AhbarjietMalta

"Slovenia withdraws from Energy Charter Treaty

Slovenia will soon no longer be a party to the Energy Charter Treaty after the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously endorsed the government’s proposal to withdraw on Wednesday (16 November).

The parliamentary committee endorsed the govern"

"--START AD- #TheMummichogblogOfMalta Amazon Top and Flash Deals(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://amzn.to/3CqsdJH

Compare all the top travel sites in just one search to find the best hotel deals at HotelsCombined - awarded world's best hotel price comparison site.

(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://www.hotelscombined.com/?a_aid=20558

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."""" #Jesus #Catholic.

Smooth Radio Malta is Malta’s number one digital radio station, playing Your Relaxing Favourites - Smooth provides a ‘clutter free’ mix, appealing to a core 35-59 audience offering soft adult contemporary classics. We operate a playlist of popular tracks which is updated on a regular basis. https://smooth.com.mt/listen/

Follow on Telegram: https://t.me/themummichogblogdotcom

END AD---"

"ment’s initiative without a single vote against it and without debate. Slovenia joins Italy, which has already withdrawn from the treaty, while Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and France announced they would do the same.

When it first announced the move, the government said that the 1998 treaty had started losing significance, with the EU enlargement and further integration allowing new and better possibilities for investment cooperation in the energy sector and the legal safety of those involved.

The government said that one of the most outdated aspects of the treaty is the instrument of investment dispute resolution, which allows investors to take a signatory to international arbitration while bypassing regular courts.

The decision comes after the UK energy and natural resources company Ascent Resources initiated an arbitration proceeding against Slovenia under the Energy Charter Treaty after complications emerged in the country’s green-lighting the company’s gas project near Lendava in the northeast.

Slovenia has decided to withdraw even though an agreement in principle was reached in June to update the treaty. The country believes the proposed amendments would bring much-needed changes, but these do not go far enough.

Slovenia will retain observer status within the signatories conference. It will also remain a signatory of the 2015 Energy Charter.

(Maja Slana| sta.si)

https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/slovenia-withdraws-from-energy-charter-treaty/?utm_source=piano&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9715&pnespid=teFmFjYXPqAWy_nOqzOmDoqPu0i8SJl9KLbjx_lh8QNmvEy9f0L8w9KZd1uxjFG9GW31Ung7hQ

"

"War, pandemic impacts passport production in Kosovo

Kosovo citizens and residents were unable to get passports or driving licenses issued for the last two months due to a shortage of materials caused by the ongoing crises.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Interior, Nora Fetoshi, explained that "

"--START AD- #TheMummichogblogOfMalta Amazon Top and Flash Deals(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://amzn.to/3CqsdJH

Compare all the top travel sites in just one search to find the best hotel deals at HotelsCombined - awarded world's best hotel price comparison site.

(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://www.hotelscombined.com/?a_aid=20558

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."""" #Jesus #Catholic.

Smooth Radio Malta is Malta’s number one digital radio station, playing Your Relaxing Favourites - Smooth provides a ‘clutter free’ mix, appealing to a core 35-59 audience offering soft adult contemporary classics. We operate a playlist of popular tracks which is updated on a regular basis. https://smooth.com.mt/listen/

Follow on Telegram: https://t.me/themummichogblogdotcom

END AD---"

"the situation resulted from acquiring certain supplies but that the authority swerve is dedicated to overcoming the problem as soon as possible.

“Like many other countries, we are also facing difficulties in the supply of materials, difficulties which have been caused by the global crisis arising from the war in Ukraine and the pandemic with COVID-19,” she said.

Fetoshi added that “cases that have an urgent need are being treated with priority.”

The production of government-issued documents is set to restart in January, according to the government.

(Alice Taylor | Exit.al)

https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/war-pandemic-impacts-passport-production-in-kosovo/?utm_source=piano&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9715&pnespid=tKZrFzQdMf1E2eHQpzflAYKH4kmgBIUufO2527dothBm1MjJY3XFGi8q38KDTV8umGp20yZv7A

"

"The Irish architect at the heart of the EU’s fight for greener buildings

As Brussels pushes legislation to renovate the EU’s worst-performing buildings, member states are fighting back, leaving the European Parliament’s chief negotiator in a corner.

With the clock ticking on the EU’s 2050 deadline"

"--START AD- #TheMummichogblogOfMalta Amazon Top and Flash Deals(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://amzn.to/3CqsdJH

Compare all the top travel sites in just one search to find the best hotel deals at HotelsCombined - awarded world's best hotel price comparison site.

(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://www.hotelscombined.com/?a_aid=20558

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."""" #Jesus #Catholic.

Smooth Radio Malta is Malta’s number one digital radio station, playing Your Relaxing Favourites - Smooth provides a ‘clutter free’ mix, appealing to a core 35-59 audience offering soft adult contemporary classics. We operate a playlist of popular tracks which is updated on a regular basis. https://smooth.com.mt/listen/

Follow on Telegram: https://t.me/themummichogblogdotcom

END AD---"

" to reach net-zero emissions, the bloc’s 150 million buildings, of which 75% of floor space is residential housing, emerges as one of the biggest challenges.

Air travel, cement or steelmaking are often portrayed as the most challenging sectors when it comes to decarbonisation. But with the EU’s building sector responsible for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions, it is a sleeping giant.

To reach net-zero, 75% of EU buildings may have to be renovated by 2050, according to EU estimates. However, only 1% of the housing stock each year currently undergoes so-called deep renovation, where buildings are comprehensively upgraded to become almost carbon neutral.

The European Commission has long sought to tackle the issue. In 2020, it launched a Renovation Wave, an initiative presented as one of the flagship measures of the European Green Deal.

Almost one year ago, the EU executive doubled down with a proposal to revise the bloc’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which was first introduced ten years ago and last revised in 2018.

The cornerstone of the latest EPBD revision proposal is to make renovation mandatory, with targets to renovate the 15% worst-performing commercial and residential buildings by 2027 and 2030 respectively.

But in the face of resistance from EU countries, these bold measures now appear in jeopardy.

In the Council of the EU, a 17-country “flexibility” coalition led by Italy and Poland is pushing for residential houses to be effectively removed from the law – a move that would effectively neutralise the proposal.

Ciarán Cuffe, an Irish EU parliamentarian sitting with the Greens/EFA group, is leading the counter-attack.

An architect by trade, Cuffe is the chief negotiator on the EPBD for the European Parliament. And even though he faces resistance within the EU Assembly itself, the Irishman can count on backing from a group of six EU countries led by France and Germany – the so-called “ambition coalition”.

“The ambition of the minimum energy performance standards [MEPS] still need to be substantially increased in the further steps to come,” reads a statement by the six coalition members – Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Austria would have probably joined as well, but buildings are not a federal competence, and Vienna had to stay out.

EU’s new buildings law aims to renovate 15% least efficient homes

The European Commission has proposed the introduction of minimum energy performance standards for the 15% worst performing buildings in Europe, which would be rated “G” on the EU’s energy performance scale, whether they are residential or not.

The

"Boost for Germany’s heat pump makers as industrial policy meets climate action

The heat pump industry, the new darling of the German government, must grow rapidly to achieve the 2024 target of beginning the installation of 500,000 pumps a year, which Berlin is happy to assist in.

Heat pumps, often"

"--START AD- #TheMummichogblogOfMalta Amazon Top and Flash Deals(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://amzn.to/3CqsdJH

Compare all the top travel sites in just one search to find the best hotel deals at HotelsCombined - awarded world's best hotel price comparison site.

(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://www.hotelscombined.com/?a_aid=20558

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."""" #Jesus #Catholic.

Smooth Radio Malta is Malta’s number one digital radio station, playing Your Relaxing Favourites - Smooth provides a ‘clutter free’ mix, appealing to a core 35-59 audience offering soft adult contemporary classics. We operate a playlist of popular tracks which is updated on a regular basis. https://smooth.com.mt/listen/

Follow on Telegram: https://t.me/themummichogblogdotcom

END AD---"

" likened to reverse refrigerators, concentrate ambient heat using electricity. High-tech heat pumps are likely to be the future of household heating in Germany, which is extremely willing to back the rapidly-growing domestic industry.

“We want 500,000 newly installed heat pumps per year from 2024,” explained Robert Habeck, minister of economy and climate action, following a second heat pump summit in Berlin on Wednesday (16 November).

At the summit, the participants agreed on a framework to assist the industry ramp-up going forward. “The focus was on industrial policy,” said one of 50 participants.

Starting in 2024, Germany will ban new fossil heating systems. The ban on heaters that can’t run on 65% renewable energy is a de-facto ban on traditional oil and gas boilers, leaving just heat pumps, including hybrid solutions partly running on fossil fuels, and biomass heaters.

“This is an ambitious goal and many things must be improved and accelerated to achieve it,” Habeck added.

The new framework is split into three core priorities: Production ramp-up, ensuring sufficient amounts of skilled workers and getting heat pumps into multifamily homes.

To achieve these priorities, production will be increased through the creation of a European supplier industry and production automation; availability of skilled workers will be boosted by polishing the job’s image and creating a dedicated certificate; and for multifamily homes, the production of bigger heat pumps and financing options are to be boosted.

These steps will be distilled into concrete action plans in early 2023.

For Habeck, heat pumps serve an ideal dual purpose: Climate protection and growing industry. That means “literally creating jobs and adding value with climate protection”, Habeck highlighted.

“[Heat pump production is] an industrial booster that makes itself felt here in Germany and in Europe in concrete value creation on site, in industrial production or in orders for the craftsmen and tradespeople,” he added.

The apparent win-win situation means heat pumps are becoming the new darling of Berlin’s political elite.

In August, Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited German heat pump maker Viessmann. “I am very happy that the technologies I have seen here today are technologies from Germany,” he said afterwards.

To support these domestic technologies, much of the building sector subsidies are being put towards heat pumps, with conservative estimates suggesting that 70% of Germany’s building sector subsidies are being put towards such purchases.

“I must praise the fact that the funding landscape in Germany is one of the best in Europe,” highlighted Jan Brockmann, a board member

"Austria teams up with Hungary, Serbia to end ‘asylum a la carte’

The Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer wants to stop asylum seekers from picking and choosing the countries they apply for asylum in and is forming an alliance with Serbia and Hungary to that end.

A memorandum of understanding about p"

"--START AD- #TheMummichogblogOfMalta Amazon Top and Flash Deals(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://amzn.to/3CqsdJH

Compare all the top travel sites in just one search to find the best hotel deals at HotelsCombined - awarded world's best hotel price comparison site.

(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://www.hotelscombined.com/?a_aid=20558

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."""" #Jesus #Catholic.

Smooth Radio Malta is Malta’s number one digital radio station, playing Your Relaxing Favourites - Smooth provides a ‘clutter free’ mix, appealing to a core 35-59 audience offering soft adult contemporary classics. We operate a playlist of popular tracks which is updated on a regular basis. https://smooth.com.mt/listen/

Follow on Telegram: https://t.me/themummichogblogdotcom

END AD---"

"ushing back illegal migrants away from the external borders of the EU was signed by leaders of Serbia, Hungary, and Austria on Wednesday.

The MoU was signed in Belgrade on Wednesday as Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Vreme reported.

The EU asylum system has failed, Nehammer told the press. “Asylum a la Carte” would have to end, and “asylum tourism” would have to be stopped, Nehammer added.

The summit saw Austria sign a memorandum of understanding with Serbia and Hungary, which is meant to bolster the cooperation between the three countries. The goal: fighting illegal migration, terrorism and organised crime while clearly separating asylum and migration.

Austrian asylum seeker numbers are triple those of last year. The Austrian conservative party ÖVP is looking to position itself as a “hawk” on migration and refugees ahead of the 2024 election, an approach that last saw it win in 2017.

People who come for economic reasons should be treated differently from those seeking protection, Nehammer stressed.

Nehammer referred to the pact as “a partnership against human trafficking”, although, Vreme reported, in reality, it is simply about stopping people who are seeking to start a new life inside the EU.

Vučić told a joint press conference after the signing that the action, which envisages deployment of a stronger police presence along Serbia’s southern border with North Macedonia, would start “before the end of the year.”

The three countries hope to send a strong signal to Brussels, Vucic highlighted. Neither Serbia nor Hungary is too popular in the EU these days, given their Russia-friendly policy.

Orbán, for his part, insisted that migration “should be prevented, not managed,” adding that “we share our fate with Serbia” and working together was crucial in this “matter of survival.”

Orbán said that 250,000 illegal border crossings had been stopped in Hungary this year, “aggressiveness is increasing, they are not only armed, but they are also using them”, Telex reported.

Hungary was in a particularly tricky situation as it receives both irregular migrants from Serbia and refugees from Ukraine, and the only way to stop this “is to say there is no crossing over our borders”, Orbán added.

Hungary has continued to insist it has come under increased strain due to refugees fleeing the war from bordering Ukraine, but critics point out few actually choose to stay in Hungary, which has continued to pursue economic ties with Moscow even after Russia’s invasion.

Hungary has registered the least number of refugees from Ukraine for temporary protection out of the

"Austria teams up with Hungary, Serbia to end ‘asylum a la carte’

The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.

The European news you deserve to read. Welcome to The Capitals by EURA"

"--START AD- #TheMummichogblogOfMalta Amazon Top and Flash Deals(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://amzn.to/3CqsdJH

Compare all the top travel sites in just one search to find the best hotel deals at HotelsCombined - awarded world's best hotel price comparison site.

(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://www.hotelscombined.com/?a_aid=20558

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."""" #Jesus #Catholic.

Smooth Radio Malta is Malta’s number one digital radio station, playing Your Relaxing Favourites - Smooth provides a ‘clutter free’ mix, appealing to a core 35-59 audience offering soft adult contemporary classics. We operate a playlist of popular tracks which is updated on a regular basis. https://smooth.com.mt/listen/

Follow on Telegram: https://t.me/themummichogblogdotcom

END AD---"

"CTIV.

Today’s edition is powered by AWS

AWS and comprehensive data protection in the cloud

How do organisations successfully navigate compliance within Europe? What are the cross-border data transfer requirements?

AWS experts Esther Stringham (AWS Legal) and Hans Bos (AWS) Security Assurance) dive deeper into both topics.

Watch the webinars >>

In today’s news from the Capitals:

The Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer wants to stop asylum seekers from picking and choosing the countries they apply for asylum in and is forming an alliance with Serbia and Hungary to that end. Read more.

///

EU INSTITUTIONS

Brussels kicks gas price cap proposal down the road amid growing frustration in EU capitals. A potential EU-wide cap on gas prices remains in the balance with the European Commission yet to present a legislative proposal needed for its creation while countries remain split on the issue ahead of a meeting next week where ministers were expected to adopt it. Read more.

EU member states clip Commission wings in anti-coercion tool discussions. EU member states agreed on Wednesday on a common negotiating position regarding the EU regulation for an Anti-Coercion Instrument, significantly curtailing the European Commission’s powers to act unilaterally in reaction to attempts of economic coercion by third countries. Read more.

///

BRUSSELS

Belgian court allows Doel 3 nuclear reactor decommissioning. The works currently carried out at the Doel 3 reactor scheduled for decommissioning can continue, ruled the Brussels Court of First Instance on Wednesday. Read more.

///

BERLIN

Germany offers Poland aerial surveillance following missile explosion. Germany has offered to assist Poland in surveilling its airspace from Thursday after a Polish village near the Ukrainian border was hit by a missile on Tuesday. Read more.

///

PARIS

Le Pen blasts France’s hypocrisy towards Italy over Ocean Viking. The French government has behaved hypocritically towards Italy over the current migration-linked diplomatic crisis, despite refusing to allow the Aquarius disembarkation in 2018, Marine Le Pen told Corriere della Sera. Read more.

///

THE HAGUE

Dutch have given €322 million in military support to Ukraine. The Netherlands has provided €322 million in military support to Ukraine since the start of the war up until Monday wrote Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren in a letter to parliament on Wednesday. Read more.

UK AND IRELAND

LONDON

Hunt to present bill for Truss government’s economic experiment. Chaos caused by former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s short-lived mini-budget featuring £40 billion worth of tax cuts and spending increases has damaged the UK’s repu

"Indian refiners becoming wary of buying Russian oil as EU sanctions loom

Indian refiners are wary of buying Russia crude oil loading after 5 December when European Union sanctions take effect, pending clarity on the proposed G7 price cap mechanism, according to sources familiar with the refiners’ c"

"--START AD- #TheMummichogblogOfMalta Amazon Top and Flash Deals(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://amzn.to/3CqsdJH

Compare all the top travel sites in just one search to find the best hotel deals at HotelsCombined - awarded world's best hotel price comparison site.

(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://www.hotelscombined.com/?a_aid=20558

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."""" #Jesus #Catholic.

Smooth Radio Malta is Malta’s number one digital radio station, playing Your Relaxing Favourites - Smooth provides a ‘clutter free’ mix, appealing to a core 35-59 audience offering soft adult contemporary classics. We operate a playlist of popular tracks which is updated on a regular basis. https://smooth.com.mt/listen/

Follow on Telegram: https://t.me/themummichogblogdotcom

END AD---"

"rude purchase plans.

Chinese refiners have already begun slowing down Russian oil imports from next month.

The Asian giants, who are two of the world’s top three importers, had become Russia’s biggest customers after the West shunned Russian oil after the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

Indian refiners scout for oil deals ahead of EU ban on Russian crude

Indian state refiners plan to lock-in more of their crude supplies in term deals, worried that tighter Western sanctions on Russia, including from the EU, could curb future supplies in already tight markets, sources at state refiners said.

Reduced buying by both of them would leave Russia chasing alternative customers, potentially depressing prices even if those new buyers are unlikely to join a plan by rich nations in the Group of Seven (G7) to cap Russian oil prices.

Reliance Industries Ltd, operator of the world’s biggest refining complex and a major customer for Russia, has not placed orders yet for Russian cargoes loading after 5 December, two sources familiar the refiner’s purchase plans told Reuters.

Neither has state-run Bharat Petroleum Corp, they said.

The Indian companies did not respond to Reuters email seeking comments.

According to the sources, Reliance is cautious about reactions from foreign banks given its exposure to the western financial system and overseas sales of refined products.

“There are too many uncertainties attached to the cap mechanism. We don’t know what the payment mechanism could be and what could be the cap level,” said a source at one of the state refiners.

Still, Indian Oil Corp, the country’s top refiner, has placed orders for Russian cargoes, including for loading some parcels beyond 5 December, under term and spot deals, said one of the sources.

“IOC wants to secure barrels,” the source said, adding that Indian refiners have the option of raising purchases under their term deals with the suppliers, mainly in the Middle East, to meet their contractual commitments if they face problems in getting Russian supplies.

IOC did not respond to Reuters email requesting comment.

In contrast, private refiner Nayara Energy, majority owned by Russian entities, plans to continue Russian oil imports, sources aware of its crude purchases said.

After western sanctions were imposed on Russia and Rosneft, which owns about 49% of Nayara, most foreign banks stopped dealing with Nayara, leaving the refiner dealing through Indian banks.

Payments, insurance

While refiners are cautious about sanctions, India and Russia have set up alternatives to western insurance, finance and maritime services in order to conduct their trade.

Indian refiners buy Russian oil on a del

"EU opens the door to a loss and damage facility – if China contributes

EU climate chief Frans Timmermans gave the strongest signal yet that the European Union is willing to consider a fund for climate victims – with a decision expected to be finalised at next year’s UN climate summit, the COP28.

T"

"--START AD- #TheMummichogblogOfMalta Amazon Top and Flash Deals(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://amzn.to/3CqsdJH

Compare all the top travel sites in just one search to find the best hotel deals at HotelsCombined - awarded world's best hotel price comparison site.

(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://www.hotelscombined.com/?a_aid=20558

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."""" #Jesus #Catholic.

Smooth Radio Malta is Malta’s number one digital radio station, playing Your Relaxing Favourites - Smooth provides a ‘clutter free’ mix, appealing to a core 35-59 audience offering soft adult contemporary classics. We operate a playlist of popular tracks which is updated on a regular basis. https://smooth.com.mt/listen/

Follow on Telegram: https://t.me/themummichogblogdotcom

END AD---"

"he EU is open to creating a new funding stream to help victims of climate disaster recover – as long as China contributes.

On one of the most contentious issues at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, EU climate chief Frans Timmermans hinted at room for compromise.

“We want to be bridge builders. We are open for this facility, but under certain conditions, and we need to discuss this,” Timmermans told reporters on Wednesday (16 November).

A group of 134 developing countries, known as the G77, and China, is calling for agreement in Sharm el-Sheikh this week to set up a loss and damage facility.

Rich countries prefer a “mosaic” of funding arrangements. The EU argues a facility is just one option to consider – and the decision should be made at next year’s summit.

Existing and new funding instruments, ranging from debt relief to a windfall tax on oil and gas profits, should form part of the solution, Brussels says. Many of these sit outside the UN Climate Change process.

Current vs historic responsibility

In any case, Timmermans said the pool of contributors should be broader than the list of countries defined by UN Climate Change as “developed” in the 1990s.

“I think everybody should be brought into the system on the basis of where they are today. China is one of the biggest economies on the planet with a lot of financial strength,” said Timmermans. “Why should they not be made co-responsible for funding loss and damage?”

Last week, the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda appeared to agree. “We all know that India and China… are major polluters and the polluters must pay,” Gaston Browne said. “I don’t think that there’s any free pass for any country.”

The island leader later clarified that there had to be a “differentiated assessment” that took into account historic emissions.

At a press conference last week, China’s climate envoy Xie Zhenhua said Beijing made voluntary contributions through south-south cooperation and was under no obligation to do more.

Developing countries’ position hasn’t budged. Under a detailed proposal published on Tuesday, the G77 calls for a committee to work out how the facility would work for approval next year.

The EU’s shift in position puts the spotlight on the US, which has so far rejected the proposal for a new fund.

“That’s just not happening,” climate envoy John Kerry said on Saturday, citing concerns about liability for compensation. In other interviews, he took a softer tone, but remained vague about where the landing ground might be.

Need for speed

One of the arguments against a facility is it would take too long to get money flowing.

Developing countries have previously said the new fund could be mod

"Corruption: the devil is in the detail

This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we are discussing how corruption affects people on the ground and why this is such a complex issue to address.

For this episode, we spoke to our journalist colleagues from the EURACTIV network: Alice Taylor, who rep"

"--START AD- #TheMummichogblogOfMalta Amazon Top and Flash Deals(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://amzn.to/3CqsdJH

Compare all the top travel sites in just one search to find the best hotel deals at HotelsCombined - awarded world's best hotel price comparison site.

(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://www.hotelscombined.com/?a_aid=20558

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."""" #Jesus #Catholic.

Smooth Radio Malta is Malta’s number one digital radio station, playing Your Relaxing Favourites - Smooth provides a ‘clutter free’ mix, appealing to a core 35-59 audience offering soft adult contemporary classics. We operate a playlist of popular tracks which is updated on a regular basis. https://smooth.com.mt/listen/

Follow on Telegram: https://t.me/themummichogblogdotcom

END AD---"

"orts from Albania and Oliver Noyan, who is based in our Berlin office. We also reflect on input from Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, professor of Democracy Studies at the Hertie School in Berlin, and Pawan Kumar Sinha, director of Academic Programmes at the International Anti-Corruption Academy in Vienna.

Podcast transcript

Hello and welcome to EURACTIV’s Beyond the byline podcast. I am Evi Kiorri and in a recent episode of this podcast together with Anny Tubbs we discussed EU plans to enhance solutions to tackle corruption and sought feedback from NGOs. Today Anny and I focus a bit more on how corruption affects people on the ground and why this is such a complex issue to address.

For this episode we spoke to our journalist colleagues from the EURACTIV network: Alice Taylor, who works from Albania and Oliver Noyan who is based in our Berlin office. We also reflect on input from Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, Professor of Democracy Studies at the Hertie School in Berlin, and Pawan Kumar Sinha, Director of Academic Programmes at the International Anti-Corruption Academy in Vienna.

So why is it so important to get perspectives from what is happening on the ground?

Journalists such as Alice are inevitably confronted with corruption-related issues locally – let’s hear what she shared:

Actually in my career, I’ve been quite lucky or unlucky rather, to live in countries that have significant problems with corruption. Firstly, Malta, which is one of those countries in the EU, which is often not mentioned along with sort of Poland and Hungary, but has significant issues with corruption and the rule of law. And then I moved to Albania, which again, sadly, has a very poor record when it comes to corruption, organised crime, and the rule of law. So I seem to have found myself consistently in the center of places where these are our issues.

So as a journalist, obviously, it becomes a part of your beat whether you like it or not, because this corruption is pervasive in every aspect of society from the government down to, you know, your taxi driver not giving you a receipt cuz he’s not declaring the income.

And this can be a powerful reality check when contrasted with various high level solutions designed to fight corruption – here is Alice again:

Oh, well, my experience in Albania is very… everything here is done over a coffee. So it can be anything from, you know, you’re wanting to buy a house, to hire a lawyer, to apply for a residence permit or anything, you know? Okay. Yeah. But, so let’s meet for a coffee and discuss it. You know, it’s very much who you know.

The government has recently introduced e-Albania, which brings everything online. Now, this was done

"EU member states fight over scope of due diligence directive

As EU member states close in on a common negotiating position on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), they are fighting over whether companies should do due diligence for their entire value chain or just the suppl"

"--START AD- #TheMummichogblogOfMalta Amazon Top and Flash Deals(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://amzn.to/3CqsdJH

Compare all the top travel sites in just one search to find the best hotel deals at HotelsCombined - awarded world's best hotel price comparison site.

(Affiliate Link - You will support our translations if you purchase through the following link) - https://www.hotelscombined.com/?a_aid=20558

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."""" #Jesus #Catholic.

Smooth Radio Malta is Malta’s number one digital radio station, playing Your Relaxing Favourites - Smooth provides a ‘clutter free’ mix, appealing to a core 35-59 audience offering soft adult contemporary classics. We operate a playlist of popular tracks which is updated on a regular basis. https://smooth.com.mt/listen/

Follow on Telegram: https://t.me/themummichogblogdotcom

END AD---"

"y chain.

The directive initially proposed by the Commission on 23 February 2022 would require member states to introduce legislation making companies responsible for violations of human rights and environmental standards along its entire value chain.

This would mean that a company would have to conduct due diligence on its suppliers and clients, and it could also be held liable for how its product is used and disposed of.

Last-minute push for a narrower scope

However, multiple EU diplomats told EURACTIV that a coalition of member states, including France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, are trying to prevent this in a last-minute push to narrow the scope of the directive to the supply chain of a company.

“We believe that the focus should be on the upstream and not on the downstream [of the value chain],” an EU member state diplomat told EURACTIV, arguing that due diligence of the supply chain was already ambitious.

According to the diplomat, including the downstream part of the value chain would pose a series of complex judicial questions. The diplomat also said that the majority view among member states was that the directive should focus on the upstream part of the value chain.

A diplomat of another EU member state told EURACTIV that the last-minute push led by France “is getting to a point where all that would remain would be a value chain in name only.”

As several EU diplomats confirmed to EURACTIV, the push is resisted by Germany, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Can the financial sector be held liable?

“Companies would be completely off the hook for the harms their products create,” one source familiar with the negotiations told EURACTIV regarding the consequence of ditching the value chain approach for a supply chain approach.

For example, pesticide producers would not be held accountable if their products were used in a way that was especially harmful to the environment or to public health. Or producers of digital surveillance tools could not be made responsible if their tools were used for illegal surveillance operations, such as Pegasus or Predator.

The supply chain approach would also benefit financial institutions that do not want to be held liable for what their invested money might be put to use for.

Regarding the financial sector, France and Italy would like to entirely exempt it from the scope of the directive, according to multiple EU sources. Meanwhile, Germany, Ireland, and Luxembourg would just like to exempt asset managers and institutional investors.

In general, the changes currently put forward by EU member states point towards a less strict directive. “The longer this file stays in the Council, the