The European Parliament has passed its seven-year EU budget by an overwhelming majority, paving the way for the EU to pursue key programs in the coming years.
The €1.8 trillion budget and coronavirus recovery package was agreed by the European Council earlier this month, and was passed in the EP on Wednesday evening with 548 votes in favour, 81 against and 66 abstentions.
It includes a €15 billion top-up for 10 programmes, which it said will boost the fight against coronavirus, provide opportunities for the next generation, and protect European values.
The EP president, David Sassoli, called it a “historic budget for a historic moment,” which lays the foundations for a “greener and fairer Europe“.
The road to getting the budget passed was dogged by issues related to Hungary and Poland, who threatened to veto it due to opposition to a mechanism that would make some funds conditional on a member state’s respect for core European values.
But a compromise was reached, with the mechanism suspended while the EU draws up plans for how it could be used.
“The last weeks, we have seen a sad show of obstructions by the governments of Hungary and Poland, who wanted to take the recovery fund hostage for their own anti democratic agenda,” said Ska Keller, a German Green MEP.
“Mr Orbán and Mr Kacziynksi, you neither serve your citizens, nor our common European future,” she added.
Once operational, the EU will be able to cut funds to countries in cases of systemic breaches of rule of law.
The two countries have long been at odds with the EU over issues such as rule of law and judicial independence.
On the night of 12 December, a group of unidentified vandals entered the Church of Our Lady of Valvanera, in the city of Pitalito, in the southeastern part of Colombia.
They broke open the Tabernacle, and stole the ciborium and monstrance, along with several other religious objects. The thieves also threw the consecrated hosts on the floor.
In response, the Bishop of Garzón, Fabio Duque Jaramillo, released a statement on Tuesday decrying the desecration of the Eucharist.
“In the name of the Catholic Church, I raise my voice in protest and condemnation for the desecration of the church and the Tabernacle,” he said, calling it “an act which wounds all Catholics of the Diocese of Garzón and the universal Church, because we see the central mystery of our faith under attack: the Eucharist, the presence of God in our midst and the extension of the mystery of human redemption.”
Rights trampled upon
The Bishop added that the event represented a “serious violation of the people’s religious rights.”
He urged civil authorities to investigate the incident.
“Government authorities and civil representatives should not underestimate the damage these attacks have on the feelings and faith of Catholics,” he said. “When the rights of God are trampled upon with impunity, our human rights are also in danger.”
Excommunication and repentance
Bishop Duque reminded the perpetrators that, according to Canon Law (§1367), they have automatically been sanctioned with excommunication, so that they might be provoked to repent.
He also invited the faithful of Colombia to express their solidarity with the Catholic community of Pitalito.
“It is our duty, as Catholics,” he said, “to repudiate acts such as these.”
Mass of Reparation
The Church of Our Lady of Valvanera will remain closed for 15 days.
On 28 December, Bishop Duque will celebrate a Mass of Reparation, in response to this act of desecration.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Colombia is set to become one of the world’s largest food exporters. If it succeeds, Europe will be seeing more Colombian produce on its supermarket shelves than ever before.
Colombia, with its Caribbean coastline, soaring Andean peaks and lush Amazonian jungle, is best known around the world for its specialty coffee. The sweet and floral Arabica bean, which has been cultivated in Colombia’s mist-shrouded Zona Cafetera since the 16th century, is today the country’s largest export. Arabica coffee is Colombia’s most decorated product, too, boasting several international certifications such as UTZ, organic, RainForest, 4C, and FairTrade.
But a great cup of joe isn’t the only thing South America’s fourth-largest country has to offer. Located close to the equatorial border, Colombia is home to some of the world’s most diverse ecosystems, including rainforest, moorland, dessert, and savannah. From the tropical grasslands to the east of the Andes to the high-altitude plains and glaciers near Bogota, Colombia’s varied landscape, as well as its non-seasonal climate and ample water resources, make it an agricultural paradise. Experts from the FAO say that, with further funding and the right measures in place, Colombia has the potential to produce a variety of high-quality products year-round, and in large quantities.
But for a country that for so long has focused largely on coffee exports, there are challenges ahead. The Colombian Coffee Growers Federation, a non-profit organization at the forefront of promoting sustainable agricultural practices in Colombia, has been a key player in diversifying Colombia’s export offering. In recent years, the Federation has launched a programme to encourage Colombian coffee growers to cultivate alternative food products, such as avocados, sugar cane, and passionfruit, alongside the Arabica coffee bean. This will not only help Colombia grow as a mass exporter of organic foods, but could also give thousands of coffee-growing families, who are often at the mercy of fluctuating coffee prices, additional sources of income.
While coffee remains Colombia’s most in-demand product, the country is experiencing a boom in fresh fruit exports. In 2019, 2.1 million tonnes of fresh fruit was sold internationally, with bananas, avocado and plantain being the most popular, particularly in Europe. According to the European Commission report EU Imports of Organic Agri-Food Products, Colombia’s organic product exports to the EU rose from 63,114 tons in 2018 to 87,341 tons in 2019. After coffee and fresh flowers, bananas, which generated 862.1 million in revenue for the country in 2019, are now Colombia’s largest export. Avocados, too, are Colombia’s fastest-growing product, their value now 42% higher than it was in 2018.
According to ProColombia, a government agency in charge of the development of Colombia’s non-traditional exports, part of Colombia’s success in exporting fresh fruit is due to two things: quality and commitment to sustainability. As of 2019, 700 avocado farms had been certified by GlobalG.A.P, a figure that ProColombia said is only set to grow. “International markets are increasingly interested in sustainable fruit practices, so more farms will continue to work towards these social and environmental certifications,” says ProColombia. For the banana industry, on the other hand, ProColombia says there is a strong commitment to workers’ rights. “Unions in the sector, especially in Urubá, ensure that working conditions are good and that workers have access to healthcare and education,” says ProColombia. “Pay is also 45% higher than the minimum wage.”
While bananas and avocados are Colombia’s star sellers, the country hopes to export a larger variety of fruits to Europe in the coming years. During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, ProColombia reported that more people in Europe were buying vitamin C-rich fruits, such as oranges and lemons, to strengthen their immune system. This, ProColombia says, could open doors for Colombia’s lesser-known products, such as pitaya, tamarillo, and soursop. “This is a very good opportunity for exotic Colombian fruits to increase their presence in the European market,” said ProColombia.
Whether Colombia’s more exotic fruits like the pink pitaya and orange tamarillo are a hit with European consumers remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: products of Colombian origin could soon become staples of Europe’s fresh fruit pantry.
It is also worth mentioning that Colombia is one of the most important suppliers of palm oil in America, and the fourth largest producer worldwide. In this context, the country is making steady progress in its intention to consolidate itself as an international leader in sustainable production. It aims to reach zero deforestation in the coming years and to be a world leader in the best production practices to take advantage of the more than 5.2 million hectares that it has with high potential for planting and exporting.
It wouldn’t be particularly insightful of us to guess that many of you made a New Year’s resolution to read more this year. But between finding the time to research what books to add to your list and actually buying them, these good intentions often go out of the window.
This is where a book subscription comes in handy. Whether you’re into young adult adventures or the latest crime thrillers, there’s a company out there that will select books to suit your tastes, package them up – often with extra treats – and send them to you every quarter or once a month. An added bonus is that many of them also host online forums, so you can chat with a community of people reading the same thing – like a book club for the internet age.
Choosing from the hordes of book subscription boxes out there can be somewhat daunting but luckily for you, we’ve done all the hard work and compiled our favourites in a list.
Your first reading assignment of the year: choose the one that takes your fancy.
Books That Matter
A relatively new one, the Books That Matter box is run by a team of women whose mission is to educate and enrich readers through exciting female fiction. Each month has a different theme, such as gender, race or religion and comes with a gift created by an independent female, trans or non-binary artist. It’ll put works on your radar that you might not have heard of, give you a more in-depth understanding of the feminist mindset and support marginalised people in their goal to create meaningful art – what’s not to love?
( Books That Matter )
Mr B’s Book Emporium
Mr B’s Book Emporium is a subscription that comes from the eponymous book shop in Bath. After filling in a questionnaire about preferences, subscribers will receive a new book each month handpicked for them by the in-house bibliotherapists. If you love the romance of packages in brown paper tied up with string, you’ll be in for a treat with Mr B’s, whose packages arrive in this getup with a wax seal stamped on to boot.
Not only does this add a little sense of ceremony to the proceedings but it also makes you appreciate the book inside a lot more. This is a great book subscription and one that also supports independent bookshops.
Only launched last year, Reading in Heels has already developed something of a following thanks to its thoughtful subscription service. Those that sign up will receive one curated book a month, along with some treats to make the reading of it all the more ritualistic.
These could be anything from chocolates and tea to bath salts and face masks – after all, there’s nothing like a spot of pampering when you’re tearing through a good book. Given that this is one of the most reasonably priced on the list, you get a lot of bang for your buck.
( Reading In Heels )
The Bookishly Classic Book Crate
An excellent option if one of your goals is to read more classics. The Bookishly Classic Book Crate does what it says on the tin, delivering a novel such as Rebecca, Wuthering Heights or Frankenstein once an month alongside a series of gifts, such as teas, themed stationery and candles. What sets this box apart is the cover artwork – all of which is created in house – meaning you’ll have never seen the cover of your latest read in a bookshop and you can start to build a collection of uniquely decorated tomes.
( The Bookishly Classic Book Crate )
WILDWOMAN
We all know how important self care is, which is why WILDWOMAN makes such an interesting book subscription box. Each one includes a book focused on personal growth and development as well as a few gifts to help you get in the zone. These include everything from cute stationery to healing crystals and affirmation cards. Past titles have included The Anxiety Solution by Chloe Brotheridge and The Little Book of Calm by Paul Wilson. The subscription will also give you access to the GozenGirls community – an online forum on which to discuss the latest release.
( WILDWOMAN )
The Couples Book Club
A simple concept that doesn’t come with extra bells and whistles, just two copies of the same book for you and your partner to read each month. All you have to do is fill out the online survey stating your preferences then sit back and wait for the first subscription to arrive. This offers an interesting way for couples to do something together and at only £44.99 for a three month subscription, is much cheaper than a night out.
( The Couples Book Club )
£44.99 for 3 months | The Willoughby Book Club | Buy it now
Date Night With A Book
If you’re tired of scrolling through Tinder and going on tedious dates, just forget the whole thing and sign up to this book subscription service instead. Ok, so that may be a bit drastic, but Date Night With A Book will provide you with everything you need for a great night in. It’s budget friendly and tailored to your taste – you provide the company with a short list of your favourite books and genres and they’ll come back to you with the goods, plus a satchet of tea and hot chocolate, so you can hunker down in your favourite armchair with a new book and a steaming mug of something comforting. Bliss.
( Date Night With A Book )
From £11.95 per month | Date Night With A Book | Buy it now
Shelter Box
A book subscription service with a heart, Shelter Box offers a unique and compelling opportunity to do some good and read a great book at the same time. Each month, subscribers receive a book that they’ve collectively chosen (five options are floated by the head bookworm and members get to vote the one they want to read), each of which tells a story inspired by cultures, experiences and people in the real world. A portion of the money you pay each month then goes towards a Shelter Box, which is filled with essentials such as tents, first aid supplies and toiletries to help rehabilitate families who have been hit by disaster. You can pay as little as £10 a month, or opt to donate as much as you like.
( Shelter Box )
Wildest Dreams
If you’re into YA fiction, or know a teenager that is, the Uppercase Box is for you.
Created by a young bookworm who was working through a chronic illness and on the hunt for a decent book subscription for teens, each month will include a compelling YA novel as well as a few self-care items, such as bath products, tea and sweets. As the books included are all relatively new releases, it’s a great way to keep on top of what’s fresh in the YA world.
( Wildest Dreams )
Movie Vs Book – Date Night With A Book
Another interesting one from Date Night With A Book, there are no prizes for guessing what you get with this box. Each month includes a book and the movie version on DVD (past boxes have included titles such as PS. I Love You) so you can compare and contrast the two. Just try not to watch the film before you’ve read the books…
( Movie Vs Book – Date Night With A Book )
From £14.95 a month | Date Night With A Book | Buy it now
Book Box Club
Don’t want all the extras you often get with a book subscription service? What we love about this Young Adult option is that you can choose to either receive just a book or gifts too – you have the option to select your preferences, unlike with many others. Each month centres on a different theme (for example, Magic Potions or Rule the Stars) and they really hype up the big reveal, so you can get excited about what you might receive each month. It’s also a crafty way to encourage your teenagers to become more engaged with reading.
( Book Box Club )
Rare Bird Book Club
No frills with this one – just a carefully selected book each month that’ll, thankfully, fit through the letterbox. This is the option to pick if you don’t necessarily want to stick to one genre or find it difficult to pin down what kind of books you prefer, as many subscription services ask you to do when you sign up. Each book received will be a complete surprise and could be from any number of genres – the only common theme between them being that they’ll have a female protagonist – meaning you’ll get exposed to a range of books you may never have come across otherwise.
( Rare Bird Book Club )
Abominable Book Club
If you’re into horrors and thrillers, the Abominable Book Club will get your goose pimples going each month with a brand new release, a second hand mystery option as well as a range of hot drinks and sweet treats. If you know you’re into this kind of book, it’ll expand your horizons and introduce you to new authors as well as remind you of old ones you may have long forgotten. The real question here is whether or not you’ve got the guts to read these frighteners alone at night.
( Abominable Book Club )
From £17 a month | Abominable Book Club | Buy it now
Prudence and the Crow
Founded by two bookworms who were looking for a vintage book subscription service and couldn’t find one, Prudence and the Crow sends out vintage and second-hand copies of books to its huge fanbase. This service is particularly special because you know that each book has not only been tailored to your tastes but has been sourced and hand selected for you – it’s like receiving a thoughtful gift from a friend. You’ll be able to curate an interesting bookshelf whilst also giving a new lease of life to books that have been long forgotten.
( Prudence and the Crow )
Verdict
It’s difficult to choose just one service here as they’re all so different but the ones that stick out as being particularly unique are Books That Matter for its cultural relevance and Shelter Box for its philanthropic idea.
DHS & Its Private Equity Arm Acquires Biscuit & Carso Construction: Fernando Aguirre, Vice Chairman, Announced $125M – Organic Food News Today – EIN Presswire
COMECE assesses the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum:
“put Human dignity and Common Good at the centre of the future negotiations”
In view of the International Migrants Day, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) calls upon the EU and its Member States to put the human dignity and the common good at the centre of the future negotiations on the recently proposed EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The statement, published on Wednesday 16 December 2020, includes policy recommendations elaborated by the COMECE Working Group on Migration and Asylum.
Following the analysis of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, proposed by the European Commission on 23 September 2020, the COMECE Working Group on Migration and Asylum expresses its concerns about the effectiveness of the Pact to alleviate the difficult situation, aggravated by COVID-19, in which migrants and refugees find themselves.
While recognizing the efforts of the European Commission to set out a new and comprehensive framework aimed to create a fair and predictable migration management mechanism, COMECE urges all negotiating actors to promote a welcoming context as well as a fair and just approach to those in need.
The COMECE document also proposes a series of concrete policy recommendations toward a multi-level solidarity mechanism, external relations based on reciprocity and fair partnerships, and an integrated management of external borders, that would protect and promote the human rights rooted in human dignity of all individuals and families arriving in the EU.
Especially in the context of the current Covid-19 pandemic, “which exacerbated the poverty, social exclusion and stigmatization of migrants, asylum seekers and victims of human trafficking, […] the Pact should create a sustainable and human system of solidarity and responsibility sharing that recognizes the mutual advantages of migration and protects refugees” – reads the statement.
The contribution is the result of the multiple online meetings of the COMECE Working Group ants its experts, who also contributed to the Public consultation on the future of EU legal migration aiming to identify areas of improvement of the EU framework on legal migration.
Already on 16 October 2020 COMECE contributed to the Public Consultation on the integration and inclusion, highlighting the importance of Church based organizations in the process of integration and the need for these organizations to be recognized and be included in future funding.
President Tayyip Erdogan told European Council President Charles Michel in a call that Turkey wants to build its future with the EU, calling for Ankara and the bloc to move on from a “vicious cycle” in ties, the Turkish presidency said late on Tuesday.
At a summit on Friday, EU leaders agreed to prepare limited sanctions on Turkish individuals over a row with members Greece and Cyprus over Ankara’s illegal hydrocarbon exploration in the eastern Mediterranean. But, they have postponed discussions on any harsher steps until March.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after the summit that EU leaders planned to discuss weapons exports to Turkey with NATO allies following a Greek push for an arms embargo on Ankara.
The Turkish presidency said that Erdogan urged Michel to take a more constructive approach toward Turkey.
“During the call, President Erdogan stated that Turkey aimed to build its future with the EU, and that they considered every positive step in Turkey-EU ties as a window of opportunity,” the presidency said.
Erdogan also reiterated that Turkey was ready to launch bilateral talks with Greece on their maritime claims, but accused Athens of “running from talks”. He repeated a call for a regional east Mediterranean conference.
Turkey sent a seismic exploration vessel into waters within Greece’s EEZ in August, stoking tensions.
The EU, led by Germany, has sought without success to resolve the dispute while Turkey has repeatedly accused the bloc of being biased.
