About: COVID 19 crisis

EU Commission banks on mRNA vaccines for curbing COVID pandemic

The European Commission has moved to secure 1.8 billion more doses of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine amid speculation that it will not renew contracts with pharma companies AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

New report: COVID pandemic disruption caused ‘avoidable deaths’ of mothers and babies

Pregnancy outcomes for mothers and babies have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new Lancet study published on Wednesday (31 March), with researchers now calling for more priority to be given to maternity care during the health crisis.

Tanzanian president Magufuli confirmed dead following health speculation

Tanzania's President John Magufuli has died aged 61, the country's vice-president announced on Wednesday (16 March) following several weeks of growing speculation and conspiracy theories about his health and whereabouts.

‘New economic model’ needed to deal with climate change, EU presidency says

Europe's current economic model "has no future" and does not respond to "major environmental challenges", Portugal's prime minister António Costa said on Friday, calling for the adoption of new models such as the circular economy and sustainable bioeconomy.

The cohesion imperative

At the start of 2021, we already know that European cohesion will be put to an unprecedented test. But if we remain focused, this crisis has the chance of being the one that makes Europe, instead of breaking it, writes Pawel Zerka.

Porto EU social summit expected to focus on youth

The European Commission wants to promote a "strong social dimension" at the May summit in Porto, as part of the Portuguese EU Council presidency, advocating a focus on young people who are facing a "difficult period" due to the COVID-19 crisis​​​​​​​.

Cancel the public debt held by the ECB and ‘take back control’ of our destiny

It is time for the European Central Bank to cancel a large of the public debt it holds, say more than a hundred economists from across Europe including Aurore Lalucq, Nicolas Dufrêne, Jézabel Couppey-Soubeyran, and Laurence Scialom.

Restaurants face ‘wave of bankruptcies’ after lockdowns

The food services sector has been hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic, but governments are struggling to find ways to reopen safely.

The future of the food service sector in Europe: A roadmap beyond Covid-19

The ongoing health crisis is having a devastating impact on Europe’s restaurants, cafés and bars. With the prospect of a third wave, the sector is in urgent need of a consistent policy strategy that goes beyond closures and immediate financial relief.

German economy braces for second wave impact

Official data Thursday (14 January) are expected to show that the German economy weathered the pandemic better than many nations last year, partly thanks to its resilient manufacturers, but a virus resurgence is fuelling concern for 2021.

Spain to extend temporary lay-off schemes for 800,000 workers

The Spanish government is ready to approve before Friday (15 January) an extension of temporary lay-off schemes put in place March last year to protect jobs for around 800,000 workers affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the tourism and services sectors. EURACTIV’s partner EuroEFE reports.

Let’s clear the air for hospitality

Europe’s restaurants, bars and cafés are incredibly resilient, but many are now teetering on the brink of collapse in the face of repeated shutdowns, writes Ulrich Adam.

UK set to slash development aid budget

The UK government is expected to slash aid spending when Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveils the government’s Spending Review on Wednesday (25 November).

Pharma official: Anti-microbial resistance larger than COVID-19 crisis

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a looming crisis and potentially “even larger than the COVID-19” pandemic, the CEO of one of the few remaining antibiotic producers with a manufacturing presence in the EU told EURACTIV in an interview.

EU scores high approval ratings, despite pandemic

A majority of Europeans have a favourable opinion of the EU's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent study by the Pew Research Center, conducted before the continent began facing a second wave, has found.

Conditional authorisation ‘most likely’ for COVID-19 vaccine, EMA says

The most likely scenario for COVID-19 vaccine candidates in the EU is a one-year conditional marketing authorisation (CMA), European Medicines Agency (EMA) sources have told EURACTIV.

More cooperation, greater inclusion key to preventing a ‘lockdown generation’

Already precarious in many regions of Europe, youth unemployment has spiked dramatically with the onset of COVID-19, sparking fears of another lost generation. At a recent StartNet Conference, policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders called for greater cooperation on facilitating young people’s transition to work.

Science and Innovation as the way out of the crisis

The only plausible exit strategy for our current global challenges is science and innovation. We need EU funding for science and innovation more than ever… yet the Council wants to cut Horizon Europe, warn Pascal Lamy and Carlos Moedas.

Madrid imposes new COVID-19 restrictions to contain rapid spread

New measures to combat the fast spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Madrid enter into force today (21 September), limiting social gatherings to no more than six people and putting neighbourhoods back into partial lockdown for at least 14 days.

For the benefit of youth – for the benefit of inclusion

Funding for Erasmus + should not be sacrificed as the EU gears up for its massive spending plan to combat the economic damage caused by Covid-19, writes Florian Sanden.