Europe decides to vaccellerate, attack on journo provokes Slovenian debate, and Merkel’s forgetful while Macron gains weight.
On Wednesday, the European Commission unveiled its plan to fight emerging COVID-19 variants, which Von der Leyen considers “a potential paradigm shift in this global fight.”
The @EU_Commission unveils its plan to fight new emerging #COVID_19 variants, which @vonderleyen considers "a potential paradigm shift in this global fight." The solution is this HERA incubator, a new public-private cooperation to use combined strength for the next phase of virus pic.twitter.com/9rZbuVbYQe
— Gerardo Fortuna (@gerardofortuna) February 17, 2021
Get ready for HERA! A new public-private incubator.
It stands for Health and Emergency Preparedness and Response Agency
The “Preparedness” is silent, apparently, quipped Berlaymonster.
What does the EU's new 'HERA Incubator' stand for?
Health and Emergency Preparedness and Response Agency
The "Preparedness" is silent, apparently.
— Berlaymonster (@Berlaymonster) February 17, 2021
It just rolls off the tongue snarked Jack Parrock.
The EU Commission is launching the HERA Incubator – a plan to be prepared for new COVID variants.
The name is short for the "European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority".
All these terms just roll off the tongue…
— Jack Parrock (@jackeparrock) February 17, 2021
I myself perceive a deeper meaning: #Hera “Queen of Heaven” was “known to be jealous and vengeful” Just saying.
#Hera "Queen of Heaven" "known to be jealous and vengeful" Just going to leave this here. 😅😅 https://t.co/AQmGqMMDil pic.twitter.com/Plo6H68kqO
— Jennifer Baker (@BrusselsGeek) February 18, 2021
Natasha Foote says Commissioner Stella Kyriakides is a woman after her own heart with her “vaccelerate” pun.
@SKyriakidesEU is a woman after my own ❤️ with her "vaccelerate" programme #sopunny https://t.co/iXBEvi1Gds
— Natasha Foote (@NatashaFoote) February 17, 2021
And the monster exclusively revealed earlier working titles for the’Vaccelerate’ clinical trials network.
REVEALED: The earlier working titles for today's EU announced 'Vaccelerate' clinical trials network. pic.twitter.com/vQC1KiXifI
— Berlaymonster (@Berlaymonster) February 17, 2021
Oliver Grimm, while interested in the HERA incubator begged his fellow Brussels correspondents at the press conference to please ask VdL about the attacks on our colleagues by the Slovenian prime minister?
Dear fellow Brussels correspondents, I share your interest in the #HERAIncubator and vaccines, but could one of you in the queue at the press conference now please ask @vonderleyen about the attacks on our colleagues by the Slovenian prime minister? Thanks, a worried confrère.
— Oliver Grimm (@grimmse) February 17, 2021
Ah yes. It’s certainly not all pun and games for the press pack.
As the Slovenian Prime Minister took aim at a journalist in a personal attack.
Lilie Bayer of Politico Europe wrote a piece in which she quoted many sources working for Slovenia’s public media outlets accusing PM Janez Janša of whipping up hatred against reporters, resulting in threatening messages. Journalists say the pressure has led to self-censorship.
I spoke with over a dozen journalists working for Slovenia’s public media outlets.
Many accuse Prime Minister Janša of whipping up hatred against reporters, resulting in threatening messages. Journalists say the pressure has led to self-censorship. https://t.co/Zb3jMIs00p
— Lili Bayer (@liliebayer) February 16, 2021
Remarkably Jansa responded on Twitter claiming Lilie Bayer was instructed not to tell the truth, so she quoted mainly “unknown” sources from the extreme left and purposely neglected sources with names and integrity. That’s POLITICO Europe, unfortunately. Laying for living.
Well, @liliebayer was instructed not to tell the truth, so she quoted mainly “unknown” sources from the extreme left and purposely neglected sources with names and integrity. That’s @POLITICOEurope, unfortunately. Laying for living. https://t.co/AvVrI5mmn3
— Janez Janša (@JJansaSDS) February 16, 2021
I think he means lying…. But that’s the least of our concerns!
What’s pretty amazing about the way that Slovenian prime minister lashed out at this article and its author, is that it precisely acted out the behaviour described in the piece, verifying the reporting in real time, pointed out Naomi O’Leary.
What's pretty amazing about the way that Slovenian prime minister Janez Janša lashed out at this article and its author is that it precisely acted out the behaviour described in the piece, verifying the reporting in real time.https://t.co/CjI7cbFmtM
— Naomi O'Leary (@NaomiOhReally) February 17, 2021
A Prime Minister publicly harassing a journalist. Where have I seen this before?
Utterly unacceptable, asked Beatriz Ríos.
A Prime Minister publicly harassing a journalist. Where have I seen this before?
Utterly unacceptable. All my support to the extraordinary @liliebayer https://t.co/1ZIzICGkDx
— Beatriz Ríos (@BeaRios_) February 17, 2021
But Jansa’s move may have backfired.
I have just followed @liliebayer who seems to be a competent journalist.
Thanks for the tip, tweeted René Seindal.
I have just followed @liliebayer who seems to be a competent journalist.
Thanks for the tip.
A free democratic society relies on having an independent press with brave journalists to keep the holders of power to account.
— René Seindal (@seindal) February 17, 2021
Finally this week, a little light relief as Merkel and Macron let slip their human side.
Very few people know that for a long 10 seconds Europe was on the verge of collapsing, joked Karol Gotfryd, after video of Merkel forgetting her mask went viral.
Very few people know that for a long 10 seconds Europe was on the verge of collapsing pic.twitter.com/P7DgZlYedP
— Karol Gotfryd, certified contrarian indicator (@GotfrydKarol) February 15, 2021
We are all Angela Merkel said Marta Domínguez
Angela Merkel somos todos pic.twitter.com/Ti8TdyEiv6
— Marta Domínguez (@1Eme_) February 17, 2021
Merkel doing what we all do about 10 times a day, added Jack Parrock
Merkel doing what we all do about 10 times a day. pic.twitter.com/OVqFYyXfa5
— Jack Parrock (@jackeparrock) February 18, 2021
I’d wager 30% of Merkel’s support is due to her politics, and 70% is due to relatable videos like this, said James Jackson.
I’d wager 30% of Merkel’s support is due to her politics, and 70% is due to relatable videos like this pic.twitter.com/t7Nnx7M0Rt
— James Jackson (@derJamesJackson) February 18, 2021
You’re not wrong James.
Meanwhile in France… Macron absolutely totally defamundily “did not gain weight.
“He gained density and maturity” according to an official statement.
« Je n’ai pas grossi, j’ai pris de la densité et de la maturité » pic.twitter.com/VRrh9E0oRm
— diane de fortanier (@diradefo) February 18, 2021
“Light” reading for a positive morning! According to Macron, gaining a few kilos is ‘a positive event’, as it gives you ‘substance and maturity’.
Don’t be afraid, love your body urged DG Meme.
"Light" reading for a positive morning!
According to Macron, gaining a few kilos is 'a positive event', as it gives you 'substance and maturity'.
Don't be afraid, love your body. https://t.co/m15gaB0BFv— DG MEME 🇪🇺 (@meme_ec) February 18, 2021
The next time someone says I’ve put on weight I’m definitely going to borrow this line said Gareth Harding.
"The extra kilos give him more density and maturity." The next time someone says I've put on weight I'm definitely going to borrow this line from Macron's spokespeople! https://t.co/7bCqnuhkdq
— Gareth Harding (@garethharding) February 18, 2021