Information Center "Green Dossier"’s Post

This coming Friday – 15 March – Greenlandic Premier Múte B. Egede welcomes head of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Nuuk. The occasion is the long awaited opening of the EU Commission’s Office in Nuuk. The purpose is to strengthen the partnership between Greenland and the EU and foster new initiatives and cooperation on fisheries, research, and sustainable development (including exploitation of minerals).   The opening of the office was officially announced more than a year ago and after much delay it finally happens (although, the appointed head of the Office recently stepped down before it opened…). Opening the office follows EU’s 2021 Arctic Strategy of playing a more substantial role in the Arctic.   Noteworthy it also aligns with the new Greenlandic new Strategy on Foreign, Security and Defense Policy (AKA the Arctic Strategy), where the office is characterised as a need of the EU more than something that can benefit Greenland (“…the EU now also needs a presence in Greenland.”). Generally, EU collaboration plays a surprisingly small role in the Greenlandic strategy taking up less space than both the US and Canada, respectively. This is surprising given how important the EU is in terms of custom free access to the EU market, access to education and research funding, and the fact that Greenland is the pr capita largest beneficiary of EU funding among the OLT countries. These benefits have historically developed around EU access to Greenlandic fish stocks. It is still much about fish.   I was interviewed by Greenlandic national broadcast KNR this morning about the EU office. I mentioned that one reason for the fairly low key focus could be that the relation is in good shape and just throttle steadily along. However, I also believe that with the significant focus of the strategy to strengthen Greenland’s exchange relations with North America in terms of trade, culture and politics, there is tendency to downplay the potential benefits of both Nordic and European cooperation. It is frankly interesting to follow how these policies and strategies of connectivity are developing and playing out.

🐝 Ukrainian Carpathian bees (sometimes called Carpatka) are extremely hardworking and peaceful. This is due to their living conditions in the harsh mountain climate, where warm, sunny, favourable weather can change to rainy and cool within minutes. 🐝 The Ukrainian Carpatka is a versatile breed that easily adapts to work in cold, rainy climates and tropical, even arid conditions in the south. 🐝 Under favourable conditions, Carpathian bees can produce 120-150 kg of commercial honey per season. The honey collected in the Carpathians by hardworking Carpatka is famous for its healing qualities. Get to know more 👉 https://lnkd.in/draUqZwj ℹ This article prepared in the frame of “Green and inclusive agricultural policy – steps towards” project implementing by ICO IC «Green Dossier» with the support of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation within the framework «European Renaissance of Ukraine» project. Its content is the exclusive responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation. #GreenDeal #GreenRecovery #MovingForwardTogether #carpathians

For some positive environmental news, please check out another article I wrote about USAID in Papua New Guinea!

Considering the strategic significance of the agro-industrial complex to Ukraine's economy, the need for proficient management in this field is increasingly vital. Фонд часткового гарантування кредитів у сільському господарстві greatly appreciates the contributions of Amrop Ukraine in shaping its Supervisory Board and remains committed to enhancing the efficiency of corporate governance. On May 9, 2024, Viktor Kantzurak, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, and Oleg Prykhodko, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Фонд часткового гарантування кредитів у сільському господарстві, met with Viesturs Liegis, Managing Partner of Amrop Ukraine, and Angela Poddubna, Partner at Amrop Ukraine. Their discussions focused on the ongoing work of the Independent Directors on the Fund’s Supervisory Board and the future of corporate governance in agriculture. A clear and effective corporate governance framework is being actively developed to ensure stable growth within the agriculture sector. #AmropUkraine #corporategovernance #boardsearch #boardservices #executivesearch  

#WeekendReading recommendation. 💦 Water: Life-giver or divider? The Inner Niger Delta: home to over two million people working in agriculture, livestock herding, and fishing. For them, the water from the Delta isn't just a resource - it's the pulse of life itself. But as #ClimateChange tightens its grip, this powerful force is becoming a source of tension. Dive into how communities in Djenne, Mali, are navigating this paradox and finding effective solutions to managing water scarcity with the help of Water, Peace & Security experts: https://lnkd.in/eHPK7agC 🤝The Water, Peace & Security partnership is a collaboration between the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and a consortium of six partners Deltares HCSS - The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Wetlands International, World Resources Institute and International Alert.

Recommended read for #WildlifeTrade watchers and Central Asia conservationists, this report provides an unprecedented overview of the role Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan play as source, transit and demand countries for legally and illegally acquired wild species. From the charistmatic snow leopard to the more obscure medicinal leeches or unexpected tropical birds, this document is full of leads on what is needed to better monitor and regulate wildlife trade in the region. A great resource, many years in the making with painstaking data gathering from TRAFFIC, Fauna & Flora , ACBK — Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan and other national organisations.

EU Kalaallit Nunaanni allaffittaartoq It’s finally here! This week we’re issuing a Greenlandic newspaper supplement with the two nationwide Greenlandic papers Sermitsiaq and AG. In March, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen cut the blue ribbon to the European Commission’s new Office in Nuuk. Our paper tells the story why, explores the history of EU-Greenland relations and highlights some of the many areas of EU –Greenland cooperation. Though Greenland left the EU in 1985, the fisheries agreements and the EU’s support for the Greenlandic education sector have been some of the areas that have always connected us. But in this paper we also tell the stories of all those areas of cooperation that are perhaps lesser-known or more recent: the many opportunities offered by the Erasmus+ programme, the EU’s support to digital infrastructure as well as the opportunities that may lie ahead in critical raw materials and green energy. In recent years, the pandemic and Russia’s illegal attack on Ukraine have caused the EU to reflect upon ourselves, our values, our position in the world - and who our friends are. And this is why we now turn to Greenland with even greater commitment. Because we share a fundamental belief in democracy and human rights as well as a strong commitment to fight climate change and boost sustainable development. With the opening of the doors to the Nuuk Office, we also open the door to even wider cooperation, as equals and like-minded partners. Thanks to all who helped bring the stories to life: Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, Tomas Baert, Peter Handley and to the many, many others who offered valuable advice along the way.

📑 Did you miss our latest trade reports on Central Asia? 🦅 From leeches to big cats, falcons to fish—that's just a glimpse of the wild species traded across and within Central Asian borders. 🌍 The reports reveal the extent of the often-overlooked trade of wild species in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. 💪 As #NatureKnowsNoBorders, our goal is to strengthen cross-border cooperation to tackle trafficking. Explore the reports now 🔗 https://loom.ly/ycPbAR8 Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) | Fauna & Flora | CITES | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, US EMbassy | ACBK — Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan

With some delay, but I'm finally sharing my certificate of participation in the conference "Transcarpathian Legal Readings: Sustainable Development and Institutional Capacity in the Conditions of War: National and International Legal Aspects" – organized by The Grassroots Institute (Canada) and Uzhhorod National University (Ukraine), et al. on 26–27 April 2024 in Uzhhorod (online).  My short notes were published in conference proceedings, by the Ukrainian-Polish publisher “Liha-Pres”. Kazak, R. (2024). Positioning Ukraine within Central and Eastern Europe (CEE): perspective from Network of Aquaculture Centers in Central-Eastern Europe (pp. 477–478) https://lnkd.in/dF5yEwhc

🏞️The cultural and historical diversity in the understanding of land and the natural world influences governance decisions regarding land distribution and environmental policy. 🗣️Historical research, place-linked oral histories and cultural landscape mapping, conducted by Bath Spa University geographers in Namibia significantly informed high-level recommendations in the Namibian Parliament to enact ancestral land rights claim and restitution legislation. 🌐The research enhanced understanding, awareness, and wellbeing, as confirmed by local and national leaders and reflected in public and policy contexts, shaping environmental governance, including UK government-commissioned public dialogue on the National Ecosystem Assessment. 👉 Read more about the research here: https://lnkd.in/eDi5JZZF #UsingGeography