European Union

Credit: United Nations

By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 6 2026 (IPS)

The current UN financial crisis, described as the worst in the 80-year-old history of the world body, triggers the question: is the US using its financial clout defaulting in its arrears and its assessed contributions to precipitate the collapse of the UN?

If the crisis continues, the UN headquarters will be forced to shut down by August, ahead of the annual meeting of world leaders in September this year, according to a report in the New York Times last week, quoting unnamed senior UN officials.

But apparently there is still hope for survival —judging by a report coming out of the White House.

Asked about the current state of finances, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters February 5: “We’ve seen cuts by the United States. We’ve seen cuts by European countries over the last year. And every day, I talk to you about what happens when there’s no money, right?”

“Rations are being reduced, health care not being delivered. So, I mean it’s pretty clear. In terms of the Secretariat, should it come to pass, it will impact our ability to run meetings in this building, to do the political work we do, the peacekeeping work that we do”, he pointed out.

About hopes of a possible resolution, he said “I do also have to say that we saw the reports…earlier this week – of the President of the United States signing a budget bill, which includes funding for the United Nations”.

“We welcome that, and we will stay in contact with the US over the coming days and weeks to monitor the transfers of those monies,” said Dujarric.

Meanwhile, in an interview with IPS last week, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, Founder/CEO, International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN), said the potential financial collapse of the UN is depressing and yet so indicative of these times, when leadership everywhere is devoid of any sense of responsibility and has no care for the future.

They are the antithesis of the UN’s founding fathers and mothers, who, having experienced the hell of war and destitution first hand, committed themselves to creating a global peace and security architecture with the goal of preventing such hell for us – the future generation – their descendants, she argued.

“We all know that the UN system has never been perfect. It has never lived up to its potential. Often this has been due to the shenanigans of the powerful states, who persist in manipulating the institution for their own interests”.

The UN Security Council has long been the insecurity Council, given how the P5 are all implicated in one or other of the worst wars and genocides of the past 25 years, she said.

“But they are not solely to blame. Within the system too, we have seen both leadership and staff with vested interests, benefitting from the inertia, and unwilling to uphold new practices and priorities that would have brought transformative impact”.

“But dysfunction should not lead to abandonment and the dismantling of the system. The UN cannot be stripped and have its key assets and functions sold to the lowest bidder”.

Already, she said, the dystopian (US-created) Board of Peace is akin to the corporate raiders and vulture funds of the finance world – trying to strip the UN of its key functions but with no accountability or guard rails pertaining to its actions.

As it stands, the U.S. currently owes about $2.196 billion to the U.N.’s regular budget, including $767 million for this year and for prior years, according to U.N. sources.

The U.S. also owes $1.8 billion for the separate budget for the U.N.’s peacekeeping operations overseas, and that also will rise.

As of February 5, only 51 countries had paid their dues in full for 2026—that’s 51 out of 193. A breakdown of the last four payments follows: Australia, $65,309,876, Austria, $20,041,168, Croatia, $2,801,889, and Cyprus $1,120,513.

Dr. Stephen Zunes, Professor of Politics and International Studies at the University of San Francisco, told IPS on the one hand, the United States has been in arrears in its payments to the United Nations quite a bit in recent years, but the UN has managed to get by.

However, the extent of the Trump administration’s cutbacks and the ways they are being targeted at particularly vulnerable programs has resulted in this unprecedented fiscal crisis.

“The hostility of the Trump administration to the United Nations is extreme. Trump has made clear he believes there should be no legal restraints on the conduct of U.S. foreign policy, so it is not surprising he would seek to undermine the world’s primary institution mandated with supporting international law and world order,” declared Dr Zunes.

Addressing the UN’s Administrative and Budgetary Committee last week Chandramouli Ramanathan, Assistant Secretary-General, Controller, Management Strategy, Policy said: “The UN staff is progressively losing confidence in the entire budget process,” referring to cash shortages that have led to severe spending and hiring restrictions. The United Nations needs to find a compromise that allows the Organization to function effectively, he added.

Anderlini, elaborating further, told IPS “now more than ever, the institution must be sustained and enabled to thrive and deliver on the promise of the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the body of conventions and policies that have been developed through painstaking work to meet the challenges of today’s world.”

When global military spending is topping $2.6 trillion, she said, the UN’s approved annual budget of $3.45 billion seems like pocket change.

“It is absurd for our governments to be borrowing billions to fund weapons, but nickel and diming the UN, governmental agencies and civil society organizations that work to prevent conflict, build peace and ensure human and environmental security.”

“We live in an era where one man’s assets may soon be valued at over one trillion dollars and the world’s billionaire class wealth increased by $2.5 trillion in just one year 2025. They are lauded and applauded even though their wealth is made on the backs, bodies and lands of “We the people of the United Nations” – whether through tax avoidance or investment in high climate impact sectors such as fossil fuels and mining.”

Perhaps they should be taxed and forced to foot the bill for their complicity in the disasters that the UN is forced to clean up.

Peace and development are good for business, she argued. “They are essential for any society to survive and thrive. The UN and the global ecosystem of institutions and people dedicated to caring for the world give us our humanity – far beyond anything that can be limited to monetary value. But in dollar terms they are a great investment with returns that benefit billions of people worldwide, not just a stockpile of deadly weapons or a handful of billionaires”.

Thanks to member states’ abrogation of responsibility to uphold human rights and prevent the scourge of war, violence cost the world $19.97 trillion in 2024, or 11.6% of global GDP. According the Institute of Economics and peace this represents $2,455 per person, includes military spending, internal security, and lost economic activity, declared Anderlini.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');  

Written by Clare Ferguson with Sara Raja.

Parliament has consistently highlighted the need to protect children online, addressing issues such as cyberbullying, hate speech, child sexual abuse and mental health risks. The European Commission is due to put forward an EU action plan against cyberbullying aimed at protecting children, young adults and others at particular risk online. The plan should address the lack of a common definition of cyberbullying along with proposals for prevention and awareness-raising measures. Members are set to debate the cyberbullying action plan following a Commission statement on Tuesday.

With a Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) report calling for stronger EU coordination, Members are due to debate the development of the EU’s first-ever anti-poverty strategy on Wednesday. The EMPL report highlights the multidimensional nature of poverty, particularly among children, people with disabilities, older people and those in precarious employment. It also stresses the need to improve minimum income schemes, and the importance of quality jobs, effective social protection and access to public services. Finally, the report calls for adequate funding, including through the 2028–2034 multiannual financial framework (MFF), to support implementation of the strategy, improve coherence across existing initiatives and contribute to the goal of eradicating poverty by 2035, including through access to affordable essential goods and housing.

Workplace incidents remain a significant challenge in the EU, particularly in the construction, transport, and manufacturing sectors. Parliament has urged action, particularly on contractor and subcontractor liability, and an EMPL report tabled for debate on Wednesday reiterates this call. The report calls for a comprehensive strategy against labour exploitation, including tackling illegal work, organised crime and abusive business practices such as some subcontracting activities. It highlights the need for effective enforcement through closer cooperation between the European Labour Authority, Europol, national authorities and social partners.

On Tuesday, Parliament is set to consider a provisional text on a regulation implementing the bilateral safeguard clause for agricultural products incorporated into the trade pillar of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement. The safeguard clause would allow the EU to temporarily suspend Mercosur tariff preferences and reinstate most-favoured nation duties under stricter and faster procedures should imports undercut EU prices or represent a danger to EU producers. In the provisional text, Parliament succeeded in lowering the thresholds for triggering a safeguard investigation from 10 % to 5 % and extending the reference period to three years. The Commission may also, at the request of EU industry, extend monitoring to products or sectors not listed in the regulation.

Late payment, last-minute order cancellations, and unilateral contract changes on the part of large buyers in a different country can considerably harm EU farmers’ businesses. While the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive seeks to protect farmers from such activities, Members are expected to consider a provisional agreement on strengthening the directive on Thursday. A Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) report proposes extending the rules to operators based outside the EU whose commercial activities target the EU internal market. It also suggests establishing alerts on cross-border UTPs. Under the provisional agreement, national authorities would be required to act on their own initiative to stop cross-border UTPs, even in the absence of a formal complaint.

The EU wine sector is facing change, both in growing conditions and drinking habits, leading to a risk of surplus production. On Monday, Members are scheduled to debate a provisional agreement reached with the Council on amending several EU rules governing the sector. An AGRI committee report calls for a higher EU co-financing rate for vineyard restructuring. The provisional agreement proposes to harmonise labelling, particularly regarding alcohol content and to increase EU and national support to promote high-quality European wines outside the EU.

On Tuesday, Members are set to consider a provisional agreement reached between Parliament and the Council on proposals to amend the European Climate Law, introducing an intermediate climate target for 2040. The amendment would include a binding 90 % net emissions reduction target for 2040, compared to 1990, and a capped potential contribution of international carbon credits towards meeting this target.

The 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) in March is expected to focus on access to justice for women and girls. On Thursday, Parliament is due to consider recommendations to the Council on the EU’s priorities for the 70th session. An own-initiative report from the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) urges the Council to lead efforts against the global backlash on gender rights and calls on the EU to defend diversity, equality and inclusion, safeguard the UNCSW‘s mandate, and address funding shortfalls.

On Wednesday, Members are expected to debate two questions for oral answer to the Commission on the accession of third countries (in this case Albania and Montenegro) to the Hague conventions (specifically the Hague Judgments Convention). There are various procedures for handling the effects of ratification of an acceding state on existing parties in Hague Conventions. In one scenario, if existing parties do not oppose the accession by submitting a declaration within a set time limit, their agreement to the accession is tacit. However, when the Commission raises no objection to a third country’s accession and does not submit a declaration of opposition, the Council and Parliament cannot give their consent. It is therefore Parliament’s position that the Commission must present a proposal for acceptance in such cases, even where not required by the convention itself.

Quick links to all our publications for this plenary session:

European Parliament Plenary Session February 2026 – agenda

• New action plan against cyberbullying
• Developing a new EU anti-poverty strategy
• Addressing subcontracting chains and the role of intermediaries in order to protect workers’ rights
• The EU-Mercosur bilateral safeguard clause
• Cross-border enforcement of rules on unfair trading practices in the agri-food supply chain
• Wine sector package
• Amending the European Climate Law
• EU priorities for the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women Accession of third countries to Hague conventions
• Accession of third countries to Hague conventions

At least 78 bodies have been buried, while it's feared that more than 170 people were killed altogether.

We replied to citizens who took the time to write to the President.

Elements of replies in English

The European Parliament and the European Union (EU) are responding to ongoing developments in Iran.

The European Parliament’s response to the recent violent crackdown of protesters and political dissidents in Iran has been clear.

On 8 January President Roberta Metsola, expressed the European Parliament’s solidarity with the people of Iran.  Addressing the European Parliament plenary on 19 January, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, stated that Parliament has acted firmly by banning Iranian diplomats and representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iranfrom its premises on 12 January 2026.

Parliament’s position on the situation in Iran

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 22 January 2026 on the brutal repression of protesters in Iran.

The European Parliament stands in full solidarity with the people of Iran and their brave and legitimate protest movement. It strongly condemns the widespread, intentional and disproportionate use of force by security forces.

Following pressure from the European Parliament the Council designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist organisation. It demands the expansion and strict enforcement of EU sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans.

Parliament extends its full solidarity to the Iranian diaspora, which plays a crucial role in demanding freedom and democracy and supporting the protests. It recognises the Iranian people as the sole legitimate source of authority and sovereignty in Iran.

Parliament reiterates its call for Iran to grant immediate and unhindered access to the UN-mandated fact-finding mission to address grave crimes under international law, including murder, torture, rape and enforced disappearances.

Finally, Parliament urges EU countries to revoke the diplomatic status of the staff of Iran’s embassies and consulates across the EU.

Background

Citizens often send messages to the President of the European Parliament expressing their views and/or requesting action. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (AskEP) within the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) replies to these messages, which may sometimes be identical as part of wider public campaigns.

DRAFT OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Establishing Horizon Europe, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, for the period 2028-2034 laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, and repealing Regulation (EU) 2021/695
Committee on Security and Defence
Costas Mavrides

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Spokespersons for Parliament and for the political groups will hold a briefing on the 9 - 12 February plenary session, on Friday at 11.00 in Parliament’s Anna Politkovskaya press room.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Spokespersons for Parliament and for the political groups will hold a briefing on the 9 - 12 February plenary session, on Friday at 11.00 in Parliament’s Anna Politkovskaya press room.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Die digitale Transformation verändert die Arbeitswelt deutscher Unternehmen grundlegend. Kreative Teams müssen mehr Inhalte in kürzerer Zeit erstellen. Dabei dürfen Qualität und Markenidentität nicht leiden. Generative KI-Werkzeuge bieten hier neue Möglichkeiten, den kreativen Prozess zu beschleunigen und zu bereichern.

Interessant ist die Entwicklung von KI-Modellen für unterschiedliche kreative Anforderungen. Diese Modelle können Texte, Bilder und Designs generieren, die auf bestimmte Branchen, Stile oder Zwecke zugeschnitten sind. Für deutsche Unternehmen bietet dies neue Wege, ihre digitale Präsenz zu stärken und gleichzeitig Ressourcen effizienter einzusetzen.

Die Integration solcher KI-Werkzeuge in bestehende Arbeitsabläufe wirft jedoch auch Fragen auf. Wie lassen sich verschiedene Modelle sinnvoll kombinieren? Welche rechtlichen Aspekte müssen beachtet werden? Können Unternehmen sicherstellen, dass die KI-generierten Inhalte ihre Markenidentität authentisch widerspiegeln?

Praktische Anwendungsfälle in deutschen Unternehmen

Kleine und mittlere deutsche Unternehmen nutzen KI-Tools immer häufiger, um ihre Designprozesse zu beschleunigen. Die schnelle Erstellung von Konzeptentwürfen dient als Hauptbeispiel. Designs, die früher Tage dauerten, benötigen jetzt oft nur noch wenige Stunden, da Designer mehrere Varianten erstellen können, bevor sie die endgültige Version verfeinern.

Solche Tools erweisen sich besonders nützlich für mehrsprachige Marketingkampagnen. Deutsche Unternehmen mit internationaler Reichweite können Kampagnenmaterial für verschiedene Märkte ohne Verzögerung wiederverwenden. KI-gestützte Funktionen helfen, kulturelle Besonderheiten zu berücksichtigen und die klare Markenidentität über Regionen hinweg zu erhalten.

Produktvisualisierung ohne ressourcenintensive Fotoshootings sticht als weiterer wichtiger Vorteil hervor. Teams können digitale Darstellungen von Produkten in verschiedenen Umgebungen erstellen. Dieser Ansatz kann dazu beitragen, Kosten zu senken und unterstützt schnellere Produkteinführungen.

Ein konkretes Fallbeispiel zeigt sich bei einem deutschen Möbelhersteller, der seine Produktionszeit deutlich reduzieren konnte. Das Unternehmen nutzt Adobe Firefly-Modelle, um Produkte digital in verschiedene Raumstile zu platzieren. Diese computergenerierte Visualisierung hilft Kunden bei fundierten Entscheidungen und reduziert den Bedarf an traditionellen Fotografie-Workflows. Das Resultat: effizientere Projektgenehmigungen und kürzere Markteinführungszeiten.

Partnermodelle im Firefly-Ökosystem

Drittanbieter- bzw. Partnermodelle beziehen sich auf KI-Systeme, die von externen Anbietern entwickelt, aber in die Adobe-Umgebung integriert wurden. Diese Modelle fügen Firefly spezialisierte Funktionen hinzu und adressieren spezifische kreative Anforderungen. Sie funktionieren wie Erweiterungen und sind direkt über die vertraute Adobe-Oberfläche zugänglich.

Die Integration von Google Imagen 3 und anderen Partnermodellen steigert die Kernfähigkeiten von Firefly deutlich. Diese Bildgenerierungsansätze bieten Zugang zu alternativen Methoden für Bildmaterial. Partner wie Luma, Runway und Pika bringen zusätzliche Stärken in Bereichen wie Videogenerierung oder 3D-Inhaltserstellung ein.

Für Unternehmen, die Flexibilität suchen, bieten Adobe Firefly-Modelle eine Möglichkeit, das passende Modell für jedes kreative Szenario auszuwählen. Bei der Auswahl sollten Teams Faktoren wie Bildqualität, Formatvielfalt und Integrationsgrad in bestehende Adobe-Workflows berücksichtigen.

Rechtliche und ethische Rahmenbedingungen für KI-Kreativität

Der EU-AI-Act legt wichtige Regeln für die Nutzung generativer KI in ganz Europa fest. Diese Verordnung bewertet KI-Systeme nach Risiko und definiert Standards für Transparenz und Sicherheit. Kreative KI-Lösungen stehen vor Anforderungen zur Offenlegung von Trainingsdaten und zur konsistenten Kennzeichnung synthetischer Inhalte.

Content Credentials haben in Deutschland und in der gesamten EU als Best Practice für Transparenz Akzeptanz gefunden und liefern nachvollziehbare Daten über Inhaltsursprung und Bearbeitungsverlauf. Diese Anmeldedaten sind in Metadaten eingebettet und erfüllen direkt die Erwartungen des EU-AI-Act und des Digital Services Act (DSA).

In der Praxis verwenden Kreativabteilungen Content Credentials, um jedes mit Firefly oder ähnlicher Software generierte Asset automatisch zu kennzeichnen. Dies ermöglicht es, die Herkunft bei Audits nachzuweisen und stärkt die rechtliche Compliance sowie Transparenz in der Kommunikation mit Behörden oder Kunden.

Die Datenschutzkonformität bei der Implementierung von KI-Kreativwerkzeugen ist ein weiterer entscheidender Aspekt. Unternehmen müssen sicherstellen, dass ihre KI-Nutzung den DSGVO-Anforderungen entspricht, besonders wenn personenbezogene Daten verarbeitet werden. Adobe Firefly-Modelle bieten hier Vorteile durch ihre transparente Datenverwaltung und klaren Nutzungsbedingungen.

Zukunftsperspektiven für KI-gestützte Kreativarbeit

Die Entwicklung von Adobe Firefly-Partnermodellen folgt bestimmten Prioritäten aus dem Unternehmenssektor. Organisationen benötigen Tools, die Text-, Bild- und Videofunktionen kombinieren und flexibel in etablierte Workflows passen. Die Nachfrage nach multimodaler Fähigkeit zeigt sich in Firelys Kombination von Bild- und Textmodellen.

Die praktische Umsetzung stützt sich auf zentrale Modellauswahlmenüs in der Firefly-Benutzeroberfläche. Kreativteams wechseln direkt zwischen nativen Firefly-Modellen und Partnersystemen und bearbeiten verschiedene Szenarien wie mehrsprachige Kampagnen oder die Einhaltung von Markenprinzipien. Viele Unternehmen erstellen Richtlinien zur Modellauswahl und testen regelmäßig Outputs auf Compliance-Anforderungen.

Für 2026 entstehen neue Berufsbilder und Spezialisierungen, die Wissen zu KI mit kreativen Fähigkeiten verbinden. Positionen wie „KI-Prompt-Designer“ oder „KI-Workflow-Manager“ gewinnen an Bedeutung, da Unternehmen gezieltes Wissen über KI aufbauen und Datenmanagementpraktiken verbessern müssen.

Die frühe Einführung von kreativen KI-Tools kann Wettbewerbsvorteile bieten. Schnellere Bearbeitungszeiten und niedrigere Kosten zählen zu den möglichen Vorteilen. Deutsche Unternehmen, die jetzt in diese Technologien investieren, positionieren sich gut für die kommenden Entwicklungen im Kreativsektor und können sich einen Vorsprung gegenüber Mitbewerbern verschaffen.

Der Beitrag Kreative KI-Werkzeuge für deutsche Unternehmen im digitalen Wandel erschien zuerst auf Neurope.eu - News aus Europa.

Written by Harriet Kennedy.

Amidst increasing political pressure to adopt a stricter approach to migration, certain EU Member States have begun calling for reform of the protections available to migrants under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The calls have centred around Article 3 and Article 8 of the ECHR.

Article 3 prohibits torture and inhuman and degrading treatment. It blocks states from deporting individuals to places where they would be at risk of such treatment. It is absolute and cannot be restricted in any circumstances. Article 8 protects the right to respect for private and family life. It is a qualified right, meaning that it can be subject to limitations: it must be in accordance with the law, in pursuit of a legitimate aim and proportionate to the aim pursued.

Since June 2025 in particular, calls for reform have intensified, culminating in an agreement between Council of Europe states to adopt a political declaration on issues related to migration and the ECHR. The declaration is expected in May 2026. As yet, there is no consensus on the changes which should be made, or whether changes should be made at all. Nonetheless, support for reform seems to be growing amongst EU Member States.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Migration and the European Convention on Human Rights: Legal requirements and proposals for reform‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Dauer des Videos : 60'

Haftungsausschluss : Die Verdolmetschung der Debatten soll die Kommunikation erleichtern, sie stellt jedoch keine authentische Aufzeichnung der Debatten dar. Authentisch sind nur die Originalfassungen der Reden bzw. ihre überprüften schriftlichen Übersetzungen.
Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2026 - EP

Length of video : 60'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Newsletter - 9-12 February 2026 - Strasbourg plenary session

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP