European Union

Cases of contagion with coronavirus rose to almost 3,000 cases and 84 deaths on Thursday (12 March),  compared to the  2,100 cases and 49 deaths, on which EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported on Wednesday (11 March). Those affected are mostly elderly...

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision not to cancel public events to contain the outbreak has been described as “concerning” by ex-health secretary Jeremy Hunt. Hunt, who stood against Johnson for the Conservative party leadership last summer, criticised the pace of...

Ireland has issued a temporary closure on all schools, colleges and childcare facilities in the country. 

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World markets experienced their worst day in decades on Thursday (12 March) as fears of a worldwide recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic wiped trillions off valuations.

Saudi Arabia has stepped up efforts to squeeze Russia’s Urals oil grade out of its main markets by offering its own cheap barrels instead after their long-standing deal to support global oil prices fell apart, seven oil sources said.

Bosnia’s Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday brought terrorism charges against Armen Dželko, one of the seven men who fought alongside terrorist groups in Syria and who were extradited last year after being held in prisons jointly controlled by the US and...

Prime minister-designate Florin Citu renounced his right to form the government just a few minutes before parliament was scheduled to vote on his cabinet. Due to the coronavirus, MPs were ready to vote for the centre-right government, despite their political...

“Estonia and Hungary are working to ensure cyber stability, to make sure that norms and international law apply in cyberspace,” Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu said after meeting with his Hungarian colleague Péter Szijjártó in Tallinn. Reinsalu emphasised...

Professionals from across the country including scientists, artists, lawyers, representatives of NGOs and church institutions have called on the Austrian government to accept Syrian refugee children from the Greek camps in an open letter to Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP). Kurz...

The extreme right-wing faction of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), known as “the Wing,” has been classified as an ‘observation case’ by the Federal Office for Constitutional Protection (BfV), according to an announcement from the office yesterday morning. The head...

A young man who contracted the coronavirus from his brother – who was Croatia’s patient zero – was released from a Zagreb hospital on Thursday after two consecutive negative tests. Six new cases were confirmed though, bringing the total number...

Slovenia’s new Prime Minister, Janez Janša, said on Thursday that the outbreak is the biggest crisis since Slovenia declared its independence. There were 96 confirmed coronavirus cases as of yesterday. Slovenia has announced that all education facilities will be closed...

The Bulgarian government proposed emergency measures late on Thursday, to be adopted by parliament. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov spoke, but his wording was unclear and the details were difficult to grasp. It appears that kindergartens, schools and universities will be...

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision not to cancel public events to contain the outbreak has been described as “concerning” by ex-health secretary Jeremy Hunt. Hunt, who stood against Johnson for the Conservative party leadership last summer, criticised the pace of...

Ireland has issued a temporary closure on all schools, colleges and childcare facilities in the country. Speaking in Washington, Taoiseach  Leo Varadkar said that indoor events of more than 100 people would be cancelled and outdoor events with more than...

European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde was supposed to reassure markets by announcing anti-crisis measures to take on COVID-19 but caused a spike in Italian bonds yields instead, triggering harsh reactions in Italy. Lagarde said it is not the ECB’s...

US shale producers are seeking sharp service costs cuts to deal with plummeting prices and shrinking demand, according to executives and a letter sent to top providers, driving home the oil industry’s desperate efforts to cope with a market dive.

Europe reacted with dismay Thursday (12 March) to a US-imposed trans-Atlantic travel ban that sent the share price of major airlines into free fall, with one EU diplomat saying "Trump is simply kicking a man when he's down".

All schools in Portugal will suspend all classroom activities from Monday due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Prime Minister António Costa announced today in a statement to the country. This temporary measure, until the end of the school term, before the...