#eu funds romania

[lindonwald]

the new manga arc was literally made for them

[jcmarchi]

Romanian AI Helps Farmers and Institutions Get Better Access to EU Funds - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/romanian-ai-helps-farmers-and-institutions-get-better-access-to-eu-funds-technology-org/

Romanian AI Helps Farmers and Institutions Get Better Access to EU Funds - Technology Org

A Romanian state agency overseeing rural investments has adopted artificial intelligence to aid farmers in accessing European Union funds.

Gardening based on aquaculture technology. Image credit: sasint via Pixabay, free license

The Agency for Financing Rural Investments (AFIR) revealed that it integrated robots from software automation firm UiPath approximately two years ago. These robots have assumed the arduous task of accessing state databases to gather land registry and judicial records required by farmers, entrepreneurs, and state entities applying for EU funding.

George Chirita, director of AFIR, emphasized the role of AI-driven automation was groundbreaking in expediting the most important organizational processes for farmers, thereby enhancing their efficiency. Since the introduction of these robots, AFIR has managed financing requests totaling 5.32 billion euros ($5.75 billion) from over 50,000 beneficiaries, including farmers, businesses, and local institutions.

The implementation of robots has notably saved AFIR staff approximately 784 days’ worth of document searches. Over the past two decades, AFIR has disbursed funds amounting to 21 billion euros.

Despite Romania’s burgeoning status as a technology hub with a highly skilled workforce, the nation continues to lag behind its European counterparts in offering digital public services to citizens and businesses, and in effectively accessing EU development funds. Eurostat data from 2023 indicated that only 28% of Romanians possessed basic digital skills, significantly below the EU average of 54%. Moreover, Romania’s digital public services scored 45, well below the EU average of 84.

UiPath, the Romanian company valued at $13.3 billion following its public listing on the New York Stock Exchange, also provides automation solutions to agricultural agencies in other countries, including Norway and the United States.

Written by Vytautas Valinskas

[djuvlipen]

There's something I've been meaning to talk about for a while now.

It's the impact of the trans rights movement on the Romani feminist and gay rights movements.

Now, most Romani rights organizations are very disconnected from the Romani masses. They really don't speak for us at all. Most of them get private fundings from the EU and billionaires like Soros (x). That's what leads a lot of Romani feminist groups to supporting the sex trade (x), despite Romani women being among the first victims of sex trafficking in Europe (x).

With the trans rights movement, we've got Romani feminist groups praising Romani men for taking the place of Romani women. Antonella Lerca Duda, a Romanian Romani transwoman, is featured on many Romani feminist posts whose aim is to present empowering Romani women (x) (x). Antonella Lerca Duda is "the first transexual Romani woman to run for mayor in Romania".

German Romani feminist organization RomaniPhen even chose to include his portrait in their post about powerful Romani women - instead of chosing to picture an actual Romani woman (x). Duda also created a "sex work" organization that fights for the decriminalization of prostitution. He's not our sister and he doesn't fight for Romani women. Yet he was even invited to co-write and star in a play from the only female-only Romani theater troup in the world, Giuvlipen, once again taking the job that could have gone to an actual Romani female playwright and to an actual Romani female actress (x).

In Spain, the trans movement is piggybacking on the back of the Romani rights movement. "Trans women" and "Gitanas" are associated in a manner much similar to what the TRA movement is doing in the US by associating "Trans people" and "Black women". Thus Spanish Senator Teresa Ruiz-Sillero recently said that ""Personas LGTBI (en particular trans), inmigrantes, personas gitanas" se considerarán "colectivos vulnerables de atención prioritaria"." ("LGBTI people (trans in particular), immigrants, romani people" will be considered "vulnerable groups to give a priority attention to") (x)

Many tweets from popular TRA Spanish accounts associate Romani women and trans women (I'm only gonna add three examples because this post is already long; you can look up "gitanas + trans" on twitter to judge by yourself):

And many Spanish Romani activists and organizations are denouncing TERFs as fascist and fighting for self-ID laws

Nevermind the fact that Romani women desperately need sex-segregated spaces considering that Romani women are particularly vulnerable to domestic violence and sexual assaults (x). Nevermind the fact that saying Romani women are not female because we're Romani is inherently racist.

But it's even worse when we think about the Romani gay rights movement. As opposed to many other gay rights movements, the Romani one is very recent. Which means we never got to build up a proper LGB Romani movement detached from "queer theory". We never got a movement only dedicated to SSA Roma, because trans and queer activists are behind all our LGBT groups. Gender rhetoric is deeply embedded in the Romani gay rights movement.

Here's a clip from the ERRC, the largest Romani rights organization in Europe, organizing a workshop on LGBTIQ Roma in the Balkan and in Spain. No lesbian or bi woman is present in this video. There's only one (straight) woman. The person with the longest speaking time is a TIM. This is particularly bad considering Romani orgs have a tendency to ignore Romani women's voices (x).

Ara Art is one of the largest Romani LGBT organization in Europe. On their website, they have interviews with trans Roma. These interviews are deeply sexist and homophobic: here's one in which a gay boy raised in a homophobic family comes out as a trans woman. This story is framed in a positive light.

Romani organizations are repeating the lie that Stonewall was started by "trans women" and are further erasing gay men and lesbians from their own history (x). They publish articles framing LGB Roma's sexuality as "sexual dissidence" (x). By supporting the trans rights movement, orgs like Ververipen, Ara Art and ERRC are supporting the sterilization of LGB Roma. All over Europe, Romani organizations hold conferences to discuss "LGBTIQ rights" (x) and are interviewing Romani TRAs (x), all in order to fight for trans rights (that last link even includes an interview with a biromantic asexual transman lmao). There's no LGB rights movement that exists outside of the gender realm for Roma.

source: Asociacion Gitanas Feministas por la Diversidad (x) and E-Romnja, one of the largest Romani feminist org in Romania (x)

Gadje newspapers are writing articles about "Queer Roma" (x). Gadje academics are writing gender theory thesis about "Queer Roma" (x).

This doesn't help LGB Roma. In my so-called progressive, Western European country, my Romani relatives used to tell me that LGBs were deviant perverts while I was growing up. My local Romani community openly calls for the lynching of LGB Roma. Most European Roma are deeply religious (muslim or christian), sometimes to the point of being fundamentalists. The vast majority of European Roma are working class and don't care about "queer theory".

Yet the associations that are supposed to be fighting for us are reinforcing the idea that LGBs are perverts and that not supporting the homophobic trans ideology makes you a fascist. Since Romani rights groups are all very recent, we never even got the chance to make our own movements before we got swipped into the gender trend.

The trans rights movement is actively harming Romani women, LGB Roma, Romani feminist and Romani gay rights movements.

[zvaigzdelasas]

[Kyiv Independent is Private Ukrainian Media]

The European Union will urge its member states to shut off all EU funding to Budapest if Hungary does not back down on its pledge to veto the EU's proposed $55 billion military aid package for Ukraine, a leaked document prepared by EU officials and seen by the Financial Times revealed on Jan. 28.[...]

The leaked document, drawn up by officials in the European Council, criticizes the "unconstructive behaviour of the Hungarian PM," while establishing a framework for countries to permanently cut EU funding with the intention of "spooking the markets, precipitating a run on the country’s forint currency and a surge in the cost of its borrowing," according to the Financial Times.

The alleged document also notes that Brussels would aim to impact investor confidence in the country's ability to create jobs and drive growth.[...]

The EU has also considered using the "nuclear option" of revoking Hungary's voting rights if it again vetoes the $55 billion aid package for Ukraine at an upcoming European Council summit next week, Politico reported on Jan. 26.

The Hungarian far-right party Our Homeland declared its claim to Ukraine's Zakarpattia Oblast if Ukraine loses the war, party leader Laszlo Toroczkai said on Jan. 27.

Zakarpattia Oblast, bordering Slovakia and Hungary to the west, and Romania to the south, has a significant population of ethnic Hungarians. The issue of minority rights has created friction between Hungary and Ukraine, particularly centered around Ukrainian state linguistic policies.

The language law that has long been a source of strife between Hungary and Ukraine was instituted in 2017 and requires at least 70% of education above fifth grade to be conducted in Ukrainian.

In response to criticism, Ukraine has said that it does not intend to limit the linguistic rights of its minorities but rather to simply ensure that all Ukrainian citizens have the sufficient capability to speak the national language, Ukrainian.[...]

Hungary's Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment on Toroczkai's statements, Reuters said.

The news came ahead of a meeting between Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto scheduled to take place on Jan. 29 in the Zakarpattia Oblast city of Uzhhorod.

In the leadup to Szijjarto's visit, the Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet, considered to be closely affiliated with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, published an article condemning the state of Ukraine's press freedom. It also criticized Ukrainian media directives for journalists to use the official Ukrainian spelling of city names instead of the Russian version.

28 Jan 24

[Ukrinform is Private Ukrainian Media]

The Hungarian side is asking Ukraine that a Hungarian minority be given back all the rights it had before 2015.

This was stated by Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto at a joint briefing with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and Head of the Ukrainian President’s Office Andriy Yermak following the talks in Uzhhorod, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"We have come here to reestablish good neighborly relations, we have a long way to go, but we, from the Hungarian side, are ready to do this work. In Zakarpattia, Hungarians and Ukrainians live in peace," Szijjarto said.[...]

"Since 2017, laws have been passed to reduce the rights of the Hungarian minority. In December, Parliament passed a law that stopped that. But we have a request - maybe it's too much, and you will think I'm not being polite - but we ask that the Hungarian minority be given back all the rights it had before 2015. We are not asking for anything else," the minister said.

The Foreign Minister said that the Hungarian side had formulated an 11-point request: including restoring the status of the national school, the possibility of taking a high school diploma in Hungarian and using Hungarian in social life. According to him, the commission was tasked with agreeing on these issues as soon as possible and developing proposals for the ministries.

29 Jan 24

[mariacallous]

For almost 15 years, the sight of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban strutting into leaders’ summits in Brussels has been a constant of European Union politics. Leveraging his authoritarian grip on power in Hungary, Orban has pressured the EU into providing subsidies to patronage networks controlled by his Fidesz Party, while leading a populist onslaught against liberalism and the left. But even as Orban attracts fawning admiration from other anti-liberal populists in Europe and the United States, cracks are beginning to show in his own power base in Hungary.

The recent surge of infighting within Fidesz’s political machine has taken many observers in and outside Hungary by surprise. After the party’s initial massive election victory in 2010, the collapse of rival parties that had mismanaged the economy and become engulfed in scandal when in government provided Orban’s inner circle with the opportunity to seize control of state media, the central bank and appointments to all levels of the judiciary. Having secured complete control of the state, Orban and his Fidesz cronies used repressive tactics by the security services as well as aggressive disinformation to divide the opposition and intimidate business leaders and civil society networks.

The regime’s near-complete dominance of Hungarian-language media has enabled Orban as well as the party’s regional bosses to use a blend of anti-migrant xenophobia and hostility to LGBTQ rights to sustain a strong base of support in small towns and rural communities. Orban has been more careful in recent years when it comes to fueling irredentist hostility against Romania, Ukraine and Slovakia over territory lost to neighboring states after Hungary’s defeat in World War I. But the Fidesz machine still tries to present Orban as a protector of Hungarian minorities abroad to its right-wing domestic audience.

In part because of the divide and rule tactics used by Fidesz since the early 2010s, but also because they lack deep historical traditions and resilient structures, the Hungarian opposition has been paralyzed by squabbling among parties and movements as hostile to one another as they are to Fidesz. More recent efforts to construct a united front in the face of Orban’s authoritarianism have struggled to sustain the cohesion needed to keep supporters mobilized in the face of mounting state pressure.

Yet state capture, disinformation and virulent nationalism alone would not have been enough to enable the Fidesz machine to secure Orban’s lasting dominance. With Hungary’s accession to the EU in 2004, whoever was in power in the late 2000s was going to be able to take credit for the impact that huge flows of funding from Brussels had on infrastructure development and economic growth in the aftermath of the great financial crisis. For all the fierce populist rhetoric Orban directs against Brussels to court Trumpian nationalists in the U.S. and the far right in Europe, the extent to which Fidesz relies on the distribution of EU funds to sustain its dominance within Hungary has kept Orban from being too disruptive when it comes to European integration.

Though the European Commission’s concerns over the erosion of rule of law in Hungary remain a severe point of friction, Orban’s willingness to avoid escalation over other contentious issues—such as aid for Ukraine or environmental regulation—has made it difficult for the Hungarian opposition to take advantage of the tensions he has stoked with Brussels. The fact that Orban’s patronage network now reaches deep into the Hungarian banking sector and national oil company has also provided Fidesz with options beyond EU subsidies with which to shape economic conditions ahead of elections. In the face of Fidesz’s overwhelming strength and willingness to use security services to intimidate opponents, the inability of opposition parties to make any significant gains during the 2022 parliamentary elections seemed to bury any hopes of change in Hungary for the foreseeable future.

Yet even as Orban successfully cultivated enthusiasm for his project among the populist right in the U.S. and EU, tensions were building up within his own power structure that could prove a much greater threat to the survival of the Fidesz political machine than a cowed Hungarian opposition. After such a long record of dominance, many senior figures loyal to Orban had become complacent over the impact a wave of political scandals might have on the Hungarian public at a time when inflation and other economic pressures were generating frustration even among Fidesz’s core supporters.

With the shock resignation in early February of President Katalin Novak and former Justice Minister Judit Varga over efforts within the government to cover up a child abuse scandal, tensions within Orban’s power structure have now burst into the open. In response, Peter Magyar—a senior figure within the Orban regime as well as Varga’s ex-husband—resigned from his positions at state-owned enterprises and founded a new political movement with the aim of dismantling a corrupt status quo. By early April, Magyar’s new opposition Tizsa Party was leading mass protests in Budapest and rapidly preparing a nationwide network designed to peel off elected officials and voters among Orban’s political base in smalltown Hungary.

The sudden defection of a figure like Magyar, who had long worked at the heart of the Fidesz political machine, is not just the result of a sudden discovery of moral scruples. As with many similar semi- or fully authoritarian regimes, the longer Orban has remained in office, the more entrenched various figures within his inner circle have become at the highest levels of power. For ambitious mid-40s careerists like Magyar, the grim prospect of waiting another decade for Orban’s inner circle—all 60-70 years old—to finally leave the scene was already fueling impatient frustration even before the current wave of scandals engulfed Fidesz.

Orban’s channeling of tens of millions of euros into populist think tanks and conferences designed to impress self-declared national conservatives in the U.S. and U.K. also generated the image of a leader so engaged in the Anglosphere’s culture wars that he had become detached from the everyday concerns of Hungarian politics. For an insider like Magyar, fed up with both waiting for a turn at the top and Orban’s obsession with his world historical role, the time seemed ripe to break away and establish a new political machine.

Deploying messaging and mobilization techniques eerily similar to those used by Orban’s team before it took power in 2010, Magyar has tried to knit together an electoral coalition made up of liberal-leaning voters who had always opposed the current government and a large swathe of Fidesz voters tired of the rampant cronyism at the heart of Orban’s patronage networks. But while Fidesz defectors like Magyar may eventually help to restore the rule of law and work more constructively in EU institutions, they are also likely to continue embracing the populist themes that propelled Orban to power. Moreover, in working to entice Fidesz regional bosses to switch allegiance to his new movement, Magyar will likely replicate the clientelist structures Orban has used to secure the loyalty of smalltown elites through the distribution of state and EU funds.

Magyar is also now the target of a full onslaught of attacks from media loyal to Orban, so there is no guarantee he can capitalize on his rise to prominence to make significant electoral gains in upcoming European Parliament and local elections, which his movement needs to survive. To prevent the fracturing of his own power base, Orban may also do his utmost to offer financial incentives and senior positions to bring Magyar and other defectors back into the Fidesz political machine. Though Magyar’s ambitions will remain focused on replacing Orban as prime minister, business networks worried about instability that a clash between the two might bring will also try to broker a negotiated transfer of power that avoids any deeper reforms.

Even if Magyar falters, the speed with which Fidesz’s internal tensions have turned into an external challenge to its political machine is an indication of how brittle Orban’s grip on power has become. Even the most dominant authoritarian leader will always face dilemmas when it comes to rewarding ambitious young talent without alienating older cronies whose loyalty is the glue that holds a clientelist system together. If Orban is eventually toppled, it should surprise no one if the figures who were once closest to him turn out to be the ruthless operators that finally take him down.

[beardedmrbean]

The death toll from the floods that hit central Europe over the weekend has risen, with more casualties recorded in the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria.

In the Czech Republic, one person drowned in a stream close to the town of Bruntal in the north-east of the country, while seven people are still missing.

Four people are known to have died in Poland, although a spokesman for the interior ministry said the precise cause of death was still to be determined in at least one case.

And in Austria, two people aged 70 and 80 died in the north-east of the country. One of them, a resident of the town of Höbersdorf, was apparently trying to pump water out of his apartment when he drowned, Austrian media reported.

Eight deaths were recorded over the weekend in Poland, Romania and Austria, where a firefighter was killed during a flood rescue operation.

Although conditions have stabilised in some parts of central Europe, others are bracing themselves for more disruption and danger.

In Slovakia, the overflowing of the Danube River caused flooding in the Old Town area of the capital, Bratislava, with local media reporting that water levels exceeded 9m (30ft) and were expected to rise further.

Hungary is bracing itself for floods in the coming days. Warnings are in force along 500km (310 miles) of the Danube.

The river is rising by about a metre every 24 hours, with Budapest's mayor offering residents a million sandbags to protect against floodwaters.

Some tram lines will not operate, while roads along the river will be closed in the Hungarian capital from Monday evening. Trains between Budapest and Vienna have also been cancelled.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on X that he had postponed all his international obligations "due to the extreme weather conditions and the ongoing floods in Hungary".

The highest rainfall totals have been in the Czech Republic. In the north-eastern town of Jesenik, 473mm (19in) of rain has fallen since Thursday morning - five times the average monthly rainfall.

In the Austrian town of St Polten, more rain has fallen in four days than in the whole of the wettest autumn on record, in 1950.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer said the armed forces had been deployed to offer assistance to storm-hit regions. Austria's Climate Ministry said €300m (£253m) in recovery funds would be made available.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said one billion zloty (£197m) would be allocated for flood victims. He added Poland would also apply for EU relief funds.

On Monday, Poland declared a state of natural disaster, making the emergency response easier and freeing up EU funds.

Villages and town were submerged in eastern Romania. Emil Dragomir, mayor of Slobozia Conachi, told media that the flooding had had a devastating impact.

"If you were here, you would cry instantly, because people are desperate, their whole lives' work is gone, there were people who were left with just the clothes they had on," he said.

Thousands of people have been evacuted in Poland, including the personnel and patients of a hospital in the town of Nysa. Roads have been badly disrupted and train traffic was suspended in many parts of the country.

On Monday morning, the mayor of Paczków in south-west Poland appealed to residents to evacuate after water began overflowing in a nearby reservoir, endangering the town.

In other parts of Poland, however, water levels are now falling, according to local officials.

The mayor of Klodzko city, Michal Piszko, told Polish media the water had receded and the indications were the worst was now over.

Video footage from Monday morning showed that city centre streets which were inundated on Sunday were now water-free, although the footage also revealed the extent of damage done to the buildings.

Where will Storm Boris go next?

More rain is expected throughout Monday and Tuesday in Austria, the Czech Republic and south-east Germany, where another 100mm could fall.

While it may still take days for the flood waters to subside, the weather will improve in central Europe from mid-week with much drier conditions.

Storm Boris will, however, now move further south into Italy, where it will reintensify and bring heavy rain. The Emilia-Romagna region is set to be worst hit, with 100-150mm of rain falling.

The record rainfall seen in central Europe has been caused by a number of factors, including climate change.

Different weather elements came together to create a “perfect storm” in which very cold air from the Arctic met warm air from the Mediterranean.

A pattern of atmospheric pressure also meant that Storm Boris was stuck in one place for a long time.

Scientists say that a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to more intense rainfall. Warmer oceans also lead to more evaporation, feeding storm systems.

For every 1C rise in the global average temperature, the atmosphere is able to hold about 7% more moisture.

[gay-people-for-ever]

URGENT HELP🚨🚨🚨🍉🇵🇸

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As you know, the war began on October 7 and lasted ten months. During this period, we were unable to obtain food, drink, or treatment because we did not have money.

There is no source of income for the family at the present time, so we are unable to buy food, clean water, and medicine, especially after we are afflicted with the ongoing infectious diseases spread in the north like Hepatitis C disease.

Our house has been damaged a lot since the beginning of the war. We are from the north of Gaza and we are still in the north and have not displaced to the south. We displaced 10 times from place to another seeking to safety .

We hope for your help and support, even if only a little.🙏🙏

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Thank you all

Flooding hit the southwestern Polish city of Wroclaw on Thursday after days of torrential rain that have seen rivers bursting their banks in Poland, Austria, Czechia and Romania, leaving seven dead in Poland. 

The Defense Ministry said 10,000 soldiers have been drafted in to help combat the floods, build defenses and provide aid.

Defense Minister Wladysław Kosiniak-Kamysz allocated 500 military police to work with an additional 500 police officers to secure evacuated areas from looting.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a state of natural disaster in the flooded areas on Sept. 18, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, arrived Thursday in Wroclaw to assess the aftermath.

Tusk also said a relief fund for victims will be doubled and the finance minister informed him that €468 million in total has been made available for the relief fund. Tusk said the total losses could amount to several billion zlotys.

Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski told a crisis meeting in Wroclaw that the government would pay installments of mortgages for those whose houses had been flooded. Damage from Storm Boris in Poland could total 1% of the country’s economic output, or $9 billion. Highways are so far unaffected, with more disturbance to local roads.

Tusk welcomed the news that Poland would receive financial help from the EU.

“I will be urging other countries that have also been affected by the floods to join us in pressing the European Commission firmly,” he said. Tusk raised concerns about reports of rising prices for essential items such as rubber boots and gloves in areas affected.

[sataniccapitalist]

The axis of genocide cuts funding to UNRWA The following countries have cut funding so far: Australia, Austria, Britain, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Romania, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States. The biggest individual donors in 2022 were the US, Germany, the EU, and Sweden, who together provided roughly 61.4 percent of the agency's total funding.

[thoughtlessarse]

Languages: Français | Deutsch

French wheat growers are calling for the release of the EU’s crisis funding, known as agricultural reserve, and increased state aid for the sector as persistent rains since last autumn are leading to poor harvests in major European grain-producing countries. “The further we get into the harvest, the more disappointing it is. This is probably the worst year for soft wheat since 2016,” Philippe Heusele, secretary general of the General Association of Wheat Producers in France (AGPB), told Euractiv. With abundant rain since last autumn, cereal growers – and wheat growers in particular – are in dire straits in Western Europe, hit by a drop in area under wheat and decimated yields. On Monday (28 July), French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau visited a farm in central France and announced “exceptional measures to support cash flow” that could be mobilised at the national and European level, as well as “action by banks and insurance companies”. Although the minister mentioned the possibility of starting talks with Brussels to mobilise the EU’s agricultural reserve—formerly known as the crisis reserve—no decision has been made yet. Meanwhile, the AGPB is urging the French government to ask for the release of these funds. The agricultural reserve, a mechanism under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) worth €450 million annually, provides financial support to farmers facing difficulties. The mechanism was first triggered in 2023, following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, to help Eastern European countries manage increased imports of cereals and oilseeds. Loss of yields in Europe According to Philippe Heusele, France should produce 62 tonnes of soft wheat per hectare this year, a drop of 15-17% compared to 2023. At the EU level, the latest market report from the International Grains Council (IGC), published on 28 July, predicts that the bloc’s wheat production will hit a four-year low of 128.7 million tonnes. In Eastern Europe, conditions look slightly more favourable. In Romania, another major producer of soft wheat, output is expected to be better than last year, according to the EU’s crop monitoring service (MARS) – 4.65 tonnes per hectare compared with 4.55 in 2023. Nevertheless, winter crops have been the hardest hit by the persistent rainfall throughout the growing season. Barley has been the worst affected, with the latest data from the French Ministry of Agriculture predicting a 17% drop compared to last year. The same is true for Germany, Europe’s second-largest producer after France, where winter barley yields are expected to fall by 6% from 2023 according to the latest projections from the German association of farm cooperatives (DRV).

continue reading

[head-post]

Romanian PM: Schengen land border to be applied by Easter

Romania would have access to the Schengen land border by the end of December, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said, according to Euractiv.

Ciolacu said COREPER could decide on Romania and Bulgaria joining Schengen with land borders early next month. This would mean that controls at land borders would be abolished in March, allowing Romanians to travel across the EU without border controls by Easter 2025, 20 April.

During the Easter holidays, Romanians will very likely be able to travel within the Schengen Area.

Interior Minister Cătălin Predoiu welcomed the statement of Magnus Brunner, Austria’s appointed Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, during a hearing in the European Parliament’s LIBE committee. Brunner spoke in favour of Romania and Bulgaria joining the Schengen land border area as soon as possible.

Discussions and negotiations are still ongoing.

At the same hearing, Bulgarian MEP Emil Radev expressed concern about the need for additional funding for border security in countries like Bulgaria.

Read more HERE

[doorsblacksea]

Black Sea development group to drive regeneration in coastal communities

An international group which aims to drive regeneration of communities on the coast of the Black Sea has been launched.

War-torn Ukraine is among the countries that will benefit from sustainable economic development sparked by the group.

The DOORS Black Sea Special Interest Group, co-ordinated by the University of Stirling, was launched today, October 31, which has been designated International Black Sea Action Day.

This year is the 28th anniversary of the signing of the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan, which aims to improve the lives of the 16 million people from six countries who live near the Sea’s shore.

The DOORS Black Sea Special Interest Group will consider innovative and emerging opportunities for investment in the blue economy in Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine.

The blue economy is the sustainable use of ocean, sea, and coastal resources for economic prosperity, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of marine ecosystems.

The DOORS Black Sea Special Interest Group brings together carefully selected entrepreneurs, researchers, and global statespeople to champion the distinct opportunities in this unique part of the world. Chaired by UK Parliamentarian, former First Minister of Scotland and University of Stirling Chancellor Lord Jack McConnell, membership includes former Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky, former NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson, and Galina Teleucă, Deputy Mayor of Jurilovca, Romania, a coastal community that has witnessed exemplary investment in blue economy infrastructure.

The themes being explored by the group include renewable energy, sustainable tourism, and aquaculture (fish and seafood farming). Innovative new technologies which can unlock an ability to understand the region’s environment in new ways are also being considered.

The group will develop a portfolio of investment opportunities to be published in spring 2025, connecting promising business prospects and budding entrepreneurs with investors.

Special Interest Group Chair Lord McConnell said: “The Black Sea and its coast is a remarkable region of Europe with a distinct history, but an even more promising future. There is definite, untapped potential to develop the region’s economic prospects sustainably, building a thriving blue economy that can benefit both people and planet.

“Our selected themes of renewables, tourism, and aquaculture not only offer the promise of increased employment and investment but can help to support the region’s transition to a greener future through energy security, food security, and a celebration of its shared past. By forging meaningful and transformative connections between innovators, entrepreneurs and investors, the DOORS research project will seize these exciting opportunities, helping to transform that vision of a prosperous, sustainable future into a reality.” 

The DOORS Black Sea Special Interest Group has been formed as part of Developing Optimal and Open Research Support for the Black Sea (DOORS), a €9 million EU-funded research project, linking science, policy, and industry for critical Black Sea regeneration. DOORS involves the University of Stirling alongside 34 partners from the Black Sea states and elsewhere in Europe.

Professor Adrian Stănică, Director of Romania’s National Institute for Research and Development on Marine Geology and Geo-ecology (GeoEcoMar) and DOORS Project Coordinator, said: “For more than three years, the DOORS project has been working to generate deeper knowledge and understanding of processes and dynamics of the Black Sea’s ecosystems, and the thresholds that we need to respect to have a healthy and productive sea. Our combined focus on research, innovation and engagement is helping to harmonise understanding and build collective action to drive real, sustainable change.

“Through the Special Interest Group, we’re bringing together these latest insights and data, with exciting new ideas and ambitions that can support both ecological recovery, and economic growth”. 

Professor Andrew Tyler, Scotland Hydro Nation Chair at the University of Stirling and Special Interest Group Member, said: “Within living memory, the Black Sea was facing ecological collapse, impacted by decades of pollution, overfishing, and the introduction of alien species. The Sea's fragile recovery is now threatened by new challenges, from conflict to climate change.

“New technologies are enabling more sophisticated, joined-up approaches to understanding the Black Sea, its environment, and our interaction with its ecosystems. This enhanced understanding can help foster intelligent new approaches to economic development, supporting new businesses and enabling more effective regulation.”

A thriving blue economy can also support stability in the region, where the ongoing war in Ukraine is having a marked impact on welfare and wellbeing. The Group hopes that its work can underpin the vital work of economic recovery in the region, both in Ukraine and further afield.

Nadezhda Neynsky, Former Bulgarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and member of the Special Interest Group, said: “War in the Black Sea region is having a catastrophic impact. We have all seen the human tragedy inflicted through Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The environmental impacts of the war, and its impact on livelihoods throughout the region, will also cast a long shadow. Now is the time to plan for the future, to invest in security through prosperity and partnership, and to foster new opportunities for the region’s people, businesses, and communities.”

[djuvlipen]

Are there orgs that specifically support Roma women? What are the top issues affecting Roma women and how can allies help?

So there are organizations that specifically "support" Romani women. However, neoliberal groups like the EU and private actors have been undermining them (in the case of grassroots orgs) or hijacking them to push a neoliberal agenda. Angéla Koczé, a Hungarian Romani radical feminist, has written extensively about that (there are links to it in my pinned post).

For example, in Romania, the country with the largest Romani population in the world, the largest Romani org is e-rromnja, which supports decriminalizing sex work. e-rromnja, as well as major EU-funded romani orgs like the ERRC, has worked with Antonella Lerca Duda, a Romani transwoman who created Sex Work Call, a pro-sex work organization that wants to decriminalize sex work. Sex Work Call is a member of the Global Network of Sex Work Projects, which is itself associated with the 'Red Umbrella' pimp lobby.

In Spain, the largest Romani 'feminist' organization is Gitanas Por La Diversidad, which also supports decriminalizing sex work and gender ideology.

In Germany, there's a Romani feminist organization called RomaniPhen, it has no stance on prostitution as far as I know, and is msotly aligned to EU-style corporatism. It's very inoffensive as far as I can tell.

So all the Romani feminist organizations are divided into what I'd call corporate feminism (ie pushing for Romani women's empowerment and pushing for their joining the entrepeneur class) and pro-sex work lobbies.

There are exceptions to this, it mostly takes the form of local initiatives.

The major exception is Amoun Sleem's Domari Society in Jerusalem, which aims at supporting the Palestinian Dom community (a people affiliated with Roma). It's not focused exclusively on women's issues but it's still a big part of their program: x

Personally, I think the biggest issues faced by Romani women right now are these:

Prostitution, pimping and sex trafficking. Romani women make up the bulk of the European sex trade. We are overrepresented in prostitution. Most prostitues in German and Dutch brothels are from Eastern Europe, and Romani women make up 50-90% of Eastern European prostitutes (I have more info about this in my pinned post)

Poverty. 80% of European Roma live at risk of high poverty. Women are particularly impacted, especially when it comes to healthcare and education access (not helped by segregation). It has been shown that lack of access to education increases risk of child marriage and unemployment. Overall, the average life expectancy is 15 years shorter for Roma than for the global European population. Romani women have higher risk of pregnancy complications than other European women.

Religion. Roma have been converting to the Evangelical Christian faith at a very alarming rate, in all of Europe. I think in some places, as much as a third of Roma are Evangelicals. This is a problem because Christian fundamentalism undermines organizing among Roma, prevents us from addressing the roots of our oppression (racism). For women, the Evangelical Christian faith means restriction, subjugation, being silenced, being policed, being forced to marry a man and give up our lives for men, being powerless. I have a post about that in my pinned as well.

As to how can allies help... I don't think you can, sadly. I don't think we can even help ourselves. The situation is too dire and our movement has been cut out before it could even start. Romani people didn't have time to start organizing to fight racism before liberals took over and start pushing for capitalism when Roma are the most impacted by capitalism in Europe. Romani women didn't have time to start fighting sexism before liberals started saying we should legalize pimping Romani women. Maybe raising awareness about all of this is the first step: people usually are very unaware of the full extant of anti-Roma racism and of the misogyny Romani women face. If we have to take the more radical path, we should push for the abolition of the sex trade, of patriarchy, of capitalism (including the EU, who has been killing our movements for decades!) and of white supremacy, because it's what has been killing Romani women for centuries now

But there is so much work to do and so little women who want to get mobilized that I don't see how we could achieve liberation one day. Sigh

[b2bbusiness]

Eastern Europe Construction Market: Opportunities and Growth in 2024

The Eastern Europe construction market has seen significant expansion over the past decade, driven by infrastructure modernization, increased foreign investment, and urban development projects. The region's unique position as a bridge between Western Europe and Asia presents a range of opportunities for the construction sector, making it one of the most promising markets in Europe. In this article, we will explore the key factors influencing the construction market in Eastern Europe, emerging trends, and future growth prospects for 2024 and beyond.

1. Market Overview

Eastern Europe’s construction market covers a wide array of sectors, including residential, commercial, infrastructure, and industrial construction. Countries such as Poland, Hungary, Romania, and the Czech Republic are among the key players driving the region’s construction industry forward. In recent years, several factors have contributed to this growth:

Economic Growth: Eastern Europe has experienced steady economic expansion, which has fostered demand for new construction projects. Increased household income and urbanization have created a higher need for residential and commercial buildings.

EU Investments: European Union funding plays a vital role in infrastructure development across Eastern Europe, particularly in transportation and energy projects. This funding aims to improve the region's connectivity and competitiveness, enhancing the overall business climate.

Urbanization: Rapid urbanization, particularly in capital cities like Warsaw, Prague, and Bucharest, has spurred demand for housing, office spaces, and retail complexes. Developers are meeting this demand with large-scale construction projects.

2. Key Sectors in Eastern Europe’s Construction Market

a. Residential Construction

Residential construction remains one of the fastest-growing sectors, driven by a housing shortage in many countries. High demand for affordable housing in urban areas is pushing both local and international developers to invest heavily in this sector. In addition, the increasing interest in sustainable and energy-efficient buildings is shaping new residential projects.

b. Infrastructure Projects

Massive infrastructure development projects are transforming Eastern Europe’s landscape. Governments, supported by EU funding, are focusing on transportation networks, including highways, railways, and airports, to improve regional connectivity. Countries like Romania and Bulgaria are actively working on large-scale infrastructure projects to enhance trade and tourism.

c. Commercial Real Estate

Commercial construction, including office buildings, shopping malls, and hotels, is also booming. As international businesses expand into Eastern Europe, cities like Warsaw and Prague are experiencing a surge in demand for modern office spaces. The growing tourism sector has also stimulated hotel construction, especially in tourist-heavy destinations such as Budapest and Prague.

d. Industrial Construction

The region's strategic location as a logistics hub between Western Europe and Asia is fostering growth in industrial construction. Many international companies are setting up manufacturing and distribution facilities in Eastern Europe due to its competitive labor costs, strategic location, and improving infrastructure.

3. Emerging Trends in Eastern Europe’s Construction Industry

a. Sustainability and Green Construction

Sustainability has become a central theme in the construction market, with governments and developers alike prioritizing eco-friendly buildings. The EU’s green transition agenda has accelerated the adoption of energy-efficient technologies, renewable energy sources, and sustainable building materials. Eastern Europe is expected to see a rise in green-certified buildings in the coming years.

b. Smart Cities and Digitalization

With the rise of smart city initiatives, Eastern Europe is incorporating digital technologies into urban development. Smart buildings, automated infrastructure, and advanced energy management systems are becoming more prevalent. These technologies are improving the efficiency and sustainability of urban areas, making cities more attractive to both businesses and residents.

c. Foreign Investment

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Eastern Europe’s construction market continues to grow. International construction firms and real estate investors are drawn to the region due to its lower costs compared to Western Europe and its potential for high returns. This influx of capital is fueling further expansion in the construction sector.

4. Challenges Facing the Market

Despite the positive outlook, the Eastern European construction market faces several challenges:

Labor Shortages: A lack of skilled workers is a significant issue, particularly in fast-growing markets like Poland and Hungary. Many countries are grappling with labor shortages, driving up wages and slowing down project timelines.

Regulatory Barriers: Varying regulations between countries can complicate cross-border projects, making it harder for international companies to enter the market. Understanding local legal frameworks is crucial for navigating these complexities.

Material Costs: Rising material costs, driven by global supply chain disruptions, can impact the profitability of construction projects. Companies are increasingly turning to local suppliers and adopting modular construction techniques to mitigate these costs.

5. Future Outlook for 2024 and Beyond

The Eastern European construction market is expected to grow steadily in the coming years. Key growth drivers include:

EU Funding Continuation: Ongoing EU funding for infrastructure and energy projects will continue to be a critical factor in the market's growth. The European Green Deal, with its focus on sustainability and renewable energy, will further shape construction practices across the region.

Foreign Investment: As more international investors look towards Eastern Europe for opportunities, the region is poised to see a rise in large-scale construction projects. In particular, the logistics, commercial, and industrial sectors are likely to attract significant capital in 2024.

Urban Development: Urbanization trends will continue to drive demand for housing, office spaces, and retail complexes, especially in major cities. Countries like Poland and Romania are likely to see robust growth in their urban construction sectors.

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[mariacallous]

Members of the European Parliament voted on Wednesday by 508 to 53 with 104 abstentions for a resolution calling on Russia to respect Moldova’s independence and cease political interference ahead of presidential elections and a referendum on EU integration in Moldova on October 20.

The resolution denounced “voter bribery, cyber operations and information warfare”, according to the European Parliament website.

It said there were “a plethora of malicious actors, including pro-Russian Moldovan oligarchs and Russia’s state-funded RT network” involved in trying to sway voters against Moldova’s pro-European orientation.

The resolution noted that Moldovan security services have estimate that Russia has spent approximately 100 million euros to undermine the upcoming electoral process to get Moldovans to vote against closer ties with the EU.

The resolution came as the EU reportedly slapped sanctions on the pro-Russian governor of Moldova’s southern Gagauzia region, Evghenia Gutul, according to Radio Free Europe. 

Gutul, who claims her pro-Kremlin, anti-EU local administration in Gagauzia has the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has previously been sanctioned by the US.

She and other officials in Gagauzia were sanctioned for alleged attempts to destabilise the country in cooperation with the oligarch Ilan Shor. Convicted of large-scale fraud, Shor is currently a fugitive from justice and lives in Moscow, from where he has been seeking to influence the upcoming referendum.

The other official sanctioned were Yuri Cuznetov, deputy head of the department for external relations, Ilia Uzun, deputy president of the executive committee of Gagauzia, Mihail Vlah, deputy governor and press adviser to Gutul, and Evrazia, a pro-Shor organisation.

Gutul has not yet commented on the sanctions but said on X on Tuesday that “elections in Moldova have ceased to resemble any kind of democratic process” because of court cases against her and her allies.

In a separate development on Tuesday, a Russian-Ukrainian citizen involved in political activities on the part of pro-Russian parties in Moldova before the October 20 elections was deported to Ukraine after being arrested in Chisinau.

Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, said that the deportee, Dimitri Cistilin, 60, was “one of the Kremlin’s ideologues of the ‘special military operation’ against Ukraine”.

The SBU also stated that Cistilin is an assistant to Vladimir Putin’s former adviser, Sergei Glaziev, who was involved in the takeover of the Crimea, Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine and in developing an “‘information warfare strategy’ that justified the large-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia”.

Cistilin faces life imprisonment and the confiscation of his property in Ukraine if convicted.

Ukrainian intelligence officers stated that Cistillin interfered in the Moldovan elections through his involvement in organising a ‘March of Peace’ in Chisinau on October 6. 

At the march, priests prayed for the well-being of Victoria Furtuna and Vasile Tarlev, two candidates for the presidential elections who are alleged to be close to the Kremlin and the fugitive oligarch Shor.

Before Moldova, from September 20-22, Cistillin was in Bucharest, Romania, where he organised a discussion event involving Diana Sosoaca, an MEP with pro-Russian views, and as well Moldovan presidential candidate Furtuna.

The Chisinau authorities believe Russia’s interference in the presidential elections and in the October 20 referendum is intended to derail Moldova from its path towards EU membership.

Moldova was granted candidate status by EU in June 2022 and has set a target date of 2030 for accession.

[palmoilnews]

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