The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating existing gender inequalities
The rise in domestic violence must be urgently addressed
Universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services must be guaranteed
MEPs assessed the progress made in women’s rights over the past 25 years and the many challenges still ahead, in a resolution adopted on Thursday.
More than twenty-five years after the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) was adopted, MEPs regret that, although some progress have been made, no EU member states have fully attained the targets set in the text, as the 5th review of the BPFA published by the European Institute for Gender Equality in 2020 shows.
In the resolution adopted by 505 votes in favour, 109 against and 76 abstentions, MEPs also express deep concern regarding the current pandemic, which exacerbates existing gender inequalities, threatens to reverse the progress made until now, and could push 47 million more women and girls below the poverty line worldwide.
Eradicating gender-based violence
In order to tackle violence against women, MEPs reiterate their call to ratify the Istanbul Convention and urge the Commission to come up with an EU Directive to prevent and combat all forms of gender-based violence. The increase in domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic must be urgently addressed, they add, by providing protection services for victims, such as helplines, safe accommodation and health services.
Specific measures are also needed to eradicate cyber violence, including online harassment, cyberbullying and hate speech, which disproportionately affect women and girls.
Towards a more balanced gender representation in the economy
Parliament reiterates its call on EU member states to unblock the Women on Boards Directive, and pushes for EU targets, action plans, timelines and temporary special measures to move towards a balanced representation in all executive, legislative and administrative positions.
Adopting EU legislation to increase pay transparency would help to close the gender gap, MEPs stress, who regret that the Commission proposal on that issue has not yet been presented as planned.
Universal access to healthcare is a human right
MEPs are particularly worried by some retrogressive tendencies regarding access to health services in some EU countries. They notably condemn the recent de facto ban on abortion in Poland.
Access to family planning, maternal health services and safe and legal abortion services are key elements that guarantee women’s rights and save lives, they underline. Finally, MEPs also call for the universal respect for, and access to, sexual and reproductive health and rights services, as agreed in the Beijing Declaration.
Background
The Beijing Declaration was adopted by the UN at the end of the 4th World Conference on Women on 15 September 1995 to promulgate a set of principles on gender equality. The Platform for Action called for strategic actions in a variety of areas (economy, education, health, violence, decision-making, etc.).
Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said that he is very optimistic about the recovery plans which are financed by the European Commission. In a commentary on the latest interim economic forecast of the European Commission, Borisov pointed out:
“We can be optimistic. And it is no coincidence that today’s forecasts are already for higher economic growth in Bulgaria – nearly 3% for this year and up to 5% in the next. But I am convinced that, after so many people recovered from the Covid, we will be the first to come out of the pandemic. We are vaccinating at full steam!
Meanwhile, the EC published its winter economic forecast, according to which Bulgaria‘s GDP will grow by 2.7 percent this year. Weaker economic growth in the EU s forecast for only four countries – the Netherlands, Austria, Lithuania and Estonia, according to the European Commission’s ‘winter’ forecast
EUR 29 billion are allocated for our country from the European Union to patch up the damage and mitigate the consequences of the pandemic.
“That’s BGN 60 billion which will come to our country in the coming years, of which BGN 50 billion is in grants”, announced Prime Minister Borisov during a inspection of the construction and repair works on Trakia motorway.
For the first time the EU envisions for Bulgaria such a significant sum to help the country recover from the crisis caused by the pandemic. In the words of Prime Minister Borisov, this will ensure that whatever government there is after the elections the investment program of the state will not be halted.
Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev reports to the Prime Minister on our country’s progress in preparing Bulgaria‘s Recovery and Sustainability Plan. He pointed out that Bulgaria is among the countries progressing the fastest and this will make the money to be available to the business as quickly as possible. The new version of the Plan has already been published following public discussions and consultations.
“The good news is that new BGN 900 million is earmarked especially for the business in three funds, in addition to the BGN 800 million left from the first variant of the plan. We plan to make this money available as quickly as possible in Bulgaria – if possible as early as the middle of this year”, said Donchev.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that over the next five years Bulgaria will be able to double the volume of public investment in infrastructure, railways, digital connectivity, energy efficiency, but above all for direct investment in business.
Statement by Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe
Copenhagen, 11 February 2021
Good morning,
Even though we’re still seeing more than 1 million cases reported every week across the European Region, the overall case incidence of COVID-19 has been declining for 4 consecutive weeks, and for 2 weeks in a row, the number of new deaths has decreased.
Whilst this is good news, the decline in cases conceals increasing numbers of outbreaks and community spread involving variants of concern, meaning that we need to watch overall trends in transmission carefully and avoid rash decisions.
The numbers we are seeing are still too high. Two days ago, 40 countries in the European Region reported 3610 deaths in 24 hours, caused by COVID-19.
At this point, the overwhelming majority of European countries remain vulnerable. Right now, it’s a thin line between the hope of a vaccine and a false sense of security.
Based on information from 29 out of the 37 countries currently vaccinating in the European Region today, 7.8 million people have completed their immunization series. That’s equivalent to only 1.5% of the population of those 29 countries.
Yesterday, 17 states and territories in the WHO European Region had a 14-day incidence larger than 400 reported cases for every 100 000 people. This warrants measured decision-making at this critical juncture.
Time and again have we seen countries reopen too fast and lose hard-earned gains. I must reiterate that decisions to lift public health and social measures need to be underpinned with data, based on epidemiological assessment and health system capacity. Criteria need to be evidence-based – and not based on observations of relative progress.
Many of you worry about new variants, about how infectious they are, whether the disease they cause is more severe, whether vaccines will be less effective against them. Some variants are indeed of particular concern. We have all followed the reports on how receptive the variant B.1.351, first identified in South Africa, is to the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
This particular variant of concern has been reported in 19 European countries. Although community transmission in Europe is not yet widespread, the variant has increasingly been linked to outbreaks in communities. Irrespective of the variant, we must continue to suppress the virus.
Yesterday, the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization concluded, based on all available evidence, that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine can be used in persons aged 18 years and above, including people older than 65 years.
What does the emergence of these variants mean?
It means that we must do everything in our power to reduce transmission and delay mutations that may influence vaccine efficacy. Unless we halt transmission now, the expected benefits from vaccinations in controlling this pandemic may not be evident.
This means that manufacturers will have to adjust to the virus’ evolution. This also underlines the importance of maintaining a diverse portfolio of vaccines of varied technology platforms for use in a range of settings.
Vaccines are essential, but as of now, they are not sufficient to control the pandemic. They are only one among many tools at our disposal.
What has not changed is how the virus transmits. Temporary setbacks do not change the fact that current responses are having an impact. Despite new variants, WHO’s guidance on social and public health measures remains unchanged.
There is some more good news.
Thirty-five state parties have extended their genetic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2, as have 18 others supported by WHO’s reference laboratories, due to the growing importance of identifying new variants.
Based on data from nearly 20 countries, the hospitalization rate due to COVID-19 fell from 13 to 11 per 100 000 people, between the 3rd and 4th week of January. A decrease, yes, but many of our hospitals continue to struggle.
The number of vaccine doses given has also exceeded the number of reported cases in the Region: some 41 million doses administered, versus 36 million reported cases.
Vaccination of priority groups is already saving lives. But the sheer scale of COVID-19 vaccine deployment is enormous; vaccinations will take time.
Vaccines offer a way to emerge faster from this pandemic. But only if we ensure that all countries, irrespective of income level, have access to them.
The divide between high-, middle- and low-income countries is clearer than ever. Unfair access to vaccines can backfire. The longer the virus lingers, the greater the risk of dangerous mutations.
Equitable access is a moral imperative, one that mitigates the pandemic’s impact on all of us, not just some.
Together with the European Union, today we launch a €40 million programme to ensure effective deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in 6 countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. This complements ongoing work through COVAX and the EU sharing mechanism, with an initial focus on readiness, information campaigns, supplies and training of health workers.
Yesterday, I also signed an agreement with the EU to support the countries of the western Balkans in their efforts. In addition, we have a joint EU–WHO programme for the response across the central Asia region.
The time to scale up and accelerate vaccine production is now. We’re calling for a joint European effort to get vaccination programmes on track. Manufacturers and health-care providers need to share clinical data and dossiers with us so that we can accelerate Emergency Use Listings. We are also identifying smaller production sites with enough capacity and quality criteria in place to help manufacturing of vaccine components. Again, the key here is solidarity and pragmatism, through synergizing vaccine production capacity.
Finally, a very happy birthday to Sister Andre, Europe’s oldest person, a French nun who celebrates her 117th birthday today. A COVID-19 survivor, there’s a remarkable lesson to be learned from Sister Andre, who, during her illness, selflessly showed more concern for her fellow nursing home residents than for her own life.
Sikyong greets Tibetans on Losar, Tibetan New Year 2148
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Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay greets Tibetans on Losar, Tibetan New Year 2148
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay extends Losar greetings to Tibetans inside and outside Tibet on the occasion of traditional Tibetan New Year- Losar 2148- the year of the Iron-Ox. The Tibetan New Year begins from 12-14 February 2021.
Sikyong’s Message:
On this joyous occasion of Tibetan new year, Losar 2148, the year of Iron-Ox, I on behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration, extend heartfelt greetings and Tashi Delek to His Holiness the Dalai Lama led religious leaders and representatives of Tibetan Buddhism and all the Tibetan brothers and sisters in Tibet and throughout the world celebrating Tibetan new year.
I hope that this new year brings us all good health, positivity and fulfilment of our aspirations.
Meanwhile, the situation Inside Tibet remains grave and although we welcome the news of the recent release of language activist Tashi Wangchuk, we must not forget that he was falsely charged and wrongfully sentenced to five-year imprisonment. Similarly, the case of 19 yr old monk Tenzin Nyima who died of severe beating and torture by the Chinese authorities days after the enactment of the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 is a clear indication that the situation inside Tibet is worsening particularly after the US passed TPSA into law, which sends a powerful message of hope and justice to Tibetan inside Tibet and reinforces U.S support for religious freedom, the reincarnation system, environmental protection and Tibetan democratic system in exile especially acknowledging the Central Tibetan Administration and Sikyong as the legitimate institution and representative of the Tibetan diaspora around the world is a significant achievement for Tibet’s issue, and thus the Chinese government have intensified their control over the Tibetans in Tibet. Therefore, this new year we must all pledge our solidarity and commitment to promoting Tibet issue till it is not resolved and fulfil the aspirations of Tibetans in Tibet.
We must also keep in mind that the Covid-19 pandemic isn’t over yet given the unpredictable nature of the mutating virus and although vaccines are now available we must not compromise on safety and therefore I appeal everyone to prioritize maximum precautions during Losar festivity.
I also urge Tibetans around the world to advocate clean and fair participation in the upcoming final election 2021 for Sikyong and Parliament candidates. The preliminary election saw about 77% voter turn out, the highest turnout rate till date and I am hoping we see about 80% voter turn out in the final general election.
Once again I wish you all peace, prosperity and happiness and pray for the longevity of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I also hope that the issue of Tibet is swiftly resolved and the Tibetans inside and outside Tibet reunite soon.
EIB lending in 2020 amounted to €1.2 billion and EIF equity and guarantee commitments to €180 million
Some 8 000 businesses benefited from EIB Group operations, supporting approximately 147 000 jobs in the country.
EIB Group support represented 0.66% of the Czech Republic’s GDP
Last year, the European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group), which consists of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), provided loans, guarantees and equity commitments worth €1.4 billion in the Czech Republic. The EIB Group maintained the high level of investment reached in 2019.
The EIB signed new loans amounting to €1.2 billion and the EIF committed around €180 million in 11 equity, guarantee and microfinance operations benefiting some 6 870 small businesses. EIF financing supported approximately 55 900 jobs and mobilised total investments of €1.3 billion.
EIB Vice-President Lilyana Pavlova commented: “Despite the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the EIB Group kept a level of investment in the Czech Republic similar to that reached in 2019, which was already exceptional. Together with our Czech counterparts, we provided well-balanced support to the public and the private sector to increase the resilience of the economy and support a just transition. I am very proud that the EIB, as the EU climate bank, provided financial and advisory support to projects that will enhance vital infrastructure, energy efficiency and climate adaptation, and ultimately improve the quality of life of the Czech people.”
“Last year, the European Investment Bank also continued to support a number of important projects in strategic sectors, key to the future of the Czech Republic. And I am very pleased that the Czech private and public sectors have been able to make an active and effective use of this support. Projects delivered through the European Investment Bank in the Czech Republic last year helped around 8 000 small and medium-sized enterprises, thereby supporting more than 147 000 jobs. I very much appreciate this cooperation and I look forward to working together to develop and modernise the Czech economy again this year. Between 1992 and the end of 2020, the EIB supported investments totalling €23.2 billion. That is roughly CZK 600 billion,” said Minister of Finance Alena Schillerová.
EIB Group results in the Czech Republic in 2020
Support for strategic regional infrastructure
In 2020, the EIB provided €122.7 million of loans to the Central Bohemia and Pardubice regions to support key regional infrastructure, healthcare, transport, social care, education, culture and the energy efficiency of public buildings.
EIB investments will help these regions to cope with current and future health, economic and climate challenges. They will help enhance the attractiveness of these areas and offer better economic opportunities and quality of life for Czech people.
Support for climate adaptation and the energy transition
Through a €300 million loan signed in 2020, the EIB will finance a vast set of measures put in place by the Czech Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen the country’s water management services, including flood protection and storm management. This is part of the Bank’s efforts to preserve natural resources and protect the environment for future generations.
The EIB support will help to improve living conditions for some 110 000 people in the Czech Republic. About 25% of the Czech population live in flood-prone areas that face disastrous floods on average every 10-15 years.
The EIB signed a €190 million loan to ČEPS, a.s., the state-owned Czech Transmission System Operator. This investment will help strengthen the country’s electricity transmission infrastructure, improving the reliability and quality of electricity supply, and increasing the integration of renewables in the electricity network.
Support for sustainable transport
In 2020, the EIB provided €223.8 million to upgrade freight and passenger rail transport in the Czech Republic. EIB loans will support the acquisition of 50 electric locomotives and 140 freight intermodal wagons, and the retrofitting of around 310 locomotives with the European Train Control System (ETCS) by CD CARGO, as well as the purchase of 37 new passenger trainsets by the South Moravia region.
These investments will improve the capacity, safety and quality of freight services and passenger rail transport in the Czech Republic, notably through the use of modern control and signalling systems.
By promoting a shift from road to rail transport, these projects will have a positive impact on the environment and support the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy, in line with the objectives of the EIB Climate Bank Roadmap and the Czech Republic’s transport policy.
Support for SMEs and mid-caps during the COVID-19 crisis
In total, EIB Group operations in the Czech Republic in 2020 benefited some 8 000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-caps, supporting over 147 000 jobs.
The EIB concluded €356 million worth of intermediated lending with four partner financing institutions (Moneta, CSOB Leasing CZ, Ceska Sporitelna and SGEF CZ), further improving the access of Czech SMEs and municipalities to EIB financing. These operations support investments that will primarily focus on helping Czech companies deal with the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis. Some 1 190 SME and mid-cap projects are estimated to benefit from EIB loans in the Czech Republic, supporting about 91 200 jobs.
The EIF committed a total of €180 million through 11 operations, aimed at raising €1.3 billion. Some 6 870 businesses benefited from EIF operations in the Czech Republic, supporting about 55 900 jobs.
The EIF provided guarantee top-ups under COSME to CMZRB, Moneta Bank and Komercni Banka. The COSME Loan Guarantee Facility (LGF) is a window of the Single EU Debt Financial Instrument, which supports European enterprises’ growth and research and innovation (R&I). The EIF also provided guarantees to CSOB, Komercni Banka and Raiffeisenbank Czech Republic as a response to the COVID-19 crisis.
On the equity side, the EIF increased its stake in the Genesis Growth Equity Fund I and also invested in Enern Tech IV, a venture capital fund focusing mainly on early and early-growth stage ICT companies primarily in the Czech Republic and the broader region.
EIB advisory services in the Czech Republic
The mission of EIB Advisory is to help create and successfully implement sustainable investment projects by providing technical and financial advice to its partners across the project cycle and beyond. Advisory services in the Czech Republic are often delivered by multiple interdisciplinary advisory teams consisting of finance experts, engineers, and public-private partnership (PPP), innovation, climate and other specialists.
EIB advisory services help public and private entities to prepare projects that enable them to tackle some of the key challenges the Czech Republic and some of its neighbours are facing. Such projects support key investment in climate action, energy efficiency, digitalisation, innovation and social infrastructure.
In 2020, EIB advisory services provided:
Grant support to the Czech-Moravian Guarantee and Development Bank (CMZRB) to help it structure an advisory unit within the organisation. The unit will provide advisory services to Czech project promoters in areas such as transport infrastructure, digital and smart city solutions infrastructure, the circular economy, renewable energy and social infrastructure.
An assessment of the financing gaps for the agriculture and agri-food sectors in the Czech Republic, aiming to support the Czech European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) in planning and programming the use of financial instruments for the 2021-2027 period.
€2.25 million of grants from the EIB’s European Local Energy Assistance (ELENA) to the investment programme of the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade for a comprehensive energy efficiency renovation of the country’s central government buildings. The renovation will increase operational efficiency, improve energy performance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Horizontal support in the preparation of projects under the Coal Regions in Transition Initiative in the Czech Republic, as requested by the Czech Ministry for Regional Development. Three Czech regions participated in the initiative – Karlovy Vary, Ústí nad Labem and Moravia-Silesia.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union (EU) owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals both in Europe and beyond.
The EIB has worked with the Czech Republic since 1992 and invested in infrastructure, small businesses, environment and innovation. Since the start of operations in the Czech Republic, the EIB has provided €22.51 billion of financing to 185 projects.
The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe’s micro, small and medium-sized businesses by helping them to access finance. The EIF designs and develops both venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment. In this role, the EIF fosters EU objectives in support of innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth and employment.
European Commission Speech Brussels, 11 Feb 2021 Thank you. Good morning. Let me begin with five key messages emerging from this forecast:
First, the economic situation this winter remains challenging. Since t…
Brussels: Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Foreign Minister met at the headquarters of the European Parliament, Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula at the European Parliament, Dr. Hannah Neumann, as part of the Minister’s official visit to Brussels.
Dr. AlZayani praised the evolving close relations existing between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the European Union, and their keenness to enhance joint cooperation in various fields to serve common interests.
He hailed the tangible efforts made by the European Parliament in expanding cooperation with the countries of the GCC as well as exchanging experiences and visits, noting the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in promoting joint cooperation between the two sides to achieve common goals and interests.
Dr. Hannah Neumann commended the distinguished bilateral relations between Bahrain and the EU, pointing out their joint endeavor to develop and strengthen them in various fields, including the parliamentary field.
She noted Bahrain’s role in supporting regional peace and the efforts it is making to enhance security and stability, wishing Bahrain further progress and prosperity.
During the meeting, aspects of enhancing and developing bilateral cooperation between the two sides in various fields were discussed, in addition to a number of issues related to parliamentary affairs.
The meeting was attended by MoFA’s Undersecretary for International Affairs, Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of Denmark, and representative to the European Union and NATO, Dr. Bahia Jawad Al-Jishi, and the Minister’s accompanying delegation.
