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On Tuesday, MEPs debated the results of the most recent EU summits, and in particular the Special European Council of 1 February, with Presidents Michel and von der Leyen.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On Tuesday, MEPs debated the results of the most recent EU summits, and in particular the Special European Council of 1 February, with Presidents Michel and von der Leyen.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On Tuesday, MEPs debated the results of the most recent EU summits, and in particular the Special European Council of 1 February, with Presidents Michel and von der Leyen.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Paul Adams, de la BBC, se demande si les frappes américaines sur l'Irak et la Syrie ont aggravé l'embrasement de la région.

Les négociateurs du Parlement européen et de la présidence belge du Conseil de l’Union européenne sont parvenus à un accord politique lundi soir (5 février) sur le programme d’aide à l’Ukraine doté d’une enveloppe de 50 milliards d’euros.

On Tuesday, 13 February 2024 the Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold an exchange of views with Hadja Lahbib, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions. Members will discuss with the Minister the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the field of foreign affairs and enlargement policy.
Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Programme of the Belgian Presidency
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On 13 February 2024 the Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a presentation of an analysis 'The EU’s preventive diplomacy: Practice makes (not yet) perfect?' Members will have the opportunity to discuss with the authors the EU’s approach to preventive diplomacy, in particular in light of the deteriorating security and increasing geopolitical tensions worldwide.
The discussion will aim to identify the strengths and gaps of the EU's preventive engagements and provide contribution to more effective use of this tool, including by making use of the diplomatic work of the European Parliament.
The EU’s preventive diplomacy: Practice makes (not yet) perfect? - in-depth analysis
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

As we move closer to the European elections in June, work on legislation in Brussels is slowly coming to an end. This week, the European Parliament and EU countries are holding multiple negotiations, known as 'trilogues', to close deals before the EU-wide ballot.

Laut Wirtschaftsführern und Finanzpolitikern sei der Mangel an qualifizierten Arbeitskräften einer der Hauptfaktoren, der einem industriellen Aufschwung Europas im Weg stehe.

Les Verts ont exhorté Bruxelles à prendre des mesures dans le secteur agricole, tentant ainsi de rallier le soutien des agriculteurs avant les élections européennes. Parallèlement à cela, une nouvelle étude semble confirmer la montée des partis eurosceptiques dans les zones rurales.

Von der Konferenz über die Zukunft Europas bis hin zu den Europäischen Bürgerforen haben die EU-Institutionen in den letzten Jahren einen Ansatz mit verstärkter Teilnahme der Bevölkerung in ihren Entscheidungsprozessen gefördert.

Quel objectif climatique pour les Vingt-Sept en 2040 ? Bruxelles dévoile ce mardi (6 février) sa feuille de route pour continuer à décarboner tous azimuts, alors que la crise agricole illustre les tensions croissantes face aux normes environnementales, à 4 mois des élections européennes.

Asian women at a meeting. Credit: Unsplash/Christina @ wocintechchat.com

By Sara Danzeo and Elena Mayer-Besting
BANGKOK, Thailand, Feb 6 2024 (IPS)

In the bustling financial hub of Singapore, Rhea See, an early-stage fund manager, leads an accelerator platform dedicated to empowering women in technology.

She firmly believes that investing in women transcends the conventional paradigm of merely ‘doing good.’ For Rhea, it represents a strategic move towards smart economics and game-changing innovation.

“Many still view investing in women as a niche, impact-only endeavor and I want to shatter this stigma. Investing in women is not just about doing good, but it’s about smart economics and game-changing innovation; it’s about unlocking untapped potential and driving technological advancement and profitable returns,” shares Rhea.

As of July 2023, women accounted for only 17 per cent of all decision-makers at venture investors headquartered in South-East Asia. About 67 per cent (vs. 77 per cent in 2022) of regional investors do not have a woman in an investment decision-making role.

Evidence shows that diversity in venture capital firms not only fosters creativity and alternative viewpoints but also positively impacts financial performance. A study by Paul Gompers, a professor at Harvard Business School, found that venture capital firms with more diversity among their partners tend to be more profitable.

The study revealed that firms with at least one female partner saw improved financial performance, with returns increasing by approximately 10 per cent. This translates into a significant economic impact, as the median venture capital fund return moves from around 14 – 15 per cent to 16 – 17 per cent with the inclusion of female partners.

Additionally, having women as partners increased the success rate of startups supported by these firms. This research suggests that gender diversity generates alternative perspectives that can uncover new investment opportunities and help avoid blind spots

Starting a fund is no small feat. It requires a commitment of at least 15 years, a factor that might deter many. Additionally, the venture capital industry, particularly for women-led funds, embodies a complex mix of long-term relationship building, navigating biases and strategic networking.

Considering the demanding nature of the role and the need for substantial family support and background education, this may present significant obstacles for women in the Asia-Pacific region, who are traditionally considered the main caretakers in the family.

Women-led funds raised less than 2 per cent of the $166 billion raised by venture firms globally in 2022, indicating the significant gap that still exists.

Acknowledging the unconscious bias and additional hurdles that women fund managers face in the region to raise funds, 2X Global with the support of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) under the Catalyzing Women’s Entrepreneurship Programme, supported by Global Affairs Canada, together with Australian Aid, launched an introductory and acceleration programme for female-led or gender-balanced fund managers with gender smart investing strategies across the Asia-Pacific region.

The 2XI GP Sprint, which began in September 2023, is providing tailored coaching, practical exercises and network facilitation for GPs with the aim of accelerating their progress towards achieving their first close.

In November 2023, in Singapore, selected participants of the GP Sprint presented their investment thesis to LPs. During the presentations, the determination, qualifications and expertise of these women from the region were showcased.

These women are not just poised to become exceptional wealth managers; their investment theses, often environmentally and socially conscious, suggest a transformative impact on the region through strategic capital allocation.

The involvement of women in the investment field is more than a matter of equity; it makes business sense, while emerging as a strategic necessity for the sustainable and holistic growth of the investment landscape.

The Catalyzing Women Entrepreneurship programme by ESCAP has forged strategic partnerships with organizations such as 2X Global to empower female capital allocators and pave the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future in the Asia-Pacific investment landscape.

Sara Danzeo is Partnerships Specialist, Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

Elena Mayer-Besting is Programme Management Officer, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

IPS UN Bureau

 

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L'Assemblée nationale a finalement adopté, sans débat, la proposition de loi du report de l'élection présidentielle, initialement prévue le 25 février, au 15 décembre 2024. Le vote s'est déroulé sans une partie des députés opposés à ce report, qui sont sortis de la salle.

In vielen EU-Ländern halten die Proteste der Bauern immer noch an. Die EU-Grünen versuchen sich nun den Bauern anzunähern und fordern beispielsweise eine Übergewinnsteuer auf Agrarerzeugnisse. Gleichzeitig pochen die Grünen aber auch weiterhin auf stärkere Umweltmaßnahmen.

Ein hochrangiger Beamter des bulgarischen Polizeidienstes zur Bekämpfung der organisierten Kriminalität wurde am Montag (5. Februar) wegen des Verdachts der Spionage für Russland festgenommen. Seit der Ausbruch des Krieges in der Ukraine häufen sich solche Vorfälle in dem Land. 

Die Europäische Union müsse ihre ehrgeizigen Ziele für den Ausbau der Solarenergie berücksichtigen, bevor sie Maßnahmen zur Begrenzung der Einfuhren von Photovoltaikmodulen, Wafern und anderen Komponenten in Erwägung ziehe, sagte eine hohe EU-Beamtin am Montag (5. Februar).

Einer der größten Verlagshäuser in der Tschechischen Republik, Mafra, wird vom ehemaligen Ministerpräsident Andrej Babiš und dessen Firma Agrofert verkauft. Dies sei ein positiver Schritt für die tschechischen Medien, erklärte der Direktor der tschechischen Stiftung für unabhängigen Journalismus.

Der sächsische Ministerpräsident Michael Kretschmer (CDU/EVP) hält den "Protektionismus" der USA gegenüber China für den Grund der Malaise der europäischen Solarhersteller. Ein unabhängiger handelspolitischer Ansatz gegenüber China sei notwendig.

Les députés de Benno Bokk Yaakaar (majorité présidentielle) et Wallu (opposition) ont approuvé, lors d'un vote lundi soir, la proposition de loi repoussant la date de l'élection présidentielle, initialement fixée au 25 février, au 15 décembre 2024.