Guillaume Klossa
Francesca Ratti
Five years ago, we launched a continental call for a European Renaissance.
We called for a process that would enable citizens, social partners, civil society and governments to write – together – a new page in our common history.
We welcome the official launch of the Conference on the Future of Europe on 9 May. It should be a decisive step in the process we have been hoping for.
The European Union is at a crossroads. It is facing existential challenges that force it to rethink its model of society and its place in the world. The climate crisis, the rivalry between powerful countries, the digital revolution and the health crisis require political, institutional and financial action on an unprecedented scale that go far beyond our national frameworks.
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February 2021
Criminal groups abducted hundreds in north west, while ethnic and regional tensions ran high in south amid farmer-herder conflict; meanwhile, tensions rose in south east between govt and Biafra secessionists. Criminal groups in Feb reportedly killed at least 112 and kidnapped over 450 people, mostly in Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states (north west), but also in Niger state (Middle Belt). Notably, armed group 17 Feb abducted 42 students and school personnel in Niger state, released them 27 Feb; 26 Feb kidnapped 279 girls in Zamfara state. Meanwhile, Auwalun Daudawa, who masterminded Dec 2020 abduction of 344 students in Katsina state, 8 Feb laid down arms along with five of his troops. Amid rise in herder-farmer and intercommunal violence in south since Jan, clashes between ethnic Hausa and Fulani on one hand, and ethnic Yoruba on the other, early Feb killed two dozen people in Oyo state capital Ibadan (south west). Nobel laureate in literature Wole Soyinka 6 F
“They want to close everything,” she told the miners. “Do not give up.”
Claudiu Târziu, a leader of AUR, and one of its MPs, Anamaria Gavrilă, who represents Hunedoara county in the Bucharest parliament, have also offered vocal support.
Later on February 22, the government appeared to capitulate, at least for now. Labour Minister Raluca Turcan met miners’ representatives and promised that outstanding wages would be paid by the end of the week, and that the loss-making state-owned company which operates the Jiu Valley mines, which has been in insolvency since 2019, would receive a new subsidy to cover salaries for the coming three months.