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  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye – B10-0110/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
    pursuant to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure

    Malik Azmani, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Petras Auštrevičius, Dan Barna, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Karin Karlsbro, Ľubica Karvašová, Jan‑Christoph Oetjen, Marie‑Agnes Strack‑Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Sophie Wilmès, Lucia Yar
    on behalf of the Renew Group

    NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

    Document selected :  

    B10-0110/2025

    Texts tabled :

    B10-0110/2025

    Texts adopted :

    B10‑0110/2025

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on  recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye

    (2025/2546(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

     – having regard to the European Charter of Local Self-Government

    – having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure

    1. whereas Sofya Alagas, mayor of Siirt, was dismissed from office on 29 January 2025 following her sentence of six years and three months in prison for alleged membership in the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK);
    2. whereas Hoşyar Sarıyıldız, mayor of Akdeniz Municipality, was taken into custody on 10 January 2025, on charges, inter alia, of membership in an illegal organization, followed by his referral for arrest on 13 January 2025; whereas, the both co-mayors, as well as four municipal council members, were dismissed and replaced with a state-appointed trustee;
    3. whereas on 12 January 2025, Riza Akpolat, the mayor of Istanbul’s central Besiktas district, was detained by police in an investigation into an alleged criminal organization suspected of rigging public tenders;
    4. whereas, on 30 October 2024, Ahmet Ozer, the mayor of Istanbul’s Esenyurt district from main opposition party CHP, was arrested for alleged membership in the PKK;
    5. whereas specific targeting of opposition politicians and mayors undermines the ability of the political opposition to exercise their rights and fulfil their democratic roles; is deeply concerned by continuous democratic backsliding in Türkiye;
    1. calls on the Turkish authorities to abolish the practice of dismissals of democratically elected mayors on politically motivated charges, ensuring that ineligibility of candidates is assessed prior to the elections and is based only on final, lawful and impartial criminal convictions; to allow eligible and elected representatives to freely exercise their mandates in line with the European Charter of Local Self-Government and to grant municipal councils the power to independently select replacement mayors in the event of a lawful dismissal, and only for the period until new representatives are legitimately elected in a new election;
    2. condemns Turkish Government’s decision to dismiss the democratically elected mayors of 10 municipalities and districts and to replace them with government trustees appointed by the Interior Ministry; regards this long-standing practice of appointing trustees as a blatant attack on the most basic principles of local democracy;
    3. calls on the HR/VP to consider imposing restrictive measures under the EU Human Rights sanction regime on the Turkish officials accepting to be trustees and on those nominating them;
    4. considers the decision of the Turkish government to return to this practice, after the last local elections of March 2024 as an indication, of its lack of commitment to fundamentally address the democratic shortcomings in the country;  remaining one of the constraints to deepening EU-Türkiye’s relationship.
    5. instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, and the President, Government and Parliament of Türkiye and have it translated into Turkish.

     

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION Recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye – B10-0103/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

    Vladimir Prebilič, Mélissa Camara, Mounir Satouri, Vicent Marzà Ibáñez, Catarina Vieira, Maria Ohisalo, Erik Marquardt, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Ville Niinistö, Villy Søvndal
    on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

    NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

    B10‑0103/2025

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye

    (2025/2546(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

      having regard to Rules 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas on 29 January elected Siirt Municipality Mayor Sofya Alağaş of the DEM Party was dismissed and sentenced to prison for alleged membership of the PKK when she was a journalist; whereas on 10 January elected Akdeniz Municipality co-mayors Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Aslan from the DEM Party and several City Council members were taken into custody in Mersin and later charged for alleged links to the PKK; whereas Ahmet Özer, mayor of Istanbul’s Esenyurt district from CHP party remains detained over alleged connections to the PKK; whereas the mayors were replaced by government trustees;

    B. whereas DEM Party won the the Siirt mayorship with 49.63% and the Akdeniz mayorship with 36,92% in the March 2024 local elections;

    C. whereas since 2016 successive Erdoğan governments have removed elected opposition mayors from 149 municipalities, mostly in the Kurdish southeast and replaced them with trustees; whereas since the March 2024 local elections 10 opposition mayors have been replaced by government appointees;

    1. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release, acquittal and reinstatement of elected mayor Sofya Alağaş and co-mayors Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Aslan and all other mayors arbitrarily arrested and dismissed;

    2. Condemns the Turkish authorities’ continuation of dismissing democratically elected mayors on bogus terrorism charges and replacing them with government appointees, which undermines democratic processes and violates the right to free and fair elections;

    3. Urges Turkish authorities to immediately cease and reverse repression of political opposition and respect the rights of voters to elect their chosen representatives in line with the recommendations of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the Venice Commission;

    4. Urges Türkiye to repeal Article 45, paragraph 1 added in 2016 to the Municipality Law and ensure that ineligibility of candidates is assessed prior to the elections and based on a final criminal conviction;

    5. Reminds Türkiye of its status as a candidate for European Union membership and its commitment to aligning with the EU acquis in all areas, including adherence to the rule of law and fundamental rights, as outlined in the Copenhagen criteria; 

    6. Calls on the European Commission, the HR/VP and Member States to raise the arrest and removal of opposition mayors as well as the take-over of municipalities with their Turkish counterparts;

    7. Calls on the European Commission and Council that financial assistance under IPA III and NDICI to Türkiye are strictly conditional upon the respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights and that sufficient funding is allocated to civil society;

    8. Calls on the HRVP to consider restrictive measures under the Global Human Rights Sanction Regime against Turkish officials responsible for the illegal removal of elected mayors and those functioning as government appointees to replace them;

    9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the HR/VP, and the Government and Parliament of Türkiye, and asks that it be translated into Turkish language;

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION Recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Turkiye – B10-0124/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

    Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Assita Kanko, Alexandr Vondra
    on behalf of the ECR Group

    NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

    B10‑0124/2025

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on  Recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Turkiye

     

    (2025/2546(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to its previous resolutions on Turkiye,

    – having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

     

    A. Whereas a recent trend in Türkiye involves the dismissal of democratically elected mayors and their replacement with government-appointed administrators, as seen in the removal of Siirt’s mayor and similar actions in Akdeniz Municipality, and this pattern extends to the January 13, 2025, arrest of Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat in a corruption probe focused on public tender manipulation, despite mayors lacking signing authority in such processes; whereas, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu also faces multiple legal challenges, including a potential political ban and a January 20 investigation for allegedly “threatening” prosecutor Akın Gürlek, alongside a defamation lawsuit from President Erdoğan demanding TRY 1 million in damages;

     

    B Whereas opposition municipal officials, particularly from pro-Kurdish parties, have faced frequent arrests and dismissals since the opposition’s victories in Turkiye‘s 2019 local elections, which they maintained in the 2024 polls;

     

    C Whereas the timing of these legal actions coincides with declining public support for the ruling party raising concerns about the use of judicial mechanisms for political purposes;

     

    D Whereas these systematic violations demonstrate a coordinated effort to use judicial and administrative mechanisms to dismantle political opposition, representing a serious threat to democratic governance and human rights, as the pattern of targeting opposition figures through legal mechanisms, while selectively applying justice, indicates a systematic abuse of state power to achieve political ends;

     

    E Whereas the systematic targeting of opposition mayors and political figures in Türkiye breaches international legal framework such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Articles 14, 22, and 25) through interference with rights to political participation, fair trials, and freedom of association; the Venice Commission’s standards on democratic governance through improper replacement of elected officials with appointees; and the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Articles 3, 7, and 8) by undermining local democratic authority and the exercise of elected representatives’ functions;

     

    1  Calls on the Commission to prepare an assessment of the systematic targeting of opposition politicians through judicial means, with particular focus on violations of the Copenhagen political criteria and establish an enhanced monitoring mechanism specific to the erosion of local democracy in Turkiye.

     

    2. Calls on the EEAS to establish a task force to monitor and report the persecution of opposition politicians, working closely with EU delegations in Turkiye to gather evidence and maintain detailed documentation of cases.

     

    3 Calls on the Venice Commission to issue an urgent opinion examining the systematic use of judicial measures against opposition politicians in Turkey, addressing the compatibility of mayoral dismissals with European democratic standards, the use of terrorism and corruption charges against opposition figures; and the practice of replacing elected officials with appointed administrators.

     

    4 Underlines the need to resume the Kurdish peace process;

     

    5 Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, the Vice-President of the Commission/HRVP, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, Members of the Parliament and government of Türkiye.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Monitoring the Bêkou Trust Fund for the Central African Republic – E-002661/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Through the Bêkou Trust Fund[1], the EU has supported extensive health interventions across 15 districts in the Central African Republic, encompassing 167 health facilities primarily in rural and underserved areas, improving access to healthcare for approximately 35% of the population.

    Key outcomes include expanded access to healthcare, the provision of free healthcare services and improved availability of free medicines provided to vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children under five, victims of sexual violence and the indigent population.

    The fund also contributed to the construction and rehabilitation of pharmaceutical warehouses in underserved areas, strengthening storage capacity and the availability of medicines. These efforts significantly enhanced the availability of essential medicines in targeted health facilities.

    The supply and the distribution of essential medicines was an integral part of the health programme. For instance, the fund allocated EUR 7.3 million to medicine supplies, transport and storage.

    Medicines were procured and distributed by implementing partners, adhering to the EU’s quality standards for pharmaceuticals, to ensure safety and proper distribution.

    All this work was implemented in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health, through performance-based financing to empower local health structures, enhance accountability in medicine distribution, and increase service utilisation rates.

    To assess the efforts made under the fund, including in supplying and distributing medicines fairly and free of charge, the EU established a dedicated monitoring and learning system. It enabled the fund to monitor all actions and outputs financed by the interventions.

    • [1] https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/programming/programmes/bekou-trust-fund_en

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Return of the Global Gateway project – E-002522/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU’s Global Gateway (GG)[1] aims to mobilise up to EUR 300 billion in public and private investments by 2027 through a mix of grants, loans and guarantees.

    Over 2021-2023, EUR 179 billion were mobilised — EUR 50 billion from the EU and EUR 129 billion from Member States[2], the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

    The GG strategy fosters sustainable investments to support the digital and green transitions, as well as sustainable development in the climate, energy, and transport sectors, and reinforces, health, and education systems.

    The GG Business Advisory Group was formed to assist the Commission to strengthen cooperation with the European private sector. EU delegations have also organised over 50 business forums, facilitating discussions between businesses and policymakers and enabling EU-national Business-to-Business interactions.

    The European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus and the GET.invest programmes mobilising renewable energy investments[3] provide support through European development financing partners. This is done through loans, equity, and grants (and also advisory services).

    The EU established 14 strategic partnerships for sustainable raw material value chains, supporting local processing, refining, skills development, and environmental standards, and endorsed several GG-related flagship projects in Africa, Central Asia and Latin America.

    Other key initiatives include the Hi-Bar guarantee with the EBRD, a blending facility with the Inter-American Development Bank, and the critical raw materials value chains facility, which enhances collaboration between the EU and partner countries on sustainable raw material development.

    • [1] Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank The Global Gateway, JOIN(2021) 30 final, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52021JC0030
    • [2] Joint Communication on building sustainable international partnerships as a Team Europe, JOIN(2024) 25 final , https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/document/download/1e8e8afb-64eb-493c-9494-7e2e10796bf3_en?filename=joint-communication-building-sustainable-international-partnerships-as-team-europe_en.pdf
    • [3] https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/programming/projects/getinvest-mobilising-renewable-energy-investments_enpa.eu

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Russia’s war on Ukraine: Forcibly displaced Ukrainian children – 11-02-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The invasion of Ukraine enters its 4th year in 2025, resulting in further displacement. On 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights. The pair are accused of the ‘war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation’. According to the ICC, there are reasonable grounds to believe that President Putin ‘committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others’, or that he failed to properly control ‘civilian and military subordinates who committed the acts, or allowed for their commission, and who were under his effective authority and control, pursuant to superior responsibility’. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, evidence has been collected about core international crimes committed against Ukrainian children. Multiple reports consider Russia to be in breach of the obligations set in several international treaties and instruments to which Russia is party, and of customary international law. It is well documented that, since the start of the invasion, certain categories of individuals, including women and children, have been disproportionately affected by the conflict. International organisations, institutional actors and civil society organisations have repeatedly warned about the great burden on children, including but not limited to trafficking, sexual exploitation, abduction and illegal adoption. Beyond the strictly legal consequences of the arrest warrant, some commentators argue that the arrest warrant against Putin may help to undermine the Russian leader’s war efforts, as the international community universally sees the abduction of children as unacceptable. No matter what the geopolitical arguments are, removing children from their families or from care facilities and forcibly transferring them is universally considered a reprehensible act of violence. This is an update of a 2023 publication written by Micaela Del Monte with Nefeli Barlaoura.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Strengthening the EU’s competitiveness in the pharmaceutical sector – E-000468/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000468/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Dan-Ştefan Motreanu (PPE)

    The Draghi report highlights a growing competitiveness gap in the EU pharmaceutical sector, despite its global leadership in trade by value. While US-based companies continue to expand their market share, the EU is losing ground, particularly in the most dynamic segments.

    In 2022, only two of the ten best-selling biological medicines in Europe were marketed by EU companies, while six were from US-based firms. The EU also lags behind in market-exclusive products such as orphan medicines and advanced therapy medicinal products, areas that are crucial for future healthcare advancements.

    A key factor behind this trend is significantly lower investment in research and innovation. Public research and innovation spending on pharmaceuticals in the EU is less than half that of the United States, while private-sector investment is only about a quarter of US levels. This funding gap is limiting Europe’s ability to compete in high-value pharmaceutical innovation and commercialise breakthrough therapies.

    What measures does the Commission plan to implement to enhance investment in pharmaceutical research and innovation and ensure that the EU remains globally competitive in this critical sector?

    Submitted: 3.2.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Support for viniculture in Greece – E-000471/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000471/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Georgios Aftias (PPE)

    In recent years, due to the high cost of cultivation, many young people have been deterred from becoming producers in the viniculture sector. More specifically, decentralised areas of Greece that rely on wine production, such as Samos, face development problems due to the high cost of cultivation. According to the Unified Winemaking Agricultural Cooperative of Samos, the decline in viniculture and the abandonment of vineyards is a fact that has very serious economic and environmental impacts.

    In light of the above,

    • 1.With what plan does the Commission intend to strengthen viniculture?
    • 2.Which European programmes can support the establishment of vineyards and for these vineyards to function as firebreaks?
    • 3.Is the provision of professional incentives to attract new winegrowers being considered?

    Submitted: 3.2.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Strengthening investment and competitiveness in EU telecom networks – E-000467/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000467/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Dan-Ştefan Motreanu (PPE)

    According to the Draghi report, ensuring full gigabit and 5G coverage across the EU requires an estimated investment of EUR 200 billion. However, Europe’s per capita investment in telecom infrastructure remains significantly lower than in other major economies, such as the United States and China.

    A key factor behind this investment gap is the fragmentation of the EU telecom market. With 34 mobile network operator groups across the Member States – compared to a handful in the United States or China – companies face higher fixed costs and struggle to scale efficiently.

    Additionally, this fragmentation limits the ability to capitalise on emerging technologies, including edge computing and network service innovations through application programming interfaces (APIs), where Europe currently lags behind.

    The EU’s cautious stance on telecom mergers has further contributed to market inefficiencies, preventing operators from achieving economies of scale and making large-scale infrastructure investments more challenging. Without a more coordinated and competitive telecom landscape, Europe risks falling behind in digital innovation and connectivity.

    What measures does the Commission plan to take to address market fragmentation, boost investment and enhance Europe’s position in next-generation network technologies?

    Submitted: 3.2.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Hazardous PFAS substances in drinking water in Europe and lack of information in Greece – E-000470/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000470/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Sakis Arnaoutoglou (S&D)

    Recent studies highlight the presence of the ‘forever chemicals’ (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances – PFAS) at levels exceeding permissible limits in several European countries, such as France, Belgium and the Netherlands, raising concerns about the quality of drinking water and public health. However, in Greece there is a lack of systematic research and transparent information on the potential exposure of the population to these hazardous substances, while the European Commission has already stressed the importance of implementing Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on drinking water.

    Accordingly:

    • 1.What measures does the Commission intend to put in place to strengthen the monitoring and recording of PFAS levels in drinking water and food in the Member States, including Greece?
    • 2.How does the Commission intend to ensure that citizens are informed and aware of the risks of PFAS and that controls are strengthened?
    • 3.Is there a European plan to promote and integrate innovative decontamination technologies in areas where increased concentrations of PFAS have been detected?

    Submitted: 3.2.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Ensuring the sustainability of the InvestEU Programme – E-000469/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000469/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Dan-Ştefan Motreanu (PPE)

    The InvestEU programme, designed to stimulate private investment by means of an EUR 26.2 billion financial guarantee, has proven highly effective at mobilising funds. By the end of 2023, it had already generated EUR 218 billion in investment, with 65 % coming from private sources. However, high demand has led to concerns that the programme’s financial allocation will be insufficient to continue granting aid beyond 2025.

    With 80 % of the public guarantee already allocated to implementing partners such as the European Investment Bank and national development banks, the programme is approaching its financial limits at a critical time for Europe’s economic recovery and green and digital transitions. Without further resources, InvestEU may struggle to maintain its role in leveraging private investment for strategic EU priorities.

    • 1.Given these challenges, what measures does the Commission plan to implement to ensure the continuity and financial sustainability of InvestEU beyond 2025?
    • 2.Are there plans to increase its budget or explore alternative funding mechanisms to maintain investment momentum?

    Submitted: 3.2.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Finnish forests are changing from carbon sinks to sources of CO2 emissions – E-000375/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000375/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Li Andersson (The Left)

    Recent data showing that Finland’s forests are changing from carbon sinks to sources of CO2 emissions are threatening to scupper the very foundations of Finland’s climate policy and mean that Finland will not meet its EU climate policy obligations.

    Preliminary data for 2023 from Finland’s Natural Resources Institute show that the land‑use sector was a significant emitter, with net emissions of 1.12 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Forest land that previously served as a net carbon sink became a source of emissions as long ago as 2021.

    This is mainly due to an uptick in CO2 emissions from the soil, a slowdown in tree growth, increased logging and problematic logging practices. Logging is the most significant explanatory factor and experts maintain that to resolve the situation there needs to be less logging.

    The carbon sink provided by the trees is no longer sufficient to cover forest soil emissions, which are being exacerbated by global warming and changes in forest structure.

    It is important to ensure that the carbon sequestration capacity of forests is restored, including through improved forest management practices, the mitigation of soil emissions and the coordination of sustainable rates of logging.

    The situation in Finland shows that the accuracy of inventory and calculation methods is crucial in monitoring the effectiveness of climate action. At the same time, these methods reveal the need to reassess the sustainability of forestry and logging levels and the impact they have on the EU’s climate objectives.

    • 1.If Finland fails to meet its binding EU-level targets for the land‑use sector, what will the costs of that be for Finland?
    • 2.Excessive logging is a key reason why the land‑use sector has become a source of emissions. What responsibility does the forestry industry bear for any costs incurred if Finland fails to meet its targets in the land‑use sector?

    Submitted: 28.1.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Hearings – Housing Rentals in the Internal Market and Protection of Consumers – 18-02-2025 – Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

    Source: European Parliament

    housing.jpg © no copyright

    On 18 February, from 14:30 to 16:30, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) will host a public hearing about housing rentals in the internal market and consumer protection, in Brussels (SPAAK ROOM 1A2). This event aims to bring together different perspectives and gather feedback on housing rental challenges, with a particular emphasis on consumer protection.

    The hearing will gather representatives from the European Commission, industry organisations, the mayors of European cities and leading experts, with the view to ensure a comprehensive and diverse discussion.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Hearings – Safety of products sold via online platforms – 17-02-2025 – Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

    Source: European Parliament

    online shopping.PNG © stock adobe

    On February 17, from 15h15 to 17h15, IMCO will host a public hearing, in Room SPINELLI 3G3, on the safety of products in the single market, focusing on e-commerce and imports from non-EU countries. The goal of this hearing is to gather input from the Commission, businesses, consumer groups, and national authorities.

    The discussion will help IMCO evaluate whether online products sold in the EU comply with EU safety laws and consider ways to ensure fair competition and effective enforcement, potentially leading to new measures to improve product safety and customs control. IMCO will draft an own initiative report on this topic.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Other events – Safety of products sold via online platforms – 17-02-2025 – Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

    Source: European Parliament

    online shopping.PNG © stock adobe

    On February 17, IMCO is going to hold a public hearing on the safety of products in the single market, focusing on e-commerce and imports from non-EU countries. The goal of this hearing is to gather input from the Commission, businesses, consumer groups, and national authorities.

    The discussion will help IMCO evaluate whether online products sold in the EU comply with EU safety laws and consider ways to ensure fair competition and effective enforcement, potentially leading to new measures to improve product safety and customs control. IMCO will draft an own initiative report on this topic.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Serbia: €29 million invested under the EU for Green Agenda initiative

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    As part of the EU for Green Agenda initiative in Serbia, EIB Global co-organised the conference on boosting green transition financing in Serbia, together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, in cooperation with the Association of Serbian Banks.

    Head of the EIB Regional Hub for the Western Balkans Damien Sorrell underlined the “EU for Green Agenda in Serbia” initiative as an excellent example of how we can catalyse green investments and increase resilience to climate change.

    “This is particularly important for local companies, 10% of which are already reporting losses from natural disasters. However, due to a lack of access to finance, expertise in developing green projects, and conducive green management practices, they are not sufficiently equipped to incorporate climate concerns into their management frameworks. That is why the technical support provided by the EIB to banks under the EU for Green Agenda is crucial. It will help turn innovative climate-friendly ideas into bankable projects,” Sorrell said.

    “The establishment of an effective mechanism for sustainable financing of the green transition is crucial for the competitiveness of the Serbian economy and the creation of new jobs, as well as for people’s health and the environment. This requires the cooperation of the government, international financial institutions, commercial banks and the private sector, which we have gathered today to achieve a common vision for accelerating the green transition in Serbia”” said Yakup Beris, UNDP Serbia Resident Representative.

    The “EU for Green Agenda in Serbia” project is implemented with technical and financial support of the European Union and in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection by UNDP in cooperation with Sweden and EIB Global, with additional funding from the governments of Sweden, Switzerland and Serbia.

    Dedicated workshops for financial institutions

    Since 2022, this initiative has provided mentoring support and €4 million in co-financing for the implementation of innovative green projects across Serbia. For every euro of donor support, nearly €6 has been raised from other sources, including the beneficiaries’ own funds. As a result, over €29 million has been invested so far, which accounts for approximately 15% of all estimated green investments in Serbia.

    Through workshops conducted by the consulting consortia adelphi, iC Group and IPC, EIB Global is providing the technical assistance for partner financial institutions to equip them with the tools and knowledge to support implementation of the Green Agenda. Facilitated by experts in green finance, environmental policy and EU regulations, the workshops are aimed at building capacity to evaluate and finance green projects, ensuring alignment with EU sustainability criteria.

    Aleksandar Randjelović, an expert in the “EU for Green Agenda in Serbia” project, stated that the training provided by the consulting team introduced financial institutions to key concepts of green finance, emphasising their role in driving the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. “Finance is the fuel of this transformation, and understanding climate risks and opportunities is essential for making impactful investments that align with the country’s Green Agenda,” he stated.

    UniCredit Bank Serbia has been one of the participants in the specialised training programme.

    “The workshop provided us with a deep understanding of the EU Green Agenda’s goals and practical strategies to align our financial products with sustainability principles. Through expert-led sessions, we gained insights into financing green projects, structuring innovative financial products, and adhering to EU environmental standards,” said Maja Jerkić Bogosavljević, Head of ESG at UniCredit Bank

    Serbia: €29 million invested under the EU for Green Agenda initiative
    Serbia: €29 million invested under the EU for Green Agenda initiative
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    Serbia: €29 million invested under the EU for Green Agenda initiative
    Serbia: €29 million invested under the EU for Green Agenda initiative
    ©EIB
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    Serbia: €29 million invested under the EU for Green Agenda initiative
    Serbia: €29 million invested under the EU for Green Agenda initiative
    ©EIB
    Download original
    Serbia: €29 million invested under the EU for Green Agenda initiative
    Serbia: €29 million invested under the EU for Green Agenda initiative
    ©EIB
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Other events – Housing Rentals in the Internal Market and Protection of Consumers – 18-02-2025 – Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

    Source: European Parliament

    housing.jpg © no copyright

    On 18 February, from 14:30 to 16:30, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) will host a public hearing entitled ‘Housing Rentals in the Internal Market and Protection of Consumers’ in Brussels (SPAAK ROOM 1A2) This event aims to bring together different perspectives and gather feedback on housing rental challenges, with a particular emphasis on consumer protection.

    The hearing will gather representatives from the European Commission, industry organisations, the mayors of European cities and leading experts, with the view to ensure a comprehensive and diverse discussion.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – AFCO exchange of views with registered European Political parties – 18.02.25 – Committee on Constitutional Affairs

    Source: European Parliament

    The Committee on Constitutional Affairs will hold an exchange of views with all registered European Political parties on 18 February.

    The aim of this exchange is to listen to political parties’ main concerns regarding the Commission proposal and the corresponding negotiating mandates by the Parliament and the Council. This discussion will take place in the presence of the Authority for the European political parties and Foundations, the Commission and the Polish Presidency. The issues raised and any ensuing recommendations are envisaged to feed into the discussions at interinstitutional level.

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – REGI – Committee Presentation of Study on Climate adaptation – Meeting 27-28.1.25 – Committee on Regional Development

    Source: European Parliament

    Climate Adaptation_PolDep_27.1.25_408782933_Adobe_final.jpeg © Image used under licence from Adobe Stock

    The Committee of Regional Development had a presentation of the Policy Department study on Climate Adaptation using Cohesion Policy at its meeting of 27-28 January 2025.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – REGI – Committee debates – OECD and Mayor of Utrecht – Meeting 27-28.1.25 – Committee on Regional Development

    Source: European Parliament

    Zapping 2013: How Europe fared under the year’s big challenges? © European Parliament

    The Committee on Regional Development had discussions with Nadim Ahmad of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and with Sharon Dijksma Dijksma, Mayor of Utrecht at its meeting on 27-28 January. Further details enclosed.

    The Committee on Regional Development had discussions with representatives of the following two organisations at its meeting on 27-28 January. Debate took place with Nadim Ahmad of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on the main territorial impacts of the global challenges and available instruments for national authorities and regions to address them. The Committee had a second debate with Sharon Dijksma, Mayor of Utrecht, on the Eurocities policy statement – A Strong Cohesion Policy Promoting Urban Transformation.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – REGI – Committee votes – Meeting 27-28.1.25 – Committee on Regional Development

    Source: European Parliament

    Voting Time in Committee © European Parliament

    The Committee on Regional Development voted on the following three dossiers at its meeting on 27-28 January 2025. The roll-call vote results are published on this site under the ‘Meetings’ tab.

    The Committee on Regional Development voted on the following three dossiers at its meeting on 27-28 January 2025: the draft opinion on the European Social Fund Plus post-2027 2024/2077(INI) – Rapporteur for the opinion: Kathleen Funchion (The Left). Secondly, the draft opinion on the 2023 discharge: General budget of the EU – Commission 2024/2019(DEC) – COM(2024)0272[01] – C10-0067/2024 – Rapporteur for the opinion: Ľubica Karvašová (Renew) – (PA – PE765.332v01-00) and finally the provisional agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations on the Mechanism to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in a cross-border context 2018/0198(COD) – COM(2018)0373 – C8-0228/2018: Rapporteur: Sandro Gozi (Renew). The roll-call vote results are published on this site under the ‘Meetings’ tab.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – EU sanctions against Russia 2025: State of play, perspectives and challenges – 11-02-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    In response to Russia’s illegal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union swiftly adopted unprecedentedly tough sanctions, in close cooperation with partners including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Japan. The rapid succession of 15 packages of EU sanctions adopted since then have resulted in an unparalleled set of measures targeting Russian political elites and key sectors of the Russian economy. New sanctions have also been adopted against Belarus, Iran and North Korea in response to their involvement in Russia’s war of aggression. Furthermore, in 2024 the EU adopted two new regimes of sanctions, addressing human rights violations and repression in Russia (May 2024), and responding to Russia’s destabilising activities (‘hybrid attacks’) abroad (October 2024). The unprecedented nature of the sanctions imposed on Russia, in scale and scope, has created new implementation challenges. Member States and EU institutions have renewed efforts to improve the enforcement of sanctions and to close loopholes to prevent circumvention, including reinforcing cooperation with third countries. A specific anti-circumvention tool was included in the 11th package of sanctions (June 2023), followed by additional measures in the successive packages, including those to counter Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’. Furthermore, a newly adopted EU directive (April 2024) obliges the EU Member States to introduce minimum criminal offences and penalties for violating and circumventing EU sanctions. It also aims to improve cross-border cooperation on investigations, prosecutions and sentencing of EU sanctions violations. Since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol in 2014, the European Parliament has been a vocal advocate of severe sanctions. It has unequivocally condemned Russia’s unjustified aggression against Ukraine, demanded broader and better-enforced sanctions and called for the confiscation of Russian assets frozen by the EU to pay for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Parliament has demanded a full review of more centralised EU-level oversight of sanctions implementation and a full ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, among other measures. This briefing updates and complements a previous briefing published in September 2023.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Federal Councillor Albert Rösti at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris

    Source: Switzerland – Federal Administration in English

    At the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris on 10 and 11 February, Federal Councillor Albert Rösti highlighted the opportunities that AI offers to society and the economy. In particular, he stressed the need to adopt an inclusive approach in the global debate on AI. Switzerland has also expressed an interest in hosting the next AI Action Summit. He also signed two memorandums of understanding with French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot aimed at developing cross-border rail traffic between Switzerland and France.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The Crete-Cyprus electricity interconnection is an important project for the EU and has received significant EU funding – E-000454/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000454/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Emmanouil Kefalogiannis (PPE)

    The Crete-Cyprus electricity interconnection is a significant priority project for the European Union under Regulation (EU) 2022/869 concerning trans-European energy infrastructure and is included in the Commission’s list adopted in November 2023, having received a significant Community subsidy (EUR 657 million).

    The coordinates for laying the electrical cable between Cyprus and Crete were set seven nautical miles north of Crete, with NAVTEX issued by the Heraklion Hydrographic Service. A Turkish warship was deployed to the area and sent a signal to the research vessels that “they are outside jurisdiction and must request permission from Türkiye in order to carry out the work”. Laying an electrical cable between Cyprus and Crete is an activity that constitutes “freedom of the seas” according to the Law of the Sea.

    Türkiye’s unacceptable tactics are deeply troubling. Interrupting activities without grounds pursuant to the Law of the Sea creates a negative precedent and we must be conscious of the dangers posed when the Law of the Sea is actively challenged.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.How does the Commission view Türkiye’s action, which explicitly contravenes the Law of the Sea?
    • 2.What actions does the Commission intend to take to ensure that Türkiye signs, ratifies and respects the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea?

    Submitted: 3.2.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Ensuring workplace safety at industrial sites with high toxic chemical risk – E-000459/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000459/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Danilo Della Valle (The Left), Pasquale Tridico (The Left), Valentina Palmisano (The Left)

    Recent fatal accidents at industrial plants, including one operated by Frigocaserta, have shone a light on serious shortcomings in workplace safety. In particular, the death of two workers in different circumstances – one from ammonia poisoning and the other from a forklift truck accident – has raised serious concerns about safety conditions at high-risk industrial facilities.

    They raise questions as to whether EU workplace health and safety legislation – including Directive 89/391/EEC on improvements in the safety and health of workers at work, Directive 98/24/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work and Directive 2008/104/EC on temporary agency work – is being applied properly. The issue takes on particular relevance for outsourced workers, who are sometimes employed in maintenance and materials handling operations without adequate training and protection.

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.Does the Commission believe that the current regulatory framework provides adequate protection for workers exposed to hazardous chemicals on industrial sites?
    • 2.Does it intend to propose measures to ensure the safety of workers employed in external contracts, ensuring compliance with current regulations?
    • 3.What oversight and monitoring measures does it intend to strengthen so as to better implement EU directives on workplace health and safety in the Member States?

    Submitted: 3.2.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Anti-dumping duties on Chinese lysine – E-000457/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000457/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Stefan Köhler (PPE), Norbert Lins (PPE), Christine Schneider (PPE), Lena Düpont (PPE), Marion Walsmann (PPE)

    Since 15 January 2025, high anti-dumping duties have been imposed on Chinese lysine imports. Lysine is an essential amino acid, which is of particular importance in the diet of pigs. Hardly any companies in the EU offer this raw material, yet it is a key component of high-quality animal feed. According to experts, the EU relies on China for up to 70 % of its lysine demand. A secure and reliable supply of the amino acid is vital for EU agriculture.

    • 1.To what extent could EU companies source lysine from EU producers to meet the needs of the EU market, and how dependent is the EU on China according to the Commission’s official calculations?
    • 2.Are there ambitions to classify lysine and other essential feed additives as ‘critical raw materials’?
    • 3.What steps will the Commission take in the coming months to guarantee and increase the security of supply and competitiveness of the feed industry?

    Submitted: 3.2.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Funding for Modul University Vienna – E-000458/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000458/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Harald Vilimsky (PfE)

    The Commission has withdrawn funding for Erasmus and research projects from Modul University Vienna. It is argued that the university’s new owner is ‘close to Orbán’. The Commission’s decision is based on a 2022 Council decision intended to protect EU funds against ‘systematic corruption’.

    • 1.To what extent, in the Commission’s view, should the education of young students and their further training abroad be regarded as a form of corruption?
    • 2.How often has funding been discontinued on the basis of the 2022 decision, and what countries and institutions have been affected?
    • 3.What body or Commissioner decided that funding for Modul University Vienna should be withdrawn, and were both the university and Hungarian representatives asked for their comments so that they could be taken into consideration in this process?

    Submitted: 3.2.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The Council’s position on Treaty change and EU enlargement – E-000452/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000452/2025
    to the Council
    Rule 144
    Marieke Ehlers (PfE)

    • 1.The term ‘Treaty change’ does not appear in the text presenting the Polish Presidency. Does that mean that, under the Polish Presidency, the Council will be making a case for maintaining unanimity rules on foreign policy, the budget and taxation?
    • 2.During the exchange of views with Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs on 29 January 2025, the Polish Minister for European Affairs said that we had to take account of the ‘new political reality’. Can the Council clarify the scope of this new political reality and its implications for current and future legislative initiatives at European level?

    Submitted: 3.2.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Strengthening early childhood education and care in the EU – E-000464/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000464/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Dan-Ştefan Motreanu (PPE)

    The latest report from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency highlights significant disparities in early childhood education and care (ECEC) systems across Europe. While some countries, such as Denmark, Germany and Finland, meet all key criteria – integrated governance, universal access, qualified staff and consistent educational guidelines – many others still face challenges in one or more areas.

    A key finding is that fully integrated ECEC systems, where a single ministry or authority oversees all services, achieve the highest scores. However, most countries still require reforms to improve governance, access and workforce qualifications.

    Notably, only Italy and Finland have recently introduced major initiatives to enhance staff qualifications, while the report calls for substantial investment across Europe.

    Given the crucial role of early education in child development and social equity, what concrete steps does the Commission plan to take to support Member States in addressing these gaps and ensuring high-quality ECEC for all children?

    Submitted: 3.2.2025

    Last updated: 11 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: How botox enters our cells

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English

    Researchers at the Center for Life Sciences at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have for the first time identified structural changes in the botulinum neurotoxin, botox for short, that are believed to be crucial for its uptake into nerve cells. This could mean that the paralysing effect of this potent neurotoxin could be used more selectively and efficiently in the future, for example in pain therapy. The study was published today in the journal Nature Communications.

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