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Moins de huit mois après avoir quitté la présidence, Macky Sall revient sur la scène politique pour les législatives anticipées du 17 novembre prochain. L’ex chef de l’Etat devra faire face au PASTEF dont la liste dirigée par le Premier ministre Ousmane Sonko a pour ambition d’obtenir une majorité à l’Assemblée Nationale.

Après avoir assisté mercredi au 3ème sommet Balkans-Ukraine de Dubrovnik, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan s'est rendu en Albanie puis en Serbie. À Tirana, il a inauguré une immense mosquée financée par la Turquie et à Belgrade, il a loué un « âge d'or » des relations bilatérales.

- Le fil de l'Info / Courrier des Balkans, Erdogan, Albanie, Serbie, Turquie, Relations régionales, Politique

578152 For Media inquires

From 30 September to 11 October, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana (Office) organized an advanced Training of Trainers, for a group of ten new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (hereinafter – UAV) instructors of Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee Border Service in Lenger, Turkistan province. With the Office’s support, the Border Service established a Centre of Excellence for UAV operations in Lenger, where future capacity-building activities are planned to be held with the OSCE’s support.

This training event marks the beginning of a series of support activities aimed to strengthen the development of aerial monitoring capabilities of the Border Service in combating the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (hereinafter – SALW) and explosives across Kazakhstan’s “green borders” – i.e., areas between official border control points, often covered with vegetation or only remotely accessible. 

The ability to monitor these areas effectively is crucial for ensuring national security, preventing and countering illicit cross-border activities, making the training event for UAV instructors a vital step in ensuring sustainable border security management and national ownership. Based on the OSCE’s accumulated experience in the use of UAVs, including their use within the framework of the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (March 2014 – March 2022), the Office aims to assist Kazakhstan’s authorities in ground monitoring by means of advanced technology.

Jaroslaw Kurek, Project Manager at the Office, noted during the opening of the training event that “together with partners from Kazakhstan’s Border Service we have launched today the UAV Centre of Excellence in Lenger. It is a milestone for our co-operation within the framework of our work on countering the trafficking of small arms and light weapons. By handing over specialized equipment and knowledge sharing, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana provides critical advisory support in establishing sustainable UAV operations of the Border Service”.

During the two-weeks long training event, OSCE-supported experts shared their expertise on UAV technology, air navigation principles, aviation meteorology, flight planning, operational strategies, mapping, and post-flight procedures. Practical exercises with small fixed-wing and quadcopter UAVs were conducted both during day and night settings, as well as in conditions of limited visibility. UAV flight simulators were also employed, with the Office providing critical technical support by handing over specialized ICT equipment and two training UAVs for use in the classrooms and practical training area of the Centre.

Yuri Fenopetov, Acting Head of Office ad interim, highlighted during the closing ceremony: “we have heeded the request of our national partners in tackling evolving security challenges of today. It is with pleasure that, in line with our mandate, we can launch the active phase of our co-operation, here, in Lenger. The Centre of Excellence will serve as a platform for future generations of border service officers – to attain the necessary skills and knowledge in ensuring the sustainable use of new technologies when safeguarding the country’s borders. As the OSCE, we are ready to continue this support with concrete steps, hand-in-hand with our partners”.

In line with recommendations of the OSCE’s Technical Assessment Report on “Development of UAV monitoring capabilities for the Border Service of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, the Office will continue to provide advisory support in establishing sustainable UAV operations. This includes drafting regulations, developing a training centre concept, and creating a UAV service and maintenance plan for 2024-2030.

This activity was held within the framework of the Office’s extrabudgetary project “Addressing Contemporary Safety and Security Risks in the Republic of Kazakhstan”, supported by the government of Federal Republic of Germany.

578158

The pressing challenge of managing energy systems with wise foresight and balancing immediate energy security concerns with long term climate and energy goals was at the core of this year’s edition of the Vienna Energy Security Dialogue. Titled “Energy security in the long run: managing energy systems with wise foresight”, the event took place on 8 October in partnership with the World Energy Council (WEC) Austria, the Federation of Austrian Industries, and Ernst and Young Austria.

Over 220 policymakers, scientists, academia, civil society and industry representatives gathered to discuss the increasing complexities of global energy security against major geopolitical shifts and the growing challenges posed by climate change. Together, they explored insights and strategies to address these challenges, offering an well-rounded perspective on managing energy systems for a sustainable and resilient energy future.

“The questions and energy security challenges we are facing are vast and complex, and they cannot be addressed in isolation,” said Ambassador Bakyt Dzhusupov, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. “This calls for the urgent need to understand how to strike the right balance between risks and opportunities, as well as to harmonize short-term energy security and overall societal development needs with long-term climate and energy goals,” he added.

Since its inception in autumn 2018, the Vienna Energy Security Dialogue has become a leading annual international forum for energy stakeholders to share experiences and ideas on building safe, affordable, efficient and environmentally sound energy systems.

Gerhard Gamperl, Secretary General of WEC Austria, highlighted the increasing need for a long-term vision that incorporates foresight, resilience, and adaptability. “This all requires collaboration across sectors and borders, sharing knowledge, and leveraging collective expertise to foresee potential challenges and devise proactive strategies,” he said.

Throughout the event, experts shared their insights into the current energy landscape and the main challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Speakers covered a range of topics, including the geopolitics of stable supply, the oil and gas sector, balancing power supply and demand, regulatory frameworks for a clean transition, climate risk considerations for energy system planning, green financing and insuring, and implementing digital and data driven solutions to enhance energy security in the long run.

Additionally, the event included an interactive panel on energy education, efficiency and inclusivity for enhanced energy security that welcomed two Young Energy Professionals of WEC Austria and two mentees of OSCE-GWNET Mentoring Program on Empowering Central Asian Women in Renewable Energy to share their experience on engaging youth and women in the energy sector, as well as empowering communities in the energy transition.

In closing, Ms. Sylvie Goyet, Head of Environmental Activities at the OSCE, said that “the dialogue at the event underscored the central role of energy in our overall security landscape and therefore the critical need to develop energy systems within a security and efficiency perspective.”

For additional information, please visit 7th Vienna Energy Security Dialogue: Energy security in the long run: managing energy systems with wise foresight

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe conducted a three-day practical training course entitled "Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Online Investigations: Introductory Level" from 8 to 10 October 2024 in Dushanbe. The training was designed for 20 officers from the Drug Control Agency (DCA) of Tajikistan and was led by an international expert. The primary objective of the course was to enhance the participants' capacity to gather, analyze, and utilize publicly available online information.

This training holds significant importance for the DCA as it provides officers with essential tools to investigate cybercrimes associated with illicit drug trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime. By enhancing their capacity in OSINT, the officers will be better prepared to address the evolving challenges of online criminal activities. The knowledge and techniques acquired during the training will substantially enhance their ability to ensure public safety and contribute to more effective law enforcement operations in Tajikistan.

The OSCE remains committed to supporting law enforcement agencies in Tajikistan through such capacity-building initiatives, which are vital for strengthening regional security and co-operation.

STELLUNGNAHME zum Entwurf des Gesamthaushaltsplans der Europäischen Union für das Haushaltsjahr 2025
Ausschuss für auswärtige Angelegenheiten
Hilde Vautmans

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2024 - EP

Committee and political groups meetings

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

578116 Marina Živaljević

In the last decade, a pronounced form of environmental crime has been present in Montenegro and the region, including illegal activities in forestry, land, stone, riverbeds and sand exploitation, destruction of nature’s biodiversity, as well as illegal construction, which poses a significant threat to natural resources and public health. In the fight against environmental crime, a holistic approach, co-operation and data exchange amongst institutions is of key importance.

This was conclusion of the regional workshop “Fighting Environmental Crime in Montenegro and the Balkans region”, organized by the Environment Protection Agency of Montenegro, the French Embassy in Podgorica, and the OSCE Mission to Montenegro from 8 to 10 October at the Plavnica Eco Resort.

The event gathered around 50 representatives of the police, judicial and prosecutorial institutions, international organizations and NGOs from the region, as well as from Bulgaria, Greece and France, who discussed the ways of fighting against crimes that affect the environment and institutional co-operation and coordination in addressing environmental crimes.

Opening the event, Stephen Harmon, the OSCE Mission’s Security Co-operation and Governance Programme Manager, stated that the OSCE worked with Montenegrin institutions to strengthen their capacity and efficiency in addressing environmental crime. “We supported the ‘Environmental crime in Montenegro’ analysis, which detailed environmental crimes in the country, together with recommendations on how to combat them. “A long time ago we were given one task, to be stewards of this world, our home the only one we will ever have. Our efforts have been poor at best. We are gathered here to renew our commitment in unity to that task,” said Harmon.

The Ambassador of France to Montenegro, Anne-Marie Maskay, said that the country’s diverse ecosystems, including national parks, rivers, and coastal areas, were under siege from various forms of environmental crime. “While Montenegro has made substantial progress in establishing a legal framework to protect its environment, significant gaps remain. The implementation of this framework is often incomplete due to insufficient resources, lack of trained personnel, and also corruption that hamper the effective monitoring and enforcement of environmental regulations,” said Ambassador Maskay. She added that more stringent laws were necessary that specifically addressed environmental crime, but also underscored the need to establish specialized environmental police units.

Zoran Brđanin, Director of the Police Directorate, stated that police analysis, intelligence and operational data and initiated investigative criminal and misdemeanour proceedings show the presence of environmental crime in Montenegro. “It is precisely for this reason that the Police Directorate recognized this form of crime in the latest update of the Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment - SOCTA and included it in the list of national priorities. In the coming period, the Police Directorate will implement proactive investigative measures and actions to prove criminal acts related to the abuse of official position and provision of logistical support to persons who carry out criminal activities in forestry. In addition, conventional measures and actions and will be intensified during the wood cutting season,” said Brđanin.

Milan Gazdić, Director of the Environment Protection Agency of Montenegro, stated that activities such as illegal logging, wildlife smuggling and hazardous waste disposal disrupt ecosystems and undermine the efforts for sustainable development. “This workshop provides an opportunity to strengthen co-operation among all actors. With the knowledge and commitment of all present, I am convinced that we will make significant progress in the fight against environmental crime,” said Gazdić, adding that one of the key results in Montenegro will be the formation of the National Working Group, which represents an important step towards improving the efficiency of environmental protection in Montenegro.

This three-day regional workshop was a follow-up on the event the Mission organized in June, when representatives of Montenegrin institutions gathered to discuss their co-operation in promoting environmental protection and addressing environmental crimes.

578128 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

Recommitting to advance gender equality in politics was the topic of discussion at the annual Women’s Power Breakfast organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at the margins of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference this week. ODIHR also presented the latest gender-responsive governance toolkit.

“We urgently need men’s involvement to advance women’s political participation,” said ODIHR Director’s Alternate, Tea Jaliashvili. “They play a fundamental role in creating an environment where women are listened to and empowered to bring change, and so are the political parties – gatekeepers of democracy.”

The event was joined by representatives of OSCE governments, European umbrella NGOs and international experts, who agreed that equal political participation of women and men is a precondition for further developing democratic institutions and gender-responsive governance.

“Today, many people see the presence of 60 per cent of young women among university students as ‘female dominance’, while 60 per cent of men among members of parliament are seen as gender equality obtained. This leads me to the conclusion that, for many, male-dominated institutions are still seen as ‘natural’,” said Drude Dahlerup, professor at Stockholm University.

ODIHR has been active in promoting the political participation of women across the OSCE region over the last thirty years. The Office has developed numerous tools to assist political parties, parliaments, governments and civil society in advancing gender equality.

From October 9 to 11, the OSCE hosted the "Virtual Asset Service Providers regulation support framework" workshop, bringing together various practitioners from Ukraine, Moldova, and Armenia. The event, held in Vienna, was built around strengthening knowledge and best practices on the regulation of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). Organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), the event aimed to enhance the participants’ ability to mitigate money laundering and terrorism financing risks within the evolving digital asset ecosystem.

The workshop, led by two of the leading OSCE experts on financial regulation, took the participants through high-level discussions and interactive activities.

“This workshop is a vital step in building the capacity of financial regulators to address the growing risks posed by virtual assets,” said Vera Strobachova-Budway, Acting Head of the Economic Governance Unit at OCEEA. “The skills and knowledge shared here will contribute significantly to the development of robust regulatory frameworks,” she added.

The workshop contained modules highlighting key issues in VASP compliance practices, including information on anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing. The training session provided hands-on tools for supervising VASPs and analysing suspicious activity, equipping participants with advanced skills in identifying and mitigating risks. One interactive component included participants simulating crypto theft through an application on their mobile phone.

The workshop is crucial in the formation of new best practices in virtual asset management and the formalization of varying expertise and regional perspectives on the topic. Already, there is a material application: one attendee is currently assisting with the drafting of a law aimed at regulated virtual assets.

By strengthening knowledge and existing practices between regional regulators and financial professionals, the workshop supported the OSCE participating States in developing robust policies that align with existing international standards. The insights gained during the workshop will support ongoing efforts to create a transparent and functional virtual asset regulatory framework.

This workshop was organized within the framework of the extra-budgetary project “Innovative Policy Solutions to Mitigate Money-Laundering Risks of Virtual Assets”, implemented by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. The project is financially supported by Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States.

578101

The first Mediterranean regional simulation-based training exercise for anti-trafficking practitioners from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation concluded today in Vicenza, Italy, at the premises of the Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU).

In the framework of this week-long training, more than 50 anti-trafficking practitioners from Italy, Malta, Spain, Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia came together to solve complex cases of human trafficking. The training scenario incorporated complex and diverse migratory flows across multiple States, demonstrating how criminal groups exploit the vulnerability of migrants and displaced persons to traffic them into labour exploitation, sexual exploitation or forced criminality. The training brought together a wide range of professionals from across the anti-trafficking ecosystem, including prosecutors, labour inspectors, social workers, criminal and financial investigators, lawyers, NGO workers and migration officers. Participants were trained on their individual roles, as well as on how to effectively co-operate with their counterparts in the identification of trafficking victims and detection, investigation and prosecution of human trafficking crimes. In this context, the practitioners had the chance to practice and master their skills in multi-agency collaboration, applying victim-centred and trauma-informed approaches.

“With Mediterranean security indivisible from security within the OSCE region at large, the Mediterranean regional simulation-based training exercise demonstrated the lasting value and continued collaboration between the OSCE, participating States, and Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation, and how strengthening efforts to combat trafficking in human beings contributes to improved security across the wider region,” said Dr. Kari Johnstone, the OSCE’s Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, in her closing remarks.   

First implemented in 2016, the OSCE’s simulation-based trainings remain a highly relevant training tool to enhance the capacity of OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation to promptly identify and assist presumed victims of trafficking in human beings as well as investigate and prosecute perpetrators through the use of a multi-agency, victim-centred, trauma-informed, gender-sensitive and human rights-based approach. 

This activity was implemented with the financial support from the Governments of France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Switzerland and the US, as well as the Republic of Italy, which also provided in kind contributions.

For more information on simulation-based trainings, please visit Simulation-based training | OSCE

Armé de son sifflet, Aleksandar Arsenijević bat le pavé de Mitrovica et du nord du Kosovo, avec l'espoir que sa lutte non-violente améliorera le quotidien de la population serbe, aujourd'hui coincée entre le marteau de Pristina et l'enclume de Belgrade. Mais le combat promet d'être dur. Portrait.

- Articles / Courrier des Balkans, Kosovo, Populations, minorités et migrations, Politique, Tensions Nord Kosovo, Personnalités

578077 Marina Živaljević

In Montenegro, the majority of people with disabilities think that election management bodies do not offer enough support, which makes voters with disabilities feel left out. 54 per cent of them said they faced barriers while voting in the 2023 elections. A further 45 per cent of voters thought polling station staff did not know how to approach and communicate with them.

These are some of the findings in the report titled “People with Disabilities – Voting in Elections”, prepared by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro following the 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections. The report examines the views and experiences of 94 voters with disabilities, who agree that more must be done to make elections accessible for everyone.

When asked how things could be changed for the better, some respondents said people with disabilities should be trained about their voting rights. Election management bodies must understand the needs of people with disabilities to be able to support them to vote. Some of them believe that a register of persons with disabilities should be established, while some suggested introducing amendments to legislation to improve their voting experience, including having a designated Member of Parliament.

Giovanni Gabassi, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro said that this report provided useful suggestions as to what can be done to help people with disabilities have a more positive electoral experience.  “Removing barriers is essential in ensuring that everyone can freely exercise their constitutional right to vote independently and in secret. People with disabilities do not feel supported in voting and standing as candidates. They struggle with access to political and voting information. The Mission is resolute in supporting election management bodies and disability NGOs in improving the accessibility of elections”, said Gabassi.

The Mission to Montenegro thanks all voters with disabilities who spoke about their experience of voting in the 2023 elections, as well the Association of Youth with Disabilities and the Union of the Blind for the long-standing partnership and contribution made in preparing the report.

Americas The US and Japan are set to begin a feasibility study to co-produce the American AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile, known as AMRAAM. This follows an agreement made in late July at a “two-plus-two” meeting of foreign and defence ministers in Tokyo, where Japan and the United States agreed to explore “co-production opportunities” for both AMRAAMs and Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement. This decision, reported by Nikkei Asia, a prominent Asian business publication, stems from concerns over diminishing American stockpiles due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Anduril Industries has just raised the bar—and secured a quarter-billion dollar vote of confidence from the Department of Defense (DoD). The Pentagon recently awarded Anduril a $249,978,466 contract to deliver next-generation air defense capabilities. The deal includes over 500 Roadrunner-M interceptors and additional Pulsar electronic warfare systems, aimed at countering the escalating threat of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) attacks on US forces. Middle East & Africa According to Defense News, Gulf countries are making new investments to increase their undersea warfare capabilities, including Qatar with the purchase of Italian-made mini-submarines and Saudi Arabia with the acquisition of French towed array sonars. The upgrades come as naval threats in the region have proliferated, […]

Figure 1: Results of the Multilateralism Index 2024

Figure 2: Percentage of indicators that improved and deteriorated, by dimension, 2013–2023

There are growing calls to transform the multilateral system, which is widely seen as being in crisis. Yet solving the crisis of multilateralism requires understanding what that crisis entails. What parts of the multilateral system are in crisis, and what parts are still functioning? Where is commitment to multilateralism flagging, and where does it remain strong? Where is multilateral action failing to translate into concrete results, and where is it delivering? Who is being left out of multilateral engagement, and who is being included? And what are the trends over time?

To help answer these questions, the International Peace Institute (IPI) and the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) developed the Multilateralism Index. This 2024 edition of the Index assesses changes in international cooperation between 2013 and 2023 across five domains: Peace and Security, Human Rights, Climate Action, Public Health, and Trade. Each domain is evaluated across three dimensions: Participation, Performance, and Inclusivity. Looking at each of these dimensions provides several broad takeaways:

• Participation: The Index does not find a major drop-off in participation by states in the multilateral system. In fact, participation increased across all domains except trade. This signals that member states remain engaged in the system, even if the nature of this engagement has shifted from cooperation toward contestation. At the same time, due to limitations in the indicators available, these improvements in participation should not necessarily be interpreted as a broad-based increase in commitment to multilateral action.
• Performance: Performance is the one dimension where the multilateral system saw a clear decline across most of the domains. The biggest decline was in peace and security. Human rights and climate action also saw significant declines. These declines may indicate that some global crises are outstripping the multilateral system’s ability to respond. At the same time, these shortcomings are not solely failures of multilateralism, as performance in many areas also depends domestic action by individual states. Moreover, despite these shortcomings, the gears of the multilateral system are continuing to turn.
• Inclusivity: Broad improvements in the Index’s inclusivity dimension point to two trends: the steady growth in the number of NGOs engaging with various parts of the UN system and the increase in women’s representation across many UN bodies. Limitations in the indicators available make it more difficult to assess progress in other areas, including geographic inclusivity and more substantive inclusivity of women beyond their formal representation at the UN.

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The post Multilateralism Index 2024 appeared first on International Peace Institute.

578044 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

Dialogue and partnership across religious or belief communities play an invaluable role in strengthening human rights and security, participants agreed at the launch of a new guide entitled Belief, Dialogue and Security by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) during the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference this week.

“Dialogue is essential to respond to the ever-changing challenges to human rights and democracy and finding ways to work together peacefully,” said Susan Kerr, ODIHR’s Senior Adviser on Freedom of Religion or Belief. “Our thanks go to the many people from across the OSCE area who helped make the guide’s recommendations relevant to all OSCE states.”

Interfaith and interreligious dialogue can help to combat fear, prejudice and hatred by promoting mutual understanding. Participants noted that meaningful dialogue is only possible when based on freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief and underscored the need for governments to demonstrate real commitment to protecting this right for all. They concluded that states must be even-handed in engaging with religious and belief communities, and work hard to build trust if they are to fully realise the potential of dialogue and joint action.

“Full respect for human rights, equality and the autonomy of religious and belief communities should be central to every dialogue. It is the obligation of every stakeholder involved, but primarily of the state, to respect fundamental human rights. The success of the Council of Religions, which has been functioning under the Ombudsperson’s umbrella in Georgia for almost two decades, is an excellent example of this. The equality of every member has been the key to its success and can inspire other interfaith and inter-religious dialogue initiatives,” said Mariam Gavtadze from Georgia’s Tolerance and Diversity Institute.

The new guide was made possible by the knowledge and experience of ODIHR’s panel of experts on freedom of religion or belief. The launch brought together state representatives, civil society, and members of religious and belief communities to discuss dialogue and joint action partnerships in the OSCE area. The discussions illustrated the benefits of the guide's practical recommendations, which are designed to assist OSCE states in implementing their commitments to interfaith dialogue and freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief.

Follow Parliament's evaluation of the proposed new European Commission with the help of this timeline of the confirmation hearings of the commissioners-designate.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

A Bíróság hatáskörének részleges átruházása a Törvényszékre: a Törvényszéken belül előzetes döntéshozatali ügyekre szakosodott tanácsot hoznak létre, valamint főtanácsnokokat választanak