In a landmark move, the European Union has taken a significant step towards addressing the pressing issue of air pollution. Late this evening, a consensus was reached between the Parliament and the Council on the new Air Quality Directive, aiming to drastically cut pollution limits across the EU by up to 2.5 times lower than the current targets by the year 2030. Despite the ambitious initiative, the agreement has been met with mixed reactions, as it does not fully align with the more stringent recommendations provided by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Nicolae Ștefănuță, serving as the Greens/EFA Group Shadow Rapporteur for the file, expressed a bittersweet sentiment towards the agreement. “This deal is a step forward in reducing air pollution in Europe by 2030,” Ștefănuță stated, acknowledging the progress made. He highlighted significant advancements introduced by the Directive, including groundbreaking rights for individuals affected by air pollution. “Thanks to our efforts, the Directive will introduce the right for people who get cancer to claim compensation if their authorities are not complying with the new pollution limits. It also includes the right for citizens to bring non-compliant authorities to court,” he elaborated.
Despite these achievements, Ștefănuță voiced concerns over the deal’s shortcomings. “However, Europe will not be able to breathe easy until we take much bolder steps to tackle the kind of pollution we are witnessing right now in places like Milan. This deal is a missed opportunity to put the Directive on track to meeting the recommendations made by the World Health Organization for air quality,” he lamented. The MEP did not shy away from criticizing the current political climate, which he believes undermines environmental protection efforts. “It is disgraceful that every year, hundreds of thousands of people die prematurely from air pollution in Europe. The current reactionary attack on the Green Deal and environmental protection measures is undermining efforts to get a grip on pollution.”
The new directive promises to usher in a new era of air quality management within the EU. It sets forth stricter limits for harmful particles, with the ultimate goal of achieving zero pollution by 2050. Furthermore, it empowers citizens, especially those residing in heavily polluted areas, with unprecedented rights. For the first time, individuals will be able to seek justice and demand compensation for health damages attributable to the inaction of public authorities regarding air quality standards.
As the EU embarks on this ambitious journey towards cleaner air, the mixed reactions to the new Air Quality Directive underscore the challenges ahead. While the agreement marks a significant step forward, the call for more robust action in line with global health standards remains louder than ever. The path to achieving zero pollution by 2050 is fraught with obstacles, but the directive’s provisions offer a glimmer of hope for those affected by air pollution, advocating for a healthier future for all European citizens.
Jacobroecker, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
This month, our ‘Christian Heritage month by month’ column presents the church of Saint Elisabeth, the 20th century “blue church” in the Archdiocese of Bratislava, in Slovakia.
Originally planned as a small chapel adjacent to the royal Catholic grammar school of one of the growing districts of Bratislava at the time, the Church of Saint Elisabeth – today known as the “blue Church” – is an exemplary feature of the cultural and architectonic Christian landscape of the Slovak capital.
Although the religious building was meant to only serve the needs of school students and staff, it became clear at the beginning of the 20th century that such a church also had to be designed to welcome the rising number of city dwellers in the area.
To celebrate the 700th anniversary of the birth of Saint Elisabeth of Hungary, the first stone was laid in 1909 and the works to build a place of contemplation and prayer in honour of the Saint began, supported by modest citizens and noble families alike. Later consecrated in 1913, the church was built in Hungarian-Secessionist style and in its specific colour, obtained by tiny blue ceramic plates, both on the external walls and on the roof.
The leitmotif of the roses is also evidently present and it is a powerful reminder of the story of St Elisabeth, patron of charity, who tenaciously helped the poor and the emarginated by generous acts of charity.
Today, the church has become a sightseeing attraction, due to its unconventional colour. Yet, it also powerfully reminds both tourists and faithful of the generosity of Saint Elisabeth and the devotion of the citizens of Bratislava to the Hungarian Saint.
From January 1, 2023, Croatia adopted the Euro as its national currency. Thus, the country that entered the European Union last became the twentieth country to introduce the single currency.
The country has chosen four designs for the national side of the euro coins, with the distinctive Croatian chess motif in the background. All coins also feature the 12 stars of the European flag.
The 2 euro coin features a map of Croatia and the poem “Oh beautiful, oh dear, oh sweet freedom” by the poet Ivan Gundulić is written on the edge.
A stylized image of the small predator zlatka adorns the 1 Euro coin (in Croatian the animal is called kuna).
The face of Nikola Tesla can be found on the 50, 20 and 10 cent coins.
The 5, 2 and 1 cent coins are inscribed with the letters “HR” in Glagolitic script.
The €2 coin depicts a mythological scene from a mosaic in Sparta (3rd century BC), showing the young princess Europa abducted by Zeus in the form of a bull. The inscription on the edge is ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ (REPUBLIC OF GREECE).
The €1 coin reproduces the Athenian owl design that appears on the ancient 4 drachma coin (5th century BC).
The 10, 20 and 50 cent coins depict three different Greek statesmen:
10 cents: Rigas-Ferreos (Velestinlis) (1757-1798), forerunner of the Greek Enlightenment and Confederation and visionary of the liberation of the Balkans from Ottoman rule; 50 cents: Ioannis Kapodistrias (1776-1831), the first governor of Greece (1830-1831) after the Greek War of Independence (1821-1827) (20 cents), and Eleftherios Venizelos (1864-1936), a pioneer of social reform who played a key role in the modernization of the Greek state.
The 1, 2 and 5 cent coins depict typical Greek ships: the Athenian trireme (5th century BC) on the 1 cent coin; the corvette used during the Greek War of Independence (1821-1827) on the 2 cent coin and the modern tanker on the 5 cent coin.
Austria
Austria’s euro coins are designed around three main themes: flowers, architecture and famous historical figures.
In addition to public consultation through opinion polls, a group of 13 experts selected the winning designs by the artist Josef Kaiser.
The €2 coin features the portrait of Bertha von Suttner, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1905.
The €1 coin features the portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the famous Austrian composer, accompanied by his signature.
The 10, 20 and 50 cent coins depict architectural works in Vienna: the towers of St. Stephen’s Cathedral (10 cent), a masterpiece of Viennese Gothic architecture; the Belvedere Palace (20 cents), a jewel of the Austrian Baroque style, and the Secession building in Vienna (50 cents), a symbol of Austrian modernism and the birth of a new era.
The 1, 2 and 5 cent coins depict alpine flowers representing Austria’s obligations and commitment to the environment: gentian (1 cent); the edelweiss (2 cents), a traditional symbol of Austrian identity, and the primrose (5 cents).
Austrian euro coins have the peculiarity of showing the nominal value on the national obverse as well.
There are two different series of Spanish Euro coins in circulation.
The €1 and €2 coins depict the image of the new head of state, His Majesty King Felipe VI, in profile to the left. To the left of the image, round and in capital letters, the name of the issuing country and the year of issue “ESPAÑA 2015”, and to the right the mint mark.
Spain has updated the design of the Spanish national face on the €1 and €2 coins, which have been produced since 2015, to illustrate the change in the position of the head of state. The €1 and €2 coins from previous years with the old Spanish national face will remain valid.
The 10, 20 and 50 cent coins depict the bust of Miguel de Cervantes, author of “Don Quixote of La Mancha”, a masterpiece of Spanish and world literature.
The 1, 2 and 5 cent coins show the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a jewel of Spanish Romanesque art and one of the most famous places of worship in the world.
From that point on, the year mark appears on the inside of a coin, along with the mint mark and the name of the issuing country. The twelve stars in the outer ring are depicted as on the European flag, without relief around them.
Estonia
The design of the national side of the Estonian euro coins was chosen after a public competition. A jury of experts pre-selected the 10 best designs.
The winning design was chosen by telephone voting, which was open to all Estonians. It was created by the artist Lembit Lemos.
All Estonian euro coins contain a geographical image of Estonia accompanied by the word “Eesti” and the year “2011”.
The inscription on the edge of the €2 coin is “Eesti” repeated twice, once upright and once inverted.
Estonian euro coins have been in circulation since 1 January 2011.
Italy
Italian euro coins carry a different design for each denomination, chosen from masterpieces of the country’s cultural heritage. The final choice was made by the public through a television program broadcast by RAI Uno, Italy’s largest television station.
The €2 coin reproduces the portrait painted by Raphael of the poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), author of the Divine Comedy. The inscription on the edge repeats “2” six times, alternating upright and inverted numerals.
The €1 coin features the Vitruvian Man, Leonardo da Vinci’s famous drawing showing the ideal proportions of the human body.
The 50 cent coin reproduces the pavement design of the Piazza del Campidoglio with the equestrian statue of the emperor Marcus Aurelius.
The 20-cent coin features a sculpture by Umberto Boccioni, a master of the Italian Futurist movement.
The 10-cent coin depicts a detail from The Birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli’s famous painting, and a triumph of Italian art.
The 5 cent coin depicts the Colosseum in Rome, the famous amphitheater built by the emperors Vespasian and Titus, opened in AD 80.
The 2 cent coin depicts the Mole Antonelliana tower in Turin.
The 1 cent coin depicts “Castel del Monte” near Bari.
In 2005, the Central Bank of Cyprus launched a competition to select the design of the Cypriot euro coins, which were to have three different motifs reflecting the specifics of the country in terms of culture, nature and the sea.
The winning projects, approved by the Council of Ministers of Cyprus, were jointly created by Tatiana Soteropoulos and Eric Mael.
The €1 and €2 coins reproduce the Pomos Idol, a cross-shaped idol dating from the Chalcolithic period (c. 3000 BC), representing the country’s contribution to civilization since prehistoric times.
The 10-, 20-, and 50-cent coins depict the Kyrenia (4th century BC), a Greek merchant ship whose remains are believed to be the oldest of the Classical period discovered to date. It is a symbol of the insular nature of Cyprus and its historical importance as a commercial center.
The 1, 2 and 5 cent coins feature the mouflon, a type of wild sheep representative of the island’s wildlife.
Belgium
There are two different series of Belgian Euro coins in circulation.
All notes of the first series issued in 2002 show the face of His Majesty Albert II, King of the Belgians, surrounded by the twelve stars of the European Union with the royal monogram (capital ‘A’ and crown) to the right. The Belgian euro coins were designed by Jan Alphonse Koistermans, director of the Turnhout Municipal Academy of Fine Arts, and selected by a committee of high-ranking officials, numismatic experts and artists.
In 2008, Belgium made a slight change in the design of its national sides to comply with the general guidelines recommended by the European Commission. The new national sides continue to bear the effigy of His Majesty Albert II, King of the Belgians, surrounded by twelve stars, but the royal monogram and date of issue are depicted on the inner part of the coin – not the outer ring – along with two new elements: the signs of the mint and the country name abbreviation (“BE”).
From 2014, the second series of Belgian coins shows on each note the face of the new head of state, His Majesty Philippe, King of the Belgians, in profile to the right. To the left of the effigy, the Issuing Country designation ‘BE’ and the Royal monogram above. Below the statue, the mint master notes to the left and the mintmark to the right the year of issue.
The outer ring of the coin features the 12 stars of the European flag.
The inscription on the edge of the €2 coin “2” is repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted.
Coins from previous years with the old Belgian national face remain valid.
Luxembourg
The national faces of Luxembourg were designed by Yvette Gastauer-Claire in agreement with the Royal Household and the national government.
All Luxembourg coins bear the profile of His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri in three different styles: a new linear for the €1 and €2 coins; traditional linear for the 10, 20 and 50 cent coins and classic for the 1, 2 and 5 cent coins.
The word “Luxembourg” is written in Luxembourgish (Lëtzebuerg).
The inscription on the edge of the €2 coin is “2” repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted.
Illustrative Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/pile-of-gold-round-coins-106152/
Netherlands: ETZ to renew Tilburg hospital with financing from EIB and BNG- Phot creditg EIB.org
BRUSSELS – The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed off on €100 million in financing to support a comprehensive modernization program by the Elisabeth-TweeSteden (ETZ) hospital group in Tilburg, Netherlands. An additional €15 million is being supplied by Dutch bank BNG.
The total €115 million in funds will enable ETZ to fully upgrade its existing St. Elisabeth hospital site in two major phases running from 2024 until 2031.
“This agreement is crucial for the realisation of this new construction project. The obtained financing allows us to start on time, so that the project can be delivered during 2026,” said Gerard van Berlo, Boardmember of ETZ. “We appreciate the care and professionalism shown by EIB and BNG in bringing these agreements about. Therefore, we are confident that with EIB and BNG we have reliable and valuable partners at our side.”
The first phase includes construction of a new acute care center housing the emergency department, intensive care, helicopter landing pad and more. The second phase will add extra hospital beds, operating theaters, radiology, nuclear medicine, parking and other facilities.
EIB Vice President Robert de Groot emphasized the bank’s goal of funding projects that enhance lives. “The EIB’s mission is to improve people’s lives by making available favorable long-term financing. This project with ETZ is a clear example of that,” he said.
“Not only is the EIB glad to back ETZ in its continuous drive to deliver the best possible healthcare in its catchment area, but we also attach great importance to the excellent environmental performance of the new buildings.”
ETZ has set ambitious sustainability targets, committing to cut CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and by 95% by 2050 against a 2010 baseline. The new facilities will slash energy use far below legal minimums thanks to steps like eliminating gas heating, adding LED lighting, boosting insulation and collecting rainwater.
As Europe’s climate bank and the world’s largest multilateral lender, the EIB emphasizes investments that drive innovation, sustainability and regional cohesion. This ETZ hospital renewal program embodies the type of essential public infrastructure project that merits the EIB’s backing.
The extensive renovations will optimize ETZ’s healthcare delivery while cementing its position as a leader in low-carbon, high-efficiency hospital infrastructure.
“This morning a food convoy waiting to move into northern Gaza was hit by Israeli naval gunfire; thankfully no-one was injured,” said Tom White, Director of Affairs for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
Accompanying the post on X, formerly Twitter, two photographs showed a stationary flat-bed truck parked in front of a UN vehicle with a gaping hole where part of its cargo and protective tarpaulin had been.
Several boxes of relief supplies lay scattered on the roadside, but it was not immediately clear what they contained nor where the truck was.
UNRWA’s bid to reach the beleaguered north came as the World Food Programme (WFP) reported last Friday that it, too, had been unable to reach northern Gaza City for the third time in a week.
“We only managed four convoys in the month of January, that’s around 35 truckloads of food (and) enough for almost 130,000 people,” said the WFP Country Director for Palestine, Matthew Hollingworth.
“(It’s) really not enough to prevent a famine, and we know levels of hunger in Gaza are getting at that level now,” the WFP officer said.
In a video post on X from central Gaza, Mr. Hollingworth described how “desperately hard” it is for aid convoys to move around the shattered enclave after almost four months of non-stop Israeli bombardment.
“There’s more damage everywhere, rubble, roads are closed, but there’s also kinetic active fighting in various areas on the Strip,” he said. Getting through checkpoints and simply moving through Gaza from the southern governorate of Rafah was now extremely difficult, as there were “literally a million and a half people stuck in Rafah; they’re all desperate, and they’re all asking for assistance”.
To date, WFP reached around 1.4 million people with emergency rations, canned food, wheat flour and hot meals, but far more assistance is needed urgently, the UN agency insisted.
Shortages of everything
The development comes as UNRWA reported that some 75 per cent of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people have been displaced.
More than half are children who are among those who face “acute shortages of food, water, shelter and medicine”, the UN agency warned, adding that ongoing intense fighting around Khan Younis “continues to drive thousands of people into the southern town of Rafah, which is already hosting over half of Gaza’s population. Most are living in makeshift structures, tents or out in the open.”
According to the latest update on the conflict from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, residential blocks across Gaza have continued to be destroyed by Israeli forces, including in southern, eastern and central Khan Younis and in Gaza City’s Al Sabra neighbourhood. No casualties were reported in the latest incidents, the agency noted.
War objectors
Meanwhile, some 800 government officials from western nations published an open letter denouncing their countries’ support for the war at the weekend, describing it as “one of the worst human catastrophes of this century”.
The signatories are believed to be high-ranking civil servants and diplomats from the US and 14 European countries including France, Germany, the UK and Switzerland.
They protested that their governments had supported Israel “without real conditions nor responsibilities”, resulting in “tens of thousands of preventable civilian deaths” and the “deliberate” blocking of aid which has left “thousands of civilians at risk of starvation and slow death”.
Escalation fears
The development came as regional tensions continued to ratchet up, with US and UK strikes on pro-Iranian militia in Iraq and Syria last Friday after three American service personnel died in an attack on a US base in Jordan.
And amid continuing calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages, concerns remained that the situation might escalate further because of events in the Red Sea, where Houthi fighters have targeted shipping with alleged links to Israel.
On Israel’s border with Lebanon, cross-border exchanges of fire with Hezbollah have also added to concerns over regional instability.
The latest death toll from the war, sparked by Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel on 7 October that left some 1,200 people butchered and another 250 taken hostage, is at least 27,365 Palestinians killed in Gaza and 66,630 injured, according to the enclave’s health authorities.
OCHA also noted that 223 soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive in Gaza and 1,296 soldiers injured, citing the Israeli military.
Since the brutal 7 October terror attacks by Hamas and other militants on southern Israel and the ensuing military onslaught by Israel on Gaza, more than three quarters of the enclave’s population have been displaced from their homes, many multiple times.
There are widespread shortages of food, water and sanitation, and the health system continues to be systematically degraded, with catastrophic consequences, said the principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), the coordinating body of global humanitarian organizations.
“Diseases are rampant. Famine is looming. Water is at a trickle. Basic infrastructure has been decimated. Food production has come to a halt. Hospitals have turned into battlefields. One million children face daily traumas,” they noted in a statement on Wednesday.
A ‘death blow’ to aid efforts
The situation is particularly dire in Rafah, at the far south of Gaza.
“Rafah, the latest destination for well over one million displaced, hungry and traumatized people crammed into a small sliver of land, has become another battleground in this brutal conflict,” the IASC heads said.
“Further escalation of violence in this densely populated area would cause mass casualties. It could also deal a death blow to a humanitarian response that is already on its knees,” they warned.
— Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) (@iascch) February 21, 2024
Humanitarians at risk
The IASC principals highlighted the risks aid workers face daily in their efforts to help people in desperate need, adding that they can “only do so much.”
“Humanitarian workers, themselves displaced and facing shelling, death, movement restrictions and a breakdown of civil order, continue efforts to deliver to those in need,” they said.
“But, faced with so many obstacles – including safety and movement restrictions – they can only do so much.”
The essentials
The principals underscored that no amount of humanitarian response will make up for the months of deprivation that families in Gaza have endured.
“This is our effort to salvage the humanitarian operation so that we can provide, at the very least, the bare essentials: medicine, drinking water, food and shelter as temperatures plummet,” they said.
For that, they stressed the need for 10 indispensable elements: an immediate ceasefire; protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure; immediate release of hostages; reliable entry points for aid; security assurances and unimpeded access; a functioning humanitarian notification system; roads cleared of explosive ordnance; and a stable communication network.
In addition, they called for the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees (UNRWA) to receive the resources it needs to provide life-saving assistance as well as a halt to campaigns seeking to discredit the UN and NGOs doing their best to save lives.
“We are calling on Israel to fulfil its legal obligation, under international humanitarian and human rights law, to provide food and medical supplies and facilitate aid operations, and on the world’s leaders to prevent an even worse catastrophe from happening,” the humanitarian leaders concluded.
Describing the move as a further sign of the junta’s “weakness and desperation”, Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews called for stronger international action to protect vulnerable populations across the country.
“While wounded and increasingly desperate, the Myanmar military junta remains extremely dangerous,” he said. “Troop losses and recruitment challenges have become existential threats for the junta, which faces vigorous attacks on frontlines all across the country.”
The junta issued an order on 10 February that he said purportedly brought the 2010 People’s Military Service Law into force.
Men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 can now be drafted into the army, though “professional” men and women up to the ages of 45 and 35, respectively, also may be conscripted.
The plan is to enroll 5,000 people per month starting in April. Those who evade military service, or help others to do so, are subject to up to five years imprisonment.
Appeal for action
“As the junta forces young men and women into the military ranks, it has doubled down on its attacks on civilians using stockpiles of powerful weapons,” Mr. Andrews said.
He added that in the face of inaction by the UN Security Council, countries must strengthen and coordinate measures to reduce the junta’s access to the weapons and financing it needs to sustain attacks on the population.
“Make no mistake, signs of desperation, such as the imposition of a draft, are not indications that the junta and its forces are less of a threat to the people of Myanmar. In fact, many are facing even greater dangers,” he said.
A child at an internally displaced persons (IDP) centre in Myanmar. (file)
Coup, conflict and casualties
The military seized power in Myanmar three years ago, deposing the elected Government. Army forces have since been battling with armed opposition groups, sparking mass displacement and casualties.
Latest UN figures show that nearly 2.7 million people remain internally displaced nationwide, which includes almost 2.4 million who were uprooted after the February 2021 military takeover.
Conflict continues to rage in various parts of the country, with a deteriorating situation in Rakhine state, located on the western coast, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, reported earlier this week.
Rakhine has seen escalating fighting between the armed forces and the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group, which has constrained humanitarian access, despite escalating needs.
Meanwhile, a ceasefire continues to hold in northern Shan state, allowing most of the people who were displaced at the end of 2023 to return home. Almost 23,000 civilians who fled the conflict escalation in the region last year remain displaced in 141 sites in 15 townships.
OCHA added that the conflict situation in northwest and southeast Myanmar continues, with armed clashes, airstrikes and mortar shelling threatening civilian safety and driving displacement.
Young people ‘horrified’
For Mr. Andrews, the junta’s decision to activate the conscription law is an attempt to justify and expand a pattern of forced recruitment that is already affecting people across the country.
He said that in recent months, young men have reportedly been kidnapped from the streets of Myanmar’s cities or otherwise forced to join the military, while villagers have reportedly been used as porters and human shields.
“Young people are horrified by the possibility of being forced to participate in the junta’s reign of terror. The numbers fleeing across borders to escape conscription will surely skyrocket,” he warned.
The rights expert called for an infusion of humanitarian aid for impacted communities in Myanmar, including through the provision of cross-border aid, as well as greater support for leaders committed to a democratic transition.
“Now, more than ever, the international community must act urgently to isolate the junta and protect the people of Myanmar,” he said.
About UN rapporteurs
Special Rapporteurs like Mr. Andrews are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council and given mandates to report on specific country situations or thematic issues.
These experts work on a voluntary basis and are independent of any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and are neither UN staff nor are they paid for their work.
New research warns that Africa’s tree-planting campaign poses a double jeopardy as it will damage ancient CO2-absorbing grass ecosystems while failing to fully restore depleted forests, the Financial Times reports.
The article, published in the journal Science, focuses on one particular project, the 34-Country Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100), explains the FT: “The initiative aims to restore at least 100 million hectares of degraded land – an area the size of Egypt – in Africa by 2030…
Among the supporters of the initiative are the German government, the World Bank and the non-profit World Resources Institute.
However, according to the document, about half of the approximately 130 million hectares that African countries have committed to restoring through the AFR100 are designated for non-forest ecosystems, mainly savannah and grassland.
The researchers say they were able to find evidence of only one AFR100 project – in Kenya – dedicated to grassland restoration. More than half a dozen non-forest countries have made AFR100 commitments, including Chad and Namibia.”
Lead author Prof Kate Parr told the Guardian that “ecosystem restoration is necessary and important, but it must be done in a way that is appropriate for each system.
Non-forest systems such as savannas are misclassified as forests and are therefore considered to need restoration with trees…
There is an urgent need to revise the definitions so that savannas are not confused with forests because the increase in trees is a threat to the integrity and sustainability of savannas and grasslands.”
Trees can harm these ecosystems by providing too much shade, writes New Scientist: “This can prevent smaller plants from photosynthesizing, which would have knock-on effects for other ecosystems.”
Illustrative Photo by Dawid Sobarnia: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-working-at-a-coffee-plantation-14894619/
On February 16, at the meeting in the ancient monastery “St. George” in Cairo the H. Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria decided to depose Bishop Constantine (Ostrovsky) of Zaraysk from the Russian Orthodox Church.
On October 11 last year, he was appointed acting “Patriarchal Exarch of Africa” in place of Metropolitan Leonid (Gorbachev).
The latter was deprived of his episcopal rank on November 22, 2022 by a decision of the Synod of Alexandria for similar canonical violations: entering the canonical jurisdiction of the Alexandrian Patriarchate, distributing holy ointment, seducing the local clergy and inciting them to schism, as well as promoting ethnophyleticism.
Prior to this, the Alexandrian Patriarch Theodore II repeatedly appealed to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, with a request to abolish the Russian “exarchate” in Africa.
The official ruling states:
“The Holy Synod proceeded to depose the acting “Patriarchal Plenipotentiary in Africa”, former Bishop Constantine of Zaraysk, from the high rank of bishop, who, after settling arbitrarily in Cairo, Egypt, within the seat of the Holy Archdiocese of Alexandria, committed a number of canonical violations : encroaching on the jurisdiction of the ancient cathedral, handing out antiminses, buying with money local clergy and even excommunicated ones, creating factions, ethnophiletic divisions, etc., while (the synod) again condemned the new ecclesiastical-political “theories” for the pastoral care of the “Russian World” around the world on the basis of nationality”.
Photocredit: European Commission. Screenshot of video.
Brussels, 22 February 2024. In a significant meeting at the heart of the European Union, President von der Leyen welcomed Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson, highlighting the importance of their discussions. The President expressed her gratitude, stating, “It is a great pleasure to have you here, Prime Minister, dear Ulf, at the heart of the European Union. We will certainly have a lot to discuss. So thank you very much for taking the time to meet here.”
One of the key topics on the agenda was the unwavering support for Ukraine. President von der Leyen commended Prime Minister Kristersson for Sweden’s recent announcement of a substantial military support package for Ukraine, valued at EUR 710 million. She acknowledged Sweden’s steadfast support for Ukraine, stating, “From the very beginning on, you have been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, and thank you for that.”
The discussion also revolved around the topic of defense, with a focus on enhancing European defense capabilities. President von der Leyen emphasized the importance of European involvement in defense, stating, “European citizens want more Europe in defense.” She highlighted the upcoming European defense industrial strategy and welcomed Prime Minister Kristersson’s insights, noting Sweden’s strong defense industrial base and its path towards NATO membership.
Addressing the pressing issue of climate change, both leaders discussed strategies to combat climate change and ensure economic competitiveness. President von der Leyen underscored the significance of achieving climate goals and transitioning to a clean and circular economy. She emphasized the need to focus not only on the ‘what’ but also on the ‘how’ of reaching these goals, highlighting the importance of improving economic competitiveness while pursuing environmental sustainability.
With a packed agenda encompassing support for Ukraine, defense cooperation, and climate action, the meeting between the European Union and Sweden promises to pave the way for enhanced collaboration and shared goals in the realms of security and sustainability.
