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Category: European Union

  • MIL-OSI USA: King: “Siloing Innovation” Harms American Security, Entrepreneurialism

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), spoke with Dr. William Greenwalt, the former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, on the wide-ranging benefits of the United States’ collaboration with allies to bolster American defense modernization. During the exchange, Senator King noted that by retreating from our European, Japanese and Australian allies, we are “squandering that asset and siloing innovation.” Dr. Greenwalt agreed with Senator King, saying that cooperation with our allies is critical to the future of innovation and shared national security.
    “Dr. Greenwalt, I was struck by what you said in your opening statement. One of our asymmetric or I think our principal asymmetric advantage in terms of national security is our allies, and yet we put them through this long, arduous process. And there should be, I think you suggested a, I don’t know whether you call it an exemption or a bobtail process or something, so that we’re not, so that we can have greater cooperation with our allies. Is that? Is that a fair interpretation of what you said,” questioned Senator King.
    “Yes, I won’t even call it an easy pass lane,” said Dr. Greenwalt.
    “Well, I think that’s and the other piece of this, and as I travel and meet with security people in other countries, we’re missing an innovation multiplier by not working with our allies. Countries like Japan and Australia, Europe, Germany, UK, all have brilliant scientists who are working on a lot of innovative areas. And instead of having innovation be siloed by country, it’s always occurred to me that it would be much more, as I say, a multiplier, if we could work more closely and have better cooperation with the countries that are aligned with us? Is that a fair observation,” asked Senator King.
    “I think that’s a fair observation. We’re a country of 340 million, our allies together, the EU, NATO, Japan, Korea, kick us up over to over a trillion. We were close to the Chinese population,” responded Dr. Greenwalt.
    “And we’re squandering that asset by siloing innovation,” replied Senator King.
    “The number of scientists, engineers working together would be critical in the future, and unfortunately, right now, we’re all stove pipe working on these things separately,” said Dr. Greenwalt.
    “Well, I do want to, I have a visual aid in terms of the process. I’m not going to burden the committee, Mr. Chairman, by submitting it for the record, but this is the foreign military sales manual, 642 pages. I mean this to me this summarizes, in many ways, the problem of the of the process itself, which has impeded our ability to work with, again, with our allies,” finished Senator King.
    A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues who has also been named a “fiscal hero” by government watchdogs for responsible spending. Last year, Senator King urged the DoD to take advantage of private sector technologies or risk losing access to innovative defense technologies. In previous SASC hearings, he has encouraged the DoD to adopt smart spending practices when it comes to developing defense technologies, and has emphasized that “new technologies win wars.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: AleAnna, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    First Quarter 2025 and Recent Company Highlights:

    • AleAnna reported basic and diluted net loss per common share of ($0.05) for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared with ($3.41) for the same period in 2024.
    • AleAnna ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of approximately $27.8 million

    DALLAS, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AleAnna, Inc. (“AleAnna” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: ANNA) today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2025. While revenue from Longanesi field production was not recognized during the quarter, in May 2025 AleAnna achieved first sales and the Company expects to report revenue from the Longanesi field as a part of second quarter results.

    For the first quarter 2025, AleAnna reported net loss of $2.0 million. This amounts to a basic and diluted net loss per common share of ($0.05), compared with ($3.41) net loss per common share recorded by the Company in the first quarter 2024.

    As of March 31, 2025, AleAnna had cash and cash equivalents of $27.8 million, providing the necessary liquidity to support development activities and pursue strategic opportunities.
       
    Management Commentary

    Marco Brun, Chief Executive Officer, remarked on AleAnna’s recent accomplishments: “We continue to execute on our business strategy and are encouraged by the initial performance at the Longanesi field. Although first quarter results did not include revenue from Longanesi, with the onset of sales in early May 2025 we expect to report revenue in our second quarter results. With a healthy balance sheet and growing operational momentum, we’re focused on delivering long-term value to our shareholders.”

    About AleAnna

    AleAnna is a technology-driven energy company focused on bringing sustainability and new supplies of low-carbon natural gas and RNG to Italy, aligning traditional energy operations with renewable solutions, with developments like the Longanesi field leading the way in supporting a responsible energy transition. With three conventional gas discoveries in Italy already made and with a potential of up to fourteen new natural gas exploration projects that could be initiated this decade, our goal is to play a pivotal role in Italy’s energy transition. Italy’s extensive infrastructure, featuring 33,000 kilometers of gas pipelines, three major gas storage facilities, and a strong base of existing RNG facilities, aligns with AleAnna’s commitment to sustainability. AleAnna’s RNG projects’ portfolio includes three plants under development and almost 100 potential projects that would represent up to a €1.1 billion potential investment in the next few years. AleAnna operates regional headquarters in Dallas, Texas, and Rome, Italy.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding AleAnna’s expectations and future financial performance, the Company’s strategy, future operations, financial position, prospective plans, goals, and objectives are forward-looking statements. When used herein, including any statements made in connection herewith, the words “could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” “goal,” “focus,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements. However, not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances or guarantees of future performance. Instead, they are based only on AleAnna’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of its business, future plans and strategies, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of AleAnna’s control. As a result, these factors could cause AleAnna’s actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those under “Risk Factors” in AleAnna’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2025, as well as general economic conditions; AleAnna’s need for additional capital and ability to obtain any required capital; political, general economic, financial and legal conditions; changes in domestic and foreign markets; risks associated with the implementation of AleAnna’s business strategy and the ability to execute on AleAnna’s business strategy; timing of any business milestones; and changes in the regulatory environment in which AleAnna operates. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact AleAnna’s expectations and projections can be found in filings it makes with the SEC, and other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by AleAnna. SEC filings are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, AleAnna disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

    Investor Relations Contact
    Bill Dirks
    wkdirks@aleannagroup.com

    Website
    https://www.aleannainc.com/

    Source: AleAnna, Inc.

    ALEANNA, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (unaudited)
    FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025 AND MARCH 31, 2024

      For the Three Months Ended March 31,  
      2025     2024  
               
    Revenues $ 644,600     $ –  
               
    Operating expenses:          
    Cost of revenues $ 838,395     $ –  
    General and administrative   3,324,845       2,018,524  
    Depreciation   73,106       –  
    Accretion of asset retirement obligation   33,505       33,311  
    Total operating expenses   4,269,850       2,051,835  
               
    Operating loss   (3,625,250 )     (2,051,835 )
               
    Other income:          
    Interest and other income   237,605       289,337  
    Change in fair value of derivative liability   –       173,177  
    Total other income   237,605       462,514  
               
    Loss before income taxes   (3,387,646 )     (1,589,321 )
    Income tax benefit   48,276       –  
    Net loss   (3,339,370 )     (1,589,321 )
    Deemed dividend to Class 1 Preferred Units redemption value   –       (112,673,176 )
    Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests   1,333,231       –  
    Net loss attributable to Class A Common stockholders or holders of Common Member Units $ (2,006,139 )   $ (114,262,497 )
               
    Other comprehensive loss          
    Currency translation adjustment   1,139,303       113,872  
    Comprehensive loss   (2,200,067 )     (1,475,449 )
    Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests   1,333,231       –  
    Total comprehensive loss attributable to Class A Common stockholders or holders of Common Member Units $ (866,836 )   $ (1,475,449 )
               
    Weighted average shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding, basic and diluted   40,564,475       33,467,205  
    Net loss per share of Class A Common Stock, basic and diluted $ (0.05 )   $ (3.41 )

    ALEANNA, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    AS OF MARCH 31, 2025 (unaudited) AND DECMBER 31, 2024

      March 31, 2025     December 31, 2024  
    ASSETS          
    Current Assets:          
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 27,810,160     $ 28,330,159  
    Accounts receivable   402,874       1,225,297  
    Prepaid expenses and other assets   987,414       1,666,155  
    Total Current Assets   29,200,448       31,221,611  
               
    Non-current assets:          
    Natural gas and other properties, successful efforts method   34,794,734       33,979,014  
    Renewable natural gas properties, net of accumulated depreciation of $209,009 and $132,094, respectively   9,592,268       9,296,039  
    Value-added tax refund receivable   6,578,604       6,845,030  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets   1,777,356       1,744,897  
    Deferred tax assets   48,276       –  
    Total Non-current Assets   52,791,238       51,864,980  
    Total Assets $ 81,991,686     $ 83,086,591  
               
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKOLDERS’ EQUITY          
    Current Liabilities:          
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 1,980,897     $ 2,204,208  
    Lease liability, short-term   174,127       163,865  
    Total Current Liabilities   2,155,024       2,368,073  
               
    Non-current Liabilities:          
    Asset retirement obligation   4,409,230       4,375,919  
    Lease liability, long-term   1,601,573       1,579,443  
    Contingent consideration liability, long-term   25,980,832       24,994,315  
    Total Non-current Liabilities   31,991,635       30,949,677  
    Total Liabilities   34,146,659       33,317,750  
               
    Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6)          
               
    Stockholders’ Equity:          
    Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 150,000,000 shares authorized, 40,584,455 and 40,560,433 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024   4,058       4,056  
    Class C Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized, 25,994,400 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024   2,599       2,599  
    Additional paid-in capital   226,998,675       226,722,424  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (5,109,054 )     (5,803,378 )
    Accumulated deficit   (193,054,092 )     (191,047,953 )
    Noncontrolling interest   19,002,841       19,891,093  
    Total Stockholders’ Equity   47,845,027       49,768,841  
    Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 81,991,686     $ 83,086,591  
               

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Northern Ireland: Executive’s racial equality strategy fails amid rising racist attacks in a ‘year of hate’

    Source: Amnesty International –

    New PSNI report shows 1,807 racist incidents 1,188 crimes in the year to end of March 2025 – the highest levels recorded since records began in 2004/05

    Level of race hate incidents hit new high during summer 2024

    ‘These police figures should be a wake-up call to the Executive. Its racial equality strategy has failed. Promises made years ago remain broken. Meanwhile racism has grown’ – Patrick Corrigan 

    The last 12 months were a ‘year of hate’ according to Amnesty International following new figures published today (15 May) showing racist attacks hit an all-time high over the last year. 

    The figures were published today in a report by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), which tracked recorded hate crimes and incidents for the 12 months to the end of March 2025. 

    The report reveals that there 1,807 incidents 1,188 crimes recorded by the police in the year to date. There were 454 more race incidents and 349 more race hate crimes recorded in the last 12 months than in the previous corresponding period.  

    Six of the eight highest monthly levels of race incidents since records began in 2004 were recorded between May and October 2024. 

    More than half (635) of recorded race hate crimes in the period were in Belfast.   

    Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Director, said: 

    “The past year has been a year of hate for victims of racism in Northern Ireland. These figures should serve as a stark wake-up call for the Northern Ireland Executive. 

    “The Executive’s ten-year racial equality strategy has failed. Promises made years ago remain broken, while racism has been allowed to flourish. Last year, race hate crime hit an all-time high – a shameful milestone. 

    “As the current Racial Equality Strategy nears its expiration at the end of this year, the Executive must deliver more than rhetoric. It must implement a bold, effective action plan to confront and dismantle the toxic prejudice that has taken root across Northern Ireland.” 

    An independent review of the Northern Ireland Executive’s Racial Equality Strategy 2015 – 2025, commissioned by the Executive and published in December 2024, found the strategy has been undermined by the lack of an action plan and budget. 

    View latest press releases

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ‘Doctors Academy’ Graduates Win College Scholarships

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Nineteen Senior Doctor Academy graduates in the Class of 2025 on May 14 received their honorary white coats and diplomas from the Health Career Opportunity Programs (HCOP) at UConn Health.

    The event’s keynote speaker was City of Hartford’s Ebony Jackson-Shaheed, MPH, director of Health & Human Services (Photo by John Atashian).

    At this year’s Academic Year Closing and Annual Recognition Ceremony the keynote speaker was City of Hartford’s Ebony Jackson-Shaheed, MPH, director of Health & Human Services.

    Also, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving generously presented a grant of $15,000 in support of the HCOP programs.

    The Doctors Academy is part of the highly successful Health Career Opportunity Programs (HCOP) founded over two decades ago by physician-scientist Dr. Marja Hurley, where middle school and high school students of all backgrounds receive in-depth education in the health sciences and career path mentorship on Saturdays and in the summer. The Doctors Academy is one of 14 Health Career Opportunity Programs that are part of the Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative (HPPI).

    Senior Doctors Academy graduates accepted their diplomas from keynote speaker the City of Hartford’s Ebony Jackson-Shaheed, MPH and Dr. Marja Hurley (Photo by John Atashian).

    Meet the Doctors Academy Graduates

    “I am looking forward to pursuing a career in genetics and surgery,” says Class of 2025 Doctors Academy graduate Javel Stewart, 18, of Hartford who has been part of HCOP since the 8th grade.

    “The idea of being able to help people fight illness and disease inspired me to enter medicine. I became interested in HCOP’s great explorations program after a school guidance counselor recommended it to me as she knew I was interested in medicine,” recalls Stewart.

    Javel Stewart is headed to UConn this fall. She graduated from the Senior Doctors Academy of HCOP on May 14.

    “My favorite part of HCOP was being able to meet and connect with like-minded peers.”

    After graduating from Classical Magnet School this spring, Stewart looks forward to attending UConn.

    “I am very excited to go to UConn this fall, and I’m looking forward to all the new knowledge I will gain,” Stewart exclaims.

    (Photo by John Atashian).

    Stewart is the winner of a large Hartford Promise Scholarship, also the newly established UConn Freedman Award established by UConn Health Board of Director Joel Freedman, and the Friends of the Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs – Boake L. Plessy, Ph.D., Scholarship.

    “I am very excited to have received scholarships to UConn in addition to the Hartford Promise Scholarship,” she happily shares.

    (Photo by John Atashian).

    And Stewart’s words of wisdom for other young people wishing to follow in her footsteps to also pursue future careers in medicine: “Some advice to the CT youth is to never give up. You might not see the results right away, but trust the process. Keep asking questions, keep showing up for yourself, and don’t be afraid to aim high.”

    “One of the most meaningful communities I’m a part of is the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP),” heartwarmingly shared Class of 2025 Doctors Academy graduate Jeneika Lugg, 18, of Hartford who is originally from Jamaica.

    Jeneika Lugg is UConn Hartford bound. She graduated from HCOP’s Senior Doctors Academy on May 14, 2025.

    Now a senior at Achievement First Hartford Academy, she joined the Doctors Academy back in the 9th grade. “This community is especially meaningful to me because it feels like a family. It is a welcoming environment where no one feels excluded, and everyone is respected for who they are.”

    Lugg will be attending UConn Hartford in the fall. She is enrolled in the special Verto Huskies Pathway, a program that provides high achieving students the opportunity to study abroad with Verto Education, and then seamlessly transfer to UConn for the remainder of their college experience.

    “This fall I’m very excited to go to UConn and I’m happy to be given the opportunity to go study abroad for my first semester in Spain through Verto Education. This is very exciting for me since I’m being introduced to a new culture, language, food, and people,” says Lugg.

    HCOP program graduates of the Senior Doctors Academy (Photo by John Atashian).

    At UConn, Lugg hopes to study biological sciences or areas of neuroscience, and also explore her longtime interest in art.

    Lugg is also an excited recipient of the large Hartford Promise Scholarship, as well as a Jacob L. and Lewis Fox Scholarship.

    “I was awarded the Hartford Promise Scholarship and Fox Scholarship. I was excited for this because it allowed a better affordability for school,” says very thankful Lugg.

    Lugg also applauds the HCOP program for her great educational experience.

    Senior Doctors Academy graduates (Photo by John Atashian).

    “When I first heard about HCOP, I was eager to join, especially with my interest in the medical field. The program has not only expanded my academic knowledge but also provided a deeper understanding of medicine in the real world. It has equipped me with valuable skills in public speaking, research, and medical practices, while offering opportunities to learn from doctors and their personal journeys,” says Lugg.

    She added, “What I love most about this program is how it consistently encourages us to pursue our dreams. The staff fosters an open-minded approach, urging us to reach for the stars and beyond. They are like a supportive family, cheering for our growth and success, always wanting the best for us. The students, too, contribute to this sense of community, as we all share similar goals and support one another, making it feel more like a team than a competition.”

    Lugg’s advice to other Connecticut youth like her: “Keep striving, keep pushing and know that no dream is too big to not reach. It might seem a lot or impossible but in the end you will be amazed by the great results and accomplishments.”

    Class of 2025 Graduates of the Senior Doctors Academy celebrating at HCOP’s annual Closing Ceremony (Photo by John Atashian).

    Like Stewart and Lugg all the successful Senior Doctors Academy graduates in the Class of 2025 are following in the footsteps of hundreds and hundreds of successful HCOP graduates.

    Dr. Marja Hurley and her very dedicated HCOP team are very proud of all the graduating students and share a special thank you to the parents who get the students up on Saturdays to get to the program.

    “I am so proud of this year’s graduating class, and thankful for all the support of their parents. We also are especially grateful of the Hartford Foundation, the City of Hartford, and for all the generous scholarships bestowed on our amazing students this year,” says Hurley. “Congratulations to all our talented students.”

    Dr. Marja Hurley sharing her congratulations with the students and parents attending HCOP’s annual Closing Ceremony on May 14, 2025 (Photo by John Atashian).

    UConn School of Medicine Dean Dr. Bruce T. Liang shared during the event, “A special thanks to the amazing leadership of Dr. Marja Hurley, along with her talented HCOP team, for making the Doctors Academy and all the successful HCOP Programs of the Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative possible. Your hard work is keeping these programs thriving to new heights and always inspiring the next generation of youth and future doctors.”

    (Photo by John Atashian).

    Liang added, “I wanted to share a heartwarming congratulations with all our graduates, and with your supportive families. We are all so proud of your inspiring academic success, and tireless commitment and determination that you have demonstrated. Whether you are dreaming of becoming a future physician, dentist, or scientist — you are well on your way! And UConn is so grateful to be part of your journey! Make sure to come back and join our health care workforce.”

    Congratulations to the Class of 2025 graduates of the Great Explorations, Jumpstart, and Junior and Senior Doctors Academy!

    (Photo by John Atashian).

    Other scholarship recipients this year of the John & Valerie Rowe Scholarship are Senior Doctors Academy graduates Valeria Buzzigoli and Anousha Hashim.

    Also, Friends of the Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs – Boake L. Plessy, Ph.D., Scholarship recipients include Maham Chaudhary, Alec-Raive Gordon, and Javel Stewart.

    The Class of 2025 Senior Doctors Academy graduated 19 Connecticut high school students at its Closing Ceremony on the evening of May 14, 2025. Graduates are pictured here with keynote speaker Ebony Jackson-Shaheed, MPH and Dr. Marja Hurley (Photo by John Atashian).

    The Class of 2025 Senior Doctors Academy graduates include:

    Sunita Amiri

    Safia Ali

    Gabrielle Bridgewater

    Valeria Buzzigoli

    Maham Chaudhary

    Sabra Dewar

    Alec Gordon

    Anousha Hashim

    Meera Kannan

    Jeneika Lugg

    Elissa Matthews

    Tyler McGraw

    Marko Paxi

    Xavier Rosario

    Genesis Rowe

    Genessis Sanclemente

    Javel Stewart

    Sama Thapa

    Kaelyn Williams

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Response: Master and Apprentice

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Two UConn Health emergency medicine physicians are back from a medical mission in central Myanmar, which was devastated by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake March 28.

    Drs. Rob Fuller and Caroline Lloyd are back at UConn Health after being part of the International Medical Corps response to an earthquake that devastated Myanmar March 2025. (Photo by Chris DeFrancesco)

    The earthquake and aftershocks are blamed for more than 3,700 dead and 5,000 injured, compounding the humanitarian crisis in a country already dealing with political unrest and an overwhelmed health care system.

    “Suffice it to say that the external reporting is a 10x underestimate of the actual impact and fatalities,” Dr. Rob Fuller reported from the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, more than 150 miles from the epicenter. “There is much political difficulty in entering and moving here.”

    Fuller, who is UConn Health’s chair of emergency medicine, and Dr. Caroline Lloyd, in her second year in UConn’s International Disaster Emergency Medicine Fellowship, were part of an International Medical Corps response team. The IMC’s response got off to a slow start, largely due to a reluctance by the Myanmar government to embrace assistance from foreign organizations.

    “There had been a smaller team from IMC trying for several weeks to open the door to allow us to come in and form those relationships, and assure the government we weren’t going to do anything they didn’t want us do to,” Lloyd says.

    Myanmar is located in Southeast Asia’s Indochinese Peninsula.

    “[IMC] flew into Bangkok right after the earthquake, and it took days to get permission to enter the country,” Fuller says. “Then after they got into the country, they tried to get the ear of the minister of health to say, ‘We’re an aid-providing organization and we’d like to collaborate with your responders,’ and it took a long time to get those OKs. And then the minister of security and the minister of foreign affairs had to approve. By the time all those barriers were out of the way, we were one of only two foreign non-government organizations allowed in to provide some health care.”

    Lloyd and Fuller didn’t arrive until April 19, and by then the mission was to run a tent clinic in place of a key piece of health care infrastructure in Nay Pyi Taw that was lost to the quake.

    “We were working at the site of a destroyed 300-bed hospital,” Fuller says. “We were seeing about 100 patients per day. The patients were seeking care for acute and chronic conditions as well as injuries related to the earthquake.”

    Dr. Rob Fuller, UConn Health’s chair of emergency medicine, helps staff a tent clinic that replaced an earthquake-damaged hospital in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. (International Medical Corps photo)

    “It was primarily handling outpatient care that they normally would have handled, with a smattering of patients sometimes popping in due to displacement or injuries that happened during the earthquake,” Lloyd says. “Every once in a while you’d get someone displaced by the additional conflict going on within the country, who had recently gotten out of that area and into this more-controlled governmental area. But overall, it was primarily outpatient. Lots of aches and pains.”

    Lloyd served as a medical lead, overseeing clinic design, patient flow, and quality of care. Fuller says she was looking inward, to manage the clinic, while his role, as medical coordinator, was outward-looking, toward the community and other responding agencies.

    “I didn’t have to do a lot of it, because there weren’t a lot of agencies to coordinate with, it was so controlled and closed,” Fuller says. “So I just did what Caroline told me, and saw patients under her guidance.”

    Lloyd was there for a week, Fuller for two. They say the temperature was mostly in the triple digits.

    Fuller was part of a team from UConn Health that responded to Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001. Since then, he has been part of IMC responses to disasters all over the world, including a tsunami in Indonesia, an earthquake in Haiti, a hurricane in St. Lucia and a typhoon in the Philippines.

    This was Lloyd’s first overseas disaster response.

    “I was in charge of staffing, the flow of how our tents worked, troubleshooting and changing things,” she says. “If we were in an enclosed area, we can’t have people who are coughing or have an infectious disease, how do we change our flow? They’re putting them in a different area, but then no one’s telling us that’s happening, so let’s have a discussion and fix that. Kind of the logistics of how it worked.”

    Dr. Caroline Lloyd (left) and Dr. Rob Fuller (center) from UConn Health are among the American physicians who were part of the International Medical Corps response to the Spring 2025 earthquake in Myanmar. (International Medical Corps photo)

    Lloyd says a physician who had done work with the IMC in Gaza told her this response was more complicated because of the controlling nature of Myanmar’s government.

    “It’s one of those experiences where, now that you’re kind of removed and you can look back on it, you’re like, ‘If this is how this worked in probably one of the most difficult situations I think you could imagine, man, what’s it going to be like to do it in an atmosphere where someone actually legitimately wants you there?’ IMC has pallets and pallets of things that they have ready to come in; we couldn’t get any of those,” Lloyd says. “The government just didn’t let them in.”

    The experience comes as Lloyd nears completion of her disaster emergency medicine fellowship and her Master of Public Health studies. But she won’t be gone from UConn Health for long; in August she’s returning as a faculty physician.

    “This was an opportunity for Caroline to be able to go into a disaster,” Fuller says. “Every disaster’s got its own problems and its own flavors. This is just one, but this very controlled political environment was probably the weirdest part about this one. We were controlled where we can go, and what we can do, and how we operate was very managed by the political entities that we were working with. But even so, we set up tents in what was a field, we used car-park areas with tarps around them to deliver care for a couple days.  Caroline was in charge of the campus, so she designed how the patients moved from place to place and how we cared for them and where things were. So it was a great experience for her.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Libya, Gaza, & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    – Secretary-General/Travels
    – Libya
    – Occupied Palestinian Territory
    – Security Council
    – Democratic Republic of the Congo
    – Democratic Republic of the Congo/Humanitarian
    – Sudan
    – Haiti
    – Syria
    – International Day of Families
    – Briefings
    – Financial Contribution

    SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS
    The Secretary-General left Germany in the morning and is now on his way to Iraq. Earlier today, in Berlin, he met with Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany. They discussed topics that included the situation in the Middle East and the partnership between the UN and Germany. 
    Yesterday, he met the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and he told reporters later that they had discussed, among other topics, the situations in Gaza and Ukraine.
    While in Iraq, Mr. Guterres will attend the Arab League Summit. He will address the Summit on Saturday. He is also scheduled to hold a number of meetings with leaders and officials attending the summit, including leaders of the host country. He is also going to meet with our UN team in Iraq.

    LIBYA
    The Secretary-General takes note of the truce reached in Tripoli yesterday and calls on all parties to take urgent steps to sustain and build upon it through dialogue.
    The rapid nature of the escalation, which drew armed groups from outside the city and subjected heavily populated neighborhoods to heavy artillery fire, was alarming. The Secretary-General is deeply saddened to hear of the deaths of at least eight civilians in the recent clashes.
    The Secretary-General reminds all parties of their obligation to protect civilians and calls on them to engage in serious dialogue in good faith to address the root causes of the conflict.
    The United Nations stands ready to provide its good offices to facilitate agreement on a path towards lasting peace and stability in Libya.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBBamMDpOHU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: ICC on Prosecutor’s report on Libya – Media Stakeout | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Informal comments to the media by ICC Caucus on behalf of the members of the Security Council that are state parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Sierra Leone, on the 29th report of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office to the Security Council on the situation in Libya.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEjPM2UVjOU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Peacekeeping: Can mean difference between life and death – UN Chief | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    “Blue helmets can mean the difference between life and death,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged renewed global commitment to peacekeeping during the opening of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, warning that operations are facing unprecedented financial and political pressure.

    “My thanks to Germany for bringing us together at this consequential moment,” Guterres said. “This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations organization was founded on the conviction that peace is possible if we work as one United’s human family. That is what our peace operations are about.”

    Highlighting the symbolic and operational importance of the United Nations peacekeeping forces, the Secretary-General stated, “The UN Blue Helmets are the most globally recognized symbol of the world’s ability to come together to help countries move from conflict to peace.”

    Guterres pointed to several countries that transitioned from war to stability with the help of UN missions. “There is a long list of countries that have achieved durable peace with the support of UN peacekeeping, including Cambodia, Cote d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Liberia, Namibia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste. Many of these countries now themselves contribute troops,” he said.

    However, he also emphasized the human cost of these missions. “Through the decades, 4400 peacekeepers have fallen in the line of duty. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” he said, inviting participants to join him in a moment of silence.

    As part of a broader reform process initiated by Member States, Guterres referenced the “Pact for the Future,” which calls for a comprehensive review of peace operations. “The review will examine how we can make peacekeeping operations more adaptable, flexible and resilient while recognizing the limitations in situations where there is little or no peace to keep,” he said.

    He acknowledged the difficulties of operating in increasingly polarized geopolitical contexts. “We see increasing differences of views around our peacekeeping operations work, and then what circumstances with what mandates they should be deploys. And for how long,” he noted.

    Guterres also addressed the challenge of shrinking financial resources. “Peace operations can only succeed when backed by robust mandates and clear, predictable and sustained contributions, both financial and logistical,” he stated. “It is crucial that we are able to use the increasingly limited resources we have and use them well.”

    Concluding his address, the Secretary-General called for continued Member State engagement. “Supported at every step by Member States, we look forward to your government’s support and ideas as we tackle these challenges together,” he said.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tknyfzgCtqg

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Humanitarian aid for Gaza – E-000799/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In 2024, the Commission allocated EUR 237 million in humanitarian aid to address the needs of vulnerable Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank[1]. EU humanitarian aid is delivered according to the humanitarian principles of humanity, independence, impartiality and neutrality[2]. These funds were allocated by the Commission to certified non-governmental partners and international organisations, including United Nations organisations[3].

    Humanitarian non-governmental partners are thoroughly assessed by the Commission on their capacity to observe basic principles and obligations, including respect of the relevant EU, international and national law, as well as compliance with transparency, accountability and internal controls, including risk management mechanisms[4].

    Furthermore, humanitarian partners have taken measures to secure aid delivery, such as securing warehouses, ensuring presence during distributions, and coordinating routes used for movement with Israeli security forces through the Humanitarian Notification System. The Commission is in regular contact with its partners on the ground. Despite the dramatic situation, they are doing their utmost to ensure due diligence, monitoring the situation and their activities.

    Reconstruction goes beyond humanitarian aid and requires a long-term ceasefire as well as other conditions, such as governance and security arrangements, to fall in place. With the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas during 2024, the EU was not able to finance any reconstruction activities in Gaza in 2024.

    • [1] https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/where/middle-east-and-northern-africa/palestine_en#how-are-we-helping .
    • [2] https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/who/humanitarian-principles_en.
    • [3] Funded partners operating in Palestine in 2024 were the United Nations Children’s Fund (United States), the World Food Programme (Italy), United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the Near East (Palestine), Norwegian Refugee Council (Norway), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Switzerland), International Committee of the Red Cross (Switzerland), World Health Organisation, War Child (Netherlands), International Rescue Committee (Denmark), Relief International (France), Humanity and Inclusion (France), Action Against Hunger (Spain), Care International (Austria), Médecins du Monde (France), World Vision (Denmark), United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Switzerland), and International NGO Safety Organisation (Netherlands).
    • [4] https://www.dgecho-partners-helpdesk.eu/ngo/humanitarian-partnership-2021-2027/eu-humanitarian-partnership-certificate-2021-2027 .
    Last updated: 15 May 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Revision of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 – E-001232/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Regulation (EC) No 883/2004[1] on the coordination of national social security systems, together with its implementing Regulation (EC) 987/2009, are key pieces of EU legislation that ensure the protection of social security rights for individuals moving within the EU, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. They establish common rules for determining which country’s social security system applies to individuals in cross-border situations, while respecting the competence of Member States to define the specifics of their social security systems, such as beneficiaries, levels of allowances, and eligibility criteria.

    In December 2016, the Commission proposed to modernise the current rules to ensure that they are fair, clear and easier to enforce. The negotiations between the co-legislators are ongoing.

    Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 also applies to frontier workers or other cross-border workers, including those in the Moselle department of France who worked in Germany and receive unemployment benefits in France. According to the current rules, for these groups of workers, the unemployment benefits are generally paid by the Member State of residence.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2004/883/oj/eng .
    Last updated: 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Spain’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan: Latest state of play – 15-05-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Spain’s national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) is the second largest (in absolute figures) financed by the Next Generation EU (NGEU) recovery instrument and its main spending tool, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Following the October 2023 amendment of the Spanish NRRP, adding a REPowerEU chapter, the plan’s value reached €163 billion (or 13.1 % of national gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019), an increase of roughly 135 % compared with the original plan of 2021 (€69.5 billion in grants only). The amended plan comes with an increased grant allocation of €79.8 billion and a freshly requested loan allocation of €83.2 billion. The grant part includes the June 2022 upward revision of Spain’s grant allocation of €7.7 billion and the country’s REPowerEU grant allocation of €2.6 billion. In addition, Spain has requested a transfer of its share from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve of €58 million to its NRRP. So far, €48.3 billion of RRF resources (29.6 % of the amended NRRP) have been received. These have been disbursed by the European Commission in form of pre-financing and four grant instalments. The amended plan focuses on the green transition, devoting almost 40 % of the resources to it, and fosters the digital transformation by committing 25.9 % of the funds (excluding REPowerEU) to digital projects. In the context of the European Semester, the Commission assessed the plan’s implementation as ‘under way’, yet warned about emerging delays hindering effective and swift implementation. The European Parliament 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. Sixth edition. The ‘NGEU delivery’ briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Cooperation between the coastguards of Cyprus and Syria – P-001889/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001889/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Özlem Demirel (The Left)

    Cyprus is engaged in a new form of cooperation with Syria that involves boat refugees being returned directly to the Syrian port of Tartus before they reach Cypriot territorial waters. Such action, which prevents asylum applications from being made and examined, is banned under international law because it constitutes refoulement at sea.

    • 1.What does the Commission know about Cyprus’ new refoulement practice, and to what extent was it informed in advance or even involved in bringing the practice about?
    • 2.Does the Commission consider that the relevant agreement between Cyprus and Syria is covered by EU law?
    • 3.What efforts is the Commission making to build up and equip the Syrian coastguard, and what structures are already known about in this connection?

    Submitted: 12.5.2025

    Last updated: 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Recent judgment of the European Court of Human Rights regarding the systematic practice of pushbacks in Greece – E-000386/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. The Commission is not competent to supervise or enforce compliance with European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgments. The monitoring of the execution of ECtHR judgments falls under the competence of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The Commission considers the implementation of leading judgments of the ECtHR an important indicator for the functioning of the rule of law in a country and reports on it in the context of its Rule of Law Report. The Commission will continue monitoring the situation in Greece, including as regards the follow-up to ECtHR judgments, to address any challenges. 

    2. Full respect of fundamental rights in the management of external borders is a key requirement under EU law, in particular under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. Member States must investigate and address reports of fundamental rights violations. Constant dialogue with Member States is necessary to foster a common understanding and ensure effective implementation of EU law. Infringement procedures are one of the tools to ensure such implementation. If the Commission concludes that any Member State has failed to fulfil its obligations under the EU acquis, including in terms of adopting legislation that would be incompatible with the acquis or in terms of non-compliance with the EU legislation in their administrative practice, it may decide to initiate infringement procedures.

    3. According to the Treaties, the Commission has a discretionary power to launch infringement procedures. The Commission will continue monitoring the situation in Member States, including Greece, to ensure that oversight mechanisms are in place to enable efficient follow-up and effective investigations into alleged fundamental rights violations.

    Last updated: 15 May 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Slovenia to get expressway upgrade with €120 million EIB loan to motorway operator DARS

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • EIB lends Slovenian motorway company DARS €120 million to finance a bypass project near southeastern city of Novo Mesto.
    • Planned Novo Mesto eastern bypass is to improve traffic flow, road safety and air quality in area close to Croatian border.
    • Project includes more than six kilometres of cycling paths as well as bike and pedestrian bridge across river Krka.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending €120 million to the Slovenian national motorway company DARS to build a bypass near the southeastern city of Novo Mesto. The planned Novo Mesto eastern bypass is a 9.8-kilometre expressway that will improve traffic flow, road safety and air quality in the region, which is near the border with Croatia.

    The project is expected to boost economic growth in the area by connecting to the A2 motorway, which traverses Slovenia from north to south.

    In line with the EIB’s Climate Bank Roadmap commitments, it continues to invest in road projects such as the one in Novo Mesto, which includes the creation of more than six kilometres of dedicated cycling paths as well as a bike and pedestrian bridge across the river Krka, bolstering actions to promote clean forms of transport and fight climate change.

    “This project reflects our support for sustainable infrastructure development in Slovenia,” said EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris. “It is part of our broader effort to help improve mobility and quality of life for residents in Novo Mesto and the wider region.”

    The Novo Mesto Eastern Bypass is  part of Slovenia’s plan for sustainable urban mobility and aligns with the European Union’s priorities for infrastructure development and environmental sustainability.

    “We welcome the EIB’s decision to grant DARS the credit facilities to implement this key infrastructure project. We are convinced that it will significantly contribute to the development of the municipality and the wider region, while at the same time improving road safety and traffic flow for all users,” said the President of the Board of DARS, mag. Andrej Ribi.

    The EIB’s advisory services, including technical assistance from JASPERS, helped in the project preparation by being involved in feasibility studies and environmental-impact assessments. 

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, the EIB finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world. 

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.   

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in the organisation’s Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate-change mitigation, adaptation and a healthier environment. Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the EU is directed towards cohesion regions, where per-capita income is lower than the EU average. 

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of the EIB Group’s headquarters for media use are available here.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Calviño: EIB Group to provide €70 billion for tech firms and innovators

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB Group President Nadia Calviño explains how Europe can benefit from the Trump chaos, with the tech sector set to receive a massive financial boost.

    Interview by Carsten Volkery (published by Handelsblatt)

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group is launching a new initiative to close Europe’s investment gap with the United States, aiming to provide €70 billion in startup funding by 2027. This will encourage private investors to get on board with projects, unlocking as much as €250 billion in investment for the European tech sector.

    “This is the largest ever programme to exclusively support European innovation and technological leadership,” EIB Group President Nadia Calviño told Handelsblatt. The goal, she explained, is to finance research projects and companies “from idea to IPO.”

    This also includes supporting the exit of company founders and venture capital investors – who often sell their stakes to US investors, who can afford to buy them. In the future, the EIB could help EU firms to acquire promising startups to prevent technologies from being sold out of Europe.

    TechEU platform to launch this year

    Set to launch later this year, the EIB’s TechEU platform is designed to provide researchers and companies with a one-stop shop for all their financing needs. Calviño says that EU support will become “larger, faster and simpler.” The EIB will work closely with the European Commission, and national promotional banks such as Germany’s KfW may also participate.

    The plan still needs to be approved by the Bank’s Board of Governors, which is made up of the finance ministers of the 27 EU Member States. The EIB Group President gave her perspective to a meeting of the finance ministers in Brussels on Tuesday, and hopes for a positive decision in June.

    She also sees an opportunity in US President Donald Trump’s erratic economic policy and the uncertainty it has caused. “The current situation in the United States creates an opportunity for Europe to attract talent, to attract investment, to attract capital,” she said. “We see strong interest in Europe from international investors.”

    Brain drain warning from US researchers

    In recent weeks and months, the US administration has massively cut research funding for institutions such as the elite Harvard and Columbia universities. US researchers are already warning of brain drain as leading scientists leave the country.

    Former President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Leo Rafael Reif wrote in Foreign Affairs magazine that the Trump administration seems intent on destroying one of the United States’ greatest strengths. The recent cuts to university funding, he writes, risk “draining a crucial source of new ideas for industry and the military.”

    Calviño emphasised that Europe is a “beacon of stability, clarity and confidence” in the current geopolitical environment. This is what investors are looking for. The EIB is also the only multilateral development bank whose shareholders are the EU Member States. “We are not confronted with the same sort of uncertainties that other multilateral development banks are going through,” she says. This enhances the international role of the EIB.

    The EIB’s goal is to back EU policy objectives. It catalyses private investment by offering only partial financing for projects, thereby mobilising public and private sector co-investors. It lent €89 billion last year, and plans to provide €95 billion this year.

    Europe’s largest venture capital financier

    Beyond guarantees and loans, the EIB also takes equity stakes in companies. It is Europe’s largest venture capital financier and its biggest venture debt provider. The various EU funding programmes for researchers and startups will be linked together on the new TechEU platform, meaning that each project will only need to be appraised once.

    The EIB’s prominent role in venture capital financing shows just how underdeveloped Europe’s private capital markets really are. Calviño says that this new initiative aims to nurture the private venture capital ecosystem in Europe. The hope is that, in time, European startups will no longer be obliged to go to the United States to meet their growth phase capital needs.

    However, critics accuse the EIB of being too conservative in its investment approach. In his report on EU competitiveness published last year, EU Special Advisor Mario Draghi called on the Bank to take on more risk to foster breakthrough innovation.

    EIB to take on more risk

    Calviño says that the EIB has already become more willing to take risks. It intends to continue on that track with the TechEU programme, supporting an extra 1 000 EU champions and innovators every year. At the same time, the EIB must ensure it preserves its AAA credit rating, which enables it to raise funds cheaply on the capital markets. It can then pass these funds on to companies.

    Calviño also promises to cut red tape, aiming to return decisions on venture capital financing applications within six months. “This would be a gamechanger.”

    The tech sector often complains that response times are too long. In the past, the EIB has always framed its thorough appraisal process as a hallmark of quality, as it keeps loan default rates very low. But it now seems to have been understood that speed is also a critical factor.

    Another innovation driver could be the defence sector. The EIB has recently made defence one of its core strategic priorities and now also finances purely military projects. “Security and defence investments can certainly help the technology agenda,” said Calviño.

    The Bank already has a pipeline of 22 projects in this sector, supporting drone manufacturers and space companies, for example, as well as several defence-focused venture capital funds.

    According to Calviño, Europe already has almost everything it needs to close the technology gap with the United States. “Europe has a very large market, 450 million citizens, excellent universities, excellent research centres and companies, and brilliant startup ecosystems. With deeper and larger capital markets, we can ensure that technologies and startups born in the European Union can be financed and scale up in Europe.”

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Bridgestone’s restructuring plan for its plants in the Basque Country and Cantabria – E-001853/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001853/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Idoia Mendia (S&D), Estelle Ceulemans (S&D), Gabriele Bischoff (S&D), Jonás Fernández (S&D), Elena Sancho Murillo (S&D), Alicia Homs Ginel (S&D)

    Bridgestone Spain Manufacturing, one of Spain’s leading tyre producers, has announced a restructuring plan that will lead to 546 workers being laid off at its plants in the Basque Country and Cantabria.

    The company justifies this measure by changes on the European market, citing inflation, rising costs, regulatory pressure and international competition as the reasons behind the move. Unions are demanding that a stop be brought to these redundancies, and are calling for real negotiations and a credible industrial plan to ensure the future of these plants.

    The Commission has presented the Clean Industry Deal and is preparing a specific plan for the automotive sector with the aim of strengthening European industry.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Is the Commission aware of the situation announced by Bridgestone in Spain and does it intend to respond in any way to these mass redundancies, which are seriously affecting industrial employment in regions which are already feeling the strain?
    • 2.At a key moment for the reindustrialisation of the European Union, which is essential for strengthening the Union’s strategic autonomy, what mechanisms does the Commission intend to activate to protect industrial employment and prevent such situations – to which other Member States are no stangers either – from recurring time and time again, with devastating consequences for thousands of workers and their families?

    Submitted: 7.5.2025

    Last updated: 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Social situation at ArcelorMittal France and the future of steelmaking in Europe – P-001882/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001882/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Anthony Smith (The Left), Manon Aubry (The Left), Marina Mesure (The Left), Damien Carême (The Left), Emma Fourreau (The Left), Leila Chaibi (The Left), Arash Saeidi (The Left)

    On 23 April 2025, the ArcelorMittal France group announced the closure of 636 jobs at seven sites in France, a few months after having already cut 135 jobs at Denain and Reims. This decision comes after the suspension of its European decarbonisation projects, including the flagship hydrogen furnace project in Dunkirk, despite EUR 850 million being promised in grants and the allocation of EUR 622 million by the state since 2013. In addition, the company chose to invest almost a billion dollars in a new plant in the United States, rather than in Europe.

    Given the strategic importance of the steel sector for European industry and sovereignty, as well as the company’s evident willingness to offshore its activities and leave Europe, does the Commission intend to:

    • 1.Support the decarbonisation of the European steel industry by granting public aid under strict environmental and social criteria, as proposed in the Clean Industrial Deal, in particular as regards a ban on redundancies when a company that received support is making a profit?
    • 2.Require European companies to use European-made steel?
    • 3.Encourage state intervention, through nationalisation, in companies in strategic sectors, such as the steel industry?

    Submitted: 12.5.2025

    Last updated: 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Far-left attacks threatening European infrastructure – E-001821/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001821/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Julien Leonardelli (PfE), Marie Dauchy (PfE), Pierre Pimpie (PfE), Gilles Pennelle (PfE), André Rougé (PfE), Mathilde Androuët (PfE), Fabrice Leggeri (PfE)

    Far-left groups have carried out a series of attacks on transport and energy infrastructure throughout Europe. Since 2024[1], these acts have become so frequent that I will not include armed attacks by anti-fascist activists on a mayor[2] or right-wing activists[3], even though they too are alarming.

    During the 2024 Olympic Games, acts of sabotage targeted TGV rail lines[4] and fibre optic networks[5] throughout France. At the same time, an arson attack was carried out on a relay antenna in Haute-Garonne, depriving 5 000 residents of internet access. During works to construct the A69 motorway[6], 200 fires were reported affecting construction facilities and equipment[7].

    In February 2024, the far left claimed responsibility for sabotaging the Toulouse-Narbonne rail line[8], as well as for setting fire to an underground boring machine in Toulouse[9] in May.

    In December 2024[10], a telecommunications antenna near Mâcon was set on fire, depriving 800 000 people of internet access[11]. The Antifa movement is operating with complete impunity. None of the perpetrators of the acts I have listed have been identified.

    What measures does the Commission intend to put in place to help put an end to these terrorist attacks against our infrastructure committed by the far left?

    Supporter[12]

    Submitted: 6.5.2025

    • [1] It was impossible for me to list all the attacks carried out by the far-left before and after 2024 in this question, as they occur so frequently. However, it is worth noting the destruction of a bridge near Grenoble in 2022, as well as the arson attacks on a McDonald’s and a Tesla dealership near Toulouse in 2025.
    • [2] A mayor in Brittany targeted by an attempted assassination, links to Antifa suspected, Frontières, https://www.frontieresmedia.fr/societe/maire-tentative-assassinat-antifa
    • [3] Paris 8: an activist from the conservative student union La Cocarde threatened by an armed man, Le Journal du Dimanche, https://www.lejdd.fr/Societe/paris-8-un-militant-de-la-cocarde-menace-par-un-homme-arme-156488
    • [4] Live from the Olympic Games 2024: massive attack on the SNCF, major disruption on the Paris ring road, a day of chaos for transport ahead of the opening ceremony, Le Figaro, https://www.lefigaro.fr/conjoncture/en-direct-jo-2024-attaque-massive-a-la-sncf-peripherique-tres-perturbe-journee-noire-dans-les-transports-avant-la-ceremonie-d-ouverture-20240726
    • [5] After the SNCF, fibre optic networks sabotaged during the Olympics: ‘This is terrorism’, RTL, https://www.rtl.be/sport/tous-les-sports/jo-2024/apres-la-sncf-des-sabotages-de-reseaux-de-fibres-optiques-en-plein-jo-cest-du/2024-07-29/article/695285
    • [6] A69: Sabotage operations on the ground and questions in Parliament, Le Monde, https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2024/05/07/a69-actions-de-sabotage-sur-le-terrain-et-questionnements-a-l-assemblee_6232090_3244.html
    • [7] Moreover, a night security guard was assaulted with an iron bar by hooded Antifa activists.
    • [8] Sabotage of the Toulouse-Narbonne railway: a look back at the blockade operation, Rebellyon, https://rebellyon.info/Sabotage-du-chemin-de-fer-Toulouse-25705
    • [9] Toulouse. In the middle of the night, a machine burns on the metro construction site: arson? Actu.fr, https://actu.fr/occitanie/toulouse_31555/toulouse-en-pleine-nuit-un-engin-crame-sur-le-chantier-du-metro-un-feu-criminel_61088721.html
    • [10] In the same month, an anti-Zionist group claimed responsibility for setting fire to a vehicle belonging to the city of Toulouse.
    • [11] Telecommunications tower set on fire: 800 000 subscribers left without television or telephone service, criminal investigation ongoing, France 3 Régions, https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/bourgogne-franche-comte/saone-et-loire/macon/un-pylone-de-telecommunication-incendie-800-000-abonnes-prives-de-television-et-de-telephone-la-piste-criminelle-envisagee-3083758.html
    • [12] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Valérie Deloge (PfE)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Monitoring planning errors by national electricity operators – E-001844/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001844/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Dolors Montserrat (PPE)

    On 28 April 2025, Spain suffered the largest power outage in recent history, with a total system collapse affecting the general supply and critical infrastructure. This episode followed other incidences of instability in previous days, and came against a backdrop of increasing use of renewable energies and planned decommissioning of nuclear power plants.

    It should be noted that the current Chair of REDEIA, Beatriz Corredor – who was the Socialist Minister for Housing between 2008 and 2010 – stated publicly in 2021 that there was ‘no risk of a power outage’, describing Spain’s electricity system as ‘the safest and most advanced in the world’.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Does the Commission consider that the system operator made errors in its planning, monitoring or operational response?
    • 2.What monitoring mechanisms can it activate to review the national operators’ compliance with its guidelines in order to prevent similar incidents in the future?
    • 3.Does it believe that the plan to close nuclear power plants in Spain should be revised, now that the stability of the electricity system has been shown to be vulnerable with its current energy mix?

    Submitted: 7.5.2025

    Last updated: 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): a critical environmental challenge – E-001846/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001846/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Catarina Martins (The Left)

    PFAS represent a significant environmental challenge. Current studies consistently demonstrate that these persistent and mobile pollutants contaminate various environmental compartments. Numerous contamination cases have been reported near Brussels in Belgium, severely affecting water supply due to groundwater contamination.

    The contamination of groundwater, surface water and oceans already incurs substantial public health costs due to the toxicity of these substances. Soils are the primary recipients of PFAS contamination, yet research efforts under the Horizon Europe programme, namely the mission soil initiative, are notably lacking.

    • 1.How is the Commission planning to address this problem, and which concrete steps will it take to develop the methodological and analytical capabilities of the EU research centres?
    • 2.Does the Commission intend to make an inventory of current soil contamination across Europe, which is essential for taking necessary action?
    • 3.Given the high level of toxicity of these chemicals, does the Commission envisage any research in soil pollution modelling to predict future contamination levels and transfer pathways, considering their risk to humans, plants and animals, as well as to surface water, groundwater and oceans?

    Submitted: 7.5.2025

    Last updated: 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: 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

    Source: European Parliament

    Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
    Rapporteur: Antonio Decaro
    (Simplified procedure – Rule 52(2) of the Rules of Procedure)

    DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

    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))

    (Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2025)0087),

    – having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C10-0035/2025),

    – having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

    – having regard to the budgetary assessment by the Committee on Budgets,

    – having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 29 April 2025[1],

    – after consulting the Committee of the Regions,

    – having regard to Rules 60 and 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

    – having regard to the opinions of he Committee on International Trade and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy,

    – having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (A10-0085/2025),

    1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

    2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

    3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

     

    Amendment  1

    Proposal for a regulation

    Recital 25 a (new)

     

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

     

    (25a) The CBAM applies to importation of electricity, but it should not apply to electricity generated entirely in the exclusive economic zone of an EEA Member State and imported directly into the customs territory of the Union ;

    Amendment  2

    Proposal for a regulation

    Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b a (new)

    Regulation (EU) 2023/956

    Article 2 – paragraph 3 b (new)

     

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

     

    (ba) the following paragraph 3b is inserted:

     

    3b. By way of derogation from paragraphs 1 and 2, this Regulation shall not apply to electricity generated entirely in the exclusive economic zone of an EEA Member State and imported directly into the customs territory of the Union.

    Amendment  3

    Proposal for a regulation

    Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)

    Regulation (EU) 2023/956

    Annex IV – point 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 5

     

    Present text

    Amendment

     

    (1a) In point 3, in the notes explaining the formula for SEEg in the first paragraph, the note for EEImpMat is replaced by the following:

    EEInpMat

    EEInpMat

    are the embedded emissions of the input materials (precursors) consumed in the production process. Only input materials (precursors) listed as relevant to the system boundaries of the production process as specified in the implementing act adopted pursuant to Article 7(7) are to be considered. The relevant EEInpMat are calculated as follows:

    are the embedded emissions of the input materials (precursors) consumed in the production process. Only input materials (precursors) listed in Annex I and originating in third countries and territories that are not exempted pursuant to Annex III, Section 1 are to be considered. The relevant EEInpMat are calculated as follows:

    ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

    The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

     

     

    28.4.2025BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGETS

    for the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

    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))

    Rapporteur for budgetary assessment: Sandra Gómez López 

    The Committee on Budgets has carried out a budgetary assessment of the proposal under Rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure and has reached the following conclusions:

    A. whereas the proposal by the Commission to simplify the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism(CBAM) aims at achieving significant savings in terms of administrative costs for EU importers of CBAM goods;

    B. whereas the proceeds of the CBAM are to become an EU own resource according to the amended Commission proposal of 23 June 2023 for a Council decision amending Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 on the system of own resources of the European Union (COM(2023)0331); whereas Parliament approved this proposal in its legislative resolution of 9 November 2023[2];

    C. whereas the Council has failed to implement the steps set out in the legally binding roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement (IIA), the objectives of this roadmap being to introduce sufficient new own resources to at least cover the repayment of NextGenerationEU (NGEU) debt;

    D. whereas the estimated revenue from the CBAM would diminish in proportion to the CO2 emissions captured in the scope of the simplified regulation; whereas this impact would remain modest, presumably within one per cent of the overall estimated revenue;

    E. whereas the Commission proposal entails additional operational expenditure in Heading 3 to be financed by means of redeployment from a budget line in Heading 4 and administrative expenditure for human resources in Heading 7 to be financed by redeployment within Heading 7;

    F. whereas the penalties for CBAM declarants in breach of the regulation are, in principle, to be aligned with excess emission penalties under the Emissions Trading System (ETS); whereas the national competent authorities remain in charge of establishing and enforcing such measures based on implementing acts;

    1. Takes note of the proposal to simplify the CBAM regulation in the context of an overall initiative to improve the EU’s competitiveness;

    2. Recalls that Parliament has repeatedly endorsed a new own resource based on the CBAM and is keenly aware that this own resource is one of the few candidates that also enjoy tangible support from the Member States in the Council; regrets, therefore, that the embedded emissions covered under the reduced scope of the CBAM would lead to proportionately lower own resources revenue from the CBAM; acknowledges, however, that the amounts (in the order of EUR 20 million per year) and share (1 %) concerned are modest compared to the overall figures that the CBAM is expected to produce in terms of revenue;

    3. Confirms that the amending regulation remains compatible with Parliament’s consultative opinion of 9 November 2023, which approves the Commission’s proposal for an amended Council decision on the system of own resources, including a new own resource based on the CBAM;

    4. Considers that there are no provisions in the amending regulation that would fall under Rule 58(4), i.e. covering exclusively budgetary aspects which the committee responsible for the subject matter would not be allowed to amend; considers, furthermore, that no legislative amendments in this regard are necessary at this stage;

    5. Recalls that the amendments or compromises in the course of the negotiations must not lead to any provisions contradicting Parliament’s established position on the use of CBAM revenue as an own resource; considers it necessary, therefore, to take part in the further negotiations, including the trilogues, in order to monitor the consistency with Parliament’s position on own resources and other pertinent budget-related provisions, and to ensure that the final agreement is compatible with the current MFF;

    6. Observes certain flaws and errors in the Legislative Financial and Digital Statement (LFS) that should be rectified in the course of the further process, in a revised version of the Statement; questions, in this respect, the annual amounts listed in the table under Section 3.3 and, in particular, whether there will already be any revenue collected in 2026; also considers that the budget line (which is from the expenditure title) mentioned in this section is incorrect; recalls that in order to be consistent with present practice and the proposed own resources legislation, amounts indicated in this section should be shown ‘net’ of the 25 % collection costs to be retained by Member States and converted into current prices;

    7. Acknowledges that the level of revenue foregone, in the order of EUR 21 million as of 2030, is non-material compared to the cost savings for companies, especially SMEs, and acceptable in view of the overall revenue expected from the CBAM;

    8. Takes note of the necessary additional operational and administrative appropriations as indicated in the LFS; reiterates its long-standing position that new tasks and responsibilities should, in principle, be financed by fresh resources; deplores the limited margins available in the MFF and acknowledges that they could justify a certain level of reallocation; warns that the additional operational amounts will use a sizeable share of the remaining margin under Heading 3; also recognises that the redeployment from the instrument for financial support for customs control equipment (CCEI) implies the creation of some additional margin in Heading 4; determines that the amounts mentioned under points 3.2.1, 3.2.3 and 3.2.6 in the LFS are compatible with the MFF ceilings in Headings 3, 4 and 7, but will require adjustments in the financial programming; questions, nonetheless, whether such redeployment operations are in line with the ring-fencing logic of the MFF headings;

    9. Questions why a reduction of the scope, by an alleged 90 %, of companies to be registered as authorised CBAM declarants does not lead to a lower level of administrative needs under Heading 7;

    10. Acknowledges that any substantive changes in the governance of the implementation and enforcement of the CBAM, such as those related to the penalties for non-compliance, would be beyond the scope of this simplification initiative; considers, however, in light of the planned revision of the CBAM regulation, that the proceeds of the penalties could eventually be considered as general revenue for the EU budget;

    11. Notes that the simplification initiative is also presented as a key enabler for a potential future extension of the scope of the CBAM; expects that such an extension would have significant budgetary implications, including for revenue flows;

    12. Recalls that the Union’s budget is under strain and stresses the need for additional sustainable and resilient revenue; points to the legally binding roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources laid down in the IIA, in which Parliament, the Council and the Commission undertook to introduce sufficient new own resources to at least cover the repayment of NGEU debt; recalls its support for the amended Commission proposal on the system of own resources; is deeply concerned by the complete absence of progress on the system of own resources in the Council; calls on the Council to adopt this proposal as a matter of urgency and urges the Commission to spare no effort in supporting the adoption process; calls, furthermore, on the Commission to continue efforts to identify additional genuine new own resources beyond those specified in the IIA.

    As part of its budgetary assessment, the Committee on Budgets also submits the following amendments to the proposal:

    Amendment  1

    Proposal for a regulation

    Recital [10] a (new)

     

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

     

    ([10]a). This Regulation has implications for the Union budget. Accordingly, the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets adopted a budgetary assessment, which forms an integral part of Parliament’s mandate for negotiations.

    ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
    FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT HAS RECEIVED INPUT

    The rapporteur for budgetary assessment declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

     

    PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT

    Title

    Amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism

    References

    COM(2025)0087 – C10-0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD)

    Committee(s) responsible

    ENVI

     

     

     

     Date announced in plenary

    BUDG

    31.3.2025

    Rapporteur for budgetary assessment

     Date appointed

    Sandra Gómez López

    26.3.2025

    Discussed in committee

    31.3.2025

     

     

     

    Date adopted

    23.4.2025

     

     

     

    Result of final vote

    +:

    –:

    0:

    23

    9

    1

    Members present for the final vote

    Georgios Aftias, Rasmus Andresen, Isabel Benjumea Benjumea, Olivier Chastel, Thomas Geisel, Jean-Marc Germain, Sandra Gómez López, Monika Hohlmeier, Alexander Jungbluth, Fabienne Keller, Giuseppe Lupo, Siegfried Mureşan, Matjaž Nemec, Danuše Nerudová, João Oliveira, Ruggero Razza, Karlo Ressler, Bogdan Rzońca, Julien Sanchez, Hélder Sousa Silva, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Carla Tavares, Nils Ušakovs, Lucia Yar, Auke Zijlstra

    Substitutes present for the final vote

    Stine Bosse, Rasmus Nordqvist, Jacek Protas

    Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

    Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Tobias Cremer, Marieke Ehlers, Julien Leonardelli, Philippe Olivier

     

    FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
    IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT

    23

    +

    NI

    Thomas Geisel

    PPE

    Georgios Aftias, Isabel Benjumea Benjumea, Monika Hohlmeier, Siegfried Mureşan, Danuše Nerudová, Jacek Protas, Karlo Ressler, Hélder Sousa Silva

    Renew

    Stine Bosse, Olivier Chastel, Fabienne Keller, Lucia Yar

    S&D

    Tobias Cremer, Jean-Marc Germain, Sandra Gómez López, Giuseppe Lupo, Matjaž Nemec, Carla Tavares, Nils Ušakovs

    Verts/ALE

    Rasmus Andresen, Rasmus Nordqvist, Nicolae Ştefănuță

     

    9

    –

    ECR

    Bogdan Rzońca

    ESN

    Alexander Jungbluth

    PfE

    Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Marieke Ehlers, Julien Leonardelli, Philippe Olivier, Julien Sanchez, Auke Zijlstra

    The Left

    João Oliveira

     

    1

    0

    ECR

    Ruggero Razza

     

    Key to symbols:

    + : in favour

    – : against

    0 : abstention

     

    OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE (24.4.2025)

    for the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

    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))

    Rapporteur for opinion: Karin Karlsbro

     

     

    The Committee on International Trade calls on the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, as the committee responsible, to propose that Parliament adopt its position at first reading, taking over the Commission proposal.

    ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
    FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

    The rapporteur for opinion declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

    PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

    Title

    Amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism

    References

    COM(2025)0087 – C10-0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD)

    Committee(s) responsible

    ENVI

     

     

     

    Opinion by

     Date announced in plenary

    INTA

    31.3.2025

    Rapporteur for the opinion

     Date appointed

    Karin Karlsbro

    19.3.2025

    Simplified procedure – date of decision

    7.4.2025

    Discussed in committee

    7.4.2025

     

     

     

    Date adopted

    23.4.2025

     

     

     

    Result of final vote

    +:

    –:

    0:

    36

    2

    0

    Members present for the final vote

    Manon Aubry, Christophe Bay, Udo Bullmann, Andi Cristea, Raphaël Glucksmann, Markéta Gregorová, Svenja Hahn, Taner Kabilov, Karin Karlsbro, Rihards Kols, Sebastian Kruis, Bernd Lange, Ilia Lazarov, Miriam Lexmann, Thierry Mariani, Gabriel Mato, Javier Moreno Sánchez, Daniele Polato, Kathleen Van Brempt, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Catarina Vieira, Jörgen Warborn, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez

    Substitutes present for the final vote

    Petras Auštrevičius, Nicolas Bay, Saskia Bricmont, Markus Buchheit, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Fabio De Masi, Jean-Marc Germain, Hana Jalloul Muro, Sandra Kalniete, David McAllister, Jessika Van Leeuwen

    Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

    Alexander Bernhuber, Daniel Buda, Fabrice Leggeri

     

    FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
    BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

    36

    +

    ECR

    Nicolas Bay, Rihards Kols, Daniele Polato

    NI

    Fabio De Masi, Taner Kabilov

    PPE

    Alexander Bernhuber, Daniel Buda, Sandra Kalniete, Ilia Lazarov, Miriam Lexmann, David McAllister, Gabriel Mato, Jessika Van Leeuwen, Jörgen Warborn, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez

    PfE

    Christophe Bay, Sebastian Kruis, Fabrice Leggeri, Thierry Mariani

    Renew

    Petras Auštrevičius, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne

    S&D

    Udo Bullmann, Andi Cristea, Jean-Marc Germain, Raphaël Glucksmann, Hana Jalloul Muro, Bernd Lange, Javier Moreno Sánchez, Kathleen Van Brempt

    Verts/ALE

    Saskia Bricmont, Markéta Gregorová, Catarina Vieira

     

    2

    –

    ESN

    Markus Buchheit

    The Left

    Manon Aubry

     

     

    Key to symbols:

    + : in favour

    – : against

    0 : abstention

    OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY (23.4.2025)

    for the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

    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))

    Rapporteur for opinion: Filip Turek

    (Simplified procedure – Rule 52(2) and (3) of the Rules of Procedure)

     

    SHORT JUSTIFICATION

    The European Commission’ proposals aims at simplifying the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) obligations for small importers—primarily SMEs and individuals—by introducing a new de minimis exemption for imports below 50 tonnes mass. These importers bring in minor volumes of CBAM goods, resulting in negligible levels of embedded emissions entering the EU from third countries. Despite this exemption, approximately 99% of total embedded emissions would remain covered under CBAM, while around 90% of importers would be relieved from its obligations. For those importers who continue to fall within the CBAM scope, the proposal also includes a series of simplifications aimed at easing compliance. These measures involve streamlining the authorisation process for declarants, simplifying emission calculation procedures and improving the management of CBAM-related financial liabilities.

    The initiative takes a more pragmatic approach for improving the overall functioning of CBAM, particularly by easing the obligations placed on smaller economic actors. Thus, the proposed exemption marks a necessary and welcome simplification. This, along with the accompanying set of procedural facilitations, represents a step forward in ensuring that the CBAM can be administratively manageable.

    Within the Omnibus framework, it is appropriate to concentrate on the elements explicitly opened by the Commission, while awaiting the upcoming comprehensive review, which will provide a more suitable occasion to consider structural and far-reaching revisions, including concerns on the effectiveness of CBAM.

    In its current design, CBAM disproportionately affects certain energy-intensive sectors and risks being an ineffective tool to ensure a level playing field for EU industries and to prevent carbon leakage. In fact, it could undermine the EU competitiveness by increasing the production costs and the administrative burdens for EU companies.

    The structural revision is therefore urgent to address the risks of resource reshuffling and circumvention. Equally pressing is the postponement (or the deletion) of the phase out from the ETS free allowances, as well as the need to implement effective solutions for EU exporters. Moreover, the possible extension of CBAM to downstream products should be preceded by a thorough and comprehensive impact assessment. 

    While the ITRE Committee will refrain from tabling amendments to the proposal, the threshold could have merited more in-depth consideration. The de minimis exemption may in fact be too low to reflect meaningfully the reality of many SMEs and micro-enterprises. Data indicates that several businesses, including those officially categorized as “micro,” regularly exceed the threshold of 50 tonnes. Hence, a balanced solution could be raising it to at least 110 tons. This adjustment would strike a more realistic and equitable balance, enhancing the administrative feasibility of the CBAM, while continuing to capture the vast majority of emissions within the scope of the Mechanism (according to Commission estimates, still over 98%). The exemption of more importers from CBAM obligations would also generate additional cost savings, without significantly undermining the ratio of the proposal.

    In conclusion, waiting for the upcoming comprehensive review, which will provide a timely opportunity to address the outstanding issues, the Rapporteur notes the willingness of the ITRE Committee to not table amendments and supports the Commission’s initiative.

     

    *******

    The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy calls on the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, as the committee responsible, to propose that Parliament adopt its position at first reading, taking over the Commission proposal.

     

    ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
    FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR THE OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT

    Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:

    Entity and/or person

    Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic

    ČEZ Group

    Emerson International

    Italian Confederation of Craft Trades and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

    European Express Association

    Round Table on Climate Change and Sustainable Transition

    Office of the Government of the Czech Republic

    The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

     

    Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he has submitted to the concerned natural persons the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

     

    PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

    Title

    Amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism

    References

    COM(2025)0087 – C10-0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD)

    Committee(s) responsible

    ENVI

     

     

     

    Opinion by

     Date announced in plenary

    ITRE

    31.3.2025

    Rapporteur for the opinion

     Date appointed

    Filip Turek

    25.3.2025

    Simplified procedure – date of decision

    18.3.2025

    Date adopted

    24.4.2025

     

     

     

    Result of final vote

    +:

    –:

    0:

    73

    5

    6

    Members present for the final vote

    Wouter Beke, Tom Berendsen, Michael Bloss, Barbara Bonte, Paolo Borchia, Markus Buchheit, Borys Budka, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Raúl de la Hoz Quintano, Elena Donazzan, Matthias Ecke, Sofie Eriksson, Jan Farský, Niels Fuglsang, Bruno Gonçalves, Nicolás González Casares, Giorgio Gori, Niels Flemming Hansen, Eero Heinäluoma, Ivars Ijabs, Fernand Kartheiser, Seán Kelly, Rudi Kennes, Ondřej Krutílek, Eszter Lakos, Isabella Lövin, Yannis Maniatis, Sara Matthieu, Marina Mesure, Angelika Niebler, Ville Niinistö, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Tsvetelina Penkova, Pascale Piera, Jüri Ratas, Aura Salla, Elena Sancho Murillo, Jussi Saramo, Paulius Saudargas, Diego Solier, Marcin Sypniewski, Beata Szydło, Dario Tamburrano, Bruno Tobback, Matej Tonin, Yvan Verougstraete, Mariateresa Vivaldini, Andrea Wechsler, Elena Yoncheva, Auke Zijlstra, Nicola Zingaretti

    Substitutes present for the final vote

    Christophe Bay, Adam Bielan, Marc Botenga, Andi Cristea, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Chiara Gemma, Andreas Glück, Michalis Hadjipantela, Martin Hojsík, Radan Kanev, Katri Kulmuni, Sergey Lagodinsky, András László, Marion Maréchal, Virginijus Sinkevičius, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Pierre-Romain Thionnet, Francesco Torselli, Marie Toussaint

    Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

    Magdalena Adamowicz, Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Krzysztof Brejza, Jaroslav Bžoch, José Cepeda, Vivien Costanzo, Ton Diepeveen, Siegbert Frank Droese, Anne-Sophie Frigout, Svenja Hahn, Andrzej Halicki, Ilia Lazarov, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu, Axel Voss

     

    FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
    BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

    73

    +

    ECR

    Adam Bielan, Elena Donazzan, Chiara Gemma, Fernand Kartheiser, Ondřej Krutílek, Marion Maréchal, Diego Solier, Beata Szydło, Francesco Torselli, Mariateresa Vivaldini

    NI

    Elena Yoncheva

    PPE

    Magdalena Adamowicz, Wouter Beke, Tom Berendsen, Krzysztof Brejza, Raúl de la Hoz Quintano, Jan Farský, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Michalis Hadjipantela, Andrzej Halicki, Niels Flemming Hansen, Radan Kanev, Seán Kelly, Eszter Lakos, Ilia Lazarov, Angelika Niebler, Jüri Ratas, Aura Salla, Paulius Saudargas, Matej Tonin, Axel Voss, Andrea Wechsler

    PfE

    Christophe Bay, Paolo Borchia, Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Jaroslav Bžoch, Anne-Sophie Frigout, András László, Pascale Piera, Pierre-Romain Thionnet

    Renew

    João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Andreas Glück, Svenja Hahn, Martin Hojsík, Ivars Ijabs, Katri Kulmuni, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu, Yvan Verougstraete

    S&D

    José Cepeda, Vivien Costanzo, Andi Cristea, Matthias Ecke, Sofie Eriksson, Niels Fuglsang, Bruno Gonçalves, Nicolás González Casares, Giorgio Gori, Eero Heinäluoma, Yannis Maniatis, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Tsvetelina Penkova, Elena Sancho Murillo, Bruno Tobback, Nicola Zingaretti

    Verts/ALE

    Michael Bloss, Sergey Lagodinsky, Isabella Lövin, Sara Matthieu, Ville Niinistö, Virginijus Sinkevičius, Marie Toussaint

     

    5

    –

    The Left

    Marc Botenga, Rudi Kennes, Marina Mesure, Jussi Saramo, Dario Tamburrano

     

    6

    0

    ESN

    Markus Buchheit, Siegbert Frank Droese, Marcin Sypniewski

    PfE

    Barbara Bonte, Ton Diepeveen, Auke Zijlstra

     

    Key to symbols:

    + : in favour

    – : against

    0 : abstention

    PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

    Title

    Amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism

    References

    COM(2025)0087 – C10-0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD)

    Date submitted to Parliament

    27.2.2025

     

     

     

    Committee(s) responsible

    ENVI

     

     

     

    Committees asked for opinions

     Date announced in plenary

    BUDG

    23.4.2025

    INTA

    31.3.2025

    ITRE

    31.3.2025

     

    Rapporteurs

     Date appointed

    Antonio Decaro

    10.3.2025

     

     

     

    Simplified procedure – date of decision

    10.3.2025

    Discussed in committee

    18.3.2025

     

     

     

    Budgetary assessment

     Date of budgetary assessment

    BUDG

    23.4.2025

     

     

     

    Date adopted

    13.5.2025

     

     

     

    Result of final vote

    +:

    –:

    0:

    85

    1

    1

    Members present for the final vote

    Bartosz Arłukowicz, Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Anja Arndt, Thomas Bajada, Barbara Bonte, Stine Bosse, Lynn Boylan, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Pascal Canfin, Laurent Castillo, Christophe Clergeau, Annalisa Corrado, Ivan David, Antonio Decaro, Ondřej Dostál, Viktória Ferenc, Pietro Fiocchi, Emma Fourreau, Anne-Sophie Frigout, Heléne Fritzon, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Esther Herranz García, Martin Hojsík, Pär Holmgren, Romana Jerković, Marc Jongen, Ondřej Knotek, Stefan Köhler, Ewa Kopacz, András Tivadar Kulja, Peter Liese, Javi López, César Luena, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Ignazio Roberto Marino, Tilly Metz, Dolors Montserrat, Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Jana Nagyová, Rasmus Nordqvist, Jacek Ozdoba, Jutta Paulus, Michele Picaro, Jessica Polfjärd, Carola Rackete, Massimiliano Salini, Lena Schilling, Christine Schneider, Günther Sidl, Jonas Sjöstedt, Sander Smit, Claudiu-Richard Târziu, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Beatrice Timgren, Dimitris Tsiodras, Alexandr Vondra, Emma Wiesner, Michal Wiezik, Tiemo Wölken, Anna Zalewska

    Substitutes present for the final vote

    Biljana Borzan, Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Stefano Cavedagna, Susanna Ceccardi, Sebastian Everding, Michalis Hadjipantela, Paolo Inselvini, Adam Jarubas, Nora Junco García, Karin Karlsbro, Billy Kelleher, Norbert Lins, Letizia Moratti, Maria Ohisalo, Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Manuela Ripa, André Rodrigues, Elena Sancho Murillo, Christine Singer, Liesbet Sommen, Sebastiaan Stöteler, Anna Stürgkh, Bruno Tobback, Raffaele Topo

    Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

    Javier Moreno Sánchez, Séverine Werbrouck

    Date tabled

    14.5.2025

     

    FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

    85

    +

    ECR

    Stefano Cavedagna, Pietro Fiocchi, Paolo Inselvini, Nora Junco García, Jacek Ozdoba, Michele Picaro, Claudiu-Richard Târziu, Beatrice Timgren, Alexandr Vondra, Anna Zalewska

    ESN

    Anja Arndt, Ivan David, Marc Jongen

    NI

    Ondřej Dostál

    PPE

    Bartosz Arłukowicz, Laurent Castillo, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Michalis Hadjipantela, Esther Herranz García, Adam Jarubas, Stefan Köhler, Ewa Kopacz, András Tivadar Kulja, Peter Liese, Norbert Lins, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Dolors Montserrat, Letizia Moratti, Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Jessica Polfjärd, Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Manuela Ripa, Massimiliano Salini, Christine Schneider, Sander Smit, Liesbet Sommen, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Dimitris Tsiodras

    PfE

    Barbara Bonte, Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Viktória Ferenc, Anne-Sophie Frigout, Ondřej Knotek, Jana Nagyová, Sebastiaan Stöteler, Séverine Werbrouck

    Renew

    Stine Bosse, Pascal Canfin, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Martin Hojsík, Karin Karlsbro, Billy Kelleher, Christine Singer, Anna Stürgkh, Emma Wiesner, Michal Wiezik

    S&D

    Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Thomas Bajada, Biljana Borzan, Christophe Clergeau, Annalisa Corrado, Antonio Decaro, Heléne Fritzon, Romana Jerković, Javi López, César Luena, Javier Moreno Sánchez, André Rodrigues, Elena Sancho Murillo, Günther Sidl, Bruno Tobback, Raffaele Topo, Tiemo Wölken

    The Left

    Lynn Boylan, Sebastian Everding, Carola Rackete, Jonas Sjöstedt

    Verts/ALE

    Pär Holmgren, Ignazio Roberto Marino, Tilly Metz, Rasmus Nordqvist, Maria Ohisalo, Jutta Paulus, Lena Schilling

     

    1

    –

    The Left

    Emma Fourreau

     

    1

    0

    PfE

    Susanna Ceccardi

     

    Key to symbols:

    + : in favour

    – : against

    0 : abstention

     

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Pending approval of state aid for the biomass package – E-001850/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001850/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Christine Schneider (PPE)

    Germany’s ‘biomass package’ (Act Amending the Renewable Energy Sources Act for Greater Flexibility and Ongoing Support for Biogas Plants) entered into force on 25 February 2025. Among other things, the act incentivises flexible electricity generation from biomass and fine-tunes requirements for agriculture. These measures can only be implemented once state aid approval is forthcoming from the Commission. The delay in approval is having significant consequences on biomass plant operators’ investment planning and undermining efforts to achieve the EU’s climate targets.

    • 1.At present, how far advanced is the state aid approval procedure for the German biomass package?
    • 2.What is the Commission specifically doing to ensure the approval procedure for the biomass package is completed in time for the new rules to be applied by the forthcoming deadline of 1 October 2025 for applications – applications submitted by the previous deadline of 1 April 2025 had to be processed under the previous legal framework since the state aid law had not yet been approved – and thus eliminate any further investment uncertainty and financial disadvantages that may affect operators in the sector?

    Submitted: 7.5.2025

    Last updated: 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Payday Loans Online: Fast $255 Payday Loans Near Me With Heart Paydays Loans And No Credit Check, Bad Credit

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ROMFORD, United Kingdom, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Life happens quickly, and sometimes it throws us unexpected financial challenges. Whether it’s a car repair, an urgent medical bill, or just the need to make it to payday, these emergencies often require fast access to money. Unfortunately, not everyone has the savings to cover these sudden costs.

    This is where payday loans come in. Payday loans are short-term loans designed to help people bridge the gap between paychecks. They offer a quick solution when you need money fast. But with so many payday lenders available online, it can be tough to know where to turn.

    Need fast cash for emergencies? Click here to get started with Heart Paydays Loans and apply for payday loans online today!

    In this article, we will discuss the best payday loans online, focusing on Heart Paydays Loans as a top provider for quick, flexible, and trustworthy payday loans. Whether you’re looking for payday loans near me, payday loan bad credit, or quick payday loans no credit check, we’ll explore how Heart Paydays Loans stands out as a reliable option for urgent financial needs.

    Why Payday Loans Are a Great Option for Emergencies

    Emergencies can hit at any time, and often, they don’t come with a lot of warning. You may find yourself needing money for a car repair, hospital visit, or unexpected travel expenses. Traditional loan options can be slow, require lots of paperwork, and be out of reach for people with poor credit. That’s where payday loans come in as a lifeline.

    1. Quick and Easy Access to Funds

    When you need money fast, payday loans near me can be a great option. Online payday loans, especially through Heart Paydays Loans, are fast, with many people receiving their funds in as little as 1 hour. Whether it’s an emergency or a small unexpected cost, payday loans provide the speed you need.

    2. Accessible Even for Those with Bad Credit

    Not everyone has a perfect credit score, and some people may be dealing with payday loan bad credit situations. With traditional loans, a low credit score could mean an automatic rejection. But payday lenders like Heart Paydays Loans don’t just rely on credit scores. They look at your income and ability to repay the loan, making it easier for individuals with poor credit to get the money they need. Many lenders like Heart Paydays Loans offer best payday loans for bad credit, which is great news for those needing immediate funds.

    Worried about your credit score? Click here to check your credit score online for free and see where you stand!

    3. Simple Application Process

    Applying for a payday loan is often easier than applying for traditional bank loans. The application process is usually done online and can be completed in just a few minutes. Heart Paydays Loans offers a streamlined online application, meaning you can apply and get approved without leaving your house.

    4. Flexible Loan Terms

    Another benefit of payday loans is flexibility. You can choose the loan amount you need and select repayment terms that work for your budget. Whether you’re looking for a small loan or a larger one, payday loans offer flexibility to fit your needs.

    Looking for payday loans near you? Click here to find a Heart Paydays Loans location or apply online now!

    What to Look for in the Best Payday Loans Online

    When searching for the best payday loans online, it’s crucial to consider certain factors that can help you avoid excessive debt and ensure you’re getting the best deal for your financial situation. Here are some key features to look for:

    1. Low Interest Rates

    One of the most important aspects to consider when applying for payday loans is the interest rate. Many payday lenders charge high interest rates, which can make it difficult to repay the loan and avoid falling into a cycle of debt.

    Look for loans that offer reasonable Annual Percentage Rates (APR)—ideally, below 36%—to avoid sky-high rates that could leave you paying far more than you initially borrowed. Some online lenders, like Heart Paydays Loans, are known for offering competitive and transparent rates, making them a good option for those who need funds quickly without breaking the bank.

    2. Clear Terms and Transparency

    A reputable payday loan provider will offer clear terms with no hidden fees or surprises. Before agreeing to any loan, make sure you understand the full terms of repayment, including the APR, the total amount to be repaid, and any associated fees. Good payday loan providers will be transparent about the costs, ensuring that you know exactly what to expect from the start.

    For example, Heart Paydays Loans provides detailed loan terms up front, so borrowers don’t have to worry about hidden fees or unclear conditions. You’ll know how much you’re borrowing, what the interest rate is, and how much you’ll pay back at the end of the loan.

    3. Fast Disbursement

    When you need emergency funds, quick funding is essential. Look for payday loans that are approved and funded within hours, ideally within one business day or less. Many payday loan providers, like Heart Paydays Loans, offer fast approval and disbursement of funds, often as quickly as within 1 hour of approval. This is especially important when you’re dealing with an urgent financial situation, like medical bills or car repairs, where timing is critical.

    4. Flexible Repayment Terms

    Repayment terms that fit your budget are key to successfully managing a payday loan. The best payday loans offer flexible repayment schedules, allowing you to choose a plan that suits your pay frequency. For example, you may prefer weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly repayment options depending on how often you’re paid.

    Many payday lenders, like Heart Paydays Loans, offer repayment terms that are tailored to your needs. This flexibility helps you avoid falling behind on payments and makes it easier to manage the loan without straining your finances.

    5. Avoiding Predatory Lenders

    Unfortunately, some payday lenders engage in predatory lending practices by charging excessive fees and high interest rates that can trap borrowers in a cycle of debt. It’s important to avoid lenders who offer loans with extreme terms, such as 1-hour payday loans no credit check with hidden fees or quick payday loans no credit check that come with unreasonable interest rates.

    Reputable lenders like Heart Paydays Loans prioritize fair lending practices and transparent terms, helping you get the funds you need without getting stuck in a debt trap. Always read the fine print, and if something doesn’t seem right, don’t hesitate to look for another lender.

    Compare rates and get the best payday loans for bad credit today. Click here to apply with Heart Paydays Loans and find the perfect loan for your needs!

    Heart Paydays Loans: The Best Payday Loans Online

    When it comes to finding best payday loans online, Heart Paydays Loans stands out as a top choice. With a wide range of loan options and a focus on providing fast and reliable service, Heart Paydays Loans is ideal for those in need of quick cash.

    1. Fast Approval and Funding

    One of the standout features of Heart Paydays Loans is how quickly they process applications. Once you apply, the approval process is fast, often taking only minutes. If you are approved, funds can be transferred directly into your bank account in as little as 1 hour payday loans no credit check—giving you quick access to the money you need without unnecessary delays.

    2. No Credit Check or Bad Credit Accepted

    If you’re worried about your credit score, don’t be. Heart Paydays Loans provides quick payday loans no credit check. They understand that credit scores don’t always reflect your ability to repay a loan. As long as you have a steady income and are able to repay the loan, you can still qualify for the loan you need—even if your credit score is less than perfect. So, for anyone struggling with payday loan bad credit, Heart Paydays Loans offers a chance to get back on track.

    3. Flexible Loan Amounts and Terms

    With Heart Paydays Loans, you can borrow anywhere from $100 to $5,000, depending on your financial needs. Whether it’s a small emergency or a larger unexpected expense, they offer a range of loan options to suit different budgets. Repayment terms are typically flexible, with options ranging from a few weeks to several months, allowing you to select a plan that works best for you.

    4. No Hidden Fees

    One of the common complaints about payday loans is the hidden fees and high-interest rates. With Heart Paydays Loans, transparency is key. They outline all fees and rates upfront, so you can make an informed decision about your loan. There are no surprise charges, and you’ll know exactly what to expect before you sign any agreement.

    How to Apply for Payday Loans Online

    Getting a payday loan through Heart Paydays Loans is simple. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process:

    1. Visit the Website

    Start by visiting the Heart Paydays Loans website. Their platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it simple to find the loan option that fits your needs. Whether you’re looking for payday loans near me or an online loan, Heart Paydays Loans provides a convenient solution.

    2. Fill Out the Application Form

    The application process is quick and straightforward. You’ll need to provide some basic personal details, such as your name, address, phone number, and employment information. You’ll also need to enter details about your income and bank account, so they can deposit the loan funds directly into your account.

    3. Review the Loan Terms

    Before submitting your application, you’ll be given the chance to review your loan offer. You’ll see the loan amount, the repayment terms, and any interest rates or fees. This is your opportunity to make sure the loan terms are right for you.

    4. Submit Your Application and Get Approved

    Once you’ve reviewed the terms, submit your application. Heart Paydays Loans will quickly review your information and give you an answer. If you’re approved, you’ll receive your loan funds within a very short time frame.

    Ready to apply? Click here to fill out your application with Heart Paydays Loans and get your payday loan funds in no time!

    The Advantages of Heart Paydays Loans

    Here are some key benefits of choosing Heart Paydays Loans for your payday loan needs:

    1. Speed and Convenience

    Need a payday loan quickly? Heart Paydays Loans is one of the best options for 1 hour payday loans no credit check. Their fast approval process and rapid funding mean you won’t have to wait long to get the cash you need.

    2. No Credit Checks or Cosigner Requirements

    Heart Paydays Loans doesn’t require a cosigner, and they don’t rely on credit scores alone to approve your application. This makes it a great option for individuals dealing with payday loan bad credit.

    3. Flexibility

    Heart Paydays Loans offers flexibility in both loan amounts and repayment terms, allowing you to tailor the loan to your specific needs.

    4. Safe and Secure

    Your personal and financial information is protected with top-notch encryption. Heart Paydays Loans is committed to keeping your data safe.

    5. Transparent Terms

    With clear and upfront terms, Heart Paydays Loans ensures that there are no hidden fees or unexpected charges. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting before you agree to the loan.

    What to Look for When Choosing Payday Loans Online

    When searching for best payday loans online, it’s important to consider a few key factors to ensure you’re getting the best deal:

    1. Interest Rates and Fees

    Make sure the payday loan provider offers competitive interest rates. While payday loans generally have higher interest rates than traditional loans, you can still find reasonable options. Always check the fees and make sure you understand what you’ll be paying.

    2. Loan Terms

    Look for payday loans with flexible terms that match your financial situation. Some lenders offer short repayment periods, while others may give you up to a year to repay the loan.

    3. Speed of Funding

    If you need money quickly, look for payday lenders who offer fast funding, such as 1 hour payday loans no credit check.

    4. Lender Reputation

    Choose a lender with a good reputation. Heart Paydays Loans is known for its transparent practices, fast service, and customer satisfaction.

    If you have bad credit, click here to see how Heart Paydays Loans can help you get approved for payday loans even with less-than-perfect credit!

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: What are payday loans?

    Payday loans are short-term loans designed to cover emergencies or unexpected expenses until your next paycheck. They are usually small loans that are paid back in full on your next payday or over a few months.

    Q: Can I get a payday loan with bad credit?

    Yes, Heart Paydays Loans offers payday loans bad credit options, meaning that even if you have a low credit score, you may still qualify for a loan.

    Q: How fast can I get my payday loan?

    Heart Paydays Loans offers fast approval and disbursement. In many cases, you can receive your loan within one hour after approval.

    Q: Is it possible to get payday loans with no credit check?

    Yes, Heart Paydays Loans offers quick payday loans no credit check, which means your credit score will not be the main deciding factor for approval.

    Q: How much can I borrow with Heart Paydays Loans?

    Heart Paydays Loans offers payday loans ranging from $100 to $5000, depending on your financial needs and eligibility.

    Conclusion

    When searching for best payday loans online, it’s crucial to prioritize lenders offering low interest rates, clear repayment terms, and fast disbursement. By focusing on these factors, you can ensure that the loan meets your immediate financial needs without becoming a long-term burden. Heart Paydays Loans offers fast and flexible loan options, including 1-hour payday loans no credit check, making it a great choice for those in urgent need of funds.

    If you have bad credit, don’t worry—there are still options available. Many online lenders specialize in providing payday loans for bad credit, helping you secure the funds you need without the high fees or stringent requirements of traditional lenders. However, it’s important to avoid predatory lenders with excessive rates or unclear terms that could leave you trapped in debt.

    Ultimately, choosing the best payday loans online is about finding a lender who offers reasonable terms, transparent fees, and quick funding. By researching and applying to trusted providers like Heart Paydays Loans, you can get the financial help you need while maintaining control of your budget. Apply now to see your loan options and get the support you need today!

    Don’t wait! Click here to apply for the best payday loans online with Heart Paydays Loans and get the funds you need today!

    Project name: Heart Paydays

    Email – support@heartpaydays.com

    Full Company address:Floor 2, 1-5 High Street, Romford, RM1 1JU, United Kingdom

    Company website: heartpaydays.com

    Contact person : Chloe Simon

    email : chloe@heartpaydays.com

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. Payday loans, including those offered through Heart Paydays Loans, may carry high-interest rates and fees, which can vary based on your location and the terms of the loan. It’s important to understand the full terms, fees, and repayment schedule before applying. Borrowers should only consider payday loans for short-term financial needs and ensure they are able to repay the loan on time to avoid further financial difficulties. Heart Paydays Loans is not responsible for any financial consequences resulting from the use of payday loans. We encourage you to explore all options, including traditional loans or financial counseling, before proceeding with payday loans. Always read the fine print and consult with a financial advisor if necessary.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ff1ca3b-e405-4107-8793-a65390cae147

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b7dca294-2850-494d-b258-c6ee433e869b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Italy affirms Partnership with African Development Bank under the Mattei Plan

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 15, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Italy has reaffirmed its partnership with the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and expressed keenness to explore mutual growth opportunities in Africa under the Mattei Plan. 

    Stefano Gatti, Director General for Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (FAIC) and Lorenzo Ortona, Head of the Mattei Plan Task Force led a delegation to the Bank’s Abidjan headquarters on Thursday 8 May. The delegation comprised representatives of institutions charged with implementing the Mattei plan for Africa, such as Cassa Depositi e Prestiti(CDP), the Ministry of Finance, as well as important representatives of the business and private sector and civil society organisations. 

    Under the Mattei Plan for Africa, Italy aims to foster economic and strategic partnerships with African nations and institutions. Its Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has stated that the African Development Bank Group would be (https://apo-opa.co/3FkcLD8) its main strategic financial partner for implementation of the plan on the continent. 

    The delegation was hosted by African Development Bank Senior Vice President Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, who was joined by three vice presidents –Nnenna Nwabufo, Beth Dunford and Kevin Kariuki, as well as several directors from the energy, resource mobilization and finance departments, among others. 

    Participants in the meeting exchanged on ways to strengthen public-private sector collaboration with Italy in reducing hunger and boosting agriculture in Africa. The conversation also discussed the importance of the African Development Fund, the Bank’s concessional lending arm in addressing the challenges of the continent’s most disadvantaged countries. 

    Akin-Olugbade expressed satisfaction at the progress made since the announcement of the Plan in July 2024, in particular, the Rome Process/Mattei Plan Financing Facility (RPFF), a multi-donor Special Fund aimed at supporting climate aligned sovereign infrastructure projects that help to address the root causes of migration. The RPFF with contributions from Italy and the UAE amounting to over $170 million, is now operational.  

    The senior vice president commended Italy for demonstrating its commitment and thanked the government for its choice of The African Development Bank as partner. “We appreciate, of course, the choice of the African Development Bank to accompany you in your strategy, very ambitious strategy for the continent. We are really very happy to hear that Italy, indeed, is still strongly committed to the continent, and of course, to working with the African Development Fund.” 

    Other instruments under the Plan with the African Development Bank include the Growth and Resilience Platform for Africa (Graf), and a bilateral co-financing facility. Under Graf, CDP and the African Development Bank intend to invest up to EUR 400 million over five years in private equity funds to accelerate private sector development in Africa. 

    “We are grateful for the outstanding job that the bank has done. We really appreciate it,” Ortan said. “We really believe that in order to enhance the Mattei plan in Africa and the visibility of it, we need partners like you.”  

    Concluding the discussions, Akin-Olugbade said the Mattei plan has emerged as a template for future cooperation between Italy and other developed countries and Africa. 

    She said: “I believe that Italy has seen the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund as trusted partners. I believe we have a good track record of providing and achieving results. There’s a leveraging effect that multilateral development banks have that sometime bilateral resources do not have. And we need to take advantage of this.” 

    Italy has been a strong partner to the African Development Fund and pledged EUR 298.88 million to its sixteenth replenishment. Italy has been a partner in Mission 300, as well as advocating for strengthening private sector engagement, especially for youth entrepreneurship.  

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Disarming Hezbollah is key to Lebanon’s recovery − but task is complicated by regional shifts, ceasefire violations

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Mireille Rebeiz, Chair of Middle East Studies and Associate Professor of Francophone and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Dickinson College

    Slain Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah looms large in Lebanon. Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images

    Within a span of two weeks from late April to early May 2025, Israel launched two aerial attacks ostensibly targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon: The first, on April 27, struck a building in Beirut’s southern suburbs; the second, an assault in southern Lebanon, left one person dead and eight others injured.

    While the attacks may not be an aberration in the long history of Israel’s military action in Lebanon, the latest episodes were notable given the context: Israel and Hezbollah have been nominally locked in a truce for five months.

    As an expert on Lebanese history and culture, I believe the latest violations clearly show the fragility of that ceasefire. But more importantly, they complicate the Lebanese government’s mission of disarming Hezbollah, the paramilitary group that remains a powerful force in the country despite a series of Israeli targeted killings of its senior members. That task forms the backbone of a nearly 20-year-old United Nations resolution meant to bring lasting peace to Lebanon.

    The long road to a ceasefire

    In the aftermath of Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Hezbollah vowed solidarity with the Palestinian movement, resulting in a running series of tit-for-tat attacks with Israel that escalated into a full-blown war in the fall of 2024.

    On Oct. 1, 2024, Israel invaded Lebanon – the sixth time since 1978 – in order to directly confront Hezbollah. That operation led to the killing of an estimated 3,800 Lebanese people and the displacement of over 1 million civilians. The damage to Lebanon’s economy is estimated at US$14 billion, according to the World Bank.

    Hezbollah lost a lot of its fighters, arsenal and popular support as a result. More importantly, these losses discredited Hezbollah’s claim that it alone can guarantee Lebanon’s territorial integrity against Israel’s invasion.

    The United States and France brokered a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel on Nov. 27, 2024. The agreement was based in part on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which was adopted in 2006 to end that year’s 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah. The resolution had as a central tenet the disarmament of armed militias, including Hezbollah, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon.

    The 2024 ceasefire built on that resolution. It required Hezbollah’s retreat beyond the Litani River, which at its closest point is about 20 miles from northern Israel. In return, and by February 2025, Israel was to gradually withdraw from Lebanese territories in order to allow the Lebanese army to take control of areas in the south and to confiscate all unauthorized weapons – a nod to Hezbollah’s arsenal.

    Yet, Israel maintained the occupation of several posts in southern Lebanon after that deadline and continued to launch attacks on Lebanese soil, the most recent being on May 8, 2025.

    The challenge of disarming Hezbollah

    Despite these violations, large-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah has not resumed. But the next step, a lasting peace based on the laying down of Hezbollah arms, is complicated by a series of factors, not least the sectarian nature of Lebanese politics.

    Since its inception in 1920, Lebanon’s governance has been defined by a polarized and formally sectarian political system, which seeded the roots of a decades-long civil conflict that began in 1975. A series of invasions by Israel in response to attacks from Lebanese-based Palestinian groups exacerbated sectarianism and instability.

    From this mix, Hezbollah emerged and became a powerful force during the late 1980s.

    The Taif Agreement, ending Lebanon’s civil war in 1989, formally recognized the state’s right to resist the Israeli occupation of Lebanese territories – and with it Hezbollah’s presence as a force of resistance. An uneasy coexistence between the government and Hezbollah emerged, which often spilled over into violence, including assassinations of important public figures.

    More recently, Hezbollah was responsible for a two-year political vacuum as it mobilized members to repeatedly block opposition candidates for the vacant presidency in the hopes of installing a leader that would support its agenda.

    A view from the southern Lebanese district of Marjeyoun shows smoke billowing from the site of Israeli airstrikes on May 8, 2025.
    Rabih Daher/AFP via Getty Images

    In January 2025 that standoff ended when Lebanon’s parliament elected army chief Joseph Aoun, a Maronite Christian, as president.

    The acquiescence of Hezbollah and its allies was in part a sign of how much the power of the Shiite militia had been diminished by Israel during the conflict.

    But it is also the result of a widespread general understanding in Lebanon of the need to end the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s war. The new president has brought much-needed hope to a battered country – one that has been plagued by numerous crises, including a collapsed economy that by 2019 had pushed 80% of the population into poverty.

    But Aoun’s presidency signals the changing political environment in another key way; unlike his predecessors, Aoun has not endorsed Hezbollah as a legitimate resistance movement.

    Further, Aoun has announced his intentions to disarm the group
    and to fully implement resolution 1701.

    To this end, Aoun has made impressive gains. According to state officials, the Lebanese army had by the end of April 2025 dismantled over 90% of Hezbollah’s infrastructure south of the Litani River and taken control over these sites.

    Yet Hezbollah’s chief, Naim Kassem, doggedly rejects calls to disarm and integrate the group’s fighters into the Lebanese armed forces.

    Even in Hezbollah’s weakened position, Kassem believes only his movement, and not the Lebanese state, can guarantee Lebanon’s safety against Israel. And Israel violations of the ceasefire only play into this narrative.

    “We will not allow anyone to remove Hezbollah’s weapons,” Kassem said after one recent airstrike, vowing that the group would hand over weapons only when Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon and ended it’s air incursions.

    Can Lebanon’s new president, Joseph Aoun, untangle the Gordian knot of Lebanese politics?
    Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images

    The challenge going forward

    Yet countries including the United States and Qatar – not to mention Israel – consider Hezbollah’s disarmament a prerequisite to both peace and much-needed international assistance.

    And this makes the task ahead for Aoun difficult. He will be well aware that international aid is desperately needed. But pressing too hard to accommodate either Israel’s or Hezbollah’s interests risks, respectively, exacerbating either domestic political pressures or jeopardizing future foreign investment.

    To complicate matters further, the situation in Lebanon is hardly helped by developments in neighboring Syria.

    The fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad in December 2024 has added another element of regional uncertainty and the fear in Lebanon of further sectarian violence. Although Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has vowed to protect all religious groups, he was not able to prevent the massacre of Alawite civilians in several coastal towns – an attack that triggered a fresh wave of refugees heading toward Lebanon.

    The removal of Assad was another blow for Hezbollah, a strong Assad ally that benefited from years of Syrian interference in Lebanon.

    The challenge of international relations

    For now, a return to full-scale war in Lebanon does not appear to be on the table.

    But what comes next for Lebanon and Hezbollah depends on many factors, not least the state of Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza and any spillover into Lebanon. But the actions of other regional actors, notably Saudi Arabia and Iran, matter too. Should Saudi Arabia be encouraged down the path of normalizing relations with Israel – a process interrupted by the Oct. 7 attack – then it would impact Lebanon in many ways.

    Any deal would, from the Saudi perspective, likely have to include a solution to the question of Palestinian statehood, taking away one of Hezbollah’s main grievances. It would also likely put pressure on Lebanon and Israel to find a solution to its long-standing border dispute.

    Meanwhile, Iran, too, is seemingly turning to diplomatic means to address some of its regional issues, with nascent moves to both improve ties with Saudi Arabia and forge forward with a new nuclear deal with the U.S. This could see Tehran turn away from a policy of trying to impose its influence throughout the region by arming groups aligned with Tehran – first among them, Hezbollah.

    Mireille Rebeiz is affiliated with the American Red Cross.

    – ref. Disarming Hezbollah is key to Lebanon’s recovery − but task is complicated by regional shifts, ceasefire violations – https://theconversation.com/disarming-hezbollah-is-key-to-lebanons-recovery-but-task-is-complicated-by-regional-shifts-ceasefire-violations-255671

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The roots of dementia can start in childhood – prevention should be a lifelong goal

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Scott Chiesa, Senior Research Fellow and Alzheimer’s Research UK David Carr Fellow, UCL

    Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock

    More than 60 million people are estimated to be living with dementia, resulting in over 1.5 million deaths a year and an annual cost to the global healthcare economy of around US $1.3 trillion (almost £1 trillion).

    Despite decades of scientific research and billions of pounds of investment, dementia still has no cure. But what of the old saying that prevention is better than cure? Is preventing dementia possible? And if so, at what age should we be taking steps to do so?

    Despite what many believe, dementia is not simply an unavoidable consequence of ageing or genetics. It is estimated that up to 45% of dementia cases could potentially be prevented by reducing exposure to 14 modifiable risk factors common throughout the world.

    Many of these risk factors – which include things like obesity, lack of exercise, and smoking – are traditionally studied from middle age (around 40 to 60 years old) onwards. As a result, several of the world’s leading health bodies and dementia charities now recommend that strategies aimed at reducing dementia risk should ideally be targeted at this age to reap the greatest benefits.

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    We argue, however, that targeting even younger ages is likely to provide greater benefits still. But how young are we talking? And why would exposure to risk factors many decades before the symptoms of dementia traditionally appear be important?

    To explain, let’s work backwards from middle age, starting with the three decades covering adolescence and young adulthood (from ten to 40 years old).

    Many lifestyle-related dementia risk factors emerge during the teenage years, then persist into adulthood. For example, 80% of adolescents living with obesity will remain this way when they are adults. The same applies to high blood pressure and lack of exercise. Similarly, virtually all adults who smoke or drink will have started these unhealthy habits in or around adolescence.

    This poses two potential issues when considering middle age as the best starting point for dementia-prevention strategies. First, altering health behaviour that has already been established is notoriously difficult. And second, most high-risk individuals targeted in middle age will almost certainly have been exposed to the damaging effects of these risk factors for many decades already.

    As such, the most effective actions are likely to be those aimed at preventing unhealthy behaviour in the first place, rather than attempting to change long-established habits decades down the line.

    The roots of dementia

    But what about even earlier in people’s lives? Could the roots of dementia stretch as far back as childhood or infancy? Increasing evidence suggests yes, and that risk factor exposures in the first decade of life (or even while in the womb) may have lifelong implications for dementia risk.

    To understand why this may be, it’s important to remember that our brain goes through three major periods during our lives – development in early life, a period of relative stability in adult life, and decline (in some functions) in old age.

    Most dementia research understandably focuses on changes associated with that decline in later life. But there is increasing evidence that many of the differences in brain structure and function associated with dementia in older adults may have at least partly existed since childhood.

    For example, in long-term studies where people have had their cognitive ability tracked across their whole lives, one of the most important factors explaining someone’s cognitive ability at age 70 is their cognitive ability when they were 11. That is, older adults with poorer cognitive skills have often had these lower skills since childhood, rather than the differences being solely due to a faster decline in older age.

    Similar patterns are also seen when looking for evidence of dementia-related damage on brain scans, with some changes appearing to be more closely related to risk factor exposures in early life than current unhealthy lifestyles.

    Taken together, perhaps the time has come for dementia prevention to be thought of as a lifelong goal, rather than simply a focus for old age.

    A lifelong prevention plan

    But how do we achieve this in practical terms? Complex problems require complex solutions, and there is no quick fix to address this challenge. Many factors contribute to increasing or decreasing an individual’s dementia risk – there is no “one size fits all” approach.

    But one thing generally agreed upon is that mass medication of young people is not the answer. Instead, we – along with 33 other leading international researchers in the field of dementia – recently published a set of recommendations for actions that can be taken at the individual, community and national levels to improve brain health from an early age.

    Our consensus statement and recommendations deliver two clear messages. First, meaningful reductions in dementia risk for as many people as possible will only be achievable through a coordinated approach that brings together healthier environments, better education and smarter public policy.

    Second – and perhaps most importantly – while it’s never too late to take steps to reduce your risk of dementia, it’s also never too early to start.

    Scott Chiesa receives funding from an Alzheimer’s Research UK David Carr Fellowship.

    Francesca Farina receives funding from the Alzheimer’s Association and the University of Chicago.

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

    – ref. The roots of dementia can start in childhood – prevention should be a lifelong goal – https://theconversation.com/the-roots-of-dementia-can-start-in-childhood-prevention-should-be-a-lifelong-goal-255845

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Cockney Yiddish: how two languages influenced each other in London’s East End

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nadia Valman, Professor of Urban Literature, Queen Mary University of London

    Yiddish is a familiar presence in contemporary English speech. Many people use or at least know the meaning of words like chutzpah (audacity), schlep (drag) or nosh (snack).

    These words have been absorbed into English from their original speakers, eastern European Jews who migrated to Britain in the late 19th century, through generations of living in close proximity in areas like London’s East End.

    Linguistics scholars have even theorised that elements of a Yiddish accent may have influenced the cockney accent as it evolved in the early 20th century. Phonetic analysis of cockney speakers recorded in the mid-20th century suggests that East Enders who grew up with Jewish neighbours spoke English with speech rhythms typical of Yiddish.

    A distinctive pronunciation of the “r” sound is thought to have originated among Jewish immigrants and spread into the wider population.

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    But, as we explore in our new podcast, cockney reshaped the Yiddish language too. This can be seen in surviving texts from the popular culture of the Jewish immigrant East End, including newspapers and songsheets, where songs, poems and stories dramatise the thrills and challenges of modern London.

    The Yiddish music of London’s East End brought together the Yiddish language and Jewish culture of eastern Europe with the raucous, irreverent style of the cockney music hall. Theatres and pubs overflowed with audiences eager to see the immigrant experience in Whitechapel represented in all its perplexity and pathos, with a good measure of slapstick comedy.

    A Yiddish music hall song from around 1900 jokes that East Enders live on “poteytes un gefrayte fish” – a Yiddish version of the cockney staple fish and chips. The song lists the many novelties that immigrants encountered on arriving in the metropolis: trains running underground, women wearing trousers and people speaking on telephones.

    Yiddish music hall song ‘London hot sikh ibergekert’ (London has turned itself upside down) performed by the author’s (Vivi Lachs) band Katsha’nes.

    Yiddish was also the language of street protest in the Jewish East End. During the “strike fever” of 1889, when workers throughout east London were demanding better pay and working conditions, the Whitechapel streets resonated with the voices of Jewish sweatshop workers singing:

    In di gasn, tsu di masn fun badrikte felk rasn, ruft der frayhaytsgayst (In the streets, to the masses / of oppressed peoples, races / the spirit of freedom calls).

    This song was penned by the socialist poet Morris Winchevsky, an immigrant from Lithuania who spoke Yiddish as a mother tongue but preferred to write in literary Hebrew. In London he switched to writing in the vernacular language of Yiddish in order to make his writing more accessible to immigrant Jewish workers. The song became a rousing anthem in labour protests across the Yiddish-speaking world, from Warsaw to Chicago.

    The decline of Yiddish

    Yet from the earliest days of Jewish immigration to London, the Yiddish-language culture of the East End was a focus of anxiety for the Jewish middle and upper class of the West End. They regarded Yiddish as a vulgar dialect, detrimental to the integration of Jewish immigrants in England.

    While they provided significant philanthropic support for immigrants, they banned the use of Yiddish in the educational and religious institutions that they funded.

    In 1883, budding novelist Israel Zangwill was disciplined by the Jews’ Free School, where he worked as a teacher, for publishing a short story liberally sprinkled with dialogues in cockney-Yiddish.

    By the 1930s Yiddish had begun to decline. As Jews moved away from the East End, local Yiddish newspapers folded and publications dwindled.

    The Yiddish writer I.A. Lisky, who wrote fiction for a keen but diminishing readership in the London Yiddish newspaper Di tsayt, movingly described a young woman and her grandmother who each harbour complex hopes and worries but cannot communicate: “Ken ober sibl nit redn keyn yidish un di bobe farshteyt nor a por verter english. Shvaygt sibl vayter.” (But Sybil spoke no Yiddish, and her grandmother knew only a few words of English. So she remained silent.)

    Yiddish-language newspapers like Der Fonograf flourished in the early 20th century East End.
    Courtesy of Jewish Miscellanies website.

    Jewish writers of the postwar period were haunted by the sense of a lost connection to the Yiddish language and culture of previous generations.

    The novelist Alexander Baron, who grew up in Hackney, remembered his grandparents reading Yiddish literature and newspapers, and his parents speaking Yiddish when they did not want their children to understand what they were saying.

    In his novel The Lowlife (1963) the narrator’s vocabulary is peppered with Yiddish words. But these fragments are all that remains of his link to the East End where he was born. When he returns to these streets, he feels that “my too, too solid flesh in the world of the past is like a ghost of the past in the solid world of the present; it can look on but it cannot touch”.

    Yiddish in London today

    If you walk through the north London neighbourhood of Stamford Hill today, you’ll hear Yiddish on the streets and see new Yiddish books on the shelves of the local bookshops. Although they have no connection to the Victorian Jewish East End, the ultra-orthodox Hasidic community who live there speak Yiddish as their first language.

    And for a younger generation of secular Jews, Yiddish is also acquiring a new appeal. They look to past traditions of Jewish diasporism to forge an identity rooted in language, culture and solidarity with other minorities rather than nationalism.

    London is one centre of this worldwide revival: the Friends of Yiddish group established in the East End in the late 1930s is now flourishing in its contemporary incarnation as the Yiddish Open Mic Cafe. And Yiddish is once again a language that anyone can learn.

    The Ot Azoy Yiddish summer school is in its 13th year, and new Yiddish language schools are thriving, including east London-based Babel’s Blessing, which teaches diaspora languages including Yiddish and offers free English classes to refugees and asylum seekers. The annual Yiddish sof-vokh hosts an immersive weekend for Yiddish learners.

    Yiddish culture too is being rejuvenated. Projects we have been involved with include the Yiddish Shpilers theatre troupe, the Great Yiddish Parade marching band, which has brought Winchevsky’s socialist anthems back onto London’s streets, and the London band Katsha’nes, which has reimagined cockney Yiddish music hall songs for the 21st century.

    If Yiddish was once reviled as a debased, slangy mishmash, full of borrowings and adaptations, it’s precisely for those qualities that it is celebrated today.

    Nadia Valman received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for research included in this article.

    Vivi Lachs received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for research included in this article.

    – ref. Cockney Yiddish: how two languages influenced each other in London’s East End – https://theconversation.com/cockney-yiddish-how-two-languages-influenced-each-other-in-londons-east-end-252779

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Denmark’s oysters are transforming foodies into citizen scientists

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dominique Townsend, Visiting Researcher, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton

    Lea Meilandt Mathisen, CC BY-NC-ND

    This year 80 people put on their waders, grabbed buckets and quadrats (square metal frames), and splashed through the clear shallow waters. Once they reached one of the many sampling locations, marked by miniature floats, they threw their quadrats into the shallow water, ready to collect all the sea life that landed inside their quadrats.

    No one had any idea what they might find living on the seabed until they reached into the water. Nearby, kids peered down at the seabed using underwater scopes, grandparents chuckled as they returned for a second forage.

    This citizen science project combines coastal ecology and gastronomy. Our groups returned to the sorting stations to identify, count, weigh and measure each bucket of creatures and algae. A typical bucket might contain four living Pacific oysters, nine dead, a brush-clawed shore crab, four folded sea squirts and a handful of snails.

    Then, we sat down together to eat a gourmet oyster dinner, prepared by Denmark’s top chefs. Organised by a shellfish gastrotourism association called Danmarks Skaldyrshovedstad, this oyster hunt (Østerjagten 2025) is a new annual festival held at the Salling Sund Bridge in the Danish Limfjorden, a 110-mile strait of water in northern Denmark.

    Citizen scientists gather flora and fauna samples from the seafloor.
    Lea Meilandt Mathisen, CC BY-NC-ND

    The invasive Pacific oysters people had collected from the seabed then went on to be shucked and cooked. They were served au gratin, with wild flavour combinations, ranging from blueberry and blue cheese to shavings of prosciutto with strawberries and lime.

    Most people told us they came along because of the quirkiness of this event, and the promise of gourmet food. Less than one in five people stated their interest in marine research as their reason for joining. Nobody attended the event just for the science.

    As a coastal change researcher, this result was exciting – we were reaching an audience that might not normally engage. Even after participating, many people didn’t feel like citizen scientists. But when asked what they had learnt, most recalled facts about coastal ecology, as well as new ways to cook oysters.

    A delicious plate of Pacific oysters served au gratin.
    Lea Meilandt Mathisen, CC BY-NC-ND



    Read more:
    How citizen science is shaping international conservation

    Eating aliens

    Back to the basket sample contents. Pacific oyster, brush-clawed shore crab, folded sea squirts: none are native to the Limfjorden or Danish waters. So many people were shocked to find out that their baskets were full of invasive species – these “alien species” are non-native and can compete with the resident species for both food and space.

    Despite an increase in the number of empty Pacific oysters shells we found this year compared to last (indicating more oyster deaths), temperatures are rising in this estuary system. This means that conditions are becoming more suitable for the Pacific oysters and the other invasive creatures, many of which originate in warmer waters.

    Individual Pacific oysters were measured by hand.
    Lea Meilandt Mathisen, CC BY-NC-ND

    All oysters provide ecosystem services; improving water quality, forming new habitats and protecting coastlines from erosion by reducing wave energy. As Pacific oysters are bigger, rougher, tougher and much faster growing than native European oysters, they can have a greater impact on the environment.

    This, however, is not necessarily a good thing. As Pacific oysters take over European oyster and blue mussel beds, birds which once fed on these species are left without vital food sources. The thick shells mean they have no predators once they reach a certain size. Beach goers can also be affected as the razor-sharp shells occupy previously sandy bathing areas.

    Farming of the Pacific oyster has been banned in Denmark since 1998, yet despite this measure, Pacific oyster beds are now widespread and prevalent across Denmark’s estuaries. A single oyster can release between 50 and 200 million eggs during a spawning event each year meaning it is impossible to control them.

    A young citizen scientist holds a small shore crab.
    Lea Meilandt Mathisen, CC BY-NC-ND

    While children were discovering the joy of sea squirts, other marine scientists and I could have tougher conversations with adults about climate change. We explained that warming temperatures are clearly visible in the here-and-now of local monitoring data.

    The Limfjorden is made up of a series of fjords and islands in northern Denmark which link the North Sea to the Kattergat (the sea between Denmark and Sweden). This area is characterised by undisturbed coastlines and rolling hills, as well as some famous geological sites. It is a popular holiday destination for those that enjoy being in nature, some Danish hyggelig (comfort) and seafood.

    But the Limfjorden is subject to numerous pressures: eutrophication (when extra nutrients in the water cause toxic algal blooms), changing climate, fishing, dumping of dredged materials and the arrival of invasive species. Its resilience to these may serve as an ecological bell weather for the rest of the world’s coasts.

    Our event highlights how we’ll have to deal with environmental issues together. One feedback form still sits on my desk, the participant wrote in Danish: “Forskning er alle mands projekt og at det har effekt.” This translates to “research is everyone’s project and it has an effect”.

    This edible approach offers a new way of communicating complex issues such as biodiversity and the introduction of alien species. Oyster hunt-style events such as this offer an excellent opportunity for scientists like us to provide some food for thought.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Camille Saurel receives funding from the European Union, Danish Government and research councils.

    Pedro Seabra Freitas receives funding from the European Union, Danish Government and Research Councils, Aage V. Jensen Naturfond.

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

    – ref. How Denmark’s oysters are transforming foodies into citizen scientists – https://theconversation.com/how-denmarks-oysters-are-transforming-foodies-into-citizen-scientists-255828

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Symptoms of androgen excess in women are too often being overlooked – or dismissed as ‘just cosmetic’

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michael O’Reilly, Clinical Associate Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

    Hair loss can be a symptom of androgen excess Hazal Ak/Shutterstock

    Acne that won’t go away. Hair thinning at the crown. Unwanted facial hair, unpredictable periods, mood swings and weight gain. For millions of women, these aren’t just annoying symptoms – they’re signs of a deeper, often ignored condition: androgen excess. Despite affecting at least one in ten women worldwide, this hormonal imbalance remains underdiagnosed, misunderstood, and too often dismissed.

    Androgens are commonly known as “male hormones”, but all women have them too. The problem arises when levels become too high. This excess can wreak havoc across multiple systems in the body, disrupting menstrual cycles, fertility, metabolism and even mental health. Yet because some of the more visible symptoms, like acne or hirsutism, are often brushed off as cosmetic, many women don’t get the support or treatment they need.

    The most well known cause of androgen excess is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It affects up to 13% of women globally and costs the US alone an estimated US$15 billion (£11 bllion) each year.

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    But, even though PCOS dominates the conversation, it’s not the only condition behind androgen excess. Other, sometimes more serious, disorders can also cause elevated hormone levels like hormone-secreting tumours, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (a group of genetic disorders that affect your adrenal glands), Cushing’s syndrome (a rare hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to very high levels of the hormone cortisol) and severe insulin resistance. Yet too often, the assumption is that any woman with high androgens has PCOS, which can delay diagnosis of these rarer but potentially serious conditions.

    The effects of androgen excess go far beyond skin deep. It’s associated with significant metabolic issues – insulin resistance affects the majority of women with PCOS, putting them at higher risk for type 2 diabetes. Many also live with higher body weight and are more likely to develop high blood pressure, liver disease and cardiovascular problems.

    For some, difficulty conceiving is what finally leads them to seek medical help. But even among women not trying to become pregnant, hormonal imbalance can take a toll: anxiety and depression are two to three times more common in women with PCOS than in the general population.

    And yet, hormonal health is still too often treated as an afterthought. Many women describe years of feeling dismissed by doctors, told to “come back if you want to get pregnant”, or offered little more than the contraceptive pill. On average, women with PCOS wait over two years and consult several different healthcare professionals before receiving a diagnosis. Nearly half say their symptoms were initially ignored.

    Part of the problem may be the name itself. “Polycystic ovary syndrome” is a misnomer – many women with PCOS don’t actually have cysts on their ovaries, and having ovarian cysts doesn’t necessarily mean you have PCOS. It’s a complex metabolic and hormonal disorder, not just a reproductive one. That’s why some experts and patient advocates around the world are calling for a name change to better reflect the condition’s true nature. A more accurate label could raise awareness and improve the way it’s diagnosed and treated.

    Encouragingly, there’s been a major step forward in how androgen excess is addressed. In June 2024, the Society for Endocrinology in the UK published new clinical guidelines to help doctors better identify and manage the condition. These guidelines include clear diagnostic pathways, recommendations for when to carry out blood tests or scans, and guidance on when to refer patients for specialist care. Crucially, they acknowledge that androgen excess can affect women at all ages – not just during the reproductive years.

    A real difference

    Publishing guidelines is only the first step. To make a real difference in women’s lives, several things need to happen. First, there must be greater investment in research. We still don’t fully understand why some women develop excess androgens while others don’t, or why symptoms vary so much between individuals. Research in women’s health has long been underfunded and androgen-related conditions are no exception.

    Doctors also need better training. General practitioners, gynaecologists, dermatologists and even mental health professionals all have a role to play in recognising the signs of androgen excess. If they don’t feel confident identifying the symptoms or knowing when to investigate further, women will continue to fall through the cracks.

    Just as importantly, women need access to clear, trustworthy information. Too many are left to Google their symptoms or rely on online forums. Knowing what to look out for – and what to ask a doctor – can empower women to advocate for themselves and get the care they deserve.

    Finally, we need to move toward more joined up, holistic care. Hormonal health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It affects – and is affected by – mental wellbeing, lifestyle, metabolism and reproductive health. Effective treatment means looking at the whole picture, not just prescribing a pill or focusing on fertility alone.

    Androgen excess may be invisible to those who don’t experience it, but its impact is profound. For too long, it has flown under the radar. With better understanding, better care, and a stronger voice for women’s health, we can ensure that hormonal symptoms are taken seriously – and treated with the urgency and compassion they deserve.

    Michael O’Reilly receives research funding from the Health Research Board (Ireland) and Wellcome

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

    – ref. Symptoms of androgen excess in women are too often being overlooked – or dismissed as ‘just cosmetic’ – https://theconversation.com/symptoms-of-androgen-excess-in-women-are-too-often-being-overlooked-or-dismissed-as-just-cosmetic-255743

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Impact of the delay in State aid approval for Solar Package I on agri-photovoltaics and European competitiveness – E-001269/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In December 2022, the Commission declared an amendment to the German Renewable Energy Act (‘Erneuerbare Energien Gesetz’, EEG 2023) compatible with the internal market in line with the Guidelines on state aid for climate, environmental protection and energy[1].

    One of the criteria for state aid approval is to limit aid to what is necessary to address an identified market failure, and thus to avoid over-compensating aid recipients for their investments. Long-term commitments (with potential aid disbursement of up to 20 years) entail significant uncertainty about market developments and thus the possibility of undue windfall profits. For that reason, Germany committed to introduce a claw-back provision (or similar mechanism) to limit eventual overcompensation, in the context of the Commission decision approving the EEG 2023. This commitment is a condition of the approval.

    The current discussions on the Solar Package I amendments include the outstanding need to incorporate this pre-existing requirement in the scheme. It falls within the responsibility of Member States to notify new aid in line with the applicable legal requirements and to ensure the timeliness and quality of information provided. The Commission is awaiting a proposal from Germany to address the requirement regarding the EEG 2023 approval condition and remains available and committed to rapidly review any such proposal once received.

    • [1] Communication from the Commission — Guidelines on state aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022, Official Journal of the European Union, C 80, 18 February 2022.
    Last updated: 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –