European Union

Prime Minister Boris Johnson performed a dramatic U-turn on Monday (16 March) and put the UK on lockdown to curb the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, dropping his controversial 'herd immunity' approach and following the lead of continental Europe.

Certified new diagnostic test kits for novel coronavirus, COVID-19, will soon be made available in the EU, Curetis N.V., a developer of molecular diagnostic solutions, announced on Monday (16 March).

German flag-carrier Lufthansa announced on Monday (16 March) that it would curb its long-haul flight operations by 90% because of the coronavirus outbreak. Subsidiary Austrian Airlines has ceased services completely.

Boris Johnson's obsession with obtaining a Brexit deal in June has over-ridden the need to act decisively in response to Coronavirus. But the signs of panic are emerging, writes Denis MacShane.

The European Commission proposed on Monday (16 March) an unprecedented 30-day ban on travel for foreigners going to the bloc in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus, which has already put most of the EU on lockdown.

The EU Commission will propose to member states a temporary ban on all non-essential travel from third countries into the EU for initially a period of 30-days due to coronavirus, commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Monday said. EU leaders, who will hold crisis talks on Tuesday, will have to agree on the measure. EU officials will be urging the UK and other non-member states to join.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday (16 Monday) encouraged citizens to work in the countryside and drive tractors as a way to overcome the coronavirus epidemic.

There is a joke. The pessimist says “The situation couldn’t be worse”. And the optimist replies: “Oh yes, it can!”... Let’s just imagine that the coronavirus pandemic is over and that the world has learned the lessons.

While the West blames Russia for spreading disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic with the aim of sowing distrust in Western public institutions and healthcare systems, an expert has pointed out that Russia's domestic audience may actually be the main target of the disinformation campaign.

The parent group of French carmaker Peugeot decided on Monday (16 March) to suspend car production at 15 sites in seven different countries, as the coronavirus outbreak prompted it to take drastic action. PSA said that “the acceleration observed in...

North Macedonia's ex-premier urged the country on Monday (16 March) to postpone a snap poll scheduled for mid-April because of the coronavirus, as governments around the globe struggle to balance basic freedoms with safety measures.

Most of the drugs sold worldwide come from India and China, where production is cheapest. As a result, Europe's supply of medicines is in the hands of a few companies. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Members of the European Parliament called on member states and EU institutions to adopt a more ambitious package to address the economic fallout of the coronavirus COVID-19, as the European economy is expected to fall into recession this year due to the pandemic.

Eurogroup chief Mario Centeno warned on Monday (16 March) that under the coronavirus outbreak the European economy is experiencing the equivalent of a war, and that a long struggle lies ahead.

Statement by European Parliament President David Sassoli on latest Commission COVID-19 response.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Statement by European Parliament President David Sassoli on latest Commission COVID-19 response.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Air pollution from petrol and diesel vehicles is likely to increase mortality from the novel coronavirus in cities, public health experts told AFP Monday (16 March).

The European Union urged member states Monday (16 March) to prevent bottlenecks forming at internal frontiers and to allow freight through despite reinforced health controls during the coronavirus outbreak.

**This article is continuously updated with the latest developments. Lithuania has registered 17 Covid-19 cases as of Monday afternoon as as the country reintroduced borders at the EU’s internal borders with Poland and Latvia to stem the spread of the coronavirus....

Statement of the Civil Liberties Committee Chair, Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES) on the reintroduction of border controls at some Schengen internal borders due to coronavirus.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP