Feed aggregator

The far-right VOX party will not support a second term for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU/EPP), Jorge Buxadé, the lead candidate of the Spanish 'ultra' party, told Spanish public media RNE on Monday, adding her group in the European Parliament almost always sides with the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) on key EU issues.

Americas Northrop Grumman won a $32.6 million modification, which exercises option years two and three for continued fabrication and installation support to retrofit the Delta System Software Configuration 4.0 (DSSC4) capabilities, to include Tactical Targeting Network Technology and the Beyond Line of Sight for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in Melbourne, […]

South Africa's leader will have to rely on the opposition to form a government after electoral losses.

Le Centre national indien de contrôle des maladies qualifie les coups de chaleur de maladie « potentiellement mortelle », avec un taux de mortalité de 40 à 64 % .

Written by Hendrik Mildebrath.

Traditionally, political parties and electoral administrations in the European Union have been slow to adopt campaign and election technologies. However, there is now a noticeable shift among European actors towards leveraging key technologies to enhance political communication and voting procedures. Authorities in Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, France and one district in Portugal have already used electronic voting methods. Additionally, political parties are widely adopting data-driven campaign technology throughout Europe, including in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, Norway and the Netherlands. Experts anticipate that political parties will further harness artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their communication strategies.

Outlining the risks and opportunities associated with these technologies, this briefing examines how the recently updated legal framework governs content management tools utilised by political parties for the creation and dissemination of content. More specifically, it shows that political parties, intermediary services and providers of content creation solutions are subject to a range of data processing restrictions, transparency obligations and risk management requirements under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the e-Privacy Directive (e-PD), and the Digital Services Act (DSA). These obligations will become more stringent once the Regulation on the Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) and the Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) become applicable after the 2024 European Parliament elections.

Read the complete briefing on ‘The arrival of e-voting and campaign technologies in Europe: Promise, perils and preparedness‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Ce sport historiquement centré sur l'Europe a trouvé en Afrique une nouvelle base de supporters qui ne cesse de croître.

A banner demanding an end to harmful subsidies is on display on the last day of the SBI meeting in Nairobi. Credit: Stella Paul/IPS

By Stella Paul
NAIROBI, Jun 3 2024 (IPS)

Regions struggling to revise and update their National Biodiversity Plans aligning them with the Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at COP15, will now be given the technical and scientific support to develop and submit their plans on time.

This was one of the key decisions of the 4th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI)—the crucial pre-COP meetings of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity (UNCBD)—to review the status and challenges of implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which started on May 22 and ended in Nairobi late in the evening of May 29, 2024.

More than 1000 participants from 143 countries gathered for the nine-day meeting, which UNCBD referred to as one of the “largest SBI meetings ever,” to discuss a variety of issues pertaining to the timely implementation of the GBF. As the meeting ended, the participants came up with a list of recommendations that will be presented for nations to consider at the next Biodiversity COP (COP16), scheduled to be held in October in Cali, Colombia.

IPS provided coverage of the twin meetings of SBI and the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advisors (SBSTTA), which took place earlier on May 13–18.  In this article, we bring you the key issues that topped the agenda of the SBI and the biggest recommendations that were made.

National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans

In December 2022, at the COP15, parties agreed to revise and update their national biodiversity plans (NBSAP), aligning the targets with the global biodiversity framework that was adopted at the COP. These updated plans are to be submitted to UNCBD by or before the next COP, scheduled to be held in October.

However, as earlier reported by IPS, despite being just five months away from the next COP, only 11 countries have submitted their NBSAPs, while the majority of the countries have not, citing various reasons, including a lack of capacity and resources.

The top agenda item of the SBI has been reviewing these reasons and recommending steps that can help countries close this gap and complete the task of submitting their plans on time.

David Cooper, acting Executive Director of UN Biodiversity and Chirra Achalendar Reddy, chair of SBI-4, address the press conference. Credit: Stella Paul/IPS

Capacity Building

After the nine-day discussions, delegates at the SBI decided that it would be necessary to provide all countries with specific technical and scientific support that can help them develop their NBSAPs and submit them on time. To provide this support, SBI decided that a network of technical and scientific support centers would be set up at regional and sub-regional level.

According to Chirra Achalender Reddy, Secretary, National Biodiversity Authority, India, and the chair of the SBI-4 meeting, the recommendation to set up these support centers was one of the key decisions made at the meeting.

“I thank the parties for their commitment to implementation of the Convention, as demonstrated by their engagement during the negotiations this week.  While we have many issues to resolve at COP16, the foundation is laid for our discussions in Cali, Colombia, later this year,” said Reddy.

Elaborating further on the decision, David Cooper, Acting Executive Director of the UNCBD, said that 18 regional organizations have been selected worldwide as the support centers. “They will foster and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation as countries harness science, technology and innovation to help halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.”

Cooper also expressed hope that, in the future, these 18 organizations could create more such support centers, expanding the network from regional and sub-regional to national level.

“These subregional support centers will also promote technology transfer among countries, including through joint research programs and joint technology development ventures, acting as “one-stop service centers” offering wide-ranging resources to help meet Biodiversity Plan targets.  The centers are expected to help expand, scale up, and accelerate efforts such as the existing Bio-Bridge initiative,” Cooper added.

Resource Mobilization

In the Global Biodiversity Framework, the financial ambitions set out include investing USD 200 billion a year from both public and private sources until 2030. In addition, the goal also includes saving another USD 500 billion by ending subsidies that are harmful to biodiversity yet are still practiced by countries. This will bring the total available finance for biodiversity conservation to USD 700 billion per year until 2030, the deadline to achieve all GBF targets.

At the SBI, there was an intense discussion on resource mobilization. Several countries complained that, despite being signatories to the GBF, they had not been able to access any resources meant for biodiversity conservation, especially the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), which was launched last year and is managed by the Global Environment Facility.

Delegates from Syria, who spearheaded this discussion, revealed that their country had not been able to receive any money and suggested that the final document prepared by the CBD Secretariat reflect this. Syria’s voice was amplified by Russia, which said that Syria’s inability to access resources should be interpreted as a denial of resources.

Almost all the governments also discussed their own parameters for national biodiversity finance plans, the role of multilateral development banks, existing UN initiatives, and private finance.

An important discussion that took place was about setting up a new Global Biodiversity Fund, separate from the current Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF).

Women4Biodiversity, a group of women-led NGOs and gender champions, launched a training module on how to mainstream gender at the Global Biodiversity Framework meeting. Credit: Stella Paul/IPS

Gender and Indigenous Peoples

One of the most interesting developments that took place on the sidelines of the SBI meeting was the launch of a training module by Women4Biodiversity, a group that advocates for gender mainstreaming across all 23 targets of the GBF and participates in the meetings as an observer.

Titled “Training Module on Advancing Women’s Rights and Gender Equality in the Implementation of the Kunming Montreal-Global Biodiversity Framework,” the document was prepared in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Speaking to the press about the training module, Alejandra Duarte, Policy Associate at Women4Biodiversity, said the main objective of the publication was to serve as a source of information for decision-makers, negotiators, indigenous peoples and local communities, women, youth, civil society, businesses, and the whole of society who are engaged in the planning, monitoring, and implementation of the Biodiversity Plan.

Mrinalini Rai, Director of Women4Biodiversity, also explained that the module was created to be understood by all and customized as per the context, community, or country.

Supporting Rai’s comments, Cristina Eghenter, senior global governance policy expert at WWF, said, “I hope that the module will help understand the gaps and what needs to be done for women to be a part of the Biodiversity Plan.”

Rodah Rotino, an indigenous community leader and President of the Pastoral Communities Empowerment Programme (PACEP), a Kenya-based women-led NGO, highlighted the contribution of indigenous women to biodiversity conservation across the world, including Africa.

“In my community, we have started a seed bank that preserves indigenous tree seeds. We plant indigenous plants that help preserve and conserve the local biodiversity and help community members benefit from their many uses, as they have done for centuries,” Rotino said, citing the example of her own community in West Pokot County, where women have started several initiatives. “We even promote the use of our traditional food systems, including the use of traditional indigenous crops, fruits, and vegetables, and we are seeing that after using these, our people, especially women and children, have many health improvements and quick recovery from some ailments. In short, we are going ahead with using our indigenous knowledge without even waiting for the formal implementation of the GBF.”

What’s Next

In Cali, Colombia, the CBD secretariat will present the decisions of the SBI-4 and the SBSTTA to the nations for their consideration and adoption.

However, just before the COP begins, yet another SBI meeting (SBI-5) will be held in Cali. The sole focus of that meeting will be to review the latest status of the national biodiversity plans and the plans that will be submitted between now and the COP.

“Right now, countries are in various stages of developing their NBSAPs and by October, we expect most of them to complete and make the submissions. The SBI-5 will review the plans and the status then,” Cooper explained.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');   Related Articles

• We Should Aim to be at Peace with Nature, Says David Cooper of UN Convention on Biological Diversity
• Biodiversity Meet Suggests New Guidelines on Synthetic Biology Amid Persisting Questions
• SBSTTA and SBI—Biodiversity Meetings Crucial for the Global South Begin

In dieser Notiz für die Medien werden die geplanten Briefings und praktische Unterstützung für Medienschaffende, die vom 6.-9. Juni über die Europawahl berichten, näher erläutert.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2024 - EP

Ez a médiatájékoztató ismerteti a június 6-9-i európai parlamenti választásokról tudósító újságírók számára elérhető tájékoztatókat és gyakorlati segítséget.

Forrás : © Európai Unió, 2024 - EP

This media advisory outlines the briefings and practical assistance available to journalists covering the 6-9 June European elections.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

This media advisory outlines the briefings and practical assistance available to journalists covering the 6-9 June European elections.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Find here information on electoral rules, poll opening and closing times and candidates for the 2024 European election in EU member states, as well as useful figures.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Find here information on electoral rules, poll opening and closing times and candidates for the 2024 European election in EU member states, as well as useful figures.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Find here information on electoral rules, poll opening and closing times and candidates for the 2024 European election in EU member states, as well as useful figures.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Find here information on electoral rules, poll opening and closing times and candidates for the 2024 European election in EU member states, as well as useful figures.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

L'ANC a dominé l'Afrique du Sud au cours des 30 dernières années, mais il doit désormais se tourner vers l'avenir.

L'ANC a dominé l'Afrique du Sud au cours des 30 dernières années, mais il doit désormais se tourner vers l'avenir.

L'ANC a dominé l'Afrique du Sud au cours des 30 dernières années, mais il doit désormais se tourner vers l'avenir.

Sean White, a former Irish Defence Forces Brigadier General, with over 38 years of active military service, has been appointed EDA Director for Industry, Synergies and Enablers (ISE) as of June 2024. In his capacity as ISE Director, he will oversee the work of the ISE Directorate and its respective units: Industry Strategy and EU Policies; Critical Enablers; Single European Sky; and Operations, Training and Exercises.

“In the context of the European Defence Industrial Strategy and the ongoing work related to the implementation of the Strategic Compass, I am looking forward to leading and promoting the work of the ISE Directorate and its units. This work is especially important in contributing to the promotion and strengthening of the Union’s Defence Technological and Industrial Base as well as focusing on the 2023 EU Capability Development Priorities”, Mr White said upon taking up his duties.

Before joining EDA, Mr. White’s most recent appointment was as Director of Communications Information Systems and Cyber Defence at the rank of Brigadier General in the European Union Military Staff.  

During his wide-ranging military career Mr White held domestic and overseas appointments in a variety of military command, staff and senior leadership roles, as well as focusing on specific projects involving financial services design, information technology consultancy, information management design, CIS procurement, and medical operations delivery. In his most recent position as Director of CIS & Cyber Defence of the EUMS, he worked closely with colleagues in the EEAS to promote the military dimension of the new EU Policy on Cyber Defence particularly as it pertains to the proposed establishment of an EU Cyber Domain Coordination Centre.  

In addition, he has also worked with military and industrial stakeholders in the functional military analysis related to the proposed next-generation EU Command and Control System for the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC). His previous international military service included three tours of duty in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and one each in Somalia (UNOSOM), Kosovo (KFOR) and Chad (EUFOR TChad/RCA).

Mr White is originally from Drumcliffe, Co. Sligo, and was educated at Summerhill College. He holds a Master’s Degree in Information Management and Technology from the United Kingdom Defence Academy (Cranfield University), a Master’s Degree in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies and a Higher Diploma in Information Management and Technology from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the National University of Ireland Galway and Data Protection qualifications from the Irish Law Society and King’s Inns Dublin. 

 

Written by Velina Lilyanova.

To protect the EU’s financial interests and detect fraud, corruption and conflicts of interest, it is necessary to know who benefits from EU funds. However, publicly available data are currently fragmented and often incomplete, complicating the process of identifying the final beneficiaries of EU funding. The European Parliament and its Committee on Budgetary Control have consistently called for transparency in the allocation and use of EU funds. The ultimate goal is to enable the tracing of funds, and ensure targeted and effective EU spending. When it comes to the EU’s Next Generation EU recovery instrument and its main component, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), Parliament has maintained its focus on ensuring transparency.

The RRF is a temporary instrument designed to release substantial financial support to EU Member States within a limited time (December 2026 at the latest). It is performance-based: unlike other EU spending programmes, RRF payments to Member States are not linked to the eligibility of a beneficiary, project, and declared costs, but to the satisfactory achievement of predefined milestones and targets. Funds enter the national budget and are further distributed within the Member State. Because of these characteristics, as well as its size and the timing and purpose of the instrument’s creation (amid the COVID-19 pandemic), public interest in how RRF funds are spent is high. Parliament has thus sought to increase the transparency of RRF implementation by introducing the requirement for Member States to report regularly on the 100 largest final beneficiaries of RRF funds, and publish the data on dedicated national online portals. Information as to where and on what RRF funds are spent is meant to increase the transparency of how the EU helps address common challenges, and improve its credibility. This is especially important as alleged cases of fraud emerge in the media and are reported by the European Public Prosecutors Office.

Since 2023, data on the top 100 recipients has been accessible on the European Commission’s Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard. Member States are expected to continue updating the data twice a year. While all have complied, there is some concern that in practice the definition of ‘final recipient’ used in the RRF Regulation does not guarantee the desired level of transparency.

Read the complete briefing on ‘The 100 largest recipients of Recovery and Resilience Facility funds‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.