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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Statement at IRS Commissioner Nomination Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider the nomination of Billy Long to be Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner.
    As prepared for delivery:
    “Today, we will hear from Congressman Billy Long, who is nominated to serve as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 
    “Congressman Long, congratulations on your nomination, and thank you for your willingness to serve in government again.
    “The IRS is responsible for helping American taxpayers understand and meet their tax responsibilities, and to enforce the law with integrity and fairness to all. 
    “As outlined in the Internal Revenue Code, the Commissioner’s job is to oversee tax administration for the federal government, enforce tax laws and ensure compliance while balancing taxpayer service, fairness and efficiency.
    “In recent years, these needs have not been sufficiently balanced, and the IRS has suffered from many problems and missteps.  Perhaps that is why Americans consistently rate it as one of the least favorable federal agencies, notwithstanding the fact that nearly all Americans must interact with it.
    “We hear time and time again about IRS efforts to improve taxpayer services, boost employee morale and modernize outdated systems.  The last Administration dedicated billions of dollars of extra funding to this end, but actual improvement at the IRS ran short. 
    “This is in no small part due to the outsized emphasis on increased funding for enforcement, which dwarfed funding for IT modernization and customer service improvements.
    “Further, the IRS diverted resources and attention to duplicative and unnecessary side projects, such as when the IRS circumvented Congress to create the unauthorized Direct File program.  The Trump Administration is rightly calling for a reexamination of this program as part of its broader goal to eliminate wasteful spending at the IRS. 
    “While critics argue that fiscal prudence at the IRS harms tax collection, in fact, the opposite has proven to be true.  For example, concerns that tax receipts would be down this year.
    “Individual income and payroll tax receipts are $120 billion higher this year than last year and statistically in line with projections made by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in January 2025.
    “Agency improvements do not require tens of billions of dollars in additional funding, but better prioritization and execution.  Modernization could also enable the IRS to become more efficient, reducing its annual funding needs. 
    “With the IRS on a healthier spending glide path, and a renewed focus toward efficiently serving taxpayers, it is now time for the next IRS Commissioner to prioritize taxpayers. 
    “My conversations with Congressman Long assured me that, once confirmed, he will focus on improving taxpayer services, enforcing our tax laws with fairness for all and ensuring resources are optimally allocated.
    “President Trump called Congressman Long the ‘consummate people person.’  Congressman Long is very clear that he will make himself available to all IRS employees, no matter their seniority.  Moreover, he wants to implement a top-down culture change at the agency.  This sea change will benefit American taxpayers, who too often view the IRS as foe, rather than friend.
    “Congressman Long knows, from years of experience in the House, that to be a successful Commissioner, he must be a valuable partner in Congress’ efforts to ensure that new tax legislation is implemented and administered as Congress intends it to be.  I am also confident that he will be fully transparent and responsive to Congress and the American people.
    “Before concluding, I would be remiss if I did not thank Mr. Faulkender for his time spent as Acting Commissioner.  We want him to return to the job he was confirmed to do, as we now turn to hear from Congressman Long.
    “American taxpayers want a change agent to helm the IRS.  Congressman Billy Long fits this description and is well-suited to lead the IRS at this moment in time.
    “Congressman Long, thank you again for your willingness to return to government, and I look forward to working with you, if confirmed.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Brad Sherman & Judy Chu Host Congressional Roundtable on Fire Recovery with Los Angeles County Leaders

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) and Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28) hosted a roundtable with California Members of Congress and Los Angeles County officials to discuss ongoing recovery efforts following January’s devastating Palisades and Eaton Fires. Together, these fires scorched more than 37,000 acres, destroyed over 13,000 homes, displaced tens of thousands of residents, and claimed 30 lives.                   

    The discussion offered an opportunity for the Members to hear directly from Los Angeles County leaders, including Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Board and Supervisor for Altadena and Pasadena, about the ongoing challenges facing fire-impacted communities and the work being done to ensure communities can rebuild swiftly and safely. 

    During the roundtable, Members and LA County officials discussed the status of ongoing debris removal and mitigation, soil testing and remediation, utility restoration, social and medical services, and housing solutions for disaster victims.

    After the roundtable, Representatives Sherman and Chu released the following joint statement: “In response to the many challenges our communities face following the Los Angeles fires, we were grateful to host today’s roundtable to discuss solutions with LA County officials leading recovery efforts on the ground and advocate for the urgent support our communities need to rebuild.”

    The Members also emphasized the need to protect the federal agencies carrying out disaster recovery operations for their communities from the Trump administration’s mass layoffs of federal workers, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and AmeriCorps. 

    Lastly, the Members emphasized their commitment to securing additional federal disaster funding in Congress so that California disaster victims have the resources they need to rebuild their homes, businesses, and communities — just as Congress has done after every other major disaster across the country.

    Representatives Sherman and Chu concluded: “We have both consistently voted for disaster aid to Republican-led states regardless of whether we strongly disagreed with their policies, because disasters have no political affiliation. Our constituents have demonstrated so much strength and resolve throughout the course of this catastrophe, and they urgently need and deserve additional federal resources to rebuild their lives. Disaster relief is not and should never be a partisan issue, and we will continue to work with Congressional leadership and President Trump to deliver relief to our communities. Far too many families are still living in uncertainty as we work to rebuild after the fires. We are committed to working alongside our local partners to deliver every possible resource to help our communities recover.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Plastics Dialogue sharpens focus on transparency and standards

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Plastics Dialogue sharpens focus on transparency and standards

    Barbados and Morocco delivered opening remarks on behalf of the co-coordinators. They highlighted the successful midterm review in April of the DPP’s work in 2025 and underscored the importance of delving deeper into each focus area to advance potential outcomes. They noted co-sponsors’ interest in the ongoing global efforts to reduce plastics pollution, particularly the negotiations led by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee under the United Nations, which is scheduled to hold its next round of talks in August 2025 in Geneva.
    The co-coordinators reported on the productive discussions held during a workshop for Latin America and the Caribbean on 16 May, highlighting the DPP initiative’s continued efforts to incorporate regional perspectives and to hear from smaller delegations. The first region-focused workshop, held alongside the April DPP meeting, had centred on Africa.
    They noted that regional experts underscored the importance of boosting trade and strengthening institutional regulatory capacities to address plastics pollution. The workshop emphasized strong support for small businesses, calling for technical assistance and financial incentives to help them participate in a more sustainable economy.
    Participants also highlighted the need to promote locally sourced, sustainable substitutes — such as banana peel, bamboo and sugarcane byproducts — alongside green finance mechanisms, while considering consumer awareness of non-plastic substitutes and cultural preferences for certain alternative materials. The discussion further stressed the value of enhanced regional cooperation and a unified regulatory approach to single-use plastics, with platforms such as Mercosur (Southern Common Market) and ALADI (Latin American Integration Association) identified as key avenues for regulatory cooperation and aligning standards. 
    Switzerland and China facilitated thematic discussions on the two focus areas. On the first topic — enhancing cooperation on applicable standards for non-plastic substitutes and alternatives — members heard from a diverse range of institutions and companies. The Codex Alimentarius Committee under the UN Food and Agriculture Organization presented its work on food packaging standards for traded goods, with a focus on food safety.
    Representatives from companies and associations in Peru, the Philippines and the Netherlands shared their experiences and challenges in navigating domestic and international regulations while using nature-compatible and biodegradable materials to replace single-use plastics. The United States also provided a debrief on recent discussions in the WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, which explored domestic practices and the potential negative impacts of changes to food packaging regulations. The importance of cross-committee collaboration between the DPP and other WTO bodies was underscored.
    Participants expressed a shared commitment to addressing plastics pollution through the DPP, while cautioning against duplicating the work of existing WTO committees and international standard-setting organizations. Several emphasized the importance of the DPP focusing on its unique contributions — such as facilitating information exchange, sharing domestic experiences, and examining the commercial, environmental and safety dimensions of non-plastic alternatives. Many also underscored the need for international cooperation, the harmonization of standards and certification schemes, and equitable access to sustainable solutions, particularly for developing economies.
    On the second topic — enhancing transparency of trade flows of plastics — members received an update from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), which presented its work on developing statistical guidelines for measuring plastic flows throughout the life cycle. The European Union’s Joint Research Centre also gave a presentation on the bloc’s evolving policy landscape and its strengthened measures to track material flows of plastics across its value chain.
    Participants welcomed the guidelines as useful tools for monitoring the trade flow of goods with embedded plastics, as well as single-use plastic items. They encouraged broader knowledge sharing to include guidelines developed by other organizations and called for greater support to developing and least-developed members in building capacity for data collection.
    In conclusion, Australia thanked members and stakeholders for their inputs, emphasizing that transparency is a critical step toward effective policy design. It noted that the discussions underscored the potential of non-plastic substitutes and alternative materials, while also acknowledging the remaining challenges.
    Co-coordinators will provide updates on the next steps following further consultations.
    More
    DPP co-sponsors have identified eight areas for achieving possible outcomes at MC14. The remaining six areas include: supporting ongoing multilateral negotiations under the United Nations to reduce plastics pollution; exploring strategies to harmonize trade-related measures for single-use plastics; identifying best practices; improving access to relevant technologies and services; building capacity for developing members; and considering the potential development of domestic inventories of trade-related plastic measures.
    Launched in November 2020 by a group of WTO members, the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution currently consists of 83 co-sponsors, representing almost 90 per cent of global trade in plastics.

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  • MIL-OSI Economics: Members discuss possible cotton breakthrough ahead of MC14, World Cotton Day 2025

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Members discuss possible cotton breakthrough ahead of MC14, World Cotton Day 2025

    Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam, who chaired the 43rd Round of Consultations of the Director-General’s Consultative Framework Mechanism for Cotton (DGCFMC), drew members’ attention to the latest meeting of the Steering Committee of the “Partenariat pour le Coton” initiative, which built on a series of national consultations held last year in the Cotton 4+ countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Côte d’Ivoire).
    The meeting took place at the headquarters of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in Cairo on 28-29 April. Important suggestions were made regarding advancing the cotton development agenda in the C-4+ countries, and there was productive discussion on available financing options, including concrete proposals to support the cotton-textile-clothing value chain.
    DDG Paugam stressed that, while it has been projected that US$ 5 billion could be unlocked over the next 10 years under the framework of the “Partenariat pour le Coton”, this would require the C-4+ to act as the driving force and to adopt a regional approach to attract and sustain investment.
    A study published in June 2024 highlights the potential of processing 25 per cent of C4+ cotton locally. Although this would require an investment of around US$ 5 billion in facilities and workforce training, it could create 500,000 jobs, especially for women and youth, and would significantly enhance value addition within the region.
    Acknowledging previous concerns about implementation, transparency, and commitment to the Evolving Table on Cotton Development Assistance, DDG Paugam called for a dedicated meeting with donors to explore ways to enhance the effectiveness and impact of this tool. The Evolving Table contains project updates by a number of WTO members and by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
    Chad, the FAO and the International Trade Centre (ITC) jointly announced that the 2025 World Cotton Day will take place on 7 October in Rome, which will coincide with the 80th anniversary of the FAO. The event aims to boost visibility and promote investment in African cotton through the work of the “Partenariat pour le Coton”, as well as to encourage discussion of climate challenges to cotton.
    Afreximbank reiterated the importance of a harmonized project submission template for standardization, transparency, collaboration and monitoring of C4+ cotton projects and proposed joint financing initiatives, shared knowledge platforms, capacity-building, risk mitigation strategies and policy advocacy.
    Members took the floor to share their experiences of activities within the framework of South-South cooperation. They also expressed support for the cotton industry, focusing on job creation, economic diversification, de-risking investments, tailored cooperation, regional strategies and enabling environments. Delegations also discussed industrialization, global value chain integration, investment clarity and progress on regional development projects in the context of the cotton industry.
    On emerging challenges, members learned about the latest developments in cotton-producing countries, as well as new challenges facing the cotton sector in C-4+ countries. The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) shared a presentation about water use in cotton cultivation, which explained that it is a misconception that cotton – a semi-desert crop – requires large quantities of water for cultivation. Nevertheless, ICAC cautioned that climate change is affecting rainfall patterns, and that this is a matter of concern for cotton cultivation.
    The DGCFMC also outlined key next steps. A technical online seminar on second-hand and recycling of clothing by Côte d’Ivoire is scheduled for 19 June. Other members were encouraged to coordinate with the WTO Secretariat to propose similar initiatives. A harmonized “Partenariat pour le Coton” project submission template will be created to enable C-4+ countries to present priority projects at an upcoming technical workshop. The WTO will support monitoring, evaluation and engagement with development agencies. Meanwhile, FIFA’s Football for Schools programme will encourage the use of C-4+ cotton for apparel, to produce T-shirts and polo shirts in West Africa and distribute these items globally by the end of 2025.
    In conclusion, DDG Paugam underscored the need to sustain and build on the current momentum surrounding cotton, especially given that MC14 is approaching. Progress made, consolidated synergies and promising prospects ahead call for redoubling efforts, he said.
    Ambassador Hussain, who facilitated the discussion on addressing the trade aspects of cotton, gave an update on his consultations with members on the way forward for agriculture negotiations, focusing on cotton.
    He noted that the C-4+ countries and other members had stressed the importance of cotton within the agricultural negotiations, and that members had highlighted the need to make significant progress on this issue at MC14, as this would resonate positively in Africa and benefit the WTO as a whole.
    The C-4+ Group also suggested the possibility of decoupling cotton negotiations from the broader agriculture package to facilitate reaching a standalone decision on cotton at MC14. The Group, along with several other developing members, emphasized the importance of adhering to past ministerial decisions and called for progress to be made to reduce cotton-specific trade-distorting domestic support.
    Ambassador Hussain urged members to engage actively in open dialogue, express their concerns clearly, and work together to bridge differences. He proposed to convene a “cotton quad plus” meeting in the coming weeks to facilitate honest and concrete discussions. The “cotton quad plus” forum involves the C-4+ countries and several major cotton players, including Australia, China, Brazil, the European Union, India, Pakistan and the United States.
    The ICAC also provided an overview of the global cotton market for the 2024-25 season, forecasting a production increase of approximately 7 per cent compared to the previous season. World cotton consumption is anticipated to rise by 2 per cent in 2024-25, although trade projections have been revised downward to 9.45 million tonnes for the 2024-25 season. This adjustment reflects a decrease from the previous forecast of 9.94 million tonnes, as reported in April 2024. The ICAC also presented findings from a recent analysis on specialty cotton, which grows annually and currently accounts for about 31 per cent of total global cotton lint production. Specialty cotton, as defined by the ICAC, includes any long or extra-long staple varieties, as well as cotton from specific identity programmes encompassing various certification initiatives worldwide, such as “Better Cotton” and “Cotton Made in Africa”.
    The International Trade Centre (ITC) provided an update on the ITC Cotton Portal, a joint initiative with the WTO to consolidate cotton-related information. The portal, launched at the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in 2017, features three main modules: trade statistics, market information and learning. The ITC reported that the portal has around 3,000-4,000 users annually. Planned improvements include the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), additional languages, and better data on e-commerce and logistics.
    The ITC Cotton Portal aggregates cotton-related information from the ICAC, ITC and WTO, as well as other sources. For instance, it features a live data feed from ICAC on cotton production, as well as direct links to essential tools that facilitate cotton trade, such as the Export Potential Map.
    The C-4+ agreed concerning the relevance of this tool in contributing to a more efficient cotton trading system by improving transparency and accessibility of trade-related information relevant for cotton producers, traders and policymakers. They called for more training to raise awareness of the platform in Africa and to increase its utilization, as this could help governments in making informed policy decisions. The ITC and the WTO expressed their readiness to pursue discussions with the C-4+ concerning ways to make the portal more accessible and as relevant as possible in developing economies, and especially in Africa.
    The WTO Secretariat introduced a revised background paper compiling all cotton-related information available at the WTO, including members’ notifications, replies to a questionnaire on cotton policy developments and information on tariff and non-tariff measures.
    As part of Cotton Day at the WTO members attended  the opening of an exhibition featuring a data visualization structure that consolidated and presented information on cotton-related activities, telling the story of cotton through interactive maps, infographics, images and dynamic graphics. The exhibition concluded with a reception hosted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) at WTO headquarters.

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  • MIL-OSI Economics: Lesotho formally accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

    Source: World Trade Organization

    DG Okonjo-Iweala said: “I deeply appreciate Lesotho’s commitment to the WTO and to supporting the implementation of this historic agreement. We are now very close to breaking new ground in safeguarding livelihoods and food security and securing the future of our shared oceans and marine fisheries – just 12 more acceptances to go!”

    Ambassador Khathibe said: “Our deposit of the instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies reaffirms Lesotho’s unwavering commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system and our support for global efforts to ensure the sustainable use of our shared natural resources. Although Lesotho is a landlocked least developed country (LDCs) with no marine fisheries of its own, we recognize the significance of this Agreement in addressing harmful subsidies that contribute to overfishing and the depletion of global fish stocks—resources that many coastal LDCs and developing countries depend on for livelihoods, nutrition and economic development.

    By accepting this Agreement, Lesotho stands in solidarity with the global community in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 14.6 and protecting the marine environment for present and future generations. We commend the leadership of the Director-General, and urge all members to complete their domestic processes, and join us in bringing this historic Agreement into force.”

    For the Agreement to come into force, formal acceptances from two-thirds of WTO members are required – representing 111 members. The list of current instruments of acceptance deposited with the WTO is available here.

    Ministers adopted the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies by consensus at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) held in Geneva in June 2022, setting new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful fisheries subsidies. The Agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, for fishing overfished stocks, and for fishing on the unregulated high seas. Ministers also recognized the needs of developing economies and least-developed countries by establishing a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to help governments that have formally accepted the Agreement implement the new obligations.

    WTO members also agreed at MC12 that negotiations on remaining fisheries subsidies issues would continue, with the objective of finding consensus on additional provisions to further strengthen the disciplines on fisheries subsidies.

    Information for members on how to accept the Protocol of Amendment can be found here.

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  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Syria: New urgency to end unlawful detention system holding tens of thousands of people following Islamic State defeat

    Source: Amnesty International –

    • Ongoing chaos caused by US humanitarian funding cuts creates dangerous uncertainty
    • New Syrian government and autonomous authorities must address inhumane detention system
    • UN and US-led coalition must support efforts to reduce numbers in camps and facilities

    The mayhem created by recent haphazard US funding cuts must prompt the rapid reduction in the number of people arbitrarily and indefinitely detained in north-east Syria for their perceived affiliation to the Islamic State (IS) armed group, Amnesty International said.

    More than six years after the territorial defeat of IS, the Autonomous Authorities of the North and East Syria Region (autonomous authorities), with the support of the US-led coalition to defeat IS, continue to unlawfully detain tens of thousands of men, women, and children with perceived affiliation to IS in over two dozen detention facilities and in Al-Hol and Roj detention camps. Some of these individuals are survivors of crimes under international law, and trafficking in persons committed by IS. Most people have not been charged or given the opportunity to challenge their detention, and some detainees have been subjected to torture and other ill treatment.

    The Trump administration’s sudden and unprepared funding cuts have created what can only be described as a chaotic situation, characterized by weakened basic services in the camps. As stop-gap resources run out and further cuts loom, camp residents face increased turmoil. Amnesty International’s report last year documented how people in the camps already faced grossly inhumane and life-threatening conditions, with inadequate access to sustenance and healthcare. They have been forced to endure an unstable and often unsafe existence, rife with violence and other criminality. As one 28-year-old woman told Amnesty International: “We are living in terror.”

    It is unconscionable that the Trump administration would further weaken one of the world’s most volatile camps by abruptly terminating funding 

    Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General

    “The chaos created by the Trump administration’s funding cuts could have catastrophic effects on the tens of thousands of children, women and men detained in north-east Syria,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

    “It is unconscionable that the Trump administration would further weaken one of the world’s most volatile camps by abruptly terminating funding for essential services, leaving an extreme burden on the autonomous authorities and humanitarian actors.”

    In March 2025, Amnesty International spoke with 27 individuals – including humanitarian and non-governmental organizations, representatives of the autonomous authorities, and residents of Al-Hol and Roj camps – regarding the future of the detention system.

    US funding cuts

    On 20 January, the Trump administration announced a pause in foreign assistance. The arbitrary, abrupt, and unpredictable issuing of stop-work orders by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio led to chaos in Al-Hol.

    The camp is coordinated by Blumont, a US-based NGO which receives US foreign assistance. On the morning of 25 January, Jihan Hanan, a representative of the autonomous authorities and the camp’s manager, discovered that none of the approximately 300 US-funded Blumont staff had arrived to work, including security staff who guarded offices and warehouses.

    A repatriation trip for about 600 Iraqis in Al-Hol had been scheduled with the Iraqi authorities that day. As Blumont manages a database on camp residents, Hanan was forced to break in to the Blumont offices to facilitate the repatriations. Warehouses containing items such as gas for cooking and bread were reportedly looted.

    In order to continue delivery of food and water, the autonomous authorities relied on help from other NGOs, and hired an estimated 40 security guards to protect offices in the camp. Blumont was granted a waiver by the US government a few days after the freeze, restoring some of its funding. In April, however, the US also cut funding for 24 hours to an NGO delivering food to the camp, an action the Trump administration later called a mistake.

    As of 4 March, the latest figures available, the US government had cut at least $117 million worth of humanitarian assistance allocated to projects in north-east Syria, although some funding has since been reinstated.  Interviewees told Amnesty International they were concerned about decreasing health services in Al-Hol, including the closure of health centres and fewer ambulances for emergency services; and the loss of programming in so-called rehabilitation facilities for boys forcibly separated from their families in the camps.

    Programmes supporting people leaving Al-Hol, including within Syria, were also affected. Before the funding cuts, the autonomous authorities and humanitarian groups already struggled to meet the needs of camp residents.

    Five projects in Roj were also terminated in early March after funding cuts. One camp resident said they had received double their food rations from the World Food Programme and were told it had to last a while, in case of further cuts.

    Some interviewed by Amnesty International expressed significant concerns that IS could recruit within the camps. One humanitarian representative explained: “As services go down in these two camps and people are increasingly hungry, increasingly unable to access basic services, the cry coming from… the inhabitants from Al-Hol and Roj is [to IS], ‘Come and get us’.” Highlighting the threat, in mid-April the autonomous authorities carried out a security campaign in Al-Hol camp because of what they described as an “increase in attempts to smuggle Daesh [IS] families [and] continued [IS] recruitment operations”.

    Even as some funding for Al-Hol is reinstated, the uncertainty created by the cuts has caused irreparable harm to various projects. One humanitarian representative explained that once staff contracts are terminated, the process of re-hiring and bringing programmes back is challenging. US funding cuts have also precipitated the loss of key staff from the NES Forum, the region’s humanitarian coordinating structure, resulting in some fundamental coordination gaps.

    The UN is gradually taking over some coordination activities, which may raise the visibility of ongoing human rights issues and concerns in the detention system. However, the UN is also facing very large funding challenges, and many NGOs are still unable to access UN funds because they are required to register with the Syrian government in Damascus through a process some groups oppose due to onerous registration requirements.

    Accelerating repatriation and returns from camps

    After years of failing to find a durable solution to the crisis in north-east Syria, the turmoil created by the funding cuts must finally spur urgent action. Recent events – including the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government, growing UN presence in north-east Syria, and increasing diplomatic ties between the Syrian government and states with nationals still detained – could help accelerate an end to the unlawful system of detention.

    Recognizing this change in environment, the autonomous authorities have started work on a plan, in coordination with the UN, to empty the camps of Iraqis and Syrians in 2025. These groups comprise about 80% of the 36,000 people in Al-Hol, with the remainder from an estimated 60 other countries.

    In January 2025, the autonomous authorities announced that they would facilitate the voluntary return of Syrians detained in Al-Hol to their hometowns. Most of the remaining 16,000 Syrians in the camp are from areas that previously were under control of the Assad government or armed opposition groups.

    In the last year Iraq’s government has significantly increased the pace of repatriations, and, as of March 2025, returned over 5,600 individuals from Al-Hol camp – close to half the people Iraq has repatriated from Al-Hol since 2021.

    The departure of camp residents from Al-Hol is welcome. However, people should not simply be transferred from one detention centre to another, such as to the Al-Jed’ah Centre in Iraq, where Amnesty International last year documented torture and enforced disappearance.

    Recommendations

    The new Syrian government, autonomous authorities, US-led coalition, and the UN must identify long-overdue solutions to the crisis.

    Among the most urgent priorities is the need to downsize the camps. Before families can leave the camps, children and young adults separated from their families should be reunited. There should be investment in programmes in Iraq and Syria to support the voluntary return, rehabilitation, and reintegration of Iraqis and Syrians, who are not suspected perpetrators of crimes under international law, in their areas of origin. 

    It’s time to finally put an end to this unlawful system of detention

    Agnès Callamard

    “It’s time to finally put an end to this unlawful system of detention. As the US prepares to downsize its military presence in Syria, the people still living in these camps must not be abandoned,” said Agnès Callamard.

    “States with nationals in north-east Syria should immediately charter flights to finally bring home child citizens, their carers, and potential victims of trafficking.

    Any remaining adults should be screened to identify which individuals should be investigated and prosecuted for crimes committed under international law or serious crimes under domestic law. Everyone else should be released, and the Syrian government and other countries should help resettle those unable to return home.”

    Victims of crimes committed by IS deserve justice. Even if individuals are repatriated for trials, a residual group of Syrians and foreigners who cannot return home will remain. The new Syrian government, with the support of the autonomous authorities and international community, must initiate a plan for trials that meet international standards.

    Background

    About 46,500 Syrians, Iraqis, and other foreign nationals remain in the detention camps and facilities. The majority are women and children. Among the men held in the detention facilities, between 2,000 to 3,100 foreigners and about 2,000 Syrians have yet to be tried.

    Following the fall of al-Assad and the establishment of an interim government in Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces, one of the groups that make up the autonomous authorities, signed an agreement on 10 March 2025 that “all civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria” should be merged “into the administration of the Syrian state”. This merger may include administration of the detention camps and facilities in the north-east.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Azerbaijan: Jail sentence against opposition leader Tofig Yagublu upheld in “sham court hearing”

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Reacting to the Baku Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the nine-year prison sentence against Azerbaijani opposition figure Tofig Yagublu, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said:

    “It is abundantly clear that Tofig Yagublu’s imprisonment is a political decision. This was not justice – it was another sham court hearing and part of the systematic repression of dissent in Azerbaijan. His ongoing detention is based on fabricated charges, as with many other jailed government critics.”

    Background

    Tofig Yagublu, a veteran opposition politician and member of the Musavat Party and National Council of Democratic Forces, was convicted in March on charges of “fraud” and “forgery,” which he has rejected as politically motivated. He went on a hunger strike from 1 April which he ended after 40 days.  Amnesty International has demanded that the authorities transfer him to an independent, specialized hospital, to ensure that he receives the healthcare he requires.

    For further information about his case, see here.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: UK: New Government response a step forward but still inadequate in the face of Israel’s genocide, occupation, and apartheid

    Source: Amnesty International –

    In response to the UK government’s announcement that it will suspend free trade agreement negotiations with Israel and impose sanctions on settlers, Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s Chief Executive, said:

    “Stronger language and some new measures announced today are welcome albeit long overdue, but the UK government’s response is still inadequate to compel Israel to change course.          

    “Pausing trade negotiations, which Israel claims weren’t progressing anyway, will sadly not pressure Israel to alter its illegal actions. Similarly, sanctioning a few individual settlers, instead of banning all settlement goods, will do little to shift Israel’s approach. 

    “The UK must immediately stop all arms transfers to Israel, including components for F-35 fighter jets currently decimating Gaza. It should also ban investment in companies and banks that maintain Israel’s unlawful occupation and apartheid system and prohibit imports from illegal settlements.

    “For countless Palestinians, this may be the final breath of freedom. This is a moment for the UK government to use every political, judicial, and diplomatic lever at its disposal to help bring an end to the Israeli government’s genocide, apartheid, and occupation.”

    View latest press releases

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 20 May 2025 News release Global leaders reaffirm commitment to WHO with at least US$ 170 million raised at World Health Assembly 2025 pledging event

    Source: World Health Organisation

    World leaders pledged at least an additional US$ 170 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) at a high-level pledging event Tuesday at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly in Geneva. Amid rising global health challenges, leaders reaffirmed their support for multilateral cooperation through these contributions to WHO’s Investment Round (IR). Earlier in the day, Member States approved an increase in Assessed Contributions, adding a separate US$ 90 million a year of income, and marking another important step on WHO’s journey towards sustainable financing.

    The IR is raising funds for WHO’s strategy for global health, the  Fourteenth General Programme of Work, which can save an additional 40 million lives over the next four years. The pledges made today represent significant contributions from both governments and philanthropic partners.

    “I am grateful to every Member State and partner that has pledged towards the investment round. In a challenging climate for global health, these funds will help us to preserve and extend our life-saving work,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “They show that multilateralism is alive and well.”

    Both long-standing allies and new contributors stepped up at today’s pledging event, broadening WHO’s donor base with fresh voluntary funding. Moderated by Mr Moazzam Malik, CEO of Save the Children UK, the event and the World Health Assembly featured pledges from Angola, Cambodia, China, Gabon, Mongolia, Qatar, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, ELMA Philanthropies (with the WHO Foundation), Fondation Botnar, Laerdal Global Health (with the WHO Foundation), the Nippon Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation announced an additional US$ 13 million and committed to further increases in funding.

    Among the announcements at least US$ 170 million is for the Investment Round, meaning that the funding supports WHO’s base budget from 2025–2028. Eight of the donors included a flexible contribution to WHO, the most valuable sort of funding, and four were first time donors.

    WHO’s fundraising reach has also been extended through individual giving. Through the One World Movement, almost 8000 people from across the world have signed on as ‘Member Citizens’, contributing almost US$ 600 000 in donations, many monthly – a powerful expression of global solidarity and an affirmation that every voice counts.

    The event’s speakers emphasized not only the need for continued investment, but the strategic value of flexible and diversified financing to keep WHO responsive, country-focused, and aligned with national health priorities – as it evolves into a leaner, more agile institution. The event was a pivotal moment in WHO’s journey to more sustainable funding.

    As the IR continues, today’s event is a testament to the role of partnership in times of uncertainty. Contributions from each donor made at today’s pledging event can be found below. Each contribution to WHO brings us one step closer to better health for all united in the mission of “One World for Health”.

    Contributor Additional amount for WHO Investment Round
    Angola US$ 8 million
    Cambodia US$ 400 000
    China Contribution to Investment Round to be confirmed.
    Gabon US$ 150 000
    Mongolia US$ 100 000
    Qatar US$ 6 million
    Sweden €12 million = US$ 13.5 million
    Switzerland Sw.fr. 33 million = US$ 40 million
    Tanzania US$ 500 000 (in addition to US$ 500 000 already announced)
    CIFF US$ 13 million and commitment to further increase
    ELMA Philanthropies US$ 2 million
    Foundation Botnar Sw.fr. 8 million = US$ 9.6 million
    Laerdal Global Health US$ 12.5 million 
    Nippon Foundation, Mr. Sasakawa, (Chairman) US$ 9.2 million
    Novo Nordisk Foundation DKK 380 million = US$ 57 million

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to the 2025 ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment [bilingual as delivered, scroll down for all-English and all-French]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

    Thank you for taking part in this important forum in an important year.

    We’re celebrating the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.   

    But this milestone is tempered by a stark, undeniable reality that resonates on every page of the report I am presenting today.

    With less than five years to go to the 2030 deadline, we are facing nothing short of a development emergency.

    The Sustainable Development Goals are alarmingly off-track.

    And some of the hard-won gains made in recent years are getting derailed.

    Progress is too slow in the fight against poverty, hunger, inequality, the climate crisis, decaying infrastructure, and under-resourced education, health and social protection systems.

    We must never forget that a development emergency is, at its root, a human emergency.

    The lives and futures of millions of people hang in the balance.

    This development emergency is also a funding emergency.

    Resources are shrinking across the board — and have been for some time.

    For example, as detailed in my report, total financial contributions to the UN development system dropped by $9 billion — or 16 per cent — in 2023 from the year before.

    We can imagine the number of 2024 taking into account what we have witnessed in the recent decisions.   

    Our organization is increasingly asked to do more with less — a trend that will continue for the foreseeable future.

    This year, donors are pulling the plug on aid commitments and delivery at historic speed and scale.

    But the report we’re discussing today also carries an important message of hope.

    Hope found in the progress we’ve achieved together to reform and reposition the UN development system, making it more efficient and cost-effective.

    Hope in the UN80 initiative to build on these reforms, and drive more of the change we need across the system for a more impactful, cohesive and efficient organization.

    Hope in your continued strong support of, and engagement with, our Resident Coordinators and Country Teams.

    And hope that lies in the potential of the Pact for the Future to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals — a Pact that secured consensus at the Summit of the Future.  

    Let me be clear.

    While the context has shifted since the Pact’s adoption, its commitments are more important than ever.

    This includes its bold calls for action on all the elements required to boost progress on sustainable development — including financing for development, the provision of debt relief, and strengthening the international financial architecture.

    We cannot allow headwinds to blow these commitments off course.

    We will continue working closely with all Member States and partners to keep our agenda on track, deepen our ongoing transformation, and to do so in the context of the UN80 initiative to drive progress across the system.

    And we will ensure we can fully deliver and maximize the benefits of every single mandate of the landmark General Assembly resolution 72/279 that ushered in the reforms of the UN development system.

    Excellencies,

    In this spirit, and guided by the report under discussion today, I’d like to highlight four areas where we are making progress, where more is needed, and how Member States can support this work.  

    First — we must hold fast to our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

    This is a critical year for development.

    But across the board, we face a crisis in the means of implementation — from financing to trade, governance and institutional capacity to accelerate progress. 

    Acceleration means Member States keeping alive the bold commitments they made in adopting the Goals in 2015, as well as through the Pact for the Future.

    These include easing the debt burden on developing countries, scaling innovative sources of finance, and pushing forward on reforms to the international financial architecture.

    The upcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla will be a key moment in driving the change we need.

    Acceleration requires bold transformations.

    We must continue traveling the clear pathways to progress outlined in the report — key areas where we can spur progress across all the Goals, such as food systems, energy access, digital connectivity, and supporting economic growth through trade. 

    Now is the time to build more political will and institutional capacity to support these essential shifts and drive progress.

    Second — we will continue tailoring our operations to the needs and priorities of host countries.

    We know we’re on the right track.

    In the last year alone, Resident Coordinators supported over 160 countries.

    Our work across the system and with governments is becoming more integrated and coordinated every year.

    87 per cent of host governments — and 83 per cent of donor country governments — agreed that UN entities are working more collaboratively than before the reform.

    And 98 per cent of host governments agreed that the UN activities, as articulated in our Cooperation Frameworks, are closely or very closely aligned to national priorities.

    The evidence is clear.

    The reinvigorated Resident Coordinator system we have built together is fast-becoming a launchpad for providing deeper development impact for people and planet alike:

    By gathering partners together to shape policy and financing solutions to accelerate development…

    By supporting countries’ efforts on financing, data-collection, trade and sustainable economic growth…

    And by constantly striving to find efficiencies and innovations, and drive accountability and results across our work together.

    We are rightly proud of our work, and we will protect and build on this as we move forward.

    We know we can do better. And we will.

    Despite high levels of support, the report shows worrying gaps between the priorities of our Cooperation Frameworks and the operational, governance and financial tools to bring them to life.

    Moreover, the Management Accountability Framework established to ensure greater accountability in collective UN efforts is not being applied evenly across the system.

    Our newly established evaluation office for the development system is now preparing its first independent report to this body this year to continue driving accountability and results, and ensure greater alignment of UN configuration and programming with country needs.

    I ask all Member States to support this important work.

    Third — funding.

    I am deeply concerned about the system’s funding situation.  

    Core contributions to development agencies are insufficient, plunging to 16.5 per cent of total funding, with these contributions declining to 12 per cent for some agencies. 

    This is a far cry from the 30 per cent target countries committed to in the Funding Compact.

    In December, the General Assembly agreed to my proposal to secure $53 million from the regular budget for the Resident Coordinator system — a much-needed boost at a critical time.

    To be entirely frank, I have to say that the proposal was much higher but at least this compromise was found. 

    But this minimum level of support is insufficient to reach the maximum ambition we need.

    Our ability to drive development and deliver support in a sustained way is at risk — at a moment when countries need us most.

    For our part, we will continue working closely with you to close funding gaps, and ensure joint programming is well-funded and directed to the most vulnerable people and communities.

    But more than ever, we need flexible, sustainable, predictable and innovative sources of funding. 

    I urge Member States to implement the new Funding Compact, without delay.

    In the current context of shrinking resources, the Funding Compact becomes even more fundamental — in particular, its emphasis on pooled funds that allow for more strategic resource allocation depending on actual needs and priorities on the ground.  

    Enfin quatrièmement, nous continuerons de chercher à optimiser l’utilisation des ressources consacrées au développement.

    Le rapport démontre que nos réformes portent leurs fruits : nous avons réalisé plus de 592 millions de dollars d’économies en 2024, soit bien plus que notre objectif initial de 310 millions de dollars.

    Ces économies ont été rendues possibles grâce aux efforts déployés par chaque entité pour rationaliser les services et les chaînes d’approvisionnement, ainsi qu’à un recours accru aux services partagés, notamment s’agissant des voyages, des services de conférence et des fonctions administratives, et à d’autres gains d’efficacité importants.

    Mais nous pouvons et devons en faire plus.

    Dès le début de mon mandat, nous avons lancé un programme de réforme ambitieux destiné non seulement à améliorer nos méthodes de travail et nos résultats, mais aussi à explorer toutes les pistes possibles pour réaliser des économies et des gains d’efficacité.

    L’Initiative ONU80 offre une excellente occasion de poursuivre sur cette lancée.

    En dégageant rapidement des moyens de gagner en efficacité et d’améliorer nos méthodes de travail.

    En consacrant une plus grande partie de nos ressources aux programmes de développement plutôt qu’aux coûts administratifs.

    En procédant à un examen rigoureux de l’exécution des mandats qui nous sont confiés par les États Membres – et dont le nombre a considérablement augmenté ces dernières années.

    Et en menant un examen stratégique des changements plus profonds et plus structurels ainsi qu’un réalignement des programmes au sein du système des Nations Unies.

    L’Initiative ONU80 n’est pas une réponse aux coupes budgétaires mondiales…

    Mais une réponse aux besoins mondiaux.

    Aux besoins des populations du monde entier.

    À la nécessité de faire en sorte que ces personnes soient soutenues comme il se doit, à travers des programmes adaptés au contexte national.

    Et à l’impératif de travailler de façon aussi efficace, rationnelle et utile que possible.

    Là encore, nous aurons besoin de l’appui de tous les États Membres pour rendre nos activités plus efficientes.

    Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs,

    Alors que nous poursuivons ce chemin de réforme et de renouveau, nous devons garder à l’esprit le plus important : 

    Celles et ceux qui, dans le monde entier, comptent sur nous.

    Le rapport que nous examinons aujourd’hui ne se limite pas aux chiffres.

    Le rapport concerne les services et l’aide que nous apportons à certaines des personnes et des communautés les plus vulnérables et défavorisées de la planète.

    Il concerne les contribuables du monde entier, dont le dur labeur finance notre important travail.

    Il concerne notre capacité à mieux répondre aux attentes des États Membres et agir conformément aux priorités de chaque pays.

    Et il concerne notre quête constante d’efficacité, d’efficience et de responsabilité – tout en restant fidèles aux valeurs fondamentales qui nous animent depuis le tout début.

    Continuons d’œuvrer dans l’unité et la solidarité pour construire une ONU encore plus forte et encore plus efficace – prête à relever les défis d’aujourd’hui et de demain.

    Une ONU adaptée à sa mission et prête à agir.

    Nous comptons sur le plein soutien des États Membres pour continuer à aller de l’avant.

    Je vous remercie.

    *****
    [all-English]

    Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

    Thank you for taking part in this important forum in an important year.

    We’re celebrating the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.   

    But this milestone is tempered by a stark, undeniable reality that resonates on every page of the report I am presenting today.

    With less than five years to go to the 2030 deadline, we are facing nothing short of a development emergency.

    The Sustainable Development Goals are alarmingly off-track.

    And some of the hard-won gains made in recent years are getting derailed.

    Progress is too slow in the fight against poverty, hunger, inequality, the climate crisis, decaying infrastructure, and under-resourced education, health and social protection systems.

    We must never forget that a development emergency is, at its root, a human emergency.

    The lives and futures of millions of people hang in the balance.

    This development emergency is also a funding emergency.

    Resources are shrinking across the board — and have been for some time.

    For example, as detailed in my report, total financial contributions to the UN development system dropped by $9 billion — or 16 per cent — in 2023 from the year before.

    We can imagine the number of 2024 taking into account what we have witnessed in the recent decisions. 

    Our organization is increasingly asked to do more with less — a trend that will continue for the foreseeable future.

    This year, donors are pulling the plug on aid commitments and delivery at historic speed and scale.

    But the report we’re discussing today also carries an important message of hope.
    Hope found in the progress we’ve achieved together to reform and reposition the UN development system, making it more efficient and cost-effective.

    Hope in the UN80 initiative to build on these reforms, and drive more of the change we need across the system for a more impactful, cohesive and efficient organization.

    Hope in your continued strong support of, and engagement with, our Resident Coordinators and Country Teams.

    And hope that lies in the potential of the Pact for the Future to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals — a Pact that secured consensus at the Summit of the Future.  

    Let me be clear.

    While the context has shifted since the Pact’s adoption, its commitments are more important than ever.

    This includes its bold calls for action on all the elements required to boost progress on sustainable development — including financing for development, the provision of debt relief, and strengthening the international financial architecture.

    We cannot allow headwinds to blow these commitments off course.

    We will continue working closely with all Member States and partners to keep our agenda on track, deepen our ongoing transformation, and to do so in the context of the UN80 initiative to drive progress across the system.

    And we will ensure we can fully deliver and maximize the benefits of every single mandate of the landmark General Assembly resolution 72/279 that ushered in the reforms of the UN development system.

    Excellencies,

    In this spirit, and guided by the report under discussion today, I’d like to highlight four areas where we are making progress, where more is needed, and how Member States can support this work.  

    First — we must hold fast to our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

    This is a critical year for development.

    But across the board, we face a crisis in the means of implementation — from financing to trade, governance and institutional capacity to accelerate progress. 

    Acceleration means Member States keeping alive the bold commitments they made in adopting the Goals in 2015, as well as through the Pact for the Future.

    These include easing the debt burden on developing countries, scaling innovative sources of finance, and pushing forward on reforms to the international financial architecture.

    The upcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla will be a key moment in driving the change we need.

    Acceleration requires bold transformations.

    We must continue traveling the clear pathways to progress outlined in the report — key areas where we can spur progress across all the Goals, such as food systems, energy access, digital connectivity, and supporting economic growth through trade. 

    Now is the time to build more political will and institutional capacity to support these essential shifts and drive progress.

    Second — we will continue tailoring our operations to the needs and priorities of host countries.

    We know we’re on the right track.

    In the last year alone, Resident Coordinators supported over 160 countries.

    Our work across the system and with governments is becoming more integrated and coordinated every year.

    87 per cent of host governments — and 83 per cent of donor country governments — agreed that UN entities are working more collaboratively than before the reform.

    And 98 per cent of host governments agreed that UN activities, as articulated in our Cooperation Frameworks, are closely or very closely aligned to national priorities.

    The evidence is clear.

    The reinvigorated Resident Coordinator system we have built together is fast-becoming a launchpad for providing deeper development impact for people and planet alike:

    By gathering partners together to shape policy and financing solutions to accelerate development…

    By supporting countries’ efforts on financing, data-collection, trade and sustainable economic growth…

    And by constantly striving to find efficiencies and innovations, and drive accountability and results across our work together.

    We are rightly proud of our work, and we will protect and build on this as we move forward.

    We know we can do better. And we will.

    Despite high levels of support, the report shows worrying gaps between the priorities of our Cooperation Frameworks and the operational, governance and financial tools to bring them to life.

    Moreover, the Management Accountability Framework established to ensure greater accountability in collective UN efforts is not being applied evenly across the system.

    Our newly established evaluation office for the development system is now preparing its first independent report to this body this year to continue driving accountability and results, and ensure greater alignment of UN configuration and programming with country needs.

    I ask all Member States to support this important work.

    Third — funding.

    I am deeply concerned about the system’s funding situation.  

    Core contributions to development agencies are insufficient, plunging to 16.5 per cent of total funding, with these contributions declining to 12 per cent for some agencies. 

    This is a far cry from the 30 per cent target countries committed to in the Funding Compact.

    In December, the General Assembly agreed to my proposal to secure $53 million from the regular budget for the Resident Coordinator system — a much-needed boost at a critical time.

    To be entirely frank, I have to say that the proposal was much higher but at least this compromise was found. 

    But this minimum level of support is insufficient to reach the maximum ambition we need.

    Our ability to drive development and deliver support in a sustained way is at risk — at a moment when countries need us most.

    For our part, we will continue working closely with you to close funding gaps, and ensure joint programming is well-funded and directed to the most vulnerable people and communities.

    But more than ever, we need flexible, sustainable, predictable and innovative sources of funding. 

    I urge Member States to implement the new Funding Compact, without delay.
    In the current context of shrinking resources, the Funding Compact becomes even more fundamental — in particular, its emphasis on pooled funds that allow for more strategic resource allocation depending on actual needs and priorities on the ground.  

    And fourth — we will continue pushing for efficiencies that maximize the use of development resources.

    The report demonstrates that our reforms are achieving results — with over $592 million in efficiencies in 2024, well above our initial target of $310 million.

    These savings were achieved through individual agency efforts to streamline services and supply chains, as well as through the increased use of shared services across entities — including travel, conference and administrative functions, and other key efficiencies.

    But we can and must do more.

    From the very beginning of my mandate, we embarked on an ambitious reform agenda to strengthen not only how we work and deliver — but how we leave no stone unturned in finding cost-savings and efficiencies.

    The UN80 initiative is an important opportunity to carry this work forward.

    By rapidly identifying efficiencies and improvements in the way we work.

    By ensuring that a greater share of our resources are allocated for development programmes rather than administrative costs. 

    By thoroughly reviewing the implementation of all mandates given to us by Member States, which have significantly increased in recent years.   

    And through a strategic review of deeper, more structural changes and programme realignment in the UN System.

    UN80 is not about responding to global cuts.

    It’s about responding to global needs.

    The needs of people around the world.
    The need to ensure that we support them in the right way, with the right programmes and country configurations.

    And the need to be as efficient, streamlined and impactful as we can be.

    Again, the support of all Member States will be critical as we strive to become more cost-effective in our operations.

    Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    As we continue travelling this road to reform and renewal, we must keep our focus where it belongs:  

    On the people around the world who are counting on us to get this right.

    The report we are discussing today is not just about numbers.

    It’s about the services and support we provide to some of the most vulnerable and underserved people and communities on earth.

    It’s about hardworking taxpayers around the world who underwrite our important work.

    It’s about responding more effectively to the expectations of Member States and aligning with national priorities.

    And it’s about our constant pursuit of efficiency, effectiveness and accountability, while staying true to values that have driven our mission from the very start.

    Let’s continue working as one, in solidarity, to build an even stronger and more effective United Nations — one that is ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. 

    One that is fit for purpose and ready to serve.

    We count on the full support of Member States as we move forward.

    Thank you.

    ******

    [all-French]

    Excellences, Mesdames, Messieurs,

    Je vous remercie de prendre part à cette manifestation de premier plan en cette année importante.

    L’Organisation des Nations Unies fête cette année ses 80 ans.

    Mais cet anniversaire est tempéré par une réalité dure et indéniable, qui transparaît à chaque page du rapport que je présente aujourd’hui.

    À moins de cinq ans de l’échéance de 2030, nous sommes face à une véritable crise du développement.

    La réalisation des objectifs de développement durable accuse un retard alarmant.

    Et certains des gains durement acquis ces dernières années risquent d’être réduits à néant.

    Face à la pauvreté, à la faim, aux inégalités, à la crise climatique, aux infrastructures en déclin et au manque de ressources dans l’éducation et la protection sociale, les progrès demeurent trop lents.

    Il ne faut pas perdre de vue qu’une crise du développement est, avant tout, une crise humaine.

    La vie et l’avenir de millions de personnes sont en jeu.

    Cette crise du développement est aussi une crise du financement.
    Dans tous les secteurs, les ressources se réduisent comme peau de chagrin, et ce depuis un certain temps.

    Ainsi, comme indiqué dans mon rapport, les contributions financières versées en 2023 au système des Nations Unies pour le développement ont chuté de 9 milliards de dollars US – soit 16 % – par rapport à l’année précédente.

    On peut imaginer les chiffres de 2024 en tenant compte de ce que nous avons constaté dans les décisions récentes.

    Notre Organisation est de plus en plus appelée à faire plus avec moins, et cela ne devrait pas changer de sitôt.

    Cette année, plusieurs bailleurs de fonds mettent un coup de frein sans précédent à leurs engagements en matière d’aide sur le terrain.

    Cela étant, le rapport que nous examinons aujourd’hui est également porteur d’un vrai message d’espoir.

    Cet espoir repose sur plusieurs éléments : sur les progrès que nous avons accomplis ensemble dans la réforme et le repositionnement du système des Nations Unies pour le développement, le rendant plus efficace et plus économique ;

    Sur l’Initiative ONU80, qui, dans le prolongement de ces réformes, induira les changements dont nous avons besoin à travers l’ensemble du système pour une organisation plus efficace, plus cohésive et plus efficiente ;

    Sur l’appui résolu que vous continuez de manifester à nos coordonnatrices et coordonnateurs résidents et à nos équipes de pays, et sur votre détermination à travailler à leurs côtés dans un esprit de collaboration ;

    Et sur le potentiel qui réside dans le potentiel du Pacte pour l’avenir d’accélérer les progrès vers les Objectifs de développement durable – un Pacte qui a fait l’objet d’un consensus lors du Sommet de l’avenir.

    Soyons clairs.

    Le Pacte a beau avoir été adopté dans un contexte différent, les engagements qui y sont énoncés demeurent plus importants que jamais.

    Ils exigent notamment de l’audace dans tous les aspects propices au développement durable – y compris le financement du développement, l’allègement de la dette et le renforcement de l’architecture financière internationale.

    Nous ne pouvons laisser les difficultés du moment nous faire dévier de ces engagements.

    Nous continuerons de collaborer étroitement avec tous les États Membres et tous les partenaires pour poursuivre la bonne mise en œuvre de nos priorités, parfaire la transformation de l’Organisation et, dans le cadre de l’Initiative ONU80, encourager des progrès concrets dans l’ensemble du système.

    Nous veillerons également à exécuter pleinement et de manière optimale tous les mandats prévus dans la résolution 72/279 de l’Assemblée générale, texte majeur qui a ouvert la voie à la réforme du système des Nations Unies pour le développement.

    Excellences,

    Dans ce contexte, et dans le droit fil du rapport qui est à l’examen aujourd’hui, je voudrais souligner quatre points pour récapituler les progrès que nous accomplissons, les domaines où nous devons redoubler d’efforts et l’aide que les États Membres peuvent apporter en ce sens.

    Premièrement, nous devons garder le cap sur les objectifs de développement durable.

    Cette année est cruciale pour le développement.

    Pourtant, nous assistons à une crise généralisée des moyens de mise en œuvre, qui touche aussi bien le financement que le commerce, la gouvernance ou la capacité institutionnelle à accélérer les progrès.

    Si l’on veut accélérer la cadence, il faut que les États Membres honorent les engagements ambitieux qu’ils ont pris en 2015 en adoptant les ODD et dans le cadre du Pacte pour l’avenir.

    Cela inclut notamment l’allègement du fardeau de la dette des pays en développement, la mobilisation de sources de financement innovantes et de faire avancer la réforme de l’architecture financière internationale.

    La quatrième Conférence internationale sur le financement du développement, qui se tiendra à Séville, constituera un moment clé moment clé dans la conduite des changements nécessaires.  

    Pour passer à la vitesse supérieure, il faut engager une transformation audacieuse.

    Nous devons poursuivre la stratégie que nous avons clairement définie en vue de la réalisation de tous les Objectifs, notamment dans les domaines des systèmes alimentaires, de l’accès à l’énergie, de la desserte numérique ainsi que du commerce au service de la croissance économique.

    Le moment est venu de mobiliser une plus grande volonté politique et de renforcer les capacités institutionnelles pour accompagner ces transformations essentielles et insuffler une dynamique de progrès.

    Deuxièmement, nous continuerons d’adapter nos opérations aux besoins et aux priorités des pays hôtes.

    Nous savons que nous sommes sur la bonne voie.

    L’année dernière, les coordonnatrices et coordonnateurs résidents ont apporté un appui concret dans plus de 160 pays.

    Le travail mené dans les entités du système et avec les gouvernements gagne chaque année en intégration et en coordination.

    87 % des pays hôtes – et 83 % des pays donateurs – considèrent que les entités des Nations Unies collaborent plus qu’avant la réforme.
    Et 98 % des pays hôtes estiment que les activités de l’ONU prévues dans nos plans-cadres de coopération concordent bien ou très bien avec les priorités nationales.

    Les faits sont là.

    Le système redynamisé des coordonnatrices et coordonnateurs résidents que nous avons mis en place ensemble est en passe de devenir un outil encore plus efficace au service du développement, tant pour les populations que pour la planète.

    À cet égard, il réunit les partenaires pour définir l’action à mener et trouver des solutions financières visant à accélérer le développement…

    Il accompagne les pays dans les domaines du financement, de la collecte de données, de la réglementation, du commerce et de la croissance économique durable…

    Et il cherche continuellement à faire des économies, à innover, à faire respecter le principe de responsabilité et à encourager les progrès dans tous les aspects de notre action commune.

    Nous sommes profondément fiers de ce que nous faisons, et nous continuerons sur notre lancée tout en préservant les acquis.

    Nous pouvons faire mieux, nous le savons. Et nous le ferons.

    Malgré l’adhésion que suscite notre action, le rapport fait apparaître un contraste inquiétant entre les priorités fixées dans nos plans-cadres de coopération et les moyens opérationnels et financiers et les outils de gouvernance qui permettent de les concrétiser.

    En outre, le cadre de gestion et de responsabilité, établi pour renforcer la responsabilité dans l’action collective des Nations Unies, n’est pas appliqué de manière uniforme dans toutes les entités du système.

    Notre bureau chargé des évaluations dans le système pour le développement, récemment établi, rédige actuellement son premier rapport indépendant, qu’il présentera au Conseil économique et social cette année, et poursuivra son action pour favoriser la définition des responsabilités, concourir à l’amélioration des résultats et faire en sorte que la présence et les programmes des Nations Unies soient mieux adaptés aux besoins de chaque pays.

    Je demande à tous les États Membres d’appuyer ce travail essentiel.

    Troisièmement, le financement.

    Je suis très préoccupé par la situation financière du système.

    Les contributions aux ressources de base des organismes de développement sont insuffisantes : elles ne représentent plus que 16,5 % du financement total, voire 12 % pour certaines entités.

    On est bien loin de l’objectif de 30 % que les pays se sont engagés à atteindre dans le cadre du pacte de financement.

    En décembre, l’Assemblée générale a accepté la proposition que j’ai faite de prélever sur le budget ordinaire un montant de 53 millions de dollars pour le système des coordonnatrices et coordonnateurs résidents. C’est un coup de pouce indispensable à un moment critique.

    Pour être tout à fait franc, je dois dire que la proposition était beaucoup plus élevée, mais au moins ce compromis a été trouvé.

    Mais ce modeste niveau de soutien n’est pas à la hauteur de l’ambition nécessaire.

    Notre capacité à stimuler le développement et à apporter une aide durable est compromise, or c’est maintenant que les pays ont le plus besoin de nous.

    Nous continuerons à collaborer étroitement à vos côtés pour que les déficits de financement se résorbent et pour que la programmation conjointe soit dotée de moyens financiers suffisants et profite aux personnes et aux populations les plus vulnérables.

    Néanmoins, nous avons plus que jamais besoin de sources de financement souples, durables, prévisibles et novatrices.

    J’invite instamment les États Membres à mettre en œuvre sans délai le nouveau pacte de financement.

    À l’heure où les ressources s’amenuisent, le pacte de financement s’impose comme un dispositif incontournable, notamment par l’importance accordée aux fonds de financement commun, qui permettent d’allouer les ressources plus stratégiquement, en fonction des priorités et des besoins réels sur le terrain.

    Enfin quatrièmement, nous continuerons de chercher à optimiser l’utilisation des ressources consacrées au développement.

    Le rapport démontre que nos réformes portent leurs fruits : nous avons réalisé plus de 592 millions de dollars d’économies en 2024, soit bien plus que notre objectif initial de 310 millions de dollars.

    Ces économies ont été rendues possibles grâce aux efforts déployés par chaque entité pour rationaliser les services et les chaînes d’approvisionnement, ainsi qu’à un recours accru aux services partagés, notamment s’agissant des voyages, des services de conférence et des fonctions administratives, et à d’autres gains d’efficacité importants.

    Mais nous pouvons et devons en faire plus.

    Dès le début de mon mandat, nous avons lancé un programme de réforme ambitieux destiné non seulement à améliorer nos méthodes de travail et nos résultats, mais aussi à explorer toutes les pistes possibles pour réaliser des économies et des gains d’efficacité.

    L’Initiative ONU80 offre une excellente occasion de poursuivre sur cette lancée.

    En dégageant rapidement des moyens de gagner en efficacité et d’améliorer nos méthodes de travail.

    En consacrant une plus grande partie de nos ressources aux programmes de développement plutôt qu’aux coûts administratifs.

    En procédant à un examen rigoureux de l’exécution des mandats qui nous sont confiés par les États Membres – et dont le nombre a considérablement augmenté ces dernières années.

    Et en menant un examen stratégique des changements plus profonds et plus structurels ainsi qu’un réalignement des programmes au sein du système des Nations Unies.

    L’Initiative ONU80 n’est pas une réponse aux coupes budgétaires mondiales…

    Mais une réponse aux besoins mondiaux.

    Aux besoins des populations du monde entier.

    À la nécessité de faire en sorte que ces personnes soient soutenues comme il se doit, à travers des programmes adaptés au contexte national.

    Et à l’impératif de travailler de façon aussi efficace, rationnelle et utile que possible.

    Là encore, nous aurons besoin de l’appui de tous les États Membres pour rendre nos activités plus efficientes.

    Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs,

    Alors que nous poursuivons ce chemin de réforme et de renouveau, nous devons garder à l’esprit le plus important : 

    Celles et ceux qui, dans le monde entier, comptent sur nous.

    Le rapport que nous examinons aujourd’hui ne se limite pas aux chiffres.

    Le rapport concerne les services et l’aide que nous apportons à certaines des personnes et des communautés les plus vulnérables et défavorisées de la planète.

    Il concerne les contribuables du monde entier, dont le dur labeur finance notre important travail.

    Il concerne notre capacité à mieux répondre aux attentes des États Membres et agir conformément aux priorités de chaque pays.

    Et il concerne notre quête constante d’efficacité, d’efficience et de responsabilité – tout en restant fidèles aux valeurs fondamentales qui nous animent depuis le tout début.

    Continuons d’œuvrer dans l’unité et la solidarité pour construire une ONU encore plus forte et encore plus efficace – prête à relever les défis d’aujourd’hui et de demain.

    Une ONU adaptée à sa mission et prête à agir.

    Nous comptons sur le plein soutien des États Membres pour continuer à aller de l’avant.

    Je vous remercie.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Assistance payments will continue during Canada Post strike

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Province is taking the necessary steps to ensure people continue to receive provincial disability and income assistance in the event of a labour dispute at Canada Post.

    The contract between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is expiring. CUPW has issued a 72-hour notice to begin strike activity on Friday, May 23, 2025, at midnight.

    In preparation for the May 2025 cheque issue, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction is working to ensure the distribution of payments is done in a timely manner and is incorporating lessons learned during the November-December 2024 strike. Despite the mail service disruptions during the 2024 strike, the ministry distributed 98% of monthly payments, aligning with normal distribution rates.

    Income and disability assistance

    It is vital that people receive their provincial income and disability assistance in a timely manner and the updated distribution plan ensures financial supports will be distributed.

    All monthly cheques that are set to be mailed to clients and service providers will instead be sent directly to ministry offices for distribution.

    Ministry clients and service providers who are unable to attend the ministry office to pick up their cheque can contact the ministry to make alternative distribution arrangements. 

    Approximately 88% of people will receive their payments by direct deposit, despite any potential Canada Post service disruption. For those who have not signed up for direct deposit, alternative options are available:

    • Sign up for direct deposit by providing their bank account information by contacting the ministry:
      • through a toll-free phone call: 1 866 866-0800;
      • online: MySelfServe.gov.bc.ca; and
      • in person by attending a ministry office
    • Pick up at the nearest ministry office or Service BC office that provides ministry services.
    • Provide a written letter with your signature to allow for someone else to pick up the cheque on your behalf.

    Senior’s Supplement

    For seniors, primary financial supports are provided by the federal government through programs such as Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). Any questions about delivery of these supports should be directed to the federal government through Service Canada at 1 800 277-9914

    Through the provincial Senior’s Supplement, the B.C. government tops up federal assistance amounts for seniors with low incomes. The Senior’s Supplement ranges from $1 to $100 for singles and $2 to $220.50 for couples.

    The provincial Senior’s Supplement, if paid by mailed cheques, will be delivered by Canada Post volunteers as part of the Socio-Economic Cheque Delivery program. This program prioritizes delivery to ensure essential benefits reach seniors who rely on them.

    Concerns and contact information

    Anyone concerned about not receiving their assistance cheque or Senior’s Supplement, or who has questions, is encouraged to contact the ministry at 1 866 866-0800 to discuss options. To make other arrangements for the Senior’s Supplement, recipients can also email: FASBSENI@gov.bc.ca

    Learn More:

    Locations and office hours of Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction offices and Service BC offices offering ministry services are available here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content?id=5658DF77EF6645308225C98B39112198

    For more information about income assistance, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content?id=618B0DF0FFF4468AA591F48F27E86D10

    For more information about disability assistance, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content?id=F0457B051B5346D284B1C586374CF2E1

    For more information about the provincial Senior’s Supplement, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/seniors/financial-legal-matters/income-security-programs/seniors-supplement

    For more information about the federal assistance for seniors, such as OAS and GIS, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/campaigns/seniors.html

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Tribunal Issues Determination of Reasonable Indication of Injury— Polyethylene Terephthalate from China and Pakistan 

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Ottawa, Ontario, May 20, 2025—The Canadian International Trade Tribunal today determined that there is a reasonable indication that the dumping and subsidizing of polyethylene terephthalate originating in or exported from the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have caused injury to the domestic industry.

    The Tribunal’s inquiry was conducted pursuant to the Special Import Measures Act as a result of the initiation of dumping and subsidizing investigations by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The CBSA will continue its investigations and, by June 17, 2025, will issue preliminary determinations.

    The Tribunal is an independent quasi-judicial body that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Finance. It hears cases on dumped and subsidized imports, safeguard complaints, complaints about federal government procurement and appeals of customs and excise tax rulings. When requested by the federal government, the Tribunal also provides advice on other economic, trade and tariff matters.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Carbajal, Brownley Reintroduce Legislation to Strengthen Oil Pipeline Safety Regulations

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

    On the anniversary of the Refugio Beach oil spill, U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Julia Brownley (D-CA-26) reintroduced legislation to expand safety regulations on U.S. oil and gas pipelines to prevent devastating spills like the Refugio Beach disaster, which spilled over 100,000 gallons of oil on the Central Coast of California in 2015.

    The Valve Safety Fairness Act, would restore the requirement for Type A gas gathering line operators to install these safety technologies in compliance with the 2022 PHMSA rule. Operators would be required to install automatic shut-off valves and rupture detection technologies.

    “Following the 2015 Refugio oil spill, my constituents have been calling for stronger safeguards to prevent future environmental disasters from happening,” said Rep. Carbajal. “The Valve Safety Fairness Act is a common-sense solution that will help protect our coastal communities from new spills by upgrading oil pipelines with more advanced safety technology.”

    “Residents along California’s Central Coast know the dangerous impacts of oil spills all too well. That is why we must ensure that pipeline owners and operators are using the most advanced technology available to prevent leaks or spills. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I have worked to improve federal pipeline safety and oversight, and I look forward to continuing this work with Congressman Carbajal to advance critical legislation to close a safety loophole,” said Rep. Brownley.

    Both Carbajal and Brownley serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

    In March 2022, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) followed through on a longtime push by California lawmakers to mandate these safety features on new and entirely replaced gas transmission lines, Type A gas gathering, and hazardous liquid (including carbon dioxide) pipelines.

    In May 2023, however, a U.S. district court limited application of this rule by striking down the safety feature requirements applying to Type A gas gathering lines–the pipelines that transport gas from a production facility or refinery to a transmission line or gas main.

    In 2015, the source of Plains All American Pipeline’s oil spill near Refugio Beach in Santa Barbara, which spilled over 100,000 gallons of crude oil into Central Coast beaches and ecosystems, took more than two hours to detect.

    Following his election to Congress, the devastating Refugio oil spill along California’s Central Coast spurred Congressman Carbajal to champion stronger federal safety regulations for oil and gas pipelines. His leadership began with a bipartisan measure—unanimously passed by the House in September 2017—that called for automatic shut-off valves and improved leak detection standards. He later joined forces with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to press the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) directly for action.

    PHMSA issued new rules in March 2022 mandating the installation of automatic and remote-control shut-off valves and leak detection technology for new pipelines.

    Congressman Carbajal has previously advocated for his colleagues on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to support legislation that would expand the 2022 PHMSA rule to include all existing oil and gas pipelines.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – The EU and the Pacific countries: Between climate change and geopolitical rivalries – 20-05-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The Pacific Islands region occupies almost 15 % of the Earth’s surface. The European Union (EU) recognises 15 Pacific Island Countries (PICs), mostly small developing states formed by archipelagos consisting of a large number of inhabited islands. The region includes three French Pacific Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) associated with the EU. Population dispersion and economic dependency on a narrow range of industries – particularly tourism and fishing – are common characteristics of these countries. Climate change poses an existential threat to the survival of these countries, whose progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals has been quite slow. The region has been largely neglected by the major powers, but it has recently emerged as one of the areas where the geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and China is playing out. Beijing’s outreach and influence in the region has been increasing, not least to exert pressure on some countries to abandon their diplomatic recognition of Taiwan. In 2022, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) – the main political and economic policy organisation of the region – launched the ‘2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent’. Traditional players in the Pacific – Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK) and the US – welcomed the initiative and consequently launched the ‘Partners in the Blue Pacific’ initiative. The EU is the third largest donor of development assistance to the Pacific countries. EU relations with the PICs are based on the much wider framework of the Samoa Agreement, which covers relations with 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. The EU has negotiated an EU-Pacific States Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which entered into force with some PICs.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Subsidies for EU prejudices? – E-001730/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001730/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Virginie Joron (PfE)

    The Commission has provided EUR 230 million in grants to the Euronews channel over 10 years[1]. The European institutions have also signed a framework contract worth EUR 133 million over four years, from September 2023 to September 2027, for media and advertising strategies (COMM/DG/FWC/2023/30)[2]. Over the period 2014-2023, the Commission is reported to have paid EUR 88 million to the Havas group and EUR 37 million to Euractiv[3].

    In addition, Parliament, through its Directorate-General for Communication, has earmarked a maximum of EUR 9.1 million in media grants in 2023. For example, in 2023 the newspaper Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace received grants of EUR 150 000, while 20 minutes received EUR 175 000[4].

    It is hard to believe that the media can remain independent under these conditions and resist Brussels’ disinformation.

    • 1.In total, how many payments and grants were awarded by the Commission to the media, journalists, news agencies, ERA-NET Plus and fact-checking services in 2023 and 2024, bearing in mind that Grok artificial intelligence estimates these payments to be between EUR 78 million and EUR 88 million?
    • 2.Which media or journalists who are critical of the Commission were subsidised?
    • 3.Are European media subsidies compatible with electoral rules and the rules on free and undistorted competition?

    Submitted: 30.4.2025

    • [1] https://brusselssignal.eu/2025/02/eu-spending-who-is-getting-the-quiet-billions-from-the-european-commission/
    • [2] Framework contract COMM/DG/FWC/2023/30 for media strategy, planning and advertising from September 2023 to September 2027. Invitation to tender COMM/AWD/2022/54. The maximum total amount under this framework contract was EUR 132.82 million over four years, but this amount represented the ceiling for several European institutions, including EUR 50 million for the European Parliament.
    • [3] https://ec.europa.eu/budget/financial-transparency-system/analysis.html
    • [4] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/contracts-and-grants/fr/grants/ex-post-publication; https://www.europarl.europa.eu/contracts-and-grants/files/grants/ex-post-publication/en-list-of-grants-awarded-2023.xlsx
    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Slovakia’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan: Latest state of play – 20-05-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Slovakia is set to receive €6 408.5 million, solely in grants, to implement its national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP, Plán obnovy), representing 6.8 % of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019. On 13 May 2025, the Council approved Slovakia’s amended NRRP addressing technical and procurement challenges, introducing new reforms and investments, and adjusting timelines. The updated plan reduced its green investment ambition by 4.6 percentage points (pps), but reinforced its digital ambition by 0.5 pps, maintaining strong support for the green (41.1 %) and digital (21.1 %) transitions. On 11 July 2023, the Council had approved a first revision of the NRRP. Following a 2022 update, Slovakia’s allocation decreased slightly; however, the addition of a REPowerEU chapter raised the total allocated amount to current €6 408.5 million, i.e. €79.4 million higher than the July 2021 plan. Slovakia’s NRRP comprises reforms and investment to help the Slovak economy recover while advancing the green and digital transitions and addressing structural weaknesses, with measures to be completed by August 2026. In the 2024 country report, the European Commission found that Slovakia’s NRRP is progressing but requires increased efforts for timely completion. So far, Slovakia has received €3 471.8 million (54.2 % of the total allocation), of which €903.3 million has been in pre-financing and €2 568.5 million in four grant payments based on milestones and targets. On 31 October 2024, the Commission disbursed the fourth payment of €798.7 million (net of pre-financing) to Slovakia, following a positive assessment that had led to corrective measures to address the reversal of a previously fulfilled milestone on multiannual expenditure ceilings in the government budget (see annex to this briefing). On 16 December 2024, Slovakia submitted its fifth payment request for €516.8 million (net of pre-financing). However, in its positive preliminary assessment of 1 April 2025, the Commission proposed a partial suspension due to an unmet target on property settlements in protected areas relating to a climate adaptation measure. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Fourth edition. The previous edition was drafted by Magdalena Sapała and Branislav Staníček. The ‘NGEU delivery’ briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Criminalisation of dissent in migrant pre-removal centres and compatibility of the Security Decree with EU law – E-001884/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001884/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Giuseppe Antoci (The Left)

    The Decree-Law on Security[1] that was recently enacted by the Italian Government introduced the new offence of ‘rioting’ in migrant detention centres[2], establishing heavy prison sentences of up to four years for people who commit acts of violence or resistance, even in a passive form[3].

    The government, then, views detention centres[4] as real prisons[5] and is choosing to suppress, by applying strict punitive measures, all forms of dissent. Some forms of passive resistance, such as hunger strikes, are the only tool for detained migrants to exercise their – albeit limited – freedom of expression.

    This scenario, which may breach detainees’ human rights, appears to run counter to EU law, in particular, the Returns Directive[6], Article 15 of which requires Member States to apply to detained migrants the least coercive measure possible in the specific case, and with the criterion of proportionality of the penalty in relation to the conduct laid down in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, given that in this case the conduct may also be not violent but simply disobedient.

    In view of how serious this state of affairs is:

    • 1.What is the Commission’s assessment of this new crime of ‘rioting’ in the context of Directive 2008/115/EC?
    • 2.In the light of the provisions of EU legislation in this area, will it take action against the Italian Government?

    Submitted: 12.5.2025

    • [1] Decree-Law No 48/2025.
    • [2] https://www.internazionale.it/notizie/annalisa-camilli/2025/04/08/cosa-prevede-il-decreto-sicurezza.
    • [3] When they are committed by three or more people together.
    • [4] Migrant pre-removal centres (CPRs) are administrative detention facilities where migrants are held when their status is at odds with the entry and residency rules in a specific European state.
    • [5] Note the equivalent crime of rioting in prisons.
    • [6] Directive 2008/115/EC
    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Directly elected mayor for Dublin – E-001937/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001937/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Lynn Boylan (The Left)

    According to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Ireland is one of the most centralised countries in Europe, with one of the lowest scores in the Local Autonomy Index. One way to improve this local democratic deficit is via a directly elected mayor, which several city councils in Ireland now have. However, the possibility of a directly elected mayor for Dublin has been delayed, perhaps indefinitely.

    The Irish Government has decided to put off calling a plebiscite on whether Dublin should have an elected mayor. Without this plebiscite there can be no progress towards a mayoral election. Given the Commission’s priority focus on protecting democracy and championing civic participation, what steps has the Commission taken to engage with the Irish Government to encourage and assist progress towards the institution of direct elections for the mayor of Dublin?

    Submitted: 14.5.2025

    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – Meeting of the DEVE Committee 20 May – Committee on Development

    Source: European Parliament

    The Committee on Development met on 20 May to discuss the following files:

    • EU political strategy on Latin America;
    • Interparliamentary committee meeting on Global Gateway and the 4th Conference on Financing for Development;
    • Exchange of views with Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director, Bertrand Bainvel, UNICEF Representative to EU Institutions and Alessandra Aresu from the International Disability and Development Consortium on Impacts of cuts in development aid on health programmes;
    • Exchange of views with Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council on How to make the case for continued needs-based humanitarian funding in line with the humanitarian principles;
    • Exchange of views with Carsten Staur, OECD-DAC Chair on the future of International Development Cooperation – role of ODA

    Votes:

    • Adoption of the draft report on Financing for development – ahead of the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville: 13 in favour, 3 against, 9 abstentions

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Commission welcomes political agreement on the progressive rollout of Europe’s New Digital Border System

    Source: European Commission

    European Commission Press release Brussels, 19 May 2025 The European Commission welcomes yesterday’s provisional political agreement by the European Parliament and the Council on the Commission’s proposal for a progressive rollout of Europe’s new digital border system, the Entry/Exit System (EES).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – CANCELLED – Gender Mainstreaming Network- EoV on the new EP Gender Action Plan – Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

    Source: European Parliament

    On 20 May 2025, the meeting of the Gender Mainstreaming Network (GMN) will take place where an exchange of views with Vice-President Ewa Kopacz, Chair of the High-Level Group on Gender Equality and Diversity, on the new Gender Action Plan of the European Parliament will be held.

    The GMN is composed of Members from each parliamentary committee and the Conference of Delegation Chairs responsible for gender mainstreaming. It is a forum for exchanging information on ongoing files of interest from a gender equality perspective and for sharing best practices.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Executives Plead Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    Two California men pleaded guilty yesterday to not paying over employment taxes to the IRS.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Lalo Valdez and Matthew Olson, both of Northern California, operated a San Jose-based health informatics and product development company that provided clinical care and technology services to clients in healthcare and academia. Valdez was the CEO and Olson the CFO. As such, both were responsible for the company’s operations, managed its internal books and records, signed checks on behalf of the company, and hired and fired employees. Both men also were responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and federal income taxes from employees’ wages and paying those funds over to the government each quarter. The timely payment of quarterly employment taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government, because, for example, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year.

    For every calendar quarter from the first quarter of 2017 through the second quarter of 2021, Valdez and Olson withheld these taxes from employees’ wages but did not pay them over to the IRS or report them on quarterly tax forms. Instead of paying over the taxes, Valdez and Olson used the company’s money to pay for country club memberships and season tickets to the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League.

    During this same period, Olson also was one of the owners and operators of a day spa located in Saratoga, California. There, Olson was responsible for collecting and paying Social Security, Medicare, and income taxes to the IRS. From the second quarter of 2017 through the fourth quarter of 2020, however, Olson collected but did not pay them over to the IRS or report them on quarterly tax forms.

    In total, Olson caused a tax loss to the IRS exceeding $2.1 million.

    Valdez caused a total tax loss to the IRS of nearly $1.5 million.

    Valdez and Olson are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 20. Both men face a maximum penalty of five years in prison as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Robbins for the Northern District of California made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Mahana Weidler of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina Green for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: eSHARE Announces Strategic Partnership with SMX to Advance Trusted Collaboration in Government and Regulated Sectors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WALTHAM, Mass., May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — eSHARE, a provider of trusted collaborative solutions built for enterprise and public sector use, today announced that they have strategically partnered with SMX, a leader in cloud, cybersecurity, and advanced technology solutions for public and private sector organizations. This partnership will enable eSHARE to leverage the SMX Elevate℠ Intelligent Automation Platform to accelerate its journey toward FedRAMP Moderate authorization and expand its footprint across federal agencies and highly regulated industries.  

    eSHARE’s secure email and content collaboration solutions are designed to help organizations share sensitive data without losing control. By integrating with Microsoft 365 and Azure, eSHARE empowers enterprises to enable external collaboration without compromising compliance, privacy, or user experience. Through this partnership, SMX will provide compliance automation, engineering support, and governance advisory services to help eSHARE meet the stringent security requirements of the U.S. federal government.  

    “Our partnership with SMX represents a significant milestone in our mission to deliver Trusted Collaboration solutions that meet the highest standards of trust and compliance that our Govt as well as DIBs customers need,” said Nick Stamos, CEO of eSHARE. “SMX’s proven expertise in FedRAMP and cloud automation is instrumental to our success as we enter the next phase of growth in regulated markets.”  

    SMX Elevate is a modular and extensible platform purpose-built to streamline compliance automation, continuous monitoring, and authorization processes across multiple frameworks. The platform has helped leading technology providers such as Dynatrace, Sophos, Deep Security, Beyond Identity, and others navigate FedRAMP and other compliance programs successfully.  

    “Our partnership with eSHARE highlights SMX’s commitment to enabling secure, scalable innovation across government and regulated sectors,” said Rob Groat, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Technology at SMX. “By leveraging the SMX Elevate℠ platform, we’re helping eSHARE accelerate FedRAMP compliance while enhancing their ability to deliver trusted collaboration solutions that meet the complex security demands of federal agencies and critical infrastructure customers.”

    eSHARE and SMX initiated their Authority to Operate (ATO) process in April 2025 and expect to be listed in the FedRAMP Marketplace by December 2025.

    About eSHARE

    eSHARE is transforming the digital workplace, enabling organizations to take control of secure, compliant collaboration within M365. Trusted by Global 2000 giants, including top names in aerospace and insurance, eSHARE delivers unparalleled data protection with intelligent guardrails and seamless user experiences. Accelerate M365 adoption, enhance secure collaboration with Copilot, and unlock your organization’s full potential. Join the thousands of users across nearly every country in the world who rely on eSHARE as the driving force behind Trusted Collaboration.

    For more information about eSHARE and its Trusted Collaboration solutions, please visit www.eshare.com.

    About SMX

    SMX is an industry leader providing digital solutions for mission-oriented clients, operating in close proximity to a vast set of clients across the United States and around the globe. SMX delivers scalable and secure solutions combined with the mission expertise needed to accelerate outcomes for the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, Public Sector, Fortune 1000, and other public and private sector clients. For more information on our solutions, please visit www.smxtech.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Discusses Communist China, Threats to American Way of Life with Secretary Rubio

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) discussed Communist China’s threats to the American way of life and the importance of maintaining peace through strength. Ricketts underscored that Communist China is the greatest external threat we face as a nation.
    “We need an all-of-government and all-of-society approach on how we face Communist China,” said Ricketts. “This was illustrated in a recent tabletop exercise that we did with Senator Coons and others, talking about a contingency where Beijing tries to do an energy quarantine on Taiwan to force capitulation. Obviously, unlocking America’s energy is one of the ways we can help counter this with LNG and biofuels which are some of our strongest tools to help our allies and partners. Cutting red tape, unleashing American energy in the private sector, we’re positioned to be an energy supplier of choice. But we need the infrastructure in place and that includes a West Coast LNG terminal.”
    Ricketts also stressed the need for complete nuclear disarmament in Iran.
    “Iran is a theocracy with brutal mullahs and corrupt military: They chant ‘death to America’ and ‘death to Israel,’” said Ricketts. “I think you framed it best Secretary Rubio, when you said earlier this month that they have to walk away from sponsoring terrorists, they have to walk away from helping the Houthis, they have to walk away from building long-range missiles which have no purpose other than use for nuclear weapons. And they have to walk away from enrichment.”
    Ricketts’ comments were made in a hearing of the Committee on Foreign Relations: “Review of the FY26 State Department Budget Request.” The witness was Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
    BACKGROUND:
    Last month, Senator Ricketts led a congressional delegation (CODEL) trip to Taiwan and the Philippines with Senators Coons and Ted Budd (R-NC). During the trip, the three senators met with senior Taiwanese officials including President Lai and Vice President Hsaio. Senators Ricketts and Coons are working as chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asia Subcommittee to support our allies and partners in the region against Communist China’s aggression, including conducting a recent tabletop exercise and introductions of the PORCUPINE Act and COUNTER Act.
    Last week, Senator Ricketts led a letter to President Trump regarding the administration’s ongoing negotiations with Iran. The letter supports the Trump administration’s efforts to secure a deal that results in the full dismantlement of the Iranian nuclear program, including permanently ending the regime’s capacity to enrich uranium. The letter was signed by 52 Senate Republicans.
    Watch the hearing HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Sec. Kennedy to the World Health Assembly: The United States Is Holding the WHO Accountable

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    “Like many legacy institutions, the WHO has become mired in bureaucratic bloat, entrenched paradigms, conflicts of interest, and international power politics. While the United States has provided the lion’s share of the organization’s funding historically, other countries such as China have exerted undue influence over its operations in ways that serve their own interests and not particularly the interests of the global public.” – Sec. Kennedy

    —

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) | http://www.hhs.gov

    http://www.Twitter.com/HHSGov | http://www.Facebook.com/HHS http://www.Instagram.com/HHSGov
    http://www.LinkedIn.com/company/us-department-of-health-and-human-services

    HHS Privacy Policy: http://www.hhs.gov/Privacy.html

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImLFYh5VXI0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Armenian Prime Minister Meets with Chairman of House of Representatives of Cyprus

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Yerevan, May 20 (Xinhua) — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday received a delegation led by Cypriot House of Representatives (parliament) Speaker Annita Demetriou, the press service of the head of the Armenian government reported.

    N. Pashinyan stated that Cyprus is a friendly country for Armenia, with which deep historical, cultural and value-based ties have been formed. In this context, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of consistently developing bilateral political dialogue and deepening inter-parliamentary cooperation.

    A. Dimitriou pointed out that Cyprus supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia and the democratic reforms implemented by the country’s government.

    The parties discussed a number of topical issues of bilateral cooperation between Armenia and Cyprus, including the development of economic ties and investment opportunities, as well as the expansion of multi-sectoral cooperation. In addition, an exchange of views took place on the progress of the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Strategic independence from US software – E-001618/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001618/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Per Clausen (The Left)

    Today, both the EU and its Member States are heavily dependent on US firms’ IT solutions. Not only does that dependence constitute a strategic vulnerability; continued dependence also means that, every year, large amounts of European public funds are transferred to software firms in the US instead of contributing to building a competitive European IT sector.

    The present geopolitical situation makes it clear that the EU needs to be independent from the US in a number of areas, including technology. A number of countries have become alive to the problem; and the German Government, for example, is working to disengage the German defence setup from software from Microsoft and similar firms.[1]

    In the light of this:

    • 1.What is the estimated amount of money that could be saved if just half of EU and Member State public bodies switched to open-source IT solutions costing half of what is currently paid in licences and the like to US tech giants?
    • 2.How many US-owned or -based software programmes does the Commission currently use?

    Submitted: 23.4.2025

    • [1] https://zendis.de/ressourcen/bwi-und-zendis-schliessen-rahmenvertrag-ueber-souveraene-kommunikations-und-kollaborationsloesungen
    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Selective enforcement of the rule of law: double standards – E-001886/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001886/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE)

    The rule of law is a core foundation of the European Union. However, the recently established selective enforcement thereof by the European Commission raises concerns about the uniform and fair treatment of Member States. Hungary and Poland have repeatedly been at the centre of sanctions and interventions, while similar – or even more serious – issues in other Member States are not addressed with the same severity. This unequal treatment raises concerns about the way in which European mechanisms are being applied.

    In view of the above, can the Commission say:

    • 1.Considering that the Commission tolerates breaches of the rule of law in some Western governments, but at the same time imposes disproportionate sanctions on Central and Eastern European states, how does it justify its different attitudes towards different Member States?
    • 2.On the basis of what objective criteria does it decide to activate the rule of law conditionality mechanism and how does it ensure that this mechanism does not become a tool for political pressure against governments that are not aligned with the overarching political agenda of Brussels?
    • 3.What steps does it intend to take to restore its credibility as a neutral institutional guarantor, in order to ensure that there are no double standards in the enforcement of the rule of law between the Member States?

    Submitted: 12.5.2025

    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU: Readiness 2030 – E-001888/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001888/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE)

    The European Union is at a critical juncture in terms of its defence capacity, the security of its borders and intensifying geopolitical pressures on its eastern and southern borders.

    As a front-line Member State, Greece has repeatedly borne a disproportionate defence and deterrence burden, both against external threats and with regard to the management of illegal migration flows.

    In view of the proposal to implement the Readiness 2030 strategy, the question naturally arises whether the European Commission intends to also support countries that already respect or go beyond NATO objectives, such as Greece.

    Can the Commission therefore answer the following:

    • 1.How does it intend to balance the need for a common European defence policy with respect for Member States’ sovereignty and specific defence challenges?
    • 2.Will there be an EU co-financing mechanism for armaments programmes and defence investments, in particular for countries that already invest more than 2 % of their GDP in defence?

    Submitted: 12.5.2025

    Last updated: 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – The rule of law in the EU remains in peril, MEPs say

    Source: European Parliament

    Parliament’s draft assessment of the Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law Report paints a worrying picture about the state of European values.

    The report endorsed by the Committee on Civil Liberties with 50 votes in favour, 18 against, and four abstentions, takes stock of the Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law Report as well as developments across the member states. MEPs call firmer, more consistent enforcement of democratic principles by both member states and the Commission. To prevent backsliding, they ask for an “ever more comprehensive toolbox”, complemented by a “smart conditionality” mechanism to ensure that the suspension of EU funds cannot be misused against civil society and local authorities. They reiterate the call for a fully-fledged mechanism to protect and enforce EU values in their entirety, while proposing methodological improvements to the Commission’s annual exercise.

    Worrying trends and persistent issues

    Among worrying developments identified this year, MEPs point to restrictions to the right of assembly and a rapidly shrinking civic space. They underline the need for independent, effective judicial systems with highly qualified personnel, and stress the importance of assessing ongoing reforms in member states, while also condemning interference in corruption investigations and the misuse of judicial systems for political ends. MEPs call for better protection of vulnerable groups against discrimination, including EU-wide legislation criminalising hate crime and hate speech. They also highlight the obligation to uphold the international legal order and implement binding court decisions: member states need to ensure national judges’ access to the Court of Justice of the EU, apply its jurisprudence in full, and enforce the orders of the International Criminal Court.

    The report further raises:

    • the need for more robust anti-corruption efforts at all levels,;
    • a call for more transparency in interest representation, including new or improved mandatory registers and legislative footprint mechanisms;
    • threats to media freedom and pluralism, especially SLAPPs and spyware;
    • the spread of disinformation undermining democracy;
    • persistent and new threats to equality for vulnerable groups (especially discriminatory measures against LGBTIQ persons) and the Commission’s intention to withdraw the Horizontal Equal Treatment Directive;
    • the need for access to safe, legal abortion to be enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU;
    • the rise of extremism, threats to electoral processes, and the use of technology to curtail democratic rights; and
    • the deteriorating situation in Hungary.

    MEPs also call for a stronger mandate for the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and urge the Commission to apply conditionality mechanisms more readily.

    Quote

    Rapporteur Ana Catarina Mendes (S&D, Portugal) commented: “For the Union to deliver on its promise of rule of law freedom and fundamental rights for every person living in Europe, we need to strengthen our ability to monitor and act on backsliding in the rule of law and all European values. However, we see that some political forces are willing to renege on these values for short-term political gain, undermining not only the fundamental rights of vulnerable groups but also the rule of law mechanisms that protect them and support our entire societies. It is high time that we act responsibly and in line with our proudest democratic traditions, because it is becoming increasingly clear that everything is at stake.”

    Next steps

    The report is expected to be debated and voted on in the 16 – 19 June plenary session in Strasbourg, in anticipation of the upcoming 2025 Rule of Law Report by the Commission.

    MIL OSI Europe News –