1. All Member States, including Italy, have submitted the list of designated ports authorised for landing and transhipment of fisheries products for 2025, in compliance with Article 5(3) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008[1].
2. It is up to the Member States’ authorities to determine if the ports in their territories are suitable for inclusion in the list of designated ports under Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008. Italian authorities have not designated the Port of Licata as designated port in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008.
Under Article 267 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, where a question on the interpretation of acts of the institutions is raised in a case pending before a court or tribunal of a Member State against whose decisions there is no judicial remedy under national law, that court or tribunal shall bring the matter before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
The CJEU has declared that a court or tribunal against whose decisions there is no judicial remedy under national law is required, where a question of Community law is raised before it, to comply with its obligation to bring the matter before the Court of Justice, unless it has established that the question raised is irrelevant or that the Community provision in question has already been interpreted by the Court or that the correct application of Community law is so obvious as to leave no scope for any reasonable doubt[1].
Therefore, national courts against whose decisions there is no remedy under national law and which refuse to refer to the CJEU a preliminary question on the interpretation of EU law that has been raised before them are obliged to give reasons for their refusal in the light of the exceptions provided for in the case-law of the CJEU[2].
In the judgment referred to by the Honourable Member, the Spanish Supreme Court (Court of last resort) stated that the arguments set out in the case and the judgments of the CJEU mentioned therein made it unnecessary to raise a preliminary question before the CJEU for the resolution of the appeal.
Therefore, the Supreme Court did not have doubts on the interpretation of the relevant EU law that would make it necessary to bring the matter before the CJEU for the resolution of the appeal.
The Commission does not intend to take further action.
[1] Judgment of the Court of Justice of 6 October 1982, in CILFIT v. Ministero della Sanità, C-283/81.
[2] Ullens de Schooten and Rezabek v. Belgium, 2011, § 62; Sanofi Pasteur v. France, 2020, § 70.
1. The Commission recalls that the use of towed gears, including boat seines, is prohibited within 3 nautical miles of the coast or within the 50 m isobath where that depth is reached at a shorter distance from the coast[1]. Derogations can be granted under certain conditions by the Commission at the request of a Member State provided that the fisheries concerned are subject to a management plan.
In December 2021, Greece informed the Commission of its decision to withdraw a request for derogation and not adopt the related management plan. Such decision of a Member State only ends the derogation process and does not constitute a violation of EU law. If the derogation from the prohibition for the use of boat seines is not requested, the adoption of the related management plan is no longer necessary.
2. The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)[2] is designed to offer support to the fisheries sector in many ways, notably to contribute to the sustainable use and management of aquatic and maritime resources. Competent authorities can consider mobilising financing from the Greek EMFAF Programme to provide support to the fisheries sector concerned. The activation of EMFAF financial support should be in line with the objectives of the Greek EMFAF Programme as agreed between the Commission and Greece. Member States may equally grant state aid to undertakings in the fisheries sector in line with the Fisheries state aid guidelines[3].
3. A Member State’s choice to withdraw a request for a derogation and subsequently not adopt the related management plan does not breach EU law. Therefore, the Commission does not have any grounds to intervene.
[1] Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006, eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32006R1967
The Commission highlights that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.
Coastal and flag States have to exercise their rights and fulfil their obligations in accordance with Unclos. The international legal regime regulating the passage of ships through straits is embodied in Unclos.
While exercising rights of transit passage, ships must, inter alia, comply with generally accepted international regulations, procedures and practices for the prevention, reduction, and control of pollution from ships.
Moreover, according to Articles 192 and 210 et seq., States have the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment and cooperate on a global and regional basis for the same purpose.
Moreover, under Unclos, flag States are responsible for ensuring that vessels, including shadow fleets, sailing under their flag comply with international insurance and certification requirements, vital for accountability and preventing environmental risks in the particularly sensitive sea are of the Baltic Sea.
Denmark, as the coastal State responsible for the Danish Straits, has the authority under Unclos to adopt measures to prevent environmental hazards and ensure compliance with international regulations within its territorial seas.
Member States are also required by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive[1] to include significant acute pollution events in their marine strategies.
Where such pollution events occur, it is the prime responsibility of Member States to intervene and this includes cooperation with regional bodies such as Helcom to monitor and manage maritime activities that could pose risks to the Baltic Sea.
[1]1 Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy, OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, p. 19-40.
1. The EU has a strategic interest in a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and in a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Türkiye. Under the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, the EU reporting mechanisms ensure structured communication between coastal and flag States, enabling action when vessels are suspected of engaging in Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Also, in line with the relevant Council Regulation (EC)[1], the Member State concerned has primary responsibility for control in its waters, including the adoption of enforcement measures and resource allocation.
2. The Commission supports Greece through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and the European Fisheries Control Agency, which deploys the patrol vessel ‘Ocean Sentinel’, provides satellite imagery and aerial surveillance and coordinates inspection campaigns. The Commission intends to reinforce controls by improving synergies with the European Maritime Safety Agency and strengthening joint deployments in the Mediterranean.
3. Alleged IUU fishing by Turkish vessels is monitored by the Commission and the Member States concerned. In this context, unequivocal commitment to good neighbourly relations, to international agreements and to the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the United Nations’ Charter, as well as abstaining from unilateral actions which run counter to EU interests, violate international law and the sovereign rights of EU Member States, remains an essential requirement[2]. Türkiye’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) would improve cooperation with the EU on fisheries and maritime policy[3].
[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1224/oj/eng as recently modified by Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 of 22 November 2023.
The value added tax (VAT) Directive[1] provides for the taxation of supplies of services made by taxable persons for consideration.
However, as part of the derogations granted to Member States until the adoption of the definitive arrangements, Article 371 of the VAT Directive authorised Denmark, amongst other Member States, to continue to exempt the supply of services by authors, artists and performers but only those listed in Annex X, Part B, point (2), namely excluding assignments of patents, trademarks and other similar rights, and the granting of licences in respect of such rights, if the services in question were exempted in the respective Member States on 1 January 1978 and in accordance with the conditions applying on that date and have been applied continuously ever since.
Nevertheless, this is an option granted to Denmark which can decide to tax those services. Once it opts to tax, there is no possibility to revert to the previous exemption and Denmark will be obliged to continue to apply VAT on the services concerned.
It should be noted however that in some particular cases[2], the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that certain supplies of services by authors are not taxable transactions from a VAT point of view so there is no possibility for Member States to impose VAT on those amounts.
[1] Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax, OJ L 347, 11.12.2006, p. 1.
[2] Cases C-37/16, SAWP, ECLI:EU:C:2017:22, and C-51/18, Commission vs Republic of Austria, ECLI:EU:C:2018:1035.
“No profounder duty confronts a state than the necessity of constructing sane and serviceable citizens out of the material of childhood. No higher privilege awaits the individual in this land of opportunity than the privilege of contributing to such an end.”
Dr. Anna Julia Cooper wrote these words ca. 1930 in her essay, “Educational Programs”. (Cooper, Portable, 190.) Her life as a civil rights activist, essayist, an educator, an intellectual, and a philosopher on society and the law is an extraordinary catalog of outstanding achievements.
Born in 1858 into slavery to Hannah Stanley Haywood in Raleigh, North Carolina, Anna Julia Haywood was freed in 1863, following the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation. She enrolled in Saint Augustine Normal School and Collegiate Institute as a student, a school established by the Freedman’s Bureau, and began tutoring there at age 10 to help with her tuition. She married fellow student George A.C. Cooper when she graduated from high school. He died two years later, and she enrolled in Oberlin College in 1881, which she attended on scholarship. While there, she asked to attend the “gentlemen’s courses” which included higher mathematics, Latin, and Greek. (Cooper, Portable, xxiii.) She graduated from Oberlin with a B.A. in mathematics in 1884, and an M.A. in mathematics in 1887.
Mrs. A.J. Cooper. Photo by C.M. Bell, Washington, D.C. [between 1901 and 1903] Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/bellcm.15413/
Cooper started teaching math and science at the M Street School, in Washington, D.C., after earning her M.A. from Oberlin. The school “provided a rigorous curriculum that surpassed the offerings of many white schools.” M Street offered a curriculum with academic, scientific, technical, and business tracks. Cooper published her book, A Voice from the South to a positive critical response. As the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy notes of the essay “Woman vs. the Indian”, “Cooper… calls for the natural inherent rights of all people, or ‘the rights of humanity’ but also specifying groups typically denied these rights such as Blacks, women, Indians (or Native Americans), and the poor.” This comment on her philosophy of inherent rights applies not only to the essay, but to much of the book. Her thoughts and essays on society’s influence on the law, racial prejudice, feminism and education were followed by her more famous peers such as W.E.B. Du Bois, whom she corresponded with often.
She traveled to conferences and cultural exchange programs, traveled to Nassau and throughout Europe, and spoke at the Pan-African Conference in London in 1900, where she was a member of the Executive Committee (Cooper, Portable, xl.) She was promoted to principal of the M Street School in 1901. While directing the school as the principal, she made academic and vocational tracks available to all students. However, she focused on strengthening the school’s curriculum on academics, “an approach often associated with Du Bois’s educational philosophy rather than Booker T. Washington’s emphasis on vocational training.” As principal, she made successful efforts to get students admitted to Brown, Mt. Holyoke, Harvard, Yale, and other Ivy League schools when the students passed entrance examinations. She was removed from her position as principal by the head of the school board, who disapproved of her focus of the school curriculum on academics, despite community support for her to stay. She moved to teach at the Jefferson Institute in Missouri for a brief period while pursuing legal action for a return to her position at M Street and back pay. Her commitment to equal education predated Brown v. Board of Education.
Eventually, Cooper returned to M Street School in 1910 to teach Latin, and continued her own studies, while adopting the five grandchildren of her brother. She published her translation of Le Pèlerinage de Charlemagne in 1917. At the age of 66, she completed and defended her doctoral thesis, L’Attitude de la France à l’Egard l’Esclavage Pendant la Révolution at the Sorbonne; she was the first African-American woman to graduate from the school.
Dr. Cooper returned to teaching at M Street School until 1930 when she retired. She became the president of Frelinghuysen University, the only other higher education facility for African Americans in D.C. at the time. When the school had insufficient funds to stay in operation, she ran it from her own home, while continuing to write and publish essays in The Crisis and the WashingtonTribune.
She worked and advocated throughout her career for equal rights in education and society for women and African Americans until her death at 105. Like some other civil rights activists we have featured in the blog in the past, she was not a lawyer, but her philosophical writing and educational work created changes in civil rights; the Library’s unique collections of her work allow readers to discover more. Her writing is printed in the U.S. passport, “The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class – it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity.”
“What we witnessed today was bullying from one of the most powerful men in the world. It was the antithesis of the diplomacy needed in such a delicate moment. While many Brits watched on in horror with real fear, we call on the Prime Minister to make abundantly clear that he stands with Zelensky in working for a just peace and opposed to the strongman brinkmanship tactics of President Trump. Today’s shameful behaviour by the American administration- of inviting a leader to their country with the intention to bully and humiliate – must be clearly condemned. Now is the time to make clear we, as a country, stand with Zelensky in working for a lasting just peace.”
When The Highland Council’s Harbours Management Board met earlier today, (Friday 28 February) members expressed their delight that two projects are bringing benefits to the council, the fishing industry and their local communities.
The Highland Council manages approximately ninety ports, harbours and marine facilities, ten of which provide Marine Gas Oil (MGO) bunkering facilities. There has been a notable increase in the size of commercial vessels using these facilities over the last few years, putting an increasing demand on the existing systems.
A new faster fuel pump installed at Kyle Harbour in October 2024 is proving to be a great success, with fuel sales up and for the time it takes for vessels to refuel cut, making a stop to take on fuel far more attractive for all forms of boats.
The previous pumps at Kyle had a maximum output of 15,000 litres an hour which was too low for some of the larger vessels due to strict turnaround times set by the contracting companies. The new pump has an output of between 24,000-28,000 litres per hour.
Average monthly sales of fuel have increased:
• 2022/23 = 378,698 litres;
• 2023/24 = 558,303 litres; and
• 2024/25 to date = 626,698 litres
Chair of the Board, Councillor Michael Green said: “The income generated from fuel sales at our ports and harbours is an important income source for the Council. We are delighted that since the pump went into operation on 16 October 2024 there has been a total of 1,115,638 litres sold. By investing in modern infrastructure , such as the high-capacity fuel pump at Kyle Harbour, the Council is not only meeting the evolving needs of the maritime industry but also driving economic growth. The Harbours Board, along with the Highland Council is embracing a new entrepreneurial spirit, demonstrating a dynamic customer-led approach to business that prioritises efficiency, innovation and community benefit.
Another important source of income are fish landings at council run harbours and the Board discussed figures that put Kinlochbevie to the fore of harbours across Scotland.
Details of fish landings into all Scottish Harbours are collected by the Scottish Government and published is detailed within Appendix 1. The information provides useful and interesting information on the health of the fishing industry and harbours.
Although the full report for individual harbours is not yet available on the Scottish Government website, statistics for Kinlochbervie have been published.
The report ranks the council-run harbour as 6th overall in landings by tonnage with 7,923T landed. The total tonnage landed in 2024 was up by 30% compared to 2023, making it the highest % increase for tonnage in Scotland. Also ranked 6th overall in value of landings, the total value of landings last year was up by 21% compared to 2023, again, the highest % increase for value in Scotland.
Councillor Green said: “Successful fishing harbours are at the heart of the communities where they are located, offering employment, income and sales opportunities for the local economies. The figures for Kinlochbervie are excellent and show a thriving busy fishing harbour, very much at the heart of the local community. I want to thank everyone working at the harbour and everyone who supports it for their hard work. We look forward to seeing figures for our other harbours when they are published.”
International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff and the Ukrainian authorities have reached staff level agreement (SLA) on the Seventh Review of the 4-year, $15.5 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement. Subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board and consistent with its balance-of-payments needs, Ukraine would be expected to draw about US$0.4 billion (SDR 0.3 billion), bringing total disbursements under the program to US$10.1 billion.
Program performance remains strong. All end-December quantitative performance criteria (QPCs) have been met and understandings were reached on a set of policies and reforms to sustain macroeconomic stability. The structural reform agenda continues to make progress, with seven structural benchmarks met, another benchmark implemented with delay, and strong commitments to advance other key reforms.
The outlook remains exceptionally uncertain as the war continues to take a heavy toll on Ukraine’s people, economy, and infrastructure. Despite the challenging environment, the program remains on track on the back of critical external support.
Warsaw, Poland: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Mr. Gavin Gray held discussions with the Ukrainian authorities in Kyiv, Ukraine and Warsaw, Poland during February 20-28 on the Seventh Review of the country’s 4-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement. Upon the conclusion of the discussions, Mr. Gray issued the following statement:
“IMF staff and the Ukrainian authorities have reached staff-level agreement on the Seventh Review of the EFF, subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, with Board consideration expected in coming weeks.
“Ukraine’s four-year EFF Arrangement with the IMF continues to provide a strong anchor for the authorities’ economic program in times of exceptionally high uncertainty. Program performance remains strong with all quantitative performance criteria for end-December met, and important progress on the structural agenda due for this review. Reflecting a revised profile of balance of payments needs in 2025, Ukraine has requested to rephase access under its EFF program, shifting IMF financing to future reviews while the overall size of the program remains unchanged.
“The economy has continued to show resilience despite the challenges arising from three years of war in Ukraine. Real GDP growth is estimated at 3.5 percent for 2024, but is expected to moderate to 2-3 percent in 2025, reflecting headwinds from labor constraints, damage to energy infrastructure, and the persistence of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Inflation has continued to rise, reaching 12.9 percent y/y in January, mainly due to rising food and labor costs. The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) raised the policy rate by a cumulative 150 bps since December in response. Gross international reserves reached US$43 billion as of January 2025, reflecting continued large external official support. Risks remain exceptionally high given uncertainty on the war and the prospects for peace and recovery.
“The 2025 budget targets a deficit (excluding grants) of 19.6 percent of GDP and remains the anchor for fiscal policy this year. It incorporates the additional revenue derived from the increase in tobacco excise taxes and enactment of this tax policy change is a requirement for completion of the review. Financing the large fiscal deficit will require significant and timely external support, notably from the G7’s ERA initiative, to support macroeconomic stability. Responding to high budget risks will require preparedness with offsetting measures; in particular broad-based, durable, and efficient revenue measures and accelerated implementation of Ukraine’s National Revenue Strategy (NRS)
Restoring medium-term fiscal sustainability requires determined implementation of reforms to mobilize domestic revenues, tackle tax evasion and avoidance, and improve the investment climate. Tax policy reforms need also to be coupled with improvements in tax administration with continued reforms to the state customs service (SCS) and state tax service (STS). Restoring debt sustainability hinges on this revenue-based fiscal adjustment and continued implementation of the authorities’ debt restructuring strategy (where completing the treatment of the GDP warrants remains important). The upcoming 2026-2028 budget declaration that is to be submitted to Parliament in June will be an important opportunity to provide both the context and strategic objectives of the medium-term fiscal strategy.
“Given the risks from rising inflation, the recent increases in the policy rate by the NBU are appropriate. Further action would be warranted if inflation accelerates further or inflation expectations deteriorate. The exchange rate should increasingly act as a shock absorber. Maintaining adequate reserves is a priority, particularly in view of risks to the outlook.
“The independence, competence, and credibility of anti-corruption and judicial institutions should continue to be enhanced. Parliamentary adoption this week of the law establishing the High Administrative Court, a benchmark under the program, is a landmark step in this direction. Swift enactment of the law would pave the way for prompt establishment of the court.
“Effective public investment management (PIM) is critical for post-war recovery, reconstruction, and growth against a backdrop of limited fiscal space and tough demographic realities. To tackle these challenges, the government of Ukraine is implementing a comprehensive PIM framework that is in line with best international practices. A strategy-driven and transparent approach is essential to overcome absorption capacity constraints and allocate scarce resources efficiently.
“The financial sector remains stable, but continued vigilance is warranted given elevated risks. Developing financial markets infrastructure will be critical to support prompt reconstruction and recovery by facilitating much needed private investment, including attracting foreign capital. Comprehensive consultation and collaboration with financial market participants is essential to facilitate preparation of a prioritized reform agenda, which the NBU has begun in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders.
“The mission met with Finance Minister Marchenko, National Bank of Ukraine Governor Pyshnyy, other government ministers, public officials, and civil society. The mission thanks them and their technical staff for the excellent collaboration and constructive discussions.”
Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Kepal Richards, officer in charge of New Zealand Police Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand Team (OCEANZ):
NZ Police have been involved in a global operation targeting AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Operation Cumberland is the first operation of its kind, targeting a “professional” producer of fully AI-generated CSAM, based in Denmark, and the individuals across the world who paid for his content. Led by Danish law enforcement and supported by Europol, 25 arrests were made simultaneously across 21 countries on 26 February.
The Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand Team (OCEANZ) are conducting enquiries into potential offending in New Zealand. At this time no arrests have been made in New Zealand.
A significant amount of work has been undertaken internationally to track and identify individuals distributing the abuse material, which showed disturbing portrayals of computer-generated children of various ages.
While there were no real-life child victims in this case, AI-generated abuse material is a growing issue for Police around the world and there is a growing focus on those responsible for its creation.
Even when imagery doesn’t depict “real” victims, the material adds to an ecosystem that incites and glorifies the sexual abuse and harm of children. AI-generated child abuse material can be so realistic that resources are diverted from identifying real-life child victims, placing those children at ongoing risk of harm.
New Zealand Police continue to work closely with our international partners to combat the exploitation of children.
In New Zealand, creating, possessing, or distributing material that tends to promote or support the sexual exploitation of children is punishable under the Films, Videos, Publications and Classifications Act and those found doing so can expect to be identified and held to account.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff and the Ukrainian authorities have reached staff level agreement (SLA) on the Seventh Review of the 4-year, $15.5 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement. Subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board and consistent with its balance-of-payments needs, Ukraine would be expected to draw about US$0.4 billion (SDR 0.3 billion), bringing total disbursements under the program to US$10.1 billion.
Program performance remains strong. All end-December quantitative performance criteria (QPCs) have been met and understandings were reached on a set of policies and reforms to sustain macroeconomic stability. The structural reform agenda continues to make progress, with seven structural benchmarks met, another benchmark implemented with delay, and strong commitments to advance other key reforms.
The outlook remains exceptionally uncertain as the war continues to take a heavy toll on Ukraine’s people, economy, and infrastructure. Despite the challenging environment, the program remains on track on the back of critical external support.
Warsaw, Poland: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Mr. Gavin Gray held discussions with the Ukrainian authorities in Kyiv, Ukraine and Warsaw, Poland during February 20-28 on the Seventh Review of the country’s 4-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement. Upon the conclusion of the discussions, Mr. Gray issued the following statement:
“IMF staff and the Ukrainian authorities have reached staff-level agreement on the Seventh Review of the EFF, subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, with Board consideration expected in coming weeks.
“Ukraine’s four-year EFF Arrangement with the IMF continues to provide a strong anchor for the authorities’ economic program in times of exceptionally high uncertainty. Program performance remains strong with all quantitative performance criteria for end-December met, and important progress on the structural agenda due for this review. Reflecting a revised profile of balance of payments needs in 2025, Ukraine has requested to rephase access under its EFF program, shifting IMF financing to future reviews while the overall size of the program remains unchanged.
“The economy has continued to show resilience despite the challenges arising from three years of war in Ukraine. Real GDP growth is estimated at 3.5 percent for 2024, but is expected to moderate to 2-3 percent in 2025, reflecting headwinds from labor constraints, damage to energy infrastructure, and the persistence of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Inflation has continued to rise, reaching 12.9 percent y/y in January, mainly due to rising food and labor costs. The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) raised the policy rate by a cumulative 150 bps since December in response. Gross international reserves reached US$43 billion as of January 2025, reflecting continued large external official support. Risks remain exceptionally high given uncertainty on the war and the prospects for peace and recovery.
“The 2025 budget targets a deficit (excluding grants) of 19.6 percent of GDP and remains the anchor for fiscal policy this year. It incorporates the additional revenue derived from the increase in tobacco excise taxes and enactment of this tax policy change is a requirement for completion of the review. Financing the large fiscal deficit will require significant and timely external support, notably from the G7’s ERA initiative, to support macroeconomic stability. Responding to high budget risks will require preparedness with offsetting measures; in particular broad-based, durable, and efficient revenue measures and accelerated implementation of Ukraine’s National Revenue Strategy (NRS)
Restoring medium-term fiscal sustainability requires determined implementation of reforms to mobilize domestic revenues, tackle tax evasion and avoidance, and improve the investment climate. Tax policy reforms need also to be coupled with improvements in tax administration with continued reforms to the state customs service (SCS) and state tax service (STS). Restoring debt sustainability hinges on this revenue-based fiscal adjustment and continued implementation of the authorities’ debt restructuring strategy (where completing the treatment of the GDP warrants remains important). The upcoming 2026-2028 budget declaration that is to be submitted to Parliament in June will be an important opportunity to provide both the context and strategic objectives of the medium-term fiscal strategy.
“Given the risks from rising inflation, the recent increases in the policy rate by the NBU are appropriate. Further action would be warranted if inflation accelerates further or inflation expectations deteriorate. The exchange rate should increasingly act as a shock absorber. Maintaining adequate reserves is a priority, particularly in view of risks to the outlook.
“The independence, competence, and credibility of anti-corruption and judicial institutions should continue to be enhanced. Parliamentary adoption this week of the law establishing the High Administrative Court, a benchmark under the program, is a landmark step in this direction. Swift enactment of the law would pave the way for prompt establishment of the court.
“Effective public investment management (PIM) is critical for post-war recovery, reconstruction, and growth against a backdrop of limited fiscal space and tough demographic realities. To tackle these challenges, the government of Ukraine is implementing a comprehensive PIM framework that is in line with best international practices. A strategy-driven and transparent approach is essential to overcome absorption capacity constraints and allocate scarce resources efficiently.
“The financial sector remains stable, but continued vigilance is warranted given elevated risks. Developing financial markets infrastructure will be critical to support prompt reconstruction and recovery by facilitating much needed private investment, including attracting foreign capital. Comprehensive consultation and collaboration with financial market participants is essential to facilitate preparation of a prioritized reform agenda, which the NBU has begun in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders.
“The mission met with Finance Minister Marchenko, National Bank of Ukraine Governor Pyshnyy, other government ministers, public officials, and civil society. The mission thanks them and their technical staff for the excellent collaboration and constructive discussions.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Ministerial appointment: 28 February 2025
The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments:
The King has been pleased to approve the following appointment:
Baroness Chapman of Darlington as a Minister of State (Minister for International Development) in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Baroness Chapman will attend Cabinet.
The Rt Hon Anneliese Dodds MP has left the Government.
Notes to editors:
Baroness Chapman will also retain her existing portfolio responsibilities.
Stephen Doughty MP will cover Official Development Assistance in the House of Commons.
Hamish Falconer MP (previously unpaid) will be paid as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Since the Labour government came to power in the UK past year, its international relations have been pursued under the banner of what foreign secretary David Lammy calls “progressive realism”. This involves “using realist means to pursue progressive ends”, including taking “pragmatic steps” to improve relations with other states.
Lammy rejects the notion that “idealism has no place in foreign policy” but also argues that the UK should be “realistic about the state of the world and the country’s role in it”.
The visit of the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, to the White House to meet US president Donald Trump has been the biggest test of this approach. Outlining a set of foreign policy principles is one thing, acting on them is another.
Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.
In practice, progressive and realist foreign policies can pull in different directions. Combining them might be a form of “cakeism” – you usually can’t be a realist and have your progressivism too. Sometimes, however, clever diplomacy can find a way.
Did Starmer find that way in his response to Trump’s ideas on negotiating with Russia without a defined role for Ukraine?
Progressive realism in action
Progressivism is associated with a commitment to the rule of international law. In the case of Ukraine, that would mean opposing any peace deal that rewarded Russia’s aggression or the concession of land to Russia.
Progressivism is also associated with a support for international criminal law. The progressive in this case might be opposed to any peace deal that did not see Russian president Vladimir Putin hauled before the International Criminal Court (the same court that Trump has sanctioned).
Realism, on the other hand, is sometimes associated with a foreign policy committed to the promotion of self-interest, defined narrowly as the material wellbeing of the nation. Faced with the threat of further US tariffs, and the impact they would have on the government’s economic priorities, the realist would probably recommend that the UK do absolutely nothing to upset Trump.
Starmer has so far managed to walk this particular tightrope with a “pragmatic” form of progressivism. He remains committed to the vision of a world order based on international law and so is not realist in that sense. He was not willing to betray Ukraine just to be friends with Trump and avoid US tariffs, for instance.
But he was pragmatic because he realised the only way to advance progressive principles was to persuade Trump that they set out the path to a sustainable peace. For this reason, my colleague Jamie Gaskarth and I have argued UK policy might better be described as “progressive pragmatism”.
Starmer has a broader definition of the national interest than that sometimes associated with realism. It is in the UK’s interest to maintain an international order based on laws that codify the progressive principles of national self-determination and international justice.
From this perspective, the UK is right not to turn its back on Ukrainian self-determination by jumping on Trump’s bandwagon. That is a slippery slope. It can lead to a world order that is unstable because it is dictated by the great powers. Ukraine today, Greenland, Palestine, Taiwan tomorrow.
His pragmatism was very much on display in Washington, however. It meant staying close to the US not just to avoid tariffs, which Starmer appears to have done with the help of an invitation from King Charles for a state visit to the UK. It meant working with Trump’s ideas on Russia to persuade him that supporting Ukraine is the way to a “durable” peace.
Durable peace here is not simply a question of satisfying Russia and having sufficient military force on the ground (the so-called US “backstop”) to deter future Russian aggression. It must also respect the political power of a progressive principle: national self-determination.
To conclude a peace that does not include the Ukrainian people is not just a moral betrayal, it is politically imprudent because it creates grievances, which become causes of conflict. That does not mean the only way forward is to return to the pre-2014 status quo, but it does mean Kyiv’s involvement in peace negotiations has to be meaningful, not symbolic.
In 1990 the transatlantic positions were reversed. UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher was troubled by the fall of Berlin wall. She proposed that the occupying powers that had divided Germany in 1945 decide the terms of reunification.
The administration of the then US president, George Bush senior, had a broader understanding of history and the future. They realised that a dictated peace after the first world war contributed to the grievances that led to the second.
On that occasion the US approach prevailed. Germany was allowed to reunify on its own terms and choose its own alliances. It was a progressive and pragmatic solution that was committed to national self-determination and it set the foundations for the durable peace that self-described realists thought would never happen.
Starmer made a point in Washington of congratulating Trump for breaking the impasse. He was rewarded when the president suggested that a trade deal is now on the table. As he flies back across the Atlantic, Starmer might continue the flattery by comparing Trump’s actions to the way Ronald Reagan sowed the seeds of the new world order in the 1980s.
He should recall, however, that the details of that new order were subsequently worked out by the administration of George Bush Snr., which had a pragmatic respect for national self-determination. That now means supporting Ukraine in any upcoming negotiation.
Jason Ralph has in the past received funding from Research Councils UK and the EU. He does not currently hold a research grant. He is a member of the UK Labour Party.
Keir Starmer was only the second European leader to visit Donald Trump’s second White House. The first, France’s Emmanuel Macron, had barely taken off when Starmer touched down, but had already raised the bar by behaving regally in front of the world’s media alongside his fellow president in the Oval Office.
In manner, Macron manifested his eight years in office (four of which were already spent with Trump in the White House). Starmer has had a mere eight months. But it was a challenge, judged in its own immediate terms, that the prime minister met.
Raising the curtain, in a highly untypical coup de théâtre, Starmer flourished – as few can – a letter from the King to give to the president, and then effectively forced Trump to read it on camera and agree to the invitation enclosed within.
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Starmer of course knew he was nudging an open door: much came down to assiduous preparation. The British Embassy, under a finally confirmed ambassador Peter Mandelson, worked overtime to choreograph and lubricate.
Starmer had been wise in contradicting Trump only indirectly. Nothing could be gained – as president Zelenskyy already demonstrated – from doing so publicly. So early an offer of a state visit to the UK ran the risk of appearing desperate, but was mitigated by its also being “unprecedented” as the second to be offered to Trump. A word recently worn smooth by over-use, there was nevertheless another precedent set in the suggestion of a pre-state visit visit between Trump and the king. With this president, more than any other, royal diplomacy is a critical national asset.
Starmer’s announcement of an increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 worked similarly well. That funds are to be diverted from foreign aid for that purpose the Labour leadership deemed as being politically cost-free – or at least good value – politically. It was, indeed, almost Trumpian. The relevant minister disagreed.
It is hard to recall greater shifts in a country’s foreign policy in so short a space of time. Insofar as one can discern Trump’s purposefulness, it is to create pandemonium, which has the secondary effect of galvanising actors to act – not least for fear of further pandemonium.
Thus last week the US voting with Russia, Iran and North Korea, and not with Britain, at the UN. The Trump administration’s designation of choice is now “the Russia-Ukraine conflict”, as if it were merely a border dispute.
Therefore, ahead of Starmer’s arrival in Washington, he was faced with the US apparently aligning itself with a country his describes as “the most acute threat” to the UK. “Jaw-dropping” was the adjective of choice for more than a few informed observers who had thought themselves prepared for whatever may transpire.
The actors Trump primarily wishes to galvanise are European leaders, recalcitrants he thinks should do more to keep their own peace. For Macron to have been told that Putin would accept Nato forces policing the peace was scene-changing, but the only witness to the veracity of that news was Trump, who exhales untruths as easily as he breathes. The Russians soon denied it.
Macron’s offer of France’s (non-Nato) airborne nuclear force complemented Starmer’s commitment to British boots on the ground and helped him elicit Trump’s commitment to mutual defence.
But Trump guaranteeing the peace that Starmer and Macron are willing to police was the cherry conspicuously missing from the cake. The suggestion was subject to a classic Trump equivocation (we’ll always support the Brits, but they won’t need our support).
For the British government, July’s election already resembles a hospital pass. The effect of 20% tariffs on GDP growth could be catastrophic. Trump’s talk of tariff-free trade deals was more than expected, but one such was offered last time without much being doing about, before it was cancelled by President Biden. This time, Trump has said his vice president is drawing up a plan, even that being absent before.
And in a categorical demonstration of the benefits of lobbying there was effective presidential approval of the Chagos islands deal, simultaneously shooting one of Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s few foxes stone dead.
Warm words
Thus has passed the most potentially difficult meeting of a prime minister and a president since Suez. Nothing else comes close. Cliche – eggshells, tightropes – proliferated in previews.
When Starmer was last at the White House, in September, he had asked Biden for a meeting about Ukraine and received it. However unsatisfactory the outcome, public face was maintained. Trump has the ability – and the form – to have humiliated in a way which would permanently have scarred Starmer. That he did the opposite ought not to distract from the vulnerability of the supplicant.
Instead there were encomia from Trump as to the two countries – “special relationship”, “unique friendship”, “fantastic country”, “I’ve always cared” – and of Starmer – “a special man”, “a very special person”. And in describing Starmer’s accent as “beautiful”, the president revealed the hitherto unknown allure of the adenoidal.
Power plays sit ill with Starmer, but he nonetheless ventured two corrections from his armchiar, one to a statement made by the president and another to one made by the vice-president. The subsequent praise for Starmer’s negotiating tenacity from Trump, that much-vaunted artist of the deal, was as priceless – and unfamiliar – as the following morning’s front pages.
However successful this visit, however, nothing can be assumed, still less guaranteed. That the British government would so extensively war-game a meeting with its closest ally tells its own tale, or, rather a tale perhaps yet to be told. At this moment, for the next four years the relationship at least feels more secure than it did a few days before the trip. By such diurnal turns are the affairs of allies now measured.
Martin Farr 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.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
PM call with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi: 28 February 2025
The Prime Minister spoke to President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi this afternoon.
The Prime Minister spoke to President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi this afternoon.
The Prime Minister offered reflections on his visit to the US, where he held positive and productive talks with President Trump.
On the situation in Gaza, the leaders agreed on their hopes for the ceasefire to become a lasting peace and for Gaza to be rebuilt. The Prime Minister reiterated his view that Palestinians must be allowed to return to their homes in Gaza, and that a two-state solution was the only way to deliver a secure and stable future for the region.
Turning to wider issues, the Prime Minister and the President discussed the importance of their countries’ strategic relationship, including on trade and investment. They looked forward to building on this relationship further to deliver significant benefits for both the UK and Egypt.
The Prime Minister discussed the case of British national Alaa Abd El-Fattah with President Sisi. He pressed for Alaa’s release, having met his mother Laila Soueif in recent weeks.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
The UK-UAE strengthen their cooperation on illicit finance
Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, this week visited the UAE to continue the two nations’ shared aim to tackle illicit finance and counter terrorism financing, promoting security for all citizens.
The Security Minister met with Minister of State in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Ahmed bin Ali Al-Sayegh, and completed a significant visit, including meeting with the Dubai Police Commander in Chief.
These meetings marked a significant step forward in the UK and UAE’s ongoing shared efforts to further deliver on the UK-UAE Partnership to tackle illicit financial flows. Both parties agreed to increase judicial cooperation, and ensure the continuous alignment in their approach to illicit finance.
It reaffirmed the UK and UAE’s commitment and ambition to increase cooperation and to build a stronger, more effective partnership in the fight against illicit finance, reinforcing both nations’ roles as leaders in global efforts to tackle this threat.
Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, said:
The Government understands the importance of international cooperation in tracking, intercepting, and stopping the flow of illicit funds between the UK and UAE.
This partnership remains critical to our nations’ missions for countering global crimes and protecting national security, which is the foundation of our Plan for Change.
The UK and UAE have worked to target the financial infrastructures that organised crime groups heavily rely on. This includes the work of the Combined Anti-Money Laundering Operational Team (CAMLOT), a joint initiative designed to tackle money laundering operations and identify hidden financial networks tied to illicit activities.
Through this initiative, the UK and UAE have targeted criminal organisations, weakening the sophisticated financial operations used to fund crime globally.
We are aware of recent issues with traffic congestion on the inbound side of Tavistock Road, where works are taking place for the Woolwell to the George scheme (which will provide long-term benefits for the city).
We absolutely understand the frustration and pressure this causes for people travelling through the area and would like to apologise for this.
We had experienced some issues before Christmas at the Belliver (Plessey) roundabout, which were causing traffic to build up along Tamerton Road but we were able to alleviate this with changes to the length of road available to merge in.
However, since the traffic management changes made a few weeks ago, traffic has been building up there again, as well as on Belliver Roundabout and along the inbound side of Tavistock Road. We have had our teams on site today to assess the situation for ourselves to see how we can improve the flow of traffic on this stretch of the road.
We have been monitoring these new issues and we now believe the main cause of the queuing is the high demand and ‘call’ timing at the pedestrian crossing at Woolwell Roundabout.
Signal engineers are on site today and have adjusted the signal timings of the crossing, in the hope this will help to improve traffic flow. They will continue to monitor the situation in the coming days and weeks and will make further adjustments if we need to.
In the meantime we would like to thank drivers for their patience while these works are under way.
A total of 23 years in prison for a former Brookside actor and his associates has been awarded this afternoon.
Former Brookside actor Philip Foster and eight associates have today (28 February 2025) been sentenced for their part in a £13.6 million fraud that ran for over eight years.
The sentences handed down at Sheffield Crown Court today are the result of an over 6-year investigation by National Trading Standards, whose work uncovered an extensive network of sham modelling agencies that cruelly exploited the dreams of aspiring young models and their parents.
Foster was the ringleader of the operation. He orchestrated the fraud from Spain, using a network of associates based in England who operated a string of sham modelling agencies and photography studios in cities across the country, including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry, and Nottingham.
More than 6,000 victims were deceived by the group – mainly young people and mothers – who ended up parting with substantial amounts of money under the false promise of securing paid modelling work.
The fraud worked by setting up a photographic studio in the area and running a social media advertising campaign. People who responded were given the false impression that a model agency was interested in them, with emails telling them they had potential. Victims were then invited to a ‘free’ test shoot at the photographic studio, which turned out to be a ruse to try to extort money out of them.
At the test shoot, victims were given a studio experience, handed glossy brochures and told how successful other people had been. They would then be told that they passed their studio test and that modelling agencies were interested, but they needed to purchase their portfolio photographs from the studio in order to join an agency and become an agency model.
Victims were duped by the group who, between them, gave a good impression of running successful model businesses and lied to them about their potential. Millions of pounds were taken from aspiring models, with some coerced into financing the upfront payment through credit deals arranged by the fraudsters or taking out expensive payday loans.
Instead, victims received poor quality digital photographs that stood no real chance of landing them professional jobs. Virtually none of the victims received any paid modelling work.
The sham agencies were often dissolved after short periods, rebranded repeatedly to avoid detection, and paid no tax. Money from the scam was laundered through UK bank accounts before being transferred to Spain or carried in cash on commercial flights by co-conspirators.
The investigation traced substantial sums to Foster, who lived in luxury abroad and purchased high-end watches and cars with the proceeds of the fraud. The investigation heard how many victims, left financially and emotionally devastated, described feeling humiliated and betrayed. Some experienced lasting distress that affected their confidence, wellbeing and their ability to trust others.
The sentences, which were handed down today in the absence of Philip Foster, who is currently living in Spain, are as follows:
Philip Foster, aged 49, Edificio Marina Mariola, Marbella, Spain, sentenced to 8.5 years for conspiracies to defraud
Michael Foster, aged 27, Snowdon Lane, Liverpool, sentenced to 3.5 years for conspiracy to defraud
Paul Evans, aged 39, no known address, sentenced to 3.5 years for offences related to money laundering
Jamie Peters, aged 52, Pentland Place, Warrington, sentenced to 24 months, suspended for 2 years, for conspiracy to defraud
Lisa Foster, aged 42, Manchester Road, Astley, sentenced to 18 months, suspended for 12 months, for conspiracy to defraud
Emily Newall, aged 29, Bolton Road, Kearsley, Greater Manchester, sentenced to 10 months, suspended for 12 months, for conspiracy to defraud
Atif Qadar, aged 44, Larkswood Drive, Crowthorne, sentenced to 12 months, suspended for 12 months, for conspiracy to defraud
Paul Fleury, aged 57, Manchester Road, Swinton, Manchester, sentenced to 18 months, suspended for 12 months, for conspiracy to defraud
Aslihan Foster aged 39, Tredington Road, Coventry, sentenced to 18 months, suspended for 12 months, for an offence related to money laundering
Today’s sentencing follows over 6 years of investigative work by the National Trading Standards eCrime Team, hosted by North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council, including forensic analysis of financial transactions, thousands of consumer complaints, and witness testimony from victims. The team was supported by the National Trading Standards South West Regional Investigations Team, hosted by Bristol City Council.
Judge Dixon, said:
“The business worked on the basis of greed taking what they could where they could. Some people were so convinced by the level of deception that they took out payday loans, which gives a clear indication as to how manipulative and cynical the fraud was. It was horrible, despicable, dishonest behaviour and every single one of you deserves to go to prison.
“The officers have carried out an exceptional job to bring these defendants to justice. It was not straightforward or easy. This investigation was conducted with particular skill. A commendation should be made on the basis of the skill deployed.”
Lord Bichard, Chair of the National Trading Standards, said:
“Foster’s cruel exploits left thousands of victims in serious debt, causing lasting emotional distress and significant financial pressures.
“Today’s sentences are an important reminder to would-be criminals that Trading Standards officers across the country are determined to clamp down on fraud, protecting victims and bringing criminals to justice.
“I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of similar scams to report it to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.”
Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member with responsibility for Trading Standards at City of York Council, said:
Today’s sentencing follows years of highly effective trading standards investigative work. Mr Foster and his associates made millions by exploiting the hopes of young people, leaving a trail of broken dreams and financial hardship. I urge everyone to question any modelling contract which demands money up front, and hope that the young people and families affected can now move on to a brighter future, whichever path they choose.”
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member Cllr Greg White, whose responsibilities include Trading Standards, said:
“Foster and his fellow scammers cruelly exploited young hopefuls trying to break into one of the most competitive industries. In some cases, parents borrowed money or sacrificed savings, believing they were investing in their children’s futures.
“I urge anyone searching online for modelling opportunities to remember that legitimate agencies don’t ask for money upfront, it’s often only scam agencies who push expensive photoshoots as a pre-requisite to getting work.”
Police were called to Seven Sisters Road, N7 at around 23:35hrs on Thursday, 27 February.
Officers attended along with London Ambulance Service colleagues. A 75-year-old man was taken to hospital where, very sadly, he died on Friday, 28 February.
The man’s family have been informed. The victim is thought to have been a Bolivian national – formal identification and a post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.
Three teenagers – girls aged 14, 16 and 17 – were arrested on suspicion of GBH prior to the man’s death. This is now being reviewed. They remain in custody and enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.
Superintendent Annmarie Cowley, one of the senior officers responsible for policing Islington, said: “I know this death will cause shock and very real concern in Holloway and the wider Islington area. I share those concerns, and I want to assure local people that a thorough police investigation is under way.
“There are additional police patrols in the local area. I urge local people to speak with these officers if you have any information or any concerns. The officers are there to support you, and they will be in and around Holloway throughout the weekend.”
DCI Paul Waller, Specialist Crime, is leading the murder investigation. He said: “Three people are in custody and specialists from across the Met have been working at pace since last night to establish exactly what happened. Every possible line of inquiry is being followed, and this includes forensic work and ongoing enquiries to identify all available CCTV.
“I am grateful to those members of the public who have contacted police already. I urge anyone who saw the incident but has yet to contact police to please get in touch and share what they know.”
Anyone who has information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or contact @MetCC on X, quoting reference 8184/27feb. You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
During this week’s Mayor’s Question Time that focused on finalising the budget for the Greater London Authority (GLA) Group, Caroline Russell AM led her colleagues Zoë Garbett AM and Zack Polanski AM in proposing a necessary budget amendment aimed at improving the lives of millions of Londoners.
Assembly Members praised Caroline for her dedication to improving public toilets, with many expressing how much they admired the significance of her work. Caroline’s strong campaigning on this topic for years has meant that this week in the chamber, there was a broad consensus for the proposal to increase funding for public toilets.
Separately, the Mayor himself described Caroline’s proposal to increase funding for Transport for London (TfL) to improve pedestrian crossings as a ‘bread and butter issue.’
While the Green budget amendment achieved support in some areas, it ultimately fell short in gaining support. The amendment proposal, which was not approved by Assembly Members, focused on six targeted interventions that would make London a safer, fairer and more affordable city for all.
The six proposals set out were:
An additional £3 million for improving public toilets, doubling the current level of funding
Decreasing drug harm and taking a public health approach to drugs by funding a drug consumption room pilot for London
Delivering a London Renters’ Commission working to make rent controls a reality
Mapping London’s contaminated land
The creation of a Resident Empowerment Reserve Fund
Funding for more pedestrian crossings
Reflecting on the Green budget amendment proposal, Caroline said:
“Londoners are always telling us about the problems they face. We have responded to their demands by putting together a bold package that would address many of their concerns.
“It was good to hear the continued support of Assembly Members for the need for more public toilets, and it was reassuring to hear the Mayor understand that keeping people safe as they cross the road should be ‘bread and butter’ for TfL.
“Though, it’s frustrating to see our colleagues on the Assembly vote against proposals that would transform the lives of so many people living in our city.
“This was a well-thought-out budget amendment that not only provided real solutions to the challenges facing Londoners but also outlined how it would be funded.
“We already know that Assembly Members have pledged their support for public toilets, safer crossings, affordable housing and more, and so it’s disappointing to see them not support our amendment on the Chamber floor.
“We won’t stop pushing for the Mayor to take up more progressive and bold ideas.”
With budget constraints being a top priority, the proposals outlined would mainly be funded by a £1 increase in the congestion charge, bringing congestion charge fees in line with inflation. This would generate an extra £13 million per year to provide £10 million for pedestrian crossings and £3 million a year to double the Mayor’s toilet fund.
The rest of the Green proposals would cost £2.6 million, a small fraction of the £338.1 million currently unallocated in the reserve.
Following the collapse of Olaf Scholz’s “traffic light” coalition in November 2024 (the “yellow” liberal Free Democratic Party – FDP and the “green” Grüne Party led by the “red” Social Democratic Party – SPD), citizens of Germany went to the polls on 23 February 2025 to choose a new government.
One of the ten partner universities from our European alliance CIVICA, the Hertie School (Berlin, Germany), set up a dedicated webpage to provide “data-driven analysis and expert commentary” in order to “navigate the complexities of this pivotal moment”.
Find below three videos with Hertie School experts.
Germany has voted – what comes next?
With Professor of Public Policy Anke Hassel.
How effective was social media in the German election?
With Professor of data science and Public Policy Simon Munzert.
What’s next for German family policy?
With Professor of Sociology and Family Policy expert Michaela Kreyenfeld.
Cover image caption: Paragliding, Berlin, Germany, December 2019. (credits: Christian Lue / Unsplash)
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2
News story
COP16 concludes in Rome with a landmark agreement to mobilise resources for people and nature
• The UK welcomes the positive conclusion to negotiations at the resumed meeting of CBD COP16, which saw the international community make progress towards halting and reversing nature loss by 2030
A growing seedling
The agreement sets out a strategy for global collaboration on raising finance from all sources
A finalised Monitoring Framework will allow the international community to increase transparency on the global effort to address the nature crisis
The extended session of COP16 in Rome ended today (Friday 28 February), after participants landed on a significant new agreement to address the global nature crisis.
The deal will see global collaboration on raising finance for biodiversity, and details of the monitoring framework of the Global Biodiversity Framework targets finalised to accelerate nature recovery.
An agreement on resource mobilisation creates a clear strategy for global collaboration on raising finance from all sources to fund the work necessary to achieve the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The finalisation of a Monitoring Framework and the global approach to reviewing progress in delivering the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, will ensure shared approach to tracking progress with transparency and accountability.
Ruth Davis, UK Special Representative for Nature, who was present at the negotiations in Rome said:
“This agreement is a significant step forward in the effort to tackle the nature crisis.
“As the need for action becomes ever more urgent, a moment of genuine progress like this is heartening to see. Now, we must build on the spirit of co-operation shown in Rome to mobilise the resources needed to restore nature.
“This is essential to help maintain food security, store carbon and tackle the impacts of floods and droughts.”
The UK played a key role in working with the parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to finalise complex discussions on nature finance, and to agree a monitoring framework which will enable all Parties to measure and report in a consistent manner the delivery of their national actions. This will significantly enhance the ability of the international community to monitor the global state of nature, as well as understanding how best to focus future interventions.
Negotiations in Rome saw the launch of the Cali Fund for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources. This is an important step to allow companies who utilise genetic databases derived from nature, such as the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and biotech sectors, to direct funds on a voluntary basis towards the Indigenous Peoples and local communities who safeguard biodiversity.
The Government also published the UK National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (NBSAP) during the resumed COP16, which commits to achieving all 23 targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework at home. It highlights the UK’s international leadership to halt and reverse nature loss as work continues to halt the decline of species by 2030.
This extended session follows the original meeting of COP16 in Cali, Colombia in November 2024. The UK will seek to build on the success of COP16 at the UNFCCC COP30 in Brazil later this year and CBD COP17 in Armenia in 2026
Pack your picnic blankets, grab your sunglasses, and get ready for a blooming brilliant weekend as the Lord Mayor’s Weekend transforms Norwich city centre from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 July 2025!
This year’s vibrant theme, “Summer in the City,” takes inspiration from global celebrations while inviting everyone to showcase what summer in Norwich means to them—whether it’s fun days in the park, the buzz of festivals, or the joy of a day by the river.
A standout event in Norwich’s cultural calendar, the Lord Mayor’s Weekend brings together residents and visitors for a packed programme of live music, dazzling street performances, interactive activities, and mouth-watering food stalls. Whether you’re soaking up the carnival vibes or sampling seaside-inspired treats, there’s something for all ages in this weekend bursting with creativity, entertainment, and community spirit.
Join the procession!
One of the weekend’s most spectacular highlights is the Lord Mayor’s Procession—a vibrant parade brimming with colour, energy, and imagination. Entries are now open, inviting local groups, schools, businesses, and organisations to bring the “Summer in the City” theme to life. Whether through flourishing floral displays, playful beach-inspired floats, or dazzling sun-soaked performances, this is your chance to make your mark on a much-loved tradition.
Calling all creative minds – paid artist opportunities!
This year’s carnival also brings an exciting paid opportunity for local artists with skills in costume design, prop making, music, dance, performance, and puppetry. Artists will collaborate with community groups, leading workshops and helping to bring their creative visions to life for the grand procession. It’s a fantastic way to share your talents, inspire others, and be part of the celebrations
Get involved!
Councillor Claire Kidman, Norwich City’s Cabinet member for A Prosperous Norwich, said: “The Lord Mayor’s Weekend is always a fantastic, free family event, with tens of thousands of residents and visitors enjoying it every year.
“What makes it so special is the involvement of the community, so we invite everyone to take part and help make this year’s celebration a true reflection of the creativity and togetherness we know Norwich is all about.”
For details on joining the Lord Mayor’s Procession or learning more about the event, visit www.norwich.gov.uk/lmw
More details on the weekend’s full schedule of activities and entertainment will be revealed as the event approaches.
So, dust off your deckchairs, bring your festival spirit, and get ready to celebrate summer—Norwich style!
Detailed plans have been produced outlining 66 steps the council and partners must take to get ‘climate ready’.
Our Climate Ready Edinburgh Implementation Plan, published today (Friday 28 February), will be considered by members of the Policy and Sustainability Committee next month (Tuesday 11 March).
Over the next two years, it is proposed that all actions in the plan are implemented to help Edinburgh adapt to the impacts of climate change.
This could include working with partners to tackle the risks of flooding and coastal erosion and protecting the World Heritage Site, to planting trees and exploring transport systems to make the city resilient against weather extremes.
It is hoped this work will help to protect homes from flooding and overheating, safeguard our buildings and support new climate skills and jobs, while increasing the resilience of our ancient city against the future risks of climate change.
Identifying trigger points and action needed to prepare for weather extremes
Making Edinburgh a Million Tree City by planting 25,000 new trees a year
Prioritising street tree planting in areas prone to flooding and overheating
Increasing the tree canopy from 17% to 20% of the whole city by 2045
Establishing a Wilding Wee Spaces Schools programme
Undertaking a flood study to determine the long-term management of existing defences along the coast
Completing a surface water flood management project with Scottish Water in Craigleith by 2026
Delivery of new small-scale adaptation and energy retrofit pilot projects in the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site by 2026
Monitoring issues of damp in Council housing, addressing most at risk properties
Working with providers to increase the resilience of Edinburgh’s transport systems.
Council Leader, Jane Meagher, said:
With architecture spanning 1,000 years and two World Heritage Sites, more trees than any other Capital city and a vast coastline, there is no question that Edinburgh’s natural and built environment is unique. Our Climate Ready plan has been designed to protect and enhance the place we are lucky enough to call home.
Recent events have been a stark reminder of how disruptive weather can be to our city and to property. As such, we need to focus our efforts on adapting and preparing for such risks.
Where we face issues of flooding and dampness, it disproportionately affects disadvantaged households. Where buildings suffer from poor energy efficiency, this brings up the cost of bills. It is to this end that climate change goes hand in hand with poverty as the biggest challenge we face, and we cannot tackle one without the other.
With our businesses at risk as much as our homes, there is also a clear economic case for getting our capital ‘climate ready’. This report makes it clear that this work will require significant investment, but the costs of failing to prepare are higher. That is what has driven us to pledge an additional £2.9m to address our climate and nature emergencies in the budget we set last week. It is also why we have invested £500,000 into protecting our coastline with the successful introduction of new groynes at Portobello Beach.
If approved next month by Committee, this detailed 66-step plan will further guide us and partners to become a ‘climate ready’ capital. Climate change is a major threat to our health and that of our ancient, coastal city and it is crucial that we work with partners to protect it.
Gordon Reid, Scottish Water and chair of the Edinburgh Adapts Partnership that developed the plan, said:
We are already seeing the impacts of a changing climate in Edinburgh, with more frequent severe storms causing flooding, damage to buildings and disruption to travel.
If we don’t take action then we will see greater impacts to the people, buildings, economy and the services we all rely on in the city. Many of these impacts disproportionately effect disadvantaged households and we need to ensure that we act to deliver adaptation for everyone in society as part of the just transition to a climate changed future.
In addition, we need to act to address the nature emergency and many of the actions in the plan will address adaption and nature, delivering multiple benefits for the city.
Yann Grandgirard, Head of Climate Change at Edinburgh World Heritage and member of the Edinburgh Adaptation and Nature Partnership, said:
Climate change is one of the biggest threats to the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site, affecting its integrity, and undermining our efforts to preserve it and share its cultural values with current and future generations.
Climate change impacts are diverse and not limited to physical damages to our historic buildings, streets and green spaces. They also affect our experience of this special part of the city – a vibrant place where people live, work, study and visit.
The finalisation of the Edinburgh Climate Ready implementation plan is an important step in providing the necessary framework to protect and enhance both the World Heritage Site and the city through sensitive adaptation actions. It will act as a critical tool to prioritise climate actions, attract much needed funding and support partnerships across the city.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
World news story
UK-Italy Young Leaders Programme
This UK-Italy programme brings together a group of professionals whose common link is their leadership and passion for forging closer UK and Italy ties.
Young Leaders Programme
This competition is now closed. All successful candidates have been notified.
Every year, the UK and Italian Government will hold an open competition to invite applications from young Italian and British professionals onto the programme. Young Leaders can come from all sectors, including positions in the civil service, the military, leading companies, politics, charitable organisations, start-ups or the arts. They are dedicated to encouraging closer relations between the UK and Italy by promoting an innovative vision of the future bilateral relationship.
Successful applicants are asked to sign the Young Leaders Charter (see attachment) and invited to undertake a visit to both the UK and Italy, to encourage closer relations through understanding culture and values, promoting constructive dialogue, exchanging thoughts and ideas and promoting the bilateral relationship.
Once the Young Leaders have completed their visits, they will be invited to join the “Young Leaders Alumni” network, which includes personalities from distinguished careers ranging from journalists, scientists, the military and academics to business entrepreneurs, writers, art directors and composers.
The UK-Italy Young Leaders Programme is an initiative supported by both governments, and is delivered by the British Embassy in Rome and the Italian Embassy in London.
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To apply for the Programme, you must be a young professional under 40 years old (on the closing date for applications) who is a UK and/or Italian citizen. You must speak fluent English and demonstrate a commitment to build and shape UK-Italy bilateral relations.
See attachment above for list of successful candidates for 2025.
People dreaming of a unique and affordable wedding or ceremony are invited to an exclusive “Sneak a Peak” Open Day at Cheylesmore Manor House on Saturday 8 March, from 10am to 1pm.
Nestled in the heart of Coventry, this award-winning, historical venue is a true hidden gem, offering bespoke and beautiful settings for unforgettable celebrations.
Visitors will be welcomed with a complimentary glass of fizz or soft drink as they explore the stunning 14th-Century manor, a venue that blends rich heritage with a warm and intimate atmosphere. You will be greeted by some of our expert team of ceremony coordinators and a Registrar, plus a professional toastmaster will be on hand, to offer guided tours, answer questions, and provide valuable advice on booking, legal requirements, and personalising your ceremony.
Cheylesmore Manor House is renowned for its affordability without compromising on elegance. Whether you’re planning a grand wedding or a simple, intimate ceremony, our passionate team is dedicated to making your day truly special.
Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, Cabinet Member for Events, expressed enthusiasm for the event:“Cheylesmore Manor House is one of Coventry’s most treasured historical buildings, and it’s wonderful to see it creating unforgettable moments for couples. This free to attend Open Day is a fantastic opportunity for people to explore the venue, meet our dedicated team, and see how they can celebrate their special day in a truly unique and affordable setting.”
Couples will have the opportunity to see first-hand how the lovely venue can transform their special day into a lifelong memory. From the perfect setting to expert advice, this Open Day is a must-visit for those looking to say “I do” in a truly enchanting venue.
In addition, on the day, a number of other local businesses will be promoting how they can help add the personal bespoke touches to your ceremony or wedding even more special.
Please let us know if you plan or want to attend the day, as this will assist in planning the day, just email ceremonyco-ordinator@coventry.gov.uk and we look forward to seeing you on the day. However, don’t worry if you decide at the last minute to attend, the staff will still be around to welcome you for a look around, so you can discover why Cheylesmore Manor House is one of Coventry’s best-kept secrets for weddings and ceremonies.
Cheylesmore Manor is based in Manor House Drive, in Coventry city centre and the postcode is CV1 2ND.
Admirals Group AS Unaudited Financial Results for 12 months of 2024
Despite lower client activity, Admirals Group AS delivered resilient trading income and positive EBITDA through effective cost control measures.
• The Group’s net trading income decreased by 6% to EUR 38.4 million (2023: EUR 40.9 million), being supported by higher volatility on the financial markets.
• The Group’s total operating expenses decreased by 16% to EUR 42.4 million (2023: EUR 50.3 million) as a result of cost optimisation efforts.
• EBITDA was EUR 0.9 million (2023: EUR -6.5 million).
• Net loss was EUR -1.6 million (2023: EUR -9.7 million).
Although the income was supported by higher volatility in financial markets, Group’s cost optimisation effort was partly muted due to voluntary suspension of new client registrations in the Cyprus based operating company Admirals Europe Ltd. This company acts as the primary service entity of the Group in the EU which is one of the core markets for the Group’s business. The suspension started in April 2024 is voluntary and temporary in nature and it was necessary to allow for the implementation of required technical and organisational measures to ensure satisfactory alignment of Group’s product governance efforts with objectives and needs of it’s European clients. At the same time other Group entities continued to carry out their services uninterrupted as usual.
Statement of Financial Position
(in thousands of euros)
31.12.2024
31.12.2023
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
41,607
41,025
Due from investment companies
18,736
18,961
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
1,228
5,062
Loans and receivables
8,315
4,772
Inventories
665
311
Other assets
2,092
2,137
Tangible fixed assets
1,359
1,950
Right-of-use assets
2,541
2,603
Intangible assets
3,304
5,147
Total assets
79,847
81,968
Liabilities
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
334
224
Liabilities and accruals
3,326
4,318
Deferred tax liability
0
1
Subordinated debt securities
4,103
4,102
Lease liabilities
2,818
2,894
Total liabilities
10,581
11,539
Equity
Share capital
250
250
Own shares
-456
-315
Statutory reserve capital
25
25
Currency translation reserve
30
-834
Retained earnings
69,417
71,276
Total equity attributable to owners of the parent
69,266
70,402
Non-controlling interest
0
27
Total equity
69,266
70,429
Total liabilities and equity
79,847
81,968
Statement of Comprehensive Income
(in thousands of euros)
2024
2023
Net gains from trading of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss with clients and liquidity providers
40,653
46,276
Brokerage and commission fee revenue
1,408
2,134
Brokerage and commission fee expense
-3,558
-5,118
Other trading activity related income
489
412
Other trading activity related expense
-583
-2,768
Net income from trading
38,409
40,936
Other income similar to interest
947
171
Interest income calculated using the effective interest method
424
900
Interest expense
-472
-496
Other income
3,004
741
Other expenses
-233
-185
Net losses on exchange rate changes
-1,016
-984
Profit / (loss) from financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
-444
61
Personnel expenses
-13,394
-15,231
Operating expenses
-25,412
-31,875
Depreciation of tangible and intangible assets
-2,594
-2,310
Depreciation of right-of-use assets
-787
-837
(Loss) before income tax
-1,568
-9,109
Income tax
-24
-616
(Loss) for the reporting period
-1,592
-9,725
Other comprehensive income / (loss):
Items that subsequently may be reclassified to profit or loss:
Currency translation adjustment
864
-165
Total other comprehensive income / (loss) for the reporting period
864
-165
Total comprehensive (loss) / income for the reporting period
-728
-9,890
Net (loss) attributable to the owners of the parent
-1,592
-9,746
Net profit attributable to non-controlling interest
0
21
(Loss) for the reporting period
-1,592
-9,725
Total comprehensive (loss) attributable to the owners of the parent
-728
-9,911
Total comprehensive income attributable non- controlling interest
0
21
Total comprehensive (loss) for the reporting period
Admiral Markets AS Unaudited Financial Results 12 Months of 2024
Despite lower client activity, Admirals Markets AS delivered resilient trading income and positive net profit through effective cost control measures.
Net trading income increased by 48% to EUR 13.5 million (2023: EUR 9.1 million) being supported by higher volatility on the financial markets.
Total operating expenses decreased by 26% to EUR 13.7 million (2023: EUR 18.5 million).
EBITDA was EUR 2.0 million (2023: EUR -6.9 million).
Net profit was EUR 1.3 million (2023: EUR -8.2 million).
Although the income was supported by higher volatility in financial markets, Admirals Group’s cost optimisation effort was partly muted due to voluntary suspension of new client registrations in the Cyprus based operating company Admirals Europe Ltd. This company acts as the primary service entity of the Group in the EU which is one of the core markets for the Group’s business. The suspension started in April 2024 is voluntary and temporary in nature and it was necessary to allow for the implementation of required technical and organisational measures to ensure satisfactory alignment of Group’s product governance efforts with objectives and needs of it’s European clients. At the same time other Group entities continued to carry out their services uninterrupted as usual.
Statement of Financial Position
(in thousands of euros)
31.12.2024
31.12.2023
Assets
Due from credit institutions
19,381
10,175
Due from investment companies
13,362
9,014
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
2,516
6,353
Loans and receivables
29,231
37,274
Inventories
665
311
Other assets
650
970
Investment into subsidiaries
4,180
4,180
Tangible fixed assets
1,041
1,494
Right-of-use asset
1,757
2,221
Intangible fixed assets
2,821
2,943
Total assets
75,604
74,935
Liabilities
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
333
217
Liabilities and prepayments
744
980
Subordinated debt securities
1,347
1,353
Lease liabilities
2,025
2,499
Total liabilities
4,449
5,049
Equity
Share capital
2,586
2,586
Statutory reserve capital
259
259
Retained earnings
68,310
67,041
Total equity
71,155
69,886
Total liabilities and equity
75,604
74,935
Statement of Comprehensive Income
(in thousands of euros)
2024
2023
Net gains from trading of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss with clients and liquidity providers
37,435
41,777
Brokerage and commission fee revenue
1,062
1,668
Brokerage and commission fee expense
-25,451
-34,656
Other trading activity related income
418
339
Net income from trading
13,464
9,128
Other income similar to interest
85
172
Interest income calculated using the effective interest method
1,366
1,044
Interest expense
-155
-184
Other income
433
877
Other expense
0
10
Net gains on exchange rate changes
198
-214
Net loss from financial assets at fair value through profit or loss