NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Emission limits for the Acciaierie d’Italia steelworks in Taranto – E-001891/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001891/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE), Benedetta Scuderi (Verts/ALE), Leoluca Orlando (Verts/ALE), Ignazio Roberto Marino (Verts/ALE)

    Amended and converted into Law No 31 of 20 March 2025 and issued in order to ensure that the Acciaierie d’Italia (formerly ILVA) steelworks could continue production, Decree-Law No 3 of 24 January 2025[1] also establishes in Article 1b(2) that the Taranto facility’s health impact assessment (HIA) should use the limit values laid down by Legislative Decree No 155 of 13 August 2010.

    In its ruling on Case C‑626/22 of 25 June 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union stated that the emission limit values set by the Air Quality Directives ‘must be considered “environmental quality standards” within the meaning of Article 3(6) and Article 18 of Directive 2010/75’ (paragraph 20) and that ‘if compliance with those standards makes it necessary to impose stricter emission limit values on the installation concerned … additional measures must then be included in the permit’ (paragraph 21).

    The European Union has also set stricter emissions limits by means of the new Industrial Emissions Directive[2].

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.How does the Commission view the Italian Government’s decision to use the limit values laid down by Legislative Decree No 155/2010 for the aforementioned HIA? Does it not agree that this decision is an attempt at circumventing the CJEU’s ruling in Case C‑626/22, which clarified that Italy should comply with the stricter limits laid down by the Air Quality Directives[3]?
    • 2.Given that it has recently sent an additional letter of formal notice to Italy over its handling of this case, will the Commission follow up its infringement case against Italy (INFR(2013)2177)?

    Submitted: 13.5.2025

    • [1] https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2025/03/24/25A01874/sg.
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202401785.
    • [3] Which include Directive (EU) 2024/2881 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe.
    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Takata and illegal charges in Cyprus – P-001974/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001974/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Giorgos Georgiou (The Left)

    According to Regulation (EU) 2018/858 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles, national authorities must implement adequate corrective measures and the cost of repairs must not be passed on to vehicle owners.

    In Cyprus, two representatives of manufacturing companies, whose vehicles constitute the majority of the recalled vehicles, are indirectly passing on the cost of repairs by charging for mandatory diagnostic tests prior to replacement. The competent national authority was informed by the manufacturers themselves that the vehicles in question had defective airbags and, in turn, informed the vehicle owners.

    Despite 57 warnings from the EU and the Commission’s recommendations to Member States, the Government in Cyprus refuses to comply with the relevant regulation and put in place corrective or restrictive measures. Today, around 56 000 vehicles are on the road at risk of having faulty airbags, which can be activated even without the vehicle being involved in an accident. Cyprus already has two confirmed deaths from faulty airbags.

    What measures does the Commission intend to put in place to ensure that the Government in Cyprus takes all corrective measures and ends illegal charging, as required by Regulation (EU) 2018/858?

    Submitted: 16.5.2025

    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Awareness campaign on ‘investment’ scams using Artificial Intelligence (AI) – E-001920/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001920/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Costas Mavrides (S&D)

    Based on complaints from Cypriot citizens and the Cyprus Consumers Association, there has been an alarming increase in cases of fraud through misleading videos and other content created using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The material in question includes fake interviews, advertisements and videos, in which prominent and trustworthy individuals appear – without their knowledge or consent – presenting purported ‘investment opportunities’. These are essentially organised digital scams aimed at extorting money from unsuspecting citizens.

    Given that this is a rapidly evolving threat with cross-border dimensions, requiring immediate and long-term measures:

    • 1.Does the Commission intend to proceed with the design and implementation of an effective European cooperation framework, as well as the legal harmonisation of the Member States, to tackle such forms of digital fraud more effectively?
    • 2.Does the Commission intend to proceed immediately with information campaigns at EU level or otherwise, given that this concerns all European citizens, with the aim of properly informing, forewarning and protecting citizens from such misleading practices?

    Submitted: 14.5.2025

    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Subsidies for EU prejudices? – E-001730/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001730/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Virginie Joron (PfE)

    The Commission has provided EUR 230 million in grants to the Euronews channel over 10 years[1]. The European institutions have also signed a framework contract worth EUR 133 million over four years, from September 2023 to September 2027, for media and advertising strategies (COMM/DG/FWC/2023/30)[2]. Over the period 2014-2023, the Commission is reported to have paid EUR 88 million to the Havas group and EUR 37 million to Euractiv[3].

    In addition, Parliament, through its Directorate-General for Communication, has earmarked a maximum of EUR 9.1 million in media grants in 2023. For example, in 2023 the newspaper Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace received grants of EUR 150 000, while 20 minutes received EUR 175 000[4].

    It is hard to believe that the media can remain independent under these conditions and resist Brussels’ disinformation.

    • 1.In total, how many payments and grants were awarded by the Commission to the media, journalists, news agencies, ERA-NET Plus and fact-checking services in 2023 and 2024, bearing in mind that Grok artificial intelligence estimates these payments to be between EUR 78 million and EUR 88 million?
    • 2.Which media or journalists who are critical of the Commission were subsidised?
    • 3.Are European media subsidies compatible with electoral rules and the rules on free and undistorted competition?

    Submitted: 30.4.2025

    • [1] https://brusselssignal.eu/2025/02/eu-spending-who-is-getting-the-quiet-billions-from-the-european-commission/
    • [2] Framework contract COMM/DG/FWC/2023/30 for media strategy, planning and advertising from September 2023 to September 2027. Invitation to tender COMM/AWD/2022/54. The maximum total amount under this framework contract was EUR 132.82 million over four years, but this amount represented the ceiling for several European institutions, including EUR 50 million for the European Parliament.
    • [3] https://ec.europa.eu/budget/financial-transparency-system/analysis.html
    • [4] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/contracts-and-grants/fr/grants/ex-post-publication; https://www.europarl.europa.eu/contracts-and-grants/files/grants/ex-post-publication/en-list-of-grants-awarded-2023.xlsx
    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: In-Depth Analysis – Meeting expectations? Assessing the Savings and Investment Union (SIU) communication against the recommendations of Draghi, Letta and Noyer – 20-05-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Commission’s communication on the Savings and Investments Union (SIU) follows the high-profile reports by Draghi, Letta and Noyer, which together have shaped expectations for integrating financial markets to support the wider EU economy. This briefing analyses the SIU communication with the three reports in mind as reference points. The briefing is structured in accordance with the main sections of the SIU communication, with a concluding section at the end.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Study – Tax Incentives and Investments in the EU: Best Practices and Ways to Stimulate Private Investments and Prevent Harmful Tax Practices – 20-05-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    This study evaluates the effectiveness of tax incentives, with a particular focus on incentives for research and development (R&D). It analyses different design options for tax incentives and shows that input-based R&D tax incentives appear to be the most effective in stimulating additional R&D investment. Taking into account the lessons learnt from empirical evaluations and the restrictions imposed by Pillar Two, refundable, volume-based tax credits with a broad scope remain a convincing way forward for R&D tax incentives.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Extension of scope of the EU Deforestation Regulation to new products and new ecosystems – E-001898/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001898/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    César Luena (S&D)

    Article 34 of the EU Deforestation Regulations states that ‘no later than 30 June 2024, the Commission shall present an impact assessment accompanied, if appropriate, by a legislative proposal to extend the scope of this Regulation to include other wooded land’.

    It further provides that ‘no later than 30 June 2025, the Commission shall present an impact assessment accompanied, if appropriate, by a legislative proposal to extend the scope of this Regulation to other natural ecosystems, such as grasslands, peatlands and wetlands’. The assessment shall also address the need and feasibility of extending the scope to other raw materials and extending or amending the list of products in Annex I.

    In light of the above:

    • 1.When does the Commission intend to present the impact assessment and proposal to extend the scope to other wooded land required by Article 34, bearing in mind that the deadline for doing so was 30 June 2024?
    • 2.When does the Commission intend to present the impact assessment and proposal required by Article 34 to extend the scope to other ecosystems and raw materials, the deadline for which expires on 30 June 2025?

    Submitted: 13.5.2025

    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Slovakia’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan: Latest state of play – 20-05-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Slovakia is set to receive €6 408.5 million, solely in grants, to implement its national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP, Plán obnovy), representing 6.8 % of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019. On 13 May 2025, the Council approved Slovakia’s amended NRRP addressing technical and procurement challenges, introducing new reforms and investments, and adjusting timelines. The updated plan reduced its green investment ambition by 4.6 percentage points (pps), but reinforced its digital ambition by 0.5 pps, maintaining strong support for the green (41.1 %) and digital (21.1 %) transitions. On 11 July 2023, the Council had approved a first revision of the NRRP. Following a 2022 update, Slovakia’s allocation decreased slightly; however, the addition of a REPowerEU chapter raised the total allocated amount to current €6 408.5 million, i.e. €79.4 million higher than the July 2021 plan. Slovakia’s NRRP comprises reforms and investment to help the Slovak economy recover while advancing the green and digital transitions and addressing structural weaknesses, with measures to be completed by August 2026. In the 2024 country report, the European Commission found that Slovakia’s NRRP is progressing but requires increased efforts for timely completion. So far, Slovakia has received €3 471.8 million (54.2 % of the total allocation), of which €903.3 million has been in pre-financing and €2 568.5 million in four grant payments based on milestones and targets. On 31 October 2024, the Commission disbursed the fourth payment of €798.7 million (net of pre-financing) to Slovakia, following a positive assessment that had led to corrective measures to address the reversal of a previously fulfilled milestone on multiannual expenditure ceilings in the government budget (see annex to this briefing). On 16 December 2024, Slovakia submitted its fifth payment request for €516.8 million (net of pre-financing). However, in its positive preliminary assessment of 1 April 2025, the Commission proposed a partial suspension due to an unmet target on property settlements in protected areas relating to a climate adaptation measure. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Fourth edition. The previous edition was drafted by Magdalena Sapała and Branislav Staníček. The ‘NGEU delivery’ briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – European Accessibility Act and the built environment – E-001934/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001934/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Lynn Boylan (The Left)

    When the European Accessibility Act[1] enters into force in June 2025, the accessibility of the built environment will be outside its scope. Given the lack of harmonisation across the Member States in the design and implementation of the public environment, does the Commission plan to regulate for accessibility in the built environment, so that people with disabilities can fully access the outdoor public environment consistently, within and across the Member States?

    Submitted: 14.5.2025

    • [1] Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services, OJ L 151, 7.6.2019, p. 70, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/882/oj.
    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Energy Taxation Directive – E-001936/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001936/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Lynn Boylan (The Left)

    The Commission tabled a proposal for a revision of the Energy Taxation Directive in July 2021. Almost four years later, no agreement has been reached, as the Council has yet to establish its general approach.

    • 1.Will the Commission provide an update on the status of its proposal to revise the Energy Taxation Directive?
    • 2.What concrete steps is the Commission taking to aid the Council to progress on its general approach?

    Submitted: 14.5.2025

    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Criminalisation of dissent in migrant pre-removal centres and compatibility of the Security Decree with EU law – E-001884/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001884/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Giuseppe Antoci (The Left)

    The Decree-Law on Security[1] that was recently enacted by the Italian Government introduced the new offence of ‘rioting’ in migrant detention centres[2], establishing heavy prison sentences of up to four years for people who commit acts of violence or resistance, even in a passive form[3].

    The government, then, views detention centres[4] as real prisons[5] and is choosing to suppress, by applying strict punitive measures, all forms of dissent. Some forms of passive resistance, such as hunger strikes, are the only tool for detained migrants to exercise their – albeit limited – freedom of expression.

    This scenario, which may breach detainees’ human rights, appears to run counter to EU law, in particular, the Returns Directive[6], Article 15 of which requires Member States to apply to detained migrants the least coercive measure possible in the specific case, and with the criterion of proportionality of the penalty in relation to the conduct laid down in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, given that in this case the conduct may also be not violent but simply disobedient.

    In view of how serious this state of affairs is:

    • 1.What is the Commission’s assessment of this new crime of ‘rioting’ in the context of Directive 2008/115/EC?
    • 2.In the light of the provisions of EU legislation in this area, will it take action against the Italian Government?

    Submitted: 12.5.2025

    • [1] Decree-Law No 48/2025.
    • [2] https://www.internazionale.it/notizie/annalisa-camilli/2025/04/08/cosa-prevede-il-decreto-sicurezza.
    • [3] When they are committed by three or more people together.
    • [4] Migrant pre-removal centres (CPRs) are administrative detention facilities where migrants are held when their status is at odds with the entry and residency rules in a specific European state.
    • [5] Note the equivalent crime of rioting in prisons.
    • [6] Directive 2008/115/EC
    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Directly elected mayor for Dublin – E-001937/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001937/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Lynn Boylan (The Left)

    According to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Ireland is one of the most centralised countries in Europe, with one of the lowest scores in the Local Autonomy Index. One way to improve this local democratic deficit is via a directly elected mayor, which several city councils in Ireland now have. However, the possibility of a directly elected mayor for Dublin has been delayed, perhaps indefinitely.

    The Irish Government has decided to put off calling a plebiscite on whether Dublin should have an elected mayor. Without this plebiscite there can be no progress towards a mayoral election. Given the Commission’s priority focus on protecting democracy and championing civic participation, what steps has the Commission taken to engage with the Irish Government to encourage and assist progress towards the institution of direct elections for the mayor of Dublin?

    Submitted: 14.5.2025

    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The Irish Marriage Bar and Directive 2006/54/EC – E-001933/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001933/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Lynn Boylan (The Left)

    The Irish Marriage Bar required women who worked in the public sector to cease working once married. It was removed in 1973 for civil servants, and in 1974 for the wider public sector. When compelled to end employment, women received a ‘marriage gratuity’ of one month’s pay for each year worked. Consequently, the years they worked for the public sector would not be taken into account for the calculation of their pension rights. While civil servants were still entitled to a civil service pension, those who worked in the wider public service are not able to use their years worked to qualify for a Social Welfare Contributory Pension. No such disadvantage applies to male pensioners.

    Directive 2006/54/EC sets down the principle of equal treatment between men and women in relation to, inter alia, occupational social security schemes. Although the Irish Marriage Bar predates this directive, the consequences of this institutionalised gender discrimination is still restricting the access of women to occupational social security schemes.

    • 1.Has the Commission made any assessment of Ireland’s Marriage Bar and its consequences for gender equality?
    • 2.Does Directive 2006/54/EC apply to decisions that predate that directive but which still have a discriminatory effect today?

    Submitted: 14.5.2025

    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – PMSG production and Directive 2010/63/EU – E-001931/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001931/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Lynn Boylan (The Left)

    Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG) is used as a fertility enhancer on European farms. Every year, thousands of pregnant mares in Iceland are subjected to weekly five-litre blood extractions, which far exceed international guidelines. This process causes the animals stress, fear and pain, and violence is often used during the extraction. It also puts the mares at risk of infection, vein inflammation, thrombosis and anaemia.

    As a member of the European Economic Area, Iceland is subject to Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. In 2023, the EFTA Surveillance Authority started an infringement procedure against Iceland but, to this day, the Icelandic pharmaceutical company Ísteka has a valid licence to collect mares’ blood in order to produce the fertility hormone PMSG.

    In the light of this, will the Commission:

    • 1.comment on Iceland’s continued violation of Directive 2010/63/EU and provide an update on infringement proceedings?
    • 2.respond to Parliament’s call in its 2021 resolution on the farm to fork strategy to stop the import and domestic production of PMSG in the EU?

    Submitted: 14.5.2025

    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Hare coursing and the Habitats Directive – E-001932/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001932/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Lynn Boylan (The Left)

    The Habitats Directive prohibits serious disturbance to species listed under Annex V. The Irish hare, Lepus timidus, is listed under Annex V of the Habitats Directive. The practice of hare coursing, which is currently authorised in Ireland, involves capturing hares and holding them in captivity for long periods, and ultimately their injury and death. This practice could also lead to increased transmission of the RHD2 virus.

    • 1.Does the Commission consider hare coursing to be a serious disturbance to the Irish hare?
    • 2.What engagements has the Commission held with the Irish authorities over hare coursing and what has been their response to date?

    Submitted: 14.5.2025

    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Rights of air passengers with disabilities – E-001935/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001935/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Lynn Boylan (The Left)

    The Commission intends to recast Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006 concerning the rights of air passengers with disabilities. Directly engaging people with disabilities is essential to understanding access needs and identifying service improvements and other solutions for inclusive air travel.

    In the light of this:

    In its revised air passenger legislation, how will the Commission ensure that people with disabilities are actively and meaningfully consulted on aviation sector measures to support passengers with reduced mobility?

    Submitted: 14.5.2025

    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – Meeting of the DEVE Committee 20 May – Committee on Development

    Source: European Parliament

    The Committee on Development met on 20 May to discuss the following files:

    • EU political strategy on Latin America;
    • Interparliamentary committee meeting on Global Gateway and the 4th Conference on Financing for Development;
    • Exchange of views with Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director, Bertrand Bainvel, UNICEF Representative to EU Institutions and Alessandra Aresu from the International Disability and Development Consortium on Impacts of cuts in development aid on health programmes;
    • Exchange of views with Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council on How to make the case for continued needs-based humanitarian funding in line with the humanitarian principles;
    • Exchange of views with Carsten Staur, OECD-DAC Chair on the future of International Development Cooperation – role of ODA

    Votes:

    • Adoption of the draft report on Financing for development – ahead of the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville: 13 in favour, 3 against, 9 abstentions

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Finland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan: Latest state of play – 20-05-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Finland’s national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) is part of the national sustainable growth programme and its main source of financing. Next Generation EU (NGEU) – the EU’s response to the social and economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic – initially envisaged an allocation of €2 090 million in grants to Finland under its Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). After the update of all national allocations in June 2022, Finland’s share was revised downwards to €1 822 million in grants, and the plan was revised to reflect these changes. A second revision added the REPowerEU chapter, under which Finland is to receive a maximum of €127 million in non-repayable financial support for energy-related reforms and investment. The plan underwent a third revision in mid-2024. Finland requested to amend the plan due to objective changes in circumstances while keeping the same level of ambition. Currently, the plan totals €1 949 million and is worth 0.8 % of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019, representing 0.3 % of the entire RFF. In terms of absolute numbers and per capita, it is among the lowest quarter of RRF grant allocations by Member States. On 30 April 2025, Finland requested a new targeted revision. Finland has allocated 52.3 % of its NRRP to the green transition, serving its ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, while digital expenditure accounts for 28.9 % of the overall resources. The plan thus exceeds the minimum allocations required by the RRF Regulation, which are 37 % for the green transition and 20 % for digital transformation (the latter does not apply to the REPowerEU chapter). So far, Finland has received two payments based on progress in implementing the plan. Including the pre-financing, the total amount of grants received amounts to €876.9 million, i.e. 45 % of the entire allocation. The European Parliament, which was a major advocate of creating a common EU recovery instrument, participates in interinstitutional forums for cooperation and discussion on its implementation and scrutinises the European Commission’s work. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Third edition. The ‘NGEU delivery’ briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Vote on opinion to ECON report on Draghi Report and the Capital Markets Union – 04.06 – Committee on Budgets

    Source: European Parliament

    © Image used under the license from Adobe Stock

    Members will vote on the BUDG opinion to the ECON report on the Draghi Report and the Capital Markets Union. The draft opinion focuses on the role of the EU budget in helping to promote investment in the EU economy. In particular, it looked at the role of budgetary guarantees and financial instruments, bearing in mind the performance of the InvestEU Fund.

    The Draghi report was a key contribution to the debate on how to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the EU economy. It emphasised the need to deepen the single market, particularly with regard to the capital markets union, and to increase investments in areas of strategic importance for the EU, including clean tech, energy and transport infrastructure, defence and space.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Presentation of the Commission’s Draft Budget 2026 by Commissioner Serafin – 4.6.2025 – Committee on Budgets

    Source: European Parliament

    © Image used under the license from Adobe Stock

    Piotr Serafin, Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration, will present the Commission’s Draft Budget for the year 2026 to the Members of the Committee on Budgets, thereby formally launching the annual budgetary procedure in line with Article 314 TFEU.

    The next stage is for the Council to adopt its position on the Draft Budget, to which Parliament will respond, before the opening of the conciliation period, which will take place in autumn with a view to finding a compromise and adopt the final budget by the end of the year.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Mission to Montenegro – 26-28.05.2025 – Committee on Budgets

    Source: European Parliament

    The Committee on Budgets (BUDG) is traveling to Montenegro to look into the implementation of the recently established Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, ongoing pre-accession support as well as the potential budgetary implications of Montenegro’s possible accession for the post-2027 Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF).

    The BUDG Members participating are Johan Van Overtveldt (Chair and Head of delegation, ECR), Karlo Ressler (EPP), Hélder Sousa Silva (EPP), Janusz Lewandowsk (EPP)i, Jean-Marc Germain (S&D), Carla Tavares (S&D), Angéline Furet (PfE), Tomasz Buczek (ECR), Michele Picaro (ECR), Kai Tegethoff (Greens/EFA) and Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – Next meeting of the FEMM Committee: 20 May 2025 – Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

    Source: European Parliament

    The next meeting of the Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Rights will take place on:

    • 20 May from 09:00 – 09:30 FEMM meeting in room ANTALL 4Q1
    • 20 May from 09:30 – 10:30 Joint FEMM-LIBE in room ANTALL 4Q1
    • 20 May from 10:30 – 18:30 FEMM meeting in room ANTALL 4Q1

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Commission welcomes European citizens’ recommendations for a stronger EU budget

    Source: European Commission

    European Commission Press release Brussels, 20 May 2025 On 16-18 May, the third and final session of the European Citizens’ Panel on the new EU long-term budget took place in Brussels. For the first time, a group of 150 randomly selected citizens from all 27 EU Member States have brought forward bringing their ideas for a sustainable and flexible long-term EU budget.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Commission welcomes political agreement on the progressive rollout of Europe’s New Digital Border System

    Source: European Commission

    European Commission Press release Brussels, 19 May 2025 The European Commission welcomes yesterday’s provisional political agreement by the European Parliament and the Council on the Commission’s proposal for a progressive rollout of Europe’s new digital border system, the Entry/Exit System (EES).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – CANCELLED – Gender Mainstreaming Network- EoV on the new EP Gender Action Plan – Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

    Source: European Parliament

    On 20 May 2025, the meeting of the Gender Mainstreaming Network (GMN) will take place where an exchange of views with Vice-President Ewa Kopacz, Chair of the High-Level Group on Gender Equality and Diversity, on the new Gender Action Plan of the European Parliament will be held.

    The GMN is composed of Members from each parliamentary committee and the Conference of Delegation Chairs responsible for gender mainstreaming. It is a forum for exchanging information on ongoing files of interest from a gender equality perspective and for sharing best practices.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Transparency in the allocation of European funds intended for persons with disabilities in France – E-001925/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001925/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain (PfE)

    In France, innovative support structures for persons with disabilities, like Handi Soutien, are facing unjustified administrative obstacles. Para-public organisations, partially financed by the European Social Fund (ESF+), reportedly favour certain entities to the detriment of others, thereby depriving beneficiaries of adapted support.

    • 1.Can the Commission guarantee that use of European funds intended for inclusion adheres to the principles of transparency and fairness?
    • 2.What monitoring mechanisms is the Commission implementing to ensure that no stakeholders are pushed aside arbitrarily and that persons with disabilities fully benefit from support structures financed by the European Union?

    Submitted: 14.5.2025

    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The Commission’s restrictive rules on eggs – E-001896/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001896/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Asger Christensen (Renew)

    In Denmark, 11 million eggs are thrown away each year by consumers alone. In the retail sector, it’s not known how many eggs are wasted, but the numbers are thought to run into millions. A large proportion of this food waste is the result of restrictive rules on shelf-life labelling. At the same time, supermarkets are not allowed to repackage eggs or sell them at lower prices if just one egg in the pack is damaged – if this happens, the whole pack has to be thrown away. This is bad for the climate, bad for animals, bad for the environment and bad for people’s pockets.

    • 1.Can the Commission provide evidence that the risk of disease – including salmonella in particular – is higher in countries that have set shelf lives at more than 28 days?
    • 2.Does the Commission have any current plans to revise the current legislation (Regulation (EC) No 853/2004) to extend the use-by date and the date of last delivery to the consumer, with a view to reducing food waste?
    • 3.Does the Commission have any current plans to revise the current legislation (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2466) to allow eggs to be repackaged at stages of the chain other than packing centres, enabling retailers, for example, to remove broken eggs from packs and replace them with intact eggs, thus preventing whole packs of eggs from being wasted?

    Submitted: 13.5.2025

    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMENDMENTS 016-025 – REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism – A10-0085/2025(016-025)

    Source: European Parliament

    AMENDMENTS 016-025
    REPORT
    on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism
    (COM(2025)0087 – C10-0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD))
    Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
    Rapporteur: Antonio Decaro

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Final draft agenda – Wednesday, 21 May 2025 – Brussels

    Source: European Parliament

    11 Amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism
    Antonio Decaro (A10-0085/2025) 
        – Amendments; rejection Monday, 19 May 2025, 13:00
    Texts put to the vote on Thursday Tuesday, 20 May 2025, 16:00

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Societe Generale_ Combined General Meeting and Board of Directors dated 20 May 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COMBINED GENERAL MEETING AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS DATED 20 MAY 2025

    Press release

    Paris, 20 May 2025

    Combined General Meeting

    The General Meeting of shareholders of Societe Generale was held on 20 May 2025 at CNIT Forest, 2, Place de la Défense, 92092 Puteaux and was chaired by Mr. Lorenzo Bini Smaghi.

    Quorum was established at 64,34% (vs 55.61% in 2024):

    • 687 shareholders participated by attending the General Meeting in person at the place where it was held on 20 May 2025;
    • 1,057 shareholders were represented at the General Meeting by a person other than the Chairman;
    • 13,140 shareholders voted online;
    • 2,400 shareholders voted by post;
    • 8,767 shareholders, including 2,500 online, representing 1.07% of the share capital, gave proxy to the Chairman;
    • A total of 26 051 shareholders were present or represented and participated in the vote.

    The agenda item, with no vote, was an opportunity to present and discuss with shareholders the Group’s climate strategy and social and environmental responsibility.

    In addition, 9 shareholders sent 56 written questions prior to the General Meeting. The answers were made public before the General Meeting on the institutional website.

    All the resolutions put forward by the Board of Directors were adopted, in particular:

    • The 2024 annual company accounts and annual consolidated accounts;
    • The dividend per share was set at EUR 1.09. It shall traded ex-dividend on 26 May 2025 and will be paid from 28 May 2025;
    • The renewal of two independent directors for 4 years: Mr. William Connelly and Mr. Henri Poupart-Lafarge;
    • The appointment of two independent directors for 4 years: Mr. Olivier Klein and Mrs. Ingrid-Helen Arnold;
    • The renewal of Mr. Sébastien Wetter’s mandate as Director representing the employee shareholders;
    • The compensation policy for the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, the Deputy Chief Executive Officers and the Directors;
    • The components composing the total compensation and the benefits of any kind paid or awarded for the 2024 financial year to the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer and the Deputy Chief Executive Officers;
    • The authorisation granted to the Board of Directors to purchase ordinary shares of the Company was renewed for 18 months up to 10% of the share capital;
    • The authorisation for capital increases, enabling the issue of shares in favour of employees under a company or group saving plan, was renewed for 26 months;
    • The amendments to the Articles of Association to take account of the entry into force of the “Loi Attractivité” (no. 2024-537 dated 13 June 2024).

    The detailed voting result is available this day on the Company’s website in the item “Annual General Meeting”.

    Board of Directors

    Following the renewals and appointments of directors, the Board of Directors is composed of 15 directors, including (i) 2 directors re-elected by the employees in March 2024 and (ii) 1 director representing employee shareholders appointed by the General Meeting and one non-voting director.

    Accordingly, the Board of Directors is composed as follows:

    • Mr. Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, Chairman;
    • Mr. Slawomir Krupa, Director;
    • Mrs. Ingrid-Helen Arnold, Director;
    • Mr. William Connelly, Director;
    • Mr. Jérôme Contamine, Director;
    • Mrs. Béatrice Cossa-Dumurgier, Director;
    • Mrs. Diane Côté, Director;
    • Mrs. Ulrika Ekman, Director;
    • Mrs. France Houssaye, Director elected by employees;
    • Mr. Olivier Klein, Director;
    • Mrs. Annette Messemer, Director;
    • Mr. Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Director;
    • Mr Johan Praud, Director elected by employees;
    • Mr. Benoît de Ruffray, Director;
    • Mr. Sébastien Wetter, Director representing employees shareholders;
    • Mr. Jean-Bernard Lévy, Non-voting Director (“censeur”).

    The Board of Directors is made up of 41,7% women (5/12) and 91,7% independent directors (11/12) if we exclude from the calculations the three directors representing the employees in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article L. 225-23 of the Commercial Code, paragraph 2 of Article L. 225-27 of the Commercial Code and the AFEP-MEDEF code. In order to ensure compliance with a forthcoming legislative change scheduled for mid-2026, the Board of Directors has already decided, for the General Meeting of May 2026, that shareholders will be invited to replace a man director, whose term of office will expire, by a woman director.

    The Board of Directors held after the General Meeting has decided that, as of 20 May 2025, the Board committees will be composed as follows:

    • Audit and Internal Control Committee: Mr. Jérôme Contamine (chairman), Mrs. Diane Côté, Mrs. Ulrika Ekman, Mr. Olivier Klein and Mr. Sébastien Wetter;
    • Risk Committee: Mr. William Connelly (chairman), Mrs. Ingrid-Helen Arnold, Mrs. Béatrice Cossa Dumurgier, Mrs. Diane Côté, Mrs. Ulrika Ekman, Mr. Olivier Klein and Mrs. Annette Messemer;
    • Compensation Committee: Mrs. Annette Messemer (chairwoman), Mr. Jerome Contamine, Mr. Benoit de Ruffray and Mrs. France Houssaye;
    • Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee: Mr. Henri Poupart-Lafarge (chairman), Mr. William Connelly, Mme Diane Côté and Mr. Benoit de Ruffray.

    Biographies

    Mr. William Connelly is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington (US). He began his career in 1980 at Chase Manhattan Bank, where he worked for 10 years, before joining Baring Brothers from 1990 to 1995. He then held various executive positions within ING Group NV from 1995 until he became a member of The Management Board, where he was responsible for Wholesale Banking from 2011 to 2016. He was also the CEO of ING Real Estate from 2009 to 2015. In addition to his mandate as an independent director of Societe Generale since 2017, he currently is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Amadeus IT Group and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aegon until the second half of 2025. He also served as an independent director of Singular Bank from February 2019 to April 2023. During its session on 10 April 2025, the Societe Generale Board of Directors selected William Connelly for the Chairmanship as of the General Meeting which will be held on 27 May 2026. He will succeed Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, who has been Chairman since 2015, and will have completed his third term.

    Mr. Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Graduate of École polytechnique, the École nationale des ponts et chaussées and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He began his career in 1992 at the World Bank in Washington D.C. before moving to the French Ministry of the Economy and Finance in 1994. He joined Alstom in 1998 as Head of Investor Relations and was in charge of Management Control. In 2000, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Transmission and Distribution at Alstom, a position he held until 2004. He was Chief Financial Officer of Alstom from 2004 until 2010 and became President of Alstom Grid from 2010 to 2011. On 4 July 2011, he became Chairman of Alstom Transport, before being appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in February 2016, a position he held until June 2024. Since then, he has been Chief Executive Officer and Director of Alstom.

    Mr. Olivier Klein, Graduated from the Panthéon‑Sorbonne University in 1978 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, from the National School of Statistics and Economic Administration (ENSAE) in 1980, and from HEC’s graduate course in Finance in 1985. He began his career at the BFCE in 1985 and served as manager of the Foreign Exchange and Rate Risk Management Advisory Department, then as Director of the BFCE’s Investment Bank, and finally as Regional Director of its corporate bank. He joined the Caisse d’Epargne group in 1998 and was Chairman of the Executive Board of the Caisse d’Epargne Ile‑de‑France Ouest from 2000 to 2007 and then of the Caisse d’Epargne Rhône‑Alpes from 2007 to 2009. In January 2010, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Banking and Insurance of the BPCE group until September 2012. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the BRED group from October 2012 to May 2023. He was a Member of the Supervisory Board of BPCE and its Risk Committee between 2019 and May 2023. He is Chief Executive Officer of Lazard Frères Banque SA and Managing Partner since September 2023. Since 1986, He is teaching macroeconomics and monetary policy at HEC. He is a director of Rexécode since 2018.

    Mrs. Ingrid-Helen Arnold, Graduated from the University of Applied Sciences Ludwigshafen in 1997 with a master’s degree in economics. She began her career at SAP SE in 1996, where she held various responsibilities related to innovation and digital transformation. In 2014, she was appointed Chief Information Officer and Business
    Processes and extended Member of the SAPExecutiveCommittee. From 2016 to April 2021, she was President of SAP Business Data Network group in Palo Alto (United States) and SAP SE Walldorf (Germany). In 2021, she joined the Südzucker group as Chief Digital Officer and Information tehcnology and member of the Group’s Executive Committee. She is Chief Executive Officer of KAKO GmbH since June 2024. She was a member of the Supervisory Board and a member of the Heineken group Audit Committee from 2019 to 2023. She is a member of the TUI group Supervisory Board since 2020.

    Mr. Sébastien Wetter holds a Master degree in Fundamental Physics and graduated from the Lyons Business School (EM Lyon). He began his career at Societe Generale in 1997 in the Strategy and Marketing Division of Societe Generale’s retail bank. Working in the Group’s Organisation Consulting Department from 2002, he performed a range of roles in the Corporate & Investment Banking arm and helped roll out the Group-wide participatory Innovation programme. As of the end of 2005, he joined the Commodities Market Department as Chief Operating Officer holding a global remit, before becoming Head of Business Development in 2008. From 2010 until 2014, he served as General Secretary in the Group’s General Inspection and Audit Division. In 2014, he joined the Sales Division of the Corporate & Investment Bank arm where he held a number of positions: Head of marketing for major French and international clients, then in 2016, Global Chief Operating Officer responsible for the sales teams covering financial institutions. From 2020 to December 2022, he has been a banker managing Societe Generale’s relationship with international financial institutions. He has been a member of the of the Supervisory Board of the Fonds Commun de Placement d’Entreprise (FCPE) since May 2024.

    The regulatory declarations on the absence of conflicts of interest and the absence of convictions mentioned on page 140 of the Universal Registration Document filed by Societe Generale on 12 March 2025 with the French market authority (AMF) under number D.25-00088, relating notably to the three directors whose terms of office are renewed remain valid and the two new directors appointed with effect from the General Meeting of 20 May 2025 have made the same regulatory declarations.

    Press contacts:
    Jean-Baptiste Froville_+33 1 58 98 68 00_ jean-baptiste.froville@socgen.com
    Fanny Rouby_+33 1 57 29 11 12_ fanny.rouby@socgen.com

    Societe Generale

    Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with around 119,000 employees serving more than 26 million clients in 62 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective – to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.

    The Group runs three complementary sets of businesses, embedding ESG offerings for all its clients:

    • French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance, with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank.
    • Global Banking and Investor Solutions, a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG.
    • Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services, comprising well-established universal banks (in Czech Republic, Romania and several African countries), Ayvens (the new ALD I LeasePlan brand), a global player in sustainable mobility, as well as specialized financing activities.

    Committed to building together with its clients a better and sustainable future, Societe Generale aims to be a leading partner in the environmental transition and sustainability overall. The Group is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe).

    In case of doubt regarding the authenticity of this press release, please go to the end of the Group News page on societegenerale.com website where official Press Releases sent by Societe Generale can be certified using blockchain technology. A link will allow you to check the document’s legitimacy directly on the web page.

    For more information, you can follow us on Twitter/X @societegenerale or visit our website societegenerale.com.

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