| AIRBUS SIGNS HISTORIC CONTRACT TO PROVIDE 19 H135 MILITARY TRAINING HELICOPTERS TO THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE
Airbus Helicopters has signed a landmark contract with SkyAlyne, a joint venture between Canadian defence leaders CAE and KF Aerospace, to provide the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) with 19 Airbus H135 helicopters to train the next generation of RCAF Pilots. The contract is part of Canada’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program and marks the first time that Airbus helicopters will fly as part of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The twin-engine helicopters will be completed and delivered from Airbus Helicopters’ industrial facility located in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada. They will be customised with a number of Canadian developed Supplemental Type Certificates, including modifications to the avionics suite and communications systems, as well as custom development in the cockpit. Deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of 2026.
“Entering into this partnership with SkyAlyne and the Department of National Defence is a historic moment for Airbus Helicopters in Canada. We thank the Royal Canadian Air Force for placing their trust in Airbus and the H135, joining 12 other militaries around the world that employ the twin-engine H135 to train future aviators,” said Dwayne Charette, President of Airbus Helicopters in Canada. “This contract marks Airbus Helicopters’ successful entry into the Canadian military market. As we celebrate 40 years of serving Canadian customers locally, we are honoured to contribute to the safety of Canadians for many years to come.”
The agreement consists of H135 aircraft acquisition and a support and services package, support for the development of a Ground-Based Training Solution, and advanced engineering support for the release to service.
With more than 400,000 flight hours in a dedicated military training role, the H135 is utilised for basic ab-initio, advanced IFR and tactical training, with operators including several of Canada’s close military allies such as Australia and the UK. A full spectrum training aircraft, the H135 facilitates the development of core skills while providing twin-engines and advanced avionics, allowing easy and safe pilot transition to more complex helicopters in the RCAF’s fleet. It joins other Airbus aircraft currently operating for Canadian defence, such as the Airbus 310 (CC150 Polaris), the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (CC330 Husky), and the Airbus C295 (CC295 Kingfisher).
Since 1984, Airbus Helicopters has delivered nearly 600 helicopters in Canada. In 2023, the Canadian fleet of 760 in-service helicopters accumulated over 275,000 flight hours. The Fort Erie facility is also the centre of excellence for light single gearboxes, and the single source for critical composite components supporting platforms worldwide. Each year, Airbus Helicopters ships 34,000 parts from Fort Erie to customers around the globe.
In Canada, more than 4,500 people work at ten Airbus locations, covering the commercial airliner, helicopter, defence and space sectors. Airbus’ presence in Canada contributes to approximately 23,000 indirect jobs and generates more than C$ 2 billion in revenues annually for more than 850 Canadian companies.
| COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF VIOLENT INTENTIONAL CRIME:
The Automatic Exclusion Of Certain Family Members Of The Victim Of Homicide Does Not Guarantee ‘Fair And Appropriate’ Compensation Says The Court Of Justice Of The European Union
Factors other than family ties alone must be taken into account, such as the extent of the harm suffered by the excluded family members
In 2018, an Italian court ordered a man, the perpetrator of the homicide of his ex-partner, to pay compensation to the members of the victim’s family. As the perpetrator of the homicide was insolvent, the Italian State paid compensation, at a reduced amount as compared to that initially provided for, only to the victim’s children and her spouse, from whom she had been separated for several years. (1)
The victim’s parents, sister and children brought proceedings before the District Court, Venice (Italy) seeking “fair andappropriate” compensation, which takes into account the harm they suffered as a result of the homicide. In that context, the Italian court asks the Court of Justice whether national legislation which automatically excludes the payment of compensation to certain family members of the victim of violent intentional crime in the event of the death of that person resulting from homicide is compatible with the EU directive on compensation to crime victims. (2)
The Court states, first of all, that that directive requires Member States to establish a national scheme on compensation which is capable of covering not only persons who have themselves been subject to violent intentional crime, as direct victims, but also their close family members where those family members suffer, indirectly, the consequences of that crime, as indirect victims.
Furthermore, the Court reiterates that the directive in question imposes on each Member State the obligation to establish a scheme on compensation to victims of violent intentional crime which guarantees fair and appropriate compensation. Although Member States have a margin of discretion in that regard, they cannot
confine themselves to purely symbolic or manifestly insufficient compensation having regard to the seriousness of the consequences, for those victims, of the crime committed.
The contribution must adequately compensate the suffering to which those victims have been exposed, in order to contribute to the reparation of the material and non-material harm suffered. In addition, where the national scheme concerned provides for fixed rate compensation, the compensation scale must be sufficiently detailed so as to avoid the possibility that the compensation provided for a specific type of violence proves to be manifestly insufficient.
The Court therefore holds that a national scheme that automatically excludes certain family members from entitlement to all compensation solely because of the presence of other family members, without taking into account other considerations (such as, inter alia, the material consequences for those family members of the homicide of the person concerned or the fact that they were dependants of the deceased person or lived with him or her), cannot result in ‘fair and appropriate’ compensation.
- The Italian compensation scheme on compensation for violent intentional crime provides that the parents of a deceased person may receive compensation only in the absence of a spouse and children and that the siblings may obtain compensation only in the absence of parents
- Council Directive 2004/80/EC of 29 April 2004 relating to compensation to crime victims
| EDA CHARTS NEW WATERS IN MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION
Maritime security experts, military leaders, and industry professionals gathered to enhance international cooperation and expertise in defending maritime infrastructure.
The Naval Station of La Algameca, in Cartagena, hosted the first “Harbour Protection Seminar-Exercise”. Organized by the Spanish Navy’s Unit of Countermine Measures Divers (UBMCM) in collaboration with the European Defence Agency (EDA), the exercise gathered over 100 experts and professionals from 10 different countries: Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Ukraine, Greece, Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Romania, and Belgium. The event underscored the importance of international cooperation in safeguarding harbors and critical maritime infrastructures.
The main objective of the seminar was to update participants on the latest technologies, tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) related to maritime infrastructure protection, with a special focus on the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
During the first week, presentations were given by experts from renowned institutions, such as the National Geographic Institute and the IED Centre of Excellence in Countermeasures (COE-CIED).
Industry was also present and several companies from the defence sector presented cutting-edge technological innovations in this field.
The most relevant innovations included the Bayonet tracked underwater robot, an aerial drone equipped with a LIDAR with bathymetric sensor, and software for the creation of 2D models from sonar images. A 5G remote device control system was also presented.
The second phase of the seminar consisted of simultaneous practical exercises in various maritime scenarios, including port areas, shallow waters and a simulated gas pipeline. During these exercises, limpet mines and over 100 kg of explosives were used, where teams worked on the identification and neutralisation of mines and explosive ordnance, covering all stages of the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and incident management (WIT) process.
The ‘Harbour Protection Seminar-Exercise 2024’ has proven to be an invaluable platform for the improvement of tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) and interoperability between the various participating Armed Forces. It highlighted the importance of continuous readiness and learning in a constantly evolving technological and threat environment.
| EIB PROVIDES OCEANLOOP WITH €35 MILLION FOR ITS SUSTAINABLE INDOOR SHRIMP FARMING TECHNOLOGY
- The Munich-based food-tech company offers a high-quality, sustainable, and environmentally friendly alternative to imports from outside the EU
- The EIB’s €35 million venture-debt investment is backed by the European Union’s InvestEU guarantee programme.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a €35 million loan to German aquaculture technology start-up Oceanloop to help growing its business in Germany and expanding it to Gran Canaria, Spain. The EIB`s venture-debt investment will also enable the Munich-based company to accelerate the development of the technology for its sustainable recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) for indoor farming.
The EIB loan will support the company’s expansion by funding two key phases: Oceanloop will invest the EIB loan in expanding its existing RDI farm in Kiel from 5 tonnes per year to 60 tonnes per year, and it will construct the first-of-a-kind large-scale in-land farm for white leg shrimp in Gran Canaria, with an annual capacity of 2,000 tonnes per year.
Founded in Munich in 2012, Oceanloop is a German food-tech company that operates two pilot stage innovative land-based shrimp farms in Kiel and Munich, supplying premium-quality shrimp through its sister company Honest Catch to restaurants, supermarkets and consumers directly. The company offers a high-quality, sustainable, traceable and animal welfare compliant alternative to imports from outside the EU. With Oceanloop technology farmers can control every parameter to improve efficiency and the use of natural resources. In addition, Oceanloop is working with digital technologies such as computer vision and AI to detect biomass and stress levels in real time to ensure a better animal welfare.
The white-leg shrimp is the most farmed seafood species in the world with more than 5 million tonnes produced annually due to its popularity in all kitchens of the world and its beneficial health aspects. The EU is mostly dependent on imports of shrimp from various countries in the world. Oceanloop’s self-developed land-based farming technology sets a new standard in quality, sustainability and productivity, contributing to the growing demand for climate-friendly protein sources. Its software-controlled artificial ecosystems are modular, scalable, and location-independent.
The company’ circular economy efforts aim at reducing waste through vapor-thermal carbonization to produce a bio-coal based fertilizer, and soil enhancer and anaerobic digestion to produce biogas. The company also plans to produce renewable energy for self-consumption with a wind turbine and solar panels.
“The European Investment Bank supports European tech pioneers with European ambitions that push forward innovative solutions. Oceanloop is a perfect example of our commitment to help start-ups and scale-ups in their growth phase with the right financing solutions”, said EIB Vice-President Nicola Beer. “Developed here in Europe, their innovative technology opens new ways to produce seafood environmentally friendly by integrating new technologies in their aquaculture-business. The reduction of water-usage and CO2-emissions supports preserving the environment while producing protein rich high-quality seafood on land.”
“While the demand for sustainably produced animal proteins will increase significantly in the coming years, their sources are particularly at risk today. Decades of overfishing and an unsustainable aquaculture industry that cannot be controlled in times of climate change are leading to an increasing risk of supply chain disruptions to Europe. We are thrilled that the EU has recognized this and is helping us to bring our innovative technology to industrial-scale commercialization.”, said Oceanloop’s founder & CEO Fabian Riedel.
The EIB loan is supported by the InvestEU programme, which aims to trigger more than €372 billion in additional investment in new technologies until 2027. The deal is aligned with the InvestEU objective of promoting research, development and innovation.
| EU-WIDE ENFORCEMENT ACTION ON INLAND WATERWAYS: WORKERS PAID LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE, WORKED LONG HOURS AND EXPIRED VISAS FOUND
Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal inspected river cruise ships and freight carriers in September coordinated and supported by the European Labour Authority and the waterborne law-enforcement network AQUAPOL. 78 ships and 82 companies were checked. Over 330 employees were interviewed. Breaches of minimum wage rules, expired visas or long working hours were discovered. Legal proceedings in at least 100 cases were initiated.
Almost 200 enforcement officers from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal inspected river cruise ships and freight carriers in September. The inspections were coordinated and supported by the European Labour Authority (ELA) and the waterborne law-enforcement network AQUAPOL.
78 ships and 82 companies were checked. More than 330 employees were interviewed. The suspected offenses include undeclared work, which means that workers lacked social protection; illegal employment, as migrant workers were employed without the necessary working permit or visa in the EU. The inspectors also discovered breaches of minimum wage rules; too long working hours due to incorrect working and resting time registrations; and other labour law and nautical offenses. Legal proceedings have been initiated, and at least 100 of these instances require further investigation by the authorities of the involved Member States.
In this joint cross-border action, police, labour, customs, transport and social security authorities simultaneously inspected river cruise ships on European waterways: Danube, Datteln-Hamm Canal, Douro, Dortmund-Ems Canal, Main, Merwede, Elbe Lateral Canal, Mittelland-Canal, Rhine, and waterways in the Antwerp, Amsterdam and Liège regions. ELA enabled officers and inspectors to deploy to other participating countries to support the joint cross-border controls.
During the inspection of working conditions on ships in the Netherlands, enforcement officers discovered signs of exploitation of workers. The Dutch enforcement authorities – the National Police, the Rotterdam Seaport Police, the Netherlands Labour Authority and the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate – were joined by labour inspectors from Belgium and Germany. They checked 55 people working as nautical, hotel and catering staff on board the ships. A total of ten employees were found working illegally and had to stop their work immediately. For a number of ships, this meant that they could not continue sailing until other qualified personnel arrive. Two companies and one employment agency are being investigated for possible violations of the Dutch Minimum Wage, Minimum Holiday Allowance and the Working Hours Act.
The aim of these inspections was to tackle serious labour and nautical offenses and to protect the ships’ personnel from labour violations and exploitation, such as poor working and living conditions, undeclared work, underpayments and longer working hours than permitted. Such breaches also affect the safety on board and could jeopardise the passenger and boat safety on European rivers and canals.
About 48,000 workers are employed in the inland waterways transport sector (nautical and other service staff, for example, in accommodation, hospitality, catering, cleaning, etc.). At least 1.6 million tourists cruise European rivers and canals on more than 400 ships each year. The freight transport using inland waterways accounts for about six per cent of the overall EU transport market; almost three quarters are carried using inland waterways in the Netherlands and Germany (Eurostat).
| EU INVESTS €4.8 BILLION OF EMISSIONS TRADING REVENUES IN INNOVATIVE NET-ZERO PROJECTS
Today, the Commission has selected 85 innovative net-zero projects to receive €4.8 billion in grants from the Innovation Fund, helping to put cutting-edge clean technologies into action across Europe. For the first time, projects of different scales (large, medium and small, alongside pilots) and with a cleantech manufacturing focus are awarded under the 2023 call for proposals. This is the largest since the start of the Innovation Fund in 2020, boosting the total amount of support to €12 billion and increasing the number of projects by 70%.
The selected projects are located in 18 countries: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and Norway. They cover a wide range of sectors from the following categories: energy-intensive industries, renewable energy, energy storage, Industrial Carbon Management, net-zero mobility (including maritime and aviation) and buildings.
The selected projects are set to enter into operation before 2030 and over their first ten years of operation are expected to reduce emissions by about 476 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This will contribute to European decarbonisation objectives, reducing emissions from those sectors that are particularly difficult to decarbonise, strengthen European industrial manufacturing capacity and reinforce Europe’s technology leadership and supply chain resilience.
Supporting industrial innovation for key policy objectives
Today’s selected projects particularly contribute to reaching the following EU policy objectives:
Cleantech manufacturing: In line with the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), clean-tech projects selected will develop, build and operate manufacturing plants for key components in wind and solar energy and for heat pumps, as well as components for electrolysers, fuel cells, energy storage technologies and the batteries value chain. Selected projects will contribute to 3 GW of solar photovoltaic manufacturing capacity in the EU and 9.3 GW of electrolyser manufacturing capacity in the EU, further strengthening EU’s clean energy infrastructure.
Energy-intensive industries: Selected projects will support various technologies to cut net greenhouse gas emissions in energy-intensive industries, target renewable energy integration, heat and energy storage solutions, recycling and reuse, as well as electrification.
Industrial carbon management: Projects selected in this call will capture CO2 and contribute 13% of the NZIA target of storing at least 50 million tonnes of CO2 per year from various hard-to-abate sources in energy-intensive industries, such as cement and lime, (bio)-refineries, chemicals and waste-to-energy.
Renewable hydrogen: Selected projects will deliver 61 kilotonnes of RFNBO (renewable fuel of non-biological origin) annually, contributing to increase the use and production of renewable energy in hydrogen in hard-to-abate applications in industry and transport.
Net-zero mobility: Projects will help cut emissions in the mobility sector, with the maritime sector benefiting the most. These projects involve building and retrofitting vessels for RFNBO fuels and electricity use, as well as reducing emissions in road transport component manufacturing. Awarded projects will also support sustainable transport fuels, producing 525 kilotonnes of renewable fuels per year.
The selected projects were evaluated by independent experts against five award criteria: potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; degree of innovation; operational, financial, and technical maturity; replicability; and cost efficiency.
| FIGHTING CROSS-BORDER CRIME: COUNCIL ADOPTS EU LAW ABOUT TRANSFER OF PROCEEDINGS
The Council has given the final green light to an EU law that regulates the conditions under which proceedings in a criminal case initiated in one member state may be transferred to another member state.
The law will be critical in ensuring that the best-placed country investigates or prosecutes a criminal offence. It also prevents unnecessary parallel proceedings (of the same suspect) in different EU member states and therefore will help to fight cross-border crime more effectively.
The fight against cross-border crime needs EU member states to work together. Making sure that the best-placed member state will be in charge of a criminal investigation is of crucial importance in this respect.
Bence Tuzson, Hungarian Minister of Justice
The rules which were adopted will also improve the respect of fundamental rights of the suspect or accused in the process of transferring criminal proceedings from one country to another.
Common rules for the transfer of proceedings
Under the new law, the authorities of a country will decide to request the transfer of proceedings (to another member state) on the basis of a list of criteria. These include that the criminal offence has been committed on the territory of the member state to which the proceedings are to be transferred or one or more suspects or accused persons being present in that member state.
Next steps
The regulation will enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The regulation is directly applicable and will apply two years after it comes into force.
Background
Fuelled by the increase of cross-border crime, criminal justice in the EU is increasingly being confronted with situations where several member states have jurisdiction to prosecute the same case. The law which was adopted today is the first specific EU instrument regulating the transfer of proceedings.
| BRAZILIAN POLICE COMMISSIONER VALDECY URQUIZA ELECTED NEW INTERPOL SECRETARY GENERAL
INTERPOL’s General Assembly has appointed Valdecy Urquiza as the forthcoming Secretary General of the world’s largest policing organisation.
The Brazilian Police Commissioner takes over from Jürgen Stock who has completed his second and final term after a decade of leadership in the Organisation.
Mr. Urquiza expressed gratitude to the delegates for their trust in his appointment, pledging to advance equality and diversity within the Organisation, collaborate with nations to ensure effective investigations and operations, and provide capacity-building programs customised to regional policing challenges.
Mr. Urquiza stated, “My commitment is to develop an INTERPOL that not only addresses current demands but also anticipates and prepares for future challenges.” An effective INTERPOL is one that encompasses all nations. By honouring and promoting diverse viewpoints, we achieve a more lucid and holistic understanding of global security. “Collectively, we can establish an INTERPOL that functions as a symbol of hope and security, collaborating with every police force in every nation to foster a safer world for all.”
INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi welcomed Mr. Urquiza’s election and acknowledged Mr. Stock’s accomplishments, stating: “Mr. Urquiza embodies the future of INTERPOL—a diverse, technology-driven organisation dedicated to collaborating with its 196 member countries to promote global safety for all.”In the last ten years, Secretary General Stock has guided our organisation with passion and a commitment to excellence. His tenure has yielded significant advancements in international police collaboration and a robust dedication to enhancing global security.
The Secretary General is elected by the General Assembly, INTERPOL’s highest governing authority, under a one-country, one-vote system, where each member nation’s vote holds equal significance.
The Secretary General, located in the INTERPOL General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France, serves as the Organization’s principal official, overseeing daily decision-making and the operations of the General Secretariat throughout all 15 global duty stations.
This encompasses overseeing all operational support, knowledge, databases, and services that INTERPOL offers to its 196 member nations to assist them in combating international crime.
| THOUSANDS OF CANCERS CAUGHT EARLY THROUGH NHS LUNG CHECKS
More than 5,000 people in England have been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier thanks to an innovative NHS initiative, which uses mobile scanning trucks to visit local communities.
The NHS Targeted Lung Health Check Programme is the biggest initiative in NHS history aimed at improving early lung cancer diagnosis, and is specifically targeted at areas of the country with the highest rates of lung cancer.
The latest NHS data shows that 5,037 lung cancers have now been found through the programme since its launch in 2019.
Data also shows that more than three-quarters (76%) of the lung cancers identified by the programme were found at the earliest stages of one and two, when it is potentially curable. People diagnosed with lung cancer at the earliest stages are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years than those whose cancer is caught late.
Using a mix of hospital services and roving scanning trucks that visit convenient community sites, such as supermarket carparks, sports stadiums and town centres, in-depth lung health checks are carried out on current and past smokers.
NHS data also shows that more than a third of people diagnosed with lung cancer from the most deprived areas of England were diagnosed at an earlier stage since the targeted lung health checks initiative began.
Dame Cally Palmer, NHS Cancer Director, said: “These lung checks can save lives, so it’s fantastic that the NHS has been able to diagnose thousands of people at an early stage when lung cancer is potentially curable.
“The targeted lung health check programme is a new model of care with a community focus, making it easier for people to come forward in a way that works for them, whether in a supermarket car park or a sports stadium. It has been amazing to see the response, and initiatives like this will make a big difference in improving cancer survival for people throughout the country.”
NHS data shows there was a 7.4% improvement in lung cancer early diagnosis rates by the NHS last year (April 2023 to March 2024) compared to the period before COVID-19 (March 2019 to February 2020).
Lung cancer is the third commonest type of cancer in the UK, with 72% of cases caused by smoking, leading to around 35,000 deaths each year.
Among the symptoms of lung cancer are a long-standing cough that gets worse, coughing up blood, persistent breathlessness, continuing tiredness or lack of energy, and an unexplained loss of weight or appetite.
Under the programme, current and past smokers aged between 55 and 74 are invited to speak with a nurse or other healthcare professional about their lung health and, if they have a higher chance of developing cancer, are offered a Computerised Tomography (CT) scan of their lungs on a mobile scanning unit.
The UK National Screening Committee and Government announced the Targeted Lung health Check Programme should be fully rolled out across the country by 2030.
| RAIL BALTICA
DREAM OR REALITY?
The ambitious Rail Baltica project aims to create a high-speed railway connecting the three Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—over a distance of 870 kilometres. Initially conceived as an infrastructure initiative, its significance has shifted dramatically following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as the Baltic nations increasingly view Russia as a serious threat.
Currently, there is no direct rail link that connects the Baltics to Poland, making Rail Baltica essential. This railway is expected to improve travel efficiency, boost economic growth, and minimise environmental impact. For example, the journey from Tallinn to Vilnius, the capitals of Estonia and Lithuania, could be reduced from over 12 hours to under four. Estonian Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet has emphasised the railway’s role in enhancing regional security, drawing parallels to the historical context of Soviet aggression.
The memory of Soviet occupation is still fresh in the Baltics, adding urgency to the project. With a shared border with Russia and around 10,000 NATO soldiers stationed in the region, military readiness is a priority. Rail Baltica is anticipated to improve military mobility, facilitating rapid troop movements—something NATO officials deem crucial for security.
Despite its clear benefits, the project faces significant hurdles. The estimated cost has surged from 7.2 billion euros in 2017 to around 30 billion euros today, raising alarm among the Baltic states and their partners. The European Union has committed substantial funding, covering 85% of the expenses and announcing an additional 1.4 billion euros in subsidies. However, rising costs are linked to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which have disrupted supply chains and increased material prices.
The project is divided into two phases, with the first focusing on a single track and key train stops, slated for completion by 2030. This phase alone is expected to cost about 19 billion euros, but securing the necessary funding is proving challenging. Critics have noted that the Baltic states have started building rail terminals before the railway is fully operational, raising concerns about project management.
Cultural differences among the three countries also complicate the project. Each nation has its own regulations and approaches, which are often overlooked when considering the Baltics as a unified entity.
Baltic leaders highlight the importance of Rail Baltica not just for transportation, but as a vital lifeline for regional security and economic stability. Estonia’s national auditor, Janar Holm, has warned that unresolved funding issues could lead to delays. Overall, Baltic officials share a sentiment that a robust connection to the EU and NATO is essential for maintaining their sovereignty and cultural identity.
Rail Baltica represents a crucial infrastructure project for the Baltic states, with the potential to reshape regional dynamics. Successfully navigating the financial, logistical, and political challenges will be essential for its completion, positioning it as a cornerstone of future Baltic cooperation and security.
| BRIDGING THE GAP: SUPPORTING CROSS-BORDER ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE
The SIRIUS Conference 2024 took place from 5-7 November, bringing together law enforcement, judicial authorities, policy makers, and service providers to discuss the evolving challenges in cross-border access to electronic evidence. This annual event serves as a platform for updates on legal developments, data disclosure procedures, and the latest investigative tools, with hands-on training from industry experts.
In a rapidly changing online environment, law enforcement and judicial authorities need support to cope with the complexity and volume of information and to develop their knowledge when obtaining electronic data from service providers based in other jurisdictions. The SIRIUS project, co-implemented by Europol and Eurojust, supports investigators with a variety of services, such as guidelines, trainings and tools, to help with accessing data held by the industry. These services are available to law enforcement and judicial authorities via the SIRIUS restricted platform and mobile application.
This year’s conference included a 3-day programme, with the third day reserved for law enforcement and judicial authorities. Attendees benefited from interactive workshops, networking opportunities, and presentations on pressing topics in the field.
Presentations included an update on the state of play of the EU Electronic Evidence Regulation from the European Commission followed by insights from government judiciary and service provider representatives. The SIRIUS team gave an overview into the upcoming ‘SIRIUS EU Electronic Evidence Situation Report 2024’, the upcoming UN and Budapest Conventions on Cybercrime was presented offering future opportunities for international cooperation. Workshops explored topics such as audio deep fakes, lawful access to data, the EU AI Act and future AI-related challenges, and digital asset seizures for evidentiary purposes.
The SIRIUS project is a central reference point in the EU for knowledge sharing on cross-border access to electronic evidence. To this day, SIRIUS serves a community of competent authorities from over 50 countries, representing all EU Member States and a growing number of third countries. Building on its existing expertise and resources on the legal instruments currently in force, SIRIUS will assist law enforcement, judicial authorities and service providers in navigating the increasingly complex legal framework during the third phase of the project, starting next year.
| UKRAINE: COUNCIL EXTENDS THE MANDATE OF THE EU MILITARY ASSISTANCE MISSION FOR TWO YEARS
The Council has adopted a decision extending the mandate of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) for a further two years, until 15 November 2026, with a budget allocation of nearly €409 million for the period from 14 November 2024 to 15 November 2026.
EUMAM Ukraine remains a key tool for EU’s military support to Ukraine, with its core objective of contributing to enhancing the military capacity of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
In line with today’s decision, EUMAM Ukraine will cooperate with NATO, in particular the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), and exchange information with the latter in a transparent, reciprocal and inclusive manner.
Background
On 17 October 2022, the Council adopted a decision establishing EUMAM Ukraine with an initial duration of two years. The strategic objective of the mission is to contribute to enhancing the military capacity of Ukraine’s Armed Forces (UAF) to regenerate and to effectively conduct operations, in order to allow Ukraine to defend its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, effectively exercise its sovereignty and protect the civilians from Russia’s armed aggression.
EUMAM Ukraine has trained 63 000 UAF soldiers so far, which is an equivalent of ten brigades. The mission will train additional 15 000 troops in coming months, bringing the total number of soldiers trained to 75 000 by the end of winter 2024/2025.
EUMAM Ukraine provides individual, collective and specialised training to the UAF within European Union territory, along with coordination and synchronisation of member states’ activities delivering training. The training is supported by the provision of equipment for lethal and non-lethal purposes to the UAF. EUMAM is financed from the European Peace Facility.
The future training targets of EUMAM Ukraine will be continuously adjusted in terms of number of troops to be trained and skills, according to combat needs expressed by Ukraine, and in coordination with partners. Provision of military training to Ukraine is one of the activities under the joint security commitments between Ukraine and the EU, signed in June 2024.
| THE VESSEL, A TOURIST ATTRACTION IN MANHATTAN CLOSED FOLLOWING SEVERAL SUICIDES REOPENS WITH ENHANCED SAFETY MEASURES AT HUDSON YARDS.
The Vessel, an impressive honeycomb-like edifice situated in Hudson Yards in New York City, has recently reopened following a series of closures prompted by suicides. Conceived by British architect Thomas Heatherwick, the Vessel rapidly emerged as a prominent tourist destination following its inauguration in 2019, providing tourists with expansive vistas of Manhattan and the Hudson River from its 154 interlinked flights of stairs. The edifice, rising to a height of 150 feet, emerged as an emblem of contemporary architecture and urban advancement in the region.
Nonetheless, its popularity was eclipsed by a series of suicides, raising safety concerns and resulting in the Vessel’s closure on many occasions. From 2019 to 2021, four individuals committed suicide by leaping from the structure, prompting criticism regarding insufficient safety measures. The Vessel was closed to the public in January 2021 to mitigate these issues.
The management and developers of Hudson Yards, Related Companies, in collaboration with mental health professionals and suicide prevention organisations, initiated the implementation of new safety standards. This involved the installation of physical barriers and mental health signage to assist distressed visitors. Upon reopening, a notable alteration was the establishment of new admission regulations: visitors are now required to be accompanied by at least one other individual to access the Vessel, aimed at mitigating the risks linked to solitude.
The reopening of the Vessel signifies a new phase for the structure, featuring improved security protocols and an increased emphasis on guest welfare. The management has increased personnel presence, deploying security teams trained to identify and aid anyone experiencing emotional distress. Visitors are urged to appreciate the architectural grandeur and city vistas while adhering to the new laws established to safeguard both themselves and others.
