European Union

Belgium has the the EU's second-highest infection rate over a 14-day period, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The Sweden-based agency on Monday said Belgium's cumulative number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 is 402.5 but also"advised to use all data with caution", given limitations. The Czech Republic has the highest at 493.1, followed by Belgium, and the Netherlands (364.2). Neighbouring Germany has 45.2.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said there is a need to speed up renovation of existing buildings throughout the European Union. "Our buildings are responsible for 40 percent of our energy consumption," she noted, adding at current pace it will take more than a century to bring emissions from buildings to zero. The Associated Press reported the European Commission is set to announce a building-renovation project on Wednesday.

EU countries are set to adopt a 'traffic-light' colour-coding system for coronavirus-affected areas. But member states will have the possibility to set their own strategies, on negative Covid-19 tests or different quarantine periods, for orange and red zones.

Bigots and far-right extremists are using online violence to try to silence feminists and LGBT people. It's a cowardly tactic since perpetrators don't even have to meet their targets. We hear stories from two Europeans on the receiving end

This latest resumption in the conflict, as it is somewhat euphemistically called, is rather a self-declared offensive by Azerbaijan, aimed at achieving its desired outcome to the conflict by force rather than by negotiation.

The EU Green Deal claims that it is a “new growth strategy that aims to transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases...

By starting local and scaling up, data can be the greatest ally of Europe's upcoming renovation wave, writes Cristina Gamboda.

Media advisory - General Affairs Council, 13 October 2020

The Council adopted conclusions on the European Union's response to the latest developments in Belarus.

Council adopts conclusions on improving the well-being of older persons in the era of digitalisation.

Council adopts conclusions on improving the working and living conditions of seasonal and other mobile workers.

Council adopts conclusions on better minimum income protection in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

The Council adopted conclusions on Bosnia and Herzegovina / EUFOR Operation Althea.

The Council extended the framework for imposing restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons for one year, until 16 October 2021.

The Council extended the existing framework for imposing targeted restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua for one year, until 15 October 2021

The Council appointed Mairead McGuinness as new member of the European Commission.

The democratic opposition in Belarus, Honduran environmental activists and the Archbishop of Mosul are the 2020 Sakharov Prize finalists.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The democratic opposition in Belarus, Honduran environmental activists and the Archbishop of Mosul are the 2020 Sakharov Prize finalists.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The democratic opposition in Belarus, Guapinol activists and Berta Cáceres, and the archbishop of Mosul were shortlisted for the 2020 Sakharov Prize on Monday.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Human Rights

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP