War does not change you; it shows who you truly are.
- Oleksiy Oleksiyovich Goncharenko, Ukrainian MP for Odessa
Can you rebuild a country while it is still at war? That’s the question that governments, EU institutions and multilateral development banks are wrestling with over Ukraine.
International finance institutions reckon more than $400bn will be needed to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction, a figure almost 3 times the size of the US Marshall Plan — in today’s dollars — used to rebuild Europe after the second world war.
Officials from across Europe has gathered in Brussels today for a workshop during the 155th CoR Plenary - Strengthening the Role of Local and Regional Governments in Ukraine's Recovery and Reconstruction Process, and on the Road to EU Membership - as part of a series of events and summits attempting to get to grips with the scale of the task, and shape the necessary coalition of public and private finance.
The Ukraine Recovery Conference in London on 21-22 June 2023 will probably bring more clarity into this complex matter.
More with Financial Times here (contact us if you do not have a CoR account with FT)/ with the World Bank here / with the European Committee of the Regions here.
European Committee of the Regions' Plenary (24-25 May 2023) - Agenda & President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's speach, also available on President of Ukraine's official website.
US debt ceiling crisis
Washington is heading for another big fight over whether to raise or suspend the nation’s debt limit, which caps the amount of money the federal government can borrow to pay its bills. This year is shaping up to be the messiest fight in at least a decade.
Greek elections
Greece will face new national elections as early as 25 June, despite the ruling conservative party securing around 40% of the vote in Sunday's general election. The new electoral system of proportional representation means indeed that Mitsotakis' vote share is not enough to secure a majority in Parliament and he has refused to form a coalition government.
On Africa Day 2023, let us celebrate the rich heritage and incredible achievements of the African continent. It is a day to honor the resilience, diversity, and boundless potential of Africa, while renewing our commitment to support its development, progress, and unity.
Protests are taking place in the capital, while the country at large faces international criticism amid Qatargate inquiry.
FORESIGHT
With the 2024 European Parliament election in view, find here 4 scenarios that could shape the political landscape of the EU in 2024 and beyond.
For more information, contact the CoR Documentation Centre.
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) said on Wednesday 24 May that the EU cannot tackle social, economic and territorial disparities through cohesion policy alone and that all EU initiatives and policies, such as the Economic Recovery Plan, must tackle inequalities and promote cohesion.
The CoR unanimously adopted in plenary its opinion ‘Do no harm to cohesion’ prepared by rapporteur Michiel Rijsberman (Renew Europe). More here, with AGENCE Europe.
>Contact us at documentationCdR@cor.europa.eu if you have connection issues.
In May 2023, the EU still grapples with an energy crisis, characterized by soaring energy prices and supply disruptions. The combination of geopolitical tensions, extreme weather events, and strained energy infrastructure has placed significant strain on the EU's energy security. Yet, the Union is reacting with the necessary measures to address the mounting challenges.
The EU Nature Restoration Act, a legislative initiative aimed at reversing biodiversity loss and restoring ecosystems, is at a critical stage in its implementation as of May 2023. With a comprehensive framework in place, the EU is actively working towards the preservation and restoration of natural habitats, emphasizing the importance of biodiversity conservation for a sustainable future.
In the meantime, the Union also finds itself at a crossroads in its approach to fossil fuels. Indeed, while it has made substantial progress in transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, the continued reliance on fossil fuels and the challenges of phasing them out completely present complex policy and economic considerations that require careful deliberation and strategic planning.
As the year 2024 approaches, the Union finds itself navigating the implications of Hungary assuming the EU Presidency. Given increasing concerns about Hungary's adherence to democratic principles, the EU faces a critical juncture in evaluating the potential impact of Hungary's leadership and ensuring the continued promotion and protection of core European values during its Presidency.
In foreign policy, the EU is actively pursuing a dynamic approach. On Africa Day, the EU reaffirms its commitment to deepening cooperation, addressing common challenges, and fostering inclusive partnerships to advance sustainable development, peace, and security across the African continent.
The European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Paolo Gentiloni, set out the main fiscal policy messages: dismantle, by the end of 2023, the emergency measures taken to tackle soaring energy prices, starting with the least targeted measures and maintain a “prudent” fiscal stance in 2024.
General Artificial Intelligence, also known as strong AI, full AI, or as artificial general intelligence (AGI), is a theoretical form of AI that aims to create intelligent machines that are indistinguishable from the human mind.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in exploring the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist in addressing the management of migration flows. AI, with its ability to analyze vast amounts of data, make predictions, and automate certain processes, offers promising possibilities for enhancing the management of migration flows.
Gaps in European social security legislation fail to adequately protect non-EU workers, leaving them vulnerable to various risks, including inadequate access to healthcare, limited social benefits, and precarious employment conditions.
These gaps often result in non-EU workers facing disparities in labor rights, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to ensure equal protection and social security for all workers, regardless of their nationality.
The voter turnout among young people tends to be lower compared to older demographics. However, this does not mean that young individuals are politically disengaged. To effectively connect and mobilize them, it's essential to understand that their involvement can manifest in diverse ways.
A short article by Meta Certified Community Manager & Social Media Trainer, Katarzyna Kowalewska, suggests adopting a 3-lens model in order to design an efficient youth strategy.
BEE CURIOUS!:-)
Interested in Financial Times, Contexte, The Economist, Agence Europe or Politico PRO annual subscriptions? Interested in E-books? Just contact us!
- Unlimited access to PressReader (i.e. as many newspapers and magazines you can read…) is available HERE.
Please complete our short SURVEY to assess Pressreader's usefulness and what could be improved!
PressReader Survey available here or by clicking on the image.
- Unlimited access to The ECONOMIST is available via your OnePC or inside CoR/EESC premises on all devices!
- For unlimited access to the Financial Times, please contact documentationCdR@cor.europa.eu for assistance.
- You definitely have full access to CONTEXTE! If you wish to join the platform as a new CoR user, please inform us.
- Problems connecting to AGENCE EUROPE? Take your access from HERE.
- Missing POLITICO’s newspaper? Every Thursday, POLITICO journalists assemble a weekly e-paper that you can read here, or via the dedicated POLITICO app (available on Apple Store or Google Play Store).
- Access to Harvard Business Review e-books, thousands of publications, EU Observer and many other resources available HERE, on our Intranet page.
Happy to have your feedbacks! Please do not hesitate to reach out in case of connection problem or if you have questions or suggestions.
- getAbstract is available for all CoR (members and staff)! Click here to connect!
Happy to help you get access to all these contents!
For more contents, just make sure you test GoodRead, Library's search engine & reading platform. Thousands of contents are waiting for you there!
Documentation Centre's resources are available here on Intranet!
