In a significant step towards achieving climate neutrality by 2050, the European Commission has hailed the provisional agreement on the first EU-wide certification framework for carbon removals. This landmark decision, reached between the European Parliament and the Council, introduces a voluntary framework aimed at certifying high-quality carbon removals, encompassing both innovative technologies and carbon farming practices.
The new framework is poised to play a crucial role in the EU’s ambitious climate, environmental, and zero-pollution objectives, ensuring transparency and trust in carbon removal initiatives while simultaneously opening up new avenues for business and innovation. “Our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will increasingly depend on technology and innovation in the future, and on making the best use of natural carbon sinks,” stated Maroš Šefčovič, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, highlighting the importance of developing robust certification for carbon removal technologies and farming practices.
Under the provisional agreement, the certification rules will cover a wide range of activities, including carbon farming efforts like forest restoration, soil conservation, and innovative farming techniques, as well as industrial carbon removal processes such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. Additionally, the framework will certify carbon bound in durable products and materials, promoting the use of sustainable building materials and practices.
A key aspect of the agreed regulation is its emphasis on ensuring that carbon removals are accurately quantified, stored for a minimum of 35 years, and contribute to broader sustainability goals, including biodiversity enhancement. An EU registry will be established to foster transparency regarding certified carbon removals, with implementation expected within four years.
Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra, underscored the framework’s potential to unlock economic opportunities across various sectors, stating, “Carbon removals and carbon farming will be an important part of our efforts to reach climate neutrality by 2050.” He emphasized the framework’s role in fostering a sustainable future where innovation meets environmental responsibility.
The regulation also aims to stimulate financial support for carbon removal technologies through innovative financing models and public sector support, recognizing the commercial and environmental benefits of certified carbon removals. This initiative aligns with the EU’s broader climate and sustainability goals, including the European Green Deal and the European Climate Law, which mandates the EU to achieve a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and removals by 2050.
With the European Parliament and Council set to formally approve the agreement, the EU takes a decisive step towards implementing a comprehensive strategy for sustainable carbon cycles and climate neutrality. This framework not only supports the EU’s long-term climate targets but also paves the way for a sustainable and innovative business environment dedicated to high-quality carbon removals.
By Prof. A.P. Lopukhin, Interpretation of the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament
Chapter 13. 1-9. Exhortations to repentance. 10 – 17. Healing on Saturday. 18 – 21. Two parables about the kingdom of God. 22 – 30. Many may not enter the Kingdom of God. 31-35. Christ’s words concerning Herod’s plot against Him.
Luke 13:1. At the same time some came and told Him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
The calls to repentance that follow are found only in Luke the Evangelist. Also, he alone reports the occasion that gave the Lord occasion to address such exhortations to those around Him.
“At the same time”, ie. while the Lord was speaking His previous speech to the people, some of the newly arrived listeners told Christ important news. Some Galileans (their fate seems to be known to the readers, because the article τῶν precedes the word Γαλιλαίων) were killed by order of Pilate while they were offering sacrifice, and the blood of the slain even sprinkled the sacrificial animals. It is not known why Pilate allowed himself such cruel self-dealing in Jerusalem with King Herod’s subjects, but in those rather turbulent times the Roman procurator could indeed resort without serious investigation to the most severe measures, especially against the inhabitants of Galilee, who were generally were known for their wayward character and tendency to riot against the Romans.
Luke 13:2. Jesus answered them and said: Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the Galileans, that they suffered thus?
The question of the Lord was probably dictated by the circumstance that those who brought Him the news of the destruction of the Galileans were inclined to see in this terrible destruction God’s punishment for some particular sin committed by those who perished.
“were” – it is more correct: they became (ἐγένοντο) or punished themselves precisely by their destruction.
Luke 13:3. No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish.
Christ took advantage of this occasion to exhort His hearers. The extermination of the Galileans, according to His prediction, foreshadows the destruction of the entire Jewish nation, in case, of course, the people remain unrepentant in their opposition to God, Who now requires them to accept Christ.
Luke 13:4. Or do you think that those eighteen people on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them were more guilty than all those living in Jerusalem?
It is not only the case of the Galileans that can strike the mind and the heart. The Lord points to another apparently very recent event, namely, the fall of the Tower of Siloam, which crushed eighteen men under its rubble. Were those who perished more sinful before God than the rest of the inhabitants of Jerusalem?
“The Tower of Siloam”. It is not known what this tower was. It is only clear that it stood in close proximity to the Spring of Siloam (ἐν τῷ Σιλωάμ), which flowed at the foot of Mount Zion, on the south side of Jerusalem.
Luke 13:5. No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish.
“all” is again an allusion to the possibility of the destruction of the entire nation.
It cannot be inferred from this that Christ rejected any connection between sin and punishment, “as a vulgar Jewish notion,” as Strauss puts it (“The Life of Jesus”). No, Christ recognized the connection between human suffering and sin (cf. Matt. 9:2), but did not recognize only the authority of men to establish this connection according to their own considerations in each individual case. He wanted to teach people that when they see the sufferings of others, they should strive to look into the condition of their own souls and see in the punishment that befalls their neighbor, the warning that God sends them. Yes, here the Lord is warning people against that cold complacency that is often manifested among Christians, who see the sufferings of their neighbor and pass them by indifferently with the words: “He deserved it…”.
Luke 13:6. And he said this parable: a man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came to look for fruit on it, but found none;
To show how necessary repentance is now for the Jewish people, the Lord tells the parable of the barren fig tree, from which the owner of the vineyard is still waiting for fruit, but – and this is the conclusion that can be drawn from what has been said – his patience may soon be exhausted. run out and he will cut her off.
“and said”, that is, Christ addresses the crowds standing around him (Luke 12:44).
“in his vineyard… a fig tree”. In Palestine figs and apples grow in the bread fields and vineyards where the soil permits (Trench, p. 295).
Luke 13:7. and he said to the vinedresser: behold, for three years I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree, and I have not found any; cut it down: why should it only deplete the earth?
“I’ve been coming for three years”. More precisely: “three years have passed since I began to come” (τρία ἔτη, ἀφ´ οὗ).
“why only deplete the earth”. Land in Palestine is very expensive, as it affords the opportunity to plant fruit trees on it. “Depletes” – takes away the strength of the earth – moisture (καταργεῖ).
Luke 13:8. But he answered him and said: master, leave it this year too, until I dig it up and fill it with manure,
“dig up and fill with fertilizer”. These were extreme measures to make the fig tree fertile (as it is still done with orange trees in southern Italy, – Trench, p. 300).
Luke 13:9. and if it bears fruit, good; if not, next year you will cut it off.
“if not, next year you will cut it off”. This translation is not entirely clear. Why should a fig tree that has turned out to be barren be cut down only “next year”? After all, the owner has told the vintner that she wastes the soil in vain, so he must get rid of her immediately after the last and final attempt to make it fertile. There is no reason to wait another year. Therefore, here it is better to accept the reading established by Tischendorf: “Perhaps it will bear fruit next year?”. (κἂν μὲν ποιήσῃ καρπόν εἰς τὸ μέλλον) If not, cut it down.” We must wait until next year, however, because this year the fig tree will still be fertilized.
In the parable of the barren fig tree, God wants to show the Jews that His appearance as the Messiah is the last attempt that God makes to call the Jewish people to repentance, and that after the failure of this attempt, the people have no choice but to expects an imminent end.
But besides this direct meaning of the parable, it also has a mysterious one. It is the barren fig tree that signifies “every” nation and “every” state and church that do not fulfill their God-given purpose and must therefore be removed from their place (cf. Rev. 2:5 to the angel of the Ephesian church: ” I will remove your lamp from its place if you do not repent”).
Moreover, in the intercession of the vinedresser for the fig tree, the fathers of the Church see the intercession of Christ for sinners, or the intercession of the Church for the world, or of the righteous members of the Church for the unrighteous.
As for the “three years” mentioned in the parable, some interpreters have seen in them a signification of the three periods of the Divine household – the law, the prophets and Christ; others have seen in them a signification of the three years’ ministry of Christ.
Luke 13:10. In one of the synagogues He taught on the Sabbath;
Only the evangelist Luke tells about the healing of the weak woman on Saturday. In the synagogue on the Sabbath, the Lord heals the stooped woman, and the head of the synagogue, although indirectly in His address to the people, blames Him for this action, because Christ broke the Sabbath rest.
Then Christ rebukes the hypocritical zealot for the law and his ilk, pointing out that even on the Sabbath the Jews made their cattle drink, thus violating their prescribed rest. This denunciation made the opponents of Christ ashamed, and the people began to rejoice at the miracles that Christ performed.
Luke 13:11. and here is a woman of infirm spirit for eighteen years; she was hunched over and couldn’t stand up at all.
“with feeble spirit” (πνεῦμα ἔχουσα ἀσθενείας), i.e. demon that weakened her muscles (see verse 16).
Luke 13:12. When Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her: woman, you are freed from your infirmity!
“you break free”. More precisely: “you are freed” (ἀπολέλυσαι), the impending event being represented as having already taken place.
Luke 13:13. And laid His hands upon her; and immediately she stood up and praised God.
Luke 13:14. At this the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, spoke and said to the people: there are six days during which one must work; in them come and be healed, not on the Sabbath day.
“the ruler of the synagogue” (ἀρχισυνάγωγος). (cf. the interpretation of Matt. 4:23).
“being resentful that Jesus healed on the Sabbath.” (cf. the interpretation of Mark 3:2).
“said to the people”. He was afraid to turn directly to Christ because the people were clearly on the side of Christ (see v. 17).
Luke 13:15. The Lord answered him and said: hypocrite, does not each of you untie his ox or his donkey from the manger on the Sabbath and lead it to water?
“hypocrite”. According to the more accurate reading “hypocrites”. Thus the Lord calls the head of the synagogue and the other representatives of the church authorities who stand next to the head (Evthymius Zigaben), because under the pretext of observing exactly the Sabbath law, they actually wanted to shame Christ.
“doesn’t it lead?” According to the Talmud, it was also permitted to bathe animals on the Sabbath.
Luke 13:16. And this daughter of Abraham whom Satan has bound for eighteen years, should she not be freed from these bonds on the Sabbath day?
“that daughter of Abraham”. The Lord completes the thought expressed in the preceding verse. If for the animals the strictness of the Sabbath law can be violated, even more so for the woman descended from the great Abraham, it is possible to violate the Sabbath – in order to free her suffering from the disease that Satan caused her (Satan is represented as having bound her through some of her employees – the demons).
Luke 13:17. And when He spake this, all that were against Him were ashamed; and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious works which he did.
“for all the glorious works done by Him” (τοῖς γενομένοις), by which the works of Christ are signified as continuing.
Luke 13:18. And He said: what is the kingdom of God like, and what can I liken it to?
For an explanation of the parables of the mustard seed and leaven cf. the interpretation to Matt. 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Matt. 13:33). According to the Gospel of Luke, these two parables were spoken in the synagogue, and here they are quite appropriate, since in verse 10 it is said that the Lord “taught” in the synagogue, but what His teaching consisted of – that is not what the evangelist says there and now compensates for this omission.
Luke 13:19. It is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden; it grew and became a great tree, and the birds of the air made their nests in its branches.
“in his garden”, i.e. he keeps it under close supervision and constantly takes care of it (Matt.13:31: “in his fields”).
Luke 13:20. And again he said: to what shall I liken the kingdom of God?
Luke 13:21. It looks like leaven that a woman took and put in three measures of flour until it all soured.
Luke 13:22. And he passed through cities and villages, teaching and going to Jerusalem.
The evangelist again (cf. Luke 9:51 – 53) reminds his readers that the Lord, passing through towns and villages (most likely the evangelist is referring here to the towns and villages of Perea, the region beyond the Jordan, which is usually used for traveling from Galilee to Jerusalem), went to Jerusalem. He finds it necessary to recall here this purpose of the Lord’s journey because of the Lord’s predictions of the nearness of His death and of the judgment upon Israel, which, of course, are closely connected with the purpose of Christ’s journey.
Luke 13:23. And someone said to Him: Lord, are there few who are being saved? He said to them:
“someone” – a person who, in all probability, did not belong to the number of Christ’s disciples, but who came out of the crowd of people around Jesus. This is evident from the fact that in answering his question, the Lord addresses the crowd as a whole.
“are there few who are saved”. This question was not dictated by the strictness of Christ’s moral requirements, nor was it simply a question of curiosity, but, as is evident from Christ’s answer, it was based on the proud consciousness that the questioner belonged to those who would surely be saved . Salvation here is understood as deliverance from eternal destruction through acceptance into the glorious Kingdom of God (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18).
Luke 13:24. strive to enter through the narrow doors; for I tell you, many will seek to enter, and will not be able.
(cf. the interpretation of Matt. 7:13).
The evangelist Luke reinforces Matthew’s point because instead of “enter” he puts “strive to enter” (ἀγωνίζεσθε εἰσελθεῖν), implying the serious effort that will be required to enter the glorious Kingdom of God.
“many will seek to enter in” – when the time for the home building of salvation has already passed.
“they will not be able” because they did not repent in time.
Luke 13:25. After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you who are left outside, start knocking at the door and crying: Lord, Lord, open to us! and when He opened you and said: I do not know you where you are from, –
Luke 13:26. then you will begin to say: we ate and drank before You, and in our streets You taught.
Luke 13:27. And He will say: I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all ye that work iniquity.
Announcing the judgment of the entire Jewish people, Christ represents God as the master of a house waiting for his friends to come to dinner. The hour comes when the doors of the house must be locked, and the master himself does this. But as soon as he locks the doors, the Jewish people (“you”), who have come too late, start asking to be admitted to the dinner and knocking on the door.
But then the householder, ie. God, will tell these tardy visitors that he does not know whence they come, ie. what family they are from (cf. John 7:27); in any case they do not belong to His house, but to some other, unknown to Him (cf. Matt. 25:11-12). Then the Jews will point out the fact that they ate and drank before Him, ie. that they are His close friends, that He taught in the streets of their cities (the speech clearly already passes into a picture of Christ’s relations with the Jewish people). But the Host will again tell them that they are strangers to Him, and therefore they must go away as unrighteous, i.e. wicked, stubborn unrepentant people (cf. Matt. 7:22 – 23). In Matthew these words mean false prophets.
Luke 13:28. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast out.
The conclusion of the preceding discourse depicts the sad condition of the rejected Jews, who, to their greatest chagrin, will see that access to the Kingdom of God is open to other nations (cf. Matt. 8:11-12).
“where” you will be banished.
Luke 13:29. And they will come from the east and the west, and the north and the south, and they will sit at the table in the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:30. And behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last.
“last”. These are the Gentiles whom the Jews did not consider worthy to be admitted to the kingdom of God, and the “first” are the Jewish people who were promised the kingdom of the Messiah (see Acts 10:45).
Luke 13:31. On the same day some Pharisees came and said to Him: get out and leave here, because Herod wants to kill You.
The Pharisees went to Christ to warn Him of the plans of Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee (see Luke 3:1). From the fact that later (v. 32) the Lord calls Herod a “fox”, i.e. cunning being, we can safely say that the Pharisees came by order of Herod himself, who was very displeased that Christ had been in his dominions for so long (Perea, where Christ was at that time, also belonged to the dominions of Herod). Herod was afraid to take any open measures against Christ because of the respect with which the people received him. Therefore Herod ordered the Pharisees to suggest to Christ that he was in danger from the tetrarch in Perea. The Pharisees thought it best to persuade Christ to go quickly to Jerusalem, where, as they knew, He would certainly not be pardoned.
Luke 13:32. And he said to them: go and say to that fox: behold, I cast out demons, and I heal today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish;
The Lord answers the Pharisees: “Go, tell this fox” who sent you, i.e. of Herod.
“today”. This expression signifies a definite time known to Christ, during which He would remain in Perea, in spite of all the plans and threats of Herod.
“I will finish”, (τελειοῦμαι, which is everywhere in the New Testament used as a passive participle), or – I will come to the end. But what “end” does Christ mean here? Is this not His death? Some teachers of the Church and ecclesiastical writers (the blessed Theophylact, Euthymius Zigaben) and many Western scholars have understood the expression in this sense. But, in our opinion, the Lord here undoubtedly speaks of the end of His present activity, which consists in casting out demons from men and healing diseases, and which takes place here in Perea. After that, another activity will begin – in Jerusalem.
Luke 13:33. but I must go to-day, to-morrow, and other days, for a prophet should not perish outside Jerusalem.
“I have to go”. This verse is very difficult to understand because it is not clear, first, what “walking” the Lord is referring to, and, second, it is not clear what this has to do with the fact that prophets were usually killed in Jerusalem. Therefore, some of the more recent commentators consider this verse to be structurally incorrect and suggest the following reading: “Today and tomorrow I must walk (i.e. perform healings here), but the next day I must go on a journey further away , because it does not happen that a prophet perishes outside of Jerusalem” (J. Weiss). But this text does not give us any reason to think that Christ decided to depart from Perea: there is no expression “from here”, nor any hint of a change in Christ’s activity. That is why B. Weiss offers a better interpretation: “Certainly, however, it is necessary for Christ to continue his journey as Herod wishes. But this does not in the least depend on Herod’s treacherous designs: Christ must, as before, go from one place to another (v. 22) at a fixed time. The purpose of His journey is not to escape; on the contrary, it is Jerusalem, for He knows that as a prophet He can and must die only there.”
As for the remark about all the prophets perishing in Jerusalem, this is of course hyperbole, as not all prophets met their death in Jerusalem (e.g. John the Baptist was executed at Mahera). The Lord spoke these words in bitterness because of the attitude of the capital of David towards God’s messengers.
Luke 13:34. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you! How many times have I wanted to gather your children as a hen gathers it’s chickens under her wings, and you didn’t cry! (Cf. the interpretation of Matt. 23:37-39).
In Matthew this statement about Jerusalem is the conclusion of the rebuke against the Pharisees, but here it has a greater connection with the previous speech of Christ than in Matthew. In the Gospel of Luke, Christ addresses Jerusalem from a distance. It is probably during the last words (of verse 33) that He turns His face toward Jerusalem and makes this mournful address to the center of the theocracy.
Luke 13:35. Behold, your home is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me until the time comes for you to say: blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
“I tell you”. In the evangelist Matthew: “because I say to you”. The difference between the two expressions is as follows: in Matthew the Lord predicts the desolation of Jerusalem as a consequence of His departure from the city, while in Luke the Lord says that in this state of rejection in which Jerusalem will find itself, He will not come to its aid , as the inhabitants of Jerusalem might expect: “However sad your situation may be, I will not come to protect you until …” etc. – i.e. until the whole nation repents of its unbelief in Christ and turns to Him, which will happen before His Second Coming (cf. Rom. 11:25ff.).
Brussels, February 19, 2024 – The European Sikh Organization has issued a strong condemnation following reports of excessive force used by Indian security forces against farmers protesting in India since February 13, 2024. The farmers, who have been demanding the implementation of Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for their crops, reminiscent of the widespread 2020–2021 Indian farmers’ agitation, have reportedly faced severe and violent crackdowns.
In a distressing turn of events, it has been reported that the use of pellet guns by Indian forces has resulted in severe injuries among the protestors, with at least three farmers being blinded. This method of crowd control, previously seen in the contentious regions of Kashmir, marks a troubling use of lethal force against civilians voicing their dissent.
The European Sikh Organization, representing the Sikh community in Europe, has taken swift action by bringing this issue to the forefront of the European Parliament. The organization plans to engage with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to highlight the severity of the situation and advocate for the rights of the Indian farmers within the broader framework of the European Union’s commitment to human rights.
Expressing solidarity with the farmers, the European Sikh Organization emphasized the stark contrast between the handling of farmer protests in Europe and India. In Europe, farmers’ rights to protest and advocate for their interests are often met with dialogue and negotiation, rather than violence and suppression. This disparity highlights a significant concern over the treatment of Indian farmers and the need for international attention to ensure their fundamental rights are protected.
The support from the farming community in Belgium towards their Indian counterparts is a testament to the global nature of the issue, underscoring the universal right to peaceful protest and the importance of government accountability in addressing citizens’ grievances.
As the situation develops, the European Sikh Organization’s efforts to bring international scrutiny to the use of force against Indian farmers are a crucial step in advocating for justice and human rights. The organization’s call to action within the European Union represents a broader plea for global solidarity with those fighting for their livelihoods and rights, against disproportionate use of force and suppression.
Brussels, Belgium – In a significant move to safeguard digital rights and user safety, the European Commission has initiated formal proceedings against the social media giant, TikTok, to investigate potential breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA). This action underscores the EU’s commitment to enforcing its groundbreaking legislation aimed at regulating the digital space, particularly in areas concerning the protection of minors, advertising transparency, data access for researchers, and the management of content that could be deemed harmful or addictive.
Following a preliminary investigation, which included a detailed analysis of TikTok’s risk assessment report submitted in September 2023 and the company’s responses to the Commission’s formal Requests for Information, the Commission has identified several areas of concern. These include TikTok‘s compliance with DSA obligations related to systemic risks, such as the potential for algorithmic systems to foster behavioral addictions or lead users down harmful ‘rabbit hole effects.’ The investigation will also scrutinize TikTok’s measures to protect minors, including the effectiveness of its age verification tools and default privacy settings, as well as the platform’s transparency in advertising and data accessibility for research purposes.
If TikTok is found to have failed in these areas, it would constitute infringements of multiple articles within the DSA, signaling a breach of the obligations set forth for Very Large Online Platforms (VLOP). TikTok, which declared having 135.9 million monthly active users in the EU as of April 2023, falls under this category and is therefore subject to stringent compliance requirements under the DSA.
The formal proceedings mark a critical phase in the Commission’s enforcement of the DSA, empowering it to take further actions, including interim measures and non-compliance decisions. The Commission may also accept any commitments made by TikTok to address the issues under investigation. It’s important to note that the opening of these proceedings does not imply a predetermined outcome, nor does it limit the Commission’s ability to investigate other potential infringements under the DSA or other regulatory frameworks.
As the investigation progresses, the Commission will continue to gather evidence, potentially conducting interviews, inspections, and sending additional requests for information to TikTok. The duration of this in-depth investigation will depend on various factors, including the complexity of the case and the extent of TikTok’s cooperation.
This action by the European Commission is a clear demonstration of the EU’s resolve to ensure that digital platforms operate in a manner that protects users’ rights and safety, particularly those of minors. It also highlights the comprehensive nature of the DSA, which applies to all online intermediaries operating within the EU, setting a global benchmark for digital regulation. As the proceedings unfold, the digital community and TikTok users will be keenly watching for the outcome and its implications for the future of digital services regulation in Europe and beyond.
In a decisive move, the European Union has once again voiced its firm backing for the Belarusian people’s aspirations for democracy, sovereignty, and human rights. The Council’s latest conclusions underscore a deep commitment to a Belarus that is free, democratic, and an integral part of a peaceful and prosperous Europe.
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, emphasized that Belarus remains a priority for the EU, condemning the Lukashenka regime’s ongoing human rights violations and repression, especially in the lead-up to the parliamentary and local elections set for 25 February 2024. “Those responsible will be held to account. We stand in solidarity with the Belarusian people and remain determined to mobilise all tools to support their quest for peace and democracy,” Borrell stated.
The Council’s conclusions express grave concerns over the deteriorating human rights conditions in Belarus, strongly denouncing the regime’s persecution, intimidation, and efforts to undermine the fairness and legitimacy of the upcoming elections. The Lukashenka regime’s actions, which threaten the national identity of Belarus by suppressing the Belarusian language and culture, were also highlighted as areas of deep concern.
In addition to domestic repression, the Council condemned Belarus’s support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the regime’s hybrid attacks at the EU’s external borders, including the instrumentalization of migrants. These actions not only exacerbate regional tensions but also violate international obligations.
In response to these actions, the EU has implemented targeted sanctions against the Lukashenka regime and stands ready to impose further measures should the authorities continue their oppressive actions. These sanctions aim to hold the regime accountable and support the Belarusian people’s pursuit of democratic freedoms.
Support for Belarusian civil society remains a cornerstone of the EU’s strategy, with the establishment of the EU Consultative Group with Belarusian democratic forces and civil society being a notable step forward. This group serves as a platform for dialogue and support for those fighting for democracy in Belarus.
Moreover, the EU has pledged a comprehensive economic support package worth €3 billion to a future democratic Belarus. This plan aims to foster resilience, promote democratic reforms, create jobs, and improve living standards, signaling the EU’s long-term commitment to Belarus’s integration into the European family.
The Council’s conclusions are a clear indication of the EU’s unwavering support for the Belarusian people’s democratic aspirations and its readiness to stand against any form of repression. As Belarus approaches critical elections, the international community watches closely, hoping for a peaceful transition towards democracy and respect for human rights.
European Parliament from EU, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
In a significant address at the conference on “The Future of EU Enlargement: Judiciary and Fundamental Rights,” Olivér Várhelyi, highlighted the European Union’s steadfast commitment to its enlargement policy, emphasizing its role as a geostrategic investment in the continent’s long-term peace, stability, and security.
“I am glad to address today’s conference, which focuses on respecting and protecting Judiciary and Fundamental Rights in the framework of the EU’s Enlargement process,” Várhelyi stated, expressing his gratitude towards Minister Malenica and the Croatian Ministry of Justice and Public Administration for their pivotal role in organizing the event.
The conference comes at a crucial time, following the historic decisions by the European Council in December 2023, which Várhelyi sees as a response to “the call of our history to complete our Union.” He drew inspiration from Croatia’s journey towards EU membership, particularly highlighting the country’s experience in negotiating Chapters 23 and 24, which deal with Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, as a beacon for other countries aspiring to join the EU.
Várhelyi underscored the importance of democratic development through the advancement of Rule of Law chapters, stating, “Advancing on the objectives of these Rule of Law chapters are essential for democratic development. Namely, to ensure an independent and accountable judiciary providing an effective protection of fundamental rights.”
The Commissioner reassured continuous support from the Commission for reform efforts in all enlargement countries, emphasizing that the process remains merit-based. “The new enlargement methodology that we adopted in 2020 is valid. Fundamentals are at the centre of the accession process, and the pace of negotiations depends on the progress of reforms in our partners,” he elaborated.
Várhelyi also touched upon the critical link between the rule of law and economic development, pointing out that a “well-functioning independent judicial system attracts international investments and fosters economic growth.” He highlighted the necessity for predictability and a corruption-free environment for economic operators to invest confidently.
In his concluding remarks, Várhelyi stressed the paramount importance of protecting and promoting fundamental rights, from freedom of expression to the rights of persons belonging to minorities. “Every constructive action towards these goals brings us closer to a stable and peaceful Europe,” he affirmed.
The conference, as Várhelyi’s address suggests, is not just a discussion on the technical aspects of EU enlargement but a reaffirmation of the EU’s dedication to upholding the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental human rights in its quest to expand and strengthen the Union.
In a statement that has sent ripples across the international community, the European Union has expressed its profound outrage over the death of Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition figure. The EU holds Russian President Vladimir Putin and the country’s authorities “ultimately responsible” for Navalny‘s demise.
“The European Union is outraged by the death of the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, for which the ultimate responsibility lies with President Putin and the Russian authorities,” said the High Representative on behalf of the EU. The statement was made following a meeting at the Foreign Affairs Council, where deep condolences were extended to Navalny’s wife, Yulia Navalnaya, their children, family, friends, and all who collaborated with him for the betterment of Russia.
The EU has demanded that Russia permit “an independent and transparent international investigation into the circumstances of his sudden death.” It has vowed to coordinate closely with its partners to hold Russia’s political leadership accountable, hinting at the imposition of further sanctions as a consequence of their actions.
Navalny’s death has sparked a global outpouring of grief, with tributes being paid worldwide. However, in Russia, authorities have attempted to stifle these memorials, detaining several hundred individuals in the process. The EU has called for their immediate release.
Navalny’s return to Russia after surviving an assassination attempt involving the nerve agent “Novichok” — a substance banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention — marked him as a figure of immense bravery. Despite facing politically motivated charges and being isolated in a Siberian penal colony, Navalny continued his work, with his access to family severely restricted and his lawyers facing harassment.
The EU has consistently condemned Navalny’s poisoning and the politically motivated judgments against him, demanding his immediate and unconditional release and calling on Russia to ensure his safety and health.
“Throughout his life, Mr. Navalny demonstrated incredible courage, dedication to his country and his fellow citizens, and determination with his anti-corruption work across Russia,” the statement highlighted. It underscored the fear Navalny instilled in Putin and his regime, especially amidst Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and the upcoming Russian Presidential elections in March.
Navalny’s death is seen as a “shocking” testament to the “accelerating and systematic repression in Russia.” The EU reiterated its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Russia, including Yuri Dmitriev, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin, Alexei Gorinov, Lilia Chanysheva, Ksenia Fadeeva, Alexandra Skochilenko, and Ivan Safronov.
This statement marks a significant moment in EU-Russian relations, reflecting the EU’s stance on human rights violations and its readiness to take action against those deemed responsible.
Screen time can seriously harm your eyes: here’s how to avoid it 6
Every day, more and more patients are seeking medical attention after spending long days in front of computer screens. The most common symptoms include irritated or itchy eyes, and a sensation of dryness or sand on the surface of the eye.
These are the tell tale signs of dry eye disease, which affects anywhere from 5% to 50% of the world’s population, depending on age, gender, ethnicity and other factors. This condition can stem from multiple causes, but lifestyle plays an important role. Screen use – and overuse – is one of the leading factors.
We blink less when looking at computers, phones and tablets, and when we do, our blinking is often incomplete, meaning the eye does not fully close. Screens are also a source of projected light, which raises the temperature of the eye’s surface and increases tear evaporation.
At the University of Santiago de Compostela, in Spain, we carried out a study of university students who received hybrid teaching during the COVID pandemic: 50% of their classes were in person, and 50% were online. According to the data we gathered, increased screen time was linked to more severe dry eye symptoms. Those who used screens for more time outside class (over 8 hours per day) showed more acute symptoms.
The relationship between hours of screen use and dry eye symptoms. The graph compares symptoms from 6 hours (left), 6 to 8 hours (middle), and over 8 hours (right) of daily screen time across a similar age group.
Although reducing screen time is impossible in certain jobs, we can reduce irritation and problems by following certain recommendations. A basic understanding of the issue can also help us to look after our eyes.
Teardrops and eyelids
The eye’s surface is made up of eyelids, the tear film (the eye’s liquid coating), the cornea and the conjunctiva. The health of these tissues is linked to the eye’s functioning. If any of them are affected, it can lead to irritation in the eye.
The tear film is made up of two layers. The bottom layer consists of proteins and water, and the top consists of oil. The water layer is responsible for keeping the eye hydrated, while the oil prevents it from evaporating too quickly. Problems with either layer can cause imbalances, preventing them from being distributed evenly and leading to irritation.
The eyelids are what keep the tear film evenly distributed, as well as providing protection. Blinking less often – which we do when looking at a screen – prevents this layer from being properly distributed over the eye’s surface.
Do you suffer from dry eye disease?
First and foremost, there is often no cause for panic: suffering certain symptoms of dry eyes does not necessarily mean you have dry eye disease. The guide published by the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society makes it very clear that, in addition to reported symptoms, patients must also show signs of damage to the eye’s surface. A medical professional will determine whether this damage exists, and what further measures need to be taken.
There are, however, certain signs to watch out for. These include a sensation of dryness, itching, burning, irritation or watering eyes. Researchers have found that the most common symptom after extended screen use is irritation.
How to reduce irritation and avoid dry eye disease
By taking precautions, we can ensure that screens work with us, not against us.
Screen height: It is always best to keep screens below eye level. This way the eyelids do not have to open as much, meaning less of the eye’s surface is exposed for prolonged periods.
Screen position and lighting: You should avoid light reflecting off screens, be it from a lamp or from a window behind where you sit. Excessive light forces us to concentrate harder, and therefore to blink less. This can be solved by using anti reflective filters.
Rest periods: Rest is your eyes’ best friend. A common rule of thumb is the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes of work, look at something 20 feet away (about 6 metres), for 20 seconds. This has been proven to reduce symptoms of eye dryness, as looking away from the screen re establishes our normal rate of blinking.
Environmental conditions: Low humidity, high temperatures, air currents from open windows or air conditioners, tobacco smoke and excessive air freshener can all be bad for eye health.
Eye hydration: Eye drops may be the best option on particularly intense working days. Avoid saline solutions, as their composition is not the same as the tear film. They lack the oils and proteins, and could destabilise this layer. The best option is single dose artificial tears, which do not contain preservatives and do not damage the eye.
The prevalence of screens in our society means that symptoms of dry eye disease are commonplace. If we confront this issue by taking the right steps, however, it doesn’t have to affect our quality of life.
Screen time can seriously harm your eyes: here’s how to avoid it 7
Screen time can seriously harm your eyes: here’s how to avoid it 8Screen time can seriously harm your eyes: here’s how to avoid it 9
In the early 90s, one of the largest war conflicts arose in Europe at that time as a result of the demolition of the extinct Yugoslavia, in what was called: The Balkan War. On May 13, 1992, a psychiatrist named Radovan Karadzic became the first president of what was called The Republic of Srpkas, until 1996. Just four years were enough for Karadzic to be known as one of the greatest murderers and genocidaires in history.
Radovan Karadzic was born on June 19, 1945 in Petnjica, a small municipality near Savnik, in the Montenegro area (Yugoslavia). His father: Vuko, former member of the radical group of the chetniks, He was arrested a few years after his birth. He managed to study, but to do so he had to go to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1960 he managed to consolidate his studies in psychiatry and psychology, to work in a hospital in Kosovo.
In 1986 he founded the Serbian Democratic Party. If Hitler’s idea, when the extermination of the Jews and the lower classes in World War II was proposed, was to establish the hegemony of the Aryan race in the world, that of Radovan Karadzic, this ultra-orthodox nationalist was the to implement in the Balkans, with the acquiescence of Russia and Greece, the Greater Serbia. A dream that even today many oligarchs and politicians in the area, including the Orthodox patriarchs, are no strangers to.
More to achieve this, in those 90s, there was the problem of the Muslim community existing in the area of Sarajevo, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. For which a conflict was designed, initially intellectually devised by Karadzic, supported by the then president of Serbia Slobodan Milosevic. And on those dates (1992-1996) began the greatest carnage of European citizens of Muslim origin in the heart of Europe that has been experienced in the last 30 years. All European countries failed miserably, and that Muslim community at the heart of Christian Europe was considered an anachronism. Of That Atrocious Pincer, perhaps what has reached the most today is the headline: The siege of Sarajevo.
The siege of Sarajevo
The siege of Sarajevo was undoubtedly considered full-fledged ethnic cleansing, including extermination camps. Thousands of women were raped and thousands more were exterminated in the bread queues in Sarajevo, throwing grenades so that they were torn to death. The snipers mercilessly killed people who were walking on the street or dared to go out to get food, including children.
For a couple of years no one did anything, while Slobodan and Radovan continued to enjoy their power by besieging and condoning the massacre. Men, women and children were exterminated mercilessly at that time, but the massacre that Karadzic himself ordered in 1995 in Srebrenica was especially bloody, personally directing the Bosnian Serb forces and encouraging them to create an area that was unsafe even for members of the UN. In fact, when years later he was accused of war crimes, he was also accused of having ordered the kidnapping of members of the United Nations.
To achieve all this, his talk and his knowledge of human behavior and mass manipulation served to harangue his followers with his speeches and sell them that everything they were doing benefited that great objective, which was the implementation of that Great Serbia free of ethnicities that was not up to that race.
Necrophagy in besieged cities
This is how the months passed, facing the inaction of the rest of the world. Russia welcomed the extermination of Muslims, while the rest of Europe remained silent with lukewarm harangues and the US spoke of promising progress in peace plans, but when the Bosnian ambassador to the UN denounced cases of necrophagy in besieged cities , something seemed to change in political opinion about said conflict: perhaps the shame of not being doing anything for those people.
The social and human deterioration of those poor people subjected to the barbarism and unreason of the war promoted by that insane character was such that, in some areas, they ended up eating the dead, in order to feed themselves and be able to survive a few more days. hoping to see humanitarian aid arrive. But this one had serious obstacles with its own name: Slobodan Milosevic and Radovan Karadzic.
In a note issued from the headquarters of the United Nations, the Spanish agency EFE, issued the following:
“Survivors in two eastern cities of Bosnia-Herzegovina are eating the dead due to lack of food, the republic’s ambassador to the UN Mohamed Sacirbey reported on Tuesday night.
The Bosnian representative pointed out that the information was provided to him by the military chief of the Tusla region, who did not give details about how many cases of necrophagy had been registered in the towns of Zapa and Cereska.
The convoy with humanitarian aid destined for the city of Cereska has been blocked for four days on the border by Bosnian Serb forces, and ‘has not moved,’ Sacirbey added.
“Several UN agencies and mediator Cyrus Vance have asked Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic for help so that the convoy could pass through that area.”
But the convoy did not pass and like so many others it was looted by Serbian troops. Even UNHCR, the United Nations humanitarian aid agency that had been working in terrible conditions in other conflicts in different parts of the world, announced the total suspension of its operations in Bosnia. Sadako Ogata himself, representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, announced in those days: …The Serbs refuse to allow our convoys access to besieged areas in eastern Bosnia, where there are 100,000 people, while the Croats make it difficult to distribute assistance in other areas.”
The end of the conflict
The war ends when the Dayton Accords are signed in Paris on December 14, 1995, where Milosevic, Izetbegobic and Tudman share the ashes and corpses after the conflict. As well as the territory.
There were nearly 200,000 murdered and more than 1,300,000 refugees and exiles, the vast majority of them Muslim. Before the conflict in that area, 90% of the population belonged to Muslim ethnic groups, after the conflict there was almost no one left.
When the UN troops arrived they found hundreds of mass graves and concentration camps whose photos show us that the state of the prisoners in no way envies the horror experienced in the Nazi extermination camps. A full-fledged horror that is barely talked about in some chronicles. Remember that about 320 United Nations soldiers also died. Between 20,000 and 40,000 Muslim women, whether adults or children, were raped by Serbian forces. This information led to mass rape being considered for the first time as a weapon of war to carry out ethnic and genocidal cleansing.
Seeing all that horror, the international criminal court decided to prosecute, among others, Radovan Karadzic in 1995 on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, with three charges of violations of the laws of war and a long etcetera. But he managed to escape with money, but above all with the help of many passionate believers who saw in him the leader who had managed to destroy the largest Muslim bastion in Europe. Which earned him the sympathy of far-right movements in many parts of the world. Until he was arrested in 2008 in England, where he worked as a doctor and alternative medicine expert, under the pseudonym Dragan Dabic.
The psychopathic psychiatrist
His knowledge and training as a doctor and psychiatrist allowed Radovan Karadzic to create an alter ego, a character called Dragan Dabic, and to be considered in his community. He even had a website. dragandavic.comfrom which and with a good-natured appearance, with white hair and a long beard of the same tone, he earned his living as an alternative doctor, treating patients and writing articles on alternative medicine in the magazine Healthy Life, whose director Goran Kogic, upon hearing the news, said: “Everyone would have wanted to be friends with the person I met.
Without a doubt, his fanaticism played a decisive role in one of the darkest periods of his life and also, according to many, accompanied by a certain psychopathy, since he went from caring for his elders to killing or ordering the killing of thousands of people.
In March 2016, the criminal court in The Hague sentenced him to 40 years in prison, although he was later sentenced to life in prison, because he was found guilty of genocide and war crimes between 1992 and 1995. When the sentence was handed down, on the outskirts At the International Court in The Hague there were hundreds of followers who organized riots, with police forces having to act forcefully to avoid major problems.
Author’s note:
In this chronicle where I have mixed the Balkan War and the figure of a radical Serbian politician and also a psychiatrist, I did not want to miss the opportunity to observe the religious radicalism that truly underlay this conflict. Sometimes when some parliaments in the world legislate in relation to new beliefs, as may be happening at the moment in some parliaments in the world, to decide whether they are sects or not, or how to act against them to avoid regrettable actions, they are not looked at. in excess of history and what the radical confrontations between great religions cause.
It would be convenient that, when talking about the issue of sects or the beliefs of others, it is done in an open way and not from the ideological perspective that produces our own belief. The conflict that arose in the 1990s in the Balkans is above all an ethnic-religious conflict. Different from what is happening right now in the Gaza Strip, for example. Something I will analyze another time.
For references to the Balkan War and Karadzic himself, I encourage readers to use Internet search engines to find all the information they consider. Likewise, look at the terrible photographs that you can find in different places about what happened in that conflict.
The Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria, Diana Kovacheva, published the Institution’s Eleventh Annual Report of the inspections in places of deprivation of liberty in 2023, carried out by the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) – the NPM is a specialized directorate under the Ombudsman, which monitors, checks and evaluates the observance of rights of the person in prisons, detention centers, homes for medico-social care for children, family-type accommodation centers for children and persons, psychiatry, homes for adults with disabilities, mental disorders and dementia, centers for migrants and refugees, etc.
Data from the report reveal that in 2023, the NPM team carried out 50 inspections in the listed places, sent a total of 129 recommendations to various government bodies and tracked the implementation of specific measures to improve the conditions in the places of accommodation, detention or suffering of imprisonment.
The observations and conclusions in 2023 continue to identify systemic problems, for which the institution has repeatedly alerted the responsible institutions, but despite this, there are practically no real and adequate solutions to date.
The problems of underfunding and the chronic shortage of personnel to ensure quality medical care and health care for persons in all categories of inspected facilities remain permanently unresolved. There is also a lack of budget funding for social activities in the places where punishments are served – the social work and reintegration of prisoners continues to be questionable for many of the prisons;
The report summarizes that over the past two years, the ombudsman has put the topic of protecting the rights of people with mental illnesses first and with particular sharpness.
It is reported that a total of 25 unannounced inspections were carried out in psychiatric facilities and residential social service centers in the period 2022-2023.
“In the sense of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of the United Nations and the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of the Council of Europe – State psychiatric hospitals (PSHs) are places of deprivation from freedom, as some of the patients are housed with court decisions and cannot voluntarily leave them. For this reason, the ombudsman, as the NPM, monitors with particular attention the prevention of torture and other forms of inhuman or degrading treatment in these places,” the report says .
It is also noted there that in the period from 2019 to 2022, the ombudsman as NPM repeatedly alerted the responsible authorities about the presence of chronic problems in state psychiatric hospitals, humiliating material living conditions, the chronic malnutrition of patients due to a wrong financing model were found , poor quality of medical care, lack of staffing and a sustainable policy to overcome it, including lack of social services to help reintegration of patients in the PSHs.
In this regard, the Ombudsman insists that a number of urgent measures be taken to prevent any possible form of degrading treatment or torture. First of all, to distinguish the act of “torture” as an independent crime, next – to engage in practices for effective control – on the basis of Art. 127, item 4 of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria that the prosecutor’s office exercise regular supervision in the implementation of criminal and other coercive measures in all state psychiatric hospitals, because they are kept places of deprivation of liberty.
The ombudsman also recommends to update the legal framework of the procedure for applying measures of temporary physical restraint to patients with established mental disorders and to draw up a protocol for applying the coercive measures “immobilization” and “isolation”, in which it should be clearly noted with what duration and how often patients may be isolated and restrained (tied) in a 24-hour period, and to specify the grounds on which these measures are applied.
The report also insists on expanding the possibilities for civil control through the mandatory inclusion of a person with a legal education and a representative of a human rights non-governmental organization in the composition of the Commission for Oversight of the Implementation of Temporary Physical Restraint Measures, as well as unifying the method of financing for all healthcare facilities for inpatient treatment, being bound by the quality of the healthcare service provided.
The report also describes the worst case of torture since the beginning of the Ombudsman’s mandate as NPM. This is the fire that occurred on October 2, 2023 in the State Psychiatric Hospital – Lovech, in which a patient died. The young man who died in a fire in the isolation ward of the Lovech psychiatric hospital, f. e. was sentenced to lie down in the isolation ward for 9 hours, 6 of them tied up. According to the ombudsman, Diana Kovacheva, this measure is torture. She insists on special supervision of the investigation by the prosecutor’s office. And also to monitor all coercive measures in psychiatry, to change the regulation on isolation.The ombudsman’s inspection there highlighted numerous weaknesses in the system for providing quality psychiatric care and protection for the mentally ill. For example – deficits in the legal framework and practices for implementing measures for temporary physical restraint of persons in the PSHs, the lack of effective mechanisms for control by state institutions, as well as chronic problems with the quality of psychiatric care provided due to insufficient funding of the activity.
Another focus of the NPM report is related to deficits regarding the rights of children in conflict with the law.
It also indicates that in every annual report of the NPM, the recommendation is invariably made to close boarding schools and introduce modern and effective measures to work with child offenders, which include restorative justice and preventive work, as well as the creation of a protective social system. with a network of services (integrated services and educational, psycho-social and protective measures and support mechanisms) regarding children in conflict with the law.
In this regard, the report describes that in 2023 teams of the ombudsman from the NPM and Children’s Rights Directorates carried out three joint inspections in Educational Boarding Schools (EBS) and Social and Pedagogical Boarding Schools (SPBS) to assess the availability or the lack of progress on the Third Thematic Report on the Rights of Children Placed in Higher Education Institutions and Higher Education Institutions.
“As a result of the systemic pressure of the ombudsman, four boarding schools were closed, such as the one in the village of Dragodanovo, municipality of Sliven. The number of children housed in the remaining three has decreased to 88 children. Most of the children are victims of circumstances in their lives – poverty , lack of normal housing conditions, separated parents and/or those who are economic emigrants abroad The material base is in a bad state, regardless of the partial repairs being carried out The investment of resources (financial, technical and human) in the system of EBSs and SPBSs is inexpedient. The efforts of the authorities should be fully focused on the rapid closure of these institutions and the creation of a protective social system including a network of services (integrated services and educational, psycho-social and protective measures and support mechanisms) in relation to children who are in conflict with the law,” the report added.
There, it is recalled that in the Third Thematic Report on the Rights of Children Placed in Higher Education Institutions and Secondary Education Institutions, a series of chronic vices were found, that Higher Education Institutions and Secondary Education Institutions do not meet international standards, because they are from the so-called “barrack type buildings” with common sleeping quarters, bathrooms, toilets. And the children housed in them not only do not have access to quality education and medical care, but also their relatives cannot visit them due to the remoteness of the institutions and the lack of funds. In addition, educational measures bear the characteristics of criminal repression, i.e. their educational effect is to impose a sanction or restriction. The absence of subsequent periodical judicial control and provision of legal assistance to the children placed in connection with the educational measures imposed on them was noted.
Among the other problems mentioned is the fact that the applicable legislation does not allow minors placed in an educational center – boarding school to apply to the judicial authorities to request a review of their detention. As well as that in the internal law of Bulgaria there is no periodic and automatic check in relation to the detention in question.
In the Eleventh Report of the Ombudsman as NPM for another year, it is emphasized that the adoption of a national policy and strategy for children’s justice with a long-term horizon is necessary. As well as that the efforts of the authorities should be fully focused on the rapid closure of institutions for children in conflict with the law and the creation of a protected social system that includes a network of services (integrated services and educational, psycho-social and protective measures and support mechanisms) in relation to these children.
“The recommendation for the need to take effective legislative actions for the transposition into the NPC of Directive 2016/800/ of the EU on procedural guarantees for children who are suspects or accused in criminal proceedings,” the ombudsman also states.
In 2023, the NPM will carry out a total of 3 planned and 11 unannounced inspections in social institutions for children and adults.
Again, the ombudsman’s recommendation is to speed up the process of deinstitutionalisation of aged care, because the long-term residence of disabled people in institutions violates basic human rights, and the homes themselves can be defined as places of deprivation of liberty.
The report points out another worrying fact – the presence of seven institutions with a capacity of more than 100 people (one with 228), located at a great distance from municipal centers and hospitals, with a lack of specialists to take care of them.
“At the moment, only 9 homes for people with mental retardation, mental disorders and dementia have been closed. Once again, it has been established that the homes do not meet any criteria for providing quality social service for people with disabilities. The attitude towards the housed people and their staying there is not only bad and humiliating, but their basic human rights are violated,” the report said. Namely, the right to free movement and contacts with the outside world; of quality psychological and medical care; of personal space and quality sanitary and living conditions, as well as the right to individual care.
The Ombudsman has once again noted the apparent lack of will and vision to move residential care services into the community. Instead, the opposite trend is observed – the material base in these institutions remains the same, they are at a great distance from the municipal center, often the accompanying infrastructure is rebuilt with minimal funds to create sheltered housing and family-type accommodation centers. This leads to the practice of new services being actually located in the same building or in the yard of the respective residential service.
The report draws attention to the fact that in 2023, the trend for a large volume of inspections in the places of serving sentences for the Ministry of Justice continues.
“At the end of October 2022, the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment from its eighth visit to Bulgaria was published. The Committee points out as current and essential the problems related to violence between prisoners, the unsatisfactory conditions in prisons and detention centers in the country, the mass spread of bed bugs and cockroaches, as well as the lack of meaningful and constructive activities for those deprived of their liberty. The above findings are also confirmed by the inspections carried out by the Ombudsman in his capacity as NPM in 2023, which clearly demonstrates the continuing need to reform penal policy in the penitentiary system,” the report said.
It is emphasized that the general critical finding in this sector continues to be the lack of an effective solution to several basic problems, namely – systemic deficits in the medical care of prisoners; continuing deficits with depreciated bedding inventory; the unresolved problems with the presence of cockroaches, bedbugs and other pests in places of deprivation of liberty, etc.
Another emphasis in the report is the protection of the rights of persons detained in the accommodation facilities of the Ministry of the Interior. In 2023, a total of 2,509 such persons were covered in the inspections.
The implementation of the recommendations made in 2022 in relation to the rights of minors and persons seeking or denied international protection was checked.
In 2023, the ombudsman carried out inspections in four premises for the accommodation of detained persons in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It was found there that the material living conditions continue to be poor, with little access to daylight and a depreciated material base.
And in 2023, in his capacity as NPM, the ombudsman will carry out inspections in the centers for temporary accommodation of foreigners under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and in the centers for the accommodation of refugees under the State Agency for Refugees (SRA) under the Council of Ministers. The main focus of each inspection is an assessment of the conditions under which unaccompanied minors live and the forms of support provided.
The checks found that for 2023, according to statistics of the SRA, 5,702 applications for international protection were submitted by unaccompanied minors. Of these, 3,843 are from unaccompanied children, and 1,416 from minors. 2023 49 unaccompanied children are accommodated in social service centers.
“It is also worrying that too often unaccompanied children disappear from the SRA’s open-type accommodation centers under the Council of Ministers, within a week or two, continuing their way to Western Europe through organized and costly illegal refugee channels,” the ombudsman emphasized in the Annual report.
He draws attention to the fact that inspections in 2023 also found an increasing number of unaccompanied minors in conditions of permanently unresolved basic problems. For example – the ombudsman’s recommendation from 2022 has not been implemented and the Registration and reception center – Harmanli continues to not have a safe zone for unaccompanied minors and minors seeking international protection. The relevance of the recommendation for the introduction of a systematic policy for the protection and integration of unaccompanied minors continues. The ombudsman points out that it is necessary to evaluate the possible measures to ensure protection and support for unaccompanied minors who have received status through integration in the community and if they do not wish to be placed in residential social care.
In 2023, the ombudsman monitored the implementation of 33 coercive administrative measures on return to the country of origin, country of transit or third country and expulsion.
The monitoring teams found systemic problems when checking the personal files of foreigners – continuing the practice of under-completion of the documentation, especially regarding the appeal of orders to impose coercive administrative measures; missing evidence that the foreign citizens are aware of the content of the orders issued to them to impose coercive administrative measures, as well as their right to appeal it in accordance with the Code of Administrative Procedure; the lack of evidence that foreign nationals accommodated in the Special homes for temporary accommodation of foreigners are aware of their right to receive legal assistance and that they have met with lawyers who consulted them and informed them of their rights and legal options, etc.
Photo: Diana Kovacheva / Press center of the ombudsman
