La directora de '20.000 especies de abejas', ganadora de 3 premios Goya y nominada al Premio del Público LUX del Parlamento Europeo, ha destacado en numerosas ocasiones que su película es, en cierto modo, un homenaje a Ekai, un joven trans que, antes de quitarse la vida, pidió que su caso sirviese para dar visbilidad. La película, no solo da voz a la realidad de las infancias trans, sino que también aborda el papel y las limitaciones de las etiquetas. En esta entrevista, la directora explora el poder del cine para "comprender el dolor humano desde un lugar más íntimo, que otro tipo de acercamientos no nos permiten".
La directora de '20.000 especies de abejas', ganadora de 3 premios Goya y nominada al Premio del Público LUX del Parlamento Europeo, ha destacado en numerosas ocasiones que su película es, en cierto modo, un homenaje a Ekai, un joven trans que, antes de quitarse la vida, pidió que su caso sirviese para dar visbilidad. La película, no solo da voz a la realidad de las infancias trans, sino que también aborda el papel y las limitaciones de las etiquetas. En esta entrevista, la directora explora el poder del cine para "comprender el dolor humano desde un lugar más íntimo, que otro tipo de acercamientos no nos permiten".
In a world where financial data abounds, leveraging this information can propel a business to new heights. Anastasija Tenca, Chief Operations Officer at Noda, sheds light on the transformative power of open banking in harnessing this data for business growth. As the financial landscape evolves, Noda's innovative solutions are leading the charge in turning data […]
The Academy is a full and active member of the ESDC and is the course director of one of the most important cyber courses on the ESDC’s ETEE platform, ‘The The post On 13 March 2024, the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) hosted a delegation from the Italian Interagency Law Enforcement Academy of Advanced Studies (Department of Public Security) at the ESDC’s headquarter in Brussels. appeared first on ESDC- European Security & Defence College.
Hoy, dos metodologías han sido aprobadas por la Comisión, una destinada a medir la cantidad de microplásticos en el agua y, otra que garantiza la reutilización de las aguas residuales utilizadas en el riego agrícola. También tienen el objetivo de reforzar la calidad y resistencia del agua en toda la UE.
564128 Željka Šulc From 3 to 6 March 2024, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) organized a study visit for representatives of the BiH Central Election Commission to the Central Election Commission of Albania. This visit provides insights into the application of election technologies and electoral processes. Albania has successfully integrated new election technologies into its systems for number of years. Ilirjan Celibashi, State Election Commissioner of the Republic of Albania, emphasized the importance of increased communication and exchange of good practices. "The study visit of our Bosnian and Herzegovinian colleagues presents an opportunity to foster regional communication and connect the Election Commission of Albania with other Election Commissions in the region. Regional cooperation is vital to address common challenges and ensure mutual support. Therefore, establishing a regular platform for the exchange of information and experiences can foster a robust and professional network." Irena Hadžiabdić, President of the BiH Central Election Commission, said: "Amidst discussions on electoral reform and the upcoming pilot project for the use of electoral technologies in the next elections, the experiences of other countries, particularly the lessons learned from Albania, are invaluable. We extend our sincere gratitude to the OSCE Mission to BiH and the Election Commission of Albania for organizing this study visit." The study visits to the Central Electoral Commission of Albania featured presentations on the experiences of electoral implementation bodies and other institutions involved in the political/legislative processes preceding the pilot project implementation. Topics included procurement modalities, staff training, data transfer, cyber security, and other issues pertaining to the introduction of election technologies “As we navigate the complexities of electoral processes, it's imperative that we remain open to learning from the experiences of others. By drawing insights from diverse perspectives, we can fortify our efforts towards meaningful election reform,” said Ahmed Rifatbegović, National Political Officer at the OSCE Mission to BiH. “Embracing reform not only strengthens the integrity of our democratic institutions but also reinforces public trust in the electoral system.” Participants also had the opportunity to share experiences with representatives from the Central Election Commission, the Agency for the Protection of Personal Data and the Agency for Identification Documents, Records and Data Exchange. This study visit is part of the OSCE Mission to BiH's broader project, "Improving the Integrity of Electoral Processes in 2024 and 2026 in accordance with the recommendations of the ODIHR and international standards." This project is implemented with the support of the Governments of the Kingdom of Norway, United Kingdom, USA, and Germany.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/747 of 23 February 2024 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/746 of 23 February 2024 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/577 of 12 February 2024 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/740 of 22 February 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/633 of 19 February 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2022/266 concerning restrictive measures in response to the illegal recognition, occupation or annexation by the Russian Federation of certain non-government controlled areas of Ukraine.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/628 of 19 February 2024 amending Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism.
563668 Officers of the Border Guard Service of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) of the Kyrgyz Republic Chyngyz Zhanybekov Aida Almazbekova From February 26 to March 1, 2024, a training course on the 'Combatting Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), Conventional Ammunition (CA), and Explosives at the border' took place in Osh, Kyrgyz Republic, aiming to address the adverse impact of illicit trafficking on safety and security in the OSCE region. The uncontrolled spread of SALW, CA, and explosives, particularly to terrorists and criminal groups, has significantly impacted the safety of populations and the security of OSCE Participating States, increasing the intensity and duration of recent armed conflicts. The training provided Kyrgyz border guard officers with an in-depth understanding of their roles in combating illicit trafficking of SALW, ammunition, and explosives, the identification of sources and proliferation of illicit SALW, and enhanced expertise in risk management. Participants gained insights into international legal frameworks, national regulations, and effective post-seizure procedures. "This training is part of the OSCE regional approach for Central Asia in strengthening the capacities of the Border and Customs Services in detecting SALW, ammunition, and explosives at border crossing points based on international best practices," noted Nora Vanaga, Associate Project Officer at the Conflict Prevention Centre in the OSCE Secretariat. "The illicit trafficking of SALW and their proliferation across national borders affect the safety of the entire population. Border guard officers play a key role in intercepting this phenomenon as they are the first to screen persons and goods entering a country. This course was designed to build the capacity of the Border Service in combating the illicit trafficking of SALW, ammunition, and explosives, with particular attention to promoting international standards in Kyrgyzstan," shared Ewa Klimuk, Project Manager at the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek. This course was organized within the framework of the extra-budgetary project project by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB) and the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre Supporting Unit, in collaboration with experts from INTERPOL, UNODC, and the German Verification Centre. The course was conducted as part of the ExB project of the POiB entitled 'Reducing the risk of the illicit proliferation of SALW, CA, and explosives across the border of Kyrgyz Republic,' funded by the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States of America. By collaborating with international partners, the OSCE is committed to supporting the Kyrgyz Republic’s efforts in addressing transnational threats and ensuring safety and security in the broader OSCE area.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/421 of 29 January 2024 amending Decision 2011/72/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Tunisia.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/422 of 29 January 2024 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/457 of 2 February 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/254 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Guatemala.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/383 of 22 January 2024 concerning restrictive measures in view of activities undermining the stability and political transition of Sudan.
Press conference following the selection of the seat of the European Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA) will take place on 22 February 2024.
WARSAW, 16 February 2024 – The reported death of Alexei Navalny while serving a lengthy prison sentence is a tragedy that follows years of unjust imprisonment and the denial of his rights, including to a fair trial, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said today. “I am deeply saddened by the news of Alexei Navalny’s death,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “From the very beginning, Mr Navalny’s imprisonment was a fundamental violation of the right to voice dissent as well as the right to a fair trial.” ODIHR calls on the Russian authorities to launch an immediate and credible investigation into the circumstances in which he died, and to allow Mr Navalny’s representatives full access to it. ODIHR condemns the imprisonment of any opposition politician merely for expressing their political views, and calls for their release from detention. Justice systems must remain independent of politics and never be instrumentalized to silence dissenting voices. ODIHR calls on the Russian Federation to respect its obligation to ensure the health and welfare of all those in custody, and reminds the authorities that all OSCE states have committed to respect the rights of prisoners. They have also committed to guarantee the right to a fair trial and the independence of the judiciary. In particular, states have committed to guaranteeing a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law.
NOTICIA: El curso de especialización, coordinado por la Oficina de Proyectos Internacionales (OPI) de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, tiene una carga lectiva de 375 horas (15 ECTS) que se reparten en actividades docentes, de evaluación, trabajos prácticos y visitas presenciales que, este año, se van a realizar a la Representación de la Comisión Europea en Madrid, a la estación de
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/385 of 19 January 2024 establishing restrictive measures against those who support, facilitate or enable violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
562596 Communication and Media Relations Section David Dadge The OSCE Gender Issues Programme and the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) held the second “Women’s Networks WIN Together” regional conference on networks across women peacebuilders and mediators from Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia on 5-7 February in Vienna. Building on the momentum of the first conference held in Istanbul in June 2023, as part of the OSCE commitments under the WPS-HA Compact, over 30 women peacebuilders and mediators from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine further discussed WPS national and regional priorities and common advocacy strategies to strengthen the women-led networks across all three regions. The conference provided a space for inter-regional and inter-generational dialogue, cooperation and knowledge-sharing among the participants. Through training workshops, panel discussions, and bilateral meetings, the conference also served as a platform for sharing tailored messages and recommendations to OSCE participating States and the Secretariat. “Regional networks are incredible tools to empower and protect peacebuilders and implement on the ground the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. To be impactful in our actions, we need to listen and support grassroots peacebuilders,” noted Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues during her opening remarks. A dedicated event opened by US Ambassador to the OSCE Michael Carpenter and attended by several WIN project donors offered the opportunity to discuss challenges and opportunities faced by regional WPS networks with key recommendations shared including the need for long-term, sustainable and flexible financial support to women peacebuilders and mediators. Women peacebuilders and mediators in the three regions face multiple barriers, from limited resources to dependency on project-based funding. Participants emphasized that protection mechanisms for women peacebuilders and mediators need to be developed, as they are often the subject of online and offline harassment and attacks. Women peacebuilders also stressed the importance of defending the achievements of the past decades in light of recent pushback against women’s rights. “Our successes as women peacebuilders and mediators are fragile and sometimes failure seems to be more widely broadcasted than achievements,” highlighted Mavic Cabrera Balleza, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of the GNWP. “We need to reflect on and celebrate what we are contributing as individual, organizations and networks," she added. The conference took place within the framework of the multi-year ExB project “WIN for Women and Men: Strengthening Comprehensive Security through Innovating and Networking for Gender Equality”. This project is aimed at advancing gender equality to achieve and maintain stable, prosperous, and peaceful societies in the OSCE area.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/418 of 29 January 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2874 of 18 December 2023 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2871 of 18 December 2023 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
WARSAW/VIENNA, 7 February 2024 – The decision of Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh, to proceed towards the adoption of the so-called “foreign representatives” bill is of great concern, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Matteo Mecacci and OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Teresa Ribeiro said today. “Protecting freedom of association and other human rights is fundamental to every democracy,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “If this legislation is adopted, I am worried it would have an overwhelmingly negative impact on civil society, human rights defenders, and the media in Kyrgyzstan. We call on the Parliament to reconsider this bill and stand ready to provide our support.” The draft law introduces additional reporting obligations on non-commercial organizations that receive foreign funding and are engaged in broadly defined ‘political’ activities, alongside wide oversight powers by public authorities and potential criminal sanctions for vaguely outlined criminal offences. Media rights groups receiving external funding as well as non-profit organizations that run news outlets would also fall within the scope of the draft law. “The introduction in this draft law of burdensome reporting requirements is likely to prove unsustainable for small and medium-sized media organizations, and will pose significant risks to media freedom and open debate on issues of public interest in Kyrgyzstan,” noted Media Freedom Representative Teresa Ribeiro. “It is especially concerning that the amendments in question aim at introducing nearly total government control over the right to free expression of civil society and media actors. The mere possibility of criminal sanctions in case of non-compliance with the proposed legislation will have a significant chilling effect on media freedom and freedom of expression in the country.” At the request of Kyrgyzstan’s Ombudsperson, the Akyikatchy, ODIHR provided an ODIHR Interim Urgent Opinion on an earlier version of the draft law in late 2022. While some of the concerns raised in the opinion have been partially addressed, the “foreign representatives” draft law, as it is remains incompatible with international human rights standards and OSCE commitments. All OSCE participating States have committed to respecting the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association and political participation. These standards and commitments are cornerstones to any vibrant, pluralistic and participatory democracy.
In line with the Commission Communication ‘Ensuring justice in the EU — a European judicial training strategy for 2021-2024', the primary objective of the call is to support training promoting the digitalisation of national justice systems.
The two performers were selected at a national contest that equally weighed professional jury and audience votes. The post Russo-Ukrainian war, day 711: Ukraine selects Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil, with their song “Teresa & Maria” to represent the country at Eurovision 2024 appeared first on Euromaidan Press.
KYIV, 3 February 2024 - The OSCE Chair-in-Office, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg, completed his visit to Ukraine. In Kyiv, the Chair-in-Office Minister Borg met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba. “My first visit as Chair-in-Office reinforces our unequivocal and unwavering commitment to support Ukraine and to keep Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine at the top of the OSCE agenda. Every death is a tragedy and too many lives have been lost in this senseless war,” Borg said. Throughout the Chairpersonship, Malta will continue to place strong emphasis on the urgent need to bring this war to an end, while at the same time find practical solutions to assist Ukraine and its people. The Chair-in-Office reiterated that the Organization remains engaged and committed to support the government, civil society and people of Ukraine, including through the OSCE’s extra-budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU), as the magnitude of the destruction caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to worsen. “The OSCE will continue to support Ukraine in addressing multiple and unprecedented challenges the country is facing due to the ongoing war against it. The OSCE has tools such as the Moscow Mechanism to establish facts on the violation of the OSCE’s core principles and can contribute to the accountability of the perpetrators. I am convinced that our Organization has a pivotal role to play in Ukraine. We commend the important work of the Support Programme for Ukraine’s team and pledge our support for even more engagement,” Minister Borg said. During his visit, Chair-in-Office Borg was accompanied by the Special Representative of the CiO – Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Ambassador Marcel Peško. Minister Borg also met SPU staff to express his appreciation for the dedication and hard work each of them brings to the Organization. “One issue that weighs heavily on our collective conscience is the unjust and illegal detention of the three staff members of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission. Our thoughts are with them and their families during this challenging time. We are concerned about their health and safety and join the Secretary General in her call on Russia for their immediate release,” Minister Borg stressed. Chair-in-Office Minister Borg underscored the need to continue demonstrating unity as an organization to advocate for their immediate release while standing in absolute solidarity with them and their families. Above all, Minister Borg emphasised that the OSCE must remain anchored in the principles and commitments to which all the participating States agreed to, with a view to restoring peace and security in our region. The OSCE’s extrabudgetary (ExB) Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU) was launched on 1 November 2022 in order to address the immediate challenges to civilians posed by the war against Ukraine and to support the long-term democratic and social resilience of the country’s institutions and civil society. The Programme comprises projects that build on the OSCE’s prior work with its long-standing partners and covers a wide range of areas, such as humanitarian demining, addressing chemical threats, monitoring of environmental damage from the war and supporting the reform efforts of the Ukrainian government.
The Global Gateway Investors Forum for EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity opened this past week in Brussels, bringing together governments, financing institutions, businesses and civil society from Europe, Central Asia and beyond. European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis announced that European and international financial institutions present at the Forum will commit €10 billion in support and investments towards sustainable […]
Counter-terrorism and the prevention of violent extremist ecosystems was the thematic focus of the ESDC’s latest seminar. The event, which was organised jointly with the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) The post Seminar on “EU counter-terrorism and the prevention and countering of violent extremism ecosystems and priorities of practice”, Brussels, 23-25 January 2024. appeared first on ESDC- European Security & Defence College.
562305 Ten representatives from civil society organizations, Local Safety Councils, Ministry of Interior and Albanian State Police were on a visit to Zagreb, Croatia, on 30 and 31 January 2024, to exchange best practices and strategies when designing and implementing local and national awareness raising initiatives on firearms. The visit was organized by the OSCE Presence as part of its project “Assisting the national authorities of the of the Republic of Albania to decrease the risk of weapon proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons (SALW)”, funded by the European Union, Germany and France. The Albanian delegation had the opportunity to learn from Croatia’s extensive experience and sustainable strategies on raising awareness on the risks and misuse of firearms. They met with representatives of the Croatian General Police Directorate, Centre for Forensic Examinations, Informative Centre for Prevention, and Velika Gorica Police Station. They also visited the Red Cross Zagreb and its centre for volunteers and youth, where they were introduced to various youth-focused awareness raising and prevention initiatives on the risks of firearms. “The exchange visit was a useful experience for us to see how awareness raising campaigns on the firearms are implemented in the context of Croatia. After this visit, in co-operation with the OSCE Presence’s project, we will develop a plan for the implementation of outreach activities in our communities,” said Ervin Muço, General Director of Elbasan Municipality’s Protection and Social Inclusion Directorate. The recently developed Awareness Raising and Communication Strategy on the Misuse of Small Arms and Light Weapons highlighted that the Local Safety Councils and civil society organizations are well-implanted partners, especially among hard-to-reach target groups. The selected Local Safety Councils and civil society organizations that were part of the visit to Croatia have played an important role in the conceptualisation process of the strategy. They have also expressed their willingness to co-operate with the Ministry of Interior and the Albanian State Police on local and national awareness-raising outreach activities in Albania to be implemented as part of OSCE’s SALW project. “This is assessed to be an exceptional platform to bring together representatives of Local Safety Councils, civil society, Interior Ministry and State Police when implementing such activities. We believe that this is a first milestone in strengthening co-operation amongst these important stakeholders in the process of enhancing the government awareness raising efforts in the benefit of Albanian citizens”, said Xhenis Ballço, the project’s national officer at the OSCE Presence in Albania. The organization of the visit was supported by the General Police Directorate of Croatia’s Interior Ministry and the Red Cross in Zagreb.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/333 of 16 January 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2016/1693 concerning restrictive measures against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/332 of 16 January 2024 updating the list of persons, groups and entities covered by Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism, and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2023/1514.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/195 of 21 December 2023 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/254 of 12 January 2024 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Guatemala.
En el marco del "Caucus asegurando el derecho de autodeterminación en la UE", los presidentes de Euskadi, Cataluña y Córcega" celebrado en el Parlamento Europeo, han apoyado la propuesta elaborada por un amplio equipo de juristas para aprobar un reglamento que reconozca el derecho de autodeterminación en la la Unión Europea conforme a sus Tratados.
561673 Marina Živaljević Half of the respondents report that they are informed about the work of the State Prosecutor’s Office, while in 2022 less than a quarter reported the same. 41 per cent of respondents believe that the State Prosecutor’s Office is accessible and open to the public, which represents an increase of 11% compared to the previous year. Approximately 41 per cent of respondents believe that the work of the State Prosecutor’s Office is transparent, and a bit less than a half of respondents are familiar with this jurisdiction, indicating the need for improved communication between the institution and citizens. These are some of the findings from an opinion poll Perception of the State Prosecutor's Office in Montenegro, commissioned by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and conducted by DeFacto Consultancy in September 2023. “Overall, nearly one-third of the respondents hold a positive or somewhat positive general attitude towards the State Prosecutor’s Office, while just over one-third have a some-what negative or very negative attitude,” said Slaven Živković of the DeFacto, presenting the results. The survey also shows that trust in state prosecution offices at all levels has increased compared to 2022. Almost fifty per cent of citizens have some or complete trust in the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office, a seven per cent increase from 2022, and around 55 per cent of respondents have some or complete trust in the Special State Prosecutor's Office, a 12 per cent increase from 2022. Corruption and organized crime were overwhelmingly identified as problems in Montenegro, showing that citizens have strong expectations in the work of the Prosecution in this regard. Tatjana Begović, Acting Supreme State Prosecutor, thanked the OSCE Mission to Montenegro for its continuous support of this annual research. “We are encouraged that this year’s research shows a growing trust in state prosecution offices at all levels. At the same time, this obligates us to further improve our work.” said Ms. Begović. Head of OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Dominique Waag welcomed the decision to publicize the research for the second time. “This will support the Supreme State Prosecutors’ Office in enhancing their communication with citizens. To boost transparency is imperative for the State Prosecution Service to communicate effectively with the public and the activities they undertake, said Waag, adding that to inform the public about ongoing OCC cases, in line with transparency standards, while ensuring the presumption of innocence, is of public interest.” The OSCE Mission to Montenegro assisted the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office in drafting and implementing their first communication strategy; an important effort to increase transparency and institutional outreach. In addition to supporting this research, the Mission contributes to the production of a TV format “Get to know the Prosecutor’s Office”, to enhance the State Prosecution Office’s public outreach. The Mission will continue its support to State Prosecution Service in 2024 and offered to equip a conference/press room to communicate effectively with the media and the public. The public opinion survey on the perception of the State Prosecutor’s Office in Montenegro was conducted on a sample of 1,002 adult respondents, using a multistage random sampling selection method.
La Comisión Europea ha publicado hoy su informe de síntesis de 2023 sobre la ejecución de los Fondos Estructurales y de Inversión Europeos (Fondos EIE), en el que se muestran algunos de los logros generales de los Fondos EIE a finales de 2022. Estos fondos son los principales instrumentos financieros de la política de cohesión, que apoyan las inversiones en desarrollo regional del período de programación 2014-2020.
Yemen: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU welcoming the UN Security Council resolution strongly condemning Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2876 of 18 December 2023 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2788 of 11 December 2023 amending Decision 2013/184/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Myanmar/Burma.
The Russian missile killed 44-year-old Viktor Kobzystyi, Ukrainian basketball player, coach, and international master of sports of Ukraine. He played for the Ukrainian national team at the European Championships in 2001 and 2005 The post Russian morning attack killed 26, injured at least 132, damaged maternity and oncology hospitals, lyceums, kindergarten, mall, administrative buildings and numerous buildings (photos) appeared first on Euromaidan Press.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2764 of 7 December 2023 amending the list of persons, groups and entities subject to Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2792 of 11 December 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 concerning restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
The first progress report on the climate and environmental objectives of the 8th Environment Action Programme (8EAP) published by the European Environment Agency today highlights what needs to be done to achieve the EU's 2030 climate and environmental targets. The report underlines the need to conclude negotiations on the Green Deal proposals the Commission put […]
The European Commission has approved a €140 million Portuguese scheme to support the production of renewable hydrogen and biomethane to foster the transition to a net-zero economy, in line with the Green Deal Industrial Plan. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March […]
As part of the comprehensive twelfth package of sanctions adopted earlier today, the Council decided to impose restrictive measures on an additional 61 individuals and 86 entities responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Today’s new listings target primarily the military and defence sectors. The Council is listing […]
The Council imposed restrictive measures on an additional 61 individuals and 86 entities in respect of Russia’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2721 of 4 December 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2721 of 4 December 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2686 amending certain Council Decisions concerning restrictive measures in order to insert provisions on humanitarian exceptions.
Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2540 of 13 November 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2016/849 concerning restrictive measures against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2423 of 26 October 2023 amending Decision 2010/573/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against the leadership of the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.
NOTICIA: La oficina CDTI-SOST Bruselas promueve una nueva edición de su Programa presencial de Especialización de Gestores en programas europeos de I+I (PEG)
560523 Donors to the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine Within primary financial support from the European Union, the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU) organised a roundtable “Priority Setting in Mine Action and Draft National Strategy” in Kyiv on 14 December 2023. At the event 60 representatives of Ukrainian mine action agencies and international organizations, central and local authorities, demining operators were able to discuss ways to introduce improved planning and co-ordination of all actors in this sphere with due regard to best international practices and local realities. Miljenko Vahtaric, the SPU’s Mine Action Technical Advisor, shared Croatia’s experience in assigning demining priority status to specific categories of lands, depending on its use by local communities. Olena Kryvova, an expert from Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining, highlighted the importance of establishing priorities in mine action in international practice. Prioritization in mine risk education and in organization of assistance to victims was also in focus. Representatives of Ministry of Defense spoke about the current process of forming annual demining plans, while the State Emergency Service of Ukraine presented practice of organizing the work of its mine action teams. The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine used the occasion to table for review by participants the provisions of the draft of national mine action strategy, gather input and observations from local and international demining operators, as well as representatives of local authorities from the regions, heavily affected by Russia’s war of aggression , such as Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhya oblasts. Marcel Peško, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairmanship – Project Coordinator in Ukraine noted that “solving the problem of explosive remnants of war will be the key challenge in the process of post-war reconstruction, and it already severely endangers lives of Ukrainians in many communities. Co-ordinated response of all mine action agencies is key to swift and effective resolution of the problem, that is why we are supporting efforts to streamline planning and management of operations in this sphere, notably development of national strategy”. Arturo Rodriguez Tonelli, Regional Programme Manager EU Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, commented: “A clear and coherent set of priority criteria across all aspects of mine action is essential to ensure that communities receive assistance tailored to their most urgent needs. The European Union makes mine action a priority in its humanitarian and recovery support to Ukraine. Coordinating efforts will ensure that resources are put to best use and help international partners better target their humanitarian mine action support to Ukraine”. For reference: This effort is part of “Support to Environmental Rehabilitation with Focus on Building National Humanitarian Mine Action Capacities of Ukraine” Project implemented with primary funding provided by the European Union, as well as contributions from the Organization's participating States; see full list of the Programme's donors.
At the end of the COP28 UN Climate Conference in Dubai, European Union negotiators succeeded, with partners from around the world, to keep alive the possibility of delivering on the commitment in the Paris Agreement to limit global average temperature increase to 1.5 Celsius above pre-industrial levels. With a particular focus on the energy sector […]
This is the 12th time that the European Union has imposed restrictions on Russian businesses. According to Castellum.ai, a global sanctions monitoring database, Russia has faced 11,327 restrictions since February 22, 2022. The total number of sanctions imposed on the country and its citizens has exceeded 14,000 - writes Gary Cartwright in EU Today However, despite this, big Russian […]
● ‘Flash poll’ by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) reveals Europeans are open-minded to Ukraine’s accession, despite economic and security risks from such a move. There is also considerable support for Moldova and Montenegro joining the EU. ● There is widespread opposition, however, to Turkey joining the EU, and cool responses to the […]
Council and Parliament strike provisional deal to continue the EU's participation in the research and innovation partnership in the Mediterranean area until the end of Horizon Europe.
560379 On 11 December, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) organized a side event “Catalyzing change: Political will in fighting corruption” on the sidelines of the tenth session of the Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in Atlanta, Georgia. During the event, OCEEA presented the OSCE’s work in promoting good economic governance and anti-corruption measures to ensure security and stability in the OSCE region. Furthermore, it underscored the essential role of political will in the fight against corruption, emphasizing its critical importance in shaping successful anti-corruption initiatives. “Political will is not merely important; it is instrumental in shaping the bedrock of robust anti-corruption measures and ensuring their effective implementation. In the broader context of advancing the rule of law and good governance, we recognize these not as abstract concepts but as fundamental prerequisites for prosperity and economic growth,” stressed Adea Pirdeni, Deputy Minister of Justice of Albania, in her opening remarks. "The OSCE is able to work actively and successfully with participating States to turn their anti-corruption commitments into tangible projects and actions via the work of OCEEA and other units,” said Professor Anita Ramasastry, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combatting Corruption. The OSCE’s role in supporting the establishment of Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee was also highlighted by Sasun Khachatryan, Chairman of the Committee: “It is an axiomatic truth that corruption damages all layers of public relations without exception, but now I would like to address its impact on the country’s economic development. The fact that the consistent and uncompromising fight against corruption is yielding its results is also evidenced by the economic indicators recorded by the Republic of Armenia.” During the week, OSCE also intervened during the General Discussion at the plenary, highlighting the Organization’s commitment to fulfill the mandate in the area of good governance and anti-corruption, and its support to its participating States in implementing their commitments under the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). The Conference of the States Parties (COSP) is the main policymaking body of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. It supports States parties and signatories in their implementation of the Convention, and gives policy guidance to UNODC to develop and implement anti-corruption activities. OSCE has the status of observer within this body.
The European Commission on 6 December proposed to the Council a specific one-off extension – until 31 December 2026 – of the current rules of origin for electric vehicles and batteries under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). This proposal does not affect the TCA's wider rules of origin which will be applicable as […]
559950 On 5 December 2023, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) supported an International Conference on Sustainable Conservation and Management of Protected Areas, organized by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change. While we are globally confronted with a climate and biodiversity crisis, protected areas are a critical component of a life support system and a repository of biodiversity. They provide ecosystem services such as clean water, temperature regulation and food provision. They also have an inestimable social and economic value, providing livelihood security and being instrumental in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Having increased its protected areas coverage in recent years, Uzbekistan has the capacity to leverage the potential of nature to effectively address environmental challenges and achieve socio-economic benefits. The event was the occasion to exchange views and experienceon current issues in the field of protected area management in Uzbekistan, as well as to propose strategies for better management and avenues for financing. At the OSCE, we are working on the nexus betweensustainable economic development, environment and security, to find joint solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises. In order to strengthen the resilience, security and livelihoods of communities in protected areas, the PCUz in particular supports efficient environmental monitoring to complementthe efforts on sustainable management of natural resources. Over the past years, the PCUz has facilitated the monitoring and assessment of pollution in the Syr Darya River Basin which led to recommendations on mitigation activities. The Mission also works in the South Aral Sea region, supporting regular monitoring to assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation activities with regards to flora and fauna species. The PCUz will continue to help building institutional and individual capacity of national stakeholders to cope with the challenges posed by environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, taking into account the impacts of climate change.
559803 Andrii Dziubenko Donors to the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine Ukrainian journalists, editors, media managers, communication experts from governmental and public sectors spent four days in a Carpathian resort to withdraw from day-to-day work hassle and war-related trials in order to take a critical look at the state of affairs in country’s media sphere at a seminar organized by Aspen Institute Kyiv and the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU). The event "Media and Reality: Dimensions of Responsibility," that took place in Polyana, Zakarpathia oblast on 29 November – 3 December 2023, involved 24 media community leaders selected through an open call for applications. Aspen methodology organizes the process of dialogue around the reading of classical works in philosophy, political science and communications, thus enabling the participants to look at their professional life and problems through the lens of values and moral dilemmas raised by modern and past thinkers. So, the discussions about the notions of freedom and democracy were closely intertwined with participants’ sharing of own experiences and challenges, also related to the ongoing war. “I recognise and salute the unwavering courage of Ukrainian journalists, media workers and all other media professionals. Their efforts to maintain a flow of journalistic information are the foundation upon which transparency and accountability are built, and which sustain the social fabric in times of adversity,” said Teresa Ribeiro, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media, at a pre-recorded video address to the participants of the seminar. “You are all high-level professionals who have so much experience, it is not up to us to give you advice on how to do your job, but we are glad to have provided to you a space and time for reflection on what you do and how do it. It is important, because in times of war, more than ever, people need accurate and balanced reporting about what is happening,” - said Pierre Baussand, OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme Manager, at the event. The seminar enabled participants to network and exchange ideas on media freedom, impact of war and propaganda on journalistic community, effects of media on sustaining international support for Ukraine, as well as media ethics and self-regulation tools. “From the governmental perspective, in a democracy it is always better if journalists themselves set the plank of standards and keep it high, so that no other regulations are needed in the name of public interest. Such meetings as this are a good tool for media community to slow down, cast a critical look at yourself and your work, assess it through the prism of values of your profession, and in the end you have a chance to lead by your own example other members of journalists’ community to more ethical and quality reporting of current affairs,” said Taras Shevchenko, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, who joined the event’s discussions. This effort is part of the project the SPU implements on request of Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Information Policy and non-governmental Commission on Journalistic Ethics to promote self-regulation among media and enhance media-literacy of the audience. This work is being done with contributions from OSCE participating States and partners, full list of which is available here.
559803 Andrii Dziubenko Donors to the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine Ukrainian journalists, editors, media managers, communication experts from governmental and public sectors spent four days in a Carpathian resort to withdraw from day-to-day work hassle and war-related trials in order to take a critical look at the state of affairs in country’s media sphere at a seminar organized by Aspen Institute Kyiv and the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU). The event "Media and Reality: Dimensions of Responsibility," that took place in Polyana, Zakarpathia oblast on 29 November – 3 December 2023, involved 24 media community leaders selected through an open call for applications. Aspen methodology organizes the process of dialogue around the reading of classical works in philosophy, political science and communications, thus enabling the participants to look at their professional life and problems through the lens of values and moral dilemmas raised by modern and past thinkers. So, the discussions about the notions of freedom and democracy were closely intertwined with participants’ sharing of own experiences and challenges, also related to the ongoing war. “I recognise and salute the unwavering courage of Ukrainian journalists, media workers and all other media professionals. Their efforts to maintain a flow of journalistic information are the foundation upon which transparency and accountability are built, and which sustain the social fabric in times of adversity,” said Teresa Ribeiro, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media, at a pre-recorded video address to the participants of the seminar. “You are all high-level professionals who have so much experience, it is not up to us to give you advice on how to do your job, but we are glad to have provided to you a space and time for reflection on what you do and how do it. It is important, because in times of war, more than ever, people need accurate and balanced reporting about what is happening,” - said Pierre Baussand, OSCE Support Programme Manager, at the event. The seminar enabled participants to network and exchange ideas on media freedom, impact of war and propaganda on journalistic community, effects of media on sustaining international support for Ukraine, as well as media ethics and self-regulation tools. “From the governmental perspective, in a democracy it is always better if journalists themselves set the plank of standards and keep it high, so that no other regulations are needed in the name of public interest. Such meetings as this are a good tool for media community to slow down, cast a critical look at yourself and your work, assess it through the prism of values of your profession, and in the end you have a chance to lead by your own example other members of journalists’ community to more ethical and quality reporting of current affairs,” said Taras Shevchenko, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, who joined the event’s discussions. This effort is part of the project the SPU implements on request of Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Information Policy and non-governmental Commission on Journalistic Ethics to promote self-regulation among media and enhance media-literacy of the audience. This work is being done with contributions from OSCE participating States and partners, full list of which is available here.
Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Iliana Ivanova has officially announced the winners of the ninth edition of the #BeActive Awards honouring projects and individuals dedicated to promoting sport and physical activity across Europe. In total, 12 finalists competed for the grand prize in four categories: education, workplace, local hero and across generations. The […]
The Commission has endorsed a positive preliminary assessment of Slovakia's payment request for €662 million in grants under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). This is Slovakia's third payment request under the RRF. With their request, the Slovakian authorities provided detailed and comprehensive evidence demonstrating the satisfactory fulfilment of 21 milestones and six targets. On 25 September […]
558549 Marina Živaljević How to investigate and report on gender-based violence with a victim-centred approach, was the focus of a training course the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized for students from the Media Studies and Journalism Department of the Faculty of Political Science on 23 November. As part of continuous support to the University of Montenegro, the Mission gathered 30 journalism students and introduced them with the Mission’s Handbook on media reporting on gender-based violence against women, distributed to national TV stations, newspapers, news portals and local broadcasters last year. During the training course, Slaven Živković, executive director of the DeFacto Consultancy, presented to the students an Analysis of media reporting and the effects of media reporting on gender-based violence against women and girls in family and partner relationships, which was undertaken to measure how the media reports on violence against women and girls. This analysis was an innovative experimental method to assess the extent and nature of the influence that media reporting on gender-based violence has on citizens’ attitudes, opinions, and subsequent behaviour. Živković explained that through an analysis of 2,661 media reports, the research found that “the media predominantly reported on cases of physical (76.9%) and sexual (68.3%) violence while online or digital violence comprised only 9.8% and selective abortion cases (7%). Further the analysis revealed that the majority of reported cases describe gender-based violence and domestic violence as a private matter. OSCE-engaged media expert Duška Pejović said that the media create public opinion and have a significant influence on shaping attitudes, changing social and cultural patterns and gender roles. “To this reason it is important to constantly educate journalists and raise their awareness about discrimination against women and gender-based violence,” said Pejović. She elaborated that the media should develop a critical, emancipatory spirit, promote human rights and gender equality, and promote positive societal change. “Unfortunately, there are stereotypes and prejudices based on the inferiority of women and the superiority of men, which are used to justify violence against women and make it part of traditions and culture. This needs to be constantly challenged,” said Pejović. OSCE-engaged expert Paula Petričević explained that the handbook provides guidelines and recommendations to improve how journalists report on gender-based violence. Reporting should be based on two key principles - that violence is the responsibility of the abuser, not the victim or survivor, and that reporting must not jeopardize victim’s safety and dignity at any cost,” said Petričević. The Mission will continue to support journalism students and journalists in enhancing their capacities when reporting on gender-based violence.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2488 of 9 November 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2019/1894 concerning restrictive measures in view of Turkey’s unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
558525 Therese Abrahamsen Edita Buçaj The OSCE Mission in Kosovo, in co-operation with the Council of Europe and the Kosovo Assembly, organized on 22 November 2023 in Prishtinë/Priština a high-level panel on the role of the Assembly in monitoring the implementation of the Istanbul Convention. Preceding the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence” campaign, the event brought together MPs, representatives of the government, civil society organisations, international institutions and organisations active in the field of combating violence against women and domestic violence. Through carefully-structured discussion, these leading experts and practitioners explored the modalities for strengthening the institutional instruments for monitoring the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, including the requirement to establish an institutional support mechanism between key stakeholders and across different levels of governance. The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Michael Davenport, opening the event, said, “the theme of the 2023 campaign is around investing to prevent violence against women and girls. So, with that in mind, the Mission is focused on building up essential coordination mechanisms at central and local levels. For if we are not more coordinated, we cannot be more effective. This means engaging young people, young women and young men and also concentrating even more on the specific needs of vulnerable groups and non-majority communities.” In her address, Saranda Bogujevci, Vice President of the Assembly, said, “one important point that I believe requires more work and more attention is the establishment of a form - be it through the Ministry or within the Assembly - to gather more data that would not focus only on the causes of violence but would encompass the manner in which we plan, both within the parliament and overall governance, and how this planning affects women across various spheres of life.” Participants concluded that ending violence against women requires continuous, comprehensive engagement which transcends political lines and entails comprehensive institutional approach. In that regard, the role of the Assembly and its organs was underlined as instrumental in these efforts. The executive branch was urged to establish contact points within the Assembly and keep the legislators well-informed of the progress and challenges in implementing the Istanbul Convention. Finally, it was pointed out that both the legislative and executive branch need to strengthen their co-operation and coordination with the civil society sector. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with the protection and promotion of human and community rights, and with democratization and public safety sector development, and has women’s empowerment, gender equality and women’s rights at the core of all its activities. The Mission focuses on supporting enactment and implementation of non-discriminatory legal frameworks and policies and gives particular attention to women’s participation in public and political life.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2487 of 9 November 2023 amending Decision 2013/798/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Central African Republic.
Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2498 of 10 November 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela.
Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2023/2499 of 9 November 2023 implementing Decision (CFSP) 2015/1333 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya.
The European Commission has approved an approximately €3 billion Austrian scheme to support companies facing increased energy costs in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. The scheme consists of two measures: (i) limited amounts of aid to compensate companies for the cost […]