Three energy-modernized preschools in Rivne for a total of 410 children have started operating, the project was funded by the European Union under a EUR1.56 million grant, the press service of the project manager, the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), reports.
The energy modernization was carried out for the buildings of the Rivne Special Child Educational and Rehabilitation Center, the Pahinets Center compensatory kindergarten and the 35th kindergarten, which are attended by a total of about 410 children, including IDPs and children with special needs.
“The European Union is pleased with the successful completion of the energy efficiency modernization project in Rivne, which has significantly improved the learning environment for local children, including IDPs and children with disabilities. This initiative reaffirms our unwavering commitment to helping vulnerable people in Ukraine, especially in these difficult times of war. The EU continues to support projects that strengthen the resilience and well-being of communities across Ukraine,” commented Josep Cornet, Head of the Reconstruction, Energy, Infrastructure and Environment Unit at the EU Delegation to Ukraine.
According to Viktor Shakirzyan, Secretary of Rivne City Council and Acting Mayor, these buildings had low energy efficiency and were in need of overhaul for a long time.
“Thanks to the modernization measures, we will be able to reduce costs from the community budget by reducing heat, electricity and water consumption. The work performed will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which is part of our commitment to the NetZeroCities initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2030,” he said.
The project “Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Municipal Infrastructure in Rivne to Support the Urgent Needs of Internally Displaced Persons” was successfully implemented with the financial support of the European Union and implemented by the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) under the NIP “EU Support for Urgent Housing Needs” program.
In total, the partnership between Rivne community and NEFCO has been going on for nine years, and four projects worth EUR 3 million 760 thousand have already been implemented. In particular, comprehensive thermal modernization of schools #26, #18 and #27, as well as kindergartens #14, #33 and #46, has been carried out to support the city’s transition to energy-efficient public buildings. Other measures implemented in educational institutions include the installation of eight new individual heating stations, replacement of kitchen equipment in 11 buildings, replacement of water tap nozzles in 13 buildings, and replacement of lighting fixtures with new LED lamps in 31 buildings.
NEFCO has also provided grant funding for the implementation of the project “Energy Efficiency of Public Buildings and Street Lighting in Rivne” under the Norway-Ukraine Energy Efficiency Initiative program. The grant funds will be used to insulate the facades of buildings, replace windows and entrance doors, and insulate roofs in pre-schools #7 and #57. Street lighting will also be modernized, including the replacement of lamps with energy-efficient ones, on the main and secondary streets of Rivne. The grant funds will also be used to install solar photovoltaic power plants on the roofs of three buildings of the Central City Hospital of the Rivne City Council, which need uninterrupted electricity supply.
The death toll from the devastating floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are being called the worst in decades, has already reached 19. On the morning of October 4, it was reported that heavy rains in Bosnia on Friday night had flooded several cities in the central and southern parts of the country.
After 16 people died in the municipality of Jablunice, rescuers also found the bodies of three people in the city of Fojnice, where the bad weather destroyed many houses and outbuildings.
Against this backdrop, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic agreed to provide all necessary assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Vucic previously noted that Serbia could send rescue helicopters and boats, as well as provide financial assistance.
And the Croatian prime minister said that his government is in constant contact with the head of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krishto, and is ready to provide “all the necessary assistance in eliminating the consequences of the flood.”
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, also confirmed the readiness to help. He noted that Bosnia could benefit from the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, which it joined in 2022.
Fourteen EU countries, as well as Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, have signed an appeal calling on the EU executive to propose new rules to strengthen return policies, Politico reports.
In their letter to the European Commission, 17 European countries ask for new rules that will allow governments to detain illegal migrants if they pose a threat to national security, force migrants to cooperate with authorities, and ensure that all EU countries use the same data management software.
The letter to the Commission states that migrants who do not have the right to stay in the EU “must be brought to justice.”
It is noted that Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein have also signed the appeal, although they are not members of the EU, they are members of the Schengen area.
The publication notes that the push comes amid a right-wing and anti-immigration shift in many EU countries.
Ukraine continues to hold the third place among the main exporters of agri-food products to the EU after Brazil and the UK, the press service of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) reported, citing an analytical report by the European Commission.
According to the report, Ukraine’s share in imports of agricultural products to the EU in the first six months of 2024 increased by only 2% (EUR 124 million) compared to the same period in 2023.
In total, imports of agri-food products to the EU reached EUR13 billion. Imports from Côte d’Ivoire increased the most in value terms – by EUR951 mln (+46%), followed by Nigeria with EUR473 mln (+132%), due to the rise in cocoa prices.
At the same time, imports from Tunisia more than doubled (+107%), mainly due to the growth of volumes and prices of imported olive oil. Imports from Australia decreased significantly by EUR843 mln (-46%) due to lower volumes of rapeseed, and from Brazil – by EUR634 mln (-7%).
The total exports of agri-food products from the EU in January-June 2024 reportedly reached EUR116.4 billion, which is 1% (+EUR1.1 billion) more than in the same period of 2023.
In the first half of 2024, EU exports to the United States grew the most, increasing by EUR1 billion (+8%) primarily due to higher prices for olives and olive oil. This sector also contributed to an increase in exports to Brazil by EUR209 million (+18%).
The EU’s exports to China decreased by 9% (-EUR689 million) in the period from January to June 2024 compared to 2023.
This is mainly due to a decline in several major products exported from the EU to China, including pork, dairy products, and cereals.
The European Union’s Creative Europe program will continue to support Ukraine’s culture and creative industries sector in 2025, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications reports.
“Ukrainian audiovisual projects have the opportunity to take full part in the competitions of the Media subprogram, which aims to support the European film and audiovisual industries and to develop, distribute and promote European works, taking into account the modern digital environment,” the ministry said in a statement.
It is noted that six such competitions have been announced, namely: European co-development; video game and immersive content development; television and online content; talent and skills development; 360° media; innovative tools and business models.
According to the announcement, grant applications can be submitted from October 1, 2024.
“The total amount of funding for projects that will receive grants under the above competitions is EUR 81.5 million. The total budget of the EU’s Creative Europe program in accordance with the Annual Work Program 2025 is EUR 340 million,” the agency added.
European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson says the European Union is ready to completely stop the transit of Russian gas through the Ukrainian gas transportation system after the expiration of the current contract in December this year.
“When I spoke with my colleagues in Ukraine, I made it clear that we are preparing for a situation where the transit agreement between Ukraine and Russia will expire by the end of this December. We have found alternative supply routes, and the Member States or their companies that are still receiving gas from Russia have in fact been granted two additional years compared to other companies that Russia has decided to stop supplying to in 2022,” the European Commissioner said at a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday.
At the same time, Simson stated that Ukraine’s gas transportation infrastructure is also part of the EU’s infrastructure, as part of the European gas is stored in Ukraine’s storage facilities, “which provide us with additional capacity.”
“Ukraine is also a gas producer, so we have to make sure that their infrastructure still has value. But my message is very clear: there is no need to look for any new ways to continue trading with Gazprom. Alternative supplies are available, and we are engaging with affected member states to show them that alternative routes will deliver the volumes they need,” she elaborated.
Simson also referred to the words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said in late August that “Ukraine is not interested in extending the transit contract with Russia, and that European companies have the right to use Ukrainian infrastructure.”
According to the European Commissioner, her “main mission is to encourage companies that are still receiving Russian pipeline gas because they had contracts signed before the war to choose more predictable alternatives.”
Simson also cited figures showing that the share of Russian gas in EU imports fell from 45% in 2021 to 18% by June 2024, while imports from reliable partners such as Norway and the United States increased. In addition, the EU reduced gas demand by 138 billion cubic meters between August 2022 and May 2024.
“The EU reached its 90% winter gas storage target on August 19, 2024, well ahead of the November 1 deadline, and energy prices are more stable and remain well below the peak levels of the 2022 energy crisis,” she elaborated.
