European politicians and organisations have raised heavy critic against the close relationship between lawmakers and the tobacco industry and the secrecy surrounding the controversial deals signed with tobacco companies. Now they call on the EU Commission not to prolong the deal with Philip Morris International which is about to expire.

As previously reported by Euranet Plus, the smuggling of cigarettes hasn’t declined in the EU despite the deals made with the tobacco industry. Nor does the money received by the companies match the enormous losses of tax and duties due to illicit trade.

Nevertheless, the lack of results in the fight against smuggling is not even the main source of critique against the European agreements. It is what is described as a close relationship between European lawmakers and the tobacco industry and lack of transparency.

Ingeborg Grässle, chair of the Budgetary Control Committee in the European Parliament, says she and others have been fighting for years to have access to documents related to the agreements.

“You know when somebody pays a billion euros you wonder why should somebody do that? What are their interests? But these letters, where the tobacco industry lays down their interest, are not public. The minutes of the annual meetings between the tobacco industry and OLAF and the members states and law enforcements authorities in the member states are not public,” Grässle said in a interview with Euranet Plus.

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Joint Council on International Children’s Services is Closing

Posted on June 24, 2015

Today at the conference of the National Council for Adoption and the Joint Council on International Children’s Services, it was announced that Joint Council will close. There will be no merger with NCFA. JCICS agencies will be eligible for a membership with NCFA.

Some people will be rejoicing at this news. Others will be sad that the organization is closing.

Catherine Day to leave European Commission role

Irish official has been secretary general for almost a decade

Wed, Jun 24, 2015, 11:10 Updated: Wed, Jun 24, 2015, 16:17

Suzanne Lynch

Irish EU official Catherine Day is to step down as Secretary General of the European Commission at the end of August following almost 10 years in the role. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times.

Danuț Sebastian Neculaescu, the son of the head of the pensioners' organization PSD Dâmbovița, Sache Neculaescu, a former communist activist involved in child trafficking in 1991, was appointed secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș on Thursday.

Neculaescu junior was previously director general for strategic affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And his wife works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Neculaescu senior signed several books with PSD Dâmbovița head, Adrian Țuțuianu.

Neculaescu senior appeared on the list of those who circulated works written in penitentiaries. He coordinated the work "Appeals in the civil process - Comparative view between the code of civil procedure from 1865 and the code of civil procedure entered into force on 15.02.2013". The author of the work published by the Bibliotheca Publishing House is none other than the former president of the Dâmbovița Court, Ion Miloșoiu, convicted of influence peddling.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: "Program Assistant DCI | Johan Vigne"

Date: Jun 22, 2015 9:26 AM

Subject: PRESS RELEASE DCI - ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE

To:

Date: 15/06/22

From today the police will control international adoption: finally end the scourge of payments in cash and in black?

Money-wadFrom today to monitor the international adoption will be the Police, not the CAI.Or rather not only . In the name of "transparency", in fact, the Commission International adoptions called to his side the Arma and signature, Saturday, June 20, an agreement for the protection "of the child and the respect for fundamental rights that are recognized by international law." In signing the MoU, the Vice-President of CAI, Silvia Della Monica, and the Commanding General of Tullio Del Sette .

News that however surprising and perplexing. Families and associations.

Because on one hand the agreement can be seen as a tool to counter cash payments and in black , transparency requirements not respected and the "financial pressure", in many cases illegal, for sure alone is not enough to restore sap international adoptions. It would have been, in fact, very interesting to read, rather, to some agreement signed with the countries of origin especially in light of the fact that since thisCAI took office (about a year and a half ago) met only once (in June 2014), met with foreign delegations only a few times (not promptly inform the authorized bodies) and especially the last bilateral agreements with foreign countries date back to July 25, 2014 (Burundi) and 17 September 2014 with Cambodia and neither of them is still operating

Congolese Children, Adopted Years Ago, May Soon Be Permitted to Travel to New Homes

5

By RACHEL RABKIN PEACHMAN

JUNE 22, 2015

Nicole Craig’s nearly 3-year-old daughter, Elisabeth Grace, carries a ring of laminated family photos everywhere she goes. “She sleeps with them and kisses them and she will tell everyone, ‘This is my daddy,’ or ‘This is my brother Alex, this is my brother Kaden.’ She knows she has a family,” Ms. Craig said over the phone from Green Bay, Wis.

Mr Timmermans, don’t underestimate civil society's potential in shaping Europe’s future

DISCLAIMER: All opinions in this column reflect the views of the author(s), not of Euractiv.com PLC.

Social Platform by Jana Hainsworth 12:26

Comments 36410

Frans Timmermans speaking at "A New Pact for Europe" Conference

From: Nigel Cantwell [mailto:cantabene@gmail.com]

Sent: Mittwoch, 17. Juni 2015 19:20

To: Arun Dohle

Subject: Re: CRC - Hague

Arun

Children’s Authority promises easy adoption process

Published on Jun 16, 2015, 11:37 am AST

By Carolyn Kissoon

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