Feed aggregator

What does the Parliament do, what are the European Commission's responsibilities? What is the Council of the EU? Find out from our infographic.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Ils avaient célébré une pseudo-liturgie dans l'église orthodoxe serbe du village de Rakinica en se faisant passer pour des prêtres orthodoxes. La justice du Kosovo a inculpé deux ressortissants d'Albanie pour « provocation à la haine raciale ou religieuse ».

- Le fil de l'Info / Kosovo, Albanie, Courrier des Balkans, Relations régionales, Religions, orthodoxie

Ensuring operational efficiency while safeguarding the environment was the focus of EDA’s largest conference on circular defence. The Incubation Forum for Circular Economy in European Defence (IF CEED) Third General Conference gathered over 170 experts from 23 European countries to further develop transnational initiatives exploiting circularity principles for defence. Participants focused on designing collaborative project ideas and strategies for their implementation. 

The conference, organised under the auspices of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU2024BE) and in partnership with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), heard how moving forward with collaborative projects was now key to reduce the environmental impact of the armed forces while bringing operational benefits to military operations. 

In his speech, EDA Chief Executive, Jiří Šedivý, said, “IF CEED plays a crucial role in advancing circularity in defence, striving to produce tangible collaborative outcomes. It has consistently aimed at win-win outcomes that would benefit both the EU’s operational defence needs and the green transition. EDA has been championing circular economy in defence due to its potential to enhance the operational effectiveness of Member States’ Armed Forces.”

Among others, the Belgian Minister of Defence, Ludivine Dedonder, the Director General of the DG ENV  Florika Fink-Hooijer, the Director General Material Resources and National Armaments Director (NAD) of the Belgian Ministry of Defence Frédéric Goetynck, the NAT Vice-Presidents at the EESC Maria Nikolopoulou and Cillian Lohan, and the Head of Defence Sector, Security and Defence Policy of the European External Action Services, Mariya Dellevska have addressed the audience with their high-level key messages, inter alia on climate change and defence, the implementation of circular economy in defence, environmental remediation in Ukraine, and strategic autonomy as a pillar of the Critical Raw Materials Act.

While the EDA marks 20 years of promoting European Defence cooperation, this working event has gathered the largest defence community engaged in Circular Economy worldwide for both dedicated incubation sessions within the IF CEED “Project Circles” and wider cross-cutting panels among Ministries, industry, research-and-technology organisations, academia, and other private and public bodies/entities.

Using additive manufacturing to support in-mission repair, establishing secure exchange of data via digital passports, developing smart recycling routes for military textiles, streamlining procurement and maintenance processes: these are some of the themes addressed by IF CEED Programme Manager, Prof. Dr. Pierre Di Toro, and the numerous experts in their testimonies. Speakers have highlighted the achievements across IF CEED priority areas and provided key messages for the way forward.

About IF CEED 

EDA’s 3rd Annual General Conference of the Incubation Forum for Circular Economy in European Defence (IF CEED), the EU programme co-funded by the European Commission’s DG Environment (DG ENV) under the EU LIFE 2021-2027. The conference has benefited of the collaboration with the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP) - a joint initiative of the EESC and the DG ENV - and the AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD).

 

• For further information on IF CEED: IF CEED (europa.eu)
• For more information on the IF CEED Project Ideas:  Project ideas (europa.eu)

 

How to expand Europe without destabilizing it.

Photos

jQuery(document).ready(function($){$("#isloaderfor-uqfeok").fadeOut(300, function () { $(".pagwrap-uqfeok").fadeIn(300);});});

IPI in partnership with the French Ministry of Armed Forces, cohosted the 2024 Peacekeeping Observatory Annual Workshop on May 29, 2024. The full-day workshop focused on the implementation of recommendations from the New Agenda for Peace that pertain to peace operations. This hybrid event convened over fifty participants, including UN personnel, member states, and other experts from civil society organizations.

Held at a critical moment of reflection on the future of peace operations, the workshop provided an opportunity for participants to deliberate on efforts to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of missions in today’s political environment and ahead of the Summit of the Future, to be held on September 22 and 23, 2024, in New York.

The workshop was divided into four sessions:

Session 1: Understanding Resolution 2719: What Comes Next for the UN and AU?

This session featured experts from the UN/African Union (AU) Partnerships Team in the UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO) and the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), the Permanent Observer Mission of the AU to the UN, and civil society organizations. Participants discussed the impact of Security Council Resolution 2719 on peace operations and the UN–AU partnership. The discussion highlighted the need for enhanced coordination and strategic alignment between the UN and the AU, the importance of flexible and adaptive mechanisms to support AU-led peace operations, and joint efforts in political, financial, and operational planning to ensure effective implementation and oversight.

Session 2: Lessons Learned from the Support Office Model

During this session experts examined the work of the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) as a model for UN support to AU-led missions, with a focus on its operational support to the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS.) It featured key contributions from Assistant Secretary-General and Head of UNSOS Aisa Kirabo Kacyira and her senior adviser, as well as other independent experts. The dialogue highlighted the significance of UNSOS in enhancing the logistical and operational effectiveness of ATMIS through robust partnerships, joint strategic planning and trust-building with key stakeholders. However, participants also recognized that challenges such as unmet expectations, limited financing, and the lack of alignment of military and political strategies persist and necessitate a continuous focus on collaboration, accountability, and adaptable support frameworks for future missions.

Lunch Session: Briefing on Negotiations around the Pact for the Future and Language on Peace Operations

Within this session, representatives of the permanent missions of Namibia and Germany to the UN briefed the attendants on negotiations around the Pact for the Future with a focus on the language on peace operations. The briefers highlighted areas of relative consensus among member states, including broad-based support for peace operations, as well as some areas that have been more politically difficult to negotiate. The briefers also reflected on the need for further peacekeeping reforms to address future peace and security challenges. In addition, they highlighted the importance of ensuring peace enforcement is undertaken in service of a political process and ensuring sustainable and adequate financing and support.

Session 3: Strengthening the Institution of UN Peacekeeping

The final session recognized the need to fortify UN peace operations as an important tool for collective security, alongside growing efforts to support partner-led operations. It emphasized the need for UN peacekeeping structures to adapt to contemporary challenges through innovative approaches and modern technology and to learn from past failures. Participants called for strengthening the tools the UN has at its disposal to address threats in multiple domains and the need to rebuild trust with local populations.

As part of the 2024 Peacekeeping Observatory project, IPI is publishing a series of issue briefs on UN peace operations and the New Agenda for Peace, including “Implementing Resolution 2719: What Next for the UN and AU?” authored by Jenna Russo and Bitania Tadesse; “The Support Office Model in Somalia: Lessons Learned and Implications for Future Settings,” authored by Paul Williams; and “The Protection of Civic Space in UN Peacekeeping Operations,” authored by Lauren McGowan.

The Peacekeeping Observatory is a multiyear IPI project examining emerging issues and challenges in peace operations. It is funded by the French Ministry of Armed Forces.

After nearly 30 years in power, the ANC ruling party faces its toughest challenge yet in this year's polls.

Read about 10 laws that the new European Parliament is set to work on after the European elections on 6-9 June.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Le Kosovo était à « un pas » du Conseil de l'Europe à la mi-avril. Un mois plus tard, ce n'est plus le cas. Le gouvernement d'Albin Kurti refuse en effet la condition de création de l'Association des communes à majorité serbe posée par certains membres, à la demande de la Serbie.

- Articles / Kosovo, Courrier des Balkans, dialogue Kosovo Serbie, Relations internationales, Questions européennes

Beneath Tehran’s extremism, a lost history of deep Iranian-Jewish ties.

A military strategy to outlast Russia.

A statist economy can't foster creativity.

A Parlament Európa-szerte támogatja a médiát a június 6–9-i választások előtti tudósításokban, a választások alatt pedig Brüsszelből tudósító újságírókat lát vendégül.

Forrás : © Európai Unió, 2024 - EP

Das EP bietet in ganz Europa Unterstützung bei der Berichterstattung über die Europawahl vom 6.-9. Juni. Während aller Wahltage können Journalisten auch direkt aus dem Parlament berichten

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2024 - EP

Parliament is supporting media across Europe on their coverage in the run-up to the elections on 6-9 June, when it will also host journalists reporting from Brussels.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Parliament is supporting media across Europe on their coverage in the run-up to the elections on 6-9 June, when it will also host journalists reporting from Brussels.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

After the European elections, the new European Parliament will get constituted, MEPs will approve the new European Commission and resume work on EU legislation.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Blogom állandó olvasói időnként meglepnek néhány fotóval. A legutóbbi csomagok egyikéből egy szomorú eseményt feldolgozó hosszabb cikk készül majd, a másikból az alábbi albumot állítottam össze.

Az első képsorozat két, februári napon készült a honvédség 08-as oldalszámú H145M helikopteréről. Az egyik pénteken a szolnokiak földi biztosítással – tartálykocsi, mentő – települtek a Gyöngyös melletti Pipishegyre, és hosszabban időztek a repülőtéren és környékén. A következő héten földi csapat nem települt át és a 08-as pilótái is csak néhány áthúzást és függést végeztek a helikopterrel.

[...] Bővebben!

Am Donnerstagnachmittag fand im Europäischen Parlament die Eurovision-Live-Debatte zwischen den Spitzenkandidatinnen und -kandidaten für den Vorsitz der EU-Kommission statt.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2024 - EP

Today, at the Steering Board of the European Defence Agency (EDA), the 27 EU Ministers of Defence approved the Agency’s 2024 Long-Term Review (LTR). As strategic guidance given to EDA, the 2024 LTR outlines five core tasks for the Agency with a stronger focus on supporting Member States through the full development cycle of military capabilities. Ministers agreed to increase the number of EDA’s core tasks from three to five, with dedicated taskings on aggregating demand towards joint procurement and enabling collaborative defence research, technology, and innovation. Ministers were also briefed on preliminary opportunities stemming from the 2024 Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and marked the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Agency.

AN AGENCY FIT FOR THE FUTURE

Ministers of Defence endorsed an update of the Agency’s mandate to fully reflect the deteriorated security environment in Europe and the evolving role of the Agency within the EU defence landscape, marking 20 years since its establishment. Reflecting the dramatic geopolitical changes since 2017, when the last iteration of the LTR was approved, the 2024 LTR outlines how the Agency can support Ministries of Defence (MoDs) along all the capability development cycle, including limited off-the-shelf acquisitions, when Member States so decide.

The LTR also bolsters EDA role to voice MoDs’ joint positions at EU level and ensure the coherent alignment of current and future EU defence initiatives, policies, and legislation. The LTR also calls for the Agency to reinforce mutually beneficial cooperation with NATO through the conclusion of an Administrative Arrangement and fully leverage synergies with EU stakeholders to reflect defence needs.

Head of European Defence Agency and HR/VP, Josep Borrell said: “The European Defence Agency must have a more strategic role if we want to live up to the level of ambition that we have set for EU Defence in the Strategic Compass. The EU needs to develop defence capabilities to address the full range of threats we are facing. With a stronger and clearer vision, focused on capability development and the launch of concrete projects, the Agency can play a key role in building stronger and better equipped armed forces.”

EDA Chief Executive, Jiří Šedivý said: “This renewed and strengthened mandate ensures that Ministries of Defence have an Agency that is fit for the future. Ministers of Defence have endorsed a review that enhances the Agency’s ambitions, visibility, and support for Member States. With expanded tasks and a stronger intergovernmental voice, Ministers signal the Agency's crucial role in bolstering EU defence capabilities.”

INITIAL LOOK AT THE CARD(s) AND MARKING 20 YEARS OF EDA

Ministers were also presented with a preliminary assessment on the possible actionable collaborative opportunities stemming from the third CARD cycle. This Steering Board was used as an opportunity to allow Ministers to provide early guidance to help sharpen and finalise the opportunities to be highlighted in the final CARD Report which will be presented in November. 

Before the Steering Board was formally opened, Head of Agency, Josep Borrell, and EDA Chief Executive, Jiří Šedivý and Deputy Chief Executive, André Denk, marked the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Agency. Created in 2004, EDA has played a pivotal role in greater European defence cooperation, and made tangible contributions to EU defence planning, capabilities, training and innovations.

Further information 

1. 2024 EDA Long Term Review Document
2. Fact Sheet – EDA Long Term Review
3. Timeline – EDA 20 Years Promoting European Defence Cooperation

Un mariage collectif de 100 jeunes filles dans un État du nord du Nigeria a été interrompu après qu'il a été allégué que certaines d'entre elles n'avaient pas l'âge requis. Mais les protestations de l'opinion publique pourraient ne pas suffire cette fois-ci.