Global Europe
Kazakhstan takes decisive steps to stop the spread of coronavirus
Despite the relatively small numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases and a first death reported on Thursday (26 March), the authorities in Kazakhstan, a country neighbouring China, are taking the coronavirus pandemic very seriously.
Ukraine struggles to debunk fake virus news
The water service in Odessa, a port city in southern Ukraine, was suddenly overrun this week with calls from worried residents with a peculiar concern.
‘Printing money’: booming mask producers in China meet global demand
As the coronavirus pandemic that originated in a central Chinese city has gone global, thousands of factories in China have nimbly turned to a new and very profitable market -- face masks for export.OpinionPromoted content
Developing the value of transatlantic defense industry cooperation
On 4 March 2020, Chris Lombardi, Vice President European Business Development at Raytheon, sat down at the German Marshall Fund’s conference in Brussels to discuss Raytheon’s contributions and commitment to ‘Developing the Value of Transatlantic Defence Industry Cooperation.’
G20 leaders to inject $5 trillion into global economy in fight against coronavirus
Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies pledged on Thursday (26 March) to inject over $5 trillion into the global economy to limit job and income losses from the coronavirus and "do whatever it takes to overcome the pandemic."
US leads world with most confirmed coronavirus cases
The number of US coronavirus infections climbed above 82,000 on Thursday (26 March), surpassing the national tallies of China and Italy, as New York, New Orleans and other hot spots faced a surge in hospitalizations and looming shortages of supplies, staff and sick beds.
Bulgaria proposes to take over EU truck cargo, drive it to Turkey
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov will propose to EU leaders during their teleconference on Thursday (26 March) that his country would transship goods of trucks from EU countries going to Turkey. The alternative is that EU drivers would wait 14 days before being allowed to enter Turkey.
The Brief – Ode to Schengen
On this day in 1995, the Schengen Agreement, a cornerstone of the EU’s freedom of movement, entered into force. Who would have thought that only a quarter-century later, it would become one of the main casualties of Europe’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic?
Global Europe Brief: EU-China rapprochement?
Welcome to EURACTIV’s Global Europe Brief, your weekly update on the EU in the global perspective from our foreign affairs news team: Georgi Gotev and Alexandra Brzozowski.
MEPs urge Commission to support Western Balkans in coronavirus fight
Four MEPs have urged the European Commission to support the Western Balkans countries during the coronavirus pandemic by including them in the EU’s medical device export authorisation scheme, in a letter dated 20 March.
Huawei to ‘scale down’ supply of COVID-19 masks, after Borrell comments
Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei will halt its European mask donation programme for fear of becoming embroiled in a wider geopolitical powerplay, following comments from the EU's Foreign Chief Josep Borrell that a ‘politics of generosity’ is being played out, as well as a 'global battle of narratives'.
Capitals Special Edition – How effective is China’s ‘mask diplomacy’ in Europe?
In this Special Edition of the Capitals, the EURACTIV Network looks into how China's 'mask diplomacy' has been perceived by the different EU member states facing the COVID-19 crisis.
Chinese diplomat: To fight the pandemic, put trust and cooperation before politics
This spring is never going to be the same again. The explosive spread of COVID-19 caught the world by surprise, and it couldn’t show more clearly just how closely connected we are. As the pandemic looms large, China and the...
Coronavirus slows US push to produce electric vehicle minerals
The coronavirus pandemic is hobbling US efforts to produce lithium, rare earths and other materials used in electric vehicles and high-tech equipment, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump’s plan to curb Chinese control of the strategic minerals sector.
Three billion people under lockdown as UN warns virus threatens humanity
More than three billion people are living under lockdown measures as soaring death tolls in Europe and the US on Wednesday (25 March) underlined a United Nations warning that the coronavirus pandemic threatens all of humanity.
EU and US in opposite camps as Kosovo government toppled
Kosovo's government was toppled by a no-confidence vote Wednesday (25 March) less than two months after coming to power, plunging the unstable democracy into political uncertainty as it tries to halt the spread of coronavirus.
EU warns virus could expose firms to foreign buy outs
The head of the European Commission warned Wednesday (25 March) that the economic aftermath of the coronavirus could leave strategic private sector firms exposed to foreign takeovers.
EU demands access to Donbas for international organisations during coronavirus restrictions
Russian-backed armed formations in the breakaway Donbas region have since Saturday (21 March) denied access to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) mission monitoring the conflict, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service reported on Tuesday.
Russia joins UN’s appeal for global ceasefire, lists conflicts by name
Russia’s foreign ministry published a statement on Wednesday (25 March) urging all parties to regional armed conflicts to immediately stop hostilities, secure a ceasefire, and introduce a humanitarian pause, in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.
A new type of virus is upon us, and it is not corona
The whole world is preoccupied with the coronavirus pandemic. Every day, we experience apprehension and our thoughts focus on how we can protect ourselves, our families and countries. Yet, while nations struggle to mobilise their resources to fight this unparalleled epidemic, another virus is spreading almost undetected, Daniel Milo argues.
India bans export of hydroxychloroquine amid coronavirus outbreak
The Indian government said on Wednesday (25 March) that it is banning the export of hydroxychloroquine and formulations made from the medication, as experts test the efficacy of the drug in helping treat patients infected with COVID-19.
Balkan hopefuls get green light to start EU talks, conditions still weigh on Tirana
EU ministers on Tuesday (24 March) approved starting membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania, a move hailed as restoring "credibility" after months of damaging delays and bickering.
UN chief calls for ‘immediate global ceasefire’ amid COVID-19 pandemic
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a global truce in the world's conflict zones on Monday (23 March) in order to protect vulnerable civilians from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.