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Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Reverend Warnock Spotlights Dangerous Cuts to Medicaid in Presser Addressing Washington Politicians’ Proposed Tax Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    ICYMI: Senator Reverend Warnock Spotlights Dangerous Cuts to Medicaid in Presser Addressing Washington Politicians’ Proposed Tax Bill

    On Wednesday afternoon, Senator Reverend Warnock addressed the impact of proposed Republican cuts to Medicaid on ordinary Georgians
    The press conference came hours after President Trump endorsed the House Republican budget plan, which includes scathing cuts to Medicaid and other programs that hard working Georgians rely on
    Senator Reverend Warnock has long championed Medicaid protections and closing the health care coverage gap
    Senator Reverend Warnock: “This is backward, it’s not only immoral it’s impractical, we’re making the American workforce sicker and weaker, […] we’ve got to straighten out this mess and center to the people”

    Above: Senator Reverend Warnock during the Hands Off Medicaid press conference
    Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) outlined the dire impacts of potential Medicaid cuts on ordinary Georgians. The Senator pushed back on cuts to Medicaid and other key programs proposed by Washington politicians in the recent budget plan.
    The proposed plans potentially set up deep cuts to Medicaid, threatening to shut down more rural hospitals, and rip away healthcare from some of the nation’s most vulnerable communities, including thousands of Georgia seniors and children.
    “A budget is more than a fiscal document. It is also a moral document. Show me your budget and I’ll show you who you think matters, who’s in and who’s out, who you think is expendable, where your priorities are,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.
    This is backward, it’s not only immoral it’s impractical, we’re making the American workforce sicker and weaker, […] we’ve got to straighten out this mess and center to the people,” Senator Reverend Warnock concluded.
    The press conference was hosted by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and also included U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). The press conference is part of the Health Care Strike Team, created by Senate Democrats to push back on Republicans’ reconciliation efforts.
    Senator Warnock has long championed efforts to expand affordable health care access, starting with his advocacy to close the health care coverage gap in Georgia. In addition to pushing for solutions to close the coverage gap, Senator Warnock led a delegation of Georgia lawmakers in urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide tools to Medicaid non-expansion states like Georgia to help them protect health care access for Medicaid enrollees who lose eligibility after the end of the public health emergency declaration.
    Watch Senator Warnock’s remarks HERE.
    Below full remarks from Senator Warnock at press conference:
    “A budget is more than a fiscal document. It is also a moral document. Show me your budget and I’ll show you who you think matters, who’s in and who’s out, who you think is expendable, where your priorities are.”
    “As we take stock of what Washington Republicans are trying to do now, this budget, if it were an EKG (electrocardiogram), would suggest that Washington Republicans have a heart problem and that they are in need of moral surgery.”
    “The consequences of the actions that they are trying to take in this moment hits into the lives of ordinary people. I think too often those of us who work in this space and those who cover us, sort of cover the politicians. And when the politics becomes about the politicians, we lose site of where and how this actually matters for ordinary people. What they’re trying to do is both immoral and impractical. I have been working in this health care fight for years, long before I decided to run for the United States Senate, I was fighting for health care in Georgia.”
    “I remember when we passed the Affordable Care Act, how glad I was that that happened and I went into the Georgia Capitol and staged to sit-in in the governor’s office because that governor, and the next governor, and the governor after that have all refused to expand Medicaid in Georgia. It suggested that politicians have a heart problem.”
    “Jesus said, ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ Dr. King, who pastored the church where I now serve, said that ‘Of all the injustices, inequality in health care is the most shocking and the most inhumane.’”
    “They are busy trying to pass a tax cut for the wealthiest people in America, billionaires and millionaires, and they’re doing it on the backs of ordinary people. This cannot stand.”
    “We will continue to hold unaccountable and we encourage all of our constituents to hold them accountable. And because I’ve been focused on this issue, glad now to serve on the finance committee under the great Ron Wyden and we’ll be focused on these issues. I got arrested in Georgia trying to get healthcare for folks. Staging a sit-in and in the governor’s office. In fact, I got arrested in this Capitol in 2017 when they were trying to do the same thing, pass the $2 trillion dollar tax cut at the expense of the poor and the farm bill at the expense of the children’s health care program, but I decided to move from being an agitator to a legislator, but we got to keep on agitating, even if it’s inside of these halls.”
    “When I came to the Senate, I talked to all of my colleagues here in the Democratic Caucus and they agreed with me that we needed to provide Georgia and other non-expansion states some more incentives to expand. Remember, we got 14.2 billion for the non-expansion states to expand, $2 billion just for Georgia alone. You know what Georgia did? Georgia left that money on the table and left over 600,000 Georgians in the healthcare coverage gap.”
    “Some got the message, North Carolina took those incentives and they expanded, a purple state, Kentucky expanded. Now they’re trying to go after these incentives. They want to go after the tax credits that will allow people to get health care and this has consequences on the lives of ordinary people. We’ve seen a dozen hospitals in Georgia close over the last decade, and those hospitals could be opened with paying customers if they could get access to Medicaid.”
    “When I think about this, I often think about Heather Payne, who is a traveling nurse from Dalton, Georgia. Georgia has a health care program, if you want to call it that. That has not enrolled 10,000 people yet. Heather Payne is one of those people stuck in the gap. That’s why my colleagues pointed out, very often we talk about Medicaid expansion, we’re talking about the working poor, people who work every single day. Heather Payne is a traveling nurse who was taking care of patients even during COVID, and then because she was a traveling nurse, some days she had health care, sometimes she didn’t have health care. She wasn’t poor enough to get conventional Medicaid and the programs that she was eligible for would cost between 500 and $1,000 a month, it was too much.”
    “One day she realized that something was happening in her body. She knew something wasn’t right, but she didn’t have enough money to see what it was, and finally, she saved enough money of her own cash to finally go and see a neurologist. And the neurologist said, you’ve actually had a series of mini-strokes that require additional care. And so here she is, she needs additional care, but she doesn’t have health care. And so she’s literally caught up in the gap between the refusal of a state of Georgia to expand Medicaid and these onerous work requirements in states like Georgia. She’s sick, too sick to work, and she’s being asked to prove that she can work, or that she is working, so that she can get health care.”
    “Why’d they give Elon Musk and people like him a tax cut? Let me put this in perspective, in closing, and nobody believes a Baptist preacher when he says ‘In closing’, I was proud that we got $14 billion to help these states to expand Medicaid. Elon Musk has got $18 billion in incentives from our federal government. And he’s the one who’s telling us that the rest of us need to tighten our belts.”
    “This is backwards, it’s not only immoral it’s and impractical, we’re making the American workforce sicker and weaker, which I think ultimately is a national security issue, and so we’ve got a straighten out this mess and center to the people. People like Heather Payne, who’s waiting right in this very moment to get the health care she deserves.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Memoriam: Pierre Morel [1933–2024]

    Source: NASA

    Pierre Morel, the first director of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and founding member of WCRP’s Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX) Core project, died on December 10, 2024.
    Pierre began his research as a theoretical physicist. His doctoral thesis examined the existence and properties of a condensed superfluid state of liquid Helium 3 at very low temperature. He lectured on basic physics, geophysical fluid dynamics, and climate science. As his career progressed, he focused his research on studying the circulation of the atmosphere. He was devoted to the development of numerical modelling of atmospheric flow that laid the groundwork for the study of climatology.
    Pierre’s work played an integral role in the development of tools used to study the atmosphere, many of which are still active today. Examples include Project Éole – an experimental wind energy plant conceived in the 1980s and created in Quebec, Canada that closed down in 1993; the ARGOS satellite, a collaboration between the Centre National d’Études Spatiale (CNES) [French Space Agency], National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and NASA, to collect and relay meteorological and oceanographic data around the world that launched in 1978; the Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) system, which was developed by the U.S. – specifically NOAA, NASA, and the U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force – Canada, and France, with the first satellite launch in 1982; and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites’ METEOSAT series of geostationary satellites, which launched in 1977 and remain active today. The launch of Meteosat–12 in 2022 was the first METEOSAT Third Generation (MTG) launch.
    Early in his career, Pierre was the director of the French Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (LMD) before he became the director of the Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES). In 1980 he became the first chairman of the WCRP, where he steered a broad interdisciplinary research program in global climate and Earth system science that involved the participation of atmospheric, oceanic, hydrological, and polar scientists worldwide. Pierre was later in charge of planetary programs at NASA and was involved in discussions about the future of NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) in the mid-to-late 1990s. As an example, the Earth Observer article, “Minutes Of The Fourteenth Earth Science Enterprise/Earth Observing System (ESE/EOS) Investigators Working Group Meeting,” includes a summary of a presentation Pierre gave that focused on flight mission planning for the EOS “second series,” which was NASA’s plan at the time although ultimately not pursued, with the “first series” (i.e., Terra, Aqua, Aura) enduring much longer than anticipated.
    Pierre was the recipient of the 2008 Alfred Wegener Medal & Honorary Membership for his outstanding contributions to geophysical fluid dynamics, his leadership in the development of climate research, and the applications of space observation to meteorology and the Earth system science.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 20.02.2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Stock Exchange Release
    20 February 2025 at 22:30 EET

    Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 20.02.2025

    Espoo, Finland – On 20 February 2025 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows:

    Trading venue (MIC Code) Number of shares Weighted average price / share, EUR*
    XHEL 1,256,122 4.77
    CEUX – –
    BATE – –
    AQEU – –
    TQEX – –
    Total 1,256,122 4.77

    * Rounded to two decimals

    On 22 November 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to offset the dilutive effect of new Nokia shares issued to the shareholders of Infinera Corporation and certain Infinera Corporation share-based incentives. The repurchases in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and under the authorization granted by Nokia’s Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 started on 25 November 2024 and end by 31 December 2025 and target to repurchase 150 million shares for a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 900 million.

    Total cost of transactions executed on 20 February 2025 was EUR 5,989,818. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 254,445,785 treasury shares.

    Details of transactions are included as an appendix to this announcement.

    On behalf of Nokia Corporation

    BofA Securities Europe SA

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Inquiries:

    Nokia Communications
    Phone: +358 10 448 4900
    Email: press.services@nokia.com
    Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications

    Nokia Investor Relations
    Phone: +358 931 580 507
    Email: investor.relations@nokia.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SJ at 8th IBA Asia Pacific Regional Forum Biennial Conference (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the 8th IBA Asia Pacific Regional Forum Biennial Conference today (February 20): Mr Menzer (Vice-President of the International Bar Association (IBA), Mr Jorg Menzer), Mr Dhillon (Co-Chair of the IBA Asia Pacific Regional Forum Mr Dinesh Dhillon), Mr Liu (Co-Chair of the IBA Asia Pacific Regional Forum Mr David Liu), Winnie (Secretary of the IBA Asia Pacific Regional Forum and co-chair of the conference, Ms Winnie Tam, SC), other friends from the IBA, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,      Good evening. I wish to begin by thanking the organiser, in particular, my good friend Winnie, for inviting me to this dinner. I also wish to congratulate the conference co-chairs and the conference organising committee for hosting this eighth edition of the International Bar Association Asia Pacific Regional Forum Biennial Conference. I was told that more than 360 persons coming from 36 jurisdictions have signed up for the conference. Apart from 20 jurisdictions in the Asia Pacific region (including the Mainland and Hong Kong), we have friends coming from South Asia, Central Asia, Europe, North and South America, as well as Africa.      In 2008, Hong Kong hosted the IBA Asia Pacific Forum with the theme “New focus of international business: Asia, the centre stage”. Time flies. As at today (February 20, 2025), what had been described as the “new focus” back in 2008, 17 years ago has become the “main focus”.      In these circumstances, the theme of this conference is most pertinent, namely “Vibrant Asia – Land of opportunity and promise”. This theme, of course, applies to Hong Kong, being one of the major international cities in Asia. But I wish to be more specific tonight by spending the next 15 minutes or so to convince you why, from the legal perspective, Hong Kong is a land of opportunity and promise.      The short answer is that, as we always say, Hong Kong serves as the “super connector” and “super value-adder” between China and the rest of the world. We perform such roles by making use of our unique strengths and advantages under the principle of “one country, two systems”. One of these unique strengths and advantages is that we have very strong rule of law based on our common law system. You may wonder: there are many jurisdictions in the world including Asia, which practise the common law; what is so special about Hong Kong’s common law system? My answer is that there are at least six key characteristics of our common law system which, when combined together, have rendered our legal system unparalleled.     First, our legal system is very stable. Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China. The continuation of the common law system is guaranteed by various provisions in the Basic Law which implements the fundamental national policy of “one country, two systems”. It is most significant to note that, in his speech delivered on July 1, 2022, at the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), President Xi Jinping made it crystal clear that the principle of “one country, two systems” is a good policy that must be adhered to in the long run. Equally important is that he mentioned the common law twice in his speech. Apart from acknowledging the contribution of the common law to the success of Hong Kong since China’s resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997, he said that “The Central Government fully supports Hong Kong in its effort … to maintain the common law …”. More recently, on December 20, 2024, at the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, President Xi repeated that “one country, two systems” is a good system that sustains the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao. He also pointed out that the values embodied in the principle of “one country, two systems”, namely, peace, inclusiveness, openness and sharing are relevant to not only China but also the whole world.     Second, our legal system is very credible and reliable. In particular, we have an utmost reputable and independent judiciary. The Basic Law provides that our courts shall enjoy the independent power of adjudication and also that our Court of Final Appeal (CFA) shall enjoy the power of final adjudication. There are also express provisions which guarantee judicial independence. For example, judges in Hong Kong are appointed on the recommendation of an independent commission, with the only criteria considered being their judicial and professional quality. Non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions of the highest calibre have been invited to sit on our CFA. The most recent appointee, former Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, Mr Justice Allsop, came to Hong Kong last week to hear his first case. The judgments of our courts, in particular those of the CFA, are often cited in other common law jurisdictions. All court hearings, subject to very few exceptions, are conducted openly; and court judgments are always published. These measures enable people to see that judges have in fact discharged their duties independently without any improper interference. A strong piece of evidence, which I will mention with great reluctance, is that in litigation involving the Government, the Secretary for Justice was, on some occasions, not the successful party. The integrity and quality of our judiciary is never in doubt.      Third, our legal system provides a very safe and secure environment. Fundamental human rights and freedoms based on international standards set by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as private property rights, are fully protected by Hong Kong law. Our law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies, such as the Police, the ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption), the SFC (Securities and Futures Commission), always enforce the relevant laws strictly and fairly. In this respect, it is very important to note that we have consistently been ranked as one of the least corrupt places in the world. According to the Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 released by Transparency International very recently on February 11, 2025, Hong Kong ranks 17 out of 180 jurisdictions, well ahead of many Western developed countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.      Fourth, our legal system is very user-friendly. It is the only bilingual common law system using both English and Chinese. This is important because English is the linqua franca of the international business community. Our laws (both substantive and procedural) are aligned with prevailing international practices, and hence are familiar to the international community. For example, our Arbitration Ordinance is based on the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Model Law. In the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024 published by the International Institute for Management Development in June 2024, Hong Kong ranked first in “Business legislation”.      Furthermore, we strive to update our laws continuously to ensure that they will meet the demand of the latest developments and trends around the world. Let me give two examples. We have just completed a consultation in relation to the proposed amendments to the Copyright Ordinance to cater for the fast development of AI generated works. Second, a draft legislation is now being considered by our Legislative Council which aims at creating a regulatory regime for the issuance and offers of stablecoins.      Fifth, our legal system is well connected to both the Mainland and other parts of the world. With the strong support of the Central Government, Hong Kong has signed nine mutual legal assistance arrangements in civil and commercial matters with the Mainland covering three main areas: first, procedural assistance on, for example, service of judicial documents and taking of evidence; second, arbitration-related assistance; and third, reciprocal recognition and enforcement of civil and commercial judgments. These MLA (mutual legal assistance) arrangements give Hong Kong an advantage that is unavailable in other jurisdictions.      In this respect, it is necessary to mention the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), which consist of nine cities in the Guangdong Province, the HKSAR and the Macao SAR. The population of the GBA has exceeded 86 million; its size is similar to Croatia; its total GDP has already exceeded Australia and is among the top 10 in the world. It is the home of giant tech companies such as Tencent and BYD. Great efforts have been made to harmonise the rules and regulations in the three different legal territories in the GBA. For example, to promote and facilitate the use of mediation to resolve civil and commercial disputes in the GBA, there is now a uniform set of rules on mediation and also a consolidated panel of GBA mediators. Furthermore, important measures have been introduced to give business entities the option to use Hong Kong law in their contracts, and choose Hong Kong as the place for arbitration when they set up their businesses in the GBA. Just last Friday (February 14), the Supreme People’s Court and the Ministry of Justice of the People’s Republic of China announced that Hong Kong-invested enterprises registered in any of the nine Mainland cities in the GBA may choose Hong Kong as the seat of arbitration. And for enterprises registered in Shenzhen or Zhuhai, they may also choose to use Hong Kong law as the governing law of their commercial contracts. These additional options will certainly create more demands and, hence, opportunities for legal practitioners in Hong Kong.      Sixth and lastly, we have very strong legal professionals and dispute resolution institutions with high expertise and vast experience in providing legal and dispute resolution services involving Mainland and international elements. A very important point is that, while most of our lawyers are very good at handling international legal issues, at the same time, they are also proficient in both Chinese and English, and have intimate knowledge of the Chinese culture and business practices. According to the latest statistics updated to February 20, 2025, published by the Law Society of Hong Kong, 299 law firms have overseas offices, and 86 have representative offices in the Mainland. Because of these strong Mainland and international connections, by engaging a Hong Kong lawyer or law firm, the client would in effect be able to obtain a one-stop legal service regarding different jurisdictions.      Our dispute resolution bodies are of course very popular and well regarded worldwide. According to the statistics published by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) (the main arbitral institution in Hong Kong), in 2024, 352 new arbitration cases were submitted to the HKIAC, with the total amount in dispute reaching approximately US$13.6 billion. Both figures represent a record high for the HKIAC. Parties from 53 jurisdictions participated in these arbitrations. In 86 per cent of these cases, at least one of the parties was not from Hong Kong; and in 14.5 per cent of these cases, neither party came from Asia. These figures demonstrate and reinforce Hong Kong’s status as a world class leading and popular international arbitration centre.      As there are many friends from the Mainland and other countries here tonight, I wish to stress that we adopt a very open policy and welcome lawyers from other jurisdictions to practise here in appropriate circumstances. As a matter of fact, there are already 83 foreign law firms and 1 571 foreign registered lawyers practising in Hong Kong. On the other hand, King’s Counsel from England come to Hong Kong from time to time on an ad hoc basis to appear in difficult and complex litigations.      Turning to arbitration, we place no restriction at all on the nationalities or professional qualifications of the parties, legal advisers or arbitrators to participate in arbitral proceedings in Hong Kong. As a further step to facilitate people from other places to take part in arbitrations in Hong Kong, starting from next month, individuals participating in arbitrations in Hong Kong may do so without the need to obtain any employment visa. These individuals include not only to parties to the arbitration, arbitrators and counsel, but also expert and factual witnesses, tribunal secretaries, and tribunal-appointed experts. And it does not matter that the seat of arbitration is indeed somewhere else so long as the arbitral proceedings take place physically in Hong Kong.      While I am very confident that Hong Kong’s legal system is unparalleled, and provides abundant opportunities to legal practitioners from not just Hong Kong but also the Mainland and other parts of the world, we recognise that there is no room for complacency. Therefore, we will spare no effort to further promote Hong Kong as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre as well as a capacity building centre. I am excited to say that the signing ceremony of the international treaty regarding the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IoMED) will take place in Hong Kong later this year. The establishment of the IoMED is the result of successful negotiations between China and a number of friendly states. Its headquarters will be located in Hong Kong, and it will be the world’s first intergovernmental international legal organisation dedicated to resolving international disputes of different natures through mediation.      In addition, the Department of Justice established the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy last November which aims at providing capacity building programmes, organising practical training courses, and international exchange programmes to promote sharing of knowledge and experience among legal talents in the region and beyond.      I think I have said enough, and it is time for you to enjoy your well-deserved dinner. To my dear friends coming from overseas, I do hope that, apart from taking part in this conference, you will have some spare time to explore our wonderful city. Seeing is believing. I am very confident that you will be convinced that Hong Kong has remained to be a very open and vibrant society full of energy, hopes and opportunities, as is always the case.       I wish you all a very pleasant evening. Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta: FDA Should Take Quick and Decisive Action Against Makers of Counterfeit Weight Loss Drugs

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – As part of a bipartisan coalition of 38 states and territories, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take swift and decisive action against bad actors unlawfully profiting off the high demand for FDA-approved weight loss and diabetes drugs. In their letter, the coalition notes that demand for GLP-1 medications such as Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Wegovy has skyrocketed, but supply shortages and high costs have created opportunities for wrongdoers to cash in and endanger consumers. 

    “In California and across the country, a growing number of individuals are turning to weight loss drugs. My fellow attorneys general and I are urging the FDA to protect consumers from the growing threat posed by adulterated or counterfeit versions of these drugs,” said Attorney General Bonta. “From inspections to enforcement actions, the FDA has several important tools at its disposal to help put an end to this unlawful and deceptive conduct. A federal response is necessary because many of the counterfeit drugs are shipped from outside of the country.”

    In the letter, the coalition writes that: 

    • The FDA must work with federal partners like the Department of Homeland Security to intercept counterfeit GLP-1 drugs before they reach unsuspecting consumers. Counterfeit GLP-1 drugs from abroad — which can contain contaminants, other unknown drugs, or dangerously high amounts of active ingredients — have infiltrated the U.S. supply chain. Most consumers are not equipped to determine if their medication is legitimate or fake.
    • The FDA must continue to send warning letters to online retailers that are illegally selling the active ingredients of GLP-1 drugs directly to consumers without a prescription. If companies continue to act unlawfully, the FDA should follow up with enforcement action. While claiming that the active ingredients are “for research purposes only” or “not for human consumption,” these companies advertise directly to consumers on social media, claiming that their products are an easier and more affordable way to obtain GLP-1 drugs. When sellers supply only active ingredients, consumers are often forced to formulate the medication themselves, which creates a host of risks.
    • The FDA should also ramp up enforcement against any compounding pharmacies that may be illegally participating in this market. With certain GLP-1 active ingredients added to the FDA’s drug shortage list, compounding pharmacies have been allowed to produce GLP-1 medications and some of those pharmacies have cut corners in pursuit of a quick profit. The FDA must work in partnership with state pharmacy boards to ensure compounded GLP-1 drugs are produced in a safe, sanitary way.

    In sendng this letter, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Colorado, South Carolina, Illinois, Tennessee, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

    A copy of the letter can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: DDG Ellard urges support for multilateral trading system amid geopolitical challenges

    Source: World Trade Organization

    Good morning, Chairman Lange, esteemed Members of the European Parliament, and the Steering Committee of the Interparliamentary Union.

    It is a privilege to be here with you today. I have a deep appreciation for the complexities of your work and the pivotal position you occupy in bringing together international institutions with the public you represent.

    As Parliamentarians, your engagement on WTO matters is essential — not only for shaping trade policy but for ensuring that our work delivers real and meaningful benefits to the public. Parliaments serve as the voice of the people in global trade discussions, and your leadership is crucial in making multilateralism both effective and responsive to the needs of your citizens.

    Today, as the WTO marks its 30th anniversary, and its 80th beginning as the GATT, I will focus on two pressing topics. First, I will describe the negotiating priorities outlined by the WTO’s Members as we gear up for the 14th Ministerial Conference, scheduled to take place in March next year in Cameroon. Second, I will touch upon the broader geopolitical context — a subject that I know is front and center.

    Fish

    Let me begin with a subject that is especially important to showing the success of the multilateral trading system for economic and environmental sustainability:  fisheries subsidies. One of our Members’ most pressing priorities is to ensure the entry into force of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, while also advancing and completing the negotiations on the second phase, to achieve even deeper disciplines. These efforts are vital to protecting our oceans and promoting sustainable fishing practices worldwide.

    The landmark WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies concluded at MC12 in 2022 brought WTO Members a major step closer to fulfilling the SDG 14.6 mandate by prohibiting subsidies to fishing activities considered to be among the most harmful to the sustainability of our oceans. It is estimated that USD 22 billion of harmful fisheries subsidies are provided each year. Through this Agreement, WTO Members have banned such subsidies provided to vessels involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, fishing of overfished stocks, and fishing in the unregulated high seas.

    IUU fishing accounts for approximately 20% of the world’s catch, depleting global fish stocks. Moreover, the FAO estimates that almost 38% of global fish stocks are overfished, and by some measures, the devastation is even higher. The AFS can help to reverse this significant and worsening loss of natural resources.

    However, the full potential of the Agreement will be realized only once it enters into force, which requires the acceptance of two-thirds (or 111) of WTO Members. To date, 90 Members have deposited their instruments of acceptance, bringing us within striking distance of our goal — we need just 21 more.

    I would like to sincerely thank the European Union for being among the first to accept the Agreement. In addition, generous contributions by the EU and its member States to the Fish Fund will support developing and least-developed Members with the implementation of the Agreement if they have deposited their acceptances. We are so close to entry into force but not quite there yet.  I strongly urge you to continue your leadership by encouraging and helping those who have not yet formally accepted the Agreement to do so as soon as possible. And for those here today from the IPU Steering Committee who have not deposited, please count on the WTO Secretariat to help you any way we can. We are aiming for the entry into force of the Agreement before the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), taking place in June in Nice, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. The need to get this done is urgent, and we are counting on everyone to work to meet the goal.

    The second priority related to fisheries subsidies is concluding the second wave of negotiations on additional disciplines.

    At the WTO General Council meeting last December, it was clear that nearly all Members, with the exception of just a few, were ready to conclude the negotiations based on the most recent draft text circulated last November (TN/RL/W/285). While some Members have noted that the disciplines are not perfect, they still acknowledge the substantial value of the current package in curbing subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing. However, those Members that do not support the text have expressed fundamental differences.

    While no agreement is perfect and every Member may have aspects they wish to modify, it is in everyone’s interest to achieve an outcome. If Members fail to do so, the absence of disciplines on overcapacity and overfishing will mean continued deterioration of fish stocks for everyone. We are at a tipping point. 

    We remain committed to bringing this second wave of negotiations across the finish line and will continue to rely on the  constructive engagement of those present here today to make this a reality. Urgent action is needed for both economic and environmental sustainability.

    Dispute Settlement

    The second priority is reforming the WTO’s dispute settlement system to ensure that WTO rules remain meaningful for the benefit of all Members.

    At MC12 in 2022, WTO Members committed to having “a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system accessible to all Members by 2024” and reiterated this objective at MC13 last year. This deadline has passed, and Members are currently working to establish a path forward. I wish to thank the European Union and others in this room for their constructive stance and continued engagement in the reform process.

    Following MC13, the reform of the DS system was formally advanced under the leadership of the Permanent Representative of Mauritius, who, together with six co-convenors at the expert level, worked to address outstanding issues. These included the topics of appeal/review, accessibility, and “works done thus far”. Since the departure of Mauritius’ Ambassador in last November, the General Council (GC) Chair continued to directly oversee the reform process, engaging with Members to gather perspectives on how to build upon the progress and further advance the reform.

    The reform process has already resulted in several draft texts different areas. Notably, Members have developed an advanced substantive draft on “Capacity Building” and “Technical Assistance”. This is crucial for enhancing the technical support we provide to developing Members. While Members made strides in the discussions surrounding appeal/review, this remains one of the more challenging aspects of the reform, and further efforts are needed to resolve the outstanding issues.

    I know that our Members are awaiting word from the United States as to its position. I remain hopeful that we will continue to make progress on this crucial work.

    In the meantime, the WTO continues to serve as the primary forum for resolving international trade disputes. Eight disputes are currently ongoing, along with eleven active consultations. We have also observed an increase in negotiated solutions among Members, with the panel process often serving as a catalyst for these agreements. The dispute settlement work at the WTO remains robust.

    Agriculture

    Third, it is vital that WTO Members make progress on agriculture.

    Agriculture is expected to be a central element on the MC14 agenda, especially because of its fundamental role in supporting food security and driving socio-economic development, particularly across the African continent. Consensus has remained out of reach as to the process and timeline for these negotiations. As the outgoing Chair of the negotiations outlined in his recent report (JOB/AG/265), rebuilding trust and setting credible targets is essential to progressively restoring an effective negotiating process and achieving an agricultural outcome in March 2025 in Yaoundé.

    Plurilateral initiatives

    The fourth priority is for Members to find a way to incorporate the results of plurilateral joint initiatives — the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement and the Agreement on E-commerce — into the WTO rulebook.

    These plurilateral initiatives represent the opportunity for like-minded Members to establish new and ambitious rules among themselves and break new ground within the WTO framework. They co-exist with the concept of multilateralism and do not reduce any WTO rights for non-participants.

    The IFD Agreement currently has 126 WTO Members as parties, including 90 developing and 27 LDC Members, as well as the EU. It aims to foster sustainable development by improving the investment climate through greater transparency and predictability and to facilitate investment flows, particularly to developing and LDC Members. The proponents of the Agreement seek to incorporate it into Annex IV of the WTO Agreement as a plurilateral agreement, with its benefits applied on an MFN basis to all WTO Members. Doing so requires consensus among our Members. However, a few Members have expressed opposition to its incorporation, citing systemic concerns and the impact on multilateralism. The proponents continue work to chart a path to integrate these important disciplines into the WTO rulebook.

    Ninety-one WTO Members, including the EU, have concluded negotiations on the text of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce and presented it to the General Council the day before yesterday for incorporation into the WTO rulebook. The Agreement aims at enabling electronic transactions and promoting digital trade facilitation, ensuring an open environment for digital trade, and promoting trust in e-commerce. It also has provisions on cooperation and development. As with IFD, a few Members oppose on systemic grounds.

    Multilateral work on e-commerce

    In terms of multilateral work on e-commerce, engagement continues under the multilateral Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, as outlined in the MC13 Decision, to be completed by MC14. In January, we held a Dedicated Discussion on bridging the digital divide, focusing on infrastructure, connectivity, and internet access. Another session in February will explore legal and regulatory frameworks, including consumer protection, privacy, and cybersecurity. These sessions aim to share national experiences, delve deeper into key themes, and reflect on actionable ideas. The goal is to identify concrete steps and recommendations for Ministers’ consideration at MC14.

    Another critical decision point is whether to extend the moratorium on the collection of duties on digital transmissions, set to expire on 31 March 2026 or at MC14, whichever comes first. In December, we convened a dedicated information session featuring input from the WTO Secretariat, IMF, UNCTAD, OECD, and South Centre. The session aimed to review existing studies on the moratorium’s impact, foster discussions on its scope and definition, and explore alternative taxation approaches. I encourage you to engage in an open dialogue and explore elements that could help establish a common ground to advance on this important issue.

    Development

    Each of these workstreams carries a strong development dimension, which remains a top priority for many of our Members, as developing countries make up two-thirds of our membership. Just a few weeks ago, WTO Members held a forward-looking retreat focused on leveraging trade as a tool for development and charting a path forward. We will build on this successful engagement in the lead up to MC14. 

    Geopolitical context

    Members of Parliaments, I would be remiss not to say anything about the current geopolitical situation and its impact on trade. We live in tumultuous times — times when trade measures and also countermeasures are announced and implemented within mere days, sometimes hours. The climate of uncertainty affects businesses that operate internationally and rely on supply chains spread across different corners of the world. Such volatility can disrupt economic stability, affect investment plans, and upset supply chains not only within Europe but across the globe.

    It is in times like these that a stable and predictable trading environment, anchored by the multilateral trading system and the World Trade Organization, is more necessary than ever. We were established and designed to promote transparency, stability, and predictability in global trade. Over the past 30 years, the WTO — which an entity composed of its Members — has been working diligently to uphold these principles, to secure a business environment that fosters growth and cooperation. The WTO continues to cover 80% of global trade, which remains unchanged despite recent developments. No single Member dominates the system — not even the United States, which accounts for 15.9% of global trade.

    Europe, with its commitment to open markets and a rules-based trading order, has been a cornerstone of the multilateral system and has long championed the cause of multilateralism and of a predictable trading environment.

    However, let us remember that the multilateral system cannot be taken for granted. Its strength and effectiveness is not automatic; it depends on you, its Members. Our estimates indicate that a collapse of the trading order could result in a staggering double-digit loss in global GDP. And even the mere presence of uncertainty chips away at our collective prosperity, eroding welfare bit by bit.

    That is why today, I appeal to you with an important reminder: the future of the multilateral trading system, and the WTO’s role as a guardian of security and predictability in global commerce, is in your hands.

    If you value the WTO, please help us deliver on the negotiating agenda I have just laid out.

    If you consider WTO rules inadequate or imperfect, I encourage you to collaborate with other Members to strengthen and improve them.

    If you think that your interests are being harmed by measures taken by other Members, I urge you to make full use of the WTO’s platform — whether through our committees, bilateral consultations, or the dispute settlement system — to address and resolve these issues constructively.

    And as you consider the application of your own trade measures, particularly in response to those taken by others, I urge you to remain level-headed and consider not just the immediate effects, but also the broader, long-term consequences, on consumers, industries, and the global trading system. And let us not forget the impact on developing countries — when elephants fight, the grass gets trampled. And that hurts the elephants too.

    In a time when trade is increasingly disrupted by unpredictable and destabilizing actions, your support is crucial in ensuring that the rules-based system we’ve worked so hard to build endures, ultimately benefiting all.  

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: I looked at 35 years of data to see how Australians vote. Here’s what it tells us about the next election

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Intifar Chowdhury, Lecturer in Government, Flinders University

    In the 2022 federal election, two demographics were key to the final outcome: women and young people.

    With another election fast approaching, will they swing the result again?

    To answer this question, I turned to the Australian Election Study (AES) data spanning the period from 1987 to 2022, to investigate how different demographics have voted over time.

    I found that, generally, Australian women and young people tend to favour left-of-centre parties.

    However, specific election issues can have a substantial impact, making the political context of each election crucial. So what can we expect this time around?

    Leaning to the left

    Last year highlighted a growing gulf in political leanings between the sexes worldwide.

    Young women are increasingly progressive. Young men – particularly Gen Z (born after 1994) – are leaning more conservative in many countries, including the United States, China, South Korea and Germany.

    My analysis of the Australian data mirrors global trends, but with a twist.

    Young Australian women are moving sharply to the left. But unlike in many other countries, young Australian men are also shifting left, just at a slower pace.

    Australia’s leftward move across generations is reflected in both self-placement on a left-right ideological scale, and in the vote in federal elections.

    In the 2022 Australian election, the Coalition received its lowest-ever share of the women’s vote at just 32%.

    Only 24.3% of Millennials (21.9% of men and 25.7% of women) voted for the Coalition in 2022.

    These are the lowest levels of support for either major party among younger people in the history of the survey.

    Among Gen Z, a slightly higher proportion of 24.6% voted for the Coalition (34.0% of men and 19.8% of women).

    What’s driving this?

    In theory, women’s leftward shift is driven by several factors. These include higher education levels, greater participation in professional work, and exposure to feminist values. Despite Australia’s post-industrial, egalitarian image, persistent gendered inequalities and discrimination also play a role.

    Meanwhile, young men’s move to the left can be attributed to progressive and egalitarian socialisation. Plus, unlike in other countries, Australia lacks Donald Trump-like figures who could mobilise anti-feminist or hardline conservative sentiments. This limits the expression of such views at an aggregate level.

    This leftward shift is, in part, a generational effect – or at least a reflection of the times.

    The generational angle is crucial, as the 2025 federal election will be the first in which Millennials and Gen Z together will outnumber Baby Boomers as the dominant voting bloc in Australia.

    This shift should shape how political parties campaign, whom they target, and which issues take centre stage.

    Policies are voter priorities

    My analysis highlights another important angle. Over the study period, voting decisions have increasingly been driven by policy issues, with 48% of Australians citing them as the primary factor. This is followed by party affiliation (29%), party leaders (14%) and local candidates (9%).

    In 2022, 54% of voters reported policy issues as the main factor influencing their choice.

    Across election years, I identified the most prominent and recurrent election issues that voters identified as influential. I added these issues to my model to see how people who care about these issues lean (left-right) and whether men and women differ in their political leanings (progressive-conservative). I also considered other factors known to impact voting, including:

    • sociodemographic factors (education, marital status, social class, home ownership and rural/urban residency)

    • familial socialisation (what their parents’ political preferences were)

    • social network factors (whether they’re religious or a member of a union)

    • electoral context (what each respondent said were the most important voting issues)

    Overall, women tend to be slightly more left-leaning on policy issues than men, and while this difference is statistically significant, it is small and the general trend holds across both sexes.

    Compared with Boomers, each successive generation is more likely to vote for a left party. Gen Z is the most left-leaning (though their smaller sample size warrants some caution in interpretation).

    So who votes for whom?

    Unsurprisingly, people vote according to who they think will best address the policy areas they care about most.

    Those prioritising interest rates, taxation or economic management favour right-wing parties. Voters most concerned with health, Medicare and climate change are more likely to vote for the left.

    Education, class and social networks matter, too. Highly educated, working-class, non-religious and union-affiliated voters tend to support left parties. So, too, do those raised in left-leaning households.

    While the size of these effects varies slightly between men and women, the overall direction remains the same.

    How might this play out in 2025?

    The thing about election issues is that they are highly time-sensitive. Take the GST: it was one of the defining issues of the 1998 election, yet was largely irrelevant after 2004.

    In recent years, left-leaning issues — the environment, health and Medicare — were more likely to be front-of-mind when Australians all of ages headed to the polls. This gives Labor and the Greens an issue-owner advantage.

    Cost of living (spanning day-to-day expenses, interest rates and housing affordability) has now become the defining issue of this election cycle. At first thought, among the two major parties, the Coalition is traditionally seen as a better economic manager.

    However, my analysis from 2022 election data shows that, compared with the 2019 election, fewer people considered the Coalition the best manager of the economy among those who considered it the most important election issue.

    Further, for the first time in the past five elections, a majority of the voters perceived Labor as more aligned with their own views on immigration, refugees and asylum seekers. These issues, historically seen as Coalition strongholds, are also likely to be key this time around.

    For the Coalition, this is bad news. But for Labor, the challenge is twofold: retaining younger, progressive voters while addressing broader economic anxieties.

    With growing voter volatility and a diminished sense of party loyalty, neither major party can rely on a stable base.

    Australians are increasingly willing to shift allegiances, including to the increasing supply of independent alternatives. Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will have to convince voters they have the best solutions for the key issues.

    Intifar Chowdhury 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. I looked at 35 years of data to see how Australians vote. Here’s what it tells us about the next election – https://theconversation.com/i-looked-at-35-years-of-data-to-see-how-australians-vote-heres-what-it-tells-us-about-the-next-election-249368

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President von der Leyen at the CARICOM Leaders’ Summit to strengthen partnership between the European Union and the Caribbean

    Source: European Commission

    European Commission Press release Brussels, 20 Feb 2025 During the first-ever visit of a European Commission President to the Caribbean, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to deepening its relations and partnership with the region.

    At the invitation of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chair, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, President von der Leyen met the 15 leaders of the Caribbean Community during the 48th Regular Meeting of the CARICOM.  The visit aims at further strengthening the EU’s presence in the region and lay the groundwork for the EU-CELAC Summit, planned for later this year.  

    In a new era of harsh geostrategic competition, Europe stands for openness, partnership and outreach. The visit took place in the context of the Commission’s effort to build new partnerships and strengthen old ones, which includes recent agreements with Mercosur, Mexico and Malaysia.

    President von der Leyen said: “Europe and the Caribbean may be an ocean apart, but we are close allies. We share so many interests and values, including our mutual support for Ukraine. Europe stands with the Caribbean countries in the fight against climate change, protecting nature and biodiversity, strengthening trade, and boosting investments through Global Gateway. Europe wants to be a fair and trusted partner for all regions of the world that want to work with us.”

    President von der Leyen also discussed with Caribbean partners the situation in Haiti. She underlined the EU’s commitment to Haiti’s recovery and security and its support to CARICOM efforts in this regard. In this context, a package of €19.5 million EU support was announced during the visit. This new financial support will complement ongoing efforts to deliver essential services to Haitians as well as support the country’s macroeconomic stability.

    President von der Leyen highlighted the EU’s commitment to supporting Caribbean partners in fighting climate change and its devastating impact on the islands. As the leading provider of climate finance, the EU is determined to work together on innovative financing, while promoting private sector investments.

    At global level, the EU and the Caribbean are stepping up their energy partnership following the launch of the Global Energy Transition Forum by President von der Leyen in Davos last month. She welcomed the 8 countries (Barbados, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica)* that joined the forum during the summit, committing to action to meet the global targets of tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030.

    During the visit, President von der Leyen underscored the reliability of the EU as a trade and investment partner to the region working together on mutually beneficial projects. President von der Leyen launched several projects under Europe’s Global Gateway strategy on renewable energy, digital transformation, pharmaceutical production and economic resilience. The projects will invest in a stronger, greener and better connected Caribbean.

    Key Global Gateway projects in the Caribbean

    Expanding Renewable Energy: Global Gateway energy projects are underway in 13 Caribbean countries, leveraging European expertise, technology, and financing tools. In this context, President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Mottley announced a €160 million green hydrogen storage project by the French company HDF Energy, the first of its kind in the Caribbean.

    Advancing the Digital Agenda: The EU and the Caribbean are strengthening their digital partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Caribbean and the European satellite company Hispasat during the CARICOM meeting. It will improve the Caribbean’s satellite internet connectivity and sovereignty within the framework of the EU–LAC Digital Alliance. As part of this initiative, the EU and Spain will provide a €10 million grant to support satellite broadband expansion and promote digital inclusion across the region.

    Developing Local Pharmaceutical Production: The EU’s €8.9 million investment to promote local production and regulatory alignment with European standards was also taken forward in the framework of the CARICOM meeting. A joint declaration to cooperate on twinning Caribbean and EU regulatory agencies, capacity-building initiatives, and research collaborations was signed during the meeting. Additionally, the first investment from a European pharmaceutical company, Biomed X in Barbados, will support research and manufacturing, further reinforcing the region’s health resilience.

    Supporting Post-Hurricane Reconstruction: As part of the assistance given to Grenada in rebuilding Carriacou and Petite Martinique after Hurricane Beryl, the EU is supporting the islands to become 100% powered by renewable energy. This initiative will serve as a global model for small islands striving for climate resilience.

    Combating the Sargassum Challenge: The EU, in collaboration with regional partners, is transforming the environmental and economic challenge of sargassum seaweed into an opportunity for sustainable development. Through an ongoing €386 million Global Gateway initiative, the EU is working with financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank and the private sector to develop sustainable value chains for sargassum, particularly in Grenada.

    For More Information

    Opening remarks by President von der Leyen at the opening ceremony of the 48th Regular Session of the Conference of CARICOM

    Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Barbadian Prime Minister Mottley

    * Updated on 20/02/2025 at 14:55

    Quote(s)

     Europe and the Caribbean may be an ocean apart, but we are close allies. We share so many interests and values, including our mutual support for Ukraine. Europe stands with the Caribbean countries in the fight against climate change, protecting nature and biodiversity, strengthening trade, and boosting investments through Global Gateway. Europe wants to be a fair and trusted partner for all regions of the world that want to work with us.

    Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: From suits to social justice: World’s top human rights forum turns stage over

    Source: United Nations 2

    Trading suits, ties and debates for DJ turntables, bright traditional Indigenous garb and ancient instruments, three performers – an anthropologist, an R&B singer and a genre-defying artist – showcased their music and messages at the Stand Up for Social Justice event to celebrate the World Day of Social Justice, marked annually on 20 February.

    It took place in front of hundreds of people in the emblematic Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room, where high-stakes diplomacy happens throughout the year.

    The world needs more diverse platforms like the UN “so that transculturality can exist”, said Brisa Flow, a Chilean-born Mapuche artist who got her first break in rap battles in Brazil, following her intense musical performance.

    “We need more empathy and to listen more to Indigenous Peoples in order to better understand how to take care of our territories that need care, not just in terms of water, food and land, but also our children and our elders,” said the São Paulo-based singer, rocking a green marble-printed manicure.

    “We need to be in spaces where everything we speak about is not just a utopia, where hope, which exists, can be heard and considered.”

    Calls for change around the world

    Ms. Flow joined French-speaking Geneva-born R&B revelation Ocevne (pronounced Océane) and anthropologist-cum-poet Idjahure Terena in delivering powerful music and personal messages inspired by social justice while helping to link local realities to issues of a global scale.

    Echoing the Day’s 2025 theme Strengthening a Just Transition for a Sustainable Future, the event was co-organised by UNRISD, an independent UN research institute focusing on development issues, and Antigel, a Geneva-based music festival designed to make culture more accessible.

    The messages from the young people on stage did just that, with electrifying performances and calls for change around the world.

    For Ocevne, 28, the message was about equality.

    “The simplest way I could define it is simply the right to equal opportunities,” she said. “No matter your background, where you come from, who you are, your gender, everything, we all have the right to that opportunity.”

    © City of Geneva/ANTIGEL/Giona

    Ocevne warming up the room at the Stand Up for Social Justice event.

    ‘No climate justice without social justice’

    Climate justice was another recurring theme throughout the event, an issue highlighted by Mr. Terena, a doctoral student in social anthropology at the University of São Paulo and poet who spends much of his time defending the rights of his community and others.

    “There is no climate justice without social justice,” he told the audience. “We know that standing forests are the simplest and most efficient solution for fighting global warming.”

    The young researcher slammed the impact of mining companies and agribusinesses on his ancestral land that belongs to the Terena people of Brazil in the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul.

    “This is not just a territorial issue, but a matter of physical and cultural survival for our peoples and for humanity as indigenous lands represent the most important areas of biodiversity,” he said, inviting the audience to fight for a “common, diverse living world”.

    © Courtesy of Idjahure Terena

    Idjahure Terena playing the japurutu flute with his father-in-law Francisco Baniwa in Brazil.

    ‘The future is going to be very hot’

    Indeed, “the future is going to be very hot,” said Ms. Flow, adding that “it is already very hot in Brazil, and this is urgent for us because without water, we cannot live, and without food, [we cannot] either.”

    Advocating for issues affecting indigenous communities, including the burning impacts of climate change on the natural resources of her home country, she said collectively not enough is getting done.

    “We need more communication and more exchanges. By exchanges, I mean listening, speaking, listening, speaking and thinking about new ways of living well so that we can keep heading into the future.”

    © Giselle Dietze

    Brazilian federal deputy Célia Xakriabá (right) performs with artist Brisa Flow at the Stand Up for Social Justice concert.

    Amplifying marginalised voices

    The event is the brainchild of the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) Head of communications chief Karima Cherif, who wanted to bridge art and research through the initiative.

    She says her institute works with scholars from the global South to ensure that the voices and expertise of minorities are heard.

    “We’re giving voices to the marginalised and the youth,” explained Ms. Cherif, who sees art as a way to “translate what we do in a language that can touch hearts”.

    ‘Never give up’

    Thuy-San Dinh, who heads Antigel, echoed her vision and encouraged the young audience to pursue their goals, recalling when she co-created the annual event 15 years ago.

    “You have to believe in your ideas and never give up,” Ms. Dinh said.

    Melanie Rouquier, who created SHAP SHAP, a non-profit that fights global inequality and discrimination through cultural projects, told several activists in the room that each of their actions showed citizen engagement was not a lost cause.

    “To resist, we have to get together,” she said.

    © City of Geneva/ANTIGEL/Giona

    Brisa Flow playing a traditional instrument at the Stand Up for Social Justice concert in Geneva in February 2025.

    Connecting generations

    For Aryan Yasin, a designer from Geneva who founded a cultural non-profit supporting disadvantaged youth, the show was an opportunity for cross-pollination and broadening his network by connecting with UN staff.

    The exceptional venue “is not a place where you would necessarily see young people”, he said. “But, that actually allows us to create an intergenerational connection, with people who are more experienced, more established,” he added.

    After the show, management student Ludivine said she was mesmerised by the experience. Putting on a concert with one of her favourite artists there to denounce inequalities “makes sense… because at the UN, people get together to talk about inequalities around the world.”

    © Courtesy of Brisa Flow

    Ms. Flow (right) at a protest by the Guarani people of Brazil.

    What is social justice?

    After the event ended, doctoral students Beatrice and Thomas shared what the concept of social justice, which can seem quite abstract, meant to them.

    “It’s about recognising and taking differences into account while ensuring that everyone has the same access” to the same opportunities, said Beatrice, from Italy, who studies at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

    “That may mean that some people will need more support, while others may not need as much, but have different needs.”

    Thomas offered a more societal vision of the idea.

    “For me, it’s something that is both individual and collective – something that must be built as a society. It is entirely dependent on the structures we have put in place, but it also relies on everything that is local.”

    Read our social justice explainer here.

    ‘We need to be united’

    Ahead of the concert, Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva set the tone in her opening remarks in the Human Rights and Civilisation Room.

    “This room sees a lot of very important and challenging negotiations,” she told the audience. “But, today we open this room to everyone.”

    Geneva Mayor Christina Kitsos, whose term is guided by the motto “what connects us”, reminded the youthful audience of the UN’s fundamental role despite the worrying rise of “desire to undermine all the work [that has been done] around humanitarian aid and human rights”.

    “We need to be united, strong and truly hopeful and courageous to ensure that we stay the course, that we remain a beacon in this world in turmoil,” she said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – European standards undermining the competitiveness of the European automotive industry – E-000657/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000657/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE), Julie Rechagneux (PfE), Pascale Piera (PfE)

    EU standards on CO2 emissions impose strict thresholds on car manufacturers, with steep fines for those exceeding them. With a view to meeting these obligations, some European companies exceeding these thresholds are forced to purchase ‘CO2 credits’ from manufacturers with lower average emissions, often foreign competitors specialising in electric vehicles, such as the American company Tesla or China’s BYD.

    This system entails cash transfers to these companies, thus putting European manufacturers at a disadvantage and weakening their competitiveness vis-à-vis international conglomerates benefiting from a more favourable regulatory framework.

    • 1.Does the Commission acknowledge that this mechanism equates to paying indirect subsidies to foreign companies to the detriment of European manufacturers, jeopardising their competitiveness?
    • 2.Does it plan to remedy this unequal playing field to prevent the European automotive industry from being penalised as a result of European standards?
    • 3.Does it intend to conduct an impact analysis on the economic and social consequences of these obligations for employment and industry in Europe?

    Submitted: 12.2.2025

    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Protecting minors from targeted online advertising – E-000639/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000639/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Catherine Griset (PfE)

    Minors are being targeted by advertising on social media, which makes use of both algorithms that personalise adverts and the secrecy around business collaboration (including that of influencers) to do so.

    However, online platforms are prohibited from showing minors targeted advertising that is based on profiling using their personal data[1].

    • 1.Other than the option users have to report such advertising, how does the Commission intend to stop the use of targeted, and even addictive[2], algorithms in order to protect minors?
    • 2.Has the Commission also considered ways of making online advertising more transparent, such as by preventing business collaboration from being kept secret?
    • 3.What would happen if, as a result of these platforms targeting minors, hackers were able to harvest their data?

    Submitted: 12.2.2025

    • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2024-002427-ASW_EN.html
    • [2] This specific point was raised in a previous question, but went unanswered: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2024-002427_EN.html
    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Potential misuse of EU funds by pro-migrant association Equalis – E-000658/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000658/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE)

    Equalis, an association providing emergency accommodation with a focus on social integration, has previously received EU funding, in particular from the European Social Fund (ESF)[1]. Some of the bodies that have merged with Equalis, such as the Agir-Combattre-Réunir association, have also received EU subsidies for certain projects[2].

    However, accusations of poor financial management have been levelled against the association. Arthur Anane, the former director of the association, had a monthly net salary of EUR 11 400, as well as the use of an Audi Q7 and a housing allowance of EUR 533 per month[3].

    This raises some questions, especially given that Equalis is run almost exclusively on public funding, including EU funds. Legal proceedings are under way, and in June 2025 the association’s former director is to be tried for the alleged misappropriation of public funds.

    • 1.Have Equalis or its constituent bodies received EU funding (from the ESF, the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund or others), and if so, how much?
    • 2.Has the Commission carried out an audit or check on the use of EU funds granted to Equalis? If so, what were its findings?
    • 3.What mechanisms will the Commission make use of to ensure that any misappropriated funds are recovered and to prevent such misuse from happening again?

    Submitted: 12.2.2025

    • [1] https://equalis.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Rapport_annuel_2023_EXE.HDQ_.pdf
    • [2] https://www.europeidf.fr/projets/JardinCocagne
    • [3] https://www.lefigaro.fr/faits-divers/le-patron-d-une-association-d-insertion-de-sdf-et-de-migrants-epingle-pour-son-salaire-20210922
    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Submission by the Commission of the nationally determined contribution – E-000643/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000643/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    César Luena (S&D)

    According to the UN’s 2024 Emissions Gap Report[1], most countries are still far from meeting the targets set out in the Paris Agreement, which means that the 2035 climate commitments need to take a ‘quantum leap in ambition’ to give the world any chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C.

    Despite the dire situation, only 10 of the 195 countries that are part of the Paris Agreement have met the UN’s 10 February deadline to submit their 2035 climate commitments.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Why has the Commission not met its obligation to submit the EU’s new nationally determined contribution?
    • 2.When will it do so?
    • 3.Given that the first global stocktake presented at COP28 urges the Parties to ensure that their new nationally determined contributions go further than their previous ones and establish emission reduction commitments for 2035 that are as ambitious as possible, how will the Commission reflect this commitment in EU legislation?

    Submitted: 12.2.2025

    • [1] UNEP, 15th edition of its annual emissions gap report
    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – Next REGI meeting – 19.03.25 – Committee on Regional Development

    Source: European Parliament

    The Committee on Regional Development will hold its next meeting in Brussels on Wednesday 19 March from 09:00-12:30 and 14:30-18:30.

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – European drone capabilities and defence autonomy: steps to reduce dependency on China and foster innovation in drone- and counter-drone systems – E-000668/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000668/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Hilde Vautmans (Renew)

    The ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war has demonstrated the transformative role of drones in modern conflict, from intelligence gathering and precision strikes to logistical support and decoy operations. Ukrainian drone production has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels, reaching up to four million units annually, with Russia reportedly matching this pace. This rapid development underscores the need for Europe to reassess its own defence strategies, particularly as the fast innovation cycles of drone and counter-drone technologies quickly render systems obsolete.

    Moreover, Europe remains heavily dependent on Chinese-manufactured drones and components. Given China’s growing geopolitical influence and its close cooperation with Russia, this dependency poses a significant risk to European defence autonomy. Efforts to establish production in Ukraine highlight the need for European support in both technological and industrial capacities.

    In the light of these developments:

    • 1.What steps is the Commission taking (or considering taking) to reduce Europe’s dependency on Chinese drone components?
    • 2.How does the Commission plan to promote scalable and adaptable drone production to meet future defence needs, while fostering innovation in counter-drone systems?
    • 3.Will the Commission address the increasing involvement of civilians in warfare through drone use, and its implications for European defence and security policy?

    Submitted: 12.2.2025

    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Boosting online education in the European Union – E-000651/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000651/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Loucas Fourlas (PPE)

    The pandemic highlighted the importance of online education. Nonetheless, significant challenges remain, such as inequalities in access to digital infrastructure, the need for quality digital educational content and training teachers in new technologies.

    In view of the Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027:

    • 1.How does the Commission assess progress in the implementation of the EU’s online education strategies and what key challenges have been identified?
    • 2.Are there any initiatives aiming to close the digital divide between Member States, so that all pupils and students have equal access to online education?
    • 3.How does it plan to support teacher training in modern digital skills and teaching methods using technology?

    Submitted: 12.2.2025

    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – DSA enforcement on harmful content, including suicide, on TikTok – E-000641/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000641/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Axel Voss (PPE)

    Several mental health specialists in Germany have alerted me to the fact that illegal and harmful content is still available on TikTok, despite the implementation of the Digital Services Act. In fact, content including graphic content of suicide and self-harm can still be found easily on TikTok, as well as other depressing content, e.g. of children expressing their wish to commit suicide. No trigger warnings are in place, nor are these videos taken down, even after being flagged as illegal content. Instead, the algorithm produces even more of this type of content on the ‘For You’ page.

    • 1.How does the Commission respond to the fact that not only harmful but also illegal content is still easily accessible on one of the most widely used social media platforms in the EU?
    • 2.When is such content taken down?
    • 3.And how can the Commission ensure that it is not possible to upload such content?

    Submitted: 12.2.2025

    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Bolstering the single market – US tariffs as a strategic opportunity for European competitiveness – E-000671/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000671/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Roberto Vannacci (PfE)

    Following the recent imposition by the US of tariffs on exports of steel and aluminium from the European Union, the Commissioner for Trade said in Parliament[1] that they are unjustified and potentially damaging for the EU economy.

    If managed strategically, however, those measures could boost the competitiveness of European businesses, bolstering the single market.

    Strengthening domestic production chains and reducing dependence on external markets may be advantageous for the EU’s economic growth.

    The EU strategic compass includes clear objectives intended to boost economic resilience and the EU’s global competitive capacity, but for that to happen, a coordinated approach must be taken to turn trade challenges into strategic opportunities for the single market.

    What is more, the European Green Deal policies are playing a major role in a slowdown in the competitiveness of businesses, compounding the difficulties faced by Europe’s production sector.

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.Taking into account the negative impact of Green Deal policies on productivity and the ability of companies to compete globally, what steps will the Commission take to exploit US tariffs with a view to fostering European competitiveness and the pursuit of the objectives set out in the strategic compass?
    • 2.Does the Commission intend to engage in dialogue with the US with a view to establishing agreements that can benefit European industry, maintaining a balance between trade openness and strategic protection?

    Submitted: 12.2.2025

    • [1] https://www.ansa.it/europa/notizie/rubriche/altrenews/2025/02/11/-ue-deploriamo-i-dazi-ingiustificati-di-trump-_4a863e5d-a321-4087-bbcd-0c479b6a224f.html.
    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Harmful and dangerous online content for minors – E-000640/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000640/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová (Renew)

    The Center for Countering Digital Hate recently published a report[1] on YouTube’s recommending videos on eating disorders to young girls in the EU. One of its many findings is the fact that YouTube is failing to remove harmful content; almost three out of four recommended videos showed eating disorder or weight loss content. Furthermore, researchers found that YouTube’s mitigation measures, which Google committed to in its DSA risk assessment report entitled Report of Systemic Risk Assessments, [2]are either lacking or incomplete.

    How is the Commission responding to the findings that measures to remove harmful and dangerous online content for minors from the YouTube platform appear to be inconsistent with the commitments stated in the YouTube risk assessment included in Google’s Report of Systemic Risk Assessments?

    Submitted: 12.2.2025

    • [1] https://counterhate.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/YouTubes-Anorexia-Algorithm_EU_2025-2.pdf.
    • [2] https://storage.googleapis.com/transparencyreport/report-downloads/dsa-risk-assessment_2023-8-28_2023-8-28_en_v1.pdf.
    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Arctic-boreal zone emissions – E-000644/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000644/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    César Luena (S&D)

    A study by Nature Climate Change[1] has revealed significant changes in the CO2 balance of the arctic-boreal zone between 2001 and 2020. While the region in general remains a carbon sink, more than 30 % of the region is a net source of CO2 and the trends are alarming. Tundra regions may have already started to operate on average as CO2 sources, demonstrating a shift in carbon dynamics. What is more, when fire emissions are factored in, the zone’s growing sink is no longer statistically significant and the permafrost region becomes CO2 neutral.

    • 1.Taking account of the crucial role played by forest fires, what specific measures is the Commission planning to improve fire prevention and management in European boreal regions?
    • 2.Given the importance of permafrost in carbon storage, and with a view to understanding and mitigating the impacts of permafrost melting on CO2 emissions, what research and monitoring initiatives does the Commission plan to support?
    • 3.How does the Commission intend to address these changes in its international cooperation policies, particularly in cooperation with countries with territory in the arctic and boreal region?

    Submitted: 12.2.2025

    • [1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-024-02234-5
    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Is there really a plan to merge the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA)? – E-000664/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000664/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Dimitris Tsiodras (PPE)

    Report 12/2024[1] of the European Court of Auditors assessing the preparedness for and policies to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic shows that the EU cannot yet be considered fully prepared to manage serious cross-border threats and public health emergencies, underlining the importance of coordinated action.

    However, in the last few days, there has been an increase in the number of publications talking about the possibility of a merger of the European Authority for Preparedness and Response to Emergency Health Situations with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. To date, 11 Member States, including Greece, have expressed grave concerns regarding the above possibility, pointing out the risk of undermining the EU’s ability to respond adequately to health emergencies.

    In light of this:

    • 1.Does the Commission really intend to proceed with the aforementioned merger plan?
    • 2.If so, what will be the implications for the provision of financial support for actions aimed at strengthening the EU’s health security framework?
    • 3.How does the Commission intend to ensure that there are adequate coordination mechanisms to help the EU respond quickly and effectively to future major public health emergencies?

    Submitted: 12.2.2025

    • [1] https://www.eca.europa.eu/ECAPublications/SR-2024-12/SR-2024-12_en.pdf
    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Stepping up the fight against financial crime in the European Union – E-000649/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000649/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Loucas Fourlas (PPE)

    Financial crime – including tax evasion, corruption, money laundering and fraud affecting the EU’s financial interests – undermines financial stability, citizens’ trust in institutions and the fair distribution of public funds.

    In view of recent legislative initiatives aiming to enhance transparency and checks on financial flows:

    • 1.How does the Commission assess the effectiveness of cooperation between Member States in the fight against financial crime and what are the main weaknesses identified?
    • 2.What measures is it planning to put forward to improve information exchange and coordination between national law enforcement authorities and European prosecution bodies?
    • 3.Are there any plans to strengthen the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and broaden its competences to ensure that financial crime can be prosecuted more effectively at European level?

    Submitted: 12.2.2025

    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Plans to centralise health policy powers at EU level – E-000666/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000666/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Gerald Hauser (PfE)

    The Commission has set up a new emergency committee, which will further increase the centralisation of powers at EU level. What’s particularly alarming is that the Commission will now be able to carry out public procurement on behalf of the Member States – let us not forget the billions of euros of taxpayers’ money splurged on jointly procuring vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic… One problem with this centralised procurement is the exclusivity clause, which prevents Member States from acquiring products from other sources once it has been decided that they should be procured jointly. This rule could significantly restrict their freedom of action in crisis situations. The increasing centralisation of decision-making powers risks rendering the Member States less flexible and unable to respond quickly to national needs. Yet we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic how important it is to have decentralised structures and national room for manoeuvre in times of crisis. The question remains whether, with this increased centralisation, the Commission is really offering the best solution to the many challenges faced by the Member States.

    • 1.Why is the Commission undermining national competence in the health sector by centralising procurement?
    • 2.In the past five years, which matters have been decentralised and re-delegated to the Member States?
    • 3.In the past five years, which matters have been centralised and delegated to the EU?

    Submitted: 12.2.2025

    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Frank Elderson: Interview with Nederlandse Vereniging Duurzame Energie (NVDE)

    Source: European Central Bank

    Interview with Frank Elderson, conducted by NVDE

    20 February 2025

    TIME has named you one of the 100 most influential climate leaders in business. Why are you so motivated to integrate climate and nature-related risks into exercising the mandate of central banks and supervisors?

    Climate, nature and the economy are deeply interconnected and interdependent. The twin climate and nature crises are sources of financial risk. For central banks and supervisors, addressing these issues is therefore neither an option nor a political choice – it is an obligation that falls squarely within our mandate. If central bankers and supervisors want to effectively pursue their tasks of maintaining price stability and keeping the banking sector safe, they need to be mindful of the environment in which they operate. This means considering the impact of the climate and nature crises on inflation and banks’ safety and soundness.

    Is the energy transition in Europe progressing too slowly? If so, why?

    Europe has made significant progress in its energy transition, but if it wants to reach the agreed target, it needs to remain determined and avoid undermining what has been achieved so far. The facts are that current policies put Europe on a 3.1°C warming trajectory over the course of the century, which is too far from the 1.5°C target.[1] The economic risks associated with delayed action are stark: a late, abrupt transition away from fossil fuels would weaken the economy and increase losses for the financial system, making the path to net zero far more costly.[2] In fact, the United Nations has warned that climate mitigation must increase sixfold globally to stay on track for the Paris Agreement.[3] These figures underscore the urgent need for Europe not to relent in its transition efforts if it wants to avoid severe economic and environmental consequences.

    In a previous study, you demonstrated that most European companies and banks face significant financial risks when natural ecosystems collapse due to climate change and biodiversity loss. What are examples of these financial risks? What is the most important recommendation in the report?

    The interdependencies between banks, businesses and nature lead to financial risks. Damage to ecosystems through nature degradation and biodiversity loss poses a significant threat to the economic viability of companies and, by extension, to the financial stability of banks that grant them loans. The study you mention showed that, in the euro area, 72% of non-financial corporations rely heavily on at least one ecosystem service, while 75% of corporate bank loans – approximately €3.24 trillion – are tied to these ecosystem-dependent borrowers.[4] Key ecosystem services such as surface and ground water, together with mass stabilisation[5] and erosion control, are particularly critical, exposing banks to credit risks through affected firms.

    One of the most important lessons from the report is the recognition that biodiversity loss is both an economic and financial risk. A second lesson is that climate and biodiversity are, to a large extent, two sides of the same coin, and they cannot be addressed in isolation. Lastly, the report shows that we are still missing the data needed to better take into account the risks stemming from nature loss. To address this, we need to improve the way we collect and organise information about nature.

    What is the impact of climate change on inflation?

    The economic impacts of climate change and extreme weather events are impossible to ignore. Following 2023’s record-breaking temperatures, 2024 became the warmest year on record globally, reaching 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.[6] Europe, the fastest-warming continent, saw temperatures soar to 2.9°C above pre-industrial levels in 2024. The physical impacts of climate change – such as more frequent and severe weather events like floods, droughts, and city and forest fires – disrupt supply chains, reduce agricultural yields and drive up food prices. For example, an interdisciplinary study by ECB economists and climate scientists showed that the 2022 heatwave in Europe added 0.8 percentage points to euro area food price inflation.[7]

    The green transition will also bring about structural economic changes, which could influence inflation. Although the overall impact of the green transition remains very uncertain and may vary over time, we need to account for it to effectively deliver on our mandate. This is why we are increasingly incorporating green transition policies, such as climate-related fiscal policies or assumptions on carbon pricing under the EU Emissions Trading System 2, into our macroeconomic analyses.[8]

    To what extent do oil and gas reserves, as stranded assets – losing their value due to the necessity of staying within the 1.5°C climate goal – pose an economic risk?

    Generally, stranded assets pose greater economic and financial risks to the extent that industries and banks are not prepared. As the economy moves towards meeting climate goals, industries need to adjust how they operate. And since most companies in the EU with high-emitting production facilities rely on bank financing, this also has a significant impact on banks’ balance sheets. Last year, we released a study on the banking sector’s alignment with EU climate objectives, where we found that 90% of analysed banks faced elevated transition risks due to substantial misalignment with the Paris Agreement.[9] The biggest risk stems from exposures to companies in the energy sector that are lagging behind in phasing out high-carbon production processes and are slow to scale up renewable energy production.[10]

    To what extent does the ECB incorporate climate-related risks into its monetary policy?

    The ECB has taken significant steps to integrate climate-related risks into its monetary policy framework. It has reduced the carbon footprint of the Eurosystem’s corporate bond holdings and expanded annual climate disclosures to cover over 99% of assets held for monetary policy purposes. We’re also making progress in embedding climate considerations in our modelling and forecasting. Through exercises such as climate stress tests, we’ve deepened our understanding of the impact of the green transition and the physical impacts of the climate crisis. To improve data availability, which is key if we want to keep incorporating climate and nature risks, the ECB has developed climate-related statistical indicators.

    How does the ECB ensure that the financial sector properly manages the risks associated with climate change?

    Five years on from the publication of the ECB Guide on C&E risks in 2020, banks have made significant progress in managing climate-related and environmental (C&E) risk. Initially, fewer than 25% of banks had worked on climate-related risk management, and in 2021 a self-assessment conducted by the banks revealed that 90% of their practices fell short of our expectations.

    Following thorough assessments in 2022, we came to the conclusion that the glass was filling up, but that it wasn’t yet half full. Based on what the banks themselves considered reasonable when we first started discussing C&E risk management with them, we set interim deadlines resulting in three milestones: by March 2023 banks were expected to draw up adequate materiality assessments; by December 2023 they needed to integrate C&E risks into their governance, strategy and risk management; and by the end of 2024 they were expected to comply with the full scope of ECB expectations on C&E risk.

    Encouragingly, most banks met the targets set by the 2023 deadlines, and frameworks for climate and nature-related risks are now broadly in place. However, a few banks are still lagging behind and could face potential penalties. For the third and final deadline, which just passed at the end of 2024, we are proceeding with our compliance assessments in the same way as for the two previous deadlines.

    What specific sustainability measure will you personally advocate for within the ECB in 2025?

    In 2025 we will closely monitor progress and, where necessary, use all the tools at our disposal to ensure the banking sector is resilient in the face of the unfolding climate and nature crises. As part of the ECB’s multi-year agenda for banking supervision, we will make sure that the banks we supervise directly – whose assets total over €26 trillion – fully account for climate and nature-related risks in their strategies and risk management. Ensuring banks comply with the new regulatory requirement to develop transition plans to prepare for the risks and potential changes in their business models associated with the green transition is particularly high on the agenda.

    What are your thoughts on Mario Draghi’s report, particularly his call for further financial and economic integration within the EU through, for example, establishing a capital markets union? This plan aims to create a single integrated capital market in the EU, allowing investments and savings to flow more freely across borders.

    From an ECB perspective, we have always been supportive of a deeper capital markets union (CMU). The renewed political momentum we have seen recently in furthering CMU – or a savings and investment union – has come at a crucial time. In fact, the bulk of the additional financing needed for the green transition has to come from the private sector.[11]

    The European Commission estimates that the EU needs an extra €477 billion (equivalent to 3.4% of GDP in 2023) of green investment per year by 2030. This number increases to €620 billion when considering the EU’s broader environmental ambitions. While banks are expected to make an important contribution, expanding and integrating capital markets is essential for directing the flow of funds towards green innovation. The public sector also has a key role to play in mobilising private green investment by crowding in private investment through, for example, lowering borrowers’ financing costs or de-risking green investment activities.

    Sustainable energy technologies and electricity infrastructure have higher investment costs than fossil fuel technologies. As a result, high interest rates slow the energy transition, despite its potential to help combat inflation. Recent high inflation was partly driven by high fossil energy prices. Could a lower interest rate for investments in sustainable energy accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels?

    The ECB’s primary objective is to maintain price stability, and this will always remain the cornerstone of our actions. But we also have a secondary objective, which requires us to support the general economic policies in the EU, including contributing to a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment.[12] Within this mandate, accounting for the effects of climate and nature-related events is part and parcel of our tasks. Importantly, any direct incentives and tools must align with our monetary policy stance. In the specific case you mention, further challenges – such as data coverage and quality, defining appropriate green targeting criteria and establishing robust verification processes – still exist. Some of these issues require agreement on a European level, where we are dependent on legislation.

    Having said that, the ECB’s euro area bank lending survey tells us that European banks are already offering more favourable lending conditions to green firms or firms in transition.[13] In addition, governments can support green projects in a more targeted and effective way by offering more favourable lending through for instance public development banks. Despite this, the ECB still actively monitors regulatory developments.

    Are you optimistic about the energy transition in Europe?

    I am generally an optimistic person. In this case, the progress made speaks for itself: the share of renewables in the EU’s final energy use more than doubled between 2005 and 2023.[14] And last year, nearly half of the EU’s electricity was powered by renewables.[15] Much-needed investment in climate change mitigation has also grown, increasing by 42% between 2005 and 2022.[16]

    We know progress is possible, but we now need to go further and faster. Our research shows that a quicker transition will lower costs – being ready can offer a competitive advantage. Consumer preferences are already changing and these will support the transition. In that respect, we welcome the European Commission’s focus on both decarbonisation and competitiveness.

    Last but not least, through my involvement with the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), which I co-founded and of which I was the first Chair, I’ve also witnessed first-hand the impact a committed group of central banks and supervisors working towards a common goal can have. The NGFS has grown from its original eight members to 143 members today. This “coalition of the committed” is prepared to help future-proof the economy and the banking sector. Regardless of the political winds that are blowing, the reality of the climate and nature crises doesn’t change. And as most Europeans know, it is a reality we must face head on.

    How sustainably do you live and travel?

    We have a fully electric car, and as a proud Dutchman, I love to ride my bike.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Introduction of a bureaucracy cost index at EU level – E-002204/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission has a clear focus on competitiveness and making business easier and faster in Europe, without undermining the EU’s high standards.

    Several tools contribute to this aim. The ‘one in, one out’ approach offsets administrative costs. It acts as a ‘cost brake’ and ensures their consistent downward trend at the level of Commission proposals.

    The Commission also set the goal to reduce reporting burden by 25%, accelerating the burden reduction dynamics. It tabled 41 initial proposals in its 2024 work programme[1], with additional measures taken since and included in rationalisation plans for 2024 and after.

    The President of the Commission made simplification a key priority for the next College. Each Commissioner, working with the Commissioner for implementation and simplification and the Vice-president for Prosperity and Industry, will stress test the acquis and make proposals to eliminate overlaps, contradictions and be digitally compatible.

    They will contribute to reducing reporting obligations by at least 25% — and for small and medium-sized enterprises at least 35%. Each Commissioner will also hold implementation dialogues with stakeholders at least twice per year to identify simplification priorities and present annual progress reports with actions to better enforce, implement and simplify.

    This framework ensures effective monitoring of administrative costs and savings, based on Commission proposals. Each impact assessment includes estimates of all compliance costs whenever data are available. The Commission is further finalising its work on the estimation of the overall administrative burden due to EU legislation.

    The Commission aims to cooperate also with the European Parliament and the Council to ensure burden reduction is effective in the final legislation. This could be done by each institution assessing the impact of significant amendments based on a simple and clear methodology.

    • [1] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/79628203-f1b5-450d-9d6c-0a2f5374a9dc_en?filename=COM_2023_638_1_EN.pdf
    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB supports Bratislava in modernizing its water supply and wastewater management infrastructure

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • Investments ensures safe and reliable water supply and wastewater management, addressing climate change challenges, while also improving the protection of the Danube
    • EIB financing will improve efficiency of city’s water company Bratislavská vodárenská spoločnosť (BVS) by reducing its energy costs with further utilization of green fuel sources.
    • This is the first direct cooperation between EIB and a municipal company in Bratislava to boost investments in the water sector.

    European Investment Bank (EIB), one of the world’s largest multilateral investors in the water sector, is providing EUR 50 million in Bratislava municipal water utility company Bratislavská vodárenská spoločnosť (BVS) for necessary upgrades and extensions of its water supply and wastewater infrastructure. The financing will help aligning Bratislava water and wastewater management with EU regulations, ensuring the highest quality of drinking water in the city and also allow the BVS to increase utilization of green, biomass energy sources. 

    The modernization programme aims to increase the reliability of water supply for nearly half a million residents and businesses in Bratislava, Slovakia`s main business hub. It also fosters environmental responsibility, by making the city more resilient to adverse effects of climate change and allows BVS to further increase its efficiency and reduce its energy costs.

    “EIB cooperation with BVS means people and businesses in Bratislava can look forward to cleaner water, efficient wastewater management and eco-friendly practices that enhance the city’s quality of life,” said EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris. “Modern water management is crucial to ensuring the strength and sustainability of urban centres across the EU including Bratislava.”

    “The cooperation approval followed thorough preparation and extensive communication with the EIB. This financing is significantly more cost-effective for us compared to commercial banks. This partnership with BVS is expected to play a crucial role in achieving our ambitious goals of improving our customer services and supporting the environment in our operational area,” said CEO of BVS Ladislav Kizak.
     

    A modern water and wastewater infrastructure for Bratislava

    The modernization project financed by EIB will include the replacement of aging infrastructure with advanced, efficient technologies designed to minimize water loss and improve distribution efficiency as well as expansion of the BVS` network to accommodate the needs from the steadily expanding city.  Expansion of the water supply network will also increase protection of surface and underground waters in metropolitan Bratislava as well as improve protection of the Danube.

    Additionally, the adoption of biomass energy sources will significantly reduce the utility’s carbon footprint, aligning with the city’s commitment to climate action.

    Background information 

    European Investment Bank: 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 is one of the largest lenders to the global water sector, with over €88 billion invested in more than 1 700 projects improving sanitation, providing access to safe drinking water and reducing the risk of flooding.  

    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.

    Bratislavská vodárenská spoločnosť (BVS): Bratislavská vodárenská spoločnosť, a.s. (BVS) supplies drinking water to approximately 740 000 regular customers in 118 municipalities across western Slovakia. It draws water primarily from exceptionally high-quality underground sources. Thanks to its advantageous location near the Danube River and the unique gravel-sand subsoil, these water sources are both high-quality and abundant. The 60 water sources that BVS currently operates could technically cover the consumption of more than half of Slovakia. The network of more than 3 200 kilometers of water pipes transports water in 130 water reservoirs and to its customers.

    The second key task of BVS is disposing of wastewater in municipalities connected to the public sewage network. For this purpose, more than 1 800 kilometers of sewer pipes are used, which transport wastewater to 23 wastewater treatment plants. One is the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant in Vrakuňa, the most significant Slovak wastewater treatment plant, with a capacity of 172 800 m3 per day, or 2 000 l per second.

    BVS controls the quality of drinking and treated wastewater in its accredited laboratories.

    BVS’s shares are owned by 89 shareholders, that are cities and municipalities from the region where BVS operates. The City of Bratislava is the majority shareholder, with a share of 59,29 percent. BVS itself holds more than 8 percent of its shares.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Deluge of SLAPPs and absurd claims against independent media in Greece – E-002138/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Anti-SLAPP ( Strategic lawsuits against public participation) Directive[1] and Recommendation[2] provide together a solid toolbox of safeguards and measures to fight against SLAPPs in the EU and to protect persons who engage in public participation. The implementation of these two instruments is an important priority for the Commission.

    The directive entered into force on 6 May 2024 and Member States are expected to transpose it into their national law by 7 May 2026 . In accordance with the EU legal basis allowing the EU to take measures in this area, the directive covers SLAPPs with cross-border implications.

    With a view to expand protection to other cases of SLAPP, the Commission has called on all Member States to ensure that their applicable framework provides for the necessary safeguards also in domestic cases .

    Measures to follow up on the implementation of the recommendation started immediately after its adoption and the Commission is working with all Member States, including Greece, to this end[3].

    The Commission also monitors the situation on the ground in the framework of its annual Rule of Law Reports. In the 2024 Rule of Law Report[4], the Commission recommended to Greece to further advance with the process of adopting legislative and non-legislative safeguards to improve the protection of journalists, in particular as regards abusive lawsuits against journalists and their safety, in line with the adopted Memorandum of Understanding and taking into account European standards on the protection of journalists.

    The Commission closely follows developments in this area and will provide an up-to-date assessment in its 2025 Report.

    • [1] Directive (EU) 2024/1069 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on protecting persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded claims or abusive court proceedings (Strategic lawsuits against public participation).
    • [2] C/2022/2428.
    • [3] A first overview of the information received by the Commission from Member States has been issued at the end of 2024, see SWD(2024)292.
    • [4] COM(2024) 800 final.
    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Worrying statements regarding national courts by the Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law – E-002917/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In line with the provisions of Article 19(1) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 267 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, national courts and tribunals, in collaboration with the Court of Justice of the European Union, are entrusted with the interpretation and application of EU law[1].

    As such, national courts and tribunals act in a double capacity, as national and as EU courts. The national and EU legal systems form a common legal order[2], providing EU citizens with complete and effective legal protection.

    • [1] See, inter alia, Court of Justice of the European Union, judgment of 24 June 2019, Case C-619/18, ECLI:EU:C:2019:531, Commission v Poland, para. 71.
    • [2] Court of Justice of the European Union, judgment of 16 February 2022, Case C-156/21, Hungary v Parliament and Council, ECLI:EU:C:2022:97, para. 127.
    Last updated: 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Publication of the report on the investigation into TikTok under the DSA ahead of the May 2025 presidential election campaign in Romania – P-000253/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    On 17 December 2024, the Commission opened formal proceedings against TikTok[1], following the suspicion that the provider of this very large online platform may have breached the Digital Services Act (DSA)[2] in relation to its obligation to properly assess and mitigate systemic risks linked to election integrity, notably in the context of the Romanian presidential elections of 24 November 2024.

    After the formal opening of proceedings, the Commission continues to investigate the provider of TikTok’s compliance with the DSA, for example, by sending additional requests for information, conducting interviews and inspections, or taking additional monitoring actions, such as requesting access to algorithms.

    By means of a request for information, the Commission may require the provider of TikTok to provide data and documents it has been obliged to retain on the basis of the retention order issued by the Commission on 5 December 2024[3].

    The opening of formal proceedings empowers the Commission to take further enforcement steps, such as interim measures and non-compliance decisions.

    The Commission may also make any commitment offered by the provider of TikTok to ensure compliance with the DSA binding on such provider.

    For example, on 5 August 2024, the Commission had made TikTok’s commitments to permanently withdraw TikTok Lite Rewards programme from the EU binding[4].

    The DSA does not set any legal deadline for bringing formal proceedings to an end. The duration of an in-depth investigation depends on several factors, including the complexity of the case and the exercise of the rights of defence.

    Moreover, the opening of formal proceedings does not prejudge any other proceedings that the Commission may decide to initiate under the DSA.

    • [1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_6487
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022R2065
    • [3] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_6243
    • [4] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_4161

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – The Freilich affair and the threat to freedom of expression and media pluralism in the EU posed by the ‘debanking’ of patriotic media and activists – E-002930/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission is committed to safeguarding pluralistic and independent media, essential for democracy and the rule of law, and to the functioning of the internal market for media.

    The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA)[1] provides a reinforced framework for media service providers. Article 4(1) EMFA, applicable as of 8 February 2025, provides that media service providers shall have the right to exercise their economic activities in the internal market without restrictions other than those allowed pursuant to EU law.

    Article 21 EMFA, which will apply as of 8 August 2025, sets out requirements for all national measures taken by a Member State that are liable to affect media pluralism or editorial independence of media service providers.

    Credit institutions, like other economic operators, have the contractual freedom to decide with whom they want to enter into a business relationship.

    With some exceptions, the Payment Accounts Directive (PAD)[2] provides consumers residing in the EU, and acting outside their professional activities, the right to a payment account with basic features.

    In addition, the PAD requires that consumers are not discriminated based on residence, nationality or other grounds, including political opinion, when they apply for or access a payment account within the EU.

    EU law does not oblige payment service providers to justify the termination of a framework contract. There is however an obligation under the PAD[3] to give at least a 2- month notice to the client.

    The Commission will continue to monitor media freedom and pluralism in Austria, including in the context of the annual Rule of Law Report[4].

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2024/1083 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a common framework for media services in the internal market and amending Directive 2010/13/EU (European Media Freedom Act).
    • [2] Directive 2014/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on the comparability of fees related to payment accounts, payment account switching and access to payment accounts with basic features Text with EEA relevance OJ L 257, 28.8.2014, p. 214-246.
    • [3] Article 55 of Directive (EU) 2015/2366 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on payment services in the internal market, amending Directives 2002/65/EC, 2009/110/EC and 2013/36/EU and Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010, and repealing Directive 2007/64/EC (Text with EEA relevance) OJ L 337, 23.12.2015.
    • [4] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/upholding-rule-law/rule-law/annual-rule-law-cycle_en

    MIL OSI Europe News –