Grupul de la Vișegrad avertizează asupra incoerențelor politicii UE
June 25, 2012
Primii miniştri ai statelor Grupului de la Vişegrad (Cehia, Polonia, Slovacia, Ungaria – V4), reuniţi la Praga înaintea Summitului european din 28-29 iunie, au convenit să apere politica de coeziune a Uniunii Europene, văzută ca un instrument-cheie de creştere economică, şi au respins cu fermitate planurile de reducere a acestor fonduri în cadrul financiar 2014-2020.
“Coeziunea teritorială, economică şi socială a UE este în prezent contestată din cauza nivelurilor diferite de creştere şi competitivitate”, afirmă premierii ceh Petr Necas, polonez Donald Tusk, slovac Robert Fico şi ungar Viktor Orban, într-o scrisoarea adresată preşedintelui Consiliului European, Herman Van Rompuy, şefului Comisiei Europene, Juan Manuel Barroso, şi preşedintelui Parlamentului European, Martin Schulz
Politica de coeziune “ar trebui considerată un instrument-cheie de investiţii, care să conducă la o mai mare convergenţă economică în cadrul UE”, afirmă cei patru şefi de guvern, insistând că această politică, creată pentru a reduce discrepanţele între zonele bogate şi cele sărace ale UE, “nu trebuie să devină victima tăierilor bugetare” în cadrul financiar multianual 2014-2020.
Donald Tusk a anunţat că îi va remite această scrisoare cancelarului german Angela Merkel cu ocazia meciului de fotbal Germania-Grecia din sfertul de finală de la Euro-2012.
La viitorul Consiliu European din 28-29 iunie, “grupul de la Vişegrad va spune în mod riguros că aceia care vor creştere trebuie să se declare favorabili politicii de coeziune”, a subliniat Donald Tusk.
Pentru perioada 2007-2013, Uniunea Europeană a alocat 347 miliarde de euro, adică 35,7% din bugetul său total, programelor de coeziune şi dezvoltare regională, vizând stimularea creării de locuri de muncă, creşterea competitivităţii şi a calităţii vieţii.
“Eventuale economii nu pot fi decise doar în detrimentul politicii de coeziune, ele ar trebui să privească toate capitolele bugetului UE”, a subliniat Petr Necas. Mai mult, într-o altă recentă declarație, premierul polon Tusk a atras atenția că pe lista priorităților V4 se află și cheltuielile destinate apărării, în condițiile în care greii Europei și-au redus bugetele destinate acestui domeniu. Reamintim că în luna mai a acestui an, miniștrii Apărării din statele membre V4 au semnat un acord de constituire a unei forțe de luptă comune ce urmează să reunească peste 3000 de combatanți până în anul 2016.
Defense News
UK sales of arms to Israel hit record in 2017 – $294 million
LONDON/27.05.2018: United Kingdom’s defense contractors supplied Israel with record amounts of arms in 2017, The Guardian newspaper reported last Sunday.
According to the figures provided by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), in 2017 the UK sold arms to Israel worth 221 million pounds ($294 million), indicating a huge increase from 86 million pounds in 2016 and 20 million pounds in 2015, The Guardian outlet reported. According to the newspaper, the list includes equipment, small arms ammunition, missiles, weapon sights and sniper rifles.
Trump accepts offer to meet Kim Jong Un
U.S. President Donald Trump said he was prepared to meet North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in what would be the first face-to-face encounter between the two countries’ leaders and potentially mark a major breakthrough in nuclear tensions with Pyongyang. “A meeting is being planned,” Trump posted on Twitter. Trump had agreed to meet by May in response to Kim’s invitation.
The White House said Trump had agreed to the encounter. “He will accept the invitation to meet with Kim Jong Un at a place and time to be determined” said White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders.
Argentina Navy Chief fired after ARA San Juan submarine tragedy
ARGENTINA – Argentina has fired the head of its Navy a month after one of its submarines vanished with 44 crew members on board. Admiral Marcelo Eduardo Hipolito Srur was sacked by the country’s defence minister. The ARA San Juan was last heard from on November 15 when it reported a fire on board. A navy spokesperson said the message added that the issue was resolved. But it was still ordered to return to base at Mar del Plata.
The ARA San Juan has not been heard from since, despite a multi-national search effort some 250 miles off the Argentinian coast. Hopes for finding the submarine and its crew faded when the search passed 10 days, which was the amount of time the San Juan would have been able to sustain life with its limited oxygen supply.
U.S. Displays Weaponry It Says Proves Iran’s Influence
New UN report says investigators couldn’t definitively conclude missiles came from Iran. The U.S. for the first time publicly displayed what officials said were Iranian-made missiles, drones and other weaponry as proof of Tehran’s growing military influence in the Middle East.
At a hangar on an Air Force base in Washington, D.C.—where weapons remnants were on display— Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said the debris pointed to Iran’s threat to the region. Pentagon officials exhibited the weaponry to make their case that Tehran is actively fomenting instability, arming Houthi rebels inside Yemen who in turn have used the arms against American allies, particularly Saudi Arabia. Iran has denied that it arms the Houthis.
Olli Ruutu appointed Deputy Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA)
The EDA Steering Board today appointed Mr Olli Ruutu as next Deputy Chief Executive of the Agency. He will take up his duties in March 2018.
Mr Ruutu is currently the Deputy National Armaments Director at the Finnish Ministry of Defence and Director of the Materiel Unit at the Resource Policy Department. He chairs the Defence Administration Commercial Board and the Export Control Advisory Group and is also Deputy Chairman of the Defence Materiel Steering Group, as well as a member of the Defence Forces’ Technology Board and the Defence Administration’s Industrial Cooperation Group. Also Mr Ruutu worked at the EDA between 2009 and 2014, in the Strategy and Policy Unit.
Mattis visits India to ask more help in Afghanistan
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was in the Indian capital on Tuesday, marking the first visit to the country by a Cabinet-level official from President Donald Trump’s administration. In meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other officials, Mattis was expected to focus discussions on security in Afghanistan, military technology and a possible deal on fighter jets. Over the weekend, the US Defense Department said that the “US views India as a valued and influential partner.” Last month, Trump urged India to help more with security efforts in Afghanistan, as Washington steps up its own military campaign against Taliban insurgents who have gained ground. (AP)
North Korea fires second ballistic missile over Japan
North Korea has fired a ballistic missile across Japan, creating new tension in the region after its nuclear bomb test less than two weeks ago. The missile reached an altitude of about 770km (478 miles), travelling 3,700km before landing in the sea off Hokkaido, South Korea’s military says. It flew higher and further than one fired over Japan late last month.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his country would “never tolerate” such “dangerous provocative action”. South Korea responded within minutes by firing two ballistic missiles into the sea in a simulated strike on the North. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also condemned the launch and the UN Security Council will meet later on Friday, 15 September 2017, in New York at the request of America and Japan.
Libya will hold election next spring
Libya’s two main rival parties announced a cease-fire on Tuesday and said they intend to hold elections next spring after they met in Paris for negotiations mediated by French President Emmanuel Macron.
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