Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Child Benefit boost for millions of families

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Child Benefit boost for millions of families

    Child Benefit payments set to increase from 7 April

    • Child Benefit payments to increase from next week
    • Parents encouraged to claim and manage Child Benefit via the HMRC app
    • 1.2 million parents have used the digital service to claim their Child Benefit

    Families who claim Child Benefit will see an increase in their payment next week, says HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

    From 7 April 2025, parents will receive £26.05 per week – or £1,354.60 a year – for the eldest or only child and £17.25 per week – or £897 a year – for each additional child. Child Benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks and will automatically be paid into a bank account. There is no limit to how many children parents can claim for.

    The quickest and easiest way for parents and carers to claim, view and manage Child Benefit payments is by downloading the free and secure HMRC app. A new function in the app means they get a notification once their claim is received and payment in as little as 3 days.

    Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:

    Extra pounds count and Child Benefit can give your household budget a boost. Claiming online or managing your Child Benefit payments via the HMRC app is quick and easy so, if you haven’t already, go to GOV.UK to start your claim today.

    Families have used the app more than 6 million times in the last year to manage their Child Benefit payments, including:

    • making a new claim
    • updating a change in circumstances
    • amending personal or bank details
    • adding additional children to a claim
    • viewing or printing Proof of Entitlement to Child Benefit
    • telling us their children are continuing in full time, non-advanced education or approved training

    Over 1.2 million parents have claimed their Child Benefit through the HMRC app or via the digital service, since the service went online in May 2023. More than 87% of claims are now digital.

    Families are encouraged to claim Child Benefit as soon as they can after their baby is born as it can only be backdated up to 3 months.

    To make a claim for Child Benefit, parents will need to create an online HMRC account and will need:

    • child’s birth or adoption certificate
    • bank details
    • National Insurance number for themselves and their partner, if they have one
    • child’s original birth or adoption certificate and passport or travel document, for children born outside the UK.

    HMRC has released a new YouTube video explaining how new parents can make a claim.

    How do I claim Child Benefit online?

    If either the claimant or their partner has an individual income of between £60,000 and £80,000, the higher earner will be subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge. For families who fall into this category, the online Child Benefit tax calculator provides an estimate of how much benefit they will receive, and what the charge may be.

    In the Spring Statement, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves announced a new service as part of the government’s Plan for Change, that will cut red tape for eligible employed parents who are liable to the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

    From the summer, families will have the option to report their Child Benefit payments and pay the charge directly through their PAYE tax code instead of filing a Self Assessment tax return.

    The new digital service will be optional and those who choose to pay the charge through their Self Assessment can continue to do so.

    Families who have previously opted out of Child Benefit payments can opt back in and restart their payments quickly and easily online or via the HMRC app.

    A person living in a household subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge will still receive National Insurance credits if they claim Child Benefit but choose to opt out of receiving payments.

    Further Information

    Information on Child Benefit.

    The Child Benefit rates for the 2024 to 2025 tax year were £25.60 a week for your first or only child and £16.95 for each additional child.

    HMRC will communicate the launch of digital service directly to affected parents and further details and guidance will be available on GOV.UK when the service launches.

    Child Benefit claimants receive National Insurance (NI) credits which count towards their future eligibility for the State Pension. This can help people who are not in paid employment and not receiving NI credits through their employer or other routes, such as Universal Credit.

    Claiming Child Benefit also makes sure the child automatically gets their National Insurance number when they turn 16.

    The Child Benefit award notice can be used to prove you qualify for Child Benefit and can be downloaded and printed from the HMRC app or from GOV.UK. Parents and carers may need proof of entitlement to access other benefits and services.

    The High Income Child Benefit Charge threshold increased to £60,000 on 6 April 2024.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Support for people in priority groups to buy a house

    Source: Scottish Government

    Home ownership scheme reopens.

    A scheme to help people in priority groups buy a home on the open market has reopened for applications.

    The Open Market Shared Equity Scheme will be available to people across Scotland who can’t afford the full price of a home from groups which include social renters, disabled people, people aged 60 and over, members of the armed forces and veterans.

    Applicants can apply for between 60% and 90% of the property’s value without having to purchase it in full, with the Scottish Government owning the remaining share.

    Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

    “The cost of living crisis, high energy prices, inflation and interest rates make it increasingly difficult for some people to buy their own home.

    “We want to give people in the priority groups the same opportunity as other buyers to own their home and I would encourage anyone looking to buy a home to apply to the scheme.

    “Giving more people the chance to buy an affordable home also plays a crucial role in reducing homelessness and eradicating child poverty in Scotland.”

    Background

    Applications to the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme can be made on the Link Housing website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fly tipping blitz campaign and community lounge partnership shortlisted for national awards

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Tuesday, 1st April 2025

    An innovative community partnership that has helped more than 4,000 people access vital support and a council service leading a blitz on fly-tipping are up for awards that recognise local government.

    Environmental Services is nominated for ‘Best Council Services Team’ at the MJ Achievement Awards 2025, while the Communities Together scheme is up for the ‘Community Engagement Award’.

    The first relates to the IDIOT (Illegal Dumping in Our Towns) campaign, which was launched in 2023 after fly tipping emerged as a major concern during that year’s local elections. It pledged rapid responses to clearing dumped waste, tougher enforcement and educating the community.

    The initial aim was to clear 1,000 fly tipping incidents in the first 100 days and this was achieved in half the time. This initial crackdown resulted in 2,395 clearances of illegal waste, as well as 523 fixed penalty notices.

    By the end of 2024, 7,661 reported fly tipping incidents were cleared and the average time when responding to these fell to just 3.3 days on average (previously 13.1 days).

    This was an 84 per cent increase in reports on the previous 16 months – with the much-improved visual appearance of the city and the upsurge of civil pride amounts to a resounding success.

    In addition, Communities Together has evolved from the community and city council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, becoming a local partnership programme to set up locations where people can easily access help, advice and support.

    There are now 18 community lounges across Stoke-on-Trent, with each one tailored to the unique needs and characteristics of their location – effectively helping reduce health inequalities.

    Through this more focused and preventative approach, Communities Together has helped reduce the stigma around seeking help, promoted independence and reduced pressure on other services.

    Since April 2024, the community lounges have helped 4,019 residents in a wide range of areas:

    • 1,273 people received emergency food provision
    • 783 people had help with financial matters
    • 737 people has help with housing
    • 196 people received mental health support
    • 159 people received help with homelessness

    Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Having two projects receiving national recognition at the MJ Awards is an amazing achievement and a reflection of the hard work so many of the city council and our partners have put in to accomplish this.

    “By promoting community cohesion, we have been able to help and support residents in a variety of ways, whilst also helping communities look and feel healthier through the crackdown on fly tipping.

    “Congratulations to all involved on their hard work and dedication and wishing you the best of luck at the upcoming MJ Awards ceremony.”

    The winners of the MJ Awards will be announced at a ceremony at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge on Friday 20th June 2025.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK seafood makes a splash in Vietnam in major export boost

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    UK seafood makes a splash in Vietnam in major export boost

    Vietnam grants market access for British live seafood products, opening new opportunities for growth and trade.

    The UK seafood industry celebrates a breakthrough today (1 April) as Vietnam grants market access for British live seafood products, opening new opportunities for growth and trade. 

    The agreement unlocks significant opportunity for exports of live seafood from the UK to Vietnam, who are amongst the highest consumers of seafood per capita and the highest in South East Asia. 

    British seafood is known globally for its taste, quality, and rich heritage, and Vietnamese consumers will now have access to premium seafood products in their preferred live form sourced from the UK’s vibrant and vast coastline, including popular varieties such as lobster and brown crab.  

    These additions will enrich culinary options for Vietnamese consumers, who eat approximately 37kg of seafood per person each year, allowing them to experience the distinctive flavours and exceptional quality that have made British seafood renowned worldwide. 

    British seafood exports to Vietnam have already shown strong growth, with fresh, frozen, and processed products seeing a 40% increase in the first 9 months of 2024 compared to 2023.  

    In line with the Government’s priority of delivering economic growth and putting more money into working people’s pockets under the Plan for Change, this breakthrough creates new export opportunities that coastal communities across the length and breadth of the UK have pushed for in recent years. Unlocking the Vietnamese live seafood market will boost local economies and support jobs across Britain’s shorelines, contributing to nationwide economic growth. 

    Minister for Food and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said:

    This is a tremendous win for our seafood industry. By securing access to Vietnam’s thriving live seafood market, we’re opening new opportunities for British businesses while supporting jobs across the UK as part of our Plan for Change.  

    Our high-quality seafood is increasingly sought after worldwide, and this agreement demonstrates our commitment to get British exports moving by helping producers reach valuable international markets. 

    Minister for Exports Gareth Thomas said: 

    This is a welcome and significant breakthrough, opening up a new and lucrative market to live seafood exporters across the UK. 

     We know that when businesses export the whole economy benefits. That is why this government will continue to support businesses by removing trade barriers to enable them to take advantage of export opportunities abroad to grow the economy at home. 

    Access to the Vietnamese market is estimated to generate around £20 million for the UK seafood industry over the next five years, according to the Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB). 

    David Jarrad, CEO of Shellfish Association of Great Britain said: 

    We have been delighted to engage with government officials in the UK and Vietnam and help achieve this export agreement. 

    The opening of another market for our sector is great news for the industry and demonstrates the strong worldwide demand for the UKs quality live shellfish. 

    Vietnamese importers are willing to pay competitive prices for British seafood varieties that have less demand in UK and European markets, providing an important alternative revenue stream for dozens of seafood traders. 

    Through dialogue and collaboration with Vietnamese officials, Defra and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) resolved concerns, cleared regulatory barriers, and showcased the high standards of British seafood production to create new opportunities for UK exporters. 

    These officials will work closely with the UK seafood sector and industry bodies to ensure a smooth transition into the Vietnamese market.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: How Moscow schoolchildren and teachers support SVO participants

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Moscow schoolchildren and teachers regularly support participants in the special military operation (SVO). In addition to collecting humanitarian aid, they visit soldiers in hospitals, hold concerts and give gifts. This was reported by the press service Department of Education and Science of the City of Moscow.

    “Schoolchildren, parents, and teachers participate in the humanitarian aid collection campaigns. Food packages, medicines, warm clothes, and personal hygiene products are given to soldiers and residents of new regions. In addition, children write letters to Russian servicemen. They thank the soldiers for their exploits, wish them success and a speedy return home. In addition, the children meet with the heroes of the SVO and visit them in hospitals,” the department’s press service said.

    Thus, volunteers from School No. 1360 visit the Central Military Clinical Hospital named after P.V. Mandryka every week. Teachers bring there fruits, letters from children and souvenirs. The soldiers warmly accept these gifts and make return ones. For example, the school museum now houses a wooden tower assembled by a serviceman from matches and posters with parting words for students.

    “Visiting the soldiers in the hospital is a very important and touching event. Their courage inspires us. We always pass on words of gratitude from the defenders to the schoolchildren. Children should know about their feat!” said Tatyana Kuvshinova, director of school No. 1360.

    Volunteer detachment of school #1164, created at the beginning of the SVO, works in one of the capital’s hospitals. Deputy Director for Educational Work Natalia Moskalenko has completed training and now serves as a nurse. High school students have also actively joined the work. For example, 11th grade student Vasilisa Kostenko helps medical personnel in hospitals: she applies bandages and accompanies soldiers to procedures. The servicemen note that such support gives them strength.

    Principal of School No. 1164 Mikhail Klochikhin noted that it is important to instill in children a sense of responsibility, respect for other people and an understanding that help is not a gesture of goodwill, but an important part of life. He is sure that such projects are the best lesson in citizenship. The children see how they can really support others with their efforts. And it is important for the fighters that they do not go unnoticed.

    School No. 117 cooperates with a military hospital in Donbass. Parents, students and teachers collect medical supplies: antiseptics, bandages, catheters and medicines. Such assistance is especially in demand before the holidays. Thus, on the eve of the New Year, the soldiers were given 100 pieces of medical pants and posters with congratulations.

    Svetlana Sologdinova, Advisor to the Director for Education at School No. 117, noted that such events are a way to thank those who defend our country. According to her, the school regularly helps hospitals and supports the fighters not only with medicines, but also morally. “This is an important mission, because their lives and health depend on it. Everyone who participates makes our world a kinder place,” Svetlana Sologdinova added.

    In addition, the V.S. Loktev Song and Dance Ensemble, which operates at the Moscow Palace of Pioneers on Vorobyovy Gory, performs in the capital’s hospitals. The group regularly holds concerts at the prosthetics and comprehensive rehabilitation center of the Moscow medical clinical center “Voronovskoye”. At the end of February, multiple world and European champion in sambo and sumo Igor Kurinnoy took part in one of them. Such meetings help to lift the spirits of patients.

    Patriotic events for young people correspond to the objectives of the projects “We are together” and “Russia is a country of opportunities” of the national project “Youth and Children”.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152021073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Flooded Memory. What the exhibition “Northern Atlantis” will tell about

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    An exhibition has opened in the palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in the Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve “Northern Atlantis”Its idea is to show the diversity and integrity of the culture of the Russian North.

    Atlantis is a myth and a metaphor, but there is a modern incarnation of it — the flooded village of Krokhino, to which a separate hall is dedicated at the exhibition. And the geography of the exhibition covers the former Olonetskaya, Arkhangelskaya, Vologda and Novgorod provinces. What to pay special attention to at the exhibition — in the material from mos.ru.

    “Northern Atlantis”: a journey through the Russian North

    What is the Russian North? The exhibition offers an answer in the form of a large artistic journey. The visitor goes along the path of merchants, pilgrims and explorers. The first hall introduces the context: here you can understand the main features and traditions of the Russian North. Then begins the movement through the provinces, built like a rafting trip along the northern rivers.

    The exhibition brings together items from the museum’s collections, the Russkie Nachalo studio, and the Krokhino Cultural Heritage Revival Center charity foundation. They are connected with the lives of people who inhabited the northern lands — free peasants. “There was never serfdom in the north, and there are vast spaces there. People lived freely,” explains Antonina Onishko, curator of the Northern Atlantis exhibition.

    Krokhino: where history is pieced together from fragments

    At the bottom of the Sheksna River, among the marsh grasses and foundations washed away by the waves, lies a submerged memory of the Russian North – the village of Krokhino, once a thriving settlement on busy waterways. Such villages are our Atlantis. Krokhino was mentioned as early as 1426, and in the 18th century it received the status of a posad, that is, a city. In 1909, Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky, a pioneer of color photography, shot scenes of peasant life here. His works are given special attention at the exhibition.

    In 1964, during the construction of the Volga-Baltic Waterway, the village was flooded. Now only the Church of the Nativity of Christ rises above the water. Vasily Shukshin filmed this church in Kalina Krasnaya, emphasizing the state of the film’s hero, who has lost the ground under his feet.

    “There is a certain fairytale quality to Krokhino: artifacts lie underfoot. The earth itself returns history to us,” says Anor Tukaeva, director of the charitable foundation “Center for the Revival of Cultural Heritage “Krokhino”. The foundation has been preserving the Krokhino heritage for 15 years. Volunteers live in the marshy area next to the flooded village for several months at a time. They have no electricity, but they have solar panels, a campus they built themselves, and a great desire to return the memory washed away by the water.

    “Spas Krokhinsky” – this is what volunteers call a mosaic icon assembled from fragments of frescoes of a church that stood in water for 60 years. “It could have been just construction waste, but the artist Bogdan Lavrinenko felt that they should form the face of the Savior,” says Anor Tukaeva. Nearby is a miraculously preserved artifact: a straw cutter from the late 19th century, brought from the Kingdom of Poland.

    “It was found in the ruins under the roots of a tree that grew on the remains of the foundation of a dismantled house. Wealthy peasants ordered such machines from catalogues. Perhaps they used them to cut straw from krokhinka, local wheat,” Anor Tukaeva shares.

    In Krokhino, they actually bred a variety of wheat, and it still exists. Why is it important to know this? “Preserving heritage is a basic need. The 20th century taught us to break with the past, but preserving memory is something very basic, very human,” Anor Tukaeva is sure. Thanks to the efforts of specialists, the past has also received a voice: at the exhibition, you can listen to recreated wedding songs of the village. The project to reconstruct the songs and costumes took more than two years.

    Northern fairy tale in pearls and dresses

    River pearls shimmer in the exhibition halls – this was a traditional craft, now, alas, lost: there are no more pearls in the northern rivers. Earrings from the mid-19th century were given to the studio “Russkie Nachalo” by a family from the Arkhangelsk village of Nenoksa. The jewelry is part of an amazing puzzle of traditional costumes of Pomorye. They have almost not survived in their entirety – the craftswomen of “Russkie Nachalo” have been restoring the outfits of northern women for more than 25 years.

    “I came up with a game. I ask everyone who comes here a question: find a new costume,” says Tatyana Valkova, head of the Russkie Nachalo studio. It is really hard to guess – the fabrics, tools and techniques are the same as 150 years ago. Researchers do not just sew replicas of old outfits – they study museum collections, go on ethnographic expeditions, talk to villagers, and recreate the life in which the costume existed.

    An unusual element of the northern costume is knitted gloves. They do not seem very practical for peasant life, but in the village of Nenoksa there is a special way of life. “They did not consider themselves peasants,” explains Tatyana Valkova. “The settlement of Nenoksa, known for its saltworks, was a rich place, which means that they adopted urban traditions, including fashion.” The gloves were literally recreated loop by loop according to an ethnographic model.

    One of the most complex and beautiful is the girls’ festive costume of the Kargopol district of the Olonetsk province of the late 18th century. This costume was literally assembled from fragments: in one museum they saw a fragment of embroidery, in the second – a beautiful headdress (only five of these have survived).

    For the costume of the Shenkursk district of the Arkhangelsk province, the pattern was taken from the originals in the Arkhangelsk Museum of Local History in January of this year. The crown (headdress) was made by the master Susanna Savinyukhova several years ago, it repeats the sample of the late 18th century. To achieve the effect of full correspondence to the original, the master worked with genuine sequins and glass decorations from the 19th century.

    Red color of the North

    The sky is grey, the nature is strict, and the dresses of northern women are bright, especially with a lot of red. “Even everyday sarafans were woven from red and white threads, as if charged with the energy of color,” notes Tatyana Valkova. This contrast, one might say, is the essence of the entire northern heritage: behind the external severity is an incredible life force.

    How did our ancestors live? Hard and miserable or gilded and fabulous? The truth is somewhere in the middle, in the details. Weaving, sewing, embroidering – hard work. But when coming to a festivities in a neighboring village, a northern woman could take several dresses with her. “She went to church in one outfit, had lunch in another, and for the evening the girl changed into a third. She wanted to show herself, her skills,” says Tatyana Valkova.

    “If you don’t embroider a peacock, you won’t get married”

    Kargopolsky Uyezd is the cradle of Russian embroidery. Tambour embroidery was called “mouse trail” here. “Because the small stitches – tiny, tiny – resembled the tracks of mouse paws,” explains Olga Klimova, a teacher at the “Russian Beginnings” studio. The drawings were transferred in unusual ways: if they found an old pattern on fabric, they would put wet material on it and transfer the outlines. They also drew inspiration from nature. “We would go into the house and the frost would decorate the windows with patterns, we would immediately copy the drawing and embroider,” explains Olga Klimova. The ability to embroider was very important. “If you don’t embroider a peacock, you won’t get married,” as people used to say.

    To forget is impossible to remember

    The Earth is returning to the flooded Atlantis. The foundation’s volunteers built engineering fortifications to preserve the crumbling temple. And they noticed: the marshy area began to recover – the water washes away the earth. And recently, the light was turned on again on the bell tower, surrounded by water. The Russian North is not a disappearing past, but a part of the cultural code that cannot be lost. It is easy to put a comma: we must not forget, we must remember.

    The exhibition “Northern Atlantis” is open until September 7. Buy tickets You can find it on mos.ru.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152036073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New creative programme to use power of words to connect Waterlooville area communities

    Source: City of Winchester

    A new creative programme for residents in and around the Waterlooville area is aiming to connect local communities using the power of words and storytelling.

    Plot Lines, led by public art programme experts Studio Response and commissioned by Winchester City Council with funding from developer contributions, will feature a series of workshops for local residents to share their stories and anecdotes from living in the Waterlooville area.

    Then, with the help of residents, the stories will be crafted into a public art project that local people can enjoy, with the intention of nurturing the area’s sense of community.

    The highly collaborative project will offer free workshops and events from April 2025, as well as opportunities for anyone local to the area to meet with award-winning poet and writer Aoife Mannix, Plot Lines’ writer-in-residence.

    Throughout the workshops and informal sessions, Aoife will chat with local residents about their personal experiences of moving to the area, their feelings about home, their memories, and their dreams for the future.

    Speaking about her involvement in the project, Aoife said:

    “I’m delighted to be writer in residence. I want to write about the foundations of this rapidly expanding community, to celebrate the hopes and dreams of the people who live here, to discover the stories that matter to them as well as what makes their homes more than just bricks and mortar.”

    The project aims to get as many local people involved as possible – people of all levels of writing experience are being encouraged to attend, and all workshops and events will be completely free of charge.

    The first public event, led by Aoife, will take place on Saturday 5 April from 10am to 12pm at Waterlooville Library, where local people will be welcome to drop by at any point and share with Aoife their thoughts on what home means to them.

    There will also be an opportunity to meet and chat to Aoife on 11 May at the VE80 Fete, organised by Newlands Community Group, where she will host another writing workshop as part of the celebrations.

    Speaking about the programme, Winchester City Council Cabinet Member for Business and Culture Cllr Lucille Thompson said:

    “I’m delighted to announce this new public art project for our local communities in the Waterlooville area. The stories we share of our local experiences have real power to connect communities and I have great hope that these workshops, and the art that local people help to create, will help to bring residents together and inspire an even greater sense of pride and culture for everyone local to the area.”

    The project also aims to connect with people who may like to be involved in future creative programming in the area, with community facilitator Gail Howard helping to recruit people young and old to explore what future arts programming could look like in the area

    Speaking about the project, Gail said:

    “Building on the hard work already being undertaken in the area, the aim is for the groups to encourage residents to take ownership, to learn and make decisions about creative community programming and to build vibrant, inclusive and diverse shared spaces and experiences for all residents.”

    If you have questions or would like to get involved in this part of the Plot Lines project, please contact Gail Howard at hello@plotlines.co.uk, or you can call or WhatsApp Gail on 07930 397982.

    All the Plot Lines events are free and open to all, with more information available on the Plot Lines website (www.plotlines.co.uk) and Instagram account (@plot_lines_).

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ICC launches next-generation digital case management platform for dispute resolution services

    Source: International Chamber of Commerce

    Headline: ICC launches next-generation digital case management platform for dispute resolution services

    The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), home to the world’s leading arbitral institution, the ICC International Court of Arbitration, has launched a new version of ICC Case Connect that is now powered by Opus 2. This cutting-edge digital platform is designed to transform dispute resolution through streamlined workflows, secure collaboration, and enhanced case management capabilities. 

    ICC Case Connect powered by Opus 2 will be available to users beginning 2 April 2025. 

    This milestone marks a major step in ICC’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve arbitration efficiency for everyone, everywhere, every day.

    “ICC Case Connect powered by Opus 2 modernises processes with a seamless platform for document sharing, case management, and ICC Court decisions — all in one place,” said Ana Serra e Moura, Deputy Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration.

    “It has been redesigned for the way business works today, helping dispute resolution become more efficient”, she added. 

    Since the initial rollout of the first ICC Case Connect platform in 2022, ICC has continued to push towards increasingly powerful and transformative digital technologies. ICC’s collaboration with Opus 2, a trusted leader in legal case management software and hearings solutions worldwide, ensures the new platform refines case management processes with improved tools integrated within a more intuitive interface.  Future updates, including the integration of Amicable Dispute Resolution (ADR) cases, will further expand the platform’s capabilities.

    ICC Case Connect powered by Opus 2 reinforces ICC’s mission of making dispute resolution more accessible, transparent, and effective. Serving over 10,000 party representatives and more than 8,000 arbitrators, the platform provides a secure, centralised, cloud-based environment where all stakeholders — parties, arbitral tribunals,  the ICC Secretariat and Court— can collaborate seamlessly and securely from anywhere in the world. 

    The platform is calibrated to address the scale and complexity of ICC arbitration, adding more process efficiency from case initiation through to resolution, including:

    • Enhanced efiling: A user-friendly portal powers electronic submission and processing of arbitration requests, facilitating case progression and offering an integrated filing fee e-payment system.
    • Secure digital document management: Centralised case files ensure real-time access, instant retrieval, and secure sharing of case information, documents, submissions and awards between parties, representatives, arbitrators and ICC.
    • Dedicated party and arbitrator portals: Secure, role-specific portals provide a personalised experience, offering document access, case notifications and features tailored to user needs.
    • Financial management: Integrated financial processes and built-in arbitrator expense management improve efficiency and facilitate financial oversight.
    • Advanced administrative efficiencies: ICC operations, task management and decision-making workflows are optimised for greater efficiency and fluidity, improving the overall case management experience and ensuring arbitration proceedings remain on track.
    • Customisable user accounts: Users can manage and personalise accounts, facilitating collaboration and enabling authorised administrative personnel to securely handle case administration tasks.
    • Self-registration for arbitrators: A new feature allows prospective arbitrators to submit relevant information and increase their visibility towards ICC.

    “We’re incredibly proud of what we have built with the ICC. Collaborating with them on this project has been a real pleasure,” said Charlie Harrel, Chief Operating Officer at Opus 2.

    Find out more about ICC’s dispute resolution services.

    Related news

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government ushers in new era for UK infrastructure delivery

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Government ushers in new era for UK infrastructure delivery

    Government delivers on manifesto commitment to reduce red tape – merging existing bodies to get a grip on delays to infrastructure delivery.

    • Infrastructure strategy and delivery brought together under one roof to support delivery of roads, railways, schools and hospitals, key to delivering on our Plan for Change to deliver the 1.5 million homes this country needs.
    • Government also publishes the Teal book, the definitive guide for project delivery in government.

    Roads, railways, schools and hospitals will be delivered more efficiently as this government  “gets a grip” on vital infrastructure delays and goes further and faster to kickstart economic growth and improve the lives of working people across the country.

    Bringing together two bodies into one, the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) will accelerate the delivery of major government projects – supporting delivery of our roads, railways, schools and hospitals – by overcoming barriers and providing expertise on private finance, alongside developing and implementing the 10-year infrastructure strategy.

    NISTA – launching today – will look to fix the foundations of our infrastructure system by bringing strategy and delivery under one roof, addressing the systemic delivery challenges that have stunted growth for decades.

    Transforming the way we plan for and deliver major projects is essential to the government’s number one mission to grow the economy and is key to delivering on our Plan for Change to deliver the 1.5 million homes this country needs, making Britain a clean energy super-power and improving public services.

    Over recent years uncertainty about infrastructure plans and policy and poor delivery has inhibited investment in programmes and supply chains, pushing up end costs for consumers.

    Analysis from the Construction Leadership Council of 20,000 projects has found those with the best planning at the start of a project, had 20 per cent lower costs and were delivered up to 15 per cent faster.

    The 2024 National Infrastructure Commission report on cost drivers of infrastructure projects in the UK found that a lack of a long-term strategic vision and plan for infrastructure was a root cause of higher costs. NISTA and the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy will set the long-term plan needed to address many of these issues.

    Alongside this, today the government has published the Teal book, the definitive guide for successful project delivery in government, which is set to transform how government projects are planned, managed, and delivered, benefitting hard-working people.

    Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury said:

    NISTA will get a grip on the delays to infrastructure delivery that for too long have plagued our global reputation with investors. Today we are ushering in a new era for infrastructure delivery, restoring the confidence of businesses to invest and driving a decade of national renewal, powering growth across the country, and delivering on our Plan for Change.

    Today’s launch of NISTA is part of a three-pronged approach to addressing the fundamental constraints to infrastructure investment, sitting alongside the 10-year infrastructure strategy, which sets out a long-term plan for the country’s infrastructure, and the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill to unblock planning constraints.

    It follows last week’s Spring Statement, where the OBR concluded that the government’s landmark planning reforms will result in UK housebuilding reaching its highest level in over 40 years, bringing the UK one step closer to its Plan for Change mission to build 1.5 million homes.

    The economy will be 0.2% larger in 2029-30 because of the reforms – worth around £6.8 billion in today’s money – growing to 0.4% over the next ten years. This represents the biggest positive growth effect it has ever forecasted for a policy that comes at zero-cost to taxpayers. The reforms will secure over 170,000 new homes for hard working families and leave borrowing £3.4 billion lower in 2029-30.

    In priority areas like the Oxford Cambridge Growth Corridor, NISTA will support a strategic approach to planning for infrastructure, growth and the environment, necessary to deliver the significant economic benefits that infrastructure investment can unlock.

    More information

    • NISTA is currently being led by Jean-Christophe Gray, who will act as interim chief executive until the permanent Chief Executive of NISTA is appointed, this will be announced shortly. 

    • A dedicated news article has been published on projectdelivery.gov.uk detailing the launch of The Teal Book.

    • This article offers comprehensive insights into how The Teal Book is designed to enhance project delivery, fostering greater efficiency and productivity in alignment with the government’s Plan for Change. It highlights The Teal Book’s guidance and best practices, supporting continuous professional development, streamlined planning and delivery, risk-based control measures, and the enhancement of performance across government projects.

    • For further information and to access The Teal Book, please refer to the full article at https://projectdelivery.gov.uk/government-project-delivery-launches-the-teal-book

    • Today, the Chief Secretary has also appointed the National Infrastructure Commission’ Commissioners to form an Advisory Council for NISTA to support the implementation of the government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy and delivery of NISTA’s objectives.  

    • A memorandum of understanding between HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office will be published shortly, which will govern the relationship between the new unit and the departments.

    Sam Gould, the ICE’s director of policy and external affairs said:

    The government’s decision to combine the NIC and the IPA in a new body with end-to-end responsibility for infrastructure is a huge opportunity. There’s wide acceptance that the UK needs infrastructure to meet its economic, environmental, and societal ambitions. It has faced recent delivery challenges, and NISTA has an opportunity to bridge the gap between strategic needs and delivering infrastructure that will benefit the public.

    Ahead of the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, NISTA has a short window to set out how it is going to approach these tasks. The right expertise to plan and successfully deliver infrastructure existed in the NIC and the IPA, now the focus needs to be on getting the job done.

    Energy UK’s Deputy Director, Policy (Systems), Charles Wood:

    NISTA’s establishment, alongside the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, offers an opportunity to streamline the strategic delivery of utility infrastructure across the UK. The UK is rapidly moving toward a cleaner energy future, requiring both public and private investment, developed supply chains, skilled workers, and a holistic strategy for delivery. We hope NISTA can support this goal and continue the work of the National Infrastructure Commission, retaining the independent expertise gathered and enabling a more coordinated and cost-effective approach to infrastructure delivery. 

    The government must use everything at its disposal to help deliver the energy transition at pace, continuing the coordinated decarbonisation of the power system while increasing a similar effort across the heating, transport, and industrial sectors. This will boost investment in the UK’s clean energy sector, support the connection of new demand like data centres, heat networks, and rapid electric vehicle charging – and enable cost-effective infrastructure that delivers for consumers now and in the future.

    Richard Whitehead, AECOM CEO for Europe and India, said:

    AECOM welcomes the launch of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority. This new body further demonstrates the government’s commitment to accelerating the delivery of essential infrastructure and marks a significant step forward in addressing long-standing infrastructure challenges in the UK.

    We are pleased to see the government taking strong political leadership by integrating infrastructure strategy and policy. In addition, a stable infrastructure pipeline, insulated from political cycles, is vital for attracting private finance, maintaining long-term certainty, and ensuring the efficient delivery of major projects.

    This announcement, alongside the recent streamlining of regulatory processes and reforms to the planning system, lays the foundation for growth, instils investor confidence, and advances the government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy. We look forward to engaging with the NISTA leadership.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: We are together! Polytechnic conducted excursions for SVO fighters

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The Polytechnic hospitably welcomed the SVO participants who are undergoing treatment at the 442nd District Military Clinical Hospital. The fighters were given fascinating excursions with an immersion into the history of the university and the contribution of the Polytechnics to the development and prosperity of our country.

    I am grateful to fate that I ended up in St. Petersburg, and also in the leading engineering university of the country. Unexpectedly for myself, I discovered many historical facts that I did not even know about. For example, about the previously classified scientist, three times Hero of Socialist Labor of the USSR, Soviet designer of armored vehicles, nuclear weapons and the hydrogen bomb Nikolai Dukhov. I have never been so impressed by what I heard. And the dedication and involvement of the director of the Museum Valery Klimov showed how you need to know history, how you can love your alma mater, – said special military operation fighter Artem.

    The guests of the university visited the Polytechnic Museum, the White Hall, the Academic Council meeting room, walked through the portrait gallery on the first floor of the Main Building, and learned about its history. They learned about the outstanding contribution of polytechnicians to the development of science, technology, and industry in Russia.

    Thanks to such events, we pass on historical memory, preserve the country’s heritage. This is not only a tribute to the past, but also an important step in developing the culture of volunteerism and charity that have accompanied Polytechnic for more than a century, – said Tatyana Nam, Director of the SPbPU Dobro.Center.

    The tour allowed the soldiers to escape from their hospital routine, feel part of the academic community and recharge with positive emotions. For many, visiting the Polytechnic University was an opportunity to meet their brothers in arms, representing different regions of the country and combat units. At the end of the tour, the honored guests were presented with memorable gifts.

    I was surprised by the great designer, inventor of the legendary T-34 tank Mikhail Koshkin, who was a successful, hereditary confectioner, director of a factory. He decided at 30 to enter the Polytechnic, and after completing his studies, he realized that his calling was to work at the Kirov Plant. What a destiny! Such people motivate you to perform feats, – said SVO participant Alexander Nikolaevich.

    On March 28, the Family Living Room, a very touching and sincere meeting with the wives and mothers of SVO participants, was held at the Center for Social Assistance to Families and Children of the Kalininsky District. It was exciting to listen to their stories, to see the pride and sadness in their eyes at the same time. These families know the price of courage, because their loved ones go through difficult trials defending our country. Such meetings remind us that heroes are not only people fighting on the front lines, but also their families, who will always wait for their loved ones and believe in their victory.

    Irina and Elena have both a husband and a son at the front. Angela’s husband volunteered, having a reservation, and she stayed home with five children, and still manages to help other children by teaching English at a camp. Two participants of the evening turned out to be modest winners of the family, love and fidelity contest “Bereginya” among the wives of SVO participants. One participant was awarded the public medal “Mother of the Defender of the Fatherland”.

    #Mvvet provided volunteer support, presented small signs of attention to women and children, played with children, drank tea with treats, took part in pleasant master classes, talked with the fighters of the Espanyola unit.

    These and other events in

    The Center for Volunteer Projects “Harmony” expresses gratitude to the Polytechnic Museum, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies Maxim Pasholikov, Director of the Humanitarian Institute Natalia Chicherina for their support and development of volunteerism in the university environment.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A month of cleaning and improvement has begun in the capital

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The capital is hosting a traditional spring month of urban improvement. Work began on April 1, said Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Housing and Utilities and Urban Improvement Petr Biryukov.

    “Our main task is to quickly put all city objects in order after the autumn-winter period, without exception – from large engineering structures to the facades of residential buildings. Work is planned on landscaping, washing roads and public spaces, tunnels, bridges, overpasses, so that our capital meets the May holidays, the anniversary Victory Day beautiful and renewed,” said Pyotr Biryukov.

    City services specialists began washing roads, engineering structures and building facades back in March, thanks to favorable weather conditions.

    In April, it is planned to carry out a comprehensive cleaning of public areas and courtyards, update children’s and sports grounds, repair and paint benches, arrange flower beds and plant trees. In residential buildings, entrances, stairs and railings will be cleaned, external drainage systems, canopies over entrances, lighting and heating devices will be put in order.

    In addition, road services will update the markings, wash bus stops, noise protection screens, safety buffers, traffic lights, signs and pointers.

    Petr Biryukov reminded that citywide clean-up days will be held in the capital on April 12 and 26. Anyone can join in cleaning courtyards, parks and areas of social facilities.

    Cleanup days to be held in the capital on April 12 and 26 — Moscow Mayor

    To coordinate all events held within the framework of the month of improvement, a city headquarters was created under the leadership of Pyotr Biryukov.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152046073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Booker Launches Floor Speech by Saying: “I am going to stand here until I no longer can. I am going to speak up.”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) took to the Senate floor with the intention of speaking as long as he is physically capable of speaking to uplift the stories of Americans who are being harmed by the Trump Administration’s reckless actions, attempts to undermine our institutions, and disregard for the rule of law. 

    Under the rules of the Senate, Senators have the ability to speak without time limitation. 

    Booker opened his speech saying, “I rise tonight with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able… These are not normal times in our nation. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate. The threats to the American people and American democracy are grave and urgent and we all must do more to stand against them.”

    His opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, are pasted in full below.

    WATCH HERE

    A full copy of his opening remarks as prepared for delivery can be found below:

    Mr/Madame President—

    I rise tonight with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able.

    I rise tonight because our nation is in crisis:

    Bedrock commitments are being broken;

    Unnecessary hardship is being borne by Americans of all backgrounds;

    Our institutions are being recklessly and unconstitutionally attacked and even shattered.

    In just 71 days, the President has inflicted harm after harm on Americans’ safety; financial stability; the foundations of our democracy; and any sense of common decency. 

    These are not normal times in our nation. 

    And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate.

    The threats to the American people and American democracy are grave and urgent and we all must do more to stand against them.

    Generations from now will look back at this moment and have a single question — where were you?

    When our country was in crisis and when the American people were asking for our help — did we speak up?

    When the 73 million American seniors who rely on Social Security were told that from now on, there will be no one to answer when they call for help; when our seniors were afraid and worried because of the menacing of an American president, did we speak up? 

    When prices at the grocery store were skyrocketing and the stock market was plunging and Americans were hurting and looking for help – 

    and at the same time, the President of the United States was launching a trade war on our allies; 

    firing the regulators who investigate America’s biggest banks and corporations; 

    dismantling the agency that protects consumers from fraud; 

    peddling his own meme coin; 

    and doing a car commercial for the richest man in the world in front of the White House;

    When the President tried to take health care away from people with disabilities in order to pay for tax cuts for the billionaires sitting on the dais at his inauguration and in his cabinet meetings at the White House;

    When he gutted public education; slashed funding for pediatric cancer research; and fired thousands of veterans who risked their lives for this country;

    When he abandoned our allies and our international commitments at a time when floods, fires, hurricanes, and droughts are devastating communities across the country, and outbreaks of dangerous infectious diseases are still a global threat. 

    When the American press was being censored; 

    when international students were being disappeared from American communities; 

    when American universities were being silenced; 

    when American law firms were being targeted; 

    when the people who attacked the police officers defending this building and American democracy on January 6th weren’t just pardoned, but were celebrated by the man in the highest office in the land;

    When Americans from across the country were all speaking up and saying:

    this is not right; 

    this is un-American;

    this is not who we are. 

    Did we speak up?

    I rise tonight because to be silent at this moment of national crisis would be a betrayal, and because at stake in this moment is nothing less than everything that makes us who we are.

    At stake right now are the most basic American principles — 

    That if you work hard your entire life and pay into Social Security, it should be there for you when you retire, and you should not have to question if those paychecks will arrive. 

    That if you serve your nation, you will be respected and taken care of – and not forced to worry that the federal employees who provide you with care will be fired, or the benefits you rely on will be denied, or that your healthcare needs won’t be met. 

    That your children will have access to a high quality public education and return home safely from school each day;

    That the people you elect to serve in government will represent you and not try to make themselves richer; 

    That everyone’s rights will be equally protected and everyone will be held equally accountable under the law; 

    Right now, all of this – things that make our country different — are under attack. Our constituents are asking us to acknowledge that this is not normal, that this is a crisis. 

    So I am going to stand here until I no longer can.

    I am going to speak up.  

    I want to start by sharing just a few of the letters I have received from my constituents in recent weeks about what is at stake right now.  

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Piero Cipollone: Enhancing cross-border payments in Europe and beyond

    Source: European Central Bank

    Speech by Piero Cipollone, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the Regional Governors’ Meeting

    Osijek, 1 April 2025

    As we gather here today in Osijek, we stand at a crossroads in the world of payments.

    Digitalisation is driving economic progress and transforming the way we make retail payments, yet there is growing frustration that the dramatic decline in IT and telecommunications costs has not been reflected in lower fees for cross-border payments in many parts of the world.

    This has proven to be an obstacle to economic integration, including in this part of Europe. For instance, a small business owner here in Croatia trying to make a €5,000 transfer to a supplier in a Western Balkan economy that is not part of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) faces costs up to 12 times higher than when sending the same amount to a counterpart within SEPA.[1]

    Such disparities are a barrier to growth. Addressing them is a priority, not only to reduce costs but also to drive economic development and bring us closer together. This is why the expansion of SEPA is so important and a key milestone on the European integration path.

    Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia recently joined SEPA.[2] This paves the way for the payment service providers in these countries to be operationally ready to offer SEPA transfers as of October[3], facilitating transfers in euro at a considerably reduced cost. We also very much support the efforts being made in the other Western Balkan economies towards joining SEPA.

    The pressing need to enhance cross-border payments is not just a regional concern, it is a matter of urgency worldwide. As international transaction volumes have surged, outstripping GDP growth, the economic toll of inefficient cross-border payments has continued to mount. Despite technological advancements and recent improvements, progress is heterogeneous across countries and cross-border payment transactions remain expensive and slow in many places.

    Moreover, the shifting geopolitical landscape has introduced a new dimension to this challenge. Rising geopolitical tensions have spurred initiatives to create alternatives to existing global infrastructure. This could lead to fragmentation of the global financial system into multiple, non-communicating blocs, which would further hamper the efficiency of cross-border payments and contribute to the refragmentation of trade and investment. In parallel, the emergence of stablecoins – which the United States intends to promote worldwide[4] – brings its own risks, including for currency substitution.

    The Eurosystem is responding proactively to these challenges in line with the G20 Roadmap for enhancing cross-border payments.[5] Our approach rests on two pillars: on the one hand, harnessing the potential of fast payment systems to enhance the efficiency of cross-border payments and deliver tangible improvements in speed and cost; on the other, continuing to respect the sovereignty and stability of our partners. This can be achieved by interlinking fast payment systems across countries. In other words, we are aiming to address inefficiencies and build lasting connections that are rooted in trade openness and balanced relationships with our partners – goals which have long been a hallmark of the European approach to economic integration.

    Today, I will focus on three points. First, I will examine the current state of cross-border payments. Second, I will discuss how geopolitical fragmentation is creating a further imperative to act. Lastly, I will present the Eurosystem’s strategic response to these challenges, which includes initiatives such as interlinking fast payment systems and exploring the possible use of a digital euro in third countries.

    The state of cross-border retail payments

    Over the past few decades, the world has witnessed a significant surge in cross-border payments, driven by the globalisation of trade, capital and migration flows. Cross-border payment flows are projected to double to €268 trillion by 2030.[6] But despite this significant expansion and the improvements that have resulted from international efforts, international payments too often remain prohibitively expensive and inefficient.[7]

    While domestic payments have undergone a digital revolution – becoming faster, cheaper and more accessible – cross-border transactions have yet to fully benefit from these technological advancements.[8] The average cost of international retail payments remains high: for nearly one-quarter of global payment corridors, costs exceed 3%. And in too many cases, cross-border payment is still slow: one-third of retail cross-border payments took more than one business day to be settled in 2024.[9]

    These inefficiencies raise three pressing issues that demand our attention.

    First, high costs and slow transaction times are undermining economic integration and growth. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of many economies are disproportionately affected. For SMEs operating on tight margins, exorbitant fees are not just an inconvenience but a barrier that often discourages them from engaging in cross-border trade. According to research by the World Bank, in 2023 it cost SMEs about ten times more to transfer €5,000 between Western Balkan economies than between EU countries.[10]

    Second, the world’s most vulnerable groups – such as migrant workers sending remittances home – bear a disproportionate share of these costs. Remittances are a lifeline for millions of families worldwide, supporting one in nine people globally. Yet sending money home remains prohibitively expensive in many regions. The cost of remittances to the Western Balkan economies averaged 6.7% until recently[11], only slightly below the 7.7% paid in Sub-Saharan Africa[12]. The impact that reducing these fees will have on financial inclusion and well-being cannot be overstated. The World Bank has estimated that by meeting the global Sustainable Development Goal target of 3%, the Western Balkan economies would save approximately half a billion euros per year.[13]

    Third, the inefficiencies affecting cross-border payments have created a vacuum that alternative players, particularly in the crypto-asset space, are eager to fill. However, many of these solutions come with significant risks that cannot be overlooked. Unbacked crypto-assets, for instance, are highly volatile and speculative in nature, creating risks for unsuspecting households and businesses.

    Furthermore, the United States’ push to maintain the dollar’s global dominance through the promotion of stablecoins worldwide presents its own set of challenges. While stablecoins may be touted as the solution to a problem, they in fact create new problems that require a solution. Unless they are properly regulated according to the Financial Stability Board principles (as achieved in Europe through the Regulation on markets in crypto-assets[14]), they cannot guarantee convertibility at par value at all times and are susceptible to runs. They may thus destabilise the very system they are meant to improve. Also, because 99% of stablecoins are denominated in US dollar and their expansion could leverage the global customer base of big tech companies[15], they could considerably increase currency substitution risks, leading to “digital dollarisation”.[16] This would impair the effectiveness of domestic monetary policy and increase financial stability risks by amplifying capital outflows in response to negative shocks. This could have a destabilising effect on emerging markets and less developed economies, particularly small economies integrated in global value chains.[17]

    Geopolitical fragmentation

    That brings me to my second point: the fundamentally changed international order and its potential to fragment payment systems worldwide.

    Rising geopolitical tensions are reshaping the very foundations of cross-border payments and endangering the global rules-based system. This could challenge established correspondent banking networks and messaging systems such as Swift.

    At a time when we should be integrating payment systems to reduce their complexity and cost for users, separate platforms have sought to create alternatives to existing global infrastructures. This trend began as early as 2013 when Iran, in response to its exclusion from Swift, created its own messaging system. Russia followed suit in 2014 with the System for Transfer of Financial Messages after its annexation of Crimea. China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, launched in 2015, has seen remarkable growth, with over 1,500 financial institutions using it in 2024, a number that has more than doubled since 2018.

    The pace of these initiatives has accelerated significantly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the past two years alone, we have seen nearly 20 new initiatives from countries in emerging markets aimed at bypassing Swift and western correspondent banks. At the BRICS Summit in October 2024, member countries agreed to explore the feasibility of establishing an independent cross-border settlement and depositary infrastructure, BRICS Clear.[18]

    These developments raise serious concerns about the potential fragmentation of the global financial system. We could face disrupted international capital flows and reduced efficiency as the system risks being splintered into multiple, non-communicating blocs.

    For the euro’s international role[19] to contribute to preserving a stable and integrated financial system, the euro needs to provide the benefits of a global public good.[20] We must ensure it can reliably connect various parts of the global payments system and deliver tangible benefits in terms of speed and cost, while respecting the integrity, sovereignty and stability of our partners.

    The Eurosystem’s strategy for efficient and open cross-border payments

    In this context, the European Central Bank (ECB), together with euro area national central banks, is promoting a strategy for the integration of global cross-border payments to address inefficiencies while maintaining openness. This strategy rests on two main initiatives.[21]

    Interlinking fast payment systems

    The first is the interlinking of fast payment systems. Over the past decade, central banks have made significant improvements to the backend infrastructure for facilitating payments, thereby fostering the digitalisation of domestic payment systems. As of today, over 100 jurisdictions worldwide have implemented their own fast payment systems.[22] There is already evidence that the global network of fast payment systems tends to be segmented along geopolitical lines[23], but interlinking these systems could help overcome this fragmentation and extend the benefits of digitalisation to cross-border payments.

    This approach offers several advantages. It would reduce costs, increase the speed and transparency of cross-border payments and shorten transaction chains. It would also enable payment service providers to conduct transactions without having to use multiple payment systems or a long chain of correspondent banks. Moreover, it would ensure that the platform to connect and convert currencies would be managed as a public good, thus avoiding closed loops and discriminatory pricing. Accordingly, the G20 Roadmap has identified interlinking as a key strategy for enhancing cross-border payments.[24]

    Europe serves as a compelling example of what this interconnected payments landscape might look like. Within the euro area, account holders can transfer funds instantly 24/7 through the TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) service. A key feature of TIPS is that it is a multi-currency platform that settles instant payments within a payment scheme – the SEPA Instant Credit Transfer scheme – governed by uniform rules, standards and protocols, avoiding the risk of fragmentation.

    Taking advantage of this multi-currency feature, Sweden is already using TIPS for making fast payments in kronor.[25] Denmark will do the same as of this month[26] and Norway as of 2028[27].

    In October 2024 the ECB’s Governing Council decided to take concrete steps towards interlinking TIPS with other fast payment systems to improve cross-border payments globally.[28]

    First, a cross-currency settlement service will be implemented within TIPS. This will make it possible for instant payments originating in one TIPS currency to be settled in another. Initially, this service will enable cross-currency payments between the euro area, Sweden and Denmark.[29]

    Second, a cross-currency settlement service will be implemented for the exchange of cross-border payments between TIPS and other fast payment systems globally.[30] This will allow to explore interlinking TIPS with fast payment systems that have a compatible scheme, are interested in being involved and ensure full compliance with the standards set by the Financial Action Task Force to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

    Third, the Eurosystem will explore connecting TIPS to a multilateral network of instant payment systems through Project Nexus, led by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).[31] By connecting to Nexus, TIPS could evolve into a hub for processing instant cross-border payments to and from the euro area and other countries that are using TIPS.[32]

    Fourth, the Eurosystem is currently assessing the feasibility of creating a bilateral link with India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI).[33] UPI has the highest instant payment transaction volumes in the world, with close to 500 million transactions per day[34], and India is among the top ten recipients of euro area remittances.

    We are going even further to address the situation in the Western Balkans, since most countries in the region do not yet have a fast payment system.[35] As a service provider for TIPS, Banca d’Italia is working with the central banks of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro to develop an instant multi-currency payment system based on TIPS software, with North Macedonia potentially joining at a later stage.[36] The new platform will make it possible to pay instantly within each country and across countries. It will also ease the path towards enabling instant payments between participating countries and the euro area.

    The international role of the digital euro

    Now let me turn to the second initiative we are exploring to enhance cross-border retail payments, namely the creation of a digital euro and its use in third countries.

    A digital euro would be a central bank digital currency, an electronic equivalent to cash. It would complement banknotes and coins, giving people an additional option that they could use free of charge for any digital payment across the euro area. It would work both online and offline in shops or when making person-to-person or e-commerce transactions. Moreover, it would provide a European infrastructure that could be used by private payment service providers to offer their own solutions across the continent, thereby fostering competition and innovation.

    While the digital euro would primarily be used in the euro area, it is worth considering its possible international use. The current draft legislation foresees an approach that respects the sovereignty of third countries, mitigates potential risks for them and offers them new opportunities.

    Non-euro area residents could have access to the digital euro when visiting the euro area temporarily by setting up an account with a European payment service provider. We also believe that we could enable merchants outside the euro area to accept digital euro payments from euro area residents.[37]

    Moreover, users outside the euro area could be granted permanent access to the digital euro subject to an agreement between the EU and third countries, complemented by an arrangement between the ECB and the respective central banks.[38]

    In any case, use of the digital euro in third countries would be implemented gradually and with the appropriate safeguards to ensure that it would be used primarily as a means of payment and would not stoke currency substitution. For instance, individual holding limits for users outside the euro area would not be allowed to exceed the limits set for euro area residents and citizens.

    Moreover, the digital euro’s design includes multi-currency enabling features similar to those of TIPS. In practice, this means that non-euro area countries could use the digital euro infrastructure to offer their own digital currencies, thus facilitating transactions across these currencies. The digital euro could therefore provide a solution for offering and transferring central bank digital currencies internationally and serve as a platform for innovation in cross-border payments. On this basis, the digital euro could facilitate cross-border payments and remittances, making them more efficient and cost-effective.

    Conclusion

    Let me conclude.

    We find ourselves at a pivotal moment in the evolution of cross-border payments. The current geopolitical landscape threatens to fragment our global payment systems, potentially leading to inefficiencies and reduced transparency. However, this challenge also presents an opportunity for positive change.

    The region where we are meeting today exemplifies the challenges we face, what we can achieve through collaboration and the potential for further progress.

    As we move forward, our goal is clear: we must develop safer, more accessible alternatives that make global payments cheaper, faster and more transparent, without compromising on integrity, stability and sovereignty.

    The time for action is now. Through innovation, interoperability and a commitment to open financial markets, we can build a global payment system that is resilient to geopolitical shifts and can support economic growth and financial inclusion worldwide.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New guidance to help check property details

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New guidance to help check property details

    The VOA has new guidance for customers who want to check the details we hold about their business property.

    The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has published new guidance to help you provide the right information about your property, when checking the details for: 

    If you provide false information you may be charged a penalty. This includes if the information is provided by an agent you have appointed to act on your behalf.  

    We have also updated our guidance on when we might issue a penalty, including what is false information.  

    If an agent manages your business rates, it is your responsibility to make sure the information they provide to the VOA is correct. 

    Alan Colston, Chief Valuer at the VOA, said: “We want our property valuations to be based on the most accurate information possible. That’s why we’re doing more to support customers to get it right when using our Check and Challenge service, and using penalties only as a last resort.” 

    If you use an agent, it is important that you choose a reputable one. We have a checklist on how to choose a business rates agent. We also have agent standards that explain what you should expect from an agent

    You can manage your business rates yourself by creating a business rates valuation account on GOV.UK.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Payslip boost for millions as new minimum wage rates take effect

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Payslip boost for millions as new minimum wage rates take effect

    Over 3 million eligible workers set for a pay rise of up to £1,400 a year as new National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates take effect.

    • Pay rise worth an extra £1,400 per year for an eligible full-time worker delivered from today.
    • New rates put more money back into the pockets of working people, boosting productivity and ending low pay.
    • More money to be spent in Britain’s high streets, kickstarting growth as part of the Plan for Change.

    Eligible full-time workers are set for a pay boost of up to £117 from this month thanks to the Government’s increase in the National Living Wage, which comes into effect today. 

    The move – which delivers the Government’s pledge to increase living standards in the Plan for Change – will put more money straight into working people’s pockets.  

    Thanks to the decision made in the Autumn Budget, the uplift means more money can be spent on the high street to boost the local economy and help kickstart economic growth – the Government’s central mission in its Plan for Change.  

    The changes will also see a pay boost for Britain’s young people – with the National Minimum Wage for younger workers and apprentices seeing a record cash increase. 

    This is the first step towards removing the unfair minimum wage age-bands that see a 21-year-old getting paid more than a 20-year-old for doing the same job. 

    Already, the UK is second in the G7 in terms of the minimum wage relative to average wages for a full-time worker – ahead of the US, Germany and Japan. This makes it one of the most financially secure countries in the world for workers. 

    Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:  

    This pay rise for over 3 million of the lowest paid workers was a priority for this government and means we’re already giving hard working people more money in their pockets and a proper wage increase worth over twice the rate of inflation. 

    These changes are part of our Plan for Change – to raise living standards for people across the county, including apprentices and young people, giving them more job security and the huge pay boost they deserve too. 

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

    In the last Parliament, living standards were the worst on record and sky-high inflation was crushing working people’s finances.

    Today we have raised the national minimum and living wages, meaning the lowest paid will receive an annual pay boost of up to £2,500 – something that wouldn’t have happened without my Budget last year.

    Making work pay is good for workers, will strengthen businesses’ workforces, and will grow our economy for years to come. It’s a key milestone on my number one mission to get more money in people’s pockets as we deliver our Plan for Change.

    Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:  

    We promised to make low pay a thing of the past. Now, as part of our Plan for Change and the biggest upgrade to worker’s rights in a generation, we are delivering that. 

    Low pay is not only bad for workers, it prevents them from spending on our high streets and allowing local businesses to achieve their full potential.  

    By ensuring that everyone gets a fair wage for the hours they work, we’re delivering the financial stability needed to kick-start economic growth and ensure our country is fit for the future.

    The Government is spending billions to support people suffering with the cost of living pressure that were inherited by the previous administration. This includes:  

    • £7.8 billion on State Pension spending, in line with the Triple Lock commitment so pensioners don’t get left behind
    • £3 billion to freeze the fuel duty – to help Britain’s drivers
    • £1 billion, including Barnett impact, to extend the Household Support Fund in England and Discretionary Housing Payments in England and Wales in 2025-2026
    • £460 million on Warm Homes – to help the poorest households heath their homes
    • £25 million boost for the carers allowance to better support people caring for a loved one.

    This is on top of the additional £7.8bn that the government is spending in 25/26 to protect the value of the state pension and to reflect changes in the population. 

    The Government is clear that the mission to grow the economy and raise living standards is a top priority and a strong economy can only be built when people have financial security whilst in work. 

    Recent research from ReWAGE and the University of Warwick shows that low pay can lead to mental health issues including depression, meaning more lost days and crippling productivity, leaving employers carrying the cost burden as well increasing costs to public services such as the NHS. 

    By putting more money into the pockets of the lowest paid, this increases workers’ financial security instead offering stability to help increase staff retention and lowering recruitment costs for businesses in the long run.   

    This uplift is an essential part of the Government’s plan for long-term national renewal and growth. 

    To ensure workers get the fairest deal, this rise is also the first that has taken into account the cost of living and inflation. 

    The uplift sits alongside the Employment Rights Bill, the most significant upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation, and commitments to improve economic stability, get Britain building again, kickstart a skills revolution and bring forward a modern industrial strategy, and a plan to tackle inactivity.   

    The Government recognises that businesses will need more support next year. Ahead of permanently lowering tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) from 2026/27, we have prevented the current RHL relief from ending this April, extending it for one year to ensure that over 250,000 RHL properties see a full 40 per cent reduction on their liability, and we have frozen the small business multiplier. 

    Julian Richer, founder of both retailer Richer Sounds and the Good Business Charter said: 

    One of the best ways to increase living standards and productivity in the UK is to put more money straight into people’s pockets with a National Minimum Wage increase that can be spent in shops and the economy to boost growth.  

    From this increase we can expect to see employee morale, productivity and retention all going up and hopefully will benefit millions of workers. 

    TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: 

    This increase in the national minimum wage will make a real difference to the lowest paid in this country and setting out a path to end the outdated and unfair youth rates will give young workers a boost up and down the country. 

    More money in working people’s pockets means more spend on our high streets – that’s good for workers and good for local economies. 

    Debbie Crosbie, CEO, Nationwide said: 

    The Government’s Plan for Change is a welcome and clear plan for growing the economy, strengthening businesses and supporting employees.  

    Eliminating low pay will make sure that everyone shares in the progress the country makes.  

    Nationwide has long championed the national minimum and living wage and we welcome this focus on improving living standards and boosting productivity.

    Peter Jelkelby, Chief Executive and Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA UK and Ireland said: 

    People are at the heart of IKEA’s success, and we recognise the challenges they face from inflationary pressures and rises in the cost of living.  

    Businesses rely on a skilled, engaged and committed workforce, so ensuring that wages reflect the cost of living is the right route to providing that.

    Centrica Group Chief Executive, Chris O’Shea, said:  

    A strong, sustainable economy needs wages that rise in line with productivity and needs to ensure people can live well.  

    As a Real Living Wage employer, we applaud this uplift in the National Minimum Wage for the millions of workers who will power the country’s economic growth. Government and business need to work together to drive prosperity to ensure workers get their fair share and to reduce inequality and raising living standards. 

    With the right policy choices—particularly in our energy sector—we have a vital opportunity to unlock billions of pounds of investment, boost growth and productivity, while creating thousands more well-paid jobs across the UK.

    Danielle Harmer, Chief People Officer, Aviva said: 

    We’re proud to be a real Living Wage Employer in the UK, including for our contractors and suppliers who work on our sites.  

    Supporting our colleagues to thrive is good for them, our business, and our customers.

    Nicola Ryan, Director of Colleague Support at One+All in Greater Manchester, said:  

     
    “We are very pleased with the increase to the National Minimum and Living Wage.

    “This is great news for the millions of lower paid workers, as we know far too many working parents and their children are in poverty.

    “We know that employees who have less financial stress do a much better job which leads to higher productivity and customer satisfaction.”

    Notes to editors:   

    • The changes from 1 April mean:
    • The National Living Wage for those aged 21 and over will rise from £11.44 per hour to £12.21 per hour.
    • The National Minimum Wage for 18- to 20-year-olds rises from £8.60 to £10.00 per hour.
    • The apprenticeship rate, and for 16- to 17-year-olds rises from £6.40 per hour to £7.55 per hour.
    • If someone is concerned that they’re not being paid the correct wage, they should speak to their employer. If the problem is not resolved, they can contact Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) by phoning 0300 123 1122, or complain to HMRC in confidence using the link www.gov.uk/minimum-wage-complaint. HMRC looks into every single complaint.
    • You can report possible underpayment of the National Minimum Wage to the ACAS Helpline and also online to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC):
    • https://www.gov.uk/pay-and-work-rights
    • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pay-and-work-rights-complaints
    • Workers and employers in Northern Ireland can contact the Labour Relations Agency helpline on 03300 555 300 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or their website: www.lra.org.uk.
    • As of 2023, the UK had the second highest minimum wage bite of the G7 countries, that is the ratio of the minimum wage relative to median wages for a full-time worker. The OECD estimate that the bite of the minimum wage in the UK was around 60%, behind France (62%), and ahead of Germany (52%), Canada (50%), Japan (46%) and the USA (26%).

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Online booking for picnic spots in parks is now open

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Equipped picnic spots in Moscow parks are again available to residents and guests of the capital. They can be booked only through the Mosbilet service. This will allow city residents to plan their vacation in advance and spend time in nature as comfortably as possible. When booking online, you can choose a convenient time and place. Rental of sites is paid.

    In parks under the jurisdiction of the capital Department of Culture, all conditions for safe recreation have been created: fire-resistant barbecues, boxes for coal and sand, trash bins and information boards with safety rules have been installed. There you can enjoy nature, cook shashlik and spend time with friends and family.

    Visitors reserve one time slot equal to four hours. It cannot be extended. After the end of the paid time, vacationers must leave the barbecue area. In case of a dispute, the site administrator will help to resolve the issue.

    Where can I book a barbecue area?

    Areas with gazebos and barbecues are located in 14 parks. For example, you can book a place to relax in the Ostankino and Kuskovo and Kuzminki-Lyublino museum-reserves, in the Severnoye Tushino, Raduga, Mitino, Lianozovsky and Babushkinsky parks, as well as in the square along Olonetsky Proezd. Barbecue areas are located in the Sokolniki and Serebryany Bor parks.

    In the natural and historical park “Kuzminki-Lyublino” you can enjoy nature, walk along well-groomed paths and get acquainted with the rich history of this place. The picnic point in the park is popular among visitors. It is a landscaped area with 11 gazebos with awnings and barbecues. This place is well suited for picnics, family celebrations and friendly gatherings in the fresh air.

    The Kuskovo forest park invites barbecue lovers who do not want to go far from the city. Here you can admire the beauty of the park landscapes, and for picnic lovers there are several areas with open gazebos and a place for a barbecue. Here you can celebrate holidays surrounded by centuries-old trees or spend time with friends and family. Next to the gazebos there is all the necessary infrastructure: barbecues, tables, benches. The gazebo can accommodate four people.

    The “Field of Brides” has not only barbecue areas, but also heated houses with terraces. There are open areas with large wooden tables for eight people surrounded by century-old fir trees. There is everything you need for a full-fledged rest: toilets, parking, an entertainment area. The territory is suitable for both families and large companies. The rental price does not include barbecue accessories, dishes, food and drinks.

    The Lianozovsky Landscape Reserve is located in the Lianozovo district. The picturesque oak grove of the ancient village of Altufyevo is now part of the regional cultural heritage site Lianozovo Park. A favorite place for visitors to relax is the Lianozovsky ponds. The territory of the forest park has a developed path network, picnic areas, children’s and sports grounds. The Altufevsky Complex Reserve is located in Bibirevo and runs along the Samoteka River. In the 30-50s of the last century, there was the Lianozovsky nursery, which supplied Moscow with the necessary planting material. Now the plantings of the former nursery have grown and formed a dense forest belt – an ideal place for quiet walks away from the bustle of the city. The park has children’s and sports grounds, they were reconstructed in 2022.

    The Severnoye Tushino Park offers a break from the bustle of the city. There are two children’s and four sports grounds, a workout area, and a mother and child room.

    On April 7, the picnic season opens in the park near the Raduga ponds. In comfortable gazebos designed for 8-10 people, you can enjoy nature and communicate with loved ones in the shade of trees. The tables are spacious, there is enough space for treats and cozy get-togethers. The park is located in the Veshnyaki district, not far from the Vykhino metro station.

    The square along Olonetsky Proezd is famous for its feathered inhabitants. The pearl of the territory is a bioplateau, where swans, geese and ducks of different species live. Next to the gazebo there is a large playground, a bird corner where pheasants, peacocks, ducks, chickens and other birds live. Nearby there is a rental point for summer equipment, several food outlets and a toilet. The gazebo is equipped with benches and lighting.

    The Mitino Landscape Park is a unique natural area with flood meadows, birch groves, walking alleys and bike paths. The gazebo is located near the observation deck, which offers the most picturesque views of the park and the Mitino district. There are art objects in the form of swings, benches and a toilet.

    Renting gazebos in the Serebryany Bor park allows you to organize various outdoor events – picnics, birthdays, children’s parties, business meetings. The gazebos are located on the bank of the Moscow River, they are wooden and protected from bad weather. Guests have access to equipped barbecue areas, comfortable furniture, and stationary toilets.

    The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant services, as well as other services in electronic form, correspond to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

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    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: How to enroll a child in first grade on the mos.ru portal

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Registration for first grade opened in the capital on April 1. You can apply online on the mos.ru portaluntil September 5, 2025. If the child attends a preschool group and is going to enroll in the first grade of the same educational organization, then it is not necessary to submit an electronic application: in this case, the transfer is processed without submitting digital documents, it is enough to just write an application addressed to the director.

    The possibility of online registration of children for first grade appeared in Moscow 13 years ago. Thanks to digitalization, it is no longer necessary to personally bring documents for enrolling a child in school. An application can be submitted to three educational institutions of your choice at once. It is important that at least one of the schools corresponds to the child’s registration address. The other two can be from an additional list. Last year alone, the service for registering for first grade on the mos.ru portal was used more than 58.1 thousand times.

    Parents or legal representatives who have a certificate can enroll a future first-grader in school online. accounton the mos.ru portal. Before registration, you need to enter or update information about yourself and your children in your personal account. Then you need to select the “Education” section in the service catalog, go to the “School” subsection and then click on “Enroll in first grade”.

    “For 13 years now, Moscow has been offering parents an accessible and modern way to enroll their children in school. Thanks to the mos.ru portal, submitting an application for first grade takes just a few clicks without leaving home at any convenient time. This service eliminates the need for personal visits to the school to submit an application and transfer documents. All necessary data is verified through electronic interdepartmental interaction, which makes the process even more efficient. Parents can also view official documents of the educational organization online. Thus, digitalization of the service not only saves time, but also increases the level of comfort for parents, allowing them to fully control the process of enrolling a child in school from anywhere in Russia,” noted the Chairperson of the Moscow City State Services Committee.

    Elena Shinkaruk.

    Among them documents, required for filing an electronic application, are the child’s birth certificate, his SNILS, the applicant’s passport and others. As explained in the capital’s Department of Information Technology, if the information from these documents was previously added to the mos.ru personal account and confirmed, then the application fields will be filled in automatically.

    The decision on enrolling the child in school will be received within 30 calendar days. The countdown starts from the moment the application is registered (this happens after the information provided is confirmed by the departments). A notification will be sent to the applicant’s personal account on the mos.ru portal and to his e-mail.

    You can find out more about how to enroll a child in first grade in special instructionson mos.ru.

    If parents have any questions, they can get additional advice from the Center for Informing the Population about the Provision of Educational Services Department of Education and Science of the City of Moscow. You can do this by phone: 7 495 530-71-71 or by email: infodo@edu.mos.ru.

    The mos.ru portal is the core of the Moscow digital ecosystem. It gives Muscovites access to a variety of online opportunities. Here, users can receive electronic services, learn important city news, study instructions, and find government contacts.

    You can learn about how the mos.ru portal transformed from a news feed with a book of reviews into a resource that today offers more than 450 electronic services in a popular science film “Moscow in digital”.

    The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant services, as well as other services in electronic form, corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State”and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

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    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Book of Hero Monuments of Moscow”: a thematic exhibition for the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory opened on Tsvetnoy Boulevard

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On April 1, an exhibition based on the materials of the project “Book of Hero Monuments of Moscow” opened on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. The event, timed to coincide with the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, was organized by the capital’s Department of Cultural Heritage.

    “The exhibition includes 14 original stories about Moscow buildings and monuments that suffered from military action or played a special role during the Great Patriotic War, and more than 100 unique photographs, letters and documents from that time. The exhibition, timed to coincide with the celebration of a significant date – the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, will last until April 14 inclusive. We invite everyone to visit it and get acquainted with unique stories about such architectural monuments as the Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve, the Ostankino Museum-Estate, the Sandunov Baths and others,” said the head of the Moscow City Department of Cultural Heritage.

    Alexey Emelyanov.

    Project “Book of Hero Monuments of Moscow”

    The Moscow City Government has begun implementing the “Book of Hero Monuments of Moscow” project. Department of Cultural Heritage in 2021, on the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Moscow. Its main idea is to tell that there were not only people on the front lines. Moscow buildings also became participants in the hostilities. Some of them still bear traces of enemy bombing. Events that influenced the course of the war took place within the walls of these houses.

    Each entry in the publication includes the author’s story and archival illustrative materials – everything that can tell in as much detail as possible about the hero monument. Anyone can help in creating the book of memory: an application containing the history of the building can be submitted on the project website. www. pamyatniki-geroi.rf

    Theaters and museums are heroes

    Residents and organizations share their stories, including the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, whose façade still bears traces of shrapnel from a nearby bomb, the Vakhtangov State Academic Theater, whose building was almost completely destroyed during the first bombing of Moscow, and the Bolshoi Theater, which was damaged during one of the air raids.

    When the Nazi troops began their offensive on Moscow in 1941, it became clear that the building of the Red Army Theatre (now the Central Academic Theatre of the Russian Army) was an extremely successful target and landmark for enemy aircraft. There is no documentary evidence to support this, but they said that each beam of the building in the shape of a five-pointed star pointed in the direction of Moscow’s largest transport hubs – Belorussky, Savelovsky and Rizhsky railway stations, Komsomolskaya Square, and the fifth – to the center of the capital.

    Employees from all the theatre’s workshops took part in camouflaging the building: actors, prop masters, carpenters and fitters. They sewed nets, painted walls and models. The first control observations were conducted during the work, and the third – upon its completion. From a height of 2.5 thousand meters when approaching from the east, the theatre building was identified only when the plane was almost above the object. And before camouflage, it could be seen 30-40 kilometers from the capital.

    To enhance the camouflage effect, the roofs of nearby houses were repainted, the pond in the Catherine Garden was drained, and models of buildings were installed in the passage between the park and the theater. Thus, from above, the square and nearby buildings began to look like a residential village with houses, sheds, and trees.

    Heroic Estates

    During the war, the only female sniper school in the USSR was located on the territory of the Kuskovo estate. It graduated more than two thousand female snipers. Two graduates of the school, Tatyana Baramzina and Aliya Moldagulova, were posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

    In addition to the sniper training center, the former Sheremetev estate housed the Central Experimental Kennel of Military-Sports Dog Breeding, created in 1924 to conduct experiments on the use of dogs in military affairs. In 1934, the institution was renamed the Central School of Communications, Dog Breeding, and Pigeon Breeding. During the Great Patriotic War, it regularly sent its teams to the front. Mine-detecting dogs discovered about four million mines, landmines, and other explosive devices, and sapper handlers defused them. Mine-detecting dog units participated in demining Belgorod, Kyiv, Odessa, Novgorod, Vitebsk, and Budapest.

    Life at another estate, Ostankino, also changed completely on June 22, 1941. All the most valuable exhibits were taken out of the wooden palace and into the stone building of the 17th-century estate church. Only the large palace chandeliers had to be left in place, as they could not be hidden in the church vaults. All the crystal decorations were removed from them, as they would inevitably have broken during the bombing.

    To avoid attracting attention from above, the palace was also camouflaged. Different parts of the building were painted in different colors so that at night, when raids most often occurred, the palace would give the impression of several separate buildings.

    Moscow to Perpetuate Memory of Five Heroes Who Participated in the WarThe project “Book of Hero Monuments of Moscow” has been expanded with new stories

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    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The city will put up for auction the premises in the Tryndins’ apartment building

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A non-residential property in a historic building in the Meshchansky District is being prepared for auction. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property Maxim Gaman.

    “The city will put up for sale a 50.6 square meter property located in the regional cultural heritage site “Tryndin’s Apartment Building”. The commercial property on offer is located in the basement of a building 500 meters from the Lubyanka metro station. Any type of business can be opened here, such as a pick-up point, an exhibition space, or a warehouse for a chain store,” said Maxim Gaman.

    The historic building is located at 13/16 Bolshaya Lubyanka Street, Building 1. The Tryndin apartment building is famous for the fact that in the 1920s, it hosted meetings of the Society for the Study of Interplanetary Communications, which included Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and Yakov Perelman. The first constituent meeting dedicated to the organization of the Dynamo sports society was also held here.

    The future owner of the commercial premises will need to carry out work to preserve the object and use it in accordance with the terms of the conservation obligation of the regional cultural heritage site.

    Information about objects put up for open auctions is published on the Moscow investment portal. You can study the lot documentation and rules for conducting auctions in the section “Property from the city”.

    The development of electronic services for entrepreneurs is being implemented within the framework of the national project “Data Economy”.

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    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Freshwater crocodile handed to DETSI

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 1 Apr 2025

    A small freshwater crocodile reportedly found near Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast has been handed over to wildlife rangers by a concerned member of the public.

    The crocodile was reportedly found by a man on a suburban street on 30 March 2025 and he took it home before contacting the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI).

    Wildlife rangers collected the animal on 31 March 2025 and took it to the department’s Moggill facility for assessment.

    The animal is believed to be around two months old and appears to be in good health. Following vet checks, the crocodile could be placed with a farm or zoo.

    The circumstances that led to the animal being found on the Gold Coast are being investigated.

    The animal is believed to either be an escaped pet or to have been illegally taken from the wild.

    Anyone with information is encouraged to contact DETSI on 1300 130 372. Information can be provided anonymously.

    Freshwater crocodiles are native to Queensland, but their natural habitat is in rural areas in central, western and northwest Queensland. The Gold Coast is not considered to be freshwater crocodile habitat.

    Open larger image

    A small freshwater crocodile has been handed over to wildlife rangers.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Supreme Court orders a recall of PNG parliament for no confidence vote

    By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent

    Papua New Guinea’s Supreme Court has ruled that Parliament must be recalled on April 8 to debate a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister James Marape.

    In a decision handed down yesterday, the court found that actions taken by the Parliament’s Private Business Committee and Deputy Speaker, Koni Iguan, in November 2024 were unconstitutional and in breach of the principle of parliamentary democracy.

    The ruling stems from an incident on 27 November 2024, when a notice of motion for a vote of no confidence was submitted to Iguan and found compliant with constitutional requirements under Section 145.

    However, the motion was rejected by invoking Section 165 of the Standing Orders, which disallows motions deemed identical in substance to those resolved within the previous 12 months.

    This restriction came into play just over two months after an earlier motion of no confidence had been defeated on 12 September.

    Iguan disallowed the motion and prevented it from being tabled in Parliament, triggering legal action from Chuave MP and deputy opposition leader James Nomane.

    The court emphasised that parliamentary democracy relies on the executive’s accountability to the people through such mechanisms as motions of no confidence.

    Overstepped mandate
    The court also found that the Private Business Committee had overstepped its mandate, taking actions that should have been handled by the Speaker or Parliament as a whole.

    PNG Prime Minister James Marape . . . “We are a government that respects the courts.” Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

    Marape has responded to the decision, saying his government will respect the rule of law and comply with the court’s directives.

    “We are a government that respects the courts. The Supreme Court reads and interprets the Constitution better than all of us, and we will honour its ruling,” he said.

    Marape commands the support of more than two-thirds of the MPs in the house which enabled him to pass several major consitutional amendments last month, including declaring Papua New Guinea a Christian nation.

    He acknowledged the Supreme Court’s clarification of critical constitutional provisions which pertain to the right of MPs to introduce motions and participate in the democratic processes of government.

    “The court found that there was a vacuum in the law and has provided direction,” he said.

    “As the executive arm of government, we will not stand in the way. Parliament will sit as ordered by the court.”

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI China: 8th Digital China Summit to drive data economy, showcase tech

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, April 1 — The 8th Digital China Summit will convene in Fuzhou, southeast China’s Fujian Province, from April 29 to 30, showcasing the nation’s digital transformation achievements amid robust growth in the digital sector.

    The summit aims to address bottlenecks in data utilization and realize market-oriented value creation, said Liu Liehong, head of the National Data Administration, at a State Council Information Office press conference on Monday.

    China’s digital industry generated 35 trillion yuan (about 4.9 trillion U.S. dollars) in business revenue in 2024, up 5.5 percent year on year, with total profit reaching 2.7 trillion yuan, a 3.5-percent increase, official data showed.

    The summit will release a series of policy documents, including reports on digital China development and the national data resource survey, serving as strategic guidance for future digital development, Liu added.

    More than 300 professional institutions are expected to participate in the event, with companies constituting over 75 percent of participants and private enterprises exceeding 50 percent, both figures an increase from previous editions, said Guo Ningning, Party chief of Fuzhou.

    The event will feature over 100 activities centered on digital transformation, data element applications, technological breakthroughs and industrial cluster development.

    A highlight of this year’s summit will be the unprecedented display of cutting-edge technologies, with more than 65 percent of the products on display appearing for the first time. This will include smart robots, advanced drones, brain-like computing and multi-modal large language models, Guo noted.

    Visitors will experience immersive digital scenarios, including interactive humanoid robot greeters, robot dog performances and digital cultural experiences in Fuzhou’s historic and cultural city blocks like Sanfangqixiang, which literally means “three lanes and seven alleys,” blending traditional culture with modern technology.

    The digital economy has become a significant driver of China’s economic growth, with core digital industries contributing approximately 10 percent of gross domestic product in 2024, while China’s “lighthouse factories” now account for over 40 percent of the global total.

    Lighthouse factories are plants recognized by the World Economic Forum for their leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

    The National Data Administration will continue focusing on market-oriented reform of data elements, guiding pilot projects of digital China development in key regions, and promoting international cooperation to further advance digital economic development, Liu said.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI: Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform Deployed Across T-Mobile Operations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN JOSE, Calif., April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zscaler, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZS), the leader in cloud security, collaborated with T-Mobile in late 2023 to rapidly deploy hybrid zero trust throughout its operations. In just three months, T-Mobile implemented the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™ AI-powered cloud security platform, which is designed to secure access to applications and the internet, regardless of user location or device. Now, one year later, the roll-out has further secured the Un-carrier’s infrastructure against potential cyber threats and over that time, T-Mobile is retiring its traditional VPNs. By reducing the need for traditional VPNs and providing secure and direct access to applications, T-Mobile’s employees and other team members can access needed resources efficiently and effectively, whether they are in the office, at home or on the go.

    “As T-Mobile is continually focused on making enhancements to our cybersecurity approach to stay ahead of bad actors, working with Zscaler to roll out these tools is another positive step forward in that mission,” said Jeff Simon, senior vice president and chief security officer, T-Mobile. “Zscaler’s tools help us ensure that only verified and authorized users and devices can securely access the systems they need to do their job — and nothing more. This is critical to significantly reducing the risk of cyber threats.”

    Modernizing Security with the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange
    The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform is designed to secure access to applications and the internet, regardless of user location or device. T-Mobile’s deployment includes:

    • Secure internet access with Zscaler Internet Access™ (ZIA™) to eliminate the need for backhauling, delivering full TLS/SSL traffic inspection and zero-trust access for internet and SaaS applications.
    • Secure private access with Zscaler Private Access™ (ZPA™) to replace traditional VPNs and provide direct access to applications from any location.
    • Advanced threat detection with Zscaler Deception technology to detect and neutralize threats by using decoys and false user paths to lure bad actors away from resources.
    • Optimized User Experience with Zscaler Digital Experience™ (ZDX™) that detects and resolves issues with application connectivity and performance issues that could impact productivity.

    “The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange is a cloud native cybersecurity platform built on the concept of zero trust. Following the principle of least-privileged access, the platform establishes trust based on user identity and context — including location, device, application and content — and creates secure, direct user-to-app, app-to-app and machine-to-machine connections,” said Mike Rich, chief revenue officer and president of global sales at Zscaler. “We’re proud that Zscaler reduced T-Mobile’s use of legacy firewalls and VPNs to enhance secure and efficient access to applications and information.”

    Watch a video from Zscaler and T-Mobile here. For more on the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange, visit zscaler.com.

    About Zscaler
    Zscaler (NASDAQ: ZS) accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™ platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across more than 150 data centers globally, the SASE-based Zero Trust Exchange™ is the world’s largest in-line cloud security platform.

    Media Contact
    Natalia Wodecki
    Sr. Director, Global Integrated Communications & PR
    press@zscaler.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Europe: REPORT on Parliament’s estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2026 – A10-0048/2025

    Source: European Parliament 2

    MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

    on Parliament’s estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2026

    (2024/2111(BUI))

    The European Parliament,

     having regard to Article 314 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

     having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021-2027[1] and to the joint declaration agreed between Parliament, the Council and the Commission in this context[2] and the related unilateral declarations[3],

     having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2022/2496 of 15 December 2022 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027[4],

     having regard to the Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027[5] (”MFF Revision”),

     having regard to its legislative resolution of 16 December 2020 on the draft Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027[6],

     having regard to its resolution of 15 December 2022 on upscaling the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework: a resilient EU budget fit for new challenges[7],

     having regard to its resolution of 3 October 2023 on the proposal for a mid-term revision of the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027[8],

     having regard to its resolution of 27 February 2024 on the draft Council regulation amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027[9],

     having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast)[10] (the “Financial Regulation”),

     having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources[11],

     having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025[12] and the joint statements agreed between Parliament, the Council and the Commission annexed hereto,

     having regard to the Secretary-General’s report to the Bureau on drawing up Parliament’s preliminary draft estimates for the financial year 2026,

      having regard to the preliminary draft estimates drawn up by the Bureau on 10 March 2025 pursuant to Rules 25(7) and 104(1) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure,

      having regard to the draft estimates drawn up by the Committee on Budgets pursuant to Rule 104(2) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure,

      having regard to Rule 104 of its Rules of Procedure,

      having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A10-0048/2025),

    A.  whereas the budget proposed on 10 February 2025 by the Secretary-General for the Parliament’s preliminary draft estimates for 2026 amounts to EUR 2 641 609 620 and represents an increase of 4,30 % or EUR 108 914 512 compared to 2025 budget;

    B.  whereas the Union annual inflation was 2,8 % in January 2025 according to Eurostat, up from 2,7 % in December 2024; whereas the level of expenditure in Heading 7 of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021-2027 is based on a 2 % yearly increase;

    C.  whereas the credibility of the Parliament depends on its ability to deliver on its core budgetary, legislative and scrutiny work to the highest standard, while setting an example vis-à-vis other Union institutions to plan and conduct its spending prudently and efficiently and to reflect the prevalent economic realities;

    General framework

    1. Is concerned with the situation of Heading 7 in the current MFF; recalls that the constraints are the results of the cuts applied by the Council to the Commission’s already very low initial proposal when agreeing on the current MFF 2021-2027; regrets the Council’s opposition to the Commission’s proposal to increase the ceiling of Heading 7 in the MFF revision as from 2024; points out the failure to address the issue of the ceiling of Heading 7 in the MFF revision; highlights that the forecasted negative margin for 2026 presupposes the use of special instruments in Heading 7 for that purpose;

    2. Endorses the agreement reached in the Conciliation between the Bureau and the Committee on Budgets on 18 March 2025 to set the increase over the 2025 budget at 4,09 %, corresponding to an overall of estimates of EUR 2 636 241 620 for 2026, and to reduce accordingly the appropriations proposed on the following budget lines for a total of EUR 12 378 000:

    1 0 0 6 — General expenditure allowance, 1 4 2 — External translation services, 2 0 0 0 — Rent, 2 0 0 7 — Construction of buildings and fitting-out of premises, 2 0 2 4 — Energy consumption, 2 1 0 1 — Business applications management, 3 2 0 — Acquisition of expertise, 3 2 4 3 — European Parliament visitors’ centres, 3 2 4 8 — Expenditure on audiovisual information, 4 4 — Meetings and other activities of current and former Members;

    furthermore, it was decided to increase the level of expenditure of the preliminary draft estimates approved by the Bureau on 10 March 2025 by EUR 7 010 000 and to increase accordingly the appropriations proposed on the following budget lines:

    1 2 0 0 — Remuneration and allowances, 1 6 3 0 — Social welfare: welfare expenditure, 4 0 0 — Current administrative expenditure and expenditure relating to the political and information activities of the political groups and non-attached Members, and 4 0 3 — Funding of European political foundations;

    finally, it was agreed to modify the budgetary remarks of item 1 6 3 0 — Social welfare: welfare expenditure to include the reference to the APA Committee;

    3. Recalls that almost two-thirds of the budget is fixed by statutory obligations; notes that out of the increase of EUR 103,5 million compared to the 2025 budget an increase of EUR 85,3 million is due to statutory financial obligations, mainly for salary updates of officials and temporary staff (EUR 52,7 million), of contract agents (EUR 9,2 million) and of accredited parliamentary assistants (EUR 15,1 million); recalls that the salary indexation, in line with the Staff Regulations and Statute for Members of the European Parliament, is currently forecasted by the Commission for April 2025, July 2025, April 2026 and July 2026 at 1,2 %, 4,6 %, 0,6 % and 3,4 % respectively;

    4. Notes that the Parliament does not request any additional posts for 2026, the third year in a row;

    5. Notes that the increase for non-statutory expenditures between 2025 and 2026 is 1,96 %;

    6. Welcomes the initiative of the Secretary-General to conduct a major screening exercise aimed at identifying opportunities for administrative simplification, eliminating inefficiencies and ensuring tangible cost reductions, thereby increasing efficiency and ensuring a smart use of resources; asks the Secretary-General to provide the Committee on Budgets with semestrial updates on the actions taken and on the Action Plan on Simplification as well as their impact in terms of budget and staff; underlines that administrative procedures and human resources management represent a heavy burden for Members, in particular when hiring local assistants, and calls for simplification in that regard;

    7. Notes that Parliament’s budget should be established on a realistic basis, in compliance with the principles of budgetary discipline and sound financial management; highlights that it is essential to ensure that financial prudence and security remain key priorities while guaranteeing that these measures do not impede the efficiency, effectiveness and operational capacity of the institution and its essential staff in carrying out their duties successfully; stresses that, given the geopolitical context and the investments that the Union will have to make for its strategic autonomy, the Parliament must set an example in the management of its budget;

    8. Highlights Parliament’s role in building European political awareness and promoting Union values and policies such as the digital and green transition; stresses that transparency, accountability, gender equality and integrity are essential principles within the Union institutions and particularly Parliament as a house of European democracy;

    Strengthening Parliament’s core functions

    9. Takes note of the four new thematic Directorates-General (DGs) created in September 2024, responsible for legislative, budgetary and scrutiny activities, from the previous Directorate-General for Internal Policies, in order to improve the functioning of Parliament as a co-legislator, as one arm of the budgetary authority, and as discharge authority; requests the Secretary-General to provide the Committee on Budgets with regular updates on the evolution of work and staff in these DGs;

    10. Recognises the need for more political decision-making based on evidence and facts; takes note of the budget of EUR 16,75 million to strengthen Parliament’s administrative capacity in supporting Members in their parliamentary work and reinforcing its capacity to navigate complexity and uncertainty;

     

    11. Stresses the crucial role of political groups in providing expertise and political support to Members in their legislative and parliamentary work; underlines the need to ensure the important objective of strengthening Parliament’s capacity to support the work of Members;

    Digital transition

    12. Underlines that Parliament’s cybersecurity is a key priority; notes that the overall IT budget represents 7,40 % of the total budget in the 2026 estimates; stresses the importance of a sound cybersecurity infrastructure in geopolitically turbulent times and welcomes the increase in the appropriations dedicated to cybersecurity; supports the planned gradual increase of the cybersecurity financial appropriations to 10 % of Parliament’s ICT budget by 2027;

    13. Welcomes the adoption by the Bureau on 10 February 2025 of the Framework on an internal cybersecurity risk management, governance and control framework; recalls that investments in cybersecurity are key to protect the democratic voice of the Parliament and the Union;

    14. Welcomes investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) amounting to EUR 1 million; calls for the use of AI to be increased in order to gain efficiencies, while keeping in mind the related risks, including ethics and data protection; highlights the potential of AI to streamline administrative processes; stresses that AI deployment must balance innovation with necessary safeguards; notes that the development of AI will be closely monitored in line with the principles established by the Bureau, which include among others a thorough risk assessment with the use of new technologies; calls the Secretariat to provide solutions, such as applications and tools, to be made available to Members and staff as soon as possible;

    Green transition

     

    15. Welcomes Parliament’s environmental management system (EMAS) targets for 2025-2029; recalls that energy efficiency investments are a good method of achieving value for money; takes note of the budget of EUR 8,45 million for investments on energy efficiency and environment in the 2026 estimates to further improve the environmental performance of its buildings; notes that this corresponds to an increase of 74 % compared to 2025 budget; acknowledges however, that these environmental actions are part of the 2007 ‘Construction of building and fitting out of premises’ budget line whose grand total has decreased by EUR 3,7 million in 2026 vs 2025;

     

    16. Recalls that nearly two-thirds of Parliament’s carbon footprint originate from the transportation of people; calls for a reasonable decrease of travel for meetings that can be effectively conducted remotely or in hybrid mode and to promote a shift to low carbon alternatives for all remaining travel, in so far as this does not affect the quality of legislative and political work;

     

    17. Takes note of the projected increase in carbon credits prices, that with the current emissions levels would need an estimated EUR 900 000 for 2026; calls the administration to continue decreasing, in line with sound financial management, Parliament’s emissions over buying carbon credits; welcomes the introduction of an enhanced train offer for missions to Strasbourg as of July 2025, as a positive step towards reducing CO2 emissions;

     

    18. Notes that Parliament has installed and is continuing to install photovoltaic solar panels to further increase the share of renewable energy produced on-site to reach the target of 25 %; takes note of the answers provided by the Secretary-General to Parliament’s estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2024 pointing out that a study on the use of photovoltaic panels for Strasbourg buildings was carried out in 2022 and was completed in 2023 and that further studies were to be conducted in 2024 for viable solutions, in particular for the WEISS building;

    Multilingualism, communication and disinformation

     

    19. Highlights that multilingualism is a key principle on which Parliament’s work is based; takes note of the revision of the Code of Conduct on Multilingualism planned for spring 2025; asks that, where appropriate, Parliament capitalise on major technological evolutions in multilingualism-related services, including the development and use of AI; asks the Secretary-General to timely inform the Committee on Budgets on any budgetary impacts following this revision;

     

    20. Highlights the role played by European Parliament Liaison Offices (EPLOs) in countering foreign interference and disinformation; takes note in that regard of the work of EPLOs proactively promoting the work of Parliament in their local languages across multiple channels; highlights EPLOs’ role in the UK as the main contact point for Union nationals resident in the UK, providing them with information about the Parliament and encouraging them to vote in the European elections; requests the Bureau to expand the production and dissemination of communication materials in an accessible and inclusive manner;

     

    21. Highlights the low participation rate of young people in the recent European elections in some regions of the Union and Parliament’s role in strengthening EU citizenship education;

     

    22. Recalls the importance of the European Parliament Ambassador School programme to promote active engagement among young Europeans and of the training programme for young journalists named in honour of David Sassoli to strengthen the understanding of the Union and its functioning amongst journalists, as the best antidote against disinformation, in light of recent trends demonstrating a worrying decline in media freedom and independence across the Union;

     

    23. Recognises the importance of visitors groups as an important tool to connect citizens with the work of Members; welcomes in that regard the increase of the ceilings and cost factors for the calculation of the financial contribution to sponsored visitors as from 1 January 2025; requests the Bureau to assess the impact of the revised rules related to visitors groups in relation to travel costs taking into account market fluctuation and to avoid indirect geographical discrimination for visitors; notes that about 15 % of the quota for visitors is historically not being used by Members; calls the Secretary-General to propose to the Bureau to make the unused quota available to interested Members; notes that the budget for visitors groups represents 22 % of the overall budget of the Directorate-General for Communication;

     

    24. Notes with concern the internal rules governing Members’ visitor groups, which result in 30 % of the up-front costs having to be incurred by Accredited Parliamentary Assistants (APAs) in some circumstances; stresses the impracticability of these rules and the financial burden this places on APAs; takes note of the answers provided by the Secretary-General to Parliament’s estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2024 in regard to the rationale of the two-step approach; understands the rationale but emphasises the growing challenges this presents for APAs, particularly with the continuous shift towards more stringent rules;

    25. Stresses the increasingly challenging communication landscape and the multiple ways in which political communication should be performed, including through engaging in various social media platforms and other media; underlines the need for the political groups to convey and communicate their message across all Member States as a key principle of a well-functioning European democracy;

    Infrastructure

     

    26. Acknowledges the new approach related to buildings, where, after a period of acquisition, Parliament has entered an era of consolidation of buildings, taking into account sustainability, accessibility and mobility of Members and staff;

     

    27. Takes note that EUR 4 million are included in the 2026 estimates for studies and the contractor’s preparatory works related to the SPAAK building renovation while the overall costs are estimated at EUR 36 million; notes therefore that EUR 32 million of costs related to the SPAAK building renovation are not included in the 2026 estimates; notes that the Secretary-General intends to cover these costs by a mopping-up transfer or the use of a loan; requests the Secretary-General to provide the Committee on Budgets with detailed information on a possible loan to cover these costs, in accordance with Article 272 (6) of the Financial Regulation, as soon as possible as well as the full planning of the works including the planning of the costs; insists that costs not directly linked to the renovation works should also be clearly listed and budgeted; notes that as of December 2024, the direct costs of the SPAAK project amount to EUR 14,12 million;

     

    28. Welcomes the pilot project of DG INLO aimed at removing legionella from the pipeline sanitary system of the Parliament and highlights that the only effective way to fight the further spreading of legionella is to bring the water temperature inside the pipelines to 55 degrees Celsius for a limited time;

     

    29. Notes that it is planned to invest EUR 11,45 million in Europa Experiences in 2026; takes note of the decision by the Bureau in November 2024 to revise the concept of Europa Experience and expects the revised concept to be more cost-efficient and more attractive to visitors; regrets that there are still no Europa Experiences in Bucharest, Riga, Madrid, Lisbon, Nicosia, Valletta or Vilnius; calls for the establishment of Europa Experiences in all Member States as soon as a revised concept has been established; recalls that Europa Experiences should allow citizens to have a better understanding of the functioning of the Union and learn about our shared values; reiterates therefore that Europa Experiences are an integral part of Parliament’s ongoing engagement with Union citizens;

     

    30. Takes note that no additional financing is needed for the opening of Parliament offices in Moldova and the Western Balkans, as these would be set up within EEAS premises; stresses the importance of Parliament’s presence in these countries as a sign of European solidarity and a sign of Parliament’s commitment to the accession process;

     

    31. Takes note of the early termination of the contract with the previous provider of the Crèche Wayenberg after a number of serious allegations against the contractor; welcomes the agreement with a new provider that foresees better working conditions of the nursery staff and better quality of the service for the children; acknowledges, however, that this results in an increase of the budget necessary for this purpose, but emphasises that decent working conditions for external staff should, where relevant, be a priority consideration in public procurement of Parliament as a matter of principle;

     

    32. Reiterates the need for high quality nursing rooms in Parliament’s premises and calls on the competent services to upgrade the current facilities in terms of equipment, space and accessibility in order to make them child-friendly; calls for an impact assessment on the need for a family room within the premises of the Brussels seat of the Parliament, for children of Members without permanent residence in Brussels, mirroring the arrangements in Strasbourg;

    Others

    33. Reiterates its request, adopted at Plenary level at several occasions, for the relevant bodies to reflect on a solution enabling Members to exercise their right to vote remotely, during benefiting from maternity or paternity leave, during a certified long-term illness, taking advantage of the lessons learnt during the pandemic on the technical aspects of this voting method;

    34. Reaffirms its call for the Secretary-General to emphasise the fundamental principle that all recruitment should be based on competency while also ensuring geographical balance among all Member States at every staff level; calls on Parliament to build its own outreach capacity, with the goal of attracting to competitions quality candidates that Parliament needs, in terms of profile, age, gender and nationality and especially from under-represented countries; underscores that achieving fair geographical representation is essential to fostering a genuinely European public service; notes that Parliament has consistently taken measures to support this objective, including the organisation of nationality-specific competitions while maintaining a strict merit-based selection approach;

    35. Believes that Parliament should lead by example concerning the rights of persons with disabilities, both as an employer and as a public institution; welcomes Parliament’s policy aiming to ensure the fully independent use of Parliament buildings by persons with disabilities and supports further measures and adaptations that will be necessary in this regard; notes that the budget foresees EUR 3,7 million for this purpose;

     

    36. Stresses the fact that Parliament having a single seat could reduce the financial and environmental costs; recalls that, according to the Treaty on European Union, Parliament is to have its seat in Strasbourg; notes that permanent changes would require a Treaty change for which unanimity is needed;

     

    37. Notes that mission expenses of Members and staff amount to EUR 116 million in Parliament’s budget; calls for Parliament’s bodies to reflect on mission practices and a revision of mission rules and practices with the overall aim of continuing to improve the nature of missions and further diminishing the associated financial and environmental costs; encourages Members to use low-carbon transport alternatives and advocates for responsible and measured use of best-value flights options, and the preference for train travel where it is a viable option;

     

    38. Takes note that Article 46(2) of the Implementing Measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament provides for the possibility to finance extra costs linked to the parliamentary assistance budgets with appropriations from their General Expenditure Allowance (GEA); calls on Parliament’s administration to take the necessary measures to enable Members who wish to do so to use their GEA to cover the cost of APA missions; highlights that such a measure would address increasing costs in Members’ offices while being budgetary neutral;

     

    39. Calls on the Bureau not to index the GEA and not to grant GEA to former Members, thus allowing for significant savings in the statutory costs;

     

    40. Takes note of the Conference of Presidents’ decisions of March 2025 on the Implementing provisions governing the missions outside the three places of work of the European Parliament; recalls that Parliament has consistently voted in the Plenary since 2018 to consider lifting the overall ban on APAs participating in official delegations and missions;

    41. Welcomes the work of the APA Committee which represents around 2 000 APAs, whose work is crucial to the smooth operation of the MEP’s daily activities; notes the earmarking of EUR 10 000 in order for the APA Committee to fulfil its role and ensure sufficient resources to effectively support and properly represent the APAs;

    42. Welcomes the exceptional 10 % increase in scholarships for each trainee in 2026, budgeted for EUR 1 million in 2026 to help them cope with growing housing costs in Brussels and Luxembourg;

    43. Expects that requests voted by the Plenary should be treated by the responsible bodies as a matter of high priority;

    44.  Adopts the estimates for the financial year 2026;

    45.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution and the estimates to the Council and the Commission.

     

     

    ANNEX: DRAFT ESTIMATES

     

     

    PART III – PRELIMINARY DRAFT ESTIMATES 2026

     

     

    1. REVENUE/EXPENDITURE

    2. ESTABLISHMENT PLAN

    3. NOMENCLATURE

     

     

    1. REVENUE/EXPENDITURE

     

     

     

     

     

    Contribution of the European Union to the financing of the expenditure of Parliament for the financial year 2026

     

     

     

    Heading

    Amount

     

     

    Expenditure

    2 636 241 620

    Resources

    265 378 397

    Contribution due

    2 370 863 223

     

     

     

    REVENUES

    Title – Chapter – Article – Post

    Heading

    2026 budget

    2025 budget

    Outturn 2024

    3

    ADMINISTRATIVE REVENUE

     

     

     

    3 0

    REVENUE FROM STAFF

     

     

     

    3 0 0

    Taxes and levies

     

     

     

    3 0 0 0

    Tax on the remunerations

    111 692 059

    105 869 539

    100 337 194

    3 0 0 1

    Special levies on remunerations

    17 507 648

    16 162 194

    14 891 422

     

    Article 3 0 0 – Subtotal

    129 199 707

    122 031 733

    115 228 616

    3 0 1

    Contributions to the pension scheme

     

     

     

    3 0 1 0

    Staff contributions to the pension scheme

    131 172 690

    121 092 129

    103 628 794

    3 0 1 1

    Transfer or purchase of pension rights by staff

    5 000 000

    6 000 000

    7 338 881

    3 0 1 2

    Contributions to the pension scheme by staff on leave

    5 000

    40 000

    0

    3 0 1 4

    Contributions by Members of the European Parliament

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

     

    Article 3 0 1 – Subtotal

    136 177 690

    127 132 129

    110 967 675

     

    Chapter 3 0 — Total

    265 377 397

    249 163 862

    226 196 291

    3 1

    REVENUE LINKED TO PROPERTY

     

     

     

    3 1 0

    Sale of immovable property — Assigned revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    556 948

    3 1 1

    Sale of other property

    p.m.

    5 000

    9 203

    3 1 2

    Letting and subletting immovable property — Assigned revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    2 383 687

     

    Chapter 3 1 — Total

    p.m.

    5 000

    2 949 838

    3 2

    REVENUE FROM THE SUPPLY OF GOODS, SERVICES AND WORK — ASSIGNED REVENUE

     

     

     

    3 2 0

    Revenue from the supply of goods, services and work — Assigned revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    18 857 643

    3 2 1

    Refunds by other institutions or bodies of mission allowances — Assigned revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

    3 2 2

    Revenue from third parties in respect of goods, services or work — Assigned Revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    4 952 720

     

    Chapter 3 2 — Total

    p.m.

    p.m.

    23 810 363

    3 3

    OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE REVENUE

     

     

     

    3 3 0

    Repayment of amounts wrongly paid — Assigned Revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    22 491 561

    3 3 1

    Revenue for a specific purpose (income from foundations, subsidies, gifts and bequests) — Assigned Revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

    3 3 3

    Insurance payments received — Assigned Revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    34 996

    3 3 8

    Other revenue from administrative operations — Assigned Revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

    3 3 9

    Other revenue from administrative operations

    1 000

    1 000

    1 622 926

     

    Chapter 3 4 — Total

    1 000

    1 000

    24 149 483

     

    Title 3 — Total

    265 378 397

    249 169 862

    277 105 975

    4

    FINANCIAL REVENUE, DEFAULT INTEREST AND FINES

     

     

     

    4 0

    REVENUE FROM INVESTMENTS AND ACCOUNTS

     

     

     

    4 0 0

    Revenue from investments, loans granted and bank accounts

    p.m.

    p.m.

    4 411 026

     

    Chapter 4 0 — Total

    p.m.

    0

    4 411 026

     

    Title 4 — Total

    p.m.

    0

    4 411 026

    6

    REVENUE, CONTRIBUTIONS AND REFUNDS RELATED TO UNION POLICIES

     

     

     

    6 6

    OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS AND REFUNDS

     

     

     

    6 6 8

    Other contributions and refunds — Assigned revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

     

    Chapter 6 6 — Total

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

     

    Title 6 — Total

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

     

    GRAND TOTAL

    265 378 397

    249 169 862

    281 517 001

     

     

     

    EXPENDITURE

    General summary of appropriations (2026 and 2025) and outturn (2024)

    Title – Chapter – Article – Post

    Heading

    Appropriations 2026

    Appropriations 2025

    Outturn 2024

    1

    Persons working with the institution

     

     

     

    1 0

    Members of the institution

    250 087 000

    257 937 492

    249 427 210

    1 2

    Officials and temporary staff

    982 330 058

    914 759 154

    853 989 951

    1 4

    Other staff and external services

    259 041 175

    245 453 683

    206 535 274

    1 6

    Other expenditure relating to persons working with the institution

    29 619 939

    27 939 603

    24 937 797

     

    Title 1 — Total

    1 521 078 172

    1 446 089 932

    1 334 890 232

    2

    Buildings, furniture, equipment and miscellaneous operating expenditure

     

     

     

    2 0

    Buildings and associated costs

    250 475 000

    245 925 000

    252 616 845

    2 1

    Data processing, equipment and movable property

    232 008 000

    227 708 050

    253 569 292

    2 3

    Current administrative expenditure

    7 388 000

    7 386 000

    4 830 070

     

    Title 2 — Total

    489 871 000

    481 019 050

    511 016 207

    3

    Expenditure resulting from general functions carried out by the institution

     

     

     

    3 0

    Meetings and conferences

    37 728 429

    37 121 800

    27 628 546

    3 2

    Expertise and information: acquisition, archiving, production and dissemination

    154 530 519

    153 261 150

    153 271 532

     

    Title 3 — Total

    192 258 948

    190 382 950

    180 900 078

    4

    Expenditure resulting from special functions carried out by the institution

     

     

     

    4 0

    Expenditure relating to certain institutions and bodies

    146 800 000

    140 000 000

    125 403 172

    4 2

    Expenditure relating to parliamentary assistance

    279 165 340

    263 855 176

    222 263 343

    4 4

    Meetings and other activities of current and former members

    632 000

    620 000

    593 204

     

    Title 4 — Total

    426 597 340

    404 475 176

    348 259 719

    5

    The authority for european political parties and european political foundations and the committee of independent eminent persons

     

     

     

    5 0

    Expenditure of the authority for european political parties and european political foundations and the committee of independent eminent persons

    436 160

    428 000

    100 840

     

    Title 5 — Total

    436 160

    428 000

    100 840

    10

    Reserve

     

     

     

    10 0

    Provisional appropriation

    p.m.

    3 100 000

    0

    10 1

    Contingency reserve

    6 000 000

    7 200 000

    0

    10 3

    Enlargement reserve

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

    10 4

    Reserve for information and communication policy

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

    10 5

    Provisional appropriation for immovable property

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

    10 6

    Reserve for priority projects under development

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

    10 8

    Emas reserve

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

     

    Title 10 — Total

    6 000 000

    10 300 000

    0

     

    GRAND TOTAL

    2 636 241 620

    2 532 695 108

    2 375 167 076

     

     

    Revenue — REVENUE

    Title 3 — ADMINISTRATIVE REVENUE

    Chapter 3 0 — REVENUE FROM STAFF

    Article 3 0 0 — Taxes and levies

    Item 3 0 0 0 — Tax on the remunerations

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    111 692 059

    105 869 539

    100 337 194,29

    Legal basis

    Protocol on the privileges and immunities of the European Union, and in particular Article 12 thereof.

    Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 260/68 of the Council of 29 February 1968 laying down the conditions and procedure for applying the tax for the benefit of the European Communities (OJ L 56, 4.3.1968, p. 8, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/1968/260/oj).

    Item 3 0 0 1 — Special levies on remunerations

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    17 507 648

    16 162 194

    14 891 421,72

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, and in particular Article 66a thereof.

    Article 3 0 1 — Contributions to the pension scheme

    Item 3 0 1 0 — Staff contributions to the pension scheme

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    131 172 690

    121 092 129

    103 628 793,79

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, and in particular Article 83(2) thereof.

    Item 3 0 1 1 — Transfer or purchase of pension rights by staff

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    5 000 000

    6 000 000

    7 338 881,09

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, and in particular Article 4, Article 11(2) and (3) and Article 48 of Annex VIII thereto.

    Item 3 0 1 2 — Contributions to the pension scheme by staff on leave

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    5 000

    40 000

    0,—

    Item 3 0 1 4 — Contributions by Members of the European Parliament

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Legal basis

    Rules governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Annex III thereto.

    Chapter 3 1 — REVENUE LINKED TO PROPERTY

    Article 3 1 0 — Sale of immovable property — Assigned revenue

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    556 948,00

    Remarks

    This article is intended to record revenue from the sale of immovable property belonging to the institution.

    In accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation, this revenue is to be considered as assigned revenue and gives rise to the entry of additional appropriations in the headings which bore the initial expenditure giving rise to the corresponding revenue.

    Article 3 1 1 — Sale of other property

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    5 000

    9 203,22

    Remarks

    This article is intended to record revenue accruing from the sale or part-exchange of other property belonging to the institution.

    Article 3 1 2 — Letting and subletting immovable property — Assigned revenue

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    2 383 686,62

    Remarks

    In accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation, this revenue is to be considered as assigned revenue and gives rise to the entry of additional appropriations in the headings which bore the initial expenditure giving rise to the corresponding revenue.

    Details of expenditure and revenue resulting from loans or rents or the provision of services under this budget item shall be set out in an annex to this budget.

    Chapter 3 2 — REVENUE FROM THE SUPPLY OF GOODS, SERVICES AND WORK — ASSIGNED REVENUE

    Article 3 2 0 — Revenue from the supply of goods, services and work — Assigned revenue

    Item 3 2 0 2 — Revenue from the supply of goods, services and work for other Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies — Assigned revenue

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    18 857 643,13

    Remarks

    In accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation, this revenue is to be considered as assigned revenue and gives rise to the entry of additional appropriations in the headings which bore the initial expenditure giving rise to the corresponding revenue.

    This item is intended to record revenue from the repayment of welfare expenditure incurred on behalf of another institution.

    Article 3 2 1 — Refunds by other institutions or bodies of mission allowances  — Assigned revenue

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    In accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation, this revenue is to be considered as assigned revenue and gives rise to the entry of additional appropriations in the headings which bore the initial expenditure giving rise to the corresponding revenue.

    This article is intended to record revenue from the repayment of welfare expenditure incurred on behalf of another institution.

    Article 3 2 2 — Revenue from third parties in respect of goods, services or work  — Assigned revenue

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    4 952 719,42

    Remarks

    In accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation, this revenue is to be considered as assigned revenue and gives rise to the entry of additional appropriations in the headings which bore the initial expenditure giving rise to the corresponding revenue.

    Chapter 3 3 — OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE REVENUE

    Article 3 3 0 — Repayment of amounts wrongly paid — Assigned revenue

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    22 491 561,95

    Remarks

    In accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation, this revenue is to be considered as assigned revenue and gives rise to the entry of additional appropriations in the headings which bore the initial expenditure giving rise to the corresponding revenue.

    Article 3 3 1 — Revenue for a specific purpose (income from foundations, subsidies, gifts and bequests) — Assigned revenue

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    In accordance with Article 21(2) of the Financial Regulation, this revenue is to be considered as assigned revenue and gives rise to the entry of additional appropriations in the headings which bore the initial expenditure giving rise to the corresponding revenue.

    Article 3 3 3 — Insurance payments received — Assigned revenue

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    34 995,58

    Remarks

    In accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation, this revenue is to be considered as assigned revenue and gives rise to the entry of additional appropriations in the headings which bore the initial expenditure giving rise to the corresponding revenue.

    This article is also intended to include reimbursement by insurance companies of the salaries of officials involved in accidents.

    Article 3 3 8 — Other revenue from administrative operations — Assigned revenue

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This article is intended to record other contributions and refunds in connection with the administrative operation of the institution.

    In accordance with Article 21 of the Financial Regulation, this revenue is to be considered as assigned revenue and gives rise to the entry of additional appropriations against the headings which bore the initial expenditure giving rise to the corresponding revenue.

    Article 3 3 9 — Other revenue from administrative operations

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    1 000

    1 000

    1 622 925,87

    Remarks

    This article is intended to record other revenue from administrative operations.

    Details of expenditure and revenue resulting from loans or rents or the provision of services under this article shall be set out in an annex to this budget.

    Title 4 — FINANCIAL REVENUE, DEFAULT INTEREST AND FINES

    Chapter 4 0 — REVENUE FROM INVESTMENTS AND ACCOUNTS

    Article 4 0 0 — Revenue from investments, loans granted and bank accounts

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    4 411 025,89

    Remarks

    This article is intended to record revenue from investments, loans granted and bank and other interest on the institution’s accounts.

    Title 6 — REVENUE, CONTRIBUTIONS AND REFUNDS RELATED TO UNION POLICIES

    Chapter 6 6 — OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS AND REFUNDS

    Article 6 6 8 — Other contributions and refunds — Assigned revenue

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This article is intended to record, in accordance with Article 21 of the Financial Regulation, any revenue not provided for in other parts of Title 6 which is used to provide additional appropriations to finance expenditure to which that revenue is assigned.

    Expenditure — EXPENDITURE

    Title 1 — PERSONS WORKING WITH THE INSTITUTION

    Chapter 1 0 — MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTION

    Article 1 0 0 — Salaries and allowances

    Item 1 0 0 0 — Salaries

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    100 920 000

    96 171 430

    91 951 742,92

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the salary provided for by the Statute for Members.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Legal basis

    Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Articles 9 and 10 thereof.

    Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Articles 1 and 2 thereof.

    Item 1 0 0 4 — Ordinary travel expenses

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    79 160 000

    78 700 000

    71 950 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses in connection with travelling to and from the places of work and with other duty travel.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 25 000.

    Legal basis

    Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Article 20 thereof.

    Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Articles 10 to 21 and 24 thereof.

    Item 1 0 0 5 — Other travel expenses

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    5 260 000

    4 800 000

    5 100 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover reimbursement of additional travel expenses and travel expenses incurred in the Member State of election.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 1 000.

    Legal basis

    Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Article 20 thereof.

    Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Articles 22 and 23 thereof.

    Item 1 0 0 6 — General expenditure allowance

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    44 410 000

    44 100 000

    45 734 819,18

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover, in accordance with the Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, expenses resulting from the parliamentary activities of Members.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 90 000.

    Legal basis

    Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Article 20 thereof.

    Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Articles 43 to 47 thereof.

    Item 1 0 0 7 — Allowances for performance of duties

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    219 000

    212 000

    205 852,17

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the flat-rate subsistence and representation allowances in connection with the duties of the President of the European Parliament.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Article 20 thereof.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 17 June 2009.

    Article 1 0 1 — Accident and sickness insurance and other welfare measures

    Item 1 0 1 0 — Accident and sickness insurance and other social security charges

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    3 142 000

    3 393 000

    3 083 137,39

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover accident insurance and reimbursement of medical expenses for Members and loss and theft of Members’ personal effects.

    It is also intended to cover the provision of insurance cover and assistance during a trip funded by the European Parliament or a political group, as a result of a serious illness, an accident or an unforeseen event that prevents them from continuing their journey. Such assistance involves organising the Member’s repatriation and defraying the related costs.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 200 000.

    Legal basis

    Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Articles 18 and 19 thereof.

    Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, in particular Articles 3 to 9 and 25 thereof.

    Common rules on the insurance of officials of the European Union against the risk of accident and of occupational disease.

    Joint rules on sickness insurance for officials of the European Communities.

    Commission Decision laying down general implementing provisions for the reimbursement of medical expenses.

    Item 1 0 1 2 — Specific measures to assist disabled Members

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    700 000

    1 000 000

    550 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover certain expenditure required to provide assistance for a seriously disabled Member.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Legal basis

    Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Article 26 thereof.

    Article 1 0 2 — Transitional allowances

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    2 287 000

    15 544 645

    18 921 436,05

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the transitional allowance after the end of a Member’s term of office.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Legal basis

    Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Article 13 thereof.

    Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Articles 48 to 51 and 84 thereof.

    Article 1 0 3 — Pensions

    Item 1 0 3 0 — Retirement pensions (PEAM)

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    11 077 000

    11 144 000

    9 522 406,74

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the payment of an old-age pension after the cessation of a Member’s term of office.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 150 000.

    Legal basis

    Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Article 82 thereof, and Annex III to the Rules on Payment of Expenses and Allowances to Members of the European Parliament (‘PEAM rules’).

    Item 1 0 3 1 — Invalidity pensions (PEAM)

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    102 000

    96 138

    88 257,11

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the payment of a pension to Members who become incapacitated during their term of office.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Legal basis

    Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Article 82 thereof, and Annex II to the Rules on Payment of Expenses and Allowances to Members of the European Parliament (‘PEAM rules’).

    Item 1 0 3 2 — Survivors’ pensions (PEAM)

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    2 160 000

    2 126 279

    1 919 559,71

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the payment of a survivor’s or orphan’s pension in the event of the death of a Member or of a former Member.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 15 000.

    Legal basis

    Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Article 82 thereof, and Annex I to the Rules on Payment of Expenses and Allowances to Members of the European Parliament (‘PEAM rules’).

    Item 1 0 3 3 — Optional pension scheme for Members

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the institution’s contribution to the additional voluntary pension scheme for Members.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 500.

    Legal basis

    Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Article 27 thereof.

    Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Article 83 thereof, and Annex VII to the Rules on Payment of Expenses and Allowances to Members of the European Parliament (‘PEAM rules’).

    Article 1 0 5 — Language and computer courses

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    650 000

    650 000

    400 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the cost of language and computer courses for Members.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Article 42 thereof.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 23 October 2017 on language and computer courses for Members.

    Chapter 1 2 — OFFICIALS AND TEMPORARY STAFF

    Article 1 2 0 — Remuneration and other entitlements

    Item 1 2 0 0 — Remuneration and allowances

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

     

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    1 2 0 0

    973 382 485

    906 471 880

    846 335 205,79

    Reserves(10 0)

     

    3 100 000

     

    Total

    973 382 485

    909 571 880

    846 335 205,79

    Remarks

    This appropriation is mainly intended to cover, for officials and temporary staff holding a post provided for in the establishment plan:

     salaries, allowances and other payments related to salaries,

     insurance against sickness, accident and occupational disease and other social security contributions,

     flat-rate overtime allowances,

     miscellaneous allowances and grants,

     payment of travel expenses for officials or temporary staff, their spouses and dependants from their place of employment to their place of origin,

     the impact of salary weightings applicable to remuneration and to the part of emoluments transferred to a country other than the country of employment,

     unemployment insurance for temporary staff and payments made by the institution to allow temporary staff to constitute or maintain pension rights in their country of origin.

    This appropriation is also intended to cover the insurance premiums in respect of sports accidents for users of the European Parliament’s sports centres in Brussels, in Luxembourg and in Strasbourg.

    This appropriation includes an envelope of EUR 633 245 related to the staff of the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 450 000.

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union.

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.

    Item 1 2 0 2 — Paid overtime

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    57 573

    52 764

    55 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the payment of overtime under the conditions set out in the legal basis.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, and in particular Article 56 thereof and Annex VI thereto.

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.

    Item 1 2 0 4 — Entitlements in connection with entering the service, transfer and leaving the service

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    4 100 000

    3 779 912

    3 700 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     travel expenses due to officials and temporary staff (including their families) entering or leaving the service or being transferred to another place of employment,

     installation and resettlement allowances and removal expenses due to officials and temporary staff obliged to change their place of residence on taking up duty, on transfer to a new place of employment and on finally leaving the institution and resettling elsewhere,

     daily subsistence allowance for officials and temporary staff who furnish evidence that they must change their place of residence on taking up duty or transferring to a new place of employment,

     the compensation for a probationary official who is dismissed because his or her work is obviously inadequate,

     compensation for a member of the temporary staff whose contract is terminated by the institution,

     the difference between the contributions paid by contract staff to a Member State pension scheme and those payable to the Union scheme in the event of reclassification of a contract.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union.

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.

    Article 1 2 2 — Allowances upon early termination of service

    Item 1 2 2 0 — Allowances for staff retired or placed on leave in the interests of the service

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    4 790 000

    4 454 598

    3 899 745,48

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the allowances payable:

     to officials assigned non-active status in connection with action to reduce the number of posts in the institution,

     to officials placed on leave to meet organisational needs associated with the acquisition of new skills within the institution,

     to officials and temporary management staff for political groups holding posts in grades AD 16 and AD 15 retired in the interests of the service.

    It also covers the employer’s contribution towards sickness insurance and the impact of the weightings applicable to these allowances (except for beneficiaries of Article 42c of the Staff Regulations, who are not entitled to a weighting).

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, and in particular Articles 41, 42c and 50 thereof and Annex IV thereto, and Article 48a of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.

    Item 1 2 2 2 — Allowances for staff whose service is terminated and special retirement scheme for officials and temporary staff

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     the allowances payable under the Staff Regulations or Council Regulations (EC, Euratom, ECSC) No 2689/95 and (EC, Euratom) No 1748/2002,

     the employer’s contributions towards sickness insurance for the recipients of the allowances,

     the impact of the weightings applicable to the various allowances.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, and in particular Articles 64 and 72 thereof.

    Council Regulation (EC, Euratom, ECSC) No 2689/95 of 17 November 1995 introducing special measures to terminate the service of temporary staff of the European Communities as a result of the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden (OJ L 280, 23.11.1995, p. 4, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/1995/2689/oj).

    Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1748/2002 of 30 September 2002 introducing, in the context of the modernisation of the institution, special measures to terminate the service of Officials of the European Communities appointed to an established post in the European Parliament and temporary staff working in the Political Groups of the European Parliament (OJ L 264, 2.10.2002, p. 9, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2002/1748/oj).

    Chapter 1 4 — OTHER STAFF AND EXTERNAL SERVICES

    Article 1 4 0 — Other staff and external persons

    Item 1 4 0 0 — Other staff — Secretariat and political groups

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    100 945 810

    94 484 929

    81 664 730,14

    Remarks

    This appropriation is mainly intended to cover the following expenditure:

     the remuneration, including allocations and allowances, of other staff, including contract staff and special advisers (within the meaning of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union), employer’s contributions to the various social security schemes, the bulk of which are paid in to the Union institutions’ own scheme, and the impact of salary weightings applicable to the remuneration of this staff,

     the employment of temporary agency staff.

    This appropriation is not to cover expenditure on:

     other staff within the Directorate-General for Security and Safety who perform duties relating to the safety of persons and property, information security and risk assessment,

     other staff working as drivers in the Secretariat.

    Part of this appropriation is to be used for the recruitment of persons with disabilities as contract staff members, in accordance with the Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 7 and 9 July 2008.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 4 100 000.

    This appropriation includes an envelope of EUR 421 487 related to the staff of the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations.

    Legal basis

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (Titles IV, V and VI).

    General implementing provisions governing competitions and selection procedures, recruitment and the grading of officials and other servants of the European Parliament (decision of the Secretary-General of the European Parliament of 17 October 2014).

    Item 1 4 0 1 — Other staff — Security

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    57 780 573

    52 771 404

    46 021 651,49

    Remarks

    This appropriation is mainly intended to cover the expenditure on other staff within the Directorate-General for Security and Safety who perform duties relating to the safety of persons and property, information security and risk assessment.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 500 000.

    Legal basis

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (Title IV).

    General implementing provisions governing competitions and selection procedures, recruitment and the grading of officials and other servants of the European Parliament (decision of the Secretary-General of the European Parliament of 17 October 2014).

    Item 1 4 0 2 — Other staff — Drivers in the Secretariat

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    10 316 589

    9 725 704

    9 027 760,87

    Remarks

    This appropriation is mainly intended to cover the expenditure on other staff working as drivers in the Secretariat or coordinating the work of those drivers.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (Title IV).

    General implementing provisions governing competitions and selection procedures, recruitment and the grading of officials and other servants of the European Parliament (decision of the Secretary-General of the European Parliament of 17 October 2014).

    Item 1 4 0 4 — Traineeships, seconded national experts, exchanges of officials and study visits

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    15 912 203

    13 929 850

    11 341 160,19

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     emoluments for graduate trainees (scholarships), including any household allowances,

     travel expenses of trainees,

     contribution to the cost of lunches of trainees at the European Parliament’s canteens,

     additional costs directly related to a trainee’s impairment,

     sickness and accident insurance for trainees,

     costs connected with the holding of information or training sessions for trainees,

     payment of a grant to the Robert Schuman Trainees’ Committee,

     communication and outreach actions and the financing of a trainee alumni network,

     expenditure arising from movements between the European Parliament and the civil service in the Member States and candidate countries or international organisations specified in the rules,

     expenditure arising from the secondment of national experts to the European Parliament, including allowances and travel expenses,

     accident insurance for national experts on secondment,

     allowances for study visits and study grants,

     the organisation of training schemes for conference interpreters and translators, inter alia in cooperation with schools of interpreting and universities providing training in translation, as well as grants for the training and further training of interpreters and translators, purchase of teaching materials, and associated costs,

     costs related to creating distance-learning opportunities for conference interpreting agents, like e-courses on subjects related to areas of parliamentary activity or professional skills or the recruitment of trainers for courses specific to conference interpreting agents.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Legal basis

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 7 March 2005 on the rules governing the attachment of European Parliament officials and temporary staff of the political groups to national public authorities, bodies treated as such public authorities and international organisations.

    Decision of the Secretary-General of the European Parliament of 29 April 2021 on the internal rules governing traineeships in the Secretariat of the European Parliament.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 22 November 2021 on the rules governing the secondment of national experts to the European Parliament.

    Item 1 4 0 5 — Expenditure on interpretation

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    64 850 000

    64 841 796

    55 479 971,94

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the following expenditure:

     the fees and related allowances, social security contributions, travel expenses and other expenses of contract conference interpreters recruited by the European Parliament to service meetings organised by the European Parliament to meet its own needs or those of other institutions when the necessary services cannot be provided by European Parliament interpreters (officials and temporary staff),

     expenditure on conference agencies, technicians, welcoming staff and administrators used to service the above meetings where they cannot be serviced by officials, temporary staff or other European Parliament staff,

     expenditure for contracts in interpreting services concluded by the DG LINC for providing interpretation, including remote simultaneous interpretation, for non-core meeting of the European Parliament and/or requested by other institutions and entities authorised to hold meetings on European Parliament premises,

     expenses in connection with services provided to the European Parliament by interpreters who are staff members of regional, national or international institutions,

     expenses in connection with interpretation-related activities, in particular preparations for meetings and interpreter training and selection,

     expenses paid for administering payments to conference interpreters,

     expenses in connection with preservation and development of external interpretation capacity or availability schemes.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 2 600 000.

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union.

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.

    Agreement on working conditions and the pecuniary regime for auxiliary conference interpreters (ACIs) (and the implementing rules therefor), as established on 28 July 1999, amended on 13 October 2004 and revised on 31 July 2008.

    Item 1 4 0 6 — Observers

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the payment of expenses relating to observers, in accordance with Rule 13 of the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Article 1 4 2 — External translation services

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    9 236 000

    9 700 000

    3 000 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the translation, editing, typing, coding and technical assistance work sent to outside suppliers.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 50 000.

    Chapter 1 6 — OTHER EXPENDITURE RELATING TO PERSONS WORKING WITH THE INSTITUTION

    Article 1 6 1 — Expenditure relating to staff management

    Item 1 6 1 0 — Expenditure on recruitment

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    496 600

    371 520

    152 378,85

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     expenditure on organising the competitions provided for in Article 3 of Decision 2002/621/EC and travel and subsistence expenses for applicants invited to tests as part of a competition or selection procedure, or called for recruitment interviews or to pre-employment medical examinations,

     the costs of organising and promoting competitions and procedures for selecting staff and raising awareness of employment opportunities in the European Parliament.

    In cases duly justified by operational needs, the institution may use this appropriation to organise its own competitions and selection procedures.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, and in particular Articles 27 to 31 and Article 33 thereof and Annex III thereto.

    Decision 2002/620/EC of the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice, the Court of Auditors, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Ombudsman of 25 July 2002 establishing a European Communities Personnel Selection Office (OJ L 197, 26.7.2002, p. 53, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2002/620/oj) and Decision 2002/621/EC of the Secretaries-General of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, the Registrar of the Court of Justice, the Secretaries-General of the Court of Auditors, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, and the Representative of the European Ombudsman of 25 July 2002 on the organisation and operation of the European Communities Personnel Selection Office (OJ L 197, 26.7.2002, p. 56, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2002/621/oj).

    Item 1 6 1 2 — Learning and development

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    8 958 400

    8 987 950

    8 490 662,44

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on training for improving staff skills and the performance and efficiency of the institution, e.g. via language courses for the official working languages.

    It is also intended to cover expenditure on other training courses for Members.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 1 700.

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, and in particular Article 24a thereof.

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.

    Article 1 6 3 — Measures to assist the institution’s staff

    Item 1 6 3 0 — Social welfare

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    350 000

    328 350

    135 748,07

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     action taken in respect of officials and other servants in particularly difficult situations,

     the financing of a grant for the Staff Committee, the APA Committee, and incidental expenditure in the Medical Services. Contributions or defrayal of expenses by the Staff Committee for participants in welfare activities will be aimed at financing activities that have a social, cultural or linguistic dimension, but there will be no subsidies for individual staff members or households,

     other institutional and interinstitutional welfare measures for officials, other servants and retired staff,

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 70 000.

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, and in particular Article 9(3), third subparagraph, and Article 76 thereof.

    Item 1 6 3 1 — Mobility

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    2 110 000

    2 110 000

    2 340 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure relating to mobility at the various places of work.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Item 1 6 3 2 — Social contacts between members of staff and other social measures

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    290 200

    285 000

    265 819,34

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to encourage and provide financial backing for schemes to promote social contact between staff of different nationalities, for example subsidies for staff clubs, sports associations and cultural societies, and to make a contribution to the cost of a permanent centre (for cultural and sports activities, other hobbies, a restaurant) for use during leisure time.

    It also covers financial support for interinstitutional social activities.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 600 000.

    Article 1 6 5 — Activities relating to all persons working with the institution

    Item 1 6 5 0 — Health, Safety and Inclusion

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    3 615 219

    4 088 866

    3 327 922,83

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the operating costs of the Medical Services, the Medical Leave Service, the Medical Preparedness and Crisis Management Unit, the Prevention and Well-Being at Work Unit and the Equality Inclusion and Diversity Unit in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg.

    In the medical field, this includes in particular:

     medical check-ups, the purchase of materials and pharmaceutical products,

     expenditure on medical examinations, particularly in an occupational-medicine context, on pre-recruitment medical examinations, on periodic examinations and health screening in connection with security-related, safety-critical and specific-risk posts,

     medical expert reports and on ergonomic measures,

     expenditure arising from the operation of the Invalidity Committee and in connection with adjudications and expert opinions,

     expenditure on services provided by outside medical and paramedical specialists deemed necessary by the medical officers.

    It also covers expenditure involving the purchase of certain work tools deemed necessary on medical grounds, together with expenditure on medical or paramedical service providers or personnel on short-term stand-in assignment.

    In relation to disability management and support, this appropriation is intended to cover as part of an interinstitutional policy to assist persons with a disability in the following categories:

     officials and other agents in active employment,

     spouses of officials and other agents in active employment,

     dependent children within the meaning of the Staff Regulations,

     orphans who have lost both parents and who are in receipt of an orphan’s pension,

    the reimbursement, to the extent permitted by the budget and after national entitlements in the country of residence or the country of origin have been exhausted, of expenses (other than medical expenses) recognised as necessary, resulting from the disability, supported by documentary evidence and not covered by the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme,

     other institutional and interinstitutional welfare measures for officials, other servants and retired staff,

     the financing of specific reasonable accommodation measures or expenditure on medical analyses and welfare assessments for officials and other servants with disabilities during recruitment procedures or requiring accommodation measures as a result of events during their career, and trainees with disabilities during selection procedures, in application of Article 1d of the Staff Regulations, in particular personal assistance at the workplace, including transport, or during missions.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, and in particular Article 1d, Article 1e(2), Article 33, Article 59, and Article 76 thereof and Article 8 of Annex II thereto. Council Directive 89/391/EEC of June 12, 1989 also lays ground on provisions in relation to workplace risk management.

    Item 1 6 5 2 — Expenditure on catering

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    800 000

    1 360 000

    736 268,23

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on catering for official high-level events and meetings and certain social measures agreed by the European Parliament.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Item 1 6 5 4 — Childcare facilities

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    11 751 520

    9 237 967

    8 651 259,44

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the European Parliament’s contribution to all the organisational expenditure and expenditure on services for the internal childcare facilities and outside childcare facilities with which an agreement has been concluded.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 3 300 000.

    Item 1 6 5 5 — European Parliament contribution for accredited Type II European Schools

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    1 248 000

    1 169 950

    837 737,52

    Remarks

    Implementation of Commission Decision C(2013) 4886 of 1 August 2013 on the putting into effect of the EU contribution paid on a pro-rata basis to schools accredited by the Board of Governors of the European Schools according to the number of children of EU staff enrolled, replacing Commission Decision C(2009) 7719 of 14 October 2009 as amended by Commission Decision C(2010) 7993 of 8 December 2010 (OJ C 222, 2.8.2013, p. 8).

    This appropriation is intended to cover the European Parliament’s contribution for Type II European Schools accredited by the Board of Governors of the European Schools or the reimbursement of the contribution paid by the Commission on behalf of the European Parliament for Type II European Schools accredited by the Board of Governors of the European Schools. It covers costs relating to children of European Parliament staff coming under the Staff Regulations who are enrolled in such schools.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Title 2 — BUILDINGS, FURNITURE, EQUIPMENT AND MISCELLANEOUS OPERATING EXPENDITURE

    Remarks

    Since risk cover has been revoked by insurance companies, the risk of industrial conflicts and terrorist attacks for the European Parliament buildings needs to be covered through the general budget of the Union.

    The appropriations of this title accordingly cover all expenses in connection with damage resulting from industrial conflicts and terrorist attacks.

    Chapter 2 0 — Buildings and associated costs

    Article 2 0 0 — Buildings

    Item 2 0 0 0 — Rent

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    31 110 000

    26 900 000

    29 318 124,71

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover rent for the buildings or parts of buildings occupied by the European Parliament.

    It also covers property tax. The rentals are calculated over 12 months on the basis of existing leases or leases in preparation, which normally provide for cost of living or construction cost index-linking.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 3 000 000.

    Financial contributions from Member States or their public agencies or entities in the form of financing or repayment of costs and of associated charges relating to the purchase or use of land, buildings, as well as of charges in relation to buildings and facilities of the institution, shall be considered as external assigned revenue within the meaning of Article 21(2) of the Financial Regulation.

    Item 2 0 0 1 — Lease payments

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    751 000

    700 000

    21 420 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the annual lease payments for buildings or parts of buildings under existing leases or leases in preparation.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 50 000.

    Financial contributions from Member States or their public agencies or entities in the form of financing or repayment of costs and of associated charges relating to the purchase or use of land, buildings, as well as of charges in relation to buildings and facilities of the institution, shall be considered as external assigned revenue within the meaning of Article 21(2) of the Financial Regulation.

    Item 2 0 0 3 — Acquisition of immovable property

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    340 000

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the acquisition of immovable property. Subsidies for land and its servicing will be dealt with in accordance with the Financial Regulation.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 810 000.

    Financial contributions from Member States or their public agencies or entities in the form of financing or repayment of costs and of associated charges relating to the purchase or use of land, buildings, as well as of charges in relation to buildings and facilities of the institution, shall be considered as external assigned revenue within the meaning of Article 21(2) of the Financial Regulation.

    Item 2 0 0 7 — Construction of buildings and fitting-out of premises

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    74 357 000

    78 010 000

    75 581 353,02

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     building construction costs (works, consultants’ fees, initial fitting-out work and supplies to make buildings operational, and all related costs),

     fitting-out costs and related expenditure, and in particular architects’ or engineers’ fees.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 472 000.

    Financial contributions from Member States or their public agencies or entities in the form of financing or repayment of costs and of associated charges relating to the purchase or use of land, buildings, as well as of charges in relation to buildings and facilities of the institution, shall be considered as external assigned revenue within the meaning of Article 21(2) of the Financial Regulation.

    Item 2 0 0 8 — Other specific property management arrangements

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    8 190 000

    6 665 000

    4 227 493,47

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on property management not specifically provided for in the other articles in this Chapter, i.e.:

     waste management and treatment,

     mandatory inspections, quality checks, expert opinions, audits, compliance monitoring, etc.,

     technical library,

     management support (building helpdesk),

     taking care of building drawings and information media,

     other expenditure.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 268 000.

    Item 2 0 0 9 — Construction and fitting out of Buildings: Idea Lab

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover investments in innovative building solutions and pilot projects, namely:

     building construction costs (works, consultants’ fees, initial fitting out and supplies to make buildings fit to meet the European Parliament’s needs and all related costs),

     fitting-out costs and related expenditure, as well as architects’ and engineers’ fees.

    Article 2 0 2 — Expenditure on buildings

    Item 2 0 2 2 — Building maintenance, upkeep, operation and cleaning

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    83 870 000

    81 550 000

    78 288 453,35

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the maintenance, upkeep, operating and cleaning costs, on the basis of current contracts, for the buildings (offices, other areas and installations) rented or owned by the European Parliament.

    Before renewing or concluding contracts, the institution will consult the other institutions on the contractual terms each of them has obtained (prices, currency chosen, index-linking, duration, other clauses) with due regard for Article 167 of the Financial Regulation.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 479 000.

    Item 2 0 2 4 — Energy consumption

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    25 457 000

    28 950 000

    21 604 075,08

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover, in particular, water, gas, electricity and heating costs.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 150 000.

    Item 2 0 2 6 — Security and surveillance of buildings

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    22 610 000

    19 760 000

    18 818 361,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover essentially the costs of caretaking and surveillance in respect of buildings occupied by the European Parliament at its three habitual places of work, its information offices in the Union, the Europa Experiences and its offices in third countries.

    Before renewing or concluding contracts, the institution will consult the other institutions on the contractual terms each of them has obtained (prices, currency chosen, index-linking, duration, other clauses) with due regard for Article 167 of the Financial Regulation.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100 000.

    Item 2 0 2 8 — Insurance

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    3 790 000

    3 390 000

    3 358 982,59

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover payments in respect of insurance policy premiums.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Chapter 2 1 — DATA PROCESSING, EQUIPMENT AND MOVABLE PROPERTY

    Remarks

    In connection with public procurement, the institution will consult the other institutions on the contractual terms each of them has obtained.

    Article 2 1 0 — Computing and telecommunications

    Item 2 1 0 0 — IT governance and cyber security

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    11 004 000

    9 563 800

    10 169 079,47

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on the purchase, hire, servicing and maintenance of hardware and software and on outside assistance from IT consultants to provide assistance and support related to ICT security, enterprise architecture, market exploration and studies in the domain of information and communications technology.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Item 2 1 0 1 — Business applications management

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    79 323 800

    77 681 050

    80 586 736,76

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on the purchase, hire, servicing and maintenance of hardware and software and related work, and on outside assistance from ICT consultants for operations connected with ICT user applications management in the institution, and IT project support. It is also intended to cover expenditure on ICT tools financed jointly in the context of interinstitutional cooperation in the field of languages, provided for by the decisions taken by the Interinstitutional Committee on Translation and Interpretation.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 64 000.

    Item 2 1 0 2 — Infrastructure and operations management

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    81 745 300

    80 041 200

    86 398 356,95

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on the purchase, hire, servicing and maintenance of hardware and software and on outside assistance from IT consultants to ensure that the European Parliament’s computing and telecommunications infrastructure functions properly. That expenditure relates mainly to systems at the computer and telecommunications centre including cloud-related services, network, cabling, telecommunications and videoconferencing systems. It also relates to the voting system infrastructure, the renting or acquisition of multifunctional devices (photocopiers) and costs associated with the printing of documents.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 385 000.

    Item 2 1 0 3 — Digital workplace services and equipment

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    22 841 500

    25 209 000

    34 500 141,30

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on the purchase, hire, servicing and maintenance of hardware and software and on outside assistance from IT consultants to provide assistance, support and IT equipment for users of the European Parliament’s computing and telecommunications systems. That expenditure mainly relates to the acquisition and maintenance of individual IT equipment and to the IT support services for Members and other users.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 192 000.

    Article 2 1 2 — Furniture

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    7 470 000

    7 990 000

    8 345 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the purchase, hire, maintenance and repair of furniture, including the purchase of ergonomic furniture, the replacement of worn-out and broken furniture and office machines. It is also intended to cover miscellaneous expenditure on managing the European Parliament’s furniture stock.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Article 2 1 4 — Technical equipment and installations

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    23 468 400

    21 322 000

    28 604 422,99

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the purchase, hire, maintenance, repair and management of technical equipment and installations, and in particular of:

     miscellaneous fixed and mobile technical installations and equipment in connection with publishing, security (including software), canteens, buildings, staff training and the institution’s sports centres, etc.,

     equipment in particular for the canteens, staff shops, security, conferences, and the audiovisual sector, etc.,

     special equipment (electronic, computing and electrical) and related external services.

    This appropriation also covers publicity costs for the resale and scrapping of inventoried items and the costs of technical assistance (consultancy) with matters on which external expertise is needed.

    This appropriation also covers the cost of transporting the equipment needed to provide technical conference services anywhere in the world when requested by a Member, delegation, political group or governing body of the European Parliament. It covers transport costs and all related administrative costs.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 190 000.

    Article 2 1 6 — Transport of Members, other persons and goods

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    6 155 000

    5 901 000

    4 965 558,61

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the purchase, leasing, maintenance, use and repair of vehicles (fleet of cars and bicycles) and the hire of cars, taxis, coaches and lorries, with or without drivers, including the necessary insurance cover and other management costs. When replacing the car fleet or purchasing, leasing or hiring vehicles, preference will be given to cars that are the least polluting for the environment, such as hybrid cars.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100 000.

    Chapter 2 3 — CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

    Remarks

    In connection with public procurement, the institution will consult the other institutions on the contractual terms each of them has obtained.

    Article 2 3 0 — Stationery, office supplies and miscellaneous consumables

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    200 000

    296 000

    168 615,80

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the purchase of paper, envelopes, office supplies, supplies for the print shop and document reproduction workshops, etc., together with the related management costs.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 28 000.

    Article 2 3 1 — Financial charges

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    350 000

    1 850 000

    80 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover bank charges (commission, agios and miscellaneous charges) and other financial charges, including ancillary costs for the financing of buildings.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Article 2 3 2 — Legal costs and damages

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    1 795 000

    1 635 000

    844 750,49

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     the cost of hiring bailiffs to represent the European Parliament for the purpose of notification of its decisions,

     costs which may be awarded against the European Parliament by the Court of Justice, the General Court or national courts,

     the cost of hiring outside lawyers to represent the European Parliament in Union and national courts, and the cost of hiring legal advisers or experts to assist the Legal Service,

     reimbursement of lawyers’ fees in connection with disciplinary and equivalent proceedings,

     damages and interest expenses,

     compensation agreed through amicable settlement pursuant to Chapter 11 and Chapter 11a of Title III of the Rules of Procedure of the General Court or Chapter 7 of Title IV of the Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice,

     administrative fines issued by the European Data Protection Supervisor.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Legal basis

    Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC (OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/1725/oj).

    Article 2 3 6 — Postage on correspondence and delivery charges

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    268 000

    270 000

    296 196,49

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover charges for postage, processing and delivery by national postal services or private delivery firms.

    This appropriation is also intended to cover mail-handling services.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 12 000.

    Article 2 3 7 — Removals

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    1 437 000

    700 000

    1 592 272,11

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the cost of removal and handling work carried out by removal firms or by temporary handling staff supplied by outside agencies.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Article 2 3 8 — Other administrative expenditure

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    2 388 000

    2 385 000

    1 837 968,98

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     insurance not specifically provided for in another item,

     the purchase and maintenance of uniforms for ushers, drivers, receptionists, warehouse staff, removal men and staff in the Visits and Seminars Unit, the Parlamentarium, the medical services, the security and building maintenance services and various technical services,

     miscellaneous operating and management expenses, including fees payable to the Office for the Administration and Payment of Individual Entitlements (PMO) for managing pensions payable to former Members under the Statute, expenses related to the security clearance of external persons working on the premises or in the systems of the European Parliament, purchases of goods or services not specifically provided for against another heading,

     miscellaneous purchases in connection with European Parliament’s corporate social responsibility, including Eco-Management Auditing Scheme (EMAS),

     miscellaneous services in connection with European Parliament’s financial and inventory management.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Article 2 3 9 — EMAS and sustainability activities, including promotion, and the European Parliament’s carbon offsetting scheme

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    950 000

    250 000

    10 267,38

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure related to sustainability activities in the European Parliament and Eco-Management Auditing Scheme (EMAS) activities aimed at improving the environmental performance of the European Parliament, including the promotion of these activities, and to the European Parliament’s carbon offsetting scheme.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Title 3 — EXPENDITURE RESULTING FROM GENERAL FUNCTIONS CARRIED OUT BY THE INSTITUTION

    Chapter 3 0 — MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES

    Article 3 0 0 — Expenses for staff missions and duty travel between the three places of work

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    29 470 000

    28 850 000

    21 855 556,57

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on duty travel by staff of the institution, seconded national experts, trainees and staff of other European or international institutions invited by the institution between place of employment and any of the European Parliament’s three places of work (Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg) and on missions to any location other than the three places of work. Expenditure is made up of transport costs, daily allowances, accommodation costs and compensatory allowances for unsocial hours. Ancillary costs (including cancellation of tickets and hotel reservations, electronic invoicing costs and mission insurance costs) are also covered.

    This appropriation is also intended to cover any expenditure on carbon offsetting relating to staff missions and duty travel.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 200 000.

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, and in particular Article 71 thereof and Articles 11, 12 and 13 of Annex VII thereto.

    Article 3 0 2 — Reception and representation expenses

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    1 093 128

    1 028 900

    886 086,07

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     expenses related to the obligations of the institution regarding receptions, including in connection with work relating to the assessment of scientific options (STOA), other research and forward-looking activities and representation expenses for Members of the institution,

     representation expenses of the President when he or she is travelling outside the places of work,

     musical projects,

     representation expenses and the contribution to the secretarial expenses of the President’s office,

     the Secretariat’s reception and representation expenses, including the purchase of items and medals for officials who have completed 15 or 25 years’ service,

     miscellaneous protocol expenditure, such as on flags, display stands, invitation cards and printed menus,

     travel and subsistence expenses incurred by VIP visitors to the institution,

     visa costs relating to official travel by Members and staff,

     reception and representation expenses and the other specific expenses for Members performing official duties at the European Parliament.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Article 3 0 4 — Miscellaneous expenditure on meetings

    Item 3 0 4 0 — Miscellaneous expenditure on internal meetings

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    320 000

    370 000

    142 335,23

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the costs of the beverages, refreshments and occasional light meals served at meetings held by the European Parliament or interinstitutional meetings organised on its premises, together with the management costs for these services.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Item 3 0 4 2 — Meetings, congresses, conferences and delegations

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    3 185 301

    3 282 900

    1 351 568,80

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover, inter alia, expenses other than those covered under Chapter 1 0 and Article 3 0 0, connected with:

     the organisation of meetings outside the places of work (committees and committee delegations, political groups), including, where appropriate, representation expenditure,

     the organisation of interparliamentary delegations, ad hoc delegations, joint parliamentary committees, parliamentary cooperation committees, parliamentary delegations to the WTO, and the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO and its Steering Committee,

     the organisation of delegations to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the EuroLat Parliamentary Assembly and the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and their bodies,

     the organisation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfMPA), its committees and its Bureau; this expenditure includes the European Parliament’s contribution to the budget of the autonomous secretariat of the UfMPA or the direct defrayal of expenses representing the European Parliament’s share of the budget of the UfMPA,

     the affiliation fees in respect of international organisations to which the European Parliament or one of its bodies belongs (Interparliamentary Union, Association of Secretaries-General of Parliaments, Twelve Plus Group within the Interparliamentary Union),

     the reimbursement to the Commission, on the basis of a service agreement concluded between the European Parliament and the Commission, of the European Parliament’s share of the cost of producing EU laissez-passer (equipment, staff and supplies), in accordance with the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union (Article 6), Article 23 of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, Articles 11 and 81 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union and Council Regulation (EU) No 1417/2013 of 17 December 2013 laying down the form of the laissez-passer issued by the European Union (OJ L 353, 28.12.2013, p. 26, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1417/oj),

     participation in meetings of the Steering Board of the InvestEU Programme and official meetings with the competent parliamentary committees’ members (including travel expenses, accommodation and catering) of persons appointed by the European Parliament in the Steering Board of the InvestEU Programme.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Item 3 0 4 9 — Expenditure on travel agency services

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    3 660 000

    3 590 000

    3 393 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the running costs of the travel agency under contract to the European Parliament.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 6 000.

    Chapter 3 2 — EXPERTISE AND INFORMATION: ACQUISITION, ARCHIVING, PRODUCTION AND DISSEMINATION

    Article 3 2 0 — Acquisition of expertise

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    9 961 999

    6 485 000

    3 134 202,80

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     the cost of contracts with qualified experts and research institutes for studies and other research activities (workshops, round tables, expert panels or hearings, and conferences) or technical assistance activities that require specific skills and that are carried out for the European Parliament’s governing bodies, for the parliamentary committees, for the parliamentary delegations and for the administration,

     acquisition or hiring of specialised information sources, such as specialised databases, related literature or technical support, when needed to complement the expertise contracts mentioned above,

     the travel, subsistence and incidental expenses of experts and other persons, including petitioners to the European Parliament, invited to take part in committee, delegation, study group or working party meetings and in workshops,

     costs of participation of petitioners, including travel, subsistence and incidental expenses, during the official missions of the Committee on Petitions outside of the European Parliament premises,

     costs of dissemination of internal or external parliamentary research products and other relevant products, for the benefit of the institution and of the public (in particular by means of publications on the internet, internal databases, brochures and publications),

     expenditure on calling-in outside persons to take part in the work of bodies such as the Disciplinary Board,

     the cost of checks by specialised external service providers on the accuracy of documents supplied by candidates for recruitment.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 74 000.

    Article 3 2 1 — Expenditure on European parliamentary research services, including the library, the historical archives, scientific and technological options assessment (STOA) and the European Science-Media Hub

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    10 063 320

    10 134 000

    8 393 552,80

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on the work of DG EPRS and the Historical Archives of the European Parliament, particularly:

     acquisition of specialised expertise and support for the European Parliament’s research activities (including articles, studies, workshops, seminars, round tables, expert panels and conferences) which may, if necessary, be carried out in partnership with other Institutions, international organisations, research departments and libraries of national parliaments, think tanks, research bodies and other qualified experts,

     acquisition of specialised expertise in the fields of impact assessment and of ex ante and ex post evaluation, European added value, and scientific and technological options assessment (STOA),

     acquisition or hiring of books, journals, newspapers, databases, press agency products and any other information medium for the library in various formats, including costs of copyright, the quality assurance system, materials and work involved in rebinding and conservation, and other relevant services,

     the cost of outside archiving services (organisation, selection, description, transfer to different media and to paperless form, acquisition of primary archive sources),

     acquisition, development, installation, operation and maintenance of special library and archiving documentation and of special media-library materials, including materials and electrical, electronic and computerised systems, and materials for rebinding and conservation,

     costs of dissemination of internal or external parliamentary research products and other relevant products, for the benefit of the institution and of the public (in particular by means of publications on the internet, internal databases, brochures and publications),

     travel, subsistence and associated costs of experts and authors invited to attend presentations, seminars, workshops or other such activities organised,

     participation by the services responsible for Scientific and Technological Options Assessment (STOA) in the activities of European and international scientific bodies,

     the European Parliament’s obligations under international and interinstitutional cooperation agreements, including the European Parliament’s contribution to the costs of managing the Union’s historical archives in accordance with Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83,

     the costs of the European Science-Media Hub, the operations of which are overseen by the European Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA), in enhancing the interface between the European Parliament, the scientific community and the media, in order specifically to promote networking, training and knowledge dissemination. This includes for example:

     organising activities and dealing with expenses (including travel expenses, accommodation and catering) in connection with invitations to journalists, stakeholders and other experts to cover the activities concerned,

     setting up and maintaining networks at the interface between the European Parliament, the scientific community and the media,

     organising seminars, conferences and training courses on current scientific and technological developments and issues and on the nature and effectiveness of science journalism,

     harnessing expert information and analysis from academia, the media and other sources in the field of science and technology for the benefit of policy-makers and citizens,

     making European Parliament research and other relevant material in the field of science and technology more widely available by written, audiovisual and other means,

     developing techniques and methods for increasing the ability to identify and disseminate trustworthy sources in the field of science and technology,

     supporting the installation, upgrading and use of state-of-the-art technical equipment and media facilities in support of such dialogue,

     developing closer cooperation and, more generally, links between the European Parliament, relevant media outlets and universities and research centres in this field, including through promotion in the media of the role, and work of the European Science-Media Hub as well as its accessibility for citizens.

    This appropriation may also be used to support dialogue between the European Parliament and the university community, the media, think tanks and citizens with regard to foresight work on the long-term trends to be addressed by European Union decision-makers, both in the field of science and more broadly, through seminars, publications and other activities set out above.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/1983/354/oj).

    Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2001/1049/oj).

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 28 November 2001 on rules governing public access to European Parliament documents, as last amended on 22 June 2011 (OJ C 216, 22.7.2011, p. 19).

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 2 July 2012 on rules on document management in the European Parliament.

    European Parliament resolution of 8 October 2013 on forward policy planning and long-term trends: budgetary implications for capacity-building (OJ C 181, 19.5.2016, p. 16), and in particular paragraphs 7 and 9 thereof.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 10 March 2014 on procedures governing the European Parliament’s acquisition of private archives of Members and former Members.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 15 April 2019 on the STOA rules.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 17 June 2019 on the rules of the European Parliament Library.

    Article 3 2 2 — Documentation expenditure

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    2 973 500

    3 115 000

    3 221 682,79

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     subscriptions to newspapers and periodicals and news agencies and to the publications thereof and online services, including copyright fees for the reproduction and dissemination of the above in written and/or electronic form and service contracts for press reviews and cuttings,

     subscriptions or service contracts for the supply of summaries and analyses of the content of periodicals or the storage on optical media of articles taken from such periodicals,

     utilising external documentary and statistical databases (computer hardware and telecommunications charges excepted),

     the purchase of new dictionaries and glossaries, or the replacement thereof, regardless of medium, including for the new language sections, and other works for the language services and the Legislative Quality Units.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Article 3 2 3 — Support for democracy and capacity-building for the parliaments of third countries

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    1 400 000

    1 400 000

    517 672,34

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     expenditure on programmes for the exchange of information and cooperation between the European Parliament and the national parliaments of the pre-accession countries, in particular the Western Balkans and Turkey,

     expenditure committed for promoting relations between the European Parliament and democratically elected national parliaments from third countries (other than those referred to in the previous indent) as well as with corresponding regional parliamentary organisations. The activities concerned are notably aimed at strengthening parliamentary capacity in new and emerging democracies in particular in the European Neighbourhood (South and East),

     expenditure on promoting activities in support of mediation, and programmes for young political leaders from the European Union and from countries in the wider European Neighbourhood: the Maghreb, Eastern Europe and Russia, Israeli-Palestinian dialogue and other priority countries as decided by the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group,

     expenditure on organising the Sakharov Prize (in particular the amount of the prize, travel expenses of the winner(s) and other finalists and the costs of receiving them, operating costs of the Sakharov network and duty travel by members of the network) and on activities to promote human rights.

    These activities include information visits to the European Parliament in Brussels, Luxembourg or Strasbourg and visits to Member States and third countries. This appropriation covers, wholly or partially, the expenses of the participants, particularly travel, accommodation and daily subsistence.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 12 December 2011 establishing the Directorate for Democracy Support in the Directorate-General for External Policies of the Union.

    Article 3 2 4 — Production and dissemination

    Item 3 2 4 0 — Official Journal

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the institution’s share of the Publications Office’s expenditure on publishing and dissemination and other ancillary costs with regard to the texts to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000.

    Item 3 2 4 1 — Digital and traditional publications

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    1 579 800

    1 619 600

    2 137 349,13

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     all costs for digital publishing (Intranet sites) and traditional publishing (miscellaneous documents and printed matter subcontracted out), including distribution,

     upgrading and evolutive and corrective maintenance of editorial systems.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 10 000.

    Item 3 2 4 2 — Expenditure on publication, information and participation in public events

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    26 530 000

    27 640 000

    36 366 874,13

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     expenditure on communication relating to the values of the institution by means of information publications, including electronic publications, information activities, public relations, participation in public events, trade fairs and exhibitions,

     expenditure on communication in order to give the European Parliament a recognisable, coherent and positive public image, to develop communication products from the creative concept to the final product and capacity building towards an internal communication agency, including access to industry tools and external expert advice,

     co-financing of communication actions through a grants program in order to promote and multiply a better understanding of the identity, role and political nature of the European Parliament and to stimulate collaboration with multiplier networks,

     the cost relating to public opinion monitoring,

     the cost linked to monitoring, countering and raising awareness on the reputational risks, disinformation and hybrid threats,

     the cost of cultural projects of European interest, such as the European Parliament LUX Prize for European Cinema,

     the cost of organising and running events for young people, raising the European Parliament’s social media profile, and monitoring youth trends,

     costs relating to the mobile internet, interactive technologies, socialising spaces, collaborative platforms and changing internet user behaviour, with a view to bringing the European Parliament closer to citizens,

     the cost of in-house production, distribution and hosting by the European Parliament of web clips and other broadcast-ready multimedia material, in line with the European Parliament’s communication strategy,

     expenditure on works of art for the European Parliament, covering both the cost of acquiring and purchasing specific material and the current expenditure relating thereto, such as experts, conservation, framing, restoration, cleaning, insurance and ad-hoc transport costs.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 50 000.

    Item 3 2 4 3 — European Parliament visitor centres

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    25 180 000

    27 150 000

    26 687 400,69

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to finance installations, material and exhibitions at European Parliament visitor centres, in particular:

     the Parlamentarium — the European Parliament Visitors’ Centre in Brussels, including the mobile information points,

     reception facilities, ‘Europa Experience’ centres and information outlets away from Brussels,

     the activities of the House of European History, such as carrying out specific fitting-out work, acquiring collections, the cost of contracts with experts, and organising exhibitions, as well as its running costs, including expenditure on books, magazines and other publications related to the House of European History’s activities.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 4 000 000.

    Item 3 2 4 4 — Organisation and reception of groups of visitors, Euroscola programme and invitations to opinion multipliers from third countries

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    38 223 000

    38 496 000

    33 108 635,98

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     subsidies granted for group visits and associated supervision and infrastructure costs, the financing of traineeships for opinion multipliers from third countries (EUVP) and the running costs of the Euroscola, Euromed-Scola and Euronest-Scola programmes. The Euromed-Scola and Euronest-Scola programmes shall take place each year, with the exception of election years, on an alternating basis, on the European Parliament’s premises in Strasbourg or in Brussels,

     activities to promote the EUVP,

     expenditure related to the implementation of the new visitors’ strategy and the organisation of the open days,

     media campaigns and the organisation of the European Parliament Ambassador School Programme.

    This appropriation shall be increased every year using a deflator that takes into account movements in GNI and prices.

    Each Member of the European Parliament is entitled to invite a maximum of five groups each calendar year for a total of 100 visitors. Visitor groups officially sponsored by a Member may take part in the Euroscola programme if invited to do so by that Member.

    An appropriate amount is included for visitors with disabilities.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 525 000.

    Legal basis

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 16 December 2002 on rules governing the reception of groups of visitors and the Euroscola, Euromed-Scola and Euronest-Scola programmes, consolidated on 3 May 2004, as last amended and consolidated on 11 September and 2 October 2023.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 3 October 2016 on rules launching the European Parliament Ambassador School Programme in all Member States and Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 16 September 2019 on the continuation of the European Parliament Ambassador School Programme beyond 2019.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 16 December 2020 on the participation of UK citizens and EU27 citizens living in the UK in Parliament’s communication programmes.

    Item 3 2 4 5 — Organisation of symposia and seminars

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    5 056 400

    4 803 050

    4 413 205,23

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     expenditure or subsidies connected with the organisation of national or international symposia and seminars for opinion multipliers from the Member States, the accession countries and the countries in which the European Parliament has a liaison office or antenna, and the cost of organising parliamentary symposia and seminars,

     expenditure on special events in the Chamber in Strasbourg and Brussels in accordance with the annual programme adopted by the Bureau of the European Parliament,

     expenditure on conference management services, conference management and multilingualism support measures and tools such as seminars and conferences, meetings with providers of training for interpreters or translators, measures and actions to raise awareness of multilingualism and the profession of interpreter or translator, including a programme of grants for universities, schools and other organisations offering interpreting or translation courses, virtual communication solutions, organisation or participation in events for promotion and awareness of European Parliament careers, including events organised to enhance the attractiveness of the Luxembourgish site as well as participation in similar actions and measures organised jointly with other services in the context of interinstitutional and international cooperation,

     expenses connected with the organisation of symposia and seminars on information and communication technologies,

     the cost of inviting journalists or other opinion multipliers to plenary sittings, committee meetings, press conferences and other parliamentary activities,

     expenses related to the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize,

     expenditure for the training of and scholarship for young journalists.

     expenditure relating to the organisation of conferences, seminars and other activities covering budgetary and financial issues of relevance to European Parliament’s administration and Members’ finance, including Members’ empowerment and the financing of political structures,

     expenses connected with the organisation of symposia and seminars on security and on parliamentary democracy at interinstitutional and international levels including outreach and awareness raising, through events and communication tools such as digital communication, visual design, promotional items, printing or audio-visual productions, etc.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 25 000.

    Legal basis

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 5 October 2020 regarding the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for journalists.

    Item 3 2 4 8 — Expenditure on audiovisual information

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    22 087 500

    21 072 500

    24 575 954,24

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     the purchase, hire, maintenance, repair and management of audiovisual equipment and installations,

     the operating budget of the audiovisual sector (including services under its own control and outside assistance such as technical services for radio and television stations, provision, production and co-production of audiovisual programmes, the hiring of lines, the transmission of television and radio programmes, and other measures to develop relations between the institution and audiovisual broadcasting bodies),

     expenditure on live internet broadcasting of plenary sittings and parliamentary committee meetings,

     the establishment of appropriate archives ensuring uninterrupted media and public access to that information,

     expenditure relating to the management and maintenance of the IT infrastructure in the press room in Strasbourg.

     service contracts for (i) the supply of media monitoring and analysis in the form of summaries of news and full-text articles from media outlets, (ii) the development and maintenance of a dedicated database for the storage of such data, and (iii) the (external) human resources needed to exploit that data.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 50 000.

    Legal basis

    European Parliament Resolution of 12 March 2002 on the guidelines for the 2003 budgetary procedure (OJ C 47 E, 27.2.2003, p. 72).

    European Parliament Resolution of 14 May 2002 on the estimates of revenue and expenditure of Parliament for the financial year 2003 (OJ C 180 E, 31.7.2003, p. 150).

    European Parliament Resolution of 14 May 2003 on the estimates of revenue and expenditure of Parliament for the financial year 2004 (OJ C 67 E, 17.3.2004, p. 179).

    Item 3 2 4 9 — Information exchanges with national parliaments

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    262 000

    258 000

    142 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     expenditure committed for promoting relations between the European Parliament and national parliaments. It relates to parliamentary relations other than those covered by Chapters 1 0 and 3 0, exchanges of information and documentation, and assistance in the analysis and management of that information, including exchanges with the European Centre for Parliamentary Research and Documentation (ECPRD),

     funding of cooperation programmes and training schemes for officials of the European Parliament and national parliaments and, in general, activities to strengthen their parliamentary capacities.

    Training schemes include study visits to the European Parliament in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg; the appropriation is intended to cover all or part of the expenditure incurred by participants, in particular travelling costs, travel expenses, accommodation and daily allowances,

     cooperation measures, including those linked to legislative work, and measures linked to documentation, analysis and information and making the www.ipex.eu domain secure, including those carried out by the ECPRD.

    This appropriation aims at financing the cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in the parliamentary scrutiny of the CFSP/CSDP, in accordance with the TEU and the TFEU, and in particular Articles 9 and 10 of Protocol No 1 on the role of national parliaments in the European Union.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Conferences of Speakers of European Parliamentary Assemblies (June 1977) and of European Union Parliaments (September 2000, March 2001).

    Article 3 2 5 — Expenditure relating to liaison offices

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    11 213 000

    11 088 000

    10 572 999,41

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure by the European Parliament’s liaison offices and antennas in the Member States and third countries:

     communication and information expenses (information and public events; internet — production, promotion, consultancy; seminars; audiovisual productions),

     activities designed to strengthen inter-parliamentary ties and legislative and stakeholders dialogue, promoting parliamentary democracy including engagement with relevant interlocutors,

     general expenditure and miscellaneous incidental expenditure (office supplies, telecommunications, delivery charges, handling, transport, storage, standard promotional items, databases and press subscriptions, etc.),

     media campaigns and the organisation of the European Parliament Ambassador School Programme.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 10 000.

    Title 4 — EXPENDITURE RESULTING FROM SPECIAL FUNCTIONS CARRIED OUT BY THE INSTITUTION

    Chapter 4 0 — EXPENDITURE RELATING TO CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

    Article 4 0 0 — Current administrative expenditure and expenditure relating to the political and information activities of the political groups and non-attached Members

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    75 800 000

    70 000 000

    65 579 003,98

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover, in respect of the political groups and the non-attached Members:

     secretarial, administrative and operational expenditure,

     expenditure on political and information activities conducted in connection with the Union’s political activities.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 1 000 000.

    Legal basis

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 30 June 2003 on rules on the use of appropriations from budget Item 4 0 0 as last amended on 4 July 2022.

    Article 4 0 2 — Funding of European political parties

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    46 000 000

    46 000 000

    37 953 095,70

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to finance political parties at European level. Good governance and robust scrutiny of the use of funds must be ensured.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 5 000 000.

    Legal basis

    Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 10(4) thereof.

    Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 224 thereof.

    Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/1141/oj).

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 1 July 2019 laying down the procedures for implementing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (OJ C 249, 25.7.2019, p. 2).

    Article 4 0 3 — Funding of European political foundations

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    25 000 000

    24 000 000

    21 871 071,50

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to finance political foundations at European level. Good governance and robust scrutiny of the use of funds must be ensured.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100 000.

    Legal basis

    Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 10(4) thereof.

    Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 224 thereof.

    Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/1141/oj).

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 1 July 2019 laying down the procedures for implementing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (OJ C 249, 25.7.2019, p. 2).

    Chapter 4 2 — EXPENDITURE RELATING TO PARLIAMENTARY ASSISTANCE

    Article 4 2 2 — Expenditure relating to parliamentary assistance

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    279 165 340

    263 855 176

    222 263 343,15

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     costs relating to staff and service providers responsible for the provision of parliamentary assistance to Members, as well as costs relating to paying agents,

     mission and training expenses (external courses) for accredited parliamentary assistants and expenditure on any carbon offsetting in connection with their missions and duty travel,

     exchange differences to be met from the budget of the European Parliament in accordance with the provisions applicable to reimbursement of parliamentary assistance expenses, as well as expenditure on parliamentary assistance management support services,

     emoluments for trainees (scholarships),

     contribution to the cost of lunches of trainees at the European Parliament’s canteens,

     compensation of study visits with Members,

     travel expenses of trainees and study visitors with Members,

     sickness and accident insurance for trainees and study visitors with Members,

     costs connected with the holding of information or training sessions for trainees.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 775 000.

    Legal basis

    Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Article 21 thereof.

    Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Articles 29 to 41 thereof.

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union, and in particular Article 5a and Articles 125 to 139 thereof.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 14 April 2014 on implementing measures for Title VII of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 10 December 2018 on the rules concerning Members’ trainees.

    Decision of the Secretary-General of the European Parliament of 29 April 2021 on the internal rules governing traineeships in the Secretariat of the European Parliament.

    Chapter 4 4 — MEETINGS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES OF CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS

    Article 4 4 0 — Cost of meetings and other activities of former Members

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    316 000

    310 000

    300 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the cost of meetings of the association of former Members of the European Parliament plus any other associated costs, if appropriate.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 14 January 2008 on rules governing contributions to Parliamentary associations (Budget Articles 4 4 0 and 4 4 2) as last amended on 18 October 2021.

    Article 4 4 2 — Cost of meetings and other activities of the European Parliamentary Association

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    316 000

    310 000

    293 203,56

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the cost of meetings of the European Parliamentary Association plus, if appropriate, any other associated costs.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 14 January 2008 on rules governing contributions to Parliamentary associations (Budget Articles 4 4 0 and 4 4 2) as last amended on 18 October 2021.

    Title 5 — THE AUTHORITY FOR EUROPEAN POLITICAL PARTIES AND EUROPEAN POLITICAL FOUNDATIONS AND THE COMMITTEE OF INDEPENDENT EMINENT PERSONS

    Chapter 5 0 — Expenditure of the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations and the Committee of independent eminent persons

    Article 5 0 0 — Operational expenditure of the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    416 160

    408 000

    100 839,83

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the expenditure of the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations to ensure its full and independent operation.

    It covers, in particular, the expenditure specific to the Authority’s remit with regard to specialised professional training, mandate-related meetings and coordination with other Union bodies and national authorities, acquisition of tailor-made software and IT services, acquisition of expertise, consultancy services, including studies, and documentation, legal costs and damages, and publishing and information activities. It also covers expenditure to cover any invoicing by an institution in the event of an overrun as regards the volume or cost of goods or services made available to the Authority by institutions under service agreements pursuant to Article 6(4) et seq. of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 416 160. That revenue includes, in particular, support for the operation of the Authority by institutions other than the European Parliament, pursuant to Article 6(6) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014.

    Legal basis

    Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/1141/oj), and in particular Article 6(1) and (7) thereof.

    Article 5 0 1 — Expenditure related to the committee of independent eminent persons

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    20 000

    20 000

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the expenditure linked to the secretariat and the funding of the committee of independent eminent persons.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 100.

    Legal basis

    Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/1141/oj), and in particular Article 11(2) thereof.

    Title 10 — OTHER EXPENDITURE

    Chapter 10 0 — PROVISIONAL APPROPRIATIONS

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    3.3100.000

    0,—

    Remarks

    The appropriations entered in this chapter are purely provisional and may only be used after the adoption of the legal basis for the payment of a ‘housing allowance for staff in Luxembourg’ and after their transfer to other budget lines in accordance with the Financial Regulation.

    Chapter 10 1 — CONTINGENCY RESERVE

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    6 000 000

    7 200 000

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure resulting from budgetary decisions taken in the course of the financial year (expenditure that cannot be estimated).

    Chapter 10 3 — ENLARGEMENT RESERVE

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the cost of the institution’s preparations for enlargement.

    Chapter 10 4 — RESERVE FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION POLICY

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on information and communication policy.

    Chapter 10 5 — PROVISIONAL APPROPRIATION FOR IMMOVABLE PROPERTY

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover property investments and fitting-out work carried out by the institution. The Bureau of the European Parliament is requested to adopt a coherent and responsible long-term strategy in the area of immovable property which takes into account the particular problem of increasing maintenance costs, renovation needs and security costs and ensures the sustainability of the European Parliament’s budget.

    Chapter 10 6 — RESERVE FOR PRIORITY PROJECTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on the institution’s priority projects under development.

    Chapter 10 8 — EMAS RESERVE

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    Further to the decisions to be taken by the Bureau of the European Parliament for implementation of the EMAS action plan, in particular following the European Parliament’s carbon audit, this appropriation is intended to endow the relevant operational headings.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’: why the US is on a war footing over tariffs and mass deportations

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Smith, Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign Policy, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney

    US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy is doing little to enhance his country’s standing abroad. But it is helping to reinforce his political authority at home.

    Congress and the courts are typically deferential to the president on foreign policy – and, in particular, issues related to national security. By putting most of his agenda under the banner of foreign policy, Trump is now taking advantage of that deference to minimise challenges to his power.

    Trump has claimed for decades that US domestic problems can be solved with a more aggressive foreign policy.

    This focus certainly helps him deal with his political problems, allowing him to attack his enemies and evade accountability under the guise of “saving the country”.

    Trump has even gone so far as to call April 2 – when sweeping new tariffs are imposed on foreign goods – “Liberation Day”.

    This is a term usually used to celebrate the end of long wars rather than the beginning of them.

    Congress ceded its foreign policy powers

    We are used to thinking of the US president as having almost unlimited power over US foreign policy. But the Constitution actually gives a lot of that power to Congress.

    For example, Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to declare war. It also gives Congress the power to “collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises”, which include tariffs.

    Given these shared responsibilities, the legal scholar Edward Corwin described the Constitution as “an invitation to struggle for the privilege of directing American foreign policy.”

    Since at least the Second World War, the president has been decisively winning that struggle. Or more accurately, Congress has been declining invitations to use its power.

    For example, American wars no longer begin with declarations. The US has not declared war since 1941, even though the country has been at war almost every year since then. Presidents instead initiate and escalate military conflict in other ways, nearly always with Congressional approval. That approval usually remains in place until a war goes badly wrong.

    Congress also passed legislation in 1934 giving the president power to negotiate trade agreements and adjust tariffs. That power expanded significantly with an act in 1962 that authorised the president to impose tariffs if imports threaten “national security”.

    Although Trump claims tariffs will bring economic prosperity back to the US by reviving manufacturing, his administration justifies them on national security grounds. For example, it is currently using another federal act passed in 1977 that allows tariffs in response to an international emergency as justification for its tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

    Given the dubiousness of these justifications and the economic damage tariffs might do, Congress could try to reassert its constitutional power to set tariffs.

    But this isn’t likely to happen soon, given the loyalty of Republicans to Trump. Members of Congress are also reluctant to be seen standing in the way of the president if national security is at stake.

    One revelation of “Signalgate” was the fact the US bombed Yemen without even the pretext of an urgent national security reason. But the Congressional grilling of Trump’s intelligence leaders, predictably, did not address this.

    The courts are no better

    The courts are supposed to review the constitutionality of government actions. But on foreign policy, the courts have been deferential to the president even longer than Congress.

    In a sweeping judgement in 1918, the Supreme Court wrote that foreign relations counted as a “political power” of the executive and legislative branches, not subject to judicial review.

    The Supreme Court has rarely ruled on foreign policy questions since then. When it does, it nearly always supports the president against anyone challenging his right to make foreign policy, including Congress.

    A federal judge recently complained the Trump administration ignored his order blocking deportation flights of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador.

    Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to justify deporting the Venezuelans, even though some have no criminal record.
    And Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued the deportations were a “foreign policy matter”, and “we can’t have the judges running foreign policy”.

    Mass deportation is one of Trump’s most popular policies. If he is going to pick fights with the judiciary, it makes political sense to do it on an issue where public opinion is on his side – even if the law is not.

    Rubio’s comment is also a likely preview of the arguments Trump’s lawyers will make when cases about immigration reach the Supreme Court.

    Similarly, the Trump’s administration is relying on the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act to deport protesters who have committed no crimes. This law allows the secretary of state to deport non-citizens if their presence in the US has “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences”.

    Deportations under both acts are going to face legal challenges. But the Trump administration is betting the Supreme Court will take Trump’s side, given its conservative members generally hold an expansive view of executive power.

    A Supreme Court win would be a major political victory for Trump. It would encourage him to focus even more on using deportation as a political weapon, and making foreign policy justifications for legally dubious acts.

    War as a political tool

    Trump is effectively putting the US on a war footing. He is justifying his executive actions by recasting allies as enemies who menace national security with everything from illegal drugs to unfair subsidies, and by labelling millions of foreign nationals as “invaders”.

    Many Americans don’t believe him. But as long as he can make threatening foreigners the main focus of American politics, he can find political and legal support for almost anything he wants to do.

    David Smith 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. Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’: why the US is on a war footing over tariffs and mass deportations – https://theconversation.com/trumps-liberation-day-why-the-us-is-on-a-war-footing-over-tariffs-and-mass-deportations-252808

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens call for SNP to make urgent U-turn on ending renter protections

    Source: Scottish Greens

    Homes are for living in, not for profiteering.

    The Scottish Government has been urged to make an urgent U-turn by reinstating renter protections that it has allowed to expire this morning.

    The protections were introduced by the then Green Minister Patrick Harvie following the year long rent freeze. This mechanism potentially allows rent increases to be limited to no higher than 12% if a tenant applies to a rent officer for a decision.

    The system was designed to support the transition away from the rent cap and to the forthcoming system of Rent Control Areas, avoiding a ‘cliff edge’ for renters and protecting them from excessively large increases.

    Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman said:

    “From this morning, renters all over Scotland will be getting notices from their landlords hiking up their rents with little notice or chance to appeal.

    “It will be a dark day for renters, but rogue landlords will be celebrating in the knowledge that they are no longer being constrained.

    “It doesn’t need to be like this. The Scottish Government can stop it. The support that the Scottish Greens secured can be extended, offering renters protections from the most predatory landlords.

    “All parties agree that we are in a housing emergency. The last thing we should be doing is allowing rents to be increased without limit.”

    Ms Chapman added:

    “We need a robust and permanent system of rent controls that can support renters and offer protection and stability. I hope that the upcoming Housing Bill will deliver on that and will help us to repair a broken housing market.

    “Homes are for living in, not for profiteering. We need fundamental change if we are to ensure everyone has a warm, comfortable and affordable place to call home.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Police investigating Roseneath deaths

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Attribute to Detective Inspector Haley Ryan:

    The bodies of two people who were located deceased in a residential address in Roseneath overnight have been removed from the property.

    Two post-mortem examinations are expected to take place tomorrow.

    The Roseneath community can expect to see a continued Police presence in the area while enquiries continue.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI China: Bologna book fair offers global platform for Chinese literature for young readers

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A man visits the 62nd Bologna International Children’s Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, March 31, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The 62nd Bologna International Children’s Book Fair opened on Monday in the Italian city of Bologna, with China hosting a series of events to promote its literature for young readers on the global stage.

    A delegation of more than 40 Chinese publishing houses, led by the China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corporation (CNPIEC), is participating under the theme “Reading China.” The delegation has brought over 2,500 titles, including more than 1,100 foreign-language editions, and is organizing a range of cultural exchange activities to showcase the creativity and international reach of Chinese children’s publishing.

    For the first time, the Chinese delegation has also set up a “Comprehensive Exhibition Area” at BolognaBookPlus, the professional summit and exhibition held alongside the fair. This section, connected to the children’s book area, features a broad selection of publications spanning politics, economics, culture, philosophy, social sciences, natural sciences, literature, and geography.

    Visitors attend an event at the Chinese exhibition area during the 62nd Bologna International Children’s Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, March 31, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Also on display are works by emerging Chinese illustrators, many inspired by traditional cultural motifs. The initiative is aimed at expanding copyright cooperation and fostering academic and cultural exchange between China and the international community.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bologna Children’s Book Fair Director Elena Pasoli highlighted the significance of the Chinese exhibition area, calling it a vital part of the fair. She noted that children’s books offer a powerful way for the world to better understand China’s traditional culture.

    Recognized as one of the world’s largest and most influential children’s book fairs, this year’s edition has drawn more than 1,500 exhibitors from over 90 countries and regions. The fair is expected to welcome more than 20,000 visitors.

    Exhibitors talk at the 62nd Bologna International Children’s Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, March 31, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Global warming of more than 3°C this century may wipe 40% off the world’s economy, new analysis reveals

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Neal, Senior lecturer in Economics / Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney

    The damage climate change will inflict on the world’s economy is likely to have been massively underestimated, according to new research by my colleagues and I which accounts for the full global reach of extreme weather and its aftermath.

    To date, projections of how climate change will affect global gross domestic product (GDP) have broadly suggested mild to moderate harm. This in part has led to a lack of urgency in national efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    However, these models often contain a fundamental flaw – they assume a national economy is affected only by weather in that country. Any impacts from weather events elsewhere, such as how flooding in one country affects the food supply to another, are not incorporated into the models.

    Our new research sought to fix this. After including the global repercussions of extreme weather into our models, the predicted harm to global GDP became far worse than previously thought – affecting the lives of people in every country on Earth.

    Weather shocks everywhere, all at once

    Global warming affects economies in many ways.

    The most obvious is damage from extreme weather. Droughts can cause poor harvests, while storms and floods can cause widespread destruction and disrupt the supply of goods. Recent research has also shown heatwaves, aggravated by climate change, have contributed to food inflation.

    Heat also makes workers less productive. It affects human health, and disease transmission, and can cause mass migration and conflict.

    Most prior research predicts that even extreme warming of 4°C will have only mild negative impacts on the global economy by the end of the century – between 7% and 23%.

    Such modelling is usually based on the effects of weather shocks in the past. However, these shocks have typically been confined to a local or regional scale, and balanced out by conditions elsewhere.

    For example, in the past, South America might have been in drought, but other parts of the world were getting good rainfall. So, South America could rely on imports of agricultural products from other countries to fill domestic shortfalls and prevent spikes in food prices.

    But future climate change will increase the risk of weather shocks occurring simultaneously across countries and more persistently over time. This will disrupt the networks producing and delivering goods, compromise trade and limit the extent to which countries can help each other.

    International trade is fundamental to the global economic production. So, our research examined how a country’s future economic growth would be influenced by weather conditions everywhere else in the world.

    What did we find?

    One thing was immediately clear: a warm year across the planet causes lower global growth.

    We corrected three leading models to account for the effects of global weather on national economies, then averaged out their results. Our analysis focused on global GDP per capita – in other words, the world’s economic output divided by its population.

    We found if the Earth warms by more than 3°C by the end of the century, the estimated harm to the global economy jumped from an average of 11% (under previous modelling assumptions) to 40% (under our modelling assumptions). This level of damage could devastate livelihoods in large parts of the world.

    Previous models have asserted economies in cold parts of the world, such as Russia and Northern Europe, will benefit from warmer global temperatures. However, we found the impact on the global economy was so large, all countries will be badly affected.

    A warm year across the planet causes lower global growth. Pictured: wilted corn crops during drought.
    wahyusyaban/Shutterstock

    Costs vs benefits

    Reducing emissions leads to short-term economic costs. These must be balanced against the long-term benefits of avoiding dangerous climate change.

    Recent economic modelling has suggested this balance would be struck by reducing emissions at a rate that allows Earth to heat by 2.7°C.

    This is close to Earth’s current warming trajectory. But it is far higher than the goals of the Paris Agreement, and global warming limits recommended by climate scientists. It is also based on the flawed assumptions discussed above.

    Under our new research, the optimal amount of global warming, balancing short-term costs with long-term benefits, is 1.7°C – a figure broadly consistent with the Paris Agreement’s most ambitious target.

    Avoiding climate change has short-term costs and long-term benefits.
    Dany Bejar/Shutterstock

    Changing course

    Our new research shows previous forecasts of how such warming will affect the global economy have been far too optimistic. It adds to other recent evidence suggesting the economic impacts of climate change has been badly underestimated.

    Clearly, Earth’s current emissions trajectory risks our future and that of our children. The sooner humanity grasps the calamities in store under severe climate change, the sooner we can change course to avoid it.

    Timothy Neal 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. Global warming of more than 3°C this century may wipe 40% off the world’s economy, new analysis reveals – https://theconversation.com/global-warming-of-more-than-3-c-this-century-may-wipe-40-off-the-worlds-economy-new-analysis-reveals-253032

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ELIZA LANE, ROBE (Grass Fire)

    Source: South Australia County Fire Service

    More posts

    Homes that have been built to withstand a bushfire, and are prepared to the highest level, may provide safety.

    You may lose power, water, phone and data connections.

    Fire crews are responding but you should not expect a firefighter at your door.

    What you should do

    • Check and follow your Bushfire Survival Plan.
    • Protect yourself from the fire’s heat – put on protective clothing.
    • Tell family or friends of your plans.

    If you are leaving

    • Leave now, don’t delay.
    • Roads may become blocked or access may change. Smoke will reduce visibility.
    • Secure your pets for travel.
    • If you become stuck in your car, park away from bushes, cover yourself, get onto the floor as the windows may break from the intense heat.

    If you are not leaving – prepare to defend

    • Identify a safe place inside, with more than one exit, before the fire arrives. Keep moving away from the heat of the fire.
    • Bring pets inside and restrain them.
    • Move flammable materials such as doormats, wheelie bins and outdoor furniture away from your house.
    • Close doors and windows to keep smoke out.
    • If you have sprinklers, turn them on to wet the areas.
    • If the building catches fire, go to an area already burnt. Check around you for anything burning.

    MIL OSI News