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HomeLiberiaEuropean Union injects $11 million into Liberia budget

July 13, 2017 Cholo Brooks Liberia

The Government of Liberia has received a grant of $11.2 million from the European Union (EU). The EU disbursed the money directly into the treasury account of the Government to support the budget of the Republic of Liberia.

This is the third payment under the EUs budget support programme after a first payment of $33 million in 2015 and $18 million in 2016.

Disbursement of the third payment comes after the Government of Liberia made satisfactory progress in improving public financial management and toward specific targets relating to security and rule of law in line with the Agenda for Transformation, Liberias medium-term development strategy.

Ambassador Tiina Intelmann, Head of the European Union Delegation to Liberia, said:

The EU gives this 10 million euro expecting that the Government will use it to provide Liberians with the vital public services they deserve and it has committed to provide: health, education, security and rule of law. I encourage the Government to continue improving the management of public finances and fight against corruption. In particular, I applaud the operationalisation of four pilot county treasuries, the establishment of a Civilian Complaints Board for the police and immigration services and improved access to justice through magistrates courts and county courts for cases related to sexual and gender based violence. I encourage Government and the Judiciary to continue their efforts to better plan procurement for entities in the security and rule of law sector and to ensure that spending takes place as planned.

The European Union withheld EUR 2 million due to the Government of Liberias failure or partial failure to meet indicators related to the timely publication of procurement plans for the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary and spending less money than planned through entities in the security and rule of law sector.

Source: News Now/ Africa Business Communities/ http://www.europa.eu

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Joel Cholo Brooks is a Liberian journalist who previously worked for several international news outlets including the BBC African Service. He is the CEO of the Global News Network which publishes two local weeklies, The Star and The GNN-Liberia Newspapers. He is a member of the Press Union Of Liberia (PUL), including several other international organizations of journalists.

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European Union injects $11 million into Liberia budget - Global News Network

One year after becoming U.K. prime minister, Theresa May is braced for political trench warfare over Brexit as she finally unveils the landmark law that will take Britain out of the European Union.

Opposition politicians are plotting to unite with rebels in Mays Conservative Party to re-write the key piece of legislation that will prepare the U.K.s law book for leaving the EU -- before she has even published it. That could end up softening the ultimate Brexit.

Photographer: Andy Rain/Pool via Bloomberg

Without an automatic majority in Parliament, Mays minority Tory government is likely to need votes from other parties to pass the so-called Repeal Bill.

Her team is preparing for months of attritional battles aheadand will seek to make allies with political rivals, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named discussing internal plans.

Those who try to derail this bill are increasing the risk of what they would call hard Brexit, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said in a Bloomberg TV interview on Thursday. We are going to leave the European Union and if we are unable to put the laws in place that provide that stability, we will still leave, we simply will not have the legal framework that we want.

A year to the day since she succeeded David Cameron, May and her vision of a clean break with the EU are under attack on two fronts -- her critics in London who are emboldened by her failure to win a majority in last months election and want a softer departure -- and the EUs negotiators who are taking a firm line as talks unfold.

Time is also short.The prime minister wants to open talks on a new free-trade deal between the U.K. and the EU so that the future trading relationship is settled by the deadline for talks concluding of March 29, 2019.

Yet trade discussions will not begin until the EU judges that the U.K. has made enough progress toward settling the long-term fate of 3.2 million Europeans living in Britain, the payment of a financial settlement to the bloc and the future for the Irish border. Progress so far has been limited in all three areas.

On Thursday, Mays administrationwill set out the legal mechanism for adjusting British law after Brexit.

The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, to give the Repeal Bill its formal title, willend the jurisdiction of EU law in the U.K. It will also convert existing European statutes into the British law book when the U.K. leaves the bloc, a move intended provide continuity for businesses and to avoid a legislative black hole appearing overnight as Britain exits the EU.

In an interview with The Guardian newspaper on Thursday, Labours Brexit spokesman, Keir Starmer, said he was putting the government on notice that the official opposition party would not support the Repeal Bill in its current form.

Former U.K. Business Secretary Vince Cable discusses the outlook for Brexit talks with Bloombergs Mark Barton.

(Source: Bloomberg)

It would take only seven lawmakers from Mays Tory party to rebel in order to potentially defeat the government in any vote in the House of Commons.

Starmer demanded changes to the bill in six areas, including the extent of the executive powers the draft law gives Mays ministers to alter legislation without full scrutiny from Parliament. A senior figure in Mays team said this battle would be the most difficult for the government to win.

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David Davis, the Tory Brexit Secretary, appealed for support from other parties to pass the laws. By working together, in the national interest, we can ensure we have a fully functioning legal system on the day we leave the European Union, Davis said in an email on Thursday. The eyes of the country are on us, and I will work with anyone to achieve this goal and shape a new future for our country.

While the Repeal Bill itself is likely to pass eventually, long-running clashes over follow-up legislation could bring the whole business of government to a standstill, the person said.

The government needs to understand that Parliament is going to be an active participant in this process, Hilary Benn, a Labour lawmaker and chairman of the House of Commons Brexit Committee, told BBC Radio. We absolutely have to get it right.

Read more: Brexits Repeal Bill, No Longer Great But Vital

In Brussels, EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnierdismissed comments from Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson that the EU could go whistle for its money if it thought Britain would pay sums said to be as high as 100 billion euros ($114 billion) as an exit fee. I am not hearing any whistling, just a clock ticking, Barnier said.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will meet Barnier in Brussels for detailed talks Thursday.

Labour respects the referendum result and the decision to leave the European Union, Corbyn said in an emailed statement before the meeting. But a Labour Brexit would look very different to the race-to-the-bottom tax haven backed by this Conservative Government.

The difficulties ahead are not just limited to political maneuvers as the talks progress.Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, warned that the practicalities of government departments working together risk the U.K. approach fragmenting.

To make his point, he used the image of a popular candy bar that breaks into segments when tapped.

It needs to act as far as possible in a unified way and we have an issue there because of departmental government, Morse said, according to a report by the Press Association newswire. What we dont want to find is that at the first tap, this falls apart like a chocolate orange. It needs to be coming through as uniform, a little bit more like a cricket ball.

The government will also publish three position papers Thursday, covering nuclear materials and safeguards issues, ongoing union judicial and administrative proceedings, and privileges and immunities.

The papers will be presented to the EU for discussion when formal Brexit negotiations resume in Brussels next week.

Read more:
May Faces Battle Over Brexit Laws as Clock Ticks on EU Talks - Bloomberg

The governments approach to leaving the European Union could fall apart like a chocolate orange, Amyas Morse said. Photograph: David Lee/Alamy

A Brexit minister has accused the head of the National Audit Office of using overdone language after he said that the governments approach to leaving the European Union could fall apart like a chocolate orange.

Steve Baker, an undersecretary in the Department for Exiting the EU, also urged opposition parties to back Thursdays Brexit bill in the national interest after Labour said it would vote against it.

Interviewed by Sky News, Baker was asked about unusually outspoken criticism by the auditor general, Amyas Morse, over the risk of a directionless approach to Brexit from the various Whitehall departments involved.

What we dont want to find is that at the first tap it falls apart like a chocolate orange. It needs to be coming through like a cricket ball, Morse told journalists.

That doesnt sound good, Baker conceded. But he added: I think it is overdone language. What Im seeing every day in the department is civil servants working extremely hard under strong political direction from ministers to deliver the plans that we need to make sure that our exit from the EU is smooth and orderly and successful in whatever circumstances we face.

Baker suggested that MPs who voted against the governments flagship repeal bill, would be punished by their constituents. If somebody wrecks this bill then they will leave the UK statute book in an unworkable condition, and they will have to explain to their electors why they have chosen to do that, he said.

He added: The bill which we are bringing forward today is a bill which deserves to have the support of people right across the political spectrum and right across the United Kingdom. We need to ensure that businesses and individuals have certainty, continuity and control as we leave the European Union and it is incumbent on everyone to look closely at this bill to work out ways to support it in the national interest.

Baker comments come as the EUs chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, is due to meet the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, as well as the Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and her Welsh counterpart, Carwyn Jones.

Asked about the meeting Baker said: This is a time to come together in the national interest.

Baker was also asked to explain the foreign secretary, Boris Johnsons remarks suggesting that the EU could go whistle on its extortionate bill for leaving the bloc. Baker used more diplomatic language. He said: We know that we have rights and obligations and we are testing the European Unions claims. But we wont pay a penny more then we need to. We are not going to put a figure on it today. It is matter for negotiation.

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'Chocolate orange' Brexit warning is overdone, says minister - The Guardian

Positive moment for the EU-Ukraine partnership as 19th Summit takes place in Kyiv

The 19th Summit between the European Union and Ukraine will take place in Kyiv on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th July. The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker will represent the European Union, alongside the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. President Petro Poroshenko, will represent Ukraine. European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner Johannes Hahn and Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrm will also be present. The Summit takes place at a very positive moment in the partnership between the European Union and Ukraine, with the finalisation of the ratification of the EU Ukraine Association Agreement yesterday, Ukrainian citizens' being granted visa free travel to the Schengen area in June, and autonomous trade measures, which would further benefit Ukrainian exports, set to be adopted soon. The Summit will provide an opportunity for leaders to review the substantial progress made since the last Summit, in particular as regards Ukraine's implementation of its ambitious reform agenda, to which the EU is providing unprecedented support. It will also identify further reform priorities notably as regards the fight against corruption. The leaders are expected to discuss security and conflict-related matters, as well as regional and foreign policy issues. On Wednesday, President Poroshenko will host Presidents Juncker and Tusk for a working dinner. A joint press conference of the three Presidents is due to take place on Thursday at 13:00 local time, 12:00 CET, and will be preceded by the Summit's plenary session and followed by a working lunch. Coverage will be available via Europe by Satellite. For more information, visit the dedicated Summit website, the website of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, or consult the factsheet on EU-Ukraine relations. (For more information: Margaritis Schinas - Tel.: +32 229 60524; Maja Kocijancic Tel.: +32 229 86570; Adam Kaznowski Tel: +32 229 89359)

President Juncker to be awarded Doctor Honoris Causa, by the Faculty of Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

On Thursday 13 July, President Juncker will be in Thessaloniki, Greece, where he will be awarded Doctor Honoris Causa, by the Faculty of Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in a ceremony chaired by Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Pericles Mitkas and the Dean of the Faculty of Law Professor, Georgios I. Dellios. Also attending, are Commissioner Avramopoulos, Prime Minister Tsipras, with whom President Juncker will meet bilaterally, and members of the Greek government and parliament. President Juncker will also deliver a speech which will be broadcast live on EbS, along with photos of the visit. (For more information: Margaritis Schinas Tel.: +32 229 60524)

Michel Barnier debriefs the College on the state of play of Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom

The European Commission's Chief Negotiator for Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom, Michel Barnier, will hold a press conference today following the meeting of the College of Commissioners. You can watch the press conference live here. A memo on the state of play of the Article 50 negotiations is available online (see here). Michel Barnier's introductory comments will also be available shortly. (For more information: Margaritis Schinas Tel.: +32 229 60524; Mina Andreeva Tel.: +32 229 91382; Daniel Ferrie: +32 229 86500)

EU to announce additional humanitarian aid for Iraq

The European Commission is scaling up its response to the humanitarian crisis in Iraq, which will enable the EU to continue supporting emergency relief in newly retaken areas and for newly displaced families. It will also allow to continue emergency medical services, attending injured civilians from the frontlines, to the final point of rehabilitation. Speaking in Washington today during a High-Level Meeting on the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Crisis in Mosul, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said: "The end of the Mosul military campaign marks the beginning of a new phase of international support to Iraq. One that requires our rock solid commitment to preserving humanity during and after the conflict, to ensure that all civilians are protected in Telafar, West Anbar and Hawidja, as well as in their locations of displacement. Our humanitarian commitment will remain faithful to our guiding humanitarian principles." The new funding will further help filling the gaps between assistance provided in current locations of displacement and potential areas of return, and strengthen community-based, conflict-sensitive actions aimed at providing information, coordination and effective delivery of services available to IDPs, conflict-affected host communities, and returnees. (For more information: Carlos Martin Ruiz De Gordejuela Tel.: +32 229; Christina Wunder Tel.: +32 229 92256)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control over logistics asset in Spain by SEGRO and PSPIB

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control over CAT SITE, a 5.3 hectare plot of land leased as a car park in Madrid, Spain, , by SEGRO plc (SEGRO) of the UK and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSPIB) of Canada, via their joint venture SEGRO European Logistics Partnership S..r.l. of Luxembourg. SEGRO is a real estate investment trust focused on warehousing and light industrial properties. PSPIB is a pension investment manager with a global portfolio including stocks, bonds and investments in private equity, real estate, infrastructure, natural resources, and private debt. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns because of the limited changes it brings to the market. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.8521. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Sarantopoulou - Tel.: +32 229 13740)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control over OHL Mxico by OHL and IFM

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control over OHL Mxico S.A.B. de C.V. (OHL Mxico) of Mexico by Obrascon Huarte Lain, S.A. (OHL) of Spain and IFM Investors Pty Ltd (IFM) of Australia. OHL Mxico builds, manages and operates seven toll roads and one airport in Mexico. Previously, OHL Mxico was solely controlled by OHL, a global company primarily engaged in infrastructure and industrial construction projects and concessions. IFM is a global investment manager with assets across infrastructure, listed equities, private capital and debt investments. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns in Europe, because OHL Mxico will only be active in Mexico. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.8538. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Sarantopoulou - Tel.: +32 229 13740)

12 new species classified as invasive to protect biodiversity and economic activity in the EU

Today, the Commission took another important step towards halting biodiversity loss with the inclusion of 12 new species in the list of invasive alien species that require action across the EU. Invasive alien species are one of the major causes of biodiversity loss. They have major economic negative consequences in areas such as health care costs, crop yield losses, fish stock losses and damage to infrastructure. These 12 new species including the muskrat and the alligator weed - have been added, following the positive opinion of experts from Member States. They damage on a scale that justifies dedicated measures across the Union. Member States are required to address these species by preventing them from being introduced, kept, sold, transported, reproduced or released. They will also need to put in place appropriate measures to tackle new invasions or established populations. The rules will start applying 20 days after publication of the list in the Official Journal of the European Union. Underpinning with scientific work, the Commission's Joint Research Centre has recently published the first ever Baseline Distribution of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern for 37 species. It has also developed a smartphone application on the 37 species of Union concern, called Invasive Alien Species Europe, which allows citizens to report the presence of these specieson the European territory and to raise awareness on the issue. The list and more information are available here. (For more information: Enrico Brivio Tel.: +32 229 56172; Iris Petsa Tel.: + 32 229 93321)

Eurostat: La production industrielle en hausse de 1,3% dans la zone euro

En mai 2017 par rapport avril 2017, la production industrielle corrige des variations saisonnires a augment de 1,3% dans la zone euro (ZE19) et de 1,2% dans l'UE28, selon les estimations d'Eurostat, l'office statistique de l'Union europenne. En avril 2017, la production industrielle avait progress de 0,3% dans la zone euro et de 0,1% dans l'UE28. Un communiqu de presse est disponible ici. (Pour plus d'informations: Lucia Caudet Tel.: +32 229 56182; Mirna Talko Tel.: +32 229 87278)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Vice President Maro efovi in Georgia

Energy Union Vice President Maro efovi is on an official visit to Georgia from 12 until 13 July. He is meeting President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and the Chairman of the Parliament, Mr Irakli Kobakhidze for bilateral meetings. Vice President efovi will also attend this year's Batumi International Conference "Ensuring Regional Stability" where he delivers a key note on energy security in the opening session in the presence of the President, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Parliament. The conference is organised by the State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration since 2007 and represents an important venue for high level officials to discuss issues related to politics, security, economic developments in the EU and its neighbourhood. This year the Conference will focus on the European Agenda, particularly on energy security and diversification of energy markets. Ahead of the visit, Energy Union Vice President Maro efovi said: "The EU-Georgia Association Agreement entails Georgia's alignment to key EU energy legislation. In this regard, I welcome the recent ratification by the Georgian Parliament of the accession protocol to the Energy Community. This represents a major milestone for a proper and timely implementation of the commitments made under the Association Agreement and I encourage efforts to ensure a comprehensive implementation of commitments. Furthermore, Georgia has a key transit role to play in the opening of the Southern Gas Corridor. For the EU and Georgia the timely implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor is important as well as its extension over time to additional supply countries." More information about the conference can be found online. (For more information: Anca Paduraru Tel.: +32 229 91269; Nicole Bockstaller Tel.:+32 229 52589)

Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News)

Excerpt from:
Daily News 12 / 07 / 2017 - EU News

Bruno Maes, who was Portugals EU minister between July 2013 and November 2015 told the Express.co.uk that Italianswere increasingly drawing the link between the countrys economic woes and its EU membership.

Mr Maes said: The big problem is that Italy has not grown since the start of the euro, its been basically stagnant for 16 or 17 years.

This is not sustainable, and of course more and more people are making the connection and asking, publicly, whether the euro is to blame for Italian stagnation.

Italy is not a country that is used to this. It was for decades a fast growing, fast industrialising, high tech economy. You have to make an effort to think back to those years in the 70s and the 60s.

Getty/Express

The former minister, who helped steer his country through the EU sovereign debt crisis, said that Italians often feel their nation is not recognised at a European level.

He said: Its a country that also feels that its size and importance is not being recognised. Its allabout France and Germany.

Every Italian political leader tries to change this. They all fail. So there is some dynamics there, thatarequite dangerous in terms of creating more and more alienation from the EU, so I think that is the country the EU should be concerned about.

Anger at the European Union in Italy has seen the rise of the 5 Star Movement (MS5) founded by former comedian Beppe Grillo in 2009.

Its a country that also feels that its size and importance is not being recognised

Bruno Maes

The movement won a spectacular victory when it helped the no vote win in a referendum on a change of Italys constitution in late 2016.

Italy voted to reject the reform with 59.4 per cent to 40.6 per cent for Yes which saw PM Matteo Renzi stand down. A caretaker PM has taken office with an election due by spring 2018 at the latest.

MS5 has vowed to hold a referendum on single currency membership should they get into power, but has stopped short of calling for a vote on EU membership.

Mr Maes said that problems in Italys banking sector and indeed across Europe are likely to continue despite the spate of bailouts in Italys beleaguered financial sector.

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Now some people think this is birth pains and that everything will get back on track. Im a bit more pessimistic.

Bank problems have not been solved. They are hidden under the blankets because of the easy policy of the ECB, but I think there is always the possibility of them coming back.

If you look at the figures, theyre not good.Non performingloans, bank ratios, these are all very troubling if you look carefully so I think theres alwayspotentialfor problems in the banking sector and weve already seen that in Italy.

He criticised Italys bank bailouts branding its flouting of rules and the acquiescence of Brussels troubling.

I spent so many days, so manyweeks,when I was in government working on the banking union plan, and I was a real believer and in some respects I still am.

I thought this is the right way for the EU to go, not a fiscal union, but this idea of a banking union, and a lot of effort that we spent on the banking union.

Then to see this Italian bailout that really disrespects the rules that were established, that just a week before had beenrespectin Spain is very troubling.

Italy's government was allowed to cut a deal that will cost it 14billion (17bn) as the good assets of failed lenders Popolare diVicensaand Vento Banca are taken over by the country's biggest retail bank Intesa Sanpaolo.

The following Wednesday the MontedeiPaschi bank was bailed out to the tune of4.7billion in the biggest bailout since the financial crisis.

More:
Italy warns Germany and France fixated EU 'ignore us at your peril' - Express.co.uk