About: health crisis
Spain ready to implement tougher measures as ‘Christmas clock’ is ticking
With the virus not going away ahead of the Christmas season, the Spanish government is ready to implement tougher measures, Spain’s socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told parliament on Wednesday, EFE reports.
EMA director: Europeans are better protected with ‘EU licensed’ COVID vaccine
In an exclusive interview in Amsterdam with EURACTIV’s partner EFE, Emer Cooke, the executive director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), stressed that Europeans are much “better protected" if the COVID-19 vaccine is authorised by the EU agency.
Spanish minister confident end-of-year economic figures better than predicted
Spain's economy will do slightly better than previously forecast, with a 2.4% GDP increase by the end of this month, the country's Inclusion and Social Security Minister José Luis Escrivá predicted on Tuesday (8 December). EFE reports.
EU’s regions and local authorities brace for difficult times ahead – survey
Regional governments across the EU are bracing for difficult times ahead as they lack technical means and have scarce financial resources, according to a joint survey conducted by the European Committee of the Regions and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. EURACTIV France reports.
Job market integration: pandemic puts disadvantaged at greater risk
The COVID-19 health crisis makes it even more difficult for disadvantaged people, who already have a hard time in normal times, to be integrated into the labour market. Could a paradigm shift be the solution? EURACTIV France reports.
Austria to enter ‘partial’ November lockdown
Austria's government will impose a second "partial lockdown" for November, forcing restaurants to close but allowing the retail and services sector to remain open. A night curfew from 8pm will also be implemented. EURACTIV Germany reports.
French cross-border commuters eager to see improved EU border management plan
EU ministers adopted today (13 October) a recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restrictions of free movement in response to the COVID-19 crisis, a hot topic for France's border residents who have suffered from their closure during the lockdown. EURACTIV France reports.
Spain hopes to create 800,000 jobs with EU recovery funds
€72 billion of Spain’s share of the EU Recovery Fund be invested over the next three years to create 800,000 jobs, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Wednesday (7 October). EURACTIV's partner EFE reports.
Gender equality: How post-COVID economic recovery programmes took a step back
With domestic violence and health issues having affected French women more than men during the COVID-19 health crisis, the economic consequences of the pandemic have also impacted the country's employment sector and have widened the gender inequality gap. EURACTIV France reports.
French economic recovery plan ‘resonates strongly’ with German and EU plan
French Prime Minister Jean Castex unveiled on Thursday (3 September) a detailed national economic recovery plan amounting to €100 billion over two years. The plan is in line with those drawn up by Berlin and the European Commission, according to the head of the influential French think tank IDDRI. EURACTIV France reports.
Spain won’t declare another national state of alarm, allows regions to lockdown if necessary
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez ruled out declaring another national state of alarm over the coronavirus following his first cabinet meeting after the summer vacation. Regional governments have the power to impose local measures if necessary, he said. EURACTIV's partner EFE reports.
French, Swiss and Germans partner up in fight against disease-spreading tiger mosquito
Faced with the rapid rise in disease-spreading tiger mosquitoes, a team of French, German and Swiss scientists have combined forces and knowledge to halt their expansion. EURACTIV France reports.
Structural discrimination against elderly increased during COVID-19, says FRA study
The coronavirus pandemic has hit older people hard, with age-related stereotypes reinforced and freedom of movement restricted, according to a study published by the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) at the end of June. However, the pandemic may have brought generations closer together again in the short term. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Have German tourists in Mallorca created a second Ischgl-like ‘hotspot’?
Beer and sangria flowed in abundance in Mallorca as German tourists celebrated at the 'Ballermann' party strip, ignoring coronavirus hygiene rules. Now the island is drawing the consequences, and threatening with penalties. EURACTIV's media partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Coronavirus, pension reform and more – what France’s new PM has said so far
France's new prime minister, Jean Castex, shed some new light on his government team, coronavirus, pensions and unemployment insurance reform in just his second interview since his appointment on 3 July. EURACTIV's partner, Ouest-France reports.
Merkel and von der Leyen: Two long-time companions guiding Europe
They have ruled Germany together for 15 years. Now they are at Europe's helm. With the start of the German EU Presidency, Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have, together, forged plans to navigate Europe out of crisis, EURACTIV Germany reports.
COVID-19 health crisis threatens EU’s green objectives, says IEA
While the COVID-19 crisis has had a positive impact on the energy sector by reducing emissions of polluting gases, it has also hampered green investments, making it difficult to implement the EU climate programme. EURACTIV's partner EFE reports.
German EU Presidency: Government sets priorities as ‘motor and moderator of Europe’
One week before Germany takes over the EU Council presidency on 1 July, its highly anticipated programme went through the cabinet, with priorities focused on managing the coronavirus crisis and its economic and social fallout. However, that was not enough to placate critics in the green and left-wing opposition. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Discrimination against LGBTI community in Germany higher than EU average
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has severely limited the celebrations of Pride Month. However, it may be necessary to pay attention to the LGBTI community given that discrimination based on sexual identity is not uncommon in Germany, according to several studies. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German COVID-19 app ‘clean’ but still lacks legal basis, experts say
Next week, Germany will present its so-called "Corona-Warn-App", Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) has announced. However, while the public source code seems to be clean, data protection advocates still demand a legal basis. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Greece prolongs confinement of migrant camps ahead of tourism re-start
Greece has extended confinement on overcrowded migrant camps by two weeks to curb the spread of coronavirus. Meanwhile, the country is also preparing to resume tourism, which is essential to its economy. EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France reports.
Oil, gas, coal could lose two-thirds of value by 2070, says study
Business in oil, gas and coal is becoming increasingly unprofitable as global fossil reserves could lose around two-thirds of their value in the next 50 years, plummeting from around $39 trillion to $14 trillion, according to a study published on Thursday (4 May) by British think tank Carbon Tracker. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Has COVID-19 increased the threat of bioterrorism in Europe?
As the global struggle to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed vulnerability of global societies to biological threats, both natural and manmade, experts have warned of a potential increase in the use of biological weapons, like viruses or bacteria, in a post-coronavirus world.