European Union

After Astrazeneca became the third western vaccine manufacturer to announce that it will deliver fewer doses than originally promised to the EU, it has become clear that there will be severe shortages, at least in the first quarter. While vaccines from Russia and China could help to relieve the situation, geopolitical factors are getting in the way. This must change, some commentators stress.

Czech Health Minister Jan Blatný has rejected Germany's offer to relieve the country's overstretched Czech clinics in the border region by transporting corona patients to Bavaria and Saxony. That could lead people to believe the Czech Republic can't take care of its own citizens, he said. Commentators in Prague find this stance utterly incomprehensible.

In Latvia, a new website called manavakcina.lv. was launched on the weekend where anyone who wants to can register for vaccination against Covid-19. As of Tuesday, 62,000 people had registered. Vaccinations have got off to a very slow start in the country, with only around 18,000 of its nearly two million inhabitants having been received the jab so far. The country's press doesn't believe the new website will improve the situation.

A range of private media outlets went off the air in Poland on Wednesday (10 February), running blank pages and slogans such as "this used to be your favourite programme," in protest against a proposed media advertising tax they say threatens journalistic independence and diversity.

The use of sexual services provided by trafficking victims must be criminalised and harder measures to tackle its proliferation are needed, Parliament says.
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The use of sexual services provided by trafficking victims must be criminalised and harder measures to tackle its proliferation are needed, Parliament says.
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

To fight inequality and in-work poverty, MEPs call for a minimum wage, equal labour conditions for platform workers and a better work-life balance.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

To fight inequality and in-work poverty, MEPs call for a minimum wage, equal labour conditions for platform workers and a better work-life balance.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

MEPs call on the Commission and member states to increase their efforts to prevent the pandemic from having lasting negative effects on young people and the sports sector.
Committee on Culture and Education

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP