European Union

In the final of the Uefa Super Cup, FC Bayern defeated FC Sevilla 2-1 on Thursday. Although the host city Budapest has recently recorded more than 100 coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days, Uefa went ahead with the match, which was meant to serve as a test run for the return of spectators to stadiums. Commentators discuss the pros and cons of this experiment.

Conflict in the EU persists over sanctions against Minsk in light of the human rights violations in Belarus. While the list of those whose accounts have been blocked and who have been banned from entering the EU now comprises 40 people, Cyprus is blocking the unanimous decision necessary to put the sanctions into effect. Observers speculate about the reasons for the veto and for the lax reactions on the part of Berlin and Brussels.

The protests against Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov entered their 78th day today. The last few days have also seen several riots and clashes between demonstrators and police. The protesters are making the same demand they did at the beginning: the resignation of the government. Borisov, however, continues to refuse, mainly on the grounds that his leadership is democratically legitimate. The national press takes a different view.

EFBW and UNESDA are calling for a wide deployment of well-designed deposit return systems to meet the collection and rPET targets of the EU Single Use Plastics Directive. Read here the 6 fundamental design criteria they believe will improve DRS efficiency.  Perhaps you could use this illustration below?

Committee and political groups’ meetings - Brussels

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The Association of European Journalists has complained to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the EU executive uses the English language “out of proportion” in its official communication, which gives an unfair advantage to the anglophone press.