The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)[1] already provides a wide range of tools to support farmers as regards improving water resilience, namely through sustainable farming practices, preventive productive and non-productive investments and risk management tools, along with support for precision/digital farming, advisory services and knowledge transfers, cooperation and innovation under the CAP Network.
The Romanian CAP plan 2023-2027 contains support for the modernisation of existing irrigation infrastructure[2] contributing to an efficient use of water, for new irrigation infrastructure[3], and for investments and actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
In its communication ‘The road to the next multiannual financial framework (MFF)’[4], the Commission explains key policy and budgetary challenges that will shape the design of the next MFF.
The Commission intends to present its proposal for a reformed and reinforced EU budget post-2027 in July 2025. As outlined in the Water Resilience Strategy[5], the next MFF is an opportunity to further support water resilience through investment and reforms.
In the recent Mid-Term review of the Cohesion Policy[6], the Commission proposed an exceptional package of measures to encourage Members States and regions to invest in water resilience. It includes up to 100% of EU financing and 30% of prefinancing in water resilience projects, as well as various flexibilities.
The Water Framework Directive[7] allows Member State authorities who set the cost recovery arrangements including water pricing, to have regard to the social, environmental and economic effects of the recovery as well as the geographic and climatic conditions of the region(s) affected, as long as the environmental objectives are met.
[6] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council, ‘A modernised Cohesion policy: The mid-term review,’ COM(2025) 163, 1 April 2025: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/communication/mid-term-review-2025/communication-mid-term-review-2025_en.pdf.
[7] Article 9 of the directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1-73, as amended by Commission Directive 2014/101/EU of 30 October 2014, OJ L 311, 31.10.2014, p. 32-35.
European Commission Press release Brussels, 30 Jun 2025 On the occasion of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced today a new type of guarantee agreement that will provide up to €5 billion to de-risk investments and expand EIB operations outside the EU.
The Commission Impact Assessment[1] underpinning the initial legislative proposal assessed the costs of compliance. These are significantly lower than the expected benefits.
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)[2] is expected to contribute to a minimum of 71 920 hectares of forest per year being less affected by EU-driven deforestation and forest degradation. This would mean a reduction of at least 31.9 million metric tons of carbon emitted to the atmosphere every year due to EU consumption.
The potential impact on the prices of final consumer goods, including food, is expected to be limited, based on the findings of the impact assessment, other reports on cost estimates of due diligence legislation, and the previous regulatory experience on wood[3].
The Impact Assessment also assessed the risk that producers may be tempted to separate their supply chains, selling deforestation-free products to the EU while continuing to sell non-deforestation-free products to other markets.
The benchmarking system provided in Article 29 of the EUDR is expected to create further incentives for producers to reduce deforestation and forest degradation and promote deforestation-free supply chains.
Additional measures that are being put in place by the EU are expected to help tackle this risk of leakage, including partnerships with producer countries combined with technical assistance.
Some industry sectors have shared evidence that EUDR deforestation-free requirements are being adopted by some companies for their global operations, not just for their EU sales.
[2] Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010, OJ L 150, 9.6.2023, p. 206-247.
[3] Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market, OJ L 295, 12.11.2010, p. 23-34.
The Commission supports circular and sustainable consumption and production of biological resources for materials and services. To create a market for biobased material, the Commission is assessing the possibility to anticipate the review of biobased feedstock in plastic packaging as required in Article 8(1) of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)[1].
Concerning certain composting standards that would apply for some applications or in some instances, and according to Article 9(6) of the PPWR, the Commission shall request the European standardisation organisations to prepare or update harmonised standards laying down the detailed technical specifications of the requirements on compostable packaging by 12 February 2026. In this context, the Commission will also request harmonised standards of home compostability[2].
Such standards should be based on the latest scientific and technological developments[3], including verification ensuring that the compostable packaging is effectively biologically decomposed[4].
The Commission intends to present a new EU Bioeconomy Strategy in 2025 to drive forward the market-scale development of biobased materials and technologies for their manufacturing.
As identified by the recent Competitiveness Compass[5], the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy is a crucial deliverable under the ‘innovation pillar’ to unleash the potential for EU industries, including bioplastics.
In particular, the Clean Industrial Deal[6] has highlighted the need to harness the substitution potential of biobased materials as a key pathway to a fossil-free economy.
[1] Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC, OJ L, 2025/40, 22.1.2025. The PPWR mandates the Commission within three years after its entry into force date to review the state of technological development and environmental performance of biobased plastic packaging. The outcome of this review might possibly lead to a new legislative proposal, laying down sustainability requirements and targets for inclusion of biobased feedstock in plastic packaging.
[3] Parameters such as retention times, temperatures and stirring, which reflect the actual conditions in home composts and in bio-waste treatment facilities, including anaerobic digestion processes.
[4] Biological decomposition subject to the specified parameters results ultimately in conversion into carbon dioxide or, in absence of oxygen, methane, and mineral salts, biomass and water.
Chemical recycling, in particular for hard-to-recycle waste plastics not suitable for mechanical recycling or where specific quality requirements need to be reached, can play an important role in reducing reliance on virgin resources for plastic production and avoiding incineration.
It has the potential to help to meet the EU’s ambitious targets for recycling plastic waste and increasing recycled content in plastics. This will also lower environmental impacts, advancing EU’s circular economy objectives.
To foster the business case and provide investment security, the Commission is developing a clear, science-based and technologically neutral framework to ensure that chemical recycling technologies can play an important role in meeting these objectives. The first step will be under the Single-Use Plastics Directive[1].
The mass balance accounting rules will adhere to the definition of ‘recycling’ within the Waste Framework Directive[2], which excludes converting waste into fuels. These rules will support new state-of-the art installations and existing infrastructure alike.
The Commission intends to consult stakeholders on a draft text on these rules and to adopt the implementing decision in 2025.
To further support plastic recycling, the Commission will be analysing measures, such as harmonisation of End-of-Waste criteria for the plastic waste.
[1] Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, OJ L 155, 12.6.2019, p. 1-19.
[2] Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives, OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3-30, as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 109-140.
The Commission is committed to ensuring that Natura 2000 sites are safeguarded against adverse effects from infrastructure projects.
To assess the adequacy of current safeguards, in particular stemming from the Habitats Directive (HD)[1], the Commission regularly monitors the implementation of EU environmental legislation, including the HD and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive[2].
The Commission also works closely with Member States to provide guidance and support in the implementation of these Directives.
Emergency legislation can be used to introduce derogations from EU environmental law, but such derogations must be strictly limited to what is necessary to address the emergency situation and must not compromise the overall protection of the environment.
Article 6(4) of the HD allows for derogations from the prohibition on plans or projects that may have a significant impact on a Natura 2000 site, but only in exceptional circumstances, when no other alternatives are available and mitigation measures are not enough, and subject to strict conditions.
Any derogations introduced via emergency legislation must be carefully assessed to ensure that they are necessary, proportionate, and do not compromise the integrity of the Natura 2000 site or its network as a whole.
Without prejudice to the Commission’s role as guardian of the Treaties, Member States are primarily responsible for ensuring compliance with EU law.
In line with its strategic approach on enforcement action[3], which focuses on cases of systemic non-compliance, the Commission considers that the means of redress available under national legislation would be the most appropriate mechanism to address individual cases of possible non-compliance.
[1] Articles 6(3) and (4): Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7-50.
[2] Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p. 1-21, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014, OJ L 124, 25.4.2014, p. 1-18.
[3] As set out in the communication of 19 January 2017 (EU law: Better results through better application — C/2016/8600, OJ C 18, 19.1.2017, p. 10-20) and in the communication of 13 October 2022 COM(2022) 518 final — Enforcing EU law for a Europe that delivers.
Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English
Thanks to a new type of airflow booster for ionic wind, completely new fields of application are opening up for the start-up Ionic Wind Technologies. In future, the patented technology is to be used primarily for cooling data centers and high-performance electronics. The Empa spin-off has already won several awards.
Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English
Thanks to a new type of airflow booster for ionic wind, completely new fields of application are opening up for the start-up Ionic Wind Technologies. In future, the patented technology is to be used primarily for cooling data centers and high-performance electronics. The Empa spin-off has already won several awards.
Equality between women and men is one of the objectives of the European Union. Over time, legislation, case-law and changes to the Treaties have helped consolidate this principle and its implementation in the EU. The European Parliament has always been a fervent defender of the principle of equality between men and women.
By supporting the Member States in the fight against poverty, social exclusion and discrimination, the EU aims to reinforce the inclusiveness and cohesion of European society and to everyone to enjoy equal access to opportunities and resources.
The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) covers Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia. It consists of bilateral policies between the EU and the 10 individual partner countries, plus a regional cooperation framework, the Union for the Mediterranean. The EU boosted support for democratic transformation under the ENP in 2011, in response to the uprisings in its southern neighbourhood. It further reviewed the ENP in 2015.
Moves towards closer European integration have altered the role of the national parliaments. A number of instruments for cooperation between the European Parliament and the national parliaments have been introduced with a view to guaranteeing effective democratic scrutiny of European legislation at all levels. This trend has been reinforced by provisions introduced by the Lisbon Treaty.
The free movement of goods, services, capital and people across borders is growing continuously. In response, the European Union is enhancing judicial cooperation in civil law matters with cross-border implications, effectively building bridges between diverse legal systems. The EU’s key goals are to ensure legal certainty and easy and effective access to justice. This involves clearly identifying the competent jurisdiction, determining the applicable law and streamlining the procedures for recognition and enforcement of judgments.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Robot dogs showcased at the Lincolnshire Show
The team’s new canine ambassadors sparked chats on clean energy, local jobs and a future powered by fusion.
The STEP team pose with a robot dog. Image credit: UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd.
The UK’s first of a kind Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) fusion energy team wowed the crowds at the Lincolnshire Show last week with a pair of robo-dogs. The STEP Programme is located at West Burton, a previous coal-fired power station with plans to build a fusion energy power plant at the site which uses robotics to help movement inside the plant. The dog duo proved a hit at the Showground and generated many conversations around fusion energy, the boost the programme will bring to local businesses, thousands of extra jobs that STEP will bring to the area and opportunities around new skills for future generations of workers.
Thousands of people gathered at the show which centres on agriculture, trade and local produce, a true celebration of rural life in Lincolnshire. This year the show returned for its 140th year with around 60,000 visitors and a constant flow of people around the STEP robot dogs who were providing entertainment to people of all ages, and they also caught the attention of a few (real) dogs too who were not quite sure what to make of the lively little robots.
STEP was hosted by West Lindsey District Council at the annual show, who are proud to be neighbours of this upcoming national significant infrastructure project beginning with construction that will take the commercialisation of fusion energy a step closer to getting clean and green power on to the Grid. The local MP for Gainsborough, Sir Edward Leigh was on hand to speak to people visiting the Show. He commented:
This is the most exciting thing that has happened to Gainsborough in a hundred years. We’re going to be at the cutting edge of technology, just as Gainsborough was in the middle of the 19th century when it became an industrial town. It’s really exciting. Fusion is unlimited green energy, it’s completely safe, it will transform humankind. Gainsborough is really coming up in the world, and this will just be the icing on the cake.
You can join in with some of the fusion fun and help the STEP team who are running a competition to name the two newest members of their team – the robot dogs!
The first of its kind, STEP is the UK’s major technology and infrastructure programme to build a prototype fusion power plant that will demonstrate net energy, fuel self-sufficiency and a viable route to plant maintenance. This will pave the way for the potential development of a fleet of future fusion power plants around the world and the commercialisation of fusion energy.
We’ll achieve this by producing a prototype tokamak power plant – in an innovative spherical shape – that will demonstrate net energy. That’s why the programme is called STEP: it stands for ‘Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production’. But STEP is about more than tokamak technology – it’s a huge endeavour encompassing design, site development and construction, alongside supply chain logistics and industry. Fusion research and development has the potential to catalyse new ideas and technologies that will benefit multiple industries and help secure our future on this planet.
By fusing government and business, inspiration and pragmatism, theory and practice, UK-expertise and international impact, we’re going to realise the step-change that will secure humanity’s bright future. A recent report by AMION, commissioned by local authorities, set out the economic potential of the STEP programme.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Scientists comment on the UK heatwave.
Prof Richard Allan, Professor of Climate Science, University of Reading, said:
“The UK is on the edge of a large dome of heat encompassing continental Europe which is briefly causing heatwave conditions to affect southern Britain as June turns to July. Ocean temperatures are also up to 2 degrees Celsius above average across the waters to the southwest of the UK and hotter still in the western Mediterranean. The ebb and flow of gigantic atmospheric waves have generated the stable, cloud-free conditions for heat to build up across Western Europe. But rising greenhouse gas levels due to human activities are making it more difficult for Earth to lose excess heat to space and the warmer, thirstier atmosphere is more effective at drying soils, meaning heatwaves are intensifying, with moderate heat events now becoming extreme. The severity of summer heatwaves, but also extremes of dry as well as wet weather events, will continue to worsen until we rein in our greenhouse gas emissions and stabilise our warming climate.”
Dr Radhika Khosla, Associate Professor at the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment, University of Oxford, said:
“Populations in urban areas like London are particularly susceptible to extreme heat as the concrete and asphalt absorb and re-emit the sun’s radiation, amplifying its impact on our bodies. For this reason, outdoor workers are particularly at risk and should take regular breaks to hydrate in the shade.
“Soaring temperatures will see a corresponding rise in demand for cooling systems like air conditioning, which can put a strain on our energy infrastructure. Air conditioning and other cooling systems become crucial to maintaining health, productivity and quality of life amidst rising temperatures. However, access to cooling is unfortunately rarely equal even in developed countries, and the UK’s most disadvantaged people will bear the brunt of this heatwave.”
“Over-reliance on air conditioning creates a negative feedback loop: more fossil fuels are burnt to power more air-con units, which in turn worsens climate change and raises global temperatures. Use of fans, shade, green spaces and natural ventilation can all help to reduce air conditioning usage. When we have to rely on air-con, it is important to make sure the systems we are using are the most energy efficient.”
Dr Laurence Wainwright, Departmental Lecturer at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford, said:
“While news coverage of hot weather usually includes images of sunbathing and ice creams, an often-overlooked consequence of heatwaves is their negative impact on our mental health and behaviour. Violent incidents increase, depression worsens and the effect of psychiatric medications on our body can be altered. For every 1°C increase in monthly average temperature, mental health-related deaths increase by around 2.2%. Spikes in relative humidity also result in a higher occurrence of suicide. Learning to adapt to the increasing frequency of heatwaves brought by climate change will mean taking account of all its impacts – including on our state of mind.”
Dr Chloe Brimicombe, Climate Scientist, Royal Meteorological Society, said:
“We are yet to have an attribution study, the heatwave earlier in June in the UK was 100 times more likely with Climate Change. In general we can say the heatwaves and hot spells in the summer are increasing in duration, how often they occur and intensity, how hot temperatures get to. We also think they are growing in area so more people are exposed every time they occur.
“Beyond heat killing people. They cause a rise in hospitalisations especially in the vulnerable groups to heat. In some parts of Europe it has been shown that exposure to extreme heat can raise the likelihood of preterm births and also lower birth weight babies with developmental delay. It can change how long people breastfeed for. In the long term instances of kidney disease also rise.
“We know it can cause a rise in psychosis and suicides. And an increase in small level crime.
“It puts pressure on power grids. Roads melts, railway tracks can overheat, there are signal failures. It puts pressure on the food supply chain and refrigerated lorries. It also can cause a reduction with dry conditions in crops and sunburn in apple and grapes.
“It can reduce appetites, it also can reduce productivity if proper work-rest schedules aren’t in place.
“Shopping patterns change. With less people going shopping or shopping for different products at different times.
“It impacts every part of our society. It will continue to increase unless we transition to net zero and how fast we do this also impacts how much worse these events will get.
“I think it is important that proper early warning systems that save lives are designed to be supported by other policy areas such as urban design and improving critical infrastructure. They should be integrated into our societal system better.”
Dr Friederike Otto, Associate Professor, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, said:
“We absolutely do not need to do an attribution study to know that this heatwave is hotter than it would have been without our continued burning of oil, coal and gas. Countless studies have shown that climate change is an absolute game-changer when it comes to heat in Europe, making heatwaves much more frequent, especially the hottest ones, and more intense. Heatwaves are called the silent killer, for a reason, every year thousands of people in Europe die due to extreme heat, particularly those that live in poorly insulated homes, on busy, polluted roads, and that have already health problems. But extreme heat also leads to agricultural losses, infrastructure failure and puts a big strain on plants and animals. To stop people from dying in ever larger numbers we need to stop burning fossil fuels, but we also need to adapt.”
Dr Michael Byrne, Reader in Climate Science, University of St Andrews, said:
“Heat domes – the cause of this week’s European heatwave – are nothing new. They have always happened and always will happen. Heat domes occur when high pressure weather systems, normally lasting a few days, get stuck in place for a week or more. When this atmospheric ‘blocking’ happens in summertime, heatwaves occur. But what is new are the temperatures heat domes deliver: Europe is more than 2 degrees Celsius warmer than in pre-industrial times, so when a heat dome occurs it drives a hotter heatwave.
“Some research suggests heat domes will become more common as climate warms, with more frequent heatwaves as a result. There is large uncertainty regarding the future of heat domes, with no scientific consensus yet. But what is crystal clear is that climate change is loading the dice such that when a heat dome does occur, it brings hotter and more dangerous temperatures.”
Dr Leslie Mabon, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Systems, The Open University, said:
“The extreme high temperatures we are seeing in the UK are being exacerbated by the same phenomenon that is causing the heat dome across Europe. The ‘heat dome’ happens when an area of high pressure air stays over the same area for days or weeks, trapping hot air below it which then expands outwards like a dome.
“In the UK, heat-related illnesses, greater risk for this with pre-existing conditions, and wildfires can all come about because of heatwaves. This is another reminder that climate change makes extremes like this more frequent or intense.”
Declared interests
Prof Richard Allan: No conflicting interests
Dr Radhika Khosla: No declarations
Dr Laurence Wainwright: No declarations
Dr Chloe Brimicombe: No declarations
Dr Friederike Otto:No declarations
Dr Michael Byrne: No declarations
Dr Leslie Mabon: Leslie Mabon is an Ambassador for Scotland’s National Centre for Resilience. This is a voluntary position, committed to ensuring that government, industry and society are able to make decisions about resilience that are informed by the best available evidence.
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, Philip R. Lane, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB
Sintra, 30 June 2025
Good afternoon, ECB Chief Economist Philip Lane and I welcome you to this press conference, on the occasion of the conclusion of the 2025 assessment of our monetary policy strategy.
The Governing Council recently agreed on an updated monetary policy strategy statement. You can find this statement on our website, together with an explanatory overview note and the two occasional papers presenting the underlying analyses.
I will start by putting this strategy assessment into the broader context. Philip Lane will then go through the updated strategy statement and explain what has changed and why, as well as what has remained unchanged.
Following the strategy review we carried out in 2020-21, the Governing Council committed to “assess periodically the appropriateness of its monetary policy strategy, with the next assessment expected in 2025”. Such regular assessments ensure that our framework, toolkit and approach remain fit for purpose in a changing world.
And the world has changed significantly over the last four years. Some of the issues we were most concerned about back in 2021 – including inflation being too low for too long – have taken a rather different turn.
Not only did we see inflation surge, but some fundamental structural features of our economy and the inflation environment are changing: geopolitics, digitalisation, the increasing use of artificial intelligence, demographics, the threat to environmental sustainability and the evolution of the international financial system.
All of those suggest that the environment in which we operate will remain highly uncertain and potentially more volatile. This will make it more challenging to conduct our monetary policy and fulfil our mandate to keep prices stable.
During the strategy assessment, we asked: what do these changes mean for the way we assess the economy, conduct our policy, use our toolkit, take our decisions and communicate them? In seeking to answer this question, our mindset was forward-looking.
On the whole, we concluded that our monetary policy strategy remains well suited to addressing the challenges that lie ahead.
But our strategy also needs to be updated and adjusted in certain areas, so that the ECB can remain fit for purpose in the years to come. The next assessment is expected in 2030.
With our updated strategy statement, we are taking a comprehensive perspective on the challenges facing our monetary policy, so that the ECB can remain an anchor of stability in this more uncertain world.
This is our core message to the euro area citizens we serve: the new environment gives many reasons to worry, but one thing they do not need to worry about is our commitment to price stability.
The ECB is committed to its mandate and will keep itself and its tools updated to be able to respond to new challenges.
Let me conclude by thanking, on behalf of the Governing Council, all the colleagues across the Eurosystem who have contributed to this assessment in a great team effort.
I now hand over to our Chief Economist Philip Lane and, following his remarks, we will be ready to take your questions.
Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, Philip R. Lane, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB
Sintra, 30 June 2025
Good afternoon, ECB Chief Economist Philip Lane and I welcome you to this press conference, on the occasion of the conclusion of the 2025 assessment of our monetary policy strategy.
The Governing Council recently agreed on an updated monetary policy strategy statement. You can find this statement on our website, together with an explanatory overview note and the two occasional papers presenting the underlying analyses.
I will start by putting this strategy assessment into the broader context. Philip Lane will then go through the updated strategy statement and explain what has changed and why, as well as what has remained unchanged.
Following the strategy review we carried out in 2020-21, the Governing Council committed to “assess periodically the appropriateness of its monetary policy strategy, with the next assessment expected in 2025”. Such regular assessments ensure that our framework, toolkit and approach remain fit for purpose in a changing world.
And the world has changed significantly over the last four years. Some of the issues we were most concerned about back in 2021 – including inflation being too low for too long – have taken a rather different turn.
Not only did we see inflation surge, but some fundamental structural features of our economy and the inflation environment are changing: geopolitics, digitalisation, the increasing use of artificial intelligence, demographics, the threat to environmental sustainability and the evolution of the international financial system.
All of those suggest that the environment in which we operate will remain highly uncertain and potentially more volatile. This will make it more challenging to conduct our monetary policy and fulfil our mandate to keep prices stable.
During the strategy assessment, we asked: what do these changes mean for the way we assess the economy, conduct our policy, use our toolkit, take our decisions and communicate them? In seeking to answer this question, our mindset was forward-looking.
On the whole, we concluded that our monetary policy strategy remains well suited to addressing the challenges that lie ahead.
But our strategy also needs to be updated and adjusted in certain areas, so that the ECB can remain fit for purpose in the years to come. The next assessment is expected in 2030.
With our updated strategy statement, we are taking a comprehensive perspective on the challenges facing our monetary policy, so that the ECB can remain an anchor of stability in this more uncertain world.
This is our core message to the euro area citizens we serve: the new environment gives many reasons to worry, but one thing they do not need to worry about is our commitment to price stability.
The ECB is committed to its mandate and will keep itself and its tools updated to be able to respond to new challenges.
Let me conclude by thanking, on behalf of the Governing Council, all the colleagues across the Eurosystem who have contributed to this assessment in a great team effort.
I now hand over to our Chief Economist Philip Lane and, following his remarks, we will be ready to take your questions.
Ukraine has joined other countries bordering Russia in signalling that it will withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, in the face of what they say are growing military threats from Russia.
NATO members Finland, Poland and the three ex-Soviet Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – have either withdrawn from the convention or indicated that they would do so, citing the increased military danger from their neighbour.
The moves threaten to reverse decades of campaigning by activists who say there should be a global ban on a weapon that blights huge swathes of territory and maims and kills civilians long after conflicts have abated.
Countries that quit the 1997 treaty – one of a series of international agreements concluded after the end of the Cold War to encourage global disarmament – will be able to start producing, using, stockpiling and transferring landmines once again.
COUNTRIES EXITING
All European countries bordering Russia have announced plans to quit the global treaty,apart from Norway which has only a 200 km (125 mile) border with Russia in its remote Arctic far north, andsaid it was important to maintain stigma around landmines.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that he had signed a decree to pull Ukraine out of the Convention because Russia has used anti-personnel mines extensively in parts of Ukraine during the 40-month-old war.
Anti-personnel mines, Zelenskiy said, are “often the instrument for which nothing can be substituted for defence purposes”.
Some European countries have said they fear that Russia could use any pause in fighting to re-arm and target them.
Officials have suggested a withdrawal could put them on more of an equal footing with Russia which has not signed or ratified the treaty. Other major powers that have not signed include the United States and China.
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres in mid-June raised grave concerns about recent withdrawal announcements, and urged all states to adhere to existing treaties and immediately halt any steps towards their withdrawal.
FUNDING CUTS
As countries quit the convention, global demining efforts are also backsliding amid “crippling” U.S. funding cuts under President Donald Trump, according to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Washington had provided more than $300 million a year, or 40% of total international support for removing mines, according to the Landmine Monitor report in 2024.
A State Department official said in March it had restarted some global humanitarian demining programmes and activities, without giving details. It has previously run major programmes in Iraq, Afghanistan and Laos.
Anti-personnel landmines are generally hidden in the ground and designed to detonate automatically when someone steps on them or passes nearby. More than 80% of mine victims are civilians, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The convention includes provisions to assist victims, many of whom have lost limbs and suffer from other permanent disabilities.
In June 2025 the U.N. reported that Ukraine had become the most mined country in the world. It said there had been around 800 civilian casualties due to unexploded ordnance.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Change of British High Commissioner to the Bahamas: Smita Rossetti
Mrs Smita Rossetti has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Mrs Rossetti will take up her appointment during August 2025.
Smita Rossetti
Mrs Smita Rossetti has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in succession to Mr Tom Hartley, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.
Mrs Rossetti will take up her appointment during August 2025.
Curriculum vitae
Full name: Smita Rossetti
Year
Role
2023 to 2025
Language training, Arabic
2021 to 2023
Cabinet Office, Head of Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), responsible for tackling threats to UK national security
2018 to 2020
FCO, Deputy Head, Pakistan and Afghanistan Department
2014 to 2018
Rabat, Deputy Ambassador
2013 to 2022
Thomson House School, London, Co-founder and Chair of Governors
UN Human Rights Council 59: Joint Statement on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Context of Climate Change
Joint Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Context of Climate Change. Delivered at the 59th HRC in Geneva.
Thank you Mr President.
Austria, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, the Marshall Islands, the Netherlands, Panama, and the United Kingdom thank the Special Rapporteur for her report.
Climate change and environmental degradation pose a risk to the lives and wellbeing of individuals and communities across the world, especially the most marginalised. This is compounded by the impacts of the fossil fuel life cycle.
3.5 billion people now live in contexts highly vulnerable to climate change. Rapid and enduring action must be taken to safeguard the full enjoyment of human rights for individuals both now and in the future.
As per the first Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement adopted at COP28, advancing the transition away from fossil fuels is crucial.
It deserves mention in this session’s human rights and climate change resolution.
We will continue to demonstrate leadership, including through the Global Clean Power Alliance Initiative, and our ambitious and credible 2035 NDC targets.
Environmental defenders and Indigenous Peoples are vital stewards of nature. We support their meaningful participation and leadership in climate action.
Special Rapporteur, what more can states do to build global consensus and advance the transition away from fossil fuels?
The final meeting of this academic year took place on June 25. Academic Council of the National Research University Higher School of Economics. And if at previous meetings issues of technological development, international cooperation and financial stability of the university were considered, now the emphasis was placed on social issues.
“Today, the Academic Council is about people,” said HSE Rector Nikita Anisimov, opening the meeting. Before discussing the main agenda, he reported that the day before, on June 24, in accordance with the decree of the President of Russia, several university employees became recipients of state awards.
The Order of Friendship was awarded to full professors Viktor Bolotov and Anton Ivanov, and the medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd degree, was awarded to research professor FSN Leonid Polyakov. The honorary title “Honored Worker of Higher Education of the Russian Federation” was awarded to full professor Andrei Klimenko, “Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation” – to full professor Vladislav Podinovsky.
Nikita Anisimov also recalled that in the recent elections to the Russian Academy of Sciences, four HSE employees elected academicians, seven – corresponding members. “This is evidence of the good potential and power of our university, the dynamics of its development and the attitude towards it,” the rector emphasized.
The first item on the agenda was the traditional summer competition for filling positions of professorial and teaching staff (PTS). Its preliminary results were reported by HSE Vice-Rector Alexey Koshel and Head of the Commission on Personnel and Awards of the Academic Council Marina Oleshek.
Alexey Koshel noted that the number of recommended candidates for three- and four-year contracts in Moscow has increased compared to the winter competition. The vice-rector noted that the St. Petersburg campus demonstrated high activity in terms of staff renewal: there are almost as many external candidates for professor vacancies there as internal ones.
All this speaks to the effectiveness of the chosen vector of development of personnel policy: the university attracts talented teachers and scientists to the positions of teaching staff, with whom it is ready to enter into long-term cooperation. At the same time, the status of a professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics is highly attractive on the market, ensuring serious competition and stable renewal of the academic environment.
The second issue on the agenda is the system of material motivation of HSE employees. The key element of this system is the Regulation on Remuneration, adopted back in 2015. At that time, it represented a set of the most modern solutions in the education system. Since then, many changes have occurred at the university, in legislation and in the labor market, the requirements and basic expectations of employees have been transformed, the range of best practices for working with material motivation has expanded, so there was a need to develop a new version of the document.
“A high level of guaranteed wages for full-time employees and a system of academic bonuses have been and remain a serious factor and incentive for the development of the university. The revision of the Regulation on wages has become a logical and necessary step to maintain leadership and motivation of the team, which today works on global projects in science and education, and faces serious professional challenges,” said Alexey Koshel.
The new regulation includes a support system for young professionals: financial support for the period of adaptation to professional activity, a paid mentoring system, and an allowance for defending dissertations for the degree of candidate of science. The regulation revises and supplements the list of incentive payments and social measures. The model for remuneration of external part-time workers has been changed, and business processes for concluding civil law contracts have been simplified. In addition, digital tools are being developed that allow employees to see all the financial incentives available at the university.
Vice-Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics Alexander Balyshev also noted the importance of maintaining the volume of the university’s investments in academic allowances taking into account inflation. Changes in their structure are possible, but they will remain an incentive tool.
The proposed innovations were approved by the relevant commissions of the Academic Council, as well as Trade Union of HSE Employees, as its chairman, ordinary professor Dmitry Kuznetsov, spoke about.
The Academic Council supported the changes: they will come into force in 2026. As Nikita Anisimov emphasized, the material motivation system is a framework that is designed to streamline wages and make people’s lives easier. The new system will become more balanced, transparent and fair, aimed at a systematic increase in the salaries of university employees.
The meeting also focused on non-material motivation. The Academic Council approved the Regulation on the system of awards and incentives at the National Research University Higher School of Economics. This system exists at the university, but, like the remuneration system, it needs to be modernized. “Its principles should also be clear to the team,” Nikita Anisimov noted. Alexey Koshel spoke in more detail about the innovations in this matter.
He noted that professional recognition as a tool of non-material motivation does not lose its relevance. “Today, it is important to focus efforts on ensuring that managers at all levels have complete and up-to-date information about the award system and actively use the available tools. The University plans to develop the practice of presenting awards in a solemn atmosphere and make professional recognition a significant event for colleagues and the University as a whole,” said Alexey Koshel.
The incentive system includes a letter of gratitude and a thank-you note, which will be available to any employee from the first days of work (according to the previously effective rules – with at least one year of experience). The award system includes a certificate of honor from HSE, medals from HSE, honorary badges from HSE and honorary titles (statuses). Two new statuses are “Honorary Worker of HSE” and “Honorary Professor of HSE”, and the latter can be assigned to external colleagues – partners, trustees of the university.
He stated that it was possible to preserve all the advantages of the scientific conference: a stable brand, an interdisciplinary program, the involvement of different scientific schools, and the attraction of young scientists, including those from Russian regions. The top 10 countries by the number of foreign speakers included China, India, Qatar, the USA, Belarus, Brazil, Kazakhstan, the UK, South Africa, and Kyrgyzstan.
The Academic Council decided to rename the conference. Now it will be called the April International Scientific Conference named after E.G. Yasin.
Concluding the meeting, Nikita Anisimov thanked his colleagues for the involved discussion and for their effective work in the past academic year. He recalled that the admissions campaign had begun at the Higher School of Economics, which would continue after the vacation period.
“It is important that the university has formed a united and diverse team, which is well represented in the Academic Council. In this unity and diversity lies our strength and our future,” the HSE rector concluded.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Sevilla, Spain – BREAKING: Activists from Greenpeace Spain today covered the iconic Setas de Sevilla monument with a massive banner, displaying the message: “They are destroying the planet. And you are paying for it.” The action marked the first day of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development Conference (FfD4).
Eva Saldaña, Executive Director of Greenpeace Spain and Portugal, said “Global activism is the essence of our democracy and climate justice. If we want to build a green and fair world, the people have to unite against the takeover by billionaires and polluters, and call for a redistribution of wealth and power in the multilateral arena and international financial institutions. Global justice must prevail over greed!”
Firefighters battled wildfires in Turkey and France on Monday as an early heatwave hit the region.
In Turkey, the wildfires raged for a second day in the western province of Izmir, fanned by strong winds, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said, forcing the evacuation of four villages and two neighbourhoods.
Media footage showed teams using tractors with water trailers and helicopters carrying water, as smoke billowed over hills marked with charred trees.
Turkey’s coastal regions have in recent years been ravaged by wildfires, as summers have become hotter and drier, which scientists say is a result of human-induced climate change.
In France, where temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday, wildfires broke out on Sunday in the southwestern Aude department, where temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), burning 400 hectares and forcing the evacuation of a campsite and an abbey, authorities and local media said.
The fires were under control but not yet extinguished, authorities said on Monday.
Weather service Meteo France put a record 84 of the country’s 101 departments on an orange heatwave alert from Monday until midweek. About 200 schools will be at least partially shut over the next three days because of the heat, the Education Ministry said.
HEATWAVE IMPACTS RHINE SHIPPING
The heatwave has lowered water levels on Germany’s Rhine River, hampering shipping and raising freight costs for cargo owners, commodity traders said.
The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities such as grains, minerals and oil products. Forecasters said temperatures as high as 40 C are possible in Cologne.
In Seville, southern Spain, where global leaders were gathering for a United Nations conference, temperatures were expected to hit 42 C.
Tourists were trying to deal with the heat. “Really hard currently,” Mehrzad Joussefi, from the Netherlands, said.
Spain is on course for its hottest June on record, the national meteorological service AEMET said.
Most of the country remains under alert for heat, with AEMET forecasting the peak of the heatwave on Monday.
“Over the next few days, at least until Thursday, intense heat will continue in much of Spain,” said Ruben del Campo, a spokesperson for the weather agency.
Italy’s Health Ministry issued heatwave red alerts for 21 cities, including Rome and Milan. Weather forecast website IlMeteo.it said temperatures on Monday would go as high as 41 C in Florence, 38 C in Bologna and 37 C in Perugia.
The Lombardy region, part of Italy’s northern industrial heartland, is planning to ban open-air work in the hottest times of the day, heeding a request from trade unions, its president said on Monday.
Heat can affect health in various ways, and experts are most concerned about older people and babies, as well as outdoor labourers and people struggling economically.
Globally, extreme heat kills up to 480,000 people annually, surpassing the combined toll from floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, and poses growing risks to infrastructure, the economy and healthcare systems, Swiss Re said earlier this month.
Global surface temperatures last month averaged 1.4 C higher than in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period, when humans began burning fossil fuels on an industrial scale, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said earlier this month.
Scientists say the main cause of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. Last year was the planet’s hottest on record.
Firefighters battled wildfires in Turkey and France on Monday as an early heatwave hit the region.
In Turkey, the wildfires raged for a second day in the western province of Izmir, fanned by strong winds, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said, forcing the evacuation of four villages and two neighbourhoods.
Media footage showed teams using tractors with water trailers and helicopters carrying water, as smoke billowed over hills marked with charred trees.
Turkey’s coastal regions have in recent years been ravaged by wildfires, as summers have become hotter and drier, which scientists say is a result of human-induced climate change.
In France, where temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday, wildfires broke out on Sunday in the southwestern Aude department, where temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), burning 400 hectares and forcing the evacuation of a campsite and an abbey, authorities and local media said.
The fires were under control but not yet extinguished, authorities said on Monday.
Weather service Meteo France put a record 84 of the country’s 101 departments on an orange heatwave alert from Monday until midweek. About 200 schools will be at least partially shut over the next three days because of the heat, the Education Ministry said.
HEATWAVE IMPACTS RHINE SHIPPING
The heatwave has lowered water levels on Germany’s Rhine River, hampering shipping and raising freight costs for cargo owners, commodity traders said.
The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities such as grains, minerals and oil products. Forecasters said temperatures as high as 40 C are possible in Cologne.
In Seville, southern Spain, where global leaders were gathering for a United Nations conference, temperatures were expected to hit 42 C.
Tourists were trying to deal with the heat. “Really hard currently,” Mehrzad Joussefi, from the Netherlands, said.
Spain is on course for its hottest June on record, the national meteorological service AEMET said.
Most of the country remains under alert for heat, with AEMET forecasting the peak of the heatwave on Monday.
“Over the next few days, at least until Thursday, intense heat will continue in much of Spain,” said Ruben del Campo, a spokesperson for the weather agency.
Italy’s Health Ministry issued heatwave red alerts for 21 cities, including Rome and Milan. Weather forecast website IlMeteo.it said temperatures on Monday would go as high as 41 C in Florence, 38 C in Bologna and 37 C in Perugia.
The Lombardy region, part of Italy’s northern industrial heartland, is planning to ban open-air work in the hottest times of the day, heeding a request from trade unions, its president said on Monday.
Heat can affect health in various ways, and experts are most concerned about older people and babies, as well as outdoor labourers and people struggling economically.
Globally, extreme heat kills up to 480,000 people annually, surpassing the combined toll from floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, and poses growing risks to infrastructure, the economy and healthcare systems, Swiss Re said earlier this month.
Global surface temperatures last month averaged 1.4 C higher than in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period, when humans began burning fossil fuels on an industrial scale, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said earlier this month.
Scientists say the main cause of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. Last year was the planet’s hottest on record.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
UK Introduces New Trade Measures to Support Steel Sector
UK strengthens steel safeguard measures
UK steel producers to benefit from stronger trade safeguards that better protect against surges in cheap imports.
These changes will adjust how much steel countries around the world can send to the UK, protecting British jobs while making sure the UK still has a reliable supply.
Reinforces the Government’s commitment as part of the Plan for Change to rebuild Britain’s industrial strength and reversing decades of decline.
Steel producers across the UK will benefit from stronger trade measures from 1 July, as the government moves to better protect domestic industry from unforeseen surges in foreign imports as part of the Plan for Change.
Following a recommendation from the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), the Business Secretary has confirmed the final decision on the current steel safeguard, taking decisive action in the national interest to strengthen existing protections against spikes in foreign imports- delivering on the Government’s commitment to rebuild Britain’s industrial strength.
The changes to the steel safeguard will make the measure more effective by slowing future increases, capping certain import levels and tightening country-specific limits- ensuring UK steel producers won’t be undercut while still making sure the UK has a steady and reliable supply.
They will also strike the right balance between maintaining open trade and ensuring long-term viability for the UK’s steel sector which remains critical to the economy and to communities across the country.
This decision builds on the Trade Strategy published last week, which set out how the UK Government will strengthen its trade defences to protect key industries like steel, ensuring a fairer and more secure trading environment.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
This Government is unapologetic in our support for the UK steel sector-it underpins Britain’s industrial strength, our national security, and our status as a global power.
These measures back our producers and the thousands of families and communities who rely on steel production in the UK.
We’ve taken decisive action to protect the UK market and level the playing field, and we’ll go further with our new Steel Strategy to build a stronger, more competitive future for British steel making central to our Plan for Change.
Today’s announcement delivers immediate protection and builds on the Industrial and Trade Strategies announced last week, reinforcing the government’s commitment to protecting jobs and securing the long-term success of domestic industry.
This decision sits alongside a call for stakeholder views to shape the UK’s future trade approach to steel after June 2026. Yet another example of the UK’s commitment to strengthened trade defences.
Notes to editors:
The steel safeguard Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) review assessed whether the UK should make changes to its steel safeguard measure to ensure more effective protection for producers from unforeseen import surges whilst balancing security of supply.
The Business and Trade Secretary’s decision on the Steel Safeguard TRQ was informed by stakeholder engagement, legal analysis, and broader strategic considerations.
The UK steel industry employs thousands of people in key manufacturing regions and supports critical supply chains in construction, automotive, and defence.
The UK Government is committed to taking effective action to support a level playing field for domestic industry and will publish a comprehensive Steel Strategy later this year.
The current UK steel safeguard measure ends in June 2026 and cannot be extended. The Call for Evidence launched on 26 June invites industry views to help shape new, future-ready trade measures that will protect UK businesses and jobs nationwide.
A letter outlining the government’s intended decision was issued to the TRA on 24 June to enable WTO engagement.
The Youth Justice Roadmap, ‘Reimagining Youth Justice: A Child First Roadmap for Jersey’ (2025-2030) has been released by the Government of Jersey.
This bold child-centred plan has been designed to ensure all children – including those who have come into contact with the youth justice system – are supported to lead safe, successful, and fulfilling lives.
The Roadmap is part of the Building A Safer Community, BASC, Framework, which brings together government departments, the emergency services, courts, community services, charities and families to work in partnership to prevent crime, respond effectively when it occurs, and support young people to thrive.
At the heart of the Roadmap is a vision for a youth justice system that puts children first – one that helps them build positive identities, break the cycle of offending by addressing their needs, and become resilient Islanders who contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Assistant Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Connétable Richard Vibert said: “Youth justice extends far beyond statistics; it touches lives, shapes futures, and defines the fabric of our island life. A child diverted from crime is not just a reduction in offending; it is a family strengthened, a victim restored, and a safer island.
“This is about putting children’s rights at the centre of how we build a safer, more supportive Jersey. It’s not just about reducing crime – it’s about creating opportunities, restoring trust, and making sure every child has the chance to succeed, no matter what has happened in their past.”
An outcomes-based approach has been adopted to align with the BASC framework and the Children’s, Young People and Families Plan 2024-2027. This will enable the measurement of success in delivering key actions aligned to the outcomes below.
The Youth Justice Roadmap sets out four clear outcomes to guide services and professionals working with children, which are:
Outcome 1: The youth justice system will enable a partnership approach to support a wider systemic approach to engage children in law-abiding and positive behaviours
Outcome 2: Children are diverted away from the formal criminal justice system at the earliest point with appropriate support
Outcome 3: Children who are engaged in serious or persistent conflict with the law go on to achieve positive outcomes
Outcome 4: Children, families, witnesses and community victims recover and move on beyond the impact of the harm they haveexperienced.
The roadmap is rooted in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNCRC, affirming every child’s right to safety, support, and a voice – regardless of their circumstances.
Services and the community across Jersey – including the States of Jersey Police, Royal and Youth Courts, Children Young People Education and Skills, Honorary Police, Justice and Home Affairs, Jersey Youth Service, Parish Halls, Health and Care Jersey, and Social Services – will work together to ensure children and families receive timely, co-ordinated, and trauma-informed support.
Progress will be closely monitored through feedback from children and families, data on community safety, and oversight from the Youth Justice Partnership and BASC Co-ordinator.
The Youth Justice Roadmap has been developed over several years and involved input from a wide range of stakeholders. Alongside this input a wide range of evidence and existing pieces of work were drawn upon to inform the roadmap.
Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Rosneft enterprises took part in Youth Day – a holiday for young people, which is celebrated annually in our country on the last Saturday of June. The Company’s employees held a series of events aimed at developing sports, creativity and professional growth.
Samotlorneftegaz supported a large-scale city festival in Nizhnevartovsk. The company’s specialists organized a thematic platform with a diverse program. Festival guests were able to take a virtual tour of the Samotlor field using modern VR technologies, get acquainted with exclusive samples of innovative equipment and materials used in the oil and gas production process.
A special entertainment program was prepared for young visitors: educational coloring books with images of animals that Rosneft studies and cares for, as well as master classes and exciting thematic quizzes for different age groups.
A special atmosphere was created by the company’s employees and volunteers who took part in the “Candle of Memory” and “Victory Waltz” events, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory and the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the Samotlor field.
The Saratov Oil Refinery organized a sports bike ride for the plant’s employees and their families. The participants covered several dozen kilometers through the picturesque Kumysnaya Polyana nature park along routes of varying difficulty. Young specialists of the plant also held a team-building training aimed at developing teamwork skills and achieving common goals.
Novokuibyshevsky Oil Refinery presented its interactive platform at the city festival. In the format of an exciting quest, festival guests got acquainted with the main areas of the enterprise’s activities, its social projects and production achievements.
The guests’ attention was drawn to the ecological site with the Ecosphere master class, where participants took a virtual tour of the Samarskaya Luka National Park using the Ecotropa63 mobile application.
Rosneft enterprises implement various events and programs aimed at supporting the younger generation, including a mentoring and internship system, participation of young specialists in innovative projects and scientific research, and development of professional competencies. The company is actively involved in the development of young specialists: it organizes training in modern advanced training programs, including new educational tracks aimed at developing management competencies. The company supports youth scientific and practical conferences and professional skills competitions: this year, large-scale hackathons were organized, where young specialists developed innovative solutions for the oil and gas industry.
Rosneft creates opportunities for professional and personal growth of young specialists. By investing in young talents, the Company creates a solid foundation for the development of the younger generation.
Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft June 30, 2025
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) — A train loaded with 104 standard containers of auto parts and mechanical equipment worth more than 15 million yuan departed from Beijing’s Fangshan district on Monday for Azerbaijan’s capital Baku. It is the first China-Europe trans-Caspian train linking Beijing and Baku.
According to the Beijing branch of China State Railway Corporation (CSRC), the train departed from the Fangshan district station, crossed the state border through the Khorgos checkpoint (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Northwest China), and arrived at the Caspian port of Aktau (Kazakhstan), from where these goods will be delivered by ferry to the port of Alyat, and then by rail to Baku.
Transportation of cargo from Beijing to Baku involves the use of the multimodal method “railway – sea – rail”. The cargo will cover a distance of more than 8 thousand km and arrive in Baku in 15 days. Upon arrival in Baku, some of the cargo will be transported to Georgia, Turkey, Serbia and other countries.
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is the southern corridor of the China-Europe international freight routes, and this multimodal “rail-sea-rail” mode, compared with traditional sea transportation, will not only shorten transportation time, but also expand the coverage of relevant services to countries along the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as Central and Eastern European countries and Western European countries, said Wang Chuanmeng, general manager of Beijing Fangshan International Land Port Management Company.
The launch of the above-mentioned cargo service has created a more convenient and efficient international logistics channel for enterprises in Beijing and surrounding areas, which will help reduce their logistics costs and enhance their competitiveness in the international market, and will effectively promote trade cooperation between China and Azerbaijan and other countries, said a senior official of the Beijing branch of the CGRC. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) — The Politburo of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on Monday to review a set of regulations on the work of the CPC Central Committee’s coordinating bodies for discussion and decision-making.
The meeting was chaired by General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping.
The meeting noted that the provisions will further standardize the establishment of coordinating bodies under the CPC Central Committee for discussion and decision-making, as well as their responsibilities and functioning.
They are of great importance for proper design at the highest level, unified planning and coordination, comprehensive promotion and facilitation of the implementation of the most important tasks, the meeting added.
Such bodies should provide more effective leadership and coordination of critical work, focusing on planning and discussing key tasks and ensuring their implementation.
The meeting noted that in-depth research is needed to improve the quality and effectiveness of discussions and decision-making, and to advance effective policy measures that are in line with reality.
The meeting emphasized the need to refrain from formalism and bureaucracy and the importance of achieving real results in work. -0-
In a significant step toward enhancing disaster risk reduction across the Arab region, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction for Arab States (UNDRR ROAS) hosted a consultative meeting on the Priority Action Plan for DRR 2025–2027 during the 9th session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2025) in Geneva. The event brought together key stakeholders from Arab governments, international partners, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) experts to discuss and endorse the plan, which aims to transform commitments into tangible actions for disaster resilience.
The consultation marked a pivotal moment in the region’s disaster risk reduction efforts. With strong representation from Arab states, the event also provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the outcomes of the 6th Arab Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Forum held earlier in Kuwait, as well as the next steps toward achieving the Sendai Framework’s goals.
A Unified Vision for Disaster Risk Reduction
The meeting commenced with opening remarks from Ms. Nora Achkar, Chief of the UNDRR Regional Office for Arab States, who welcomed participants and stressed the importance of the meeting in shaping the future of DRR in the Arab region.
“This plan represents more than just a roadmap; it is a collective expression of our regional ambition to move from commitment to action. Together, we can pave the way toward a more resilient Arab region,” said Ms. Nora Achkar.
Ms. Achkar highlighted the key priorities in the plan, which focus on understanding disaster risks, strengthening governance, investing in DRR for prevention and resilience, and enhancing preparedness for effective response and recovery. She thanked the Arab states and partners for their valuable contributions and insights in shaping the plan, emphasizing that its success depends on collaboration and shared commitment.
In his remarks, Dr. Mustafa Saadi of the League of Arab States (LAS) also underscored the importance of a united regional approach to DRR. As the head of the Arab Coordination Mechanism for Disaster Risk Reduction at the LAS, Dr. Saadi emphasized the collective responsibility of Arab countries to implement the priorities of the Sendai Framework and address the challenges posed by disasters and climate change.
“The League of Arab States is fully committed to supporting the implementation of this plan, and we look forward to working with all stakeholders to build a more resilient and sustainable future for the Arab region,” Dr. Saadi stated.
Reflections on the Kuwait Declaration
Major General Talal Al-Roumi, Chief of the Kuwait Fire Force (KFF), shared reflections on the outcomes of the 6th Arab Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Forum hosted by Kuwait earlier this year. He emphasized Kuwait’s continued commitment to regional disaster risk reduction efforts and the importance of translating declarations into action.
“The Kuwait Declaration reaffirmed our region’s commitment to resilience. We now look forward to seeing the Priority Action Plan implemented to protect lives and livelihoods across the Arab world,” Major General Al-Roumi stated.
Key Outcomes from the Working Groups
Following the opening session, participants were divided into thematic working groups to focus on the four priority areas of the Priority Action Plan 2025–2027:
Understanding Disaster Risks
Strengthening DRR Governance
Investing in DRR Financing for Prevention and Resilience
Enhancing Preparedness for Effective Response and Recovery
Each group reviewed feedback from member states and stakeholders, proposed joint initiatives, and worked toward building consensus on the activities under each priority. These discussions were critical in ensuring that the action plan reflected the diverse needs and priorities of Arab countries while aligning with global DRR commitments.
Endorsement of the Action Plan
The consultation concluded with a strong endorsement of the Priority Action Plan 2025–2027, as all parties expressed their commitment to its implementation.
“The success of this plan depends on all of us,” Ms. Achkar remarked. “This is not just a technical meeting—it’s a platform for regional solidarity, cooperation, and leadership. Today’s discussions bring us one step closer to achieving a more resilient Arab region.”
Looking Ahead: Collaborative Action for a Resilient Future
The Priority Action Plan 2025–2027 lays a clear pathway for strengthening disaster risk management across the Arab region. With strong commitment from both Arab states and international partners, the plan is poised to drive transformative change, making the region better prepared for future disasters and building resilience in the face of climate change.
As countries begin to implement the prioritized actions, the consultative meeting served as a reminder of the power of collaboration in overcoming challenges and ensuring the safety and well-being of communities across the Arab world.
Key Takeaways from the Consultation:
The Priority Action Plan 2025–2027 was endorsed by all stakeholders, marking a key milestone in the region’s disaster risk reduction efforts.
The four priority areas—understanding disaster risks, strengthening governance, investing in DRR financing, and enhancing preparedness—were thoroughly discussed and refined.
Member states committed to leading joint initiatives in partnership with UNDRR and other stakeholders, ensuring a collective approach to disaster risk reduction.
With the endorsement of the plan, the Arab region is taking significant steps toward a safer, more resilient future.