European Union a Titanic Wreck in Waiting?
The European Union has been called the most ambitious political project in history, but it faces a very troubled future. And in politics, as in boxing, the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
By: CBN News
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European Union a Titanic Wreck in Waiting? - Video
JERUSALEM, September 9, 2014 (WAFA) - The European Union and the Ministry for Social Affairs organized on Tuesday an award ceremony in Ramallah for social workers involved in paying social allowances to those most in need through the PA's cash transfer programme, Tuesday said a press release by the Office of the European Union Representative.
The aim of the ceremony was to express appreciation for the exceptional efforts of social workers from all directorates and branch offices. The ceremony was attended by more than 250 employees from the ministry. Forty employees were honored with awards for their outstanding performance and efforts in improving the services provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs.
The ceremony was attended by the European Union Representative, John Gatt-Rutter, and Dr. Mohammed Abu Hmeid, Deputy Minister of Social Affairs, and Daoud al-Deek, Assistant to the Deputy Minister for Planning, and Anwar Hamam, Assistant to the Deputy Minister for Directorates' Affairs, and representatives of the directorates and the general directors and heads of units and the advisors at the ministry.
Gatt-Rutter said: Since 2008, the EU and other donors have contributed over 240 million to the payment of social allowances. We have also provided technical assistance to promote good practice and help implement in full the national Social Protection Sector strategy. In the last years, a great deal has been achieved. This would not have been possible without the efforts of all the employees at the Ministry of Social Affairs, especially the social workers.
He added that, we are very proud of our longstanding partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs and we will continue to support its commitment to the poorest and most vulnerable Palestinian families.
'I would like to take this opportunity', he added, 'to pay particular tribute to the exceptional efforts of social workers in Gaza over the past months where much of our support for vulnerable Palestinian families is focused.
For his part, Daoud AlDeek, Assistant to the Deputy Minister for Planning, said: 'This is an important gesture of recognition by the European Union of the efforts of social workers to help address the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable'. He commended the dedication of all and that of those who had received awards in particular.
A group of employees consisting of field researchers, technical trainers, and service workers, who had received special appreciation for their efforts, were honored in the ceremony.
T.R.
Continued here:
European Union and Ministry for Social Affairs host Award Ceremony for Social Workers
BRUSSELS: The European Union agreed to a new wave of sanctions against Russia on Monday (Sep 8), but said their entry into force would take a few days, giving time to recent peace moves by Moscow.
"Depending on the situation on the ground, the EU stands ready to review the agreed sanctions in whole or in part," said Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council in a statement, after a last-minute meeting of EU envoys in Brussels.
European capitals were supposed to give formal approval early on Monday to the sanctions - which include limiting access to financial markets by Russian oil giants - but had failed to do so after falling short of an unanimous agreement on the measures.
The delay came as some of the EU's member states in eastern Europe - still dependent on Russian trade and energy ties - were uneasy at ratcheting up the sanctions, and as a tenuous Ukraine ceasefire appeared to be holding.
But after more than three hours of last-minute talks, a breakthrough was achieved. "A package of further restrictive measures against Russia has been adopted by the Council today (through written procedure), deepening the targeted measures of 31 July," Van Rompuy said.
As is practice with EU sanctions, the decision and exact content of the measures will only be revealed once they are published in the official journal, a process that can take several days. "This will leave time for an assessment of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the peace plan," Von Rompuy said.
'WHAT A DAY'
When EU officials agreed the new sanctions package Friday, Van Rompuy and European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso had left open the possibility they could be lifted quickly if the ceasefire held, setting the stage for further peace efforts.
Diplomatic sources said the differences apparently revolved around this point, with some member states, including Russia-neighbour Finland, seeking to incorporate language in the sanctions text that would keep options open for lifting the sanctions.
Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb admitted as much in a tweet that indicated that last-minute negotiations had been arduous.
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