Latest news with #Non-EU
Euractiv
a day ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
EU Commission to propose partial suspension of Israel research cooperation
In a closed-door meeting on Monday, EU commissioners agreed to propose a partial suspension of the Horizon Europe research program with Israel – worth hundreds of millions – citing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In a quietly added, unpublicised Brussels meeting added late on Monday, top EU officials met to agree to propose a partial suspension of the research agreement – though the final decision now lies with member states. Horizon Europe is the EU's flagship research and innovation programme, which funds scientific research, tech development, and cross-border collaboration. Non-EU countries, including Israel, can take part through special association agreements –and Israel has been involved since 2021. Suspending Israel was one of the options amongst the possible measures against the country, drafted by the bloc's diplomatic service earlier this month. The move – if approved by member states – would be the first concrete sanctions imposed by Europe on Israel amid its war against Hamas in Gaza. According to an EU official, the proposal was made because the bloc sees no tangible improvement of the humanitarian situation on the ground, despite the signing of an agreement with Israel to ramp up the amount of food aid going into Gaza this month. European commissioners also discussed the tentative political deal that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen struck with the US. Israel's Academy of Sciences said in May that being expelled from the Horizon programme would be a "death sentence" for Israeli scientists. (aw)
Euractiv
2 days ago
- Business
- Euractiv
UK, Norway and Ukraine welcome to join EU's IRIS² space programme, says commissioner
Non-EU countries such as Norway, Ukraine and the United Kingdom could yet join the EU's secure communication satellite network IRIS² as an alternative to Elon Musk's Starlink, Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius told Euractiv. Aside from Norway, which is already in talks with the European Commission over joining the satellite network programme, neither Ukraine nor the United Kingdom have so far kicked off negotiations about signing up. However, Ukraine has relied on Musk's SpaceX to provide telecommunications services for its military operations during its war against invading Russian forces, and there has been general disquiet about the level of dominance the Starlink constellation has in the space-enabled telecom market. That offers IRIS² – which is expected to cost €10.6 billion and be made up of around 280 satellites once it's online in the 2030s – an opportunity to snag market share. 'I would not be opposed," Kubilius said when asked if such non-EU countries could formally join the multi-billion euro space programme. The United Kingdom has a strong track record in space, while Ukraine holds significant potential having served as a key space hub during the Soviet era, Kubilius said. Iceland – also a European Economic Area country like Norway – said it had concluded talks with the Commission earlier this month to participate in IRIS². Kubilius was speaking just weeks after presenting a draft EU Space Act, which was tabled by the Commission on 25 June and sparked intense behind-the-scenes negotiations over the scope of the rules. While the legislation will take years to finalise, the provisions could in future hamper the likes of Musk's SpaceX from accessing EU consumers with its satellite services. However, Kubilius said there hasn't been any blowback to the draft so far. "For the time being, I received no hints that the Americans will react on the EU Space Act," said Kubilius, who had just returned from a US trip from July 17 to 22. (nl, jp)
News18
5 days ago
- Business
- News18
Planning To Study In Germany? Know Top 5 Scholarships For International Students
Last Updated: From DAAD scholarship to Bayer fellowship, discover the top 5 scholarships for international students planning to study at German universities. Germany offers some of the most generous scholarships through government and organisation-funded programmes, greatly increasing the accessibility of higher education for international students. These are the most popular scholarships: Expatrio Scholarship This scholarship is open to international students from any country who plan to start their studies in Germany in the Winter Semester 2025. The first prize is €15,000, the second prize is €12,000, and the third prize is €9,000. Awards for fourth to tenth place include rent payments for six months (up to €3,000), a new laptop, German language lessons, and semester contribution fees. DAAD Scholarships DAAD scholarships are primarily targeted at graduates, doctoral students, and postdocs for study and research visits at universities and non-university research institutions in Germany. These fully-funded scholarships include monthly stipends (€992 for graduates and €1,300 for doctoral/Ph.D. students), travel allowances, health insurance payments, and annual study/research allowances. Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships The Heinrich Böll Foundation awards scholarships to approximately 1500 undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral students of all subjects and nationalities annually. Recipients pursue their degrees at universities, universities of applied sciences, or universities of the arts. Non-EU nationals/refugees educated outside Germany receive €992 per month plus health insurance and other allowances. Doctoral students receive €1,400 per month plus additional allowances. Friedrich Ebert Foundation Scholarships FES supports students from public or state-approved universities and polytechnical colleges across all academic subjects and postgraduate programmes. Non-German students can also apply for this scholarship programme, provided they are studying in Germany at the time of application. Monthly stipends include €992 for students and €1,400 for doctoral students, for up to three years. Bayer Foundation Fellowships Open to medical students and those pursuing master's or PhD degrees in scientific disciplines such as Agricultural Science, Medical Sciences, Drug Discovery Sciences, and Climate and Health. Coverage includes up to €10,000 per applicant for international research projects, internships, and other activities up to six months. Additional funding is available for travel, visa, living, and exceptional project costs. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Local France
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Local France
Who can sign parliamentary petitions in France?
The controversial Loi Duplomb was voted into law in on July 8th, shortly before French MPs went on holiday. It was introduced in response to the 2024 farmers' protests and – among a number of measures to 'simplify' farming administration – it also reopens the door to the use of a controversial pesticide. READ ALSO French petition against return of bee-killing pesticide passes 1 million Two days after the law was passed, a petition demanding its immediate repeal, a review of the conditions under which it was adopted, and a citizen consultation was launched on the National Assembly's website and by July 22nd had passed 1.6 million signatures. Advertisement But can non-French citizens add their signatures to it? Or start their own? The answer to both those questions is: yes, with conditions. The front page of the parliamentary petitions website clearly states: 'Any adult, of French nationality or legally resident in France, may submit or sign a petition on the National Assembly's petitions platform.' So far, so straightforward. But there's an additional requirement. To actually sign or start a petition, would-be signatories who are over the age of 18 must have a France Connect account – which, in turn, requires them to hold a permanent French social security number. READ ALSO What is France Connect and how could it make your life simpler? This step restricts the signing of online French parliamentary petitions to anyone legally resident in France. It also means that people can only sign once. This applies only to parliamentary petitions done via the National Assembly website - more informal local petitions, such as a petition to save your local leisure centre, have their own rules although you will usually be required to provide a French address. What about EU petitions? Similar rules are in place. The European Commissions petitions portal says that any EU citizen, anyone living in an EU country, and any company, organisation or association with its headquarters in an EU country can petition the European Parliament on matters that 'concern one of the EU's policy areas'. You can do this online or by post. If you are starting or signing a petition online, you need to register with the European Parliament Petitions Portal Non-EU citizens living in France cannot vote at any level while people who are EU citizens but are not French can only vote in local or European elections. So signing a petition is one of the few ways that you can make your voice heard in the country of your residence (that and joining a manifestation , of course, anyone can turn up for a demo).
Fibre2Fashion
18-07-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Italy's trade slows in May 2025; import prices continue to fall
Italy's foreign trade has declined in May 2025, with seasonally adjusted exports falling by 2.3 per cent and imports by 4.1 per cent compared to April , according to the official statistical agency Istat. Export reductions were sharper for non-EU countries (-3.1 per cent) than for EU markets (-1.7 per cent), while imports dropped by 7.5 per cent from non-EU countries and 1.3 per cent from EU partners. Quarterly data show a continued slowdown, with exports down 1.2 per cent and imports by 0.7 per cent over the past three months. On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, exports slipped 1.9 per cent and imports 1.7 per cent. Exports to non-EU countries fell 4.6 per cent, offsetting a modest 0.7 per cent rise in EU-bound shipments. Imports also declined across both zones, down 3.4 per cent for non-EU and 0.4 per cent for EU countries. Despite the decline in trade flows, Italy posted a trade surplus of €6.16 billion (~$7.16 billion) in May—€776 million (~$902 million) with EU countries and €5.39 billion (~$6.26 billion) with non-EU nations. Excluding energy, the surplus widened to €9.62 billion (~$11.19 billion). Import prices also continued to decline, falling 1.4 per cent month on month and 3 per cent YoY, driven mainly by a sharper drop in non-euro area prices (-3.7 per cent) versus the euro zone (-2.1 per cent). Italy's foreign trade has declined in May 2025, with exports down 2.3 per cent and imports 4.1 per cent month on month. Non-EU trade saw sharper falls. Year on year, exports dropped 1.9 per cent and imports 1.7 per cent. Despite this, Italy posted a trade surplus of €6.16 billion ($11.19 billion) excluding energy. Import prices fell 1.4 per cent monthly and 3 per cent annually. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
