We are perhaps one step closer to understanding the conundrum in Romania that the country’s two biggest prosecution offices, the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) and the Section for the Investigation of Justice Criminal Offences (SIJJ), both bring a record number of cases, yet those same cases either fail or end with dubious results. It…
The logistics and supply chain sector has experienced extreme challenges during the Coronavirus pandemic, writes Alistair Binks. A recent survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Chain Management found that nearly 75 per cent of companies reported supply chain disruptions in one form or another due to Covid-19-related transportation restrictions. The importance of global supply chains…
The European Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, invites nominations for the third biennial ‘Award for Good Administration’ in the EU institutions. Nominations for the award – to be submitted by end January 2021 – can be made by EU staff, or by businesses, associations or civil society groups. The nominated work should have a visible and positive impact on…
MEPs have voted on the EU’s health action programme (“EU4Health”). The current programme runs until the end of the year; EU4Health is the successor programme for 2021-2027. In the negotiations on the Multi-Annual Financial Framework, the European Parliament tripled the proposed funding for EU4Health to €5.1 billion. The programme will not only finance actions against…
COVID-19 Wipes Over US$13 Trillion Off Top Nation Brand Values Belgium retains its position as world’s 24th most valuable nation brand, brand value down 19% to US$505 billion Top 100 nation brands in Brand Finance Nation Brands 2020 ranking lose US$13.1 trillion of brand value in 2020 as they negotiate devasting COVID-19 pandemic China continues to close gap…
Following the disqualification of four pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong, the UK Government has declared China in breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “Beijing’s imposition of new rules to disqualify elected legislators in Hong Kong constitutes a clear breach of the legally binding Sino-British Joint Declaration.” “China has once…
Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola has been elected as the First Vice-President of the European Parliament, replacing Mairead McGuinness who was recently appointed European Commissioner. Roberta Metsola has been a MEP since 2013. She was re-elected in 2014 and 2019. Originally a lawyer by profession, specialising in European law and politics, between 2004 and 2012, Ms…
Tunisia is hosting the Libyan Forum of Political Dialogue, which will determine the institutional framework of the new Libyan state. The Forum will decide on the procedure for planning general elections, and how to choose a transitional government leading up to the elections. The latest news from the Forum so far suggests that there is…
Following the dismissal of four members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council today, the remaining 15 members of the pro-democracy opposition have said they will resign. The four lawmakers who were dismissed by Hong Kong’s CEO Carrie Lam are Alvin Yeung, Kwok Ka-ki and Dennis Kwok of the Civic Party and Kenneth Leung of the Professionals…
Yesterday (Tuesday 10th November) Chancellors Merkel and Kurz and President Macron held an online summit on the implications of the latest Islamist terrorist attacks in France and Austria. They agreed that they wanted to work on reforms for the Schengen area, which consists of Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,…
