Category: Pandemic

MIL-OSI Australia: Shareholder activism: reflections on the current, and future, landscape
Source: Allens Insights (legal sector)

Campaigns keep evolving, with more high stakes ahead 11 min read

Last year was another big one for shareholder activists globally, with investor sentiment in 2024 taking its cues from disruption across the broader economic and geopolitical landscape. Closer to home, activity was more stable in Australia—as it typically is, owing to our smaller footprint, more stringent company laws and stable markets—but campaigns continue to evolve, with activists refining their strategies to both capitalise on financial opportunities and seek redress for governance concerns.

We expect high stakes for the rest of the year as the Trump administration’s policies upend commercial and regulatory settings and potentially tip the scales in favour of activists. While shareholder activism is now a standard part of the investment landscape in the US, the practice is reverberating around Australia and the rest of the world.

In this Insight, we bring together the key takeaways from 2024 and provide our thoughts on what we see ahead.

A snapshot of the numbers

Activist activity has well and truly bounced back from the subdued levels brought about by the pandemic.

Over 1000 companies were targeted by activist campaigns worldwide for the second consecutive year.¹ The US continues to be the epicentre of activity, with nearly 600 US-listed companies facing activist demands, marking a 7% increase from 2023 and 16% from 2022. There was a strong showing from non-traditional and first-time activists—a record-breaking 160 different investors launched campaigns in the US in 2024, which included 45 first-time activists, also a record.

Activity in Asia was similarly strong (particularly in Japan and South Korea), though Europe trended down, owing to ongoing disruption brought about by the conflict in Ukraine and generally subdued economic activity. There, the United Kingdom hosts the lion’s share of activity, with 42% of campaigns targeting British companies.

Australia saw a modest rise in activity year on year, with 56 companies targeted, up nominally from the 54 campaigns recorded in 2023. While the volume of campaigns remained steady, the effectiveness of Australian activists improved—activists were assessed as having achieved their objectives in 25% of resolved campaigns, up from 16% in 2023.

Despite this, Australian activists struggled to secure board representation in target companies, with only seven board seats gained in 2024, down significantly from 26 in 2023. This divergence suggests that although activism remains a powerful force for corporate engagement, the dominant institutional investors and influential proxy advisors remain selective and largely hesitant in delivering changes at the board level.

All up, campaign volumes continue to be strong, though success is trickier to measure. Whether the public demands of activists are met is one tangible way of assessing effectiveness, but the overall impact of a campaign can often manifest in less direct ways. For example, the opportunity cost of management in responding to a campaign, the inherent value derived from the ensuing publicity and any derivative or other trading in the target securities—and, of course, the concessions that play out behind closed doors—often contribute to the effectiveness of shareholder activism.

Stories from the front line

These are some of the headline-grabbing campaigns that played out in the last year or so that have set the tone for activist causes.

One of the most closely watched activist campaigns was Glenview Capital’s attempt to gain board representation at CVS Health. Glenview increased its stake in CVS in the third quarter of 2024 by 31%, making its US$635 million holding (equivalent to 1% of the stock) the largest of all three activist hedge funds with an interest in the company. The intervention came following a 27% drop in share price since the beginning of 2024, a market reaction reportedly attributed to higher medical costs in CVS’s insurance segment caused by an influx of medical procedures delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Glenview secured four board seats in November 2024, including Glenview CEO Larry Robbins. It was reported that the board appointments were made amid the prospect of Glenview initiating a public and more aggressive proxy fight. This case highlights the increasing sophistication of activist investors targeting high-profile global companies, and underscores the importance of clear, proactive shareholder engagement strategies—a strategy that Australian boards should observe as activism intensifies.

The activist campaign led by Elliott Investment Management resulted in a change of CEO at Starbucks and a correspondent increase in share value by 24%, equating to US$26 billion in value and marking the company’s most successful day since its initial public offering in 1992.

In July 2024, it was reported that Elliott had become one of the largest investors in Starbucks, and sought to leverage its position by presenting a proposal to the board for an overhaul of domestic and international strategy. The move followed the stock price having declined by 24% since the former CEO, Laxman Narasimhan, was appointed in March 2023. While Elliott approached the board in private and did not publicly advocate for a replacement CEO, there were persistent leaks to the media, which commentators assessed as likely prompting the decision. On 13 August 2024, the board announced the appointment of Brian Niccol, former CEO of restaurant chain Chipotle, who is credited with Chipotle’s modernisation and an increase in its stock price by 770% since 2018.

The campaign illustrates that one response strategy in dealing with activists, particularly high-profile investors, can be to move pre-emptively to instigate change before the issues are forced.

In June 2024, Elliott also disclosed an 11% economic stake in Southwest Airlines worth US$1.9 billion, and converted enough of its derivate holdings in September to amass a 10% common stock holding that enabled Elliott to call a special meeting. Conversely to its approach for Starbucks, it engaged in a more public campaign, by proposing that ‘enhancing the board, upgrading leadership and a comprehensive business review’ were necessary to increase Southwest’s stock price. In October 2024, it was announced that Southwest would appoint five independent directors nominated by Elliott in addition to another board member, and that the former chief executive and then chairman would accelerate his retirement. Following the announcement of the personnel changes, Elliott withdrew its demand for a special shareholder meeting intended to replace 10 members of Southwest’s 15-person board. Elliott’s influence has continued to grow since then, with Southwest disclosing on 19 February 2025 that the company’s agreement with Elliott has been amended to increase the maximum aggregate economic exposure that Elliott may acquire, from 14.9% to 19.9%, but limit it from acquiring more than 12.49% of outstanding common stock until 1 April 2026. When Elliott disclosed its position in June 2024, the Southwest stock price was US$29.70, and as at 14 March 2025, it was US$31.73.

Consistent with the sentiments of the Trump administration’s focus on rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, a group of Apple shareholders submitted on 25 February 2025 a proposal titled ‘Request to Cease DEI Efforts’. This was rejected at Apple’s shareholder meeting in February 2025, with 97.67% of the vote being against the proposal. The campaign against Apple is one of several anti-DEI proposals that have been levied against prominent companies, including Costco, where the proposal was defeated by 98% of votes, and farm equipment maker John Deere, where the proposal was defeated by 98.7%. These proposals have attracted significant attention, by harnessing viral social media campaigns advocating for customer boycotts, inundating company social media accounts with negative comments, and lobbing the threat of lawsuits alleging that DEI initiatives constitute a breach of fiduciary duty. Despite the spotlight (or perhaps because of it?), shareholders of the world’s most valuable listed company voted overwhelmingly not to abandon its DEI initiatives.

Activist themes

We see two broad themes that motivate activists at the moment. For the reasons set out in the next section, we think the global economic and geopolitical settings provide an opportunity to shape activist behaviours.

First, there is the more traditional activist strategy where professional investors identify companies that they perceive could optimise their performance or enhance their governance structures, and then seek to exert influence to encourage the company to focus on increasing shareholder returns. They do this by pushing for one or a combination of:
- a different approach to M&A activity—such as Bell Rock’s public campaign against Whitehaven in 2023, where the hedge fund contacted shareholders with letters advocating against the company’s acquisition of metallurgical assets from BHP, which it also did via a website. Bell Rock’s public tactics sat alongside its undisclosed 13.041% long position in Whitehaven, prompting intervention from the Takeovers Panel; and
- leadership change—as was achieved by Elliott in the Starbucks and Southwest Airlines campaigns discussed above.
Second, there is the rising influence of public sentiment and political undercurrents playing out in the theatre of public markets, and the volatility that comes with it. Activist campaigns are increasingly becoming a proxy for broader societal dissatisfaction.

In Australia, this dual-track activism—balancing financial imperatives with political and social influences—reinforces the heightened investor expectations for action and accountability for these issues at the board level.

For instance, shareholder dissent on pay has markedly increased in Australia recently, seeing over 40 strikes among ASX 300 companies in 2023 and 2024, compared with 22–26 strikes recorded between 2018 and 2022.² Among those receiving a strike was the Australian Securities Exchange itself, with 26.15% of votes against the adoption of the remuneration report. Commentators assessed that the vote was an expression of shareholder dissatisfaction with the $250 million write-down and anticipated cost of a further $300 million to replace the CHESS technology system. Although 13 companies in the ASX 300 received a second strike in 2024, not a single board spill proposal came close to succeeding, with none receiving more than 20% of votes in favour.³ This demonstrates that while strikes are increasing, this is not being accompanied by momentum to trigger broader change to leadership structures—it would appear that shareholders are looking to use their vote to send a shot across the bow as an appropriate warning, rather than achieve a fundamental governance reset.

Shareholders and special interest groups have also used the proxy forum to express dissatisfaction regarding climate action, reflecting broader societal concerns around environmental sustainability and climate change. Last year, Market Forces led an activist campaign against Woodside Energy, advocating for an overhaul to its climate transition action plan and encouraging other shareholders to push for further board renewal at the 2025 AGM. At the AGM in April 2024, 58.4% of proxies cast were against the transition strategy, following three hours of questions. Earlier this month, another activist shareholder group, the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility, advised investors to vote against the re-election of all three directors standing at the 2025 AGM and continues to integrate climate concerns into its analysis of shareholder returns.

There is a similar experience in the UK, where Shell shareholders are still asked to vote on resolutions brought by activists to align the company’s medium-term emissions reduction targets with the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement and to factor ‘Scope 3’ emissions from fuels burnt by consumers into such calculations. Although the resolution received just 18.6% support from shareholders in 2024 (down 1.4% from 2023), the sustained pressure and media exposure may have contributed to the environmental, social and governance (ESG) proposals instead advanced by Shell’s board.

For a more detailed analysis of the specific tactics that activists deploy pursuing these issues and how companies can prepare, see our earlier Insight.

Our expectations for the road ahead

Economic and geopolitical disruption to fuel activity

The global economy is currently experiencing disruption. The focal point is, of course, the US, where the combination of (promised) tax cuts and deregulation will free up capital for investors to pursue short-term opportunities. As the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Chair, John Lonsdale, remarked in his recent address at the Australian Financial Review Banking Summit, ‘what happens in the world’s biggest economy has implications for the world, and therefore for Australia’. We thus expect the positive conditions for activists will spill across borders, and perhaps the momentum will too—the Australian Securities and Investments Commission recently outlined its first steps towards easing compliance obligations for directors.

The hoped-for spike in M&A activity creates the opportunity for shareholder activism, so we anticipate elevated volumes of activity in the near term. At the same time, the imposition of tariffs and other protectionist policies—and the market volatility and trade war they may set off—will create winners and losers, with companies that struggle in the turbulence becoming targets for activists.

A reckoning on ESG and DEI initiatives

There has been mounting pushback on ESG and, more recently, DEI policies of corporations, with activists querying their necessity and appropriateness. Critics, who may not be shareholders, will be even more emboldened by the priorities and tone of the Trump administration.

We expect that activists will continue to seek out opportunities to make high-profile examples of some companies. However, while proponents of these initiatives have attracted significant attention, we haven’t yet seen this noise translate into strong shareholder support for campaigns, as the recent experience with Apple demonstrates.

The anti-anti-ESG and DEI cause

While some activists are seeking to challenge ESG and DEI initiatives as a corporate priority, we anticipate others that may already be frustrated with perceived slow progress on sustainability, diversity and broader governance issues will look to double down and push for companies to stay the course.

This sentiment will be particularly emboldened if governments consider rolling back regulations or shifting priorities. If it is perceived that lawmakers and regulators aren’t creating the framework to manage these issues, then we expect activists to take matters into their own hands by using shareholder meetings as forums or otherwise turning to the courts.

Scrutiny of board composition and director accountability

We are seeing investors pay closer attention to the fitness for office of individual board members, by using their vote to signal dissatisfaction and impose accountability for governance missteps when directors stand for election or re-election. This can be in relation to a company that has experienced an issue, or could follow individual directors to unrelated companies.

Expect to see closer scrutiny of board composition and more protest votes against director elections. Even if candidates still easily obtain the ordinary majority needed to carry the resolution, this is a far cry from the near 100% backing candidates would typically receive, and, particularly for larger companies, shows at least some institutional investors (whose holding may have previously been seen as more passive) are sending a message.

Leveraging technology and AI in activist strategies

Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed a number of different fields, and has a role to play in the shareholder activism space as well, by making campaigns data driven and, as a consequence, more cost effective.

AI can be deployed by activists to monitor and analyse tremendous amounts of data associated with corporate disclosures and financial performance, and to recognise the vulnerabilities and patterns in would-be candidates for a campaign. As these tools grow in sophistication, we expect to see activists be able to penetrate the market more deeply, and move with greater efficiency and precision in identifying opportunities.

Activism has never been a simple strategy. We anticipate a continued evolution of the activist playbook in light of the above.

MIL OSI News –
March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Guterres urges Caribbean leaders to keep pushing for peace, climate action

Source: United Nations 2-b

19 February 2025 Peace and Security

In an address on Wednesday to Caribbean leaders meeting in Barbados, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced a potential plan to support an “effective force” in Haiti as armed gangs continue to terrorize the population.

Mr. Guterres was speaking during the opening of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government Meeting in the capital Bridgetown, where he called for unity to achieve progress in peace and security, climate and sustainable development.

“A unified Caribbean is an unstoppable force,” he said. “I urge you to keep using that power to push the world to deliver on its promises.”

‘Trouble in paradise’

The Secretary-General noted that the region’s “exquisite beauty is famed the world over, but there is trouble in paradise.”

He told leaders that “wave after wave of crisis is pounding your people and your islands – with no time to catch your breath before the next disaster strikes.”

Caribbean countries are experiencing uncertainty fuelled by geopolitical tensions, along with the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, soaring debt and interest rates, and a surge in the cost of living.

Global solutions exist

These are all happening “amidst a deadly swell of climate disasters – ripping development gains to shreds, and blowing holes through your national budgets,” and as countries “remain locked-out of many international institutions – one of the many legacies of colonialism today.”

The UN chief insisted that “the cure for these ills is global,” and the world needs to deliver on hard-won global commitments to address the immense challenges the international community is facing.

He listed three key areas “where, together, we must drive progress.”

Peace in Haiti

Mr. Guterres called for unity for peace and security, “particularly to address the appalling situation in Haiti – where gangs are inflicting intolerable suffering on a desperate and frightened people.”

He said CARICOM and its Eminent Persons Group have provided invaluable support in this regard.

“We must keep working for a political process – owned and led by the Haitians – that restores democratic institutions through elections,” he said.

Security and stability

A Security Council-backed Multinational Security Support Mission is currently on the ground to assist the Haitian National Police.

The Secretary-General said he will soon report to the Council on the situation in the country, including proposals on the role the UN can play to both support stability and security, and address the root causes of the crisis.

He intends to present a proposal similar to the one for Somalia, in which the UN assumes responsibility for the structural and logistical expenditures necessary to put the force in place. Salaries are paid through a trust fund that already exists.

“If the Security Council will accept this proposal, we will have the conditions to finally have an effective force to defeat the gangs in Haiti and create the conditions for democracy to thrive,” he said, drawing applause.

© WFP/Fedel Mansour

Hurricane Beryl last July caused devastation on Union Island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Climate crisis opportunity

His second point – unity on the climate crisis – underlined “a deplorable injustice” as Caribbean countries “have done next to nothing” to create it. Moreover, they have “fought tooth and nail for the global commitment to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.”

Mr. Guterres said countries must deliver new national climate plans ahead of the COP30 UN climate conference later this year. The plans must align with the 1.5 goal, with the G20 group of industrial nations leading the way.

“This is a chance for the world to get a grip on emissions,” he said. “And it’s a chance for the Caribbean to seize the benefits of clean power, to tap your vast renewables potential, and to turn your back on costly fossil fuel imports.”

As finance is required, he underscored the need for confidence that the $1.3 trillion agreed at the previous COP will be mobilized. Developed countries also must honour their promises on adaptation finance and make meaningful contributions to the new Loss and Damage Fund.

“When the Fund was created, the pledges made were equivalent to the new contract for just one baseball player in New York City,” he remarked.

Finance for sustainable development

Meanwhile, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “are starved of adequate finance, as debt servicing soaks-up funds, and international financial institutions remain underpowered.”

The Secretary-General said Caribbean countries have been at the forefront of the fight for change, pioneering bold and creative solutions. He said the Pact for the Future, together with the Bridgetown Initiative, marks significant progress.

Mr. Guterres thanked Caribbean leaders for supporting the Pact, which UN Member States adopted last year.

Key deliverables include support for an SDG Stimulus of $500 billion annually and commitment to reform international financial institutions to allow greater participation by developing countries.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah replies to the discussion on the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Rajya Sabha, Upper house passes the bill

Source: Government of India

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah replies to the discussion on the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Rajya Sabha, Upper house passes the bill

Under Modi ji’s leadership, India became a global leader in disaster management

Modi government is managing disasters by adopting a proactive approach instead of a reactive one and by aiming for zero casualties instead of minimising casualties

Compared to the previous regime, Modi government has given more than three times the money to the states from the central fund

In the previous regime, funds were given to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation from PMNRF

This bill will further increase the capacity, intensity, efficiency and accuracy in disaster response

Earlier, thousands of people used to die in cyclones, but Modi government is moving towards zero casualty

The aim of this bill is to increase transparency, accountability, efficiency and cooperation in disaster management

India’s disaster management prowess has been established globally through CDRI

To deal with the changing size and scale of disasters, we will have to change the methods, systems and make institutions accountable as well as give them powers

India has had the most successful management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the entire world

Earlier, it used to take two generations for getting vaccines, but under the Modi government, India has made the COVID vaccine and also delivered it to every citizen

The Modi government has given more money than the prescribed amount to the states for disaster managementna

Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 9:24PM by PIB Delhi

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today replied to the discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024. After the discussion, with the passage of the bill from the upper house the amendment bill was passed by the Parliament.

Speaking in the upper house during the discussion, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that through this amendment bill, the Narendra Modi government intends to connect Centre, State governments, Panchayat and all our citizens with the cause of disaster management and there is no question of centralization of power. He said that this disaster management amendment bill is an attempt to take the fight against disasters from a reactive approach to a proactive one and also beyond to an innovative and a participatory approach.

Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji presented a ten-point agenda to the world for disaster risk reduction which has been accepted by more than 40 countries of the world. He said that this bill envisages participation not only from state governments and local units but also from the society. He said that the amendment bill keeps scope of minute planning at local levels too along with the national level and gives clarity on the powers and duties of institutions involved. Shri Shah said that the fight against disasters cannot be accomplished without enabling the institutions and making them better and more accountable, and both of these things have been taken care of in the bill. He said that disasters are directly related to climate change and to mitigate them, we should take steps against global warming. He said that India has been moving in this direction for thousands of years and the Modi government is working to take this tradition forward.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the Disaster Management Act was brought for the first time in the year 2005 and under this NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority), SDMA (State Disaster Management Authority) and DDMA (District Disaster Management Authority) were formed. He said that in this bill, the biggest responsibility in the aftermath of disasters have been given to DDMAs which is under the state government, thus there is no question of any damage to our federal system. He said that for financial assistance, National Disaster Response Fund and National Disaster Mitigation Fund were created. Shri Amit Shah said that the Finance Commission has made a scientific arrangement for disaster relief and the Modi government has not given a single penny less than the prescribed amount to any state, rather it has given more.

He said that due to global disasters like Covid-19, increasing urbanization, irregular rain-related disasters and climate change, both the size and scale of disasters have changed. Shri Shah said that to deal with the changing size and scale of disasters, we will have to change the methods and systems and also make the institutions accountable and give them powers. He said that with this objective, this bill has been brought for an effective and comprehensive solution to the disaster management problem. He said that suggestions have been incorporated from stakeholders, ministries and departments of the Central Government, all state governments, Union Territories, international organizations and national and international non-governmental organizations and this bill has been prepared comprehensively by accepting 89 percent of their suggestions.

Union Home Minister said that through this bill, Modi government wants to move from reactive response to proactive risk reduction, from manual monitoring to AI-based real-time monitoring, from radio warnings to social media, apps and mobile warnings, and from government-led response to a multi-dimensional response involving society and citizens. He said that this entire bill has been made to incorporate capacity, intensity, efficiency and accuracy in disaster response. Shri Shah said that in the last 10 years, there has been a change in disaster management in our country due to which we have emerged as a regional and global power recognized by the world. He said that this bill is necessary to maintain this success story of India for a longer time in future.

Shri Amit Shah said that this Bill will make both NDMA and SDMA effective, disaster database will be created at national and state level. It envisages creation of Urban Disaster Management Authority which will be completely under the state governments. Apart from this, this Bill will also give statutory power to NDMA and SDMA in creating a blueprint for 100% implementation of the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission. He said that transparency, trust, credibility and accountability have been given place in it. Shri Shah also said that well-defined roles have been fixed in it and moral responsibilities have also been given place. The Home Minister said that we have also fixed responsibility for the best use of resources. He said that through this Bill, an attempt has been made to fight against disaster with synergy, between preparation, good management and coordination. Many reforms have been made on these four pillars and not a single one of these reforms is for centralization of power.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that in the last ten years, on one hand, Prime Minister Modi Ji has done many things for environmental protection and on the other hand, he has also taken disaster management a long way forward. He said that on one hand Modi Ji talked about Mission Life in front of the world and on the other hand he also announced a ten-point disaster risk reduction agenda. He said that on one hand, a definite concrete program was given to become a pro-planet people and on the other hand, the Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure (CDRI) was presented to the world, which has 43 countries as members. Shri Shah said that Modi Ji started the International Solar Alliance and Global Biofuel Alliance and also formed a task force on Disaster Risk Reduction by hosting the G20 conference in India. He said that on both these fronts, Prime Minister Modi and the government led by him have worked in a meticulous manner with great foresight. The Home Minister said that on the one hand efforts should be made to prevent disasters by protecting the environment and on the other hand, in case of a disaster, Modi ji has made complete arrangements to fight the disaster in a scientific manner from villages to Delhi.

Shri Amit Shah said that the devastating earthquake in Bhuj, Gujarat in 2001 shook not only Gujarat but the entire country and the world. He said that at that time Shri Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat and he had established the Climate Change Department for the first time in India. He said that at that time Modi ji created the Climate Change Fund in Gujarat and in 2003 brought the State Disaster Management Act in Gujarat. Shri Shah said that in 2013, the country’s first city level action plan for heat wave was made in Ahmedabad and Modi ji also worked on making a detailed plan for reconstruction, community preparedness and rehabilitation after the earthquake.

Union Home Minister said that after Shri Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, a holistic and integrated approach was introduced in the country instead of a relief-centric approach. He said that a proactive approach was adopted instead of a reactive one and disaster management was done by keeping the target of zero casualty instead of the usual target of minimum casualty of the previous regime. He said that today governments are not only focus on relief and rescue after a disaster but also make many preparations to tackle them. Shri Shah said that the Modi government has done a very good job in early warning system, prevention to the extent possible, mitigation, timely preparedness and disaster risk reduction. He said that when the Odisha Super Cyclone hit in 1999, 10 thousand people died, but when Cyclone Fani hit in 2019, only one person died, this was the result of our changed approach. He said that when Cyclone Biparjoy hit Gujarat in 2023, not a single person or animal died and we achieved the target of zero casualties in 2023. He said that there has been a 98 percent reduction in loss of life and property due to cyclones and we have also succeeded in reducing heat-related mortality significantly.

Shri Amit Shah said that the budget of SDRF was Rs 38 thousand crores during the year 2004 to 2014, which was increased to Rs 1 lakh 24 thousand crores by the Modi government during 2014 to 2024. Rs 28 thousand crores were given to NDRF during 2004 to 2014, while Rs 80 thousand crores were given during 2014 to 2024. Shri Shah said that the government has increased the total amount from Rs 66 thousand crores to more than Rs 2 lakh crores. He said that the Modi government has given more than three times the money to the states from the central funds. Shri Shah said that apart from this, a National Disaster Response Reserve of 250 crores was created, the first National Disaster Management Plan was released in 2016 which is completely in line with the Sendai framework, the Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award was established in 2018-19 and the first phase of National Cyclone Risk Mitigation was done in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in 2018. He said that in 2020-21, the Home Ministry decided that the Inter-Ministerial Consultative Team (IMCT) will first go and do an immediate review and the Modi government made a provision to provide immediate assistance by sending 97 IMCTs within 10 days in 5 years.

Union Home Minister said that currently 16 battalions of NDRF are operational and seeing the NDRF personnel, people feel assured that they are safe now. He said that apart from this, programs have also been made for landslide risk management, glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and civil security and training capacity building.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), in the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, conducted ‘Operation Maitri’ during the earthquake in Nepal in 2015, ‘Operation Samudra Maitri’ in Indonesia in 2018, ‘Operation Dost’ in Turkey and Syria in 2023, ‘Operation Karuna’ in Myanmar and ‘Operation Sadbhav’ in Vietnam, due to which the governments and people of these countries praised NDRF and Modi ji. He said that NDRF has worked to get our disaster management system firmed up at a national level.

Shri Amit Shah said that the Government of India has signed agreements with Japan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Italy, Turkmenistan, Maldives and Uzbekistan to strengthen disaster management and disaster risk reduction. The geographical conditions of these countries make them prone to similar disasters which are possible in India. He said that we have tried to ensure that these countries benefit from our best practices and we benefit from their best practices. Apart from the MoUs, international seminars were also held in the years 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2023, in which disaster management experts from member countries of organizations like SAARC, BRICS, SCO also participated.

Union Home Minister said that the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is an example of India’s global leadership in the field of disaster management. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi put forward this idea in the UN Climate Summit held in New York on 23 September 2019 and it was established in India itself. He said that so far 42 countries and 7 international organizations have become members of CDRI and through CDRI, work has been done to establish India’s leadership in this field at the global level.

Shri Amit Shah said that through the ‘Aapada Mitra’ scheme, a force of one lakh community volunteers has been created in 350 disaster prone districts at a cost of Rs 370 crore and the volunteers have been registered on the India Disaster Resource Network portal. The District Collectors have their complete details. When a disaster strikes, these volunteers reach for the help on their own. The Home Minister said that 20 percent of the one lakh ‘Aapada Mitra’ volunteers are women. Our women power is working shoulder to shoulder in the work of disaster management. He said that as a result of the ‘Aapada Mitra’ scheme, 78 thousand people were rescued from disasters and taken to safe places and 129 lives were saved by providing them timely treatment at the hospitals.

Union Home Minister said that the ‘Aapada Mitra’ scheme is being expanded. To involve the youth, more than 1300 trained ‘Aapada Mitras’ have been employed as master trainers with a budget of Rs 470 crore. In this, NCC, NSS, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and Bharat Scouts and Guides will train two lakh 37 thousand ‘Aapada Mitras’, which will increase the total number of community volunteers to three lakh 37 thousand.

Shri Amit Shah said that we have created many apps for weather related information. These include ‘Mausam’, ‘Meghdoot’, ‘Flood Watch’, ‘Damini’, ‘Pocket Bhuvan’, ‘Sachet’, ‘Van Agni’ and ‘Samudra’. Also, a nodal agency has been created for the study of landslides. India Quake app has been created for automated broadcasting of earthquake parameters. He said that due to the efforts of Modi ji, today all these apps have reached almost every citizen of the country. This has benefited farmers, fishermen, people living on the seashore and people living in landslide prone areas on time.

Union Home Minister said that the entire world has accepted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the world in the field of environment, therefore the United Nations has honoured him with the award of Champions of the Earth. Modi ji has almost completed the task of making India free from single-use plastic. Many countries have joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) formed on his initiative. Modi ji has worked to popularise the ‘One Sun, One Earth, One Grid’ project worldwide. The construction of Inter-Regional Energy Grid has begun for sharing solar energy across the world. Crores of people have planted trees with devotion in reverence of Mother Earth and their own mothers through the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.

Shri Amit Shah said that India has set the target of Net Zero Carbon Emission by the year 2070. He said that we have already achieved the targets of International Solar Alliance, Global Bio-fuel Alliance and 20 percent Ethanol Blending by the year 2025. Today all our vehicles have 20 percent eco-friendly fuel. Shri Shah said that by providing 10 crore gas connections under the Ujjwala Yojana, we have stopped the smoke of cow dung cakes and coal. We have increased the Swachhata Abhiyan from 39 percent to 100 percent sanitation coverage. Along with this, the Green Hydrogen Mission has started the implementation of a new type of scheme in the entire world.

Union Home Minister said that, if the best COVID management has happened anywhere in the world, it has happened in India. Every Indian should be proud of this and the whole world praises our efforts immensely. He said that as soon as Corona arrived, we started making the vaccine. He said that during the previous regime, it used to take two generations to administer vaccines but under Modi Government India not only got the vaccine made but also ensured that it reached every citizen of the country. Shri Shah said that there is no parallel to such a precise use of technology for public welfare anywhere in the world. Due to the use of technology, the certificate was made available on the mobile as soon as the vaccine was administered and a reminder message would also come up with the time for the second vaccine.

Shri Amit Shah said that through video conference in the state’s civil hospitals and AIIMS, doctors treating minor diseases in small villages were guided about telemedicine, which saved the lives of lakhs of people. He said that the Prime Minister talked to the Chief Ministers of the states 40 times during COVID-19 and inquired about the situation. Not only the Prime Minister, the entire cabinet was involved in this work.

Union Home Minister said that due to our leadership we were able to fight the best battle against Corona in the whole world. Governments were fighting against Corona all over the world, but here the Central Government, State Government and 130 crore people were fighting together. He said that there is not a single example in independent India when an appeal by a leader has had the seriousness of a government order and the whole country followed the appeal of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for Janta curfew with full seriousness. No leader’s appeal had ever received such a great respect.

Shri Amit Shah said that the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) was created during the previous regime. He said fund from PMNRF used to be given to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. Shri Shah said that during Modi ji’s regime PM Cares fund was created. We spent its funds for tackling the corona epidemic, disaster relief, oxygen plants, ventilators, assistance to the poor and vaccination. Shri Shah said that under PM Cares, along with relief work, we have also provided many types of innovative assistance. There is no political interference in this.

Union Home Minister said that for Karnataka, an estimate of Rs 5,909 crore was given by a high-level committee, out of which Rs 5,800 crore was transferred. For Kerala, an estimate of Rs 3,743 crore was made, out of which Rs 2438 crore was given. For Tamil Nadu, Rs 4600 crore was given out of Rs 4817 crore. West Bengal was given Rs 5000 crore out of Rs 6837 crore. Himachal Pradesh was given Rs 1766 crore out of Rs 2339 crore. The committee has given more or less the same amount to Telangana as well.

Shri Amit Shah said that Rs 111 crore was given to Jharkhand, Rs 121 crore to Kerala, Rs 460 crore to Maharashtra, Rs 256 crore to Bihar and Rs 254 crore to Gujarat for fire-fighting measures, which was never given before. He said that other states will be given funds for fire-fighting measures next year. Shri Shah said that Rs 228 crore has been given to Tamil Nadu between the years 2019 to 2024 and a lot of assistance has been provided.

Union Home Minister said that we declared the disaster in Wayanad, Kerala as a disaster of severe nature. Rs 215 crore was immediately released from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). Rs 36 crore was sent for debris removal, which has not been spent yet. Apart from this, assistance of Rs 153 crore was given on the basis of the IMCT report. The state government has estimated the need for Rs 2219 crore for normalizing the situation and reconstruction, out of which Rs 530 crore has been given. Along with this, other measures have been suggested to get additional assistance from a special window.

Shri Amit Shah said that for the Central Government, citizens of all states including Kerala, Ladakh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh are equal and we do not discriminate against anyone. He said that in the Disaster Management Bill, we have paid attention to increasing human resources along with the provision of increasing technical capacity. Along with the government’s effort, provision has also been made for community effort and along with disaster-resistant construction, care has also been taken for the conservation of nature.

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RK/VV/RR/PR/PS

(Release ID: 2115092) Visitor Counter : 57

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Demands Answers Over Trump Admin Illegally Cancelling Grants to Train and Retain Quality Teachers
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led a group of her colleagues in demanding detailed answers from the Department of Education (DOE) about the cancellation of over $600 million in federal funding for teacher training grants — and warning about the detrimental impacts the illegal cancellation is already having for communities across the country, including a program designed to bring more special education teachers to Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS).

“We write to raise serious objections and call for the immediate reinstatement of federal funding provided in the Department of Education’s appropriations laws intended to help strengthen our educator workforce in at least 34 states and improve teaching and learning for our nation’s students,” wrote Baldwin and the Senators. “It is shocking to us that the Department would take such disruptive action to take away funding from schools as they work to implement their approved plans to improve outcomes for our nation’s students.

The grants were already awarded, in use, and in many cases, already spent down when terminated by the Trump administration—and local budgets are counting on these resources. Schools and institutions of higher education have deployed the grants, provided by Congress on a bipartisan basis, to address educator shortages and improve the quality of the teaching workforce.

This included an over $3 million grant for a partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and MPS to help students receive a special education master’s degree program while getting on-the-job training through a teaching residency program in schools. In exchange, students signed on to work at MPS for three years after graduation, helping address the dire need for special education teachers at Wisconsin schools.

In the letter, the Senators note these grant cancellations come as students have not yet recovered from the devastating effects of the pandemic, and the country is facing dire teacher shortages with 49 states this school year reporting to the Department critical shortages in math, science, or special education teachers.

“With teachers and principals being the most important in-school factors to student learning, these grant cancellations will hinder pandemic learning recovery and break President Trump’s promises of ‘great principals and great teachers,’” Baldwin and the Senators continued.

In addition to Senator Baldwin, the letter was led by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and co-signed by 20 of their Senate colleagues.

A full version of this letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary McMahon:

We write to raise serious objections and call for the immediate reinstatement of federal funding provided in the Department of Education’s (“Department”) appropriations laws intended to help strengthen our educator workforce in at least 34 states and improve teaching and learning for our nation’s students. Approximately two weeks ago, the Department announced that it terminated “over $600 million in divisive teacher training grants” and created confusion for schools and institutions of higher education around our nation. The amount of reported savings is misleading since many of the terminated grants had already been partially spent and were in active use. Further, it appears that terminated grantees received no information from Department staff in response to their requests for additional information, even for grants with obligated and spent funds. It is shocking to us that the Department would take such disruptive action to take away funding from schools as they work to implement their approved plans to improve outcomes for our nation’s students. Thankfully, a federal judge ordered the administration to temporarily restore these grants in eight states and just yesterday, another federal judge ordered the reinstatement of more than 100 of these grants, but every impacted grantee deserves immediate action.

U.S. students have not recovered from the devastating effects of the pandemic. National scores are below pre-pandemic levels in all tested grades and subjects, and gaps continue to grow between higher-performing and lower-performing students. A February 2025 analysis found that our students are approximately half a grade level behind pre-pandemic achievement in math and reading. With teachers and principals being the most important in-school factors to student learning, these grant cancellations will hinder pandemic learning recovery and break President Trump’s promises of “great principals and great teachers.”

The cancellation of these grants comes at a time when our country faces dire teacher shortages. A recent analysis of state-identified teacher shortages found that in recent school years, nationally, 1 in 8 of all teaching positions — or over 400,000 positions — are vacant or filled by a teacher who is not fully certified for their position. This school year, 49 states reported to the Department critical shortages in math, science, or special education teachers. In rural America, to attract and retain teachers in many places, including in states like Colorado, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas, districts were forced to move to 4-day school weeks, despite the unknown impact on student achievement. Research shows that principals are the second most important in-school factor to student learning and also impact teacher retention. Yet, about one in ten principals leave the field every year.

Congress created and funded the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP), Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED), and Teacher and School Leader (TSL) Incentive Fund programs in a bipartisan manner to ensure that all students have access to an effective educator workforce. The Department’s decision to terminate locally-driven grants previously awarded to schools, institutions of higher education, and other partners to address educator shortages and improve the quality of the teaching workforce will have long-term consequences on student outcomes. These terminations create confusion for dozens of local communities supported by now unavailable grant funds. Cutting off grant funds already adopted and in use in local budgets shows utter disregard to local officials who are now faced with a lengthy process for challenging the terminations and are required to adjust their adopted budgets and plans. These local communities may also face difficult decisions to curtail activities paid for by these terminated grant funds, such as recruiting teachers in rural communities, improving literacy, and mentoring early-career teachers to improve retention. Ultimately, the Department’s decision to terminate these grant funds simply passes necessary expenses onto local and state taxpayers, who may have to sustain costs previously supported by federal funds that have been taken away by the Trump administration.

We are deeply disappointed that despite claims of radical transparency from President Trump and other administration officials, the Department has not provided any transparency to Congress or the public about its teacher training grant terminations. Instead, the President’s disregard for the law and his desire to find savings to pay for his tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations seems to be driving these terminations. Given the need for actual transparency, stability, and productivity in government, as well as the bipartisan support these critical education training programs have received for many years, it is critical for the Department to provide accurate, timely responses on its use of taxpayer resources provided by the laws passed by Congress. We request you provide written answers to the following questions as soon as possible but not later than March 26, 2025:
1. Please describe the policy and procedure established for the review of grants terminated on or after January 20, 2025.
  
  Are they the same as any grant terminations prior to this date? If not, how and why were they different, including in the use of any program or technology not previously employed?
  
  Please identify the offices and titles of staff involved in the review.
  
  How many employees involved in the review were onboarded at the Department on or after January 20, 2025? Please describe each of such employee’s role in the review.
  
  Please provide the total costs, including all personnel and non-personnel costs, of the review.
  
  Please identify any other program currently undergoing or planned for the same or similar review and the associated timeline for each such review.
  
  Please specifically identify each program undergoing a different review and explain each difference and the reason for each such difference for such program.
2. Please explain the policy and procedure for offering grantees the opportunity to clarify, explain or modify any element of their approved application prior to termination to avoid the disruption to grant activities that the Department’s termination has caused. Please explain why an opportunity was not offered in each case of it not being offered.
3. Please explain the policy and procedure for offering grantees the opportunity to appeal their grant termination. When will appeals be reviewed, and when will grantees receive a decision on their appeal?
4. For each program that includes a terminated grant, please provide the following about all such terminated grants:
  
  The total number of grants terminated by fiscal year of initial funding,
  
  The total amount of funding expected under the approved budgets of terminated grants on official documentation as of January 1, 2025 for each fiscal year,
  
  The total amount of funding outlaid as of the date of response to this letter for each fiscal year, and
  
  The total amount of funding deobligated by fiscal year as of the date of termination.
5. For each program that includes a terminated grant, please provide the following about all such terminated grants:
  
  The total number of educators expected to participate in professional development activities,
  
  The total number of new educators expected to be prepared,
  
  The expected number of years of service that were expected from participants under each grant,
  
  The number of years of service that had already been completed,
  
  The total number of schools expected to benefit from any grant activities, and
  
  The total number of states in which any grant activities were expected to take place.
6. For each program that includes a terminated grant, please provide the following:
  
  The name of each recipient of a grant not terminated by program and fiscal year of initial funding,
  
  An assurance that each non-terminated grant was subject to the same policy and procedure described in response to the first question, and as applicable, the reason for not doing so, and
  
  Please provide the most recent annual performance report submitted by each non-terminated grantee prior to January 1, 2025.
7. For each terminated grant, please provide the most recent annual performance report submitted by such grantee prior to January 1, 2025, if applicable.
8. For each terminated grant, please provide the following:
  
  The Department’s definition of divisive ideology,
  
  The Department’s definition of inappropriate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and
  
  The specific evidence demonstrating how the grantee’s approved grant activities are inconsistent with such definitions of divisive ideology and DEI.
9. Please explain how and when you will comply with the temporary restraining orders issued by federal judges on March 10, 2025 and March 17, 2025.
10. Please provide a detailed plan on how the Department will prioritize training and preparing educators for the classroom.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,
MIL OSI USA News –
March 26, 2025

MIL-OSI: Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. Declares 2025 First-Quarter Cash Dividend

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ARCHBOLD, Ohio, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Board of Directors of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc., (Nasdaq: FMAO) the holding company of F&M Bank, with total assets of $3.36 billion at December 31, 2024, today announced that it has approved the Company’s quarterly cash dividend of $0.22125 per share. The first-quarter dividend is payable on April 20, 2025, to shareholders of record as of April 4, 2025.

About Farmers & Merchants State Bank:
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FMAO) is the holding company of F&M Bank, a local independent community bank that has been serving its communities since 1897. F&M Bank provides commercial banking, retail banking and other financial services. Our locations are in Butler, Champaign, Fulton, Defiance, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Shelby, Williams, and Wood counties in Ohio. In Northeast Indiana, we have offices located in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Jay, Steuben and Wells counties. The Michigan footprint includes Oakland County, and we have Loan Production Offices in West Bloomfield, Michigan; Muncie, Indiana; and Perrysburg and Bryan, Ohio.

Safe Harbor statement
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (“F&M”) wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements by F&M, including management’s expectations and comments, may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties inherent in general and local banking conditions, competitive factors specific to markets in which F&M and its subsidiaries operate, future interest rate levels, legislative and regulatory decisions, capital market conditions, or the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts on our credit quality and business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions. F&M assumes no responsibility to update this information. For more details, please refer to F&M’s SEC filing, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Such filings can be viewed at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or through F&M’s website www.fm.bank.

Company Contact:
Lars B. Eller
President and Chief Executive Officer
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc.
(419) 446-2501
leller@fm.bank

Investor and Media Contact:
Andrew M. Berger
Managing Director
SM Berger & Company, Inc.
(216) 464-6400
andrew@smberger.com

The MIL Network –

March 26, 2025

MIL-OSI United Nations: In Dialogue with Malta, Experts of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances Ask about Efforts to Establish a Stand-Alone Law on Enforced Disappearance and Prevent Disappearances of Migrants

Source: United Nations – Geneva

Committee Experts Commemorate the Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice in Argentina and the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims

The Committee on Enforced Disappearances today concluded its consideration of the initial report of Malta on its implementation of the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Committee Experts asked questions on the State’s efforts to establish a stand-alone law on enforced disappearance and a national human rights institution, and to prevent disappearances of migrants.

Several experts raised concerns that the State party did not have a stand-alone crime of enforced disappearance. Fidelis Kanyongolo, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked about steps taken to establish an autonomous offence of enforced disappearance with appropriate penalties.

Barbara Lochbihler, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the human rights and equality commission bill, which would establish a national human rights institution, had not yet been enacted. What parts of the bill were under review and what was the timeline for its adoption?

Ms. Lochbihler also cited reports of tactics of non-assistance to migrants and refugees in distress at sea, as well as pushbacks to Libya, leading to deaths and disappearances. Refugees in Libya were reportedly kept in appalling conditions, and exposed to abuse, extortion, abduction and human trafficking. What measures had the State party taken to prevent disappearances of migrants and dangerous pushbacks at sea?

Introducing the report, Fiorella Fenech Vella, Office of the State Advocate of Malta and head of the delegation, said Malta had consistently recognised that enforced disappearance was a crime under customary international law, and the State had classified enforced disappearances as inhumane acts under its umbrella provision of crimes against humanity since its independence in 1964.

The delegation added that Malta had no reported cases of enforced disappearance and the State party criminalised all elements of the crime of enforced disappearance, though it did not have a stand-alone crime of enforced disappearance or plans to create one.

The establishment of an independent national human rights institution remained a high priority for Malta, Ms. Fenech Vella said. The equality and human rights commission bill had been previously presented to Parliament; however, the legislative process was halted due to the dissolution of Parliament for the 2022 general elections. Since then, efforts had been made to develop the bill to ensure full compliance with the Paris Principles and relevant European Union directives. The delegation could not provide a timeline for its adoption, however.

The delegation said Malta had saved several migrants at sea. Maltese authorities acted on distress calls at sea in accordance with relevant international laws and had not engaged in any pushbacks to Libya. The Government signed a memorandum of understanding with Libya in 2020 on setting up coordination centres in Tripoli and Malta to improve the reception of migrants and combat trafficking in the region.

In concluding remarks, Ms. Fenech Vella said the dialogue was an essential component for further strengthening Malta’s implementation of the Convention and for strengthening protections for rights holders in the State. The State party would carefully analyse and take into account the Committee’s recommendations in its development of laws and policies.

Olivier de Frouville, Committee Chair, in concluding remarks, said the State party and the Committee’s common goal was to ensure the implementation of the Convention. Mr. de Frouville called on Malta and other States that had ratified the Convention to petition States that had not ratified to do so. The Committee looked forward to continuing to work with Malta in future.

The delegation of Malta consisted of representatives of the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment; Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism; Office of the State Advocate; Office of the Attorney General; Ministry for Justice and Reform of the Construction Industry; and the Permanent Mission of Malta to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

At the end of the first day of the dialogue, the Committee heard statements marking the Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice in Argentina and the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.

Horacio Ravenna, Committee Vice-Chair, recounted that 49 years ago, the armed forces in Argentina initiated a coup against the State’s leadership and imposed a military dictatorship. In this era, when many political dissidents were subjected to enforced disappearance, the exiled mothers of victims led the fight and bravely spoke out. On this day, the Committee honoured persons who had passed away and continued to raise public awareness for the next generations, so that the horrendous crime could be eradicated forever.

Mr. de Frouville, Committee Chair, said all needed to remember the courageous struggle of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, whose actions had led to the development of the Convention.

The Committee will issue its concluding observations on the report of Malta at the end of its twenty-eighth session, which concludes on 4 April. Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work and other documents related to the session can be found here.

The Committee will next meet in public on Friday, 4 April at 5 p.m. to close its twenty-eighth session.

Report

The Committee has before it the initial report of Malta (CED/C/MLT/1).

Presentation of Report

FIORELLA FENECH VELLA, Office of the State Advocate of Malta and head of the delegation, said the dialogue was an opportunity to reaffirm Malta’s unwavering commitment to the Convention and its unwavering support to the United Nations human rights treaty bodies. Malta had consistently recognised that enforced disappearance was a crime under customary international law amounting to torture, inhuman and degrading treatment. The State had classified enforced disappearances as inhumane acts under its umbrella provision of crimes against humanity since its independence in 1964. It also signed in February of last year the Ljubljana-Hague Convention on prosecuting war crimes and genocide, which would help deliver justice to victims of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, facilitating effective international cooperation in domestic investigations and prosecutions.

Malta’s 1964 Constitution and Bill of Rights, adopted upon Malta’s establishment as a State, enshrined key rights, including the right to life; protection against arbitrary arrest or detention, and inhuman treatment; the right to a fair hearing; and the prohibition of deportation, among others. The Constitution stipulated that detention could only occur under lawful conditions. The International Criminal Court Act incorporated international crimes, including enforced disappearances categorised as crimes against humanity, into the State’s law. Malta had ratified several international treaties aimed at preventing enforced disappearances and protecting human rights, including the European Convention on Human Rights; had ratified several United Nations human rights treaties and their protocols; and had accepted communications procedures under a number of these. It was constantly reviewing the Committee’s communications procedure and would keep it updated on any developments.

Combatting trafficking in persons remained a priority for the State. Malta had launched a national strategy and action plan on combatting trafficking in human beings in Malta (2024-2030), which aimed to strengthen the necessary national framework required to prevent human trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute offenders of this crime. Anti-trafficking actions were being developed to address root causes, risks, threats, new methods used by traffickers, and demand. The strategy took a human rights-focused, gender-sensitive, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral approach. The Police, via the Vulnerable Victims Unit, conducted investigations into human trafficking and collaborated closely with the Financial Crime Investigation Department to effectively target traffickers and prevent them from reaping financial gains from their criminal activities. In 2024, Malta initiated two prosecutions which combined human trafficking charges with money laundering charges, with legal proceedings currently underway.

Victims of human rights violations – including heirs of individuals subjected to enforced disappearances – were entitled to initiate court proceedings against the State Advocate in the First Hall of Malta’s Civil Court. An individual could only be presumed dead when their absence had lasted for a continuous period exceeding 10 years. The Constitutional Court could issue orders to safeguard affected individuals’ rights and ensure that any law, entity or individual, including all State officials, in breach of fundamental human rights were held accountable. Even the President could face legal action for acts committed outside the scope of functions of the Office.

Malta had incorporated effective remedies for victims of human rights violations in its legislation. The State was in full compliance with article 17(3) of the Convention, which mandated that official registers of individuals deprived of liberty were maintained by the appropriate authorities and updated as necessary.

The establishment of an independent national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles remained a high priority for Malta. The equality and human rights commission bill had been previously presented to Parliament; however, the legislative process was halted due to the dissolution of Parliament for the 2022 general elections. Since then, efforts were ongoing to further develop the bill to ensure full compliance with the Paris Principles and European Union directives that established minimum standards for equality bodies’ independence, resources and powers. The proposed institution was conceived to function as an independent, well-resourced, and effective entity to be endowed with the necessary legal mandate to promote and protect human rights fervently.

Malta was resolutely committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, including related to enforced disappearances, and ensuring justice and accountability. The State party’s efforts reflected its moral commitment to uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals.

Questions by Committee Experts

BARBARA LOCHBIHLER, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the human rights and equality commission bill, which would establish a national human rights institution, had not yet been enacted. What parts of the bill were under review and what was the timeline for its adoption? Why had the State party not yet accepted the Committee’s competence to receive individual and inter-State communications? Had any national courts directly invoked the Convention? Why had the State party not consulted with civil society organizations in preparing the report?

FIDELIS KANYONGOLO, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the emergency powers act empowered the President to make necessary regulations for public safety, health and the defence of Malta in states of emergency. Had the President ever exercised this power? Which legal provisions specifically guaranteed non-derogation from legislation stipulating the right of every person to be protected from enforced disappearances during states of emergency?

Was State legislation in line with article two of the Convention? What steps had been taken to establish an autonomous offence of enforced disappearance with penalties commensurate to the seriousness of the offence in State legislation? Did the State party have a law which established its jurisdiction over the offence of enforced disappearance committed outside of Malta when the alleged offender was present in the country, including in cases where the alleged offender was not subject to military law and when the crime was not a crime against humanity?

There was no up-to-date statistical information available on the number of disappeared persons or persons involved in enforced disappearances in Malta. What challenges was the State party facing in this regard? What plans did it have to systematically collect data on enforced disappearances in future? How many cases of enforced disappearance had been investigated by the State? What measures had been taken to ensure the impartiality of such investigations and that public officers allegedly involved in the crime did not take part in the proceedings?

Malta’s whistleblower act offered some degree of protection to whistleblowers and witnesses. However, it did not extend its protection to members of a “disciplined force”, the Security Service or persons employed in the foreign, consular or diplomatic service of the Government. What measures were in place to protect such internal whistleblowers and witnesses, as well as relatives of victims and defence counsel? Did the Code of Ethics of Police Officers provide protection to police officers who witnessed acts of violence, inhumane or offensive treatment?

Had the State party concluded any extradition agreement with other State parties? Had it participated in mutual legal assistance and cooperation with other States in respect to offences of enforced disappearances and abduction? Were there any inter-country procedures in place to govern the search for and release of disappeared persons, and the identification and return of their remains in case of death?

A Committee Expert asked whether the Convention could be directly enforced in Malta. The State party did not have a stand-alone crime of enforced disappearance. What mechanisms were in place to harmonise domestic law with the Convention?

Another Committee Expert asked about plans to involve civil society in the development of State party reports.

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said Malta had no reported cases of enforced disappearance and the State maintained a robust legal framework to prevent occurrences of enforced disappearance. The Criminal Code classified enforced disappearance as a crime against humanity. It was in line with article two of the Convention. All cases of suspected enforced disappearance and missing persons were treated with the highest priority by the police and promptly investigated. Authorities immediately checked detention records after reports of missing persons. Investigations utilised a range of forensic techniques and legal electronic surveillance tools. In cases of cross-border activities, the State party engaged with Interpol in investigations. The police compiled a centralised system containing all reports of missing persons and disappearances, which was used to track searches and investigations.

Several oversight mechanisms were in place to investigate alleged human rights violations by State officials, including the police’s internal investigation unit. The police conducted regular human rights training, which addressed the prohibition of enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention. Early warning mechanisms were in place to identify arbitrary detentions at an early stage. All persons in police custody needed to be registered in the police detention registry. The maximum period of police detention, which was 48 hours, could be extended for an equivalent period for serious offences when permitted by a magistrate.

The Criminal Code stated that detained persons had the right to a lawyer and to communicate with consular authorities if they were foreigners. When detained persons required an interpreter, one needed to be provided without delay. Police officers were required to follow the Police Code of Ethics, considering the potential effects of their actions. They were required to take immediate action to protect people and private property from violence.

Persons subjected to extradition proceedings had the right to engage with lawyers and to appeal extradition decisions. Malta had the competence to try cases of enforced disappearance that were crimes against humanity committed inside and outside of Malta. When unable to extradite a person accused of enforced disappearance, the State had the competence to prosecute the person domestically. Malta had colonial-era extradition agreements with the United States, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. It was bound by the European Convention on Extradition, which superseded any provisions implemented by bilateral agreements. There had been no cases of extradition of persons accused of enforced disappearance, but there were cases related to abduction and trafficking in persons.

Detention services had a central registry of detentions. All immigration detentions and involuntary admissions to psychiatric institutions were registered. Persons under arrest could challenge the lawfulness of their detention at any time. The detention of persons in places that were not classified as prisons was an offence. Police investigations into trafficking cases checked for enforced disappearance. Persons who had conspired to commit enforced disappearance were prosecuted. All public officers accused of enforced disappearance or abductions were immediately suspended and were not involved in searches or investigations.

Maltese law was derogable; Parliament had the power to change national laws, except for the Constitution. All directives given by the President needed to be in line with the Constitution, which prevailed in cases where domestic legislation conflicted with it. Parliament could not make amendments to laws without reaching a two-thirds majority, meaning that the ruling party could not impose laws on its own.

The bill establishing the national human rights institution had been suspended in 2022 due to the general election and assessment of it had started afresh. Malta was not able to provide a date for the enactment of the bill. There were no civil society organizations active in the field of enforced disappearance in Malta.

Questions by Committee Experts

FIDELIS KANYONGOLO, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked about the State party’s jurisdiction over enforced disappearances that did not amount to crimes against humanity. Suspensions could be imposed by the heads of government departments in cases of allegations against inferiors. Were there provisions that ensured that heads of departments exercised this discretion from the beginning of investigations and for their entire duration? To what extent did domestic legislation address concealment of the fate or whereabouts of disappeared persons? To what extent was the State obliged to investigate when enforced disappearance was perpetrated by non-State actors? Was the right to be protected from enforced disappearance derogable in Malta? Could persons be extradited to places where they could be subjected to enforced disappearance? Were police officers who reported enforced disappearances to persons other than their superior officers protected under whistle-blower legislation?

BARBARA LOCHBIHLER, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said enforced disappearances related to issues such as trafficking in persons and migration. Why were civil society organizations that dealt with these issues not involved in preparing the State party’s report?

Another Committee Expert asked if State legislation addressed the act of aiding and abetting the crime of trafficking in persons. There were barriers to enforced disappearance being invoked as grounds for an extradition in Malta due to the principle of double jeopardy, which required both the extraditing and receiving States to have the same laws on the crime. How would the State party address this issue?

A Committee Expert asked if the Executive, the Attorney General, non-governmental organizations or private individuals had the power to develop legal norms that could be assessed and approved by the legislature.

One Committee Expert said the Committee was delighted that Malta had never recorded cases of enforced disappearances, but the Convention required that the State party set up legal mechanisms, including a stand-alone offence of enforced disappearance, that would allow it to deal with enforced disappearances that could occur on national territory in future.

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the State party criminalised all elements of the crime of enforced disappearance, though it did not have a stand-alone crime of enforced disappearance or plans to create one. The State party could prosecute all cases of enforced disappearance occurring on its territory. The emergency powers of the President had never been applied. The delegation was unable to provide a timeline for the adoption of the bill establishing the national human rights institution.

There were no bilateral agreements that Malta had concluded that addressed enforced disappearances. Acts that constituted offences to the laws of Malta were extraditable offences. Double criminality was adopted in most extradition cases. When offences listed as grounds for extradition in a foreign State’s extradition request were not included in Malta’s laws, the State party was obliged to indicate an applicable domestic law. How certain countries interpreted trafficking in persons crimes could differ, which could lead to complications. The State party needed to do its best to find common ground between jurisdictions in cases of this kind.

Comprehensive witness protection measures were in place. Witnesses whose safety was at risk were entitled to identity changes and relocation measures. Punishments could be mitigated based on witnesses’ cooperation.

When there were allegations against a police officer, the officer involved was immediately suspended. When a civil servant under suspicion of having committed a crime was suspended, they could appeal their suspension with the civil service complaints authority.

Malta was a Westminster democracy, so the Executive could not submit draft laws for consideration, but citizens could.

State laws addressed aiding and abetting crimes of human trafficking and abduction, including financing and supporting the crime and making use of products obtained through the crime of trafficking in persons.

Questions by Committee Experts

BARBARA LOCHBIHLER, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked about mechanisms applied prior to an extradition to assess whether persons could be at risk of enforced disappearance. Did registers of detained persons include all the details required by the Convention? Were registers regularly updated? Had the State party revised its legal definition of “places of deprivation of liberty” in line with the recommendation of the Sub-Committee for the Prevention of Torture

Malta’s policies and practices reportedly increased the risk of enforced disappearances of migrants and victims of trafficking. Tactics of non-assistance or delay in assistance to migrants and refugees in distress at sea, as well as pushbacks to Libya, violating the non-refoulement principle, had led to deaths and disappearances of migrants at sea. The widespread use of immigration detention and alleged episodes of violence in pre-removal detention centres also continued to be a human rights concern in Malta. The State party had been called on to stop pushbacks at sea to Libya, which could not be considered a safe space. Refugees in Libya were reportedly kept in appalling conditions, and exposed to abuse, extortion, abduction and human trafficking. What measures had the State party taken to prevent disappearances of migrants and dangerous pushbacks at sea? Malta had had a Memorandum of Understanding with Libya since 2020 that included the funding of two coordination centres in Libya. What were the contents of this memorandum and how did it prevent migrant pushbacks?

Open centres for migrants in Malta reportedly lacked space, forcing the State party to place migrants in detention centres. Could the delegation update the Committee on this practice? Were there migration detention facilities that were not operated by the detention service? What progress had been made in establishing a central register for detained migrants? How long was the maximum and minimum period of migrant detention? Could data on the nationality of detained migrants be provided? What was the timeline for extending the mandate of the national preventive mechanism?

Did the content of training activities referred to in the reply to the list of issues address the Convention? Was the State party planning on providing human rights training to medical personnel in prisons, members of the judiciary, immigration personnel and social workers? Would training address illegal intercountry adoptions?

Did national laws place a time limit on access by victims of enforced disappearance and their relatives to reparation? Did laws address victims’ relatives’ rights to information and property?

What policies and measures had been taken to protect children, particularly unaccompanied minors, from enforced disappearances in the context of migration and trafficking? Could the delegation provide figures on trafficking of children? How had the State party’s policies on illegal intercountry adoption developed, taking into account international norms on the practice?

FIDELIS KANYONGOLO, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the State party’s obligations under the Convention still existed, although there were no recorded cases of enforced disappearance in the State. Were there plans to expand the definition of “victims” in Malta’s victims of crime act to align it with article 24 of the Convention, particularly to include family members of individuals who had suffered harm as a result of enforced disappearances that had not directly caused deaths? What measures were in place to provide victims’ relatives the right to know the progress of investigations and the fate of disappeared persons, and the right to be returned remains in cases of death? Did relatives have the right to various forms of reparation, including restitution, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition? Were there laws that obliged the State to continue the investigation of cases until the fate of the disappeared person had been clarified? Had measures been taken in law and practice to guarantee the right of people in Malta to establish and participate freely in associations attempting to establish the fate of disappeared persons and to assist victims and relatives?

Another Committee Expert asked how detained persons were informed of their rights, including their right to counsel? How were women and children protected in cases of enforced disappearance?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said no person was to be subjected to inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment during extradition proceedings. Persons were not to be returned if they could be subjected to inhumane treatment or other human rights violations. Under European arrest warrant laws, the State was bound by a 10-day surrender period, during which time persons subjected to extradition proceedings could appeal the extradition. Last year, a judgement was made by the Court of Criminal Appeal deciding to prevent the extradition of a person to Romania due to deficiencies in prison conditions in that State.

Malta was in the process of amending the whistleblowers act so that whistleblowers who were members of the disciplinary forces and other persons would be protected under the act.

Malta’s laws on trafficking in persons were in line with international norms and ensured protection for vulnerable groups, including women and children. The victims of crime act ensured that victims had access to legal aid, psychological support and shelter, and granted them the right to be informed about the progress of legal proceedings. The Malta police had a unit for investigating trafficking and non-governmental organizations provided shelters and support for victims. Training was provided to police on identifying victims of trafficking. The State party had ratified several international norms on trafficking, including the Palermo Protocol.

Records of immigration detention were kept in an online database that relevant State authorities could access. Data was recorded upon admission to migrant facilities. Many police officers had participated in training courses addressing human rights, investigating missing persons, and victim and witness protection.

The judiciary had received training on the rights of victims, including to access compensation and justice. The definition in the victims of crime act was not the only definition of a “victim” in State legislation. Victims had the right to be understood, and were informed about the protection and legal aid measures they were entitled to and methods of accessing compensation. There were many avenues to compensation under Malta’s legislation, including provisions in the Criminal Code addressing compensation and a process for obtaining compensation for civil cases. Agencies had been established to ensure victims received timely individual assessments regarding the support measures they were entitled to. The State party prioritised the protection of vulnerable victims and victims of serious crimes, guarding against intimidation and reprisals against victims. Child victims testified to magistrates in separate rooms to trial rooms to prevent traumatisation.

Migration remained a challenge for Malta, as the State was located on a major migration route. It had saved several migrants at sea over the past 20 years. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had assisted the State party to improve its asylum system and to establish services such as migrant health services and return counselling. The State party was dedicated to meeting its human rights obligations regarding migrants, to providing protection to those who needed it, and to returning other migrants in a safe and humane manner. Maltese authorities acted on distress calls at sea in accordance with relevant international laws.

Malta had not engaged in any pushbacks to Libya and there had been no occurrences of collective expulsions. The Government signed a memorandum of understanding with Libya in 2020 on setting up coordination centres in Tripoli and Malta to improve reception of migrants and combat trafficking in the region. Libyan authorities needed to be given the necessary resources to combat migrant smuggling. The memorandum of understanding had led to reduced loss of life in the Mediterranean region.

The detention of migrants was enforced on clear legal grounds. Detention orders were issued following individual assessments and only as a last resort. Such orders were subject to an automatic review and subsequent reviews every 14 days. Migrants were notified of removal decisions verbally and in writing. Removal orders provided explanations of the reasons for the order and options for voluntary removals. All return activities were monitored by an independent monitoring board. Free legal aid and interpretation services were provided in legal proceedings on removals.

All unaccompanied minors were protected by care orders issued by the courts. They were cared for by the agency for the welfare of asylum seekers, which collaborated with the police force and reported signs of trafficking and risks of minors leaving the country without consent.

Overcrowding in detention and open centres had not been a problem since 2021. Malta’s open centre was closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The centre was reopened in 2021 and an additional centre was constructed, resolving the problem. The current occupancy rate in detention centres was less than 30 per cent. Violence in detention centres was not an issue. Independent correctional centre monitoring boards had been appointed as the State’s national preventive mechanism. These boards submitted regular reports to the State regarding conditions in detention centres.

The legal status of victims of enforced disappearance was defined in the Civil Code, which specified that the assets of such persons were managed by curators who were appointed by the courts. There were safeguards on victims’ assets. Courts ensured the protection and supervision of unattended children. The directorate for child protection services operated a children’s house and had powers to carry out and request investigations into cases of violations of children’s rights.

The Constitution provided for freedom of association. Any person was entitled to associate regarding issues of enforced disappearance. No legislation could restrict the freedom of association of any person.

Questions by Committee Experts

BARBARA LOCHBIHLER, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the State party had formed a further memorandum of understanding with Libya in 2024. Did it address the prevention of enforced disappearance? Some persons employed by the Libyan Coastguard were reportedly themselves involved in trafficking in persons. How did the State party respond to these reports? How did it respond to reports that Maltese authorities had failed to rescue over 200 migrants whose vessel sank in the Mediterranean in 2013? Did migrants deprived of liberty have the right to a lawyer? Did the State party address the situation of potentially disappeared persons in its work on locating missing migrants? Had the State party referenced the Committee’s general comment on illegal intercountry adoptions in its regulations on the practice?

FIDELIS KANYONGOLO, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked about amendments being contemplated for the whistleblowers act and the potential timeline for their adoption. Did registers of persons deprived of liberty include all details stipulated in article 17 (3) of the Convention? Were the State’s registers interconnected and interoperable? Did the State’s various definitions of “victims” reflect the breadth of the definition of victims in article 24 of the Convention? Were victims entitled to compensation and remedies as broadly defined in article 24 (5)? Mr. Kanyongolo appreciated the details provided by the delegation regarding Malta’s legislation.

Another Committee Expert said the State party had proceedings to declare absences and deaths. What procedure was used to declare disappearances?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said that when a person was charged with a criminal offence, victims could participate in criminal proceedings and could file a petition to claim compensation. The Criminal Code included a compensation scheme. Under Maltese law, victims could also file actions against the Government before the Civil Court requesting damages. Damages were timebound and could be renewed after certain periods. In cases where breaches of human rights were found, courts could grant pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages. Victims also had the right to file applications for reparation with the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights.

Adoptions were regulated by State laws and there was an authority that oversaw adoptions, including intercountry adoptions, to ensure that they were legal.

Migrants were granted the same rights as other individuals in criminal proceedings, including the right to a lawyer, the right to contact family members, and the right to medical assistance as required. They were given information on their rights upon detainment in a language that they understood.

The memorandum of understanding with Libya had been renewed in 2024 with the same terms and conditions of the previous one. It aimed to dismantle trafficking activities and prevent the loss of life of migrants at sea. When the State party received requests for information on missing migrants at sea, responsible authorities conducted necessary investigations. Malta abided by its international obligations and had never relinquished a search case for migrants in distress at sea.

Amendments to the whistleblower act were still in the drafting stage and the delegation could not provide a timeline for its adoption.

Malta was in full compliance with article 17 (3) of the Convention. Registers of detained persons were maintained by authorities and updated as necessary. They included the detainees’ personal details, and the time of and reason for arrest, among other details. Registers were regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with domestic and international norms.

The Civil Code defined the process for declaring absences. Disappeared persons could be declared as absentees. Presumptive heirs of absentees could file petitions to courts to obtain their assets. The will of the absentee was opened after 10 years of absence, and courts determined who received assets in cases where the absentee had not made a will.

Closing Remarks

OLIVIER DE FROUVILLE, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the dialogue. The Committee would prepare concluding observations based on the topics discussed and call on the State party to report on implementation of these concluding observations after a certain period. The Committee would decide whether or not to hold a follow-up dialogue with Malta based on its assessment of this report. The State party and the Committee’s common goal was to ensure the implementation of the Convention. Mr. de Frouville called on Malta and other States that had ratified the Convention to petition States that had not ratified to do so. The Committee looked forward to continuing to work with Malta in future.

FIORELLA FENECH VELLA, Office of the State Advocate of Malta and head of the delegation, said the delegation had engaged fully with the Committee in the dialogue. The Committee had posed pertinent questions related to the implementation of the Convention. The dialogue was an essential component for further strengthening Malta’s implementation and for strengthening protections for rights holders in the State. Malta had never implemented policies that had amounted to enforced disappearance, a reflection of its dedication to promoting human rights principles. The State party would carefully analyse and take into account the Committee’s recommendations in its development of laws and policies.

Statements Marking the Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice in Argentina and the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims

At the end of the first day of the dialogue, HORACIO RAVENNA, Committee Vice-Chairperson, said that 24 March was a special day in Argentina, the Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice. Forty-nine years ago today, the armed forces in Argentina initiated a coup against the State’s leadership and imposed a dictatorship. Several similar coups were also carried out in other countries in South and Latin America. Many political dissidents were killed, arbitrarily detained and subjected to enforced disappearance in this era as part of Operation Condor, and legislation in many countries did not sufficiently address the phenomenon of enforced disappearance. In this context, the exiled mothers of victims of enforced disappearance led the fight and bravely spoke out, meeting in Paris to discuss the issue, and these discussions led to the development of the Convention, which had been in force for 14 years. Today, the Committee honoured persons who had passed away and continued to raise public awareness for the next generations, so that the horrendous crime could be eradicated forever.

OLIVIER DE FROUVILLE, Committee Chair, said today was also, in addition to being the Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice, the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims. All needed to remember the courageous struggle of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, whose actions had led to the development of the Convention. They had spoken the truth bravely to combat dictatorships.

Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

CED25.007E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Podcasting was once a rebel medium for diverse voices. Now it’s slowly being consumed by big media

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey Martin, Lecturer/Podcast Producer, Swinburne University of Technology

Shutterstock

Podcasting was once the underdog of the media world: a platform where anyone with a microphone and an idea could share their voice.

With low barriers to entry and freedom from institutional gatekeeping, it promised to amplify marginalised voices and allow underrepresented groups to tell their own stories, on their own terms.

Today, however, this promise seems increasingly strained as corporate interests tighten their grip on the industry. As money flows in, the podcasting space is beginning to resemble the rest of the digital media world – driven by advertising revenues and political polarisation.

The promise of podcasting

Six years ago, audio scholars Martin Spinelli and Lance Dann described podcasting as a “revolutionary” medium for its ability to inspire empathy through innovative forms of audio.

Podcasting was heralded as a format that broke through the barriers of traditional media by offering new ways to engage with underrepresented voices and ideas. Media and cultural studies pointed to the direct-to-ear delivery – free from the biases of visual culture – as a uniquely intimate way to consume content.

Globally, the industry boomed as a result of pandemic lockdowns, with the number of podcasts on Spotify skyrocketing from 450,000 in 2019, to 1.5 million in 2020.

Listenership has also surged in Australia. According to a 2024 report by Edison Research, we’ve seen a 20% increase in listenership from 2022 to 2024 – with 48% of the those aged 12 and above having listened to a podcast within the past month.

From open space to rat race

In his 2024 book Podcasting in a Platform Age, podcast researcher John Sullivan warns the podcasting space is being increasingly dominated by a handful of powerful media companies that dictate what and who gets visibility.

Larger podcasts with higher production budgets, celebrity hosts and backing from major networks are attracting larger audiences, with independent creators struggling to get a foot in the door.

At the time of writing, of the top 50 most popular podcasts in Australia, more than half (52%) come from overseas, and primarily the United States.

Of the 24 Australian-made podcasts on the list, 80% are backed by a media organisation, with most (64%) connected to major networks such as LiSTNR, which is owned by Southern Cross Austereo. Only 12% of the Australian podcasts on the list come from truly independent creators without any corporate funding or major production support.

Why does it matter that large-network ownership is on the rise? To understand this, it helps to first understand how ads keep podcast networks in business – and how this can impact content decisions.

Deepening ideological divides

Advertisers follow the crowds. In a podcasting context, this means they’re more likely to funnel their dollars into large networks, further bolstering their resources.

At the same time, networks want to drive as many ears to their ad sponsors as possible. To do this, they focus on producing content they know will get the most engagement.

The result is a vicious cycle in which attention and advertising power feed each other, making it even harder for independent voices to break through. Over time, this feedback loop can lead to less content diversity and more polarisation.

According to Spotify’s 2024 Wrapped, American podcaster Joe Rogan took out the top podcast spot for the fifth year in a row globally.
Shutterstock

It’s here that we’re seeing an increase of politicians using podcasts to push their views and cultivate ideological loyalty.

In the lead-up to the 2024 US election, Kamala Harris appeared on Call Her Daddy (the second most popular Spotify podcast in 2024), while Donald Trump was on The Joe Rogan Experience (the most popular). Both interviews were later fact-checked and found to contain false or misleading claims.

Trump’s interview in particular was flagged by CNN for having 32 false claims. Nonetheless, analysts and researchers pointed to it as a driver behind his success with young male voters.

The political podcasting trend is also playing out in Australia ahead of the next federal election.

Late last year, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton appeared on the podcast Diving Deep With Sam Fricker. This was followed by an appearance on Straight Talk, hosted by businessman Mark Bouris, in January.

More recently, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Greens leader Adam Bandt separately appeared on It’s A Lot with Abbie Chatfield.

Read more:
Misinformation is rife and causing deeper polarisation – here’s how social media users can help curb it

Diversity in the podcasting space

According to 2022 Pew Research Centre data, 55% of Americans said their major reason for listening to podcasts was “to learn”, while 29% said they wanted to stay up-to-date with current affairs. But information-hungry listeners may be getting shortchanged, as podcasts are less likely to be fact-checked against the same editorial standards that govern traditional media.

As platform researcher Michael Bossetta notes, although large platforms such as Spotify have the potential to create a more informed world, they
are more likely to push content that keeps users hooked (that is, content they already enjoy and/or agree with).

Recommender algorithms also have a role to play. One 2020 study found that while Spotify’s personalised suggestions increased user engagement by 28.90%, they also reduced the individual-level diversity of podcast streams by 11.51%.

But platforms do have the power to do better. They could, for instance, use their algorithms to prioritise content diversity. This would help ease the “engagement-diversity trade-off”, in which personalisation increases engagement, but limits the diversity of content consumed by an individual.

That said, it’s unlikely platforms will voluntarily change the way they operate. If meaningful reforms are to happen, they will more likely have to come from government regulations or through independent governing bodies.

In the meantime, listeners aren’t powerless. While we can’t stop algorithms from pushing certain content to the top of our feeds, we can disrupt them by actively seeking out independent voices and diverse stories.

Corey Martin 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. Podcasting was once a rebel medium for diverse voices. Now it’s slowly being consumed by big media – https://theconversation.com/podcasting-was-once-a-rebel-medium-for-diverse-voices-now-its-slowly-being-consumed-by-big-media-252169

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose. The continued use of paper-based payments by the Federal Government, including checks and money orders, flowing into and out of the United States General Fund, which might be thought of as America’s bank account, imposes unnecessary costs; delays; and risks of fraud, lost payments, theft, and inefficiencies. Mail theft complaints have increased substantially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Historically, Department of the Treasury checks are 16 times more likely to be reported lost or stolen, returned undeliverable, or altered than an electronic funds transfer (EFT). Maintaining the physical infrastructure and specialized technology for digitizing paper records cost the American taxpayer over $657 million in Fiscal Year 2024 alone.
This order promotes operational efficiency by mandating the transition to electronic payments for all Federal disbursements and receipts by digitizing payments to the extent permissible under applicable law (but not, for avoidance of doubt, to establish a Central Bank Digital Currency).
Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to defend against financial fraud and improper payments, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the security of Federal payments.
Sec. 3. Phase Out of Paper Check Disbursements and Receipts. (a) Effective September 30, 2025, and to the extent permitted by law, the Secretary of the Treasury shall cease issuing paper checks for all Federal disbursements inclusive of intragovernmental payments, benefits payments, vendor payments, and tax refunds, except as specified in section 4 of this order.
(b) All executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall comply with this directive by transitioning to EFT methods, including direct deposit, prepaid card accounts, and other digital payment options, and take all steps necessary to enroll recipients in EFT payments, except as specified in section 4 of this order.
(c) As soon as practicable, and to the extent permitted by law, all payments made to the Federal Government shall be processed electronically, except as specified in section 4 of this order.
(d) The Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take appropriate action to eliminate the need for the Department of the Treasury’s physical lockbox services and expedite requirements to receive the payment of Federal receipts, including fees, fines, loans, and taxes, through electronic means except as specified in section 4 of this order.
(e) The Secretary of the Treasury shall support agencies’ transition to digital payment methods, including by providing access through the Department of the Treasury’s centralized payment systems to:
(i) direct deposits;
(ii) debit and credit card payments;
(iii) digital wallets and real-time payment systems; and
(iv) other modern electronic payment options.
Sec. 4. Exceptions and Accommodations for the Phase Out of Paper Check Disbursements and Receipts. (a) The Secretary of the Treasury, shall review and, as appropriate, revise procedures for granting limited exceptions where electronic payment and collection methods are not feasible, including exceptions for:
(i) individuals who do not have access to banking services or electronic payment systems;
(ii) certain emergency payments where electronic disbursement would cause undue hardship, as contemplated in 31 C.F.R. Part 208;
(iii) national security- or law enforcement-related activities where non-EFT transactions are necessary or desirable; and
(iv) other circumstances as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, as reflected in regulations or other guidance.
(b) Individuals or entities qualifying for an exception under this section or other applicable law shall be provided alternative payment options.
Sec. 5. Implementation and Compliance of Electronic Transactions. (a) The Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the heads of agencies, shall develop and implement a comprehensive public awareness campaign to inform Federal payment recipients of the transition to electronic payments, including guidance on accessing and setting up digital payment options.
(b) Agencies shall coordinate with the Department of the Treasury to facilitate a smooth transition to digital payments, ensuring that affected individuals and entities receive adequate support.
(c) The Secretary of the Treasury shall work with financial institutions, consumer groups, and other stakeholders to address financial access for unbanked and underbanked populations.
(d) The Secretary of the Treasury and the heads of agencies shall take all necessary steps to protect classified information and systems, as well as personally identifiable information and tax return information, through the implementation of this order.
Sec. 6. Reporting Requirements. (a) The heads of agencies shall submit a compliance plan to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget within 90 days of the date of this order detailing their strategy for eliminating paper-based transactions.
(b) The Secretary of the Treasury shall submit an implementation report to the President through the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy within 180 days of the date of this order detailing progress on the matters set forth in this order.
Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE, March 25, 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Employment Trends – New Zealand Employers Face a Brave New World with Optimism, Says Beyond Recruitment Report

Source: Beyond Recruitment

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND. March 26th, 2025 – The 2025/26 Beyond Recruitment Economic & Labour Report reveals cautious optimism and resilience among New Zealand employers, despite ongoing economic uncertainty and an accelerating evolution of jobs across multiple sectors.

Beyond Recruitment’s annual Economic & Labour Report provides insights into employer sentiment about the economy, hiring and the state of New Zealand’s workforce.

The latest report highlights a stabilisation in employer confidence since the post-pandemic recovery, with fewer organisations (58%) describing the past year as challenging, down from 71% in 2023. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and large organisations reported the highest levels of confidence, contrasting with slightly lower optimism among very large organisations (1,001+ employees).

The economic slowdown emerged as the leading concern (31%) for employers, alongside rising operational costs and regulatory changes (both at 25%). Balancing cost management and growth is a central challenge, with 37% of organisations aiming to keep headcount stable, while 28% are planning headcount expansion. SMEs show the strongest appetite for workforce growth.

Usage of artificial intelligence has surged, with 83% of organisations either exploring or implementing AI tools, up significantly from previous years. Despite initial fears, employers view AI as predominantly complementary to human roles, with 43% upskilling their employees to meet the demands of an AI enhanced workplace.

CE of Beyond Recruitment, Liza Viz, said: “While organisations are prudent in their hiring strategies, their resilience is clear. Employers are strategically positioning themselves to capitalise on anticipated market improvements, particularly through workforce development and increased adoption of technology like artificial intelligence (AI).

“Now is the time for employers to invest in their people and focus on future-proofing their workforce. The competition for talent will heighten once again, making skills development and building future talent pools a key priority for Aotearoa organisations.”

Hybrid work models are now standard, adopted by 77% of organisations, with flexible work hours and remote options firmly established as key employee benefits. Office spaces continue to evolve, reflecting new norms rather than temporary adjustments.

Other key insights from the report include:

Pay rises are levelling at around 3%, with 38% of organisations planning this range of increase.
Employer satisfaction with local talent is growing, with reliance on international recruitment easing.
Organisations have increased their focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion within executive teams, which is considerably influencing executive search and recruitment strategies.

The Beyond Recruitment Economic & Labour Report 2025/26 gathered responses from over 500 employment leaders nationwide, representing various sectors including government, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and professional services.

About Beyond Recruitment:

Beyond Recruitment is one of New Zealand’s largest 100% Kiwi owned recruitment agencies. Established in 2003, Beyond Recruitment’s specialist recruiters support sectors including technology, finance, HR, customer experience, marketing, engineering, and construction nationwide from offices in Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga, and Christchurch.

For more information, visit www.beyondrecruitment.co.nz

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Is This Any Way to Run a Budget?

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

Unlike the federal government, families and private-sector businesses have to keep spending in line with earnings. To do so, they budget, estimating what their income will be and making sure their planned expenditures don’t exceed it.

The federal government is the largest financial entity in the world. You would think its budgeting would take the most time and effort and involve more detail than any other organization. You would be wrong.

I come from the private sector, and I know the time, effort and detail businesses put into preparing budgets. If the numbers are good, a budget review meeting can be a breeze. If not, managers have a lot of explaining to do. When it comes to spending American taxpayer dollars and the money we borrow to cover massive deficit spending, the analysis and oversight by lawmakers is woefully inadequate.

The 535 members of Congress could be considered the board of directors, and the news media as the watchdog auditor, of a financial entity that spends more than $7 trillion a year. Yet when I asked my colleagues and the media a few years ago during an omnibus spending debate how much the federal government spent in total, no one offered an answer. My guess is most simply didn’t know because we never talk about it and there is no formal process to review total spending. We appropriate less than 25% of total federal outlays in any given year, and the rest, mandatory spending and entitlements, is on autopilot.

This lack of attention has allowed spending to soar 63%, from $4,447 billion in fiscal 2019 to a projected $7,266 billion in fiscal 2025. In January on these pages I proposed three options for returning to a more reasonable pre-pandemic level of spending. All used projected 2025 spending for Social Security, Medicare and interest. Other spending in these baseline options was adjusted to account for population growth and inflation. Adjusting Bill Clinton’s 1998, Barack Obama’s 2014 and Donald Trump’s 2019 total outlays results in baseline budgets of $5,496 billion, $6,199 billion and $6,496 billion, respectively. The Senate budget resolution used Mr. Trump’s 2021 budget projection for 2025, yielding a baseline amount of $6,061 billion.

Since we’ve already accounted for population growth and inflation in all these options, why are we spending $770 billion to $1.77 trillion above these previous years’ population- and inflation-adjusted outlays? In the private sector, that is exactly what business managers would have to explain to upper management in a line-by-line budget review. We should apply the same rigorous examination to federal spending.

A group of senators representing various factions of the Republican conference and a similar group of House Republicans should join a budget review panel with members of the administration to listen to representatives of the departments explain each line-item expenditure. Spending that didn’t exist before the pandemic or that exceeds previous years should be considered for elimination or reduced. Spending that can’t be defended or has been identified by the Department of Government Efficiency as waste, fraud or abuse should be cut.

No one can predict what level of spending would survive this scrutiny, but it would be significantly lower than current levels. Democrats have no interest in reducing spending levels, so Republicans will have to use the rescission process for discretionary spending reductions and budget reconciliation for mandatory spending.

This review can be done expeditiously. The 2025 budget has 2,481 individual expenditure line items, which could be reviewed in time to provide congressional committees the information they need to draft legislation for rescission packages and fulfillment of budget reconciliation instructions. Returning to a pre-pandemic spending level combined with enacting pro-growth tax polices and repealing the economy-crushing tax increase scheduled for 2026 could make balancing the federal budget achievable.

The election of President Trump and Republican majorities in the House and Senate have given America a historic chance to reduce the size, scope and cost of the federal government. With federal debt totaling $36.4 trillion and interest expense exceeding defense spending, it’s vital that the U.S. seize this opportunity.

Mr. Johnson, a Republican, is a U.S. senator from Wisconsin.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Distribution of sexual and reproductive health-related products and services under the WHO pandemic prevention, preparedness and response accord – E-002979/2024(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
The negotiations on an international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response are currently ongoing[1]. The objective of Article 13[2] of the draft Agreement is to establish a Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network (hereafter the GSCL Network) to enhance equitable, timely and affordable access to pandemic-related health products.

Such products typically refer to health products that may be needed for prevention, preparedness and response to pandemic emergencies and may include medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, medical devices, personal protective equipment.

The GSCL Network would be expected to be convened by the World Health Organisation (WHO), in full consultation with the Parties to the agreement, WHO Member States not Parties to the agreement and in partnership with relevant stakeholders.

The EU would have a role to play if it decides to become a Party to the agreement. Neither the EU nor the Commission would however be involved in the physical distribution of products under the GSCL Network.

[1] https://inb.who.int/

[2] https://apps.who.int/gb/inb/pdf_files/inb12/A_inb12_3-en.pdf
Last updated: 25 March 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Two Plead Guilty to Roles in COVID-19 Fraud Conspiracy

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, William Powell, 34, of Huntington, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and Jasmine Spencer, 32, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting bank fraud. Powell and Spencer each received $15,625 in proceeds from criminally derived Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

According to court documents and statements made in court, co-defendant Kisha Sutton conspired with Powell, Spencer, and others to obtain fraudulent PPP loans. Sutton submitted a PPP loan application on Powell’s behalf on April 19, 2021, and a PPP loan application on Spencer’s behalf of May 27, 2021. Powell and Spencer were each listed as a sole proprietor hair stylist who received $75,000 in gross income in 2020. Each application was filed with an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business, stating that the applicant had earned $75,000 in 2020. As part of their guilty pleas, Powell and Spencer admitted that they never earned $75,000 as a hair stylist in one year and that the IRS Form 1040 submitted with their application was fraudulent and created solely to obtain the PPP loan.

A PPP lender in Florida approved Powell’s loan application and a PPP lender in California approved Spencer’s. The $15,625 in proceeds from each loan was deposited in their respective personal bank accounts in late June 2021. Between June 30 and July 20, 2021, Sutton received $2,000 from Powell and $3,000 from Spencer as her shares of the fraudulent PPP loan proceeds. Powell and Spencer each transferred the money to Sutton using a digital wallet application. Powell and Spencer spent the remainder of their respective fraudulent loan proceeds on personal expenses.

The CARES Act made forgivable PPP loans available to qualifying sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to replace their normal income and for certain other expenses. Applicants were required to certify that they were in operation on February 15, 2020, and provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020.

Powell is scheduled to be sentenced on July 2, 2025, and Spencer is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9, 2025. Each faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Powell and Spencer each also owe $15,625 in restitution.

Powell, Spencer, and Sutton, 44, of Jersey City, New Jersey, are among seven individuals indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging they and others conspired, as well as aided and abetted one another, to obtain fraudulent PPP loans totaling $140,625. The indictment against Sutton and the other defendants remains pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU).

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T. Storage, Jennifer D. Gordon, and Holly Wilson are prosecuting the case.

Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-192.

###

MIL Security OSI –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa pays heartfelt tribute to nurses for their role during COVID

Source: South Africa News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed gratitude for the vital role nurses played during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The President addressed the 9th National Congress of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) today. This was the first time the President addressed DENOSA since the outbreak, highlighting the lasting impact of healthcare workers in the fight against the virus.

President Ramaphosa reflected on the significant changes caused by the pandemic, including the loss of lives and the challenges encountered by healthcare workers.

“We lost a number of nurses and healthcare workers, brave men and women who were at the frontline of the pandemic. Brave is not an adequate word to describe them. Many of you faced the danger of being infected and death, but you still went on to care for those who were affected.”

He encouraged attendees to observe a moment of silence in honor of the brave nurses and healthcare professionals, who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving on the front lines.

“For you who are in the profession, nursing is a calling. It requires a strength of character and commitment to service that is rare.”

The President highlighted the long history of struggle for equity in the nursing profession, particularly among black nurses during apartheid, who fought tirelessly for their rights amid systemic inequalities.

“Black nurses were expected to only care for black patients in black-only hospitals. The hospitals and clinics assigned to serve the country’s majority were under resourced and chronically underfunded.

“Black nurses had unfavourable working conditions, were paid less than their white counterparts, and had fewer opportunities for advancement.”

He reiterated his statements made during this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), that government will allocate resources to the health sector, build hospitals and clinics, and strengthen the healthcare system.

“This is the commitment that we’re going to achieve, and this is what we’re going to do.”

The President also took the time to commend DENOSA for its nearly three decades of advocacy and service, and emphasised the organisation’s pivotal role in shaping nursing policy in South Africa.

“We all appreciate the difficult balance that must be struck between advocacy and activism, on the one hand, and fulfilling the rights of patients to treatment and care, on the other hand,” he said.

President Ramaphosa outlined key strategic priorities for the next five years, including driving inclusive growth, reducing poverty, and building a capable, ethical developmental State.

He underscored the integral role of nurses in achieving these goals, particularly in contributing to a capable State.

Meanwhile, despite a recent uptick in nursing registrations, he raised concerns about declining training numbers due in part to accreditation delays.

President Ramaphosa urged DENOSA to engage proactively in policy development to ensure that the nursing profession evolves alongside the changing landscape of healthcare.

“In an environment where South Africa has a shortage of nurses, we are encouraged that the issue of South African nurses being recruited in large numbers by other countries is also on the agenda.”

NHI

Meanwhile, he said the support of DENOSA will be pivotal as the country prepares for the National Health Insurance (NHI).

He is of the view that the NHI will bring the country closer to its aspiration of being a society where the human dignity of all is upheld at all times.

“The right to dignity matters most when people are sick and need help, and when they are most vulnerable. Our nurses will be the backbone of the NHI.”

He urged the union to be at the forefront of discussions around skilling and training, health systems strengthening, and other crucial matters.

The President called on the union to continue its leadership in advocating for nursing, while addressing the broader health needs of communities.

“I’d like to thank you all once again for being frontline soldiers of our people’s health… you… are the ones who take your heart and full dedication to serving the people of South Africa, and we’re eternally grateful for that,” he added. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Colloquium to discuss developments in intellectual property

Source: South Africa News Agency

Intellectual property and technology commercialisation will come under the spotlight at a colloquium that will be hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic).

Wednesday’s colloquium will be held under the theme: “Driving Innovation and Positioning Intellectual Property Commercialisation for a Better and Inclusive South Africa”.

According to the Minister of the dtic, Parks Tau, the session will provide a platform to exchange ideas and experiences on addressing challenges hindering successful technology commercialisation, and what measures can be taken to address these challenges.

He said the session, which the dtic will host in partnership with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), will focus on enhancing awareness and understanding of intellectual property (IP), technology management, and the commercialisation process.

Discussions will cover the advancement of new technologies and their impact on the IP landscape and the commercialisation of these innovations.

The session will also explore strategies for innovating, scaling, and commercialising more effectively during and after a pandemic.

“The National System of Innovation stakeholders will exchange ideas and share experiences on overcoming challenges in intellectual property and technology commercialisation. The key focus areas include addressing barriers to successful commercialisation, improving access to venture capital funding, enhancing knowledge of equity structures, and creating effective market channels,” the Minister said.

The session will bring together international and local expert speakers in the field of IP and technology commercialisation, including commercialisation specialists, IP Merchant Banks, venture capitalists, incubators and fund finders, among others.

Significantly, the session will also see high school and tertiary students participating in order to instil an interest in IP.

“The learners will participate in an interactive session,, where they will be taken through the exciting journey of IP and technology development.

“This session will stimulate and harness a culture of innovation and creativity amongst South African school learners, build a future generation that will be ready and attuned to the skills needs of the 4IR [Fourth Industrial Revolution] and be a generation of job creators rather than job seekers,” Tau said.

Some of the topics that will be discussed include technology development and commercialisation, intellectual property in successful commercialisation of products and services, and understanding IP rights and their role in technology transfer and economic growth.

The colloquium will have exhibition stands for innovators to display their products and services.

The exhibition will be used to showcase support offered by government to innovators through different funding instruments.

The colloquium will get underway at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria from 9am. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Highlights Significant Investments in Towns and Cities
Source: US State of Connecticut

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the FY 2026/2027 biennial state budget proposal that he presented to the Connecticut General Assembly last month continues recent trends under his administration of increasing state funding for Connecticut’s town and city governments to support the administration and delivery of municipal services, even while the state has made challenging funding decisions and streamlined costs across state government.

Municipal aid is the largest category of state spending within the entire general fund. Since taking office since 2019, every state budget Governor Lamont has enacted has not only held municipal funding harmless, but it has also increased that funding each year.

“My budgets prioritized significant municipal aid investments because that funding is about more than ensuring our unique towns and cities are incredible places to live, but because that funding supports our children’s education and gives them the best opportunity at the starting line in life,” Governor Lamont said. “Over the last several years, our budgets have doubled municipal aid and PILOT funding, and in my next biennium proposal we kept with those investments by proposing more special education funding, community economic development grants, and school and local capital improvement projects.”

Over the last five years:
- The Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant to municipalities, which supports the operations of K-12 public schools, has increased 17%. The state’s per pupil spending of $22,000 is among the highest in the country (top five) and nearly $5,000 above the national per pupil average of $16,665.
- PILOT funding to municipalities has doubled.
- General government aid to municipalities has doubled.
- More than $400 million in state grants have been provided to the state’s most distressed municipalities through the Community Investment Fund, which Governor Lamont and the General Assembly established in 2022 to support capital improvement projects in towns and cities.
- More than $3.3 billion has been provided to municipalities to fund school construction projects.
The FY 2026/2027 budget that Governor Lamont proposed and is currently being considered by the state legislature contains several areas of increases for municipal services, including:
- An $85 million increase in the ECS grant to municipalities in FY 2026. This increase will bring ECS aid to municipalities a full two-years ahead of the schedule planned in the state’s current ten-year phase-in timeline.
- A $40 million increase in the Excess Cost Grant in FY 2027 to support special education services.
- The creation of a new state grant to municipalities called the High-Quality Special Education Incentive Grant, which will support the ability of school districts to provide high-quality special education programming in-district and regionally, reducing reliance on out-of-district placements and meeting students’ needs as identified by their individualized education program in the least restrictive environment. The budget proposal invests $10 million from the general fund and $4 million in bond funds in this grant program for FY 2027.
- The largest expansion of preschool access in Connecticut history through the creation of the Universal Preschool Endowment, which will be seeded by $300 million from the FY 2025 surplus and in the following years will receive funding from any unappropriated surpluses in the general fund.
- An investment of $9.9 million in FY 2027 to continue the Learner Education and Engagement Program (LEAP), which Governor Lamont established during the COVID-19 pandemic to help address chronic student absenteeism and engagement.
- An investment of $700,000 in FY 2026 to eliminate reduced price lunch and breakfast fees for students statewide.
- An additional investment of $12.4 million in FY 2027 to provide universal free school breakfast.
- An investment of $5 million in FY 2027 to support a High Dosage Tutoring Grant program, which will serve nearly 12,000 students to provide tutoring support.
- An investment of $350 million in FY 2026 and 2027 combined to continue grants through the Community Investment Fund.
The General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee are currently reviewing the governor’s budget proposal and are anticipated to act on it in the coming weeks.

MIL OSI USA News –
March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Research Day 2025 Highlights Medical and Dental Research Breadth
Source: US State of Connecticut

Medicine and dentistry students stood beside their posters, brightly catching the eye of anyone who seemed interested in their work, as faculty and fellow students browsed the buzzing hall.

“Each year, we are thoroughly impressed by the quality and rigor of the scholarly work that is presented by our students and, if you have looked at the program booklet and have read the abstracts, this year’s presentations will be no different,” School of Dental Medicine Dean Steven Lepowsky promised that morning, as he welcomed attendees to the 2025 Medical and Dental Research Day.

The energy was infectious. This is the second year the research day has been back in person, after taking a hiatus during the pandemic, and students, faculty, and staff happily mingled while viewing posters on a wildly diverse range of topics, from sexually transmitted disease treatment to maxillofacial surgery.

“Year after year our students make us so UConn-proud with their novel research investigations and professional presentations about them. They surely are poised to become the next generation of physician-scientists,” said Dr. Bruce T. Liang, dean of UConn School of Medicine.

After the poster sessions, Wenyuan Shi, the chief executive officer of the ADA Forsyth Institute, addressed the students with a keynote on how to combine a satisfying career in the health fields with opportunities for technological innovation and business development.

“Research and innovation have everything to do with being a good doctor,” Shi said.

Wenyuan Shi, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at the ADA Forsyth Institute, gives a lecture as the keynote speaker at the Medical and Dental Student Research Day at UConn Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine, on FEbruary 27, 2025. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo)

The dental and medical students presented 102 projects, enough to fill the hallways and lobby near the rotunda as well as the landing on the way to the library. Every poster contained original research done by second-year students. It was impossible for a single individual to speak with every presenter, but below is a sampling of the work presented by the students.

Root to Crown

Longer roots make for stabler smiles: teeth with longer roots compared to the visible crown of the tooth are more likely to stay put. Especially in orthodontics, the length of the root of the tooth is a good predictor of how successful the treatment will be.

“It’s important to have that good anchor,” dental student Stephanie Salcines said. Salcines’s research looked at whether ethnicity correlated with root length in Asian and Hispanic populations. The answer she found was no, aside from the maxillary lateral incisor—but gender did seem to make a difference, particularly among Hispanics.

Fewer X-rays, Same Imagery

A new 3D x-ray technique that uses just half the radiation can identify problems in the sinuses as well as the standard method, reported Erica Mallon. The second-year dental student showed that cone beam computed tomography scans taken only from behind, rotating around the head from one ear to the other, can allow clear diagnosis of blockages, deformations, and other sinus troubles. The 180-degree behind the head technique fully shows the teeth and the sinuses, while avoiding radiation to the sensitive eyes and thyroid gland, Mallon found. Previous research showed this reduces the total radiation dose by 40% to 60%.

“This is a sweet spot between a reasonably low and balanced radiation exposure and the resolution needed for diagnosis and clinical treatment planning,” said Aditya Tadinada, associate dean for graduate research and one of the principal investigators on the project.

Troughs of Tears

The thin skin under the eye often sags with age, particularly the area around the tear trough. It’s a common location for cosmetic surgeries, but there are nerves, major blood vessels and veins that must be avoided. Second-year dental student John Fregene surveyed outcomes of tear trough cosmetic procedures and found that surgeons who followed specific guidelines caused little swelling, no artery damage, no nerve damage, and improved the appearance of the tear trough area.

“There should be a standard protocol to follow in tear trough augmentation,” Fregene said.

Exon of Action in Hyperparathyroidism

Hyperparathyroidism is a rare condition in which the parathyroid glands become overactive, causing jaw tumors, renal and uterine issues. There’s a specific gene that commonly causes the condition, called CDC73. Second-year dental student Lorens Carrasquillo found most of the mutations associated with hyperparathyroidism affected Exon 1, a specific location in CDC73.

Objectively Painful

Pain is notoriously subjective—but maybe not, according to work done by Victoria Abalyan, a second-year medical student. She used microfilments to apply precise amounts of pressure on a patient’s forearm and asked them to rate their perceived level of pain. There was definitely a correlation between level of pressure and level of reported pain, indicating women were reliably reporting their pain levels. All the patients in the study were women within 48 hours of having given birth.

“We want to take data further out, at six weeks, or 24 weeks. We might be able to screen for women who are at higher risk of pain in the postpartum period,” Abalyan said.

Medical and dental students present their research at the UConn Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine research day on February 27, 2025. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo)

Ultrasound in the Emergency Room

Long waits in the emergency room are common and frustrating for patients. Three student researchers looked at whether ultrasounds done right in the emergency room could speed appropriate treatment for patients with three common issues: joint pain, suspected urinary tract infections, and emergency surgery.

Second-year medical student Michael Kosover looked into whether ultrasound could help triage joint pain. And it could—not a single joint pain patient with a normal ultrasound required surgery or admission to the hospital.

“It was 100% sensitivity,” Kosover said. “And the advantage of ultrasound is it’s quicker, no radiation, and portable.”

Delaney Kehoe looked into whether ultrasounds could diagnose urinary tract infections in the emergency room.

“We expected to see if there was a different in the inner wall of the bladder—a thicker layer, because of inflammation, or just different,” Kehoe said. In this case, the answer seemed to be no—but the study didn’t recruit enough patients, so they may continue it to get a larger sample size and clearer results.

Aspiration (inhaling stomach contents) can be a risk during lifesaving intubations in the emergency room. The risk of aspiration is why patients are advised to fast before surgery—but people who need emergency surgery obviously can’t plan ahead. Nicolette Meka evaluated whether ultrasound can reliably determine stomach size, and if so, which angle of the patient’s torso gives the best ultrasound view of their stomach.

“We found coronal—looking at the stomach from the patient’s side—gave 94.6% specificity,” in whether they had significant food in their stomach, Meka said.

Hives on Social Media

Getting hives – those red, itchy raised welts on the skin – happens to a portion of the population all the time, for no apparent reason. Yee Won Kim had them all the time when she was young, and information on how to treat or prevent them was scarce. Now, people are likely to look for advice on social media, the second-year medical student reports in her research.

“Many people are just asking what helped other people—there are a lot of good conversations happening,” Kim says. She collected information on the people and questions surrounding “chronic spontaneous urticaria,” as hives are known, on social media channels including X, Instagram, and Facebook.

Following the poster day, the judging committee, composed of medical and dental faculty, decided on the winners of the competition.

The winners of the 2025 Student Research Day are below.

Medical and dental students present their research at the UConn Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine research day on February 27, 2025. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo)

School of Medicine

CONNECTICUT ACADEMY OF FAMILY PRACTICE: One medical student will receive this $200 monetary gift for excellence in Primary Care Research.

Poster 57 | Survey Connecticut Providers on the Process of Making Patient Referrals to Community-Based Organizations
- Paul Jude Isaac
CONNECTICUT HOLISTIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION: Awarded by Dr. Michael Basso, this annual award was established to recognize excellence in research in Integrative/ Complementary and Alternative Medicine. A medical student and a dental student will each receive an award of $100. Special thanks go to Dr. Michael Basso of the Connecticut Holistic Health Association.

Poster 51 | Financial Strain as a Contributor to Cognitive Impairment in Late Life Depression
- Brian Fox
- Madison Witt
DEAN’S AWARD: In recognition of two outstanding medical student researchers and their faculty mentors. Awards of $250 each will be presented to the four awardees. The awards to faculty mentors will be used for travel to a scientific meeting.

Poster 31 | Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence Integration in Pediatric Health Care for Patient Education
- Veronica Sofia Arroyo Rodriguez & Dr. Thomas Agresta
Poster 77 | Gastric Distention on Ultrasound: Coronal versus Sagittal Approach
- Nicolette Mary Meka & Dr. Meghan Herbst
MR. AND MRS. JEFFREY GROSS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENT: Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Gross established this award. Dr. Jeffrey Gross is Professor Emeritus at UCHC. Awards of $250 each will be given to two medical student researchers who presented excellent studies. One award will go to an oral presentation and one award will go to a poster presentation.

Poster 47 | In vivo modeling of a novel TEK:GAB2 fusion oncogene reveals targetable oncogenic signaling pathways in angiosarcoma
- Flora Isabella Dievenich Braes
Poster 52 | Visit characteristics from emergency departments caring for persons living with dementia: a nationally representative sample
- James Christopher Galske
JOHN SHANLEY MEMORIAL GLOBAL HEALTH AWARD: The award is to honor the memory of John D. Shanley, MD, MPH, former Chief of Infectious Disease at the University of Connecticut, and Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health and Associate Dean of International Health at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. This award is sponsored by FNE International and will be given in recognition of a project that best exemplifies collaboration towards sustainable services with an international partner. The student will receive a monetary award of $250.

Poster 68 | Assessing Dengue Vaccine Acceptance in Pediatric Caregivers in Kandy, Sri Lanka
- Caitlin Alexandra Lawrence
LAWRENCE G. RAISZ AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MUSCULOSKELETAL RESEARCH:

In honor and memory of Lawrence G. Raisz, M.D., this award of $250 will be given to a medical student researcher who presented outstanding work in the field musculoskeletal research.

Poster 54 | Effect of 4-Aminopyridine and Smoothened Agonist on Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
- Christopher Jesse Garcia
PEER RECOGNITION AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH:

This award of $200 will be given to a medical student researcher in recognition of an exemplary poster presentation, as determined by peer review.

Poster 76 | Reassessing Maxillary Sinusitis: Recognizing Odontogenic Origins in the ENT Clinic
- Uma Sandeep Mehta
WILLIAM M. WADLEIGH MEMORIAL AWARD FOR CROSS-CULTURAL AND INTERNATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH: The award is in honor the memory of William M. Wadleigh, PhD, anthropologist and Associate Director of the Center for International Community Health Studies in the Department of Community Medicine and Health Care. This $250 award is given annually to a medical student whose research exemplifies international and cross-cultural understanding of health issues.

Poster 75 | Assessing the Impact of Pediatric Dengue Hospitalization on Caregiver Stress and Functioning
- Meghan Martin
School of Dental Medicine

DEAN’S AWARD:
Student: Sadhana Sankar
Mentor: Dr. Caroline Dealy
Awarded in recognition of an outstanding presentation demonstrating clinical application and technique relating to dentistry. This award consists of an expense-paid trip as the School of Dental Medicine’s representative to the Hinman Student Research Symposium held in Memphis, Tennessee in October 2025.

ASSOCIATE DEAN’S AWARD:
Student: Daniel Kotait
Mentor: Dr. I-Ping Chen
Awarded in recognition of an outstanding presentation in basic, clinical, educational, or behavioral science. The award consists of a complimentary meeting registration and travel assistance to present at the AADOCR General Session & Exhibition in 2026.

DENTSPLY-SIRONA STUDENT CLINICIAN AWARD:
Student: Claire Ann
Mentor: Dr. Frank Nichols
Awarded in recognition of an outstanding presentation. Includes travel assistance to the 2026 AADOCR General Session & Exhibition/Dentsply-Sirona SCADA Program as the School’s representative; allowance for lodging, food and other expenses and a Dentsply-Sirona crystal.

CONNECTICUT HOLISTIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION:
Student: Madison Witt
Mentor: Dr. Gary Schulman
Presented by Dr. Michael Basso, this annual award was established to recognize excellence in research in Integrative/ Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Special thanks to Dr. Michael Basso of the Connecticut Holistic Health Association.

HORACE WELLS AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN DENTISTRY:
Student: Erica Mallon
Mentors: Dr. Pooja Bysani and Dr. Aditya Tadinada
Student: Donny You
Mentor: Dr. David Shafer
Two awards will be given to dental students in recognition of outstanding research with a focus on innovation in dentistry.This award is supported by the Horace Wells Trust.

JAMES AND ELLA BURR MCMANUS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DENTAL RESEARCH:
Student: Bradley Rosenberg
Mentor: Dr. Alix Deymier
Student: Haven Montefalco
Mentor: Dr. Frank Nichols
Two awards will be given to dental students presenting at the student research day to recognize excellence in research. This award is supported by the James and Ella Burr McManus Trust.

DENTAL STUDENT RESEARCH SOCIETY AWARD:
Student: Marcus Costa
Mentor: Dr. Flavio Uribe
Presented for excellence in a science presentation by dental students at the Student Research Day. Special thanks to Dr. Arthur Hand for supporting this award.

GUSTAVE PERL MEMORIAL AWARD:
Student: Henry Shaffer
Mentor: Dr. Dong Zhou
A scholarship award presented for outstanding original research.

OMICRON KAPPA UPSILON-PHI CHI CHAPTER AWARDS:
Two awards given in recognition of outstanding research; the first award is given for basic science research and the second award given for clinical science research.

OKU-Basic Science Research Category
Student: Bryson Christian
Mentor: Dr. Eliane Dutra

OKU-Clinical Science Research Category
Student: Alfredo Rendon
Mentor: Dr. Prazwala Chirravur

We would like to acknowledge generous donations from our many sponsors in support and recognition of the hard work of our dental research students. Special thanks to our judges and research committees for their review of the abstracts, posters and judging this event. And lastly, congratulations to all of our dental student researchers and their faculty mentors for making this day possible.

MIL OSI USA News –
March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Kevin Rooney announced as new Senior Traffic Commissioner
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Kevin Rooney announced as new Senior Traffic Commissioner

Secretary of State for Transport appoints Kevin Rooney as the new Senior Traffic Commissioner.
Kevin Rooney will start his new role on 1 June 2025

he has been appointed following 13 years’ service as Traffic Commissioner for the West of England, a role he will maintain while in his new position

Transport Secretary thanks outgoing Senior Traffic Commissioner Richard Turfitt for his great work, including seeing the arm’s length body through the pandemic

The Secretary of State for Transport is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Rooney as the new Senior Traffic Commissioner, effective from 1 June 2025.

In his role as Senior Traffic Commissioner, Kevin will oversee the work of the Traffic Commissioners, who are responsible for regulating the road transport industry across the UK, with specific oversight of public service vehicles (such as buses and coaches), freight operators, and drivers.

Kevin takes on the Senior Traffic Commissioner from his current position as Traffic Commissioner for the West of England and brings extensive knowledge from his experience at the Vehicle Inspectorate and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). In these roles, he managed the introduction of the first MOT emission tests, diesel smoke tests and led the programme to upgrade VOSA’s enforcement processes, alongside working as a road safety consultant to new EU member states.

As the role of Senior Traffic Commissioner must be held by a serving Traffic Commissioner, Kevin will retain his role as West of England Traffic Commissioner alongside his new position. Kevin is hoping to continue the excellent work done by his predecessor, Richard Turfitt, to improve and develop the Traffic Commissioner service.

Richard leaves the role following the natural conclusion of his second 4-year term as Senior Traffic Commissioner. During his time in office, Richard has responded to a period of unprecedented and unparalleled change, first working through the issues emerging from the UK’s departure from the EU including drafting statutory guidance on the contingency of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) Permits and then working to provide support during COVID-19 and the recovery period.

Under his stewardship, the Traffic Commissioners were guided through the pandemic, maintaining critical services, which led to a complete overhaul of operations, including the move to virtual hearings and the use of digital technologies, alongside strengthened ties with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

Richard’s liaison with the sector via key note addresses and industry engagements has also been widely appreciated by industry leads, and served to bring visibility to the Traffic Commissioner’s important role in regulation and road user safety. As Kevin steps into the role, Richard will be continuing in his role as Traffic Commissioner for the East of England.

Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, said:

I’m delighted to confirm Kevin Rooney as the new Senior Traffic Commissioner.

He arrives with a wealth of experience from his time as Traffic Commissioner for the West of England and we’re all excited to see him build on the fantastic work of his predecessor, Richard Turfitt.

I’d like to extend my thanks to Richard for his 2 full terms of service in the role, during which he has seen the team through the difficult pandemic period, and wish him the very best for the future, as he returns to his vital role as Traffic Commissioner for the East of England.

Kevin Rooney, incoming Senior Traffic Commissioner, said:

It is a great privilege to be appointed as Senior Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain.

I want to pay tribute to Richard Turfitt and the work he has done as Senior Traffic Commissioner for the past 8 years. Arguably, he led the commissioners through some of the toughest times we have seen during the pandemic, making quick decisions to keep the haulage and passenger industries working compliantly and to facilitate service recovery thereafter.

Following in his footsteps will not be easy, but I look forward to that challenge, working equally closely with those who support commissioners and those we serve.

Richard Turfitt, outgoing Senior Traffic Commissioner, said:

I am pleased that the work of traffic commissioners is being recognised. It has been humbling to hold this judicial leadership role at times of crisis and to then be able to help the many responsible operators, transport managers and drivers who make up the regulated industries.

It is undoubtedly a challenging and often isolating role, which requires support from officials, colleagues, tribunal and licensing staff and stakeholders to be effective. The working relationship with professional bodies and trade representatives has proved invaluable to serving Great Britain and in securing the safety of road transport.

I look forward to continuing and supporting Kevin in that work, as he takes up the mantle.

Roads media enquiries

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Published 25 March 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Our research shows the harm the two-child limit on benefits is doing. Only scrapping it can end this

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kate Andersen, Research Fellow, School for Business and Society, University of York

Malysheva Liudmyla/Shutterstock

Since the UK Labour government took office in summer 2024, calls have intensified to scrap both the “two-child limit” – which restricts support for children through universal credit to two children – and the overall benefit cap. With Chancellor Rachel Reeves resisting this pressure as she tries to manage deteriorating public finances, ways of tweaking the two-child limit policy have been proposed.

But as researchers of child poverty, we have no doubt that the best place to start reducing the high and rising numbers of children growing up in poverty in Britain today is by fully abolishing the two-child limit and the benefit cap.

We argue that both policies are astoundingly unfair. As our four-year research programme has documented, both are causing wide-ranging harm to children. They restrict children’s everyday experiences and damage their ability to thrive – which in the long run affects everyone in the UK.

Children live in poverty because their families don’t have an adequate income. This is partly a simple question of maths: wages don’t adjust when there are more mouths to feed. It’s also partly because things happen unexpectedly for some families – job loss, disability, relationship breakdown – leaving them needing extra support for a period of time.

Countries across Europe respond to these dual challenges by providing financial support that adjusts to family needs. Until recently, the UK did too. Indeed, the UK welfare state was one of the pioneers of “family allowances” in the post-war period.

But since 2017, the UK has reformed the system so that in families with three or more children, the support on offer when things go wrong deliberately and explicitly falls far short of what is needed. The UK’s two-child limit, an approach that differs to other countries in Europe, restricts means-tested support to two children in a family only. It bakes child poverty into the fibre of the UK.

Its sister policy, the benefit cap, limits the maximum benefit amount available to households without adults in work. This removes further help from some of the most vulnerable.

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Struggling to get by

The parents we spoke to frequently talked of difficulties in affording basic necessities for their children, including clothes and food. Many parents had resorted to using foodbanks or cut back on food spending.

Read more:
‘When you’ve got nothing in your belly, you can’t concentrate’: teachers on the food banks they run in schools

The material impacts also affected children’s education and their social and emotional wellbeing. Jessica is a single mum of four. Her business went under during the pandemic and her partner left the household, leaving her affected by both the two-child limit and the benefit cap.

When a hole appeared in Jessica’s daughter’s school shoes, there was no money to replace them straight away. Her daughter went to school wearing trainers and was put in isolation for not adhering to the dress code. Jessica explained:

I got the phone call to say she had to go into isolation and, and things and I just said, “I’m not the type of person that just has £20 sat in the bank” … it was kind of a bit public shaming her really, taking her away and putting her in isolation.

Our interviews also showed that, despite parents’ best efforts to shield them, children are often aware of household financial hardship and in turn try to protect their parents. Christina, a mum of three affected by the two-child limit, said of her middle child:

He won’t say he needs new clothes and he won’t say his shoes don’t fit anymore … I think he’s got it into his head now that we can’t go out and spend or he can’t ask, and I feel so bad for that.

Our research also documents the importance of abolishing the benefit cap alongside the two-child limit. Otherwise, some families affected by the two-child limit won’t see much financial gain, while others will be newly pushed into the benefit cap.

Complete removal

Suggested alternatives to the full abolition of the two child limit include a “three-child limit”, or an exemption for children under five. These options would undoubtedly help some families, but would leave many of those in the greatest need still struggling.

Families are struggling to get the food they need.
Klemzy/Shutterstock

Pound for pound, a three-child limit is less effective at reducing poverty than simple abolition, precisely because it is less well targeted on those in deepest poverty. An exemption for under fives would create a new cliff edge, removing significant support on a child’s fifth birthday, even though we know that the costs of children rise as children get older.

Further, these approaches continue to enforce a separation between what a family needs and its entitlement to support, and therefore will continue to embed child poverty as an institutional feature of our social security system. Children’s life chances will continue to be circumscribed by the number of siblings they have. Given what we know about the long-term costs of child poverty for society, these are short-sighted ways to save money today.

It is very encouraging that the government has committed to a child poverty strategy, and that the prime minister has said he will be “laser focused” on tackling child poverty.

But, as we wait for the strategy to be published, the number of children harmed by the two-child limit rises daily. Nearly two-in-five larger families are now affected and this is predicted to rise to 61% of larger families by the time the two-child limit has full coverage.

If the child poverty strategy is to have real impact, its starting point is straightforward: both the two-child limit and the benefit cap need to go, and urgently, before more damage is done to children’s lives.

Kate Andersen received funding from the Nuffield Foundation and the Research England Policy Support Fund facilitated by The York Policy Engine for the research reported in this article.

Kitty Stewart has received funding from the Nuffield Foundation for the research reported in this article.

– ref. Our research shows the harm the two-child limit on benefits is doing. Only scrapping it can end this – https://theconversation.com/our-research-shows-the-harm-the-two-child-limit-on-benefits-is-doing-only-scrapping-it-can-end-this-252250

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Tiff Macklem: Navigating tariff uncertainty

Source: Bank for International Settlements

Introduction

Good morning. It’s a pleasure to be here in Alberta. I want to thank Calgary Economic Development for the invitation. The last time I spoke in Calgary was about 18 months ago-September 2023. The post-pandemic crisis was easing, but uncertainty remained. Inflation was still above 3%, and the Bank of Canada’s policy interest rate was 5%. Canadians were being squeezed by still-elevated inflation and higher interest rates. Could we get inflation back to our 2% target without tipping the economy into recession?

As 2024 closed out, this question was largely resolved. Inflation was on target, and economic growth had picked up. The Canadian economy was in good shape.

Inflation came down through the first half of last year and had been close to 2% since last summer. As the Bank’s Governing Council became more confident that inflation was on track to return to target, we began reducing our policy interest rate, starting last spring. Substantial rate cuts through the rest of the year boosted household spending, and economic growth picked up to 2.2% in the third quarter and 2.6% in the fourth. Employment growth also strengthened in November through January, and the unemployment rate came down.

The Canadian economy managed a soft landing. Unfortunately, we’re not going to stay on the tarmac for long.

MIL OSI Economics –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: How to protect your eyes in the digital age – expert in eye and vision science

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniela Oehring, Associate Professor in Optometry, University of Plymouth

Prostock-studio/Shutterstock

In an era where screens dominate our daily lives, a silent epidemic is sweeping the globe. Digital eye strain, a condition once relegated to the fringes of occupational health concerns, has emerged as a significant public health issue affecting millions worldwide. As our reliance on digital devices for work, education and social interaction intensifies, so too does the risk to our ocular health.

Recent studies paint a stark picture. Up to 50% of computer users could develop digital eye strain. This condition, characterised by a range of ocular and visual symptoms, including dryness, watering, itching, burning and blurred or even double vision, is not merely a matter of discomfort; it can indicate potentially chronic issues that can significantly affect a person’s quality of life and productivity.

The COVID pandemic has exacerbated this trend, with lockdowns and social distancing measures driving screen time to unprecedented levels.

A marked increase in digital device usage during the pandemic correlates with a surge in ocular surface diseases, visual disturbances and digital eye strain.

The unseen toll of digital dependence

But what exactly happens to our eyes when we stare at screens for long periods? The answer lies in the intricate biology of our visual system. When focusing on digital displays, our blink rate falls, and our eyes strain to maintain focus on near objects for extended periods. Reduced blinking and sustained near focus triggers a cascade of ocular issues, from mild irritation to chronic dryness.

The symptoms of digital eye strain are diverse and often insidious. They range from the immediately noticeable, such as eye fatigue, dryness, and blurred vision, to more subtle signs like headaches and neck pain. While often transient, these symptoms can become persistent and debilitating if left unchecked.

Contrary to popular belief, the blue light emitted by screens is not the primary cause of digital eye strain. While blue light can contribute to eye fatigue and disrupt sleep patterns, there’s no conclusive evidence that it causes permanent eye damage. The real villains are poor ergonomics, extended near-focus work and reduced blinking.

So, how can we protect our vision in this screen-centric world? The solution lies in a multifaceted approach that combines behavioural changes, environmental adjustments, and, when necessary, medical interventions.

Protective measures

The 20-20-20 rule is a simple but effective strategy for protecting your eyes against digital strain.

Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to focus on something 20 feet away. This brief respite allows your eye muscles to relax, reducing the strain associated with constant near focus work. While widely recommended, it’s worth noting that the efficacy of this specific rule hasn’t been rigorously studied, but the principle of taking frequent breaks is sound.

Environmental factors play a fundamental role in maintaining ocular comfort during screen use. Proper lighting, adequate humidity and good air quality can significantly affect eye health. Use adjustable lamps to direct light away from your eyes, use a humidifier to maintain moisture levels and consider an air purifier to remove irritating airborne particles.

Ergonomic adjustments are equally important. Position your screen at arm’s length and slightly below eye level to reduce neck strain. Increase font sizes to minimise squinting and ensure your chair provides proper back support for good posture.

For those experiencing persistent symptoms, professional help is key. Eye care practitioners can provide comprehensive exams to identify underlying issues such as refractive errors – common eye conditions where the eye’s shape prevents light from focusing correctly on the retina, causing blurry vision – or dry eye disease. Ocular specialists can prescribe targeted treatments, from specialised eye-wear to medications that address specific eye health concerns.

Emerging therapies offer hope for more effective management of digital eye strain. Drugs called novel TRPM8 agonists show promise in relieving dry eye discomfort by activating cooling receptors on the eye’s surface. Meanwhile, wearable biosensors that fit as a patch under the eye or attached to contact lenses are being developed to monitor tear fluid biomarkers in real time. Tears can reflect the health of the ocular surface and potentially the whole body, so this technological development could transform the diagnosis and treatment of ocular surface diseases.

Irreplaceable assets

In this digital age, it’s important to take measures to protect our vision. By recognising the signs of digital eye strain, implementing protective strategies, and seeking timely professional care, we can reduce the risks associated with our screen-dependent lifestyles.

The challenge of digital eye strain is not insurmountable. With awareness, education and a commitment to ocular health, we can continue exploiting digital technology’s benefits without compromising our vision. As we look to the future, integrating eye-friendly technologies and ergonomic designs in our digital devices may offer additional layers of protection.

In the meantime, remember to take breaks, blink often and don’t hesitate to seek professional help if you experience persistent symptoms. In doing so, you’ll be taking crucial steps towards ensuring clear, comfortable vision.

Daniela Oehring receives funding from UKRI and Sight Research UK.

– ref. How to protect your eyes in the digital age – expert in eye and vision science – https://theconversation.com/how-to-protect-your-eyes-in-the-digital-age-expert-in-eye-and-vision-science-252280

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UKHSA publishes first annual report summarising latest infectious disease trends
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

UKHSA publishes first annual report summarising latest infectious disease trends

The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) first annual report summarising the latest infectious disease trends, bringing together all the key data from 2023 to early 2025 and outlining steps the organisation is taking to tackle these threats.
The Infectious diseases impacting England: 2025 report shows a rise in both endemic disease and vaccine-preventable infections. Infectious diseases were the primary reason for over 20% of hospital bed usage, at an annual cost of almost £6bn in 2023 to 2024. Developing scientific capability and effective interventions are having positive impacts, but more action is needed.

The report shows the re-emergence, re-establishment and an unrelenting rise in a number of infectious diseases since 2022 to 2023, with particular increases in endemic diseases and vaccine-preventable infections. The agency acknowledges that the return of social mixing, international travel and migration following the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to these patterns.

The report also shows some really positive impact in some areas due to the introduction of new public health interventions.

An intense influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) season was seen in 2024 to 2025, for the second consecutive year after the pandemic, with activity and hospital admissions at similar levels seen post-pandemic in 2022 to 2023. The introduction of the new RSV vaccine programmes for the elderly, and pregnant women are already helping to reduce winter pressures. Interim findings published today confirm a 30% reduction in the rate of RSV hospital admissions in the winter of 2024 to 2025 in 75 to 79 year olds; this cohort are eligible for vaccination under the new programme.

COVID-19 transmission has declined, with the virus circulating at baseline levels of activity for much of the current winter season. Incremental vaccine effectiveness was around 45% against hospitalisation, with vaccine uptake in older age groups at 60% to 70%. Vaccination of priority groups, in particular the elderly, remained an important intervention to protect against severe disease.

Tuberculosis (TB) cases have increased by 11% in 2023 compared to 2022, with provisional data for 2024 showing a further increase of 13%, which amounted to more than 600 additional notifications of people being diagnosed in 2024 compared to 2023. This trajectory would see the UK lose its World Health Organization (WHO) low incidence status if not reversed. UKHSA continues to work with NHSE and other partners on the TB action plan, which sets out steps to improve the prevention and detection of TB.

Continued progress in eliminating viral Hepatitis C (HCV) as a public health problem by 2030 has been made, with the number of people living with chronic HCV infection falling dramatically by 57% from 2015 to the end of 2023. England is also meeting and exceeding the WHO’s absolute targets on Hepatitis B virus (HBV) related mortality, incidence, mother-to-child transmission and vaccine coverage.

There has been surge in cases of measles in children under the age of 10 and an outbreak of whooping cough (pertussis) in 2024, with 433 cases in infants under 3 months of age, of whom 10 died. Both outbreaks highlight the critical importance of vaccination in eligible groups.

UKHSA analysis found that over 20% of secondary care bed days in 2023 to 2024 in NHS hospitals (admitted care) were primarily attributable to infectious disease, at a cost of £5.9bn. These infections are also distributed unevenly; in England, from 2023 to 2024, hospital admission rates due to infectious

Diseases and infections were nearly twice as high for people in the 20% most deprived areas compared to the least deprived. UKHSA is undertaking further work to better understand these disparities.

UKHSA continues to be at the forefront of the work being done to tackle the spread of TB, working closely with the NHS and local systems to ensure optimal prevention and control measures are implemented, for example. Also crucial is developing the evidence base for new interventions to support further policy development to help reduce transmission of the disease.

There are also novel interventions on the horizon for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), based on UKHSA evidence. A routine gonorrhoea programme using the 4CMenB vaccine for GBMSM (gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men) at high risk has been advised. UKHSA has also worked with the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV to develop their evidence-based clinical guideline for the use of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis for the prevention of syphilis, which is currently out for public consultation.

Richard Pebody, Director of Epidemic and Emerging infections at UKHSA, said:

It is clear that a number of factors altered the rates and impact of endemic and epidemic infectious diseases in England over recent years, and the reductions in transmission related to the COVID-19 pandemic have been followed by a rise in a range of infections since 2022 to 2023 due to the return of social mixing, international travel and migration.

We have also seen vaccine uptake decrease for a number of infectious diseases, including measles, whooping cough and in certain groups eligible for the flu vaccine, such as under 65 at risk, pregnant women and health care workers.

This winter has demonstrated that rises in rates of infectious diseases can cause significant strain, not only on the individuals directly affected, but also on the NHS. It is vital that we are not complacent about infections where we can reduce the burden of disease via interventions such as our world-class vaccination programmes.

Dame Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said:

Our scientific capability and the introduction of new interventions are all helping to keep people safe and well, but our report also highlights that we have plenty of work and opportunities ahead.

Along with our partners across the healthcare sector, we need to be bolder. Behind this data there are real people, people who are sick or at risk of becoming sick, and in some cases dying. This brings with it a cost to our economy too. Yet much of this harm and distress is preventable.

Our rich data sources provide us with a huge amount of knowledge, and we will continue to use it, carefully and confidentially, to reduce the burden of infectious disease across the country, ensuring our interventions reach the people who need them most.’

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Published 25 March 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Jet fuel made up a record share of U.S. refinery output in 2024

Source: US Energy Information Administration

In-brief analysis

March 24, 2025

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Monthly
Note: Refinery yield represents the percentage of finished product produced (output) from gross inputs. EIA calculates refinery yield as the net production of a finished petroleum product (output) divided by the sum of the input of crude oil, hydrogen, and other hydrocarbons and the net input of unfinished oils.

U.S. refineries produced a record-high share of jet fuel in 2024, reflecting increased demand relative to other transportation fuels.

Motor gasoline, distillate fuel oil, and jet fuel make up more than 85% of U.S. refinery output, with gasoline making up the largest share and distillate fuel oil making up the second largest. Refiners can shift yields among those three products in response to market conditions but are limited by refinery configuration, crude oil inputs grades, and the high costs of modifying refinery infrastructure. Refinery yields reflect the volumetric ratio of a finished product to a refinery’s combined net inputs of crude oil and unfinished oils. Changes in U.S. refinery yields reflect both changes at individual refineries and shifts in the U.S. refining fleet due to refinery openings and closures.

Changes in demand are an important factor driving changes in refinery yields. Increased air travel, measured by both TSA passenger volume and flight departures, has increased U.S. jet fuel consumption every year following the steep decline in 2020. Although jet fuel consumption has not yet recovered to its pre-pandemic 2019 volumes because of efficiency gains and changing flight patterns, among other factors, we expect jet fuel consumption will reach a record high in 2026, based on our March Short-Term Energy Outlook.

As the U.S. refinery fleet shifted operations toward increased jet fuel production, the U.S. refinery yield for motor gasoline decreased to its lowest share since 2015, the refinery yield for distillate fuel oil was about flat, and the refinery yield for residual fuel oil increased slightly from the previous year.

Principal contributor: Jimmy Troderman

MIL OSI USA News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: Wrap Taps Former EXIM Bank Executive Stephen M. Renna to Spearhead International Growth and Financing Strategy

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MIAMI, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wrap Technologies (NASDAQ: WRAP) (“Wrap” or, the “Company”), a global leader in innovative public safety technologies and non-lethal tools, today announced the appointment of Stephen M. Renna as a Strategic Advisor to the Company. Mr. Renna brings more than 35 years of executive experience in both public and private sectors and will focus on international expansion, with an emphasis on Made-in-USA exports and financing strategies through U.S. government resources.

A seasoned expert at the intersection of business and government, Mr. Renna served as Chief Banking Officer at the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM), where he led the execution of trade financing solutions in support of U.S. exporters, managing a $50 billion portfolio and a $40 billion pipeline. At Wrap, he is expected to advise on leveraging programs, such as the EXIM Bank and the Department of Defense (“DoD”) Office of Strategic Capital, to expand Wrap’s international go-to-market strategy and enhance its international pipeline for services like the Company’s BolaWrap and Managed Safety and Response (MSR).

“Steve’s appointment underscores our commitment to transforming how U.S. safety technologies are deployed worldwide,” said Jared Novick, President of Wrap. “We believe that his unmatched expertise in federal finance and international deal-making will not only increase our competitiveness globally—but also allow us to create a strategic advantage for U.S.-made public safety solutions.”

“We have had strong international interest, with many potential purchases, in the final stages,” said Scot Cohen, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of Wrap. “We believe offering financial solutions will help deepen our value proposition in a way that also aligns with U.S. strategic interests.”

Mr. Renna’s career includes leadership roles that positioned American companies to win global contracts against foreign state-backed competitors. As Head of The Advocacy Center at the U.S. Department of Commerce, he helped coordinate government support for U.S. firms bidding on international government contracts—facilitating wins on more than 200 projects totaling over $147 billion in value.

Made in USA Products and Services

The Company believes Mr. Renna’s insights will be instrumental in aligning Wrap’s mission with critical U.S. government initiatives, including the China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP), which offers competitive financing for key strategic sectors—such as public safety, AI, and communications—to help counter growing Chinese influence in emerging markets.

“We believe Wrap is uniquely positioned to advance American leadership in public safety innovation,” said Mr. Renna. “I am excited to help extend Wrap’s impact by unlocking financing tools that enable U.S. technologies to compete—and win—on the global stage.”

Mr. Renna currently serves as Principal at Federal Agency Finance Advisors, LLC, where he advises companies on accessing financing from federal agencies including EXIM, DOE, and the DoD. He previously led the federal agency practice at Ankura’s Global Strategic Advisory Group and served as Chief Executive Officer of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council.

He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Fairfield University.

About Wrap Technologies, Inc.

Wrap Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: WRAP) is a global leader in public safety solutions, bringing together cutting-edge technology with exceptional people to address the complex, modern day challenges facing public safety organizations.

Wrap’s BolaWrap^® solution is a safer way to gain compliance—without pain.

This innovative, patented device deploys light, sound, and a Kevlar^® tether to safely restrain individuals from a distance, giving officers critical time and space to manage non-compliant situations before resorting to higher-force options. The BolaWrap 150 does not shoot, strike, shock, or incapacitate—instead, it helps officers operate lower on the force continuum, reducing the risk of injury to both officers and subjects. Used by over 1,000 agencies across the U.S. and in 60 countries, BolaWrap^® is backed by training certified by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST), reinforcing Wrap’s commitment to public safety through cutting-edge technology and expert training.

Wrap Reality™ VR is a fully immersive training simulator to enhance decision-making under pressure.

As a comprehensive public safety training platform, it provides first responders with realistic, interactive scenarios that reflect the evolving challenges of modern law enforcement. By offering a growing library of real-world situations, Wrap Reality™ equips officers with the skills and confidence to navigate high stakes encounters effectively, leading to safer outcomes for both responders and the communities they serve.

Wrap Intrensic is an advanced body-worn camera and evidence management system built for efficiency.

Designed for efficiency, security, and transparency to meet the rigorous demands of modern law enforcement, Intrensic seamlessly captures, stores, and manages digital evidence, ensuring integrity and full chain-of-custody compliance. With automated workflows, secure cloud storage, and intuitive case management tools, it streamlines operations, reduces administrative burden, and enhances courtroom credibility.

Trademark Information Wrap, the Wrap logo, BolaWrap^®, Wrap Reality™ and Wrap Training Academy are trademarks of Wrap Technologies, Inc., some of which are registered in the U.S. and abroad. All other trade names used herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective holders. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements – Safe Harbor Statement This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should”, “believe”, “target”, “project”, “goals”, “estimate”, “potential”, “predict”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “intend”, and variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Moreover, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the Company’s control. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to: the expected benefits of the acquisition of W1 Global, LLC, the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with the Nasdaq Capital Market’s listing standards; the Company’s ability to successfully implement training programs for the use of its products; the Company’s ability to manufacture and produce products for its customers; the Company’s ability to develop sales for its products; the market acceptance of existing and future products; the availability of funding to continue to finance operations; the complexity, expense and time associated with sales to law enforcement and government entities; the lengthy evaluation and sales cycle for the Company’s product solutions; product defects; litigation risks from alleged product-related injuries; risks of government regulations; the business impact of health crises or outbreaks of disease, such as epidemics or pandemics; the impact resulting from geopolitical conflicts and any resulting sanctions; the ability to obtain export licenses for counties outside of the United States; the ability to obtain patents and defend intellectual property against competitors; the impact of competitive products and solutions; and the Company’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand, as well as other risk factors mentioned in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and were based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/67eef813-7ed2-4fff-8a52-90422bb56c55

This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

The MIL Network –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The solution to workplace isolation might be in the gap − the generation gap

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Megan Gerhardt, Professor of Management, Farmer School of Business, Miami University

The potential for friendships and mentorships between colleagues in different stages of life are often overlooked. OwenPrice/E+ via Getty Images

Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, the United States finds itself in the midst of another public health crisis. This particular pandemic is a psychological one: widespread loneliness and isolation.

About half of adults in the U.S. report feeling lonely – what former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has characterized as an epidemic. The increase in social isolation has extensive costs for “schools, workplaces, and civic organizations, where performance, productivity, and engagement are diminished,” he wrote in 2023.

As a business school professor who studies intergenerational relationships, I believe that our workplaces hold untapped potential for alleviating isolation. When colleagues do form friendships at work, they often gravitate toward people their own age. But fostering meaningful connections across generational lines can benefit not just organizations, but workers’ own sense of purpose and mental health.

Working solo

The COVID-19 pandemic affected all ages differently. Prior to 2020, it seemed that younger generations were leading a strong push away from working in the office. Once many Americans were working remotely, however, Generation Z – those born 1997-2012 – reported the highest levels of loneliness.

Remote work may be common for Gen Z, but that doesn’t mean they prefer it.
Fiordaliso/Moment via Getty Images

The problem, I’d argue, is how organizations’ early questions about working through the pandemic centered on efficiency. Was it possible do our jobs remotely? Would we be as productive? Was remote work viable long term? For many jobs, the answer was yes, resulting in persistent work-from-home options even after it became physically safe to return to offices.

Yet companies overlooked crucial elements that contribute to employees’ commitment and well-being, particularly strong relationships between colleagues. These factors are especially vital during early career years as young workers establish networks, learn their roles and develop professional identities – all considerably more challenging in remote or hybrid environments.

Just 31% of U.S. employees feel engaged on the job, according to January 2025 data from Gallup – a 10-year low. Only 39% of employees strongly feel that someone at work cares about them as a person, and only 30% strongly agree that someone cares about their development.

Workers under 35, especially members of Gen Z, experienced a more significant decline in engagement than other age groups, dropping 5 points compared with the previous year.

5 generations

Since hybrid and remote work appear to be here to stay, we need innovative solutions to combat disconnectedness. One overlooked opportunity might lie in a demographic reality that many organizations view as a challenge.

Today, there are five generations in the workplace, more than any other time in history. This increase in diversity is primarily due to older workers remaining in the workforce longer than in the past, whether because of economic necessity or increased longevity and health.

In 2024, 18% of the U.S. workforce belonged to Gen Z. They’ve surpassed the baby boomers, born 1946-1964, who make up 15%. Gen X, meanwhile – the generation born 1965-1980 – comprise 31%. The largest group are millennials, born 1981-1996, who represent 36% of workers. Finally, 1% of the workforce belong to the Silent Generation, born 1928-1945.

While such age diversity presents challenges, it also holds unique potential.

The importance of workplace friendships is well documented. Research has found positive workplace relationships are beneficial to teamwork, career development and building a sense of community, and they help employees find more meaning in their work. Workplace friendships can help offset job stress and exhaustion and contribute to mental health. The benefits of such relationships can reach beyond the workplace, increasing overall well-being.

However, these friendships rarely cross generational lines. A phenomenon known as “age similarity preference” often causes us to gravitate toward people similar in age, including among our co-workers. This broader tendency to connect with people we deem most similar to ourselves is well documented, and age can be a particularly visible sign of surface-level difference – one that leads people to assume, often incorrectly, that they hold similar views.

Employees talk in the cafeteria of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., in 2023.
Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images

While natural, this tendency limits interactions and relationships,
leading to higher levels of conflict. Not only do intergenerational connections at work bring professional benefits, but they can combat isolation.

For example, relationships with colleagues from different generations tend to have fewer feelings of competition and pressure, as they likely occupy different life and career stages. An older colleague who has navigated office politics or balanced raising young children with career demands can provide valuable advice and support to co-workers facing these challenges for the first time.

Forming intergenerational friendships can help break down negative stereotypes about people who are older or younger by revealing areas of common interest.

Beyond Gen Z

The benefits of these relationships extend beyond younger generations, especially given how widespread post-pandemic loneliness is.

Cross-generational relationships don’t just magically happen – companies can help foster them.
Tempura/E+ via Getty Images

Adults in mid-to-late career stages – Gen Xers and baby boomers – are in their prime years for “generativity”: the life stage when people are most likely to be motivated to share knowledge and expertise, preparing the next generation for success. Generativity leads to benefits for the mentors too, such as higher self-esteem.

People of all ages benefit from meaningful intergenerational relationships, but it takes an effort to create them. Employers can help by setting up opportunities to connect. For example, a mutual mentoring program can be a fantastic way to encourage not only learning, but unexpected friendships as well.

Jonna, a Gen Xer I met through my generational consulting work, sought out a Gen Z mentor at her office and was grateful for her insight, as well as the chance to give advice. “I like to believe I am someone with a growth mindset and in touch with current realities, but I quickly learned that Hannah had perspectives on many things that stretched me and my thinking,” she said. “Our partnership has helped me approach every situation with curiosity instead of judgment.”

Hannah, her mentor-mentee, found the partnership just as beneficial. The experience was “a reminder that regardless of age, we all have something to contribute, and bridging generational gaps can lead to innovative solutions and a richer understanding of the world.”

Reaching out to colleagues who are significantly older or younger might seem unexpected. But it may also build a more connected, resilient workforce, where wisdom and innovation flow freely across generational divides.

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

– ref. The solution to workplace isolation might be in the gap − the generation gap – https://theconversation.com/the-solution-to-workplace-isolation-might-be-in-the-gap-the-generation-gap-250571

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: DWP appoints new Chair of Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC)
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

DWP appoints new Chair of Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC)

Professor Gillian Leng CBE has been appointed as the new Chair of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) effective from 1 April 2025.
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced the appointment of Professor Gillian Leng CBE as the new Chair of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) effective from 1 April 2025.

Professor Gillian Leng CBE will succeed Dr Lesley Rushton, who has held the post of IIAC Chair since 1 April 2018.

Minister for Transformation Andrew Western MP said:

I am very pleased to welcome Professor Gillian Leng CBE to the role of IIAC Chair. Professor Leng CBE will bring a wealth of experience to this challenging but rewarding role. I would also like to thank Dr Lesley Rushton as the IIAC Chair, for her substantial contribution to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.

Professor Gillian Leng CBE said:

I am delighted to be appointed as the next chair of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council. The Council has played a vital role in advising on industrial injuries since 1945 and is now entering an exciting time with the ability to commission additional scientific support. I look forward to playing a part in the next phase of its work.

Dr Lesley Rushton, outgoing Chair of IIAC said:

It has been my privilege to serve as Chair of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council for the past seven years. We have evaluated a wide range of occupation-related ill-health issues including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on UK workers, probably the most challenging issue in IIAC’s recent history. I am pleased to welcome Professor Gillian Leng CBE as the new IIAC Chair and I am sure she will find the role as rewarding as I have.

About IIAC

The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) is a non-departmental public body established under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1946, which came into effect on 5 July 1948. The Council provides independent advice to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in Great Britain and the Department for Communities (DfC) in Northern Ireland on matters relating to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and its administration.

About Professor Gillian Leng CBE

Gillian is a clinician by background, with a passion for using evidence to improve care. She joined NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, in 2001 to establish its clinical guidelines programme. In 2020, she became only its second CEO. She led the development of a new 5-year strategy and set out updated methods and processes to put NICE at the forefront of evaluating new technologies and to deliver dynamic living guidelines for frontline staff.

She is now the President at the Royal Society of Medicine, and a non-executive director for the Department of Science Innovation and Technology. She retains her interest in the use of high-quality evidence and is a trustee of the Cochrane Collaboration and a Council member of Alive, the international Alliance for Living Evidence. In 2024 she was asked by government to lead an independent review into the roles of Physician and Anaesthesia Associates.

IIAC Chair

Professor Gillian Leng CBE takes up her 5-year appointment as IIAC Chair from 1 April 2025.

Professor Gillian Leng CBE is entitled to an annual remuneration of £22,000, reflecting a time commitment of approximately 60 days per year.

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Published 25 March 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kugler, Latinos, Entrepreneurs, and the U.S. Economy

Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

Thank you, Ramiro, and thank you for the opportunity to speak with all of you today.1 Welcome to Washington, D.C.! Bienvenidos a la capital! I hope you have a productive conference and an enjoyable visit. I am honored to speak with you today because I have long appreciated the efforts of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in supporting Hispanic-owned businesses, especially small businesses and entrepreneurs. It is also gratifying to speak to you today as the first Latin policymaker in the Federal Reserve’s history.
The support and mentorship from my family and my communities, including many in the Hispanic community, have been foundational to my career. I am proud that I can bring my own perspective and background to how I view the economy and economic data—just as I value learning and hearing from others—because I know the decisions I make can affect the lives of all Americans. As a Fed Governor, I serve all Americans, and I strive to recognize the economic contributions that come from all corners of this country.
Today, I will talk about the entrepreneurial spirit that many Latinos embody and share with you the importance of Latinos to the whole of the U.S. economy. I will then provide my outlook for the U.S. economy.
Entrepreneurial SpiritLet me start by saying that I have a strong affinity for entrepreneurs and recognize that they are a driving force behind economic growth and job creation—which I know from the data, as I have spent most of my career as a labor economist and researcher. But I truly understand the crucial role they play in the economy because my grandparents and father were entrepreneurs. My maternal grandfather was a dairy farmer, and I still recall the effort and dedication I saw as a child while joining him as he went from store to store selling milk early in the morning—before starting his other job as mayor of the town. And my paternal grandparents owned an electronics shop, where they worked shoulder to shoulder. My grandpa ran the front end of the shop, and my grandma was in charge of the accounting and inventory. The lessons on the value of hard work and taking initiative have stayed with me throughout my career in academia and continue to now in my work as a policymaker. I have always brought an entrepreneurial spirit to everything I do, seeking to be proactive about identifying opportunities and pursuing new or better solutions to long-standing challenges.
And that is exactly what millions of Latino entrepreneurs do across the U.S. every day. There are roughly 5 million Latino-owned businesses that provide jobs to millions of other workers across the country.2 And the number of entrepreneurs is growing fast. Between 2007 and 2022, there was a 57 percent increase in the number of Latin-owned businesses, and the number of employees on their collective payrolls grew 1.2 million. As I have emphasized in my past speeches, the growth in new business formation has been critical in sustaining the productivity growth that we have experienced in recent years, which has allowed us to achieve an economic expansion while reducing inflation.
I see this growth as I travel around the country and meet with workers and business leaders. For example, I noted in a recent speech in Miami that South Florida is an area with a large and vibrant Latino community and is also one of the top regions for new business formation.3
Other data are also consistent with an elevated level of entrepreneurship in our community. Latino adults who did not previously own a business created a new company at nearly twice the national rate in 2023.4 And while the overall new entrepreneurship rate edged lower after a pandemic-era jump, the rate for Latino entrepreneurs continued to rise to a new record high in 2023. This growth matters to the U.S. economy. Entrepreneurs improve the way of doing business and generate new jobs and wealth. They often create new processes, products, markets, and services that solve problems and improve the quality of life for many. Entrepreneurs also bring fresh perspectives and contribute to economic progress. For example, a recent survey by the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative shows that Latino-owned businesses outperform others in the adoption of artificial intelligence.5
Latinos in the EconomyBeyond starting businesses and creating jobs, Latinos are a large and growing part of the economy—as consumers, workers, and investors. Collectively, Latino households generate trillions of dollars in economic activity each year in the U.S. There are 34 million Latino workers in the U.S. labor force, and the median weekly earnings of Latinos working full time has doubled over the past 20 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those data points suggest that many Latino workers are moving into higher-wage, higher-productivity jobs. Overall, nearly one in every five Americans are of Latino heritage. In some states, such as Texas, that figure is closer to two in five. And given that the Latino population is growing, it is not surprising that Texas also led the country in job creation last year, adding 284,000 jobs to payrolls.6 Across the U.S., the Latino labor force has grown 14 percent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, much faster than the about 4 percent growth for the total labor force.
Latinos tend to work or seek employment at high rates. The Latino labor force participation rate was 66.9 percent in February versus 62.4 percent for the population overall. In addition to filling jobs for employers and meeting consumer demand for goods and services, this labor force growth was a helpful counter to inflation at a time when the labor market was historically tight.
The growth in the Latino workforce contributed to the rebalancing of the U.S. labor market in recent years. The labor market has cooled from an overheated state to a stable position characterized by low unemployment and diminished wage pressures. Latino workers especially aided that rebalancing by taking positions that had been difficult for employers to fill. For example, early in the pandemic many Americans remodeled or expanded their homes, where they were suddenly spending much more time. And anyone in this room that undertook such a project in 2021 or 2022 likely remembers how difficult it was to hire carpenters, plumbers, and other workers. Many skilled Latino workers filled that void. As of February, Latinos accounted for 35 percent of all construction workers, up from about 30 percent five years ago. Similarly, Latino workers have outsized representation in several other fields in which hiring has been challenging in recent years. Over one-third of warehouse and storage workers and one-fourth of couriers—both important to the e-commerce industry—are Latino. Latinos also represent a large share of critical childcare, automotive repair, and building maintenance positions—the people that make it possible for everyone to get to work and do their jobs well.
Moving forward, the young Latino population will continue to contribute to the labor force, as 1 million Latinos every year will turn 18 over the next two decades. And the educational attainment growth of Latinos is three times faster than that of other groups. Already one-fourth of the nation’s K–12 students are Latino—thus on track to soon contribute to the skilled labor force.
Economic OutlookOf course, I am always studying how the economy is playing out for Americans of all backgrounds. As such, I would like to share with you my economic outlook before I conclude.
The U.S. economy has been on solid footing in recent years. Consistent with that assessment, real gross domestic product grew 2.5 percent last year. The most recent data on economic activity in the early part of this year have shown some signs of softness: Retail sales plunged more than 1 percent in January. However, that slowing was not entirely unexpected after the strong showing in December, some bad weather earlier this year, and the difficulties in the seasonal adjustment of the data. Moreover, growth in retail sales moved back up into positive territory, increasing 0.2 percent in February.
The labor market appears to be stable through February. U.S. employers added 151,000 jobs in February and 125,000 in January. The pace of hiring during the first two months of the year is a slowdown compared with the strong gains in November and December, but, again, that could reflect weather disruptions and seasonal adjustment challenges. Over the past six months, employers added a solid average of 190,000 jobs a month. The unemployment rate—4.1 percent last month—is low and has remained near its current level since last summer.
Turning to inflation, I have been keenly aware that price increases have been painful for American families, and I have supported policies intended to bring inflation sustainably back to our 2 percent target. This effort has paid dividends. Inflation has come down a long way from its peak of more than 7 percent in June 2022. Based on the consumer price index and producer price index data for February, it is estimated that the 12-month change in the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index was 2.5 percent last month. That is welcome progress, but that progress has slowed since last summer. In certain subcategories there is evidence that inflation reaccelerated in recent months. Importantly, while goods inflation was negative in 2024—as was the norm before the pandemic—it has turned positive in recent months. This development is unhelpful because goods inflation has often kept a lid on total inflation and also affects inflation expectations. In addition to the increase in prices already captured in official data, surveys show that consumers are expecting further increases in the near term. For instance, both short-run and long-run inflation expectations from the Michigan survey have climbed in recent months. According to comments from survey respondents, much of this uncertainty appears to be tied to trade policy. I am paying close attention to the acceleration of price increases and higher inflation expectations, especially given the recent bout of inflation in the past few years. Given the economy’s overall solid position and the heightened level of uncertainty, I supported the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) decision last week to maintain the policy rate at its current level. I see current policy as continuing to be restrictive and I judge that FOMC policy is well positioned. The committee can react to new developments by holding at the current rate for some time as we closely monitor incoming data and the cumulative effects of new policies. I remain committed to bringing inflation back down to our 2 percent goal while maintaining a solid labor market. As always, I will carefully assess the incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks when considering the appropriate policy rate.
Thank you again for having me here.

1. The views expressed here are my own and are not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text
2. See Bárbara Gómez-Aguiñaga, George Foster, and Jerry I. Porras (2024), 2023 State of Latino Entrepreneurship (PDF), a publication of the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative (Palo Alto, Calif.: Stanford Graduate School of Business, in collaboration with the Latino Business Action Network, March). Return to text
3. See Adriana D. Kugler (2025), “Entrepreneurship and Aggregate Productivity,” speech delivered at the 2025 Miami Economic Forum, Economic Club of Miami, Miami, Florida, February 7. Return to text
4. See Robert W. Fairlie (2024), “Indicators of Entrepreneurial Activity: 2023,” working paper, January, http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4708111. Return to text
5. See Gómez-Aguiñaga, Foster, and Porras, 2023 State of Latino Entrepreneurship, in note 2. Return to text
6. See Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), “State Employment and Unemployment Summary,” news release, March 17. Return to text

MIL OSI USA News –

March 26, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: REPORT on general guidelines for the preparation of the 2026 budget, Section III – Commission – A10-0042/2025

Source: European Parliament 2

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

on general guidelines for the preparation of the 2026 budget, Section III – Commission

(2024/2110(BUI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Article 314 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

– having regard to Article 106a of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community,

– 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 position 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 Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 of 14 December 2020 on the system of own resources of the European Union and repealing Decision 2014/335/EU, Euratom [10],

– having regard to the Commission proposal of 22 December 2021 for a Council decision amending Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 on the system of own resources of the European Union (COM(2021)0570) and its position of 23 November 2022 on the proposal [11],

– 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)[12] (the Financial Regulation),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’)[13],

– having regard to the EU’s obligations under the Paris Agreement and its commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,

– having regard to the EU gender equality strategy 2020-2025,

– having regard to its resolution of 10 May 2023 on the impact on the 2024 EU budget of increasing European Union Recovery Instrument borrowing costs [14],

– having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget [15],

– 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 [16],

– having regard to the Interinstitutional Proclamation on the European Pillar of Social Rights [17] of 13 December 2017,

– having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 [18] and the joint statements agreed between Parliament, the Council and the Commission annexed hereto,

– having regard to Enrico Letta’s report entitled ‘Much more than a market’, presented in the European Parliament on 21 October 2024,

– having regard to Mario Draghi’s report entitled ‘The future of European competitiveness’, presented in the European Parliament on 17 September 2024,

– having regard to Sauli Niinistö’s report entitled ‘Safer together – Strengthening Europe’s civilian and military preparedness and readiness’, presented in the European Parliament on 14 November 2024,

– having regard to the presentation of the EU Competitiveness Compass by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 29 January 2025,

– having regard to the joint white paper of 19 March 2025 for European Defence Readiness providing a framework for the ReArm Europe plan (JOIN(2025)0120),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2025 entitled ‘The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation’ (COM(2025)0085),

– having regard to the proposal of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2025 amending Regulations (EU) 2015/1017, (EU) 2021/523, (EU) 2021/695 and (EU) 2021/1153 as regards increasing the efficiency of the EU guarantee under Regulation (EU) 2021/523 and simplifying reporting requirements (COM(2025)0084),

– having regard to the Council conclusions of 18 February 2025 on the budget guidelines for 2026,

– having regard to Rule 95 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinions of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Transport and Tourism, the Committee on Regional Development and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development,

– having regard to the letters from the Committee on Budgetary Control, the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, the Committee on Culture and Education and the Committee on Constitutional Affairs,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A10-0042/2025),

Budget 2026: building a resilient, sustainable and prosperous future for Europe

1. Highlights the anticipated economic growth projected for 2025 and 2026 within the EU [19], accompanied by an easing of inflation; notes nonetheless the uncertainties stemming from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which directly threatens the security of the EU, and the worsening effects of climate change and the biodiversity crisis, also manifested in the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, which are compounded by new significant geopolitical changes and a deteriorating international rules-based order, heightened security threats and a rise in global protectionism; emphasises that, in such an increasingly volatile landscape, it is imperative for the EU to enhance its defence and security capabilities, social, economic and territorial cohesion and political and strategic autonomy, decrease its dependence, increase its competitiveness and ensure a prosperous future for the continent and its people, who are currently facing an increasingly high cost of living;

2. Is determined to ensure that the 2026 budget, by focusing on strategic preparedness and security, economic competitiveness and resilience, sustainability, climate, as well as strengthening the single market, provides the people in the EU with a robust ecosystem and delivers on their priorities, thus reinforcing a socially just and prosperous Europe; underlines the need for additional investment in security and defence, research, innovation, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), health, energy, migration, as well as land and maritime border protection, inclusive digital and green transitions, job creation, and the provision of opportunities for young people; insists that this be accompanied by administrative simplification, as indicated in the Competitiveness Compass; insists that the EU budget is the largest investment instrument with leverage effect, complementing national budgets and therefore enabling the EU to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world while ensuring prosperity, social cohesion and stability for its people; is strongly of the opinion that the EU should use this leverage effect to the maximum degree to boost the Union’s objectives and policymaking, as well as private investment;

Investing in a solid, sustainable and resilient economy

3. Is adamant that sound economic resilience and sustainability can be achieved in the EU by boosting public and private investment, increasing innovation and supporting competitiveness, including by addressing the skills gap and fostering more industrial production in Europe as a source for robust economic growth and quality jobs, and thereby guaranteeing the Union’s strategic autonomy, ensuring that the EU remains agile and self-reliant in the face of global challenges, disruptions and volatility; highlights the need to promote innovation, prioritise education, reduce costs and the administrative burden, and strengthen the single market, particularly as regards services;

4. Reaffirms, in this regard, that research and innovation remain crucial for the EU’s success in cutting-edge industries and new clean and sustainable technologies; recalls the long-standing goal of increasing research and innovation investment to 3 % of gross domestic product (GDP); calls, therefore, for increased funding to be provided under Horizon Europe to fund at least 50 % of all excellent proposals in all scientific disciplines, enable researchers as well as companies, especially SMEs, to bring new developments to the market, and to scale up, ensure solid economic growth and boost the Union’s competitiveness in the global economy, thereby preventing actors from leaving for competing regions while also ensuring that Europe has the knowledge base it needs to pursue the Green Deal commitments;

5. Highlights the importance of targeted support in encouraging public-private partnerships and accessible and increased financing to support SMEs as the backbone of the European economy and a vector for pioneering innovation, emphasising the role of the European Innovation Council, InvestEU and the SME component of the single market programme in empowering start-ups and scale-ups of innovative companies, supporting them in their growth and contributing to a greater role for the EU economy on the global stage; expresses its concern that, according to the interim evaluation of InvestEU, envelopes for many financial products may run out by the end of 2025 without budgetary reinforcements; takes note of the Commission proposal in this regard; underlines, furthermore, the importance of the single market programme to leverage the full potential of the EU’s cross-border dimension;

6. Stresses that the modernisation of the economy will require blending public and private investment; emphasises, in this regard, the necessity of private investments to maximise the leverage effect of public spending; recalls that these efforts should lead to simplification and reduce the financial burden for the EU’s SMEs while maintaining EU standards;

7. Underscores the urgency of further accelerating the digital and green transitions as catalysts for a future-oriented and resource-efficient economy that remains attractive for innovative businesses and that is based on market-driven investments providing quality jobs and leaving no one behind; advocates substantial investment in forward-looking digital infrastructure, underpinned by well-regulated, human-centred and trustworthy artificial intelligence and cybersecurity; stresses the need to improve citizens’ basic digital skills to match the needs of companies and to equip citizens to counter disinformation; stresses, further, the need to increase the resilience of the Union’s democracy in fighting malign foreign interference;

8. Recognises the strategic value of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for contributing to the economic, social and climate goals of the EU’s cross-border transport infrastructure; calls for network extensions, particularly towards candidate countries and the EU’s strategic partners, as regards the EU’s sustainable and smart mobility strategy and the complementarities between the TEN-T and the Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E);

A better-prepared Union, capable of effectively responding to crises

9. Underlines the need to enhance EU security and defence capabilities to create a genuine defence union and to better prepare for and respond to unprecedented geopolitical challenges and new hybrid security threats; stresses the essential role of common investment, research, production and procurement mechanisms, including in new disruptive technologies supporting an independent EU defence industry; considers that there is an EU added value in security and defence cooperation that not only makes Europe and its people safer but also leads to greater efficiency, potential savings, quality job creation and enhanced strategic autonomy; calls therefore for immediate upscaling and much better coordination of defence spending by Member States; stresses in particular the need to provide adequate resources to innovate and enhance Member States’ military capabilities, as well as their interoperability; takes note, in line with the Commission’s ‘ReArm Europe’ plan, of its call for the European Investment Bank (EIB) and other international financial institutions and private banks in Europe to invest more actively in the European defence industry while safeguarding their operations and financing capacity; recalls the importance of investing in and developing dual-use equipment and, particularly, of strengthening EU military mobility as regards funding dual-use transport infrastructure along priority axes; calls on the Commission to assess the possibility of using calls for this purpose under the CEF transport programme, in the light of the military mobility funding gap; underlines the urgent need to strengthen the EU’s cybersecurity capabilities to fight hybrid warfare;

10. Recalls the role of the EU’s space programme in enhancing the strategic security of the Union through a variety of civil and military applications; underlines that a strong European space sector is fundamental for European security, open strategic autonomy, secure connectivity, the protection of critical infrastructure and advancing the twin green and digital transitions, and therefore requires sufficient resources;

11. Highlights, in the face of new challenges in internal and external security, the importance of ensuring proper implementation of the Asylum and Migration Pact, in full compliance with international human rights law, and of respecting the principles of solidarity and the fair sharing of responsibility; stresses that effective management and protection of the EU’s external borders, both land and maritime, are essential for maintaining the freedoms of the Schengen area and crucial for the security of the EU and its citizens; emphasises the need to better protect people from trafficking and enhance support to strengthen cross-border cooperation between the Member States and the Union in combating criminal networks, particularly those involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking, so as to reinforce law enforcement and the judicial response to these criminal networks, as well as to support Member States facing hybrid threats, in particular the instrumentalisation of migrants as defined in the Crisis Regulation [20];

12. Recalls the vital role that the Integrated Border Management Fund, the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund play in protecting external borders; calls, in addition, for appropriate funding for border protection capabilities, including physical infrastructure, buildings, equipment, systems and services required at border crossing points, as provided for in Annex III to the BMVI Regulation [21], and for the requirements to be met in terms of reception conditions, integration, return and readmission procedure; reaffirms that cooperation agreements with non-EU countries in full respect of international law can help to prevent irregular migration and strengthen border security;

13. Acknowledges the common agricultural policy (CAP) as a key strategic European policy for food security and greater EU autonomy in affordable and high-quality food production; stresses the crucial role of the CAP in ensuring a decent income for EU farmers as well as a productive, competitive and sustainable European agriculture; regrets that direct payments have significantly decreased in real terms due to inflation, while the administrative burden on farmers has increased due to the accumulation of bureaucracy; urges the Commission to reduce the administrative burden while maintaining high production standards and the requirement to implement EU legislation; calls for adequate resources and for direct payments to be protected to help farmers cope with the impact of inflation, fuel costs, changes in the global food and trade market and adverse climate events, affecting agricultural production and threatening food security, including in the outermost regions; highlights, in this regard, the role of the agricultural reserve; emphasises the need to help small and medium-sized farms and new and young farmers by supporting generational renewal and ensuring continued support for the promotion of EU agricultural products; underlines the need for appropriate support for research and innovation to make the agricultural sector more sustainable, including water management, in particular through the Horizon Europe programme, without reducing European agricultural production and while preventing European farmers from facing unfair competition from imported products that do not meet our standards; welcomes the Commission’s preparation of a second simplification package; underscores that food security is an essential component for geopolitical stability;

14. Stresses the strategic role of fisheries and aquaculture and the need for them to be adequately supported financially; acknowledges that the common fisheries policy ensures a stable income and long-term future for fishers by contributing to protecting sustainable marine ecosystems, which are key to the sector’s competitiveness; insists that special attention must be devoted to the EU’s fishing fleet in order to improve safety and security, including by combating illegal fishery actions and improving working conditions, energy efficiency and sustainability, as well as by renewing the fleet; reaffirms that the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund should support a human resources policy capable of addressing future challenges, in order to promote an inclusive, diversified and sustainable blue economy; expresses its concern about the effect of the end of the Brexit transition period in June 2026 on the fishing and aquaculture sectors;

15. Stresses that enhancing energy security and independence remains fundamental for the EU; highlights the EU’s role in ensuring security of energy supply, assisting households, farmers and businesses in mitigating price volatility and managing price gaps in comparison to the rest of the world; calls, therefore, for additional investment in critical infrastructure and connectivity, including large-scale cross-border electricity grids and hydrogen infrastructure for hard-to-abate sectors, which are an essential prerequisite to the decarbonisation of European industry, in low-carbon and renewable energy sources and connectivity, in particular by properly funding the CEF, as well as in energy efficiency; highlights the need to adapt European infrastructure to meet future energy demands as part of the transition to a clean and modern economy; underlines the importance of investing in new, expanding and modernising interconnector capacity for electricity trading, in particular cross-border capacity, for a fully integrated EU energy market that enhances Europe’s diversified supply security and resilience to energy market disruptions, reducing external dependencies and ultimately ensuring affordable and sustainable energy for EU citizens and businesses; stresses, in this regard, the need to strengthen cooperation with Africa;

16. Recalls, in this context, the current housing crisis in Europe, including the lack of decent and affordable housing; calls, therefore, for swift additional investments through a combination of funding sources, including the EIB and national promotional banks, in areas with a positive impact on reducing the cost of living for households, improving the energy efficiency of buildings and deploying renewable energy sources; calls for a coordinated approach at EU level that respects the principle of subsidiarity, encourages best practices and effectively uses all relevant funding mechanisms in addressing this pressing challenge;

17. Is highly concerned by the strong impacts of climate change and the biodiversity crisis both in Europe and globally and by the fact that the year 2024 was assessed to be the planet’s warmest year on record; calls for sufficient funding for the LIFE programme to finance climate and environment-related projects, including in the area of climate change mitigation and adaptation, and for increased budgetary flexibility to adequately respond to natural disasters in the EU; regrets that increasing numbers of natural disasters have led to a high number of victims, as well as to long-term devastating effects on citizens, farmers and businesses based and working in the regions concerned, as well as in the ecosystems impacted; calls for increased funding for the EU Solidarity Fund, RESTORE (Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction) and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, including for increasing rescEU capacities, which allow for more cost-efficient capacity building, in order to support Member States quickly and effectively in overwhelming crisis situations; recognises the EU’s role as a hub for coordinating and improving Member States’ preparedness and capacities to respond immediately to large-scale, high-impact emergencies, and its added value both for Member States and citizens; stresses, in this regard, that the EU Civil Protection Mechanism is a tangible expression of European solidarity, reinforcing the EU’s role as a crisis responder; acknowledges that the European Union Solidarity Fund or any other fund alone cannot fully compensate for the extreme weather events of increased frequency and severity caused by climate change today and in the future; stresses the need to invest in and prioritise preparedness, prevention, and adaptation measures, prioritising nature-based solutions; stresses that it is crucial to ensure that Union spending contributes to climate mitigation, adaptation efforts and water resilience infrastructure; emphasises that these investments are far lower than the cost of climate inaction;

Enhancing citizens’ opportunities in a vibrant society

18. Insists that continued investment in EU4Health and Cluster Health in Horizon Europe are key to improving health and preparedness for future health crises, thereby improving the health status of EU citizens; stresses the need for health investments for maximum impact; highlights its support for a holistic regulatory and funding approach to Europe’s life sciences and biotech ecosystem, including the creation of cutting-edge European clusters of excellence, as a central pillar of a stronger European health union, to which a European plan for cardiovascular diseases and lifestyles should be added, focusing on primary and secondary prevention as key objectives to increase life expectancy in the EU; highlights the need to create a more supportive care system to respond to demographic challenges and the ageing population; reiterates its support for Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, as well as the importance of European investment in tackling childhood diseases, rare diseases and antimicrobial resistance; reiterates the importance of the gender aspect of health, including sexual and reproductive health and access to services; is highly concerned by the current mental health crisis in Europe, affecting in particular the young generation, exacerbated by recent global events, which requires immediate action to be taken; underlines the need to prevent shortages of critical medicines, medical countermeasures and healthcare workers faced by some Member States; calls, in this respect, for better coordination at EU level and joint procurement of medicines in order to reduce costs;

19. Stresses the importance of investing in young generations and their skills, as major agents of change and progress, by ensuring access to quality education; considers it essential that all students, without discrimination and in every EU Member State, should have full access to the Erasmus+ programme and underlines the essential role of Erasmus+ in facilitating cultural exchange, strengthening European identity and promoting peace through mutual understanding and cooperation, making it a cornerstone of European integration and unity; recalls the need to tackle the skills deficit, the brain drain and the correlation between market needs and skills; considers that for the EU workforce to remain competitive in the future, establishing key areas for training and reskilling is needed; stresses that further investment is required in modernising the Union’s education systems, by equipping them for the digital and green transitions, creating talent booster schemes and incentivising young entrepreneurs; points, in this respect, to the relevance of sufficient financial resources for EU programmes such as the European Social Fund Plus, Erasmus+ and the EU Solidarity Corps, which have proven highly effective in helping to achieve high employment levels and fair social protection, in broadening education and training across the Union, as well as in promoting new job opportunities and fostering skills, youth participation and equal opportunities for all; calls on the Commission to do its utmost so that all university students remain eligible to participate in the Erasmus+ programme, including in Hungary;

20. Recalls the role of the EU budget in contributing to the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights; highlights the role of the EU budget in contributing to initiatives that reinforce social dialogue and facilitate labour mobility, including in the form of training, networking and capacity building;

21. Highlights the ever-increasing threats and dangers of organised and targeted disinformation campaigns against the EU by foreign stakeholders undermining European democracy; calls for the mobilisation of all relevant Union programmes, including Creative Europe, to fund actions in 2026 that promote inclusive digital and media literacy, in particular for young people, combating disinformation, countering online hate speech and extremist content, while encouraging the active participation of citizens in democratic processes and safeguarding media freedom and pluralism for good cultural resilience, all of which are fundamental to a thriving democracy;

22. Calls on the Commission to increase EU funding for protecting citizens, religious communities and public spaces against terrorist threats, combating radicalisation and terrorist content online, as well as countering hate speech and rising antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred and racism;

23. Calls on the Commission to ensure the swift, full and proper implementation and robust enforcement of the Digital Services Act [22], the Digital Market Act [23] and the Artificial Intelligence Act [24], also by allocating sufficient human resources; stresses the importance of tackling foreign interference, addressing the dangers of biased algorithms, and safeguarding transparency, accountability and the integrity of the digital public space;

24. Underlines the added value of funding programmes in the areas of democracy, rights and values; recalls the important role that the EU budget plays in the promotion of the European values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union and in supporting the key principles of democracy, the rule of law, solidarity, inclusiveness, justice, non-discrimination and equality, including gender equality; reaffirms, furthermore, the essential role of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme in promoting European values and citizens’ rights, in particular its Union Values strand, as well as gender equality, thereby sustaining and further developing an open, rights-based, democratic, equal and inclusive society based on the rule of law; stresses the need for targeted measures to address gender disparities and promote equal opportunities through EU funding allocations; stresses that supporting investigative journalism with sufficient resources is a strategic investment in democracy, transparency and social justice; reiterates the importance of the Daphne and Equality and Rights programmes, and stresses that necessary resources should be devoted to combating discrimination in all its forms, as well as tackling forms of violence;

25. Emphasises the valuable work carried out under the Union Values strand, which provides, among other things, direct funding to civil society organisations as key actors in vibrant democracies; stresses that citizens and civil society organisations, promoting the will and interest of citizens, represent the core of European democracy; underlines, in this regard, the importance of all EU programmes and increased funding in supporting the genuine engagement of civil society, particularly in the context of the impact of reduced funding for civil society by the EU’s international partners;

26. Considers it essential for the Union’s stability and progress and its citizens’ trust to ensure the proper use of Union funds and to take all steps towards protecting the Union’s financial interests, in particular by applying the rule of law conditionality; underscores the undeniable connection between respect for the rule of law and efficient implementation of the Union’s budget in accordance with the principles of sound financial management under the Financial Regulation; reiterates that under the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation [25], the imposition of appropriate measures must not affect the obligations of governments to implement the programme or fund affected by the measure, and in particular the obligations they have towards final recipients; insists, therefore, that in cases of breaches of the rule of law by national governments, the Commission should explore alternative ways to implement the budget, including by assessing the possibility of diverting sources to directly and indirectly managed programmes, in order to ensure that local and regional authorities, civil society and other beneficiaries can continue to benefit from Union funding, without weakening the application of the regulation; highlights the role of the European Court of Auditors and its constant activity in defence of transparency, accountability and strict compliance with the regulations on all of the funds and programmes;

A strong Union in a changing world

27. Observes that the need for the EU to maintain and augment its presence on the global stage is increasingly crucial amid escalating global conflicts, geopolitical shifts and foreign influence efforts worldwide, particularly considering developments with other major global providers of aid; stresses that in order to achieve this, the Union requires sufficient funding and resources to act, including to respond to major crises in its neighbourhood and throughout the world, in particular in the light of the sudden decrease in international funding; stresses the importance of the humanitarian aid programme and regrets that resources are not increasing in line with record-high needs; underscores the need to strengthen the EU’s role as a leading humanitarian actor while effectively addressing emerging crises, particularly in regions facing protracted conflict, displacement, food insecurity and natural disasters; emphasises that the Union also requires sufficient resources for long-term investments in building global partnerships, and points out the importance of the participation of non-EU countries in Union programmes, where appropriate;

28. Underlines that the EU’s security environment has changed dramatically following Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine and unpredictable changes in the policies of its main allies; recalls the importance of enhancing citizens’ safety and of achieving efficiency in the area of defence and strategic autonomy, through a comprehensive approach to security that covers military and civilian capabilities, external relations and internal security; stresses the importance of the Internal Security Fund to ensure funding to tackle increased levels of serious organised crime with a cross-border dimension and cybercrime; recognises the pressure which increased defence spending represents for Member Sates’ national budgets; stresses the importance of Member States stepping up their efforts and increasing funding for their defence capabilities, in a consistent and complementary manner in line with the NATO guideline;

29. Stresses that, beyond the enormous sacrifices of the people of Ukraine in withstanding Russia’s war of aggression for our common European security, this war has also had substantial economic and social consequences for people throughout Europe; recalls that certain Member States, in particular those with a land border with Russia and/or Belarus in the Baltic region, and frontline Member States, as well as vulnerable sectors of the economy, remain particularly exposed to the consequences of the war and deserve support in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure and military mobility, in the spirit of EU solidarity;

30. Firmly reiterates its unconditional and full support for Ukraine in its fight for its freedom and democracy against Russian aggression, as the war on its soil has passed the three-year mark; underlines the ongoing need for high levels of funding, including in humanitarian aid and for repairs to critical infrastructure, and for improved capacity along the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes; welcomes the renewed and reinforced intention of the Commission and Member States to work in a united way to address Ukraine’s pressing defence needs and to further support the Ukrainian economy by providing regular and predictable financial support and facilitating investment opportunities; welcomes the agreement with the Council on macro-financial assistance for Ukraine of up to EUR 35 billion, making use of the proceeds of frozen Russian assets through the new Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism, in order to support Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction and modernisation, as well as to foster Ukraine’s progress on its path to EU accession; stresses the importance of ensuring accountability regarding core international crimes;

31. Insists on the benefits of pre-accession funds, both for the enlargement countries and for the EU itself, as the funding creates more stability in the region; welcomes the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans to further support the economic convergence of Western Balkan countries with the EU’s single market through investment and growth in the region; insists on the need to deploy the necessary funds to support Moldova’s accession process, in line with the EU’s commitment to enlargement and regional stability; underlines the role of the Reform and Growth Facility for the Republic of Moldova and highlights the necessity of securing sufficient financial resources for its full implementation; underlines the importance of sustained support for candidate countries in implementing the necessary accession-related reforms, in particular regarding the rule of law, anti-corruption and democracy and in enhancing their resilience and preventing and countering hybrid threats; calls on the Commission to allocate additional funding to support civil society, independent media organisations and journalists;

32. Underlines, furthermore, that EU neighbourhood policy, namely its Eastern and Southern Partnerships, contributes to the overall goal of increasing the stability, prosperity and resilience of the EU’s neighbours and thereby of increasing the security of our continent; stresses, therefore, the importance of reinforcing the Southern and Eastern Neighbourhood budget lines in order to support political, economic and social reforms in the regions, facilitate peace processes and reconstruction and provide assistance to refugees, in particular through continuous, reinforced and predictable funding and continuous implementation on the ground; recalls that the EU must continue to alleviate other crises and assist the most vulnerable populations around the world through its humanitarian aid programme, as well as by maintaining its global positioning with the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument for supporting global challenges and promoting human rights, freedoms and democracy, as well as for the capacity building of civil society organisations and for delivering on the Union’s international climate and biodiversity commitments, within a comprehensive monitoring and control system;

Cross-cutting issues in the 2026 budget

33. Underlines that the repayment of the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) borrowing costs is a legal obligation for the EU and therefore non-discretionary; notes that borrowing costs depend on the pace of disbursements under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) as well as on market fluctuations in bond yields and are therefore inherently partly unpredictable and volatile; insists, therefore, on the need for the Commission to provide reliable, timely and accurate information on NextGenerationEU (NGEU) borrowing costs and on expected RRF disbursements throughout the budgetary procedure as well as on available decommitments; expects the Commission to update the decommitments forecast when it presents the draft budget; recalls that the three institutions agreed that expenditures covering the financing costs of NGEU must aim at not reducing EU programmes and funds;

34. Recalls its support for the amended Commission proposals for the introduction of new own resources; is highly concerned by the complete lack of progress on the new own resources in the Council, in particular in view of increasing investment and unforeseen needs; considers that the introduction of new own resources, in line with the roadmap in the interinstitutional agreement of 2020, is essential to cover NGEU borrowing costs while shielding the margins and flexibility mechanisms necessary to cater for these needs;

35. Highlights again Parliament’s full support for the cohesion policy and its key role in delivering on the EU’s policy priorities and its general growth; reiterates that the cohesion policy’s optimal added value for citizens depends on its effective and timely implementation; in the same vein, urges the Member States and the Commission to accelerate the implementation of operational programmes under shared management funds as well as of the recovery and resilience plans so as to ensure swift budgetary execution and to avoid accumulated payment backlogs in the two last years of the MFF period, in particular through additional capacity building and technical assistance for Member States; reaffirms the imperative of a robust and transparent mechanism for accurately monitoring disbursements to beneficiaries;

36. Notes that particular attention must be paid to rural and remote areas, areas affected by industrial transition and regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps, such as islands and outermost, cross-border and mountain regions and all those affected by natural disasters; stresses that these regions should benefit from adequate funding to offset the special characteristics and constraints of their structural social and economic situation, as referred to in Article 349 TFEU; stresses the vital importance of the POSEI programme for maintaining agricultural activity in the outermost regions and bringing food to local markets; calls for the programme budget to be increased to reflect the real needs of farmers in these regions; notes that there has been no such increase since 2013, despite the fact that farmers in these regions face higher production costs due to inflation and climate change; stresses also that the Overseas Countries and Territories associated with the EU, as referred to in Articles 198-204 TFEU, should benefit from adequate funding for their sustainable economic and social development, in the light of their geopolitical importance for global maritime trade routes and key partnerships such as those on sustainable raw materials value chains;

37. Reiterates that EU programmes, policies and activities, where relevant, should be implemented in such a way that promotes gender equality in the delivery of their objectives; welcomes the Commission’s work on developing gender mainstreaming in order to meaningfully measure the gender impact of Union spending, as set out in the interinstitutional agreement;

38. Takes note that the climate mainstreaming target of 30 % is projected to be met by 33.5 % in 2025, while the biodiversity target will be below 8.5 % in 2025, and unless dedicated action is undertaken the 10 % target will not be met in 2026; stresses the need for continuous efforts towards the achievement of the climate and biodiversity mainstreaming targets laid down in the interinstitutional agreement in the Union budget and the EURI expenditures;

39. Stresses that the 2026 Union budget should be aligned with the Union’s ambitions of making the Union climate neutral by 2050 at the latest, as well as the Union’s international commitments, in particular under the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Agreement, and should significantly contribute to the implementation of the European Green Deal and the 2030 biodiversity strategy;

40. Recalls that effective programme implementation is achievable only with the backing of a committed administration; emphasises the essential work carried out by bodies and decentralised agencies and asserts that they must be properly staffed and sufficiently resourced, while taking into account inflation, so that they can fulfil their responsibilities effectively and contribute to the achievement of the Union political priorities, also when given new tasks and mandates;

41. Recalls that, in accordance with the Financial Regulation, when implementing the budget, Member States and the Commission must ensure compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and respect the Union’s values enshrined in Article 2 TEU; underlines in particular Articles 137, 138 and 158 of the Financial Regulation and recalls the Commission and the Member States’ obligation to exclude from Union funds any persons or entities found guilty by a final judgment of terrorist offences, as well as by final judgments of terrorist activities, inciting, aiding, abetting or attempting to commit such offences, and corruption or other serious offences; highlights the need to leverage efforts in tackling fraud both at Union and Member State level and to this end ensure appropriate financial and human resources covering the Union’s full anti-fraud architecture; recalls the importance of providing the Union Anti-Fraud Programme with sufficient financial resources;

42. Underlines the importance of effective communication and the visibility of EU policies and programmes in raising awareness of the added value that the EU brings to citizens, businesses and partners;

° °

43. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors.

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

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

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS (20.2.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on guidelines for the 2026 budget – Section III

(2024/2110(BUI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Michael Gahler

OPINION

The Committee on Foreign Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following into its motion for a resolution:

1. Welcomes the fact that the multiannual financial framework (MFF) revision in 2024 provided for additional funding under Heading 6 and for the EUR 50 billion Ukraine Facility; deplores, however, the fact that the MFF revision fell short of the needs identified by Parliament; reiterates the urgent need to increase funding, particularly in crisis-affected regions where the needs are greatest, and to address the various challenges in the neighbourhood, invest in partnerships and strengthen the geopolitical position of the EU; underlines in particular the need for continued efforts to finance Ukraine’s immediate funding needs; emphasises that the EU should without any delay intensify its efforts to enable frozen and immobilised Russian assets to be used for Ukraine’s reconstruction, reparations and budgetary needs, in full compliance with EU and international law; underlines that the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe) and the Global Gateway are crucial instruments within the Union’s external action toolbox; stresses the importance of the EU’s humanitarian aid policies and instruments; calls in general for a more strategic and impactful approach to EU funding abroad while advancing open strategic autonomy;

2. Reiterates that an increased level of funding should be allocated for the Southern Neighbourhood in 2025 to support political, economic and social reforms in the region; highlights in particular the pressing need to contribute significantly to the reconstruction of Gaza and to provide additional humanitarian aid in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria; recalls that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA) has up to now been the principal humanitarian assistance structure in Gaza and the West Bank as well as an essential service provider in the region; recalls the need to continue supporting key regional partners such as Jordan in order to foster peace in the region;

3. Welcomes the new Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans and the proposed Facility for Moldova, as well as the role of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) III in financing actions in the region; underlines that the Reform Agendas, which beneficiaries need to develop, are a promising instrument to speed up transformation and compliance with EU norms; calls on the Commission, in the interests of a successful accession process, to strictly apply the conditionalities enshrined in the two facilities; calls furthermore on the Commission to accompany all 10 enlargement countries on their path to European integration and to provide tailored assistance to address their respective challenges; calls on the Commission to allocate additional funding to support civil society and independent media organisations and journalists; calls on the Commission to ensure that it retains the possibility to withhold funds, either temporarily or indefinitely, if those funds would contribute to the budgets of governments – whether at the national or sub-national level – whose actions are significantly undermining the stability of the country or its neighbours, or the country’s progress towards European integration, particularly regarding democracy, the rule of law and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms; calls, furthermore, on the Commission to present a proposal for an instrument for pre-accession assistance for the next MFF that incorporates the facilities to avoid overlaps and covers all 10 enlargement countries and which should ensure strong institutional and economic preparedness for EU membership; calls also on the Commission to speed up the integration of all candidate countries in the EU roaming area;

4. Highlights the importance of the EU’s ensuring that EU funds do not go towards financing educational literature that romanticises martyrdom, violence or terrorism;

5. Underlines the need for the Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST), the Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA) and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to be provided with sufficient financial and human resources to promote peace, prosperity, security and EU values and interests in both the European neighbourhood and across the globe; underlines the need to provide adequate resources to both the EEAS and the Commission for strategic communication and to counter disinformation; highlights the need to maintain the current structure of the network of EU delegations around the world and to provide financing that is commensurate with the role that the Union expects all delegations to play on the ground; notes, furthermore, that the EEAS, with 145 delegations around the globe, cannot be measured according to the same logic as that applied to European institutions in Brussels and Luxembourg; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Council not to apply the 2 % logic to the EEAS; insists on a budgetary increase for common foreign and security policy (CFSP) actions and common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions, as well as other appropriate peace, conflict and crisis response instruments; stresses the need to improve IT and security protocols within EEAS headquarters, EU Delegations and in Commission directorates-general with responsibilities in EU External Action; stresses the importance of investing in European security and defence by bolstering the Union’s strategic autonomy and collective defence capabilities;

6. Welcomes the establishment of the EU Partnership Mission in Moldova (EUPM Moldova); highlights the essential role of the EUPM Moldova and calls on the EU and its Member States to extend the mission’s mandate beyond May 2025, while increasing resources to enhance its effectiveness;

7. Reiterates the EU’s commitment to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women globally, as enshrined in the EU Gender Action Plan III (2021–2025); calls for increased resources to support women’s rights, including efforts to eliminate gender-based violence, strengthen women’s participation in decision-making processes and promote economic empowerment; emphasises the importance of gender mainstreaming across all budgetary and policy initiatives to ensure equal opportunities and inclusivity; stresses that gender equality is not only a fundamental right but also a crucial driver of social and economic development;

8. Calls on the Commission to collaborate with the EPLO office in Washington, D.C., and the EU delegation in the United States to identify, fund and implement initiatives aimed at strengthening the transatlantic relationship, including exchange programmes for professionals working in public institutions in both the EU and the United States;

9. Underlines that any disbursements from the European budget must depend on the beneficiary country’s respect for the rule of law, human rights and compliance with international obligations, and with respect for international agreements;

10. Considers that more EU funds need to be allocated to joint cyber defence in order to counter the digital threats from Russia, the People’s Republic of China and others; considers that the Commission needs to secure the necessary funding for a future cyber army that can help EU institutions and Member States to defend themselves against cyberattacks from hostile states;

11. Stresses the need for the visibility and communication of EU aid, particularly in candidate countries, but also in other partner countries;

12. Stresses the urgent need for the EU to invest in research and development concerning low-cost drones, not only in order to support Ukraine in its efforts to defend itself against Russia, but also to strengthen European defence; considers that the EU should cooperate with Ukraine on the development of a drone system following their successful use of drones.

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

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

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	19.2.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	40 13 8
Members present for the final vote	Mika Aaltola, Petras Auštrevičius, Dan Barna, Wouter Beke, Robert Biedroń, Ľuboš Blaha, Ioan-Rareş Bogdan, Marc Botenga, Helmut Brandstätter, Sebastião Bugalho, Tobias Cremer, Danilo Della Valle, Loucas Fourlas, Alberico Gambino, Giorgos Georgiou, Christophe Gomart, Rima Hassan, Rasa Juknevičienė, Sandra Kalniete, Łukasz Kohut, Ondřej Kolář, Rihards Kols, Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Marion Maréchal, David McAllister, Vangelis Meimarakis, Sven Mikser, Francisco José Millán Mon, Hannah Neumann, Urmas Paet, Kostas Papadakis, Tonino Picula, Thijs Reuten, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Mounir Satouri, Andreas Schieder, Alexander Sell, Villy Søvndal, Davor Ivo Stier, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Cristian Terheş, Riho Terras, Pierre-Romain Thionnet, Reinier Van Lanschot, Nicola Zingaretti, Željana Zovko
Substitutes present for the final vote	Krzysztof Brejza, Jaroslav Bžoch, Engin Eroglu, Tomasz Froelich, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Ana Catarina Mendes, Alessandra Moretti, Ana Miguel Pedro, Chloé Ridel, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza, Marco Tarquinio
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Anna Bryłka, Mélissa Camara, Alexander Jungbluth, Erik Marquardt, Leire Pajín, Kristian Vigenin

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

40	+
ECR	Cristian Terheş
PPE	Mika Aaltola, Wouter Beke, Ioan-Rareş Bogdan, Krzysztof Brejza, Sebastião Bugalho, Loucas Fourlas, Rasa Juknevičienė, Sandra Kalniete, Łukasz Kohut, Ondřej Kolář, Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Antonio López-Istúriz White, David McAllister, Vangelis Meimarakis, Francisco José Millán Mon, Davor Ivo Stier, Riho Terras, Željana Zovko
Renew	Petras Auštrevičius, Dan Barna, Helmut Brandstätter, Engin Eroglu, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Urmas Paet, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
S&D	Robert Biedroń, Tobias Cremer, Ana Catarina Mendes, Sven Mikser, Alessandra Moretti, Tonino Picula, Thijs Reuten, Chloé Ridel, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Kristian Vigenin, Nicola Zingaretti

13	–
ECR	Rihards Kols, Marion Maréchal
ESN	Tomasz Froelich, Alexander Jungbluth, Alexander Sell
NI	Ľuboš Blaha, Kostas Papadakis
PfE	Jaroslav Bžoch, Pierre-Romain Thionnet
The Left	Marc Botenga, Danilo Della Valle, Giorgos Georgiou, Rima Hassan

8	0
ECR	Alberico Gambino, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza
Verts/ALE	Mélissa Camara, Erik Marquardt, Hannah Neumann, Mounir Satouri, Villy Søvndal, Reinier Van Lanschot

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

– : against

0 : abstention

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND TOURISM (19.2.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on general guidelines for the preparation of the 2026 budget, Section III – Commission

(2024/2110(BUI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Gheorghe Falcă

OPINION

The Committee on Transport and Tourism calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following into its motion for a resolution:

A. whereas the Connecting Europe Facility for Transport (CEF-T) has been a highly successful EU instrument for strategic investment in the development of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), aimed at transforming the EU’s roads, railways, ports, inland waterways and airways into a connected, safe, efficient, sustainable and competitive transport system; whereas the completion deadlines of 2030 for the core network, 2040 for the extended core network and 2050 for the comprehensive network are binding on the Member States and often require massive and sustained infrastructure investments; whereas the CEF-T should remain an important transport funding instrument in the 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework (MFF);

B. whereas modern, interconnected and multimodal transport infrastructure within a single European transport area is central to creating growth and jobs in the EU, completing the European single market and ensuring territorial cohesion, including for the benefit of peripheral, rural, mountainous, island and outermost regions and other geographically disadvantaged areas; whereas the Draghi and Letta reports call on the EU to step up its efforts to develop a competitive industrial strategy in the face of global competition; whereas successful decarbonisation that safeguards the global competitiveness of European industries requires significant investment in renewable-energy-based transport networks and alternative fuel infrastructure for sustainable transport; whereas digitalisation across all transport sectors can yield significant efficiency gains, which often have the potential to exceed the initial investments; whereas sufficient investment is required to achieve this and other technological solutions to enhance interoperability between digital, energy and transport networks and to maximise network benefits; whereas increased investment in road safety is necessary to achieve the goals of the EU’s Vision Zero strategy and ensure the safety of roads and road users; whereas the transport sector faces labour and skills shortages, combined with sometimes poor working conditions;

C. whereas the efficient use of EU funds is paramount to achieving strategic objectives within limited financial envelopes, particularly in the light of inflationary pressures that have led to significant increases in construction, energy and raw material costs, threatening the financial feasibility of key infrastructure projects of common European interest; whereas resilient and coordinated EU funding mechanisms are vital for maintaining project momentum despite economic volatility; whereas the imperative of maximising the impact of EU spending requires inflation-adjusted budgetary provisions, the reallocation of underutilised funds, as well as clear monitoring and improved reporting frameworks;

D. whereas delays in planning, permitting and procurement processes also hinder the timely implementation of transport and infrastructure projects, jeopardising EU transport and infrastructure development; whereas establishing optimised approval procedures is crucial to accelerating project timelines and ensuring budget absorption;

E. whereas, as envisaged under the Omnibus simplification package outlined by the Commission in its Competitiveness Compass, reducing regulatory and administrative burdens and simplifying implementation are key to ensuring equal access to funding for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), regional authorities and disadvantaged regions; whereas the simplification of EU regulatory and administrative processes at all levels, coupled with streamlined access to funding, are essential for achieving the timely and efficient implementation of projects under CEF-T and tourism programmes, particularly for SMEs and regional authorities;

F. whereas the action plan on military mobility 2.0 outlines ambitious EU-level initiatives; whereas, however, inadequate funding remains a significant obstacle to their effective implementation;

G. whereas Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, like the COVID-19 pandemic, has underscored the vulnerability of the EU’s transport and tourism sectors to external shocks; whereas it is more necessary now than ever before to strengthen transport connections with Ukraine and Moldova; whereas the EU-Ukraine road transport agreement, which facilitates road freight transport and transit by setting up solidarity corridors, has been extended until 30 June 2025, with the possibility of tacit renewal for a further six months; whereas the European transport network is critical infrastructure facing increasing digital and/or physical security risks and needs to be protected from external threats to maintain the societal functions for which it is vital;

H. whereas tourism, a major economic activity accounting for almost 10 % of the EU’s GDP and identified in the Commission’s 2021 industrial strategy as a critical ecosystem for the EU’s economy and for employment, continues to face economic, environmental, employment-related and digital challenges;

1. Calls for a significant increase in the CEF-T budget to secure adequate funding for ongoing and planned TEN-T projects, focusing on cross-border infrastructure with the highest added value for the EU and on the elimination of bottlenecks and missing links, including within Member States, in order to enhance passenger and freight flow throughout Europe; underlines, furthermore, the value of smaller-scale projects in improving cross-border connectivity and their eligibility for EU funding;

2. Welcomes the Commission’s announcement that it will develop an EU industrial action plan for the automotive sector, as proposed in the Draghi report, and calls for swift progress in the ongoing strategic dialogue;

3. Welcomes the Commission’s announcement that it will develop a new maritime industrial strategy to enhance the competitiveness, sustainability and resilience of the European maritime manufacturing sector; appreciates the Commission’s announcement that it would present a European port strategy to limit the risks of economic dependence, espionage and sabotage linked to the economic presence and operational involvement of entities from non-EU countries in EU ports;

4. Calls, further, for a strategic action plan for the EU aviation sector to identify potential reductions in administrative burdens and to assess financial needs for maintaining the sector’s competitiveness in the face of decarbonisation pressures and the associated risks, including an uneven playing field and carbon leakage, and geopolitical challenges, and with regard to a cross-country analysis of working conditions as a determinant in attracting and retaining skilled workers and boosting productivity;

5. Welcomes the commitment to put forward a plan to develop an ambitious European high-speed rail network to help connect EU capitals, including through night trains, and to accelerate rail freight, as well as to set up a single digital ticketing and booking system for railways as soon as possible, as already outlined in the revised TEN-T guidelines; underlines the need for ambitious support for the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS);

6. Advocates a comprehensive strategy on hyperloop, with clear timelines, detailed investment frameworks and support for research, development and deployment;

7. Welcomes, in this respect, the Commission’s announcement under the Competitiveness Compass presenting a sustainable transport investment plan and calls on the Commission to define financing measures for the above-mentioned strategies and action plans, including by de-risking the investment needed to swiftly ramp up charging infrastructure as well as for the production and distribution of renewable and low-carbon transport fuels, without jeopardising existing market choices;

8. Underlines again the role of the Social Climate Fund in supporting investment for an inclusive transition towards more sustainable mobility and calls on the Member States to address transport poverty with specific policies and financing measures in their national Social Climate Plans;

9. Highlights the need to address the shortage of qualified labour, women’s employment and an ageing workforce in the transport sector; calls, in this regard, for sufficient support for the safety and good working conditions of transport workers as well as for the funding of safe and secure truck parking areas across the EU;

10. Calls for the digitalisation of transport through intelligent solutions and digital booking platforms to facilitate seamless cross-border travel; calls for the systematic reduction of EU regulatory burdens across all transport modes to free up resources, including EU budgetary means, for increased investment in transport infrastructure; underlines the strong need for prior impact assessments of all new legislative initiatives with respect to their budgetary implications but also the regulatory or administrative burdens that the proposals would create or resolve;

11. Calls on the Commission to address inflationary pressures and resource scarcity by incorporating inflation adjustments into the budget; notes that the inclusion of realistic price adjustments is essential to safeguarding the viability of transport and infrastructure projects against the impact of inflation-induced cost increases; supports the reallocation of unused funds to strategic clusters, such as transport infrastructure, sustainable transport solutions and innovation; calls strongly for the integration of inflation-resilient frameworks and adaptive budget mechanisms within the MFF to avoid financing challenges in upcoming cycles;

12. Emphasises the importance of bolstering co-financing mechanisms, particularly for large-scale projects such as the Clean Aviation, Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) and Europe’s Rail Joint Undertakings, to ensure their timely implementation despite economic constraints; insists on the leveraging of public-private partnerships (PPPs) to mobilise additional resources;

13. Advocates innovative financing models, in particular the facilitation of PPPs by providing guarantees or implementing risk-sharing mechanisms, in order to attract private investment in transport and tourism infrastructure, including for a faster transition to alternative fuels; stresses that these PPPs can also contribute to knowledge-sharing, innovation and support for SMEs and start-ups;

14. Stresses the need to reinforce the budgets of transport agencies, in particular the EU Aviation Safety Agency, the European Maritime Safety Agency, and the EU Agency for Railways, so that they can fulfil the additional tasks assigned to them by the co-legislators in recently adopted EU legislation, as well as in order to support critical safety, sustainability, interoperability, competitiveness, innovation and modernisation initiatives;

15. Calls resolutely for the streamlining of application and reporting procedures in relation to EU funds in line with Directive 2021/1187 [26]; insists on transparent and fair allocation of EU transport funding using digital platforms in order to simplify access for SMEs and regional stakeholders; calls for the establishment of expedited review processes for critical transport and infrastructure projects in order to reduce delays; proposes the implementation of the ‘once-only’ principle for administrative processes, allowing applicants to provide information once and reuse it across EU programmes, thus reducing redundancy and delays, including for the increased blending of EU funds;

16. Insists on the restoration of the military mobility budget to the originally proposed EUR 6.5 billion over seven years; reiterates that the drastic cut of 75 % to military mobility funding within the transport pillar considerably weakens this policy; highlights the critical role of that funding in adapting parts of the TEN-T infrastructure for dual use along priority axes, in order to facilitate the short-notice, large-scale movement of military equipment and humanitarian aid across the continent, enabling a joint response to military threats to the EU Member States and their allied nations; calls for military mobility to be included in the white paper on the future of European defence;

17. Reiterates that, to help Ukraine withstand Russia’s war of aggression and to accelerate its post-war recovery and integration into the EU market, alongside the upcoming decisions on the renewal of the EU-Ukraine road transport agreement, it is imperative to pursue projects to improve the capacity along the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, encompassing railway upgrades, improved border crossings and the crucial step of integrating relevant lines of Ukraine’s rail system into the EU’s standard gauge to facilitate the uninterrupted movement of goods and services; considers that the 2026 budget should also help alleviate the economic and social hardship faced by the people of the EU’s eastern border regions, especially the Baltic states, Finland, Poland and Romania, who have been particularly affected by economic losses and the suspension of cross-border mobility as a consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; calls for the financing of further EU measures against the Russian shadow fleet;

18. Reiterates its repeated request to create a specific EU programme and a dedicated budget line for tourism in the current MFF and beyond, increasing the sector’s resistance to economic shocks and contributing to further growth and jobs across the value chain, bringing significant benefits and long-term well-being to local people and their businesses; highlights the need to reduce administrative burdens for SMEs operating in the tourism sector by simplifying rules, minimising data collection requirements, where appropriate, and providing tailored financial support; notes that the tourism sector stands to benefit greatly from digital innovations, such as smart tourism platforms and integrated digital ticketing systems for attractions and services, which enhance visitor experiences while driving significant economic growth for local communities; stresses that the further development of sustainable tourism, including through the promotion of regional products to strengthen local value chains or the management of tourist flows, could foster economic growth in less popular, more remote and peripheral areas, improve urban-rural connectivity and bolster the climate resilience of EU territories.

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

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	19.2.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	36 6 0
Members present for the final vote	Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Daniel Attard, Tom Berendsen, Nina Carberry, Benoit Cassart, Carlo Ciccioli, Vivien Costanzo, Johan Danielsson, Valérie Devaux, Siegbert Frank Droese, Gheorghe Falcă, Jens Gieseke, Sérgio Humberto, François Kalfon, Elena Kountoura, Merja Kyllönen, Luis-Vicențiu Lazarus, Vicent Marzà Ibáñez, Milan Mazurek, Alexandra Mehnert, Ştefan Muşoiu, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Philippe Olivier, Matteo Ricci, Arash Saeidi, Marjan Šarec, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Virginijus Sinkevičius, Kai Tegethoff, Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi, Kosma Złotowski
Substitutes present for the final vote	Arno Bausemer, Ondřej Krutílek, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Elena Nevado del Campo, Luděk Niedermayer, Andrey Novakov, Beata Szydło, Flavio Tosi, Kathleen Van Brempt
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Marie Dauchy, Elisabeth Grossmann

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

36	+
ECR	Carlo Ciccioli, Ondřej Krutílek, Beata Szydło, Kosma Złotowski
PPE	Tom Berendsen, Nina Carberry, Gheorghe Falcă, Jens Gieseke, Sérgio Humberto, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Alexandra Mehnert, Elena Nevado del Campo, Luděk Niedermayer, Andrey Novakov, Flavio Tosi, Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Renew	Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Benoit Cassart, Valérie Devaux, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Marjan Šarec
S&D	Daniel Attard, Vivien Costanzo, Johan Danielsson, Elisabeth Grossmann, François Kalfon, Ştefan Muşoiu, Matteo Ricci, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Kathleen Van Brempt
The Left	Elena Kountoura, Merja Kyllönen, Arash Saeidi
Verts/ALE	Vicent Marzà Ibáñez, Virginijus Sinkevičius, Kai Tegethoff

6	–
ESN	Arno Bausemer, Siegbert Frank Droese, Milan Mazurek
NI	Luis-Vicențiu Lazarus
PfE	Marie Dauchy, Philippe Olivier

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

– : against

0 : abstention

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT (19.2.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on general guidelines for the preparation of the 2026 budget – Section III – Commission

(2024/2110(BUI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Gabriella Gerzsenyi

OPINION

The Committee on Regional Development calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following into its motion for a resolution:

A. whereas pursuant to Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), ‘in order to promote its overall harmonious development, the Union shall develop and pursue its actions leading to the strengthening of its economic, social and territorial cohesion. In particular, the Union shall aim at reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of the least-favoured regions’;

B. whereas cohesion policy is a key instrument for reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions within the Union and for addressing the fact that the least-favoured regions lag behind, playing a vital role in promoting sustainable development and also addressing environmental challenges, complementing national budgets and enhancing the EU’s ability to navigate global complexities;

C. whereas among the regions concerned, particular attention must be paid to rural areas, areas affected by the industrial and automotive transitions, less-developed areas inside the so-called developed regions, eastern EU regions bordering on Russia, Belarus or Ukraine, regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps, as well as outermost regions, islands and Mediterranean regions facing environmental and economic vulnerabilities;

D. whereas the absorption rate of cohesion policy funds remains very low partly owing to delays to the start of programmes and the high level of bureaucracy and complexity required in cohesion-funded projects, which can lead to unforced errors;

E. whereas among the beneficiaries concerned, particular attention should be paid to vulnerable people, such as persons with disabilities;

1. Considers that, as the EU’s main long-term investment instrument, cohesion policy is based on solidarity, creates sustainable growth and jobs across the Union and contributes to key Union objectives and priorities, including its climate, energy and biodiversity targets, competitiveness, as well as sustainable and socially inclusive economic growth, to tackle demographic challenges and ensure equitable access to affordable housing;

2. Recalls that cohesion policy has proven to be a helpful tool in tackling challenges in various crises, such as the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and its effects on the energy supply, the high cost of living, inflation, and the needs of refugees and displaced persons, as well as natural disasters; underlines, however, that the resulting legislative amendments to cohesion policy have repeatedly brought unexpected changes to its objectives and resources, while cohesion policy should, when needed, complement rather than replace other financial instruments designed for emergency response;

3. Reiterates the need for coordination at budgetary level between all the financial instruments supporting cohesion policy; believes that, to make the most of NextGenerationEU funds, these should support and complement cohesion policy measures;

4. Emphasises the need to ensure that the ‘do no harm to cohesion’ principle is observed across the EU budget; stresses, in this regard, that cohesion policy should not undergo any fundamental changes which could jeopardise the structural and investment funds’ ability to deliver on their goals; stresses that the setting of new priorities should entail new resources and underlines that the long-term investment objectives of cohesion policy are to reduce regional disparities and enhance competitiveness;

5. Is concerned about the state of implementation of cohesion policy programmes for 2021-2027; urges the Commission to step up monitoring efforts, ensuring respect for the rule of law, a transparent, fair and responsible use of EU resources, as well as their sound financial management; urges the Commission to strengthen its cooperation with the Member State authorities at all levels in order to reduce bureaucracy to make cohesion funds more accessible to local and regional authorities, among others, and to avoid decommitments, unfinished projects and any political manipulation of fund allocation; stresses, therefore, the need to introduce a ‘smart conditionality’ mechanism;

6. Notes that the Just Transition Fund needs adequate financial resources and a long-term perspective to ensure its effectiveness in supporting regions’ transition towards climate neutrality, while ensuring that the most vulnerable regions are properly supported in the transition process; emphasises the need for a realistic and balanced approach to the just transition, ensuring economic, social and environmental sustainability, with the meaningful participation of local and regional authorities, as well as economic and social partners;

7. Calls for further simplification of cohesion policy to reduce the growing administrative burden, enhance fund accessibility and ensure investments tailored to the specific needs of regions while enabling the effective management of funds in line with the needs of final beneficiaries; highlights, in this context, the importance of the newly-created EU Councillors network, which is jointly run by the European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission, as a key tool for strengthening the ability to gather evidence of how the Union operates at local level;

8. Underlines that rural areas are a core part of Europe’s identity and economic potential; welcomes cohesion policy measures that recognise the contribution of more prosperous and resilient rural areas to Europe’s overall resilience; calls for adequate funding to enhance their role in environmental protection, food production, tourism and ensuring ‘the right to stay’; calls for increased public investment to tackle demographic challenges and support young people by improving services and infrastructure, expanding access to digital education, technologies and innovations, so as to raise living standards, increase the stock of affordable housing and foster equal access for citizens and families to culture and high quality education, essential social services and other public services, while making more efficient use of resources, reducing the impact on the environment and creating new opportunities for rural SMEs;

9. Notes that the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund support investments in sustainable urban development, underlining its importance as a key component of integrated territorial development, with at least 8 % of ERDF resources at the national level being allocated to urban areas through the relevant mechanisms; further notes that this should include special attention to the sustainable development of functional urban and metropolitan areas, facilitating the digital, green and industrial transitions;

10. Calls for increased investment in digitalisation and innovation to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs in less-developed regions, including rural and peripheral areas, in order to bridge the digital divide and foster inclusive economic growth;

11. Underlines that sustainable development is directly linked to having a highly skilled work force; insists, therefore, on the need for increased efforts to ensure an adequate degree of upskilling and reskilling of all relevant working age individuals, as well as initiatives to increase citizens’ acceptance of the economic, industrial and energy transitions;

12. Recalls the importance of mechanisms and strategies adapted to the diversity of the EU’s territories, and therefore calls for a full use of Article 349 TFEU to adapt cohesion policy to the specificities of the outermost regions; reiterates that the outermost regions should receive specific additional allocations to offset the extra costs incurred as a result of permanent constraints on their development; calls for an Islands Pact to be considered by the EU institutions with the participation of the principal stakeholders, along the lines of the Urban Pact and the future Rural Pact;

13. Reaffirms the need for close cooperation between national, regional, local and other authorities as well as their dialogue with civil society organisations and all relevant stakeholders, including economic and social partners, universities and innovation centres; recognises the importance of research and innovation policy in driving economic growth and enhancing competitiveness in order to fulfil cohesion policy objectives; highlights the need to support the commercialisation and scaling up of interregional innovation projects, underlining the importance of developing value chains, particularly in less-developed regions;

14. Reiterates the need to strengthen the administrative capabilities and capacity of local, regional and national authorities, which are key components in the effective planning and implementation of initiatives and projects at the local level; highlights the importance of stronger ownership, responsibility, partnership and decentralisation; strongly considers that increased financial resources dedicated to technical assistance are key to effective project implementation;

15. Emphasises that the implementation of cohesion policy must respect horizontal principles, including its place-based nature, multilevel governance, sustainability, the partnership principle, gender equality and non-discrimination, ensuring that all projects contribute to a more equitable and inclusive Union;

16. Stresses the need to strengthen awareness-raising among European citizens about cohesion policy achievements and calls for further information measures promoting it such as accessible data platforms, as cohesion policy is a particularly effective means of promoting strong and balanced European regions.

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

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

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	19.2.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	29 0 1
Members present for the final vote	Adrian-Dragoş Benea, Gordan Bosanac, Irmhild Boßdorf, Daniel Buda, Klára Dobrev, Klara Dostalova, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Krzysztof Hetman, Ľubica Karvašová, Elsi Katainen, Isabelle Le Callennec, Elena Nevado del Campo, Andrey Novakov, Valentina Palmisano, Vladimir Prebilič, Sabrina Repp, Marcos Ros Sempere, André Rougé, Antonella Sberna, Mārtiņš Staķis, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza, Rody Tolassy, Francesco Ventola, Marta Wcisło
Substitutes present for the final vote	Dan Barna, Sofie Eriksson, Denis Nesci, Jacek Protas
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Francisco Assis

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

29	+
ECR	Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza, Francesco Ventola
PPE	Daniel Buda, Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Krzysztof Hetman, Isabelle Le Callennec, Elena Nevado del Campo, Andrey Novakov, Jacek Protas, Marta Wcisło
PfE	Klara Dostalova, André Rougé, Rody Tolassy
Renew	Dan Barna, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Ľubica Karvašová, Elsi Katainen
S&D	Francisco Assis, Adrian-Dragoş Benea, Klára Dobrev, Sofie Eriksson, Sabrina Repp, Marcos Ros Sempere
The Left	Valentina Palmisano
Verts/ALE	Gordan Bosanac, Vladimir Prebilič, Mārtiņš Staķis

1	0
ESN	Irmhild Boßdorf

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

– : against

0 : abstention

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (19.2.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on guidelines for the 2026 budget – Section III

(2024/2110(BUI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Dario Nardella

OPINION

The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following into its motion for a resolution:

1. Highlights the crucial role of agricultural and rural development policies, particularly the common agricultural policy (CAP), in achieving the Union’s objectives under Article 39 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; highlights the fact that these policies are tools for farmers to provide safe, healthy, affordable and sustainable food of high quality, while ensuring fair and viable incomes for all farmers, in particular active, small-scale and young farmers, including targeting to prevent land abandonment and promoting short food supply chains; underlines that these policies aim to foster sustainable food systems and secure the long-term viability, profitability, sustainability and safety of EU agricultural production, the development of rural areas and the Union’s food sovereignty, while taking into consideration animal welfare standards, climate protection, mitigation and biodiversity measures; recalls, in this regard, that the strong and simplified EU financial support for a competitive and sustainable farming sector should be increased in the 2026 CAP budget allocation to better reflect the growing challenges in rural areas, including depopulation, and keep rural areas alive; underlines that, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey, support for the CAP has reached an all-time high, with over 70 % of respondents agreeing that the CAP fulfils its role in providing safe, healthy and sustainable food of high quality;

2. Notes that spending under the CAP significantly exceeds the climate and biodiversity mainstreaming targets and requests that this surplus be used to allocate funds that directly contribute to achieving the primary objectives of the CAP;

3. Calls on the Commission to secure additional funding for further nature objectives rather than relying on the CAP, which must above all remain a fund that ensures food security and a viable income for our farmers;

4. Upholds the promotion of EU agricultural products as a cornerstone of agricultural policy, with the aim of strengthening the competitiveness and relevance of all production sectors, especially that of wine and high-quality products, which need to have better access to both internal and external markets so as to promote diversification and internationalisation; recalls the success achieved by such promotion programmes in the opening up and consolidation of new markets; stresses the need to ensure an adequate promotion-policy budget in the coming financial years;

5. Stresses the need for a stronger, better equipped, flexible and more reactive agricultural reserve, with adequate funding to cope with market imbalances or unpredictable external factors, such as extreme and recurring weather events, animal diseases, water stress or an evolving geopolitical context, which are having an increasing impact on agricultural production and markets, farmers’ incomes, farm continuity and food security; calls on the Commission to make use of the crisis reserve in the most efficient, expeditious and transparent way; stresses the need to simplify administrative procedures in order to guarantee the swift disbursement of that aid; points out that an increase in the agricultural reserve must not affect direct payments; calls on the Commission to develop a comprehensive crisis management strategy for each major agricultural sector, ensuring the rapid and effective deployment of the crisis reserve, while considering the establishment of new crisis and risk management instruments; acknowledges though that the agricultural reserve alone cannot fully compensate for the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events caused by climate change; stresses the need to fund preventive mitigation and adaptation measures that enhance the resilience, including climate resilience, of rural areas and food production systems;

6. Strongly opposes any proposals to reduce the level of pre-allocated funds from the CAP in the future budget; points out that those funds should be increased by at least the equivalent of cumulative inflation since the start of the current budget period in order to avoid hidden reductions in CAP funding; stresses that farmers need the continuity and predictability of the CAP and that emerging new priorities cannot lead to cuts to the CAP budget; advocates for transparency and accountability in the allocation of CAP funds and encourages Member States and the Commission to enhance cooperation and strengthen anti-fraud measures; stresses the need for a fair distribution of CAP support between and within Member States; calls on the Commission to mobilise funds outside the CAP, given the challenges facing EU agriculture and to simplify the administrative procedures for farmers who receive aid; insists that any revenue accruing to the Union budget from assigned revenue or repayments of irregularities relating to agriculture should remain under the agriculture component of Heading 3 of the multiannual financial framework (MFF);

7. Underlines that CAP simplification measures adopted in 2024 must be the starting point for the next CAP reform;

8. Recalls that innovation can play a key role in enhancing the productivity, competitiveness, resilience and adaptability of agriculture; underlines, in this regard, the importance of increasing funding for research, thereby avoiding additional bureaucracy, both in the future budget allocations in the framework of the Horizon Europe research programme, as well as in the CAP, while creating funding mechanisms that ensure the continuity of existing and successful agri-food projects, established and funded through the NextGenerationEU instrument; calls therefore for adequate funding for climate change mitigation, precision agriculture, circular economy projects, renewable energy production in rural areas, development and technology-neutral innovation, including for projects promoting animal and plant health and the efficient use of resources, such as water, in agriculture; notes that production efficiency may also be an aim in itself, and that such funding should, in addition to improving the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, increase its resilience to challenges such as climate change and the spread of animal diseases; stresses the importance of ensuring adequate resources for training and knowledge exchange through European instruments, such as the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems;

9. Highlights the fact that digitalisation is a crucial tool in the development and enhancement of the value of rural areas, including inner areas, and plays a key role in addressing depopulation and attracting young people to these areas; welcomes the digital transformation in agriculture and rural areas, including its use in irrigation, to improve the efficiency, environmental, social and economic sustainability, traceability and precision of agricultural systems, ensuring more effective use of the EU’s budgetary resources and promoting entrepreneurship in rural areas, thus making them more attractive to people and businesses; calls on the Commission and the Member States, in this context, to strengthen the technological and communications infrastructure in rural areas, including broadband internet coverage, and encourages them to leverage technologies to enhance access to critical information and digitalise administrative processes for CAP support so as to reduce the bureaucratic burden and enable more efficient access to support and services; recalls that the uptake of innovative digital technologies requires sufficient funding, as well as targeted training, education and support programmes for farmers, particularly for small-scale and older farmers, to ensure equitable and affordable access to digital tools;

10. Notes with concern the continuing loss of farms and farmers, which has a significant socio-economic impact on rural areas; urges, therefore, the EU institutions and Member States to address labour and skills shortages by stepping up their efforts to promote generational renewal in the agricultural sector and rural areas, including in outermost regions and inner areas; highlights the importance of improving the profitability of the agricultural sector by enhancing fiscal and support measures that make farming activities more attractive and by improving access to land, financing and insurance, particularly for women, families involved in small-scale farming, marginalised groups and first-time farmers, such as young people; underlines that young farmers have the potential to be a driving force in sustainable and climate-friendly farming and highlights the need to empower them, including through the use of Union funds and adapted advisory and training tools; underlines that building and modernising rural infrastructure improves the quality of life in rural areas, which is essential for generational renewal; proposes, in this context, the inclusion of a specific indicator in future policies to monitor the rate of generational renewal and the level of services and infrastructure in rural areas;

11. Calls for EU programmes to prioritise projects that safeguard existing jobs in the agricultural sector and promote the creation of quality employment; stresses that all jobs in the agricultural sector must respect workers’ rights, provide stable and regulated pay, and ensure good working conditions; emphasises the importance of effectively combating poverty and social exclusion in rural areas;

12. Recalls the challenges that the agri-food sector has faced and is facing, such as the COVID-19 crisis, the harmful effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, natural disasters and rising input costs; regrets that direct payments and CAP subsidies have decreased significantly in real terms due to inflation, resulting in difficulties in implementing rural development measures, while the administrative burden on farmers has increased due to the accumulation of bureaucracy; calls on the Commission to allocate adequate resources to help farmers cope with those inflationary effects, including fuel costs, and underscores that the 2 % deflator of the current MFF does not compensate for the loss of value resulting from inflation; asks the Commission to provide a more flexible deflator in the next MFF and, furthermore, to work closely with the Member States to implement best practices at national and European levels to help farmers cope with inflation and record costs;

13. Requests that, following the repeated economic crises and extreme weather events caused by climate change that have affected agricultural companies, the unspent resources of the 2014-2022 rural development plans be spent by 31 December 2026 as a derogation from the N+3 rules laid down in Article 38 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 [27];

14. Welcomes the decision of the European Investment Bank to identify agriculture and the bio-economy as key priorities in its 2024-2027 Strategic Roadmap;

15. Expresses its concern about the adverse effects on the European agri-food sector of political instability in certain Member States and at global level, as well as of geopolitical tensions related to trade or international crises; underlines that the signing of the Mercosur Agreement in December 2024 will have implications for Union farmers and producers; invites the Commission to improve trade agreements to protect EU farmers, to ensure fair competition and a level playing field, and to allocate sufficient funds to mitigate the negative effects of trade agreements on the agricultural sector; recalls that European farmers may face unfair competition from third country producers who do not meet the same production standards as those in the EU and calls therefore for a proper level of reciprocity; reiterates the negative cascade effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on global food security and farmers’ livelihoods; highlights the need to make sure that the reform of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine provides stability and protection for EU farmers; highlights the need to start better preparation for an enlargement of the Union, taking account of European farmers’ interests, especially with regard to the adoption of balanced and enhanced measures to safeguard the European agricultural sector, while also ensuring support for Ukraine;

16. Calls on the Commission to encourage Member States to revise their national strategic plans, including the rapid use of funds from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and to provide funding to strengthen the relative negotiating positions of farmers in value chains, and for the Commission to swiftly approve these modifications;

17. Stresses the vital importance of the programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity (POSEI) for maintaining agricultural activity in the outermost regions of Europe, for the provision of food and agricultural products there and for the food sovereignty of the EU as a whole; calls for the budget of the scheme, which has not been increased since 2013, to be increased to reflect the real needs of farmers in the outermost regions, as farmers in those areas are facing higher production costs; calls therefore on the Commission to apply without delay a 2 % deflator to the POSEI financial envelopes in order to mitigate the substantial losses for producers in real terms and ensure fairer support for all farmers;

18. Urges the Commission to ensure adequate resources for the implementation of an EU water management strategy and to continue developing water collection, storage and distribution activities, while preserving the status of water bodies, in order to render the use of water reserves more efficient in agriculture, both in crop irrigation and livestock farming, given that droughts are becoming increasingly severe across the Union.

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

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	18.2.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	34 2 8
Members present for the final vote	Sergio Berlato, Stefano Bonaccini, Mireia Borrás Pabón, Daniel Buda, Waldemar Buda, Gheorghe Cârciu, Asger Christensen, Barry Cowen, Carmen Crespo Díaz, Ivan David, Valérie Deloge, Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral, Herbert Dorfmann, Carlo Fidanza, Luke Ming Flanagan, Maria Grapini, Cristina Guarda, Martin Häusling, Krzysztof Hetman, Céline Imart, Elsi Katainen, Stefan Köhler, Norbert Lins, Cristina Maestre, Dario Nardella, Maria Noichl, Gilles Pennelle, André Rodrigues, Katarína Roth Neveďalová, Bert-Jan Ruissen, Eric Sargiacomo, Christine Singer, Raffaele Stancanelli, Anna Strolenberg, Pekka Toveri, Jessika Van Leeuwen, Veronika Vrecionová, Thomas Waitz, Maria Walsh
Substitutes present for the final vote	Peter Agius, Benoit Cassart, Ton Diepeveen, Elisabetta Gualmini, Esther Herranz García

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

34	+
ECR	Sergio Berlato, Waldemar Buda, Carlo Fidanza, Bert-Jan Ruissen, Veronika Vrecionová
NI	Katarína Roth Neveďalová
PPE	Peter Agius, Daniel Buda, Carmen Crespo Díaz, Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral, Herbert Dorfmann, Esther Herranz García, Krzysztof Hetman, Céline Imart, Stefan Köhler, Norbert Lins, Pekka Toveri, Jessika Van Leeuwen, Maria Walsh
PfE	Raffaele Stancanelli
Renew	Benoit Cassart, Asger Christensen, Barry Cowen, Elsi Katainen, Christine Singer
S&D	Stefano Bonaccini, Gheorghe Cârciu, Maria Grapini, Elisabetta Gualmini, Cristina Maestre, Dario Nardella, Maria Noichl, André Rodrigues, Eric Sargiacomo

2	–
PfE	Ton Diepeveen
The Left	Luke Ming Flanagan

8	0
ESN	Ivan David
PfE	Mireia Borrás Pabón, Valérie Deloge, Gilles Pennelle
Verts/ALE	Cristina Guarda, Martin Häusling, Anna Strolenberg, Thomas Waitz

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

– : against

0 : abstention

LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGETARY CONTROL (18.2.2025)

Mr Johan Van Overtveldt

Chair

Committee on Budgets

BRUSSELS

Subject: Opinion on Guidelines for the 2026 Budget – Section III (2024/2110(BUI))

Dear Mr Van Overtveldt,

Under the procedure referred to above, the Committee on Budgetary Control has been asked to submit an opinion to your committee. At its meeting of 18 February 2025, the committee decided to send the opinion in the form of a letter.

Yours sincerely,

Niclas Herbst

CONT Chair

Rapporteur for the Commission Discharge

OPINION

1. Recalls its strong commitment to the fundamental principles and values enshrined in the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU);

2. Stresses the fundamental importance of respect for the rule of law to protect the financial interests of the Union in the implementation of EU funds; recalls the improvements needed in the application of the Rule of law Conditionality Regulation and a swifter follow-up by the Commission on breaches of the rule of law principles that affect or risk affecting the EU financial interests, including the Single Market dimension, as for example procurement and state aid;

3. Stresses that the sound and timely implementation of the budget contributes to addressing more efficiently and effectively the needs and challenges faced by the Union and its citizens in different policy areas; warns that the implementation of the budget under time pressure may lead to an increase in errors and irregularities;

4. Recalls that for the last years all available flexibility measures in the EU Budget were used; reiterates the need for flexibility in the EU Budget to address potential new circumstances where EU action is necessary; notes that increasingly the headroom in the EU Budget is used to provide funding to respond to crises; notes in addition, that exposure of the EU Budget to guarantees and contingent liabilities is projected to rise in the coming years, putting additional strain on the headroom in the Budget which further limits the flexibility of the EU Budget, as are the increased interest payments for NGEU related borrowing; urges the Commission to work on a more stringent risk assessment framework to define the exposure more accurately to prevent over-burdening of the EU Budget;

5. Stresses the need to protect the EU Budget from any misuse, particularly fraud and corruption, and calls on the Commission to continue to be vigilant and proactive in the current and future cases when the lack of respect for Union values and the Rule of Law affect or threaten to affect the Union’s financial interests;

6. Stresses the importance of the EU anti-fraud architecture and the need to provide increased resources and to strengthen the role of the European anti-fraud office (OLAF), the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) in the fight against fraud and corruption; stresses the need for a comprehensive cooperation between all these institutions;

7. Notes that while the digital transformation is indispensable to increase the efficiency, control and transparency of the EU Budget, this shift has also heightened its exposure to cyber fraud affecting the financial interests of the Union; calls on the Commission to allocate sufficient funds to strengthen EU digital infrastructure, research and development while ensuring that investments in cybersecurity are impactful and contribute to the overall protection of the Union’s financial interests;

8. Is concerned that total outstanding commitments are reaching record levels for several years now; notes that the Commission projects outstanding commitments to decrease after 2024, when NGEU draws to a close; considers that until the projected decrease of the RAL, the risk of decommitments, and a related reduction of EU added value for the EU Budget, remains high; calls on the Commission to enact a more strategic, transparent, and proactive approach to managing decommitments, also considering the use of decommitments in the cascade mechanism;

9. Is concerned that the Union’s debt continues to rise, with a large share of this increase attributed to the temporary recovery instrument NGEU; is concerned that the increased debt and the associated higher interest costs will have long-term consequences on the EU’s fiscal stability, potentially leading to greater financial strain and a reduced capacity to respond to future challenges or invest in key strategic areas; encourages the Commission to explore options to reduce the overall debt burden, such as optimising the timing and structure of debt issuance, and consider alternative financing mechanisms that could reduce reliance on high-interest debt; stresses that introducing new own resources is also necessary to prevent future generations from bearing the burden for past debts;

10. Expresses regret that the overall error rate estimated by the Court has been increasing since the 2020 financial year, reaching 5,6 % for the 2023 financial year; notes significant variations in error rates across different budget headings, with some areas reporting error rates below the materiality threshold of 2 %, while cohesion policy has an error rate as high as 9,3 %; notes in particular the conclusion that errors found in 100 % EU-funded priorities contributed 5,0 % to the total estimated level of error of 9,3 %; is concerned that increasing flexibilities without at the same time either decreasing requirements or increasing ex ante checks and controls contributed to the high error rate; calls on the Commission to take careful consideration of the lessons learned from the implementation of EU crisis response tools, such as increased flexibility;

11. Notes that the Court issued a qualified opinion on the legality and regularity of the RRF expenditure in 2023; expresses concern that the Court found 7 out of 23 RRF payments made in 2023 were impacted by quantitative issues, with 6 of these payments being affected by material errors; notes in addition that absorption of RRF funds was delayed in 2023, and that Member States may not be able to complete all measures at the end of the RRF’s implementation period; notes further that the second half of the RRF’s implementation period (post 2023) is more challenging with an increase in number of milestones and targets to be implemented, a shift from reforms to investments, and a high proportion of measures to be completed in the last year; calls on the Commission to support the Member States’ authorities in the implementation of funds, in particular where additional administrative capacity is needed, to stimulate absorption and reduce the occurrence of errors; calls on the Commission to transparently inform the Parliament about the progress of implementation and absorption of funds and to timely propose solutions where bottlenecks in the implementation are observed;

12. Recalls the importance of protecting the Union’s own resources from any fraudulent irregularity and, to that end, stimulate the cooperation between anti-fraud services and customs agencies to detect, prevent and correct fraud affecting Union revenue; recalls its position on the amended Commission proposals endorsing the introduction of new own resources.

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

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

LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE AND FOOD SAFETY (18.2.2025)

Mr Johan Van Overtveldt

Chair

Committee on Budgets

BRUSSELS

Subject: Opinion on Guidelines for the 2026 Budget – Section III (2024/2110(BUI))

Dear Mr Chair,

The Coordinators of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) decided on 16 December 2024 that ENVI would provide an opinion on the Guidelines for the 2026 budget – Section III (2024/2110(BUI)) in the form of a letter. Therefore, as both ENVI Chair and Standing Rapporteur for the Budget, let me provide you with ENVI’s contribution in the form of resolution paragraphs, which was adopted by ENVI at its meeting [28] of 18 February 2025 and which I kindly request will be taken into account by your committee:

1. Highlights that the current serious geopolitical context requires the Union to allocate sufficient resources for accelerating the green transition to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy; calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure the full execution of the REPowerEU Plan to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources and of energy efficiency technologies to speed up the green transition and end dependency on fossil fuels

2. Stresses the importance of the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping the global average temperature increase below 1,5°C compared to pre-industrial times; recalls the Union’s obligations to deliver the financial commitments made for international climate financing; considers that the Union should continue leading the efforts towards decarbonisation at global level;

3. Stresses that the Union’s budget for 2026 should be aligned with the realisation of the European Union’s objectives to reduce pollution and enhance biodiversity, as well as the long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate-neutral economy, the legally enshrined objective to reach climate neutrality by 2050 and the Union’s intermediate climate targets for 2030 and 2040, as laid down in the European Climate Law;

4. Points out that the European Green Deal is a growth strategy, whose effective implementation with adequate funding is fundamentally connected to the Union’s strength and competitiveness; believes that the future Clean Industrial Deal and Circular Economy Act should further increase the Union’s competitiveness capacity and sustainability and resource-efficiency to achieve the European Green Deal objectives and ensure a just and inclusive transition;

5. Reminds that the EU’s long-term budget for 2021-2027, together with NextGenerationEU, is aimed at implementing the EU’s long-term priorities in various areas, including climate and the environment; emphasizes, specifically, that 30 % of total EU expenditures under the MFF have to be allocated to climate-related projects, including clean-tech and innovation projects; stresses that the future Multi-Financial Framework post-2027 should maintain the level of ambition on climate and environment protection;

6. Considers it unacceptable that the Union did not reach its objective of allocating at least 7.5 % of annual expenditure to biodiversity in 2024; calls on the Member States and Commission to take the necessary measures to ensure that the 10 % objective will be reached in both 2026 and 2027 in order to achieve concrete outcomes, including the objectives set in the Kunming-Montreal Agreement, whilst ensuring cost-effectiveness and long-term sustainability; notes the importance of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) to reach biodiversity objectives;

7. Emphasises the need to allocate sufficient funding for each individual budget line that contributes to the achievement of the green transition, with a particular focus on sustainability, climate change, innovation, competitiveness, resource-efficiency and biodiversity conservation, such as attention to bees and pollinators’ protection and their role as indicators for healthy ecosystems; emphasizes the importance of the Social Climate Fund (SCF), established to support vulnerable groups in the Union’s green transition;

8. Highlights the importance of improving disaster prevention and preparedness by implementing climate adaptation measures, allowing the Union to better prevent and respond to emergencies like recent climate change events; emphasizes the ongoing need to ensure sufficient funding for the Union’s civil protection mechanism;

9. Notes the relevance of the reports adopted by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) in relation to the management of EU funds linked to climate and environment; urges the Commission and the Member States to implement the recommendations of the reports, in particular report 15/2024 on climate adaptation [29] regarding the need to ensure that all relevant EU-funded projects are adapted to the current and future climate conditions; recalls the importance of the ECA recommendations in its special report 14/2024 [30], emphasising the need for the Commission to better estimate climate spending under future funding instruments, to ensure their adequate design, and to enhance the performance of green transition measures;

10. Emphasises the need for more ambitious funding allocations for programs like LIFE to support climate and environment-related projects, as well as for the Just Transition Fund to assist the most vulnerable carbon-intensive regions in addressing the economic and social impacts of the climate transition to leave no one behind; emphasises that the funding under LIFE is crucial for the protection of nature and biodiversity, the transition towards an energy efficient, circular, climate neutral, competitive and climate resilient economy and for democratic participation in decision-making processes; notes that efficient and result-driven climate and biodiversity financing should be integrated into programming activities, while remaining flexible enough to address the diverse needs of different regions and sectors;

11. Reminds that a stronger European Health Union requires adequate funding with health-related expenditure that follows the ‘One Health’ and ‘Health in all policies’ approaches, securing the proper implementation of, inter alia, the European Health Data Space and of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan;

12. Strongly reiterates its regrets over the redeployment from the EU4Health programme of 1 billion EUR over the 2025-2027 period; considers that this funding shortfall threatens the programme’s ability to achieve its critical objectives; renews its call for the Commission, Member States, and other stakeholders to identify practical solutions to offset this cut, ensuring that the programme’s objective of building stronger, more resilient, and more accessible health systems is achieved; calls as well for increased amounts allocated to Cluster Health in Horizon Europe; recognises that stronger health systems directly contribute to economic stability and productivity by reducing health-related workforce disruptions and increasing the resilience of the labour market;

13. Highlights the importance of effectively allocating sufficient human and financial resources to all relevant DGs for the implementation of the adopted legislation related to climate environment, chemicals and health as well as to the relevant European agencies, including the European Environment Agency (EEA), the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA);

14. Highlights the need for a strengthened EU own resources system that can address current challenges while supporting the Union’s environmental, climate and health objectives; stresses the importance of implementing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism effectively, enabling the Commission to take compensatory measures to address any shortfalls in meeting the EU budget’s overall climate spending target.

I have sent a similar letter to Mr Andrzej Halicki, general rapporteur for the 2026 budget.

Yours sincerely,

Antonio Decaro

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

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

LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY (19.2.2025)

Mr Johan VAN OVERTVELDT

Chair

Committee on Budgets

BRUSSELS

Subject: Opinion in the form of a letter on the Guidelines for the 2026 budget – Section III (2024/2110(BUI))

Dear Mr Chair,

Under the procedure referred to above, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy has been asked to submit an opinion to your committee. On 19 February 2024, the committee adopted an opinion in the form of letter during its regular meeting.

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions into its motion for a resolution.

Yours sincerely,

Borys BUDKA

ITRE Chair

SUGGESTIONS

1. Recalls that the Union Budget for 2026 should concretely reflect the political priorities of the new legislative term, considering also the various pledges made by Commissioners during their confirmation hearings in Parliament in November 2024; insists that the 2026 budget needs to fully implement all programmes agreed under the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), as well as set in motion and finance new strategic EU initiatives, such as the Clean Industrial Deal for competitive industries and quality jobs; underscores that the 2026 budget must be aligned with the Union’s objectives and international commitments;

2. Notes that multiple challenges facing Europe require greater investment and coordination at European level, as well as more concrete action by Member States; calls on the Commission to propose a Union Budget for 2026 that reflects the urgent nature of these challenges; among others, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and hybrid attacks on Member States and their energy and digital infrastructure; maintains this requires multiple forms of EU and national level investments and preparedness, including improving the resilience of digital and energy infrastructure, direct support for Ukraine, accelerated investment in Europe’s defence industry, and support for the EU’s Eastern border regions most directly impacted by the war and Russian hybrid operations; the need to strengthen Europe’s economic competitiveness and industrial base in a volatile environment where global competitors benefit from extensive state support, leading to unfair competition for European companies; the urgent necessity to improve Europe’s research and innovation capabilities, including greater support for SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups; the digital revolution, including the acceleration of artificial intelligence and growing concerns about cybersecurity; and the need to achieve a just climate transition, as we adapt our economy to the Union’s long-term energy goals and climate neutrality by 2050, by accelerating the decarbonisation in Europe’s energy markets, implementing European Green Deal legislation and achieving a circular economy;

3. Notes that EU companies face considerably higher electricity and gas prices compared with the USA, China and other global actors, which presents a significant competitiveness disadvantage, especially but not only for Europe’s energy intensive industries; emphasises the need to tackle energy poverty and limit the damaging effects of high energy prices on European consumers, many of whom are already struggling with a high cost of living; stresses the importance of reducing EU dependence on fossil-fuels and improving energy efficiency; underlines that security of supply concerns remain paramount and should be addressed in the 2026 budget, given that energy supplies are easily weaponised by state actors; insists on the need to improve energy interconnections, modernise energy grids, integrate a higher share of renewables while ensuring sufficient clean baseload energy and system flexibilities, therefore calls for significantly increased funding for the Connecting Europe Facility – Energy, which is the flagship EU programme in this field but currently has limited resources to credibly advance Europe towards an interconnected, resilient and decarbonised energy system, able to deliver affordable prices; calls for urgently ending any remaining EU import dependencies on Russia:

4. Recalls the need to strengthen the resilience of the EU economy and the competitiveness of Union industries, with ambitious EU industrial policies that can create quality jobs and contribute significantly towards achieving the EU’s social, digital and green objectives, whilst preserving a level playing field in the Single Market; therefore believes that the Union Budget for 2026 should mark the start of the investment boost recommended in the Draghi report by investing strongly in industrial competitiveness, open strategic autonomy and creating pathways towards decarbonisation, while securing EU supply chains for strategic sectors and technologies and improving access to critical raw materials; insists that the 2026 budget must continue strengthening the Union’s competitiveness with increased support for SMEs, midcaps and start-ups, including greater support for scale up to compete globally, in particular through the European Innovation Council;

5. Recalls that the 2026 budget for Horizon Europe will be the first after the mid-term review of this strategic EU programme, and therefore needs to offer sufficient investment in fundamental and applied research, foster collaborative research and facilitate the scale-up and commercialisation of research results to ensure Europe can retain and further develop the necessary knowledge base to confront the scientific and economic challenges of the coming decades; regrets that the existing level of Horizon Europe funding is ultimately insufficient to develop the ideas and technologies necessary for the twin green and digital transitions, or to fully deliver on the stated EU goals of sustainable growth and open strategic autonomy; calls for an increase in the 2026 budget for Horizon Europe, including through the reuse of all available decommitments allowing each sub-programme to fund at least 50% of all excellent proposals, given that presently a majority of excellent proposals remain unfunded; calls for maintaining stable and sufficient funding of the ITER project;

6. Stresses that significant investments are necessary to address Europe’s connectivity gap and other Digital Decade 2030 targets; recalls that the European Commission estimates that achieving the full gigabit target could exceed €200 billion; calls therefore for adequate resources to be allocated to provide high speed connectivity including gigabit and 5G services, in addition to investments in next generation digital infrastructures and emerging technologies; calls for further investments that foster the development of European digital sovereignty and an EU-based digital sector in order to catch up in crucial areas such as quantum computing and Artificial Intelligence; calls on the Commission to allocate sufficient resources to ensure the full implementation and robust enforcement of the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act; stresses the importance of tackling foreign interference, addressing the dangers of biased algorithms, and safeguarding transparency, accountability, and the integrity of the digital public space.

7. Underlines that a strong and sustainable European space sector is fundamental for European security, open strategic autonomy, secure connectivity, protection of critical infrastructure and advancing the twin green and digital transitions; regrets that EU and its Member States funding for space programmes is highly fragmented and only a fraction of the level in the US, while other global actors including China are rapidly increasing investments; calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure sufficient funding for the European space industry, which includes fostering investments from the private sector; calls furthermore for a sufficient level of EU investments supporting R&I in the field of space;

8. Calls for adequate funding and staffing for all agencies and Union bodies in the policy areas of industry, research, energy, space and cybersecurity, in order to cope with increased workload and new regulatory obligations;

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

LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION (19.2.2025)

Mr Johan Van Overtveldt

Chair

Committee on Budgets

BRUSSELS

Subject: Opinion on Guidelines for the 2026 Budget –Section III 2024/2110(BUI)

Dear Mr Van Overtveldt,

to above, the Committee on Culture and Education has been asked to submit an opinion to your committee. At its meeting of 3 December 2024, the committee decided to send the opinion in the form of a letter. It considered the matter at its meeting of 19 February 2025 and adopted the opinion at that meeting [31].

The Committee on Culture and Education:

1. Insists that funding for the most successful EU and crucial programmes like Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), Creative Europe and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme has to be excluded from debt repayment needs for the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) over the whole remaining MFF period; stresses that the ‘EURI cascade mechanism’ has to be implemented effectively, protecting important programme initiatives that directly benefit citizens;

2. Welcomes further simplification in line with EP calls, e.g. through the use of lump sums in Erasmus+ , for the programmes that are close to the citizens and need to be accessible also for organisations with limited administrative capacities, and calls for further efforts to achieve that end; underlines that attention should be given to peripheral, mountainous and rural areas that experience more difficulties in accessing EU funds; calls on the Commission to continue to share regularly with Parliament, including the Committee on Culture and Education, updated indicators and statistics on the absorption of funds in these programmes;

3. Welcomes that mobility grants under Erasmus+ were increased to offset rising living costs, upon Parliament’s insistence on an increase to the programme’s budget, to ensure that the programme remains accessible and inclusive;

4. Stresses necessary efforts to widen participation and to meet inclusivity targets in order to widen the participation of the most vulnerable youth groups and people with disabilities;

5. Strongly warns against any cuts, and calls for an increase of the funding for the programme, taking into account the high implementation rates and absorption capacities of the programme; calls in particular to preserve funding to initiatives that support teacher development, such as the European Universities and the Erasmus+ Teacher Academies; highlights the growing number of applicants – e.g. a 94% increase in school education mobility applications from 2022 to 2023 ; regrets, however, the consequence of lower success rates, notably for school accreditations, which underscores the need for a substantial funding increase to meet the growing demand;

6. Insists that all funding initially allocated to the programme will be used for investing in the future of young people;

7. Emphasises the need to support sport under Erasmus+ to promote its role in improving physical and mental health and social inclusion, and to fight discrimination;

8. Deplores the additional, unanticipated costs for the media strand of Creative Europe, including the implementation of not only the AVMSD, but also of EMFA, including the secretariat of the European Board for Media Services, an additional expenditure that was not taken into account when the current MFF was set up; insists that new initiatives should always be financed from fresh money;

9. Stresses that the budget for the Creative Europe programme is insufficient to meet the high demand for projects across all its strands, with alarmingly low success rates (e.g. 17% in 2023 under the culture strand); calls for an increase of its funding and highlights the need for synergies between Creative Europe and other EU funds.

10. Calls for an increase in funding for the ESC programme, given the modest year-on-year increases of about 2% of its budget under the MFF, which is not sufficient to offset inflation rates, and the fact that it is heavily over-subscribed, resulting in a high rejection rate and, therefore, in many cases, disappointment for the young applicants; welcomes the fact that the number of participants with fewer opportunities in the programme (38%) is the highest of any EU programme and should be maintained;

11. Stresses the importance of the CERV programme for building bridges between European citizens from different Member States and promoting their engagement and participation in the democratic life of the Union, while also contributing to preserving social cohesion and helping to prevent democratic backsliding, particularly in the current challenging political situation; insists, therefore, on an increase for its budget;

12. Points out that pilot projects and preparatory actions (PPs and PAs) serve as testbeds for new policy initiatives and need adequate funding to properly fulfil that function; deplores any attempts to thwart potentially successful proposals for PPs and PAs already at the selection stage and calls for better cooperation between the Commission and the European Parliament on the selection and implementation of PPs and PAs.

Yours sincerely,

Nela Riehl

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

LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS (18.2.2025)

Mr Johan Van Overtveldt

Chair

Committee on Budgets

BRUSSELS

Subject: Opinion on Guidelines for the 2026 Budget – Section III (2024/2110(BUI))

Dear Mr Van Overtveldt,

Under the procedure referred to above, the Committee on Constitutional Affairs has been asked to submit an opinion to your committee. At its meeting of 29 January 2025, the committee decided to send the opinion in the form of a letter.

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs considered the matter at its meeting of 18 February 2025. At that meeting [32], it decided to submit the opinion set out below to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible.

Yours sincerely,

Sven Simon

OPINION

1. Points out that future substantial EU enlargement cannot be met without a larger EU budget and sufficient new own resources; calls for the necessary budgetary and institutional reforms to be agreed and adopted before substantial enlargement takes place;

2. Reminds of the need to secure proper financing for the structures within the EU institutions that are responsible for communication with citizens and countering disinformation such as the Commission Representations and European Parliament Liaison Offices, in order to enable them to effectively fulfil their tasks;

3. Recommends that the Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations receives adequate resources, in particular for staffing purposes in view of the significant enlargement of its tasks as foreseen by the Commission proposal for the recast of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 1141/2014;

4. Urges the Committee on Budgets to incorporate the above mentioned budget lines augmentations in its position, as they serve the purpose of delivering concrete results and quality communication to citizens.

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

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

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Date adopted	20.3.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	27 8 0
Members present for the final vote	Georgios Aftias, Rasmus Andresen, Isabel Benjumea Benjumea, Olivier Chastel, Tamás Deutsch, Angéline Furet, Thomas Geisel, Andrzej Halicki, Monika Hohlmeier, Alexander Jungbluth, Fabienne Keller, Ondřej Kovařík, Janusz Lewandowski, Victor Negrescu, Danuše Nerudová, João Oliveira, Karlo Ressler, Bogdan Rzońca, Julien Sanchez, Hélder Sousa Silva, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Carla Tavares, Nils Ušakovs, Lucia Yar, Auke Zijlstra
Substitutes present for the final vote	Stine Bosse, Mohammed Chahim, Rasmus Nordqvist
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Łukasz Kohut, Marit Maij, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Mirosława Nykiel, Leire Pajín, Krzysztof Śmiszek

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

27	+
ECR	Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Bogdan Rzońca
PPE	Georgios Aftias, Isabel Benjumea Benjumea, Andrzej Halicki, Monika Hohlmeier, Łukasz Kohut, Janusz Lewandowski, Danuše Nerudová, Mirosława Nykiel, Karlo Ressler, Hélder Sousa Silva
Renew	Stine Bosse, Olivier Chastel, Fabienne Keller, Lucia Yar
S&D	Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Mohammed Chahim, Marit Maij, Victor Negrescu, Leire Pajín, Krzysztof Śmiszek, Carla Tavares, Nils Ušakovs
Verts/ALE	Rasmus Andresen, Rasmus Nordqvist, Nicolae Ştefănuță

8	–
ESN	Alexander Jungbluth
NI	Thomas Geisel
PfE	Tamás Deutsch, Angéline Furet, Ondřej Kovařík, Julien Sanchez, Auke Zijlstra
The Left	João Oliveira

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

– : against

0 : abstention

MIL OSI Europe News –

March 26, 2025

MIL-OSI Russia: Bright Work: How Young Professionals Shape Moscow’s Cultural Image

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Modern melodies on the gusli, old coins and decorations for Soviet films – the cultural sphere of Moscow resembles a kaleidoscope in which colored glass pieces are constantly changing. Each time the picture is new, surprising, causing admiration or nostalgia. These changes are led by people: artists, musicians, museum employees, actors. Many of them are young, they have their own view and worldview, which bring fresh shades to the entertainment and educational life of the capital.

For the Day of Culture Workers, which is celebrated on March 25, we tell you about budding specialists in this field, about their bright exhibitions, excursions, playing musical instruments, and also about how chance can lead to the profession of your dreams.

Ranevskaya, the Llama and Mary Poppins

Alisa Lausch is 24 years old. She works as a methodologist in the museum activities department. in Zaryadye Park. Until recently, the girl did not know that she would become an organizer of exhibitions in the Old English Court (the name of one of the buildings in the park): she graduated from the Donbass State Technical University with a degree in ecology. But chance circumstances put everything in its place. Her student years coincided with the pandemic, everyone was transferred to distance learning, she decided to return to Moscow, and at the same time got a job as a librarian in the scientific library of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.

“It was at this time that I realized that ecology was not my calling. I am much more interested in books, artifacts, and studying history. In addition, working in the cultural sphere is self-development. When I learned that a vacancy had opened at Zaryadye, I immediately came there. Now I organize a full cycle of exhibitions: from collecting information and searching for exhibits to conducting a tour for visitors,” says Alisa Lausch.

One of the exhibitions held with the participation of our interlocutor was “The Mystery of Tsam. The History of Buddhism in Russia.” During the preparation stage, the girl studied literature in electronic libraries and even met with a lama in order to better understand the subtleties of the mystery. “I learned that Buddha’s birth name was Siddhartha Gautama, and it turns out that this fact was not known to all visitors. I found out and told those who came to the exhibition that Buddhism came to Russia at the beginning of the 17th century, when some Kalmyk tribes, who professed its Tibetan form, became part of the Russian Empire,” the methodologist shares.

In addition, thanks to the help of Alisa Laush, an exhibition entitled “But You Are Ranevskaya!” was held, dedicated to the biography of the famous actress. The girl collected little-known facts about Faina Ranevskaya and showed her difficult fate. “Many people know Ranevskaya’s sharp aphorisms, her brilliant roles in films, but not everyone knows that she was a very lonely person, a woman whose personal life did not work out. In addition, it was a revelation for me that the actress was familiar with poets of the Silver Age, such as Anna Akhmatova, Marina Tsvetaeva, Osip Mandelstam,” says the interlocutor of mos.ru.

In addition to her museum work, Alisa Lausch, who graduated from the pop and jazz department of a music school as a child, teaches vocals in the Pervomaysky settlement, teaching children songs from Soviet musical cartoons and films, such as, for example, “Mary Poppins, Goodbye” or “Buratino.”

“In Zaryadye, I introduce people to the cultural values of Russia, and in the pop vocal studio, I instill good musical taste in the kids. After all, compositions from Soviet films are classics! It’s so nice to surprise, delight, and hear in response: “We didn’t even know such a thing existed!”,” the girl smiles.

Moscow water supply and the sheriff’s house

25-year-old Nikolai Malashin, employee Museum of Municipal Economy at VDNKh and the department of development and formation of excursion products Mosgortur company, also ended up in the cultural sphere by chance. He graduated from the Moscow Aviation Institute, Department of Foreign Languages, majoring in Advertising and Public Relations in the Aerospace Industry, and was not planning to lead excursions. But it so happened that after graduating, the young man urgently needed a job. At that very moment, VDNKh was recruiting young employees.

“I used to think of a museum as something pompous, I couldn’t imagine myself in such a position. Besides, I always felt uncomfortable speaking in public and communicating with strangers. The new profession gave me a chance to change. I challenged myself: “Let’s bet?” And it just so happens that stories that begin with this phrase are the most interesting and exciting. As a result, I learned a lot about the municipal structure of the city, for example, what path water takes before it reaches the taps, met amazing people, took part in mass events and continue to do this, grow internally and educate others,” Nikolai Malashin admits.

Unexpectedly, he got into cinema park “Moskino”. Friends from Mosgortur invited the young man there on a tour. He liked it. “I then said: ‘I love movies, TV series and other manifestations of visual art.’ To which they replied: ‘Then get a job as a tour guide!’ And now I have two jobs,” smiles the mos.ru interlocutor.

Each tour of the Moskino cinema park is like a trip or a shoot for him, in which he is the director. When a group of visitors gathers, Nikolai Malashin slams the numbering board (a board with a movable rail on top, used to conditionally divide scenes during the filming process), and so begins a walk among the sets used in the films. “Where else can you visit Berlin in an hour and a half, walk around St. Petersburg and a cowboy town with a sheriff’s house!” the young man reasons.

It helps people get in touch with the film industry, tells how some 15-second scenes took 12 hours to film, and gives visitors a sense of celebration.

Philately, phylumeny, faleristics

Tatyana Baranova, Junior Researcher, Funds Department Museum of Moscow, on the contrary, dreamed of working with museum objects since childhood. Her parents took her to exhibitions, and after school she entered the Russian State Humanitarian University in the Department of Museology of the Faculty of Art History. The girl is now 24 years old.

“After graduating from university, I got a job at the Museum of Moscow. At first, I filled out the accounting system, entered descriptions of exhibits into it. And now I am trusted to keep collections: philately (stamps), philumeny (matchbox labels) and phaleristics (badges). They reflect key events in Moscow and Russia, and each item also tells about the person to whom it once belonged. Visitors learn these stories at exhibitions thanks to the items I keep,” says Tatyana Baranova.

The girl not only collects data on collections, but also participates in the installation of exhibitions. She herself likes badges with images of sports the most. “One, for example, shows the pentathlon in the form of flower petals. Very beautiful design!” she admires.

Musical pictures

26-year-old Elizaveta Melnichenko, soloist of the folklore ensemble “Kupina” and member of the cultural brigade “Mosconcert”, first heard the gusli sound when she was 10. And it was the artists of Kupina who played. The girl was amazed by the beauty of the instrument, and she decided that she would definitely master it. And so it happened. She graduated from the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music, specializing in gusli, and already during her studies she was accepted into the main ensemble.

“The gusli is not only an instrument, but also a symbol of folk tradition, it allows me to convey emotions and tell entire stories. Each concert is an opportunity to touch the hearts of listeners, inspire them, create an atmosphere of unity. I do not just play: my performances are filled with artistry, in my head there is always a picture that I try to show through music,” explains Elizaveta Melnichenko.

She had the opportunity to perform at many famous venues in the capital, for example, in the P.I. Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, the Column Hall of the House of Unions, in Moscow International House of Music. The girl toured half the country, became a laureate of the first prize, in particular, the International Competition of Performers on Folk Instruments named after V.P. Pletnev in Tatarstan and the International Competition of Folk Music “Kantele” in Karelia. She won the All-Russian competition of youth projects at the festival “Tavrida. Art” in Crimea, showing how the gusli can sound in modern genres. She also participates in organizing festivals, for example, “Guardians of the Heritage of Russia”.

“I play different pieces, I try to make a fashionable arrangement to interest young people. Our ensemble is always greeted with applause, and people leave the concert charged with positive energy for the whole day, because the gusli is bright and magical,” the mos.ru interlocutor sums up.

Guests of the Moskino Cinema Park saw knightly battles and learned ancient crafts It’s easy to please your loved ones: the Mosbilet service now offers tickets as a gift More than 400 cultural events were held in the capital thanks to initiatives on the City of Ideas platform The III Moscow Summer Music Festival “Zaryadye” will begin on June 2 The Mosconcert cultural brigade performed for servicemen in the hospital History in things: VDNKh and the Museum of Moscow presented a new project dedicated to the history of the country’s main exhibition

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/151722073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Linking Indigenous Knowledge with Decision Making

Source: US State of Connecticut

Alaska Native peoples have been hunting, fishing, and gathering wild resources for as long as people have been in Alaska, says Dillon Patterson ’24 Ph.D., but after the United States took control of Alaska, laws were passed that challenges their access to these resources and traditional lifeways. Patterson, first as a graduate researcher and now an anthropologist for the Alaska Subsistence Program in the United States National Park Service, is collaborating with Indigenous communities to work toward the goal of restoring subsistence access for Alaska’s original residents.

Patterson embarked on his studies in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Fall of 2020, but he benefited from the unique situation in a way that propelled his dissertation field research. When he saw a posting for a student position with the National Park Service (NPS) in Alaska, it caught his attention. At the time, he had not yet settled on a research topic, but Patterson was interested in the position’s focus on subsistence issues, and since all but one of his classes were online, he thought it was something he could make work. After clearing the idea with his advisor, Department of Anthropology Assistant Professor Elle Ouimet, he applied and was offered the job.

Patterson says it is not uncommon for anthropology students to travel far for their research, so he seized the opportunity and moved 3,000 miles to Alaska and got started on his project in the Katmai National Park and Preserve, which benefited from the longer-term fieldwork and collaboration he was able to incorporate into his study.

The History

Knowing the history of Alaska’s national parks is important to understand the challenges the Indigenous population faces. Patterson says the laws the United States passed after taking control of the territory focused on land settlement and resource rights issues and are primarily aimed at stripping Alaska Native land claims and presenting opportunities for nonrenewable resource development, and as a result, they have greatly limited Indigenous subsistence ways of life.

The most important law regarding subsistence was passed and signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 called the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), Patterson explains. It created most national park lands in Alaska and nearly doubled the number of national park lands in the U.S., where most of the designated NPS units were also authorized for the continuation of subsistence use.

“A lot of folks wanted there to be an Alaska Native priority for subsistence, a priority over all other consumptive uses, to ensure Alaska Native subsistence rights were protected,” Patterson says. “Ultimately, the Act didn’t distinguish between Alaska Natives and non-natives and the subsistence priority was given to rural Alaska residents.”

This presents an issue since much of Alaska’s population of 700,000 lives in cities, with half of the population in Anchorage alone. This means Alaska Natives who live in Anchorage or Juneau are not qualified subsistence users, and that happens a lot, says Patterson, because people move to pursue education or to accept jobs in the city.

Examples like this demonstrate how rigid bureaucratic constraints can challenge Indigenous ways of life, and Patterson is trying to help address this.

Learning from Knowledge Holders

Over the years, Patterson says caribou population numbers have fluctuated dramatically due to climate and human development as well as natural boom and bust cycles characteristic of the species. Patterson’s work focuses primarily on the Mulchatna Caribou Herd, which is one of many large barren ground caribou herds in Alaska and the largest herd in the southwest region of the state. The population peaked in the 1990s at around 200,000 caribou and has reduced in number to around 14,000 today. The hunt was closed in 2019 for all caribou in the Mulchatna Herd range in hopes the population would rebound.

Dillon Patterson ’24 Ph.D. seized a unique opportunity to work as a graduate researcher for the National Park Service in Alaska for his dissertation research. Here he is posing by the welcome sign for Igiugig, one of the villages where his Indigenous collaborators live. (Contributed photo)

Patterson’s research started by focusing on a small population of caribou in the Katmai National Preserve that supported two villages, Kokhanok and Igiugig, which are approximately 15 miles north of the northern boundary of the Katmai Preserve.

The villagers asserted the smaller Katmai Herd is distinct from the Mulchatna Herd. Before the hunt was closed in 2019, the Katmai Herd supported local needs without jeopardizing the Mulchatna Herd’s numbers.

“When the Mulchatna Herd was healthy and large in number, it didn’t matter if this small population in Katmai was managed as part of the Mulchatna Herd. Now it’s a problem because you’ve closed hunting due to conservation concerns for the Mulchatna Herd, which shouldn’t apply to this small population.”

Patterson started working with knowledge holders from the villages, where he applied an activist research approach to collaborate and document the vast knowledge from the local and Indigenous populations about the caribou. Since Alaska Native peoples have lived and hunted the region’s animals for millennia, Patterson says that these knowledge holders have a far deeper understanding of the caribou population than the limited research done by Western science thus far and are also the most invested in the survival of the caribou population.

While gathering supporting evidence to make the case for differentiating the herds, Patterson also learned about the long history of problems with access, including some confusion within the NPS about how to process formal requests for off-road vehicle access for subsistence hunters. By identifying these hurdles, Patterson worked with the communities navigate the bureaucracy and submit a formal request to perhaps get decision-makers to adapt the policy to account for changing circumstances.

‘The subsistence way of life will always find a way to persist’

Hunting caribou requires traveling, sometimes as many as 40 miles into the sprawling 308,000 acres of Katmai Preserve. If the hunt is successful, trekking back with hundreds of pounds of harvest is an arduous task without the right equipment, especially since there are no roads in the area.

From a preservation perspective, the tundra landscape is easily damaged, and movement across the landscape, especially by motorized vehicles can lead to damage so the subject of whether or not to allow all-terrain vehicle (ATV) access is tricky.

While some parks and preserves allow access via ATVs like four-wheelers for subsistence purposes, when Katmai was created in 1980 Patterson explains ATV access was not permitted. Snowmachines (also known as snowmobiles) are allowed if there are at least six inches of snow on the ground to prevent damage to the landscape; however, with the changing climate, snow cover is no longer guaranteed in the colder months. Snow comes later, and Patterson says that even in January of this year, there was less than an inch on the ground, and by the end of February, there was no snow on the ground at all, so access is greatly impacted by the climate, and expanding what vehicles are allowed could help, especially, as noted by a local knowledge holder, they haven’t had much winter lately.

“The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act uses the language that other types of motorized vehicles could only be used for subsistence access where traditionally employed, but it doesn’t define what ‘traditionally employed’ means,” Patterson says. “Historically, the Park Service has interpreted that to mean that there was more than one generation of use prior to 1980, and so the issue of access with four-wheelers has been a frustrating problem for locals, but it’s become more of an issue today.”

Patterson’s project then took on two parts – one with a focus on access to caribou for subsistence purposes, and the second to document the history of access technology used by the local Indigenous population.

Patterson wanted to emphasize that people in the region have been adapting and using whatever technology they have available while also using the same trails for thousands of years. For example, people have long used dog sleds in the area and, more recently, reindeer sleds after reindeer herding was introduced by government officials in the 20^th century.

“Over time, the type of technology they use to access different places changed, and typically that change is driven by adaptation to socioeconomic changes and climate changes. The climate has been changing in Alaska for a long time just like the socio cultural and economic situation has been changing dramatically in Alaska for a long time.”

With all of this in mind, Patterson asks, what is considered “traditional”?

“If we’re going to use that word about Alaska Native cultures, we need to acknowledge that they’re highly adaptable to these new stressors, and the subsistence way of life will always find a way to persist.”

“Everything in bureaucracy moves slowly”

Through the course of his studies and fieldwork, Patterson documented evidence that detailed how successive generations have used ATVs for access to Katmai Preserve prior to 1980. With the knowledge he gathered, he developed presentations and briefing documents for decision-makers. With this information, the park superintendent signed a memorandum acknowledging that history and that it likely met the criteria for what ANILCA calls traditionally employed use of motorized surface transportation, says Patterson.

“However, the Park Service can’t just make that decision and then all of a sudden, allow all-terrain vehicle use. Everything in bureaucracy moves slowly,” says Patterson.

This work builds upon work that previous Park Service anthropologists conducted, including oral histories about the use of off-road vehicles in the 1990s, and the process resulting in the signing of a memorandum took a lot of work and patience on behalf of many people. Though changes have not been made yet, it is an important step in the right direction.

Patterson collaborated with community members from two villages, Igiugig (photographed here) and Kokhanok, which are located about 15 miles north of Katmai. (Contributed photo)

“Meanwhile, the decision maker for caribou hunting is not the National Park Service; it is the Federal Subsistence Board, but those regulations can change much faster because there’s a bi-annual cycle for hunting and fishing regulatory change.”

Therefore, this aspect of his project saw a result more quickly. In 2023, the Igiugig village tribal council submitted a proposal to the Federal Subsistence Board to open the caribou hunt for local residents, acknowledging that the smaller herd is separate from the Mulchatna Herd.

“The first caribou hunt in Katmai in six years is now occurring. Despite the lack of snow, the first caribou was caught in late February and shared throughout the communities. The hunt will go into the end of March.”

Ouimet adds that Patterson’s work carefully navigating the complexities between federal offices and local communities, has been extremely effective at changing regulation that has been stalled for decades.

In addition to his successes in aiding in the changing of regulation, Patterson successfully defended his dissertation in the Fall of 2024 and has since transitioned into a permanent role as a Cultural Anthropologist with the Park Service. He views his job as one that links the complex laws and regulations with serving the subsistence needs of the local Indigenous population.

Patterson appreciates that his position allows him to work more closely with decision-makers than he may otherwise have as an anthropologist, and this has allowed him to gain greater insight throughout the process, including appreciating the pressure they operate under.

“For example, another park in Alaska right now that authorized off-road vehicles for subsistence use in the 80s was later sued by environmentalist groups for damage done to the landscape by off-road vehicles. I just say that to acknowledge the people who make decisions are under a lot of pressure from all sides, so I think my job is to help them make the best-informed decision.”

Patterson’s approach also centers on activist methods to gain deeper insights into the context and needs of his Indigenous collaborators, and he says in his day-to-day work, if someone asks why an anthropologist works for the park service, he pushes back,

“No one questions why a biologist would work for the National Park Service so I feel defensive when people challenge the notion that an anthropologist would be advocating on behalf of local Alaska Native communities. I feel like my job is to, as best I can, understand the local perspective and bring it back to the internal management conversations at the Park Service.”

MIL OSI USA News –

March 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ICMR Pioneers Drone-Based Cornea Transport to Revolutionize Eye Care

Source: Government of India

ICMR Pioneers Drone-Based Cornea Transport to Revolutionize Eye Care

Successful Pilot Demonstrates the Potential of Aerial Medical Logistics for Timely and Efficient Cornea Transplants under ICMR’s i-DRONE Initiative

Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 1:38PM by PIB Delhi

Aligning with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to make India self-reliant and technologically empowered, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched a pioneering study on the aerial transport of human corneas and amniotic membrane grafts.

ICMR in collaboration with AIIMS New Delhi and Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital and with the support from Ministry of Civil Aviation has conducted a feasibility study to assess the potential of using drones to transport sensitive ophthalmic biomaterials such as human corneas and amniotic membrane grafts from peripheral collection centres to tertiary hospitals for transplantation procedures, in Sonipat and Jhajjar, Haryana. The drone successfully transported corneal tissue from Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (Sonipat centre) to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), AIIMS Jhajjar, and subsequently to AIIMS New Delhi. The distance between the two cities was covered in around 40 minutes via drones which usually takes around 2-2.5 hours to cover via road. The drone maintained optimal conditions for specimen integrity and upon arrival, the cornea was evaluated, leading to a successful transplant surgery.

Drones are emerging as game changers in healthcare logistics, offering rapid delivery of life-saving medical supplies to remote and hard-to-reach areas. The timely transportation of corneal tissues is critical, as the viability of donated corneas is time-sensitive. Delays in transportation can compromise tissue quality and reduce the chances of successful transplantation. Drone-based transport offers a swift, temperature-stable, and efficient alternative to traditional road networks, which are often slow or unpredictable—especially in semi-urban or rural areas. This can help bridge the gap between donor sites and recipients, ensuring that no viable tissue goes unused and that more patients regain sight in time.

Over the past few years, ICMR’s i-DRONE initiative has demonstrated the successful use of drones to deliver essential medical supplies in states such as North East India (Covid-19 and UIP vaccines, medications, and surgical), Himachal Pradesh (medications and samples in high altitude and sub-zero temperatures), Karnataka (intraoperative oncosurgical samples), Telangana (TB sputum samples) and the NCR (blood bags and its components). These efforts highlight the growing capability and promise of drones in bridging the last-mile healthcare gap.

Commenting on the development, Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, the Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General, ICMR, stated:

“The i-DRONE platform was originally conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver vaccines to remote regions. Since then, we’ve scaled our efforts to include low-temperature delivery of blood products and essential medicines to high-altitude and sub-zero locations. This cornea transport study marks another step forward—enhancing patient access, ensuring timely transplants, and reducing pressure on overburdened tertiary hospitals. This initiative aligns perfectly with the Honourable Prime Minister’s vision of a self-reliant India powered by innovation. Drone-based healthcare logistics are the future, and India is taking the lead by applying this to areas where it matters most—saving lives and restoring sight.”

Shri Piyush Srivastava, Additional Secretary and Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Civil Aviation, added:

“This collaboration between health and aviation sectors is an inspiring example of tech-enabled social impact. The use of drones for cornea delivery showcases India’s growing capability to solve real-world healthcare challenges using homegrown solutions. Drones offer a scalable solution for timely medical delivery in geographically challenging areas. As India strengthens its drone ecosystem, such studies are critical to building resilient and responsive healthcare infrastructure.”

Prof. (Dr.) M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi, remarked:

“Corneal blindness affects millions in India, and timely availability of donor tissue is often a limiting factor. This drone-based transport model could be a transformative step toward ensuring equitable access to vision-restoring surgeries, especially in underserved areas. The success of this pilot project opens the door to deploying precision drone logistics for a wide range of critical medical applications.”

Through this study, researchers aim to document operational workflows, identify technical bottlenecks, and generate evidence to support the integration of drone logistics in routine medical practice—especially for time-sensitive and temperature-sensitive biological materials like human corneas. The findings will help shape future protocols, policies, and best practices for aerial transport in healthcare. The event was attended by many dignitaries including Dr Anil Kumar, Director, National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation, MoHFW.

****

MV

HFW/ ICMR – Drone Based Cornea Transport/25 March 2025/5

(Release ID: 2114748) Visitor Counter : 72

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 26, 2025

Category: Pandemic

Campaigns keep evolving, with more high stakes ahead 11 min read

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The anti-anti-ESG and DEI cause

Scrutiny of board composition and director accountability

Leveraging technology and AI in activist strategies

‘Trouble in paradise’

Global solutions exist

Peace in Haiti

Security and stability

Climate crisis opportunity

Finance for sustainable development

The promise of podcasting

From open space to rat race

Deepening ideological divides

Diversity in the podcasting space

Kevin Rooney announced as new Senior Traffic Commissioner

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Struggling to get by

Complete removal

Introduction

The unseen toll of digital dependence

Protective measures

Irreplaceable assets

UKHSA publishes first annual report summarising latest infectious disease trends

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Working solo

5 generations

Beyond Gen Z

DWP appoints new Chair of Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC)

About IIAC

About Professor Gillian Leng CBE

IIAC Chair

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MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

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

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS (20.2.2025)

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND TOURISM (19.2.2025)

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT (19.2.2025)

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (19.2.2025)

LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGETARY CONTROL (18.2.2025)

LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE AND FOOD SAFETY (18.2.2025)

LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY (19.2.2025)

LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION (19.2.2025)

LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS (18.2.2025)

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Ranevskaya, the Llama and Mary Poppins

Moscow water supply and the sheriff’s house

Philately, phylumeny, faleristics

Musical pictures

ICMR Pioneers Drone-Based Cornea Transport to Revolutionize Eye CareSuccessful Pilot Demonstrates the Potential of Aerial Medical Logistics for Timely and Efficient Cornea Transplants under ICMR’s i-DRONE Initiative

ICMR Pioneers Drone-Based Cornea Transport to Revolutionize Eye Care

Successful Pilot Demonstrates the Potential of Aerial Medical Logistics for Timely and Efficient Cornea Transplants under ICMR’s i-DRONE Initiative