This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing €1 billion in loans for the purchase of new trains for Rhineland S-Bahn (suburban rail) routes. The financing will go towards the procurement of up to 90 state-of-the-art S-Bahn trains by go.Rheinland and Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR). The first of the […]Germany: EIB provides €1 billion in co-financing for Rhineland S-Bahn trains
July 31, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing €1 billion in loans for the purchase of new trains for Rhineland S-Bahn (suburban rail) routes. The financing will go towards the procurement of up to 90 state-of-the-art S-Bahn trains by go.Rheinland and Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR). The first of the […]Germany: EIB and Deutsche Bank to boost Europe’s wind manufacturers
July 31, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is activating a €5 billion initiative to support manufacturers of wind-energy equipment in Europe by extending a €500 million counter-guarantee to Germany-based Deutsche Bank AG. The transaction will enable Deutsche Bank to set up a portfolio of up to €1 billion […]Independent rights experts urge States to comply with ICJ ruling on Israel
July 31, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. UN Member States must immediately comply with the recent “landmark ruling” by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, a group of 38 UN independent human rights experts said on Tuesday. The UN’s highest court issued an advisory opinion on […]UN rights office condemns forced evictions of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem
July 31, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN human rights office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory expressed concern on Tuesday over the forced evictions of over 80 Palestinian families in the Silwan area of occupied East Jerusalem. These evictions are “facilitated by the unlawful application of discriminatory Israeli laws against Palestinians in the […]Venezuela: UN rights chief concerned about post-election tension and violence
July 31, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has joined the Secretary-General in voicing concern over the situation in Venezuela following the recent presidential election. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mr. Türk said he was “extremely concerned” about increasing tensions in the South American country. Voting […]Can South Africa G-20 Presidency Bring Public Finance into the Digital Era?
July 31, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Cathal Long On July 18, 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa gave a speech to open South Africa’s new parliament outlining the Government of National Unity’s priorities and plans for the next 5 years. Digital government enthusiasts will be excited about his use of the term digital public infrastructure (DPI) […]Poland: EIB extends loan worth more than €230 million to PGE to modernise Polish railway’s power system
July 30, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE), Poland’s top utility, received a PLN 1 billion loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to upgrade power systems for the country’s railway network. The 18-year credit marks the EIB’s sixth contract with the group, which currently benefits from credit lines at […]Germany: Medtech Protembis gets €20 million EIB backing for technology to protect brain during heart treatment
July 30, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing €20 million in venture-debt financing to German medical-technology company Protembis to develop a next-generation device for protecting the brains of patients who undergo certain heart treatments. The funding is to support clinical trials, research, development and market access for […]Healthcare in Sudan ‘hanging by a thread,’ warns UN agency
July 30, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday strongly denounced the increasing attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan, reporting over 20 such incidents in the last two months. In one particularly appalling attack, a hospital was struck last Friday alongside residential areas and a livestock market in […]Venezuela: Guterres calls for ‘complete transparency’ following disputed presidential election
July 30, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has commended the people of Venezuela “for their determination to express their will peacefully through the ballot box,” his Spokesperson said on Monday. Following hours of delays, incumbent Nicolás Maduro was formally declared winner of the disputed presidential election held on Sunday, securing […]Commission presents New European Bauhaus (NEB) Investment Guidelines to help investors align projects with NEB’s transformative vision
July 30, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission has adopted the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Investment Guidelines, a tool to illustrate how public and private investments can integrate the values of sustainability, inclusion and aesthetics promoted by the NEB to transform Europe’s built environment. The NEB Investment Guidelines […]Commission opens in-depth State aid investigation into €321.2 million German measure to restructure Condor
July 30, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether a German €321.2 million restructuring measure in favour of Condor is in line with EU State aid rules. The measure was initially approved in July 2021 by the Commission under the State aid […]UN official describes Gaza situation as ‘absolutely catastrophic’ amid severe shortages
July 30, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The top UN humanitarian official for Gaza said on Monday that the situation in the war-ravaged enclave remains “absolutely catastrophic”, with Palestinian civilians enduring a “horrendous maelstrom of human misery.” Recently returned from the Gaza Strip, Sigrid Kaag, the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza […]UN officials condemn Golan rocket attack that leaves children and teens among at least 12 dead
July 30, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Secretary-General António Guterres and other United Nations officials have condemned Saturday’s rocket attack on a football field in the Golan Heights that killed at least 12 civilians, mainly children and teenagers. Urging restraint, they also warned against escalating violence in the region. The UN chief condemned the […]July infringement package: key decisions
July 29, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Overview by policy area In its regular package of infringement decisions, the European Commission pursues legal action against Member States for failing to comply with their obligations under EU law. These decisions, covering various sectors and EU policy areas, aim to ensure the proper […]Commission decides to refer HUNGARY to the Court for failing to correctly transpose rules on the right of access to a lawyer and to communicate upon arrest
July 29, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission decided to refer Hungary to the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to correctly transpose the Directive on the right of access to a lawyer and to communicate upon arrest (Directive 2013/48/EU). The deadline for Member States to transpose […]Commission welcomes text of global E-Commerce Agreement negotiated at the WTO
July 29, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission welcomes the publication today of the text of an E-commerce Agreement negotiated in the World Trade Organization (WTO). The publication follows five years of dedicated negotiations by over 90 WTO Members. The EU played an active role in the negotiation of […]Belgian logistics real estate player WDP gets €250 million EIB loan to expand green energy infrastructure at sites across Europe
July 29, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending Belgium-based Warehouses De Pauw (WDP), which develops and leases logistics properties across Europe, €250 million to install rooftop solar panels and increase electric-vehicle charging stations for tenants. The loan is for up to 10 years and will be directed […]Italy: Agreement between EIB and SIMEST – over €90 million to promote Italian companies abroad
July 26, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and SIMEST signed an agreement to support the expansion of Italian businesses in Europe through innovative and sustainable investments. In concrete terms, the EIB will provide a €46 million loan to SIMEST, which will enable it to channel additional resources on […]Gaza: Hunger fears persist as Israeli operations further harm enclave’s farmers
July 26, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. As President Biden on Thursday prepared to meet Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss progress on a Gaza ceasefire and the release of all hostages still held in the enclave, the spectre of further hunger and malnourishment continued to loom over Gazans, as UN humanitarians warned that […]Commission takes action to ensure complete and timely transposition of EU directives
July 26, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission is adopting a package of infringement decisions due to the absence of communication by Member States of measures taken to transpose EU directives into national law. The Commission is sending a letter of formal notice to those Member States who have failed […]Improving Project Implementation – A Key Strategy to Include in PFM Reform Roadmaps?
July 26, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Budget credibility is recognized as one of the key pillars of a sound PFM system. In the PEFA framework, it is measured by comparing the actual execution of the budget with the original estimate. The 2022 PEFA Global Report (2022 PEFA Report on Global Financial Management), found that […]Commission proposes to postpone by one year the market risk prudential requirements under Basel III in the EU
July 25, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has today adopted a delegated act that postpones by one year (i.e. until 1 January 2026) the date of application of one part the Basel III standards in the EU – the Fundamental Review of the Trading Book (FRTB). The FRTB […]Rule of Law Report 2024: with the 5th edition, the EU is better equipped to face rule of law challenges
July 25, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission has today published its fifth annual Rule of Law Report, examining systematically and objectively rule of law developments in all Member States on an equal basis. In comparison to the first issue of the Rule of Law Report adopted in 2020, Member […]Commission decides to register two new European Citizens’ Initiatives on closing animal farms and labelling of food
July 25, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission decided to register two European Citizens’ Initiatives, entitled ‘Stop Cruelty Stop Slaughter’ and ‘Stop Fake Food: Origin on Label’. The organisers of the ‘Stop Cruelty Stop Slaughter’ initiative call for the Commission to introduce incentives for producing plant proteins, including […]EU’s first medical evacuation operation of Palestinians transfers children from Egypt to Spain
July 25, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. On 24 July, the first EU-coordinated medical evacuation operation of 16 Palestinian children and their family members took place from Egypt to Spain. The operation was financially and operationally supported by the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), in close coordination with the World Health […]Charting a New Course for Qatar’s Economic Diversification After the World Cup
July 25, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. By Ran Bi and Ken Miyajima A shift toward private sector-driven economic diversification requires ambitious reforms Qatar continues to enjoy economic gains after hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which boosted its global profile. Visitor arrivals in 2023 were nearly twice pre-pandemic levels, and tourism this year reached […]Serbia: EIB Global to invest €73 million to speed up decarbonisation of automotive industry
July 24, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. EIB Global, the arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB) devoted to activities outside the European Union, is providing a €73 million loan to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Serbia, part of the Stellantis Group, to modernise, equip and adapt its car manufacturing facility in Kragujevac to produce a […]EIB Group launches action plan to improve transparency, accountability and well-being in the workplace
July 24, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank Group has launched an ambitious action plan to further improve transparency, accountability and well-being in the workplace, including the establishment of an independent Ombudsman function. The Action Plan has been developed in consultation with EIB Group staff representatives within the EIB and […]Commission accepts commitments by Vifor to address possible anticompetitive disparagement of iron medicine
July 24, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has made commitments offered by Vifor legally binding under EU antitrust rules. The commitments address the Commission’s competition concerns relating to Vifor’s potential disparagement of Monofer, the closest – and potentially only – competitor of Vifor’s flagship intravenous iron medicine in […]Commission opens in-depth State aid investigation into Belgian support for lifetime extension of two nuclear reactors
July 24, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether public support that Belgium plans to grant for the lifetime extension of two nuclear reactors (Doel 4 and Tihange 3) is in line with EU State aid rules. The Commission’s investigation Belgium notified […]Commission endorses Luxembourg’s €241 million modified recovery and resilience plan
July 24, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission has given a positive assessment of Luxembourg’s modified recovery and resilience plan, which includes a REPowerEU chapter. The plan is now worth€241.1 million in grants and covers 10 reforms and 13 investments. Luxembourg’s REPowerEU chapter consists ofone new reform and three […]A Low-Growth World Is an Unequal, Unstable World
July 24, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Long periods of slow economic growth can cause a jump in inequality. But a balanced set of policies can stave off that outcome. Kristalina Georgieva The global economy is stuck in low gear, which could deal a major blow to the fight against poverty and inequality. Group of […]
