As we commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27th the world is reminded of the horrors of the past and the ongoing commitment, to ensuring that such atrocities never recur. This year marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Birkenau, a Nazi concentration camp that serves as a powerful symbol of the unspeakable acts committed during the Holocaust. This day not only honours and remembers the six million Jewish victims but also prompts us to reflect on the hundreds of thousands of Roma and other individuals who endured immense suffering under Nazi persecution.
Given the events particularly the abhorrent terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel on October 7 2023, the importance of this day has become even more profound. President von der Leyen’s statements in advance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day emphasize the growing presence of antisemitism, in Europe. Shed light on the renewed anxieties faced by European Jews.
“No parent should be afraid to send their children to school,” von der Leyen stated, condemning the bullying, harassment, and attacks on Jewish individuals, as well as the vandalism of synagogues and desecration of Jewish cemeteries.
The President emphasized the need for unity and support for Jewish communities, asserting, “There is no place for antisemitic hatred, especially here in Europe. And there is no justification for antisemitism.” This call to action is a reminder of the dark times in history and the importance of standing together against hatred.
The European Commission has taken measures to address antisemitism and promote Jewish life. On October 5 2021 they introduced their ever strategy to support EU countries and civil society in this regard. Additionally, on November 6 2023, the Commission released a communication titled “No place for hate; a Europe united against hatred ” which further showcases their dedication to protecting spaces and countering online hatred.
Preserving the memory of the Holocaust is of importance, especially as we are losing the last survivors. To achieve this the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism has implemented a flagship action called the ‘Network of Places Where the Holocaust Happened.’ This initiative aims to safeguard sites for educational and commemorative purposes.
The European Commission‘s efforts are not limited to Europe alone; they have also launched campaigns like #ProtectTheFacts and other initiatives that combat Holocaust distortion. These endeavours play a role in raising awareness and preventing future genocidal acts. The United Nations General Assembly Resolution on Holocaust Remembrance similarly underscores the significance of education and preserving Holocaust sites.
As part of their commitment to fighting racism and discrimination, the European Commission will allocate over €14 million, from EU funding in 2024 to support projects focused on European Remembrance. This financial support aims to strengthen remembrance efforts enhance education and research in this area as well as combat denial and distortion surrounding the Holocaust.
On this International Holocaust Remembrance Day, let us heed President von der Leyen’s words: “If Europe fails the Jews, Europe will have failed us all. Never again is now!” It is our collective duty to remember the past and ensure a future where Jewish life can thrive without fear, and where antisemitism finds no shelter.
Amid new reports of intensified bombing and clashes across the Strip on Wednesday, OCHA said that requests had beendenied five times since 26 December to reach the Central Drug Store in Gaza city and Al Awda Hospital in Jabalya, further north.
“At the same time, the continued denial of fuel delivery to water and sanitation facilities is leaving tens of thousands of people without access to clean water and increasing the risk of sewage overflows, significantly heightening the risk of the spread of communicable diseases,” OCHA noted in its latest update on the impact of war in Gaza, issued late Tuesday.
According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), 15 out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain “partially functional”: nine in the south and six in the north. Since the start of hostilities, the UN and health partners have provided healthcare and medical services to an estimated 500,000 people.
The development came as much of the Strip and especially central and southern areas in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis governorates, experienced further “intense” Israeli bombardment from the air, land and sea in the past 24 hours, OCHA said.
Rocket fire into Israel by Palestinian armed groups also continued, along with ongoing clashes between Israeli soldiers and militants, particularly in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis governorates.
Citing the Gazan health authorities, OCHA noted that 126 Palestinians had been killed between the afternoons of 8 and 9 January; another 241 were reportedly injured. The total estimated number of fatalities is at least 23,210 Palestinians killed and 59,167 injured from Israeli bombardment, that began in response to Hamas-led terror attacks in southern Israel on 7 October, leaving some 1,200 dead including 36 children and another 240 taken hostage.
“The Israeli authorities estimate that about 136 Israelis and foreign nationals remain captive in Gaza,” OCHA said.
NGOs not spared
The ongoing Israeli offensive has resulted in “many” deadly incidents with “devastating consequences for tens of thousands of civilians”, OCHA said, noting that many had already fled Gaza City and the north to central and southern areas of the Strip.
In one incident in Khan Younis, a five-year-old child of a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) worker died of her injuries after a MSF shelter was hit on Monday.
In Deir al Balah, four people were also reportedly killed and dozens injured when a house northwest of the city was targeted, OCHA said.
Citing the Israeli military, the UN office reported that between 8 and 9 January, nine Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza, with 183 killed since the start of the ground operation and 1,065 personnel injured.
Bombardments have caused widespread damage in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.
Overcrowding fuels disease threat
Meanwhile, UN humanitarians reiterated warnings about the growing risk of disease in the Strip, particularly in the southern city of Rafah, as yet more civilians flee hostilities following Israeli evacuation orders.
Pre-war, Rafah was home to around 280,000 people, but it now has a population of well over one million, the UN relief agency for Palestinians (UNWRA) said on Tuesday in an online post on X.
“Overcrowded streets witness alarming spread of disease”, but staff are “overwhelmed by the ever-increasing need”, the agency said.
1.9 million uprooted
After more than three months of violence, nearly 85 per cent of Gaza’s population is now believed to be displaced – some 1.9 million people – according to UNRWA.
The UN agency continues to shelter nearly 1.4 million people in 155 UNRWA facilities across all five governorates but facilities “are far exceeding their intended capacity”.
UNWRA installations have also received 63 direct hits, it said, with at least 319 displaced people killed in the agency’s shelters and more than 1,135 injured since 7 October.
On 9 January, 131 trucks with supplies entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings, according to OCHA.
On Friday January 26th, the highest court of the United Nations urged Israel to take all measures to prevent any acts of genocide, in the Gaza Strip. The awaited decision was made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) based in The Hague, Netherlands.
Additionally the court called upon Israel to grant access to Gaza. It emphasized that Israel should promptly and effectively facilitate the provision of services and urgent humanitarian aid required by Palestinians to address their living conditions.
The Israeli Prime Minister stressed that the ICJ was not taking away Israel’s right to defend itself, but that he was outraged that the court had declared itself competent to rule on the merits of the case. He went on to assert that Israel was waging a just war against the Hamas monsters who had killed, kidnapped, raped and tortured Israeli citizens, and that it would continue to do so as long as Hamas constituted a threat to Israel’s security and existence.
In response to these developments Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu swiftly denounced South Africas allegations of “genocide” in Gaza as outrageous. stressed that the ICJ was not taking away Israel’s right to defend itself, but that he was outraged that the court had declared itself competent to rule on the merits of the case. He went on to assert that Israel was waging a just war against the Hamas monsters who had killed, kidnapped, raped and tortured Israeli citizens, and that it would continue to do so as long as Hamas constituted a threat to Israel’s security and existence.
Reactions from several countries
South Africa hailed a “decisive victory for the rule of international law and an important step in the quest for justice for the Palestinian people”. The South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered that the Court “has determined that Israel’s actions in Gaza are plausibly genocidal and has indicated provisional measures on that basis”, thanking it “for its swift decision”.
Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki spoke out in a video message. Friday’s order is “an important warning that no state is above the law”, he said. “States now have a clear legal obligation to end Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian people of Gaza.”
Hamas, in power in Gaza since 2007, hailed “an important development” which, in its view, “isolates Israel” on the international stage.
The Minister of National Security, an extreme right-wing figure, considers the precautionary measures requested of Israel by the International Court of Justice to be anti-Semitic in nature, and calls on Israel not to comply with this decision.
The United States also reacted through a State Department spokesman: “We continue to believe that the accusations of genocide are unfounded, and note that the Court did not find genocide or call for a ceasefire”.
The European Union called for the “full and immediate” implementation of this decision, welcomed by several countries including Turkey, Iran and Spain.
An investigation against key figures in the management of the Archdiocese of Prague (Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia) led to their removal from the posts they have held for years.
The investigation by the authorities is against Prague Archbishop Michael (Dandar) for the transfer of church properties to a private person, and it began at the end of last year. However, his secretary Igor Strelets, considered his right-hand man and “gray cardinal” in the archdiocese, as well as the chairman of the Diocesan Council Fr. Jan Beranek. It was officially stated that their removal was due to an “audit” and the need for “reforms to improve the work of the diocese”. In addition to them, three priests were removed from their positions of episcopal vicars.
Igor Strelets, who is a secular person, was responsible for the “Russian connections” in the church of the Czech lands and Slovakia. According to an article in the local edition of “Free Europe”, the Prague diocese maintains close ties with Moscow – many of the clerics studied in Russia, and later received expensive gifts from the Kremlin and the Patriarchate. Cyril in the form of villas and financing of various projects. For example, in 2011, when the lease of the residence of the Archbishop of Prague in Prague expired, the Patriarch of Moscow “fraternally” donated a two-story building, which still houses the administration of the local archdiocese.
Archbishop. Mikhail Dandar and Strelets have had close ties to Russia for many years and were formerly members of the Czechoslovak security service, the equivalent of the KGB. Strelets worked in the counter-intelligence department, and Mikhail Dandar lived for several years in the USSR, receiving a diploma from the Leningrad Theological Academy in 1969, and in the same year he was recruited by the Czech secret services under the pseudonym “Misha”. He was ordained by Mitr. Nikodim (Rotov) from the Russian Orthodox Church and was sent to one of the Russian parishes in Dresden.
For many years the right hand of the archbishop. Mikhail Dandar was Igor Strelets, a man without a theological education, but with close ties to Russia, thanks to which he financed projects of this highly Moscow-dependent local church. He sponsors the publishing activity of the diocese, the website of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Republic and Slovakia is registered in his name. He organizes and pays for the domestic and foreign travel of church hierarchs. These activities are carried out through the joint-stock company “Czech National Cultural Fund”, which he owns and which is financed by the Russian budget. The Czech media accused him of having a business relationship with a sanctioned businessman close to the Kremlin.
In July 2023, against the backdrop of the war started by Russia in Ukraine, the Archbishop of Prague participated in a meeting with representatives of the Night Wolves motorcycle club. The members of the motorcycle club and their leader are under sanctions for their close ties to Vladimir Putin and their support for the war in Ukraine. When asked why the Czech Orthodox hierarch attended a meeting with the Russian rockers, assistant head of the Prague Diocese Stšelec, organizer of the event, said that the meeting was dedicated to the memory of those who died during the First World War. These ties of the Czech clergy to Russia were sharply criticized by local believers, which was widely reported in the Czech secular media.
Among the problems of the Czech and Slovak Orthodox Church, which from time to time become known to the general public, are mainly property issues.
In May 2022, it became known about the huge debt of the church. It turned out that the church had not paid into the state health insurance system for its employees for ten years. Because of this, part of the church’s property was confiscated. It is in debt, even though the Czech Republic passed a restitution law in 2013, under which the budget pays money to churches that lost property as a result of nationalization during communist rule in Czechoslovakia, as compensation for repression. By virtue of this decision, the Czech and Slovak Orthodox Church received more than 300 million crowns (about 16 million dollars). Czech law enforcement authorities are currently investigating two cases in which, according to the investigation, Archbishop Michael Dandar has appropriated church property.
According to a 2021 census, Orthodox Christians in the Czech Republic numbered 40,000. Their number increased significantly after the start of the Russian war in Ukraine due to the many refugees.
Illustrative photo: Orthodox icon of The Holy New Martyrs of Bohemia
On 14 December 2023, the Court of First Instance of Alcorcón ruled that freedom of expression was protected for a group of “former followers” of the Jehovah’s Witnesses religious organisation, in terms of being able to describe it (insulting) as a destructive sect. And it condemns this religious organisation to pay the costs of the proceedings. Justice thus adds to the ignorant treatment that people who have not done well within a religious organisation arrogate to themselves the right to vilify and insult without the religious organisation, at least in some European countries and, in this specific case in Spain, having the right to defend its honour.
About the above photograph: “Exhibition on State Terrorism in Argentina at the Espacio Memoria y Derechos Humanos with photos of detainees – among them followers and baptised members of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Argentina – in the CCD-ESMA taken by the military. During the years of the Argentine dictatorship, Jehovah’s Witnesses were detained, tortured and, in many cases, disappeared because of their religious beliefs, their neutrality in political affairs, and their opposition to compulsory military service. This situation was also replicated in other South American countries under military dictatorships during the 1970s to 1980s.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses arrived in Spain at the end of the 1950s from the USA. The General Directorate of Security, linked to the National Catholicism of the time, began a persecution of all its members, accusing those who, because of their beliefs, refused to do military service of terrorism. Summary trials were held against them and they ended up in prison, something unthinkable today. Likewise, in the arrests that took place during the State of Exception decreed by Franco in January 1969 throughout Spain, Jehovah’s Witnesses were arrested in Valencia, accused of being (the men) all homosexuals. Something totally false, but necessary to put them in prison.
For years they continued to go through the ordeal of suffering in prison in our country, while they declared themselves conscientious objectors, until the Spanish democratic state decided to put an end to military service. However, there was never any talk of compensating those who had been imprisoned, some of them for years, because of their ideas. This was the beginning of another ordeal.
In the 1980s, it continued to appear, as a sectarian organisation, in all the lists that were published, where reference was made to “dangerous” groups and organisations. And so to this day, where the headlines are still as curious as they are striking: “The dark side of Jehovah’s Witnesses: young man tells of a harsh confession”. “Jehovah’s Witnesses. World, beliefs, behaviour”. “Historic ruling by a Spanish court: it is possible to call Jehovah’s Witnesses a ‘sect'”. “Victims of Jehovah’s Witnesses win in court the right to denounce their “total control” over the faithful”. Hundreds of headlines that only copy each other in a sort of repetition without contributing anything constructive.
In Spain, and in other European countries, Jehovah’s Witnesses are considered to be a deeply rooted religion, therefore, living in the 21st century, it is hard to understand the ignorance of societies as permissive as those in Europe, with secular and democratic governments that do not defend the right to free belief in a real way.
Other questions would be the crimes that each person commits and where justice will have to act, but not on the basis of the spite of people who have not been able to understand or integrate into a particular religious group.
Years ago, a sect was just a group of people who met to share an idea. Not forgetting that the Catholic Church in its beginnings was qualified as such, and even the Roman Empire qualified those first Christians as a destructive sect. As the group grew larger it became a religious movement and later a religion with all its contradictions.
The concept of destructive sect arises fundamentally when a religious movement prevailing in a region colonises the idea of God, turning its belief into an absolute truth and denigrating what others think.
On the other hand, and although I will skip over it now, we cannot speak of sects or terrorist or totalitarian beliefs and movements, which often emanating from consolidated religious beliefs, end up trying to impose their ideas by force of arms.
Do I know what the group I belong to is like?
Although I will go more deeply into the subject in subsequent articles, I would like to make it clear that the ideas of Jehovah’s Witnesses, or their beliefs, emanate from the Bible. A set of books shared by millions of Christians, Jews and Muslims. That it is a religion born in the late 19th century, apocalyptic in character and whose beliefs are similar to those of hundreds of different religious movements around the world. Therefore Jehovah’s Witnesses are, in terms of their beliefs, no different from other biblical traditionalist groups.
Take the example of the Amish, an exotic religious group that has not reached Europe, but whose customs are far more radical than those of Jehovah’s Witnesses. What would we say about them in this society where we are always looking at the speck in the other’s eye. The Amish have a strict code of conduct called Ordnung, which regulates all aspects of their daily lives; they see to it that all teenagers of an age are allowed to experience Rumspringa, a period of freedom where they go out into the world to experience it, before deciding whether or not to be baptised into their church and embrace their beliefs; they live under a strict patriarchy where men have the authority and women take care of the home and what goes with it, as well as the children; they dress simply and modestly, in dark, muted tones, without ornaments or buttons; they reject any kind of contact with modern energy, live without electricity, cars, mobile phones, etc. They often suffer from congenital diseases due to inbreeding and genetic isolation, and, among many other things, they often read the bible in Old German, a language they speak among themselves.
If a Western European decides to join such a group, he should take all this into account. And if he does so, he should do so on his own responsibility. Surely no European, not brought up in such religious structures, would end up in it. Are they a destructive sect? In the United States, nobody considers them as such. They abide by the laws of their community and the place where they live, they do not mix with the rest and have no idea of what is going on in the world.
Of course, not everyone is qualified to belong to this or similar groups, especially in a society as open and permissive as ours. Understanding that such permissiveness should not be understood as positive or negative, at least not in this discourse. It is clear that within Jehovah’s Witnesses there will be people who will consider throughout their lives that they do not need the control of the group, when the reality is that their personal experience, their belief has simply mutated. What happens then? Many people pretend that this change is accepted by the group when the group remains unchanged. When they are rejected, because they have changed their mind, it is the fault of the others. The group is immobile, backward, sectarian, and finally, when the family, friends, and the environment reject you, you feel hurt, and humiliated, starting the great psychological farce where everything useful to you some time ago is no longer useful to you. Everything you believed in is now old, apocalyptic, false. Perhaps you have evolved to a different way of thinking and therefore belong to a different religious movement.
In the end you end up questioning what you loved and joined a group of people who had their beliefs. If you look, you will see that they are still where you were a few months ago. Do you think you are better, with the right to insult the collective for not being there, because they have rejected you? You have evolved, but to where?
Jehovah’s Witnesses, like other groups, have their beliefs. We may like them more or less, but when one studies them, one knows exactly what they are. Therefore, when a person wishes to change from such a comfortable belief as Christianity, where permissiveness and passivity, together with rituals, do not have to be taken seriously, they should consider whether they are prepared to enter into another way of thinking that will force them to modify their actions, their behaviour or their way of relating to life and to others.
It is a pity that in Europe, in the 21st century, we still blame our own mistakes as believers on the collective, on the idea, on the group that remains cohesive.
And of course, in this first approach, I am not going to go into those brainy anthropological studies where they talk about pyramidal structures, leaders, etc., when the birth of any self-respecting religion fulfils those pyramidal requirements that seem to scare researchers so much. The reality is that what is happening in the world of sects today, and I am talking about organisations born within democratic and non-totalitarian parameters, is just noise, headlines and the unfortunate misinformation of some clueless jurist.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have the right to be among us without the need to be insulted and above all to be labelled as a “destructive sect”, if justice does not see it, it will have to look at it. Oh, and whoever is not ready to join a particular religion or contemporary religious movement, should find another hobby.
Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional deal to revise rules on preventing and combating human trafficking on Tuesday.
The informal agreement reached by Parliament and Council on Tuesday night will expand the scope of the current directive to include forced marriage, illegal adoption, exploitation of surrogacy and better support for victims.
It will also:
make sure anti-trafficking and asylum authorities coordinate their activities so that victims of trafficking, who are also in need of international protection, receive appropriate support and protection, and that their right to asylum is respected;
criminalise the use of services provided by a victim of an offence concerning trafficking in human beings, where the user knows that the victim is exploited, to reduce the demand driving exploitation;
introduce penalties for companies convicted of trafficking, including excluding them from tendering processes and from reimbursement for public aid or subsidies;
ensure that prosecutors can choose not to prosecute victims for criminal acts they were coerced into committing, and that they receive support regardless of whether they cooperate in investigations or not;
ensure support to victims using a gender-, disability- and child-sensitive approach and based on an intersectional approach;
guarantee the rights of persons with disabilities and appropriate support, including appointing guardians or representatives, to unaccompanied children;
allow judges to consider the non-consensual spreading of sexual images or videos as an aggravating circumstance when handing out sentences.
Quotes
Eugenia Rodríguez Palop said: “As Parliament, we had an ambitious position and the Council has shown itself open to dialogue, with the initial push of the Spanish Presidency. We all had to give in, but the result is good. We have introduced, amongst others, the exploitation of surrogacy, improved prevention, strengthened investigation and prosecutions as well as coordination and monitoring, and included measures to better protect, assist and support all victims. Today we are a little closer to ending this form of barbarism.”
Malin Björk said: “I’m happy with this agreement. It strengthens the protection of victims of trafficking, with a special focus on the most vulnerable victims including persons in need of international protection, women and girls and children. It requires the Member States step up their response to trafficking in human beings including mandating national anti-trafficking coordinators. We have agreed to tackle exploitation of trafficking victims in its most obvious forms. Even though I would have liked to have a more extensive ban on exploitation including sexual exploitation, this is already an improvement on current legislation. It can never be okay to take advantage of trafficking victims.”
Next steps
Parliament and Council will have to formally approve the agreement. The new rules will come into force twenty days after their publication in the EU Official Journal, and member states have two years to implement the provisions.
New genomic techniques (NGT) are techniques for targeted genome modification (mutation or insertion of one or more genes at specific sites in the genome)
The proposed regulation – in line with the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy – lays down specific rules for the deliberate release and placing on the market of NGT plant and related food and feed. Currently, plants obtained by NGTs are subject to the same rules as GMOs. To better reflect the different risk profiles of NGT plants, the proposal creates two distinct pathways for NGT plants to be placed on the market. In the draft report, the rapporteur has called for a common EU register for Category 1 NGT plant(s) to ensure traceability. There were close to 1200 amendments submitted covering all of the Commission proposal. The rapporteur has also included provisions that exclude NGT plants from patentability.
To make our food system more sustainable and resilient, MEPs support new rules for some NGT plants, but those not equivalent to conventional plants must follow stricter rules.
The Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety on Wednesday adopted its position on the Commission proposal on New Genomic Techniques (NGT), with 47 votes to 31 and 4 abstentions.
MEPs agree with the proposal to have two different categories and two sets of rules for NGT plants. NGT plants considered equivalent to conventional ones (NGT 1 plants) would be exempted from the requirements of the GMO legislation, whereas for NGT 2 plants this legislation adapts the GMO framework to those NGT plants.
MEPs also agree that all NGT plants should remain prohibited in organic production as their compatibility requires further consideration.
NGT 1 plants
For NGT 1 plants, MEPs amended the proposed rules on the size and number of modifications needed for a NGT plant to be considered equivalent to conventional plants. MEPs also want NGT seeds to be labelled accordingly and to set up a public online list of all NGT 1 plants.
While there would be no mandatory labelling at consumer level for NGT 1 plants, MEPs want the Commission to report on how consumers and producers’ perception of the new techniques is evolving, seven years after entry into force.
NGT 2 plants
For NGT 2 plants, MEPs agree to maintain GMO legislation requirements, including mandatory labelling of products.
To incentivise their uptake, MEPs also agree to an accelerated procedure for risk assessment, taking into account their potential to contribute to a more sustainable agri-food system, but underline that the so-called precautionary principle must be respected.
Ban on all patents filed for NGT plants
MEPs amended the proposal to introduce a full ban on patents for all NGT plants, plant material, parts thereof, genetic information and process features they contain, to avoid legal uncertainties, increased costs and new dependencies for farmers and breeders. MEPs also request a report by June 2025 on the impact of patents on breeders’ and farmers’ access to varied plant reproductive material as well as a legislative proposal to update EU rules on intellectual property rights accordingly.
Next steps
Parliament is scheduled to adopt its mandate during the 5-8 February 2024 plenary session, after which it is ready to start negotiations with EU member states.
NGTs could help to make our food system more sustainable and resilient by developing improved plant varieties that are climate resilient, pest resistant, give higher yields or that require fewer fertilisers and pesticides.
Several NGT products are already or in the process of becoming available on the market outside the EU (e.g. bananas in the Philippines that do not go brown, with the potential to reduce food waste and CO2 emissions). The European Food Safety Authority has evaluated potential safety issues of NGTs.
Presentation of the Belgian Presidency priorities: extracts from the presentation by Belgian Ministers in the EP Committee meetings (23/01/24)
Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Belgium Presidency of the Council.
Belgium holds the Presidency of the Council until June 2024 included.
Economic and Monetary Affairs
Protecting taxpayers and their purchasing power while restoring citizens’ trust in financial institutions would be the overarching priority, Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem told MEPs on 22 January. He said the economic governance review, deepening the capital markets union, reaching a general approach on the bank deposit guarantee, and securing long-term financial support to Ukraine would be the concrete priorities.
MEPs themselves stressed the need for progress on the capital markets union, support for Ukraine, and updating the economic governance system. Some singled out the need to make progress on fighting tax avoidance and working to push the US to agree to the latest international tax standards.
Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
On 23 January, Justice Minister Paul van Tigchelt wants to make progress on priorities such as the fight against organised crime, small-scale detention, the rights of sex workers, violence against women and trafficking in human beings. Secretary of State for Digitalisation Mathieu Michel said the Presidency hopes to reach a General Approach in May on improving GDPR enforcement.
MEPs highlighted Parliament’s request to trigger Article 7(2) procedures on the rule of law and the fight against hate speech and disinformation. Replying to MEPs’ questions, the Presidency confirmed a vote on the Artificial Intelligence Act in the first week of February, and that work continues on Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Finally, MEPs asked to advance towards a consent-based definition of rape in the draft law on violence against women.
Transport and Tourism
On 23 January, Georges Gilkinet, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mobility, stressed that the Presidency will strive to advance a green and digital transition, decarbonise the transport sector and finalise as many files as possible before the EU elections. Valérie De Bue, Minister of the Civil Service, IT and Administrative Simplification, in charge of Tourism and Road Safety, noted that tourism has come back to pre-pandemic levels and announced an informal meeting of Tourism Ministers in February to advance the tourism agenda.
Transport Committee MEPs urged the Presidency to conclude the work on Trans-European transport networks, a cycling declaration, and the maritime and road safety packages, as well as get a mandate to negotiate on Single European Sky rules and on transport weights and dimensions and railway capacity rules.
Regional Development
On 23 January, Minister-President of the Government of Wallonia Elio Di Rupo wants post-2027 cohesion to provide targeted and simpler regional aid while ensuring that no citizens and territories are left behind by the green and digital transitions. Among the priorities mentioned were the removal of cross-border obstacles, and developing macro-regional strategies for the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and for the islands.
MEPs raised the issues of increasing the cohesion budget for the next programming period, responding to the housing crisis and ensuring that the green transition is incorporated into the cohesion policy. They also highlighted the need to prepare for EU enlargement and the intention to find a deal on the mechanism for cross-border removal of obstacles before the elections.
Industry, Research and Energy
On 22 January, Petra De Sutter,Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Administration, emphasised the goal of the digital decade: universal access to quality telecommunication, including 5G. She mentioned the expected White Paper on the future of telecommunications and hoped for an agreement on Gigabit infrastructure legislation.
Mathieu Michel, State Secretary for Digitisation, presented four priorities: the Digital Identity framework, bridging the digital skills gap, AI legislation and blockchain. These aim to enhance Europe’s digital hub status and position the EU as a leader in digital innovation.
MEPs raised EU cybersecurity, Gigabit infrastructure, the digital skills gap, digital qualifications and the impact of AI legislation on innovation as their priority areas of work.
On the future of research and innovation, Willy Borsus, Vice-President of the Walloon Government and Minister, said the presidency will aim to balance security and competitiveness, fostering EU resilience in vital sectors and transforming research into societal and economic value.
Thomas Dermine, State Secretary for Economic Recovery and Strategic Investments, in charge of Science Policy, said that the space sector will evolve around three initiatives: the midterm review of the EU space programme, a European Space Law and a joint space council between the European Space Agency and the EU, planned for May 2024.
MEPs sought clarifications on proposed cuts to the Horizon programme, Europe’s lagging position in life sciences, the need for comprehensive space legislation and the development of satellite constellations like Iris² for Europe’s autonomy.
Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten highlighted key initiatives such as updating the Euratom safeguard for the peaceful use of nuclear and bolstering energy security and sovereignty. They will also focus on increasing the rate of green renovation of buildings and promoting offshore renewable energy production.
MEPs stressed the need to prepare an EU “Blue deal” and to reinforce the electricity networks to allow for the expansion of renewables. MEPs also want the EU to focus on domestic production of hydrogen and ban the remaining imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia.
On 23 January, Jo Brouns, Flemish Minister for Economy, Innovation, Work, Social Economy and Agriculture, said that EU industry is too dependent on imports and that the EU needs to be more assertive. The Presidency will focus on the remaining legislative work, particularly on the Net-Zero Industry Act.
MEPs expressed concern over the waiver of state aid rules granted by the Commission to certain member states and called for the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform, currently under discussion between Parliament and Council, to be allocated enough funding.
Employment and Social Affairs
On 23 January, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economy and Employment Pierre Yves Dermagne said the Presidency wishes to make progress on the Platform Work Directive and the European Disability Card. He also stressed the importance of mental health at work, the revision of the carcinogens and mutagens Directive (CMRD6), and the European Pillar of Social Rights.
MEPs called on the minister to overcome the current block in the Council on the Platform Work Directive. Questioned on the coordination of social security systems, Mr Dermagne said that there is a will to conclude negotiations. Other issues raised by MEPs were quality traineeships, the mandate of the European Labour Authority and the cost of living crisis in Europe.
Internal Market and Consumer Protection
On 24 January, Pierre-Yves Dermagne, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy and Employment, and Alexia Bertrand, State Secretary for the Budget and Consumer Protection, said they want to finalise negotiations on the right to repair, the Single Market Emergency Instrument and banning products made with forced labour in the EU. The Presidency also announced that an informal meeting on 19 April will look ahead at what the next Commission should address, such as mileage fraud for second hand cars, accessibility to financial services and AI and consumer protection.
MEPs inquired about Presidency support for new rules on addictive design of online platforms and on influencer marketing. Europe’s global role, the concerns of businesses and SMEs, Enrico Letta’s report on the future of single market and disinformation were also discussed.
Legal Affairs
Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt highlighted on 24 January the fight against organised crime, drug trafficking and reintegration of people leaving prison among the priorities. He also expressed ambition to achieve progress on the EU-wide recognition of parenthood and some intellectual property files, while finalising the corporate sustainability due diligence.
MEPs quizzed the minister about the fight against counterfeit products and highlighted the need to make progress on company and patent laws including corporate sustainability reporting. They also asked about planned steps on digital legislation and files benefitting civil society organisations.
Development
On 24 January, Caroline Gennez, Minister of Development Cooperation and of the Major Cities Policy stressed that the Presidency is committed to fostering a more equal partnership with Africa, with focus on implementing the Samoa Agreements. Particularly, they will focus on health in Africa, humanitarian aid and a durable cease-fire with humanitarian assistance for Gaza.
MEPs asked about the relations with Latin American countries and other EU strategic partners and stressed the importance of including civil society and of cooperating with partner countries on environmental protection. Some MEPs also asked how to regain the trust of the Sahel countries.
International Trade
Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Trade told MEPs on 24 January that the Presidency will focus on open strategic autonomy, the upcoming 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the implementation and enforcement of existing trade agreements. The Presidency also plans a conference on critical raw materials for 26 March.
For the WTO Ministerial Conference at the end of February, the Presidency will focus on the dispute settlement issue, sustainable fisheries, e-commerce, and industrial and environmental subsidies.
Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
On 24 January, Marie-Colline Leroy, State Secretary for Gender Equality, Equal Opportunities and Diversity, said the Presidency would prioritise combating gender-based violence and discrimination, strengthening equality policy and preparing the equality agenda for the new legislature. The Presidency is determined to conclude the negotiations on a directive on combating violence against women.
MEPs expressed their disappointment that member states are refusing to include rape in the directive on combating violence against women. They also highlighted the economic costs of domestic violence and the burden the cost of living crisis is putting on vulnerable women.
VIENNA, 25 January 2024 – The OSCE Chair-in-Office, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg, presented the country’s vision for its 2024 Chairpersonship at the inaugural session of the OSCE Permanent Council today.
“The trust bestowed upon us by all participating States during these challenging times is a responsibility we embrace with profound commitment, humility, and pride – fully mindful of the critical juncture at which we assume this role,” said Chair-in-Office Borg.
Under the motto ‘Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Security’, Chair-in-Office Borg emphasized Malta’s overarching commitment to upholding the principles and commitments outlined in the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris, stressing that these are not optional but shared obligations agreed upon by all the participating States of the OSCE.
The first priority outlined by the Maltese Chairpersonship is its unequivocal commitment to addressing Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Chair-in-Office Borg condemned the intensified attacks witnessed earlier in the month and in recent days, and underlined that the protection of all civilians must be of paramount importance. He called for Russia’s immediate withdrawal from the entire territory of Ukraine. He called on participating States to do everything possible to break the chain of violence, anguish, and suffering, not only in this war but in conflicts around the world.
“I join the Secretary General in her call for the release of the three illegally detained staff members of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission” emphasised Minister Borg.
“The OSCE has a pivotal role to play in Ukraine. We commend the important work of the Support Programme for Ukraine and pledge our support for even more engagement,” added Minister Borg as he announced his plans to visit Kyiv to reiterate the steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Chair-in-Office Borg outlined Malta’s commitment to facilitating dialogue towards finding durable and sustainable political solutions to other conflicts across the OSCE region, particularly in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus. The Chair-in-Office also pledged support for the OSCE’s field operations in Eastern Europe, South Eastern Europe, and Central Asia, by sustaining their engagement with host authorities in line with OSCE principles and commitments and supporting their work in the field to strengthen national capacities and capabilities
Safeguarding the OSCE’s functionality and finding solutions for its leadership is another key priority. “We count on the collaboration of all participating States to demonstrate the necessary political will to give this Organization the foundations it needs for a secure and resilient future,” said Chair-in-Office Borg.
The Chair-in-Office emphasized Malta’s readiness to serve as a bridge between Skopje and Helsinki, reinforcing the pillars of the Organization and upholding its principles and commitments. Minister Borg called on all participating States to demonstrate the necessary political will to reach a consensus on a Unified Budget and ensuring predictable leadership beyond 4 September 2024.
Malta’s Chairpersonship aims to build on North Macedonia’s success in keeping the over one billion people in the OSCE region at the centre of this Organization’s initiatives. Malta’s goal is to adopt an inclusive approach by mainstreaming gender and increasing the meaningful engagement of youth in discussions.
Chair-in-Office Borg underlined that Malta’s “parallel Chairpersonship of the OSCE and elected membership of the UN Security Council provides a unique opportunity to identify constructive synergies between these multilateral institutions dedicated to promoting peace and security.”
Against this backdrop, Malta aims to focus on the Women, Peace, and Security agenda and to renew the OSCE’s initiatives against cyber threats, transnational challenges and ensuring compliance with arms control commitments.
Recognizing the interconnectedness of security, economic prosperity, and the environment, Malta will emphasize bridging digital divides, promoting access to digital technologies, and co-operating on climate resilience, combatting corruption and food security.
The Chair-in-Office called on participating States to uphold human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law, especially in the important election year ahead. The Chair-in-Office added that “at a time when media freedom is more under threat than ever before, Malta’s Chairpersonship will push forward initiatives on media literacy and the safety of journalists, particularly female journalists, both online and offline”. Furthermore, Malta will actively engage in combating violence against women and trafficking in human beings.
In his concluding remarks, Chair-in-Office Borg affirmed that Malta “will leave no stone unturned in strengthening the resilience of this Organization and our people, in pursuit of a secure and peaceful future.”
PARIS, FRANCE, 25 January 2024 – The Europe Sustainable Development Report 2023/24 (ESDR), a new report released today produced by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) in collaboration with SDSN Europe and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), reveals that decisive actions must be taken in the European Union (EU) to avoid environmental and social “tipping points” and to maintain the promise of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement.
The fifth edition of the ESDR, which includes the SDG Index and Dashboards, tracks progress on the SDGs of the EU, its Member States, and partner countries in Europe. The report highlights that at the current rate, a third of the SDG targets will not be achieved by the EU by 2030, with significant differences across European countries; these range from a quarter in Northern and Western Europe to around half in Southern Europe and Central and Eastern Europe on average. In particular, the report underlines stagnation and reversal in progress in many European countries on social targets with growing issues around access to and quality of services for all, as well as poverty and material deprivation driven at least partly by multiple crises since 2020. Globally, the international financial architecture is failing to channel global savings to SDG investments at the needed pace and scale which leads to a reversal in SDG progress in many parts of the world, especially in the poorest and most vulnerable countries.
This year’s report provides essential contributions for the EU to strengthen its SDG leadership at home and internationally ahead of the June 2024 European elections and the Summit of the Future convened by the UN Secretary-General in September 2024.
Guillaume Lafortune, Vice President of the SDSN and a lead author of the report, emphasizes:
“Political parties campaigning for the European elections and the future leaders of the European Union have historic responsibilities. The Sustainable Development Goals adopted by all UN Member States in 2015 are not being achieved in Europe and globally, yet they remain the future Europe and the world want. Decisive actions must be taken during this decade. This is not the time to backtrack or water down what has been achieved and agreed on to support the implementation of the SDGs and Paris Climate Agreement. Long-term investments and regional cooperation are required to boost skills and innovation and provide equal opportunities for all. In a multipolar and fragmented world, coalitions of European thought leaders must work together to lay thefoundations for a new European Deal for the Future and play a leadership role internationally to prepare for the next decades of global sustainable development.”
Adolf Kloke-Lesch, Co-Chair of SDSN Europe and another lead author of the report underlines:
“The EU should turn its global role and broad networks into powerful tools of global transformation. By aligning its external policies to the global common good expressed in the 2030 Agenda with the SDGs, the EU can only bolster its long-term strategic autonomy. The EU should work closely with the G21 Presidencies of Brazil (2024) and South Africa (2025) and the G7 Presidencies of Italy (2024) and Canada (2025) to get the SDG agenda back on track. Within both groups, the EU, France, Germany, and Italy should form a dedicated ‘Team Europe for the SDGs’ to strive for an open and cooperative international order to advance global sustainable development. In today’s world, international cooperation must progressively become mutually transformative, giving partners a voice and means also in the European Financial Architecture as well as regarding policy measures and developments in the EU that highly affect them.”
Multiple and simultaneous health, security, geopolitical, climate, and financial crises led to a slowdown of SDG progress on average in the EU, driven notably by slow progress on socio-economic outcomes and environmental goals. Finland tops the SDG Index this year (for the fourth year in a row), yet even countries at the top of the SDG Index face significant challenges in achieving several SDGs. The EU faces its biggest SDG challenges in responsible consumption and production, climate and biodiversity, sustainable landuse and diets, and in promoting convergence in SDG progress across its Member States.
This year’s edition also highlights challenges related to the ‘Leave No One Behind’ principle included in the 2030 Agenda. The ‘Leave No One Behind’ Index (LNOB) included in the report measures within-country inequalities across four dimensions: extreme poverty and material deprivation; income inequality; gender inequality; and access to and quality of services. The Index highlights minimal progress and even reversal across three of the four dimensions for most European countries since 2020. The situation is particularly
alarming regarding the sub-dimension “access to and quality of services,” where 32 out of 34 European countries covered by the Index show no progress or reversal in progress. The effective functioning of European democracies and institutions, which are at the heart of the sustainable development transition, depends on the capacity of the EU leadership and Member States to provide equal opportunities, protect the most vulnerable, and boost education and skills for all.
As reflected in previous editions, the report also finds that the EU is responsible for significant negative “international spillovers”, driven partly by unsustainable consumption and international supply chains.
In June 2024, the citizens of the EU will elect the new European Parliament. The EU’s incoming leaders will be responsible for agreeing to the next EU seven-year budget (2028-2035) and negotiating the next global agenda for sustainable development to continue the SDGs beyond 2030. In the current fragmented and multipolar world, the EU’s leadership must adopt a more ambitious, integrated, and coherent approach to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs at home and internationally. Complementing the ESDR 2023/24 report, a group of 100+ scientists, experts, and practitioners from over 20 European countries also published today a joint Call for Action targeting political parties and the future EU leadership to lay the foundation for a new European Deal for the Future with ten priority actions:
Respond to the grave danger of negative “social tipping points” by significantly reducing the risk of poverty and social exclusion of European citizens.
Double down efforts to achieve net-zero emissions in the EU by 2050, with major breakthroughs by 2030.
Strengthen regional and local authorities in achieving the SDGs, including regularly monitoring and reporting SDG progress at all levels.
Curb negative international spillovers and support the transformation towards a sustainable trade system.
Leverage Team Europe for global SDG diplomacy and strengthen diverse and universal formats, especially the United Nations.
Step up Europe’s multilateral role by leading global efforts to reform the global financial architecture.
Re-focus the EU’s international partnerships on the SDGs and move towards mutually transformative cooperation.
Mobilize the financial means for the transformations toward a sustainable future.
Institutionalize the integration of the SDGs into strategic planning, macroeconomic coordination, budget processes, research and innovation missions, and other policy instruments.
Establish new permanent mechanisms for structured and meaningful engagement with civil society, including youth, and within the European Parliament on SDG pathways and policies.
The 5th edition of the Europe Sustainable Development Report is part of the larger Sustainable Development Report (SDR) series. Since 2015, the SDR provides the most up-to-date data to track and rank the performance of Europe and all UN Member States on the SDGs. This year’s ESDR covers the 27 EU Member States, four countries of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), the United Kingdom, and EU candidate countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkiye).[1] The report was prepared by a group of independent experts at SDSN and SDSN Europe and is co-designed and co-created by and with civil society in Europe. This year’s edition builds on three workshops and one online public consultation organized between April and November 2023. The methodology is based on the global edition of the Sustainable Development Report, which was peer-reviewed by Cambridge University Press and Nature Geoscience, and statistically audited in 2019 by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC).
[1]Due to their very recent accession to the status of candidate country, and in light of significant data gaps and lags, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine are not included in this year’s edition.
The report is accessiblehere(available online from 24 January 2024 at 11:59 pm CET). The websites and data visualization links are available below.
