Latest news with #EU-level
Hans India
2 days ago
- General
- Hans India
In Brussels, Indian delegation conveys unified message of zero tolerance against terrorism
Brussels: The all-party Parliamentary delegation from India led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday engaged with members of the Indian diaspora and leading Brussels-based think tanks, underscoring India's unwavering commitment to combating cross-border terrorism. The diaspora members expressed deep solidarity with the victims of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reaffirmed their strong support for India in its efforts to counter terrorism. The delegates also paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Indian Embassy in Belgium, reaffirming India's enduring commitment to peace, non-violence, and tolerance. Earlier in the day, Indian Ambassador to Belgium Saurabh Kumar interacted with the members of the delegation, briefing them about the priorities and strategic agenda of India, including counter-terrorism cooperation. Ambassador Kumar received the delegation on their arrival in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, following their successful visit to the UK. The visit marks the continuation of strengthening international partnerships and advancing India's strategic engagements "Today, I, along with my distinguished colleagues from the all-party delegation, arrived in Brussels, where we were warmly received by Ambassador Saurabh Kumar. Our two-day visit will focus on fostering international cooperation to combat cross-border terrorism through a series of strategic meetings," Prasad posted on X on Wednesday. During the visit, a series of meetings are scheduled over the next two days, aimed at consolidating global consensus against cross-border terrorism. "The delegation will have interactions at the European Union-level and with Belgian authorities on the scourge of terrorism including cross-border terrorism and the recent heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and India's response to the same, and the country's will and determination to put an end to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," read a statement issued by Indian Embassy in Brussels. Apart from meetings at the EU-level and with Belgium authorities, the delegation will also have interactions with think-tanks and media during the visit. The nine-member delegation includes a diverse political representation: Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), Daggubati Purandeswari (BJP), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena-UBT), Ghulam Ali Khatana (BJP), Amar Singh (Congress), Samik Bhattacharya (BJP), M. Thambidurai (AIADMK), former Union Minister M.J. Akbar, and former Ambassador Pankaj Saran. After concluding visits to France, Italy, Denmark, and the UK, the Indian delegation is in Belgium as a part of India's global diplomatic outreach campaign to highlight the significance of Operation Sindoor and India's continued fight against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism.
Mid East Info
4 days ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
ECB Preview: How many more cuts should we expect?
By Daniela Sabin Hathorn, senior market analyst at The European Central Bank (ECB) will hold its next monetary policy meeting on Thursday, June 5, with markets widely anticipating another interest rate cut. Interest Rate Outlook: At its most recent meeting in April, the ECB reduced its key interest rates by 25 basis points, bringing the deposit facility rate to 2.25%. Markets are now pricing in another cut in June, though expectations for further easing beyond that remain uncertain. A potential pause in July is gaining traction, as the ECB evaluates incoming economic data and inflation dynamics. Source: refinitiv Economic Considerations: The ECB's policy decisions hinge on maintaining a stable balance between inflation control and supporting economic growth. Inflation in the Eurozone is projected to ease further throughout 2025. The preliminary May CPI reading, due two days before the meeting, is forecast by Reuters to show headline inflation falling to the ECB's 2% target. A confirmation of this decline would likely reinforce the case for another rate cut. However, given the central bank has already eased rates by 175 basis points over the past year, divergence within the Governing Council has emerged. Some members advocate for caution, signalling that the timing and pace of further rate cuts are still subject to debate. On the growth front, the Eurozone faces headwinds from global trade tensions and subdued consumer demand. Rising mortgage payments are already prompting households to cut spending or dip into savings, posing a risk to overall consumption. However, recent GDP data indicates modest resilience, with quarterly growth picking up modestly over the past year. The ECB has also stressed the importance of structural financial reforms and joint EU-level investments, particularly in defence and technology, to enhance long-term economic stability. Market Implications: Investors will be closely parsing the ECB's language for signals on the future path of interest rates. A dovish stance, including a June rate cut with a signal of continued easing, would likely boost European equities, especially rate-sensitive sectors, as lower yields make stocks more attractive than bonds. In currency markets, a dovish ECB would likely weaken the euro, especially against the US dollar, given expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold rates steady for longer. This could extend recent downside pressure on EUR/USD. Conversely: If the ECB cuts rates but expresses concern about lingering inflation risks, this could unsettle equity markets while offering some support to the euro. A hawkish stance, involving either no rate cut or messaging that downplays further easing, may pressure equities but could strengthen EUR/USD, particularly if the ECB expresses greater confidence in the Eurozone's economic resilience. Conclusion: The ECB's June meeting will be a pivotal moment in determining the trajectory of monetary policy for the second half of 2025. With inflation nearing target and economic signals still mixed, the central bank must carefully navigate the trade-off between supporting growth and anchoring price stability.
Euronews
4 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
Closing the gap: policy, tools and trust in farming's future
Europe's farmers are calling for change, not charity. A new Ipsos survey reveals a profession ready to evolve, given the right tools, support and political will. One year after widespread protests placed agriculture at the heart of Europe's political agenda, the mood has shifted. Farmers are no longer demanding attention—they're demanding results. The Farmers' Horizon 2025 survey, conducted by Ipsos across nine European countries and commissioned by CropLife Europe, identifies what farmers urgently need to achieve sustainable growth: smarter policy, fair access to innovation, and deeper collaboration across the sector. In our final article in the series, we outline how to get there, based on representative voices and expert insights. Farmers are not opposed to regulation. But many feel trapped in a system that makes it harder – not easier – to adopt sustainable practices. Heavy administrative burdens are cited as a major obstacle, with 57 per cent of surveyed farmers calling for simpler rules and clearer guidance. At the Farmers' Horizon survey launch event, Elli Tsiforou, Secretary General of Copa-Cogeca, summed it up: 'Overproduction of policies – some contradictory – makes it hard for farmers to implement them on the ground. We need to be more pragmatic.' Rather than create new frameworks, the focus now must be on improving what exists—streamlining audits, speeding up payments, and aligning national and EU-level regulations. Things that the new Commission seems to be trying to put into practice. What's feasible: Maintaining a dedicated, well-funded CAP – adjusted for inflation – is seen as a priority for stability in the sector. Farmers and their representatives seek clarity and security regarding the future CAP budget, especially as proposals for a 'single fund' merging CAP and Cohesion Policy are debated. Policy adjustments should also reflect market insights, such as those gathered by the EU Agri-Food Chain Observatory, where increased transparency in the food chain can help tackle unfair trading practices and secure fairer product prices for farmers. Digital farming tools – from satellite imaging to precision application software – are no longer experimental. However, adoption remains low: just 20–30 per cent of farmers use them, and two-thirds lack the financial resources to invest in the technology. Many small- and medium-scale farms in rural regions face barriers to technological adoption, lacking upfront investment as well as technical training and consistent internet access. To address this, financial incentives must go hand-in-hand with support for digital literacy and rural connectivity expansion. Jens Hartmann, Chair of CropLife Europe, pointed to a clear opportunity: 'It's our task to ensure that an end-to-end innovative toolbox is available.' What's feasible: Advisory services should be expanded to include digital training and peer-to-peer learning, helping farmers make informed decisions about which tools to adopt. Member States should invest in rural infrastructure and scale pilot projects, demonstrating how digital tools boost both productivity and sustainability. To avoid farmers feeling left trapped between climate pressures and practical limitations, there is an urgent call for authorities to ease the transition by ensuring access to affordable, effective tools – and sufficient time to implement any changes. One in three farmers across surveyed countries report difficulty accessing basic crop protection tools and many cited regulatory delays and added expense as obstacles to adopting new, environmentally friendly products like biopesticides, seeds and biological treatments. These findings tell us that crops are not sufficiently protected from pests and diseases. Currently the transitional burden is causing pessimism, but Théo Paquet, Senior Policy Officer for Agriculture at the European Environmental Bureau insists there is opportunity here. If authorities compensated more highly for green measures and good results, farmers would be incentivised to show sustainable ambition. In this way, farmer's can make money while serving the collective good. This helps to future-proof the sector and reestablish the profession as an attractive option for future generations. What's feasible: Fast-tracking low-risk crop protection products and subsidising green inputs would create a smoother path for adoption. Advisory schemes and basic income support can help guide farmers through this shift, helping them maintain yields while meeting sustainability targets. With 22 per cent of farmers planning to leave the sector within five years – and the average age of European farmers steadily rising – the future of farming rests increasingly on the young generation. 'Not a single farmer wants to give the farm to the next generation in a worse condition than they received it,' said Jens Hartmann, Chair of CropLife Europe. For younger people to choose farming, the profession must offer more than subsistence. It must offer tools, purpose and a path to profitability. To achieve this, it is more imperative than ever for policymakers, environmentalists and industry experts on the ground work together to unite theory and practice. This means involving farmers directly in policy design, expanding peer-to-peer learning networks and strengthening agri-cooperatives that ensure fairer value distribution. Innovative and collaborative models for sustainable farming already exist. In Ireland and Germany, they have proven effective in everything from manure management to shared smart farming technologies. With the right funding, support and access, these successes can be replicated across Europe. By focusing on real-world delivery and practical solutions, in collaboration with the farming community, European farming could emerge not only more resilient, but renewed.
Agriland
19-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Minister urged to grant additional powers to Agri-Food Regulator
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) president Francie Gorman has called on Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon to grant additional powers to the Agri-Food Regulator (An Rialálaí Agraibhia). The office of the Agri-Food regulator, which was established in December 2023, is concerned with promoting fairness and transparency in the agri-food supply chain. It has responsibility for enforcement of the Unfair Trading Practices (UTPs) Directive and also has a market data analysis and price transparency function. Agri-Food Regulator The IFA president said that additional powers are needed so the Agri-Food Regulator can compel businesses in the agri-food supply chain to provide price and market information when requested. 'After 18 months in operation, the minister must act now and grant these additional powers that will allow the office to compel businesses to provide necessary market information when requested. The current powers are clearly not sufficient,' Gorman said. 'IFA is aware of a number of large retailers that did not provide information to the Agri-Food Regulator when asked. 'The office should be in a position to produce price and market reports on all sectors of the food supply chain. 'IFA is aware that the Agri-Food Regulator reported back to the minister for agriculture in September 2024 on the initial establishment of the office and indicated the need for these additional powers. 'This request has not been acted upon to date, but the IFA president said now is the time to grant these additional powers. 'This office is critical to providing a more even playing pitch for farmers and smaller suppliers in the food supply chain and to lessen the impact of a few large retailers or multinational food companies,' he added. Meanwhile, the Agri-Food Regulator will hold its inaugural conference at the Johnstown Estate Hotel, Co. Meath tomorrow (Tuesday, May 20). The regulator will announce the findings of its survey into trading relationships between suppliers of agri-food products to the largest Irish retail and wholesale businesses. The event will also examine the move at national and EU-level towards greater transparency and fairness for primary producers, following on from the recent publication of the EU Commission's 'Vision for Agriculture and Food'.
Euronews
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
‘I'm very worried about the coarseness of language,' Irish PM tells Euronews
Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin has expressed deep concern about the increasingly hostile tone of political discourse across Europe and the United States, attributing the rise in aggression to the widespread influence of social media. "I'm very worried about the coarseness of language in public discourse at the moment, no matter where you go, even in Ireland," Martin told Euronews. "And social media has facilitated this, this kind of sharp soundbite of hate, of dismissing everybody if you don't agree with their view, of labelling people and putting people into pigeonholes." "The capacity to have debate, as we're having now, is fast slipping away from the public realm a bit and that worries me," the Irish prime minister added. Turning his attention to Hungary, Martin criticised the sometimes inflammatory rhetoric coming out of Budapest. "I look at some of the rhetoric that's emanating from the Hungarian government towards Europe. Saying 'we'll conquer Europe, or we'll take them over,'" said. Martin warned that such language can inflame public opinion 'very negatively.' The premier also took aim at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for blocking EU-level decisions regarding Ukraine, particularly those related to enlargement and the European Peace Facility (EPF), the EU's main tool for supplying military assistance to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's full-scale invasion. Martin voiced his alarm over what he sees as an erosion of fundamental rights across the EU, criticising Orbán's 'abuse of the veto' to obstruct decisions on Ukraine. While Ireland, as a neutral country, does not supply weapons to Ukraine, it contributes to the EPF through non-lethal military support. With the EPF facing significant delays, EU countries have resorted to bilateral arms transfers. Ireland, for example, has recently partnered with Lithuania to build bomb shelters for schools in Odesa. Martin accused Orbán of exploiting EU rules, reiterating support for triggering Article 7, a mechanism that can suspend a member state's voting rights in cases of persistent rule-of-law violations. "People are exploiting the mechanisms of the veto," he said. "Unreasonably in my view, unreasonably." Hungary is also blocking progress on Ukraine's EU membership bid and frequently condemns Western political and military backing for Kyiv. In contrast, Dublin is among the most vocal EU capitals in support of enlargement and backs Ukraine's accession. "It's outrageous what's going on at the moment. In my view, it's essential that Ukraine becomes a member of the European Union for geopolitical reasons," Martin said. "Europe has made a lot of attempts to try and unblock these. Likewise, the EPF, the European Peace Facility has slowed down Ireland's contribution to Ukraine." As the EU deals with a shifting security landscape, discussions around defence spending and cooperation are intensifying, including proposals for common borrowing to finance shared defence needs. Martin offered a rational view on whether Ireland supports such an approach. "I think on defence we accept the inevitability that in terms of the multi-financial framework there will be member states who will want some portion of that to be allocated to defence needs," he said. "Ireland has no interest in getting in the way of other countries in terms of their necessities, their existential sense of having to protect themselves given the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that has changed the entire security paradigm in Europe." While maintaining its long-standing policy of neutrality, Ireland is increasingly involved in European security efforts. Martin pointed to the country's vulnerabilities in areas such as cyber security and the protection of subsea cables, which are critical for communications and data flows. "Ireland itself understands we have vulnerabilities on cyber security, on subsea cable and protecting those, and that's why we're involved in a lot of PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation) projects — or quite a number of PESCO projects — on that," he said.
