CDU politician Dennis Radtke welcomes adoption of EU Social Climate Fund
Brussels/Düsseldorf. For the North Rhine-Westphalian CDU MEP Dennis Radtke, the final adoption of the report on the EU Social Climate Fund by the European Parliament is a strong signal in the current geopolitical crisis: “The Social Climate Fund is a first milestone towards socially responsible climate action”, the EPP Coordinator for Employment and Social Affairs commented today’s voting result.
Dennis Radtke CDU MEP
“The goal of climate neutrality by 2050 poses enormous challenges for all of us, especially in the context of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Rising energy prices hit low-income households particularly hard.”
The fund is intended to compensate for the social impact resulting from the partial inclusion of the building and transport sectors in emissions trading. For this purpose, at least 32.78 billion Euros will be available until 2027. From 2028, the size will be determined as part of the negotiations on the MFF, with the possibility of reaching a total volume of 144.4 billion Euros. The development of EU-wide definitions of “energy poverty” and “mobility poverty” will also ensure that the support reaches the beneficiaries in the Member States in a targeted manner.
Two weeks ago, the Strasbourg Parliament had already adopted all substantive points of the report by EPP rapporteurs David Casa and Esther de Lange with a large majority. However, the final vote was postponed because of the close connection to the report on European Emissions Trading, whose adoption was undermined by a voting pact of parts of the social democrats, the left and extreme right groups. Radtke praised all Christian Democratic politicians involved: “It is now more than obvious that only the European People’s Party stands for a socially just transition in Europe. While the Social Democrats are moving further and further away from the reality of people’s lives and really leave no stone unturned in actively torpedoing the future of the European steel and chemical industry, we are fighting to ensure that no one is left behind, also when it comes to climate action.”
The Green Deal is the EU’s answer to the ongoing climate crisis. Find out more about this roadmap for a climate-neutral Europe.
In November 2019, the Parliament declared a climate emergency asking the European Commission to adapt all its proposals in line with a 1.5 °C target for limiting global warming and ensure that greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced.
In response, the Commission unveiled the European Green Deal, a roadmap for Europe becoming a climate-neutral continent by 2050.
Parliament adopted the EU Climate Law on 24 June 2021, which makes legally binding a target of reducing emissions 55% by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. This moves the EU closer to its post-2050 objective of negative emissions and confirms its leadership in the global fight against climate change.
Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement to increase the EU’s 2030 emissions reductions target from 40% to at least 55%. Parliament adopted the EU Climate Law on 24 June 2021. The 2030 target and 2050 goal of climate neutrality will be legally binding, moving the EU closer to its post-2050 objective of negative emissions and confirming its leadership in the global fight against climate change.
It should allow the targets to be more easily applied to legislation and should create benefits such as cleaner air, water and soil; reduced energy bill; renovated homes; better public transport and more charging stations for e-cars; less waste; healthier food and better health for current and future generations.
Business will also benefit as opportunities are created in areas where Europe aims to set global standards. It is also expected to generate jobs, for example in renewable energy, energy efficient buildings and processes.
For the EU to reach the 2030 target, the Commission proposed a package of new and revised legislation known as Fit for 55 in 2021, comprising 13 interlinked revised laws and six proposed laws on climate and energy.
the revision of the emissions trading scheme (ETS) to include polluting sectors, such as buildings and road transport and phase out free allowances by 2032
the implementation of the carbon leakage instrument that should put a carbon price on imported goods to counter relocation to countries with less ambitious climate targets
In addition the Commission presented the EU Circular Economy Action Plan in March 2020, which includes measures along the entire life cycle of products promoting circular economy processes, fostering sustainable consumption and guaranteeing less waste. It will focus on:
In July 2022, MEPs are expected to vote on the EU’s new industrial strategy to help businesses overcome the Covid-related crisis and make the transition to a greener, circular economy. In November 2021, MEPs called for a more comprehensive EU strategy for critical raw materials to make Europe less dependent on the imports of critical raw materials that are crucial for its strategic industries.
The food sector is one the main drivers of climate change. Even though EU agriculture is the only major farm sector worldwide to have reduced its greenhouse gas emissions (by 20% since 1990), it still accounts for about 10% of emissions (of which 70% are due to animals).
The Farm to Fork strategy, presented by the Commission in May 2020, should guarantee a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system, whilst ensuring farmers’ livelihoods. It covers the entire food supply chain, from cutting the use of pesticides and sales of antimicrobials by half and reducing the use of fertilisers to increasing the use of organic farming.
Parliament welcomed the EU’s farm to fork strategy in a resolution adopted in October 2021, but added recommendations to make it even more sustainable. Parliament specified that the Fit for 55 package should include ambitious targets for emissions from agriculture and related land use.
Parliament adopted its position on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: bringing nature back into our lives on 8 June 2020, insisting that its implementation is consistent with other European Green Deal strategies.
Parliament has been advocating sustainable forestry as forests play an essential role in absorbing and offsetting carbon emissions. MEPs also recognise forestry’s contribution to creating jobs in rural communities and the role the EU could play in protecting and restoring the world’s forests.
As part of the investment plan, the Just Transition Mechanism should help alleviate the socio-economic impact of the transition on workers and communities most affected by the shift. In May 2020, the Commission proposed a public sector loan facility to support green investments in regions dependent on fossil fuels, which was approved by the Parliament in June 2021.
Parliament and Council agreed on the introduction of new sources of revenue to fund the EU budget and the Covid-19 economic recovery plan. These would include proceeds from the Emissions Trading System and a carbon border adjustment mechanism that would impose a levy on imports of certain goods.
To encourage investment in environmentally sustainable activities and prevent companies falsely claiming their products are environmentally friendly – practice known as green-washing -Parliament adopted new legislation on sustainable investments in June 2020. In November 2020, MEPs also asked for a shift from an unsustainable to a sustainable economic system, as crucial to develop the long-term strategic autonomy of the EU and to increase the EU’s resilience.
In response to Russia’s war against Ukraine, this law aims to refill Europe’s strategic gas reserves more quickly before winter to ensure energy supplies are secure.
The new regulation, already agreed upon with EU ministers, sets a mandatory minimum level of gas in storage facilities at 80% by 1 November 2022. Member states and operators should strive to reach 85%. The target will be 90% for subsequent years to protect Europeans from possible supply shocks. The text highlights the need for EU countries to diversify gas supply sources and boost energy efficiency measures.
Mandatory certification for gas storage facilities
Under the regulation, gas storage facilities will become critical infrastructure. All storage operators will have to undergo new mandatory certification to avoid risks of outside interference. Operators who fail to secure this certification will have to give up ownership or control of EU gas storage facilities.
Joint procurement
By August 2022, the Commission will issue guidance on how EU countries can jointly procure gas, to be activated voluntarily by two or more member states.
Quotes
“The regulation is the answer to the current situation. Gazprom is using energy supply as a weapon (…) so we’ve got our protective shield”, said MEP Jerzy Buzek (EPP, PL), who is leading the Parliament’s negotiating team.
With the regulation, “no one who uses energy as a weapon (…) will be responsible for our storage capacities. Also, we can formally start our joint purchasing of natural gas in the EU” he added.
“Countries with large storage capacities will be obliged to have at least 35% of their consumption there. Countries that do not have a storage capacity will need to conclude agreements with the other member states to store the necessary quantities of gas for them. This is a solidarity mechanism incentivised by this regulation”, said rapporteur and Industry, Research and Energy Committee Chair Cristian Buşoi (EPP, RO).
The legislation was adopted on Thursday with 490 votes to 47, and 55 abstentions. It now requires the formal approval by Council before publication in the Official Journal and entry into force.
Background
The legislative proposal was adopted by the Commission on 23 March, in the context of the Russian war against Ukraine. Parliament voted on 5 April in favour of triggering a fast-track procedure and backed the proposal two days later. At the Versailles Summit, EU leaders requested measures to address the issue of energy independence.
Drug use — In the lead up to World Drug Day on 26 June 2022, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is highlighting its work on drug prevention and treatment around the world.
Colombia, 23 June 2022 – Meet Marla*, a young woman in Colombia. By the age of 16, Marla had already started using marijuana, in part due to the violence, alcoholism, and marginalization swirling around her.
Marla was born to Anibal* and Rosa* in Medellin’s Comuna 13, along with two sisters. Medellin, a city in Colombia’s Antioquia province, has the highest prevalence of illegal psychoactive substance use in the country, according to Colombia’s National Survey on Psychoactive Substance Use. In Comuna 13, competition flourished among drug traffickers drawn to its strategic location – generating the formation of gangs and constant conflict in the 1990s.
Her father Anibal, a member of gangs in Medellin, was imprisoned for serious crimes, while her mother Rosa worked as a maid. Faced with the pressures of having to raise her three daughters alone, Rosa sought refuge in alcohol, leaving Marla – still a child herself – to take care of her younger sisters.
In search of a new beginning, the family moved to their grandfather’s house in Cauca when Marla was 12. But Marla’s hopes for a fresh start were extinguished when she began using drugs, behavior that was aided by her family’s inattention and her mother’s continued alcoholism – and which kept her from work and study opportunities.
Marla’s story echoes those of many other families in Colombia. Many of the people and communities – including those in Cauca – are still heavily affected by the half-century long civil war with guerilla groups, even after the signing of the 2016 Final Peace Agreement. Continued violence and poverty have left them unequipped to confront such heavy challenges – causing family or community disintegration or physical and psychological violence.
Although it has not been easy, Marla has decided that her will to improve her situation is stronger than the conditions around her. In 2021, an aunt living in Padilla offered to take her in, allowing her to study and enjoy the company of her aunt and cousin, who have taught her the importance of following rules, setting boundaries, and fulfilling responsibilities.
Marla’s desire to change her life led her to learn about the REMA strategy (in Spanish: Reconoce, Explora, Motiva y Articula), an initiative led by UNODC and the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace of the Colombian Government. REMA aims to raise awareness among the community and private sector about the importance of promoting the social inclusion of young people at risk of substance abuse and behaviors that contribute to peaceful, respectful community life.
Through REMA, Marla has gotten involved in activities – like workshops on problem-solving, conflict resolution, teamwork, civic covenants, and more – that have helped her to understand her emotional responses, manage stress, and learn how to act in moments of frustration when things do not go well.
By building capacity on how to cope with the risks of psychoactive substance use, UNODC hopes to reach more vulnerable territories of Colombia and create evidence-based, innovative strategies that promote participation in art, sports, and culture.
Thanks to psycho-educational sessions promoted by the REMA strategy, Marla continues to plan for her future and recognizes the grave risks drugs would pose to her life plans.
Further information
For more on UNODC’s work in Colombia, click here. And for a Drug Prevention program in Colombia please visit Colombia Sin Drogas.
_____________________________________ *Names changed to protect security and privacy.
MOROCCO, June 23 – The Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports, Chakib Benmoussa, presented, Wednesday in the House of Representatives (lower house), the main lines of the strategy for the development of sport and school sport.
At a meeting of the Committee on Education, Culture and Communication, devoted to the review of areas of sport and school sport, the Minister reviewed the efforts made and future projects for the development of these areas.
Benmoussa noted that this strategy includes axes related to high-level sport, the relationship with sports federations, the ‘Sport pour tous’ (Sport for All) program, school sport, the development project of school sport, the program of school sports activity, sports infrastructure, the phenomenon of violence in stadiums, as well as the fight against doping in Morocco.
With regard to high-level sport, Benmoussa said that it aims to expand the base of practitioners annually, the creation of new sports associations in compliance with the principle of representativeness across the Kingdom
It also aims to develop basic sport and competitiveness at national level, diversify and expand sport practice, taking into account gender approach and spatial justice principle, to achieve performances at the level of continental and international participation, and to establish training programs to present a suitable sports product.
On the other hand, the Minister noted that the sports federations are an essential partner of the Ministry in the management of high performance sport, adding that the relationship with these institutions is governed by a conventional framework, based primarily on the accompaniment, support, monitoring, guidance and control.
He also noted that the federations are supported by agreements of objectives that will be signed to this end and contain a set of commitments and duties for the federations and the Ministry.
In this regard, he added that agreements will be signed with the National Olympic Committee, and this in the context of preparations and training courses conducted by sports federations to participate in international sporting events, especially the Olympic Games, the World Championships and the African Championships.
In his address to MEPs , Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema thanked Parliament for its support, advocated closer relations with the EU and condemned the war against Ukraine.
Introducing President Hichilema EP President Roberta Metsola said Zambia stands as an example of a mature democracy for the whole of the African continent. Now more than ever, in the current troubled geopolitical context and during Russia’s efforts to increase its influence in Africa, Zambia’s progress needs to be supported . President Metsola also reminded MEPs that back in 2017 Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the incarceration of President Hichilema on politically motivated charges.
“Zambia is back in business, in the Champions league”, President Hichilema said, referring to the results of country’s most recent elections. He reiterated Zambia’s commitment to put people’s interests, reforms, free media, the rule of law, youth and education at the top of his political agenda. He advocated for enhanced Africa- EU cooperation, more trade, and more exchange of knowledge.
“We categorically say no to the war in Ukraine. It is tragic and heart-breaking to witness the thousands of lives lost and millions displaced unnecessarily, as a result of an avoidable conflict in Ukraine”, President Hichilema said, while speaking about peace and security in the world. He added that the impact of the war is felt in his country in the form of higher fuel, food and fertilizers prices, and he urged all parties to focus more on improving the lives of people, not waging war. President Hichilema also offered his help in overcoming food shortages.
President Hichilema also expressed his profound gratitude for the support of the European Parliament for him and for Zambia during his incarceration and the dark days of Zambia’s democratic development. “I remain indebted to you for standing up for human rights and freedom of all people in Zambia”, he said.
You can re-watch the formal address by President Hichilema here.
The authorities of the Mediterranean resort in Spain have warned tourists that it is not safe to urinate in the Mediterranean Sea, because. for such unsanitary actions face a huge fine. The relevant law has already entered into force, Spanish media reported.
The popular resort town of Vigo in Galicia, in northwestern Spain, has banned tourists from urinating not only in the sea, but also on the beaches. The ban is aimed at reducing sanitary risks, especially since during the high season, the city authorities install public toilets on the beaches. For violation, a caught vacationer faces a fine of up to 750 euros.
It’s unclear how local officials will enforce the rules, but tourists could still be caught, officials warned. However, this is not the only rule in force in the region. There are many rules that foreign tourists should be aware of this summer when heading to Spanish beaches. For example:
1. The country plans to fine everyone who leaves garbage behind, as well as those who bring a gas bottle or a barbecue to the beach. Those who are caught violating the rules will be fined 3,000 euros.
2. The use of soap in the sea is currently prohibited and it is no longer permitted to reserve a spot on the beach with a towel.
3. Spain has announced that local authorities will impose fines of up to 42 thousand rubles on anyone who is inappropriately dressed on the street. This includes women dressed only in a bikini or swimsuit, and men without outerwear. First of all, the ban applies to two resort regions – Mallorca and Barcelona.
4. Foreign tourists visiting restaurants in one of Mallorca’s most popular resorts during parties have been warned that they will not be allowed in T-shirts, T-shirts and glow-in-the-dark baseball caps. There is a dress code.
5. Mallorca and Ibiza in the Balearic Islands have announced that Britons will be limited to six drinks a day during an all-inclusive holiday. Drinks are now limited to three at lunch and three at dinner. The Balearic government also banned the sale of alcohol in stores from 21:30 to 8:00.
At one of the most popular resorts in Mallorca (Spain’s Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean), restaurateurs have said they will no longer let tourists dressed as “drunks”. The owners of restaurants and nightclubs united, introduced a dress code for travelers, stating that in terms of impoliteness, drunkenness and rudeness, this summer season is again lost for the Spanish island.
Business representatives of the Playa de Palma resort area, where primarily British tourists like to relax, claim that the locals are already fed up with the so-called “drunken tourism”, although the season has just begun, Spanish media reported. Now, a group of restaurants at the resort have banded together to introduce a new dress code that all tourists will have to follow or the latter will be denied access.
We list what is forbidden to wear to a restaurant on the Spanish resort islands:
1. Swimwear
2. Any accessories bought from street vendors, such as gold chains or glow-in-the-dark hats.
3. T-shirts without straps
4. Swimming trunks
5. T-shirts
6. Any clothing with slogans promoting “drunken tourism”
So far, 11 restaurants have backed the ban, all affiliated with the Palma Beach brand, but more are likely to follow.
How do you know if a restaurant supports the new dress code? The establishments have posted QR codes at the entrance so that visitors can check the establishment’s requirements for tourists. “The situation on public roads is now worse than in 2017, 2018 and 2019. We already consider the season lost in terms of controlling impoliteness and rudeness. We need government support because no organizations or residents can stop this,” Palma Beach CEO Juanmi Ferrer told the newspapers.
The resort areas are full of street vendors and shops selling weird novelties like parasol hats or illuminated sunglasses. Restaurants that supported the new rules noted that these accessories do not fit into the environment of quality restaurants, which only allow “plain clothing.”
They warned that while there might be some flexibility during the day, there would be no tolerance for appearances at night. Juanmi Ferrer said the goal was not to “prohibit”, but to “re-educate” the tourist with “friendly ways of communicating” so that they understand that their own attitude should change on repeat visits to the restaurant.
Hotel owners told the Spanish newspaper Diario de Mallorca that police had failed to crack down on street parties or “large groups of tourists who only seek to get drunk on public roads or even on the beach.”
Palm Beach manager Pedro Marin said that this contingent usually book a small number of nights in hotels, stay for three or four nights and spend about 30 or 40 euros per day, “usually on alcohol and cans of beer they consume on the street.” According to him, they arrive at the hotels in the morning and are drunk to such an extent that they cannot even walk. Their companions do not try to resist this, but simply leave them lying on the sidewalk until the tourist wakes up and comes to his senses.
The resort authorities are outraged by this behavior in public places and say that the police should be able to impose fines on the spot, as is the case in other civilized countries that value reputation, as the problem manifests itself on the streets of the resort.
In many parts of the world, the ring finger is called the “ring finger” because it is worn on the wedding ring – it is believed that this is its purpose. This finger is so special that in ancient times it was also called “medical”. Some cultures believe it is magical. To this day, it is believed that in some places it hides magic. Look at your hand. If your ring finger is longer than your index finger, you are a man. If your index finger is longer, you are a woman. The ring finger indicates the level of testosterone in the body. The longer he is, the more manly he is. If the nameless and the pointer are equal to you, this is not very good news for your sexuality. Since ancient times, people have noticed the relationship between the size of this finger and certain personality traits. In fact, these qualities were related to the level of testosterone in the body.
Today, there are scientific observations that show that people with a longer ring finger are better at math, decision-making, leadership, but also more aggressive. However, the ancients did not have the explanation we have now that the development of this finger in the embryo coincides with its sexual determination and that is why it is such a clear sign of testosterone levels. That’s why they wore a ring on their magic finger – because it meant status or commitment. So the ring finger is not only the most magical finger, but also much more important from a sexual point of view than the middle finger. There is a special connection between the veins of this finger and the heart, say Asians. Chinese belief is that we wear our wedding ring on one of these two fingers because they symbolize our loved one – our spouse. That the thumbs symbolize our parents, our index fingers our brothers and sisters, our middle finger symbolizes our own selves, and our little fingers symbolize our children. If we touch the tips of the five fingers of one hand with the tips of the corresponding five fingers of the other hand, we will see that in this position we can separate from each other and lift all pairs of fingers except the pair of ring fingers. Why? The beautiful and romantic Chinese explanation is that it means that wife and husband should be together forever, for better or worse.
Total exports of Russian goods to China rose 80% year-on-year in May to $10.27 billion, and this support from Beijing allows Moscow to offset the problems it faces in other export markets.
Last month, China continued to buy up Russian energy resources, including a record amount of crude oil. It amounted to $7.47 billion, about $1 billion more than in April and twice as much as a year ago.
The increase in energy supplies from Russia to China is due to the fact that other buyers continue to avoid Russian oil, gas and coal. This is also facilitated by the gradual recovery in demand for them amid the easing of restrictive measures in the Middle Kingdom, which solved some of the logistical problems and allowed the restart of industrial production.
Total exports of Russian goods to China rose 80% year-on-year in May to $10.27 billion, and this support from Beijing allows Moscow to offset the problems it faces in other export markets.
China’s crude oil imports rose 55% year-over-year to 8.42 million tons in May, with Russia overtaking Saudi Arabia as the top supplier, according to Chinese customs data released today. Supplies of Russian liquefied natural gas to China rose by 54% yoy to 397,000 tons, despite an overall 28% decline in imports of this type of fuel into the country.
This volume does not include imports of pipeline gas from the Russian Federation, data on which have not been published by PRC customs since the beginning of the year. Nevertheless, this is the main way to transport fuel from Russia to China.
Other data on commodity trade between Russia and China in May looks like this:
• total coal imports decreased by 5.2% year on year to 4.73 million tons;
• supplies of coking coal to the steel industry increased for the fourth consecutive month to 1.71 million tons, up 70% year-on-year;
• China has also bought more steelmaking coal from Mongolia after the easing of restrictions eased logistics;
• imports of refined copper increased by 15% to 31,267 tons;
• Refined nickel imports fell nearly 90% to 300 tons, a record low;
He was in town for the Tenth Forum of Social Economy, reports TrafficNews.
The European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nikola Schmidt visited on the 20th of June the Refugee Center in Plovdiv and praised the established base and the provided conditions for accommodation of Ukrainian citizens. He was in the city on the hills for the Tenth Forum of Social Economy Entities, during which he visited the Social Enterprise for People with Disabilities and the Community Center for Children and Families. During the tour he received an invitation from Deputy Mayor Georgi Tityukov to go to the former Lung Hospital, where the center is located. On the spot, they were greeted by Natalia Ellis, a Ukrainian woman who has lived in Plovdiv for years and who is a volunteer and helps her compatriots who sought refuge from the military conflict here.
“Europe supports the people of Ukraine, understands their suffering. “Everyone (local government and the EU) will make an effort to make you feel at home,” said Schmidt, who spoke to Ukrainian refugees housed in the center. The European Commissioner and his team commented that Plovdiv is one of the few cities with similar refugee centers. For her part, Natalia Ellis stressed the great support received by the refugees accommodated in the former medical institution from both the Municipality of Plovdiv and the district administration.
On the spot in the OP “Social Enterprise for People with Disabilities” EU Commissioner Nikola Schmidt saw how people with various problems make unique souvenirs in the three studios – textiles, ceramics and glass blowing, in the Social Enterprise.
At the Community Center he was greeted with a short program – children, users of social services, sang the national anthem and folk songs.
