Remarks by President Charles Michel at the press conference of the EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv

 

Friday 3 February 2023

● European Council   03/02/2023 16:50 | Statements and remarks | Remarks by President Charles Michel at the press conference of the EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv   Good afternoon everyone. Dear President (Zelenskyy), first of all let me thank you for hosting today’s Summit. This Summit has made two things absolutely clear. The first is a message for you and for the people of Ukraine. The European Union will support you in every way we can, for as long as it takes. We are not intimidated and will not be intimated by the Kremlin. Because Ukraine and the EU we are family. And my second message: the future of Ukraine is within the European Union. Ukrainian people, you have made a clear choice for freedom, democracy, and rule of law. And we in the EU have also made a clear decision: your future is with us, in our common European Union, your destiny is our destiny. That’s why together with Ursula (von der Leyen) and Josep Borrell we are here today, standing by your side, Mr President, dear Volodymyr (Zelenskyy) is again a moving moment. Because you are a symbol of your people, a reflection of your people's courage and bravery. Our support has been rock solid since day one, and that will continue. Our overall support amounts to nearly 50 billion euros, from weapons to military support, from generators to transformers, supporting your schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure. We are determined to help you win on the battlefield. So far, Team Europe has mobilised nearly 12 billion euros of military support, including lethal military support. And we are training an initial 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers this year. The EU has also secured 18 billion euros of Macro-Financial Assistance for 2023. We also provide strong humanitarian and civil protection assistance. Millions of Ukrainians have fled the war, seeking safety and protection. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all Europeans who have stepped up to help these women, children, and families with housing, education, healthcare, and childcare. This is an emblem of our European solidarity, and that will continue. We will continue to ramp up the pressure on Russia to end the war. The EU has already adopted nine packages of hard-hitting sanctions, and we will do more. A tenth package is being designed to curb Russia's war machine even further. These sanctions are working, weakening Russia’s economy and depriving it of critical technologies. The Kremlin is committing war crimes in Ukraine and must be held accountable. We support the investigations of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. The EU and Ukraine continue to work together to ensure full accountability. This includes for the crime of aggression through an appropriate mechanism. We support establishing an international center for the prosecution of the crime of aggression in Ukraine in The Hague. In addition to accountability, it only makes sense that Russia should pay to rebuild Ukraine. We are committed to looking at ways of using frozen Russian assets to rebuild what Russia has destroyed. Both Ukraine and the EU share the common goal of ending this war — based on respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We therefore support Ukraine’s Peace Formula initiative and will actively work with Ukraine on the 10-point peace plan. We also back the idea of a Peace Formula Summit to launch this plan. Last June, the 27 EU Member States decided to grant candidate status to Ukraine. This was a major step. Since then, Ukraine has made considerable efforts and progress — especially on judicial reform and fighting corruption. We encourage Ukraine to continue strengthening the rule of law, because it benefits every Ukrainian citizen. We will be at your side every step of the way. In the meantime, we continue working hand in hand to unlock the full potential of the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA). We are also working to include Ukraine in the European roaming area as soon as possible. Another concrete step in bringing Ukraine and the EU closer together. Dear President, dear Volodymyr (Zelenskyy), the EU is with you today. The EU will be with you and your people tomorrow and for as long as it takes. We will be right by your side to rebuild a modern, prosperous Ukraine firmly anchored on our common European path. Because there can be no safe and independent Europe without a safe and independent Ukraine. Ukraine is the EU, the EU is Ukraine, let’s make it happen. Slava Ukraini! Vive l’Europe!

Swedish presidency of the Council of the EU:Article

 

02/02/2023 13:33 | Article Invitation to seminar: Space as a Global Commons Access to space has evolved over time. Recently, the accessibility has become increasingly cheaper and the range of actors able to access space and use it for different purposes has widened.

Article

2 February 202313:33
Invitation to seminar: Space as a Global Commons
© Hans-Olof Utsi/Imagebank Sweden


Access to space has evolved over time. Recently, the accessibility has become increasingly cheaper and the range of actors able to access space and use it for different purposes has widened.


The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union is inviting to a seminar on Space as Global Commons. The seminar will take place at the Swedish Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels.

This seminar aims to feed the discussion on how to achieve a fair and sustainable use of space, which is a topic currently discussed in the Council Space Working Party, but also to contribute to the general discussion on a responsible behaviour in space. The EU has the possibility to lead by example in the development of an approach where fairness and sustainability in the use of space are key.

Further information on how to register to the event can be found in the seminar programme.

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NASA's wonderful world!!

JANUARY 31, 2023 Weekly News

LATEST IMAGES OF THE DAY view the archive

Cheneso Floods Madagascar Heavy rain from the tropical cyclone triggered flash floods and landslides along the island nation's northwestern coast.       Wintry Dunes on Earth and Mars Dunes on both planets occasionally get blanketed with ice and snow—except on Earth the white stuff is frozen water and on Mars it's often frozen carbon dioxide.       Chile's Villarrica Sputters An astronaut on the International Space Station captured this photograph of minor explosions from one of Chile's most active volcanoes.       Eighty Mile Beach This stretch of coastline in Western Australia is a popular recreational site for people and an important stopover site for migratory birds.       Antarctic Iceberg on the Move After breaking from the Brunt Ice Shelf, Iceberg A-81 and other pieces of ice drift south with the Weddell Gyre.       Shrinking Lake Abert As the lake in southern Oregon dries up, the remaining water is becoming too salty to support key food sources for birds.       Midwest Farmers Using Cover Crops Take Small Yield Hit Although cover crops have significant environmental benefits, researchers found that they hinder yields on corn and soybean fields.       RECENT BLOG POSTS             NOTES FROM THE FIELD G-LiHT Goes to Alaska January 26, 2023 In summer 2022, Goddard’s LiDAR, Hyperspectral, & Thermal Imager (G-LiHT) team made flights from Kodiak and Anchorage with an airborne instrument designed to map forested landscapes.

Antarctic Iceberg on the Move After breaking from the Brunt Ice Shelf, Iceberg A-81 and other pieces of ice drift south with the Weddell Gyre. (Jan 25, 2023)       Antarctica's Brunt Ice Shelf Finally Breaks A long-watched rift has spawned an iceberg about twice the size of New York City. (Jan 24, 2023)       Floodwater Reaches Australia's Channel Country After several weeks of heavy rainfall in northern Queensland, the water has worked its way south. (Jan 23, 2023)

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NATO NEWS

 

What’s in your kit? US Navy fighter pilot What’s in the kit of Lieutenant David Cattano, a US Navy fighter pilot? A pair of pants that squeeze his legs to keep blood in his head during high-speed manoeuvres, and a helmet that lets him lock on targets wherever he looks, to name a few items. Cattano serves in Strike Fighter Squadron 37, the ‘Raging Bulls,’ which embarked on the supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford as it cruised to Europe for its first deployment. He flew his F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet on several training missions off the coast of Portugal, taking off from and landing on the US Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier, which sailed in a multinational carrier strike group consisting of 11 ships from 6 NATO Allies. The USS Gerald R. Ford’s first deployment lasted from early October to late November 2022, with port visits in Halifax, Canada and Portsmouth, United Kingdom. Click here to download the video. You can also watch the video on YouTube. Click here to download the b-roll of the USS Gerald R. Ford’s first deployment back in 2022.

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND,latest

 

Dear maria, We just published a new blog—please find the full text below.  Looser Financial Conditions Pose Conundrum for Central Banks (Credit: IMF and Adobe Stock) By Tobias Adrian, Christopher Erceg, and Fabio Natalucci Central banks aggressively hiked interest rates last year as inflation in many countries rose to the highest levels in decades. Now, falling energy prices are reducing headline inflation and fueling optimism that monetary policy may be eased later this year. Such expectations have caused a sharp decline in global longer-term interest rates and boosted financial markets in advanced economies and emerging markets alike. Though this may make it tempting to conclude that monetary policy is becoming overly restrictive and poised to cause an unnecessary economic contraction, investors may be too sanguine about progress on disinflation. While headline inflation has indeed fallen, and core inflation has receded slightly in some countries, both remain far too high. Central banks must therefore be resolute in their fight against inflation and ensure policy remains appropriately tight long enough to durably bring inflation back to target.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Prime Minister of Latvia Krišjānis Kariņš

February 2, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Prime Minister of Latvia, Krišjānis Kariņš.

Prime Minister Trudeau congratulated Prime Minister Kariņš on his reappointment as Prime Minister following the formation of a new governing coalition in Latvia.

The two leaders condemned Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and reiterated their shared commitment to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

The prime ministers also discussed the regional and global consequences of Russia’s actions, including implications for the defence of NATO’s Eastern Flank. Prime Minister Kariņš expressed appreciation for Canada’s continued leadership as Framework Nation for NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia, and Prime Minister Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to work with Latvia and other Allies to augment NATO’s forward presence in the country.

The two leaders committed to continuing to collaborate in support of Ukraine and in the defence of Allies. They agreed to remain in regular contact.

Associated Links

• Canada-Latvia relations
• Statement by the Prime Minister on the formation of a new government in Latvia
• Canada’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
• Canadian military support to Ukraine

OBAMA's latest

 

Hi there, I’m reaching out one more time about the 2023 Obama Foundation Leaders USA program before the application deadline on Friday, February 3rd at noon U.S. ET!  We’re looking for values-driven changemakers between the ages of 24-45 with three or more years of demonstrated impact in their field who want to create lasting, positive change in their community. Does this sound like you or someone you know? Apply now for our 2023 Leaders USA program or forward this email to a leader in your life! During the six-month non-residential leadership development program, Leaders will have the opportunity to participate in:   Interactive learning experiences through a values-driven leadership curriculum; Regional breakout groups that will apply lessons learned to local context; Opportunities to build connections with and learn from like-minded leaders across the country; Leadership coaching and office hours with Obama Foundation leadership and experts across sectors; and  An in-person convening as a forum for deeper community-building and learning. This new program builds on the Foundation’s work to support emerging leaders in the U.S. and across the globe and is a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse group of changemakers who are ready to take on the biggest challenges of our time. Again, if you or someone you know would benefit from this enriching program experience, learn more and apply now. Applications close Friday, February 3rd at noon U.S. ET! —Laura  Laura Lucas Magnuson  Executive Vice President, Global Programs      Donate to empower rising leaders bringing hope to their communities. DONATE