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A cím igaz kicsit sántít, mert a terv a pénzügyminisztériumtól származik, viszont a közlekedési miniszter azt ígéri, hogy leszámol a politikailag irányított építkezésekkel. Egyedül a pénzügyi tárca Érték a Pénzért elnevezésű osztályának tanácsai alapján fogja időzíteni az útfejlesztési projekteket.

A Smer-SD képviselői szerdán ismételten lemondásra szólították fel Boris Kollár (Sme rodina) házelnököt.

Le gouvernement mauritanien a approuvé mercredi 16 septembre en Conseil des Ministres le projet de loi qui abroge et remplace la loi n°64.098 du...

Szlovákiában szerdán 4.027 COVID-19 tesztet végeztek az egészségügyi laboratóriumokban, ezek közül 161 zárult pozitív eredménnyel. Szeptember 16-án eggyel emelkedett a kór halálos áldozatainak a száma (39). Az országban jelenleg 2.694 aktív fertőzöttet tartanak nyilván.

Ab September 2022 müssen für Autos die EU-Grenzwerte für NOx-Emissionen unter realen Fahrbedingungen gelten, um die Grenzwerte für die Luftverschmutzung einzuhalten, fordert das Parlament.
Ausschuss für Umweltfragen, öffentliche Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2020 - EP

Jiří Šedivý, EDA’s Chief Executive, was in Stockholm today for meetings with the Swedish authorities and industry. It was the second visit of his ‘tour des capitales’ which will see him paying visits to all Member States in the coming months.

Mr Šedivý was received by the Minister of Defence, Peter Hultqvist, Defence State Secretary Jan-Olof Lind, Deputy Chief of Defence Vice Admiral Jonas Haggren, R&T Director Jens Mattsson, Capability Director Lena Persson-Herlitz, and National Armaments Director Göran Mårtensson. He also met at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Director Jessica Svärdström (European Security Policy), as well as with defence industry representatives.

“It was a pleasure to make my inaugural visit to Sweden which is among the most active EDA Member States in terms of number of projects and programmes it participates in. With Minister Hultqvist and my other interlocutors, we took stock of the work underway and discussed how, going forward, the Agency can best support Member States in improving their defence capabilities through cooperation, in full complementarity with NATO.  In these crucial times, it is good to see that Sweden remains a strong and active supporter of EDA and intergovernmental European defence cooperation”, Mr Šedivý commented.

Swedish Minister of Defence, Peter Hultqvist said: “The European Defence Agency has a valuable role as an intergovernmental forum, and in providing support to the Member States’ capability development. I am glad to have had the opportunity to welcome Mr Šedivý to the position as Chief Executive of the EDA, and to have had the opportunity to discuss the work ahead.”

More information:

• Swedish Ministry of Defence press release 

Les débats partisans autour de la « crise migratoire » contribuent à masquer l'accroissement, la modification et la diversification des phénomènes de traite des êtres humains au Moyen Orient, en Afrique et en Europe. Lesquels sont pourtant révélateurs de changements sociétaux profonds.
Tout en mettant en lumière les fonctionnements et les mécanismes actuels de la migration irrégulière, les constats sur le terrain révèlent la massification de l'exploitation sexuelle et l'utilisation (...)

Das Parlament ist bereit, mit dem Rat über den Fonds für einen gerechten Übergang zu verhandeln. Dabei will es die gesellschaftlichen Folgen der Ökologisierung der Wirtschaft mindern.
Ausschuss für regionale Entwicklung

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2020 - EP

219 rab után indítottak hajtóvadászatot az ugandai hatóságok, miután meztelenre vetkőzve megszöktek egy börtönből. A szökevények között gyilkosok, rablók és erőszaktevők is vannak – az őreiktől a szökés előtt 15 Kalasnyikov gépkarabély zsákmányoltak, írta a 24.hu.

Blikk.hu: Pozitív volt az EDDA billetyűsének, Gömöry Zsoltnak a koronavírus tesztje. A zenészt a budapesti Korányi tüdőkórházban kezelik, nagyon rosszul érzi magát – fájdalmai vannak. Pataky Attila szintén kórházban van, az ő tesztjéről nem tudni – írta a Blikk.hu.

Pakistani migrant workers on a construction site in Dubai. Credit: S. Irfan Ahmed/IPS

By Saad Noor Quayyum and Roland K. Kpodar
WASHINGTON, Sep 17 2020 (IPS)

Just as COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted some communities more than others, globally, the virus has had an oversized negative impact on migrant workers.

Perhaps surprisingly, despite the bleak experience for foreign overseas workers during the pandemic, the effect on remittances—the flow of money they send back home—has, in many cases, proven resilient. But that trend may yet be upended.

The predicament of migrant workers over the last few months has highlighted the pressing need—now greater than ever—to support them and their families back home. We offer some suggestions below.

 

The plight of the migrant worker

In the wake of the pandemic, many overseas foreign workers lost their jobs, and reports were widespread of newly laid-off foreign employees stranded in host countries without the means to return home.

Migrants, many of whom are undocumented, often face a heavier burden than a local worker once they lose their job. They often lack access to social safety nets or stimulus checks, which provide a cushion to their local counterparts. This is especially the case for the undocumented or those on temporary work visas

At the same time, many migrant workers have limited or no access to healthcare. Crowded living quarters, together with poor working conditions, put them at higher risk of contracting the virus.

They may also live in fear of deportation as several countries have tightened immigration rules in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

 

Outlook for remittances

Unsurprising then that remittances were expected to take a hit from the pandemic as countries that employ large numbers of foreign workers moved into recession. In addition, the hundreds of thousands of migrant workers employed in major oil-producing countries also suffered repercussions from the drop in oil prices, which weighed down the outlook of Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Russia.

The remittances sent back by migrants are a crucial source of external financing. In 57 countries, it exceeded 5 percent of GDP last year. The money went mostly to low-income households. Against the background of the current health crisis, the need for that income is acute.

Back in April, the World Bank estimated that remittances would fall by 20 percent in low and middle-income countries. This is broadly consistent with projections derived from applying the elasticity of remittances to growth—observed during the 2008 global financial crisis—to the June 2020 forecasts of the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook.

However, growth remained reasonably strong in low-income developing countries during the financial crisis, so the need for remittances in recipient countries was not as urgent as it is now.

 

 

Despite the coronavirus and its likely impact on remittances, the picture is not unconditionally bleak. Remittances often hold up in response to adverse shocks in recipient countries. This possibly explains why they were surprisingly resilient in many countries in the first half of the year (see below).

While there is a great deal of diversity, remittances largely fell from March, then started to stabilize in May before picking up. This pattern was broadly in line with the stringency of virus containment policies in advanced countries where strict measures were put in place in March and slowly relaxed starting in May.

The bounce back in remittances could be driven by a greater need to send money back to families as the remittance-receiving countries now struggle with the pandemic (see below) and collapse in external demand. This illustrates the counter-cyclical role of remittances.

But, if migrants are dipping into their meager savings to support families back home, this may not be sustainable over time, especially if the recession in host economies becomes protracted. A second outbreak of the coronavirus in the later part of the year in host economies, for example, could jeopardize remittance flows further.

 

 

 

Now more than ever, adequate and timely policy responses from both remittance-sending and remittance-receiving countries are critical to help migrant workers. Overseas workers often fill essential roles—in healthcare, agriculture, food production and processing—and often risk their lives to perform these jobs.

• Host countries could ensure all migrants have access to health care, and basic goods and services. There have been some positive steps in this area: all migrants and asylum-seekers were temporarily granted citizenship rights in Portugal. Italy announced plans for temporary work permits for more than half a million undocumented migrants deemed essential for harvesting crops and caring for the elderly. The State of California has contributed $75 million to a $125 million fund to provide $500 to support each undocumented worker.
• Back home, authorities in countries that send workers overseas could step up support to vulnerable households, especially in those countries where the drop in remittances has been more severe. As remittances dry-up, well-targeted cash transfers and food aid can be especially helpful to protect poor households, and those at risk of falling back into poverty.Returning migrants may need training to be reabsorbed in the labor market. Access to credit can help them start a business where opportunities in the formal labor market is limited.
• Technology could also be leveraged to the benefit of migrant workers and their families. For example, digital technology and mobile payment systems could be used to facilitate and lower the cost of sending and receiving remittances. The average cost of sending remittances was about 7 percent in the first quarter of 2020. Reducing this cost now would return a significant amount of money to the poor.

Governments could modify regulations to facilitate flows while minimizing risks of inappropriate use. Relaxing caps on how much can be transferred digitally (through mobile phones for example) can be helpful. Providing tax incentives to money transfer service providers to offset reduction in fees, as Pakistan did during the Global Financial Crisis can be smart move. Schemes like the 2 percent cash back for remitters instituted by Bangladesh can further support remittance flow. Increasing market competition among the remittance service providers can also drive down the cost.

 

This story was originally posted by IMF NEWS

The post Supporting Migrants and Remittances as COVID-19 Rages On appeared first on Inter Press Service.

The European Parliament will pass today its Resolution “on the implementation of National Roma Integration Strategies: combating negative attitudes towards people with Romani background in Europe”. The rapporteur, Romeo Franz, who is of Roma origin, shares his emotional reaction.

Heute u.a. mit dabei: In der Polizei Nordrhein-Westfalens wurden rechtsextreme Chatgruppen entdeckt, die Einwohner Madrids müssen mit “selektiven Lockdowns” rechnen, und Prag bezeichnet von der Leyens neue Klimaziele als “unrealistisch.”

Compagnie des pêches de Saint-Malo
Aide d'État
Saisie d’une demande en interprétation portant sur les modalités d’exécution d’une décision de la Commission sanctionnant la France pour une aide d’État déclarée incompatible avec le marché commun, la Cour de justice constate l’invalidité de cette décision

Compagnie des pêches de Saint-Malo
State aid
Seized with an interpretation request concerning the arrangements for implementing a Commission decision penalising France for State Aid declared incompatible with the common market, the Court of Justice rules that the decision is invalid

Compagnie des pêches de Saint-Malo
Állami támogatás
Seized with an interpretation request concerning the arrangements for implementing a Commission decision penalising France for State Aid declared incompatible with the common market, the Court of Justice rules that the decision is invalid

Essahraa - Les résultats sanctionnant la réunion du conseil des ministres, réuni mercredi à Nouakchott ont été commentés par certains membres...

COPENHAGEN, 16 September 2020 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s webinar today, entitled “From the Arctic to Global: The Political Role in addressing Climate Change,” featured the participation of some 50 parliamentarians and experts for a discussion on the effects of climate change in the Arctic and beyond. The PA’s Special Representative on Arctic Issues, Norwegian parliamentarian Torill Eidsheim, opened the event, followed by keynote addresses by the Arctic Council’s Adalheidur Thorsteinsdottir, the UN’s Daniele Violetti, and Prof. Tore Furevik, Director of the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research.

“Climate change is a global issue, and, as such, it requires decisive – and urgent – global answers,” said Eidsheim in her introductory remarks. “Alone, we are not able to solve it, not in the Arctic and not anywhere else. We need a spirit of co-operation, solidarity, and joint responsibility for the future of our planet.” She added that parliamentarians can contribute to this process by proposing legislation, holding governments accountable for their commitments, and raising awareness and engaging citizens.

Prof. Furevik noted that the Arctic is heating faster than the rest of the planet, and that rapidly melting sea ice is having dramatic global consequences. He talked about tipping points and how warming in the Arctic is impacting the jet stream, which has effects on weather patterns all over the world. In addressing climate change, he stressed the importance of improving collaboration between international organizations, governments and the scientific community.

Thorsteinsdottir, representing the Icelandic Chairmanship of the Arctic Council, discussed the heightened regional co-operation promoted by the Arctic Council, noting that this is essential in combating climate change. Working groups of the Arctic Council develop science-based policy recommendations for informed decision making, she said, noting that current projects are related to reducing harm related to Arctic shipping and addressing the growing concern of wildfires in the Arctic.

Violetti, Director of Means of Implementation Division of the UNFCCC, noted the urgency of addressing the climate crisis and stressed the need to raise ambition among governments towards increasing efforts towards mitigation and adaptation. The national action plans in response to the Paris Agreement must reflect this urgency, he said. Financing is another issue that needs greater attention, Violetti underlined, as well as considering climate action as part of the broader sustainable development agenda. “The role of parliamentarians is one of the critical ones,” he said.

In the discussion, OSCE PA members raised questions about how to best prioritize the work of parliaments and governments, as well as promoting understanding of the most effective way forward to de-carbonize societies. Parliamentarians highlighted work that is being done in their countries while underscoring the need for other countries to also live up to their responsibilities.

Other topics raised by participants included how to fully involve the youth in decision-making on environmental issues, considering that young people will be those most affected by climate change, as well as how to ensure that the Arctic region remains a space free of geopolitical conflict and aggressive economic competition.

Elona Gjebrea Hoxha (Albania), Rapporteur of the PA’s Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment, noted that political collaboration is needed to address the climate crisis, which she pointed out exacerbates the security threat in multiple dimensions. She also noted that while the drastic effects of climate change are being experienced worldwide, there are also concerns about general air quality that must be prioritized. It is the role of parliaments to promote sustainable development, she said, and parliamentarians have a crucial role to play in enhancing commitments from governments.

Moderated by the OSCE PA International Secretariat, the Parliamentary Web Dialogue was aimed to enhance the knowledge on climate change and its impact on people’s lives, and thus better understand how to work towards addressing global warming as a full-fledged human security threat.

Watch the full webinar here.

Photos of the event are available on Flickr. 

Rosneft e.a / Conseil
Relations extérieures
La Cour confirme l’arrêt du Tribunal ayant rejeté un recours contre les mesures restrictives imposées à des sociétés pétrolières russes appartenant au groupe Rosneft dans le contexte de la crise de l’Ukraine