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European election candidates consider next steps for EU media policy

Euractiv.com - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 08:38
Lead candidates for the upcoming European elections are pondering ways of safeguarding the media sector's integrity in light of persistent economic challenges and emerging threats like Russian disinformation.
Categories: European Union

Bratislava meeting exposes EU far-right contradictions

Euractiv.com - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 08:33
The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network.
Categories: European Union

The success of populism, and why it’s all about the middle class

Euractiv.com - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 07:56
Addressing the shrinking of the middle class is crucial to fight the rise of nationalism, protectionism and populism in the next European elections, Margherita Movarelli argues.
Categories: European Union

Europe rejects US escalation strategy against Iran

Euractiv.com - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 07:45
Europe on Monday (13 May) urged the US not to further escalate tensions over the Iran nuclear deal, with Britain issuing a stark warning of the risk of conflict erupting "by accident" in the Gulf.
Categories: European Union

Meeting of the minds as Trump receives Orban

Euractiv.com - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 07:33
US President Donald Trump on Monday (13 May) praised Hungary’s hardline authoritarian Viktor Orbán as a leader respected throughout Europe who kept his country safe with his crackdown on immigration. “Viktor Orbán has done a tremendous job in so many...
Categories: European Union

A Vision For Co-Creating Europe’s Tech Leadership [Promoted content]

Euractiv.com - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 07:00
Exceptional opportunities and challenges require strong European political leadership in the technology space.
Categories: European Union

Welcoming remarks by President Donald Tusk at the celebratory dinner marking the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership

European Council - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 04:43
At the start of a celebratory dinner for the heads of state or government of the eastern partner countries, President Tusk recalled the main milestones and achievements of the Eastern Partnership.
Categories: European Union

"The Sahel is a strategic priority for the EU and its member states": Council adopts conclusions

European Council - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 04:43
On 13 May 2019, the Council adopted conclusions on the Sahel.
Categories: European Union

Libya: Foreign Affairs Council statement

European Council - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 04:43
On 13 May 2019, the Council discussed the situation in Libya and adopted a statement.
Categories: European Union

EU-Latin America and Caribbean relations: Council adopts conclusions

European Council - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 04:43
Today,, the Council adopted conclusions on EU relations with Latin America and the Caribbean.
Categories: European Union

Human rights and democracy in the world: 2018 EU annual report adopted

European Council - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 04:43
Today, the Council adopted the EU annual report on human rights and democracy in the world for 2018.
Categories: European Union

EUAM Ukraine: Council extends mission and approves budget increase

European Council - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 04:43
On 13 May 2019, the Council extended the mandate of European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) in Ukraine until 31 May 2021 and approved a budget of € 54 million for the next two years.
Categories: European Union

Indicative programme - Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 14 May 2019

European Council - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 04:43
Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.
Categories: European Union

Eastern Partnership foreign ministers' meeting: Chair's conclusions on the occasion of the Eastern Partnership 10th Anniversary

European Council - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 04:43
Following the Eastern Partnership foreign ministers' meeting of 13 May 2019, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued Chair's conclusions on the occasion of the Eastern Partnership 10th Anniversary.
Categories: European Union

Offers to host the European Labour Authority have been published

European Council - Tue, 05/14/2019 - 04:43
Council publishes the offers to host the European Labour Authority.
Categories: European Union

European Spartan 2019 C-27J exercise starts in Romania

EDA News - Mon, 05/13/2019 - 18:02

Five EDA Member States operating C-27J Spartan military aircraft (Bulgaria, Italy, Lithuania, Slovakia and Romania) participate in the 4th edition of the European Spartan exercise which started today (13 May) at Otopeni airbase in Romania. Observers from other C-27J user countries, such as Greece and even the United States and Australia, also attend the event which runs until 24 May. The aim of the exercise is to increase interoperability among European C27J Spartan operators. It is one of the outcomes of the European Air Transport Fleet (EATF) partnership signed in 2011 by 20 EDA Member States.

Designed by EDA and hosted by the Romanian Air Force, the event aims at promoting aircraft user type approaches to harmonise tactics, techniques and procedures as well as to develop more cost-effective solutions to operate and sustain the C27J. The objective is to provide air crews with both academic and flight training as well as to have ground crews developing harmonised procedures to eventually allowing them to perform cross maintenance on each other’s aircraft.  The C-27J Spartan aircraft can perform tactical missions in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, providing direct air transport to the theatre, day and night.

This flying event was developed in the framework of the C27J cooperation concept launched in 2015 by EDA. This concept is looking at developing a far-reaching level of interoperability amongst European C27J operators through a variety of projects in the areas of operations & training, logistics, airworthiness, common procurement and SESAR. The main advantages of EDA’s user groups – that are working in full transparency and cooperate with all other existing user groups led by other organisations, industry and/or service providers – is to group medium and small national fleets to take advantage of economies of scale, to exchange best practices and to be more cost-efficient in operating and sustaining the aircraft.
 

Media & VIP Days

On 22 May, a dedicated Media Day will take place offering journalists the possibility to attend a flying exercise at Boboc Airbase will include the landing of C-27J Spartan aircraft on soil and short-distance tracks, parachuting personnel and materials, cooperation with combat aircraft, airline coordination with land forces and medical evacuation. Media representatives who want to participate are requested to send their personal data (name, surname, ID number, name/address of media they represent) to proff@roaf.ro (deadline: Friday 17 May, 2pm).

The following day, on 23 May, there will also be a Distinguished Visitors’ Day attended by Romanian Defence Minister Gabriel-Beniamin Leş and EDA Deputy Chief Executive Olli Ruutu. Media representatives who want to attend the Distinguished Visitors’ Day are requested to send their personal data (name, surname, ID number, name/address of media they represent) to proff@roaf.ro (deadline: Wednesday 22 May, 2pm).
 

Background information

The European Air Transport Fleet (EATF) partnership, launched in 2011 and now gathering 20 Member States (AT, BE, BG, CZ, DE, EL, ES, FI, FR, IT, LT, LU, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SE, NO and HU), aims at increasing the airlift provision in the EU, developing concrete solutions to increase the efficiency of existing and future fleets and to optimise the use of air transport organisations and structures. Other activities undertaken as part of EATF include the C-27 J Spartan Cooperation CAT B Programme, the Transport Plot Training Capacity AHWG, the Diplomatic Clearance Ad Hoc Working Group (AHWG) and the Operations and Training AHWG.
 

European 2019 Spartan: List of participating air forces and aircraft
  • Romania:  1 C-27 J, (plus 1 C130, 1 Helicopter, 1 C 27 J for logistic support)
  • Bulgaria: 1 C-27 J
  • Italy: 1 C-27 J
  • Lithuania: 1 C-27 J
  • Slovakia: Maintenance personnel only
  • Observer nations: Greece, United States, Australia
     
Background

Beside  the Spartan Exercise, the C27-J Spartan Cooperation is developing a common type training for aircrews, using the already existing facilities placed in Romania and Italy; a common training for maintenance under the new European standards, a common logistic support and a common avionics upgrade programme to benefit of economies of scale.
 

More information:

 

Using technology to help those in need

Written by Nera Kuljanic,

As a result of conflict and protracted crises, 200 million people are currently in need of international humanitarian assistance around the world. Providing timely and adequate assistance to everyone who needs it is an increasingly challenging task, due to the growing needs of people and the complex nature of the crises. To make things worse, billions of dollars are still needed to close the funding gap. All of this places the humanitarian system under considerable strain. Can technology help to do more with less?

Technological innovations are perceived as an enabler in preventing such crises and helping to reduce human suffering during crises. A new STOA study analyses the impact of technological innovations in humanitarian assistance as transformative tools for both people in need and humanitarian actors. Although humanitarian innovations go beyond ICT, such as new shelter, sanitation and water solutions, this study is oriented towards ICT-enabled improvements. The technologies are considered to be part of preparedness, response, and recovery, reconstruction and risk reduction activities. The study provides an overview of the current state-of-play and developments with regard to ICT-related innovation in humanitarian assistance, and lists a number of options for policy-makers to further technological innovation in humanitarian assistance.

overview of technologies assessed in the study

Technological innovation in humanitarian assistance

ICT technologies and digitalisation are not new to the humanitarian domain. Nevertheless, ongoing developments in the field and the ubiquity of technologies such as mobile devices, are fundamentally transforming humanitarian assistance. The availability and use of mobile phones and social media platforms by people affected by humanitarian crises; geospatial technologies and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, drones) to detect crises; biometric identification to facilitate humanitarian support; a shift to digital payments with e-vouchers and mobile money as relief provisions, are just some examples. Embracing technological innovation is a way forward to better address the needs of those affected by crises and the challenges of providing humanitarian assistance. Interpretations of what this entails however vary among actors. For example, some may focus more on the ‘innovation process’, whereas others focus on ‘technology’ and its ‘adoption’. There is also an ongoing discussion on ethics, technical standards and responsible innovation, as well as ‘information as a right’ in the humanitarian domain. In addition, involving local communities and capabilities is important to foster local ownership and engagement.

Transformative nature of technologies and how to make the most of them

Technological innovation in humanitarian assistance is maturing and growing, and this has led to an increasing awareness of challenges and opportunities in the field. Innovation transforms the way in which humanitarian assistance is organised and executed, it redefines relationships between actors in the field and it affects financial flows. It can facilitate new ways of addressing the humanitarian funding gap. It also enables a shift of focus from response and recovery to prevention and preparedness and offers opportunities for increased local ownership and engagement. However, the use of technological innovation in humanitarian assistance raises serious concerns about inclusiveness and the protection of the most vulnerable due to privacy and cybersecurity issues, and it requires shared technological standards. Additionally, the use of technological innovation requires different ways of working, skills and capabilities of institutional and individual actors.

The study lists and explains a number of policy options to further technological innovation in humanitarian assistance. These are divided in three categories: (1) those related to ‘objectives’ of technological innovation; (2) those that focus more on the technological innovation ‘process’; and (3) those related to ‘implementation’ of technological innovation.

The above points are the main conclusions of the recently published STOA study on technological innovation in humanitarian aid. Requested by Enrique GUERRERO SALOM (S&D, ES) through the Committee on Development (DEVE), the study was carried out by Capgemini Netherlands, under STOA management. A list of sources complements the study, which draws on information and feedback collected during 11 interviews with various experts on the topic.

If you read the study, please get in touch via email to let us know what you think. Your opinion counts for us.

Categories: European Union

Jet fuel tax hopes lifted by leaked EU report

Euractiv.com - Mon, 05/13/2019 - 17:26
Aviation carbon emissions would fall by 11% or 16.4 million tonnes if the EU were to scrap jet fuel’s tax derogation, according to a leaked European Commission study.
Categories: European Union

EU warns Hungary over Afghan refugees

Euobserver.com - Mon, 05/13/2019 - 17:11
Budapest tried and failed last week to deport three families to Afghanistan, and is accused of denying food to others stuck in its transit zone. The European Commission says it is taking the allegations "quite seriously."
Categories: European Union

The Brief powered by ifaw- Is the S&D losing its D?

Euractiv.com - Mon, 05/13/2019 - 17:08
There was a time when the European Parliament's contingent of socialist were socialists and nothing else. But could that be all set to change?
Categories: European Union

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