; underlines in particular Articles 137, 138 and 158 of the Financial Regulation and recalls the Commission and the Member States’ obligation to exclude from Union funds any persons or entities found guilty by a final judgment of terrorist offences, as well as by final judgments of terrorist activities, inciting, aiding, abetting or attempting to commit such offences, and corruption or other serious offences; highlights the need to leverage efforts in tackling fraud both at Union and Member State level and to this end ensure appropriate financial and human resources covering the Union’s full anti-fraud architecture; recalls the importance of providing the Union Anti-Fraud Programme with sufficient financial resources;

47. Underlines the importance of effective communication and the visibility of EU policies and programmes in raising awareness of the added value that the EU brings to citizens, businesses and partners;

o
o o

48. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors.

(1)	OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 11, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/2093/oj.
(2)	OJ C 444 I, 22.12.2020, p. 4.
(3)	OJ C 445, 29.10.2021, p. 252.
(4)	OJ L 325, 20.12.2022, p. 11, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2496/oj.
(5)	OJ L, 2024/765, 29.2.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/765/oj.
(6)	OJ C 445, 29.10.2021, p. 240.
(7)	OJ C 177, 17.5.2023, p. 115.
(8)	OJ C, C/2024/1195, 23.02.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/1195/oj.
(9)	OJ C, C/2024/6751, 26.11.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/6751/oj.
(10)	OJ L 424, 15.12.2020, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2020/2053/oj.
(11)	OJ C 167, 11.5.2023, p. 162.
(12)	OJ L 2024/2509, 26.9.2024, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj.
(13)	OJ L 243, 9.7.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1119/oj.
(14)	OJ C, C/2023/1084, 15.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2023/1084/oj.
(15)	OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/2092/oj.
(16)	OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 28, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_interinstit/2020/1222/oj.
(17)	OJ C, 2017/428, 13.12.2017, p. 10.
(18)	OJ L, 2025/31, 27.2.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/budget/2025/31/oj.
(19)	European Commission: Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, European economic forecast – Autumn 2024, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.
(20)	Regulation (EU) 2024/1359 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 addressing situations of crisis and force majeure in the field of migration and asylum and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147 (OJ L, 2024/1359, 22.5.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1359/oj).
(21)	Regulation (EU) 2021/1148 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing, as part of the Integrated Border Management Fund, the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (OJ L 251, 15.7.2021, p. 48, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1148/oj).
(22)	Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj).
(23)	Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2022 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and amending Directives (EU) 2019/1937 and (EU) 2020/1828 (OJ L 265, 12.10.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/1925/oj).
(24)	Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (OJ L, 2024/1689, 12.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj).
(25)	Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget (OJ L 433I, 22.12.2020, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/2092/oj).

MIL OSI Europe News –

April 5, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Waste water management and use of NRRP funds in the province of Caltanissetta: investigation into water treatment failures and suspicious financial flows – E-001303/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001303/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Giuseppe Antoci (The Left)

The investigation into Caltaqua – the water company for the province of Caltanissetta – and its Spanish parent company Aqualia has raised serious concerns about waste water management and suspicious financial transactions involving unexplained money flows[1].

Tests carried out by ARPA[2] found high levels of pollution, indicating almost direct discharges into water bodies.

This goes hand in hand with the worrying lack of proper authorisation for many waste water treatment plants, with only 17.5 % operating legally.

Recently, Sicily was granted admission to national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) funding for 19 projects, including significant funding of EUR 21.5 million for operations directly managed by the Assemblea Territoriale Idrica ATI Caltanissetta – the municipal body that manages water resources. However, there are concerns about how efficiently these funds are used and about the need for stronger EU supervision to ensure transparent and efficient use of resources.

In light of the above:

1.What steps does the Commission intend to take, given the continuing poor management of the sewerage and waste water treatment system by Caltaqua/Aqualia and the ongoing adverse effects on environmental resources since 2006?

2.What does the Commission make of the results from Italy’s Special Commission for Waste Water Treatment, given that the four EU infringement procedures concerning the collection and treatment of waste water are still ongoing?

3.Does the Commission intend to check with the competent authorities whether the NRRP funds allocated to waste water management in Sicily have been properly used?

Submitted: 27.3.2025

[1] https://meridionews.it/indagine-acqua-caltanissetta-depuratori/.

[2] Caltanissetta’s regional environmental protection agency.
Last updated: 4 April 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Union Calls on Trump Administration to Halt Deportation of Manufacturing Workers

Source: Communications Workers of America

Louisville, Ky. ‒ Earlier this week, nearly 200 workers who assemble dishwashers, refrigerators, washers and dryers, and other home appliances at the GE/Haier Appliance Park facility received notices that they have been targeted for deportation by the Trump Administration and must leave the country by April 24. The workers are members of IUE-CWA Local 83761.

“We were outraged to learn that nearly 200 of our union members at GE/Haier Appliance Park are being targeted for deportation by the Trump Administration,” said IUE-CWA Local 83761 President Dino Driskell. “These workers came to this country legally and are hard-working, tax-paying members of our community, raising their families and living their lives peacefully. They come to work every day at GE/Haier to build appliances for the American people. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, not ripped from their families to be shipped away. We have over 20 languages spoken at Appliance Park, and we believe diversity is a strength, not a weakness. We call on the administration to restore their status immediately.”

“What is happening to our members at Appliance Park is unfolding at workplaces and in communities all across the country,” said IUE-CWA President Carl Kennebrew. “As union members, we all want to be treated with respect in the workplace and to have the freedom to build a better life for ourselves and our families. We cannot allow those who are sowing division to win. Blaming immigrants is an age-old trick to create fear and distract us from the takeover of our economy by billionaires. We all must speak out against these cruel attacks on our communities.”

“The IUE-CWA members who are being targeted by the Trump Administration came to the United States to find safety and a better life,” said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. “Now their lives are being endangered and their families are being torn apart by extremists who thrive on creating fear. Our elected officials can and must stop allowing our communities to be weakened and disrupted by these reckless and immoral deportations.”

###

About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion

MIL OSI USA News –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Yale founders raise $3.1M in 14 days to build Series, the anti-Facebook

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Connecticut, April 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Social networking has become synonymous with chasing likes, followers, and vanity metrics – a system that began with Facebook in 2004 and has trained an entire generation to equate self-worth with numbers. Today, Series announces the launch of its AI-powered social platform that’s reinventing how college students connect, securing $3M in pre-seed funding to create a network built on meaningful relationships

The team raised $3.1M in funding for its pre-seed round led by Parable (former a16z investor, Anne Lee Skates) with participation from Pear VC, Tim Draper’s DGB.VC, 47th Street (Jaren Glover, ex-Robinhood), Radicle Impact, Uncommon Projects, and notable angels including the CEO of Reddit (Steve Huffman), the founder of GPTZero (Edward Tian), and others.

The funding journey reads like a startup fairy tale: just two weeks ago, co-founder Nathaneo Johnson posted a trailer on LinkedIn about Series that went viral in the college entrepreneurial community. After an initial Zoom call with Anne Lee Skates (who started her fund after leaving a16z), Johnson and co-founder Sean Hargrow – both juniors at Yale – immediately flew to Silicon Valley to begin fundraising. What happened next defied conventional startup timelines for college founders: they closed their round in just 14 days.

Series founders: Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow.

Series is the first networking platform that uses AI Friends to make warm, double opt-in introductions across different networks. These AI Friends operate directly in iMessage and become personalized towards each user, making intros autonomously or on demand. Unlike existing platforms, Series creates connections only when there’s mutual value on both sides – eliminating the biases perpetuated by follower counts and engagement metrics. The platform requires a .edu email to join, creating a trusted ecosystem where students text their AI Friend about themselves and who they know, receiving a minimalist profile showcasing their warm network.

“The problem of quantifying value online isn’t a recent development – it started with Facebook back in ’04. Not to say these platforms don’t build great communities, but they embody the narrative that online metrics equate to real world value” said Nathaneo Johnson, co-founder & CEO of Series. “We’re 6’5”, Black, and technical – a direct foil to the Harvard story. And that difference is the reason Series tells a new story of how people connect online.”

Series’ revolutionary approach addresses a fundamental issue in modern social networking: people rely on biased guesswork and social proof to decide whom to connect with, and over time, making connections feels like charity. The company’s solution is an AI system that intelligently identifies potential matches based on genuine mutual benefit – no likes, followers, or vanity metrics – just smart, agentic networking where much of Gen Z already lives: iMessage.

The company’s journey began with The Founder Series Podcast, where founders Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow interviewed Yale entrepreneurs, accumulating over 500k views. This evolved into a viral web chatbot that facilitated curated introductions based on mutual value, gaining immediate traction at Yale and Princeton. With the official launch of Series in 2025, the platform has already recorded over 32,000 messages sent and received by AI Friends.

The platform’s ability to create natural human connections through AI has already resonated with early users: “I forgot it (the AI friend) wasn’t a real person. That was until I connected to a real person in the form of a minimalist profile my AI Friend (Oliver) had texted me. It was awesome,” reported Rich Zou, a student at Northeastern who uses Series for hosting hackathons.

“Once we capture the college entrepreneurial market, we’ll expand to finance, dating, education, health, and more. All of these fields in the student space rely on trust, access, and social capital,” explained Johnson. “Our long-term vision is to become the largest and most accessible warm network for just about anything – one billion AI Friends in the next decade. Social connection is broken; we’re rebuilding it with AI that acts like a well-connected friend in your pocket making connections to who you need, when you need, IRL.”

Ends

Media images can be found here.

About Series
Series is an AI social network that uses AI Friends to make double opt-in intros. The product operates directly in iMessage, calls, and other messaging platforms., and makes introductions based on users’ warm networks. Series has processed over 32,000 messages to date and aims to build the largest and most accessible warm network – starting with student entrepreneurs. Series is hiring for a number of roles. Please visit https://series.so/ for more information or follow via LinkedIn.

The MIL Network –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: “People often don’t understand what’s going on around them, but we can explain it.”

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

Georgy Stalinov is engaged in field social research and created a video podcast in which guests talk about unusual social phenomena based on field materials. Episodes about garage workers, Anastasia residents, informal economy in the provinces, Orthodox parishes, and seasonal workers are already available. In an interview with the Young Scientists of the Higher School of Economics project, he told how he hitchhiked with truck drivers, why it is bad to work as a taxi driver, and whether poaching has been defeated in Kamchatka.

How I got into science

Our program “Public and Municipal Administration” has the strongest group of field workers at HSE, that is, people who do field social research. My teachers Simon Gdalevich Kordonsky And Yuri Mikhailovich Plyusnin have been taking students of public and municipal administration to the fields since the 2000s to show how local government (LGU) works in a broad sense. This tradition has grown into a program of student expeditions “Rediscovering Russia“, through which I came to science. At first I became interested in the field part, and then in the methodological, theoretical and fundamental.

In my second year, as part of a course on MSU, I went to Lipetsk Oblast for three days and then began signing up for two-week expeditions “Discovering Russia Again” with our teachers. I became interested in social anthropology and entered a master’s program, also in public administration.

How Public Administration Relates to Field Research

In the Russian Empire, field research was started by government officials – officials on special assignments. The first socio-anthropological report can be considered the book “Description of the Land of Kamchatka” by Stepan Krasheninnikov, written in the 18th century. And then, for various reasons and in various circumstances, people affiliated with government departments traveled to study different territories, social and ethnic groups, territorial communities.

What am I studying?

Communities, economic and labor practices, self-organization practices.

What was my first big study about?

A full-fledged social anthropologist/ethnographer/field researcher is someone who has implemented their own project. When I was a 4th-year student, the Khamovniki Social Research Support Foundation, which is closely connected to our Municipal Management Laboratory, was giving out grants to young researchers. Among the phenomena that interested the foundation were truck drivers. I chose this topic and received a grant.

Truckers in Russia are almost a blank spot. In the US, articles were written about truckers throughout the 20th century: about the problems of trade unions, the aging of the profession, self-organization, etc. We have all of this too, and it is also seasoned with a colorful story about the “Platon” toll collection system, but almost no one was interested in this topic.

To collect data, I started traveling with them. In total, I hitchhiked for about five weeks. I made arrangements on the road: at a truck stop, I approached people and asked them to take me with them. And in the cabin, I explained that I was conducting research, that I would write (at that time) a master’s thesis about truck drivers. We discussed their work, their lives, various things that happened around the road while we were driving. I would ride with one driver for a day or two and then transfer to the next one.

I also did research on the spot. For example, in Dagestan I studied truck drivers for three weeks. There are rural trucker communities there, there are funds from which they can help a trucker if he crashes, or help his family if he dies. And in one place we found that a lot of men leave the village during the period of active import of fruits from Azerbaijan and Iran, and the drivers pay for the work of the patrol service, which consists of their fellow villagers, so that everything is calm.

What interested me most

Informal self-organization. An example is the black market for fuel, which exists on almost all federal highways. Truckers who work for large transport companies have their fuel paid for by their employers. And they can carefully drain it and sell it to another trucker – an individual entrepreneur.

My postgraduate dissertation is devoted to those connections between drivers, invisible to an outside observer, which constitute their mobilization potential. When the Platon system was introduced in 2015, thousands of drivers were able to coordinate in a matter of days outside the trade union, after which they created an alternative association. Subsequently, the tariffs for travel on federal roads were reduced from 4 to 1.5 rubles per kilometer, and so far the tariff has only increased to 3.34 rubles.

It would seem that drivers are loners and do not belong to teams like office and factory workers, but they are all connected informally, interacting daily at parking lots and gas stations, communicating via radio, exchanging information. Due to weak connections, they very quickly organized their structure throughout the country.

What else am I studying?

I am quite closely involved in the study of nature management. This is everything related to fishing, gathering wild plants, and commercial hunting.

The largest commercial project I was involved in was researching fisheries in northern and western Kamchatka. We were looking into the issue of unaccounted salmon fishing (poaching) for domestic fishermen based in Kamchatka.

In total, we spent 3-4 months in Kamchatka in small villages, participated in fishing industries, lived in factories, interacted with fishery workers and those who prevent poaching. And traveled a little along the rivers. In particular, thanks to our research, industrial products received certification, and now they are exported abroad.

The international certification company imposes a number of requirements on fishery industry companies, which they must comply with. To do this, they must conduct an audit at their enterprises, and socio-anthropological studies in the fishing zones, which will show that poaching does not pose a risk to the population.

The volume that a commercial fisher can catch is calculated by ecologists based on how much can be taken from the population so that enough fish reach the spawning grounds to continue the species. If a commercial fisher takes this fish to the sea, and then the remainder that should spawn is caught by poachers in the river, then there will be no reproduction of the population. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the volume of informal fishing.

Over the past 20 years, opportunities for poaching have significantly decreased. In the 2000s, poaching in Kamchatka reached half of the total. Including due to the fact that industrialists were engaged in poaching. And then they were completely legalized and allowed to catch all the fish they wanted.

There is currently no anthropogenic threat specifically from poaching in Kamchatka. There are threats associated with industrialists, because not everyone has established fishing and processing processes. And potential harm is also associated with ore mining. Gold and platinum mining pollutes rivers so much that fish cannot survive there.

What to see in Kamchatka

I am not going to leave Kamchatka, I will go there again. It is one of the exceptional regions on a global scale and the most unusual Russian region. I say this with knowledge of the matter, because I have been to many places: Altai, Yakutia, Primorye, the north of the European part of Russia.

Tourists who come to Kamchatka now don’t see much. Domestic flights in Kamchatka are very expensive. That’s why they are shown typical pictures: blue sky, green grass, volcano. They don’t know what the Koryak tundra and the raging April ocean, all in slush and ice floes, look like. Only rich tourist hunters and geologists who go on business trips see this.

For a mass tourist, visiting the agglomeration of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky will already be a stunning event. It is a small city surrounded by amazing nature. It is not necessary to go inland. You can surf the ocean, on Khalaktyrsky beach, famous for its volcanic black sand. Ride a snowboard from volcanoes, admiring Avacha Bay. See sea lions, which lie right in the center of the city. Go to Paratunka to swim in the equipped thermal springs.

What results I am proud of

My project on truck drivers, because I did it alone. I am also proud that our student reports on the HSE website attracted a cool project on Kamchatka to our team. I am proud that I started the channel “Anthropole“, which is interesting to a wide audience. In the popular science environment, sociology is very weak, losing out to economics, psychology, political science, history and all social sciences in general. Someone had to launch podcast about field research, and I did it.

I have a wide circle of colleagues. We all know each other well from conferences, and with some of them we worked together on expeditions. I invite them, they talk about their research. On camera, I mostly ask questions and rarely add anything from myself. But this is exactly what was needed so that people knew that we can also bring interesting and useful knowledge.

We can produce useful knowledge for business/the state. People often don’t understand what’s going on around them, but we can explain it — conduct ethnographic research and understand all the nuances. We are currently focused on applied projects. Last year, I did an autoethnography of a custom taxi: I registered on the platform, rented a car and worked as a taxi driver for several weeks, recording all my observations in a research diary.

What’s wrong with being a taxi driver

The aggregator encourages people to choose a specific schedule. To earn good money, a taxi driver must go to work at six in the morning, come home at noon, then go to work again at four in the afternoon and come home at night. Moscow rush hours are accompanied by high taxi prices, bonuses from the aggregator. Such a schedule implies life in the car. Despite the fact that you have four free hours during the day, you have nowhere to spend them. I was writing my research diary at this time. But what should an ordinary taxi driver do when his wife is at work and the children are at school or kindergarten?

He comes at night, goes to bed, gets up at 6am and doesn’t see his family either in the morning or in the evening. And the weekends are the busiest hours. And every day you have to pay the rent.

What I dream about

I am focused on applied projects. When you are commissioned to do a study, you clearly understand who needs it and why. The Faculty of Social Sciences is shifting its focus from fundamental to applied research. I would like our lab to compete with research agencies and take the most interesting studies for ourselves, while simultaneously training students, involving them in research in the classroom and beyond.

Another direction is creative activity, which now inseparably accompanies all my work. This is education, blogging, video podcasts and non-fiction literature. I will write a book about truckers in the style of travel notes.

Science for me is an increase in knowledge. And a system of knowledge that is not absolute. We learn about the world and let our students learn about it. This is our mission. But we are not always right.

Sociology has no basis like Linnaeus’s plant classification system or Mendeleev’s table. We are constantly moving, constantly discussing how society works and whether it exists at all. For us, it is a continuous process of learning.

If I hadn’t become a scientist

I would still be dealing with people. I worked in HR before I decided to stay at the university. But I didn’t really like it. I would probably end up becoming an entrepreneur because I value freedom and independence. Science and education give me a lot of free time that I can devote to my projects and initiatives. That’s what I like. I guess the only way to have that kind of freedom is in entrepreneurship. I could have become a writer. You can write not only books, but also scripts. I was always interested in cinema, but I somehow didn’t allow myself to step into that field at school. Maybe I would have decided to become a screenwriter or an actor.

If I hadn’t become a scientist

I would still deal with people. I worked in HR before I decided to stay at the university. But I didn’t really like it. I would probably end up in entrepreneurship because I value freedom and independence. Science and education give you a lot of free time that you can devote to your projects and initiatives. That’s what I like. I guess the only way to have that kind of freedom is in entrepreneurship.

I could have become a writer. You can write not only books, but also scripts. I was always interested in cinema, but at school I somehow did not allow myself to step into this field. Maybe in the end I would have decided to become a screenwriter or an actor.

Who would I like to meet?

With the greatest travelers, explorers and ethnographers – Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay, Fridtjof Nansen, Vladimir Arsenyev and others.

How my typical day is structured

My day starts with a walk with the dog. Then I can read, write something for the channel, organize a new video for the podcast. Luckily, I don’t have a routine, it would kill me.

Where will I go this year

I will have an expedition to the Arkhangelsk region, to the Pinezhsky district, to study wild plants. With my colleague Artemy Pozanenko We will go to the Irkutsk region to study a rural community that lives on fur trade. We will also go to Transbaikalia on a project of a colleague from the laboratory to find out how people surrounded by national parks interact with nature. In Yekaterinburg, we will shoot a video about the extraction of semi-precious stones in the Urals.

I also wanted to organize the shooting of a documentary film in Kamchatka for my blog, but have not found funding yet. On the west coast there lives a family that organized an enterprise for the collection and processing of fireweed, today every seventh Kamchatka resident drinks their tea. A very beautiful story: tea plantations, the perimeter of which is guarded by dogs and periodically drives away bears – I would like to film all of this.

There will be other trips for filming: Primorye, Vologda region, St. Petersburg, Kologriv, possibly Karelia. The project is financed by the Khamovniki Foundation, and we largely talk about the foundation’s projects.

Do I get burnout?

Sometimes, when something gets boring, you have to go on an expedition. When I earn money, burnout also goes away very quickly. In fact, I just try not to bother. There was never a time when I was lying around and couldn’t do anything. On the contrary, I constantly had the feeling: something else needs to be done, something else needs to be thought up. At first, I had to do what my senior colleagues were doing: finish my master’s degree, become a teacher, publish an article. Then came the blog, the video podcast, the trips associated with it, working with the audience. Now, most of my attention outside of my duties is directed at it.

What am I interested in besides science?

I love good cinema. Mass cinema, not arthouse. I want to take part in film production someday, maybe in a documentary.

What I read recently

“Debt: The First 5,000 Years of History” by David Graeber, “Life in the Void: Anthropological Essays on Social Space Beyond the Limits of Government Regulation” and “Love and Elections” by Lana Barsukova. The latter is a women’s novel, but it was written by a professor and doctor of sociological sciences, the book contains a lot of research material, although readers are unlikely to guess about it.

Advice to young scientists

I would advise not to waste your time on empty, useless work, but to do only things with the prospect of developing yourself and the team. If you are not in the mood, go for a walk: the burnout will go away, useful thoughts will come.

We need to understand the system. Combine science, work with students, prospects for large grants and custom projects in one project.

You have to be enterprising. Otherwise, you do what other people say, and in science, doing what other people say is boring.

Favorite place in Moscow

I love forests and parks. Once in Teply Stan I found a cow grazing with a calf in a field. And in Moscow I really like the nooks and crannies of Prechistenka. In general, I fell in love with Moscow after I moved there. I used to live in the Moscow region, and now I live on Vernadsky Avenue. When you can quickly get to the university and there is a park nearby, it is nice to live here.

The three most beautiful places I have seen on expeditions

The Vyvenka River, the third largest in Kamchatka. It is located in the north, where the Kamchatka Peninsula ends and the mainland begins. The Timan Ridge in northern Komi: hills, winding rivers and taiga. And also Podkamennaya Tunguska in Krasnoyarsk Krai.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Investing in AI Within the SUNY System
Source: US State of New York

overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that eight SUNY campuses are developing departments, centers, and institutes of AI and Society to engage diverse disciplines and communities, broaden AI development to prepare students for the future and advance the use of AI for the public good. Through this program, the state has provided $5 million in funding to foster collaboration across disciplines to promote inclusive AI research, to address ethical concerns in the use of AI, and to advance responsible data use.

“The progression of AI research in New York State is going to inspire other states to follow our path,” Governor Hochul said. “Investing in AI within the SUNY system is an investment in our students to expand their knowledge about what the future will bring. We are not just preparing students for AI – we’re shaping how AI serves society, ensuring it strengthens communities and our economy.”

Investments announced today will launch the following projects:
- University at Albany- Launching a new AI & Society College & Research Center
- Binghamton University- Creating the Institute for AI and Society
- University at Buffalo- Creating the Department of AI and Society
- SUNY Downstate- Establishing the Global Center for AI, Society and Mental Health
- SUNY ESF- Establishing the Center for Artificial Intelligence, Society, and the Environment (AISE) (seed funding)
- SUNY Poly- Developing an Institute for AI and Society (seed funding)
- Stony Brook University- Creating the Department of Technology, AI and Society
- Upstate Medical- Forming the AI for Health Equity, Analytics, and Diagnostics (AHEAD) Center (seed funding)
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, SUNY researchers, faculty, and students are leading the way in using AI to advance the public good. SUNY’s commitment to academic excellence includes making it possible for students from a wide range of disciplines to come together, explore new ideas, and develop the skills that will lead to lifelong success.”

SUNY Board Trustee Courtney Burke said, “As SUNY and the State of New York continue to invest in AI research for public good, these grants will allow our campuses a vital opportunity to expand their existing AI programs and further stretch the advantages of AI on and off campus. The SUNY Board of Trustees looks forward to witnessing the impact of this investment on each campus selected.”

SUNY is delivering on Governor Hochul’s vision of artificial intelligence for the public good. Projects are up and running at the first “alpha” phase of the Empire AI computing center, housed at University at Buffalo (UB) and Empire AI brings together researchers from SUNY’s four University Centers – the University at Albany, Binghamton University, UB, and Stony Brook University – as well as the City University of New York, Cornell University, Columbia University, New York University, the Flatiron Institute, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Governor Hochul’s FY2026 Executive Budget provides additional resources to expand Empire AI’s computing capacity and provide additional computing resources for SUNY researchers. Early SUNY projects include:
- Binghamton University is conducting research on large language models and antisemitism on social media in order to detect hateful content. Another project is on 3D foundation models for high-throughput characterization of metal-organic frameworks for climate change applications.
- A team at UB is working on a comprehensive solution to characterize and treat every disease.
- Stony Brook University researchers have a project on transforming how vaccines are developed by creating an innovative AI-driven platform for antigen design.
In addition, SUNY has also updated its General Education Framework to incorporate AI as part of the Information Literacy core competency.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “New York State is the heart of innovation, and thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, ESD is investing in the industries – like artificial intelligence – that will power the Empire State’s long-term economy. SUNY’s funding for dedicated departments to advance AI & Society will help ensure the benefits of this revolutionary technology are used to foster positive interdisciplinary collaboration and problem-solving, promote the public good, and support inclusive economic opportunity for all New Yorkers.”

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said, “Artificial intelligence is the technology of the future and its impact on society will be transformative in ways that we can only imagine. By providing funding to launch the Departments on AI and Society at eight different SUNY campuses, we guarantee that New York will be at the forefront of the development of AI and its subsequent research will be conducted in an ethical and responsible manner. I applaud Governor Hochul and Chancellor King for the first in the nation plan to ensure AI serves the public good.”

State Senator Kristin Gonzalez said, “Thank you to SUNY and Governor Hochul for reaffirming New York State’s commitment to advancing AI initiatives that serve the public good, ensuring ethical innovation and inclusive progress. I’m really excited for the insights and work from the new Departments of AI and Society that will help shape a future where technology enriches and strengthens communities.”

Assemblymember Steve Otis said, “Through the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, SUNY Chancellor John King, and the State Legislature, New York State is leading the nation in ‘public purpose’ focused AI research and development. The Empire AI Consortium is an innovative model for prioritizing public benefit projects and research in AI development. SUNY has been a leader in AI for many years and is at the forefront of taking AI to the next level. We must continue to support funding for these initiatives.”

Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman said, “SUNY’s commitment to advancing artificial intelligence for the public good is a critical step in ensuring that emerging technologies are used responsibly and equitably. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, these investments in AI research and education will not only drive innovation but also help address pressing societal challenges – from combating online hate to improving healthcare solutions. With the rapid rise of AI, it is essential that we learn how to better understand and harness its potential to advance our state. I applaud Chancellor King and SUNY for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration that will prepare our students for the future while ensuring AI serves all communities fairly and ethically.”

About The State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.16 billion in fiscal year 2024, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. Learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities.

MIL OSI USA News –
April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Inside Information: Oma Savings Bank Plc received the final inspection report from the Financial Supervisory Authority on anti-money laundering and terrorist financing: Corrective actions continue
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

OMA SAVINGS BANK PLC, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE, 4 APRIL 2025 AT 20:30 P.M EET, INSIDE INFORMATION

Inside Information: Oma Savings Bank Plc received the final inspection report from the Financial Supervisory Authority on anti-money laundering and terrorist financing: Corrective actions continue

Oma Savings Bank Plc (OmaSp or Company) disclosed in its financial statement release on February 10, 2025, the status of the ongoing supervisory inspections during 2024. The Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA) has conducted an inspection on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, which covers the period before December 21, 2023.

OmaSp announced in the summer of 2024 a comprehensive action program to address deficiencies previously identified by the company itself, particularly to improve risk management processes and other control processes. OmaSp has implemented corrective measures, especially in the second half of 2024, to address the observations made by the supervisor.

Today, April 4, 2025, the company received the final inspection report from FIN-FSA on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. In its report, FIN-FSA highlighted the following key findings from the review period before December 2023:
- Deficiencies in the principles and procedures for assessing the money laundering risk of the customer relationship
- Risks related to the customer relationship have not been sufficiently considered in the risk-based assessment
- Deficiencies in the procedures for knowing the customers
- Deficiencies in keeping customer information up to date
- Deficiencies in obtaining and retaining information in accordance with the Money Laundering Act
- Deficiencies in enhanced due diligence for high-risk customers
All identified deficiencies are broad entities, and OmaSp initiated measures to correct the deficiencies already during the Financial Supervisory Authority’s inspection in 2024. The development of processes to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing continues. At the same time, OmaSp is preparing for possible sanctions imposed by the Financial Supervisory Authority as a result of the inspection and has made a provision of EUR 3 million for the first quarter of 2025.

Oma Savings Bank Plc

Additional information:

Karri Alameri, CEO, tel. +358 45 656 5250, karri.alameri@omasp.fi

DISTRIBUTION:
Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
Major media
www.omasp.fi

OmaSp is a solvent and profitable Finnish bank. About 500 professionals provide nationwide services through OmaSp’s 48 branch offices and digital service channels to over 200,000 private and corporate customers. OmaSp focuses primarily on retail banking operations and provides its clients with a broad range of banking services both through its own balance sheet as well as by acting as an intermediary for its partners’ products. The intermediated products include credit, investment and loan insurance products. OmaSp is also engaged in mortgage banking operations.

OmaSp core idea is to provide personal service and to be local and close to its customers, both in digital and traditional channels. OmaSp strives to offer premium level customer experience through personal service and easy accessibility. In addition, the development of the operations and services is customer-oriented. The personnel is committed and OmaSp seeks to support their career development with versatile tasks and continuous development. A substantial part of the personnel also own shares in OmaSp.

The MIL Network –
April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: National Equity Agency Launches Surplus Refund Solution to Help Homeowners Recover Foreclosure Surplus Funds
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

West Palm Beach, FL, April 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In the aftermath of foreclosure, many homeowners and heirs remain unaware that they may be entitled to foreclosure surplus funds. These funds arise when a foreclosed property in Florida and beyond sells for more than the outstanding loan balance. Without timely action, these funds are often absorbed by state agencies, leaving rightful owners without their due share.

Surplus Fund Recovery

Recognizing the critical need for fast and efficient recovery, National Equity Agency has developed a highly effective system that ensures claimants can access what they’re owed with minimal delay or hassle.

Why Do Homeowners & Heirs Lose Access to Foreclosure Surplus Funds?

Despite being legally entitled to surplus funds in Florida and other states, many individuals never see a dime due to:
1. Lack of Public Awareness – Most homeowners and heirs simply don’t know they can claim surplus funds after foreclosure.
2. Complex Bureaucratic Procedures – The legal process can be overwhelming without professional guidance.
3. Strict Deadlines for Claims – These funds must be claimed quickly or risk being lost to the state.
4. Fraudulent Operators – Scammers prey on distressed homeowners, often charging outrageous fees with little or no results.
National Equity Agency’s surplus recovery team cuts through these barriers, navigating the legal system swiftly and shielding clients from bad actors and expired opportunities.

National Equity Agency’s Rapid Surplus Refund Solution

For homeowners and estate heirs seeking a stress-free way to recover surplus funds, National Equity Agency offers a streamlined, accelerated approach, including:
1. Surplus Fund Verification – A free, thorough search of foreclosure records to confirm available surplus funds.
2. Ownership & Eligibility Confirmation – Rapid verification of legal rights to claim.
3. Court Filings & Documentation Management – They handle all legal paperwork to prevent delays.
4. Direct Negotiation with Courts & Lenders – Fast-tracking court approvals to avoid holdups.
5. Expedited Fund Disbursement – Helping clients access their surplus funds in the shortest time possible.
Success Story: A Homeowner’s Journey to Claiming Their Surplus Funds

A Florida homeowner recently faced foreclosure and assumed the worst—until they learned their home had generated surplus funds after auction. With time running out, National Equity Agency stepped in, verified the surplus, and launched their rapid refund process. Within weeks, the homeowner received their rightful funds, providing much-needed financial relief.

How to Check for Unclaimed Surplus Funds

Many individuals may be unaware that they are entitled to surplus funds from a past foreclosure. Here’s how to determine if such funds are available:
1. Free Surplus Fund Search – A comprehensive scan of foreclosure records is conducted to identify unclaimed funds associated with a specific name.
2. Eligibility Verification – Legal entitlement is confirmed, and all necessary documentation is prepared.
3. Legal Handling – All aspects of the legal process, including court filings and follow-ups, are managed efficiently.
4. Fast Payment Processing – A streamlined surplus refund system ensures timely disbursement of funds.
Why Choose National Equity Agency?

✔ Foreclosure Surplus Expertise – Deep experience in Florida and across the U.S.
✔ Fast-Track Processing – Faster payouts through our proven rapid refund framework.
✔ No Upfront Fees – One will only pay for fund recovery.
✔ Full-Service Representation – From verification to court approval.
✔ Transparent, Trusted Support – No hidden fees—just results.

Time-Sensitive: Surplus Funds Must Be Claimed Before Deadlines Expire

Each year, millions of dollars in surplus funds remain unclaimed due to inaction or lack of awareness. Individuals who may be entitled to funds following a foreclosure are urged to take action promptly, as state deadlines could soon prevent them from reclaiming what is rightfully theirs.

About National Equity Agency

National Equity Agency is a trusted leader in surplus funds recovery, committed to helping homeowners and heirs quickly and securely reclaim unclaimed foreclosure funds. Their team combines legal expertise, cutting-edge processes, and a client-first mindset to deliver fast, reliable results with complete transparency.

Industry Recognition and Trust

National Equity Agency has earned a strong reputation for excellence, backed by a 99.9% case success rate and over $9.2 million recovered for families nationwide. The agency maintains 5-star Google reviews and is a BBB-accredited business, underscoring its dedication to ethical practices and customer satisfaction.
Homeowners and heirs seeking to determine their eligibility for foreclosure surplus funds can take the first step by visiting https://www.nationalequityagency.com/ for a free surplus fund verification. With National Equity Agency’s proven expertise and commitment to client success, individuals can confidently navigate the surplus recovery process without unnecessary delays or legal hurdles.

About National Equity Agency

National Equity Agency is a leading provider of foreclosure surplus recovery services, helping homeowners and heirs reclaim funds generated from foreclosure sales. Focusing on efficiency, transparency, and compassion, the agency ensures that rightful owners receive their surplus funds through a fully managed and expedited process. Serving clients across Florida, Ohio, Indiana, and Oklahoma, National Equity Agency is committed to financial empowerment and justice.

National Equity Agency

The MIL Network –
April 5, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: RBI Launches Verified WhatsApp Channel for Public Awareness

Source: Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India has been conducting public awareness campaigns across various mediums such as text messages, television and digital advertisements, under the ‘RBI Kehta Hai’ (RBI Says) initiative.

2. The RBI is now further expanding its outreach by adding WhatsApp as an additional means to deliver public awareness messages.

3. Through the verified ‘Reserve Bank of India’ account on WhatsApp, we aim to make important financial information more accessible to everyone, regardless of their geographical location. This initiative will ensure that vital information reaches people in a simple, direct, and effective manner, strengthening trust and resilience in our digital financial ecosystem.

To access the account, you can scan the QR code below.

(Puneet Pancholy)
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2025-2026/43

MIL OSI Economics –

April 5, 2025

MIL-OSI Africa: Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 to Highlight Growth Opportunities in Africa’s Downstream Supply Chain

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

PARIS, France, April 4, 2025/APO Group/ —

The upcoming Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 Forum will host a high-level panel – Downstream Beneficiation: Supply Chain Development for Optimal Performance – as the continent aims to enhance energy security, reduce import dependence and maximize the value of its natural resources. The session will explore how the expansion of Africa’s downstream sector can strengthen supply chains, enhance refining capacity and drive sustainable economic growth through infrastructure investment and strategic partnerships.

As Africa’s energy landscape evolves, optimizing downstream operations is critical to unlocking the full potential of the continent’s natural resources. This session will focus on closing the infrastructure finance gap by addressing key challenges such as upgrading refineries, expanding storage and distribution networks, and developing service stations, bottling plants and transport fleets. Panelists will also examine the role of strategic hubs – such as Egypt’s petrochemical industry, Equatorial Guinea’s Gas Mega Hub and Algeria’s emerging green hydrogen sector – in bolstering Africa’s supply chain efficiency, along with key regional projects like the Central African Pipeline System and the Lobito Corridor linking Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

IAE 2025 (https://apo-opa.co/43FPXaT) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Moderated by James Gooder, VP Crude, Argus Media, the panel will feature industry leaders offering key insights into Africa’s downstream sector. Speakers include Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary, African Refiners & Distributors Association; Tarik Berair, Commercial Development Manager, Technip Energies; Fernando Covas, Executive Director, S&P Global Commodity Insights; James Bullen, Head of Downstream, Petredec and Michael Kelly, Chief Advocacy Officer, World Liquid Gas Association.

Africa’s downstream investment climate is undergoing significant transformation, with several major projects driving the sector’s growth including Nigeria’s 650,000-bpd Dangote Refinery, Angola’s 200,000-bpd Lobito and 100,000-bpd Soyo refineries, and Algeria’s 100,000-bpd Hassi Messaoud Refinery. Despite recent refinery closures, South Africa also maintains a well-developed fuel distribution network, retail stations and petrochemical production, while Mozambique is emerging as a key LNG hub, with the Coral South FLNG project already operational and the Rovuma LNG and Mozambique LNG projects currently under development.

Despite these advancements, challenges remain in securing adequate financing for infrastructure upgrades and supply chain expansion. Addressing these gaps will require coordinated efforts from governments, private investors and industry stakeholders to develop resilient and efficient downstream operations. The IAE 2025 downstream panel will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss actionable strategies that ensure Africa’s energy sector remains competitive, sustainable and responsive to global demand.

MIL OSI Africa –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: United States Attorney’s Office Observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

DETROIT, MI – In observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), April 6-12, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, along with the Detroit Crime Victims’ Action Team, will be recognizing crime victims and those who have dedicated their lives to serve and assist victims of crime.

“My office stands ready to support victims and ensure they know their rights,” stated Acting United States Attorney Julie Beck. “Our staff of professionals are dedicated to supporting federal crime victims by providing them with essential services they need to help reshape their futures.”

“We have deep respect and gratitude for crime victims who courageously come forward to report their crimes to the police and come to testify in court. We ask a lot from them since they must re-live the violence and trauma they have experienced. Their families and friends are often victims of secondhand trauma. We thank you for your commitment to the criminal justice system. We could not perform our work without you,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

Each year in April, the federal Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) leads communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by raising awareness of victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. This year’s theme of KINSHIP is a call to action to recognize that shared humanity should be at the center of supporting all survivors and victims of crime. KINSHIP is a state of being with survivors that drives vital connections to services, rights, and healing. KINSHIP is where victim advocacy begins.

This year’s Crime Victims’ Rights Week events will kick off with a Survivor Walk-Sunday, April 6, 2025 @ 10:00 am on Belle Isle. The meeting point is adjacent to the Fountain. A second event – Crime Victim Awareness Event- Know the Signs- Education, Awareness and Action – will take place on Tuesday April 8, 2025 @ 2:30 pm at Henry Ford College- Rosenau Rooms, Bldg L (5101 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, MI). The main event will be a community and resource fair on Friday, April 11 @ 12pm at the Criminal Justice Center, 5301 Russel Street, Detroit.

Nicole Marcell, a survivor of domestic violence will be the guest speaker and share her emotional story of how she is using her voice to help others.

Following the event, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Michigan, will be hosting a Wellness Event featuring vendors, food trucks, resources, and more. For additional information about 2025 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week activities or about victims’ rights and services in Wayne County, please contact Mechelle Donahoo, Director Victim Services, 313-224-5626 or visit our website at https://www.waynecounty.com/elected/prosecutor/home/aspx

All are welcome to attend this event.

This year marks the 41st anniversary of the Victims of Crime Act, commonly shortened to VOCA. This act was passed by Congress and signed into law on October 12, 1984. VOCA established the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), a Federal Victim Notification System, discretionary grants for victim service organizations, victim assistance positions in the Department of Justice, financial support for the Children’s Justice Act Program, and assistance and compensation for victims and survivors of terrorism.

For more information about how to support all victims of crime, visit OVC’s website at www.ovc.ojp.gov.

MIL Security OSI –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Consumers are boycotting US goods around the world. Should Trump be worried?

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alan Bradshaw, Professor of Marketing, Royal Holloway University of London

US alcohol has been removed from sale in the Canadian province of British Columbia. lenic/Shutterstock

As politicians around the world scramble to respond to US “liberation day” tariffs, consumers have also begun flexing their muscles. “Boycott USA” messages and searches have been trending on social media and search engines, with users sharing advice on brands and products to avoid.

Even before Donald Trump announced across-the-board tariffs, there had been protests and attacks on the president’s golf courses in Doonbeg in Ireland and Turnberry in Scotland in response to other policies. And in Canada, shoppers avoided US goods after Trump announced he could take over his northern neighbour.

His close ally Elon Musk has seen protests at Tesla showrooms across Europe, Australia and New Zealand. New cars have been set on fire as part of the “Tesla take-down”, while Tesla sales have been on a deep downward trend. This has been especially noticeable in European countries where electric vehicles sales have been high, and in Australia.

This targeting of Trump and Musk’s brands are part of wider boycotts of US goods as consumers look for ways to express their anger at the US administration.

Denmark’s biggest retailer, Salling Group, has given the price label of all European products a black star, making it easy for customers to avoid US goods.

Canadian shoppers are turning US products upside down in retail outlets so it’s easier for fellow shoppers to spot and avoid them. Canadian consumers can also download the Maple Scan app that checks barcodes to see if their grocery purchases are actually Canadian or have parent companies from the USA.

Who owns what?

The issue of ostensibly Canadian brands being owned by US capital illustrates the complexity of consumer boycotts – it can be difficult to identify which brands are American and which are not.

In the UK, for example, many consumers would be surprised to learn how many famous British brands are actually American-owned – for example, Cadbury, Waterstones and Boots. So entwined are global economies that attempts by consumers to boycott US brands may also damage their local economies.

This complexity is also present in Danish and Canadian Facebook groups that are dedicated to boycotting US goods. Consumers exchange tips on how to swap alternatives for American products.

The fact that Facebook is a US-based company only demonstrates how deeply embedded consumer culture is in US technologies. European businesses often depend on American operating systems and cloud storage while consumers rely on US-owned social media platforms for communication.

Even when consumers succeed in weeding out American products, if they pay using Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay, a percentage of the price will nonetheless be rerouted to the US. If a touch payment is made with Worldpay, the percentage could be even greater.

These American financial services show just how embedded US businesses are in retail in ways that consumers may not appreciate. In practice, an absolute boycott of US business is almost unimaginable.

All-American brands

But American branding is not always subtle. In addition to brands directly connected to the US administration – such as the Trump golf courses and Tesla – many other companies have always been flamboyantly American. Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Budweiser are just some examples where their American identities and proudly on show.

As such, it’s possible that consumers will increasingly avoid blatantly American brands. They may be less concerned about the complexities and contradictions of a more comprehensive boycott.

Consumer actions where the goal is political change are known as “proxy boycotts” because no particular company is the ultimate target. Rather, the brands and firms are targeted by consumers as a means to an end.

Do boycotts work?

A classic example of a proxy boycott took aim at French goods, particularly wine, in the mid-1990s. This was in response to president Jacques Chirac’s decision to conduct nuclear tests in the Pacific. The large-scale consumer boycotts contributed to France’s decision to abandon its nuclear tests in 1996.

In Britain, for example, French wines in all categories lost market share as demand fell during the boycott. At the time, it cost the French wine sector £23 million (about £46 million today).

These boycotts are a reminder that the interplay between corporations, brands and consumer culture are inevitably embedded in politics. The current political impasse demonstrates that consumers can participate in politics, not just with their votes, but also with their buying power.

Trump clearly wants to demonstrate American strength. The “liberation day” tariffs, which were higher than most observers expected, bear this out. But many US corporations will now be worrying about how consumers in the US and around the world might respond. Trump could see a mass mobilisation of consumer power in ways that will give the president something to think about.

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

– ref. Consumers are boycotting US goods around the world. Should Trump be worried? – https://theconversation.com/consumers-are-boycotting-us-goods-around-the-world-should-trump-be-worried-253389

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: DelBene, Panetta, Beyer, Schneider, Sewell Introduce Legislation to Reclaim Congressional Trade Powers

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

DelBene, Panetta, Beyer, Schneider, Sewell Introduce Legislation to Reclaim Congressional Trade Powers

Washington, D.C., April 1, 2025

Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Don Beyer (VA-08), Brad Schneider (IL-10), and Terri Sewell (Al-07) introduced the Reclaim Trade Powers Act, legislation that would modernize outdated trade authorities and ensure that Congress retains final approval over the imposition of broad tariffs.

This legislation would eliminate Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits the president to impose 15% tariffs on all imports in the event of a balance of payments crisis. Originally designed to address situations where a nation’s currency was tied to a commodity or a foreign currency, this provision is now obsolete, as the United States no longer operates under the gold standard.

In recent years, the Trump administration misinterpreted the term “balance of payments issue” to justify tariffs based on trade imbalances rather than actual economic crises. This misuse highlights the need for Congress to reaffirm its authority over trade policy. This legislation was introduced in response to President Trump’s planned widespread tariffs on U.S. trading partners.

By repealing Section 122, the Reclaim Trade Powers Act would:

“President Trump is trying to use outdated laws to argue that he can unilaterally impose huge tax increases on American consumers without congressional approval,” said DelBene. “This legislation is one of several that would reaffirm Congress’ constitutional role in trade policy and ensure the president alone cannot impose broad-based tariffs, which are taxes, on our trading partners.”

“The balance of payments authority has been mischaracterized and misused to justify broad, indiscriminate tariffs that bypass Congressional oversight,” said Panetta. “The Reclaim Trade Powers Act would close that loophole and help establish a trade policy that reflects modern economic realities rather than outdated statutes. This legislation would protect our economy from unnecessary and harmful tariffs, ensure major trade decisions are not made solely by executive branch, and restore Congressional authority over trade.”

“No one should be under any illusion that the Trump administration would require an actual balance in payments crisis to levy these across the board tariffs,” said Beyer. “Pretextual and dishonest justifications are this president’s stock-in-trade, which makes this executive authority simply too dangerous to leave on the books.”

“It’s long past time that Congress assert its constitutional responsibilities and put a check on President Trump’s reckless, arbitrary, and punitive approach to trade policy, which is only hurting our consumers, companies, and economy,” said Schneider. “We must close outdated loopholes—like Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, among others—that Trump is using to impose sweeping tariffs while punishing our small businesses, retirement accounts, and economy.”

“In a few short months, President Trump has abused multiple trade authorities as he initiates trade wars with our allies,” said Sewell. “Congress must act to draw back trade authorities from this administration in order to protect American consumers, farmers, and manufacturers from President Trump’s reckless trade agenda. I am proud to join my colleagues in this effort to strengthen our checks against this administration.”

A copy of the bill can be found here.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Bolster Economy by Supporting Commercial Fishing Industry

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and colleagues introduced the Save Our Seafood (SOS) Act to help the seafood industry meet workforce demands by exempting fish processors from the H-2B visa caps. The legislation is vital to the fishing industry, economy, and food supply chain.
“When you think Louisiana, you think seafood,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Creating jobs in this industry is good for our economy and state.”
“Alaska’s seafood industry is a delicate chain – and when processors don’t have the workforce to meet demand, the whole industry can fall apart,” said Senator Murkowski. “Coastal communities, family-owned fishing boats, and Alaskans who work in the industry need to know that they have fully-functioning operations where they can deliver their catch. Through this legislation, I’m working to ensure that the industry has a dependable workforce that can process and deliver the highest-quality seafood in the world.”
H-2B visas allow domestic employers to temporarily hire nonimmigrants to perform nonagricultural labor or services if they cannot fill these jobs with American workers. Employers must first obtain certification from the U.S. Department of Labor and then complete an application process through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to obtain these visas.
The program is crucial to the survival of the seafood industry. When seafood is harvested, processors are at the back of the line for visas and rely on “supplemental” visas being issued, which are discretionary. If there is not sufficient processing capacity, fishermen have nowhere to deliver their catch and do not get paid, which is devastating to small, family-owned seafood operations and the communities they live in.
Cassidy and Murkowski were joined by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in introducing the legislation.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warren Unveils Budget Bill Amendments to Protect Funding for Medical Research, Education in Massachusetts

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

April 04, 2025

Senate to vote on Republican tax plan paving way for $7 trillion in tax handouts for billionaires and billionaire corporations

“…Are we going to hand our country over to co-presidents Donald Trump and Elon Musk and a handful of other billionaires and make everyone else pay for it?…That is the fight in front of us, and that’s the fight I’m fighting every single day for families in Massachusetts and all across this country.”

Video of Speech (YouTube)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) delivered a speech on the Senate Floor, slamming President Trump and Elon Musk’s chaotic cuts to programs and charting the path forward to fight back on behalf of Massachusetts. Senator Warren announced she is filing amendments to the Republican budget bill to protect federal funding for Massachusetts medical research institutions and health care providers; undo cuts to the National Institutes of Health; and protect education funding in Massachusetts, including for Head Start.

Transcript: Floor Speech on Fighting Back for Massachusetts Against Trump and Musk Chaos
U.S. Senate Floor
April 4, 2025

As Delivered

Senator Elizabeth Warren: Now, Republicans in Congress are putting forward a proposal to deliver these tax cuts for the wealthy and well-connected, and they’re asking us to vote on it tonight.

This bill — and Trump and Musk’s cruel agenda — isn’t good for Massachusetts and isn’t good for our country. I’m hearing from families at home in Massachusetts who are feeling the pain right now.

Start with medical research. Medical research powers the economy in Massachusetts and is the reason we’ve had incredible breakthroughs like vaccines and cancer drugs that save lives. So, how did Donald Trump and Elon Musk thank the doctors and researchers who are doing this work? By canceling tens of millions of dollars in federal funds that support medical research at Massachusetts hospitals, universities, and health care providers on everything from clinical trials to pandemic readiness. And they did it just weeks after Trump tried to cut the funding that keeps the lights on at our community health centers.

So, to anyone who believes in science and believes in investing in cures for horrible diseases, now is the time to fight back. That’s why I’m filing amendments to the Republican bill to keep up federal support for Massachusetts’ medical research institutions and health care providers — including our community health centers. And it’s why I’m filing another amendment to fight back against Trump and Musk’s National Institute of Health funding cuts — because we are a country that believes that we should invest in finding a cure for Alzheimer’s, for diabetes, for cancer, and other diseases.

And on education. Education levels the playing field. It gives every kid a fighting chance in this country. Doesn’t matter to Trump and Musk. This week, they slashed millions in funding for K-12 education in the Commonwealth. Shut down a regional office in Boston that helps administer Head Start. Canceled millions of dollars in funding that was helping to pay for kids’ school lunches. To them, that was the cherry on top of Trump’s executive order to, quote, “abolish” the entire Department of Education, throwing schools across the country into crisis.

So, to students, parents, and teachers, now is the time to fight back. We are fighting for an America where it’s not just the kids of billionaires who get a good education but every kid in every community all across our Commonwealth. It’s why I’ve got an amendment to the Republican bill to protect education funding in Massachusetts and protect services like Head Start that lift up our kids and make sure we’re not leaving families hanging out to dry.

And I’m fighting for our workers. Last week, Donald Trump signed an illegal executive order attacking federal unions and stripping workers of their rights. It’s the definition of union-busting — and it is an attack on the workers who make sure our food is safe to eat, who make sure it’s safe for us to fly in airplanes, who make sure that we take care of our veterans, who try to help us and protect us from viruses and disease, and so much more.

So, to workers in Massachusetts and across America, now is the time to fight back. We need to amend this Republican tax cut bill to affirm federal workers’ right to unionize and collectively bargain because the labor movement is bigger than Donald Trump and his unelected billionaire co-president. And we believe that every worker deserves the freedom to join a union and negotiate for a fair contract.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk are sawing through the programs that help working families breathe a little easier every day. And they’re doing it so that their billionaire buddies and giant corporations get trillions of dollars in tax giveaways, paid for on the backs of everybody else.

So here’s the big question: are we going to hand our country over to co-presidents Donald Trump and Elon Musk and a handful of other billionaires and make everyone else pay for it? Or are we going to be a country that says, “No, we want to make these investments so that everyone in this country gets an opportunity.” Everybody’s at least got a chance to build something for themselves. That is the fight in front of us, and that’s the fight I’m fighting every single day for families in Massachusetts and all across this country.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: The efforts led by France and the United Kingdom must enable a huge boost in support for Ukraine

Source: France-Diplomatie – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development

Published on April 4, 2025

Statement by M. Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, on his arrival at the meeting of NATO foreign ministers (Brussels, April 3, 2025) (excerpts)

In the face of the troubled times we’re going through, in the face of the new global disorder that is setting in, our alliance’s members must, more than ever, show unfailing solidarity.

Solidarity first of all with Ukraine, because today the only obstacle to peace is Russia. It certainly isn’t Ukraine, because three weeks ago the Ukrainians agreed – and it was a brave compromise – to accept the unconditional ceasefire proposal made to them by the United States of America. And in the past three weeks we’ve seen Vladimir Putin stepping up his delaying tactics, continuing his strikes on energy infrastructure and continuing his war crimes. It’s now up to Russia to say whether it wants a ceasefire – yes or no. (…)

Solidarity in the face of the threat Russia represents today, which is a threat to all our alliance’s members, in the north, south, east and west. Firstly because Russia currently devotes 10% of its national wealth to its war effort and 40% of its national budget to its military expenditure, and because Vladimir Putin this week announced a new conscription drive of 160,000 soldiers, the highest number in 14 years. And also because Vladimir Putin has deliberately chosen to place the threat in the nuclear field, through a revision of the doctrine, through a strengthened partnership with proliferating powers like Iran and North Korea, and also through the unprecedented use of this threat as a bullying method to serve his war of aggression in Ukraine.

In this context, the efforts led by France and the United Kingdom must enable a huge boost – a huge boost in support for Ukraine. And last Thursday in Paris, through President Macron, alongside President Zelenskyy, we announced a further €2-billion outlay to support the Ukrainian resistance. The meeting of heads of State and government invited to Paris by President Macron led to an agreement on joint work to support the US effort and lay the groundwork for a monitoring of the ceasefire, once it’s been achieved. And beyond this, some members of this coalition of willing and able powers wanted to lay the groundwork for a reassurance force, which in due course will allow a genuinely lasting peace agreement to be concluded between Ukraine and Russia, and this will also be the purpose of the visit to Ukraine at the end of this week by the French and British chiefs of defence staff. The purpose really is to achieve an end to this war of aggression and create the conditions for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity to be respected in a lasting way.

I’ll also add that respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty applies not only to Ukraine but to all the countries in our alliance and their overseas territories. Europe’s borders are not negotiable. Nor are the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Alliance countries.

Solidarity, as I was saying, on the development of NATO’s European pillar. The time has come to develop it. We’re ready for that. Our US partners have also asked us to. In reality, we’re ready for a twofold increase: an increase in the share of our military expenditure in our national wealth, and an increase in the European share of European military expenditure.

The first increase, as I was saying, is the share of our military expenditure in our national wealth. At national level, thanks to two military estimates acts instigated by President Macron, we’ve managed to reach the threshold of 2% of national wealth devoted to our military spending, and the President has set a target of 3% to 3.5%. And we’re preparing to meet it: 3.5% is roughly the level of US military expenditure.

The second increase, to the European share of European military expenditure, is also one of the goals we set ourselves at European level with the White Paper on defence, with the European Council’s recent decisions. Today the European share of military expenditure stands at roughly 50%. For our American partners, the US share of US military expenditure is roughly 100%. So we have considerable room for progress in developing this European share of our military expenditure.

As I said, unfailing solidarity, which is required from all members of the Alliance today. Solidarity which is nevertheless being put to the test by the decisions taken and announced yesterday by President Trump, with the imposition of reciprocal tariffs, which will have negative consequences on both the American economy and the economies of all the Alliance’s members. This also applies to the European economy, and at 4.00 p.m. today President Macron will be meeting the representatives of the sectors concerned, to assess the consequences of these decisions. The European Union will respond – it will do so initially next week – in retaliation for the tariffs the United States has already imposed on steel and aluminium, a few weeks ago. Then, as it’s already said, it will begin consultations to adopt further measures if needed, following the reciprocal tariffs imposed yesterday evening. As the European Commission President has reiterated, Europe has every means to protect Europeans, their interests and their prosperity. Over the past few years we’ve developed powerful trade-defence instruments for this. But our response will be effective only if it is united, if Europeans show unity. That is how they’ll be able to enter into the negotiations in a position of strength when they begin, to benefit European prosperity.

Thank you, everyone./.

MIL OSI Europe News –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Alex and Shelby Nowak Strengthen ROTH’s Healthcare Investment Banking Division

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., April 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN – Roth Capital Partners (“ROTH”), www.roth.com, is pleased to announce the strategic appointment of Alex Nowak, CFA, as Managing Director, Healthcare Investment Banking, and Shelby Nowak, Vice President, Healthcare Investment Banking. Both will focus on the medical devices, diagnostics, and life science tools industry. This dynamic addition reinforces ROTH’s commitment to delivering world-class investment banking services in the healthcare sector by coupling industry experience with capital market expertise.

Alex Nowak, CFA brings over a decade of proficiency in healthcare capital markets, specializing in Medtech, Diagnostics, and Life Science Tools. His role at ROTH will build upon his proven ability to identify growth opportunities, foster strong investor-client relationships, and drive strategic company building. Previously, Alex was a Partner & Director of Healthcare Research at Craig-Hallum Capital Group, where he played a key role in growing the healthcare brand and identifying high-growth opportunities within the sector.

Shelby Nowak joins ROTH with a diverse background in the medical device industry, where she managed FDA-regulated products from concept through commercialization. Her experience with companies such as Shockwave Medical, Medtronic, Reprise Biomedical, Vascular Solutions, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch positions her as a valuable asset to ROTH’s clients. Shelby will provide a unique industry-first perspective by actively engaging companies on strategy, company building, and client partnership.

“Alex’s deep industry knowledge and strategic vision make him an excellent fit for ROTH. Additionally, Shelby’s comprehensive industry insight will be instrumental in enhancing our investment banking capabilities. We are confident that his leadership will enhance our healthcare practice, and her approach to client engagement and helping companies build their businesses aligns with our objectives, and we are excited to have both on board,” said Aaron Gurewitz, President and Head of Investment Banking at ROTH.

Together, Alex and Shelby Nowak are poised to bolster ROTH’s healthcare investment banking division, ensuring continued success in helping clients navigate and excel in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.

About ROTH

ROTH is a relationship-driven investment bank focused on serving growth companies and their investors. Our full-service platform provides capital raising, high-impact equity research, macroeconomics, sales and trading, technical insights, derivatives strategies, M&A advisory, and corporate access. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, ROTH is a privately held, employee-owned organization and maintains offices throughout the U.S. For more information, please visit www.roth.com.

Investor Contact:

ROTH
Isabel Mattson-Pain
Managing Director, Chief Marketing Officer
949.720.7117, imattson-pain@roth.com
ROTH – Member FINRA/SIPC – www.roth.com

Media Contact:

IBN
Los Angeles, California
www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
310.299.1717 Office
Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

The MIL Network –

April 5, 2025

MIL-OSI: Coface SA: Coface announces the publication of its 2024 Universal Registration Document

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Coface announces the publication of its 2024 Universal Registration Document

Paris, 4 April 2025 – 17.45

Communication setting out the arrangements for the supplying of the Universal Registration Document

The Universal Registration Document of COFACE SA for 2024 (Document d’enregistrement universel 2024 in French) was filed with the French financial market authority (Autorité des marchés financiers – AMF) on April 3, 2025 under the number D.25-0227.

Copies of the 2024 Universal Registration Document are available free of charge at COFACE SA, 1 Place Costes et Bellonte, 92270 Bois-Colombes, France as well as on the website of the Company at the following address:
https://www.coface.com/investors/regulated-information/universal-registration-document.

The 2024 Universal Registration Document includes the following information:

The 2024 Annual financial report;
The Report on corporate governance (attached to the management report);
The Statutory Auditors’ reports and the news release concerning their fees;
The description of the share buyback program;
The draft resolutions submitted to the vote of the Combined Shareholders’ Meeting of 14 May 2025;
The Sustainability Statement.

CONTACTS

ANALYSTS / INVESTORS
Thomas JACQUET: +33 1 49 02 12 58 – thomas.jacquet@coface.com
Rina ANDRIAMIADANTSOA: +33 1 49 02 15 85 – rina.andriamiadantsoa@coface.com

MEDIA RELATIONS
Saphia GAOUAOUI: +33 1 49 02 14 91 – saphia.gaouaoui@coface.com
Adrien BILLET: +33 1 49 02 23 63 – adrien.billet@coface.com

FINANCIAL CALENDAR 2025
(subject to change)

Q1-2025 results: 5 May 2025 (after market close)
Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting: 14 May 2025
H1-2025 results: 31 July 2025 (after market close)
9M-2025 results: 3 November 2025 (after market close)

FINANCIAL INFORMATION
This press release, as well as COFACE SA’s integral regulatory information, can be found on the Group’s website: http://www.coface.com/Investors

For regulated information on Alternative Performance Measures (APM), please refer to our Interim Financial Report for H1-2024 and our 2024 Universal Registration Document (see part 3.7 “Key financial performance indicators”).

Regulated documents posted by COFACE SA have been secured and authenticated with the blockchain technology by Wiztrust.
You can check the authenticity on the website www.wiztrust.com.

COFACE: FOR TRADE
As a global leading player in trade credit risk management for more than 75 years, Coface helps companies grow and navigate in an uncertain and volatile environment.
Whatever their size, location or sector, Coface provides 100,000 clients across some 200 markets. with a full range of solutions: Trade Credit Insurance, Business Information, Debt Collection, Single Risk insurance, Surety Bonds, Factoring.
Every day, Coface leverages its unique expertise and cutting-edge technology to make trade happen, in both domestic and export markets.
In 2024, Coface employed ~5,236 people and registered a turnover of €1.84 billion.

www.coface.com

COFACE SA is listed in Compartment A of Euronext Paris
ISIN: FR0010667147 / Ticker: COFA

DISCLAIMER – Certain declarations featured in this press release may contain forecasts that notably relate to future events, trends, projects or targets. By nature, these forecasts include identified or unidentified risks and uncertainties, and may be affected by many factors likely to give rise to a significant discrepancy between the real results and those stated in these declarations. Please refer to chapter 5 “Main risk factors and their management within the Group” of the Coface Group’s 2024 Universal Registration Document filed with AMF on 3 April 2025 under the number D.25-0227 in order to obtain a description of certain major factors, risks and uncertainties likely to influence the Coface Group’s businesses. The Coface Group disclaims any intention or obligation to publish an update of these forecasts, or provide new information on future events or any other circumstance.

Attachment

2025 04 04 PR Coface 2024 Universal Registration Document available

The MIL Network –

April 5, 2025

MIL-OSI: BW Offshore: Notification of trade

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Notification of trade

With reference to stock exchange releases dated 8 April 2019 and 5 April 2024.

In relation to BW Offshore’s (the “Company”) Long-Term Incentive Programme (LTIP) adopted in 2019, the Company’s exposure relating to the 2019 award was hedged by a Total Return Swap (“TRS”) agreement with financial exposure to 1 732 000 shares in BW Offshore.

The Company has today settled the TRS agreement underlying 1 732 000 shares in BW Offshore expiring 4 April 2025. The Company has subsequently entered into a new TRS agreement with exposure to the same number of underlying shares in BW Offshore with expiry date 4 July 2025 and a TRS price of NOK 28.45 per underlying share.

For further information, please contact:
Ståle Andreassen, CFO, +47 91 71 86 55
IR@bwoffshore.com or www.bwoffshore.com

About BW Offshore:
BW Offshore engineers innovative floating production solutions. The Company has a fleet of 2 FPSOs with potential and ambition to grow. By leveraging four decades of offshore operations and project execution, the Company creates tailored offshore energy solutions for evolving markets world-wide. BW Offshore has around 1,100 employees and is publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

The MIL Network –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: FS Bancorp, Inc. Authorizes Additional Share Repurchases

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash., April 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FS Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSBW) (“Company”), the holding company for 1st Security Bank of Washington (“Bank”) announced that its Board of Directors has authorized an additional repurchase of up to $5.0 million in shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions from time to time over a 12-month period until March 31, 2026, at such prices as may be determined by the Company’s management. The repurchase program will commence no sooner than the third trading day after the public announcement of this repurchase program. In addition, the previously announced repurchase plan, that was announced on November 15, 2024, has approximately $900,000 remaining that is authorized for repurchase.

The repurchase program permits shares to be repurchased in open market or private transactions or pursuant to a trading plan adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Repurchases will be made at management’s discretion at prices management considers to be attractive and in the best interests of both the Company and its shareholders, subject to the availability of stock, general market conditions, the trading price of the stock, alternative uses for capital, and the Company’s financial performance. Open market purchases will be conducted in accordance with the limitations set forth in Rule 10b-18 of the SEC and other applicable legal requirements.

The repurchase program may be suspended, terminated or modified at any time for any reason, including market conditions, the cost of repurchasing shares, the availability of alternative investment opportunities, liquidity, and other factors deemed appropriate. These factors may also affect the timing and amount of share repurchases. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular number of shares.

About FS Bancorp

FS Bancorp, Inc., a Washington corporation, is the holding company for 1st Security Bank of Washington. The Bank offers a range of loan and deposit services primarily to small- and middle-market businesses and individuals in Washington and Oregon. It operates through twenty-seven Bank branches, and one headquarters office that provide loan and deposit services, and loan production offices in various suburban communities in the greater Puget Sound area, the Kennewick-Pasco-Richland metropolitan area of Washington, also known as the Tri-Cities, and in Vancouver, Washington. Additionally, the Bank services home mortgage customers throughout the Northwest predominantly in Washington State including Puget Sound, Tri-Cities and Vancouver.

For more information visit 1st Security Bank’s website at www.fsbwa.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

When used in this press release and in other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in press releases or other public stockholder communications, or in oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer, the words or phrases “believe,” “will,” “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project,” “plans,” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent management’s current expectations and forecasts regarding future events, many of which are inherently uncertain and outside of our control. Actual results may differ, possibly materially from those currently expected or projected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, include but are not limited to, the following: potential adverse impacts to economic conditions in the Company’s local market areas, other markets where the Company has lending relationships, or other aspects of the Company’s business operations or financial markets, including, without limitation, as a result of employment levels; labor shortages, the effects of inflation, a potential recession or slowed economic growth caused by increasing political instability from acts of war, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as increasing prices and supply chain disruptions, and any governmental or societal response to new COVID-19 variants; increased competitive pressures, changes in the interest rate environment, adverse changes in the securities markets, the Company’s ability to successfully realize the anticipated benefits of the branch acquisitions, including customer acquisition and retention; the Company’s ability to execute its plans to grow its residential construction lending, mortgage banking, and warehouse lending operations, and the geographic expansion of its indirect home improvement lending; challenges arising from expanding into new geographic markets, products, or services; secondary market conditions for loans and the Company’s ability to originate loans for sale and sell loans in the secondary market; legislative and regulatory changes, including changes in banking, securities and tax law, in regulatory policies and principles, or the interpretation of regulatory capital or other rules; and other factors described in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other reports filed with and furnished to the SEC which are available on its website at www.fsbwa.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Any of the forward-looking statements that the Company makes in this press release and in the other public statements are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made and may turn out to be incorrect because of the inaccurate assumptions the Company might make, because of the factors illustrated above or because of other factors that cannot be foreseen by the Company. Therefore, these factors should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements. These risks could cause the Company’s actual results for 2024 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of the Company and could negatively affect its operating and stock performance.

Contacts:

Joseph C. Adams
Chief Executive Officer

Matthew D. Mullet
President and Chief Financial Officer
(425) 771-5299
www.FSBWA.com

The MIL Network –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to DSIT spending allocations for 2025/26

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

April 4, 2025

Scientists comment on DSIT research and development (R&D) spending allocations for 2025/2026.

Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said:

“The announcement of a flat cash settlement for UKRI and others in the sector offers some stability at a time of significant economic uncertainty.

“Amid a challenging funding envelope, the increased allocation for the science budget in DSIT can be seen as an acknowledgment of research’s central role in the UK’s future.

“Investing in science and research will unlock new knowledge and innovations which drive productivity and economic growth and improve people’s lives.

“We now await the Spending Review for the crucial detail of the Government’s long-term vision for science.”

Tom Grinyer, Chief Executive, Institute of Physics, said:

“At a time of economic challenge and uncertainty the announcement of similar funding to last year for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology for 25/26, is as positive an outcome as we could have expected.

“It’s good to see funding included for UK participation in Horizon Europe and our space programmes but there are challenges in some of the detail.

“A tight settlement like this means funding councils will be affected in different ways, and we know this will mean that difficult choices affecting key investment in research and infrastructure will need to be made.

“However, it remains the case that R&D is the engine of a thriving modern economy and society – it boosts business productivity, creates high-value jobs, unlocks technological advancements and powers the journey towards a green economy.

“We urge the Chancellor to now use the opportunity of June’s Spending Review to set out a bold, long-term plan for a world-class R&D system fuelled by increasing levels of investment and to start to develop and implement a decade long strategic plan for the physical sciences, to match the Government’s decade-long industrial strategy.”

Nicola Perrin, Chief Executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities, said:

“Research brings benefits to patients across the UK and is vital to economic growth and productivity. Continued government backing for R&D is therefore welcome, especially given the tough economic climate. We look forward to seeing this support reflected in upcoming developments such as the life sciences sector plan and Spending Review.”

Dr Daniel Rathbone, Deputy Executive Director, Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), said:

“We are very pleased to see the full publication of DSIT’s 2025/26 spending allocations. They confirm that last year’s Autumn budget included a strong settlement for R&D, one which has seen an overall increase on R&D spend within DSIT and includes full support for Horizon Europe association, something CaSE has campaigned for.

“However, despite this broadly positive outlook, the allocations show us that the financial year will be tight for UKRI, which appears to be receiving a flat cash settlement. This means that there will be difficult decisions about where to focus these resources in the coming year.

“Our public opinion research tells us the public want to see the Government invest in R&D and that the public see R&D as a tool for solving society’s problems. It is vital that, as a sector, we continue to make the case for an ambitious settlement for R&D in the upcoming spending review. We must build on the good news in these allocations, and work constructively to address any areas of concern.”

Declared interests

The nature of this story means everyone quoted above could be perceived to have a stake in it. As such, our policy is not to ask for interests to be declared – instead, they are implicit in each person’s affiliation.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Minister’s statement on March Labour Force Survey results

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, has issued the following statement on the release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey for March 2025:

“All over the world, people are looking for new trading partners as the tariff threat now impacts countries around the globe. We are working to diversify our trade to support our businesses and protect and create more jobs.

“Today’s Labour Force Survey data shows in March, while the national trend is down, B.C. held steady with a small increase of 5,700 jobs compared to last month, with the highest increase in full-time employment among provinces at 10,000. So far this year, B.C. has gained 35,400 full-time jobs, the highest increase among provinces.

“Compared to March of last year, B.C.’s private-sector employment is up by 32,700, the third-highest increase in private-sector employment across the country. And we have work to do to continue to support the private sector that is facing real impacts from Trump’s tariffs. Since July 2017, B.C. has gained 172,800 private-sector jobs.

“Our unemployment rate is 6.1%, one of the lowest in the country and below the national average of 6.7%. B.C. also continues to lead the country with an average hourly wage of $37.64, the highest among provinces.

“This month, women’s employment increased by 16,800, with full-time jobs up by 14,100 and part time up by 2,700. So far this year, B.C. has had the highest increase in women’s full-time employment among provinces, up by 32,500.

“The data this morning shows that in March, B.C. had employment increases in health care and social assistance (+6,600) and professional, scientific and technical services (+2,400). Construction has gained 14,500 jobs and manufacturing is up 8,600 jobs compared to this time last year.

“As British Columbians braced themselves for another week of uncertainty from the United States, our government continues to stand strong for people, take action and defend our jobs. This week, 22 B.C. companies and universities promoted the province’s unique technology products and services in Germany at Hannover Messe 2025, the world’s largest trade show for industrial and energy technologies.

“As we expand our trade diversification globally, we’re proud to showcase B.C.’s solutions to the challenges of advancing AI, improving energy efficiency and lessening the impacts of climate change worldwide. This is the largest number of B.C. companies that have chosen to travel to this event. Advancing our trade and investment opportunities on this global stage will open new markets for B.C.’s economy to grow and prosper, and create new jobs for people in British Columbia.

“B.C. is protecting services and defending people’s jobs and the economy. Growing a stronger and more diverse economy will help protect people in B.C. from instability outside our borders, with investments that will bring good-paying jobs to the province as part of robust and sustainable industries.”

Learn More:

To learn more about B.C.’s Response to Tariffs, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/tariffs

To learn more about B.C.’s trade presence at Hannover Messe, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025JEDI0014-000275

MIL OSI Canada News –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hoyer Statement on March Jobs Report

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today on the March jobs report:

“The March jobs report today revealed that 228,000 jobs were added to the economy last month and the unemployment rate rose to 4.2%. Sadly, these positive numbers do little to dispel the grave economic uncertainty that Americans are feeling as they watch Donald Trump willfully choosing to break the U.S. economy. After inheriting a country with rising employment and falling inflation, Donald Trump could have coasted on the progress Democrats made to lower costs, create jobs, and help American businesses and workers get ahead. Instead, he chose to put it all at risk.

“This week, Trump announced the largest tax increase on working-class Americans in our nation’s history. He is forcing American families to pay thousands of dollars more each year on groceries, gas, clothing, electronics, and a variety of other consumer goods while they watch their retirement savings deteriorate. Despite widespread concern from the boardroom to the kitchen table, Trump dismisses his tariffs’ devastating economic impact as ‘short term pain.’ I dare him to say that to the Americans who will struggle to keep food on the table, a roof over their head, and their small businesses open because his policies have raised prices across the board.”

MIL OSI USA News –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Left Unchecked, Climate Crisis Will Escalate,’ Warns Secretary-General in Message to Central Asia Conference

Source: United Nations 4

Following is the text of UN Secretary General António Guterres’ video message to the International Conference on Central Asia in the Face of Global Challenges; Consolidation for Common Prosperity, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan today:

Thank you for your invitation. I commend President [of Uzbekistan Shavkat] Mirziyoyev for hosting this conference — and for declaring 2025 the year of environmental protection and the green economy.

I also applaud the environment of dialogue and cooperation that characterizes the region today. This approach is reflected in the recent summit between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and their trilateral agreement on the Junction Point of State borders. And it is reflected in this International Conference today.

The climate crisis is taking hold around the world. The evidence is all around us — with the hottest days, the hottest months, the hottest years and the hottest decade on record.

We see it clearly in Central Asia with soaring temperatures, glacier retreat, droughts and worsening dust storms. Left unchecked, this crisis will only escalate — pummelling economies, taking lives, devastating livelihoods and imperilling food and water supplies.

The tragedy of the Aral Sea also shows how environmental destruction hurts people and communities. Cooperation throughout Central Asia is essential. And regional action must be complemented by global action.

New national climate plans — or NDCs [nationally determined contributions] — due this year must align with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C, as promised. And cover all emissions and the whole economy. The G20 [Group of 20] must lead.

This is an opportunity to bring together energy transition strategies and sustainable development priorities with climate action — to attract investment and build prosperity and security.

I urge all countries to take it. And to act to ensure the world makes good on climate finance commitments. We need confidence the new $1.3 trillion climate finance goal will be delivered.

We need developed countries to honour the promise of at least $40 billion a year for adaptation, by this year. And we must strengthen support for loss and damage to help the most vulnerable countries and people.

Once again, thank you for coming together to forge a path forward — and deliver. I wish you a successful conference.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Barr, AI, Fintechs, and Banks

Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

Good morning and thank you to the conference organizers for having me here today.1 It’s great to see such a diverse audience of fintech innovators, bankers, fellow regulators, and students. We all play a part in fostering responsible innovation. Responsible innovation requires a few things—having the optimism and curiosity to understand the potential benefits, the rigor and realism to identify the attendant risks, and the collective intent to find solutions to advance a safe and fair financial system.
Today, I’d like to speak about responsible innovation in the context of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) in banking and how bank–fintech partnerships may accelerate the integration of the technology and banking. Earlier this year, I laid out two scenarios for Gen AI adoption—an incremental scenario where the technology primarily augments what humans do today, and a transformative scenario where we extend human capabilities with far-reaching consequences.2 Of course, these are hypotheticals, and elements of both scenarios will likely come to pass. But in either scenario, we should anticipate widespread productivity gains, particularly for banking.3
Today, banks appear to be moving cautiously with their Gen AI use, which reflects the current state of the technology, as well as banks’ internal organizational structure and the highly regulated environment in which they operate. At the same time, Gen-AI offers enormous potential to significantly alter the business of banking, provided that the risks are managed appropriately. Given rapid advances in Gen AI every quarter, in the not-too-distant future, we may approach a point at which Gen AI becomes an imperative—a competitive necessity—in banking. To prepare for that point, it is useful for regulators and banks to think about the channels through which this competitive necessity may arise. Today, I want to focus on one of those channels, and that’s the bank–fintech relationship. Fintechs are well positioned to integrate Gen AI into their products and services, and banks have valuable data on customer behavior on which the Gen AI models can be optimized. Given these synergies, competition and cooperation between banks and fintechs will likely spur innovation and accelerate the integration of Gen AI into banking.
Gen AI may have benefits for consumers and businesses through better, cheaper, and faster financial services; however, to harness the upsides of Gen AI, banks, fintechs, and regulators all have a role to play in helping to ensure that the risks are managed.
Gen AI and BankingLet me begin with why Gen AI has such potential for the banking industry. The business of banking is data-driven—data underpin the decisions to set yields on deposits, underwrite and price credit products, and manage the attendant risks. While traditional forms of artificial intelligence have become essential in areas like fraud detection, Gen AI offers new possibilities for data analysis, taking into account a broader and more diverse set of data. Gen AI has benefits for document analysis, which could be applied to improve credit underwriting.
Beyond data processing and analytics, Gen AI-powered chatbots are already helping assist in customer service. While we still breathe a sigh of relief when we connect to a real customer service representative, this paradigm may change—Gen AI has the potential to enable such high-quality and efficient customer engagement and correct answers that customers may come to prefer Gen AI agents to people. Gen AI chatbots can break down complex tasks into component parts, split up tasks between several AI agents, and help customers make informed decisions. They can also replicate the human touch—adapting to the level of sophistication of their customers, anticipating the customer’s needs, and being empathetic to the customer’s experience—perhaps better than some humans.4
And moving to trading and capital markets, Gen AI-based analytic tools can build on existing algorithmic trading capabilities by harnessing an enormous knowledge base in both the public and private domains. These enhancements have the potential to enable decisions that are faster and more informed—although with some attendant risks as I’ve discussed previously.5
Why Not Yet?Given the potential for Gen AI to enhance banking, why do we not see widespread integration of Gen AI enhanced products and services in banking to date? There are several factors contributing to our current state. Let me highlight some key reasons.
Of course, one reason is that banks are being appropriately cautious in the highly regulated environment in which they operate. Beyond that, for some of these applications, the technology is not fully mature. For instance, Gen AI systems may still hallucinate, generating plausible sounding but inaccurate information. Relatedly, because Gen AI usually involves stochastic processes, answers can differ in response to the same query asked at different times or to similar queries. This is tough to square with the requirements of banking, where decisions must be well-controlled, numerically and legally precise, explainable, and replicable.
Information security is another key concern. To the extent that a Gen AI-powered agent is accessing sensitive customer data and authorizing transactions, it becomes an attractive target for malicious actors.6 Further, as Gen AI models process vast amounts of data, there’s a risk that proprietary or customer information could be inadvertently included in the model’s outputs or responses, leading to legal violations and privacy breaches.
Moreover, business processes at banks have not evolved to optimize Gen AI usage. Gen AI requires data and infrastructure to be effective. Many banks have existing tech debt, and their data storage is siloed and not optimized for firmwide analysis. Furthermore, there may be organizational practices that may make it hard to evolve existing processes to ones optimized by AI.
The technological and organizational limitations are real. Nevertheless, I think it may be only a matter of time before the technology advances so that these are engineering, product design, and risk management challenges—rather than insurmountable problems. And with regard to the business process issues, I think fintechs have a real role to play in helping to accelerate responsible innovation by banks in this space.
Features of Fintechs and BanksAs Gen AI technology continues to develop, there’s a good chance that fintechs will help drive widespread Gen AI adoption in financial services. There are a few reasons why this may be the case. First, fintechs are generally young companies with a clean tech stack and don’t have to integrate new technology into old infrastructure. This allows them to make the most of their data and continuously integrate the latest AI capabilities. Second, these firms have financial and time constraints. Early funding rounds provide limited time and resources to demonstrate outcomes and drive fintechs to find effective, quick solutions, which often involve creative uses of cutting-edge technology. Third, because fintechs usually start as a simple business idea and focus on moving one product to production, they can optimize their tech stack for a single outcome instead of balancing the interests of competing business lines.
These attributes of fintechs can make them symbiotic with banks. Banks have deep customer data, and data are a key input to effective application of machine learning models, including large language models. Banks are also able to look across a range of business lines and use Gen AI to customize integrated sales strategies, and they have the scale to adopt global Gen AI solutions for compliance and risk management. And banks have existing customer relationships and mature control frameworks that form the basis of their credibility and trust.
Another way to consider the relationship of fintechs and banks is as a race between speed and scale. Fintechs have the ability to operate at speed but start with no scale. Banks, on the other hand, move more slowly but have scale in terms of investment, consumer reach, and risk management. This creates the dynamic where fintechs must attempt to scale their market share quickly enough to overcome the scale and incumbent advantage of the banks.7
Bank–Fintech Relationship as an Accelerant for AI AdoptionAnd this leads me to my next point—I believe that the bank–fintech relationship has the potential to accelerate adoption of Gen AI in financial services. This may come in the form of direct competition, with fintechs taking market share from banks for certain products, or banks crowding out fintechs by introducing better technology into their existing or new product lines. Such competition usually benefits consumers by providing more choice and better and cheaper products, provided that the risks are appropriately managed. It may also create competitive pressure and consumer demand that pushes banks to adopt Gen AI products and solutions more quickly.
Alternatively, fintechs and banks may enter into a symbiotic relationship, forming collaborative partnerships where fintechs and banks merge their strengths. Examples of these partnerships may include banks purchasing or investing capital in fintechs with Gen AI products, or banks and fintechs entering into traditional vendor–client relationships.
Responsibility for AI Risk ManagementThere’s one common theme in these scenarios: technology advances outside of the bank perimeter and rapidly enters the regulated sector. To get prepared for this moment, bank risk managers and regulators should become familiar with Gen AI trends and monitor developments outside the bank perimeter so that they are not caught off guard as this technology quickly enters the banking system.
We have a shared role in creating the incentive structure to appropriately manage risks. To the extent banks are using Gen AI or offering Gen AI products and services, they have the responsibility to manage their risk, and should use their relationships to incentivize good risk management practices for fintechs.8 This means choosing fintech partners that provide transparency and clarity regarding the development of AI tools and have demonstrated appropriate control in deployment. There’s necessary tension here, as banks must understand the tools offered by their fintech partners for their own risk management, while fintechs may not want to share details they hold close—their secret sauce. With respect to Gen AI, it is important for fintechs and banks to tackle questions like who owns the customer data, and potential conflicts that may arise if a bank’s customer data are fed back into a fintech’s Gen AI model.
Fintechs also have an important role to play in laying the groundwork for good risk management of Gen AI.9 As I’ve mentioned before, data quality and model training are critical to safe, sound, and fair use of these tools.10 Fintech developers should, for example, prioritize identifying biases in training data sets and monitoring outputs in order to prevent those biases from amplifying inequalities or mispricing risks. Moreover, fintechs should be aware of how banks manage risk, so that the fintech can adapt Gen AI solutions to be compatible with sound risk management approaches.
And what should regulators do? As I’ve mentioned, regulators need to stay educated and informed on the technology, so that they understand the business case for deploying the technology and the attendant risks. They should review and update existing standards on model risk management, as appropriate, and engage in public–private forums where there are opportunities to work together. And they need to explore how and when to deploy the technology themselves, to remain in touch in the changing world and make reasoned judgments about how to supervise the use of Gen AI in the banking sector.
These changes will require broad-based curiosity from regulators, fintechs, and banks—combined with education and investment—to create a culture of awareness on the opportunity and risks of the technology. Equally as important is leadership, to establish appropriate governance over AI and provide appropriate direction on priorities.
ConclusionIn closing, successful integration of Gen AI into banking will require both creativity in adoption as well as getting the guardrails right. That’s not a zero-sum game. It’s an opportunity for all stakeholders—banks, fintechs, regulators, and consumers—to help to set the foundation for the benefits of the technology to be achieved and the risks to be effectively managed. In this way, we can help to be part of the sound and resilient financial system for all. Thank you.

1. The views expressed here are my own and are not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text
2. Michael S. Barr, “Artificial Intelligence: Hypothetical Scenarios for the Future,” speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, New York, February 18, 2025. Return to text
3. See the SAS web page, Cashing In: Study Shows Banks Investing Big in GenAI, and It’s Paying Off, https://www.sas.com/en_us/news/press-releases/2024/october/generativeai-banking.html. Return to text
4. J.W. Ayers, A. Poliak, M. Dredze, et al., “Comparing Physician and Artificial Intelligence Chatbot Responses to Patient Questions Posted to a Public Social Media Forum,” JAMA Internal Medicine, April 28, 2023;183(6):589–96, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2804309. Return to text
5. Michael S. Barr, “Artificial Intelligence: Hypothetical Scenarios for the Future,” speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, New York, February 18, 2025. Return to text
6. For instance, see NIST blog, “Technical Blog: Strengthening AI Agent Hijacking Evaluations,” January 17, 2025. Return to text
7. And many fintechs have success, achieving significant scale in a relatively short period. Return to text
8. See Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, SR letter 23-4, “Interagency Guidance on Third-Party Relationships: Risk Management” (June 7, 2023). Return to text
9. See Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, SR letter 11-77, “Guidance on Model Risk Management.” Return to text
10. Michael S. Barr, “Artificial Intelligence: Hypothetical Scenarios for the Future,” speech. Return to text

MIL OSI USA News –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Decision by the Commission to authorize Ontario Power Generation Inc. to construct 1 BWRX-300 reactor at the Darlington New Nuclear Project site
Source: Government of Canada News

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment; to implement Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and to disseminate objective scientific, technical and regulatory information to the public.

The Commission is a quasi-judicial administrative tribunal set up at arm’s length from government, independent from any political, government or private sector influence. It makes decisions with respect to regulating nuclear safety, including licensing decisions, and is also independent of CNSC staff.

1.1 The licensee: Ontario Power Generation

Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG) is an Ontario government business enterprise that operates the Darlington Nuclear site. The site includes the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, the Darlington Waste Management Facility, the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) site, support facilities and offices.

The site is located in the Municipality of Clarington, Ontario, within the traditional lands and waters of the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg, the Gunshot Treaty (1877–88), the Williams Treaties (1923), and the Williams Treaties First Nations Settlement Agreement (2018).

1.2 The Darlington New Nuclear Project

The DNNP, a proposed project from OPG, represents the site preparation, construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of up to 4 new nuclear reactors at the existing Darlington Nuclear site. The DNNP site is located on the eastern third of the Darlington Nuclear site. The goal of this project is to generate up to 4,800 megawatts of electricity for the Ontario grid. The DNNP would be a Class IA nuclear facility, per section 1 of the Class I Nuclear Facilities Regulations. OPG currently holds a CNSC power reactor site preparation licence for the DNNP.

The DNNP was subject to an environmental assessment (EA) conducted by a joint review panel (JRP) under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The EA was completed in 2012, and the Government of Canada determined that the DNNP was not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

In December 2021, OPG announced that it had selected the General Electric Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor for deployment at the DNNP site. In October 2022, OPG applied to the CNSC for a licence to construct 1 BWRX-300 reactor for this project. In April 2024, the Commission determined that the EA for the DNNP remained applicable to the selected reactor technology.

1.3 Matters for decision

The Commission considered a licensing decision under paragraphs 24(4)(a) and (b) of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA) whether to authorize OPG to construct, and if so, with what terms and conditions.

This decision engaged the CNSC, as an agent of the Crown contemplating decisions with the potential to impact asserted or established Aboriginal rights, to discharge the duty to consult and, where appropriate, to accommodate Aboriginal rights under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. Prior to making its decision, the Commission had to determine if this duty had been met.

1.4 Duty to consult

As described in detail in its decision, the Commission was satisfied that the honour of the Crown had been upheld and that the legal obligation to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate Indigenous interests had been satisfied relative to the Commission’s licensing decision. The Commission’s decision directs OPG and CNSC staff to implement accommodation measures to further enable the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge and practices into both the conduct of licensed activities and CNSC oversight.

1.5 Licence to construct

The Commission decided to issue nuclear power reactor construction licence PRCL 32.00/2035 to OPG for the construction of 1 BWRX-300 reactor at the DNNP site. In making its decision, the Commission concluded that OPG is qualified to carry out the activities authorized under the licence to construct; that OPG has adequate programs in place to ensure that the health and safety of workers, the public and the environment will be protected under the licence to construct; and that OPG will make adequate provision for the maintenance of national security and to implement international obligations to which Canada has agreed.

The licence is valid until March 31, 2035, and includes 4 site-specific licence conditions that require OPG to:
- implement the mitigation measures proposed and commitments made during the Darlington JRP process, including the applicable recommendations of the Darlington JRP Report, in accordance with the Government of Canada response
- implement and maintain an environmental assessment follow-up program
- obtain the approval of the Commission, or consent of a person authorized by the Commission, prior to the removal of established regulatory hold points
- conduct Indigenous engagement activities, specific to the DNNP, throughout the licence period
As part of its decision, the Commission also accepted OPG’s proposed financial guarantee in the form of a letter of credit in the amount of $167,180,000.

The decision by the Commission does not authorize the operation of a BWRX-300 reactor at the DNNP site. Authorization to operate the reactor would be subject to a future Commission licensing hearing and decision, should OPG come forward with a licence application to do so.

1.6 Regulatory hold points

Under the licence, OPG is required to provide additional information to the CNSC prior to undertaking specific construction activities. Commitments that are essential to verify compliance with regulatory requirements related to the safety analysis and design of structures, systems, and components that are important to safety are tied to 3 regulatory hold points (RHP):
- RHP-1: Installation of the Reactor Building Foundation
- RHP-2: Installation of the Reactor Pressure Vessel
- RHP-3: Fuel-Out Commissioning
As part of its decision, the Commission authorized the CNSC Executive Vice-President and Chief Regulatory Operations Officer, Regulatory Operations Branch to administer licence condition 15.3 with respect to the removal of regulatory hold points.

1.7 Building trust and advancing reconciliation

As Canada’s nuclear regulator, the CNSC is committed to building trust and advancing reconciliation.

As a lifecycle regulator, the CNSC focuses on continuous engagement and consultation with Indigenous Nations and communities before, during and after Commission proceedings for CNSC activities. This includes, for example, sharing project information, encouraging participation in public proceedings, and providing participant funding.

Going forward, the CNSC will continue its work to develop and nurture long-term relationships with the Indigenous Nations and communities that have been, and will continue to be, involved in the regulatory process for the DNNP.

Additional information on the CNSC’s consultations in the context of the DNNP can be found in CNSC staff’s review of the proposed DNNP.

Timeline
- In September 2006, OPG applied for a licence to prepare a site for the DNNP.
- In May 2007, the CNSC began the EA for the DNNP.
- In March 2008, the federal Minister of the Environment referred the EA to a JRP.
- On August 25, 2011, the JRP submitted its EA report to the Minister of the Environment, concluding that, “the Project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, provided the mitigation measures proposed and commitments made by OPG during the review, and the Panel’s recommendations are implemented.”
- On May 2, 2012, the Government of Canada responded to the EA report, accepting or “accepting the intent” of all of the JRP’s recommendations.
- On August 17, 2012, the JRP, as a panel of the Commission, issued OPG a 10-year site preparation licence for the DNNP.
- On October 12, 2021, the Commission renewed OPG’s licence to prepare site
- In December 2021, OPG announced its selection of the General Electric Hitachi BWRX-300 small modular reactor technology for deployment at the DNNP site
- In October 2022, OPG applied for a licence to construct 1 BWRX-300 reactor
- On April 19, 2024, the Commission determined that the BWRX-300 reactor is not fundamentally different from the technologies assessed in the EA and that a new EA was not required
- On June 27, 2024, the Commission announced that it would hold a 2-part public hearing to consider and decide on OPG’s application for a licence to construct 1 BWRX-300 reactor at its DNNP site
- On October 2, 2024 and January 8 to 10, 13 and 14, 2025, the Commission held a 2-part public hearing on OPG’s licence to construct application
Related links

Contact

Media Relations
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Tel: 613-996-6860

Email: media@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

MIL OSI Canada News –
April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Ending unnecessary holdbacks to make more water available
Alberta’s communities and economy are growing fast, and so does the demand for water. Traditionally, water transfers required 10 percent of the water be held back, often preventing readily available water from being safely used by irrigators, businesses and communities that need it.

Alberta’s government has released three new policy directions so that water is only held back when absolutely needed. These new rules will make water transfers easier, free up more water in southern and central Alberta, and support economic growth for agriculture, industry and municipalities.

“Alberta communities, irrigators, and industry have asked for a more flexible system. Removing unnecessary holdbacks will make it easier – and less costly – for water license users to get the water they need, when they need it most, without reducing their overall allocation.”

Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

Previously, 10 per cent holdbacks were taken for most licence transfers. Alberta’s government recently engaged with water users across the province and heard repeatedly that unnecessary holdbacks are reducing water-sharing, adding unnecessary costs and limiting the potential water supply during droughts and shortages. For example, under the previous system, a southern Alberta irrigator transferring water to another farmer would have had to hold back 10 per cent of that amount, often meaning that thousands of cubic meters of water cannot go to where they are desperately needed.

Now, water will only be held back as needed to prevent negatively affecting other water users or the environment, in line with the requirements under the Water Act. In Alberta, water licences are already issued with specific conditions designed to protect the aquatic environment, meaning most additional holdbacks are not needed. This change will also make the system more effective as water licence holders can now transfer unused water to others who need it.

The new guidance applies to all river basins where transfers are allowed, including the South Saskatchewan River, Battle River and Milk River. The new policy guidance will make sure that future decisions on transfer applications follow a consistent and common-sense approach across regions for determining if holdbacks are needed.

This is part of the province’s ongoing work to maximize water availability in Alberta. The government engaged with Albertans in late 2024 and early 2025 to hear ideas about how to strengthen and modernize the water system. This is complex and nuanced work and government is working to identify which gaps and opportunities can be addressed in 2025, and which will require further engagement with Albertans to explore options and plans for implementation.

Quick facts
- There are about 25,000 water licences in Alberta.
- The Water Act enables licences to be transferred, in whole or in part, in areas where an approved water management plan is established. Approved plans are in place in the Milk, South Saskatchewan and Battle River basins.
- As of January 2025, there have been 407 completed water transfers, most of which occurred in the South Saskatchewan River Basin and some in the Battle River basin.
  - Holdbacks were taken in 256 of 407 completed transfers.
Related information
- Guide to 10% holdbacks for water transfers – Battle River basin
- Guide to 10% holdbacks for water transfers – Milk River basin
- Guide to 10% holdbacks for water transfers – South Saskatchewan River basin
Related news
- Cutting wait times for water permits (Nov. 1, 2024)
MIL OSI Canada News –
April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Delivers Strongest Labour Market in Canada with Highest Job Creation and Lowest Unemployment Rate

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on April 4, 2025

Statistics Canada’s latest labour force numbers show continued growth in Saskatchewan with 19,800 jobs added year-over-year in March, leading the nation with a 3.4 per cent job growth rate. Saskatchewan also had the lowest unemployment rate among provinces at 4.9 per cent, well below the national average of 6.7 per cent.

“Saskatchewan continues to have one of the strongest labour markets in Canada,” Deputy Premier and Minister of Immigration and Career Training Jim Reiter said. “Our government has made Saskatchewan the first carbon tax free province in Canada which will ensure that we remain the most attractive jurisdiction in the nation for businesses looking to create jobs and opportunities for our residents.”

Year-over-year, full-time employment increased by 5,400 an increase of 1.1 per cent. There are more women working in Saskatchewan than ever before with female employment reaching an all-time high of 287,000. Female employment is up 11,300 which is an increase of 4.1 per cent and male employment is up 8,400 an increase of 2.7 per cent.

Saskatchewan’s two biggest cities also saw year-over-year growth. Compared to March 2024, Saskatoon’s employment was up 4,800, an increase of 2.5 per cent, and Regina’s employment was up 3,500, an increase of 2.5 per cent.

Major year-over-year gains were reported for construction up 8,700, an increase of 24.2 per cent. Health care and social assistance is up 8,100 an increase of 8.8 per cent and educational services is up 4,900 an increase of 8.7 per cent.

The province continues to see economic growth in other areas. In January 2025, Saskatchewan ranked first year-over-year amongst provinces for growth in new motor vehicle sales (17.3 per cent) and second for growth in retail sales (11.5 per cent). Year to date Saskatchewan also had the second highest growth rate amongst provinces for urban housing starts (51.5 per cent).

This economic growth is backed by the Government of Saskatchewan’s recently released Building the Workforce for a Growing Economy: The Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy, a roadmap to build the workforce needed to support Saskatchewan’s strong and growing economy, and Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy, a plan to increase investment in the province and to furth advancing Saskatchewan’s Growth plan goal of $16 billion in private capital investment annually.

-30-

For more information, contact:

MIL OSI Canada News –

April 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: BAWAG Group: Annual General Meeting approves dividend of € 5.50 per share
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Today, BAWAG Group’s shareholders approved the proposal from the Management Board as well as the Supervisory Board for a dividend of € 5.50 per share for the 2024 financial year.

The dividend will be paid out on April 11, 2025, ex dividend day will be April 8, 2025.

Anas Abuzaakouk, CEO, presented at the Annual General Meeting: “This past year has been another record year for the Group. We delivered net profit of € 760 million, EPS of € 9.60, a return on tangible common equity (RoTCE) of 26%, and a cost-income ratio (CIR) of 33.5%. Our success is a testimony to the merits of being patient, disciplined, and making strategic decisions with a long-term perspective. We also completed two strategic acquisitions that will fundamentally change the contours of our business. Despite our record performance in 2024, I’m more excited about our prospects today than I have ever been as our our best years lie ahead!”

In addition, the AGM elected following individuals as members of the Supervisory Board:
- Pat McClanahan
- Kim Fennebresque
- Frederick Haddad
- Veronika Heise-Rotenburg
- Tamara Kapeller
- Robert Oudmayer
- Tina Reich
- Ahmed Saeed
Following the AGM, the newly constituted Supervisory Board elected Kim Fennebresque as the Chairman.

Kim Fennebresque, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, continued: “I am deeply honored to have been nominated as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BAWAG Group. I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Supervisory Board members. With the addition of these talented individuals, we are bringing on a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and banking experience as we continue to grow the business and expand our footprint. Additionally, and on behalf of the entire Supervisory Board, I would like to thank my predecessor Egbert Fleischer for his distinguished service. He provided great leadership to the entire Supervisory Board during his service. I would also like to express my gratitude to our outgoing Supervisory Board members for their dedication and contributions over the years. As for the Management Team, I am incredibly proud of their commitment and achievements since our IPO in 2017 and look forward to working together in the years ahead.”

All resolution proposals of this year’s Annual General Meeting were approved with the required majority. The details of the Annual General Meeting are available on BAWAG Group’s website.

BAWAG Group will report its Q1 2025 results on April 29, 2025.

About BAWAG Group

BAWAG Group AG is a publicly listed holding company headquartered in Vienna, Austria, serving more than 4 million retail, small business, corporate, real estate and public sector customers across Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Western Europe, and the United States. The Group operates under various brands and across multiple channels offering comprehensive savings, payment, lending, leasing, investment, building society, factoring and insurance products and services. Our goal is to deliver simple, transparent, and affordable financial products and services that our customers need.

BAWAG Group’s Investor Relations website https://www.bawaggroup.com/ir contains further information, including financial and other information for investors.

Forward looking statement

This release contains “forward-looking statements” regarding the financial condition, results of operations, business plans and future performance of BAWAG Group. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could” and other similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, the regulatory environment, loan concentrations, vendors, employees, technology, competition, and interest rates. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements as actual results may differ materially from the results predicted. Neither BAWAG Group nor any of its affiliates, advisors or representatives shall have any liability whatsoever (in negligence or otherwise) for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this report or its content or otherwise arising in connection with this document. This report does not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities and neither it nor any part of it shall form the basis of or be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever. This statement is included for the express purpose of invoking “safe harbor provisions”.

Contact:

Financial Community:
Jutta Wimmer (Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability)
Tel: +43 (0) 5 99 05-22474

IR Hotline: +43 (0) 5 99 05-34444
E-mail: investor.relations@bawaggroup.com

Media:
Manfred Rapolter (Head of Corporate Communications and Social Engagement)
Tel: +43 (0) 5 99 05-31210
E-mail: communications@bawaggroup.com

This text can also be downloaded from our website: https://www.bawaggroup.com

The MIL Network –
April 5, 2025

Category: Economy

How I got into science

How Public Administration Relates to Field Research

What am I studying?

What was my first big study about?

What interested me most

What else am I studying?

What to see in Kamchatka

What results I am proud of

What’s wrong with being a taxi driver

What I dream about

If I hadn’t become a scientist

If I hadn’t become a scientist

Who would I like to meet?

How my typical day is structured

Where will I go this year

Do I get burnout?

What am I interested in besides science?

What I read recently

Advice to young scientists

Favorite place in Moscow

The three most beautiful places I have seen on expeditions

Who owns what?

All-American brands

Do boycotts work?

DelBene, Panetta, Beyer, Schneider, Sewell Introduce Legislation to Reclaim Congressional Trade Powers

April 4, 2025

1.1 The licensee: Ontario Power Generation

1.2 The Darlington New Nuclear Project

1.3 Matters for decision

1.4 Duty to consult

1.5 Licence to construct

1.6 Regulatory hold points

1.7 Building trust and advancing reconciliation

Quick facts

Related information

Related news