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In this first week of the new year, I would like to thank you for your continued support and wish you a very happy 2021. Ringing in the new year may have felt a little different this time as we reflected on the trials of the past 12 months.
Yet in many ways, we have emerged strengthened and enriched and can look ahead with optimism. The past year saw astounding triumphs of human and scientific achievement, with vaccines rolled out with record speed, our preparedness for future crises strengthened and our ability to adapt to digital working and learning tested and confirmed. Of course, 2021 will not be without its challenges. We are all still learning from this pandemic, which continues to evolve.
But we embark on the year with more wisdom, fresh hope and a new openness to innovate and evolve. On behalf of the EMCDDA, I would like to wish you health and happiness and a fruitful and positive year ahead.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has published today its first Financial Instruments Transparency System (FITRS) file following the end of the Brexit transition period.
In particular, the equity transparency calculation results delta file (DLTECR) published by ESMA contains updated transparency calculation results for equity instruments which previously had a UK venue as the most relevant market.
ESMA would like to remind users to process this file in accordance with their systems implementation to capture all these updates.
ESMA will resume processing of FITRS files received during the maintenance window in the coming days between 9 and 11 January 2021 and will resume processing of DVCAP files received during the maintenance window on 11 January 2021, as per Brexit data operational plan published on ESMA’s website.
The Portuguese presidency of the EU Council is committed to doing everything to conclude negotiations on the reform of the EU’s massive farming subsidies programme without overlooking the transition toward a more sustainable food system, the Portuguese farm minister told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Maria do Céu Antunes is the Portuguese agriculture minister and will chair the Agrifish EU Council until 30 June. She spoke to EURACTIV’s agrifood editor Gerardo Fortuna.
In a nutshell, what are the main priorities of the Portuguese presidency when it comes to agriculture?
With the motto ‘Time to deliver: for a just, green and digital recovery’, the Portuguese presidency intends to contribute to the European recovery, highlighting its activities in three central priorities, namely a fairer, greener and more digital Europe.
In what agriculture is concerned, our priorities converge on the ‘greener’ Europe pillar: to promote the recovery and structural strengthening of the European agri-food system, as well as the digitalisation of the sector. But also ensuring the sustainability of the rural world through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform, the action plan for the development of EU organic production, the continuity of the Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, and the long term vision for the rural world.
The outgoing German presidency is leaving you the tough task of the CAP reform. Will you work for having an agreement within your presidency?
In the next six months, we will be committed to the conclusion of the CAP negotiations, started by the German presidency, that is currently going on between the Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament materialised in three regulations: on the strategic plans, the horizontal regulation and the regulation about the common organization of agricultural markets. This is a fundamental goal: to ensure the agricultural sector’s resilience and a transition to a greener architecture, with more revenue to farmers and fair prices to consumers.
At the same time, the threat of a CAP withdrawal by the Commission is still hanging over the heads of negotiators. Have you been reassured by the EU executive they will avoid using this ‘nuclear’ option, or it is something that could happen?
We deeply believe in everybody’s commitment to lead these negotiations to a good conclusion. The CAP will be fundamental in the transition to a sustainable food system and reinforce the European farmers’ ambition to help the EU goals in climate and environment protection. It’s undeniable that the CAP has strengthened, throughout the years, the integration of environmental objectives and goals related to food supply and farmers revenue. The reform under discussion increases CAP’s environmental goals, alongside the Green Deal.
We’re all committed to that goal, in a transparent and predictable process. We started a structured dialogue, in which the European Commission sends recommendations to member States, as strategic CAP plans are concerned, namely to evaluate each State’s contribution to the European Green Deal’s goals. We will do everything to conclude these negotiations. We all want a greener, more inclusive, more efficient and more sustainable agriculture.
Withdrawing the proposal for a reform of the EU’s farming subsidies programme is off the table, the European Commission assured farm ministers after its executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans hinted at this possibility, saying the programme could be better aligned with environmental objectives.
What’s your take on the work done so far regarding the Green deal implementation in the agrifood sectors and what will be your focus?
The general agreement of the Council of agriculture ministers of 19-20 October on the CAP’s reform, has made it possible to achieve special importance, namely due to the positive and balanced balance between economic and environmental objectives.
The F2F strategy is at the heart of the Green Deal, and its objectives are to make the EU’s food system more autonomous and sustainable. This strategy involves changing the way Europeans produce food and eat, respecting natural resources and preserving biodiversity, and their importance has been reinforced by the context created by the pandemic of COVID-19.
In this transition, towards a truly sustainable and resilient Europe, European farmers will have a very important role, as will the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which will be a fundamental instrument to help farmers achieve more sustainable production systems.
When it comes to the Farm to Fork, the public opinion has so far been more focused on targets, but what kind of innovation do you think the EU should invest on in this transition?
The goals are inevitably associated with a perspective of agriculture with eyes on the future, which is agriculture that wants to be innovative, which combines technology and the transfer of knowledge with digitalisation, in order to ensure the sustainable management of resources and the conservation of different ecosystems.
All of this will accelerate the inevitable, but the needed, climate and digital transition, so important and necessary for the new generations’ strategic autonomy and a united Europe that wants to be global and socially responsible.
Food labelling was another tricky issue under the German presidency. Are you planning to return to this subject in the next six months?
Food labelling is a matter of great concern to our presidency and will have the follow up needed, so we can find a balanced and fair collective vision, where the goal is always to find a system that allows consumers to make the informed choices.
The Portuguese one will be the first EU presidency that has to deal effectively with the potential disruption caused by Brexit. Are you planning anything in particular on this aspect?
Brexit is an important dossier in our presidency. The agreement reached on 24 December between the EU and the United Kingdom has been in provisional application phase since 1 January, while the necessary steps for its ratification are taking place. The presidency will prioritise the EU’s future relations with the UK, committing itself to a comprehensive, equitable and balanced partnership, respecting the interests of the Union and the Member States. The United Kingdom will continue to be an essential European partner, of great relevance in the agricultural and agri-food sector.
You’re not the first presidency that has to deal with the pandemic though. Are you satisfied with the measures taken so far?
Working together for a more resilient Europe, one that promotes European cohesion and values is the best way to continue to guarantee the future and resilience of agriculture, particularly in the pandemic context that we all live in. This pandemic has emphasised the need to respond to crises and structurally reinforce the European agri-food system. We have the ambition to guarantee strategic autonomy and to strengthen Europe’s position in the world.
The UN75 initiative was launched by Secretary-General António Guterres, in January last year, to understand the global public’s hopes and fears for the future, as well as their expectations and ideas for international cooperation, and for the UN in particular. More than 1.5 million people from 195 countries took part in the campaign through surveys and dialogues.
UN Video | UN75: 2020 and beyond
“The UN75 global consultation showed that 97 per cent of respondents support international cooperation to tackle global challenges,” Mr. Guterres said on the results.
“That represents a very strong commitment to multilateralism, and to the mission of the United Nations. Now it is up to us – Member States and the UN Secretariat – to meet the expectations of the people we serve,” he added.
Announcing the findings at the UN Office at Geneva, Fabrizio Hochschild, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the commemoration of UN’s 75th anniversary, said that together with UN75 conversations and surveys, innovative methodologies and artificial intelligence analysis were employed to gauge world opinion, including through traditional and social media.
In addition, two independent surveys were commissions around the same questions to have a “reality check”, and the results were striking, he continued.
Unity, across generations, regions income groups, and levels of education, was one such striking result, Mr. Hochschild highlighted, explaining that opinions were united when it came to people’s hopes and fears for their future, and their expectations of international cooperation.
In the immediate priorities post-COVID-19, the world is united in wanting much better access to affordable basic services, healthcare, quality education, water and sanitation, and related is the world seeks much greater solidarity with the hardest hit communities and places, he added.
Launched to mark the Organization’s 75th anniversary, the exercise was the UN’s most ambitious effort to date to gather input from the global public, and the largest survey on priorities for recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
UN Barbados and the OECS
A woman from St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean holds up a sign after completing the UN75 survey.
Short-term challenges
With the coronavirus pandemic reversing progress in human development and widening inequalities, many respondents prioritized access to basic services and support to the hardest hit places and communities in the short-term, according to the results.
The top immediate, short-term priority globally was universal access to healthcare.
In addition, given the impact of the crisis on children and education, greater investments in education and youth programmes ranked high among respondents, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and central and southern Asia.
Long-term challenges
Similarly, while people expect access to health services to improve over the next 25 years, respondents in all regions identified climate change and environmental issues as the number one long-term global challenge.
Other longer-term priorities vary according to income levels, but include rising concern with employment opportunities, respect for human rights and reducing conflict.
Respondents in higher human development countries tended to give the highest priority to the environment and human rights, those in lower human development countries tended to accord the highest priority to less conflict and meeting basic needs, such as employment, healthcare and education.
UN’s role
Many respondents also looked to the United Nations to lead in international cooperation to address immediate and longer-term global challenges, the results showed, with many also want the Organization to innovate – to be more inclusive, engaged, accountable and effective.
In surveys and UN75 dialogues held around the world, participants called on the UN for moral leadership; a more reformed, representative and agile Security Council; and an inclusive and participatory UN system, with improved understanding of the work of the Organization among citizens around the world, and which shows more care for the needs of the people.
The Central Regional Chairperson of the Psychic and Traditional Healers Association Limited, Nana Kojo Owonae who is also the Chief Priest of the Santrofi Shrine at Asebu has said the African Traditional Religion is the best.
He noted that it is where Africans and for that matter Ghanaians belong. “This is what our ancestors bequeathed to us and we must adhere to its principles and tenets and we shall go far”.
According to him, one cannot be an African Traditional spiritualist or practitioner and deliberately misbehave or do evil against someone and go scot-free as most pastors do in the country.
“If I knowingly go and have sex with someone’s wife, whether I’m seen or not my spirits will kill me for engaging in such a diabolic act”.
But, according to him, a pastor can commit same sin and nothing happens to him or her and this is the main reason why Christians speak against their religion.
He added that, church members are unwilling to talk about such an abominable act, but with “ours the ‘God’s’ and our ancestors would deal with you regardless of the punishment the community decides to give you”.
When asked why does it work like that, Nana Owonae explained that, every spirit one work with would tell him or her what is acceptable and unacceptable. “So once you break the rules, the spirits will arrest you and sometimes it’s very difficult and painful. This is what the church and religion fears and have decided to engage in worship where sin and evil are tolerated”.
The Chief Priest noted that when one unknowingly offends his ‘gods’ or spirit, there are remedial measures that can be deployed to appease them so they can forgive you. You would have suffered a great pain before you recover and be set free.”
The Santrofi Shrine Priest admonished Ghanaians to believe in what they have because it works perfectly well and very capable of protecting them from all evil spirits and setting them free.
Nana Kojo Owonae was speaking to this writer in a one-on-one conversation at his shrine at Asebu in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese District within the Central Region today Thursday, 7th January, 2021.
In concluding, he advised all and sundry to be careful about the kinds of Traditional priest they visit to seek help from. “There are some charlatans among us and we are gradually weeding them out to sanitise our space”.
Publishing company Simon & Schuster canceled plans to publish Republican Missouri Senator Josh Hawley’s book following Wednesday’s riot at the U.S. Capitol.
“As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints; at the same time we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom,” Simon & Schuster added.
“This could not be more Orwellian,” Hawley said in a Thursday statement. “Simon & Schuster is canceling my contract because I was representing my constituents, leading a debate on the Senate floor on voter integrity, which they have now decided to redefine as sedition.” (RELATED: Sen. Josh Hawley To Object Electoral College Certification Process On January 6)
“Let me be clear, this is not just a contract dispute,” the senator continued. “It’s a direct assault on the First Amendment. Only approved speech can now be published. This is the Left looking to cancel everyone they don’t approve of. I will fight this cancel culture with everything I have. We’ll see you in court.”
A riot erupted Wednesday in Washington, D.C., after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building in protest of the certification of the Electoral College votes, which took place that same day. Lawmakers were evacuated from the building after rioters breached security and entered the building. One woman was shot and killed by a police officer and three other people died from medical emergencies during the riot.
Hawley said in a Wednesday statement that he condemned the violence and called for those who broke the law to be prosecuted.
“Thank you to the brave law enforcement officials who have put their lives on the line,” the senator said. “The violence must end, those who attacked police and broke the law must be prosecuted, and Congress must get back to work and finish its job.”
In response to the mass arrests of pro-democracy activists and politicians in Hong Kong, British politicians called on the European Union to abandon the investment pact it struck with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including Brexit leader Nigel Farage who said that “Brussels’ greed is helping the regime to take over the world.”
On Wednesday, 1,000 Hong Kong Police officers carried out raids across the city, arresting 53 activists and politicians for alleged ‘subversive behaviour’, which was criminalised by the Beijing-backed national security law in the former British colony last year.
In what has been characterised by the Hong Kong Free Press as the “largest national security round-up” since the introduction of the authoritarian legislation in June, activists and politicians were targeted for participating in the primary elections for the Legislative Council last July.
Brexit leader Nigel Farage condemned the police action as “another shocking crackdown on democratic opposition in Hong Kong”.
Mr Farage noted that it came shortly after the European Union and the CCP agreed on a massive trade deal, saying: “Brussels greed is helping the regime to take over the world.”
The last British governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, called on the EU to abandon the investment pact with the Chinese regime following the raids.
“If this deal goes ahead it will make a mockery of Europe’s ambitions to be taken seriously as a global political and economic player. It spits in the face of human rights and shows a delusional view of the Chinese Communist party’s trustworthiness on the international stage,” Lord Patten said.
“It is surely inconceivable that the European parliament can support the miserable draft deal that the European Commission wants to sign with Beijing,” he added.
“It is worth remembering, for all European politicians wherever they come from, that the Jewish community around the world has been outspoken about Xinjiang and in particular has drawn attention to the similarities between what is happening in that region today and the Holocaust in the 1940s,” the former Hong Kong governor concluded.
‘Setback for the Free World’: EU Trade Deal with Communist China Draws Harsh Criticism https://t.co/CktU0dsAnG
The EU has called for the immediate release of the activists; however, it made no mention of the investment pact between the bloc and the communist regime.
“We are currently analysing the situation to see how we might need to react. There are other possibilities open to us, sanctions for example,” European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said on Wednesday.
The €120 billion deal, which still needs to be approved by the European Parliament and the governments of the bloc’s member states, makes no mention of human rights, Hong Kong, or Xinjiang, where it is believed that as many as three million Uyghurs are incarcerated in concentration camps.
The EU Commission hailed the deal for the so-called ‘concessions’ from the CCP. But in critical areas such as forced labour, the dictatorship in Beijing has merely committed to “work towards” implementing international labour standards.
Merkel Makes Clear That Germany Will Not Help U.S. in China Trade Fight https://t.co/mD8I0wy1gu
The Conservative Party chairman of the UK’s foreign affairs select committee, Tom Tugendhat, said that “the EU’s China deal undermines freedom and democracy”.
The founder and chairman of Hong Kong Watch, Benedict Rogers, said: “Coming just a week after EU leaders rewarded China with an investment treaty, it is clear once again that Xi Jinping not only has contempt for democracy but no interest in upholding China’s treaty obligations under international law.”
“Statements of condemnation from the UK Government and like-minded democracies will no longer cut it. Now is the time for coordinated action,” Rogers added.
The Conservative Party’s former leader, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, seconded the call, demanding that the United Kingdom implement Magnitsky sanctions on Hong Kong officials, starting with Cheif Executive Carrie Lam.
22 Years Later: How The Chinese Communist Party Destroyed Legacy of the Hong Kong Handover https://t.co/9Jw3I9P5Sk
