[1] Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova, Ukraine and Kosovo
Gas stress test: Cooperation is key to cope with supply interruption
What will happen if Russian gas supplies are interrupted this winter? Will homes and companies have the energy they need? What can the EU and Member States do? The Commission’s report on the resilience of the European gas system issued today, gives answers: More gas will continue to be delivered to homes and companies, if Member States cooperate and allow the market forces to work as long as possible. Government intervention should be carefully prepared on a regional basis and only kick in, if needed. The report includes concrete short-term recommendations for the most vulnerable EU Member States and neighbouring countries.
Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for Energy, Günther H. Oettinger said: “This report shows that we are not waiting but do everything we can do to be prepared. For the very first time, we have a complete picture of the risks and possible solutions. If we work together, show solidarity and implement the recommendations of this report, no household in the EU has to be left out in the cold this winter.”
The Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute puts the gas supplies to the EU once more at risk, as in 2009. With the winter approaching, the Commission wanted to have a clear picture of where the biggest shortfalls would arise and how they could be mitigated.
The report published today presents the results of a modelling exercise conducted by 38 European countries, including EU Member States and neighbouring countries. It analyses different scenarios, in particular a complete halt of Russian gas imports into the EU for a period of six months.
Cooperation helps alleviate the situation
A prolonged supply disruption would have a substantial impact in the EU, with the Eastern Member States and the Energy Community countries being affected most. Finland, Estonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia would miss at least miss 60 per cent of the gas they need. This means that even private households could be left out in the cold. If countries work together, instead of adopting purely national measures, then less consumers will be cut off from the gas. In this scenario, no household in the EU would have to be affected.
Allowing the market to function as long as possible
National reports show that EU countries and neighbouring countries envisage a wide range of measures to mitigate the impacts of a supply disruption, from diversifying their supplies to using reserves and strategic stocks to curtailing demand and switching fuels where possible. However, in general these plans are often too much limited to the national market and resort too quickly to interventionist measures. A market-based approach should be the guiding principle, with non-market measures (i.e. the release of strategic stocks, forced fuels switching and demand curtailment) only kicking in when the market fails. In a functioning market, price signals will attract new deliveries of gas, mainly LNG, and limit demand; the commercial use of storage will help ensure the demand-supply balance. The Report contains concrete recommendations on short-term measures for the most vulnerable EU Member States and the neighbouring countries.
Methodology
The report consists in an aggregated analysis of the results provided by the EU Member States and the Energy Community countries[1], as well as Georgia, Turkey, Norway and Switzerland. It includes an impact analysis conducted by the European Network of Transportation System Operators (ENTSOG) in collaboration with the International Energy Agency (IEA) and G-7 partner countries (US, Canada, Japan). The package also includes three focus groups analyses (South-East Europe, Baltics and Finland and the Energy Community) and a report on the cooperation with G7 and other partner countries. Finally, it includes a report on the Security of Gas Supply Regulation (994/2010).
Background
The Stress Test Report is the first concrete action regarding short term energy security measures, which follows the adoption by the European Commission of the European Energy Security Strategy, last 28 May. The concrete recommendations in the report will accompany the measures foreseen by the Strategy to improve the EU’s security of supply: completing the internal energy market, increasing energy efficiency, diversifying external supply sources and exploiting indigenous sources (fossil and non-fossil).
Today, the EU imports 53% of the energy it consumes. Energy dependence relates to crude oil (almost 90%), to natural gas (66%), and to a lesser extent to solid fuels (42%) as well as nuclear fuel (40%). Around half of the EU’s primary energy consumption (48%) is used for space and water heating.
For further information:
LIVE coverage on Europe by Satellite (EbS): http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/ebs/schedule.cfm?sitelang=en&page=3&institution=0&date=10/16/2014
Stress Test Report: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/stress_tests_en.htm
A smile and a thought….
Column by Eelco H. Dykstra, MD
For Diplomat Magazine
Introduction
Eelco Dykstra writes a monthly column called “A smile and a thought…” The columns put a playful spotlight on the interface between the Dutch and the International Community it hosts. Yes, his musings may appear at times to be mildly provocative at first sight but they are first and foremost playful – with a little irony thrown in here and there… You be the judge!
His columns are intended to give you ‘a smile and a thought’. A smile because perhaps you hadn’t quite looked at something that way and a thought because the column may leave you wondering…
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How secure is The Hague as a UN City of Peace and Justice…?
The city of The Hague has long aspired to become a fixed item on the list of “UN cities”. After New York and Geneva and with an emphasis on “Peace, Security and Justice”, The Hague has been busy to find a niche to promote and position itself as a city of geopolitical relevance. With ambitions this high, it is time to take a look at the results – and the future.
At first sight, things look impressive. Many international entities related to “Peace” and “Justice”, have flocked to The Hague. Below this surface however, I hear that things are not running all that smooth.
What is going on?
Due in part to the recent and ongoing Euro-crisis, most cities in the Netherlands, including The Hague, have been forced to bring down costs and cancel high-profile investment plans. Despite the gallant efforts of entities within City Hall such as the International Desk – where staff are dealing with an onslaught of questions by visitors and expats on a daily basis –, I hear that The Hague is increasingly putting the burden of cooperation on its international partners.
While everyone knows that true partnerships require an investment from both sides, I hear that the city of The Hague is increasingly taking an “all talk and no money” approach. Eventually, this will drive the international organizations out-of-town.
Is The Hague also a city of “Security” – along with Peace and Justice?
It is clear that the topic of “Security” is structurally related to “Peace” and “Justice”. But what that means in The Hague remains unclear. Sometimes The Hague is linked with Security, sometimes it is not.
The Dutch language only uses one word (“Veiligheid”) to incorporate both “Safety” and “Security”, even though the two are clearly different.
In the case of Peace and Justice, the City of The Hague (and the national government right behind it…) invested in attracting well-known foreign entities to set up shop in its city. The focus was on practice, experience and knowledge.
In the case of Security, the City of The Hague (and the national government right behind it…) did not so much seek foreign entities with practical experience but invested instead in setting up various platforms for Dutch “security expertise” to be exported to other countries. This is not working well, perhaps because the focus was too much on policy (and not practice), technology (and not on human factors) and emphasizes trendy topics (short-lived attention span).
So, what will our advice as readers of Diplomat Magazine, be to the City of The Hague?
Some suggestions for the City of The Hague and the Dutch:
- Invest in establishing a stronger and more visible ‘International Office’ in the City of The Hague;
- Be more pro-active about involving the diplomatic and international community, for instance by establishing an “International Council”
- Combine the policy-driven and export-oriented Dutch approach to Security with the practical experience and knowledge from partners abroad, for instances through HSD (The Hague Security Delta) and conferences such as PISAS (www.pisas.org)
- Establish formal working relations with Diplomat Magazine…
Willem I honoured in Germany
First Dutch king, Willem I has been honoured in the City of Fulda, Federal State of Hesse in Germany.
By Baron Henri Estramant
It is little known that before becoming the very first King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxemburg, Willem I, was the “Sovereign Prince of Fulda”. The Principality of Fulda was carved out of the Nassau lands in today’s Hesse to compensate the then Prince Willem VI of Oranje for the lost his governorship over the Dutch states. Willem I thus reign as “Fürst von Fulda nebst Corvey” from 1802 to 1806 under the name Wilhelm Friedrich. His reign was an ephemeral one as his princely throne was overtaken at Napoléon I’s behest after the Wilhelm Friedrich was defeated at the Battle of Jena in 1806.
To reminisce the brief reign of Wilhelm Friedrich of Fulda the city unveiled a monument depicting the a copper likeness of the Fürst on the Dyba-Allee in the vicinity of the city’s cathedral on 23 October 2014.
The Dragon in the Caribbean
The Dragon in the Caribbean: China moves to deepen ties in the Caribbean
By Roy Lie A. Tjam.
China recently opened a Consulate-General in Willemstad-Curacao. Curacao is part of the Dutch Caribbean. China’s interest in the Caribbean region dates back many decades. In the summer of 2013, the Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Trinidad and Tobago and also met the leaders of Ten Caribbean Islands. The president came bearing some $3 billion in development loans, a hefty sum for a small region. Nearly every island in the Caribbean, from the smallest upwards, has received a substantial investment from the Peoples Republic of China.
In his welcome remarks at the 2014 National Day reception for the People’s Republic of China Ambassador Chen Xu observed that: “Just three days ago I attended the opening ceremony of the new Chinese consulate-general in Willemstad. The hospitality and friendship I received in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom are so touching, and local people’s enthusiasm and aspiration to strengthen exchanges and co-operation with China are so inspiring”.
This is the first ever Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Since 10 October 2010, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has consisted of four countries: the Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao and St Maarten. Aruba, Curacao and St.Maarten are autonomous countries with their own governments, whilst Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba: are all municipalities of the Netherlands, with the status of “special municipalities”. The newly inaugurated consulate-general in Willemstad also serves Aruba and St Maarten.
His Excellency Mr. Ivar Asjes, Prime Minister of Curacao officially inaugurated the consulate-general. In his opening address Mr. Asjes remarked that: “It is with great pleasure that I officially, on behalf of the government and people of Curacao, welcome the first Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China to Curacao, Mrs. Chen Qiman. I also would like to welcome Consul Zhang Huixan, Consul Xue and the rest of the staff of the Chinese Consulate General to our island. As the People’s Republic of China is a major player on the global scene and one of the world’s largest economies, both in terms of manufacturing and trade, we are delighted that its government has seen the merit of having an official presence in our country. The Chinese Government’s decision to formalize its relationship with Curacao is therefore further proof of the vast opportunities present here”.
As a historical aside, the first wave of Chinese nationals came to Curacao over one century ago. The travelers were on their way to Venezuela, however, they fell in love with the island and decided to make it their home. The community worked as cooks and opened the first laundries in Curacao, later diversifying their economic activities by opening restaurants and hotels, thereby being among the first entrepreneurs in the Curacao’s hospitality sector. Today the Chinese community dominates the island’s retail food sector and, as owners of small and medium-sized enterprises, contribute to the economic development of Curacao.
The recent bilateral cooperation between China and Curacao offers many possibilities. Tourism, trade, logistics, education, culture and the energy sector are some of the areas in which the two countries can work together and create mutually beneficial outcomes.
What’s wrong with copying?
By William Rumley-van Gurp.
I have been working with people using Microsoft Word through many versions and languages. I have seen some strange results in a Word document. What is the most common problem with Word documents is the idea that you build a new document with text from an old one. The older the source document the more trouble you can get.
The problem is that in the Word software program all the formats are stored with the text, but they are hidden from view. These formats change from older version to newer versions of the software. They are also different from one software program to another, such as Word Perfect to Microsoft Word. All these formats need to be translated.
When you copy and paste you copy not only the text, but also all the formats and codes from the source. This causes problems like, the text doesn’t lineup, or the styles will not match. Sometimes you even get the ghost table effect over the text.
There is one solution to this and it is to Paste-as Match destination formatting, or paste as plain text. Either of these options will let you have the text, without the formatted history.
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What is Food Fair?
By Dr. Sjaak de Boer, Parish Priest.
The Parish of the Church of Our Saviour organises a large-scale charity event every year, which we call Food Fair. On the third Saturday in November every year our many different nationalities come together to prepare and sell their own national food specialities, wines, pastries etc. There is a huge bookstall and also handicraft, Fair Trade, jewellery and bric a brac stalls.
Each country or region takes pride in decorating the booths with national flags and colours and working together as a team. There are activities for children, such as face painting and other fun events. Our largest source of funds is from our raffle where local sponsors donate wonderful prizes. It is a great opportunity for everyone in the community to come together and volunteer their time and talents for a greater cause.
Not only does Food Fair promote community spirit, but it has a much deeper purpose, namely to take the proceeds (over €40,000 from the 2013 Food Fair) of the event and offer them to a range of charitable organisations operating around the world. Our parishioners are the ones who identify suitable projects to be considered and these have included such things as farming ventures, building, women’s support, street children education and rehabilitation of homeless people, to name just a few.
Judge Sang-Hyun Song addressed the United Nations
Judge Sang-Hyun Song addressed the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in his capacity as President of the International Criminal Court (ICC). In delivering the Court’s annual report to the UN, President Song acknowledged the fundamental partnership that exists between the UN and the ICC, as both organizations are “based on the ideals of peace, security and respect for human rights, and the realisation that these goals can only be attained through the rule of law and international cooperation”. He called upon all States to join the ICC, stressing that “the values of the Rome Statute reflect global solidarity and commitment to peace, security and international law”.
President Song detailed developments at the Court over the past year, including the first final judgment, an unprecedented six cases at the trial stage, a new State referral and a ninth investigation, the first proceedings concerning allegations of witness interference, and the acceptance of the ICC’s jurisdiction by Ukraine. Along with its judicial work, the Court is evolving institutionally, undertaking reforms and streamlining processes.
President Song reminded the Assembly that the strength of the ICC depends on the cooperation and support of States. He acknowledged the significant contributions of many States to the work of the Court, but regretted that requests for the arrest and surrender of 13 persons remained outstanding, some since 2005.
“Nine years at large is an affront to justice, to victims, and to the global community which wants to see those suspected of the most atrocious crimes face the charges against them. But the suspects should not think that they have evaded justice. We have seen fugitives from international tribunals arrested after much longer periods of time”, President Song said.
The President highlighted the Court’s focus on victims, including the assistance provided by the Trust Fund for Victims. He thanked States that have provided donations for the Trust Fund’s important work and encouraged contributions from those that have not done so.
President Song noted that international justice has an impact not only through the deterrence of future crimes, but also by helping spread a culture of accountability throughout the world.
“Instead of being a rare exception, accountability for international crimes has become something that communities, victims and societies around the world expect and demand, in keeping with that resolve which this Assembly expressed four decades ago in its Resolution 3074”, he said, adding that “the perpetrators of mass killings, deportation, attacks on civilians and rape as a weapon of war can no longer count on impunity”.
Although challenges lie ahead, President Song maintained that the rule of law is the key to the protection of human rights and the assurance of sustainable peace. He asked all States to consider joining the Rome Statute – ICC’s founding treaty – urging them to “give the gift of hope to the children, men and women of tomorrow”.
Visit of H.E. Luis Jose Almeida to His Majesty the King
By Buonamassa W.G. Photographer-reporter
The Ambassador of Angola, H.E. Dr. Luis José de Almeida was received on Monday, 27 October 2014, by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander at Noordeinde Palace. It was a farewell visit as Dr. de Almeida is soon leaving his post in The Hague for an ambassadorship in Portugal. Additionally he shall be accredited as “High Representative of the Republic of Angola to the CPLP” (Community of the Portuguese-speaking Countries).
Ambassador Dr. de Almeida and his wife were escorted by a motorcade to the Palace and back to their embassy as dictated by protocol.
President of Zambia passed away
President Michael Chilufya Sata passed away in London
By Baron Henri Estramant.
Just a few days after the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Zambia’s independence, which took place on 24 October 1954, the country is in national sorrow; President Michael Chilufya Sata (77) passed away in London, where he was hospitalised for an unknown condition, on 28 October 2014. Michael Sata (6 July 1937 – 28 October 2014) was Zambia’s fifth president from 23 September 2011 to 28 October 2014.
The Zambian constitution requires presidential elections to take place 90 days after the office becomes vacant. In the meantime, Vice-President Guy Scott makes history by becoming the first Caucasian state leader in Sub-Saharan African since the end of apartheid. Accurately he is “Acting President” rather than the formal president. Africa’s hitherto last actual Caucasian president was South Africa’s Frederik de Klerk who lost elections to Nelson Mandela in 1994.
Zambia is a multi-party presidential republic wherein the President is both, Head of State and of Government. Before independence the country was known as Northern Rhodesia by the British colonial administration.