Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
For the All-Russian competition “Best MFC of Russia” in 2024, the subjects of the Russian Federation submitted 186 applications – a record number in the entire history of the competition. Their number increased by 17% compared to the previous year. This became possible due to the expansion of categories within the nomination “Best MFC Specialist”.
Traditionally, the competition is held in three nominations: “Best MFC Project”, “Best Regional MFC Network” and “Best MFC Specialist”.
In the nomination “Best MFC Project” 42 applications were submitted: the best projects on work with both internal and external clients are presented. In the nomination “Best Regional MFC Network” MFCs of 41 subjects are presented. As always, the most popular nomination was “Best MFC Specialist”: 103 applications were submitted. Universal specialists of the centers, mentors and specialists of the user support sectors will compete for this title.
At the next stage, the contestants will have a public defense of their projects (nomination “Best MFC Project”), professional and psychological testing, an interview with members of the central competition committee (nomination “Best MFC Specialist”) and an assessment of their questionnaire data (nomination “Best Regional MFC Network”).
“Today, there are more than 11.5 thousand My Documents offices operating in Russia, 96% of the population is covered by the network. In 2024, more than 165 million requests were recorded – an annual increase in the number of requests to State Service Centers by 10% confirms the importance of the MFC as the main channel of communication between citizens and the state. Therefore, it is doubly gratifying to note that the interest of colleagues in the competition is increasing every year, they are ready to present and defend their best practices,” commented Kirill Albychev, Director of the Department for Ensuring the Quality of Public Services to the Population and the Performance of State Functions of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.
The results of the competition will be announced in the fall at the All-Russian MFC Forum.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The state continues to support the tourism industry, paying special attention to the development of organized tourism to countries with favorable conditions for Russian travelers. The Federation Council approved changes to the legislation that will reduce the financial burden on tour operators working with neighboring friendly states. The list of such countries that meet safety requirements and are popular with Russian tourists will soon be approved by the Russian Government.
According to the new regulations, tour operators that specialize exclusively in trips to neighboring friendly states will be able to form financial security for liability in the amount of 500 thousand rubles – just like companies working in the field of domestic tourism. The new regulations also stipulate that tour operators will be able to ignore the total cost of tours to these countries when calculating contributions to mandatory funds for tour operators in the field of outbound tourism. This approach will preserve the mandatory nature of these funds aimed at reimbursing tourists and returning Russian tourists from abroad, and will also significantly reduce the costs of tour operators, which will ultimately have a positive effect on the price of tours.
“Simplifying financial requirements will allow tour operators to more actively develop new routes, offer more vacation options at affordable prices, and most importantly, provide additional protection for tourists. Travel will become more accessible, while the level of protection of travelers’ rights will remain high. It is important to remember that organized tours are safer than independent trips, as they include insurance, emergency support, and a guaranteed return home if necessary,” said Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov.
For tourists, these changes mean several important advantages. The cost of tours to friendly countries may decrease, as tour operators will be able to optimize their expenses. In addition, reducing the financial burden will help legalize part of the tourism business, which currently operates in the gray zone.
An increase in the number of companies offering organized vacations will provide greater protection for tourists compared to independent travel: in the event of flight cancellations or other force majeure circumstances, the tour operator is obliged to provide alternative services or organize a return to the home country. Each tourist will be insured by the financial security of the tour operator’s liability and funds of such tour operators, and information about their trip will be recorded in the state system, which will allow prompt assistance if necessary. The transfer of independent travelers to the organized tourist flow will allow better control over the movement of citizens and promptly respond to any crisis situations abroad.
“This is an important and timely measure. It promotes travel to friendly countries, opens up opportunities for the formation of interesting, competitive price offers. For tour operators working in other outbound destinations, this is an opportunity to minimize the total cost of the tourism product, from which the amount of contributions to the FPO is calculated, and therefore reduce the burden on business,” said Deputy General Director for Government Relations and Communications of the tour operator FUN
The federal law will come into force on September 1, 2025 – this is another step towards strengthening tourism cooperation with friendly countries and developing mutually beneficial economic ties.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held the 39th meeting of the Federal Headquarters for Gasification. It was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Energy, Gazprom, Gazprom Mezhregiongaz, the Government Coordination Center, the Federal Antimonopoly Service, and regional authorities.
During the meeting of the federal headquarters, they discussed the progress of implementing the instructions of the President of Russia on connecting households to gas, including those in the territory of gardening non-profit partnerships (SNT) located in populated areas, and social facilities in the first half of 2025, and also determined a work plan for the second half of the year.
“The President has ordered that natural gas be supplied to 1.6 million households by 2030. An additional task has been set to supply additional gas to gardening associations,” recalled Alexander Novak, opening the headquarters meeting.
In total, over 1.5 million gas connection contracts have been concluded since the start of the pre-gasification program in 2021. Technical connection capability has been created for over 1.6 million households. Over 1.3 million contracts have been executed up to the boundaries of consumers’ land plots. 1,047 contracts have been concluded with medical and educational institutions.
According to the Ministry of Energy, the number of households that received the technical capability to conduct gas supply in 2025 increased by 223 thousand. The schedule for additional gasification of SNT includes more than 200 thousand houses, 43 thousand contracts have already been concluded, more than 8650 of them have been executed up to the boundaries of the plots, more than 3.7 thousand gas connections to houses have been made. The process of inventorying SNT and registering residential buildings as property continues, which is a mandatory condition for obtaining the ability to conduct gas supply to them.
The head of the Mari El Republic, Yuri Zaitsev, and the acting head of the Tambov Region, Evgeny Pervyshov, reported on the progress of additional gasification in the regions. They reported on the fulfillment of planned indicators for gas supply to households, the continuation of work on additional gasification of SNTs, and measures to support preferential categories of citizens when gas is supplied to homes.
The Deputy Prime Minister instructed the regional authorities to pay attention to the need to increase the number of gas supplies to residential buildings. The heads of regional gasification headquarters were instructed to assess the level of use of funds allocated to support preferential categories of citizens for gas supply.
Alexander Novak also drew special attention to the need to intensify work on additional gasification of SNT, taking into account the high potential for additional gasification of garden associations located within the boundaries of populated areas.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
RIO DE JANEIRO, July 17 (Xinhua) — More than 250 representatives from nearly 150 media outlets, think tanks, government agencies and regional organizations from 36 countries gathered in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday for the BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum. The event focused on advancing BRICS cooperation and strengthening solidarity among countries in the Global South.
In his keynote speech, the forum’s chairman and Xinhua News Agency Director General Fu Hua said that cooperation within the “greater BRICS” plays a key role in uniting countries of the Global South, strengthening their influence on world affairs and advancing global governance reform.
The forum is entering its second decade, Fu Hua said, stressing that Xinhua intends to work with its BRICS counterparts to better cover developments in the Global South, promote joint research on key issues and deepen professional cooperation.
In a congratulatory letter, Chinese Ambassador to Brazil Zhu Qingqiao praised the inclusion of discussions on artificial intelligence in the forum’s program and emphasized its role in implementing the results of the 17th BRICS Leaders’ Meeting.
The diplomat expressed hope that the forum would strengthen BRICS’ position as a platform for South-South cooperation and as a voice in support of global governance reform.
Other speakers echoed these calls. Central American Parliament President Carlos Hernandez said global governance was in dire need of new models and new voices.
“The countries represented here today are showing the way forward – a path based on equitable development, dignity and multilateralism,” stressed C. Hernandez.
First Deputy Director General of the Russian news agency TASS Mikhail Gusman noted that the BRICS countries reflect the diversity of emerging economies.
According to him, against the backdrop of growing global challenges in the media sphere, cooperation between the media of the BRICS countries plays an important role in protecting truth, justice and peace.
Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly Vice President Tia Zhu praised China’s efforts to bring together countries in the Global South and pointed to the need for media cooperation to increase BRICS’ international visibility and influence.
Eidkol Polevnsky Hurwitz, Chair of the Mexican Senate Committee on Asia-Pacific Relations, said Mexico shares with BRICS the vision of inclusive growth and fair trade.
“We cannot allow external interference in our development paths. Together we must build a multipolar world,” she stressed, referring to the Chinese concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
At the end of the forum, an analytical report “BRICS Cooperation: Promoting Collective Progress in the Global South” was published. In addition, two major initiatives were launched – the Joint Communication Partnership Programme of the Global South and the content collaboration project “Connecting BRICS: Voices from the South”.
The forum, titled “One BRICS: Opening a New Chapter for the Global South,” was the first full-scale meeting of the BRICS media mechanism since the historic expansion of the group and was co-hosted by China’s Xinhua News Agency and the Brazilian Communications Company. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The Human Rights Committee this afternoon closed its one hundred and forty-fourth session in Geneva after adopting its concluding observations on the reports of Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Latvia, North Macedonia, Spain and Viet Nam, which were reviewed during the session.
Changrok Soh, Committee Chairperson, said the Committee had come to the end of a productive session and commended the Committee members for their commitment and professionalism. The Committee had held constructive dialogues with Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Latvia, North Macedonia, Spain and Viet Nam. The concluding observations would be issued on the Committee’s webpagelater today.
Mr. Soh said also during the session, the Committee adopted nine lists of issues prior to reporting related to Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Denmark, Ghana, Liechtenstein, Morocco, Sweden and Switzerland.
On individual communications, the Committee considered 22 drafts, including one draft decision prepared in accordance with the simplified format adopted by the Committee at its one hundred and fortieth session. The drafts related to 51 communications: 26 were decided on the merits, 12 communications were declared inadmissible, and 13 communications were discontinued. Regarding the communications decided on the merits, the Committee found violations in 25 of them.
The Committee also adopted the follow up report on concluding observations of Armenia and Germany.
Mr. Soh said the Committee’s one hundred and forty-fifth session was scheduled to take place in March 2026, instead of October 2025 as originally planned, due to the financial crisis. The Committee greatly regretted the cancellation of the October session, which was unprecedented in the Committee’s 50-year history. As a result, the Committee had convened an emergency meeting with States parties at this session and he expressed appreciation for the 60 States that had attended and were committed to finding solutions which enabled the Committee to fulfil its mandate.
At its next session from 2 to 19 March 2026, the Committee is scheduled to review the periodic reports of Andorra, Canada, Chad, Republic of Moldova and Slovakia, and adopt lists of issues prior to reporting on Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cabo Verde, Czechia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Hungary, Mexico and Senegal, as well as the list of issues on Rwanda.
In closing, Mr. Soh expressed appreciation to members of the bureau as well as the members of the Secretariat, the Petitions Section, United Nations entities, civil society and all those who made the session possible.
Before the meeting closed, several Committee Members took the floor, discussing the unique and challenging situation which the Committee had found itself in, and the impact that the financial crisis had on the work of the Committee. Despite the constraints, the current session had still been productive, and the Committee would continue to strive to ensure the human rights of people all around the world. Experts thanked all those responsible for the success of the current session. It was hoped Member States could come together to solve the current challenges, and that all sessions could take place next year as planned.
The Committee’s next session is scheduled to be held from 2 to 19 March 2026, during which it will review the reports of Andorra, Canada, Chad, Republic of Moldova and Slovakia.
___________
Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin held a meeting of the presidium (headquarters) of the Government Commission on Regional Development, where they discussed the preliminary results of the work and the implementation of indicators within the framework of the national project “Infrastructure for Life”.
“On the instructions of the President, we continue to monitor housing construction as a key driver of regional development. This is important for improving the lives of citizens, stimulating the development of related industries and creating conditions for the comprehensive renewal of settlements. Despite the fact that the urban development potential is more than 463 million square meters, which is slightly higher than last year, we still see a cooling of the market. I ask all heads of regions to take personal control of this issue, to work on increasing the urban development potential, and also to work manually with each developer so that all houses are necessarily delivered on time,” said Marat Khusnullin.
In terms of the implementation of key indicators, Marat Khusnullin noted the Ryazan, Saratov, Lipetsk regions, the republics of Buryatia, Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, and Perm Krai for their high results. Reports were made by the governor of the Ryazan region Pavel Malkov, the head of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic Kazbek Kokov.
Marat Khusnullin also congratulated the headquarters participants on the extension of the federal highway M-12 “Vostok” to Yekaterinburg. On July 16, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched traffic on the new section of the federal highway M-12 “Vostok” from the city of Dyurtyuli to the village of Achit. Now the route between St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg can be covered in an average of 22 hours – almost twice as fast, and the road from Yekaterinburg to Moscow has become 198 km shorter.
“The new section allowed us to form a high-speed corridor without a single traffic light from St. Petersburg to Yekaterinburg. Travel time to Moscow will be less than 16 hours. At the same time, residents of not only the Urals, but also Siberia will feel a significant acceleration in travel. For Tyumen, Omsk, and Novosibirsk, this entire corridor will also be significant in increasing mobility and saving time. Many thanks to the builders for the excellent facility and to everyone who took part in its implementation,” said Marat Khusnullin.
The issue of road safety was discussed at the headquarters. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that it is necessary to strengthen cooperation with relevant departments, take all measures that will help reduce road accidents, and pay special attention to pedestrian infrastructure and the prevention of road accidents involving children.
During the meeting, preliminary results of the application campaign for financing projects within the framework of treasury infrastructure loans (TIL), which are being launched this year as a continuation of the mechanism of infrastructure budget loans (IBL), were summed up. The curator of the TIL is the Ministry of Construction of Russia, and the operator is the public-law company “Territorial Development Fund”. TILs will serve the same purpose – improving the quality of life of people.
In his report, Minister of Construction and Housing and Public Utilities Irek Fayzullin spoke about the current status of reviewing regional applications for infrastructure projects planned for implementation using treasury infrastructure loans. “The use of treasury infrastructure loans opens up additional opportunities for implementing housing and public utilities projects and socially significant infrastructure projects in the regions. The activity of 89 regions of the country in the application campaign for the provision of treasury infrastructure loans clearly demonstrates the demand and effectiveness of this mechanism in solving problems of improving the quality of life of Russian citizens, including within the framework of the national project “Infrastructure for Life”, – said Irek Fayzullin.
77 regions submitted applications for housing and communal services limits for a total of 183.99 billion.
“The Territorial Development Fund is actively accepting applications for financing infrastructure projects within the framework of the CIC. The regions mainly plan to use these funds for the modernization of housing and communal services, as well as the implementation of social, road transport, and tourism infrastructure projects. The total volume of treasury infrastructure loans for housing and communal services is 292.79 billion rubles. CICs are a continuation of the infrastructure budget loan program, which has already proven its effectiveness and demand among the regions. To date, thanks to the IBC, 507 objects and events have been completed since 2022,” commented Vasily Kupyzin, General Director of the Territorial Development Fund.
As reported by Marat Khusnullin, members of the government commission approved a number of applications for the implementation of projects within the framework of the CIC: the construction of the Bolshoy Smolensky Bridge in St. Petersburg with a CIC volume of 15 billion rubles, the purchase of public transport (buses) in the Kirov region with a CIC volume of 1.4 billion rubles, the reconstruction of the Smolensk-Severny airfield and the renewal of the housing and utilities infrastructure in the Smolensk region with a CIC volume of 3.335 billion rubles.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The federal highway M-11 “Neva” not only provides seamless communication between Moscow and St. Petersburg, but is also part of the high-speed transport corridors “North-South” and “West-East”. The Northern Bypass of Tver, which Russian President Vladimir Putin opened in July last year, became the final stage of the construction of M-11. To date, since the launch of traffic on this section, about 4 million trips have been recorded. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.
“The opening of the northern bypass of Tver made it possible to connect the two capitals with a seamless high-speed connection, take transit transport outside the populated areas and significantly increase the comfort for drivers and passengers. In addition, the new section, which became the last link necessary for the formation of high-speed routes from north to south and from west to east of the country, gave a powerful impetus to the development of the regional economy, logistics, and auto tourism. We see that the section is deservedly popular among motorists. Since the launch of traffic on it, users have made about 4 million trips. Largely due to the opening of the northern bypass of Tver, the average daily traffic intensity along the entire M-11 Neva highway has increased by 5% since the beginning of this year. This road is under the trust management of the state company Avtodor, which celebrated its 16th anniversary since its creation. It pays special attention to the creation and development of roadside infrastructure designed to provide comfortable conditions for drivers and passengers on the road. The total length of Avtodor’s high-speed roads today is about 5.5 thousand km. They give a powerful impetus to the socio-economic development of Russian regions and form important international transport corridors,” said Marat Khusnullin.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that the two largest multifunctional road service zones (MFS) in the country operate on the northern bypass of Tver. The area of each of them exceeds 1.5 thousand square meters. All necessary types of services for long-distance and short-distance trips are provided here.
According to Vyacheslav Petushenko, Chairman of the Board of the state company Avtodor, the MFPs are an important part of the development of the country’s transport infrastructure. In addition, thanks to a full rest on the road, drivers will be able to be more attentive behind the wheel, and this directly affects road safety.
“We are creating a comprehensive infrastructure on our road network that provides motorists with everything they need for comfortable and safe travel. Multifunctional road service zones give a powerful impetus to the development of auto tourism, become centers of economic growth in regions and points of attraction for businesses, which contributes to the creation of new jobs and affects the improvement of the quality of life of Russians. Thus, today, as part of the corridor from St. Petersburg to Yekaterinburg, 39 MFS are already operating on our highways. When traveling on our high-speed highways, motorists can rest, eat, refuel, use all the necessary services along the way and receive the necessary assistance in case of unforeseen situations,” noted Vyacheslav Petushenko.
The length of the northern bypass of Tver is just over 62 km. This is a section of the road of the highest technical category with four traffic lanes, separated by traffic flows and lighting along the entire length. The permitted speed on the bypass in the summer is 130 km/h.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held a meeting on the issue of energy supply to consumers engaged in mining activities. It was attended by representatives of federal authorities, energy companies, public business associations and industry associations, and State Duma deputies.
The representative of the Ministry of Energy reported on the current state of regulation of energy supply for mining activities in Russia, including issues of identifying and preventing electricity consumption by miners in regions where this activity is prohibited. A number of amendments to the current legislation were proposed in order to further improve energy supply for mining. This concerns the procedure for using capacity temporarily unclaimed by miners during the period of the ban on their work, increasing liability for violating the requirements for mining cryptocurrency, and a proposal to label and certify foreign equipment for mining cryptocurrency imported into Russia. In addition, the representative of the Ministry of Energy reported on the status of the preparation of regulatory legal acts providing for the creation of a fourth category of reliability of energy supply to consumers, which takes into account the introduction of remote restriction of the consumption mode during peak loads and the threat of energy and power shortages in the region.
The head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media Andrey Lipov spoke about tools for identifying individuals mining cryptocurrencies by analyzing Internet traffic and electricity consumption patterns.
A representative of the Federal Tax Service reported on the number of persons registered in the relevant mining registries. This refers to entities or companies mining cryptocurrencies and to mining infrastructure operators.
Alexander Novak instructed the Ministry of Energy to finalize proposals for the introduction of the fourth category of reliability of energy consumers, and in close cooperation with regional authorities and energy companies to prepare a final proposal on the mechanism for the redistribution of released capacity when limiting mining activities in the region in order to connect socially significant consumers to power grids. The Deputy Prime Minister instructed to work out proposals to increase liability for illegal connection to power grids, theft of electricity, and violation of the ban on limiting mining activities in terms of electricity supply.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The fifth meeting of the Russian-Thai Subcommission on Trade and Economic Cooperation (PTEC) after a five-year break was held on July 15-16 in Bangkok. The Russian delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Economic Development Vladimir Ilyichev, and the Thai delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Trade of the Kingdom of Thailand Chanthavit Thanthasit. The subcommission was attended by 60 representatives of Russian and Thai authorities, industry associations and companies.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state of bilateral trade and economic relations and proposed new areas for implementing joint projects.
“We are seeing positive dynamics in bilateral trade. In particular, according to the results of the first five months of 2025, the trade turnover between Russia and Thailand has grown by almost 10%, and the export of Russian products to Thailand has grown by 50%. At the same time, we see potential for the export of low-carbon energy resources, agricultural and pharmaceutical products, and oil and gas equipment to Thailand. In addition, we note the mutual interest of companies in developing investment cooperation,” Vladimir Ilyichev noted in his speech.
The Thai side confirmed its interest in developing partnership with Russia.
“Thailand seeks to develop trade and economic relations with its key partners, and Russia is such a partner for us. We consider trade in agricultural products, green energy, IT and infrastructure development to be priority areas of cooperation with Russia,” Chanthavit Thanthasit emphasized.
Russian companies and agencies drew the attention of the Thai side to the prospects for joint work in the areas of logistics, medicine, and IT technologies. Deputy Commercial Director for Business Development in Asian Countries of FESCO Integrated Transport LLC Alexander Priskoka suggested that Thai businesses use the company’s regular services for cargo delivery from the port of Bangkok to the ports of Vladivostok (delivery time was reduced to 20 days), as well as to the ports of Novorossiysk and St. Petersburg (delivery time was reduced to 40 days). In addition, the Chairman of the Russian-Thai Business Council Ivan Demchenko announced the imminent launch of a direct line from the port of Novorossiysk to the port of Bangkok.
Vice President for International Cooperation of AFK Sistema Artem Zasursky revealed the prospects for joint work in the areas of river transport, electronics and forestry industry, IT projects. He placed emphasis on the development of cooperation in the tourism sector.
“The companies in our portfolio, namely travel booking services, are ready to develop cooperation with interested partners in the hospitality industry. We also inform you about the interest of the Russian operator in developing resort projects in the regions of Thailand that are popular with Russian tourists,” said Artem Zasursky.
Vice President of the Federation of Thai Industries Thansathit Asi and Vice Chairman of the Thai-Russian Business Council Hemmontharop Wiwat confirmed the Thai side’s interest in business cooperation. Thai businessmen noted the prospects for developing cooperation with Russia in the field of medicine, as well as in the field of cybersecurity and decarbonization of production.
During the meeting of the PTES, special attention was paid to cooperation in the creative economy.
“In February, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Agency for Creative Industries of Thailand. We are developing a roadmap for cooperation in the creative industries. We also invite specialized Thai associations to join the joint work and take part in the first International Conference on Creative Economy, which will be held on October 8-9 in St. Petersburg,” said Ekaterina Cherkes-Zade, Director of the Center for Creative Economy Development at the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, in her speech.
To develop business contacts between Russian and Thai businesses, Ivan Demchenko invited the PTEC participants to take part in the Russian-Thai Business Forum, which the Russian-Thai Business Council is holding on November 26–28 in Phuket.
“I hope that we will see concrete results of our joint work in the near future. We count on the support of the Thai side in expanding the bilateral economic dialogue between our countries,” Vladimir Ilyichev summed up following the meeting.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Russia remains one of the key trade and economic partners of the CIS member states. According to the results of January-April 2025, it ranks first in the foreign trade turnover of Belarus and Armenia, second in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and third in Azerbaijan.
This was stated by Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia Vladimir Ilyichev, commenting on the results of the 106th meeting of the CIS Economic Council, which took place in Moscow. The Russian delegation at the event was headed by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexey Overchuk.
The meeting participants discussed a wide range of issues, including cooperation in energy security, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the development of forestry, the construction industry, as well as measures to combat dangerous animal and bird diseases. Particular attention was paid to the macroeconomic indicators of the CIS countries for 2024.
According to preliminary estimates, the combined GDP of the Commonwealth states grew by 4.5% in 2024. The unemployment rate fell by 14% and amounted to more than 3% of the workforce. “All these economic indicators indicate that the Commonwealth of Independent States is a strong and sustainable integration entity,” Vladimir Ilyichev emphasized.
According to the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, in January-May 2025, the growth of Russia’s GDP and agricultural production amounted to 1.5% each, industrial production – 1.3%. At the same time, the economies of the CIS partners are also demonstrating positive dynamics.
The meeting participants approved a number of documents aimed at further developing cooperation, including the Declaration on Regional Energy Security, the Action Plan for the Use of Nuclear Energy until 2030, and the Concept of Pricing in Construction. These initiatives will be considered in September at a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government.
The successful implementation of the program for the reclamation of uranium sites in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan was also noted. In addition, the Russian Research Institute of the Bakery Industry received the status of a basic organization of the CIS for training personnel for this industry.
The parties reviewed information on the progress of the Action Plan for the implementation of the first stage of the CIS Economic Development Strategy until 2030.
The next meeting of the CIS Economic Council is scheduled to be held in September 2025 in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, which holds the CIS presidency this year.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Question for written answer E-002830/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Tom Vandendriessche (PfE)
Recently, MindGeek, owner of, inter alia, Pornhub, announced that it will introduce mandatory age verification in the United Kingdom as of July 2025 to deny minors access to pornographic material. This is a result of UK regulations requiring platforms to adopt stricter control measures.
However, similar measures have yet to be adopted within the European Union. Minors still have unhindered access to explicit pornographic content in many Member States, often without any form of age check. While the Digital Services Act obliges platforms to take measures to protect minors, their compliance in practice appears to be extremely lacking.
In view of this:
1.How does the Commission view the fact that large pornographic platforms such as Pornhub are introducing effective age verification in the UK without doing so in the EU?
2.Does the Commission consider the protection of minors against explicit online content within the EU to be currently sufficient in light of the obligations under the Digital Services Act?
3.What is the state of play regarding the development and planned implementation of the announced EU age verification app?
Question for written answer E-002808/2025/rev.1 to the Commission Rule 144 Arkadiusz Mularczyk (ECR)
Despite the EU’s repeatedly stated commitment to protecting cultural heritage, many cultural goods stolen from Poland, Greece and other countries during the Second World War have not yet been returned and remain in the possession of German citizens and German national institutions illegally. The loss of cultural goods from Poland is particularly substantial – official data shows that the country lost around 516 000 identified works of art to German war-time looting. The situation is made worse by provisions in German national law, such as a ten-year acquisitive prescription period, which are directly at odds with the spirit of Directive 2014/60 EU that aims to facilitate the return of cultural items that were taken illegally during the Second World War.
Given that higher courts such as the European Court of Human Rights apply rules and the same reasoning in their case law to ensure fairness and respect for legal frameworks:
1.What is the Commission’s position on the fact that these national provisions are at odds with EU objectives on protecting cultural heritage?
2.What specific action will the Commission take to require Germany to change provisions of its national laws that hinder restitution?
3.Will the Commission present an update on the report on ‘Cross-border restitution claims of works of art and cultural goods looted in armed conflicts and wars’ by rapporteur Pavel Svoboda and provide information on the actions that will be taken to speed up the return of cultural items stolen from Poland and other countries?
Question for written answer E-002829/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Tom Vandendriessche (PfE)
The Canadian government recently announced the suspension of its planned digital tax to avoid tensions with the United States and relaunch trade talks. This decision was taken under direct diplomatic pressure from Washington, despite previous Canadian pledges on fair taxation of digital technology companies.
Within the EU, effective measures against tax avoidance by large digital platforms have also failed to materialise as yet. Initiatives are often postponed or weakened under the influence of international pressure.
In view of this:
1.What is the Commission’s assessment of Canada’s decision to scrap its digital tax under pressure from the United States?
2.Does the Commission face similar pressures from third countries, in particular the US, regarding its own proposals for a digital tax?
3.What is the state of play regarding European plans to tax digital services in a fair way, both within and outside the OECD framework?
Question for written answer E-002821/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Martin Hojsík (Renew), Tomislav Sokol (PPE), Christophe Clergeau (S&D)
In its resolution on the revised Pollinators Initiative – A new deal for pollinators[1] Parliament reminded the Commission and the Member States of its objection to the implementing act[2] and of the need to increase pollinator protection in the pesticide authorisation process.
1.Can the Commission confirm that, together with the members of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, it takes a scientific approach to the protection of individual species, including possible risk extrapolation between species?
2.How will the Commission address the higher sensitivity and protection needs of wild pollinators, in comparison to Apis mellifera?
3.Can the Commission share its updated timeline for the approval of the Bee Guidance Document?
Waste Framework Directive: textiles and food waste Anna Zalewska (A10-0144/2025)
–
Amendments; rejection
Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00
51
Package travel and linked travel arrangements: make the protection of travellers more effective and simplify and clarify certain aspects Alex Agius Saliba (A10-0140/2025)
–
(if requested) Amendments; rejection
Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 13:00
22
Circularity requirements for vehicle design and management of end-of-life vehicles Jens Gieseke, Paulius Saudargas
Priority question for written answer P-002859/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Marion Walsmann (PPE)
The Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs has launched a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive 2004/48/EC[1] (IPRED), with a particular focus on the application of the principle of proportionality and the impact of patent assertion entities (PAEs) in Europe. According to data from the Darts-ip database, European courts grant injunctions automatically in 99 % of patent cases, without conducting any proportionality assessment – despite IPRED explicitly requiring that enforcement measures be proportionate. This lack of proportionality allows PAEs to demand excessive settlements and creates disincentives for investment in vital technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence and semiconductors.
In light of the mission letter, which calls for ensuring that intellectual property policy both incentivises innovation and strengthens enforcement:
1.When will the study on IPRED’s effectiveness be published?
2.Given that the principle of proportionality is not being applied in practice, when does the Commission plan to update the 20-year-old IPRED to better align with the EU’s competitiveness goals?
Submitted: 14.7.2025
[1] Directive 2004/48/EC of 29 April 2004 on the enforcement of intellectual property rights, OJ L 157, 30.4.2004, p. 45, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2004/48/oj.
Initiatives at regional and local level frequently complement or reinforce those at European and national level, as well as being better tailored to their specific characteristics. This briefing provides examples of initiatives from regions and cities combating discrimination against and promoting equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people.
Question for written answer E-002818/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Michalis Hadjipantela (PPE)
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant decline in vaccination rates and a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in Europe and globally. This is exacerbated by increased vaccine hesitancy, misinformation and the influence of populist and anti-vaccination movements, including in major partner countries, which further erode public trust in science and institutions.
In the light of these developments and the calls for a new EU immunisation strategy, can the Commission clarify:
1.What steps it can take to develop and implement a renewed, comprehensive EU plan to increase vaccination coverage, set EU-wide life-course immunisation targets and restore public trust in immunisation?
2.How it will support Member States in countering misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, including through targeted communication and behavioural science approaches?
3.How can it ensure equitable access to vaccines across all Member States?
Question for written answer E-002819/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Michalis Hadjipantela (PPE)
The EU is a signatory to the International Maritime Organization’s Marpol Annex VI regulations on exhaust emissions. Through its Sulfur Directive[1], the Commission is committed to reducing the harmful effects caused by sulfur dioxide emissions and requires Member States to submit their compliance reports and testing results each year. It has focused on the sulfur content of liquid fuels, taking on ‘good faith’ the use of those fuels by marine traffic within the Emission Control Zone. It has further relied on scrubber exhaust technology used by vessels to reach the control zone targets. In both instances, reliance is being placed on the vessel operator to use those scrubbers and/or fuels with very limited ability to independently verify such use. Furthermore, the high-cost fuel testing falls on the Member States who, due to the cost, cannot test a large number of vessels and many vessels not meeting the targets are not being identified.
1.Why is the Commission not considering alternative options that would test each vessel effectively, such as direct live testing of maritime vessel exhaust emissions with approved reporting devices?
2.How is it compensating for the maritime vessels that are not being tested and are violating the targets?
Submitted: 10.7.2025
[1] Directive (EU) 2016/802 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 relating to a reduction in the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels (codification), ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2016/802/oj.
Question for written answer E-002724/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Jorge Martín Frías (PfE)
In an interview in March 2025, Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné underscored the key role that Spain plays in the European plan on critical raw materials, in the light of the seven strategic projects being carried out in the country.
However, although the Commission has repeatedly recognised that nuclear energy will be essential in successfully implementing its decarbonisation plans and in achieving energy independence, radioactive minerals have still not been included in the European Critical Raw Materials Act.
Considering the above:
1.Is the Commission planning to revise the regulation in question to include radioactive minerals, which are essential in fuelling nuclear power plants in several Member States?
2.What is the Commission’s view on the fact that Member States such as Spain have made exploration and mining for these minerals illegal under the European Green Deal, despite their strategic importance?
3.Does the Commission not think that these measures compromise the EU’s energy sovereignty and hinder other Member States from sourcing resources that are available within the EU itself?
Smart and sustainable transport plays a significant role in advancing the EU’s green and digital transitions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the crisis-response instrument the EU launched to boost EU economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. All EU Member States included transport-related measures in their national recovery and resilience plans. Member States are collectively investing almost €83 billion in smart and sustainable transport, amounting to 12.8 % of the total RRF envelope, underscoring the sector’s strategic importance for decarbonisation, digitalisation, connectivity and economic growth. The largest contributions to smart and sustainable transport come from Italy (€34.0 billion), Spain (€9. 9 billion) and Germany (€7.6 billion), together accounting for over 60 % of total smart and sustainable transport-related RRF investment. By contrast, several smaller Member States stand out in relative terms: Luxembourg allocates 47.2 % of its national plan to transport investments (€223.2 million), while Malta devotes 30.5 % (€100.2 million). Rail transport receives the largest share of funding, amounting to nearly €48.9 billion, or 59 % of total transport-related RRF investments. More than €34.4 billion of this supports the trans-European transport (TEN-T) network and the roll-out of the European Rail Traffic Management System, exceeding the entire Connecting Europe Facility transport budget for 2021–2027. These investments are expected to enhance cross-connectivity, border interoperability, improve rail safety and efficiency, and facilitate modal shift from road to rail. Beyond rail, Member States are investing in a broad mix of measures, including urban transport, alternative fuels infrastructure, support for zero- and low-emission vehicles and cycling.
Question for written answer E-002573/2025/rev.1 to the Commission Rule 144 Gerald Hauser (PfE)
US Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. recently sacked all members of the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) The committee’s remit is to decide whether given vaccines are necessary, how they should be used and to make the appropriate recommendations. The committee should no longer be a mere ‘rubber stamp’ body serving for the commercial interests of the pharmaceutical industry, since it now must be made up exclusively of individuals with no conflicts of interest. Kennedy has stated that it is high time that the focus returned to scientific facts and people’s health, rather than the profits of the pharmaceutical lobby and its billionaire investors. A few days ago, the committee was restaffed with independent and critical leading scientists such as mRNA pioneer Dr Robert Malone. This leading US virologist, immunologist and molecular biologist is the co-author of pioneering studies that led to the development of mRNA vaccines and a renowned expert on the risk-benefit profile of vaccinations.
1.What specific conflicts of interest exist among Members and employees of the Commission and its agencies, e.g. the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP)?
2.Have these conflicts of interest been publicly declared, and the details made available to the public, as has been standard practice for decades in medical publications and at specialist conferences?
3.How does the Commission ensure the full independence of Members and employees of the Commission and its agencies?
EIB and EIF Boards approve €15.5 billion for transport, housing, education, energy and business investment
EIB strengthening support for water resilience
The European Investment Bank Group approved a total of €15.5 billion in new financing to back business growth and corporate innovation, improve transport and energy connectivity, invest in housing and strengthen water resilience.
The decisions were made at the July board meetings of the EIB and the European Investment Fund this week. The EIB Board endorsed €14.5 billion in fresh financing and the EIF Board authorised €1 billion in new funding to support the green transition, back venture capital and private equity investment and strengthen private credit and infrastructure funds.
“These investments are about building the future – from clean energy, safe water and smarter transport to better housing, education and innovation,” said EIB Group President Nadia Calviño. “As the EU’s financing arm, the EIB Group is delivering on Europe’s priorities.”
EIB Group Water Resilience Programme welcomed
The EIB Board welcomed plans to strengthen targeted financing to address water resilience worldwide.
The EIB Group is the world’s largest multilateral financier for water investment. The new EIB Group Water Resilience Programme has been developed in coordination with the European Commission’s Water Resilience Strategy and is expected to mobilise €40 billion of global water investment over the next three years. It will increase access to clean and safe water, enhance the water resilience of communities and strengthen the competitiveness of the EU water sector.
New projects to update water and wastewater networks in Greece and the Netherlands were also approved.
Improving transport
The EIB agreed to back new rail investment in Estonia, Germany and Italy, to improve road connections in Poland, Romania and Moldova and to enhance airport energy efficiency in France, Germany and Spain.
Enhancing energy networks and energy efficiency
New energy projects approved will strengthen electricity grids in France, Germany and South America, improve industrial energy efficiency in Portugal and accelerate biofuel production in Italy.
Investing in affordable and energy efficient housing
The Board approved three housing projects, enabling streamlined financing for the construction of energy-efficient homes, the energy-efficiency renovation of existing buildings and the installation of solar panels in Germany and backing the construction and refurbishment of affordable housing across Portugal.
Backing business growth and innovation
New financing approved by the EIB will support companies in Croatia, Italy, Poland and Spain, innovation in the Western Balkans and the reforestation of degraded forests and wetlands across Africa as well as private-sector investment by North African and Middle Eastern businesses. This includes support as part of the third pillar of the European Commission’s Multiannual Comprehensive Programme for Palestine.
Financing for critical raw material recycling in Germany, low-carbon fertiliser production in South America, innovative waste-treatment plants across Spain and pharmaceutical innovation across Europe was also endorsed.
The EIF transactions agreed this week include €278 million in new debt operations and €725 million in venture capital, private equity and private credit transactions. They will support private-sector clean energy, decarbonisation and biodiversity preservation investment. This includes EIF backing for funds that enable biotech companies to grow, support sustainable business investments and bolster early-stage venture capital.
The EIB and EIF Boards approved a revised list of excluded activities, broadening eligibilities and clarifying technical details to support increased financing for selected security and defence projects. These adjustments follow a thorough market assessment that identified funding needs within the EU industry while safeguarding the Group’s financing capacity.
Background information
The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.
The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.
All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.
Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers.Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.
High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.
Question for written answer E-002820/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE)
The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) has introduced measures to protect journalists and ensure media pluralism and independence from political interference.
Despite warnings from the CSAG’s works council and the Bloque Nacionalista Galego, the Galician government has passed a draft law affording it total control over public television and radio in Galicia, changing the way its governing bodies are elected, eliminating staff participation bodies and opening the door to languages other than Galician. Under this new legislation, the CSAG’s board of directors no longer requires a reinforced majority, and the Partido Popular government has used its absolute majority to appoint the new CSAG director-general.
Article 5(2) of the EMFA states that Member States shall ensure that the procedures for the appointment and the dismissal of the head of management or the members of the management board shall aim to ensure the independence of public service media providers.
Will the Commission check that the EMFA is being correctly implemented in the politically manipulated Galician public broadcasting corporation?
Question for written answer E-002842/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Dario Tamburrano (The Left), Danilo Della Valle (The Left), Carolina Morace (The Left), Pasquale Tridico (The Left), Gaetano Pedulla’ (The Left), Mario Furore (The Left), Jutta Paulus (Verts/ALE), Rudi Kennes (The Left), Jan-Peter Warnke (NI), Thomas Geisel (NI), Giuseppe Antoci (The Left)
A ‘secondary publication right (SPR)’ refers to the right to republish publicly funded research that has been deposited in an open access repository simultaneously or following its publication in academic journals, with guarantees on the subsequent use that can be made of the work[1].
According to an analysis by the Association of European Research Libraries (LIBER)[2], the traditional system limits potential future research as it transfers all rights to publishing entities.
In the light of this, can the Commission answer the following questions:
1.As a quarter of Member States now have an SPR provision, what actions will the Commission take to ensure harmonisation and to support open access to publicly funded research across Europe?
2.Does it agree that a zero-embargo SPR for publicly funded research strengthens the impact of EU research investments and aligns with the goals of Horizon Europe and the future framework programme for research and innovation (FP10)?
3.Given widespread support for cost-free publishing models and the financial sustainability challenges of the gold open access model, how will the Commission promote equitable alternatives like green and diamond open access, and safeguard authors’ rights over their work?
Submitted: 11.7.2025
[1] A position statement from Knowledge Rights 21 on secondary publishing rights, February 2023, https://www.knowledgerights21.org/statement/secondary-publishing-rights-new-position-statement-from-knowledge-rights-21/.
[2] Association of European Research Libraries report of 10 October 2023 entitled, ‘Secondary Publishing Rights in Europe: Status, challenges & opportunities’, by Giannis Tsakonas, Kyriaki Zoutsou, Marina Perivolari, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8428315.
Priority question for written answer P-002918/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Tomasz Buczek (PfE)
The Commission’s tax policy priorities for 2025 were presented at the meeting of the Subcommittee on Tax Matters (FISC) on 6 February 2025. These included a revision of Directive 2011/64/EU on the taxation of tobacco products as one of the key areas for action.
The tobacco sector is an important part of the Polish economy, providing employment for over half a million people across the entire value chain, from the cultivation of raw tobacco and processing to distribution.
Poland also pursues a prudent and effective tax policy, resulting in significant budget revenues and one of the smallest grey economies in the EU (below 5%). This is due not only to the efficiency of the domestic customs and tax administration, but also to the implementation of a long-term roadmap for excise duty increases, which provides the market with predictability and stability.
However, we are witnessing increasing regulatory overload in this area. The numerous legislative changes in the areas of both excise duty and health regulations over the last year are creating an atmosphere of uncertainty for businesses and discouraging investment.
In light of the foregoing:
1.Does the Commission intend to take the differences in terms of health risks into account by appropriately adjusting the taxation of smokeless products in relation to traditional tobacco products?
2.Does the Commission foresee an increase in the fiscal burden imposed on products covered by the Directive as a result of its revision?
Question for written answer E-002838/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Galato Alexandraki (ECR)
The recent Institute of Commerce and Services/Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship survey highlighted digital bureaucracy as one of the most important sources of cost and uncertainty for commercial small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Greece. It identifies, inter alia, a lack of interoperability between public systems, technical errors, delays in software upgrades, short adaptation periods and outdated procedures (such as repeating applications for supporting documents already available to other bodies). 60 % of businesses state that they need external support to meet digital obligations (accountants, invoicing providers, etc.), while 40 % are concerned about the cost of software and skills.
In addition, there is a significant delay in payments of state aid and debts due to insufficient computerisation. At the same time, Greek retail is exposed to unfair competition from Asian digital platforms that exploit the gaps in the European framework, while Greece’s 3-place drop in global competitiveness (IMD 2024) is directly related to administrative burdens.
In view of the above, the Commission is asked:
1.What guidelines or requirements exist from the EU side for digital governance and interoperability of public services?
2.Is there a plan for financial support for SMEs with the aim of covering compliance costs and upgrading digital skills?
3.Does the Commission intend to strengthen the adoption of uniform European operating standards in national digital infrastructures?