Category: English

Source: EuroStat – European Statistics

European Commission Press release Brussels, 27 Jul 2026 New guidance from the European Commission shows how State aid rules allow EU Member States to provide social support and social investment. This guidance assists Member States in designing State aid measures for social support and social investment, as set out in the Clean Industrial Deal.

Source: Government of Italy (English)

Vai al Contenuto Raggiungi il piè di pagina

26 Luglio 2026

Italian-style condominio theatres have been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage.

For centuries, these historical, architectural and cultural gems have enriched the identity of the villages and towns of Central Italy, making it unique.

This recognition consolidates Italy’s top ranking on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This leading position makes us proud and drives us to do even more, and better. Italy is a cultural superpower and we will continue to do our part, every day, to safeguard, protect and enhance a heritage that is the envy of the entire world. 

Thank you to everyone who believed in this challenge right from the outset and who made it possible to succeed.

[Courtesy translation]

Source: The Holy See

Video Message of the Holy Father on the occasion of the Halleluya Festival 2026 in Fortaleza, Brazil, 26.07.2026
The following is the text of the Video Message sent by the Holy Father Leo XIV to participants in the Halleluya Festival 2026 underway in Fortaleza, Brazil, from 22 to 26 July 2026:

Video Message of the Holy Father
Dear young people,
It is with great joy that I take part, albeit from a distance, in the Halleluya Festival 2026, an initiative which, year after year, through music, praise and worship, has touched the hearts of so many people, bearing good fruit for evangelization: confessions, conversions, and priestly and religious vocations.
Today, I would like to say once again how good it is to be with young people. Your enthusiasm is infectious and awakens in all of us a renewed apostolic zeal. During my recent journeys and at the Jubilee of Youth, I saw that each one of you possesses a missionary vigour that is essential for transforming this world, which is in such great need of the Gospel. Never lose this missionary zeal!
Indeed, it is this fervour that the Lord expects of all the baptized in proclaiming the Good News. In our day, there are still many people who need to know that it is Jesus who answers their deepest longings, revealing to human beings the truth about themselves. Therefore, proclaim with courage that a life without Christ is a life without grace! He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (cf. Jn 14:6); it is He who gives meaning to existence and to all things. This is the faith that moves us and that is worth sharing with those we love and with those who need it most.
It is possible, however, that as time goes by, the enthusiasm experienced during the Festival may wane. To keep the flame of faith alight and to bear witness to the Resurrection to our friends and to those we meet, we must stay in God’s presence through prayer. An authentic relationship with the Lord requires constancy, perseverance and the steadfast certainty that the Heavenly Father never abandons us; on the contrary, He comes to meet us in His Son. Therefore, do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away; He gives everything (cf. Benedict XVI, Holy Mass at the beginning of the Petrine Ministry, 24 April 2005). Those who entrust themselves to the Saviour receive a hundredfold (cf. Mk 10:29–30) and always emerge victorious. In sport, we see the joy of those who win, but also the sadness of those who lose. With Christ, we always triumph (cf. Rom 8:37)! The saints bear witness to this very fact.
Let us be inspired by the example of Saint Carlo Acutis: he shows us how to keep Christ at the centre at all times, even when using technology. Taking him as a model, I advise you to use social media and artificial intelligence well, employing these tools in a moderate and disciplined way, as they can plunge us into an unreal world, in which the ephemeral, mere appearances and deception end up taking the place of true values and what really matters.
Dear young people, let the Holy Spirit rekindle within you a greater love, capable of transforming your youth into a force for evangelization, making each of you a living stone in the building of the “city of peace” for which we yearn so much, or, as Saint Augustine said, the City of God present in the midst of the city of men. Praying to God that He may strengthen you in your trials and help you to live out your call to holiness faithfully, I impart my Apostolic Blessing to all the participants and organizers of the Halleluya Festival.
May God be with you always!

Source: European Central Bank

27 July 2026

• Euro area net saving was broadly unchanged at €902 billion in four quarters to first quarter of 2026, compared with €900 billion one quarter earlier
• Household debt-to-income ratio stood broadly unchanged at 81.0% in first quarter of 2026
• NFCs’ debt-to-GDP ratio (consolidated measure) decreased to 65.6% in first quarter of 2026 from 67.1% one year earlier

Total euro area economy

Euro area net saving was broadly unchanged at €902 billion (7.0% of euro area net disposable income) in the four quarters to the first quarter of 2026 compared with €900 billion in the four quarters to the previous quarter. Euro area net non-financial investment decreased to €629 billion (4.9% of euro area net disposable income), due to lower net investment by non-financial corporations and financial corporations (see Chart 1 and Table 1 in the Annex).

Euro area net lending to the rest of the world increased to €307 billion (from €296 billion previously), reflecting the decreased net non-financial investment and broadly unchanged net saving. Households’ net lending increased from €591 billion to €688 billion (5.3% of net disposable income)^[1], and that of non-financial corporations increased from €92 billion to €113 billion (0.9% of net disposable income). Financial corporations’ net lending decreased from €86 billion to -€1 billion. General government net borrowing increased, contributing more negatively (-€493 billion, -3.8% of net disposable income) to euro area net lending.

Chart 1

Euro area saving, investment and net lending to the rest of the world

(EUR billions, four-quarter sums)

Data for euro area saving, investment and net lending to the rest of the world (Chart 1)

Households

The annual growth rate of household financial investment increased to 2.9% in the first quarter of 2026, from 2.6% in the previous quarter. Among its components, investment in pension schemes (5.5%, from 2.8%)^[2], in life insurance (2.8%, from 2.6%), and in debt securities (3.5%, from 3.2%) all grew at higher rates. Investment in shares and other equity grew at a broadly unchanged rate of 2.0%. By contrast, investment in currency and deposits increased at a lower rate (2.9%, from 3.1%).

Households were overall net buyers of debt securities, investing mainly in securities issued by the general government, while selling those issued by MFIs (see Table 1 below and Table 2.2. in the Annex). Households were overall net sellers of listed shares, selling predominantly shares issued by non-financial corporations, while buying shares issued by the rest of the world (i.e. by non-euro area residents), other financial institutions, and insurance corporations. Households also continued to be net purchasers of both non-money market investment fund shares and money market fund shares.

Data for financial investment and financing of households (Table 1)

The household debt-to-income ratio^[3] stood broadly unchanged at 81.0% in the first quarter of 2026. The household debt-to-GDP ratio decreased to 50.3% in the first quarter of 2026 from 50.6% in the first quarter of 2025 (see Chart 2).

Data for debt ratios of households and NFCs (Chart 2)

Non-financial corporations

Financing of non-financial corporations increased at an unchanged annual rate of 1.4% in the first quarter of 2026, compared with the previous quarter (see Table 2 below). Financing via loans from all creditors (2.3%), in particular loans granted by MFIs (2.9%), increased at unchanged rates (see Table 3.2 in the Annex). Intra-sector loans (which include loans between NFCs within the same group) accelerated (2.8%, after 2.4%), while loans from other financial institutions decelerated (1.3%, after 2.1%). Net issuance of shares and other equity grew at an unchanged rate (0.7%), while net issuance of debt securities (4.0%, after 3.2%) and financing via trade credit and advances (4.2%, after 4.0) grew at higher rates.

NFCs’ debt-to-GDP ratio (consolidated measure) decreased to 65.6% in the first quarter of 2026, from 67.1% in the first quarter of 2025. The broader non-consolidated debt measure decreased to 136.5%, from 137.9% over the same period (see Chart 2).

Data for financing and financial investment of NFCs (Table 2)

For queries, please use the statistical information request form.

Notes:

• These data come from a second release of quarterly euro area sector accounts for the first quarter of 2026 by the ECB and Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. This release incorporates revisions and completed data for all sectors compared with the first release on “Euro area households and non-financial corporations” of 3 July 2026.
• This statistical release incorporates revisions to the data since the first quarter of 2013, reflecting, amongst others, the inclusion of Bulgaria in the euro area aggregates for this period.
• The euro area and national financial accounts data of NFCs and households are available in an interactive dashboard.
• The debt-to-GDP (or debt-to-income) ratios are calculated as the outstanding amount of debt in the reference quarter divided by the sum of GDP (or income) in the four quarters to the reference quarter. The ratio of non-financial transactions (e.g. savings) as a percentage of income or GDP is calculated as the sum of the four quarters to the reference quarter for both numerator and denominator.
• The annual growth rate of non-financial transactions and of outstanding assets and liabilities (stocks) is calculated as the percentage change between the value for a given quarter and that value recorded four quarters earlier. The annual growth rates used for financial transactions refer to the total value of transactions during the year in relation to the outstanding stock a year before.
• Hyperlinks in the main body of the statistical release lead to data that may change with subsequent releases as a result of revisions. Figures shown in annex tables are a snapshot of the data as at the time of the current release.
• The ECB publishes experimental Distributional Wealth Accounts (DWA) which provide additional breakdowns for the household sector. The release of results for 2026 Q1 will take place on 24 August 2026.

Source: European Union 2

Want to be a voice for Girls Go STEM in your country? 

Since 2020, Girls Go STEM has equipped more than 78 000 girls aged 14 to 19 across Europe with digital, green and entrepreneurial skills through a free online learning platform available in 27 languages. The Student Ambassadors Programme invites girls who have completed the learning programme to represent the initiative in their country for a one year mandate.

What ambassadors will do

• Represent Girls Go STEM at events organised by the European Commission, the EIT Community and partner organisations
• Receive monthly mentoring from professionals in STEM and entrepreneurship
• Take part in exclusive leadership and communication workshops
• Help promote the annual Girls Go STEM Student Challenge and other opportunities
• Be featured in official Girls Go STEM and EIT Community communications

Who can apply

• Girls aged 14 to 19, based in Europe
• Who have completed the Girls Go STEM learning programme
• Ready to make their voice heard and inspire other girls

As a Girls Go STEM Ambassador, you will spend a year collaborating closely with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Community, representing the programme at in-person and online events and helping more girls across Europe discover it.

Alongside these opportunities, you will strengthen your leadership and communication skills through various activities and tailored mentorship, contributing to both your personal and professional growth.

During their mandate, ambassadors are expected to dedicate around 4 hours per month to their role and attend one or two in-person events or workshops in a European country.

Source: European Union 2

Discover how you can make an impact, connect with fellow educators, and grow professionally!

Since 2020, Girls Go STEM has equipped more than 78 000 girls aged 14 to 19 across Europe with digital, green and entrepreneurial skills through a free online learning platform available in 27 languages. The Teacher Ambassadors Programme is a year long opportunity for secondary and iVET school teachers to work closely with the EIT Community.

What ambassadors will do

• Represent Girls Go STEM at events across Europe, with travel costs fully covered
• Become a certified Girls Go STEM trainer
• Help build and support national networks of Girls Go STEM teachers
• Contribute feedback and ideas that help shape the programme

Who can apply

• Secondary or iVET school teachers
• Already using the Circular Learning Space
• Confident communicating in English and supported by their school to take part

The Teacher Ambassadors Programme is a unique, year-long opportunity for passionate teachers to collaborate closely with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Community and play a key role in advancing education across Europe.

In particular, we are calling all educators who have already used the Circular Learning Space, the platform hosting the courses of the Girls Go STEM programme, to become Teacher Ambassadors and help spread the word about it.

Ambassadors will represent Girls Go STEM at events, help foster a vibrant teacher community, contribute to peer training, and improve the initiative through their fresh ideas. They will also get the chance to enhance their leadership and teaching skills with tailored professional development workshops.

During their mandate, ambassadors are expected to dedicate around 4 hours per month to their role and attend at least one in-person event in a European country with travel expenses fully covered by Girls Go STEM.

Apply here

Source: European Central Bank

27 July 2026

Components of the broad monetary aggregate M3

The annual growth rate of the broad monetary aggregate M3 increased to 3.3% in June 2026 from 3.0% in May, averaging 3.0% in the three months up to June. The components of M3 showed the following developments. The annual growth rate of the narrower aggregate M1, which comprises currency in circulation and overnight deposits, decreased to 3.4% in June from 3.7% in May. The annual growth rate of short-term deposits other than overnight deposits (M2-M1) increased to 2.8% in June from 1.4% in May. The annual growth rate of marketable instruments (M3-M2) increased to 4.5% in June from 3.2% in May.

Data for monetary aggregates

Looking at the components’ contributions to the annual growth rate of M3, the narrower aggregate M1 contributed 2.2 percentage points (down from 2.4 percentage points in May), short-term deposits other than overnight deposits (M2-M1) contributed 0.8 percentage points (up from 0.4 percentage points) and marketable instruments (M3-M2) contributed 0.3 percentage points (up from 0.2 percentage points).

Among the holding sectors of deposits in M3, the annual growth rate of deposits placed by households decreased to 2.6% in June from 2.8% in May, while the annual growth rate of deposits placed by non-financial corporations increased to 5.3% in June from 4.2% in May. Finally, the annual growth rate of deposits placed by investment funds other than money market funds increased to 1.6% in June from ‑0.6% in May.

Counterparts of the broad monetary aggregate M3

The annual growth rate of M3 in June 2026, as a reflection of changes in the items on the monetary financial institution (MFI) consolidated balance sheet other than M3 (counterparts of M3), can be broken down as follows: claims on the private sector contributed 3.1 percentage points (as in the previous month), net external assets contributed 2.2 percentage points (up from 1.9 percentage points), claims on general government contributed 0.1 percentage points (up from 0.0 percentage points), longer-term liabilities contributed -1.6 percentage points (down from -1.4 percentage points), and the remaining counterparts of M3 contributed -0.5 percentage points (up from -0.6 percentage points).

Data for contribution of the M3 counterparts to the annual growth rate of M3

Claims on euro area residents

The annual growth rate of total claims on euro area residents stood at 2.4% in June 2026, unchanged from the previous month. The annual growth rate of claims on general government increased to 0.3% in June from 0.1% in May, while the annual growth rate of claims on the private sector stood at 3.3% in June, unchanged from the previous month.

The annual growth rate of adjusted loans to the private sector (i.e. adjusted for loan transfers and notional cash pooling) stood at 3.9% in June, unchanged from the previous month. Within the non-financial private sector, the annual growth rate of adjusted loans to households stood at 3.0% in June, and the annual growth rate of adjusted loans to non-financial corporations stood at 4.0% in June, both unchanged from the previous month.

Data for adjusted loans to the private sector

Notes:

• Data in this press release are adjusted for seasonal and end-of-month calendar effects, unless stated otherwise.
• “Private sector” refers to euro area non-MFIs excluding general government.
• Hyperlinks lead to data that may change with subsequent releases as a result of revisions. Figures shown in annex tables are a snapshot of the data as at the time of the current release.

Source: European Union 2

With around 3 000 hours of sunshine a year, Malta is ideally placed to harness the sun’s energy. But its scorching summers, salty sea air and occasional Saharan dust storms also make it one of Europe’s toughest environments for solar panels.

For Dr Brian Azzopardi, a renewable energy researcher from Malta, those challenging conditions present a unique opportunity. If solar panels can withstand the island’s climate, they should perform well almost anywhere in Europe. 

Azzopardi is the chair of the Foundation for Innovation and Research – Malta, an organisation he helped establish to bridge the gap between academic research and industry. 

For the past three years, he has been leading an EU-funded research initiative called PROMISE that looked at new ways to improve the monitoring, maintenance and reliability of photovoltaic (PV) systems in Malta, with potential lessons for the rest of Europe.

Malta’s solar expansion

Over the past decade, government grants and community schemes have helped solar power spread rapidly across the island, which is home to around 580 000 residents: a number that swells each summer with tourists.

“Since around 2010, we’ve gone from almost zero solar power uptake to around 20–22%,” said Azzopardi.

As solar power has expanded, however, a new challenge has emerged. Faults in PV systems often go unnoticed until electricity production has already fallen. By that point, the damage to the panels may already be significant.

To catch problems earlier, the researchers developed digital twins: digital replicas of real solar installations that allow different scenarios to be tested and potential faults to be identified before they affect the panels.

“

These systems are being tested in very harsh conditions in Malta. If they survive here, they should survive anywhere in Europe.

They also developed AI tools that scan incoming data around the clock, flagging faults automatically rather than waiting for someone to notice a fall in performance.

The research also focused on developing the next generation of solar specialists. Malta’s rapidly growing solar sector still lacks enough technicians and researchers with the expertise needed to keep systems operating efficiently. 

By training people locally and sharing what they learn internationally, the team hopes Malta’s experience can benefit the rest of Europe.

To achieve this, the researchers combined high-tech monitoring across 10 Living Labs – real-world test sites – with new approaches to PV reliability, education and training, including international summer schools that attract students from around the world.

Maintenance matters

Solar uptake, Azzopardi warned, is only half the story. “You see solar panels on rooftops, but whether they are working properly is still a question mark. Maintenance matters too.”

Most solar systems in Malta are small and privately owned, so their owners cannot rely on large maintenance contracts or sophisticated monitoring systems. Many assumed that once the panels were installed, little further attention would be needed.

“It’s true there are few moving parts, but maintenance is still needed. Bird droppings and environmental conditions such as shade from new buildings or damage to the panels can all affect performance,” he said.

The researchers installed commercially available sensors to measure electricity production, sunlight, wind and temperature.

The data fed into monitoring software capable of predicting when maintenance was likely to be needed, allowing repairs to be planned before faults caused significant losses in performance. Along the way, the team built valuable expertise that can now be applied in future research.

“Technically speaking, these systems are being tested in very harsh conditions in Malta,” said Azzopardi. “If they survive here, they should survive anywhere in Europe.”

Sharpening skills

The Living Labs became even more valuable once their data started feeding directly into the training schools, giving students hands-on experience with real solar installations.

Participants visited the sites and worked alongside researchers using advanced diagnostic techniques such as electroluminescence testing, where electricity is fed back into a solar panel, causing the cells to emit faint infrared light invisible to the human eye. 

Specialised cameras then reveal tiny cracks and hidden defects that would otherwise remain undetected.

Students also developed practical inspection skills, learning how to assess panels visually and document faults using photographs and structured inspection checklists, a straightforward process that can still identify a surprising number of problems.

Learning by playing

Teaching these diverse skills effectively, however, is no simple task, said Melodie de l’Epine, who leads research and innovation activities at the Becquerel Institute in France – a specialist PV research and consulting centre and a key member of the PROMISE team.

“Operations and maintenance for photovoltaics is a huge subject,” she said. To keep such a mixed group of trainees engaged, the team turned to games and role play.

“

We need a strong, well-trained workforce that knows how to carry out maintenance and ensure longer system lifetimes.

“In the real world, operations and maintenance isn’t something you do in isolation. You’re receiving data, analysing problems, discussing budgets with management, and coordinating with maintenance teams – so I thought, let’s make them play the role,” de l’Epine said. 

The researchers developed three board games, matching exercises and simulation challenges, including a Monopoly-style game in which students take on the role of a technician troubleshooting a solar installation. Each activity focuses on different skills, from diagnosing faults to managing maintenance budgets.

For younger audiences, they also created Dance of the Photon, a live performance in which dancers demonstrate how sunlight is converted into electricity inside a solar cell, bringing an invisible process vividly to life.

The lessons could prove valuable far beyond Malta. Small-scale installations account for around half of Europe’s total PV capacity, and many face exactly the same maintenance challenges.

Training the fixers 

Developing smarter technology is only part of the challenge. Ensuring there are enough people with the skills to install, monitor and maintain solar systems will be just as important if Europe is to make the most of its growing investment in renewable energy.

“We need a strong, well-trained workforce that knows how to carry out maintenance and ensure longer system lifetimes,” said de l’Epine. “This requires a lot of training, but also for individual owners to acknowledge that maintenance is something they need to invest in.”

The research has shown that improving solar power is about much more than installing new panels. For Malta, one of Europe’s sunniest countries, harsh conditions have become an unexpected advantage. 

By testing technologies in some of Europe’s most demanding environments, the researchers are helping to develop solutions that could keep solar panels performing reliably across the continent for years to come.

Research in this article was funded by the EU’s Horizon Programme. The views of the interviewees don’t necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. If you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media.

Source: European Union 2

Democracy is under threat in the EU, but the evidence needed to respond effectively is lacking. “Despite a lot of empirical research, clear findings that can guide policymakers remain limited,” says project coordinator Michael Kaeding, professor of European Integration and European Policy at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany.

To accurately measure the shape and scale of the legitimacy crisis facing European politics, ActEU created a unique approach to capture the drivers of trust and mistrust in a complex, multilayered political environment.

“We found that while trust actually remains fairly stable overall, there are short-term fluctuations, especially driven by factors such as economic security, immigration and perceptions of fairness,” explains the project’s scientific lead Daniela Braun, professor of Political Science at Saarland University in Germany.

The hierarchy of trust

The ActEU team contend that trust between citizens and state institutions is not an output of democratic systems, but a precondition of them.

“Without the trust of a critical mass of people – where citizens feel heard, represented and able to participate in political life – democratic governments lose legitimacy. This is even more precarious in times of crisis,” remarks researcher Alex Hartland, also at Saarland University.

Existing studies typically examined ideas around political legitimacy through the lens of attitudes or behaviours. ActEU integrated both and added a third dimension, that of representation.

“These categories are interlinked, evolving and influencing one another depending on context. For example, strong representation can lead to increased participation and changing attitudes,” adds Zoe Lefkofridi, an expert in political representation at the University of Salzburg in Austria.

To explore this dynamic, the researchers mapped declining trust in the EU’s multilevel governance system using public opinion surveys, focus groups and data scraped from online sources.

While Europeans’ political trust in and perceptions of legitimacy are not declining in general, this depends on the level of governance in question.

“We found a hierarchy of trust. Citizens trust most those politics closest to daily life – local and regional. Trust is lower at the national level, and varies for the EU level,” says Braun.

However, this pattern is not consistent across all countries. Trust in higher-level institutions was found to have steadily decreased since the early 2000s in many countries, albeit with some partial and full recoveries.

Croatia, Denmark, Finland and Sweden showed a clear linear increase in trust over time, while citizens in Bulgaria, Cyprus, France and Poland are losing faith in politics.

“EU policymakers must remember that citizens live in a multilevel system. When rebuilding trust and legitimacy, it would be unwise to only focus initiatives on the supranational level,” notes political scientist Ann-Kathrin Reinl, a member of ActEU’s advisory board. “If citizens lose trust in local and regional politics, this can escalate.”

While electoral turnout was found to be declining overall, any increases were associated with extremes of trust and distrust, evidenced by increased vote share for radical right parties, with nota­ble exceptions in central and eastern Europe.

Reinvigorating democracy

To boost political engagement and skills among young European citizens, ActEU set up 17 Youth Democracy Labs with over 300 school and university students, resulting in two toolkits to support a more cohesive, inclusive and resilient society.

“One is targeted at the educational sector, and uses engaging features such as videos, podcasts, infographics and cartoons to translate ActEU’s findings without simplifying the issues,” adds Alex Hoppe, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Duisburg-Essen. “The other is aimed at policy­makers, and hosts resources to help expert audiences rebuild public trust, guided by concise evidence-based recommendations.”

Both toolkits continue to be used in the team’s teaching and outreach activities, garnering positive feedback.

The project’s wide-ranging data and analysis can be explored in a recently published book, ‘Activating European Citizens’ Trust in Times of Crisis and Polarization: Towards a New Era of Representative Democracy’.

With journal publications under review or in progress, ActEU’s researchers continue to work on quantifying political and societal polarisation, as part of Saarland University’s SOUNDS project co-led by Braun.

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

www.house.gov

by Cosimo GrazianiWashington (Fides News Agency) – The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that aims to halt US aid to Nigeria in the next fiscal year, justifying this measure as a response to anti-Christian violence in the African country.The bill was approved in mid-July with a majority of 217 votes in favor and 209 against. The proposal calls for foreign governments and “bad actors to be held accountable for the persecution of people of faith” and proposes reducing assistance to Nigeria “until effective action is taken to protect Christian communities suffering from religious violence.”The proposal also lists the objectives of the measures it intends to introduce, namely, offering “support for religious freedom programs abroad and the protection of religious freedom for faith-based organizations engaged in cooperation.”The proposal to tie US financial aid to Nigeria to the situation of Christians in the country was spearheaded by two Republican congressmen: Representative Riley Moore of West Virginia and Representative Jeff Steube of Florida. Moore had long advocated cutting aid to Nigeria, arguing that such action is necessary to defend the country’s Christian population. In recent months, he had repeatedly claimed that Christians in Nigeria are facing genocide and accused the federal government of failing to take adequate action against Fulani extremists. He also proposed a bilateral security agreement between the United States and Nigeria aimed at protecting Christian communities.Moore initially proposed a 50% reduction in US assistance to Africa’s most populous nation, while Steube introduced an amendment calling for a complete suspension of aid to Abuja. The House ultimately approved the amendment. Following the vote, Steube announced the bill’s approval in a post on X: “American taxpayers should never bankroll governments that turn a blind eye while Christians are abducted, tortured and murdered”It should be noted that this is the first approval of a bill, and has not yet become law. For the 2027 federal budget to become legally binding, the bill must also be approved by the Senate and signed by President Donald Trump.In February, the current US administration released a report describing Nigeria as the most dangerous country in the world for Christians. Following that report, Washington designated Nigeria a “Country of particular concern,” a label rejected by the government in Abuja as well as by local and international organizations, which have stressed that violence in Nigeria affects Christians and members of other religions.In recent months, the United States and Nigeria have continued to strengthen security cooperation. The US has deployed military personnel to the country, describing the move as support for the fight against several terrorist groups. The collaboration prompted expressions of appreciation from President Trump, as reflected in a letter he sent to the Nigerian government in recent weeks.According to the authorities in Abuja, Trump also commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its efforts to address the problems “afflicting Christian communities.” Those statements appear to contrast with the House of Representatives vote, though they are unlikely to prevent the proposal’s final approval.(Fides News Agency, 26/7/2026)
Share: