European Union

The Council approved conclusions reaffirming the EU's commitment to human rights in the context of the post COVID-19 pandemic recovery.

The Council adopted conclusions on EU priorities in UN human rights fora in 2021

The Council added Dominica to the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes and removed Barbados from the list.

Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel 22-28 February 2021

Fusion energy: Council approves ITER financing.

The Council adopted conclusions condemning in the strongest terms the military coup in Myanmar/Burma, and stressing that the EU stands with the Burmese people.

Ukraine on Monday (22 February) accused unnamed Russian internet networks of massive attacks on Ukrainian security and defence websites, but gave no details of any damage done or say who it believed was behind the assault.

Russian president Vladimir Putin hosted his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko for talks on Monday, AP reported, with media reports suggesting Lukashenko was aiming to secure another loan. The Kremlin extended both economic and political support to Lukashenko, after he cracked down on the largest mass protests in Belarus' history in the wake of his disputed re-election in August. In September, Putin said Moscow would provide a €1.2bn loan to Belarus.

British prime minister Boris Johnson on Monday announced a slow easing of one of Europe's strictest lockdowns, AP reported. Schools will reopen in early March, people will be able to meet a friend outside. Hairdressers will open in April, alongside restaurants and pubs with outside seating. People won't be able to hug loved ones outside their household until May. The UK had Europe's deadliest outbreak, with more than 120,000 deaths.

The Covid-19 pandemic is likely to widen wealth gaps across Europe unless policymakers help end the health crisis globally, support economies, and green their economies, the International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva warned Monday. According to forecasts, by 2022, per capita income for central and eastern Europe would be 3.8 percent below pre-crisis projections, compared with a shortfall of just 1.3 percent for advanced EU economies, Reuters reported.

It will probably not be before May that Belgium will seriously ease its corona measures - as only then there will be enough certainty of not having a third peak of Covid-19 infections, Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo said in a press conference on Monday. Bio-statistician Niels Hens calculated that easing measures too much in March would lead the country to a higher peak than the second wave.

The European Commission said that bloc's strict regulatory process for the evaluation and approval of vaccines is crucial to persuade citizens to get the jab, calling on member states to fight vaccine hesitancy with information.

Romania's ministry of internal affairs wrote to Frontex claiming it did not engage in any illegal pushbacks of people on rubber boats into Turkish territorial waters. The country says it followed EU engagement rules and Greek orders.

Nobody says war will break out in Europe in 2021. But, just as in 1914, the imminent collapse of the multinational Habsburg Empire was the subject of much speculation, some now allude to the disintegration of the European Union.

The treaty enables companies to claim billions in compensation from states in front of international arbitration tribunals, if they feel unfairly treated by the states' energy or climate policies.

Uniquely placed to cut emissions in many sectors − and enable greater use of renewables − carbon capture and storage (CCS) needs more political backing if we are to stand any chance of reaching net-zero emissions. Kenji Terasawa is the...

Not all EU countries will recover from the economic losses of 2020 at the same pace, the European Commission said on Monday (22 February), calling for a “strong joint response” from all 27 EU member states.

Spain's central bank considers that the volatile economic environment in Europe requires a massive EU response through a "fully mutualised European deposit guarantee fund". EURACTIV's partner EuroEfe reports.

A high-profile panel on Monday warned of the economic difficulties stemming from the pandemic, whilst noting that this crisis could offer the chance to rebuild EU economies.
Committee on Budgets
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

A high-profile panel on Monday warned of the economic difficulties stemming from the pandemic, whilst noting that this crisis could offer the chance to rebuild EU economies.
Committee on Budgets
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP