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Churches highlight their humanitarian response to Ukraine at European Parliament

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News desk
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Churches highlight their humanitarian response to Ukraine at European Parliament

Press Release No:17/22
14 July 2022
Brussels

Humanitarian response from the European churches was highlighted by Slovakian Bishop Peter Mihoč at the Article 17 Dialogue Seminar held on 12 July at the European Parliament in Brussels. He shared striking insights about challenges faced by local churches in providing support to those fleeing the war in Ukraine, as well as strengthening efforts aimed at realising peace in the region.

Bishop Mihoč of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia was representing the Conference of European Churches (CEC) in the seminar hosted by Othmar Karas, First Vice-President, responsible for the implementation of Article 17 Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU). Representatives of other religious, philosophical and non-confessional organisations were also present.

“The situation in Ukraine is unexpected and horrible,” said Bishop Mihoč. “We are trying to respond to the dreadful conditions and serve in the name of love. Openness and closeness, empathy and practical help, in the last months have revealed themselves as precious values in Slovakia, regardless of religious affiliation or social class of those we serve. The churches have offered a helping hand to people on a journey escaping the consequences of the atrocities and bloodshed in Ukraine.”

Bishop Peter Mihoč

Bishop Mihoč comes from a country, which has played a vital role in providing humanitarian help to refugees from Ukraine. He shared that his church is located in Prešov, a city close to the Ukrainian border. Around 600,000 refugees recently have crossed these borders from Ukraine to Slovakia.

“In the last months, overnight stays per person were provided, and at this moment we already have people staying for long terms, who cannot return because their homes were destroyed. We continue to actively provide for these people free accommodation and food, secure social and health care and we strive to create for them a safe and hospitable living environment,” he said.

“As a CEC Member Church I want to assure you that we the churches want to be here for others in these difficult days, especially people from Ukraine. And we believe that also with your active support we can continue our humanitarian efforts,” added Bishop Mihoč.

The seminar was held as part of the Article 17 TFEU, which foresees an open, transparent and regular dialogue between the EU institutions and churches and religious associations or communities.

The event featured opening remarks by Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, Othmar Karas, Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission for “Promoting our European Way of Life” responsible for Article 17 TFEU, and Witold Jan Waszczykowski, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee.

Watch video: Article 17 Dialogue Seminar on “the war in Ukraine”

Photos from the seminar

Visit our page on church response to Ukraine

For more information or an interview, please contact:

Naveen Qayyum
Communication Officer
Conference of European Churches
Rue Joseph II, 174 B-1000 Brussels
Tel. +32 486 75 82 36
E-mail: naveen@cec-kek.be
Website: www.ceceurope.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ceceurope
Twitter: @ceceurope
YouTube: Conference of European Churches
Subscribe to CEC news

Ombudsman inquiry on Commission President’s text messages is a wake-up call for EU

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Newsdesk
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messages person using smartphone
Photo by Christian Wiediger

The Ombudsman inquiry into the Commission’s handling of a request for text messages between its President and the CEO of a pharmaceutical company is a wake-up call for all EU institutions about ensuring accountability in an era of instant messaging.

One year after the initial request by a journalist, the Commission has still not clarified whether messages reported to concern major vaccine procurement deals exist and whether the public is entitled to see them.

The Ombudsman had asked the Commission, in a finding of maladministration in January, to conduct a more thorough search for the text messages.

The Commission’s recent response failed to say whether it had looked directly and correctly for the text messages and if not, why not.

While the response recognised that work-related text messages can be EU documents, it reiterated that the Commission’s internal policy is, in effect, not to register text messages.

The Ombudsman has closed the inquiry and upheld her finding of maladministration.

“The Commission’s response to my findings neither answered the basic question of whether the text messages in question exist nor provided any clarity on how the Commission would respond to a specific request for other text messages,” said Emily O’Reilly.

“The handling of this access to documents request leaves the regrettable impression of an EU institution that is not forthcoming on matters of significant public interest.”

“Public access to work-related text messages is a new area for the EU administration and one that needs to be tackled substantively and in good faith. This inquiry is a wake-up call to all EU institutions.”

“The recent revelations about lobbying tactics by an American multinational in Europe, including leaked text messages, shows the urgency of this issue for public administrations.” said the Ombudsman.

Recommendations for recording work-related text messages

Separately, after gathering information on the rules and practices on the recording of text and instant messages across the EU administration, the Ombudsman is today publishing practical recommendations for dealing with this issue.

The recommendations (see full list here) say that:

  • Work-related text and instant messages should be recognised as EU documents.
  • Technological solutions should be put in place to enable the easy recording of such messages.
  • Staff should have clear guidance on how such messages should be recorded.
  • Requests for public access to documents that could cover text messages should be dealt with in a way that considers all locations where such messages might be stored.

Background

In April 2021, the New York Times published an article in which it reported that the Commission President and the CEO of a pharmaceutical company had exchanged texts related to the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines. This prompted a journalist to request public access to text messages and other documents relating to the exchange.  The complainant turned to the Ombudsman after the Commission had not identified any text messages as falling within the scope of his request.

The Ombudsman inquiry revealed that the Commission did not explicitly ask the President’s cabinet to look for text messages. Instead, it asked her cabinet to look for documents that fulfil the Commission’s internal criteria for recording – text messages are not considered to meet these criteria. The Ombudsman found that this amounted to maladministration and asked it to do a more extensive research for the text messages.

Regulation 1049/2001, which sets out the public’s right to access EU documents, defines a document as “any content whatever its medium (written on paper or stored in electronic form or as a sound, visual or audiovisual recording) concerning a matter relating to the policies, activities and decisions falling within the institution’s sphere of responsibility”.

Czech Presidency outlines priorities to EP committees

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European Parliament
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Czech Presidency outlines priorities to EP committees
Presentation of the EU Council's priorities by Czech Ministers

Ministers are outlining the priorities of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU to parliamentary committees, in a series of meetings.

Czechia holds the Presidency of the Council until the end of 2022. A first series of hearings takes place from 11 to 13 July. A second set of hearings will happen during the first week of September.


Agriculture and Rural Development

The impact of Russian aggression against Ukraine on food security is a key priority, according to Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula on 11 July. The Presidency will seek an early start for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to provide member states with flexibility and temporary exceptions to handle the crisis. The Presidency will also prioritise negotiations on the sustainable use of plant protection products.

A number of MEPs called for the way in which solidarity corridors for agricultural exports from Ukraine work to be improved and for a balance between EU food production and the proposed reduction in the use of pesticides. Some MEPs agreed that some derogations from CAP rules will be needed, while others warned against weakening the CAP and called for organic farming to be supported instead.


Development

On 12 July, Jiří Kozák, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, highlighted a three-fold challenge caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine: the distribution of grain from Ukraine; securing sufficient humanitarian relief; and breaking the Russian narrative that the food security crisis is the EU’s fault. Mr Kozák also said that, for the Post-Cotonou Agreement, the Presidency is determined to conclude the remaining steps as fast as possible.

MEPs agreed on the importance of dealing with the immediate and longer-term impacts of the war on global food security. They also raised the question of refugees in Ukraine and its neighbours. Others questioned the Presidency on their priorities in the Sahel, on the migration issue on the EU’s southern border, and the integration of humanitarian relief and long-term development policy.


Transport and Tourism

On 12 July, Transport Minister Martin Kupka, and Deputy Prime Minister for Digitisation and Minister of Regional Development Ivan Bartoš, stressed that the Presidency will focus on measures to decarbonise transport, promote railways, make sure solidarity lanes for Ukraine are working and increase the resilience of the tourism sector. Minister Kupka promised MEPs that the work on new rules on the Single European Sky, alternative fuel infrastructure, sustainable fuels for aviation and maritime sectors, intelligent transport systems and TEN-T revision would advance.

Transport Committee MEPs urged the Presidency to put more efforts into addressing mobility poverty and road safety, make sure EU countries would unite in response to any possible new COVID-19 pandemic and asked for the option of providing EU financial support for solidarity lanes in Ukraine to be explored.


Fisheries

On 12 July, Zdeněk Nekula, Minister of Agriculture, said that the Presidency’s top priority will be to ensure food security in the EU and improve the competitiveness of the sector compared to third countries. Despite being a landlocked country, the Czech Presidency will also focus on fishing quotas, reaching agreements on EU fishing possibilities with third countries, as well as fisheries-relevant initiatives related to the Green Deal.

MEPs stressed the need to help fishers due to the impact of the war in Ukraine. They welcomed the intention to make fisheries more competitive but stressed the need to strike a balance between the socio-economic and environmental aspects of the initiative. Finally, some reaffirmed the idea of reforming the Common Fisheries Policy, even if the Commission is reluctant to do so.


Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela told MEPs that the Presidency will pay special attention to better enforcement of Single Market tools and services, deeper market integration and high consumer protection, including raising consumer awareness on sustainable consumption and online risks. The Presidency will work to move forward on negotiations with MEPs on machinery products and consumer credits and to reach a common position in the Council on the General Product Safety Regulation, the Artificial Intelligence Act, and Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising.

MEPs quizzed the Presidency on empowering consumers in light of the twin transition, the implementation of rules on dual quality of products, the update of travel package rules in light of the pandemic and the ongoing digital priorities (including the new Chips Act and European Digital Identity).


Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

Marian Jurečka, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, said the Czech Presidency will strive to achieve progress on the pay transparency directive. On an EU strategy for care, they will focus on long-term care and providing refugees from Ukraine with high-quality care. Member states’ diverse positions on preventing violence against women need to be respected, he said, although the definition of online sexual violence will be discussed in November. There will be Council conclusions on gender equality, and the Presidency will look into economic parity for men and women with a focus on youth.

Several MEPs asked if Czechia is planning to ratify the Istanbul Convention. Many welcomed the objective to reach a deal on pay transparency, stressed that LGBTI rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights must be protected, and highlighted Parliament’s call to add the right to abortion to the EU Charter of fundamental rights.

Climate change: new rules for companies to stop EU-driven deforestation globally

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European Parliament
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Climate change: new rules for companies to stop EU-driven deforestation globally | News | European Parliament
Photo by Justus Menke on Unsplash
To fight climate change and biodiversity loss globally, Environment MEPs want only deforestation-free products to be allowed on the EU market.

The Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee today adopted its position with 60 votes to 2 and 13 abstentions on the Commission proposal for a regulation on deforestation-free products to halt EU-driven global deforestation.

The new law would make it obligatory for companies to verify (so-called “due diligence”) that goods sold in the EU have not been produced on deforested or degraded land. This would assure consumers that the products they buy do not contribute to the destruction of forests outside the EU, including of irreplaceable tropical forests, and hence reduce the EU’s contribution to climate change and biodiversity loss globally.

MEPs also want companies to verify that goods are produced in accordance with human rights protected under international law and the rights of indigenous people in addition to the relevant laws and standards in the country where the products are produced.

Enlarging the scope

The Commission’s proposal covers cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya and wood, including products that contain, have been fed with or have been made using these commodities (such as leather, chocolate and furniture). Parliament wants to include pigmeat, sheep and goats, poultry, maize and rubber, as well as charcoal and printed paper products, and bring the cut-off date one year forward, to 31 December 2019.

The Commission would have to evaluate, no later than two years after the entry into force, whether the rules need to be extended to other goods such as sugar cane, ethanol and mining products, and how feasible this is. MEPs also want them to cover other natural ecosystems such as grasslands, peatlands and wetlands, if deemed appropriate by the Commission, within one year after the entry into force. Finally, MEPs also want financial institutions to be subject to additional requirements to ensure that their activities do not contribute to deforestation.

Due diligence and control

While no country or commodity will be banned, companies placing products on the EU market would be obliged to exercise due diligence to evaluate risks in their supply chain. They can for example use satellite monitoring tools, field audits, capacity building of suppliers or isotope testing to check where products come from. EU authorities would have access to relevant information, such as geographic coordinates. Anonymised data would be available to the public.

Based on a transparent assessment, the Commission would have to classify countries, or part thereof, into low, standard or high risk within six months of entry into force of this regulation. Imports from low risk countries will be subject to fewer obligations.

Quote

After the vote, the rapporteur Christophe Hansen (EPP, LU) said: “We are serious about fighting climate change and biodiversity loss. Acknowledging that the EU is responsible for around 10% of global deforestation, we don’t have a choice but to ramp up our efforts to halt global deforestation. If we get the balance right between ambition, applicability and WTO compatibility, this new tool has the potential to pave the way to deforestation-free supply chains.”

Next steps

Plenary is expected to adopt Parliament’s position in September, after which negotiations on the final law can begin with member states.

Background

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 420 million hectares of forest — an area larger than the EU — were lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2020. It is estimated that EU consumption represents around 10% of global deforestation.

In October 2020, Parliament made use of its prerogative in the Treaty to ask the Commission to come forward with legislation to halt EU-driven global deforestation.

Meeting in Turkey for safe trade in Ukrainian grain, new Western financial aid

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EuropeanTimes
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Grain talks: a “confidential” meeting

Military experts from Ukraine, Russia and Turkey are discussing the possibility of exporting grain from Ukrainian ports under a Russian blockade in Istanbul on Wednesday. The Turkish defence ministry said it would keep the talks “confidential”, telling AFP that they would be held behind closed doors and in the presence of a UN delegation.

Neither the place nor the time of the meeting was made public by the ministry but the Russian delegation reached Istanbul late this morning and, according to the Russian agency Ria Novosti, the talks will start at 11am GMT. A press statement will be issued at the end of the meeting, according to the same source.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Russian and Ukrainian delegates are meeting in Istanbul to prevent a reduction in grain supplies from causing fatal price hikes in some countries.

The dialogue, which will include UN representatives, will be the second in a few weeks. The aim is to prevent a reduction in the supply of cereals such as wheat from causing a price increase that would be fatal for some countries.

“Military delegations from Turkey, Russia and Ukraine and a UN delegation will hold talks in Istanbul tomorrow on the safe transit of grain stored in Ukrainian ports to international markets by sea,” Akar said. The minister did not elaborate on the agenda of the meeting. It is understood to be a continuation of negotiations that Russian delegates held with Turkish military representatives in Moscow on 21 June.

Turkey, which after the invasion did not sever ties with Russia but continued to export combat drones to Ukraine, has sought to mediate between the two warring countries. In early June, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavusoglu received his Russian counterpart in Ankara to discuss a UN plan to export at least 25 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea. The Turks described the UN proposal as ‘reasonable’.

Following that meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov favoured some kind of measure, although he put forward conditions that Ukraine rejects: inspecting the cargo of cargo ships leaving Ukraine. Further, Lavrov accused Kiev of hiding behind the export problem in order to import arms across the sea, and of having hindered its own exports by mining the area around the port of Odessa.

Since then, as reflected in the newly announced meeting, talks are understood to have been held at a technical level to create a mechanism for grain exports. According to some reports referring to drafts of the proposed plan, Turkish frigates would provide security for Ukrainian vessels along part of the route. In addition, Russians and Turks would work on demining the Black Sea waters.

Ukraine, for its part, has demanded “effective security guarantees”. The Ukrainians are not happy with Turkey, after last week a Russian cargo ship allegedly detained in a Turkish port and said by Kiev to be carrying plundered grain proceeded unhindered. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the Turkish ambassador to the Ukrainian capital to ask for an explanation. Contrary to the Ukrainian version, Turkey denies having received stolen grain.

Since the beginning of the invasion, Ukrainian grain exports, vital for many countries in North Africa and the Middle East, have fallen to minimal levels. To make matters worse, with the arrival of summer and new harvests, Ukraine is faced with the problem of storing cereals and sunflower products that it cannot export. Its silos are full. At the same time, Ukraine is unable to access goods harvested in areas occupied by Russia.

Western financial aid

In this context, the United States announced on Tuesday that it would pay an additional $1.7 billion in aid to Ukraine.

This will bring the total amount paid by the Americans to the Ukrainians since the outbreak of the war to four billion.

The new contribution is part of the $7.5 billion pledged to Kiev by US President Joe Biden in May.

In Brussels, EU finance ministers gave the green light for the payment of €1 billion to Ukraine, bringing the total financial assistance from the EU-27 to the country to €2.2 billion since the start of the Russian invasion on 24 February.

CEC’s work on human rights presented in London

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News desk
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CEC’s work on human rights presented in London

CEC’s work on human rights and the project Safer and Stronger Communities in Europe (SASCE) was presented at a House of Lords event hosted by Lord John Alderdice in London. The event held on 6 July launched the UNESCO Inclusion, Rights and Dialogue Section Youth Academy for Transformative Leadership.

CEC Executive Secretary Dr Elizabeta Kitanovic contributed to the discussion, sharing about CEC’s work for human rights, including CEC Summer School on Human Rights.

Kitanovic shared how the SASCE project is developing training on security protection of the worship places. “This is a first European project where interreligious dialogue was transformed into an interfaith cooperation to protect worship places and religious communities,” she said.

She shared that SASCE is raising awareness about issues of security and safety of the worship places in 14 European countries, and is bringing religious communities together. It is strengthening interreligious cooperation on daily basis by giving an example to young people to work together for the protection of dignity, integrity and identity of religious communities in Europe.

The UNESCO initiative encourages meaningful youth engagement in collective healing, human rights, peace and justice issues. This initiative gained support from various stakeholders including Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace, Global Humanity for Peace Institute at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, KAICIID Dialogue Centre, Fetzer Institute, Pontifical Foundation Scholas Occurentes, Fratelli Tutti Political School, and other institutions.

At the event, Lord Alderdice joined by Anna Maria Majlof, chief of UNESCO Rights, Inclusion and Dialogue Section, in speaking about dialogue on the importance of learning to engage with diverse cultures, religions [with room for improvement in CEC], and traditional practices. It was stressed that such projects should be valued and systematically included in schooling, higher education, or young leadership programmes.

Cardinal Hollerich to preside over the beatification of Philipp Jeningen SJ

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COMECE
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Cardinal Hollerich to preside over the beatification of Philipp Jeningen SJ
COMECE President Cardinal Hollerich will preside over the beatification Mass of Philipp Jeningen SJ on Saturday 16 July 2022 in the city of Ellwangen, Germany.

A painting of Fr. Philipp Jeningen sj (Credit: Noticias Jesuitas Pe)

H. Em. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, Archbishop of Luxembourg and President of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), will preside over the beatification celebration of Father Johann Philipp Jeningen SJ (1642-1704), who served as popular missionary at the shrine of Our Lady of Schönenberg.

The veneration for the “good Father Philip” is still strong in the region today. Fr. Jeningen was born in Eichstätt and entered the Society of Jesus at the age of 21. In the years after the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), the Jesuit cared for peasants, administered sacraments and cultivated an ascetic lifestyle.

H.E. Mgr. Gebhard Fürst, Bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, and H. E. Mgr. Nikola Eterović, Apostolic Nuncio to Germany, will also concelebrate the beatification Mass, which will take place on Saturday 16 July 2022 in the city of Ellwangen, Germany.

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(kna – cs)

The Italian EVO-K EVO-lution: EVO-K is back with a LP album and a hot world tour

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News desk
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The Italian EVO-K EVO-lution: EVO-K is back with a LP album and a hot world tour
Dj EVO-K
Dj EVO-K
EVO-K
EVO-K
DJane EVO-K
DJane EVO-K

DJane EVO-K is redefining the performance space in which she thrives: a multi-dimensional live set leading EDM music lovers to a whole new horizon.

Your Next Flight Into Music”
— EVO-K

RIVA DEL GARDA, TRENTO, ITALY, July 12, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — Emerging from the pandemic like a supernova exploding onto the global stage, DJ Producer EVO-K is redefining the performance space in which she thrives.
Surviving the international lockdown by immersing herself in the studio, the Italian DJ focused on her music and how she would re-engage with her fans around the world. That period of self-discovery and a deep dive into technology allowed her to develop a one-woman show that is unquestionably unique, powerful and ultimately intoxicating.A multi-talented creative who realised that the EDM scene would need an upgrade to the stereo-typical DJ sets that were offered pre-pandemic, EVO-K wanted her performances to differentiate themselves from the new normal.
She wanted it to be a revolution that drove crowds to the edge of ecstasy and beyond.

Now a multi-dimensional solo act incorporating singing, drums, percussion, synthesizers and guitars plus manipulating audio in real time directly from the stage, EVO-K has created a completely new immersive experience for her loyal followers.
Infectious blends of big beats, heavy synths, quirky bass-driven melodies, touched with anthemic vocals, EVO-K’s trademark WALL OF SOUND is unmistakable as she throws down in 2022 under the ‘Live 2.0’ brand.

Already having played in Asia, The United States, Africa and Europe alongside artists such as Afrojack, Hardwell, Tujamo, Headhunterz, Dannic, Gregor Salto, Moti, Dyro, Dvbbs, Aly & Fila and many more, there is no doubt that she understands how to set the dancefloor on fire.
It was hardly surprising then that she was appointed as the only Italian DJ ambassador for RELOOP DJs (Germany) together with Carl Cox, Oliver Koletzki and Phil Fuldner.

That brilliant live presence is now backed by a whole host of tracks that are about to emerge from the EVO-K vault.
Building on her already successful production career with twelve releases that are about to flip the switch on the EDM scene, EVO-K’s sound has transformed into arguably one the most addictive grooves around today.
The legacy of her hands in the air experience is still there, but now her music has climbed to the next level with an extraordinary intuitive understanding of what makes a great track.

As the Northern hemisphere summer beckons, EVO-K will lead festival and club goers to a whole new horizon and towards a world only she can imagine. Her music and ‘Live 2.0’ will be the platform that will set the standard that the entire industry will be judged by.

Join her on her journey as she echoes the future and be part of the EVO-lution!

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p class=”contact c5″ dir=”auto”>Caroline Benvenuti
UnionSound
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Syria: Security Council extends cross-border aid delivery for six months

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EuropeanTimes
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Syria: Security Council extends cross-border aid delivery for six months
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe - UN Security Council meets on the Situation in Syria.

The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution to extend lifesaving aid deliveries into northwest Syria from Türkiye for a further six months following a vote on Tuesday. 

Ireland and Norway put forward the resolution, which renews humanitarian deliveries through the Bab-al Hawa border crossing through January and calls for an additional six-month extension which will require another separate resolution. 

Twelve countries voted in favour, while France, the United Kingdom, and the United States voted against. There were no abstentions. 

Record-level needs 

Humanitarian needs in Syria are at their highest levels since the start of the conflict more than a decade ago.   

The cross-border mechanism has been in place since 2014, and the most recent authorization, from July 2021, expired on Sunday. 

Last month, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed to the Council to renew the cross-border operations for 12 months, stressing the “moral imperative” of addressing the suffering of more than four million people in the region. 

‘A difficult negotiation’ 

The extension comes after ambassadors rejected two competing resolutions on Friday. 

The first draft, put forward by Ireland and Norway, was vetoed by Russia.  The second, presented by Russia, was only supported by the country and China. 

“It’s no secret that this has been a difficult negotiation”, said Irish Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, speaking ahead of Tuesday’s vote. 

“We recognize that a six-month renewal is shorter than we as penholders aimed for when we started this negotiation. We recognize also that the vast majority of the Council shared that view, and the view of humanitarian actors on the ground, that a 12-month mandate was needed.” 

Resolution 2642 keeps the cross-border mechanism open, said Norway’s Ambassador, Mona Juul, speaking after its adoption.  

“For those in humanitarian need in northwest Syria who have been in an uncertain situation with the negotiations running into overtime, we can assure them – and that’s what matters. The cross-border operation is their lifeline and today, the cross-border operation remains,” she said. 

In north-west Syria, 1.7 million displaced people live in 1,414 camps across Idleb and northern Aleppo.
UNOCHA/Ahmad Alito – In north-west Syria, 1.7 million displaced people live in 1,414 camps across Idleb and northern Aleppo.

A “precarious renewal’ 

Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière of France commended the efforts by Ireland and Norway towards reaching a compromise.  Yet his country opted not to support “this precarious renewal” as the six months will expire during the winter, when aid is most needed, and without firm guarantees of continuation. 

“The call by the Secretary-General and the whole of the humanitarian community to renew this mechanism for 12 months was clear, and ignored,” he said. 

Barbara Woodward, the United Kingdom’s Ambassador, recalled the immense humanitarian needs in Syria. Of the 4.1 million people in the northwest who require aid, 2.4 million are reliant solely on the cross-border mechanism. 

She warned that without the confidence of at least 12 months, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations risk being caught in a perpetual cycle of pre-positioning and contingency planning.  

“The UK will continue to support the UN’s efforts to deliver its humanitarian response plan, but we will not consider providing any reconstruction assistance without a credible, substantive and genuine political process firmly underway,” she told the Council. 

Accelerate crossline delivery 

Ambassador Dai Bing of China welcomed the resolution, noting that it is normal for Council members to hold differing views, and that at times these divergences “may be sharp”. 

He underlined that humanitarian assistance to Syria must respect the nation’s sovereignty and the ownership of the Syrian Government of the process. 

“Crossline delivery should become the main channel for humanitarian assistance to Syria,” said Mr. Dai, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative at the UN.  

“Cross-border delivery is a temporary arrangement made under specific circumstances. It is necessary to speed up the transition to crossline relief and establish a clear timetable for eventual determination of cross-border relief.” 

Russia will continue to monitor progress in implementing the resolution in efforts to decide the ultimate fate of the cross-border mechanism, Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky told the Council. 

“We’re convinced that it is only through candid and substantive dialogue on the issues in the Syrian humanitarian track whilst involving all of the interested parties, we will be able to in six months’ time come up with a well-considered decision,” he said. 

Mr. Polyansky added that the Council must now work on many important areas, including increasing delivery of crossline aid in all regions of Syria, and lifting unilateral sanctions against the country in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

For Ambassador Richard Mills of the United States, the vote revealed what happens “when one Council member takes the entire Security Council hostage.”  

The resolution has resulted in a scaling down of humanitarian aid, which will only hurt the Syrian people, he said. 

“Some of the recent dire needs in Syria are a direct result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the shocks that brutal invasion has caused to food systems in Syria and around the world. And the simple truth is Russia does not care,” said Mr. Mills, his country’s Deputy Permanent Representative.  

“Russia is so brazen in its disregard for Syrian lives that it has not even bothered trying to justify its stance on a humanitarian basis. This is an immoral and cynical approach to humanitarian needs.” 

EU citizens trust traditional media most

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European Parliament
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EU citizens trust traditional media most
Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash

EU citizens trust traditional media most, new Eurobarometer survey finds. Overall, public TV and radio stations are the most trusted news source in the EU (49%), followed by written press (39%) and private TV and radio stations (27%)

Media play a major role in informing European citizens on the activities of the European Union and its institutions.

A dedicated Eurobarometer survey published today takes an in-depth look at media habits, trust in different media sources as well as attitudes towards the threat of disinformation.

Awareness and media recall

While national political topics interest citizens most (selected by 50% of respondents), European and international affairs (46%) is closely behind, on a par with local news (47%).

72% of respondents recall having recently read, seen or heard about the European Union, either in the press, on the Internet, television or radio. 57% have recently read, seen or heard something about the European Parliament.

Recall on EU news ranges between 57% in France and 90% in Romania, for news on the EP recall varies between 39% in France and 85% in Malta.

Media habits

With 75%, television dominates as the primary news source, particularly for citizens over 55 years old. Next and quite distant are online news platforms (43%), radio (39%), and social media platforms and blogs (26%). The written press comes in fifth place with one out of five respondents (21%) citing newspapers and magazines as their primary news source. Younger respondents on the other hand are much more likely to use social media platforms and blogs to access news (46% of 15-24 year-olds vs 15% of 55+ year-olds).

Although traditional news sources – particularly television – are important, 88% of respondents get at least some news online via their smartphone, computer or laptop. 43% of respondents use the website of the news source (e.g. website of a newspaper) to access news online, and 31% read articles or posts that appear in their online social networks. Accessing news posts via their online social networks is even more important to young people, (43% of 15-24 year-olds vs 24% of 55+ respondents).

Paying for online news content is still rather the exception, as 70% of those who access news online would use only free news content or news services online.

Most trusted media sources

Citizens trust traditional broadcast and print media, including their online presence, more than online news platforms and social media channels. Whether it is via their ‘native channel’ or their online presence, 49% of respondents expect public TV and radio stations to give them truthful news, followed by the written press, selected by 39%. On the other hand, private TV and radio stations are cited by 27% as a trusted media source. Poland stands out as the only country where private TV and radio stations are the most trusted news source. In an even more radical shift away from traditional news sources in general, respondents in Hungary mention “people, groups or friends followed on social media” as their most trusted news source.

The importance of trust also resonates when respondents were asked what would make them likely to open a news article online. While 54% are motivated by the title being relevant to their interests, 37% say that it is important they trust the news outlet posting the news article.

Exposure to disinformation and fake news

Over a quarter of respondents (28%) think that, in the past seven days, they have very often or often been exposed to disinformation and fake news. Respondents in Bulgaria are overall the most likely to reply that they have often been exposed to disinformation and fake news in the past seven days, with 55% estimating they have been ‘very often’ or ‘often’ exposed, while respondents in the Netherlands are the least likely to say so (3% ‘very often’ and 9% ‘often’ responses).

A majority of respondents feel confident they can recognise disinformation and fake news: 12% feel ‘very confident’ and 52% ‘somewhat confident’. The level of confidence in distinguishing between real news and fake news decreases with age and increases with level of education.

Background

Citizens’ perceptions of the European Union and the European Parliament are influenced by what they see, hear and read in various media. This Flash Eurobarometer presents an in-depth look at citizens’ media use and media habits, looking at both traditional media and online media. Ipsos European Public Affairs interviewed a representative sample of EU citizens, aged 15 years and over, in each of the 27 Member States of the European Union. Between 26 April and 11 May 2022, 53 347 interviews were completed via computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI), using Ipsos online panels and their partner network.

The EU results are weighted according to the size of the population in each country.

Data and the full report can be found here.

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