EU

MoU Paves Way Forward

This MoU paves the way forward for both associations to strengthen their work in terms of gender-based violence and sorcery accusation related violence in respective communities and in the country as well.

Present to deliver the keynote address was Founder of HRDA PNG, Linda Tule who spoke of the MoU and the work that HRDA do.

She said, “The purpose of the MoU is to safeguard and empower women, girls and people in respective communities to know and claim their rights to live life in all its fullness without fear of violence.”

Nato rejects Ukraine no-fly zone, EU readies more Russia sanctions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had appealed to Nato to declare a no-fly zone over his country, which Russian forces invaded by land, sea and air on 24 February.

"We are not part of this conflict," Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in denying Ukraine's request.

"We have a responsibility as Nato allies to prevent this war from escalating beyond Ukraine because that would be even more dangerous, more devastating and would cause even more human suffering," he said following a Nato meeting in Brussels.

Belarus threatens to cut off gas to EU in border row

Thousands of people are at the border with Poland, enduring freezing conditions in the hope of crossing into the European Union.

EU officials have accused Belarus of provoking the crisis to undermine its security, an allegation it denies.

In retaliation, the EU is reportedly planning a fresh package of sanctions.

But on Thursday the country's long-time authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko warned: "If they impose additional sanctions on us... we must respond."

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Launch of UN Anti-Corruption Project

The UNDP and UN Office of Drugs & Crime (UNODC) will implement the project together over the next three years in collaboration with and through the Government of Papua New Guinea, including the Department of Justice and the Attorney General.

Mr Wagener thanked Minister for Justice Bryan Kramer for the ongoing partnership of his Ministry with the UN team. Kramer heads the DJAG team that has been leading the national fight to tackle corruption.

Anti-Corruption Project Targets Key Areas

Civil Society, youth organizations and the media will also benefit from project.

The project will focus on four key areas;

Partnerships strengthened to support Pacific health sector responses to COVID-19

This follows the new Financing Agreement the EU and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) signed, to repurpose funding to support the Pacific’s response to COVID-19.

PNG’s ‘first promising step’

The EU says this achievement is a ‘first promising step on a long road’.   

“Adopting the legislation is essential, but not sufficient,” it stated.

“To make it work, ICAC will further need real independence, bylaws and regulations, qualified staff and funding. In this respect, the EU stands ready to provide a helping hand through its Partnership for Good Governance Program, which provides 100 million Kina for different activities, including the fight against corruption.

EU Delegation visits the STREIT PNG Programme farmers and families

“Children are the future of the country, of the community, so we have to take care of our children, give them a good education, help them grow up in peace and with joy. I encourage all of you to embrace the opportunities which the project brings to you. With this project, we want to help you increase your income through farming and better value chains, to leave poverty behind and improve your standards of living, health and education,” said Mr. Rene Mally, First Counsellor and Head of Cooperation, European Union in PNG.

COVID-19 response: Over K93m for ACP countries

A further €30 million (K112 million) has also been allocated from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations budget reserves.

“These funds for the WHO will contribute to global preparedness, prevention and containment of the virus and support the countries with the weakest health systems,” said the EU.

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High Level Dialogue between Pacific ACP States and the European Union

The High-Level Dialogue between Pacific States of the African, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) Group and the EU Commissioner for International Development and Cooperation, Neven Mimica, was held in Apia, Samoa, on 26 February 2019. The Dialogue was the first EU high-level engagement with the ACP regions since the launch of the post-Cotonou negotiations in September 2018.