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Last week, an important vote took place at the European Parliament to approve recommendations on the existing EU laws on live animal transport. Animal welfare has been a hot and sensitive topic for a while now, drawing attention across the board, yet Members of the EU Parliament (MEPs) showed nothing but a total lack of ambition when it came to improve the dreadful conditions in which millions of animals are transported. Even Stella Kyriakides opening speech, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, reminding her audience that animal welfare is a priority within the EU Farm to Fork strategy, did not have the desired effect.

Last December,the Committee ofInquiry of the European Parliament on the transport of live animals (ANIT) published its recommendations, demanding that rules on the duration and conditions of animal transport be tightened, due to the numerous breaches of existing regulations. Unfortunately, last weeks vote goes in the opposite direction, in fact watering down the already weak Committees text.

Overall, MEPs agreed for a ban on transport of very young calves, while calling for a shift to transport of meat and genetic material instead of live animals whenever possible. Unfortunately, they did not commit to limiting travel time to eight hours, leaving ample room for longer journeys for most animal species. They also suggested installing CCTV cameras in vehicles to ensure more effective control, and expressed their wish to have stricter transport requirements, i.e. limits on temperature, humidity and ammonia levels in vehicles. They did, however, reject all amendments to ban the transport of animals in a late state of pregnancy, and of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses born less than 35 days before departure (the 4-week age limit remains only for calves).

If eight hours seem too few sang the workers during the trade union struggles of the early 20th century, to assert their right to an eight-hour working day. It is now time to consider the right for animals to be treated as sentient beings, as enshrined in the 2007 Lisbon Treaty. If one thinks of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes which clearly states the five freedoms for animal welfare, it is hard to understand how MEPs can fail to take more radical measures.

Every year, millions of live animals are transported within and outside European Union territory, for slaughter, for breeding purposes, from one farm to another, for fattening, etc.On most cases, it is due to the current high specialisation of production cycles: for example, a region is specialized in breeding, another one in fattening, and another one in slaughtering and processing. Another reason is trade: the market expects animals to be sold alive.

Inevitably, every journeyinvolvessuffering. Most often, live animal transport causesstress (animals are sentientbeings andare not used to be moved by vehicle), overcrowding (animals are usually crammed in small spaces during travel), exhaustion and dehydration (especially during the hottest summer months). Whats more, unexpected situations can cause travelling duration to last longer, incidents can occur in which animals lose their lives. Last but not least, live animal transport favors disease spreading.

Solutions do exist to improve the current situation, among which are the creation of small slaughterhouses in the proximity of farms, or mobile slaughterhouses; and the strengthening of local food systems to make them more efficient and resilient. This way, farmers would be more connected to their territories and consumers would be more aware of where their meat comes from.

[Originally published in Il Manifesto on 27/01/2022]

More:
Live-Animal Transport in the EU Will Remain Inhumane - Slow Food International

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) The European Union has asked Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to halt the execution of Matthew Reeves on the grounds of Mr. Reeves intellectual disability.

Reeves execution is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 27, but it is currently blocked by a federal court order. Lawyers for the State of Alabama have appealed that order to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which has not yet ruled on the matter.

In a letter released by the European Union on Monday, Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis wrote that executing Reeves is contrary to widely accepted human rights norms and standards. Ivey should grant clemency or issue a temporary reprieve in Reeves case, Lambrinidis said.

Mr. Reeves IQ range is in the 60s, placing him in the borderline range of intelligence, the letter said. We also understand that Alabama law allows death row inmates to choose their method of execution and that Mr. Reeves intellectual disability prevented him from choosing his preferred method of nitrogen hypoxia. In the case of Mr. Reeves, capital punishment would constitute excessive punishment.

Reeves, who was convicted of the 1996 murder of Willie Johnson, is challenging his execution by lethal injection in federal court. In his lawsuit, Reeves argues that the state violated his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when they did not aid him in understanding a form that would have allowed him to opt into an execution via nitrogen suffocation.

An execution using nitrogen suffocation, which involves replacing oxygen needed to breathe with nitrogen gas, has never been carried out in the United States. Execution through the use of nitrogen suffocation was approved by the Alabama Legislature in 2018. Oklahoma and Mississippi are the only other states to allow the practice.

In its letter, the EU said it recognizes that the murder of Willie Johnson was a terrible crime deserving of strong punishment, but that executing Reeves can never mitigate for loss of life.

Asked for a response to the EUs letter and other requests for clemency in the case, Gina Maiola, Gov. Iveys director of communications, did not directly address whether the governor will heed calls to stop the execution.

As with any case, the governor takes these very seriously and will thoroughly review all of the facts and information, Maiola said via email.

This is not the first time the EU has weighed in on U.S. executions. On Monday, the union of 27 countries also asked that Oklahomas governor halt the execution of Donald Anthony Grant. In 2018, it asked Ivey to halt the execution of Vernon Madison.

You can read the EUs full letter to Ivey below.

See the rest here:
European Union asks Alabama governor to halt execution of Matthew Reeves - WIAT - CBS42.com

The summit of the European Union and the African Union leaders will take place on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 February 2022 in the Justus Lipsius and the Europa buildings in Brussels.

Due to the sanitary conditions related to the covid-19 pandemic, the availability of working spaces and to ensure safe working conditions, the General Secretariat of the Council (GSC) will establish a maximum number of media representatives that can be accredited. This number will depend on the evolution of the situation and the safety measures decided by the Institution.

The covid-19 regime for the meeting will be published closer to the meeting. The respect of the established rules is an essential condition to obtain the accreditation.

We will provide details on media facilities available and their opening hours in due course to accredited journalists.

Media representatives wishing to cover the meeting in person are required to register in advance, following thislink

For more information, please also consult theMedia accreditation page

Media representatives are strongly advised to apply as soon as possible to allow for sufficient time to process the requests.

Should the number of requests exceed the maximum capacity, a selection will be made by applying the following three criteria in sequence until maximum capacity is reached:

Media representatives that will be accredited will receive a confirmation email.

In order to make the best use of the capacity available, please inform the press centre immediately should you finally decide not to attend in person, via e-mail:[emailprotected]

A media accreditation desk will be set up at thethe LEX building (Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat, 145)outside the security perimeter, to allow for collection ofbadges during the event.

Media attending the summit will be required to follow any public health regulations in place at the time, including Belgium entry requirements for those traveling into the country (please check on https://www.info-coronavirus.be/en/travels/), as well as any additional measures decided by the institution to ensure a safe working environment.

Detailed information on the covid-19 related rules will be communicated in due course.

The joint press conference(s) in the JL Press Room will be run in hybrid mode with:

Connection information will be shared via instant messaging (Signal) or email.

A detailed programme will be published at a later stage. Depending on the sanitary conditions and the need to guarantee a safe working environment for everyone, please note that opportunities such as roundtables or doorsteps will be restricted to media pools.

In case of doorsteps, they will take place both in the Justus Lipsius (JL VIP entrance) and the Europa (EB Forum) buildings.

The doorstep areas will be accessible only to a limited media pool, due to the constraints imposed by the available space and the respect of the social distancing rules. To maximise opportunities for journalists, priority will be given to reporters (i.e. journalists asking questions). Host camera and sound services will be available in the area.

Videos and photos of the Summit will be available on:

Excerpt from:
Media advisory - European Union/African Union summit on 17 and 18 February 2022 - EU News

A European court announced Wednesday that it overturned a $1.2 billion fine on Intel, which the European Union had imposed on the semiconductor chip manufacturer in 2009 over alleged violations of antitrust laws.

The European Commission, the executive branch of the EU, accused Intel of abusing its position as a global leader for x86 computer microprocessors and excluding competitors from the market, stretching from October 2002 to December 2007.

The EU alleged that Intel granted rebates to four equipment manufacturers, including Dell and Lenovo, which were conditional on the companies purchasing microprocessors from Intel.

But the General Court of the European Union found the EU's claims of anticompetitive behavior from Intel "incomplete," according to a press release.

"The commissions analysis is incomplete and does not make it possible to establish to the requisite legal standard that the rebates at issue were capable of having, or likely to have, anticompetitive effects," the court said in the release.

In 2014, following the EU's fine, the General Court dismissed action brought by Intel to contest the anticompetitive claims. But the EU's Court of Justice heard an appeal on the matter and referred the case back to the General Court.

Intel's general counsel, Steve Rodgers, said he welcomed the ruling because the company "always believed that our actions regarding rebates were lawful and did not harm competition."

"The semiconductor industry has never been more competitive than it is today and we look forward to continuing to invest and grow in Europe," he said in a statement to The Hill.

The Hill has reached out to the European Commission for comment.

Here is the original post:
EU court sides with Intel in appeal of $1.2B antitrust fine | TheHill - The Hill

Ahead of the International Day of Education on 24 January, the European Commission and High Representative/Vice-President JosepBorrellmade the following statement:

Education is essential to the global recovery and the achievement of all Sustainable Development Goals. It is a fundamental right and the foundation of resilient, peaceful and sustainable societies. Education is the basis and a catalyst for the green transition. It enables citizens to harness the opportunities of digital development. It brings hope and protection to those affected by humanitariancrises and forced displacement. Quality education is a vital part of the development of every child and young person.

2022 is the European Year of Youth and the 35thanniversary of the Erasmus programme. The EU reaffirms the paramount importance of quality education for the personal, social and professional development of children and young people, in and beyond the European Union, tobuild a better and more equitable future, reduce socio-economic and gender inequalities, and promote peace and democracy.

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, 260 million children and adolescents worldwide were not receiving education. And those who did, did not always have access to quality education. The pandemic has exacerbated inequalities in education with a disproportionate impact on disadvantaged groups,around the world.

In the EU, we have embarked on an ambitious plan for a European Education Area by 2025, with shared goals and flagship initiatives bringing the 27 Member States together even more. Education is a major channel for the EU's engagement with other parts of the world.

The European Union is stepping up its commitment to education with the aim that every child and young person can access education, master at least reading, writing, basic math and digital skills, and be prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century as engaged global citizens. This will include the skills and competences to navigate the online environment safely and responsibly. With the Digital Education Action Plan, we support the sustainable and effective adaptation of the education and training systems of EU Member States to the digital age. With Europe's Digital Decade the EU is working towards an ambitious yet, attainable - target: by 2030 at least 80% of all adults should have basic digital skills. The Commission will also continue to support the EU Code Week, which provides training for teachers and gives millions of children hands-on experience in coding and digital creativity every year.

The EU continues to invest in quality education with a lifelong learning perspective through inclusive and equitable education systems, paying particular attention to girls, women, and vulnerable groups. The EU institutions and EU MemberStates, as Team Europe, support partner countries to transform their education systems post-pandemic and to address deficits and inequalities in teaching, training, and learning at all levels.

The EU continues as a leading voice in education in emergencies, providing access to safe, inclusive and quality education to millions of children affected by humanitarian crises and conflicts.

Europe will particularly work with partner governments on teachers' training and governance to ensure quality education outcomes.

TheErasmus+ programmefacilitates mobility of students, staff, teachers, and trainees, and strengthen networks and peer learning across higher education institutions. These opportunities are open for people from all over the world. The EU will also work with partner countries to strengthen cooperation on research and innovation, for example through Horizon Europe.

These initiatives align with the Global Gateway strategy's provisions for people-to-people connectivity.

Partnerships with civil society, the private sector and global education stakeholders, will be key to fostering global citizenship.

Background

The EU institutions and Member States together contribute more than half of all global aid to education, supporting the education sector in more than 100 countries all around the world. During the period 20212027, the European Commission will dedicate at least 10% of its international partnerships budget with Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and Asia and the Pacific, and 10% of its humanitarian aid budget, to education.

The European Commission will also continue engaging, as a priority, with the Western Balkans, Turkey and the Neighbourhood regions to strengthen education systems, addressing skills mismatch with the labour market and enhancing joint cooperation with education institutions including mobility of students and teachers.

For More Information

Global Gateway

Erasmus+

European Education Area

European Pillar of Social Rights

Education in Emergencies

Education | International Partnerships

EU Code Week

European Youth Portal

Go here to see the original:
International Day of Education: Statement by the European Commission and the High Representative - European Commission