US-Europe World Affairs

 Presidential Proclamation  Veterans Day, 2016

 

“America has long stood as a beacon of hope and opportunity, and few embody that spirit here at home and beyond our borders more than the members of our Armed Forces. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen are part of an unbroken chain of brave patriots who have served our country with honor and made tremendous sacrifices so that we may live Free. On Veterans Day, we salute the women and men who have proudly worn the uniform of the United States of America and the families who have served alongside them, and we affirm our sacred duty as citizens to express our enduring gratitude, both in words and in actions, for their service.”  November 8, 2016 © The White House

Additional: November 11 is Veterans Day  in the United States by US Embassy in Norway 

News from U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria
News from US Naval Forces Europe-Africa                                                News from DoD 
News from U.S Air Force Europe-Africa                  News from Strong Europe U.S Army

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By creating a Revolutionary Movement and the dazzling Victory that had never been seen before, Donald Trump the most resemble to President Ronald Reagan, has been elected the 45 President of the United States of America, with Governor Mike Pence the Vice President.

Mr.Donald Trump with Governor Mike Pence at his campaign HQ. Nov 9, 2016. Courtesy of Fox News.

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The EEA and Norway Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to reduce economic and social disparities and strengthening bilateral relations with 16 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe. Norway provides 97% of the funding.  2016 © Norway MFA 

 Described by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Grants are also contributing to strengthening fundamental European Values such as Democracy, Tolerance and the Rule of Law.  

The highlight of the EEA and Norway Grants’ annual Report 2015-2016 shows that about  30 % of all the reception  places in Greece for unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable groups seeking asylum are funded through the EEA and Norway Grants.  The head of Greece’s asylum service has reported that they would not be able to continue their activities without the support from Norway.  June 16 2016 © Norway MFA 

Additional: The European Economic Area (EEA)

News from Norwegian MFA                                     News from  Norwegian Armed-Forces 

In late October,  European Commission Fact Sheet Memo of 2016  announced the Netherlands Transport and Infrastructure System as the first ranking in Europe for the third year in row.

The Commission’s Fact Sheet 2016 announced: 

The Netherlands record the highest overall score for the third year running. The Dutch transport infrastructure receives top ratings. Marks for its roads, ports and airports are the highest across the EU. The Netherlands also have by far the most charging points for electric vehicles per city in Europe, and they have maintained a very good road safety record.

Belgium’s  port infrastructure is ranked second best in the EU. The time that drivers spend in traffic jams is the third highest in the EU.

Austria ranks third in this year’s Scoreboard. It has the highest consumer satisfaction ratings for urban transport in the EU. The quality of its roads is also rated very highly.

Denmark ranks second in the EU for the availability of charging points for electric vehicles. It has maintained an excellent road and rail safety record.

Sweden ranks second in this year’s Scoreboard. It has maintained its position among the three top performers in road safety. It has the second highest share of renewable energy in transport fuel and is in fourth place in the share of new cars using alternative fuels. Consumers remain rather critical about transport in Sweden across all modes.

The quality of  Finland’s  rail, port and air infrastructure is rated among the best in the entire EU, maintaining last year’s level. The share of renewable energy used in transport fuels has risen sharply and is now the highest in Europe.

Spain has maintained high ratings concerning the quality of its transport infrastructure, with however a small decline in ratings across all modes. It is doing well as regards road safety. Consumer satisfaction with air transport in Spain is the lowest in the EU.

The United Kingdom is among the top performers for private investment in research and development in transport and as regards road and rail safety. The share of renewable energy in transport fuel consumption and the number of new cars that use alternative fuels are increasing but are still below average.   October 22, 2016 © European Commission 

News from Dutch MFA            News from PM Mark Rutte              News from EU Commission

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The Human Rights Tulip   is an award of the Dutch government,  organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for:

Courageous Human Rights Defenders who promote and Support Human Rights in Innovative ways.

1. Additional:  The U.S Department of State Human Rights Defenders’ Fund
2. The United Kingdom’s Foreign Policy on promoting Human Rights in the World

News from Dutch MFA                 News from PM Mark Rutte              News from U.S Dep State

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The close partnership between the EU Naval Force in Operation Atalanta and NATO in Operation Ocean Shield has been the vital path for enduring  success at the military and political fronts for both.

In the recent port visit of the Frigate HNLMS Tromp to  the Seychelles, Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander Commodore Luyckx,   was welcomed by Royal Danish Air Force Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) detachment based in the Seychelles as a part of NATO in Operation Ocean Shield.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operation Atalanta Force-Commander, Commodore Luyckx of the Netherlands Navy (right) with Major Anders Kyed of Royal Danish Air Force Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) detachment in NATO Operation Ocean Shield (left). October 31, 2016 © EU NAVFOR

1. Additional: Operation Atalanta’s Dutch Flagship on Exercise with Seychelles’ Maritime Forces

News from EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta                
News from Royal Netherlands Navy                          News from Danish Armed-Forces
News from UK Royal Navy                                           News from Commodore René Luyckx
News from Spanish Navy                                      News from US Naval Forces Europe/Africa

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UK Royal Navy in London’s  Poppy Day 2016     

UK Armed-Forces Remembrance

By Catherine S. Schmidt (Copyrighted material) 

 

For the sixth year in a row Denmark is ranked the easiest  place in Europe to do business. Globally, only New Zealand and Singapore are ahead of Denmark in the World Bank’s ‘Ease of Doing Business Index Report’. 

 
 “It is important for our ability to attract foreign investments that Denmark is one of the world’s best places to start and run a business. We will take advantage of the excellent ranking to make even more international companies aware of Denmark as an attractive place for doing business. I am also pleased to see that Denmark is the best country in the world to use as a base for International Trade.”  Elaborated Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kristian Jensen on this occasion.

About the World Bank’s Doing Business report

• The ‘Doing Business’ report presents quantitative indicators on 11 areas of business regulation for 189 economies.
• Denmark is ranked as the world’s third best country for business and number one in Europe.
• The top 10 of the ranking is characterised by considerable stability and include, among others, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States and Sweden.
• The 11 areas of business regulation include, among others: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, access to credit, paying taxes and trading across borders.   October 26, 2016 © Danish MFA

1. Additional: Denmark the top European States for Business.
2. Denmark  is the Least  corrupt Country in the World, global report by Transparency International. 
3. Denmark the Leading force in UN for Human Rights.

News from Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Denmark
News from Danish Mission to NATO
News from former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen

Started on the October 22,  this year’s U.S-European Best Squad Competition was finalized on October 27 with the Armed-Forces of  Norway  in the first place,  Sweden and Belgium  in the second and the third.

The U.S-European Best Squad is the U.S Army Europe sponsored military competition covering over 30 events and 27 challenges in the period of four days.  The Armed Forces from Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States  were the participants in 2016 competition.

The Best Squad Competition is designed to project a dynamic presence, foster military partnership and promote NATO and partner nation interoperability. Explained the U.S Army Europe on the importance of this event.  

News from Norway Armed-Forces                                      News from Norway MFA
News from Sweden Armed-Forces                                        News from Sweden MFA
News from Belgium Armed-Forces                                       News from Belgium MFA

News from U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria
News from US Naval Forces Europe-Africa
News from U.S Air Force Europe-Africa                       News from Strong Europe U.S Army     

Image: Norwegian Squad the first place winner of the 2016. October 27, 2016 courtesy of U.S Army Sources: U.S Army Europe 

 

Austrian National Day October 26 

 

Message of U.S Department of State on the occasion of Austrian National Day October 2016 

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One of the important tasks of the European Naval Force in Operation Atalanta is Military outreach during the port visit.  

 The Naval crew of  ESPS Relampago with Convent Sisters. Djibouti October 26, 2016  © EU NAVFOR

Earlier this week the Spanish Naval warship ESPS Relampago  in its port stop in Djibouti, visited a Catholic charity school of Couvent de la Nativité.  The Commanding Officer of ESPS Relampago  presented the funds  which had been donated by the two Spanish charity foundation of ‘Caritas Castrense’ and ‘Asociacion Nuestra señora del Carmen’, and school materials provided by Spanish Navy School Colegio de Huerfanos de la Armada.                                                                                        

The Spanish  Naval Warship, ESPS Relampago has been part of Operation Atalanta in rotational deployment terms since 2012, when its  chapter in Operation Atalanta started with a successful  Rescue Operation that saved the lives of 68 people in the gulf of Aden.                                         

News from EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta
News from Spanish Navy                                              News from Spanish Armed-Forces
News from UK Royal Navy                                        News from the Royal Netherlands Navy

Sources: EU NAVFOR/ Spanish Navy