Category: Science

  • MIL-Evening Report: Who decides what Australian students are taught in schools?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Holloway, Senior Research DECRA Fellow, Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education, Australian Catholic University

    Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has begun his election campaign with fresh criticism of schools.

    The Coalition has previously raised concerns the national curriculum is “unwieldy” and “infused with ideology”. On Monday night, Dutton suggested states needed new funding conditions to make sure schools were teaching appropriate content. He told Sky News federal money should be conditional to ensure schools are not “guided into some sort of an agenda that’s come out of universities”.

    He added to his comments on Tuesday, saying he wants students at schools (and universities) to receive an education that “reflect[s] community standards”.

    I support young Australians being able to think freely, being able to assess what is before them and not being told and indoctrinated by something that is the agenda of others and that is the approach we would take.

    Education Minister Jason Clare responded by claiming Dutton had a “bigger agenda” to “cut funding from schools”.

    What is the curriculum and who decides what Australian students are taught?

    What do students learn in Australian schools?

    All Australian schools are required to teach the Australian Curriculum. Commonwealth and state and territory education ministers first approved the curriculum in 2009. It applies from the first year of schooling through to Year 10.

    The curriculum sets out:

    the expectations for what all young Australians should be taught, regardless of where they live in Australia or their background.

    It is made up of eight “learning areas”: English, mathematics, science, humanities and social sciences, the arts, technologies, health and physical education and languages.

    It can be described as a “map” of what teachers are expected to cover in each subject and year level.

    This is to ensure all students across the country, whether in a small regional school or a large city one, have access to the same broad foundation of knowledge and skills.

    Who develops the curriculum?

    The Australian Curriculum is designed by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, an independent statutory authority established by the Australian government.

    The authority describes the curriculum as:

    provid[ing] teachers, parents, students and the community with a clear understanding of what students should learn regardless of where they live or what school they attend.

    Every six years, the curriculum is reviewed and approved by education ministers from each state, territory and the Commonwealth. The current version was endorsed in April 2022 under the Morrison government (just before the last federal election).

    The next review is expected in 2027-2028. This process includes consultation with teachers, curriculum experts, academics, professional associations and the wider public.

    Do teachers and universities decide what’s taught?

    Classroom teaching is guided by the Australian Curriculum. While teachers have professional discretion in how they deliver content, they are expected to “know the content and how to teach it”.

    In fact, some education experts believe the curriculum is too crowded and leaves little flexibility for teachers to tailor learning to local contexts or student needs.

    Universities do not control the curriculum. Their main role in Australian schooling is to train teachers and conduct research. But teacher education programs must meet national accreditation standards. These need to fit with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and Australian Curriculum.

    So while universities play an important role in preparing teachers to interpret and deliver the curriculum, they are not responsible for what schools teach.

    Who does what?

    Debates about what schools teach are not new and are likely to continue. But it is important they are grounded in an accurate understanding of how the system works.

    Teachers, universities and governments all have different roles in shaping school education.

    The Australian Curriculum is a nationally agreed framework, developed through public consultation and ministerial oversight. Teachers implement the curriculum according to professionally-acredited standards and attention to students’ individual needs. Universities support the education system through teacher preparation and research.

    Jessica Holloway has received funding from the Australian Research Council.

    ref. Who decides what Australian students are taught in schools? – https://theconversation.com/who-decides-what-australian-students-are-taught-in-schools-253532

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI: Queqi Culture Media: He Global Digital Global Launch Ceremony was successfully held in Shanghai

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHANGHAI, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Queqi Culture Media: “China Consulting Model 4.0” Global Hé Project- Cultural Science and Technology Innovation Forum and Hé Global Digital Launching Ceremony was Successfully held in Shanghai

    On March 22, 2025, successfully held the “China Consulting Model 4.0” Culture Technology Innovation Forum and Hé Global Digital Launching Ceremony of the Global Hé Project at the Shanghai Center with the theme of “Hé Promulgate World Wisdom. Hé Create Prosperous Future”. Global representatives from politics, business and academia conducted in-depth discussions on “Hé Coexistence and Technological Civilization”. This is a milestone event that marks the entry of “Hé” culture into a new era of digital communication.

    A Feast of Ideas: Chinese Wisdom Matching World Propositions

    Prof. Kou Beichen, an anthropologist, creator of the “China Consulting Model”, founder of the Hé theory in the new era, and initiator of the global Hé project, stated that in the context of accelerated changes over the past century, the “China Consulting Model” was born from the ideal of human unity, the recognition of social bottleneck issues, and the condensation of the philosophy of survival and development. After 30 years of hard work, the academic research achievements are not only China’s, but also the worlds. We hope to accelerate the dissemination of globalization through the power of technology and contribute our modest efforts to the practice of a community with a shared future for mankind and the promotion of global governance. The attendees unanimously agreed that the Kèshēng philosophy of Hé in the “China Consulting Model”, combined with the “five management and five domains” system, provides a new paradigm for global governance and has breakthrough value in the field of cross-cultural management.

    Theoretical Innovation: Six in One Promotes Peace Across the World

    At the launch ceremony, Dr. Li Ru, Chairman of the Academic Committee of Kou Beichen, founding researcher follow of the “China Consulting Model”, Dean of the Hé College of the Genovasi University College, and core leader of the global Hé project, gave a detailed introduction to the achievement system and innovative value of the “China Consulting Model”. The “China Consulting Model” integrates philosophy, management, ethics, harmony, consulting, and education, with the goal of resolving discord and promoting harmonious coexistence. It can be widely applied in research, consulting, education, culture, and technology industries, and embodies the unique value of intellectual assets, industrial development, and social welfare. In particular, the results of the formation of the global Hé education discipline innovation, have been carried out for eight years, training several excellent master’s and doctoral talents. In the future, the value generated by the systematic radiation to the United Nations, countries around the world, social organizations, family members, and individual groups will be more reflected in the prevention of cultural conflicts, communication barriers, and development contradictions. The attendees highly appreciated and eagerly anticipated.

    Technology Empowerment: ” Hé intelligent” Digitalization Embarks on the Future

    Mr. Zhao Shuo, Director of Shanghai Jupeng Group, chairman of Hainan Jupeng Culture and Technology Co., Ltd., and core leader of the global Hé project, mentioned in his keynote speech ” Hé World · Hé Future – Empowering China’s Consulting Model with Artificial Intelligence to Create a Global Paradigm for Cultural Inheritance and Technological Innovation” that Chinese civilization has lasted for five thousand years, and the ” Hé” culture, with the philosophical core of “harmony in diversity” and “harmony among nations”, provides Oriental wisdom for solving complex problems such as global governance, business decision-making, and social collaboration. And the ‘China Consulting Model’ is the crystallization of this wisdom – it is not only a theoretical framework, but also a practical methodology. Jupeng Technology has deeply integrated the “China Consulting Model” with the DeepSeek big model to create the world’s first ” Hé Theory Vertical Field Intelligent Agent” – “Harmony Intelligence” (H é AI), a new generation decision engine with “Harmony” as its soul and “Intelligence” as its body, providing global users with solutions that combine ethical warmth and technological efficiency. The development of Hé digital coding is adapted to five core scenarios, giving attendees a refreshing and uplifting experience.

    Dr. Zhang Caifang, an Academician and a scientist, was appointed as the Chief Scientist of the Global Hé Project and delivered a special report titled “Cultural Inheritance and Global Collaboration in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, which deeply analyzed the huge space for intelligent development of the “China Consulting Model”.

    Cross border collaboration: practicing a community with a shared future for mankind

    The “China Consulting Model 4.0” Culture, Science and Technology Innovation Forum and the Global Launching Ceremony of the Hé Global Digitalization Project of the Global Hé Project were glittering with the participation of the representatives from the scientific community, the cultural community, the educational community, the business community, the investment community and other well-known people from all walks of life. More than 50 representatives attended the launching ceremony, including the core leading members of the global “Hé” project, President of Genovasi University College Prof. Dr. James CL Nga, President University of East-West Medicine of, Founding President of Sino Ecowas Chamber of Commerce Ibrahim Bashiru, global “Hé” project U.S. Special Envoy Karen Li , and Central Asian Special Envoy Ren Li, etc., and the international friends of more than 30 countries and regions congratulated the “China Consulting Model” by video.

    This event not only witnessed the globalization of China’s management wisdom but also created a new path for the synergistic development of multiple cultures in the era of digital civilization. As Prof. Kou Beichen said: When the oriental gene of Hé meets the new intelligent technology, mankind will usher in the time of building a real community of destiny.

    Media Contact:
    Company:Queqi Culture Media Co., Ltd
    Contact Person:Yinyan Yang
    Web:www.queqicn.com
    Email:Yinyan.Yang@queqicn.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the Queqi Culture Media Co., Ltd. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

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    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6ec930b-bffc-4365-be2a-e03ff89c838b

    The MIL Network

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

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

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

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

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

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

    Elena Shinkaruk.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152034073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New cyber laws to safeguard UK economy and secure long-term growth

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    New cyber laws to safeguard UK economy and secure long-term growth

    The government sets out the scope and ambition of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill for the first time today.

    New cyber laws to safeguard UK economy and secure long-term growth.

    • Plans set out to bolster UK’s online defences, protect the public and safeguard growth – the central pillar of the UK government’s Plan for Change. 
    • New measures will boost protection of supply chains and critical national services, including IT service providers and suppliers. 
    • Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to be introduced later this year to face down growing range of online threats.

    Hospitals and energy suppliers are set to boost their cyber defences under the new Cyber Security Bill, protecting public services and safeguarding growth as government delivers its Plan for Change.

    This will ensure firms providing essential IT services to public services and the wider economy are no longer an easy target for cyber criminals. 1,000 service providers will fall into scope of measures expected to be introduced later this year.

    The move forms part of the government’s drive to secure Britain’s future through the Plan for Change, delivering security and renewal by strengthening our critical infrastructure. It will give the British public, businesses and investors greater confidence in digital services – supporting the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth.

    Cyber threats cost the UK economy almost £22 billion a year between 2015 and 2019 and cause significant disruption to the British public and businesses. Last summer’s attack on Synnovis – a provider of pathology services to the NHS – cost an estimated £32.7 million and saw thousands of missed appointments for patients. Figures also show a hypothetical cyber-attack focused on key energy services in the South East of England could wipe over £49 billion from the wider UK economy.

    Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle, said:

    Economic growth is the cornerstone of our Plan for Change, and ensuring the security of the vital services which will deliver that growth is non-negotiable.

    Attempts to disrupt our way of life and attack our digital economy are only gathering pace, and we will not stand by as these incidents hold our future prosperity hostage. 

    The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, will help make the UK’s digital economy one of the most secure in the world – giving us the power to protect our services, our supply chains, and our citizens – the first and most important job of any government.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and create real risks for our health service if we do not act now to put the right protections in place.

    We are building an NHS that is fit for the future. This bill will boost the NHS’s resilience against cyber threats, secure sensitive patient data and make sure life-saving appointments are not missed as we deliver our Plan for Change.

    The government is also exploring additional measures to make sure it can respond effectively to new cyber threats and take rapid action where needed to protect the UK’s national security. This includes giving the Technology Secretary powers to direct regulated organisations to shore up their cyber defences – putting the UK in the strongest possible footing to defend against new and existing threats.

    Another potential avenue may include new protections for more than 200 data centres – bolstering the defences of one of the main drivers of economic growth and innovation, including through AI. Data centres process mountains of data which they need to churn out new products which have become commonplace everywhere from banking and online shopping to booking holidays and staying in touch with friends and family. The government will now consider the best route to deliver these additional measures.       

    In the year to September 2024, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) managed 430 cyber incidents, with 89 of these being classed as nationally significant – a rate of almost two every week. The most recent iteration of the Cyber Security Breaches Survey also highlights 50% of British businesses suffering a cyber breach or attack in the last 12 months, with more than 7 million incidents being reported in 2024. 

    To face down this threat, the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will ensure the vital infrastructure and digital services the country relies on are more secure than ever, as the government sets out its legislative ambitions for the first time today.

    Richard Horne, NCSC CEO, said:

    The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is a landmark moment that will ensure we can improve the cyber defences of the critical services on which we rely every day, such as water, power and healthcare.

    It is a pivotal step toward stronger, more dynamic regulation, one that not only keeps up with emerging threats but also makes it as challenging as possible for our adversaries.

    By bolstering their cyber defences and engaging with the NCSC’s guidance and tools, such as Cyber Assessment Framework, Cyber Essentials, and Avctive Cyber Defence, organisations of all sizes will be better prepared to meet the increasingly sophisticated challenges.

    While the legislation will arm the UK with the cyber defences it needs to meet the challenges of today, it also includes measures to ensure a swift response to new threats which emerge in the future. To do this, the Technology Secretary will be given powers to update the regulatory framework to keep pace with the ever-changing cyber landscape.

    Confirmed in last year’s King’s Speech, today marks the first time the government has shared full details on its plans for the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which will be introduced to Parliament this year. 

    The legislative proposals follow other government recent action to boost UK cyber security, including a new, world-leading AI cyber security standard to protect AI systems, a new international coalition to boost cyber skills and the Cyber Local programme to support the UK’s rapidly growing £13.2 billion cyber security industry, which has created 6,600 new jobs in the past year.

    Further Information

    A full copy of the policy statement containing details of the measures in the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill policy statement will be published today.

    Figures on the economic impact of a hypothetical cyber incident targeting the South East’s energy structure (PDF) by the University of Cambridge. 

    If the proposals are adopted:

    • More organisations and suppliers will need to meet robust cyber security requirements, including data centres, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and critical suppliers. This means third-party suppliers will need to boost their cyber security in areas such as risk assessment to minimise the possible impact of cyber- attacks, while also beefing up their data protection and network security defences. 
    • Regulators will have more tools to improve cyber security and resilience in the areas they regulate, with companies required to report more incidents to help build a stronger picture of cyber threats and weaknesses in our online defences. 
    • The government would have greater flexibility to update regulatory frameworks when needed, to respond swiftly to changing threats and technological advancement. This could include extending the framework to new sectors or updating security requirements.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Large Crocodile captured near Lucinda boat ramp

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 31 Mar 2025

    A large estuarine crocodile has been captured in a baited trap near the Dungeness Creek boat ramp at Lucinda in north Queensland.

    Wildlife Rangers from the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) captured the animal on Friday evening.

    The 3.8 m crocodile was targeted for removal after displaying concerning behaviour around the boat ramp and interfering with crab pots. It is believed the crocodile was attracted to the boat ramp by discarded fish frames and bait.

    The removal is a reminder for people living in crocodile habitat to make sensible choices around the water and to prioritise their safety.

    People living in crocodile habitat should never discard fish frames or unused bait at boat ramps or fishing spots as crocodiles can begin to associate those locations with food.

    All crocodile sightings should be reported to DETSI in a timely manner.

    Crocodiles can be reported by using the QWildlife app, completing a crocodile sighting report on the DETSI website, or by calling 1300 130 372. The department investigates every crocodile sighting report received.

    • Expect crocodiles in ALL northern and far northern Queensland waterways even if there is no warning sign
    • Obey all warning signs – they are there to keep you safe
    • Be aware crocs also swim in the ocean and be extra cautious around water at night
    • Stay well away from croc traps – that includes when fishing and boating
    • The smaller the vessel the greater the risk, so avoid using canoes and kayaks
    • Stand back from the water’s edge when fishing and don’t wade in to retrieve a lure
    • Camp well back from the water’s edge
    • Never leave food, fish scraps or disused bait near the water, at camp sites or at boat ramps
    • Never provoke, harass or feed crocs
    • Always supervise children near the water and keep pets on a lead.

    Further information is available at: https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals/living-with/crocodiles/croc-wise

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Cardwell cassowary incident

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 1 Apr 2025

    A Cardwell man was taken to Tully Hospital on Friday 28 March 2025 after reportedly being kicked in the leg by an adult cassowary, which resulted in a 2-3 inch deep wound to his upper thigh.

    The man was treated for a minor injury following the interaction with the cassowary and reported the incident to the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

    According to the report, the man was in his backyard with his back to the bird when the cassowary approached him and kicked him in the back of the leg.

    On 31 March 2025, wildlife rangers will conduct a site visit and assess the behaviour of the cassowary if it remains in the area.

    The behaviour of the cassowary is consistent of a cassowary that has become accustomed to being fed. It’s a good reminder to the public not to be complacent when they are in close proximity to these animals.

    People who live in the wet tropics are reminded that cassowaries are large animals and can act in an unpredictable way, which can include dangerous behaviour.

    Cassowaries should never be fed or given access to food. This can cause them to become habituated and begin to approach people expecting food. Cassowaries have been known to become aggressive when approaching people for food but not receiving any.

    People can help preserve wild populations of cassowaries by being Cass-O-Wary:

    • Never approach cassowaries.
    • Never approach chicks – male cassowaries will defend them.
    • Never feed cassowaries – it is illegal and can be dangerous for the birds and for humans.
    • Always discard food scraps in closed bins and ensure compost bins have secure lids.
    • Always slow down when driving in cassowary territory.
    • Never stop your vehicle to look at cassowaries on the road.
    • Keep dogs behind fences or on a leash.

    Cassowary sightings in north Queensland should be reported to QPWS by calling 1300 130 372.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Freshwater crocodile handed to DETSI

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 1 Apr 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Open larger image

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

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Tree harvester hit with fine for flattening vulnerable plants

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 1 Apr 2025

    Open larger image

    Wildlife officer inspecting vegetation.

    A tree harvesting company recently received an $8,000 fine for damaging vulnerable native plants in the Gympie area.

    The plant species that was damaged is critical to the resilience of this ecosystem, as it assists in minimising soil erosion and maintaining water quality which helps this area to withstand environmental stresses.

    Public concern for the native vegetation led to an investigation by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service where rangers discovered dozens of the endangered plants were flattened.

    We are dedicated to protecting our environment throughout Queensland so future generations can enjoy these amazing areas.

    Protected plants are protected for a reason – particularly these plants which are classified as vulnerable.

    Wildlife ranger at the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation Chris Heckathorn said this is an important reminder for anyone carrying out works to ensure they undertake the relevant checks and operate within the law.

    “Not only should the potential environmental impact be a deterrent, but there is also a possible fine of up to $500,000 or two-years imprisonment.

    “We will continue to investigate incidents where our native species are impacted by illegal activities and will take strong compliance action to protect and preserve our environment.”

    Samadera bidwillii is listed as Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU at the CIS International Economic Forum: exchange of experience and prospects for cooperation

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    Last week, the annual International Economic Forum of the CIS member states was held in Moscow at the Congress Center of the World Trade Center on the topic: “New Impetus for the Development of the Greater Eurasian Partnership. Scientific, Technological and Innovative Development.” The forum brought together more than 2,000 participants; 13 sessions were held at the event, covering current issues of economic development, science, technology and innovation.

    Representatives of the State University of Management took an active part in the session “Science and Education: Potential for Sustainable Development of the Economy of the Greater Eurasian Partnership”: Advisor to the Rector’s Office Sergey Karseka, Head of the International Cooperation Department Inessa Bogatyreva, Associate Professor of the Department of Transport Complex Management Andrey Lipatov and a group of students from the Department of Economics and Management in the Fuel and Energy Complex of the Institute of Industry Management.

    The presentations at the session complemented each other, which allowed the topic to be fully covered and a number of proposals to be formulated for the final resolution of the Forum. Much credit for this goes to the session moderator, Chairman of the Committee on Education and Science of the CIS Business Center for Economic Development, Chairman of the Expert Council on International Cooperation in Education and Science of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Dmitry Repnikov.

    The tone of the session was set by the speaker, First Deputy State Secretary of the Union State, Head of the Department of Economic Policy and Economic Measurements of the State University of Management Sergey Glazyev. He presented in detail the current economic situation in the CIS countries, outlined problematic issues and ways to resolve them. “90% of the growth of industrial production in the world in recent years has come from knowledge-intensive industries,” said Sergey Yuryevich.

    First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Vladimir Sipyagin devoted his speech to the problem of the shortage of qualified personnel in the Russian Federation and defined foreign graduates of Russian universities as “an enormous human resource potential.”

    The issues of developing a unified educational space in the CIS countries and the directions of development of Russian education were revealed in her report by the Director of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Ksenia Trinchenko.

    The remaining speakers at the session covered such issues as grant support for scientific and technical activities, the development of a Russian language teaching system in the CIS countries, as well as the interaction of university science and business.

    After the end of the session, the representatives of the State University of Management continued their work “on the sidelines” of the Forum. They managed to communicate with all the speakers and many participants, discuss the details of the presentations and potential areas of further cooperation between the State University of Management and their structures.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/01/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: Karolinska Development’s portfolio company Umecrine Cognition presents promising preclinical Parkinson data at AD/PD 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – April 1, 2025. Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) today announces that its portfolio company Umecrine Cognition presents recent preclinical data showing that golexanolone reverses dopamine loss and sustains improvements of Parkinsonian symptoms at the 19th International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases (AD/PD) 2025, in Vienna, Austria, April 1–5th.

    Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease hallmarked by motor symptoms and disrupted cognitive functions as well as mental health. The disorder is caused by the loss of nerve cells in the brain that produce the signaling substance dopamine, which leads to various symptoms reducing the patient’s well-being and quality of life.

    Umecrine Cognition is developing a new class of drugs to alleviate cognitive symptoms. The company’s drug candidate golexanolone has recently shown to improve mechanisms in the midbrain important for brain functions such as motor and cognitive behaviors that leads to dopamine loss and Parkinsonian deficits in a preclinical study in a well-established laboratory model of Parkinson’s disease.

    The results from the study increase the understanding of golexanolone’s mechanism of action and support further development of the drug candidate as a potential treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

    An abstract summarizing the company’s study has been accepted for presentation at the on-site paper poster session “Alpha-Synucleinopathies, Therapeutic Targets, Mechanisms for Treatment” on Friday, April 4th, as well as at the oral ePoster presentation, a virtual format for digital meeting attendees.

    Karolinska Development’s ownership in Umecrine Cognition amounts to 73%.

    For further information, please contact:

    Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development AB
    Phone: +46 73 982 52 02, e-mail: viktor.drvota@karolinskadevelopment.com 

    Johan Dighed, General Counsel and Deputy CEO, Karolinska Development AB
    Phone: +46 70 207 48 26, e-mail: johan.dighed@karolinskadevelopment.com

    TO THE EDITORS

    About Karolinska Development AB

    Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) is a Nordic life sciences investment company. The company focuses on identifying breakthrough medical innovations in the Nordic region that are developed by entrepreneurs and leadership teams. The company invests in the creation and growth of companies that advance these assets into commercial products that are designed to make a difference to patient’s lives while providing an attractive return on investment to shareholders.

    Karolinska Development has access to world-class medical innovations at the Karolinska Institutet and other leading universities and research institutes in the Nordic region. The company aims to build companies around scientists who are leaders in their fields, supported by experienced management teams and advisers, and co-funded by specialist international investors, to provide the greatest chance of success.

    Karolinska Development has a portfolio of eleven companies targeting opportunities in innovative treatment for life-threatening or serious debilitating diseases.

    The company is led by an entrepreneurial team of investment professionals with a proven track record as company builders and with access to a strong global network.

    For more information, please visit www.karolinskadevelopment.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Three-Body’ liquor deal marks new sci-fi merch crossover

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s leading liquor maker Luzhou Laojiao announced a collaboration Monday with the country’s most successful sci-fi franchise “The Three-Body Problem,” marking the first major cross-industry integration between baijiu and science fiction.

    He Cheng, deputy general manager and chief quality officer of Luzhou Laojiao, and sci-fi writer Liu Cixin pose for a photo at a launch event for the “Three-Body” liquor in Beijing, March 31, 2025. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

    Authorized by rights holder The Three-Body Universe and developed by Luzhou Laojiao and Hainan Eternal Vision Science Fiction Media (EV/SFM), two liquor product prototypes were unveiled at a global launch event held during the 2025 China Science Fiction Convention (CSFC 2025). Their bottles and packaging — one, “Luzhou Laojiao | Three-Body,” featuring a pyramid design; the other, “National Cellar 1573 | Three-Body,” a sphere — have been elegantly crafted, drawing inspiration from elements in Liu Cixin’s award-winning novel.

    He Cheng, deputy general manager and chief quality officer of Luzhou Laojiao, described the crossover collaboration as a “strategic priority in cultural innovation and a masterstroke for brand rejuvenation, using sci-fi’s futuristic appeal to engage consumers and revitalize traditional baijiu culture.”

    Luzhou Laojiao is a large brewing group that developed from 36 workshops in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties to become one of the top liquor brands in China and known worldwide. In recent years, it has actively supported sci-fi events, including the Chinese Nebula Awards, to widen its appeal.

    Gan Weikang, president of EVSFM, stressed that the partnership “not only commercializes sci-fi intellectual property while supporting sci-fi literature development, but also pioneers a new crossover model of ‘cultural symbols plus real economy.’”

    Industry analysts suggest this collaboration may shift the baijiu sector’s focus from “flavor competition” to a new paradigm of “cultural value competition.”

    Sci-fi writer Liu Cixin signs a bottle at a launch event for the “Three-Body” liquor in Beijing, March 31, 2025. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

    During the event, He Cheng and Liu Cixin signed two special-edition bottles, which will be preserved in the Luzhou Laojiao Museum and the Beijing Yuanyu Science Fiction and Future Technology Research Institute, respectively. The liquor makers confirmed both editions will launch globally soon, with just 10,000 bottles of the sci-fi themed National Cellar 1573 being produced annually.

    MIL OSI China News

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

    Source: European Parliament 2

    MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

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

    (2024/2111(BUI))

    The European Parliament,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      having regard to Rule 104 of its Rules of Procedure,

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

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

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

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

    General framework

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Strengthening Parliament’s core functions

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

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

     

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

    Digital transition

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

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

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

    Green transition

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

    Multilingualism, communication and disinformation

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

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

    Infrastructure

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

    Others

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

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

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

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

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

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

    44.  Adopts the estimates for the financial year 2026;

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

     

     

    ANNEX: DRAFT ESTIMATES

     

     

    PART III – PRELIMINARY DRAFT ESTIMATES 2026

     

     

    1. REVENUE/EXPENDITURE

    2. ESTABLISHMENT PLAN

    3. NOMENCLATURE

     

     

    1. REVENUE/EXPENDITURE

     

     

     

     

     

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

     

     

     

    Heading

    Amount

     

     

    Expenditure

    2 636 241 620

    Resources

    265 378 397

    Contribution due

    2 370 863 223

     

     

     

    REVENUES

    Title – Chapter – Article – Post

    Heading

    2026 budget

    2025 budget

    Outturn 2024

    3

    ADMINISTRATIVE REVENUE

     

     

     

    3 0

    REVENUE FROM STAFF

     

     

     

    3 0 0

    Taxes and levies

     

     

     

    3 0 0 0

    Tax on the remunerations

    111 692 059

    105 869 539

    100 337 194

    3 0 0 1

    Special levies on remunerations

    17 507 648

    16 162 194

    14 891 422

     

    Article 3 0 0 – Subtotal

    129 199 707

    122 031 733

    115 228 616

    3 0 1

    Contributions to the pension scheme

     

     

     

    3 0 1 0

    Staff contributions to the pension scheme

    131 172 690

    121 092 129

    103 628 794

    3 0 1 1

    Transfer or purchase of pension rights by staff

    5 000 000

    6 000 000

    7 338 881

    3 0 1 2

    Contributions to the pension scheme by staff on leave

    5 000

    40 000

    0

    3 0 1 4

    Contributions by Members of the European Parliament

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

     

    Article 3 0 1 – Subtotal

    136 177 690

    127 132 129

    110 967 675

     

    Chapter 3 0 — Total

    265 377 397

    249 163 862

    226 196 291

    3 1

    REVENUE LINKED TO PROPERTY

     

     

     

    3 1 0

    Sale of immovable property — Assigned revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    556 948

    3 1 1

    Sale of other property

    p.m.

    5 000

    9 203

    3 1 2

    Letting and subletting immovable property — Assigned revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    2 383 687

     

    Chapter 3 1 — Total

    p.m.

    5 000

    2 949 838

    3 2

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

     

     

     

    3 2 0

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

    p.m.

    p.m.

    18 857 643

    3 2 1

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

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

    3 2 2

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

    p.m.

    p.m.

    4 952 720

     

    Chapter 3 2 — Total

    p.m.

    p.m.

    23 810 363

    3 3

    OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE REVENUE

     

     

     

    3 3 0

    Repayment of amounts wrongly paid — Assigned Revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    22 491 561

    3 3 1

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

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

    3 3 3

    Insurance payments received — Assigned Revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    34 996

    3 3 8

    Other revenue from administrative operations — Assigned Revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

    3 3 9

    Other revenue from administrative operations

    1 000

    1 000

    1 622 926

     

    Chapter 3 4 — Total

    1 000

    1 000

    24 149 483

     

    Title 3 — Total

    265 378 397

    249 169 862

    277 105 975

    4

    FINANCIAL REVENUE, DEFAULT INTEREST AND FINES

     

     

     

    4 0

    REVENUE FROM INVESTMENTS AND ACCOUNTS

     

     

     

    4 0 0

    Revenue from investments, loans granted and bank accounts

    p.m.

    p.m.

    4 411 026

     

    Chapter 4 0 — Total

    p.m.

    0

    4 411 026

     

    Title 4 — Total

    p.m.

    0

    4 411 026

    6

    REVENUE, CONTRIBUTIONS AND REFUNDS RELATED TO UNION POLICIES

     

     

     

    6 6

    OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS AND REFUNDS

     

     

     

    6 6 8

    Other contributions and refunds — Assigned revenue

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

     

    Chapter 6 6 — Total

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

     

    Title 6 — Total

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

     

    GRAND TOTAL

    265 378 397

    249 169 862

    281 517 001

     

     

     

    EXPENDITURE

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

    Title – Chapter – Article – Post

    Heading

    Appropriations 2026

    Appropriations 2025

    Outturn 2024

    1

    Persons working with the institution

     

     

     

    1 0

    Members of the institution

    250 087 000

    257 937 492

    249 427 210

    1 2

    Officials and temporary staff

    982 330 058

    914 759 154

    853 989 951

    1 4

    Other staff and external services

    259 041 175

    245 453 683

    206 535 274

    1 6

    Other expenditure relating to persons working with the institution

    29 619 939

    27 939 603

    24 937 797

     

    Title 1 — Total

    1 521 078 172

    1 446 089 932

    1 334 890 232

    2

    Buildings, furniture, equipment and miscellaneous operating expenditure

     

     

     

    2 0

    Buildings and associated costs

    250 475 000

    245 925 000

    252 616 845

    2 1

    Data processing, equipment and movable property

    232 008 000

    227 708 050

    253 569 292

    2 3

    Current administrative expenditure

    7 388 000

    7 386 000

    4 830 070

     

    Title 2 — Total

    489 871 000

    481 019 050

    511 016 207

    3

    Expenditure resulting from general functions carried out by the institution

     

     

     

    3 0

    Meetings and conferences

    37 728 429

    37 121 800

    27 628 546

    3 2

    Expertise and information: acquisition, archiving, production and dissemination

    154 530 519

    153 261 150

    153 271 532

     

    Title 3 — Total

    192 258 948

    190 382 950

    180 900 078

    4

    Expenditure resulting from special functions carried out by the institution

     

     

     

    4 0

    Expenditure relating to certain institutions and bodies

    146 800 000

    140 000 000

    125 403 172

    4 2

    Expenditure relating to parliamentary assistance

    279 165 340

    263 855 176

    222 263 343

    4 4

    Meetings and other activities of current and former members

    632 000

    620 000

    593 204

     

    Title 4 — Total

    426 597 340

    404 475 176

    348 259 719

    5

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

     

     

     

    5 0

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

    436 160

    428 000

    100 840

     

    Title 5 — Total

    436 160

    428 000

    100 840

    10

    Reserve

     

     

     

    10 0

    Provisional appropriation

    p.m.

    3 100 000

    0

    10 1

    Contingency reserve

    6 000 000

    7 200 000

    0

    10 3

    Enlargement reserve

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

    10 4

    Reserve for information and communication policy

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

    10 5

    Provisional appropriation for immovable property

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

    10 6

    Reserve for priority projects under development

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

    10 8

    Emas reserve

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0

     

    Title 10 — Total

    6 000 000

    10 300 000

    0

     

    GRAND TOTAL

    2 636 241 620

    2 532 695 108

    2 375 167 076

     

     

    Revenue — REVENUE

    Title 3 — ADMINISTRATIVE REVENUE

    Chapter 3 0 — REVENUE FROM STAFF

    Article 3 0 0 — Taxes and levies

    Item 3 0 0 0 — Tax on the remunerations

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    111 692 059

    105 869 539

    100 337 194,29

    Legal basis

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

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

    Item 3 0 0 1 — Special levies on remunerations

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    17 507 648

    16 162 194

    14 891 421,72

    Legal basis

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

    Article 3 0 1 — Contributions to the pension scheme

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

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    131 172 690

    121 092 129

    103 628 793,79

    Legal basis

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

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

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    5 000 000

    6 000 000

    7 338 881,09

    Legal basis

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

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

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    5 000

    40 000

    0,—

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

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Legal basis

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

    Chapter 3 1 — REVENUE LINKED TO PROPERTY

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

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    556 948,00

    Remarks

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

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

    Article 3 1 1 — Sale of other property

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    5 000

    9 203,22

    Remarks

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

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

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    2 383 686,62

    Remarks

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

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

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

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

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

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    18 857 643,13

    Remarks

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

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

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

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

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

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

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

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    4 952 719,42

    Remarks

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

    Chapter 3 3 — OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE REVENUE

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

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    22 491 561,95

    Remarks

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

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

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

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

    Article 3 3 3 — Insurance payments received — Assigned revenue

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    34 995,58

    Remarks

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

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

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

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

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

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

    Article 3 3 9 — Other revenue from administrative operations

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    1 000

    1 000

    1 622 925,87

    Remarks

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

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

    Title 4 — FINANCIAL REVENUE, DEFAULT INTEREST AND FINES

    Chapter 4 0 — REVENUE FROM INVESTMENTS AND ACCOUNTS

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

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    4 411 025,89

    Remarks

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

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

    Chapter 6 6 — OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS AND REFUNDS

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

    Figures

    2026 estimate

    2025 estimate

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

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

    Expenditure — EXPENDITURE

    Title 1 — PERSONS WORKING WITH THE INSTITUTION

    Chapter 1 0 — MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTION

    Article 1 0 0 — Salaries and allowances

    Item 1 0 0 0 — Salaries

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    100 920 000

    96 171 430

    91 951 742,92

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

    Item 1 0 0 4 — Ordinary travel expenses

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    79 160 000

    78 700 000

    71 950 000,00

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

    Item 1 0 0 5 — Other travel expenses

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    5 260 000

    4 800 000

    5 100 000,00

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

    Item 1 0 0 6 — General expenditure allowance

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    44 410 000

    44 100 000

    45 734 819,18

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

    Item 1 0 0 7 — Allowances for performance of duties

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    219 000

    212 000

    205 852,17

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

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

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    3 142 000

    3 393 000

    3 083 137,39

    Remarks

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

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    700 000

    1 000 000

    550 000,00

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

    Article 1 0 2 — Transitional allowances

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    2 287 000

    15 544 645

    18 921 436,05

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

    Article 1 0 3 — Pensions

    Item 1 0 3 0 — Retirement pensions (PEAM)

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    11 077 000

    11 144 000

    9 522 406,74

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

    Item 1 0 3 1 — Invalidity pensions (PEAM)

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    102 000

    96 138

    88 257,11

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    2 160 000

    2 126 279

    1 919 559,71

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

    Item 1 0 3 3 — Optional pension scheme for Members

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

    Article 1 0 5 — Language and computer courses

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    650 000

    650 000

    400 000,00

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

    Chapter 1 2 — OFFICIALS AND TEMPORARY STAFF

    Article 1 2 0 — Remuneration and other entitlements

    Item 1 2 0 0 — Remuneration and allowances

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

     

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    1 2 0 0

    973 382 485

    906 471 880

    846 335 205,79

    Reserves(10 0)

     

    3 100 000

     

    Total

    973 382 485

    909 571 880

    846 335 205,79

    Remarks

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

     salaries, allowances and other payments related to salaries,

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

     flat-rate overtime allowances,

     miscellaneous allowances and grants,

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union.

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.

    Item 1 2 0 2 — Paid overtime

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    57 573

    52 764

    55 000,00

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    4 100 000

    3 779 912

    3 700 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union.

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.

    Article 1 2 2 — Allowances upon early termination of service

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    4 790 000

    4 454 598

    3 899 745,48

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the allowances payable:

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

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

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

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

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

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

     the impact of the weightings applicable to the various allowances.

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

    Legal basis

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

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

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

    Chapter 1 4 — OTHER STAFF AND EXTERNAL SERVICES

    Article 1 4 0 — Other staff and external persons

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    100 945 810

    94 484 929

    81 664 730,14

    Remarks

    This appropriation is mainly intended to cover the following expenditure:

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

     the employment of temporary agency staff.

    This appropriation is not to cover expenditure on:

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

     other staff working as drivers in the Secretariat.

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

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

    Item 1 4 0 1 — Other staff — Security

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    57 780 573

    52 771 404

    46 021 651,49

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    10 316 589

    9 725 704

    9 027 760,87

    Remarks

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    15 912 203

    13 929 850

    11 341 160,19

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

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

     travel expenses of trainees,

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

     additional costs directly related to a trainee’s impairment,

     sickness and accident insurance for trainees,

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

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

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

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

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

     accident insurance for national experts on secondment,

     allowances for study visits and study grants,

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

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

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

    Item 1 4 0 5 — Expenditure on interpretation

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    64 850 000

    64 841 796

    55 479 971,94

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the following expenditure:

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

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

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

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

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

     expenses paid for administering payments to conference interpreters,

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

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

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union.

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.

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

    Item 1 4 0 6 — Observers

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

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

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

    Article 1 4 2 — External translation services

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    9 236 000

    9 700 000

    3 000 000,00

    Remarks

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

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

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

    Article 1 6 1 — Expenditure relating to staff management

    Item 1 6 1 0 — Expenditure on recruitment

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    496 600

    371 520

    152 378,85

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

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

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

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

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

    Legal basis

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

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

    Item 1 6 1 2 — Learning and development

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    8 958 400

    8 987 950

    8 490 662,44

    Remarks

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

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

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

    Legal basis

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

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.

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

    Item 1 6 3 0 — Social welfare

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    350 000

    328 350

    135 748,07

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

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

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

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

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

    Legal basis

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

    Item 1 6 3 1 — Mobility

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    2 110 000

    2 110 000

    2 340 000,00

    Remarks

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

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

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    290 200

    285 000

    265 819,34

    Remarks

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

    It also covers financial support for interinstitutional social activities.

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

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

    Item 1 6 5 0 — Health, Safety and Inclusion

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    3 615 219

    4 088 866

    3 327 922,83

    Remarks

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

    In the medical field, this includes in particular:

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

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

     medical expert reports and on ergonomic measures,

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

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

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

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

     officials and other agents in active employment,

     spouses of officials and other agents in active employment,

     dependent children within the meaning of the Staff Regulations,

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

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

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

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

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

    Legal basis

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

    Item 1 6 5 2 — Expenditure on catering

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    800 000

    1 360 000

    736 268,23

    Remarks

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

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

    Item 1 6 5 4 — Childcare facilities

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    11 751 520

    9 237 967

    8 651 259,44

    Remarks

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

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

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    1 248 000

    1 169 950

    837 737,52

    Remarks

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

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

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

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

    Remarks

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

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

    Chapter 2 0 — Buildings and associated costs

    Article 2 0 0 — Buildings

    Item 2 0 0 0 — Rent

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    31 110 000

    26 900 000

    29 318 124,71

    Remarks

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

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

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

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

    Item 2 0 0 1 — Lease payments

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    751 000

    700 000

    21 420 000,00

    Remarks

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

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

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

    Item 2 0 0 3 — Acquisition of immovable property

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    340 000

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

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

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

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

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    74 357 000

    78 010 000

    75 581 353,02

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

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

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

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

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

    Item 2 0 0 8 — Other specific property management arrangements

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    8 190 000

    6 665 000

    4 227 493,47

    Remarks

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

     waste management and treatment,

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

     technical library,

     management support (building helpdesk),

     taking care of building drawings and information media,

     other expenditure.

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

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

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

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

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

    Article 2 0 2 — Expenditure on buildings

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    83 870 000

    81 550 000

    78 288 453,35

    Remarks

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

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

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

    Item 2 0 2 4 — Energy consumption

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    25 457 000

    28 950 000

    21 604 075,08

    Remarks

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

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

    Item 2 0 2 6 — Security and surveillance of buildings

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    22 610 000

    19 760 000

    18 818 361,00

    Remarks

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

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

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

    Item 2 0 2 8 — Insurance

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    3 790 000

    3 390 000

    3 358 982,59

    Remarks

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

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

    Chapter 2 1 — DATA PROCESSING, EQUIPMENT AND MOVABLE PROPERTY

    Remarks

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

    Article 2 1 0 — Computing and telecommunications

    Item 2 1 0 0 — IT governance and cyber security

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    11 004 000

    9 563 800

    10 169 079,47

    Remarks

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

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

    Item 2 1 0 1 — Business applications management

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    79 323 800

    77 681 050

    80 586 736,76

    Remarks

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

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

    Item 2 1 0 2 — Infrastructure and operations management

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    81 745 300

    80 041 200

    86 398 356,95

    Remarks

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

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

    Item 2 1 0 3 — Digital workplace services and equipment

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    22 841 500

    25 209 000

    34 500 141,30

    Remarks

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

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

    Article 2 1 2 — Furniture

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    7 470 000

    7 990 000

    8 345 000,00

    Remarks

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

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

    Article 2 1 4 — Technical equipment and installations

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    23 468 400

    21 322 000

    28 604 422,99

    Remarks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    6 155 000

    5 901 000

    4 965 558,61

    Remarks

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

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

    Chapter 2 3 — CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

    Remarks

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

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

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    200 000

    296 000

    168 615,80

    Remarks

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

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

    Article 2 3 1 — Financial charges

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    350 000

    1 850 000

    80 000,00

    Remarks

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

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

    Article 2 3 2 — Legal costs and damages

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    1 795 000

    1 635 000

    844 750,49

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

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

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

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

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

     damages and interest expenses,

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

     administrative fines issued by the European Data Protection Supervisor.

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

    Legal basis

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

    Article 2 3 6 — Postage on correspondence and delivery charges

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    268 000

    270 000

    296 196,49

    Remarks

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

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

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

    Article 2 3 7 — Removals

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    1 437 000

    700 000

    1 592 272,11

    Remarks

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

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

    Article 2 3 8 — Other administrative expenditure

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    2 388 000

    2 385 000

    1 837 968,98

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     insurance not specifically provided for in another item,

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

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

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

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

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

    Article 2 3 9 — EMAS and sustainability activities, including promotion, and the European Parliament’s carbon offsetting scheme

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    950 000

    250 000

    10 267,38

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure related to sustainability activities in the European Parliament and Eco-Management Auditing Scheme (EMAS) activities aimed at improving the environmental performance of the European Parliament, including the promotion of these activities, and to the European Parliament’s carbon offsetting scheme.

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

    Title 3 — EXPENDITURE RESULTING FROM GENERAL FUNCTIONS CARRIED OUT BY THE INSTITUTION

    Chapter 3 0 — MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES

    Article 3 0 0 — Expenses for staff missions and duty travel between the three places of work

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    29 470 000

    28 850 000

    21 855 556,57

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on duty travel by staff of the institution, seconded national experts, trainees and staff of other European or international institutions invited by the institution between place of employment and any of the European Parliament’s three places of work (Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg) and on missions to any location other than the three places of work. Expenditure is made up of transport costs, daily allowances, accommodation costs and compensatory allowances for unsocial hours. Ancillary costs (including cancellation of tickets and hotel reservations, electronic invoicing costs and mission insurance costs) are also covered.

    This appropriation is also intended to cover any expenditure on carbon offsetting relating to staff missions and duty travel.

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

    Legal basis

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, and in particular Article 71 thereof and Articles 11, 12 and 13 of Annex VII thereto.

    Article 3 0 2 — Reception and representation expenses

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    1 093 128

    1 028 900

    886 086,07

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     expenses related to the obligations of the institution regarding receptions, including in connection with work relating to the assessment of scientific options (STOA), other research and forward-looking activities and representation expenses for Members of the institution,

     representation expenses of the President when he or she is travelling outside the places of work,

     musical projects,

     representation expenses and the contribution to the secretarial expenses of the President’s office,

     the Secretariat’s reception and representation expenses, including the purchase of items and medals for officials who have completed 15 or 25 years’ service,

     miscellaneous protocol expenditure, such as on flags, display stands, invitation cards and printed menus,

     travel and subsistence expenses incurred by VIP visitors to the institution,

     visa costs relating to official travel by Members and staff,

     reception and representation expenses and the other specific expenses for Members performing official duties at the European Parliament.

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

    Article 3 0 4 — Miscellaneous expenditure on meetings

    Item 3 0 4 0 — Miscellaneous expenditure on internal meetings

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    320 000

    370 000

    142 335,23

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the costs of the beverages, refreshments and occasional light meals served at meetings held by the European Parliament or interinstitutional meetings organised on its premises, together with the management costs for these services.

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

    Item 3 0 4 2 — Meetings, congresses, conferences and delegations

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    3 185 301

    3 282 900

    1 351 568,80

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover, inter alia, expenses other than those covered under Chapter 1 0 and Article 3 0 0, connected with:

     the organisation of meetings outside the places of work (committees and committee delegations, political groups), including, where appropriate, representation expenditure,

     the organisation of interparliamentary delegations, ad hoc delegations, joint parliamentary committees, parliamentary cooperation committees, parliamentary delegations to the WTO, and the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO and its Steering Committee,

     the organisation of delegations to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the EuroLat Parliamentary Assembly and the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and their bodies,

     the organisation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfMPA), its committees and its Bureau; this expenditure includes the European Parliament’s contribution to the budget of the autonomous secretariat of the UfMPA or the direct defrayal of expenses representing the European Parliament’s share of the budget of the UfMPA,

     the affiliation fees in respect of international organisations to which the European Parliament or one of its bodies belongs (Interparliamentary Union, Association of Secretaries-General of Parliaments, Twelve Plus Group within the Interparliamentary Union),

     the reimbursement to the Commission, on the basis of a service agreement concluded between the European Parliament and the Commission, of the European Parliament’s share of the cost of producing EU laissez-passer (equipment, staff and supplies), in accordance with the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union (Article 6), Article 23 of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, Articles 11 and 81 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union and Council Regulation (EU) No 1417/2013 of 17 December 2013 laying down the form of the laissez-passer issued by the European Union (OJ L 353, 28.12.2013, p. 26, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1417/oj),

     participation in meetings of the Steering Board of the InvestEU Programme and official meetings with the competent parliamentary committees’ members (including travel expenses, accommodation and catering) of persons appointed by the European Parliament in the Steering Board of the InvestEU Programme.

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

    Item 3 0 4 9 — Expenditure on travel agency services

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    3 660 000

    3 590 000

    3 393 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the running costs of the travel agency under contract to the European Parliament.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 6 000.

    Chapter 3 2 — EXPERTISE AND INFORMATION: ACQUISITION, ARCHIVING, PRODUCTION AND DISSEMINATION

    Article 3 2 0 — Acquisition of expertise

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    9 961 999

    6 485 000

    3 134 202,80

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     the cost of contracts with qualified experts and research institutes for studies and other research activities (workshops, round tables, expert panels or hearings, and conferences) or technical assistance activities that require specific skills and that are carried out for the European Parliament’s governing bodies, for the parliamentary committees, for the parliamentary delegations and for the administration,

     acquisition or hiring of specialised information sources, such as specialised databases, related literature or technical support, when needed to complement the expertise contracts mentioned above,

     the travel, subsistence and incidental expenses of experts and other persons, including petitioners to the European Parliament, invited to take part in committee, delegation, study group or working party meetings and in workshops,

     costs of participation of petitioners, including travel, subsistence and incidental expenses, during the official missions of the Committee on Petitions outside of the European Parliament premises,

     costs of dissemination of internal or external parliamentary research products and other relevant products, for the benefit of the institution and of the public (in particular by means of publications on the internet, internal databases, brochures and publications),

     expenditure on calling-in outside persons to take part in the work of bodies such as the Disciplinary Board,

     the cost of checks by specialised external service providers on the accuracy of documents supplied by candidates for recruitment.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 74 000.

    Article 3 2 1 — Expenditure on European parliamentary research services, including the library, the historical archives, scientific and technological options assessment (STOA) and the European Science-Media Hub

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    10 063 320

    10 134 000

    8 393 552,80

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on the work of DG EPRS and the Historical Archives of the European Parliament, particularly:

     acquisition of specialised expertise and support for the European Parliament’s research activities (including articles, studies, workshops, seminars, round tables, expert panels and conferences) which may, if necessary, be carried out in partnership with other Institutions, international organisations, research departments and libraries of national parliaments, think tanks, research bodies and other qualified experts,

     acquisition of specialised expertise in the fields of impact assessment and of ex ante and ex post evaluation, European added value, and scientific and technological options assessment (STOA),

     acquisition or hiring of books, journals, newspapers, databases, press agency products and any other information medium for the library in various formats, including costs of copyright, the quality assurance system, materials and work involved in rebinding and conservation, and other relevant services,

     the cost of outside archiving services (organisation, selection, description, transfer to different media and to paperless form, acquisition of primary archive sources),

     acquisition, development, installation, operation and maintenance of special library and archiving documentation and of special media-library materials, including materials and electrical, electronic and computerised systems, and materials for rebinding and conservation,

     costs of dissemination of internal or external parliamentary research products and other relevant products, for the benefit of the institution and of the public (in particular by means of publications on the internet, internal databases, brochures and publications),

     travel, subsistence and associated costs of experts and authors invited to attend presentations, seminars, workshops or other such activities organised,

     participation by the services responsible for Scientific and Technological Options Assessment (STOA) in the activities of European and international scientific bodies,

     the European Parliament’s obligations under international and interinstitutional cooperation agreements, including the European Parliament’s contribution to the costs of managing the Union’s historical archives in accordance with Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83,

     the costs of the European Science-Media Hub, the operations of which are overseen by the European Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA), in enhancing the interface between the European Parliament, the scientific community and the media, in order specifically to promote networking, training and knowledge dissemination. This includes for example:

     organising activities and dealing with expenses (including travel expenses, accommodation and catering) in connection with invitations to journalists, stakeholders and other experts to cover the activities concerned,

     setting up and maintaining networks at the interface between the European Parliament, the scientific community and the media,

     organising seminars, conferences and training courses on current scientific and technological developments and issues and on the nature and effectiveness of science journalism,

     harnessing expert information and analysis from academia, the media and other sources in the field of science and technology for the benefit of policy-makers and citizens,

     making European Parliament research and other relevant material in the field of science and technology more widely available by written, audiovisual and other means,

     developing techniques and methods for increasing the ability to identify and disseminate trustworthy sources in the field of science and technology,

     supporting the installation, upgrading and use of state-of-the-art technical equipment and media facilities in support of such dialogue,

     developing closer cooperation and, more generally, links between the European Parliament, relevant media outlets and universities and research centres in this field, including through promotion in the media of the role, and work of the European Science-Media Hub as well as its accessibility for citizens.

    This appropriation may also be used to support dialogue between the European Parliament and the university community, the media, think tanks and citizens with regard to foresight work on the long-term trends to be addressed by European Union decision-makers, both in the field of science and more broadly, through seminars, publications and other activities set out above.

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

    Legal basis

    Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/1983/354/oj).

    Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2001/1049/oj).

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 28 November 2001 on rules governing public access to European Parliament documents, as last amended on 22 June 2011 (OJ C 216, 22.7.2011, p. 19).

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 2 July 2012 on rules on document management in the European Parliament.

    European Parliament resolution of 8 October 2013 on forward policy planning and long-term trends: budgetary implications for capacity-building (OJ C 181, 19.5.2016, p. 16), and in particular paragraphs 7 and 9 thereof.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 10 March 2014 on procedures governing the European Parliament’s acquisition of private archives of Members and former Members.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 15 April 2019 on the STOA rules.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 17 June 2019 on the rules of the European Parliament Library.

    Article 3 2 2 — Documentation expenditure

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    2 973 500

    3 115 000

    3 221 682,79

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     subscriptions to newspapers and periodicals and news agencies and to the publications thereof and online services, including copyright fees for the reproduction and dissemination of the above in written and/or electronic form and service contracts for press reviews and cuttings,

     subscriptions or service contracts for the supply of summaries and analyses of the content of periodicals or the storage on optical media of articles taken from such periodicals,

     utilising external documentary and statistical databases (computer hardware and telecommunications charges excepted),

     the purchase of new dictionaries and glossaries, or the replacement thereof, regardless of medium, including for the new language sections, and other works for the language services and the Legislative Quality Units.

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

    Article 3 2 3 — Support for democracy and capacity-building for the parliaments of third countries

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    1 400 000

    1 400 000

    517 672,34

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     expenditure on programmes for the exchange of information and cooperation between the European Parliament and the national parliaments of the pre-accession countries, in particular the Western Balkans and Turkey,

     expenditure committed for promoting relations between the European Parliament and democratically elected national parliaments from third countries (other than those referred to in the previous indent) as well as with corresponding regional parliamentary organisations. The activities concerned are notably aimed at strengthening parliamentary capacity in new and emerging democracies in particular in the European Neighbourhood (South and East),

     expenditure on promoting activities in support of mediation, and programmes for young political leaders from the European Union and from countries in the wider European Neighbourhood: the Maghreb, Eastern Europe and Russia, Israeli-Palestinian dialogue and other priority countries as decided by the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group,

     expenditure on organising the Sakharov Prize (in particular the amount of the prize, travel expenses of the winner(s) and other finalists and the costs of receiving them, operating costs of the Sakharov network and duty travel by members of the network) and on activities to promote human rights.

    These activities include information visits to the European Parliament in Brussels, Luxembourg or Strasbourg and visits to Member States and third countries. This appropriation covers, wholly or partially, the expenses of the participants, particularly travel, accommodation and daily subsistence.

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

    Legal basis

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 12 December 2011 establishing the Directorate for Democracy Support in the Directorate-General for External Policies of the Union.

    Article 3 2 4 — Production and dissemination

    Item 3 2 4 0 — Official Journal

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the institution’s share of the Publications Office’s expenditure on publishing and dissemination and other ancillary costs with regard to the texts to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

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

    Item 3 2 4 1 — Digital and traditional publications

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    1 579 800

    1 619 600

    2 137 349,13

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     all costs for digital publishing (Intranet sites) and traditional publishing (miscellaneous documents and printed matter subcontracted out), including distribution,

     upgrading and evolutive and corrective maintenance of editorial systems.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 10 000.

    Item 3 2 4 2 — Expenditure on publication, information and participation in public events

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    26 530 000

    27 640 000

    36 366 874,13

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     expenditure on communication relating to the values of the institution by means of information publications, including electronic publications, information activities, public relations, participation in public events, trade fairs and exhibitions,

     expenditure on communication in order to give the European Parliament a recognisable, coherent and positive public image, to develop communication products from the creative concept to the final product and capacity building towards an internal communication agency, including access to industry tools and external expert advice,

     co-financing of communication actions through a grants program in order to promote and multiply a better understanding of the identity, role and political nature of the European Parliament and to stimulate collaboration with multiplier networks,

     the cost relating to public opinion monitoring,

     the cost linked to monitoring, countering and raising awareness on the reputational risks, disinformation and hybrid threats,

     the cost of cultural projects of European interest, such as the European Parliament LUX Prize for European Cinema,

     the cost of organising and running events for young people, raising the European Parliament’s social media profile, and monitoring youth trends,

     costs relating to the mobile internet, interactive technologies, socialising spaces, collaborative platforms and changing internet user behaviour, with a view to bringing the European Parliament closer to citizens,

     the cost of in-house production, distribution and hosting by the European Parliament of web clips and other broadcast-ready multimedia material, in line with the European Parliament’s communication strategy,

     expenditure on works of art for the European Parliament, covering both the cost of acquiring and purchasing specific material and the current expenditure relating thereto, such as experts, conservation, framing, restoration, cleaning, insurance and ad-hoc transport costs.

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

    Item 3 2 4 3 — European Parliament visitor centres

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    25 180 000

    27 150 000

    26 687 400,69

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to finance installations, material and exhibitions at European Parliament visitor centres, in particular:

     the Parlamentarium — the European Parliament Visitors’ Centre in Brussels, including the mobile information points,

     reception facilities, ‘Europa Experience’ centres and information outlets away from Brussels,

     the activities of the House of European History, such as carrying out specific fitting-out work, acquiring collections, the cost of contracts with experts, and organising exhibitions, as well as its running costs, including expenditure on books, magazines and other publications related to the House of European History’s activities.

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

    Item 3 2 4 4 — Organisation and reception of groups of visitors, Euroscola programme and invitations to opinion multipliers from third countries

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    38 223 000

    38 496 000

    33 108 635,98

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     subsidies granted for group visits and associated supervision and infrastructure costs, the financing of traineeships for opinion multipliers from third countries (EUVP) and the running costs of the Euroscola, Euromed-Scola and Euronest-Scola programmes. The Euromed-Scola and Euronest-Scola programmes shall take place each year, with the exception of election years, on an alternating basis, on the European Parliament’s premises in Strasbourg or in Brussels,

     activities to promote the EUVP,

     expenditure related to the implementation of the new visitors’ strategy and the organisation of the open days,

     media campaigns and the organisation of the European Parliament Ambassador School Programme.

    This appropriation shall be increased every year using a deflator that takes into account movements in GNI and prices.

    Each Member of the European Parliament is entitled to invite a maximum of five groups each calendar year for a total of 100 visitors. Visitor groups officially sponsored by a Member may take part in the Euroscola programme if invited to do so by that Member.

    An appropriate amount is included for visitors with disabilities.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 525 000.

    Legal basis

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 16 December 2002 on rules governing the reception of groups of visitors and the Euroscola, Euromed-Scola and Euronest-Scola programmes, consolidated on 3 May 2004, as last amended and consolidated on 11 September and 2 October 2023.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 3 October 2016 on rules launching the European Parliament Ambassador School Programme in all Member States and Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 16 September 2019 on the continuation of the European Parliament Ambassador School Programme beyond 2019.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 16 December 2020 on the participation of UK citizens and EU27 citizens living in the UK in Parliament’s communication programmes.

    Item 3 2 4 5 — Organisation of symposia and seminars

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    5 056 400

    4 803 050

    4 413 205,23

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     expenditure or subsidies connected with the organisation of national or international symposia and seminars for opinion multipliers from the Member States, the accession countries and the countries in which the European Parliament has a liaison office or antenna, and the cost of organising parliamentary symposia and seminars,

     expenditure on special events in the Chamber in Strasbourg and Brussels in accordance with the annual programme adopted by the Bureau of the European Parliament,

     expenditure on conference management services, conference management and multilingualism support measures and tools such as seminars and conferences, meetings with providers of training for interpreters or translators, measures and actions to raise awareness of multilingualism and the profession of interpreter or translator, including a programme of grants for universities, schools and other organisations offering interpreting or translation courses, virtual communication solutions, organisation or participation in events for promotion and awareness of European Parliament careers, including events organised to enhance the attractiveness of the Luxembourgish site as well as participation in similar actions and measures organised jointly with other services in the context of interinstitutional and international cooperation,

     expenses connected with the organisation of symposia and seminars on information and communication technologies,

     the cost of inviting journalists or other opinion multipliers to plenary sittings, committee meetings, press conferences and other parliamentary activities,

     expenses related to the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize,

     expenditure for the training of and scholarship for young journalists.

     expenditure relating to the organisation of conferences, seminars and other activities covering budgetary and financial issues of relevance to European Parliament’s administration and Members’ finance, including Members’ empowerment and the financing of political structures,

     expenses connected with the organisation of symposia and seminars on security and on parliamentary democracy at interinstitutional and international levels including outreach and awareness raising, through events and communication tools such as digital communication, visual design, promotional items, printing or audio-visual productions, etc.

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

    Legal basis

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 5 October 2020 regarding the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for journalists.

    Item 3 2 4 8 — Expenditure on audiovisual information

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    22 087 500

    21 072 500

    24 575 954,24

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     the purchase, hire, maintenance, repair and management of audiovisual equipment and installations,

     the operating budget of the audiovisual sector (including services under its own control and outside assistance such as technical services for radio and television stations, provision, production and co-production of audiovisual programmes, the hiring of lines, the transmission of television and radio programmes, and other measures to develop relations between the institution and audiovisual broadcasting bodies),

     expenditure on live internet broadcasting of plenary sittings and parliamentary committee meetings,

     the establishment of appropriate archives ensuring uninterrupted media and public access to that information,

     expenditure relating to the management and maintenance of the IT infrastructure in the press room in Strasbourg.

     service contracts for (i) the supply of media monitoring and analysis in the form of summaries of news and full-text articles from media outlets, (ii) the development and maintenance of a dedicated database for the storage of such data, and (iii) the (external) human resources needed to exploit that data.

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

    Legal basis

    European Parliament Resolution of 12 March 2002 on the guidelines for the 2003 budgetary procedure (OJ C 47 E, 27.2.2003, p. 72).

    European Parliament Resolution of 14 May 2002 on the estimates of revenue and expenditure of Parliament for the financial year 2003 (OJ C 180 E, 31.7.2003, p. 150).

    European Parliament Resolution of 14 May 2003 on the estimates of revenue and expenditure of Parliament for the financial year 2004 (OJ C 67 E, 17.3.2004, p. 179).

    Item 3 2 4 9 — Information exchanges with national parliaments

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    262 000

    258 000

    142 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     expenditure committed for promoting relations between the European Parliament and national parliaments. It relates to parliamentary relations other than those covered by Chapters 1 0 and 3 0, exchanges of information and documentation, and assistance in the analysis and management of that information, including exchanges with the European Centre for Parliamentary Research and Documentation (ECPRD),

     funding of cooperation programmes and training schemes for officials of the European Parliament and national parliaments and, in general, activities to strengthen their parliamentary capacities.

    Training schemes include study visits to the European Parliament in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg; the appropriation is intended to cover all or part of the expenditure incurred by participants, in particular travelling costs, travel expenses, accommodation and daily allowances,

     cooperation measures, including those linked to legislative work, and measures linked to documentation, analysis and information and making the www.ipex.eu domain secure, including those carried out by the ECPRD.

    This appropriation aims at financing the cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in the parliamentary scrutiny of the CFSP/CSDP, in accordance with the TEU and the TFEU, and in particular Articles 9 and 10 of Protocol No 1 on the role of national parliaments in the European Union.

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

    Legal basis

    Conferences of Speakers of European Parliamentary Assemblies (June 1977) and of European Union Parliaments (September 2000, March 2001).

    Article 3 2 5 — Expenditure relating to liaison offices

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    11 213 000

    11 088 000

    10 572 999,41

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure by the European Parliament’s liaison offices and antennas in the Member States and third countries:

     communication and information expenses (information and public events; internet — production, promotion, consultancy; seminars; audiovisual productions),

     activities designed to strengthen inter-parliamentary ties and legislative and stakeholders dialogue, promoting parliamentary democracy including engagement with relevant interlocutors,

     general expenditure and miscellaneous incidental expenditure (office supplies, telecommunications, delivery charges, handling, transport, storage, standard promotional items, databases and press subscriptions, etc.),

     media campaigns and the organisation of the European Parliament Ambassador School Programme.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 10 000.

    Title 4 — EXPENDITURE RESULTING FROM SPECIAL FUNCTIONS CARRIED OUT BY THE INSTITUTION

    Chapter 4 0 — EXPENDITURE RELATING TO CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

    Article 4 0 0 — Current administrative expenditure and expenditure relating to the political and information activities of the political groups and non-attached Members

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    75 800 000

    70 000 000

    65 579 003,98

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover, in respect of the political groups and the non-attached Members:

     secretarial, administrative and operational expenditure,

     expenditure on political and information activities conducted in connection with the Union’s political activities.

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

    Legal basis

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 30 June 2003 on rules on the use of appropriations from budget Item 4 0 0 as last amended on 4 July 2022.

    Article 4 0 2 — Funding of European political parties

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    46 000 000

    46 000 000

    37 953 095,70

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to finance political parties at European level. Good governance and robust scrutiny of the use of funds must be ensured.

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

    Legal basis

    Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 10(4) thereof.

    Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 224 thereof.

    Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/1141/oj).

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 1 July 2019 laying down the procedures for implementing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (OJ C 249, 25.7.2019, p. 2).

    Article 4 0 3 — Funding of European political foundations

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    25 000 000

    24 000 000

    21 871 071,50

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to finance political foundations at European level. Good governance and robust scrutiny of the use of funds must be ensured.

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

    Legal basis

    Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 10(4) thereof.

    Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 224 thereof.

    Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/1141/oj).

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 1 July 2019 laying down the procedures for implementing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (OJ C 249, 25.7.2019, p. 2).

    Chapter 4 2 — EXPENDITURE RELATING TO PARLIAMENTARY ASSISTANCE

    Article 4 2 2 — Expenditure relating to parliamentary assistance

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    279 165 340

    263 855 176

    222 263 343,15

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover:

     costs relating to staff and service providers responsible for the provision of parliamentary assistance to Members, as well as costs relating to paying agents,

     mission and training expenses (external courses) for accredited parliamentary assistants and expenditure on any carbon offsetting in connection with their missions and duty travel,

     exchange differences to be met from the budget of the European Parliament in accordance with the provisions applicable to reimbursement of parliamentary assistance expenses, as well as expenditure on parliamentary assistance management support services,

     emoluments for trainees (scholarships),

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

     compensation of study visits with Members,

     travel expenses of trainees and study visitors with Members,

     sickness and accident insurance for trainees and study visitors with Members,

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

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 775 000.

    Legal basis

    Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Article 21 thereof.

    Implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, and in particular Articles 29 to 41 thereof.

    Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union, and in particular Article 5a and Articles 125 to 139 thereof.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 14 April 2014 on implementing measures for Title VII of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 10 December 2018 on the rules concerning Members’ trainees.

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

    Chapter 4 4 — MEETINGS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES OF CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS

    Article 4 4 0 — Cost of meetings and other activities of former Members

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    316 000

    310 000

    300 000,00

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the cost of meetings of the association of former Members of the European Parliament plus any other associated costs, if appropriate.

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

    Legal basis

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 14 January 2008 on rules governing contributions to Parliamentary associations (Budget Articles 4 4 0 and 4 4 2) as last amended on 18 October 2021.

    Article 4 4 2 — Cost of meetings and other activities of the European Parliamentary Association

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    316 000

    310 000

    293 203,56

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the cost of meetings of the European Parliamentary Association plus, if appropriate, any other associated costs.

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

    Legal basis

    Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament of 14 January 2008 on rules governing contributions to Parliamentary associations (Budget Articles 4 4 0 and 4 4 2) as last amended on 18 October 2021.

    Title 5 — THE AUTHORITY FOR EUROPEAN POLITICAL PARTIES AND EUROPEAN POLITICAL FOUNDATIONS AND THE COMMITTEE OF INDEPENDENT EMINENT PERSONS

    Chapter 5 0 — Expenditure of the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations and the Committee of independent eminent persons

    Article 5 0 0 — Operational expenditure of the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    416 160

    408 000

    100 839,83

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the expenditure of the Authority for European political parties and European political foundations to ensure its full and independent operation.

    It covers, in particular, the expenditure specific to the Authority’s remit with regard to specialised professional training, mandate-related meetings and coordination with other Union bodies and national authorities, acquisition of tailor-made software and IT services, acquisition of expertise, consultancy services, including studies, and documentation, legal costs and damages, and publishing and information activities. It also covers expenditure to cover any invoicing by an institution in the event of an overrun as regards the volume or cost of goods or services made available to the Authority by institutions under service agreements pursuant to Article 6(4) et seq. of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014.

    The amount of assigned revenue in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation is estimated at EUR 416 160. That revenue includes, in particular, support for the operation of the Authority by institutions other than the European Parliament, pursuant to Article 6(6) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014.

    Legal basis

    Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/1141/oj), and in particular Article 6(1) and (7) thereof.

    Article 5 0 1 — Expenditure related to the committee of independent eminent persons

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    20 000

    20 000

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the expenditure linked to the secretariat and the funding of the committee of independent eminent persons.

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

    Legal basis

    Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/1141/oj), and in particular Article 11(2) thereof.

    Title 10 — OTHER EXPENDITURE

    Chapter 10 0 — PROVISIONAL APPROPRIATIONS

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    3.3100.000

    0,—

    Remarks

    The appropriations entered in this chapter are purely provisional and may only be used after the adoption of the legal basis for the payment of a ‘housing allowance for staff in Luxembourg’ and after their transfer to other budget lines in accordance with the Financial Regulation.

    Chapter 10 1 — CONTINGENCY RESERVE

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    6 000 000

    7 200 000

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure resulting from budgetary decisions taken in the course of the financial year (expenditure that cannot be estimated).

    Chapter 10 3 — ENLARGEMENT RESERVE

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover the cost of the institution’s preparations for enlargement.

    Chapter 10 4 — RESERVE FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION POLICY

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on information and communication policy.

    Chapter 10 5 — PROVISIONAL APPROPRIATION FOR IMMOVABLE PROPERTY

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover property investments and fitting-out work carried out by the institution. The Bureau of the European Parliament is requested to adopt a coherent and responsible long-term strategy in the area of immovable property which takes into account the particular problem of increasing maintenance costs, renovation needs and security costs and ensures the sustainability of the European Parliament’s budget.

    Chapter 10 6 — RESERVE FOR PRIORITY PROJECTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    This appropriation is intended to cover expenditure on the institution’s priority projects under development.

    Chapter 10 8 — EMAS RESERVE

    Figures (Non-differentiated appropriations)

    2026 appropriations

    2025 appropriations

    2024 out-turn

    p.m.

    p.m.

    0,—

    Remarks

    Further to the decisions to be taken by the Bureau of the European Parliament for implementation of the EMAS action plan, in particular following the European Parliament’s carbon audit, this appropriation is intended to endow the relevant operational headings.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI China: Bologna book fair offers global platform for Chinese literature for young readers

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A man visits the 62nd Bologna International Children’s Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, March 31, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The 62nd Bologna International Children’s Book Fair opened on Monday in the Italian city of Bologna, with China hosting a series of events to promote its literature for young readers on the global stage.

    A delegation of more than 40 Chinese publishing houses, led by the China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corporation (CNPIEC), is participating under the theme “Reading China.” The delegation has brought over 2,500 titles, including more than 1,100 foreign-language editions, and is organizing a range of cultural exchange activities to showcase the creativity and international reach of Chinese children’s publishing.

    For the first time, the Chinese delegation has also set up a “Comprehensive Exhibition Area” at BolognaBookPlus, the professional summit and exhibition held alongside the fair. This section, connected to the children’s book area, features a broad selection of publications spanning politics, economics, culture, philosophy, social sciences, natural sciences, literature, and geography.

    Visitors attend an event at the Chinese exhibition area during the 62nd Bologna International Children’s Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, March 31, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Also on display are works by emerging Chinese illustrators, many inspired by traditional cultural motifs. The initiative is aimed at expanding copyright cooperation and fostering academic and cultural exchange between China and the international community.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bologna Children’s Book Fair Director Elena Pasoli highlighted the significance of the Chinese exhibition area, calling it a vital part of the fair. She noted that children’s books offer a powerful way for the world to better understand China’s traditional culture.

    Recognized as one of the world’s largest and most influential children’s book fairs, this year’s edition has drawn more than 1,500 exhibitors from over 90 countries and regions. The fair is expected to welcome more than 20,000 visitors.

    Exhibitors talk at the 62nd Bologna International Children’s Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, March 31, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU scientists discover new bird species

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Teacher Humanitarian Institute of NSU and amateur ornithologist Lyudmila Viktorovna Budneva discovered a new species of birds of the crow family. It was found in the forest of the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok. The new species differs from ordinary crows in its pink plumage, which is why it was named the pink crow.

    — There is a tall pine tree in my yard, where birds often stop to rest. I have seen woodpeckers, kites, waxwings on it many times, but this time I was lucky enough to see two pink crows. Since I had a camera with me, I recorded the unusual birds. I sent the pictures to my scientist friends, and they confirmed that this is not a species described by science, — said Lyudmila Budneva.

    Scientists do not rule out that this species of bird is the result of a successful genetic experiment. Scientific research in the field of genetics has been conducted in the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok for many years, so it is not surprising that this pair of birds was found here.

    — Earlier we discussed the fundamental possibility of such an experiment. It seems that it was carried out by some capable postgraduate student: the birds were given genes of bullfinches that give them a red color. If we add genes of attractants and aphrodisiacs, then all the birds in the forest will be red, — commented the scientific director of the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Igor Fedorovich Zhimulev.

    The new species has already been given the Latin name Corvus barbicorus. In the future, ornithologists plan to describe the new species in more detail, collect and analyze morphological data, and conduct a genetic analysis. This will allow them to more accurately establish the origin of the new species, its relationship with other species of the crow family, assess the possible population, etc.

    — There are more than 200 species of birds in the Akademgorodok and its environs. It is amazing that there is still a possibility and opportunity to discover new species of birds in this beautiful place, — added Lyudmila Budneva.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why do I get headaches when I exercise, even when I drink lots of water?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, University of South Australia

    Jacob Lund/Shutterstock

    Getting a headache during or after exercise can be seriously frustrating – especially if you have kept hydrated to try and stop them from happening.

    But why do these headaches occur? And does keeping hydrated make any difference?

    What are exercise headaches?

    Exercise headaches (also known as “exertional headaches”) are exactly what they sound like: headaches that occur either during, or after, exercise.

    French doctor Jules Tinel first reported these headaches in the medical literature in 1932 and they’ve been a regular point of discussion since.

    Exercise headaches commonly present as a throbbing pain on both sides of the head. They most often occur after strenuous exercise – although what is considered “strenuous” can differ between people, depending on their fitness levels. They can last anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of days.

    Exercise headaches are thought to impact about 12% of adults, although this number varies from 1% all the way up to 26% across individual studies.

    In most circumstances, these headaches are harmless and will resolve on their own, over time. Some research suggests you will stop getting them after a few months of starting a new type of workout.

    But while they are usually harmless, they can sometimes signal an underlying condition that requires medical attention.

    What causes exercise headaches?

    Despite a good amount of research looking at exertional headaches, we don’t know their exact cause, but we do think we know why they occur.

    The leading theory suggests they are caused by changes in blood flow to the brain. During intense exercise, blood vessels in the brain dilate, increasing blood flow and pressure, leading to pain.

    Because long-term exercise improves our cardiovascular health, including our ability to dilate and constrict our blood vessels, this theory makes sense when we consider that exercise headaches tend to resolve themselves over time. This might explain why research suggests fitter people are less likely to get exercise headaches.

    People with migraines appear more likely to experience exercise headaches, which are thought to be caused by this same mechanism.

    Does heat and dehydration cause exercise headaches?

    There is evidence suggesting that exercise headaches are more likely to occur in the heat.

    Your brain cannot dissipate heat by sweating like the rest of your body can. So when it’s hot, your body has to increase blood flow to the brain to help bring down its temperature, which can increase pressure.

    Exercise headaches might not be as bad when you’re hydrated.
    ME Image/Shutterstock

    Similarly, exercise headaches also seem to get worse, and occur more often, when people are dehydrated.

    However, we are not sure why this happens. Some research has shown that dehydration results in increased strain during exercise. As such, dehydration might not necessarily cause the headache, but make it more likely to occur.

    Red flags: when to see a doctor

    Most exercise headaches resolve themselves after a few hours and result in no lasting negative effects.

    In some rare instances, they could be sign of something more serious occurring in the brain, such as a subarachnoid haemorrhage (a bleed between the brain and the tissues that cover it), reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (a spasming of blood vessels), cervical artery dissection (or tear), intracranial hypertension (pressure in the brain), or an infection.

    See a doctor to rule out anything serious if:

    • it’s your first exercise headache
    • the headache is severe and sudden (also known as a thunderclap headache)
    • it’s accompanied by other symptoms such as vision changes, confusion, or sensations of weakness
    • you experience a stiff neck, nausea, or vomiting with your headache
    • it lasts for more than 24 hours and doesn’t seem to be getting better.

    Can you prevent exercise headaches?

    There is no surefire way to prevent exercise headaches.

    But a recent review suggests that ensuring you’re adequately hydrated and gradually warm-up to your desired exercise intensity can make them less likely to occur.

    Give your body time to adapt.
    Gorgev/Shutterstock

    Beyond this, you may wish to keep your exercise intensity in a light-to moderate range for a couple of months. This will give your cardiovascular system some time to adapt before trying more strenuous exercise, hopefully reducing the likelihood of getting exercise headaches at all.

    Exercise headaches are annoying, but are generally harmless and should subside on their own over time.

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

    ref. Why do I get headaches when I exercise, even when I drink lots of water? – https://theconversation.com/why-do-i-get-headaches-when-i-exercise-even-when-i-drink-lots-of-water-253039

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: ChatGPT’s Studio Ghibli-style images show its creative power – but raise new copyright problems

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kai Riemer, Professor of Information Technology and Organisation, University of Sydney

    Social media has recently been flooded with images that looked like they belonged in a Studio Ghibli film. Selfies, family photos and even memes have been re-imagined with the soft pastel palette characteristic of the Japanese animation company founded by Hayao Miyazaki.

    This followed OpenAI’s latest update to ChatGPT. The update significantly improved ChatGPT’s image generation capabilities, allowing users to create convincing Ghibli-style images in mere seconds. It has been enormously popular – so much so, in fact, that the system crashed due to user demand.

    Generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems such as ChatGPT are best understood as “style engines”. And what we are seeing now is these systems offering users more precision and control than ever before.

    But this is also raising entirely new questions about copyright and creative ownership.

    How the new ChatGPT makes images

    Generative AI programs work by producing outputs in response to user prompts, including prompts to create an image.

    Previous generations of AI image generators used diffusion models. These models gradually refine random, noisy data into a coherent image. But the latest update to ChatGPT uses what’s known as an “autoregressive algorithm”.

    This algorithm treats images more like language, breaking them down into “tokens”. Just as ChatGPT predicts the most likely words in a sentence, it can now predict different visual elements in an image separately.

    This tokenisation enables the algorithm to better separate certain features of an image – and their relationship with words in a prompt. As a result, ChatGPT can more accurately create images from precise user prompts than previous generations of image generators. It can replace or change specific features while preserving the rest of the image, and it improves on the longstanding issue of generating correct text in images.

    A particularly powerful advantage of generating images inside a large language model is the ability to draw on all the knowledge already encoded in the system. This means users don’t need to describe every aspect of an image in painstaking detail. They can simply refer to concepts such as Studio Ghibli and the AI understands the reference.

    The recent Studio Ghibli trend began with OpenAI itself, before spreading among Silcon Valley software engineers and then even governments and politicians – including seemingly unlikely uses such as the White House creating a Ghiblified image of a crying woman being deported and the Indian government promoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s narrative of a “New India”.

    Understanding AI as ‘style engines’

    Generative AI systems don’t store information in any traditional sense. Instead they encode text, facts, or image fragments as patterns – or “styles” – within their neural networks.

    Trained on vast amounts of data, AI models learn to recognise patterns at multiple levels. Lower network layers might capture basic features such as word relationships or visual textures. Higher layers encode more complex concepts or visual elements.

    This means everything – objects, properties, writing genres, professional voices – gets transformed into styles. When AI learns about Miyazaki’s work, it’s not storing actual Studio Ghibli frames (though image generators may sometimes produce close imitations of input images). Instead, it’s encoding “Ghibli-ness” as a mathematical pattern – a style that can be applied to new images.

    The same happens with bananas, cats or corporate emails. The AI learns “banana-ness”, “cat-ness” or “corporate email-ness” – patterns that define what makes something recognisably a banana, cat or a professional communication.

    The encoding and transfer of styles has for a long time been an express goal in visual AI. Now we have an image generator that achieves this with unprecedented scale and control.

    This approach unlocks remarkable creative possibilities across both text and images. If everything is a style, then these styles can be freely combined and transferred. That’s why we refer to these systems as “style engines”. Try creating an armchair in the style of a cat, or in elvish style.

    The copyright controversy: when styles become identity

    While the ability to work with styles is what makes generative AI so powerful, it’s also at the heart of growing controversy. For many artists, there’s something deeply unsettling about seeing their distinctive artistic approaches reduced to just another “style” that anyone can apply with a simple text prompt.

    Hayao Miyazaki has not publicly commented on the recent trend of people using ChatGPT to generate images in his world-famous animation style. But he has been critical of AI previously.

    All of this also raises entirely new questions about copyright and creative ownership.

    Traditionally, copyright law doesn’t protect styles – only specific expressions. You can’t copyright a music genre such as “ska” or an art movement such as “impressionism”.

    This limitation exists for good reason. If someone could monopolise an entire style, it would stifle creative expression for everyone else.

    But there’s a difference between general styles and highly distinctive ones that become almost synonymous with someone’s identity. When an AI can generate work “in the style of Greg Rutkowski” – a Polish artist whose name was reportedly used in over more than 93,000 prompts in AI image generator Stable Diffusion – it potentially threatens both his livelihood and artistic legacy.

    Some creators have already taken legal action.

    In a case filed in late 2022, three artists formed a class to sue multiple AI companies, arguing that their image generators were trained on their original works without permission, and now allow users to generate derivative works mimicking their distinctive styles.

    As technology evolves faster than the law, work is under way on new legislation to try and balance technological innovation with protecting artists’ creative identities.

    Whatever the outcome, these debates highlight the transformative nature of AI style engines – and the need to consider both their untapped creative potential and more nuanced protections of distinctive artistic styles.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. ChatGPT’s Studio Ghibli-style images show its creative power – but raise new copyright problems – https://theconversation.com/chatgpts-studio-ghibli-style-images-show-its-creative-power-but-raise-new-copyright-problems-253438

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: Global warming of more than 3°C this century may wipe 40% off the world’s economy, new analysis reveals

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Neal, Senior lecturer in Economics / Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney

    The damage climate change will inflict on the world’s economy is likely to have been massively underestimated, according to new research by my colleagues and I which accounts for the full global reach of extreme weather and its aftermath.

    To date, projections of how climate change will affect global gross domestic product (GDP) have broadly suggested mild to moderate harm. This in part has led to a lack of urgency in national efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    However, these models often contain a fundamental flaw – they assume a national economy is affected only by weather in that country. Any impacts from weather events elsewhere, such as how flooding in one country affects the food supply to another, are not incorporated into the models.

    Our new research sought to fix this. After including the global repercussions of extreme weather into our models, the predicted harm to global GDP became far worse than previously thought – affecting the lives of people in every country on Earth.

    Weather shocks everywhere, all at once

    Global warming affects economies in many ways.

    The most obvious is damage from extreme weather. Droughts can cause poor harvests, while storms and floods can cause widespread destruction and disrupt the supply of goods. Recent research has also shown heatwaves, aggravated by climate change, have contributed to food inflation.

    Heat also makes workers less productive. It affects human health, and disease transmission, and can cause mass migration and conflict.

    Most prior research predicts that even extreme warming of 4°C will have only mild negative impacts on the global economy by the end of the century – between 7% and 23%.

    Such modelling is usually based on the effects of weather shocks in the past. However, these shocks have typically been confined to a local or regional scale, and balanced out by conditions elsewhere.

    For example, in the past, South America might have been in drought, but other parts of the world were getting good rainfall. So, South America could rely on imports of agricultural products from other countries to fill domestic shortfalls and prevent spikes in food prices.

    But future climate change will increase the risk of weather shocks occurring simultaneously across countries and more persistently over time. This will disrupt the networks producing and delivering goods, compromise trade and limit the extent to which countries can help each other.

    International trade is fundamental to the global economic production. So, our research examined how a country’s future economic growth would be influenced by weather conditions everywhere else in the world.

    What did we find?

    One thing was immediately clear: a warm year across the planet causes lower global growth.

    We corrected three leading models to account for the effects of global weather on national economies, then averaged out their results. Our analysis focused on global GDP per capita – in other words, the world’s economic output divided by its population.

    We found if the Earth warms by more than 3°C by the end of the century, the estimated harm to the global economy jumped from an average of 11% (under previous modelling assumptions) to 40% (under our modelling assumptions). This level of damage could devastate livelihoods in large parts of the world.

    Previous models have asserted economies in cold parts of the world, such as Russia and Northern Europe, will benefit from warmer global temperatures. However, we found the impact on the global economy was so large, all countries will be badly affected.

    A warm year across the planet causes lower global growth. Pictured: wilted corn crops during drought.
    wahyusyaban/Shutterstock

    Costs vs benefits

    Reducing emissions leads to short-term economic costs. These must be balanced against the long-term benefits of avoiding dangerous climate change.

    Recent economic modelling has suggested this balance would be struck by reducing emissions at a rate that allows Earth to heat by 2.7°C.

    This is close to Earth’s current warming trajectory. But it is far higher than the goals of the Paris Agreement, and global warming limits recommended by climate scientists. It is also based on the flawed assumptions discussed above.

    Under our new research, the optimal amount of global warming, balancing short-term costs with long-term benefits, is 1.7°C – a figure broadly consistent with the Paris Agreement’s most ambitious target.

    Avoiding climate change has short-term costs and long-term benefits.
    Dany Bejar/Shutterstock

    Changing course

    Our new research shows previous forecasts of how such warming will affect the global economy have been far too optimistic. It adds to other recent evidence suggesting the economic impacts of climate change has been badly underestimated.

    Clearly, Earth’s current emissions trajectory risks our future and that of our children. The sooner humanity grasps the calamities in store under severe climate change, the sooner we can change course to avoid it.

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

    ref. Global warming of more than 3°C this century may wipe 40% off the world’s economy, new analysis reveals – https://theconversation.com/global-warming-of-more-than-3-c-this-century-may-wipe-40-off-the-worlds-economy-new-analysis-reveals-253032

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s rapid AI growth sparks hiring boom

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Job seekers attend a job fair held in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    As China’s job market grows increasingly competitive, college graduates are discovering that mastering artificial intelligence (AI) skills could be their key to success.

    At a recent job fair in south China’s Guangdong, a company specializing in brain-computer interface research and development made its ambitions clear, expressing a strong desire to hire algorithm engineers while noting that “there is no cap on hiring!”

    “We offer a complimentary two-bedroom apartment and an annual salary of 400,000 to 700,000 yuan,” said Zheng Hui, founder of the startup NeuroDance. That’s roughly 55,000 to 96,000 U.S. dollars, a highly competitive package for new job seekers.

    As China prioritizes boosting graduate employment, roles in emerging sectors like AI and robotics remain in critically short supply.

    Official data shows that a record 12.22 million college graduates are expected to enter the job market in 2025. This year’s government work report has pledged to expand employment and business startup opportunities for students and other young people.

    At the job fair that concluded on Monday, AI-related positions in electronics, IT and advanced manufacturing emerged as some of the most in-demand roles.

    Tech firms like BYD, Pony.ai and UBTECH are actively recruiting for positions such as autonomous driving algorithm engineers and AI engine R&D engineers, drawing significant interest from job seekers.

    Liu Silei, who is studying robotics, cognition and intelligence at the Technical University of Munich, returned to China for the recruitment event. “China’s AI boom is providing ample career opportunities,” Liu said.

    At a similar job fair held in east China’s Hangzhou recently, 830 companies offered 21,000 positions, with half of them in AI algorithms and large models.

    Chinese firm Unitree Robotics posted 10 AI-related roles, with monthly salaries reaching up to 70,000 yuan, underscoring the lucrative opportunities emerging in this sector.

    “DeepSeek’s explosive growth is driving AI integration across sectors, and the intensifying competition for AI professionals is pushing companies to increase salaries,” said Li Qiang, executive vice president of Zhaopin, an online recruitment platform in China.

    Data from the platform shows that job postings for algorithm engineers and machine learning roles in February grew by 46.8 percent and 40.1 percent year on year, respectively, with average monthly salaries surpassing 20,000 yuan.

    The AI talent shortage deepened in Q1 2025, with demand outpacing supply by a ratio of 3:1, according to a report by Liepin, a Chinese job-seeking service provider. Specifically, there are nine job openings for every search algorithm engineer and seven for each recommendation algorithm specialist.

    Demand for AI education and talent development is also surging. Job openings for AI trainers after this year’s Chinese New Year soared by 112 percent, with positions offering a monthly salary of over 15,000 yuan, according to Zhaopin.

    “The most urgent needs are fundamental scientists and cross-disciplinary experts,” said Wang Liang, a researcher from the Institute of Automation under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “They are crucial for advancing home-grown AI chip development and original algorithms while also accelerating AI’s adoption across industries.”

    The DeepSeek phenomenon has sparked an AI race among China’s tech giants, including Alibaba and Tencent. At the same time, their models are being rapidly adopted across government services, manufacturing, healthcare, consumer goods and urban management, creating an unprecedented demand for professionals who can blend AI expertise with industry-specific knowledge.

    AI only became an official undergraduate major in China in 2019. Currently, most AI professionals transition from backgrounds in computer science, software engineering, electronics, or mechanical engineering. These fields require a strong foundation in advanced linear algebra, probability theory, statistics and programming skills.

    China’s higher education system has introduced AI programs at over 500 universities, marking one of the fastest disciplinary expansions in its history.

    Leading Chinese universities such as Tsinghua University, Wuhan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have announced plans to expand their enrollments in AI and related interdisciplinary fields to meet the growing demand for talent.

    Industry reports indicate that by 2030, China is expected to face a shortage of 4 million AI professionals.

    AI entrepreneurs are urging working professionals to upskill in AI. “AI competency must become a core citizen skill,” said Liu Qingfeng, chairman of iFLYTEK. “Free AI training initiatives targeting low-income and disadvantaged groups should also be considered.”

    “Young professionals should dedicate weekly time to track global AI advancements across industries,” said Wang Xingxing, founder of Unitree Robotics. “This will be the opportunity multiplier.”

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: A tribute to craftsmanship

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Exquisite bronze artifacts, ranging from tall, slender wine vessels to large, ornate wine containers, along with their elaborate production illustrations, give visitors a chance to appreciate the intricate patterns and technical mastery of ancient Chinese artisans.

    About 20 of those ancient relics highlight the Marvel of Bronze section of the ongoing Technological Archaeology and Heritage Protection Exhibition that will last through to June 2 at the Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing. The section vividly showcases how those works of art were made, beginning with ore processing to metal and then casting with piecemolds.

    “Modern tools like X-ray imaging and metallographic analysis have helped us study bronze artifacts in detail,” says Liu Yu, a researcher of the technological archaeology and cultural heritage protection lab, of the Chinese Academy of History.

    Traditional and modern methods were then applied to restore the bronzes, ensuring they retain their historical integrity, she adds.

    This unit provides a comprehensive look at the entire life cycle of ancient Chinese bronze production, from mining and alloying to casting, as well as modern restoration, Liu says.

    Visitors can appreciate the sophistication of ancient Chinese metallurgy, such as intricate patterns and artisans’ precision.

    “One of the most distinctive features of Chinese bronze craftsmanship is the use of piece-mold casting. Unlike Western traditions, which relied on forging and lost-wax casting, ancient Chinese artisans used clay molds to create intricate ritual vessels,” Liu explains.

    Piece-mold casting allowed for the creation of highly detailed and complex ritual vessels, which played a central role in Chinese ceremonial and political life, she adds.

    A model of the vessel was made, and clay molds were pressed around it. These molds were assembled into a whole before molten bronze was poured in. Once cooled, the mold was broken away, and the vessel was cleaned and polished.

    “The ancient craft was so extraordinary that you can barely find the traces of assembly, such as pouring gates and risers (a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities), or mold lines on the surface,” Liu adds.

    The domination of the complex bronze production in ancient China, especially during the Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) and Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties, was due to the fact that bronze vessels weren’t just functional but came to symbolize political power and were used in rituals, she explains.

    Bronze is among the five thematic sections, along with ancient pottery, jade artifacts, textile and modern lab restoration, at the exhibition hosted by the Chinese Academy of History with inputs from archaeological facilities in Gansu, Jiangxi and Henan provinces, as well as the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

    A small but extraordinary piece of pottery, unearthed from the Xianren Cave site in Wannian county, Jiangxi province, took center stage at the exhibition. Dating back 20,000 to 19,000 years, this fragment is not only the oldest known pottery in China but also the earliest evidence of pottery used for cooking food in the world.

    According to Liu Guoxiang, director of the Chinese Archaeological Museum, the age of the pottery was determined through stratigraphic analysis and carbon-14 dating. “In recent years, the integration of technology into archaeology — from excavation and preservation to interpretation and display — has become increasingly vital,” he says.

    The Xianren Cave pottery fragment reveals that ancient Chinese communities were already crafting and using pottery. Over the following millennia, Chinese ceramics evolved through remarkable technological advancements, artistic diversity, and continuous production, becoming a unique phenomenon in ceramic history worldwide.

    Painted pottery includes double-handled pots and jars that were rooted in the Majiayao culture, which boasts more than 5,000 years of history and is based in the upper reaches of the Yellow River and its tributaries.

    Despite the passage of thousands of years, the intricate and unique patterns on these artifacts remain strikingly vivid.

    Painted pottery fragments dating back around 9,000 years have been unearthed at the Shangshan site in Pujiang county, Zhejiang province. It suggests prehistoric potters had mastered the technique of painting mineral pigments onto pottery surfaces before firing, experts say.

    This innovation gave rise to painted pottery, where vibrant designs contrasted beautifully with the unadorned clay, creating a distinct aesthetic, they add.

    Another treasure showcased at the exhibition is a remarkable painted pottery jar unearthed from the Dadianzi site in Aohan Banner, Inner Mongolia. This artifact is a stunning example of the Lower Xiajiadian culture, which dates back between 4,000 and 3,400 years.

    “Painted pottery is one of the most representative inventions of the Lower Xiajiadian culture,” Liu Guoxiang says.

    At the Dadianzi cemetery, a total of 420 painted pottery pieces have been discovered, accounting for about 25 percent of the burial pottery. Analysis shows that these painted pottery pieces used carbon-infused black or dark gray surfaces as the base, adorned with patterns in white, red, and orange-yellow, Liu notes.

    The clay surface was polished to a smooth finish, which, after firing, proved ideal for painting, while the dark base enhanced the visibility and aesthetic appeal of the bright-colored designs, he explains.

    Experts highlight that the invention of painted pottery marked a groundbreaking innovation that spread from the East to the West, serving as a primary channel for early cultural exchanges between East and West and is considered a precursor to the Silk Road.

    The jade unit features 70 artifacts, tracing nearly 10,000 years of craftsmanship in China. Highlights include a set of three hooks from different eras, including the late Neolithic Hongshan culture, around 6,500 to 4,900 years ago, marked by its use of delicate jade ware.

    They illustrate the evolution and cultural exchange of jade artifacts across millennia.

    The Splendor of Textiles section presents five artifacts, focusing on ancient textile craftsmanship, featuring advanced braiding, twisting, and weaving skills of textile artisans.

    Toward the end of the exhibition is the laboratory archaeology display area, where a glass-enclosed workspace offers visitors a rare opportunity to witness the meticulous process of artifact restoration up close.

    Inside, Fan Rongnan is focusing on the virtual 3D reconstruction of a Tang Dynasty (618-907) dragon head, unearthed from the ancient city of Xiongzhou, located in what is today’s Xiong’an New Area, Hebei province. Fragments of the dragon head are carefully arranged on the table, showcasing the painstaking effort required to piece together history.

    “The dragon head artifact we’re showcasing is a classic example of laboratory archaeology,” says Fan, a second-year graduate student under the researcher Liu Yong from the archaeological science and cultural heritage protection lab, at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

    “Based on stratigraphic and typological analysis, we’ve determined that it dates back to the Tang Dynasty. This artifact is a ceramic architectural component, originally placed on a roof,” Fan explains.

    The dragon head isn’t just a dull gray — it retains traces of colorful paint. For example, the left eye is black, surrounded by a faint green eyeliner, Fan adds.

    Archaeologists have employed a variety of advanced techniques to study the dragon head, including 3D laser scanning, multi-angle 3D imaging, and surface fluorescence analysis, which captured detailed information about the fragments’ morphology and painted components.

    The data collected provided a scientific foundation for the preservation and restoration of the dragon head, Fan says.

    She has been demonstrating the piecing together of fragments at the exhibition. “The numbered fragments in the tray show the initial condition of the artifact. These pieces have already been cleaned and desalinated, and now the task is to assemble them,” Fan explains.

    Liu Yu says the exhibition not only celebrates “the ingenuity of our ancestors” but also highlights the transformative role of technology in “preserving and understanding our shared heritage”.

    “Through the power of technological archaeology and cultural heritage preservation, we can decode the fragments of the past, unlocking the secrets of the past and bringing their brilliance back to life,” Liu says.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Museum unveils million-year legacy of Nihewan

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    During the ongoing exhibition, Radiance of the East: Million-Year Human Imprint in Nihewan, at the Natural History Museum of China in Beijing, visitors can follow fossil evidence to trace the earliest presence of humans in northeast Asia.

    Opened on March 8 and running through to May 11, the event highlights the rich archaeological significance of the Nihewan site in North China’s Hebei province. Jointly organized by the museum, the Hebei Nihewan Site Protection Committee, and the Zhangjiakou Association for Science and Technology, it aims to enhance public understanding of the region’s geological and anthropological history.

    Showcasing more than 200 artifacts, including stone tools, fossils and reconstructed site models, alongside multimedia presentations, the curators try to present the scientific knowledge of Nihewan’s archaeology and paleontology, according to Wei Yi, an associate researcher at the Natural History Museum of China.

    Divided into four sections, visitors can follow the timeline to explore the themes of human origins, ancient ecosystems, Paleolithic culture and the archaeological development of the site.

    Located in Yangyuan county, Zhangjiakou, Hebei, Nihewan Basin is one of the country’s earliest systematically excavated Paleolithic sites. The strata contains abundant fossils of ancient mammals, such as three-toed horses, woolly rhinoceroses, saber-toothed cats, giant deer and steppe mammoths, providing invaluable materials for studying the evolution of Cenozoic fauna in northern China. Nearly 400 sites have been identified, constructing a cultural sequence of ancient human evolution spanning nearly 2 million to 10,000 years.

    Discovered in the early 1920s, the site contains well-known mammalian fauna and stone-tool artifacts in long sequences of sediments, making the region an attractive setting for geological, paleontological and archaeological exploration and research, according to the Geological Society of Hebei Province.

    It has not only the earliest Majuangou site in northern China dating to 2 million years before the present, but also the Xujiayao site of the late Paleolithic period where human skulls and many forged spheroids were unearthed, as well as the Yujiagou site of the Paleolithic-Neolithic transition period where the earliest pottery fragments and many microliths were discovered.

    Restored animal skeletons from Nihewan on show. [Photo courtesy of the Natural History Museum of China]

    A standout exhibit is the reconstructed scene from the Majuangou site, where evidence of human activity dating back 1.66 million years was discovered.

    “This is where the ‘first meal of Eastern humans’ took place,” Wei explains.

    “One scraper was found in direct contact with a rib fossil, bearing clear signs of impact and scraping, reflecting scenes of ancient humans hunting, dismembering and sharing mammoth meat,” she adds.

    The exhibition also introduces the fossilized remains from the Houjiayao-Xujiayao site, representing 16 individuals across various life stages, from children to the elderly. Nearby, three round stone balls are exhibited. “Stone balls are the most distinctive tools from this site, with thousands discovered,” Wei says.

    The site yielded more than 4,000 horse tooth fossils, leading experts to speculate that the stone balls were specialized tools for hunting wild horses.

    “Ancient humans likely tied ropes around the stone balls to create bolas, which they threw to strike animals’ bodies or heads,” she explains.

    Another groundbreaking discovery that Wei doesn’t want visitors to miss is the evidence of a culture that processed ochre, which is used to make pigments, discovered at the Xiamabei, a 40,000-year-old archaeological site in Nihewan.

    Small pieces of hematite and grinding tools are displayed together in the exhibition.

    “This discovery pushes the history of hematite pigment use in East Asia back to 40,000 years ago. Since pigments were likely used for body decoration, it suggests that humans had developed a sense of aesthetics by this period,” Wei says.

    Additionally, experts found plant fiber traces on the surfaces of some stone flakes, indicating that ancient humans may have bound small stone flakes to create composite tools, reflecting the increasing complexity of their technology and behavior.

    Over the past century, archaeological discoveries at Nihewan have pushed the timeline of human origins in China and East Asia back to approximately 1.7 million years ago.

    With the launch of the project of chasing the human origins in Nihewan by the provincial government in Hebei, further archaeological revelations are anticipated.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Science – Flooding from underneath: New tool reveals shallow groundwater elevations – NIWA

    Source: NIWA

    A new online tool that identifies areas at risk from groundwater flooding has been developed by New Zealand scientists. Groundwater flooding occurs when the water table rises close to the surface, causing issues even before the water visibly floods the ground.
    The Shallow Groundwater Screening Tool, which identifies areas at threat from water table rises, will help hazard and land-use decision-makers understand the scale of the problem and which areas are likely to be the most vulnerable, says lead for the Future Coasts Aotearoa programme, NIWA Chief Scientist Coasts and Estuaries Dr Scott Stephens.
    Groundwater – also known as the water table – rises with sea levels, particularly in coastal and low-lying areas, and it can be pushed even higher by persistent rainfall. Groundwater flooding is often overlooked as a threat, however it is a hazard that traditional flood defences such as stopbanks and seawalls cannot contain because the water comes up from underneath. When the groundwater rises, it can saturate soil and structures, weaken infrastructure, increase liquefaction risk and worsen surface flooding from heavy rainfall. As sea levels continue to rise, groundwater levels in the coast zone and close to tidal rivers will increase accordingly. Persistent heavy rain also pushes up the water table, a phenomenon which contributed to South Dunedin’s flooding in October 2024.
    It’s not all bad – shallow groundwater can also be beneficial for some ecosystems and for buffering droughts.
    The first-of-its-kind online tool, developed as part of the NIWA-led Future Coasts Aotearoa research programme, shows areas that could be exposed to shallow groundwater hazards, right now, based on existing groundwater measurements, says Dr Stephens.
    “Increased flooding events will be a real driver of change in many places. Rising groundwater will destabilise roads and damage buildings. It could make farming uneconomic. Stormwater pipes will be persistently full. Councils and decision-makers need an accurate picture of current shallow groundwater levels to prepare for future risks by identifying what areas could be exposed to shallow groundwater as sea levels continue to rise. This tool will be useful for local, district and regional councils, engineers, infrastructure providers, and rural communities, as well as individual citizens who want to make better-informed decisions for their future.”
    Water resource consultancy Kōmanawa Solutions created the tool. Its founder Zeb Etheridge says that we are interested in the shallow water table because that’s the part of the groundwater system that’s most affected by sea level rise.
    “Two-thirds of New Zealanders live in coastal areas, meaning much of our infrastructure and land use falls within these vulnerable zones. Understanding this issue is critical for future planning.”
    The Kōmanawa Solutions team pulled together 2.4 million real-life readings of groundwater depth from around the country. To fill in the gaps, they used machine learning trained on factors that influence the water table, such as land elevation, soil type and nearness to waterways. Mr Etheridge describes the result as a risk screening tool to manage hazards, guide adaptation planning for existing land use choices, and plan future developments.
    “Local authorities are likely to undertake more detailed assessments of the areas that are shown to be potentially exposed before making any significant decisions,” he says. The tool is designed so that the certainty of detecting risky groundwater levels can be dialled up or down, as can the depth of groundwater that is of interest.
    Further updates from the research team, which includes NIWA, Kōmanawa Solutions, GNS Science, and the University of Canterbury, are in development. These include projections of rising water tables as sea levels rise and land subsidence. The team will also investigate the risk of groundwater becoming saline as seawater infiltrates it.
    The tool can be found at www.niwa.co.nz/shallow-groundwater-tool
    FAQs
    What does the Shallow Groundwater Screening Tool do?
    The tool shows areas that could be exposed to shallow groundwater, right now, based on existing groundwater measurements. The dataset covers the areas of New Zealand where the elevation is less than 100 m above sea level.
    The model results tell us the likelihood of finding shallow groundwater in every 100 x 100 m area below 100 m above sea level and allows users to select a set of model results which suit their particular purpose.
    What is the decision-support gap that this first-of-its-kind tool fills?
    This tool shows us where shallow groundwater is likely to be present, or not likely to be present. We can confirm whether shallow groundwater is present or not present at a given location, either by looking at data from existing local bores or by excavating a trial pit or hand auguring and monitoring where no previous information is available. But the depth to groundwater can vary significantly over relatively short distances and hence we cannot identify areas with potential shallow groundwater at scale without either extensive and costly investigations, or modelling.
    Who should be using the tool?
    The outputs can be used by councils, rural communities, engineers and infrastructure providers as a risk screening tool, to understand which areas could be exposed to shallow groundwater and require more detailed local investigation and assessment, and which areas are unlikely to be exposed.
    The outputs also provide information on how certain we can be that shallow groundwater is present or not present, which can be used for hazard management and development planning. In most instances, we would expect users of the information to undertake more detailed assessments of the areas that are shown to be potentially exposed before making any significant decisions.
    How can I access the tool?
    The tool can be found at www.niwa.co.nz/shallow-groundwater-tool. The spatial layers used in the tool can also be found here.
    This is a publicly available tool that anyone can use. There is a modest charge for the tool’s use that will be reinvested in related science, which could include updates to the tool.
    What is the data and process that underpins the tool?
    We know from both theory and practical experience that depth to groundwater varies with land elevation, proximity to rivers, streams, and the coastline, soil properties, and other environmental variables. The tool uses a machine learning technique to determine which combinations of environmental variables provide the best predictions of depth to groundwater.
    The machine learning model, which uses a method called Random Forest via a novel implementation developed for this study, was trained using all groundwater readings from 79,000 locations (where the well depth or screen is less than 30 m below ground level) with data available, and national datasets of environmental variables like soil properties to provide the best possible prediction of whether shallow groundwater is likely or unlikely to be present on a 100 x 100 m grid for all land below 100 m elevation.
    The model developed to create this product was trained using all accessible groundwater depth information held in Regional Council and Territorial Authority databases and in the New Zealand Geotechnical Database. This comprised readings from approximately 110,000 locations around the country.
    What is the overarching research programme that is supporting the development of the tool?
    The tool and associated research is part of the Future Coasts Aotearoa programme that aims to transform coastal lowland systems threatened by relative sea-level rise into prosperous communities. It’s an Endeavour programme funded from 2021-2026 by the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment, and is a collaborative effort that includes Kōmanawa Solutions and is led by NIWA.
    What other groundwater research is underway within the programme?
    Having identified the areas in our costal lowlands with shallow groundwater, a key next step is to quantify the assets such as buildings, roads and farmland which are located in shallow groundwater zones. By combining this information with soon to be completed research on the impact of rising water tables on farmland productivity and modelling of water table rise the Future Coasts Aotearoa research programme will provide insights into the scale of the challenges we will face with rising water tables and provide information to support proactive adaptation decisions.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Hotter and deeper: how NZ’s plan to drill for ‘supercritical’ geothermal energy holds promise and risk

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Dempsey, Associate Professor in Natural Resources Engineering, University of Canterbury

    Shutterstock/donvictorio

    New Zealand’s North Island features a number of geothermal systems, several of which are used to generate some 1,000 MegaWatts of electricity. But deeper down there may be even more potential.

    The government is now investing NZ$60 million to explore what is known as “supercritical” geothermal energy, following five years of feasibility research led by GNS Science.

    Supercritical geothermal is hotter and deeper than conventional geothermal sources. It targets rocks between 375°C and 500°C, close to – but not within – magma.

    Water at these temperatures and depths has three to seven times more energy for conversion to electricity, compared to ordinary geothermal generation at comparatively cooler temperatures of 200°C to 300°C.

    The investment is staged, with $5 million earmarked for international consultants to design a super-deep well, and further funds to be released later for drilling to depths of up to six kilometres. Consultation is underway, with resources minister Shane Jones hoping to convince Māori landowners to collaborate.

    New Zealand already produces 1,000MW of electricity from conventional geothermal sources.
    Shutterstock/Chrispo

    GNS Science estimates the central North Island might have about 3,500MW worth of this resource, although actually accessing it might be difficult and expensive. The energy consulting firm Castalia was engaged to predict how much would be worth developing, suggesting between 1,300MW and 2,000MW, starting from 2037.

    This would be a lot of extra power. Even better, it would reduce the peaks and troughs in generation that arise from more variable solar and wind sources, which are expected to make up a growing share of electricity generation in the future. Supercritical geothermal is reportedly cost effective, which means the technology deserves serious consideration. But such claims should be subject to scrutiny.

    Successive governments have supported major state energy projects, including the Manapouri power station, petroleum exploration during the early 2000s, early geothermal drilling and the investigation of a pumped hydro scheme at Lake Onslow. The need for energy security clearly motivates such investments.

    But New Zealand has a healthy geothermal industry. In the past two decades, geothermal companies have invested $2 billion in hundreds of new wells and new power plants. The industry already knows how to drill wells and profit from them. So why is the government stepping in now?

    In practice, supercritical geothermal exploration and development faces several research, technical and economic risks. Private enterprise seems unwilling to bear them alone, prompting the government to step in to establish feasibility.

    How to crack soft rock

    One problem supercritical geothermal might encounter is that drilling deeper might find lots of hot rock, but not much water. Drilling experiments in Japan and Italy have shown that reaching 500°C is possible, but in both cases the rock was so ductile (pliable and easily stretched) because of the high temperatures that it couldn’t keep open the gaps needed for water to flow.

    However, the experience was different in Iceland where two wells managed to find water above 400°C. At this stage, it’s not clear whether this is because Iceland has special rocks – particularly basalts, which are less ductile – or because the country is being stretched through tectonic forces at a high rate. New Zealand is less able to count on basalts but it does experience rapid tectonic stretching.

    Deep drilling would test this key hypothesis: is there permeability (gaps for water to flow through) at supercritical conditions? The only way to know for sure is to drill down.

    If there isn’t permeability, the government could either abandon the investment or look into methods to create it. Multi-stage hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) is an option which has worked overseas in the North American shale gas industry. It has also recently been demonstrated in some US geothermal systems.

    Even if we did find permeability, the water produced in Iceland’s supercritical wells was enormously corrosive. A better option then might be to inject cold water into the well, suppressing the corrosive fluids. The injected water would heat up and rise into the overlying geothermal system – flushing the heat upwards.

    However, both water injection and fracking can trigger earthquakes, perhaps a magnitude 4-5 every year or a magnitude 5-6 every few decades. This happened in 2017 in Pohang in South Korea where water injection triggered a magnitude 5.5 earthquake. It resulted in the cancellation of the geothermal project.

    But there are many other geothermal projects where injection has not led to concerning earthquake activity.

    Fierce competition from solar, wind and batteries

    The other risk is economic. Supercritical geothermal might one day be technically feasible, but its potential contribution in New Zealand will be limited if it can’t beat other generation technologies on cost.

    Worldwide, the renewable energy sector continues to be disrupted by unprecedented cost decreases driven by innovations in utility-scale battery storage and solar photovoltaics.

    But the supply chains are largely overseas, mostly concentrated in China. This adds geopolitical complexity to the energy security calculus. Homegrown solutions are a strength.

    Nevertheless, the International Renewable Energy Agency reports cost reductions for solar and battery modules of 89% and 86% between 2010 and 2023. Solar costs drop 33% each time the built amount doubles. Drops in battery cost are enabling large deployments for daily smoothing of the peaks and troughs of intermittent solar and wind generation.

    This shifting cost landscape creates financial uncertainty for energy investors. While cost declines might not continue forever, it’s hard to pick when they will level off. Meanwhile, geothermal costs have been flat for a long time. A billion-dollar geothermal investment might quickly become uncompetitive.

    Despite all these caveats, we shouldn’t overlook the positive signal of the government taking a bet on New Zealand science and innovation. It will be exciting to see what’s happening at six kilometres of depth underground. And although the plan is not to drill for magma, an accidental strike (as happened in Iceland) would lead to some amazing science.

    Lastly, energy security deserves to be taken seriously over the long term. While supercritical geothermal won’t fix our immediate vulnerability to winter scarcity, it could help avoid similar issues in the 2040s.

    David Dempsey receives science funding from MBIE for research into geothermal energy.

    ref. Hotter and deeper: how NZ’s plan to drill for ‘supercritical’ geothermal energy holds promise and risk – https://theconversation.com/hotter-and-deeper-how-nzs-plan-to-drill-for-supercritical-geothermal-energy-holds-promise-and-risk-252910

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘We’re not just welcoming you as allies, but as family’ – Rainbow Warrior in Marshall Islands 40 years on

    The first of a two-part series on the historic Rongelap evacuation of 300 Marshall islanders from their irradiated atoll with the help of the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior crew and the return of Rainbow Warrior III 40 years later on a nuclear justice research mission.

    SPECIAL REPORT: By Shiva Gounden in Majuro

    Family isn’t just about blood—it’s about standing together through the toughest of times.

    This is the relationship between Greenpeace and the Marshall Islands — a vast ocean nation, stretching across nearly two million square kilometers of the Pacific. Beneath the waves, coral reefs are bustling with life, while coconut trees stand tall.

    For centuries, the Marshallese people have thrived here, mastering the waves, reading the winds, and navigating the open sea with their canoe-building knowledge passed down through generations. Life here is shaped by the rhythm of the tides, the taste of fresh coconut and roasted breadfruit, and an unbreakable bond between people and the sea.

    From the bustling heart of its capital, Majuro to the quiet, far-reaching atolls, their islands are not just land; they are home, history, and identity.

    Still, Marshallese communities were forced into one of the most devastating chapters of modern history — turned into a nuclear testing ground by the United States without consent, and their lives and lands poisoned by radiation.

    Operation Exodus: A legacy of solidarity
    Between 1946 and 1958, the US conducted 67 nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands — its total yield roughly equal to one Hiroshima-sized bomb every day for 12 years.

    During this Cold War period, the US government planned to conduct its largest nuclear test ever. On the island of Bikini, United States Commodore Ben H. Wyatt manipulated the 167 Marshallese people who called Bikini home asking them to leave so that the US could carry out atomic bomb testing, stating that it was for “the good of mankind and to end all world wars”.

    Exploiting their deep faith, he misled Bikinians into believing they were acting in God’s will, and trusting this, they agreed to move—never knowing the true cost of their decision

    Bikini Islanders board a landing craft vehicle personnel (LCVP) as they depart from Bikini Atoll in March 1946. Image: © United States Navy

    On March 1, 1954, the Castle Bravo test was launched — its yield 1000 times stronger than Hiroshima. Radioactive fallout spread across Rongelap Island about 150 kilometers away, due to what the US government claimed was a “shift in wind direction”.

    In reality, the US ignored weather reports that indicated the wind would carry the fallout eastward towards Rongelap and Utirik Atolls, exposing the islands to radioactive contamination. Children played in what they thought was snow, and almost immediately the impacts of radiation began — skin burning, hair fallout, vomiting.

    The Rongelap people were immediately relocated, and just three years later were told by the US government their island was deemed safe and asked to return.

    For the next 28 years, the Rongelap people lived through a period of intense “gaslighting” by the US government. *

    Nuclear weapon test Castle Bravo (yield 15 Mt) on Bikini Atoll, 1 March 1954. © United States Department of Energy

    Forced to live on contaminated land, with women enduring miscarriages and cancer rates increasing, in 1985, the people of Rongelap made the difficult decision to leave their homeland. Despite repeated requests to the US government to help evacuate, an SOS was sent, and Greenpeace responded: the Rainbow Warrior arrived in Rongelap, helping to move communities to Mejatto Island.

    This was the last journey of the first Rainbow Warrior. The powerful images of their evacuation were captured by photographer Fernando Pereira, who, just months later, was killed in the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior as it sailed to protest nuclear testing in the Pacific.

    Evacuation of Rongelap Islanders to Mejatto by the Rainbow Warrior crew in the Pacific 1985. Rongelap suffered nuclear fallout from US nuclear tests done from 1946-1958, making it a hazardous place to live. Image: © Greenpeace/Fernando Pereira

    From nuclear to climate: The injustice repeats
    The fight for justice did not end with the nuclear tests—the same forces that perpetuated nuclear colonialism continue to endanger the Marshall Islands today with new threats: climate change and deep-sea mining.

    The Marshall Islands, a nation of over 1,000 islands, is particularly vulnerable to climate impacts. Entire communities could disappear within a generation due to rising sea levels. Additionally, greedy international corporations are pushing to mine the deep sea of the Pacific Ocean for profit. Deep sea mining threatens fragile marine ecosystems and could destroy Pacific ways of life, livelihoods and fish populations. The ocean connects us all, and a threat anywhere in the Pacific is a threat to the world.

    Marshallese activists with traditional outriggers on the coast of the nation’s capital Majuro to demand that leaders of developed nations dramatically upscale their plans to limit global warming during the online meeting of the Climate Vulnerable Forum in 2018. Image: © Martin Romain/Greenpeace

    But if there could be one symbol to encapsulate past nuclear injustices and current climate harms it would be the Runit Dome. This concrete structure was built by the US to contain radioactive waste from years of nuclear tests, but climate change now poses a direct threat.

    Rising sea levels and increasing storm surges are eroding the dome’s integrity, raising fears of radioactive material leaking into the ocean, potentially causing a nuclear disaster.

    Aerial view of Runit Dome, Runit Island, Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands . . . symbolic of past nuclear injustices and current climate harms in the Pacific. Image: © US Defense Special Weapons Agency

    Science, storytelling, and resistance: The Rainbow Warrior’s epic mission and 40 year celebration

    At the invitation of the Marshallese community and government, the Rainbow Warrior is in the Pacific nation to celebrate 40 years since 1985’s Operation Exodus, and stand in support of their ongoing fight for nuclear justice, climate action, and self-determination.

    This journey brings together science, storytelling, and activism to support the Marshallese movement for justice and recognition. Independent radiation experts and Greenpeace scientists will conduct crucial research across the atolls, providing much-needed data on remaining nuclear contamination.

    For decades, research on radiation levels has been controlled by the same government that conducted the nuclear tests, leaving many unanswered questions. This independent study will help support the Marshallese people in their ongoing legal battles for recognition, reparations, and justice.

    Marshallese women greet the Rainbow Warrior as it arrives in the capital Majuro earlier this month. Image: © Bianca Vitale/Greenpeace

    The path of the ship tour: A journey led by the Marshallese
    From March to April, the Rainbow Warrior is sailing across the Marshall Islands, stopping in Majuro, Mejatto, Enewetak, Bikini, Rongelap, and Wotje. Like visiting old family, each of these locations carries a story — of nuclear fallout, forced displacement, resistance, and hope for a just future.

    But just like old family, there’s something new to learn. At every stop, local leaders, activists, and a younger generation are shaping the narrative.

    Their testimonies are the foundation of this journey, ensuring the world cannot turn away. Their stories of displacement, resilience, and hope will be shared far beyond the Pacific, calling for justice on a global scale.

    Bunny McDiarmid and Henk Haazen greet locals at the welcoming ceremony in Majuro, Marshall Islands, earlier this month. Bunny and Henk were part of the Greenpeace crew in 1985 to help evacuate the people of Rongelap. Image: © Bianca Vitale/Greenpeace

    A defining moment for climate justice
    The Marshallese are not just survivors of past injustices; they are champions of a just future. Their leadership reminds us that those most affected by climate change are not only calling for action — they are showing the way forward. They are leaders of finding solutions to avert these crises.

    Local Marshallese women’s group dance and perform cultural songs at the Rainbow Warrior welcome ceremony in Majuro, Marshall islands, earlier this month. Image: © Bianca Vitale/Greenpeace

    Since they have joined the global fight for climate justice, their leadership in the climate battle has been evident.

    In 2011, they established a shark sanctuary to protect vital marine life.

    In 2024, they created their first ocean sanctuary, expanding efforts to conserve critical ecosystems. The Marshall Islands is also on the verge of signing the High Seas Treaty, showing their commitment to global marine conservation, and has taken a firm stance against deep-sea mining.

    They are not only protecting their lands but are also at the forefront of the global fight for climate justice, pushing for reparations, recognition, and climate action.

    This voyage is a message: the world must listen, and it must act. The Marshallese people are standing their ground, and we stand in solidarity with them — just like family.

    Learn their story. Support their call for justice. Amplify their voices. Because when those on the frontlines lead, justice is within reach.

    Shiva Gounden is the head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific. This article series is republished with the permission of Greenpeace.

    * This refers to the period from 1957 — when the US Atomic Energy Commission declared Rongelap Atoll safe for habitation despite known contamination — to 1985, when Greenpeace assisted the Rongelap community in relocating due to ongoing radiation concerns. The Compact of Free Association, signed in 1986, finally started acknowledging damages caused by nuclear testing to the populations of Rongelap.

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters Presses Agency Leaders on DOGE Access to Federal IT Systems and Data Repositories

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Gary Peters, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, demanded answers from 24 federal agencies on how the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and DOGE-affiliated individuals, many of whom do not possess security clearances, have accessed and used data in federal information technology systems. Peters is requesting information on how individuals accessing these systems are complying with federal cybersecurity and privacy laws to protect sensitive information.  
    “Since January 23, 2025, employees working on behalf of the U.S. Digital Service (USDS), which the Administration is referring to as DOGE, have gained access to systems and databases at multiple federal agencies,” Senator Peters wrote. “Federal agencies, as part of their authorized activities, collect, maintain, and utilize an enormous amount of sensitive data to carry out their missions. This data can include personally identifiable information (PII) collected from the public, federal and contractor employee data, law enforcement sensitive data, and confidential commercial information, including from critical infrastructure operators. Failure to appropriately control access to this data creates significant privacy and security risks and may violate federal law.” 
    Recent reports indicate that individuals claiming to be DOGE employees have allegedly threatened federal agency staff with dismissal when seeking unauthorized access to federal systems and data repositories. The Trump Administration has not yet provided information about whether DOGE personnel are following legal requirements for privacy and security, including the Privacy Act, E-Government Act, and Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA). There are also no details about how DOGE-affiliated individuals with system access are being vetted. 
    Given the sensitive nature of federal agency data, this lack of transparency raises concerns about the potential for data misuse. Moreover, reports suggest DOGE plans to apply artificial intelligence to agency systems and collected data. However, little is known about which AI tools may be used, what agency data will be processed, how data will be combined, or the cybersecurity consequences of allowing sensitive data to be processed with artificial intelligence tools.
    In the letters, Peters requested more information about the positions, employment details, security clearances, and reporting structures of all DOGE-affiliated individuals working at these federal agencies, along with details about which systems and data repositories were accessed by DOGE personnel, whether the systems contained sensitive or classified information, how data was transferred, and which security measures were in place. Finally, Peters pushed for information about any AI tools or models that DOGE-affiliated individuals have applied to agency data, including procurement details, use cases, and security and privacy assessments.
    Peters sent letters to the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of State, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of the Interior, Department of the Treasury, Environmental Protection Agency, General Services Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Personnel Management, Small Business Administration, Social Security Administration, and U.S. Agency for International Development. 
    Peters also sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office requesting an audit of DOGE’s activities, focusing on whether they are complying with established privacy and cybersecurity laws for federal agency data and systems. 
    Text of the letter to the Department of Homeland Security can be read here. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Using tranquillisers on racehorses is ethically questionable and puts horses and riders at risk

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul McGreevy, Professor, School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney

    hedgehog94/Shutterstock

    Australia’s horse racing industry is in the spotlight after recent allegations of tranquilliser use on horses so they can be “worked” (exercised) between race days.

    A recent ABC report stated workers in the Australian racing industry allege horses are being routinely medicated for track work at the peril of rider and horse safety.

    Using tranquillisers on horses during training and management may not be illegal but this could breach nationwide racing rules.

    The prevalence of the practice is not clear but many industry insiders report it as common.

    Racing Australia had “recently become aware” of the use of acepromazine for track work and had begun collecting data about the practice, but had not been made aware of any complaints or concerns.

    What medications are horses given?

    Horses may be given a low dose of a tranquilliser, most commonly acepromazine. This makes their behaviour easier to control in certain situations, such as when they’re being examined by a veterinarian.

    This drug must be prescribed by an attending veterinarian, and it can calm unfriendly and apprehensive animals. This could assist with making excited, hyperactive horses easier to control and less likely to buck, rear or put people at risk of injury from uncontrolled flight responses.

    But proprioception – the way horses feel the world around them, notably the ground beneath them – is likely to be compromised. So, from a work health and safety perspective, the risk of tripping and falling is front of mind.

    Other risks to horses from acepromazine can include impaired blood clotting, lower blood pressure, respiratory depression and, in rare cases, permanent paralysis of the penis in male horses.

    A dangerous combination

    In the racing industry, tranquillisers are given to reduce the difficulties that come from riding and handling very fit, young horses that have been bred, fed and managed to be highly reactive and move at very high speeds.

    This combination of selective breeding and only basic training can make them very difficult to control both during trackwork, when speeds of over 60 kilometres per hour can be reached, as well as during routine management.

    Thoroughbreds’ diets, intensive management and relative lack of behavioural conditioning can be a dangerous combination.

    The diets and confinement make them excitable and likely to take off; if they do, the lack of appropriate training makes them difficult to stop.

    What makes race thoroughbreds hard to handle?

    All horses have three fundamental needs – friends, forage and freedom, known as the “three F’s”.

    Friends: horses have evolved to spend time with large mixed groups. They feel safer in these groups and this safety is highly valued: mutual grooming with preferred conspecifics (other equids) can calm them. In contrast, most stabled horses have no choice about who their neighbours are and can usually only have minimal physical interactions. Once out on the track, horses are highly motivated to stay with other horses and are more likely to be distracted rather than to attend to the rider.

    Freedom: horses evolved to move for up to 70% of their day, which is essential for their welfare. In contrast, most racehorses, and indeed many other performance horses, often spend up to 23 hours a day confined in stables. Unfortunately, stabled horses are harder to train and more likely to buck. Prolonged confinement leads to many horses becoming more reactive, a state that increases the likelihood of injuries to riders.

    Forage: horses are trickle feeders that graze on high-fibre, low-nutrient forages for up to 16 hours a day. In contrast, racehorses are fed high-energy diets that can be quickly consumed, leading to risk of digestive disturbances, such as gastric ulcers and long periods during which, confined to their stables, they have nothing to do.

    Modern racehorse management and training often denies them access to these “three F’s”, which leads to behavioural problems that are then sometimes managed by tranquillising the horse.

    Horses are social animals that enjoy grazing and activity.
    Patrick Jennings/Shutterstock

    Lastly, there’s the kind of work racehorses do.

    High-intensity work increases the concentrations of adrenaline and cortisol to support the energy demands of the work. However, this increases the horse’s arousal and reduces their ability to attend to rider cues.

    This can make them hard to control.

    Collectively, these factors create horses that are not having their fundamental needs met. It’s no wonder that, once free of the confinement of their stables, they can become excited and hard to control, putting their riders and even themselves at risk of injury.

    A band-aid solution

    There is no textbook that advises vets on how to diagnose or treat horses that are hyperactive, nor are there any data on how horses can be safely tranquillised before being ridden.

    However, a UK government data sheet for the most common equine tranquilliser globally, acepromazine maleate, states: “do not, in any circumstances, ride horses within the 36 hours following administration of the product”.

    In Australia, racing trainers must keep records of all medications given to horses. Unfortunately, the veterinarians who supply this medication to trainers for use on racehorses are usually doing so without a specific diagnosis or treatment plan.

    Routine use of tranquillisers is a band-aid solution to an industry-wide practice of confining, over-feeding and under-training fit, young horses that have been bred to run.

    If this practice is ever policed, there will likely be enormous repercussions for the sustainability of racing.

    As a first step to addressing this issue, the industry could commit to monitoring and publishing annual data on the routine use of tranquillisers.

    Paul McGreevy has received funding from the Australian Research Council, RSPCA Australia and animal welfare focussed philanthropy. He is a Fellow of the International Society for Equitation Science, a member of the British Veterinary Association and currently sits on the NSW Veterinary Practitioners Board.

    Cathrynne Henshall receives funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Welfare Foundation. She is a trustee and council member of the International Society for Equitation Science.

    ref. Using tranquillisers on racehorses is ethically questionable and puts horses and riders at risk – https://theconversation.com/using-tranquillisers-on-racehorses-is-ethically-questionable-and-puts-horses-and-riders-at-risk-245167

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: Completion of New Water Supply for Hoosick Falls

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of construction on a new permanent water transmission line for the village of Hoosick Falls. The new water supply distribution system is part of the State’s ongoing commitment and community collaboration to address water contamination from past operations at the Saint-Gobain McCaffrey Street State Superfund site.

    “The Hoosick Falls community is a national example of strength, resiliency, and collaboration in meeting an extraordinary challenge, and the milestone reached today will ensure clean drinking water for generations of residents,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration remains focused on holding polluters accountable for fully cleaning up contamination in Hoosick Falls and providing record investments to help support other communities to ensure drinking water protection across the state.”

    Approximately 6,800 linear feet of raw water transmission line was constructed between a newly developed wellfield and the village of Hoosick Falls water treatment plant. Construction activities were performed by the parties responsible for the contamination, Honeywell and Saint-Gobain, and overseen by the New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Health (DOH). View a map of the new transmission line in the village of Hoosick Falls here. DEC worked closely with the community and local leaders to evaluate water supply options and ensure the new groundwater source was located outside of the contaminated aquifer and fully compatible with the water treatment plant’s capabilities.

    The $5.5 million project is part of a $45 million agreement between New York State, Saint-Gobain, and Honeywell to implement the new water supply, address perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination from historic industrial operations at the McCaffrey Street facility and other sites in the village, and reimburse the State for costs incurred by taxpayers for the cleanup.

    Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “The completion of a new drinking water source for Hoosick Falls begins a new chapter for this community, part of New York State’s extensive, science-based efforts led by DEC and DOH in collaboration with Mayor Rob Allen, Supervisor Mark Surdam, Rensselaer County, and the Community Participation Working Group. Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, New York State continues to be a national leader on addressing emerging contaminants and we remain committed to the full completion of critical cleanup work ahead.”

    State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Under the leadership of Governor Hochul and thanks to the collaboration of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Health, and our local partners, the Hoosick Falls community has a permanent, safe and reliable water source. The Department will continue to collaborate with our partners to monitor and prioritize public health and to ensure that safe drinking water is available to this community for years to come.”

    Hoosick Falls Mayor Rob Allen said, “With the activation of its new water supply, the Village passes a significant milestone in its efforts to recover from PFOA contamination. With a new water source, new infrastructure and the retention of our permanent filtration system, ordered by the state and constructed and paid for by the companies responsible for the pollution, the Village is grateful to mark this accomplishment with our state partners, our local and state elected officials, and most importantly, the members of the great Hoosick community.”

    Town of Hoosick Supervisor Mark Surdam said, “We are grateful for New York State’s continued focus on addressing PFOA contamination in the Hoosick Falls area to ensure our drinking water is safe and hold the responsible companies accountable for paying for the cleanup. I extend my thanks to Governor Hochul and the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health for their support and commitment to protecting the health of Hoosick residents.”

    In addition to the municipal water supply, DEC installed and maintains hundreds of point-of-entry treatment systems for individual homes in the surrounding area, including in the town of Hoosick. DEC continues to require Honeywell and Saint-Gobain to identify and address the sources of PFOA contamination in the Hoosick Falls community. DEC and DOH will continue to provide Hoosick-area residents with information and  updates regarding ongoing remediation efforts. In addition, State agencies work with the  Hoosick Area Community Participation Work Group to discuss the progress of the PFOA cleanup.  Additional information and documents regarding State actions underway in the Hoosick Falls area are available on the DEC website.

    New York’s commitment to communities like Hoosick Falls remains at the forefront of Governor Hochul’s 2025-26 State of the State and Executive Budget priorities. The Governor proposed changes to modernize the State’s Superfund program to address emerging contaminants, enhance engagement with local communities, and better serve the state’s pressing economic, renewable energy, and affordable housing development needs. To complement these enhancements, the Executive Budget proposes $1.25 billion over 10 years to continue the ongoing progress in removing water and soil pollution in communities statewide. It would complement the additional $500 million to support clean water infrastructure that raises the State’s total water quality investments to $6 billion since 2017 for municipal drinking water distribution, filtration systems, and wastewater treatment. In 2024 , more than $800 million helped upgrade water and stormwater infrastructure, safeguarding public health by ensuring access to clean drinking water for all New Yorkers and bolstering community resilience against the increasing threat of flooding.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Over £20 million to help drones and flying taxis take to UK skies

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Over £20 million to help drones and flying taxis take to UK skies

    We want the UK to have an advanced aviation ecosystem where everyone can benefit from new technology while tackling emissions.

    • drone operations for emergency services and eco-friendly flying taxi services receive over £20 million to make everyday use a reality 
    • funding will also support the regulatory pathway that could see air taxis in use from 2028 
    • government, industry and regulator leaders meet to discuss aviation innovation, which will drive growth to propel the government’s Plan for Change

    Drone services at a commercial scale and flying taxis could soon be a reality as the Aviation Minister confirms over £20 million funding today (1 April 2025) to launch new flight technologies.  

    The new funding will unlock barriers to growth – which is the priority of the Plan for Change – and maximise opportunities for better and cheaper public services while cutting carbon emissions.

    It is designed to advance aviation tech to support healthcare for the NHS, assist police forces in combatting crime, help inspect and survey critical infrastructure and unlock delivery services for businesses and communities across the country.   

    As part of this, both the Aviation Minister and Science Minister have today also set out how the Department for Transport (DfT), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the new Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) will streamline regulatory processes to support the commercialisation of the industry. 

    Aviation Minister, Mike Kane, said:  

    I want the UK to have the most advanced aviation technology ecosystem in the world.  

    That means creating a nimble regulatory environment and a culture of innovation so everyone can benefit from cutting-edge transport while tackling emissions, traffic and potentially saving lives. 

    Our investment alongside the new Future of Flight industry group will bring together tech experts, drone operators, flying vehicle manufacturers and local communities to identify where change needs to happen.

    With safety at the heart of these advancements, the RIO is driving smarter regulation to cut red tape while ensuring high safety standards. It will support DfT and CAA in enabling faster, integration of drones and flying taxi industries, helping businesses grow and innovate.

    This includes consulting on the mandatory use of new electronic conspicuity standards and technologies, which allow aircraft to share their location electronically, helping drones and crewed aircraft fly safely alongside each other. By making approvals quicker and operations more efficient, this will open new opportunities for the industry while maintaining the highest safety standards.

    Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said:

    These regulatory reforms for drones – requiring all aircraft to share their location – will make drone operations safer and therefore speed up approvals, allowing them to operate near airports and simplifying their use for delivering medical supplies – while unlocking further commercial opportunities.

    This is a practical step to cut red tape and a great piece of progress for the Regulatory Innovation Office, growing the UK’s position as a world leader in emerging technologies and helping drive the growth that will deliver our Plan for Change.

    In addition, as previously confirmed by the Chancellor, plans are now underway to simplify regulations to enable 2-year airspace change for drone operations. This will enable operators to fly safely for longer and gather data to inform future services.    

    Other changes will simplify regulations to enable emergency services including firefighters and paramedics to use drone services, as well as noise exemptions for drone trials within the Airspace Change Process, and simplifying the drone operational application process to enable them to get flying faster and easier.

    Furthermore, the regulator, drone operators, flying vehicle innovators and local authorities will come together with government at the Future of Flight industry group to help guide the government on its mission to transform technology in aviation. 

    Part of the government’s Plan for Change, the group will focus on how to unlock the benefits of future aviation technologies to propel the country’s economic growth forward. It will look at how government can harness the potential of technology and create a culture of innovation, with the aim of improving everyday challenges like emergency across the public sector face, while helping cut carbon emissions. 

    The Minister for Aviation will co-chair the group, alongside Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports.

    Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports and Co-Chair of the Future of Flight industry group, said:

    This additional government funding is a vital boost for the UK’s leadership in next-generation aviation. This investment will accelerate the development and deployment of innovative flight technologies, from complex drone operations to advanced air mobility solutions. 

    I welcome this commitment, which will not only drive progress towards a more sustainable and connected future but also deliver significant economic benefits, high-value jobs and export opportunities across the UK. I look forward to continuing to work in close partnership with government and the regulator to turn these opportunities into reality.

    The funding will be divided between the CAA, receiving £16.5 million in 2025 to 2026, to deliver a regulatory programme to enable drones to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) and progress toward routine use of air taxis (eVTOLs) in UK skies.  

    This includes publishing a piloted eVTOL ‘roadmap’, development of ‘drone pathways’ for industry to follow and consulting on concept of operations for uncrewed traffic management (UTM) and Detect and Avoid (DAA) technology. This will make it quicker and easier for industry to prove the safety of these new technologies, deliver the necessary digital infrastructure and make sure that people, property and other aviation remain safe and secure when these new technologies fly in our skies. 

    Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said:

    Flying taxis will transform the way we move — making it quicker, quieter and cleaner to travel while connecting communities and supporting essential services.

    The UK has an incredible opportunity to lead the world in this new era of aviation, delivering not just greener transport but real economic growth and skilled jobs.

    This latest funding is another welcome step towards seeing that ambition realised and our world-leading aircraft flying in British skies from 2028.

    In addition, the Future Flight Challenge will receive up to £5 million from DfT and Innovate UK, to support industry to turn these new technologies into profitable business that benefits communities and support growth. This will include regional demonstrations and supporting development of commercial drone and air taxi solutions.

    Mike Biddle, Executive Director of Net Zero, Innovate UK, said:

    Innovate UK is excited to build on the highly successful work of the Future Flight Challenge by working in partnership with DfT through this joint funding. We look forward to working with industry, end-users, DfT, DSIT and the CAA as we accelerate the transition from innovation to commercial operations.

    Aviation, Europe and technology media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

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    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New cyber laws to safeguard UK economy & secure long-term growth

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    New cyber laws to safeguard UK economy & secure long-term growth

    The government sets out the scope and ambition of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill for the first time today.

    New cyber laws to safeguard UK economy and secure long-term growth.

    • Plans set out to bolster UK’s online defences, protect the public and safeguard growth – the central pillar of the UK government’s Plan for Change. 
    • New measures will boost protection of supply chains and critical national services, including IT service providers and suppliers. 
    • Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to be introduced later this year to face down growing range of online threats.

    Hospitals and energy suppliers are set to boost their cyber defences under the new Cyber Security Bill, protecting public services and safeguarding growth as government delivers its Plan for Change.

    This will ensure firms providing essential IT services to public services and the wider economy are no longer an easy target for cyber criminals. 1,000 service providers will fall into scope of measures expected to be introduced later this year.

    The move forms part of the government’s drive to secure Britain’s future through the Plan for Change, delivering security and renewal by strengthening our critical infrastructure. It will give the British public, businesses and investors greater confidence in digital services – supporting the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth.

    Cyber threats cost the UK economy almost £22 billion a year between 2015 and 2019 and cause significant disruption to the British public and businesses. Last summer’s attack on Synnovis – a provider of pathology services to the NHS – cost an estimated £32.7 million and saw thousands of missed appointments for patients. Figures also show a hypothetical cyber-attack focused on key energy services in the South East of England could wipe over £49 billion from the wider UK economy.

    Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle, said:

    Economic growth is the cornerstone of our Plan for Change, and ensuring the security of the vital services which will deliver that growth is non-negotiable.

    Attempts to disrupt our way of life and attack our digital economy are only gathering pace, and we will not stand by as these incidents hold our future prosperity hostage. 

    The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, will help make the UK’s digital economy one of the most secure in the world – giving us the power to protect our services, our supply chains, and our citizens – the first and most important job of any government.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and create real risks for our health service if we do not act now to put the right protections in place.

    We are building an NHS that is fit for the future. This bill will boost the NHS’s resilience against cyber threats, secure sensitive patient data and make sure life-saving appointments are not missed as we deliver our Plan for Change.

    The government is also exploring additional measures to make sure it can respond effectively to new cyber threats and take rapid action where needed to protect the UK’s national security. This includes giving the Technology Secretary powers to direct regulated organisations to shore up their cyber defences – putting the UK in the strongest possible footing to defend against new and existing threats.

    Another potential avenue may include new protections for more than 200 data centres – bolstering the defences of one of the main drivers of economic growth and innovation, including through AI. Data centres process mountains of data which they need to churn out new products which have become commonplace everywhere from banking and online shopping to booking holidays and staying in touch with friends and family. The government will now consider the best route to deliver these additional measures.       

    In the year to September 2024, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) managed 430 cyber incidents, with 89 of these being classed as nationally significant – a rate of almost two every week. The most recent iteration of the Cyber Security Breaches Survey also highlights 50% of British businesses suffering a cyber breach or attack in the last 12 months, with more than 7 million incidents being reported in 2024. 

    To face down this threat, the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will ensure the vital infrastructure and digital services the country relies on are more secure than ever, as the government sets out its legislative ambitions for the first time today.

    Richard Horne, NCSC CEO, said:

    The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is a landmark moment that will ensure we can improve the cyber defences of the critical services on which we rely every day, such as water, power and healthcare.

    It is a pivotal step toward stronger, more dynamic regulation, one that not only keeps up with emerging threats but also makes it as challenging as possible for our adversaries.

    By bolstering their cyber defences and engaging with the NCSC’s guidance and tools, such as Cyber Assessment Framework, Cyber Essentials, and Avctive Cyber Defence, organisations of all sizes will be better prepared to meet the increasingly sophisticated challenges.

    While the legislation will arm the UK with the cyber defences it needs to meet the challenges of today, it also includes measures to ensure a swift response to new threats which emerge in the future. To do this, the Technology Secretary will be given powers to update the regulatory framework to keep pace with the ever-changing cyber landscape.

    Confirmed in last year’s King’s Speech, today marks the first time the government has shared full details on its plans for the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which will be introduced to Parliament this year. 

    The legislative proposals follow other government recent action to boost UK cyber security, including a new, world-leading AI cyber security standard to protect AI systems, a new international coalition to boost cyber skills and the Cyber Local programme to support the UK’s rapidly growing £13.2 billion cyber security industry, which has created 6,600 new jobs in the past year.

    Further Information

    A full copy of the policy statement containing details of the measures in the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill policy statement will be published today.

    Figures on the economic impact of a hypothetical cyber incident targeting the South East’s energy structure (PDF) by the University of Cambridge. 

    If the proposals are adopted:

    • More organisations and suppliers will need to meet robust cyber security requirements, including data centres, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and critical suppliers. This means third-party suppliers will need to boost their cyber security in areas such as risk assessment to minimise the possible impact of cyber- attacks, while also beefing up their data protection and network security defences. 
    • Regulators will have more tools to improve cyber security and resilience in the areas they regulate, with companies required to report more incidents to help build a stronger picture of cyber threats and weaknesses in our online defences. 
    • The government would have greater flexibility to update regulatory frameworks when needed, to respond swiftly to changing threats and technological advancement. This could include extending the framework to new sectors or updating security requirements.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI: $HAREHOLDER ALERT: The M&A Class Action Firm Urges Stockholders of AMPY, HEES, AVTE, TGI to Act Now

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2024 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and are investigating:

    • Amplify Energy Corp. (NYSE: AMPY), relating to the proposed merger with Juniper Capital. Under the terms of the agreement, Amplify shareholders will retain approximately 61% of Amplify’s outstanding equity.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for April 14, 2025.

    Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/amplify-energy-corp-ampy/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • H&E Equipment Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: HEES), relating to the proposed merger with Herc Holdings Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, H&E shareholders will receive $78.75 in cash and 0.1287 shares of Herc common stock for each share they own. H&E’s shareholders will own approximately 14.1% of the combined company.

    ACT NOW. The Tender Offer expires on April 15, 2025.

    Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/he-equipment-services-inc-hees/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • Aerovate Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVTE), relating to a proposed merger with Jade Biosciences. Under the terms of the agreement, pre-merger Aerovate stockholders are expected to own approximately 1.6% of the combined company, while pre-merger Jade stockholders are expected to own approximately 98.4% of the combined entity.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for April 16, 2025.

    Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/aerovate-therapeutics-inc-avte/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • Triumph Group, Inc. (NYSE: TGI), relating to the proposed merger with Warburg Pincus and Berkshire Partners. Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of Triumph will receive $26.00 per share in cash.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for April 16, 2025.

    Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/triumph-group-inc-tgi/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE THE SAME. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

    1. Do you file class actions and go to Court?
    2. When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders?
    3. What cases did you recover money in and how much?

    About Monteverde & Associates PC

    Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. 

    No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

    Contact:
    Juan Monteverde, Esq.
    MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
    The Empire State Building
    350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
    New York, NY 10118
    United States of America
    jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
    Tel: (212) 971-1341

    Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: SOUTHERN MISSOURI BANCORP ANNOUNCES UPDATE TO ITS EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Poplar Bluff, Missouri, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMBC), the parent corporation of Southern Bank, today announced an update to its executive leadership team. On March 27, 2025, the Boards of Directors of Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) and its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, Southern Bank (the “Bank”) appointed Justin G. Cox to the newly-created position of Chief Banking Officer, to be effective as of May 1, 2025. Mr. Cox currently serves as the west region’s Regional President for the Company and the Bank, and he will remain an Executive Vice President of the Company and the Bank.

    The Board of Directors is implementing this change after assessing recommendations included in a recent process improvement project conducted for Southern Bank by a community banking consulting firm for the purposes of improving customer engagement, team member satisfaction, and organizational profitability. “We believe this structure will improve our organization, as we align our customer engagement leadership under a single executive who will devote his full attention to ensuring that business development and customer experience efforts are consistently performed well across our organization,” noted Chairman Greg A. Steffens.

    “Justin has been successful over many years with Southern Bank, leading our west region team as it has grown our loan and deposit business there. That background provides an excellent basis for him to take on this new role. Our team and our customers can look forward to a better-unified customer engagement process with his new role,” added President and Chief Administrative Officer Matthew T. Funke.

    Mr. Cox has 22 years of experience in the banking industry, including 15 years with the Company. After joining Southern Bank as a lending officer in 2010, he advanced quickly to leadership roles of Community Bank President and later, Regional President. Mr. Cox holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration-Marketing & Management from Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Missouri.

    Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc., is a Missouri corporation organized in 1994 to become the parent company of Southern Bank. Southern Bank was originally chartered in 1887 as a mutually-owned Missouri savings and loan association. In 2004, the Bank converted from a Missouri-chartered stock savings bank to become a Missouri-chartered trust company with banking powers. Southern Bank operates 67 locations in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, and Kansas. The Company holds total assets of approximately $4.9 billion, including loans, net of the allowance for credit losses, of $4.0 billion, and deposits of $4.2 billion. The Company’s common stock is quoted under the ticker “SMBC” on the NASDAQ Global Market.

    Forward-Looking Information:

    Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including: potential adverse impacts to the economic conditions in the Company’s local market areas, other markets where the Company has lending relationships, or other aspects of the Company’s business operations or financial markets, expected cost savings, synergies and other benefits from our merger and acquisition activities might not be realized to the extent expected, within the anticipated time frames, or at all, and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to customer and employee retention and labor shortages, might be greater than expected and goodwill impairment charges might be incurred; the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of local economies in which we conduct operations; fluctuations in interest rates and the possibility of a recession; monetary and fiscal policies of the FRB and the U.S. Government and other governmental initiatives affecting the financial services industry; the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses; our ability to access cost-effective funding; the timely development and acceptance of our new products and services and the perceived overall value of these products and services by users, including the features, pricing and quality compared to competitors’ products and services; fluctuations in real estate values in both residential and commercial real estate markets, as well as agricultural business conditions; demand for loans and deposits; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business; changes in accounting principles, policies, or guidelines; results of regulatory examinations, including the possibility that a regulator may, among other things, require an increase in our reserve for credit losses or write-down of assets; the impact of technological changes; and our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing. Any forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements discussed might not occur, and you should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

    The MIL Network