NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Terrorism remains an evolving challenge, use of advanced tech necessitates collaborative & action-oriented approach, says Defence Secretary at 14th meeting of ADMM-Plus Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism

    Source: Government of India

    Terrorism remains an evolving challenge, use of advanced tech necessitates collaborative & action-oriented approach, says Defence Secretary at 14th meeting of ADMM-Plus Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism

    Calls for developing a ‘whole of government and whole of society’ approach to counter radicalisation & violent extremism and enhancing legal & financial frameworks to disrupt terror financing networks

    Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 5:34PM by PIB Delhi

    “India remains steadfast in its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and believes in an approach that combines robust domestic mechanisms, enhanced intelligence-sharing, and strong regional cooperation,” said Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh during the keynote address at the 14th meeting of ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) – Plus Experts Working Group (EWG) on Counter-Terrorism in New Delhi on March 19, 2025. 

    The Defence Secretary stated that terrorism remains a dynamic & evolving challenge, with threats increasingly transcending borders, and the use of advanced technology, cyber tools & unmanned systems by terrorist groups necessitates a cohesive, forward looking and action-oriented approach. He added that the Indo-Pacific region, given its geopolitical and economic significance, is particularly vulnerable to transitional terrorism and violent extremism, which calls for a comprehensive, adaptive, and deeply collaborative response. 

    Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh emphasised that, through the ADMM-Plus platform, India seeks to build synergy among the defence forces, security agencies, and policy frameworks to address emerging threat effectively. “In the complex, hyper-connected & fast-paced world, social and ecological systems are fragile. It is important to assess this risk to empower the Governments in priority setting and decision making. Terrorism can destabilise governments, undermine civil society, and threaten social & economic development. We have a collective obligation to provide the decision-makers guidance to understand uncertainty and better weigh the impact on decision making,” he said. 

    The event witnessed the handing over of ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter-Terrorism chairmanship to India and Malaysia from Russia and Myanmar for a three-year cycle. The Defence Secretary voiced the commitment of the new co-chairs towards ensuring that the efforts over this cycle yield practical and meaningful results. “By leveraging our collective expertise, enhancing capacity-building, and fostering deeper trust and cooperation, we can significantly strengthen regional security and counter-terrorism preparedness,” he said. 

    Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh stated that in the present cycle of EWG on Counter-Terrorism, the focus will be on strengthening regional cooperation and improving interoperability among the Armed Forces through structured joint initiatives. He added that the aim will be to counter the misuse of emerging technologies and addressing threats posed by terrorists through use of AI-driven propaganda, encrypted communications, drone technologies. Strengthening cyber resilience against online radicalisation and recruitment efforts will also be a focus area, he said. 

    Towards the latter half of the cycle, the Defence Secretary said, work will be carried out together towards capacity building through practical exercises wherein Malaysia will conduct a Table-Top Exercise in 2026, facilitating strategic-level decision making simulations to improve Counter-Terrorism planning and preparedness. In 2027, India will host a Field Training Exercise, aimed at stimulating real-world Counter-Terrorism scenarios, enhancing operational coordination, and testing rapid response mechanisms. He called for developing a whole of government and whole of society approach to counter radicalisation & violent extremism and enhancing legal & financial frameworks to disrupt terror financing networks. 

    Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh congratulated Malaysia for assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN for the year 2025, extending India’s full support. He acknowledged Malaysia’s effort in effectively steering ASEAN under the current geopolitical scenario with the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’. He added that India is privileged to co-chair this crucial initiative alongside Malaysia, and appreciates the participation of representatives from the ASEAN member states, the Plus nations, the ASEAN Secretariat, and Timor-Leste. “Your presence reaffirms our shared commitment in combating terrorism in all its forms,” he said. 

    The Defence Secretary termed India’s relationship with ASEAN as a key pillar of its foreign policy, which is at the heart of Act East Policy. He reiterated India’s strong support to a stable and unified ASEAN which serves as an institutional anchor of an important region. 

    Delegations from 10 ASEAN members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand) and eight dialogue partners (Australia, New Zealand, RoK, Japan, China, USA and Russia) along with Timor Leste and ASEAN Secretariat are participating in the meeting. India is co-chairing the EWG on Counter-Terrorism for the first time.

     ***

    VK/Savvy

    (Release ID: 2112877) Visitor Counter : 86

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION:MATSYA-6000

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 4:26PM by PIB Delhi

    Matsya-6000 is India’s flagship human submersible aimed to carry three persons to a depth of 6000 meters, developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, as part of the Samudrayaan project of the Deep Ocean Mission launched by the Government of India in 2021.

    Matsya- 6000 (2.1-meter diameter personnel sphere) which houses the crew is made of a Titanium alloy and maintains an inside pressure of 1 atmosphere (atm). Further, the personnel sphere spherical pressure hull is tested to bear 720 bars of pressure, which is 1.2 times more than the pressure expected at 6000 meters. All human safety parameters are continuously monitored during the operations and are communicated to the ship-based Mission Control Centre through an acoustic modem, with the pilot communicating updates through the Underwater Acoustic Telephone every 30 minutes. It is designed for operations of up to 12 hours, with an emergency endurance of up to 96 hours, supported by a DNV-certified Human Support and Safety System (HSSS). DNV (Det Norske Veritas) is an internationally accredited registrar and classification society headquartered in Norway. The HSSS maintains the oxygen level at 20 per cent, the CO2 level at less than 1000 ppmv (part per million by volume), and controls humidity by measurement sensors to ensure human life comfort and safety.

    The submersible is designed to perpetually float unless made to dive through water filling in its ballast tanks. It has three different combinations of weight drop mechanisms for ascending to the surface to maintain the safety. It has additional emergency power, control, and communication devices for emergency scenarios.

    Matsya-6000 is equipped with an Underwater Acoustic Telephone that has been operated and tested for operations up to 10,000 meters depth of human operation vehicles, in addition to a sub-phone rated for 500-meter depth operations. The voice communication is designed to be utilized every 30 minutes with the submersible pilot and the Mission Control Centre so that continuous communication is ensured.

    NIOT has signed MoU with the IFREMER (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea), France, facilitating scientific knowledge exchange and participation with the French human scientific submersible for 6000 meters depth named NAUTILE.

    This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

    ******

    NKR/PSM

    (Release ID: 2112793) Visitor Counter : 46

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA to Host Housing Resource Fair Mar. 22 in Appling County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    FEMA to Host Housing Resource Fair Mar. 22 in Appling County

    FEMA is hosting a Housing Resource Fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 22, in Appling County at the following location:Appling County Extension Education Center83 South Oak Street Baxley, GA 31513The Housing Resource Fair will bring together federal, state and local agencies in one place to offer services and resources to families recovering from Hurricane Helene.  The goal of this collaborative effort is to help connect eligible disaster survivors with affordable housing along with valuable information and resources on their road to recovery.Survivors will meet with local housing organizations, property owners and landlords, as well as gain information on the HEARTS Georgia Sheltering Program, and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans.The Housing Resource Fair is an opportunity for survivors to: Explore affordable housing options and rental assistance programs. Meet with representatives from local housing organizations, landlords and property managers. Gain access to resources for displaced individuals and families. Learn about community partners that will provide educational funding resources to attendees. For FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin Wallace, the Housing Resource Fair will give survivors that needed one-on-one experience: “We want survivors to know we are here for them and want to see the best outcome, which is moving into safe, sanitary and functioning housing,” he said. “We will walk them through their options to ensure they are aware of the resources that are available to fit their need.”Anyone who was affected by Tropical Storm Debby or Hurricane Helene, whether they have applied for FEMA assistance or not, is welcome to attend.
    jakia.randolph
    Wed, 03/19/2025 – 12:22

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Georgia Man Admits to $1 Million Wire Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Prince Boateng Adjei, age 31, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, has admitted to wire fraud involving more than $1 million stolen from a Gilmer County, WV business.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Adjei and another defendant, Chisom Okonkwo, conspired together to carry out a business email compromise scheme. The defendants created an email disguising themselves as an employee of a Gilmer County business.  This type of activity is commonly referred to as “spoofing.”  As part of the fraud scheme, the defendants caused a person (who believed they were dealing with a legitimate business) to send more than $1 million to a bank account controlled by the defendants. Adjei and Okonkwo spent more than $600,000 of the stolen funds before the scheme was discovered.

    Okonkwo pled guilty earlier this month. She will be sentenced at a later date.

    As a part of the plea agreement, Adjei agreed to pay $610,146.03 in restitution. He faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

    The United States Secret Service investigated the case.

    U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Employee of Augusta National Golf Club Sentenced to a Year in Prison for Stealing Masters Golf Tournament Merchandise and Memorabilia

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHICAGO — A former employee of the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia was sentenced today to a year in federal prison for stealing millions of dollars’ worth of Masters golf tournament merchandise and memorabilia and selling it to online brokers.

    RICHARD BRENDAN GLOBENSKY, 40, of Evans, Ga., pleaded guilty last year in U.S. District Court in Chicago to a federal charge of transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce.  In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman today ordered Globensky to pay $3,448,842 in restitution to Augusta National.

    The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Art Crime Team.

    Globensky admitted in a plea agreement that he stole the merchandise and memorabilia from 2009 to 2022 while he was employed by the club as a warehouse assistant. The merchandise included Masters shirts, hats, flags, watches, and other goods, while the memorabilia included historically significant items, such as the Green Jackets awarded to tournament winners Arnold Palmer, Gene Sarazen, and Ben Hogan.  Globensky sold the merchandise to an online broker in Florida for a total of approximately $5.3 million.  He sold the historically significant memorabilia to the same broker, as well as to the broker’s associate, for nearly $300,000.  The brokers later re-sold the stolen merchandise and memorabilia, often at significant markups from the amounts paid to Globensky.  At least one of the stolen items was purchased by a collector in Chicago.

    During the last six years of the crime, Globensky spent more than $370,000 to purchase five vehicles and a motorboat, as well as more than $160,000 for Walt Disney-themed vacations and related activities.  Globensky also spent nearly $600,000 on construction of a custom-built residence in Georgia and approximately $32,000 at luxury retailer Louis Vuitton.

    “The funds Globensky obtained enabled him and his spouse to live a lifestyle far beyond their means,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hayes argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “The manner in which he spent the proceeds suggests greed was his primary motivation for committing the offense.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock’s Statement on Trump Administration Removing Seniors’ Ability to Access Social Security Services via Phone

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Senator Reverend Warnock’s Statement on Trump Administration Removing Seniors’ Ability to Access Social Security Services via Phone

    The statement follows the Trump Administration’s announcement that Georgia seniors will have to apply or make changes to their Social Security benefits online or in person

    Earlier in the month, the Trump Administration announced it was shutting down five Georgia Social Security offices that serve rural parts of the state

    According to the New York Times, it takes over a month to make an in-person appointment at a local Social Security office

    15% of Georgians lack access to reliable broadband

    ICYMI: Social Security Administration Will No Longer Allow Changes Made by Phone

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) issued the following statement after the Trump Administration’s announcement that seniors could no longer contact the Social Security Administration by phone to file for benefits or change the bank where their payments are deposited.

    “This announcement is one more example of the Trump Administration’s war on seniors and their social security benefits. The leaders of this administration appear to know a lot of billionaires, but not many ordinary people. Many Georgia seniors are unable to drive and can’t access transportation, so I know how difficult it is for seniors to make in-person appointments. Forcing seniors to choose between navigating a complicated government bureaucracy online or waiting over a month for an in-person appointment will only lead to more confusion and cause some Georgia seniors to lose out on their benefits. This announcement is especially thoughtless considering the Trump Administration just closed five Georgia Social Security offices and 15% of Georgians lack access to reliable broadband.”

    “I am all for cutting government waste and abuse, and if my colleagues in Washington want to have a bipartisan conversation about how to reduce our debt, my door is open. But efforts to limit government spending should never be at the expense of services our retired seniors rely on to live healthy, fulfilling lives. This is wrong, this is dangerous, and I will fight cuts to Social Security services with every tool I have.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Southern elephant seals are adaptable – but they struggle when faced with both rapid climate change and human impacts

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nic Rawlence, Associate Professor in Ancient DNA, University of Otago

    Wikimedia Commons/Antoine Lamielle, CC BY-SA

    Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) are an iconic species of the Southern Ocean. But with rapid environmental changes in their ocean home, the seals’ population range has been shifting.

    Once spread across vast areas of the southern hemisphere, these apex predators are facing challenges from both climate shifts and human activities.

    Our new research examines ancient and modern DNA, archaeological records and ecological data.

    It reveals how these large marine mammals have adapted – and sometimes failed to adapt – to such pressures since the height of the last Ice Age thousands of years ago.

    A dynamic evolutionary history

    Today, the largest southern elephant seal populations are found on subantarctic islands, including South Georgia, Macquarie Island and the Falkland Islands. These colonies act as global strongholds for the species.

    Yet in the past, until just a few hundred years ago, many smaller populations existed on the Victoria Land Coast in Antarctica and closer to temperate zones, on mainland Australia and New Zealand.

    Our study focused on the Australasian lineage of southern elephant seals, drawing on samples from these ancient colonies. By analysing their genetic makeup, we pieced together a timeline of their biological heritage, including population expansions and contractions.

    This has crucial implications for understanding the resilience of elephant seals in the face of climate change.

    Subantarctic islands such as the Kerguelen islands remain strongholds for southern elephant seals.
    Antoine Lamielle, CC BY-SA

    From genetic clues in subfossil and archaeological remains, some thousands of years old, we found evidence of repeated population cycles. Expanding sea ice during cold glacial periods forced the seals northward, only for them to recolonise the Southern Ocean as sea ice retreated during warm interglacials.

    This history was particularly dynamic after the height of the last Ice Age 21,000 years ago. The planet started warming then, which led to dramatic ecological shifts.

    A mummified southern elephant seal found on the Victoria Land Coast in Antarctica.
    Brenda Hall, CC BY-SA

    Elephant seals likely expanded from ice-free refuges in temperate regions such as Tasmania and New Zealand into newly available subantarctic and Antarctic coastlines.

    However, this range expansion wasn’t permanent. As the current warm interglacial (the Holocene) progressed, new challenges arose: Indigenous hunting and, later, extensive European industrial sealing.

    For Indigenous communities in New Zealand and Australia, elephant seals were a part of their diet.

    We know this from seal remains in middens (rubbish dumps) and material culture, including necklaces made from elephant seal teeth which have been found in early Māori archaeological sites.

    Archaeological remains from coastal sites in New Zealand and Tasmania indicate significant hunting and reliance on seals by Indigenous populations. Along with human-driven environmental changes, this led to local extinctions.

    Impacts of humans and climate change

    Genetically, the seals from these ancient Australasian and Antarctic colonies were distinct but related. They formed a unique lineage in the Pacific that included Macquarie Island. This genetic diversity likely resulted from periods of isolation in separate refuges at the height of the last Ice Age.

    However, with modern climate shifts and human exploitation, much of this genetic diversity has been lost. The colonies that once thrived on the Victoria Land Coast in Antarctica are now extinct.

    Meanwhile, Macquarie Island is home to a significant breeding colony facing its own challenges. Changes in Antarctic sea ice are increasing the distance between breeding grounds on the island and feeding grounds at sea. This has affected the colony’s stability in recent decades.

    One of the most striking outcomes of our research is how quickly these large, long-lived animals can respond to environmental pressures. Seals adapted to a shifting climate by expanding their range in response to new habitats and retracting when conditions became unsuitable.

    This ability to move and adapt, however, was limited when confronted by the dual pressures of rapid climate change and human exploitation, which reduced their numbers and genetic diversity drastically over a short period.

    This schematic shows living (solid circles) and extinct (opaque circles) southern elephant seal populations and the extent of sea ice around Antarctica (opaque blue-grey) at the height of the last Ice Age.
    Berg et al (2025), CC BY-SA

    Can the Southern Ocean ecosystem adapt?

    As human-driven climate change continues, the Southern Ocean is expected to continue warming. This will cause further habitat loss for species that depend on sea ice and are affected by shifts in the availability of prey.

    The elephant seals’ history offers a window into how marine mammals may respond to these changes. But it also serves as a warning: human impacts, coupled with environmental pressures, can lead to swift, sometimes irreversible declines.

    Our research underscores the importance of conserving the genetic diversity and habitats of southern elephant seals. These seals are not just a testament to adaptability in a changing world; they are reminders of the vulnerability of even the most resilient species.

    Protecting their remaining strongholds and minimising human impacts on their food sources and breeding grounds will be crucial if we hope to avoid further contractions in their population.

    The story of the southern elephant seal is one of survival, adaptation and loss. As we face our own climate challenges, we must consider the lessons embedded in their genetic and ecological history.

    It’s a reminder that while nature often adapts to change and can weather some ecosystem threats, human-driven impacts can push even the most adaptable species beyond the point of recovery.

    Nic Rawlence receives funding from the Marsden Fund.

    Mark de Bruyn received funding from a Griffith University New Investigator grant.

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

    – ref. Southern elephant seals are adaptable – but they struggle when faced with both rapid climate change and human impacts – https://theconversation.com/southern-elephant-seals-are-adaptable-but-they-struggle-when-faced-with-both-rapid-climate-change-and-human-impacts-251820

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Figs, meat – and not too much sex. A good diet in ancient times was more than what you ate

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History, The University of Western Australia

    The Feast of Acheloüs by Peter Paul Rubens and Jan Brueghel the Elder, ca. 1615 The Metropolitan Museum of Art

    In the modern world, we know good nutrition is essential for our health.

    Doctors in ancient Greece and Rome knew this too – in fact diet advice was a mainstay of medical practice and health routines. There were extensive and intricate discussions of how to regulate food and drink to stay healthy.

    Some of their ideas – such as eating fish and vegetables as a healthy way to lose weight – make sense today. But others may raise eyebrows, such a fig-only diet for Olympic athletes.

    So, what did diet and nutrition look like in ancient times? And is there anything we can learn today?

    An expansive diet

    In modern times, diet refers to food and drink. In ancient times, however, the idea of diet was more expansive.

    Our word “diet” comes from the ancient Greek word diaita. This could refer to what we eat and drink, but it could also refer to our lifestyle as a whole – including exercise, sleep, sex and other activities.

    When prescribing a diaita, ancient doctors did not just tell patients what to eat and drink. They also advised them on what sorts of other activities they should be doing, like exercising or even going to the theatre.

    For instance, in the sixth book of the Epidemics, a medical text written in the late fifth century BC, the author calls for moderation not just in what we eat and drink, but also in exercise, sleep and sex.

    Ancient doctors believed balance was important for health.

    Extreme dieting

    However, not all ancient texts advocate moderation. There are some extreme cases of dieting. For example, the historian Hegesander of Delphi (2nd century BC) wrote:

    Anchimolus and Moschus, who were sophistic teachers in Elis, drank nothing but water all their lives and ate nothing but figs, but were no less physically vigorous than anyone else. Their sweat, however, smelled so bad that everyone tried to avoid them in the baths.

    Some ancient athletes swore by a fig-only diet.
    Wikimedia Commons

    In the seventh century BC, athletic trainers also focused on diet as a way to improve their athletes’ physical condition. Trainers such as Iccus of Tarentum introduced strict diets for their athletes to try and gain a competitive edge.

    However, their methods were often questionable, according to today’s standards and our knowledge about nutrition.

    For example, the Olympic runner Chionis of Laconia apparently also had a strict diet of figs when he was training for his competitions. He won in his event at the Olympics in 668, 664, 660, and 656BC, a remarkable record. Other athletes, such as Eurymenes of Samos (sixth century BC), opted for a diet entirely comprised of meat.

    However, there is no evidence to show these restricted diets would have improved athletic performance – and would not be recommended today.

    The physician Galen.
    Pierre-Roch Vigneron/Wikimedia Commons

    An ancient doctor’s perspective

    Greek and Roman doctors could not conduct controlled trials as scientists do today.

    Nevertheless, they were keen observers of the effects of certain foods on their patients – and saw with their own eyes that a bad diet is not good for us.

    For example, the physician Galen of Pergamum (129-216AD) in his work Hygiene attributes his patients’ ill health to poor diet.

    He observed

    some who are continuously diseased, not due to the intrinsic constitution of the body, but through a bad regimen, or living an idle life, or working too hard, or being in error regarding the qualities, quantities or times of foods, or practicing some exercise that is harmful, or erring in regard to the amount of sleep, or excessive indulgence in sex, or needlessly tormenting themselves with grief and anxiety. Every year I see very many who are sick through such a cause.

    Galen thought hard about how certain foods and drinks affect our health and wrote various books on the subject, such as On the Powers of Foods.

    This work contains many anecdotes. For instance, one young man drank the juice of the scammony plant, “to cleanse his system” (presumably as a laxative). However

    five hours after the dose no evacuation had taken place, and he complained that his stomach felt compressed, his belly was heavy and swollen, consequently he was pale and anxious.

    Galen also recognised different diets affect people in different ways:

    some people are harmed and some are benefited by the same things and similarly with opposites. […] I know of some who immediately become sick, if they remain three days without exercise, and others who continue indefinitely without exercise and yet are healthy.

    Nutrition and balance

    Galen’s advice for overweight or obese patients may sound familiar: a “thinning” diet and a lot of fast running. So, exercise, combined with foods that fill you up but don’t make you gain weight.

    According to Galen this meant eating vegetables and fish and avoiding wheat, red meat, fruit and wine.

    A lot has changed in the world of diet and nutrition. We now have professional dietiticians and empirical methods to measure the nutritional values of foods.

    However in their broader definition of “diet”, ancient doctors identified something that remains as true today: the importance of eating well as part of a healthy lifestyle, one that takes care of body and mind and includes exercise, sleep and pleasure.

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

    – ref. Figs, meat – and not too much sex. A good diet in ancient times was more than what you ate – https://theconversation.com/figs-meat-and-not-too-much-sex-a-good-diet-in-ancient-times-was-more-than-what-you-ate-249571

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/INDONESIA – A ‘common vision’ for humanity and peace: Interview with the Indonesian Ambassador to the Holy See on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Agenzi Fides

    by Paolo AffatatoRome (Agenzia Fides) – “Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia and the signing of the Istiqlal Declaration last September were a crowning achievement of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the Holy See,” says Michael Trias Kuncahyono, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Holy See, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the official establishment of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the Holy See on March 13, 1950. Fides Agency asked him some questions- Ambassador, can you recall the historical and political context in which the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Indonesia took place, 75 years ago?Indonesia had recently completed the journey to gain independence from the Dutch colonizers: Indonesia proclaimed itself independent in 1945. But at that time, however, there were still colonial pressures from European powers, in the specific case of the Dutch. It was then the first native Indonesian bishop, Monsignor Albertus Sugiyopranoto who called on the Vatican to recognize Indonesian independence. Not only because of the assertion of the independence of the State but also because many missionaries were still imprisoned by colonial forces. This fact could have been a good push to get Indonesia’s recognition.- Was the personality of Albertus Sugiyopranoto therefore decisive?A bishop since 1940, he also made an important contribution during the occupation by Japanese forces in 1942, who had arrested priests and nuns. Bishop Sugiyopranoto took a very clear position. When Dutch forces attacked the Indonesians in 1947, he made an impassioned radio address urging Catholics to defend the homeland. He was an advocate for the involvement of Catholics in the independence movement. Meanwhile, he made contact with the Holy See, which sent one of its delegates in December 1947 and initiated direct relations with President Sukarno. Then the Apostolic Delegate, in agreement with Indonesian Vice President Mohamed Atta, dialogued to establish formal relations. Thus on March 13, 1950, the Holy See began diplomatic relations with Indonesia with the status of Apostolic Internunciature, which later became Apostolic Nunciature on December 6, 1966.- What were the respective goals on the two sides in establishing such relations?We know that the Holy See’s diplomacy is different from all other diplomacies in the world. The Vatican ambassador, today the Apostolic Nuncio, is sent to a State not only with the role of an intermediary between states but also to keep in connection and relationship the Church of Rome with the local Church, in the country in which it is located. At that time in Indonesia there was a great growth of the Catholic community, a phenomenon that aroused interest in the Holy See. So there was a need to facilitate the pastoral work and the life of the local Church. There was a need to follow and deepen the apostolic work in Indonesia. The goal of the Holy See is always to take care of the Catholic Church, and the Delegate was the Pope’s representative in this process.Indonesia, for its part, wanted to establish diplomatic relations because, as a very young country, it needed to be recognized in the international community. The international recognition by the Holy See was of immense value: the Holy See was the first European entity to recognize the Indonesian State. This then led other European States to follow the example. It was a decisive step.- Was the Catholic Church then already established in Indonesia? In what forms and with what configuration?The Catholic religion in Indonesia was already a well-established community, mainly thanks to some missionaries and “spiritual fathers” of the community, such as the Jesuit Franciscus Van Lith, who had been very involved in the apostolate of education, opening schools in Java, a work that was highly appreciated by Indonesian society at the time. The first Indonesian Bishop Sugiyopranoto was one of Father Van Lith’s students. Further east in the Flores area, then, a Catholic presence was already established thanks to the Portuguese. Let us remember that Christianity had arrived as early as the 7th century, and then in the 16th century several missionaries from Portugal had landed in Indonesia including Francis Xavier, passing through the Moluccas on his way to China.In addition, the fact that Indonesia, at its birth in 1945, was founded on the “Pancasila” the charter of five principles, one of which was faith in God; and that it adopted the principle of “diverse but one”: this made the Holy See realize that there was fertile ground in which all religions had a chance to flourish.- Was the “unity in diversity” approach a crucial point?That principle was the catalyst in diplomatic relations. But others, such as equality and brotherhood, are also in harmony with Christian values. The founding fathers were quite far-sighted in considering that a nation so rich in different cultures, ethnicities and religions could only survive by staying true to the motto “unity in diversity.” Pope Pius XII already appreciated this and Pope Francis also reiterated it, saying that the model should be taken as an example, especially in countries where there is great pluralism and it is difficult to remain united: we are different but we are brothers.- In Indonesian history, in designing the architecture of the Republic, the choice was made not to build a mono-religious state…It was: the first of the five founding principles was “faith in one God,” then that phrase should have continued by saying “in the Islamic way.” There was a great debate about it, then it was decided to leave only “faith in one God.” Mohammad Atta, the vice president, who was a Muslim and came from Padang a strongly Islamic city, pointed it out clearly because, he said, “we have to remain united.” It was a forward-looking vision.- What common points do you see between Indonesia and the Holy See today in their respective political and cultural approaches?Politically, Indonesia and the Holy See find themselves in a policy that is always in favor of humanity. The Holy See does not work for the maintenance of temporal power but for the development of man, his dignity and rights. I think Indonesia also has the same approach, as the Pancasila and our Constitution say, promoting equality, freedom, democracy as well as peace. These are points that Indonesia and the Holy See have in common.- Is there a common vision also in the use of the instrument of diplomacy?In the instrument of diplomacy, the aspect we have in common can be seen in the founding principles, such as freedom from colonialism and the promotion of peace: we see this in scenarios such as the Middle East, Ukraine, Myanmar. The “diplomacy of hope,” mentioned by Pope Francis in his recent address to the Diplomatic Corps, we understood it as diplomacy that wants to improve the world in a harmonious and comprehensive way. Hope must start from trust, which is the basis of relations between states. Hope for peace in the various conflict scenarios is generated on the basis of trust between the interlocutors.- What did Pope Francis’ trip to Indonesia in 2024 mean?Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia and the signing of the Istiqlal Declaration last September was a crowning achievement of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the Holy See. Not all countries with which the Holy See has relations are visited by the pontiff. And three Popes have visited Indonesia – Pope St. Paul VI (1970), Pope St. John Paul II (1989) and Pope Francis (2024).The trip was not perceived as a trip reserved for the Catholic community, but was perceived as a visit to all Indonesians, who welcomed the Pope with great warmth. The Pope became a model of a leader to follow: he was easy-going, showed himself in a non-luxury car, was always very humble, and stopped to greet everyone. Indonesia showed its true face, a plural face, composed of people of different cultures and religions who welcomed the Pope warmly and enthusiastically. Today, at the time of his illness, so many write to me, not only Catholics but also Muslims, saying: let us pray for him.- What do you hope for the future?We want to strengthen more and more the relations between Indonesia and the Holy See: and, since there is no political and economic aspect, to do it through culture. We intend to make the pluralism of Indonesian culture and its peaceful face better known. The Holy See is, for us, also a gateway to the rest of the world. Another field of fruitful cooperation is that of interreligious dialogue, according to the vision of Pope Francis. These are the paths for future relations. (Agenzia Fides, 18/3/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/CONGO RD – Appeal by Butembo university students: “Enough 30 years of war imposed on us to plunder our country’s resources”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – “We have been living in war for more than 30 years. The war was born before our generation. It has produced misery, millions of internally displaced people, millions of dead” say the university students of Butembo-Beni, in North Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.Since January, vast portions of territory in the provinces of North and South Kivu have been conquered by the M23 guerrilla movement with the support of the Rwandan army, including the two capitals, Goma and Bukavu.In their appeal, sent to Fides, the members of the Student Council of the Catholic University of Graben in Butembo-Beni complain that “the international community has had a passive attitude”. “The conflict endangers the sovereignty of the DRC and our right to life. Children, women and men are exposed to atrocities and all kinds of violence and human rights violations”.The students raise ‘a cry of alarm’. “Aware of the challenges and problems related to peace and security in the world, we express our and the Congolese people’s great weariness. For too long we have been attacked, massacred, killed, deprived of fundamental freedoms, stripped of human dignity. We need peace”. The Butembo-Beni university students remind us that at the root of the war imposed on the Congolese population, there is no ‘ancestral’ conflict, but topical economic and strategic interests: “There is no longer any need to prove that economic and expansionist reasons lie behind this tragedy. Material interests make us prey: our mineral resources, necessary for the technological and energy transition, are among the most coveted by world powers. But to access them, is it really necessary to kill us, condemn us to misery, destroy our cities, our homes, our environment?”. An example of this predation is given by the 10 tonnes of strategic minerals taken in mid-February by M23 militiamen from a plant in South Kivu (see Fides, 26/2/2025; on the kind of Congolese strategic mineral wealth (see Fides, 1/2/2023).This is why the students demand that “our riches benefit the daughters and sons of the DRC. We want the powers to negotiate directly with the DRC partnerships conducted in a fair and peaceful manner, in the interest of all peoples. Our resources must not be extorted through illicit exploitation, at the cost of our lives. Together we must find ways to share them with respect for all human rights and the principle of sovereignty of states”.“We therefore launch an urgent and pressing appeal to all actors on the international scene, so that they play their role correctly. They must work to ensure that the world finds peace and security, to ensure that all the peoples of the world finally have a peaceful life. We have neither weapons production industries nor nuclear weapons laboratories. Why impose war on us? We want peace and security, without conditions”, they conclude. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 18/3/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Resignation and succession of metropolitan archbishop of Mount Hagen

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 18 March 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea, presented by Archbishop Douglas William Young, S.V.D.He is succeeded by Archbishop Clement Papa, until now Coadjutor Archbishop of the same See.His Exc. Msgr. Clement Papa was born on 22 February 1971 in Mount Hagen, Western Highlands, (Papua New Guinea).He studied philosophy at the Good Shepherd Seminary in Maiwara, Madang, and, after a pastoral and spiritual experience, he studied theology at the Holy Spirit Seminary and the Catholic Theological Institute in Bomana, National Capital District. He was ordained a priest on 3 December 1999 for the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mount Hagen.He has held the following positions and continued his studies: Assistant Parish Priest of Fatima (2000-2001); Parish Priest of Kol-Ambulua (2002-2003); Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome (2006); Chaplain at Holy Trinity Teachers College (2007); Dean of Studies at Good Shepherd Seminary in Mt. Hagen (2008); Doctorate in Theology at Melbourne College of Divinity (2021); Lecturer at Good Shepherd Seminary (2021); Rector of Good Shepherd Seminary (2011-2014; 2022); Member of the Finance Committee and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Archdiocese (2011-2014; 2023); since 2023 he has been the interim Director of the Spiritual Year at the Good Shepherd Seminary. (Agenzia Fides, 18/3/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMERICA/HAITI – A network of paths for human and economic development in Pourcine Pic Makaya

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 19 March 2025

    MM

    Pourcine (Agenzia Fides) – In Pourcine Pic Makaya, the sowing season is coming to an end. The next two months will be difficult for the people awaiting the harvest. They have “put everything they have in the form of money into the ground,” that is, they have used it to prepare the land and sow.”In the coming weeks, agricultural work will decrease significantly; the Community will be able to work on repairing some roads and paths that connect the village plateau with other towns,” writes Father Massimo Miraglio, a Camillian missionary in Haiti, to Fides.“With a salary for the people, organized into work teams, we can help several families in a very difficult economic time. The results we seek are twofold,” continues the Camillian parish priest of Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours in Pourcine: “to improve the usability of some roads (also to make them safer for children going to school) and to financially assist more than 200 families with a small financial contribution from their work.”The village of Pourcine Pic Makaya is located on a plateau at an altitude of approximately 1,000 meters and surrounded by rugged mountains, where numerous hamlets are connected by difficult and steep paths. Just under 300 families live in Pourcine, with a total of almost 1,500 people; the hamlets, about 15 in number, are home to around 2,000 people. The village is the center of all the area’s inhabitants, and a market is held every Wednesday, the center of the area’s economic activity. In Pourcine, there are two schools, one public and one parish, and a small (informal) parish clinic. Paths lead from the plateau to all the other villages (some several hours’ walk away) and to the three main tracks that connect Pourcine to the rest of the region: the first to the town of Beaumont, the second to the adjacent Castillon valley, and the third to the valley floor and Jérémie.“This entire network of mountain roads plays a fundamental role,” explains Fr. Miraglio, “allowing people to travel from the center to the villages, to the land they cultivate, to the markets for local produce, and to the neighboring towns in the region. Unfortunately, due to the terrain, heavy rainfall, and poor maintenance, this network of roads is in poor condition and, especially during the rainiest periods, is often impassable. Rural roads in particular, which are especially valuable because they allow the transport of products on mule and ensure connections to neighboring areas, are in poor condition. On rare occasions, the local community organizes, with the limited resources at its disposal, to clear the roads and improve their viability.”To help the population, Father Máximo is working on a project to “rehabilitate and maintain the roads and mule tracks that connect the villages of the Pourcine-Pic Makaya mountain community.” This project will enable the population to travel more safely and quickly, using the mules available to transport more local products and essential goods for the community’s life. The project also aims to foster the economic and social development of the area, counteracting depopulation and promoting a participatory and sustainable work model.“The direct beneficiaries of the project will be 268 people,” reports the Camillian, “who will be directly involved in the cleaning and maintenance of the trails, while the indirect beneficiaries will be the entire population of Poucine Pic Makaya, who will be able to benefit from the improvements to the trail network. In particular, the children who daily walk the trails leading from the various villages to the plateau where the school is located will be able to travel more safely and quickly. The direct beneficiaries, men and women (coordinators, team leaders and laborers), will be chosen from among the residents of the most remote areas who most need these income-generating activities at a particularly difficult time for the farmers in the area.” (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 19/3/2025)
    MM

    MM

    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – EU economic developments and projections – 19-03-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    This briefing provides a summary of the recent economic developments in EU Member States and gives an overview of relevant economic projections forecasted by major EU and international institutions. Annex 1 includes the latest GDP data and forecasts for all EU Member States. Annex 2 provides the latest inflation data and developments.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Erdoğan – a danger to Europe rather than the saviour of its security – E-001035/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001035/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Petra Steger (PfE)

    On 24 February 2025, Turkish President Erdoğan described Türkiye as the saviour of the EU’s security, adding that the EU needed to recognise that reality quickly. That statement can only be described as completely unrealistic and outrageous. Over a number of years, Türkiye has spectacularly demonstrated that it is the worst possible partner in almost all areas: dismantling democracy, restricting freedom of the press, disregard for human rights, acts of war in Syria in violation of international law, invasion and regular provocations in Cyprus, using ‘refugees’ to blackmail the EU repeatedly’, and fuelling war-like riots at Greek border fences.

    It is all the more astonishing that, since late 2023, the Commission has been seeking a renewed deepening of relations with Türkiye, thus proving that the Brussels system has learned nothing from past mistakes. The fact is that, in recent years, Türkiye has increasingly departed from Western democratic values and repeatedly endangered Europe’s security and stability.

    • 1.How does the Commission view Erdoğan’s statement that Türkiye is the saviour of Europe’s security?
    • 2.What tangible steps have been taken by the Commission since late 2023 to re-engage with Türkiye?
    • 3.What measures does the Commission plan to take so that it can act completely independently of Turkey in the areas of migration and security?

    Submitted: 11.3.2025

    Last updated: 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Struggling farmers and livestock breeders – E-001030/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001030/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Kostas Papadakis (NI), Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos (NI)

    Farmers, livestock breeders and bee-keepers are battling hard to make a living.

    The CAP, which governments have co-decided and implemented over time, favours cartels that buy farmers’ products at ‘open’ prices. Struggling farmers demand immediate support for their shrinking income. The Government’s much-advertised reduction in VAT to 6 % on agricultural supplies is of no benefit to farmers, as it has no impact on reducing production costs since, as intermediaries who sell products at 13 % VAT, they are forced to pay the VAT difference to the revenue office.

    In light of the above:

    • 1.What is the Commission’s position on the acute problems faced by struggling farmers, livestock breeders and bee-keepers in Greece, which are caused by the policy in place – with the CAP at the centre – and which are leading them down the path of hardship?
    • 2.What is the Commission’s position on the demands of agricultural producers for the replacement of lost income due to reduced production and low prices; the reduction of production costs by means of tax-free petrol at the pump, cheap electricity and water, and subsidies for fertilizers, agricultural supplies and animal feed; compensation of 100 % of losses; state-guaranteed prices for farmers and a ceiling on supermarket prices; the implementation of all necessary infrastructure projects; measures against ‘hellenization’; the linking of the subsidy to real agricultural production and the actual livestock count; the taking all necessary measures to control animal diseases and an increase in farmworkers’ pensions?

    Submitted: 10.3.2025

    Last updated: 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Possible challenges in the multiannual financial framework and resources for agriculture and cohesion – E-001031/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001031/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mario Mantovani (ECR), Carlo Fidanza (ECR), Sergio Berlato (ECR), Denis Nesci (ECR), Ruggero Razza (ECR), Francesco Ventola (ECR)

    A rumour is circulating that the Commission would like to reduce the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) to only four budget chapters, down from the current seven. The current 531 national programmes for territorial cohesion and agriculture would be cut to only 27, with a potential decrease in available resources. The potential challenges of the next MFF come on top of the need to repay NextGenerationEU debt, as well as the need to find fiscal space for investment in defence, competitiveness and the automotive sector, along with the recent Clean Industrial Deal, which commits to providing green policies with EUR 100 billion from the Innovation Fund, although that fund amounts to only EUR 40 billion, much of which has already been committed.

    The lack of clear, structured communication concerning the next MFF makes it difficult to start an institutional discussion on the Commission’s new policy actions.

    In view of the above, can the Commission answer the following:

    • 1.Does it not agree that, when the EU’s finances are facing difficulties, providing such significant support for green policies that have thus far been rejected by markets and consumers may amount to extremely imprudent financial management?
    • 2.Can it deny that agriculture and cohesion will face cuts in the next MFF?
    • 3.Does it not think that the scale of green investments should be reduced, to the benefit of agriculture and cohesion?

    Submitted: 10.3.2025

    Last updated: 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The EU’s digital transformation programmes and the European funds that have been disbursed to achieve it – E-001032/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001032/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Francesco Torselli (ECR), Carlo Fidanza (ECR), Denis Nesci (ECR), Mariateresa Vivaldini (ECR), Chiara Gemma (ECR), Alberico Gambino (ECR), Sergio Berlato (ECR), Giovanni Crosetto (ECR), Francesco Ventola (ECR), Marco Squarta (ECR), Elena Donazzan (ECR), Michele Picaro (ECR), Lara Magoni (ECR), Antonella Sberna (ECR), Daniele Polato (ECR), Alessandro Ciriani (ECR), Pietro Fiocchi (ECR), Giuseppe Milazzo (ECR)

    Digital technology and infrastructure are an integral part of our daily lives, as they determine how we work and communicate and are also vital to advancing scientific progress and responding to current environmental challenges.

    The COVID-19 pandemic showed just how important it is for Europe to avoid depending on non-EU systems and solutions. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has further highlighted the vulnerabilities of our digital supply chains and the importance of investing in cybersecurity and drastically improving Europe’s digital capabilities.

    The EU has set up a number of programmes to support the digital transformation of industries, SMEs and public administrations. One of them is Digital Europe (DIGITAL), which enables the EU to respond to these challenges by funding projects in key areas such as supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and advanced digital skills as well as initiatives which aim to ensure the widespread use of digital technologies across the economy and society.

    In view of President von der Leyen’s announcement of the launching of InvestAI (an initiative that will mobilise a further EUR 200 billion in funds, of which EUR 20 billion will be set aside for a European fund for AI gigafactories), could the Commission clarify how much has been spent so far to achieve the digital transition for European citizens and businesses?

    Supporter[1]

    Submitted: 10.3.2025

    • [1] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Stefano Cavedagna (ECR)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Massive brain drain from EU universities is an existential threat to Europe’s future – E-001033/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001033/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Nikos Pappas (The Left)

    The European Union is facing a growing brain drain crisis, with the best young scientists, researchers and academics leaving Europe for countries such as the USA, Canada and China. This exodus undermines the EU’s strategic autonomy and its ability to innovate and compete globally.

    Despite investments through Horizon Europe and Erasmus+, the reality is that funding is not enough to make European universities competitive alongside the world’s top institutions. Low salaries, a lack of cutting-edge research opportunities and cumbersome bureaucratic procedures discourage young scientists from staying or returning to Europe.

    Given that this trend poses a serious threat to the EU’s knowledge economy and its leadership in key areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and climate innovation:

    • 1.Does the Commission recognise brain drain from EU universities as a critical issue for the future of the Union?
    • 2.How does the Commission intend to incorporate into the upcoming review of Horizon Europe mechanisms that will enhance the attraction and retention of scientific talent in Europe, preventing the brain drain of young researchers to third countries?
    • 3.Is the Commission considering the creation of specific funds or targeted programmes to support the European academic community?

    Submitted: 10.3.2025

    Last updated: 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Reducing regulatory burden for the fisheries sector – E-001034/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001034/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR)

    The Commission is seeking to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses. Scrapping and simplifying existing rules is badly needed, as is averting obstructive new rules. The European fisheries sector urgently needs there to be a comprehensive review of fisheries and environmental policies. That must go beyond merely scaling back and digitising reporting obligations. At his hearing in Parliament on 6 November 2024, Commissioner Kadis announced that, within DG MARE, the entire rulebook would be screened, the aim being to shrink it by 30-35%.

    • 1.Does the Commission agree that digitising the rulebook is not enough to bring about a substantial cut in regulatory burden, but that rules should actually be scrapped?
    • 2.In addition to the internal departmental screening, does the Commission intend to enter into a dialogue with the fisheries sector on reducing regulatory burden?
    • 3.Is the Commission prepared to revisit new laws, such as the Nature Restoration Act and the revised Control Regulation, as part of this review?

    Submitted: 10.3.2025

    Last updated: 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Impact of tariffs and quota systems on downstream steel manufacturing in the EU – E-001037/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001037/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Paulo Cunha (PPE), Lídia Pereira (PPE), Sérgio Humberto (PPE), Susana Solís Pérez (PPE), Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez (PPE), Dennis Radtke (PPE)

    The downstream steel manufacturing sector in the EU is facing critical challenges, exacerbated by the existing tariffs and quota systems on raw material imports. While intended to protect local industries, these measures are inadvertently placing enormous financial burdens on European manufacturers who rely on competitively priced raw materials.

    Domestic downstream steel manufacturers frequently grapple with rising costs due to tariffs ranging from 25 % to 35 % on essential materials such as hot rolled and alloy steels, making it increasingly difficult to maintain their market position. Alongside this constraint, imported steel products and derivative steel articles, often produced with subsidised steel, circumvent anti-dumping tariffs and countervailing duties through origin misrepresentation and exports routed via warehouses based in non-EU countries. This situation allows these products to enter the EU market at lower prices, thereby avoiding the application of tariffs.

    In the light of these circumstances:

    • 1.What measures does the Commission intend to implement to safeguard downstream industries from unfair competition posed by imported products, particularly those made from subsidised steel coils?
    • 2.Will the Commission consider revising the current tariff structures to impose them on finished goods in proportion to the raw materials used in production, thereby levelling the playing field for EU manufacturers?

    Submitted: 11.3.2025

    Last updated: 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The urgent need to protect the Balkan lynx – E-001038/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001038/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Sebastian Everding (The Left), Gordan Bosanac (Verts/ALE), Thomas Waitz (Verts/ALE)

    The Western Balkans region is an important European biodiversity hotspot, hosting habitats that support a wide array of species and ecosystems. Home to extensive mountain ranges, forests, rivers, lakes and karst landscapes, it harbours numerous endemic and endangered species, such as the Balkan lynx. With fewer than 40 individuals remaining, the Balkan lynx is on the brink of extinction (with ‘critically endangered’ status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List), making it one of Europe’s most endangered large carnivores. Apart from illegal killing and a lack of conservation plans, its extinction is propelled by the destruction of its habitat.

    The conservation of this species and the region’s rich natural resources is critical, as both are integral not only to the region’s ecological sustainability, but also to its cultural identity and economic stability, ensuring Europe-wide integrity of ecosystems.

    The Balkan lynx’s habitat traverses Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia, and is in dire need of protection. National efforts have been limited, regarding the transposition of the EU’s Nature Directives (Birds[1] and Habitats[2] Directives), which would ensure a proper legal framework for habitat protection and management.

    What is the Commission doing to address the urgent need for the transposition of the relevant EU Nature Directives to this region, and to ensure their implementation at national level?

    Submitted: 11.3.2025

    • [1] Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds, OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/147/oj.
    • [2] Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1992/43/oj.
    Last updated: 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Northern Adriatic as a strategic European interest: Commission security and financial support for Italian, Slovenian and Croatian ports – E-001036/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001036/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Elena Donazzan (ECR), Carlo Fidanza (ECR), Nicola Procaccini (ECR), Carlo Ciccioli (ECR), Alessandro Ciriani (ECR), Giovanni Crosetto (ECR), Pietro Fiocchi (ECR), Daniele Polato (ECR), Mariateresa Vivaldini (ECR)

    Since the brutal attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea, navigation in the Suez Canal has been less secure. In the first five months of 2024, the average daily number of vessels transiting through the Mediterranean Sea was half that of the same period in 2023, as companies redirected vessels towards the Cape of Good Hope.

    Use of that African route lead to exponential growth of sea freight via the Mediterranean – from USD 2 000 to USD 7 000 per container – and an estimated 42 % increase in pollutant emissions per ship. The impact on the Italian ports of Ravenna, Trieste and Venice, the Slovenian port Koper and the Croatian port Rijeka is enormous.

    This state of affairs is damaging for the automotive, chemical, construction and energy supply chains on the Asia-Europe route.

    Taking into account the strategic importance of the Adriatic for Italy, Slovenia and Croatia and given that, should the dangerous conditions in the Suez Canal continue, transport for goods for Asia will be forcibly shifted from the Adriatic to the Atlantic Ocean, with a dramatic impact on European supply chains and jobs:

    • 1.How will the Commission protect the interests of the northern Adriatic ports and jobs there?
    • 2.What financial support measures could be taken to help the ports of Ravenna, Trieste, Venice, Koper and Rijeka to withstand the huge losses of economic activity to date?

    Submitted: 11.3.2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Understanding EU action on Roma inclusion – 19-03-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The Roma are Europe’s largest ethnic minority. Out of an estimated total of 10-12 million Roma in Europe as a whole, some 6 million live in the European Union (EU) and most of them are citizens of an EU Member State. A significant number of Roma people live in very poor socio-economic conditions. The social exclusion, discrimination and segregation they face are mutually reinforcing. Their restricted access to education and difficulties entering the labour market result in low income and poor health compared with non-Roma people. Since the mid-1990s, the EU has been stressing the need for better Roma inclusion. In 2011, a key EU initiative was launched with the adoption of an EU framework for national Roma integration strategies up to 2020. The aim was to tackle the socio-economic exclusion of and discrimination against the Roma. When the framework came to an end, in early October 2020 the European Commission adopted a new strategy for 2021 to 2030. In March 2021, the Council adopted a recommendation on Roma equality, inclusion and participation, encouraging Member States to adopt strategic frameworks for the inclusion of Roma communities. The European Council conclusions on measures to ensure equal access for Roma to adequate and desegregated housing, and to address segregated settlements, adopted on 9 October 2023, are another key follow-up to the 2020-2030 EU Roma strategy. The EU also supports Member States in their duty to improve the lives of all vulnerable people, including the Roma, through the EU structural and investment funds and other funding instruments. Issues relating to the promotion of democratic values and practices, as well as economic, social and cultural rights for Roma people have received particular attention from civil society organisations. Parliament has been advocating for Roma inclusion since the 1990s. This is an update of a briefing published in April 2024.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – The emergence of EU defence ETFs – 19-03-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Union’s defence industry requires a major increase in private investment due to the evolving geopolitical landscape. The emergence of new EU defence exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that hold shares in the underlying companies could encourage this investment and provide EU defence firms with dearly needed capital.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – The role of the European Council in negotiations on the multiannual financial framework: Frequently asked questions – 19-03-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    EU Heads of State or Government will hold their first discussion on the post-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF) at the European Council meeting on 20-21 March 2025. Since 1988, when an interinstitutional agreement introduced the first binding MFF, the European Council has played a central role in the process leading to its adoption. In 1992, the Lisbon Treaty established a new procedure whereby the MFF would come into being through the adoption of a regulation. The European Council was not assigned a formal legal role in this procedure. Due to national contributions to the EU budget and the allocation of funding being highly sensitive issues, MFF negotiations have largely been considered as Chefsache, with a strong de facto involvement of the European Council, especially during the past two rounds. This briefing, presented in the form of answers to frequently asked questions, outlines the trends that can be identified regarding the European Council’s involvement in decision-making on the EU’s long-term budget.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Outlook for the meetings of EU leaders on 20-21 March 2025 – 19-03-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The first quarter of 2025 has been a very busy one for the European Council, with EU leaders having already convened three times before their regular March meeting – once for an informal retreat on defence on 3 February, in a video-conference on 26 February and then for a special European Council meeting on 6 March. The increasingly complex geopolitical situation, as well as the current strains on the transatlantic relationship, make the regular March meeting a crucial one. According to the Leaders’ Agenda, the meeting was expected to concentrate mainly on competitiveness, but due to recent events many items have been added to the agenda, including Ukraine, the Middle East and defence. As usual, the meeting will start with an exchange of views with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. EU leaders will also have a discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. There will be a working lunch with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, dedicated to multilateralism and other global issues. In the afternoon, a Euro Summit meeting will take place in inclusive format, with European Central Bank President, Christine Lagarde, and Eurogroup President, Paschal Donohoe, taking part in the discussions on economic issues and competitiveness.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The Government’s attempt to cover up the crime at Pylos – E-001028/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001028/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Kostas Papadakis (NI), Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos (NI)

    The Pylos shipwreck, a tragic crime which claimed the lives of at least 600 refugees and migrants, remains unpunished. The Greek Ombudsman’s findings reveal that the Nea Dimokratia Government bears huge responsibility in the matter.

    These findings follow on from Frontex’s own report, in which serious accusations were made against the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Coast Guard. However, Frontex’s findings are being hushed up and the enormous responsibilities of Frontex itself are being concealed. Although the Frontex plane sighted the fishing vessel and detected the dangerous route it was on, it failed to issue a mayday call and made no attempt whatsoever to prevent the shipwreck because it ‘was ordered not to’.

    In light of the above,

    • 1.What is the Commission’s take of the information brought to light in the Greek Ombudsman’s findings and in the previous findings of Frontex’s Fundamental Rights Office and of the European Ombudsman, which show that the Nea Dimokratia Government and the Greek authorities bear objective responsibilities for the deadly Pylos shipwreck, as does Frontex, given that it made no effort to prevent the shipwreck even though it was present in the area?
    • 2.What view does the Commission take of the fact that the continuous and recurring shipwreck incidents that have turned the Mediterranean into a graveyard, are the result of the EU and government policy of stepping up the migration crackdown at the borders, with the assistance of Frontex, which will intensify with the Pact on Migration and Asylum that is being promoted?

    Submitted: 10.3.2025

    Last updated: 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Lifting of EU sanctions against Syria and repatriation of Syrian asylum seekers – E-000888/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000888/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Petra Steger (PfE)

    Now that the foreign ministers of the Member States have unanimously approved several legal instruments provisionally suspending the EU sanctions against Syria in the banking, energy and transport sectors, which have been in place for years, the conditions must be created for an EU-wide initiative to step up deportations to Syria. It cannot be the case that Syria benefits from significant economic relief while more than a million Syrians, who are urgently needed to rebuild their country, remain in the EU – one hundred thousand of whom in Austria. However, a return of Syrian refugees to their home country would not only contribute to the development of Syria, but would also mitigate the security risks in the host countries, which are suffering massively from the consequences of illegal mass migration.

    • 1.What concrete measures does the Commission plan to take to ensure that the lifting of EU sanctions goes hand in hand with a coordinated return of Syrian asylum seekers to their country?
    • 2.Is the Commission planning to revise the existing asylum regime for Syrian nationals to take into account the changed political circumstances in Syria?
    • 3.How does the Commission plan to support Member States in the implementation of return programmes to enable rapid and efficient remigration of Syrian citizens?

    Submitted: 3.3.2025

    Last updated: 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Special report 17/2024 of the European Court of Auditors: The EU trust fund for Africa (EUTF) – E-003012/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission is not aware of any reports of non-cooperative behaviour by staff of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa (EUTF for Africa).

    EUTF staff are recruited based on job descriptions linked to Trust Funds whose strategy is public. EUTF staff are bound by the obligations and responsibilities enshrined in the Staff Regulations[1]. The right to freedom of expression must be exercised with due respect to the principles of loyalty and impartiality[2].

    As reflected in the Council conclusions of 17 October 2024[3] and in the Political Guidelines of the President of the Commission for 2024-2029[4], migration management is at the centre of the EU’s political agenda.

    The Council called for action at all levels to facilitate, increase and speed up returns from the EU, using all relevant policies, instruments and tools. To this end, the Commission is urgently working on a new legislative framework on return.

    The EU is developing comprehensive partnerships with countries of origin and transit in which migration, including fostering cooperation on return and readmission, is embedded.

    The EU ensures that its interests are fully reflected in the partnerships. The Commission also regularly assesses third countries’ cooperation on readmission and may propose to the Council to adopt restrictive visa measures under Article 25a of the Visa Code[5].

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:01962R0031-20240701
    • [2] Article 17 of the Staff Regulations.
    • [3] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/2pebccz2/20241017-euco-conclusions-en.pdf
    • [4] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf
    • [5] Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32009R0810
    Last updated: 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU funding to Elon Musk’s companies – P-000905/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-000905/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Daniel Freund (Verts/ALE)

    Can the Commission provide a detailed list of EU funding allocated to companies owned or controlled by Elon Musk (SpaceX, Tesla, X (formerly Twitter), Neuralink, The Boring Company, xAI and any other relevant entities linked to Mr Musk) over the past five years? This should include grants, tenders, subsidies and any other payments made in this regard, including funds spent on advertising on social media platforms owned or controlled by him. Please specify the amount, purpose, type of funding and the relevant EU programmes under which the funds were allocated.

    Submitted: 4.3.2025

    Last updated: 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –