Budget Committee MEPs gave their green light to top up support to refugees and host communities in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon in response to the Syrian crisis. The draft report by Monika Hohlmeier (EPP, DE) recommending the approval of the draft amending budget was adopted on Wednesday 24th with 33 votes to 4 and 3 abstentions. €485 million are earmarked […]
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European Commission unveils EU vaccines strategy
The European Commission has presented a European strategy to accelerate the development, manufacture and deployment of vaccines against COVID-19. An effective and safe vaccine against the virus is our best bet for a permanent solution to the pandemic. The Commission will support efforts to accelerate the development and availability of safe and effective vaccines within […]
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EU-UK talks: MEPs display unwavering support for the EU position
Parliament regrets that differences remain substantial, with little time left to reach an agreement on the future EU-UK relationship. In a report adopted by a large majority on Thursday, Parliament takes stock of the EU-UK negotiations on a new partnership so far and acknowledges the negotiating parties’ call to intensify talks in July. They regret […]
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Online tools for SMEs and public sector to better adopt renewable energy sources
An EU-funded initiative has introduced a search engine and a repository to gather data, share information, and match the needs of public procurers and SMEs in embracing renewable energy sources (RESs). Green public procurement (GPP) is a system where public sector organisations use their purchasing power to choose environmentally friendly goods, services and works that […]
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Statistics: COVID-19 evolution in Eastern Mediterranean – May
Infections by country As of 29 May 2020, the countries with the highest number of registered cases are Iran (1,721,926 cases), Saudi Arabia (438,238), Pakistan (141,779), Qatar (89,976) and the United Arab Emirates (86,943). However, in terms of population, the countries with the highest number of infections are Qatar (2342 cases per 100,000 population), Kuwait […]
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Covid-19 and gender-based violence: Has the pandemic taught us anything?
Lockdowns to prevent the spread of Covid-19 trapped many women at home with abusers. Several countries saw spikes in domestic violence reports. As lockdowns ease, the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) is taking a closer look at how we can protect women in times of crisis – be it a pandemic, natural disaster or […]
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AU-EU agrifood platform: reinforcing the link between the EU and African private sectors
Ahead of its official launch, introductory talks on the African Union-European Union agri-food platform was held on 25 June 2020 during an online event organised by the European Commission, the African Union and European Business Ghana. The participants set the scene, assessed the platform’s aims and highlighted the role of farmers and rural youth in […]
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First COVID-19 treatment recommended for EU authorization
EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP) has recommended granting conditional marketing authorisation to Veklury (remdesivir) for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age with pneumonia who require supplemental oxygen Remdesivir is the first medicine against COVID-19 to be recommended for authorisation in the EU. Data on remdesivir were assessed in […]
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Statistics: COVID-19 evolution in the Western Pacific – May
Infections by country As of 29 May 2020, the countries with the most cases registered are China (84,432 cases), Singapore (41,216), the Philippines (27,238), Japan (17,530) and South Korea (12,198). However, if we look at the number of inhabitants, the countries with the most infections are Singapore (with 712 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Australia (36), […]
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