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How can countries secure critical infrastructure against terrorist threats? To help answer this question, government officials from Uzbekistan took part in a three-day OSCE training course on the physical security of critical infrastructure.

“Critical infrastructure, such as energy networks, transport systems, water facilities, communication hubs and health institutions are vital for every country’s functioning. When these systems are affected or disrupted, the consequences go far beyond physical damage. They can impact economic stability, public confidence, social well-being and even political security. Building resilience and improving security measures help ensure the safety and protect the everyday life,” said Ambassador Antti Karttunen, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

The training, held from 27 to 29 October in Tashkent, Uzbekistan was organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the Office of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, with financial support from Germany under the OSCE Project PROTECT.

“Critical infrastructure forms the backbone of our modern economies, societies and cross-border relations. Germany is proud to support the OSCE’s Project PROTECT. Its value lies in consolidating good practices from across the OSCE area, allowing participating States to adapt what is most relevant to their national priorities,” highlighted Rebecca Dovergne, Head of Economic Affairs and Press from the German Embassy in Tashkent.

During the training, specialists from several national institutions, including the State Security Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Guard, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Health, Republican Centre for Plague Prevention and Committee on Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan discussed how to better protect important public sites such as energy networks, transport hubs and healthcare facilities from various security risks, including potential terrorist threats.

Participants learned how to identify and manage physical threats to critical infrastructure, including how to design safer buildings, organize access control, use modern security technology such as surveillance systems and plan responses to possible security incidents.

The course was based on materials from the forthcoming OSCE Technical Guide on Physical Security Considerations for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure from Terrorist Attacks, which offers practical advice and examples from across the OSCE area. Each participant received a copy of the guide for the use in their future work.

This training course is part of Project PROTECT, an OSCE initiative that helps participating States improve the protection of critical infrastructure and public spaces from terrorist and other security threats, while ensuring that all measures respect human rights.

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From 21 to 23 October, thirty government officials took part in a training course in Shymkent on strengthening the physical security of critical infrastructure (CI) against terrorist threats. The event was organized within the framework of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department’s Project PROTECT and the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, with financial support from Germany and the United States of America.

The new three-day training course was designed in response to a growing number of terrorist incidents targeting critical infrastructure across the OSCE region and beyond. The course considered a range of terrorist attack methods including explosive attacks, firearms and unmanned aerial systems and covered core components of physical security from strategies such as conceptualizing physical security at critical infrastructure sites, developing a security system and applying defence in depth principles, to technical measures such as access control systems, intrusion detection systems, security lighting, building structure, security screening practices, perimeter protection and others. The course structure reflected elements of the forthcoming Project PROTECT Technical Guide on Physical Security Considerations for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure from Terrorist Attacks, due to be released in November 2025. As a training aid, all participants received a copy of the Technical Guide, providing them with a consolidated reference document for their future work in protecting critical infrastructure.

“Conducting this course is a timely and relevant step that promotes the exchange of experience, professional development, as well as strengthening the capacity of units responsible for the security of facilities vulnerable to terrorism,” said Denis Rudkovsky, Deputy Head of the Specialized Security Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in his opening remarks.

Participants included regional experts and practitioners from the Department of Specialized Security Services of the Ministry of Internal Affairs as well as the Anti-Terrorism Centre. The training course also benefited from the insights of a guest lecturer from the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, in Germany, who shared international good practices and technical expertise on explosive impacts on building structures.

“The Organization consistently advocates for the fight against terrorism to be conducted in strict compliance with international law and states' human rights obligations. The OSCE and its Project PROTECT supports countries to exchange experiences, enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies, and develop effective measures to protect critical infrastructure. We are delighted to co-organize this event, which is the first of its kind,” highlighted Aidyn Alimbekov, Project Associate at the OSCE Programme Office in Astana.   

This course represents the seventh activity under Project PROTECT, which strengthens national approaches to protecting vulnerable targets from terrorist threats and other hazards, while ensuring compliance with human rights.

Les anciens présidents Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo et Thomas Boni Yayi pourraient bientôt siéger au sein du futur Sénat de la République du Bénin. Ce sera, suite à l'adoption et à la promulgation de la proposition de révision de la Constitution déposée le 31 octobre 2025 à l'Assemblée nationale par les honorables Aké Natondé et Assan Séibou, respectivement présidents des groupes parlementaires BR et UP-R.

Le texte de proposition de révision de la Constitution prévoit la création d'une seconde chambre parlementaire et institue le Sénat comme organe de stabilité et de continuité de l'État. Selon la proposition, cette nouvelle institution aura pour mission de garantir la sauvegarde des acquis de développement, la cohésion nationale et la paix sociale, tout en participant à la consolidation du débat démocratique.

La composition du Sénat, telle qu'envisagée, fera la part belle à l'expérience et à la sagesse politique. Elle inclura les anciens présidents de la République, les anciens présidents de l'Assemblée nationale, les anciens présidents de la Cour constitutionnelle ainsi que les chefs d'état-major des forces de défense et de sécurité. C'est pour « tenir compte des exigences d'une telle chambre politique d'une part, et des expériences requises dans la gestion des dossiers d'Etat d'autre part ». À ces personnalités, seront ajoutés les membres désignés par le président de la République et le Président de l'Assemblée nationale.

Les anciens présidents Nicéphore Soglo et Boni Yayi devraient y siéger en tant que membres. Une perspective qui suscite déjà beaucoup d'intérêt dans la classe politique. Leur présence au sein du futur Sénat symbolisera la continuité républicaine et offrira à la Nation l'opportunité de bénéficier de leur expérience, de leur vision et de leur sens de l'État. Le projet de révision, s'il est adopté et promulgué en l'état, permettra de renforcer le pouvoir législatif.

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On 30 and 31 October, the OSCE facilitated a study visit to Finland on virtual assets for representatives from Moldova’s Financial Intelligence Unit, National Bank, National Commission for Financial Market, Criminal Assets Recovery Agency, National Inspectorate for Investigation, and the Security and Intelligence Service.

The visit, hosted by the Finnish Financial Intelligence Unit and the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority, provided participants with practical insights into Finland’s approach to regulating and supervising Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) and managing risks related to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). The agenda also featured a session from the Bank of Finland on the relevance of digital currencies, evolving electronic payment systems and ongoing research in this area.

“Through discussions with FIU Finland, the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority, and the Bank of Finland, we gained a deeper understanding of how co-operation between financial intelligence, supervisory and central banking institutions supports effective regulation, financial integrity, and the safe development of the crypto asset market” said one of the participants.

The study visit comes at a particularly timely moment, as Moldova is in the process of developing its own regulatory and supervisory framework for virtual assets and VASPs. The exchange of experiences with Finnish authorities offered valuable guidance on effective approaches to licensing, monitoring, and mitigating risks in the evolving digital financial landscape.

The activity was organized as part of the OSCE extrabudgetary project, “Innovative policy solutions to mitigate money-laundering risks of virtual assets”, implemented by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, with the financial support of the Governments of Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Although lagging behind green finance, the market for social financial instruments, such as social bonds or social equity funds, has gained traction in recent years. This chapter focuses on the conceptual underpinnings of social finance. It also provides an overview of the heterogeneous definitions of social investments common in financial markets. It distinguishes between a focus on the impact of goods and services produced and one on process-related impacts in social investment criteria. The chapter describes a positive selection of sectors, exclusion of specific sectors, best-in-class procedures, and applying minimum standards as selection procedures commonly used for social financial instruments. The diversity of existing criteria and selection procedures in financial markets increases transaction costs, can facilitate deceptive practices, and might lead to adverse selection. Public governance frameworks are thus necessary to set common standards for social financial instruments.

Although lagging behind green finance, the market for social financial instruments, such as social bonds or social equity funds, has gained traction in recent years. This chapter focuses on the conceptual underpinnings of social finance. It also provides an overview of the heterogeneous definitions of social investments common in financial markets. It distinguishes between a focus on the impact of goods and services produced and one on process-related impacts in social investment criteria. The chapter describes a positive selection of sectors, exclusion of specific sectors, best-in-class procedures, and applying minimum standards as selection procedures commonly used for social financial instruments. The diversity of existing criteria and selection procedures in financial markets increases transaction costs, can facilitate deceptive practices, and might lead to adverse selection. Public governance frameworks are thus necessary to set common standards for social financial instruments.

Although lagging behind green finance, the market for social financial instruments, such as social bonds or social equity funds, has gained traction in recent years. This chapter focuses on the conceptual underpinnings of social finance. It also provides an overview of the heterogeneous definitions of social investments common in financial markets. It distinguishes between a focus on the impact of goods and services produced and one on process-related impacts in social investment criteria. The chapter describes a positive selection of sectors, exclusion of specific sectors, best-in-class procedures, and applying minimum standards as selection procedures commonly used for social financial instruments. The diversity of existing criteria and selection procedures in financial markets increases transaction costs, can facilitate deceptive practices, and might lead to adverse selection. Public governance frameworks are thus necessary to set common standards for social financial instruments.

La course à la tête de la DG Concurrence de la Commission se resserre à mesure que les enjeux politiques deviennent plus élevés. Seuls quelques candidats sont désormais considérés comme des prétendants sérieux, selon des responsables et avocats proches du processus interrogés par Euractiv.

The post Course à la direction de la DG Concurrence : un poste clé sous pression américaine appeared first on Euractiv FR.

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A two-day workshop, “Towards Responsible Business: A Workshop on Human Rights Due Diligence”, brought together representatives of government institutions, the private sector, trade unions, academia and international organizations to discuss how businesses can uphold human rights, prevent labour exploitation and strengthen transparency within their supply chains.

The event was organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan in partnership with the National Centre for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with the support of the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

Participants explored international standards and best practices related to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, as well as practical steps toward implementing Uzbekistan’s draft National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. Discussions focused on the role of business in promoting ethical labour practices, the importance of human rights due diligence, and the shared responsibility of government and business in preventing human trafficking and forced labour in supply chains.

“Respect for human rights and responsible business practices are essential for sustainable and inclusive economic development. This dialogue helps build shared understanding and stronger partnerships between government, business, and society,” said Ambassador Antti Karttunen, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

The workshop served as a platform to identify priorities and actions for the effective implementation of the forthcoming National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights in Uzbekistan.

By fostering open dialogue and sharing experiences from other OSCE participating States, the event encouraged companies in Uzbekistan to strengthen their human rights policies, improve labour standards and contribute to fair and sustainable economic growth.

With global supply chains under unprecedented strain, traders have a critical role to play.

Au lendemain de la commémoration du premier anniversaire de l'effondrement mortel de Novi Sad, la mère d'une victime a entamé une grève de la faim pour obtenir justice, devant le Parlement serbe et les soutiens du régime. La situation s'est rapidement tendue avec un millier de citoyens mobilisés contre la corruption.

Samia Suluhu Hassan a été investie présidente de la Tanzanie, lundi. Cette intronisation intervient dans un contexte de violences électorales qui ont fait des centaines de morts ces derniers jours, selon l'opposition. Cette dernière dénonce également un scrutin marqué par une absence de transparence.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2025 - EP

Babiš’ neue Koalition sucht Nähe zu Ungarn und der Slowakei – mit Verankerung der nationalen Währung in der Verfassung, staatlicher Energiehoheit und harter Asylpolitik.

Our policy brief, authored by Ben Crumpton, Melis Baydag, Niels Keijzer, Camilla Rocca, and Benedikt Erforth, delves into the multifaceted landscape of Africa’s digital transformation. Titled “Digital Transformation in Africa: From Gaps to Goals,” the brief offers a comprehensive analysis of the digital divide across the continent. It provides both a global perspective and a comparative examination of its various dimensions across and within African states. The main objective is to give an overview of the overall situation and trends in terms of moving African digital access from gaps to goals. The analysis primarily draws from three recent reports: the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU, 2024) Measuring Digital Development: Facts and Figures, the GSMA’s (2024) State of Mobile Internet Connectivity, and data from the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG, 2024). In addition to a review of literature and quantitative data, the analysis incorporates insights from discussions held during a side event organized by IDOS, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, and the European Think Tanks Group at the Ibrahim Governance Weekend on June 3, 2025, in Marrakesh.

Our policy brief, authored by Ben Crumpton, Melis Baydag, Niels Keijzer, Camilla Rocca, and Benedikt Erforth, delves into the multifaceted landscape of Africa’s digital transformation. Titled “Digital Transformation in Africa: From Gaps to Goals,” the brief offers a comprehensive analysis of the digital divide across the continent. It provides both a global perspective and a comparative examination of its various dimensions across and within African states. The main objective is to give an overview of the overall situation and trends in terms of moving African digital access from gaps to goals. The analysis primarily draws from three recent reports: the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU, 2024) Measuring Digital Development: Facts and Figures, the GSMA’s (2024) State of Mobile Internet Connectivity, and data from the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG, 2024). In addition to a review of literature and quantitative data, the analysis incorporates insights from discussions held during a side event organized by IDOS, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, and the European Think Tanks Group at the Ibrahim Governance Weekend on June 3, 2025, in Marrakesh.

Our policy brief, authored by Ben Crumpton, Melis Baydag, Niels Keijzer, Camilla Rocca, and Benedikt Erforth, delves into the multifaceted landscape of Africa’s digital transformation. Titled “Digital Transformation in Africa: From Gaps to Goals,” the brief offers a comprehensive analysis of the digital divide across the continent. It provides both a global perspective and a comparative examination of its various dimensions across and within African states. The main objective is to give an overview of the overall situation and trends in terms of moving African digital access from gaps to goals. The analysis primarily draws from three recent reports: the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU, 2024) Measuring Digital Development: Facts and Figures, the GSMA’s (2024) State of Mobile Internet Connectivity, and data from the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG, 2024). In addition to a review of literature and quantitative data, the analysis incorporates insights from discussions held during a side event organized by IDOS, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, and the European Think Tanks Group at the Ibrahim Governance Weekend on June 3, 2025, in Marrakesh.

Un groupe de députés européens de différents partis veut contester l’accord commercial UE-Mercosur devant la Cour de justice de l’Union européenne (CJUE), quelques semaines seulement avant sa signature, prévue en décembre au Brésil.

The post Des eurodéputés demandent un examen juridique de l’accord UE–Mercosur appeared first on Euractiv FR.