EU institutions
Josep Borrell deletes tweet about waiving vaccines’ patents
The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, has deleted a post he made on Twitter regarding the need to waive intellectual rights for vaccines. In the tweet, Borrell quoted US economist Joseph Stiglitz as saying, “at one point, scaling up vaccination...
EU sources: Europe could see regular vaccinations until 2023
Vaccinating Europe is not a problem to be solved in six months, but is an ongoing process that will likely last until 2023, EU sources have told EURACTIV. Though the pandemic will not remain in its current acute phase, the...
Sign EastMed pipeline deal Mr Draghi!
Technocrat Italian PM Mario Draghi said what politicians could not: he called Erdogan a dictator. Strong words do not change policies, however. Amid growing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, Nicosia, Athens and Tel Aviv signed the EastMed pipeline deal, which...
Which EU countries lag behind on ‘decent work’?
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), which represents workers and their trade unions at the European level, has published a survey about the progress EU member states have made regarding “decent work”. The results are not surprising. See more here....
Nine member states call to protect European film festivals
In a joint letter obtained by EURACTIV, culture ministers from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Poland, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia have made an appeal to the European Commission about the financing of individual film festivals. According to the letter,...
Few signs that EU health passports can be ready before July
Diplomatic sources have told EURACTIV that “realistically” one should not expect the EU Green Pass, a health certificate aimed to facilitate travel across the bloc, to be implemented before July. The main reason is that technically, the project faces a...
Greek centre-right MEP heats up debate over abortions
New Democracy MEP (EPP) Stelios Kympouropoulos has triggered a wave of reactions after he voted against abortion in a European Parliament resolution. He voted for an amendment saying, “every human being has the inherent right to life and that the...
‘Possible’ for EU drug agency to approve Sputnik
EU sources told EURACTIV.com that it is “possible” for the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to approve Russia’s Sputnik vaccine. “Negotiations could start if at least four member states ask so,” the sources added. The same sources explained, though, that with...
Portugal convenes EU ‘recovery summit’ in June
Portugal will hold a high-level summit in Lisbon on 21 June focused on the recovery plans of the 27 EU member states, defending "smart fiscal policies" in response to the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic.
EXCLUSIVE: Brussels ties with fossil fuel industry revealed
Three top officials in Ursula von der Leyen's green-oriented European Commission – Josep Borrell, Stella Kyriakides and Adina Vălean – have until recently had ties with the fossil fuel industry, according to new research revealed exclusively by EURACTIV.
Member states should create ‘synergies’ between recovery plans, Horizon Europe R&I programme – minister
Portugal’s science, technology and higher education minister on Wednesday highlighted the need to prioritise the relationship between science and employment, open collaborative research and career development in the areas of innovation and research. Manuel Heitor, speaking at a videoconference on...
European political groups ask Portugal to focus on recovery, jobs
Leaders of the main political families in the European Parliament on Wednesday asked Portugal to focus on economic recovery and job creation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, welcoming its declared presidency focus on developing the EU’s Pillar of...
Need to prioritise dossiers due to COVID
The lockdown decreed by Portugal and the various coronavirus restrictions across EU member states reinforce the scenario of a virtual presidency and will force Portugal to prioritise dossiers, officials say. “I think it is definitely more difficult, if not virtually...
Trip to Lisbon ‘essential’, says von der Leyen
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she believes that a delegation from the EU executive to Lisbon is “essential and necessary” for the start of the Portuguese EU presidency while ensuring “every precaution” due to COVID-19. “As far...
Borrell: Trump has awakened us from strategic sleepwalking
The arrival of US President Donald Trump in 2016 has "awakened" the EU and made it realise it was too dependent on Washington, prompting a trend of boosting Europe's autonomy, the EU's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, told EURACTIV's media partner EFE in an interview.
Vaccine logistics: the tough part is just beginning
The European Medicine’s Agency is expected to approve Pfizer’s vaccine at an extraordinary meeting on 21 December and then, within three days, the European Commission is set to give its final green light. As for the vaccination process, in practice, everything depends on the readiness of EU countries, especially when it comes to logistics.
Sassoli ‘irritated’ about French Strasbourg pressure
The European Parliament President David Sassoli expressed “astonishment and irritation” at France on Wednesday for publicly demanding that the EU’s legislature return to its official seat in Strasbourg. It is the latest stage in a standoff between Brussels and Paris...
Call for better EU crisis management
In a non-paper seen by EURACTIV, the Netherlands, together with Sweden and Romania, is calling for “enhanced coordination and communication” between member states in times of crisis. The push comes as the EU has struggled to respond to the initial...
Brussels bureaucracy unlocks, opens Pandora’s Box
The European Parliament’s legal services gave the greenlight to the legal affairs committee to convene and assess some member states’ requests to lift the immunity of several MEPs. The legal affairs committee deals with sensitive issues and therefore physical presence...
A tacit gentlemen’s agreement to protect EU borders?
The European Ombudsman’s Office said on Tuesday it would open an inquiry into the possible failure of the European Commission to ensure that Croatian authorities respected fundamental rights while conducting EU-funded border operations against migrants and refugees. It seems there is...
EU diplomats running US election scenarios
No clear winner emerged in the US presidential election as of Tuesday night (Wednesday morning in Europe) as incumbent President Donald Trump and Democratic contender Joe Biden each secured several important states in early results. At the same time, and...
How can we elect such MEPs?
Croatian MEP Mislav Kolakušić has sent a letter to his colleagues in the European Parliament complaining about the closure of the EU House due to the new COVID-19 outbreak. For him, COVID-19 is just a cold while personally, he has...
Speak to the Commission, save Europe
EURACTIV has been reporting that EU member states do not share critical information with the EU regarding their needs to fight against COVID-19. This prevents the EU executive from having an overall picture of what the needs are, e.g. intensive...