Politician from Northern Macedonia: Bulgaria’s clear and unequivocal “no” was natural
Politician from Northern Macedonia: Bulgaria’s clear and unequivocal “no” was natural

Instead of conducting a fraternal dialogue, we sought support and someone to “press” the older brother to let us into the EU, added Petar Kolev

“Bulgaria’s clear and unequivocal “no” to Northern Macedonia was a natural end to this stage of our relationship, because there are three key things that have happened” stated on June 25, 2021 in the studio of “Tazi Sutrin” on bTV by the chairman of the Civil Democratic Union in Northern Macedonia Petar Kolev. “First, our government overslept the Bulgarian framework and did not take the necessary diplomatic steps to try to find a direct solution with Sofia. Instead of seeking dialogue with the institutions and leaders in Bulgaria, our government decided that it should “This conversation with the leaders in Washington, Brussels and Berlin. Third, Zaev finally remembered Rumen Radev’s mandate that there is a presidential institution in Bulgaria. This is an extremely insincere attitude,” he added.

According to him, for the first time the Bulgarian side has emphasized an extremely important issue, namely the non-fulfillment of the Copenhagen criteria in the direction of human rights and discrimination against people in the Republic of Northern Macedonia who self-identify as Bulgarians.

“Instead of looking for a fraternal and sincere dialogue, as close relatives trying to find a solution, we tried to seek support and someone to ‘push’ the older brother to let us into the EU. This is not fair.” Kolev thinks.

He explained that more than 89% of the citizens of Northern Macedonia are in favor of NATO and EU membership.

Zaev: We don’t need the EU if someone wants us to negotiate the Macedonian language and identity!

Negotiations have not yet begun due to the internal situation in Bulgaria, which lacks a political government and a constituted parliament, he said.

Neither this government nor any other has the right to talk about the Macedonian language and Macedonian identity. This was emphasized by the Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia Zoran Zaev on June 25, 2021 at a parliamentary session, at which parliamentary questions were asked, reports Nezavisen Vesnik.

“We do not need the European Union if someone wants to negotiate the Macedonian language and the Macedonian identity. Because we will be depersonalized. There is no one to join the EU, because the majority of the people in the country are Macedonians,” Zaev said.

He responded to MP Rashela Mizrahi of VMRO-DPMNE, who asked why there were no talks with the EU and asked the prime minister to read the proposal with which he left for Sofia, BTA added.

Zaev explained that the roadmap is being discussed with Bulgaria, such as the proposal for solving the problem, which lists all areas for cooperation, such as building infrastructure, opening border crossings, better cooperation between institutions.

“The second part, which we focus on in the roadmap, is the intensity of the meetings of the Commission on Historical and Educational Issues, without specifying what the Commission is talking about, because there are experts there. In a place where the Macedonian language is mentioned,” that these are two similar but different and internationally recognized languages, “Zaev stressed.

He added that negotiations with the EU have not yet begun due to the internal situation in Bulgaria, which does not have a political government and a constituted parliament. Zaev believes that talks with Bulgaria will continue in the coming period.

New social commitments after the Porto Summit Meeting
New social commitments after the Porto Summit Meeting

As part of the social commitment of the Social Summit in Porto, the partners have brought together around three headline targets for 2030, set out in the Commission’s Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights. The participants in the meeting marked the following goals: At least 78% of people between the ages of 20 and 64 must be employed; At least 60% of all adults should take part in training each year; The number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion should be reduced by at least 15 million people, including at least 5 million children.

The summit marks a key moment for social rights in Europe, as the social partners and civil society call on EU Heads of State and Government to support the action plan and its headline targets, as well as to set ambitious national targets that can adequately contribute to achieving European goals.

The EU Social Summit aims to strengthen the commitment of Member States, the European institutions, the social partners and civil society to the implementation of the Action Plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights.

EC President Ursula von der Leyen has put the European Pillar of Social Rights at the heart of the Commission’s action to ensure a fair and inclusive recovery.

The social summit and the informal meeting of EU leaders in Porto are taking place on two consecutive days. The Social Summit will take place today, focusing on the best way to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa addressed the CoR’s plenary session last week, stressing the role of cities and regions as key partners in the success of Europe‘s fair, green and digital recovery.

EU leaders met in Porto on May 8th to agree on specific quantitative targets and deadlines for implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights, which was announced in 2017 in Gothenburg.

As stated in the Plan presented by the European Commission in March, the new headline targets assume that by 2030 at least 78% of people between the ages of 20 and 64 must be employed, at least 60% each year. of all adults should participate in training, and the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion should be reduced by at least 15 million.

The European Social Fund + will be one of the main instruments for the socio-economic recovery of the European Union from the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund’s budget for the next programming period 2021-2027 will amount to 99.26 billion euros. The European Fund for the Most Deprived will be integrated into the ESF +. It will provide food and basic material assistance to the most vulnerable groups in society.

In their Strategic Agenda 2019-2024, EU leaders have underlined that the Pillar needs to be implemented, turning its principles into action at Union and Member State level with due regard for the respective competences. In its resolutions on a Strong Social Europe for Just Transitions and on the Child Guarantee, the European Parliament also strongly emphasised the need for a strong shared commitment to the materialisation of the Pillar rights and principles. In the debates developed by the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions the relevance of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan was stressed.

ESF + funds will support social innovation, the labor market and the most vulnerable in society. Support will be given to people who have lost their jobs or are counting on reduced incomes. The 2021-2027 Human Resources Development Program will receive nearly BGN 4 billion from the total ESF + budget. Special emphasis will be placed on measures aimed at young people who want to improve their skills or improve their education in order to find a better job.

The projects will stimulate lifelong learning, equal opportunities on the labor market and improve labor mobility. Over the next seven years, training will be provided to develop the skills needed for digital and green transitions.

European Council President Tells Putin EU-Russian Relations At ‘Low Point’
European Council President Tells Putin EU-Russian Relations At ‘Low Point’

With a view to the European Council meeting of 25 and 26 March a phone call between the President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin took place on Monday 22 March 2021.

The Presidents discussed relations between the EU and Russia.

President Michel expressed the view that EU-Russia ties are at a low point and confirmed the EU’s approach of the five guiding principles, based on the EU’s core values.

There is currently disagreement in many areas.

From the EU perspective, the relationship with Russia can only take a different direction if there is sustained progress on issues like the implementation of the Minsk agreements, stopping hybrid and cyber-attacks on Member States and respect for human rights. In this context Alexey Navalny’s case was raised. Charles Michel reiterated the EU’s call on the Russian authorities to release Mr Navalny and proceed with a transparent investigation into the assassination attempt on him.

The leaders also exchanged views on the Covid pandemic, on vaccines and on regional and global issues.

European parliamentarians warn against de facto West Bank annexation
European parliamentarians warn against de facto West Bank annexation

A group of 442 parliamentarians from 22 European countries have urged the European Union to take action to prevent de facto Israeli annexation of the West Bank.“The recent regional normalization agreements with Israel have led to the suspension of plans to formally annex West Bank territory,” the European parliamentarians said in a letter to EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell and the EU’s 27 foreign ministers.

“However, developments on the ground clearly point to a reality of rapidly progressing de facto annexation, especially through accelerated settlement expansion and demolition of Palestinian structures.”The parliamentarians asked the EU to take advantage of the Biden administration’s disapproval of settlement activity, and its desire to reengage with Palestinians, by working with the US to “renew efforts” to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Europe must work with the Biden administration, countries in the region and the parties on the ground to prevent unilateral action from undermining the possibility of peace,” they wrote.

The EU’s member countries should make use of available diplomatic tools such as the 2016 UNSC Resolution 2334 that requires nations not to recognize the settlements as part of Israel, the parliamentarians said. That means “diplomatic, legal and financial support for Palestinian communities at risk of demolition and forcible transfer should be increased,” they explained.“Active European support for Palestinian reconciliation and elections across all the Palestinian territory is vital,” also for ending the isolation of Gaza,” they added.

The letter was the initiative of four Israelis; former attorney-general Michael Ben-Yair, former Labor MK Avraham Burg, former New Israel Fund president Naomi Chazan and former Meretz Party head Zahava Gal-On.

The parliamentarians who signed onto the letter were from: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The European Union has already called on Israel to halt the demolition of illegal Palestinian structures in Area C of the West Bank and to stop settlement activity.

Last Friday seven European countries with current and past membership in the United Nations Security Council stated their opposition to demolitions and settlement activity.

“We recall our firm opposition to Israel’s settlement policy and actions taken in that context, such as forced transfers, evictions, demolitions and confiscations of homes and humanitarian assets, which are illegal under international law…  and are an impediment to a viable two-state solution.

”The seven ambassadors who signed onto the statement were from Estonia, France, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom.

Leave.EU donor Arron Banks loses data breach appeal
Leave.EU donor Arron Banks loses data breach appeal

The Leave.EU campaign and the insurance company owned by the political group’s key financial backer, Arron Banks, have lost an appeal against £105,000 of fines for data protection violations in the wake of the EU referendum campaign.

The companies were issued the fines two years ago, for including promotions for Banks’s GoSkippy insurance brand in emails to Leave.EU subscribers between August 2016 and February 2017.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) had said then that the two organisations were closely linked, with “ineffective” systems for segregating the data of insurance customers from that of political subscribers.

Leave.EU was also fined £15,000 for using Eldon Insurance customers’ details unlawfully to send out almost 300,000 political marketing messages, before the referendum. An initial appeal against that ruling was withdrawn in May 2019.

In February 2019, when the fines and an audit into both companies’ use of data was announced, the information commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, said: “It is deeply concerning that sensitive personal data gathered for political purposes was later used for insurance purposes, and vice versa. It should never have happened.”

The fines against which Leave.EU and Eldon Insurance had tried to appeal in the latest case were for sending more than 1 million emails to Leave.EU subscribers, containing adverts for discounted insurance from GoSkippy, a brand name used by Eldon.

The information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham. Photograph: ICO press office/PA

The campaign negligently disobeyed electronic marketing regulations in doing so, the ICO found.

The latest tribunal ruling noted findings of a previous court that both companies have a “confusingly two-faced approach to regulation” of personal data. It also noted that Banks had admitted being “untruthful”, and used a “bullying tone” in correspondence about the case.

“Mr Banks’s letter to the information commissioner admitting that he had been untruthful in the past was hardy likely to assuage all regulatory concerns, especially as it was followed by his letter of bullying tone,” the earlier ruling found.

Banks said Leave.EU and Eldon Insurance “will be appealing the fines to a higher court in due course”. He said the ruling would prevent newspapers and publishers from sending offers to subscribers.

The judges had addressed this argument, saying that Leave.EU’s privacy policy was so loosely drafted, it amounted to “signing a blank cheque”, and “frustrated the ability of its subscribers to consent to receive a political newsletter and nothing else”.

Because of this, the lower tribunal had been entitled “to find on the facts that subscribers did not ‘consent’, as that term is properly understood, to receiving direct marketing about Eldon’s insurance products”, the ruling said.

The judges also said that previous breaches of data protection law at Leave.EU and Eldon Insurance “should have put the parties on guard”.

The fines were initially announced as part of a wide-ranging investigation by the ICO into political uses of voters’ data, launched in 2017 following revelations in the Observer.

Denham, the commissioner, said it uncovered “a disturbing disregard for voters’ personal privacy”, and showed that the digital electoral ecosystem needed reform.

The ICO’s investigation involved 71 witnesses, 30 organisations with data practices under review, and more than 700 terabytes of data being assessed by investigators.

source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/14/leaveeu-donor-arron-banks-loses-data-breach-appeal

Jordan: EIB and the Housing Bank join forces to support SMEs
Jordan: EIB and the Housing Bank join forces to support SMEs
    • €100 million of financing to support economic resilience of Jordan
    • Team Europe response to tackle the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
    • Funds to support private sector in Jordan

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is partnering with Housing Bank to support the Jordanian economy with a €100 million line of credit to local private sector businesses that have been severely impacted by the economic consequences of the coronavirus outbreak.

The operation represents a coordinated effort with the European Union and forms part of Team Europe’s overall response to the Covid-19 crisis, which aims to support sustainable social and economic recovery of the region. It also falls under the EU-EIB Economic Resilience Initiative (ERI), which amongst its primary objectives, intends to promote private sector development through the support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as key players for generating economic growth and employment opportunities in Jordan.

Dario Scannapieco, Vice President of the EIB, said “It is one of the EIB’s top priorities to support the resilience of the private sector during this unprecedented crisis with the provision of most needed funding through our cooperation with the Jordanian banking sector. Our partnership with Housing Bank for Trade and Finance aims to make available vital financing local businesses to help them cope with the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of the Team Europe response, we are committed to stepping up our support for Jordan to address the immediate challenges caused by the pandemic, as well as laying the foundations for a successful economic recovery after the crisis.”

Housing Bank’s CEO Ammar Safadi said, “This cooperation agreement is especially valued at Housing Bank, demonstrating the depth of the trust that EIB has placed in us as well as cementing their belief in our ability to support private-sector companies and especially the SMEs, a sector that we pay particular attention to due to its positive role in stimulating economic growth and providing job opportunities.” He pointed out that Housing Bank has established a specialized department dedicated to supporting SMEs to obtain the necessary and needed funding through programs that offer preferential rates.

Safadi went on to say the Housing Bank was among the first Jordanian banks to launch a financing program to support SMEs, helping them counteract the negative repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic by offering them low interest rates of just 2%, a move that is in line with the Central Bank of Jordan’s directions in April 2020 in response to the Jordan Loan Guarantee Corporation’s initiative. Safadi explained that the financing program offers excellent terms and competitive costs as a means of facilitating SME financing, helping them cover their operational costs and working capital in order to continue operations, pay employee salaries and meet their running costs.

Housing Bank Chief Executive Officer Ammar Al-Safadi said, “The European Investment Bank’s ardent financial support for the SME sector, which is the backbone of Jordan’s economy and a key driver of the economy, will go a long way towards recovery from the difficulties brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. Through these funds, we will be able to continue supporting the sector and safeguarding jobs while simultaneously strengthening the economy’s resilience.”

The EU Ambassador to Jordan, H.E. Maria Hadjitheodosiou, welcomed the financing provided by the EIB to Housing Bank, underlining the importance of supporting SMEs in maintaining jobs and creating economic growth.  The EU Ambassador added that this financing is complementary to other EU ongoing programs that aim to support economic growth, such as the €64 million programme “EU Support to Economic Reforms for Growth and Jobs in Jordan” that supports the implementation of the Government’s economic reform plans to improve private sector competitiveness and the investment climate, whilst strengthening public finance management.

Background information

SMEs are the backbone of the Jordanian economy as they account for over 95% of local businesses, contribute to more than 50% of GDP, and employ about 60% of the working population. As a consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak, many companies have experienced a decrease in turnover and profitability, leading to payment delays and an increased demand for liquidity. It is now crucial to step up support to private sector businesses, thus helping to protect jobs and keep the economy going.

About Housing Bank:

Established in 1973 under a private law as a Jordanian public limited company, Housing Bank started its work as a bank specialized in housing finance with a capital of half a million Jordanian dinars. After 24 years of its establishment, a new phase began in the Bank’s journey when it became a comprehensive commercial bank in 1997. The Bank’s capital was raised more than once during the past years, the last of which was in 2017, when it reached 315 million Jordanian dinars (equivalent to 444 million US dollars). The Bank’s successive administrations have been keen to increase its capital base by strengthening its various reserves. Throughout its journey, the Bank was able to occupy a leading position in the Jordanian banking sector, and is today considered the largest bank in Jordan in terms of the number of branches, ATMs, and savings account balances. The Bank has received several important awards.

For more information, visit our website: www.hbtf.com

Note to the editor

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the European Union’s bank. It is the long-term lending institution of the EU and is the only bank owned by and representing the interests of the European Union Member States. The EIB works closely with other EU institutions to implement EU policy.

Jordan and the EIB

EIB in the region

Economic Resilience Initiative:

Follow us on twitter :@eib

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanInvestmentBank/

European Union Ready To Engage With Biden Administration To Resolve Trade Disputes
European Union Ready To Engage With Biden Administration To Resolve Trade Disputes

The European Union and US both said they looking to resolve a conflict over aircraft manufacturing that has lasted nearly two decades, according to reports.

The US Trade Representative’s office plans to refrain from revising existing tariffs on European goods right now, changes that would have been possible during periodic reviews, and wants to settle a 17-year-long battle over government subsidies provided The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) and Europe’s Airbus SE (OTC US: EADSY), Reuters reported.

In response, an EU spokesperson told the media outlet that Europe is “ready to engage with the new U.S. administration” and wants to “find solutions to our ongoing trade disputes, including on Airbus/Boeing.”

Since 2004, the US and EU have clashed over alleged unfair trade practices, with each claiming the other provided support to private companies, such as Boeing and Airbus, which is a violation of international trade agreements.

The World Trade Organization has ruled favorably for the US and EU at different points, issuing orders for each to offset its rival’s benefit by levying tariffs on a total of $11.5 billion in goods. Both have since moved to roll back the tax subsidies at the center of the dispute, according to CNBC.

President Joe Biden has said he wants to restore good ties with traditional US allies, including countries in the EU, after they were strained by the Trump administration’s “America First” approach to trade and foreign policy.

French President Emmanuel Macron and envoys from the UK and EU have been pushing Biden for resolution on the issue.

If it is not resolved, EU Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis has said China – which provides 100% subsidies to its aircraft manufacturers – could soon flood the global market in that sector, Foreign Policy reported.

Talks are on hold until Biden’s nominee for top trade negotiator, Katherine Tai, is confirmed in her job by the US Senate. Reuters reported the process “could take several more weeks” and noted that a confirmation hearing has not been scheduled yet.

_____

Source: Equities News

COMTEX_380830080/2659/2021-02-13T21:20:24

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EU for lasting solution to Rohingya crisis
EU for lasting solution to Rohingya crisis

President of the European Council Charles Michel has reaffirmed European Union’s continued support to Bangladesh for a lasting and peaceful solution to the Rohingya crisis.

He said this when Ambassador Mahbub Hassan Saleh, the newly-appointed Head of Mission of Bangladesh to the EU, met him to present his Letters of Credence in Brussels on Thursday.

Ambassador Saleh stressed the need for Myanmar authorities taking credible measures to generate confidence among the forcibly-displaced Rohingyas, temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh, for their safe, dignified and sustainable return to the Rakhine State.

President Michel recalled his previous meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, including the last one held in Madrid in December 2019.

Ambassador Saleh also conveyed the greetings of the president and the prime minister of Bangladesh to the president of the European Council.

The European Council president acknowledged Bangladesh’s preoccupation with climate change, and noted the current presidency of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF).

Saleh suggested establishing a dedicated bilateral platform between Bangladesh and the EU for exchanging views and working more closely to address the challenges of climate change.

He also suggested holding a CVF-EU leaders’ meeting, during the lead-up to UNFCCC COP-26 in the UK later this year.

Michel responded positively to these suggestions.

The Bangladesh ambassador also underscored the need for expanding the scope of Bangladesh-European Union partnership.

He also conveyed Bangladesh prime minister’s invitation to the European Council president to visit the country at his earliest convenience.

The meeting took place following the existing health regulations in Belgium.

The ambassador was accompanied by Md Safiul Azam, counsellor (commerce) and Kaniz Fatema, first secretary (political) of the mission.

Update on COVID-19: cautious optimism
Update on COVID-19: cautious optimism

Statement by Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe

Copenhagen, 11 February 2021

Good morning,

Even though we’re still seeing more than 1 million cases reported every week across the European Region, the overall case incidence of COVID-19 has been declining for 4 consecutive weeks, and for 2 weeks in a row, the number of new deaths has decreased.

Whilst this is good news, the decline in cases conceals increasing numbers of outbreaks and community spread involving variants of concern, meaning that we need to watch overall trends in transmission carefully and avoid rash decisions.

The numbers we are seeing are still too high. Two days ago, 40 countries in the European Region reported 3610 deaths in 24 hours, caused by COVID-19.

At this point, the overwhelming majority of European countries remain vulnerable. Right now, it’s a thin line between the hope of a vaccine and a false sense of security.

Based on information from 29 out of the 37 countries currently vaccinating in the European Region today, 7.8 million people have completed their immunization series. That’s equivalent to only 1.5% of the population of those 29 countries.

Yesterday, 17 states and territories in the WHO European Region had a 14-day incidence larger than 400 reported cases for every 100 000 people. This warrants measured decision-making at this critical juncture.

Time and again have we seen countries reopen too fast and lose hard-earned gains. I must reiterate that decisions to lift public health and social measures need to be underpinned with data, based on epidemiological assessment and health system capacity. Criteria need to be evidence-based – and not based on observations of relative progress.

Many of you worry about new variants, about how infectious they are, whether the disease they cause is more severe, whether vaccines will be less effective against them. Some variants are indeed of particular concern. We have all followed the reports on how receptive the variant B.1.351, first identified in South Africa, is to the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.

This particular variant of concern has been reported in 19 European countries. Although community transmission in Europe is not yet widespread, the variant has increasingly been linked to outbreaks in communities. Irrespective of the variant, we must continue to suppress the virus.

Yesterday, the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization concluded, based on all available evidence, that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine can be used in persons aged 18 years and above, including people older than 65 years.

What does the emergence of these variants mean?

It means that we must do everything in our power to reduce transmission and delay mutations that may influence vaccine efficacy. Unless we halt transmission now, the expected benefits from vaccinations in controlling this pandemic may not be evident.

This means that manufacturers will have to adjust to the virus’ evolution. This also underlines the importance of maintaining a diverse portfolio of vaccines of varied technology platforms for use in a range of settings.

Vaccines are essential, but as of now, they are not sufficient to control the pandemic. They are only one among many tools at our disposal.

What has not changed is how the virus transmits. Temporary setbacks do not change the fact that current responses are having an impact. Despite new variants, WHO’s guidance on social and public health measures remains unchanged.

There is some more good news.

Thirty-five state parties have extended their genetic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2, as have 18 others supported by WHO’s reference laboratories, due to the growing importance of identifying new variants.

Based on data from nearly 20 countries, the hospitalization rate due to COVID-19 fell from 13 to 11 per 100 000 people, between the 3rd and 4th week of January. A decrease, yes, but many of our hospitals continue to struggle.

The number of vaccine doses given has also exceeded the number of reported cases in the Region: some 41 million doses administered, versus 36 million reported cases.

Vaccination of priority groups is already saving lives. But the sheer scale of COVID-19 vaccine deployment is enormous; vaccinations will take time.

Vaccines offer a way to emerge faster from this pandemic. But only if we ensure that all countries, irrespective of income level, have access to them.

The divide between high-, middle- and low-income countries is clearer than ever. Unfair access to vaccines can backfire. The longer the virus lingers, the greater the risk of dangerous mutations.

Equitable access is a moral imperative, one that mitigates the pandemic’s impact on all of us, not just some.

Together with the European Union, today we launch a €40 million programme to ensure effective deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in 6 countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. This complements ongoing work through COVAX and the EU sharing mechanism, with an initial focus on readiness, information campaigns, supplies and training of health workers.

Yesterday, I also signed an agreement with the EU to support the countries of the western Balkans in their efforts. In addition, we have a joint EU–WHO programme for the response across the central Asia region.

The time to scale up and accelerate vaccine production is now. We’re calling for a joint European effort to get vaccination programmes on track. Manufacturers and health-care providers need to share clinical data and dossiers with us so that we can accelerate Emergency Use Listings. We are also identifying smaller production sites with enough capacity and quality criteria in place to help manufacturing of vaccine components. Again, the key here is solidarity and pragmatism, through synergizing vaccine production capacity.

Finally, a very happy birthday to Sister Andre, Europe’s oldest person, a French nun who celebrates her 117th birthday today. A COVID-19 survivor, there’s a remarkable lesson to be learned from Sister Andre, who, during her illness, selflessly showed more concern for her fellow nursing home residents than for her own life.

Look after each other, and please stay safe.

Thank you.

Hauliers say exports to European Union are down 68pc since Brexit
Hauliers say exports to European Union are down 68pc since Brexit

A survey of worldwide hauliers has discovered the quantity of exports travelling from British ports to the EU fell 68 per cent final month in contrast to the identical interval final 12 months.

The analysis by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) prompted it to write to Cabinet Minister Michael Gove to name for help, notably with growing the variety of customs brokers from 10,000 to 50,0000 to assist companies with additional post-Brexit paperwork.

Chief govt Richard Burnett instructed The Observer that the RHA had additionally discovered 65-75 per cent of autos arriving from the EU have been returning to the bloc empty due to an absence of products, hold-ups within the UK and since British firms had halted exports to the continent.

Mr Burnett stated he discovered it “deeply frustrating and annoying that ministers have chosen not to listen to the industry and experts”, who’ve constantly referred to as for higher session by Government.

He stated Mr Gove had not responded in writing “pretty much every time we have written over the last six months”.

“He tends to get officials to start working on things. But the responses are a complete waste of time because they don’t listen to what the issues were that we raised in the first place,” Mr Burnett stated.

The Government supplied a six-month grace interval following Brexit, permitting the suspension of the complete vary of bodily checks on imports till July.

On Thursday, former Tory chancellor Lord Lamont warned pink tape linked to the Brexit deal had rendered most enterprise between Britain and Northern Ireland uneconomic.

Two weeks earlier, the RHA stated a 12-month grace interval and pressing monetary assist have been wanted to iron out issues with the post-Brexit Irish Sea commerce border.

The UK Government insisted “goods are flowing effectively” between Britain and Northern Ireland.

Read extra: 

But Mr Burnett stated on January 20: “This is a monetary precipice haemorrhaging cash.

“There needs to be financial intervention immediately.”

Russia Expels European Diplomats, Top EU Official Laments ‘Low Point’ In Relations
Russia Expels European Diplomats, Top EU Official Laments ‘Low Point’ In Relations

Moscow said it was expelling diplomats from three European Union members saying they participated in protests to support opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, a topic that the bloc’s top diplomat said earlier in the day had brought bilateral relations to a “low point.”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Swedish ambassador, the charge d’affaires of Poland, and the German envoy were summoned to the ministry where a protest was lodged with the diplomats in connection with the “recorded participation of diplomatic employees of the Consulates General of the Kingdom of Sweden and the Republic of Poland in St. Petersburg and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Moscow in illegal actions on January 23.”

The announcement came hours after EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell met his counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow, amid a deterioration of relations that has worsened in recent weeks over Navalny’s detention and a crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Many of the EU’s 27 members, along with the United States, have demanded the release of the 44-year-old Kremlin critic, who survived a nerve-agent poisoning in August 2020 that he accuses Putin of ordering.

Borrell “strongly condemned” Moscow’s decision on the expulsions when he was informed of them during a meeting with Lavrov and “rejected the allegations that they conducted activities incompatible with their status as foreign diplomats,” the EU official’s spokesman said.

“The decision should be reconsidered,” said the spokesman, Peter Stano.

Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters that the “unjustified” expulsion of German diplomats was “yet another aspect that can be observed right now of Russia being quite far from the rule of law.”

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a statement that the Russian decision is “further damaging relations with Europe” and will “not go unanswered.”

The Polish Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian envoy to Warsaw to protest against Moscow’s move and said it “expects the Russian authorities to reverse this erroneous decision.”

“Otherwise, Poland leaves itself the option to take appropriate steps,” the ministry said in a statement.

A spokeswoman for Sweden’s Foreign Ministry said that one of its diplomats was being expelled from the country and rejected “Russia’s claim that the diplomat participated in the demonstration.”

Strained Relations

French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned Russia’s expulsion of European diplomats, saying: “With regards to the Navalny affair, I condemn with the greatest firmness from start to finish what has happened, from his poisoning…to the expulsion of German, Polish, and Swedish diplomats decided by Russia.”

The first visit by a senior EU envoy to Moscow since 2017 started tensely, with Borrell noting as he headed into his first meeting with Lavrov that “our relationship is indeed in a difficult moment.”

“I have conveyed to minister Lavrov our deep concern and reiterated our appeal [for] his release and the launch of an impartial investigation of his poisoning,” Borrell told journalists after the morning round of talks.

Lavrov, who told reporters as he headed into the meeting with Borrell that “a fair review” of Russia-EU relations was “long overdue.”

He also noted that Moscow had noticed how Brussels was increasingly behaving like the United States and imposing unilateral restrictions on countries.

“For Russia, the EU is an unreliable partner,” Lavrov said as the two sides took a break.

While Russian officials have accused the West of interfering, Borrell said before arriving in Moscow that his visit was “not about meddling in internal affairs,” but rather “universal principles and international commitments.” He cited that Russia has signed on as a member of the Council of Europe and as a participating state of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Navalny was sentenced on February 2 to 3 1/2 years in jail for violating the terms of a suspended sentence while recovering in Germany from the poisoning. Because of time already served, the judge said Navalny will spend 2 years and 8 months in prison.

Burundi, European Union agree to work together towards restoring relations
Burundi, European Union agree to work together towards restoring relations
Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Albert Shingiro.

After a nearly five-year suspension of direct collaboration between the Burundian government and the European Union, a high-level political dialogue was launched Tuesday with a view to restoring relations with the EU and its member states.

The two delegations met in Bujumbura on Tuesday and were led by Ambassador Albert Shingiro, Burundian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Claude Bochu, European Union envoy in Burundi.

The resumption of exchanges between the two delegations also saw the participation of Ambassadors of the European Union member states in Burundi.

According to a joint statement released by the delegations, the resumption of political dialogue constitutes a shared priority that will benefit the people of Burundi and Europe.

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The delegations agreed to work together towards restoring relations.

‘’I am delighted with the spirit of openness and mutual trust which characterised the resumption of political dialogue. The exchanges took place in a constructive environment with the ultimate goal being to get concrete results as soon as possible,’’ tweeted Ambassador Shingiro.

Both parties recalled that Burundi and the member states drawn from the European Union are historical partners anxious to strengthen their bonds of friendship and cooperation.

This comes days after President Evariste Ndayishimiye, held a ceremony with members of the diplomatic community accredited to Bujumbura where he reaffirmed the will of his government to strengthen the bonds of cooperation with friendly countries and partners.

In 2016, the EU suspended all direct funding to the Burundian government for failing to meet EU concerns over its human rights record, including the loss of over 400 lives.

Unrest erupted in Burundi, a landlocked African country, in 2015 against a decision by late President Pierre Nkurunziza to run for a third term, which the opposition said was illegal.

With an aid package worth some €430 million ($520 million) for the period 2015-2020, the EU is Burundi’s biggest donor.

The Ndayishimiye-led administration has been hailed for opening up the East African country to regional investors and the international community.

Christian Nibasumba, Burundi representative of Trade Mark East Africa said he was encouraged to see the high-level political dialogue between Bujumbura and the European Union with a view to resuming good ties.

PM urges EU action to ease Brexit tensions in NI
PM urges EU action to ease Brexit tensions in NI

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called for “urgent action” from the EU amid rising tensions over post-Brexit checks at Northern Ireland ports.

UK and EU leaders are to hold talks to try to resolve the trade issues between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Checks on goods were suspended on Tuesday after threats to staff.

The UK government wrote to the European Commission overnight, calling for temporary lighter enforcement of the rules to be extended until early 2023.

But Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Arlene Foster, issued a warning against “just kicking things down the road”, telling BBC Radio Ulster: “We need to find solutions that are sustainable, that are workable and long lasting.”

On Tuesday, Mr Johnson said the EU had “undermined” the Brexit deal by threatening emergency controls of Covid vaccine exports across the Irish border.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said the threat had been a “mistake that shouldn’t have happened”.

But he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there was a separate issue to address over trade rules, and it was Brexit “causing all of this tension” – not the measures being put in place.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, who will be representing the UK government in talks with the EU Commission’s Maros Sefcovic and Northern Ireland’s devolved administration, said a three-month grace period with lighter enforcement of EU rules should be extended beyond March.

The UK government wrote to the European Commission on Tuesday night to outline the changes it wanted made, which would continue temporary exemptions for supermarket goods, pharmaceuticals, chilled meats and parcels crossing from GB to Northern Ireland.

According to a copy of a letter seen by the BBC, the UK would want these exemptions to stay in place until 1 January 2023.

It comes after hauliers experienced problems transporting goods from Great Britain.

Some parcel deliveries were stopped and supermarkets struggled to restock some products last month, although some of these problems have since been resolved.

“Trust has been eroded, damage has been done and urgent action is therefore needed,” Mr Gove told the House of Commons on Tuesday, adding that supermarkets and other businesses needed to be sure they could continue to supply consumers.

Mr Gove has also asked the EU to examine its decision to ban the import into Northern Ireland of some items like seed potatoes, and the UK wants the Irish government to be able to negotiate a deal with the UK to remove barriers to pets being taken across the Irish Sea.

Ahead of the meeting, Mr Sefcovic tweeted that the protocol was “a cornerstone” of the agreement between the UK and EU, and “the only way to protect Good Friday Agreement”.

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Analysis box by Laura Kuenssberg, political editor

What happens to parcels or dogs moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland might sound like small issues.

But they are huge, because they threaten to break one of the things that was part of the promise in the post-Brexit protocol – that what happened would not disrupt the daily lives of people living in Northern Ireland.

And, as we have seen in the past few days, this combination of all of these small changes could destabilise the very sensitive balance in Northern Ireland between the two different communities.

The government has no intention of ditching this protocol. That is not going to happen, even though the past few days have given the DUP and some Eurosceptics reason to call again for it to be abandoned.

But the government is really clear that they want to very quickly persuade the EU, as one minister put it to me, to start being pragmatic about this, rather than being purist.

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When the Brexit transition period ended in January, Northern Ireland remained in the EU single market while the rest of the UK left, meaning that checks had to be carried out on goods arriving from Great Britain.

Unionists have criticised these rules, known as the Northern Ireland protocol, as damaging to trade and posing a risk to UK unity. In recent days, graffiti opposing the Irish Sea border has been painted in some loyalist areas, referring to staff carrying out checks on goods at ports as “targets”.

Stormont suspended physical checks on food consignments at two ports on Tuesday amid the security concerns, although police said paramilitary groups are not involved.

Mr Johnson said on Twitter that his commitment to people of Northern Ireland and the union was “unshakeable”.

He called for “urgent action from the EU to resolve outstanding problems” with the way the protocol was implemented, to preserve the Good Friday Agreement and ensure “Northern Ireland benefits from Brexit just like every other part of our United Kingdom”.

Recent moves by the EU had “undermined the protocol and understandably provoked concern”, he said.

Ireland’s Mr Coveney said “elements of protocol are causing problems” and the two sides “need to focus on improving” it, but he said Brexit was to blame for growing tensions in Northern Ireland, rather than the protocol itself.

He told Today: “Senior political figures need to talk seriously now about trying to diffuse tension which is clearly there and need to talk about how we can make protocol work effectively.

“[The protocol] is an Irish and British and EU negotiated solution, an agreed solution to try to limit the disruptive impact of Brexit on Ireland and Northern Ireland.

“What is causing all of this tension is Brexit, not the protocol. The protocol is an attempt to try and reduce tension and solve problems linked to Brexit.”

‘Calling for calm’

Amid a dispute with manufacturers over supplies, the EU on Friday briefly threatened to use an emergency measure to override part of the deal and restrict the export of vaccines.

It was concerned that Northern Ireland could be used as a way to bypass export controls, using its place in the single market as a backdoor to the rest of the UK.

The dispute has intensified pressure among some unionist politicians to end the checks on goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, with the DUP saying it intends to work with other unionist parties to send a message that Northern Ireland must be “freed from the protocol”.

Ms Foster, the party’s leader, is due to meet Mr Johnson on Wednesday morning, to discuss her concerns before attending the talks with the EU Commission in the afternoon.

Also at the talks will be Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Fein’s vice-president and Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister, who said the DUP was “whipping up hysteria” while others were “calling for calm and resolution”.

Mr Coveney said the move by the Commission on Friday had been “a mistake”, adding: “It should not have happened and would not have happened if there had been the appropriate consultation.”

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What is the NI protocol?

Part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, the NI protocol guarantees an open border between the EU and Northern Ireland, with no controls on exported products.

It was introduced to avoid creating a hard border on the island of Ireland.

Instead there are checks on some products travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

This is because Northern Ireland in effect remains part of the EU single market for goods while the rest of the UK has left.

However, Article 16 of the protocol part of the deal allows the EU and UK to choose to suspend any aspects they consider are causing “economic, societal or environmental difficulties”.

The EU announced it would trigger the clause to control exports of vaccines to Northern Ireland, but later reversed the decision.

Unionist parties in NI have been pressing the UK government to use Article 16 to reduce checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

Malaysia takes WTO legal action against EU over palm biofuel curbs
Malaysia takes WTO legal action against EU over palm biofuel curbs

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is taking legal action at the global trade watchdog against the European Union and member states France and Lithuania for restricting palm oil-based biofuels, the government said.

The world’s second largest palm oil producer, which has called a EU renewable-energy directive “discriminatory action,” is seeking consultations under the World Trade Organization’s Dispute Settlement Mechanism, the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry said in a statement on Friday (Jan 15).

Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said the EU proceeded with implementing the directive without considering Malaysia’s commitment and views, even after Malaysia gave feedback and sent economic and technical missions to Europe.

The EU directive “will mean the use of palm oil as biofuel in the EU cannot be taken into account in the calculation of renewable energy targets and in turn create undue trade restrictions to the country’s palm oil industry,” he said in the statement.

The ministry filed the WTO request with cooperation from the Attorney General’s Chambers and the International Trade and Industry Ministry, taking action it had warned of in July against EU Renewable Energy Directive II.Advertisement

Malaysia will act as a third party in a separate WTO case lodged by neighbouring Indonesia, the world’s biggest palm oil producer, as a sign of solidarity and support, the ministry statement said.

EU Favors Autocrats over Values
EU Favors Autocrats over Values
Rule of Law Conditionality Preserved, but Implementation Severely Delayed

It smacks of irony that on Human Rights Day, the European Union caved into pressure and granted another concession to Hungary and Poland’s rights-abusing leaders in order to reach a deal on the EU budget. Germany, in one of its last acts as rotating EU president, brokered the compromise with an “interpretative declaration” that ties the European Commission’s hands when it comes to conditioning EU funding upon respect for the rule of law.

The declaration, agreed last night, will likely have the effect of delaying for months, even years, the use of this innovative and once-promising tool. It commits the Commission to draft additional guidelines before applying the conditionality regulation, but then also says that the Commission should wait for a ruling of the EU Court of Justice before finalizing such guidelines, if Hungary or Poland decides to contest the legality of the regulation.

While the new concession won’t be a long-term victory for Hungary and Poland’s leadership, it offers them a chance to buy considerable time and consolidate their autocratic power with little consequences for years.

At the very least, the European Council should insist that any case before the EU Court be expedited to minimize delays in the effective use of rule of law conditionality. The European Commission should also make it clear that it could apply the conditionality regulation right from its entry into force – because the declaration is a non-legally-binding mechanism.

Although the German government had put the protection of fundamental values and rights in its top priorities for its presidency, it failed to propel forward the Council’s scrutiny of Hungary and Poland under Article 7 – the EU’s process to deal with governments putting the Union’s values at risk – and even declined recently to participate in a European Parliament debate on the rule of law in both countries. It is disappointing that Germany’s time in the EU rotating presidency ended with yet another concession to the bloc’s authoritarian-minded rulers.

The last weeks have shown that leaders who violate human rights have no shame in bullying and blackmailing the whole EU to shield themselves from any consequences for their actions. Now that the budget saga is over, EU leaders should urgently give Hungarian and Polish citizens fighting for their rights the attention they deserve, give full way to the new conditionality mechanism, and revive their scrutiny under Article 7.

Iran summons German ambassador over EU criticism of journalist’s execution – media
Iran summons German ambassador over EU criticism of journalist’s execution – media
Iran has summoned the ambassador of Germany, current holder of the European Union’s rotating presidency, over EU criticism of the execution of an Iranian journalist, Iranian media reported on Sunday.

Zam was convicted of fomenting violence during anti-government protests in 2017.  Founder of the popular Telegram channel Amadnews, feed had more than 1 million followers. The Supreme Court of Iran upheld the verdict on December 8.

The EU said in a statement after his execution: “The European Union condemns this act in the strongest terms and recalls once again its irrevocable opposition to the use of capital punishment under any circumstances.”

The French Foreign Ministry called the execution a “barbaric and unacceptable act”, saying in a statement: “France condemns in the strongest possible terms this serious breach of free expression and press freedom in Iran.”

Amnesty International and press advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also condemned the execution.

Iranian officials have accused the United States, as well asTehran’s regional rival Saudi Arabia and government opponents living in exile, of stoking the unrest that began in late 2017as regional protests over economic hardship spread nationwide.

Officials said 21 people were killed during the unrest and thousands were arrested. The unrest was among the worst Iran has seen in decades, and was followed by even deadlier protests last year against fuel price rises.

EPP supports Paschal Donohoe for Eurogroup President
EPP supports Paschal Donohoe for Eurogroup President

EPP expresses its “full support for Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance of Ireland in his campaign to become the next Eurogroup President.   As one of the Eurogroup’s longest-serving members, and as an elected politician since 2007 from EPP member party Fine Gael, Minister Donohoe has the necessary experience to lead the Eurogroup at this time. He has committed to acting as a bridge builder between all Member States; North and South, East and West, small and large”.

According to the EPP “He also has a clear vision for an effective, inclusive and transparent Eurogroup which will drive economic growth and jobs. Being from a Programme country such as Ireland — which has experienced one of the EU’s fastest economic transformations and is now a net contributor to the EU budget— also means he deeply understands the challenges and concerns different countries are facing.

Over the past few months, COVID-19 has disrupted our economies as well as people’s lives”.

The EPP backs Paschal Donohoe for President of the Eurogroup. He will strive for a strong and inclusive European recovery.

EEAS congratulates new Kosovo government
EEAS congratulates new Kosovo government

EEAS: Kosovo: Joint statement by High Representative/ Vice-President Josep Borrell and Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi on the new government.

The European Union congratulates the new Kosovo government led by Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and looks forward to our joint work to advance EU-Kosovo relations.

The coronavirus pandemic will remain a shared challenge for the foreseeable future and the EU will continue to stand by Kosovo and its people. We also want to see Kosovo advance on its European path. This will require determined reform efforts to strengthen the rule of law, in particular the fight against corruption and organised crime, and to promote socio-economic development.

A swift resumption of the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, with the support of EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajčák, is essential to achieve a comprehensive normalisation of relations with Serbia. The EU-facilitated Dialogue is the only way to turn Kosovo’s European future into a reality for its citizens