In the heart of one of India’s ancient and most highly esteemed sacred forests, individuals from indigenous communities have joined forces with Christians to advocate for the preservation of what they consider to be priceless and holy woodland areas.
Believed to be the abode of a native deity that protects village inhabitants from harm, Mawphlang is a dense, biodiverse 193-acre mecca for medicinal plants, mushrooms, birds and insects. For centuries, individuals have visited sacred groves such as Mawphlang to pray and perform animal sacrifices to the deities they believe inhabit these spaces. Any act of desecration is strictly forbidden; even the simple act of picking a flower or leaf is prohibited in most forests.
“Here, communication between man and God takes place,” Tambor Lyngdoh, a member of the ancestral lineage of the local priestly clan that consecrated the Mawphlang forest, told the Associated Press in a January 17 feature story. “Our forefathers set aside these groves and forests to signify the harmony between man and nature.”
But lately, climate change, pollution and deforestation have taken their toll on sacred forests such as Mawphlang. The indigenous population’s conversion to Christianity, initiated during the 19th century under British colonial rule, has also had an impact on the local eco-culture.
According to H.H. Morhmen, an environmentalist and retired Unitarian minister, those who converted to Christianity lost their spiritual ties to the forests and traditional beliefs. “They viewed their new religion as the light and these rituals as darkness, as pagan or even evil,” the AP article quoted Mohrmen as saying.
Over the past few years, environmentalists collaborating with indigenous and Christian communities, along with government agencies, have played a crucial role in disseminating information about the importance of caring for the forests. The ecosystems are deemed invaluable for the region’s ecological balance and biodiversity.
“We’re now finding that even in places where people have converted to Christianity, they are taking care of the forests,” Mohrmen said.
Jaintia Hills, an area of some 500 households, is a typical example. According to Heimonmi Shylla, the region’s headman, who is also a deacon, nearly every resident is Presbyterian, Catholic or a member of the Church of God.
“I don’t consider the forest holy,” he told the AP. “But I have great reverence for it.”
Another Christian resident of Jaintia Hills, Petros Pyrtuh, regularly ventures into a sacred forest near his village along with his 6-year-old son in the hope of inculcating in him a sense of reverence and respect for the woodlands. “In our generation, we don’t believe it is the dwelling place of the gods,” Pyrtuh said. “But we continue with the tradition of protecting the forest because our ancestors have told us not to defile the forest.”
Brussels. The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC), Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Greenpeace, Seas at Risk (SAR), Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have expressed their appreciation for the adoption of Resolution B9 0095/2024 by the European Parliament regarding Norway’s decision to proceed with deep sea mining in the Arctic. This resolution signifies the increasing opposition to the deep sea mining industry in light of Norway’s recent choice.
The European Parliaments vote in favor of Resolution B9 0095/2024 conveys a message. Highlights significant environmental concerns regarding Norway’s plan to open extensive areas in Arctic waters for deep sea mining operations. The resolution reaffirms the Parliament’s endorsement of a halt. Urges the EU Commission, Member States and all nations to adopt a precautionary approach and advocate for a moratorium, on deep sea mining including at the International Seabed Authority.
Sandrine Polti, Europe Lead for the DSCC, stated, “We very much welcome this resolution by the European Parliament reaffirming its call for a moratorium on this destructive and risky industry before it begins. As momentum grows globally for a moratorium, we call on Norway to reverse its decision before irreversible damage is inflicted on our ocean.”
Anne-Sophie Roux, Deep Sea Mining Europe Lead for the SOA, emphasized, “At present, we lack the robust, comprehensive, and credible scientific knowledge to allow for a reliable assessment of the impacts of deep-sea mineral extraction. Any mining activity would therefore contradict Norway’s commitment to the precautionary approach, sustainable management, and international climate and nature obligations.”
Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle, Deep-Sea Mining Campaign Lead at Greenpeace Nordic, warned, “By opening up for deep-sea mining in the Arctic, Norway is ignoring hundreds of concerned ocean scientists and losing all credibility abroad as a responsible ocean nation. This should be a warning to any government considering going ahead with mining the deep sea.”
The resolution of the Parliament comes after the parliament’s approval, on January 9, 2024, to allow deep sea mining operations in an area of over 280,000 kilometers, which is about the same size as Italy, in the ecologically fragile Arctic region. This decision has sparked widespread concern among the global community, including scientists, the fishing industry, NGOs/civil society, and activists, with a petition garnering over 550,000 signatures to date. The Norwegian Environment Agency has deemed that the strategic environmental impact assessment provided by the Norwegian government does not provide a sufficient scientific or legal basis to open for either deep-sea mining exploration or exploitation.
Kaja Lønne Fjærtoft, the Global No Deep Seabed Mining Policy Lead for WWF International, stated, “The Norwegian government’s decision to open up for deep-sea mining activities bulldozes over recommendations of its own expert bodies, leading scientists, universities, financial institutions, and civil society. As a self-proclaimed ocean leader, Norway should be guided by the science. The evidence is clear – for a healthy ocean, we need a global moratorium on deep-sea mining.”
The resolution passed by the Parliament expresses worries regarding Norway’s intentions to engage in deep sea mining activities and the potential consequences these activities may have on EU fisheries, food security, Arctic marine biodiversity and neighboring countries. Additionally, it highlights concerns that Norway may be violating international laws by not meeting the criteria, for conducting a strategic environmental impact assessment.
Simon Holmström, Deep-Sea Mining Policy Officer at Seas At Risk, emphasized, “Arctic ecosystems are already under immense pressure due to climate change. If deep-sea mining is permitted to proceed, it could disrupt the world’s largest carbon sink – the deep sea – and cause irreversible and permanent loss of marine biodiversity within and beyond Norwegian waters. We cannot let that happen.”
To date, 24 countries globally, including 7 EU countries, are calling for a moratorium or pause on the industry. Multinational companies such as Google, Samsung, Northvolt, Volvo, and BMW have pledged not to source any minerals from the seabed. Reports continue to highlight that metals found in the deep sea are not needed and will only provide limited financial benefits to a select few, countering the claims of profit-driven deep-sea mining companies.
Martin Webeler, Deep-Sea Mining Campaign Lead for the Environmental Justice Foundation, added, “Deep-sea mining is not needed for the green transition. Destroying nearly pristine ecosystems will not halt biodiversity loss and will not help us solve the climate crisis – it will make them worse. We need a serious rethink: full implementation of the circular economy and the overall reduction of demand for minerals must finally become our guiding principle.”
The European Parliament’s approval of Resolution B9 0095/2024 shows that there is a shared worry regarding the effects of deep sea mining, in the Arctic. As a result, a call has been made to halt this industry. The worldwide opposition, against deep sea mining is growing stronger, underscoring the significance of managing and taking measures to safeguard our oceans.
It has started buying the fruit from India and will increase imports from there
Russia has started buying bananas from India and will increase imports from that country, the Russian Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control Service Rosselhoznadzor reported, as quoted by Reuters. The decision comes after Moscow ditched its biggest importer, Ecuador, over its decision to swap its old Soviet military equipment for new weapons from the US.
The first shipment of bananas from India was transported to Russia in January, and the first is planned for the end of February, Rosselhoznadzor said, adding that “the volume of the amount of fruit from India to Russia will increase.”
Last week, Russia’s Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control Service canceled banana imports from five Ecuadorian companies, claiming it had found pesticides in their products.
Media in Ecuador reported yesterday that, according to the country’s Food Safety Agency, only 0.3% of fruit shipments to Russia contained pests that did not pose a danger.
The denial of the banana shipments came after Moscow denounced a deal under which Ecuador would hand over Soviet military equipment to the United States in exchange for $200 million worth of new American military equipment.
The United States has announced that arms from Ecuador will help Ukraine on the battlefield against Russia.
Trade relations between Delhi and Moscow have been deepening since 2022, when Western European countries imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, forcing the Kremlin to strengthen ties with China, India and other non-Western European countries, Reuters notes.
Illustrative Photo by Arminas Raudys: https://www.pexels.com/photo/banana-tree-802783/
Almost four years after Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque, another iconic Byzantine temple in Constantinople will begin functioning as a mosque. This is the famous Hora Monastery, which has been a museum for seventy-nine years.
As reported by the pro-government Yeni Şafak newspaper, Hora Monastery is expected to open its doors as a mosque for Friday prayers on February 23. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had made the decision for this back in 2020 along with the Hagia Sophia decision, but plans were “frozen” to allow some restoration work to be carried out.
The church in question, which is the most important temple in Istanbul after Hagia Sophia, was turned into a mosque by the Ottomans, and then, by order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, it became a museum.
In 2019, however, a decision was issued by the Turkish Supreme Court to convert it into a mosque. In 2020, it was decided that the jurisdiction of the monument would pass to the Directorate of Religious Affairs, in Turkish Diyanet.
According to Turkish media, “the historic mosque, furnished with custom-made red carpets, is expected to open for worship on Friday, February 23.” It also reported that “the mosaics and frescoes have been preserved during the restoration and will be accessible to visitors.”
Hora Monastery is located in the northwestern part of the historical center of Istanbul.
It owes its name to its location – outside the fortress walls of the imp. Constantine the Great. “Horion” or “Hora” the Byzantines called the land outside the fortress walls. When imp. Theodosius II built the new walls of Constantinople, the monastery retained the traditional name “in Hora”, although it was no longer outside the walls. The monastery is known for its valuable mosaics – among the most famous is the mosaic with one of the founders of the temple, Theodore Metochite, presenting the new temple to Christ. The church had two vestibules which were decorated with mosaics and frescoes. The mosaics of the exonarthex (outer porch) are six semicircles depicting Christ healing various diseases. Numerous icons also decorate the domes and walls. The icons are among the most beautiful Byzantine icons. The colors are bright, the proportions of the limbs are harmonious, and the expressions of the faces are natural.
The early history of the monastery is not known with certainty. Tradition places its foundation in the 6th century by St. Theodore, and it is also attributed to Crispus, son-in-law of the imp. Phocas (7th century). Today it is proven that the church was built between 1077-1081, during the time of Imp. Alexius I Comnenus, on the site of older buildings from the 6th and 9th centuries. It suffered serious damage, probably due to an earthquake, and was repaired in 1120 by Isaac Comnenus. Theodore Metochites, Byzantine statesman, theologian, patron of the arts, contributed to its renovation (1316-1321) and was responsible for the addition of the exonarthex, the southern chapel and the decoration of the temple, which includes remarkable mosaics and frescoes that have survived to this day. In addition, he bequeathed considerable property to the monastery, at the same time building a hospital and donating to it his remarkable collection of books, which later attracted famous scholars to this center. The monastery was converted into a mosque by order of the Grand Vizier of Sultan Bayazid II (1481-1512) and became known in Turkish as the Kahriye Mosque. A significant part of the temple’s decoration was destroyed. In 1948, a restoration program was carried out, and from 1958 the monument functions as a museum.
The Synod of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine decided to remove from the church calendar the day of the memory of the holy Prince Alexander Nevsky, according to the website of the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
“On February 2, 2024, the regular meeting of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Orthodox Church of Ukraine) took place in the Synodal Hall of the Metropolitan House – residence of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in the Mikhailovsky Golden Dome Monastery in Kyiv. The meeting was attended by all members of the Synod”, it is stated on the website of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
On the proposal of the Synodal Calendar Commission of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, it was decided: “To remove from the church calendar of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine the day of memory of the Holy Prince Alexander of Novgorod (Nevsky), in the scheme (in monasticism) Alexy, November 23. To established November 23 as an additional day to commemorate the venerable Alexander (c. 430), and to include it in the church calendar of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
At the end of February 2022, after Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, the Moldovan parliament introduced a state of emergency for a period of 60 days. During this period, broadcasting television programs from Russia was limited in the country. In addition, access to the news websites Sputnik Moldova, Eurasia Daily (https://eadaily.com/ru/) and a number of other resources was blocked. The Prosecutor General’s Office of the country announced the launch of an investigation against a number of persons “on suspicion of biased coverage of events happening in Ukraine”.
By Dr Evgeniya Gidulianova with Willy Fautré (See Part IHERE)
On 2 June 2022, the Moldovan parliament adopted a package of legislative amendments related to the country’s information security. The Code on Audiovisual Media Services was amended to prohibit the retransmission of news, television and radio programs with informational and analytical, military and political content, as well as military films from countries that have not ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, which was the case of Russia.
The law introduced the concept of disinformation and provided strict measures in case of breach, such as the deprivation of the broadcasting/airing license for a period of up to seven years.
On 16 December 2022, the licenses of six channels linked to Ilan Shor were suspended for repeatedly violating the law. Among them “Primul in Moldova”, “RTR-Moldova”, “Accent-TV”, “NTV-Moldova”, “TV-6”, “Orhei-TV”.
The president of the Broadcasting Council, Liliana Vițu, said to Eurasia Daily that this decision of the Commission for Emergency Situations was based on the monitoring reports of the Council members and independent media experts. These channels were sanctioned for repeatedly broadcasting biased information about national events and propaganda about the war of aggression against Ukraine: NTV Moldova (22 sanctions), Primul in Moldova (17 sanctions), RTR Moldova (14 sanctions), Orhei TV (13 sanctions), TV6 (13 sanctions), Accent TV (5 sanctions).
Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița stated on her Facebook page: “These media outlets have seriously and repeatedly violated the Code on Audiovisual Services, biased and manipulative reporting on the events in Moldova, as well as those related to the war in Ukraine.“
Minister of Justice Sergiu Litvinenco stated on Facebook, that the issue of suspending the license of the six channels needs to be very clear: “Freedom of speech is one thing, but propaganda is another. Now it is not just propaganda, as it was before, when the European Court of Human Rights also ruled in favor of the authorities. This is blatant propaganda to justify a war of aggression, spreading aggressive language, inciting ethnic hatred, and endangering state security. The main function of the state is to protect the security of citizens and the constitutional order.“
The role of Moscow and wanted pro-Russian oligarch Ilhan Shor
MP Radu Marian (Party of Action and Solidarity) said that the six TV channels sanctioned by the Commission for Emergency Situations are linked to the Moldovan pro-Russian fugitiveoligarch Ilan Shor accused in Moldova of embezzling nearly €1 billion from Moldovan banks. Shor is funding a pro-Russian populist party in Moldova called ȘOR which has an anti-EU membership agenda.
Sputnik Moldova-România | Chisinau
On his Facebook page, MP Radu Marian stated “it is at least ridiculous that those who are now shouting about the violation of ‘freedom of speech’ do not have a problem with the murder of Russian opposition journalists, nor with the invasion of an independent country, nor with the arrest of protesters across Russia who simply go out into the streets with a white sheet of paper. Our pro-Kremlin propagandists say nothing about it, and often justify such barbaric actions. Keeping silent about the terrible events in Ukraine is not ‘freedom of speech.’ This is part of the disinformation.”
Valeriu Pașa, the head of the Watchdog.MD Community, wrote on his Facebook page: “Do these TV channels pose a threat to the security of the Republic of Moldova? Of course! Why? Because they are controlled directly or through intermediaries (such as Shor or nominal RTR holders) by the Russian Federation. Moscow has been subsidizing and financing these TV channels for years… offering at a ridiculous price the right to rebroadcast expensive contents financed from the Russian state budget and from advertising budgets pumped into the Russian press by state-owned companies such as Gazprom and many others. This is not a new story, it has been going on since 1993.”
The heads of the TV channels “Primul in Moldova”, “RTR-Moldova”, “Accent-TV”, “NTV-Moldova”, “TV-6”, “Orhei-TV” appealed against the actions of the authorities in court.
Head of Sputnik expelled from Moldova
On 13 September 2023, the Moldovan authorities deported Vitaly Denisov, the head of Sputnik Moldova under EU and Moldovan sanctions. He was also issued a 10-year ban on entry into the country. The General Inspectorate for Migration of the Republic reported that Denisov was recognized as an undesirable person in Moldova because of “activities that threaten national security.” Later, the Moldovan service of Radio Svoboda found out that Denisov has a very loose relationship with journalism and is presumably a career officer of the 72nd Special Service Center (military unit 54777). This unit is known to be engaged in information injections and disinformation to foreign audiences.
Moscow threatens
On 3 October 2023, Moldova’s ambassador to Russia, Lilian Darii, was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Minister accused Moldova of “politically motivated persecution of Russian-language media outlets,” citing the expulsion of the head of the Sputnik Moldova news agency, Vitaly Denisov, on the grounds of being associated with the military intelligence of the Russian Federation.
The Russian Federation closed entry for a number of persons directly related to the restriction of freedom of speech and the rights of Russian journalists in Moldova, as well as the incitement of anti-Russian sentiments.
On 24 October 2023, Russian Press Agency TASS reported that the Information and Security Service of Moldova blocked access to more than 20 Internet resources of Russian media outlets. A number of them are on the list of EU sanctions.
On 30 October 2023, the director of the Information and Security Service of Moldova, Alexandru Musteața, signed an Orderblocking access for users in Moldova to 31 sites.
Sputnik Moldova
On the same day, the Commission for Emergency Situations decided to suspend the licenses of 6 TV channels “promoting foreign interests”: the TV channels Orizont TV, ITV, Prime, Publika TV, Canal 2 and Canal3.
Prime Minister of Moldova Dorin Recean commented on his Facebook page “Moldova is subjected to hybrid attacks by the Russian Federation on a daily basis. In recent weeks, the intensity of such threats has increased. Russia, through organized crime groups, wants to influence local elections and undermine the democratic process. (…). These TV channels are subordinate to the criminal groups of Plahotniuc and Shor, who have joined their efforts aimed at destabilizing the situation in Moldova.”
In retaliation, Moscow announced to the Moldovan ambassador a ban on entry into the Russian Federation “for a number of officials of the Republic of Moldova”.
In conclusion, it is worth mentioning that in its World Press Index including 180 countries, Reporters Without Borders ranked Moldova in the following positions in the last three years: 89 in 2021, 40 in 2022 and 28 in 2023. In addition, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Committee for the Protection of Journalists considered in their last reports that freedom of the media in Moldova is not a relevant issue and does not deserve to be specifically covered.
AboutEvgeniya Gidulianova
Evgeniya Gidulianova holds a Ph.D. in Law and was Associate Professor at the Department of Criminal Procedure of Odesa Law Academy between 2006 and 2021.
She is now a lawyer in private practice and a consultant for the Brussels-based NGO Human Rights Without Frontiers.
(*) Ilan Shoris an Israel-born Moldovan oligarch and politician. In 2014, Shor “masterminded” a scam that saw US$1 billion disappear from Moldovan banks, resulting in a total loss equivalent to 12% of Moldova’s GDP and the arrest of former Prime Minister Vlad Filat.In June 2017, he was sentenced to 7.5 years of prison in absentia for fraudand money launderingand on 14 April 2023 his sentence was increased to 15 years. All of Shor’s Moldovan assets were also frozen.After spending time under house arrest he fled to Israelin 2019, where he currently lives.
On 26 October 2022, the United States sanctioned him due to his working with “corrupt oligarchs and Moscow-based entities to create political unrest in Moldova”.The UK and the EU also sanctioned Shor. His pro-Russian party,the ȘOR Party, was banned by the Constitutional Court of Moldova on 19 June 2023 after months of protests organized by his party. According to the court, these protests were designed to destabilize Moldova and foment a coup in order to install a pro-Russian government.
In the early hours of February 6, 2023, a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the border region between the two countries, claiming over 50,000 lives in Türkiye and a further 5,900 in Syria, with thousands more injured.
“Thousands of families have yet to heal from the impact of the devastation. Survivors live with the loss and trauma of those frightful days,” Martin Griffiths, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, said in a statement.
“Today, our thoughts are again with the survivors and those who lost loved ones. And for those who still need humanitarian assistance, our pledge remains to do all we can to continue to help,” he added.
The disaster compounded an already dire humanitarian crisis in Syria, where some 16.7 million people will need assistance in 2024. There are a further 1.75 million Syrian refugees in earthquake-affected regions of Türkiye.
In both countries, entire communities were razed to the ground and thousands of buildings – including schools, hospitals, mosques and churches – were destroyed or severely damaged.
The consequences of the catastrophe will last many years to come with a lot of people still in temporary shelters, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned.
The health agency’s spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said that in in Türkiye, the earthquake created new and urgent health needs for both refugee and host populations.
“The disaster disrupted access to health services, including maternal and newborn healthcare, vaccination, non-communicable disease management, mental health support, disability and rehabilitation services,” he told reporters at a press briefing at the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG).
In Syria, the earthquake hit communities that had already been deeply affected during the 13-year-long conflict-driven crisis, characterized by repeated displacement leading to food insecurity, disease outbreaks and a severely weakened health system, he added.
WHO and health partners continue to deliver health services for maternal and child health, prevention of cholera and other outbreaks, physical rehabilitation, mental health and psychosocial support.
The support of the international community is crucial for the WHO and partners to continue delivering much needed health services in Syria, Mr. Jasarevic added.
Türkiye Earthquake – one year later
Refugees need longer-term solutions
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has been delivering protection assistance – including psychosocial support, shelter, cash assistance and other aid to affected people in Syria.
In Türkiye, in support of the Government-led response, the agency provided over three million relief items, including tents, containers, hygiene kits, bedding and warm clothing for refugees and local residents in temporary accommodation centres.
While UNHCR appreciates the timely and generous aid offered by donors, it appeals for continued support to ensure critical humanitarian needs can be met, spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said at the UNOG press briefing.
“To facilitate better responsibility sharing with Türkiye, [we are] also calling for an expansion of resettlement opportunities for refugees, some of the most vulnerable of whom require longer-term solutions and a fresh start elsewhere,” she added.
For the past few days, the Israeli Prime Minister has been focusing his criticism on Qatar, not knowing where to turn and, above all, in the face of a flood of worldwide criticism of his hard-line strategy in Gaza and the way out of the war. He even recently accused Doha of being indirectly responsible for 7 October. While Qatar has been manoeuvring to negotiate with the Islamist organisation for the past three months, it is also endangering the hostages, many of whom are still being held in Gaza.
Quite surprising to now accuse Qatar of bearing the burden of what is happening, even though Netanyahu acknowledged in 2019 that it was important to support Hamas in order to continue to weaken the Palestinian Authority and prevent the creation of a Palestinian state. Bibi’s policy has always been to deal with the Islamist organisation to the detriment of Abbas’s Palestinian Authority. The division of power between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip was the perfect tool to condemn the formation of a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu’s absurd attack on Doha when we know that the Hebrew state helped support Sheikh Yassin, its founder, in 1988, always with the aim of dividing the Palestinians as much as possible. Despite its anti-Jewish doctrine, Israel has supported the development of the most radical branch of the Muslim Brotherhood and has played with fire. Just as the Americans supported the Afghan Mujahideen against the Soviets, the Hebrew state thought it could use a few bearded men to weaken Yasser Arafat’s Fatah for good. Charles Enderlin, former France 2 correspondent in Israel, has published a number of articles and books explaining the complacency of the Israeli right towards Hamas, the emergence of which would certainly doom a future state for the Palestinians once again.
Finally, it’s absurd when you consider that Qatar has been harbouring Hamas leaders at the request of the Americans (and Israelis) so that it can negotiate the day they are needed. And since 7 October, alas, that day has arrived in an attempt to save the lives of almost 140 Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza. Today, however, the powerless international community is trying to bring about a ceasefire and a halt to bombing in Gaza after the deaths of nearly 25,000 Gazans, mostly women and children, since mid-October.
If no lasting political solution emerges from the military response to Israel’s worst attack in decades, following the deaths of nearly 1,400 people in Israel in 48 hours, then once again a temporary solution will be adopted that will have to last, to prevent the Israelis and Palestinians of Gaza from killing each other to the last man. And in any case, it is unlikely to be the creation of the Palestinian state that the Israeli government still does not want. Even less so today, even if it would perhaps be the first guarantor of the security of the Jewish state.
Who can help put an end to the noise of weapons and get diplomacy back on track in the Middle East? The United States and Europe are still trying, with the support of Egypt and Qatar, which Netanyahu is suddenly criticising in order to absolve himself of his major responsibility. In a general geopolitical context in which the major Western powers are increasingly marginalised as peacemakers, as are the major international organisations that are supposed to ensure respect for international law, it is above all the regional powers that for several years have been regaining control of their zone of influence or putting forward their talent as peace mediators to have a say in the concert of nations in crisis or at war. As far as the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is concerned, the United States, which for years has been disengaging from Middle Eastern conflict zones, can do little, especially as Joe Biden’s term of office, which is irrevocably drawing to a close, further weakens his capacity for influence and action, if his administration has had any over the last three years. The European Union, mired in the Ukrainian crisis, has long since lost its diplomatic capacity and remains forever a political dwarf in the cacophonous symphony of world powers. That leaves Egypt and Qatar above all. Traditionally, Egypt, which has been at peace with Israel since 1977 and the Camp David Accords, has always managed in recent years, since the arrival of President Sissi, to negotiate a pause in hostilities between Israel and Gaza. Cairo’s relations with the Hamas movement are cordial and enable it to reconcile its points of view with Tel Aviv on each occasion.
The player that can probably make the most of the situation, and in the continuity of what it has been doing for years, from the Horn of Africa to Afghanistan, is Qatar, which has had a relationship with Israel for a long time, something that Netanyahu forgets. Qatar’s proximity to these Islamist movements, such as the Taliban at the time of the negotiations with the Americans in 2018, is a key asset for Doha. It dates back precisely to the time when Washington asked the Emirate to keep an eye on its leaders. With the American base at Al Oudeid, the largest American off-ground base in the world, Doha saw its capacity to one day monetise this “service rendered” for its credibility and its de facto proximity to the enemies of many, and to see itself emerge as a key regional peace mediator.
Currently, if a driver loses their licence following a traffic offence in a different EU country to the one which issued their licence, in most cases the sanction will only be applicable in the country where the offence was committed, and entail no restrictions in the rest of the EU.
To ensure that suspension, restriction or withdrawal of a non-resident’s driving licence is applied across all EU countries, the new rules demand that this decision is passed on to the EU country which issued the driving licence.
Dangerous offences
MEPs suggest to add driving without a valid licence to the list of severe traffic offences, such as drink driving or fatal traffic accident, which would trigger the exchange of information on driving disqualification. Driving 50 km/h faster than the speed limit is also one of the severe traffic offences that could result in driving disqualification. MEPs set a lower speed limit for residential areas, meaning that driving above the speed limit by 30 km/h on those roads could result in a driver losing their licence or having it suspended.
Timelines
Parliament suggests to put a deadline of ten working days for EU countries to inform each other about decisions on driver disqualification and another deadline of 15 working days to decide if a driving disqualification will apply throughout the EU. The driver concerned should be informed of a final decision within seven working days, MEPs add.
Quote
EP rapporteur Petar Vitanov (S&D, BG) said: “I am positive this directive will not only help reduce road accidents, but it will also contribute to better awareness among citizens about more responsible driving and a willingness to follow the rules and accept the consequences of breaking them, no matter where in the EU we drive.”
Next steps
The draft rules on European Union-wide effect of certain driving disqualifications were adopted by 372 votes to 220 and 43 abstentions. Parliament has now closed its first reading and as the Council has not yet adopted its position, the new Parliament to be elected in June 2024 will continue the work on this law.
Background
The driving disqualification rules are part of the Road safety package presented by the Commission in March 2023. It also contains cross-border exchange of information on traffic offences rules which are currently in negotiations with Council. The package aims to improve safety for all road users and to move as close as possible to zero fatalities in EU road transport by 2050 (“Vision Zero“).
“Determination, unity and leadership” is the message, European Council President Charles Michel said, sent by the EU with its latest decisions on Ukraine to open accession talks and endorse a new financial aid package for the country. The EU will “not be intimidated by Russia”, and will support Ukraine for “as long as necessary”, he added. Michel repeated the EU’s promise to provide the country with more ammunition and said “each euro mobilised for Ukraine is an investment in our own security, prosperity and stability”.
On the Middle East, President Michel said the EU must do its utmost to prevent a regional escalation of the conflict, address the humanitarian emergency and continue advocating for the two-state solution. Restating that respect for international law is in the EU’s DNA, he strongly rejected applying “double standards” when assessing this conflict. Michel expressed understanding about the discontent and complaints of Europe’s farmers and urged dialogue to be able to offer them a convincing response.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the agreement on a €50 billion aid package for Ukraine provides strong predictability for the country over the coming four years. “This is what it means to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.” On the first ever revision of the EU’s long-term budget, she stressed the EU now has the financial resources to tackle some of the challenges it faces in this decade.
Referring to the farmers’ protests, President von der Leyen said “our EU food production system is unique and our farmers produce the highest quality food in the world, and they must be paid fairly”. She announced that the Commission will withdraw its proposal on pesticides reduction and that by late summer a report based on the outcomes of the strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture in the EU will present options for possible future reforms.
MEPs representing a majority in Parliament reiterated that Ukraine’s defence is Europe’s defence. They expressed their unwavering support for the country and noted that the delivery of weapons and ammunition must accelerate. Some MEPs raised the idea of using frozen Russian assets and the worrying political developments in the USA, while others raised the alarm about the threat of the war spreading beyond Ukraine and warned that the ongoing arms race is not sustainable.
On the recent farmer demonstrations, most speakers said a new approach is needed for the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy and any upcoming legislation for the green transition, and highlighted the dual policy goal of ensuring livelihoods for farmers and securing the EU’s food production. Most MEPs raised the need to find solutions to address these issues simultaneously, with many warning against populist voices seeking to politicise this complex problem. Some called for more direct financial support for farmers or for restrictions on the import of agricultural products.
