European Union opts not to renew AstraZeneca vaccines contract

The European Union has opted not to renew an order for AstraZeneca to supply its coronavirus vaccine after June.

The decision comes as French President Emmanuel Macron said the bloc will focus on jabs from other pharmaceutical companies in the future.

It follows a high-profile dispute with the pharmaceutical company over the supply of vaccines to the EU earlier this year.

A day earlier, the European Commission threw its support behind the Pfizer-BioNTech jab by signing a contract extension for a potential 1.8 billion doses through 2023.

Thierry Bretón, the European Internal Market Commissioner, said AstraZeneca’s failure to deliver the number of jabs agreed in its contract was “essentially” the reason why the EU had a slower start to its vaccination in the first few months of the year.

“We have not renewed the order for after June. We’ll see what happens,” Bretón said on French radio France Inter.

French President Emmanuel Macron said France and Europe would continue to use existing stock of AstraZeneca vaccines to “help us get out of this crisis” but future orders would focus on jabs from other pharmaceutical companies.

He said this was because alternative vaccines to AstraZeneca had shown to be more efficient to combat COVID-19 variants.

“Who could have known last autumn which vaccine would work or not? I think it was a good policy to buy as many vaccines with all the solutions possible, which most other countries and world powers have done,” he said.

The EU says AstraZeneca delivered 29.8 million doses to the EU in the first quarter of the year, with a further 70 million expected in the second quarter.

That compares to the 400 million agreed for the first six months of 2021.

Bretón said he is “absolutely sure” that the supply problems are over and that the EU will end the year with a capacity to produce “more than 3 billion vaccines a year”.

He added that the Pfizer vaccine could end up costing more but not give details.

Last month the European Commission launched legal action against AstraZeneca for not respecting its contract for the supply of Covid-19 vaccines.

Sassoli calls for endowing European Parliament with right of legislative initiative

The president of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, has called for a considerable expansion of the powers of the European Parliament, endowing it with the right of legislative initiative, as well as the power to elect the President of the European Commission, TASS reported.

“The European Parliament should be able to make proposals to the EU Council and the European Commission, and not just accept their proposals. It will significantly weaken our democracy,” he said at Sunday’s opening of a conference in Strasbourg, France, on the future of Europe.

What should Biden do about the Balkans? European Union

When U.S. President Joe Biden spent the first 100 days in office, his administration was putting a smaller foreign policy on its agenda of priorities to focus on internal affairs. But perhaps when the pandemic was expected to recede in the coming months, as a result of the success of his vaccine, the president could also offer room for more attention to foreign policy.

Although it seems that Biden is focused on reaching a new agreement with Iran and ending the “eternal war” in Afghanistan in the US, the region that can achieve an easy victory in foreign policy is the Balkans. Unlike in Afghanistan and Iraq, this part of Europe is considered a successful American military intervention in the 1990s.

Three decades ago, the Balkans then caught the attention of Senator Biden. Slobodan Milosevic was a staunch critic of Yugoslav President’s conquest wars and actively supported U.S. military action in Bosnia and Kosovo. Therefore, last November’s Biden elections were widely held in both countries and led to high hopes for renewed positive US participation in the region.

While other former Yugoslav states have progressed with European Union and NATO integration, Bosnia and Kosovo are lagging behind. Croatia is a member of both. Northern Macedonia has recently joined NATO while talks with the EU are expected to begin soon. Montenegro has also become a member of NATO and is currently in talks with the EU. Serbia is adamant that it would stay out of NATO, but is moving ahead with negotiations with the EU.

This dynamic effectively leaves Bosnia a clear path to the EU or NATO in the near future. Kosovo’s chances of getting into both are even further away. Leaving Limbo behind, there is concern that Bosnia will be relegated to a dysfunctional state caused by ethnic tensions and that Kosovo’s development will be halted without a clear roadmap for EU and NATO membership.

Much of this has a lot to do with the fact that for more than a decade the region has been neglected by U.S. administrations. Donald Trump Biden’s predecessor pursued an inconsistent foreign policy that yielded no tangible results. The summit held in the White House last September with Serbian and Kosovo leaders failed to address the most serious issue for the two countries: recognition of Kosovo’s independence.

Biden can address the consequences of past neglect and inappropriate policies by taking decisive action in Kosovo and Bosnia, as the US has largely a positive perception.

He should follow two paths. First, Biden could push for an end to the NATO enlargement process in southeastern Europe. Kosovo is eager to join the Alliance while Bosnia has made some progress, albeit with internal political means. A majority of its entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are in favor of joining NATO, and most of the political leaders of the other entity (Republika Srpska) are actively opposed.

But that didn’t always happen. Just over a decade ago, then-Serbian Bosnian presidency member Nebojša Radmanović sent a letter to NATO expressing its commitment to becoming a full member of the Bosnian Alliance. What has changed since 2009 is that Bosnian Serb leaders – leaving the fall of American diplomacy in a vacuum – have officially taken a pro-NATO and pro-Russian stance. Despite Bosnia’s public opposition to NATO membership, Bosnian Serb nationalist leader Milorad Dodi made clear the country’s growing cooperation with the Alliance, including participation in the US-led Defender Europe 2021 exercise.

In fact, it is an official policy decided by Bosnia to commit itself to NATO membership with the help of Bosnian Serb leaders. The country’s Foreign Policy Strategy for 2018-2023 reaffirms that “the continuation of NATO-related policies remains a priority for Bosnian institutions.”

The Biden administration should encourage Bosnia and Kosovo to join NATO quickly. This would give the two countries a brighter future and help them anchor firmly within the Atlantic Alliance. It would guarantee US political, military and economic investment in Bosnia and Kosovo over the past two decades.

Among the different functioning responsibilities of Bosnian institutions in the face of the pandemic, firmly entrenched ethnic leaders have turned to warming, diverting people’s attention away from rampant corruption and severe disability, and inciting violence in a dangerous way. The fact that membership in the EU and NATO, which existed more than a decade ago, has given way to a general sense of hope in the hope of improving some of the tensions created by the Dayton Peace Accords. Now Bosnia’s rapid adherence to NATO membership could prevent the country from having another frozen conflict in Europe.

Making progress on Kosovo’s NATO offer would surely drive reform and development in the new European state, which has long faced a socio-economic downturn. It would also rekindle fears of a renewed conflict with Serbia and escalate tensions in ethnically mixed northern regions. Encouraging Kosovo’s NATO integration, the Biden administration would send a clear signal to Belgrade that Kosovo would move forward regardless of the pace of full normalization. Pressing Serbia can help to fully recognize the neighbor and normalize relations.

Second, the US should push the EU to make it a clear opportunity for Bosnia and Kosovo to become members. Bosnia is further in the process of joining the EU and being a candidate for membership would be crucial in getting the country out of its current dysfunction. This would provide a valuable impetus for Bosnia to undertake political and economic reforms that Bosnian politicians would not undertake and, more importantly, provide more EU funding to invest in much-needed education, health and infrastructure projects.

Progress in joining the EU is also very important for Kosovo. Serbia is very supportive in the negotiation process and if it joins soon it could block Kosovo’s offer to join. The push by the United States to push for EU incentives for Kosovo as a candidate would ensure that the current situation is equal and membership. Being a candidate for Kosovo would also provide EU funding for reforms and infrastructure, but it would also put pressure on politicians to take more serious steps against corruption and economic underdevelopment.

In short, the Biden administration is in a unique position to anchor the Balkans within the Atlantic Alliance and ensure peace in this volatile place in Europe. Both states have a small population and integration into NATO would be profitable. Biden can help accelerate EU integration, which would contribute to the political and economic development of these countries.

The opportunity to push for policy in this direction will be presented on 14 June at a NATO summit in Brussels. The success of foreign policy for the 46th president of the United States is very simple, it can be achieved in his first term, and it would be a lasting legacy.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the attitude of the Al Jazeera editorial.

PM Modi seeks EU’s support for TRIPS, EU says not a magic solution

NEW DELHI: The first India-EU Leaders’ Meeting Saturday saw a major boost to trade ties with the 2 sides agreeing to resume negotiations, which had remained suspended since 2013, for balanced and comprehensive free trade and investment agreements. Described by the government as an unprecedented occasion when PM Narendra Modi was a special invitee at the EU Council meeting, the summit saw Modi calling for EU’s support for India’s joint proposal with South Africa for a TRIPS waiver on vaccine production-related patents.
While the US has supported the proposal, as MEA secretary (west) Vikas Swarup said after the virtual being, the EU’s support at WTO for this waiver will ensure that India can scale up the vaccine production for equitable and global access and save lives. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted after the meeting that while EU was ready to discuss “other proposals” for improving access to vaccines, it was important for countries to lift restrictions on vaccine export. EU leaders also urged US to first remove its curbs on vaccine export before getting into any discussion on patent waiver that may augment production in the future. European Council chief Charles Michel was also quoted as saying that the proposed waiver wasn’t a magic solution.
“PM appreciated the EU’s swift response for mobilizing support to India’s COVID-19 response. As you would recall, India had kept its supply chains open during the first wave of COVID-19 last year and supplied essential drugs and masks to several EU countries. The EU’s current assistance is an example of trusted partners supporting each other in times of need,” said Swarup. A joint statement said the 2 sides supported universal, safe, equitable and affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics and treatments, and the strengthening of health systems. Modi had sought support from Australian PM Scott Morrison too for patent waiver on Friday.
The 2 sides also agreed on a comprehensive Connectivity Partnership outlining a shared desire to promote a “transparent, viable, inclusive, sustainable, comprehensive, and rules-based connectivity”. The summit saw the participation of leaders of all 27 EU Member States as well as the President of the European Council and the European Commission.
The connectivity initiative was also said to reflect the ambition of both sides to build on their synergies and pursue sustainable joint projects in third countries, most notably in the Africa, Central Asia and Indo-Pacific region. This will open up new avenues of cooperation for both sides, according to the government.
The government said in a statement that negotiations on both the trade and investment agreements will be pursued on parallel tracks with an intention to achieve early conclusion of the agreements together. “This is a major outcome which will enable the two sides to realise the full potential of the economic partnership. India and the EU also announced dedicated dialogues on WTO issues, regulatory cooperation, market access issues and supply chain resilience, demonstrating the desire to deepen and further diversify economic engagement,” it said.
On discussions related to foreign policy and security, and when asked if the border conflict with China was raised, Swarup said India had outlined its concerns about developments in the region and that issues concerning Myanmar and Afghanistan had come up.
Swarup said both sides had worked intensively over the last few months to arrive at a common understanding on free trade negotiations and that the decisions were also a result of the political desire on both sides to harness the full potential of India-EU economic engagement and work towards an early post-Covid-19 recovery.
Watch Covid-19: PM Modi calls for vaccine patent waiver

After 8 years, India, EU to resume trade talks

A virtual summit between Modi and the heads of 27-member states of EU focused on cooperation in trade, investment and connectivity

Latvian and Ukrainian presidents sign joint declaration on Ukraine’s EU integration

In the declaration, Latvia pledged support to Ukraine on its path to EU membership as soon as it meets the qualification requirements for starting accession talks with the bloc. The two countries also commit to work together to help Ukraine integrate with the EU and carry out the planned reforms, which will enable Ukraine to apply for EU membership.

In the online meeting with Zelensky, Levits affirmed Latvia’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and said that Latvia is ready to share its reform management experience with Ukraine.

Levits voiced hope that Ukraine will complete all the necessary reforms and become a fully-fledged EU member in this decade.

The Latvian president also expressed understanding of Ukraine’s aspirations to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well to strengthen European security.

Zelensky thanked Levits for Latvia’s consistent support to Ukraine and for the commitment to help Ukraine’s EU accession.

（Editor:Fu Bo）

European Union secures a potential 1.8 billion doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

The European Union has cemented its support for Pfizer-BioNTech and its novel COVID-19 vaccine technology by agreeing to a massive contract extension for a potential 1.8 billion doses through 2023. 

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted that her office “has just approved a contract for a guaranteed 900 million doses” with the same number of doses as a future option.

The new contract, which has the unanimous backing of the EU member states, will entail not only the production of the vaccines, but also making sure that all the essential components should be sourced from the EU. 

The European Commission currently has a portfolio of 2.6 billion doses from half a dozen companies.

“Other contracts and other vaccine technologies will follow,” von der Leyen said in a Twitter message.

Pfizer-BioNTech had an initial contract of 600 million doses with the EU. 

Saturday’s announcement also underscores the confidence the EU has shown in the technology used for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is different from that behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. 

The active ingredient in the Pfizer-BioNTech shot is messenger RNA, or mRNA, which contains the instructions for human cells to construct a harmless piece of the coronavirus called the spike protein.

The human immune system recognises the spike protein as foreign, allowing it to mount a response against the virus upon infection. 

The announcement of the huge contract extension comes as the European Union is looking for ways to meet the challenges of necessary booster shots, possible new variants and a drive to vaccinate children and teenagers. 

<

p class=”_1HzXw”>America’s Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech have already said that they would provide the EU with an extra 50 million doses in the second quarter of this year, making up for faltering deliveries of AstraZeneca.

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In contrast to the Anglo-Swedish AstraZeneca, Ms Von der Leyen said that Pfizer-BioNTech is a reliable partner that delivers on its commitments. 

Two weeks ago, the EU launched legal proceedings against AstraZeneca for failing to respect the terms of its contract with the 27-nation bloc.

The AstraZeneca vaccine had been central to Europe’s immunisation campaign, and a linchpin in the global strategy to get vaccines to poorer countries.

But the slow pace of deliveries has frustrated the Europeans and they have held the company responsible for partly delaying their vaccine rollout.

So far, Ms Von der Leyen said, the EU has made some 200 million doses available to its 450 million citizens while almost as many have been exported from the bloc. 

AP

EU leaders urge Biden to export vaccines now and worry about patents later

European Union leaders urged U.S. President Joe Biden to lift restrictions on exports of COVID-19 vaccines to address the desperate needs of developing countries.

European Union leaders urged US President Joe Biden to lift restrictions on exports of Covid-19 vaccines to address the desperate needs of developing countries before embarking on complex discussions about whether patent waivers might also boost supply in the longer term. Gathering in Portugal shortly after the US suggested suspending intellectual property rights to boost the supply of Covid shots, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italy’s Mario Draghi appealed in unison to the US president to follow the EU example and start shipping significant numbers of vaccines. They argued that any patent waiver will only increase supply in the long term and the world needs a faster solution. Read here

urged U.S. President …

India and European Union to resume negotiations for FTA after 8 years

Outgoing Prime Minister Borissov Taking Part in EU Porto Summit

Bulgaria’s outgoing Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on 7 is engaging on the web when you look at the Social Summit in Porto, the high point of Portuguese Presidency for the Council of the EU.

The focus of the discussion board is on determining the European agenda for the following ten years, that will make sure that the European community deals with the difficulties associated with present together with future without any person being put aside.

The EU personal Summit aims to strengthen the dedication of Member shows, the European institutions, the social lovers and municipal community towards the implementation of the Action arrange for the European Pillar of Social Rights.

EC President Ursula von der Leyen features put the European Pillar of Social Rights at the heart of the Commission’s action to make certain a reasonable and comprehensive data recovery.

The Action Arrange, provided by the EC in March 2021, proposes many initiatives and units three primary objectives is attained throughout Europe by 2030:

• at the least 78percent regarding the population aged 20 to 64 should be in employment by 2030
• at the least 60per cent of most adults is playing education every year by 2030
• a reduction by at the least 15 millions the sheer number of individuals susceptible to impoverishment or personal exclusion

The social summit therefore the informal meeting of EU frontrunners in Porto tend to be happening on two consecutive times. The personal Summit takes place these days, targeting the best way to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov will take part when you look at the panel on skills and development. With it, he’ll take the position that quick penetration of electronic technologies, financial change and demographic modification are factors having an important impact on the introduction of the labour marketplace, jobs and abilities.

A casual conference of EU heads of condition and federal government also occur in Porto, that may carry on with a functional program of leaders on Saturday. The Heads of State and national for the EU Member States will discuss simple tips to offer a stronger governmental impetus toward European Social Pillar as well as its implementation.

The Porto Declaration regarding the EU‘s personal dimension will undoubtedly be adopted at casual European Council on 8 might.

The subjects for the informal conference of Heads of State and Government regarding the EU member says these days would be the COVID coordination plus the forthcoming conference of European frontrunners aided by the Prime Minister of Republic of Asia Narendra Modi, that will happen the next day. This is the 16th EU-India summit while the aim would be to update and intensify set up relations, especially in the current framework of the coronavirus pandemic./bnt

European Union proposes starting exterior edges

BRUSSELS — In a statement sure to be welcomed by travelers worldwide, EU officials on Monday proposed reducing limitations on going to the 27-nation bloc as vaccination promotions across the continent gather rate.

Journey to europe is currently exceedingly limited excluding a number of countries with reduced illness rates. However with the summer visitor season looming, the bloc’s European Commission hopes the brand new tips will considerably increase that number.

The fee hopes the move will soon enable travelers to reunite using their friends and relatives living in Europe and offer the bloc’s economy this summer.

“time for you restore EU tourism industry as well as for cross-border friendships to rekindle — safely,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “We propose to enjoy once more vaccinated visitors and the ones from nations with a decent wellness situation.”

In Commission’s suggestion, entry would be issued to all those fully vaccinated with EU-authorized shots. Coronavirus vaccines authorized by the European Medicines Agency, the bloc’s medicine regulator, feature Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. The EMA has not approved any vaccines from Russia or Asia by yet but is considering data for Russia’s Sputnik V jab.

EU countries may possibly also separately opt to take travelers immunized with vaccines listed by World wellness Organization for crisis use. The un wellness agency has actually authorized equivalent four vaccines while the European Medicines department and it is anticipated to make a ruling shortly on Asia’s Sinopharm vaccine.

EU officials think the bloc’s covid-19 vaccination campaigns will soon be “a game title changer” into the fight against the dangerous virus. Its suggestion will soon be talked about with EU ambassadors this week plus the Commission hopes it may begin by June, once it is followed by user states. However, the recommendation is nonbinding, and EU nations will likely be entitled to hold travel limitations in position when they want.

Commission spokesman Adalbert Jahnz stated fully vaccinated people from outside the EU is allowed to see Europe but insisted your suggestion’s objective is certainly not to exempt all of them from evaluation or quarantines upon arrival.

“This still stays definitely in the hands for the member states,” he said.

The fee additionally proposed increasing the limit of the latest covid-19 instances which is used to determine the nations where all travel should be permitted.

“Nonessential vacation despite individual vaccination condition is currently allowed from seven countries with a good epidemiological circumstance,” it said, proposing to boost 14-day cumulative covid-19 illness price every 100,000 inhabitants from 25 to 100.

“This stays quite a bit below the current EU average, which will be over 420,” it said.

It absolutely was not clear which nations would can even make the cut, but an EU authoritative who was not authorized to be quoted by name since the proposal has yet to be adopted stated Israel would certainly be regarding the number.

“The UK, question-mark, the U.S., for the time being, not quite,” he said. “But we see just how quickly the problem into the U.S. is developing, notably the rate of vaccination.”

In case the disease circumstance deteriorates in a non-EU nation, the fee proposed an “emergency braking system” to cease dangerous virus variants from entering the bloc through rapidly enacted vacation limits.

EU officials and countries are also referring to presenting covid-19 certificates aimed at facilitating travel throughout the area come early july. The papers, occasionally called coronavirus passports or green certificates, is directed at EU residents who can show they’ve been vaccinated, can offer a negative coronavirus test, or prove they have restored from covid-19.

“Until the digital green certificate is operational, user states can take certificates from non-EU countries,” the payment stated, including that unvaccinated kids can travel along with their vaccinated parents when they offer an adverse PCR test.

Greece, which will be greatly reliant on tourism, has already lifted quarantine restrictions for the U.S., Britain, Israel, and other non-EU nations. On Saturday, Hungary loosened several covid-19 restrictions for residents with government-issued resistance cards, fond of those individuals who have had one vaccine dose or restored from covid-19.

People with the synthetic cards could enter interior dining spaces, resorts, theaters, cinemas, spas, gyms, libraries, galleries alongside leisure venues in Hungary.

The entire problem of covid-19 passports is fraught in several countries, with critics saying they discriminate against men and women in poorer countries or more youthful people who do not have accessibility vaccines in many nations. The Hungarian federal government relocated ahead having its very own certificates as it happens to be inoculating people who have a variety of vaccines, including jabs from China and Russia having perhaps not been approved by the European drugs department.

Justin Spike in Budapest added for this report.

Visitors waiting line, bottom, to just take their particular seats at spaced out terrace tables in Utrecht, Netherlands, Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The Netherlands became modern European nation to begin cautiously relaxing its lockdown even as illness rates and intensive attention occupancy continue to be stubbornly high. The Dutch follow Italy, Greece, France also European countries in moving to reopen society and advantage away from economically crippling lockdowns in the coming months.(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Dutch customers looking forward to their particular first drink of coffee or something stronger at a cafe terrace have actually flocked to outside seating while the Netherlands’ lockdown eased in Utrecht, Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The Netherlands became the most recent European country to start cautiously soothing its lockdown even while infection prices and intensive treatment occupancy remain stubbornly high. The Dutch follow Italy, Greece, France alongside European countries in going to reopen society and edge from financially crippling lockdowns in the coming weeks.(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Dutch customers looking forward to their first drink of coffee or something like that stronger at a cafe terrace have flocked to outside sitting whilst the Netherlands’ lockdown eased in Utrecht, Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The Netherlands became the most recent European country to begin cautiously soothing its lockdown even as illness rates and intensive attention occupancy stay stubbornly large. The Dutch follow Italy, Greece, France alongside European countries in going to reopen community and advantage far from financially crippling lockdowns within the coming days. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

A waiter works in a restaurant in Venice, northern Italy, Saturday, might 1, 2021. Italy is slowly reopening after half a year of turning virus closures allowing outdoor dining. (Filippo Ciappi/LaPresse via AP)

A waiter works in St. Mark’s Square in Venice, north Italy, Saturday, May 1, 2021. Italy is slowly reopening after six months of turning virus closures permitting outdoor dining. (Filippo Ciappi/LaPresse via AP)

People visit the Rialto bridge in Venice, north Italy, Saturday, May 1, 2021. Italy is slowly reopening after half a year of turning virus closures enabling outdoor eating. (Filippo Ciappi/LaPresse via AP)

A worker putting on a mask to stop the spread of COVID-19 appears inside a Raphael area of this Vatican Museums on the reopening, in Rome, Monday, might 3, 2021. The Vatican Museums reopened Monday to visitors after a shutdown following COVID-19 containment measures. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

a customer admires a Raphael Room in the Vatican Museums on their reopening, in Rome, Monday, might 3, 2021. The Vatican Museums reopened Monday to visitors after a shutdown after COVID-19 containment steps. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

a customer kneels while watching Last Judgement fresco because of the Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel of Vatican Museums regarding occasion of the museum’s reopening, in Rome, Monday, May 3, 2021. The Vatican Museums reopened Monday to site visitors after a shutdown after COVID-19 containment measures. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Visitors using masks to prevent the scatter of coronavirus walks in the Vatican Museum after it reopened, in Rome, Monday, May 3, 2021. The Vatican Museums reopened Monday to visitors after a shutdown after COVID-19 containment measures. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Visitors admire the Sistine Chapel associated with the Vatican Museums in the occasion of the museum’s reopening, in Rome, Monday, might 3, 2021. The Vatican Museums reopened Monday to site visitors after a shutdown after COVID-19 containment actions. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

EU implements 8 jobs on rural development in Azerbaijan

By Ayya Lmahamad

Europe delegation is implementing eight tasks linked to regional and outlying development in Azerbaijan, regional news reported with regards to the delegation’s mind Kestutis Jankauskas.

He emphasized by using the assistance associated with the EU, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Bank Respublika finalized an understanding worth AZN 3.5 million ($2M) the development of agro, small, tiny and medium companies in Azerbaijan. Jankauskas included that 864 users have previously gained using this project, 94 per cent that had been directed to farming.

“We anticipate the EU-funded project to support the development of areas and rural places in Azerbaijan to cover the complete nation,” Jankauskas stressed.

The delegation’s mind underlined that EU continues to support its task in the field of utilization of a “green economy”, a “circular economy” (aimed at reducing waste through maximum use of resources).

Jankauskas additionally stated your task associated with EU delegation in Azerbaijan continues to protect knowledge, electronic transformation, utilization of renewable power resources, renewable agriculture etc.

Furthermore, speaing frankly about the intercontinental vacation, he expressed the confidence that a way to resume worldwide travel someday is supposed to be found.

“right now the entire process of vaccination against COVID-19 continues in Azerbaijan, the primary goal of which will be to guarantee the safety for the populace,” he said.

The Delegation of European Commission to Azerbaijan ended up being established in Baku in February 2008.

—

Ayya Lmahamad is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow the lady on Twitter: @AyyaLmahamad

Follow united states on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

Why can’t the EU say the word apartheid?

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EU and India relaunch trade quest at coronavirus-hit summit

PORTO, Portugal: The European Union (EU) and India are expected to further bolster warming ties on Saturday (May 8) by relaunching long-stalled trade talks and agreeing to work together against the pandemic battering the South Asian giant.

The devastating wave of COVID-19 infections sweeping India has already impacted the meeting by forcing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to scrap plans to fly to Portugal for in-person talks.

But the 27-nation bloc and the world’s largest democracy remain determined to capitalise on growing momentum for tighter relations fuelled by shared concerns over the rising might of China.

“There is a positive dynamic because there is a convergence of interests,” a European diplomat told AFP.

EU countries have sent medical equipment and drugs worth an estimated €100 million (US$120 million) to India as part of international efforts to help it fight against the flood of COVID-19 cases.

The focus on the virus at the summit will be on making sure the two vaccine-producing powerhouses can maintain global supplies – as well as on trying to plan together to tackle future pandemics.

“We obviously need together to continue our efforts to ramp up production, secure the necessary raw materials, and keep supply chains open,” a senior EU official said.

“Leaders are going to commit to work together to better prepare for and respond to global health emergencies – and this clearly includes strengthening and reforming the World Health Organization.”

Modi could also push the EU on waiving patents for COVID-19 jabs after the US threw its weight behind the proposal.

COMMENTARY: US-backed COVID-19 vaccine patent waiver has larger implications

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But Europe‘s main economic power Germany has already poured cold water on the efforts by insisting patent protection must remain in place while drug firms ramp up production.

“ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM”

While the pandemic casts a long shadow over the summit, the key announcement expected is the restarting of talks on a free trade agreement that have been suspended since 2013.

Negotiations were halted eight years ago after getting stuck on issues including cutting tariffs and access for Indian workers to Europe.

It remains to be seen if India is now willing to drop an approach viewed as deeply protectionist by the EU to seal a deal this time round.

“It won’t be easy or quick to reach,” an official from the bloc told AFP.

But growing tensions with China could create a new impetus for talks – with one diplomat calling Beijing “the elephant in the room”.

For the EU, the push to restart negotiations comes as efforts to ratify an investment deal agreed with China have hit the buffers after relations soured over tit-for-tat sanctions.

READ: China-EU relations face challenges, Xi tells Germany’s Merkel

“India for its part has also decided to invest more in its relations with the EU, driven in part by China’s growing assertiveness and Brexit, requiring New Delhi to no longer see London as its sole entry point into ‘Europe’,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote in a blog post.

Britain’s departure from the bloc has also created another rival for Brussels as London makes its own play to bolster trade ties with India.

The British government said on Tuesday it would start formal free talks with India later this year after the two sides agreed an initial package to boost trade and investment.

“The Indo-Pacific is an important region … Everybody is enhancing their impact in the region,” said expert Stefania Benaglia from the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels.

“If the EU and India don’t cooperate in the region, well they’re simply losing out and everybody else wins.”

India-EU summit to bolster international trade, investment, says PM Modi

EU, India to re-launch trade talks at virtual summit

By Robin Emmott

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union and India will agree to revive stalled free-trade negotiations at a virtual summit on Saturday while also seeking closer cooperation to combat climate change, as concerns about China bring Brussels and New Delhi closer.

Partly overshadowed by the COVID-19 crisis in India, the summit will gather Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all of the bloc’s 27 leaders for the first time, a sign of the EU’s renewed interest in the Indo-Pacific region.

Past EU-India summits have involved only the Indian prime minister and the EU’s chief executive and its chairman, both of whom will be listening in for the two-hour summit.

“What we will see is a breakthrough on EU-India ties,” said a senior EU official involved in preparing the meeting. “There is momentum in our relations,” the official said.

China’s rise from a benign trading partner to a rival power with a growing military presence has alarmed the West and its allies in the Indo-Pacific, where Brussels is seeking more influence.

EU-India trade talks were frozen in 2013 over differences including tariff reductions, patent protection, data security and the right of Indian professionals to work in Europe.

The bloc’s leaders, gathered for an EU summit in Porto in Portugal, will also face pressure over the Modi government crackdown on dissent from civil society groups like Amnesty International, which held a candle vigil outside the summit venue.

“An intolerance of dissent has been a hallmark of Prime Minister Modi’s time in office – we expect EU leaders to demand that India live up to their shared values, and deliver on its human rights commitments,” said Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International’s EU Office.

COMPETITION WITH CHINA

According to a draft summit statement, EU leaders will agree an investment protection agreement and a deal on so-called geographical indications to protect agricultural produce from France’s champagne to India’s Darjeeling tea.

A 2020 study by the European Parliament put the benefits of a trade deal for the EU with India at up to 8.5 billion euros ($10.2 billion), although the estimate was made before Britain’s departure from the bloc.

EU and India are also expected to agree to build joint infrastructure projects around the world, to be described as a connectivity partnership.

The deal would follow on from an accord between the EU and Japan in 2019, seeking an alternative to Chinese largesse known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that raised suspicion in the West and Tokyo.

“It is no coincidence that items on the Europe-India agenda — maritime security in the Indian Ocean, alternatives to the BRI, emerging technologies, 5G — all have elements of competition with China,” said Garima Mohan, an Asia expert at the German Marshall Fund think-tank.

Both sides are expected to pledge increased cooperation to limit climate change. The draft statement said the EU and India would hold meetings to collaborate in renewable energy, energy storage technology and modernising power grids.

(Additional reporting by Robin Emmott and Kate Abnett, Editing by William Maclean)

Amid LNG influence concerns, EU Aims to Send Troops Against Mozambique Insurgency ‘As Soon as Possible’

In Mozambique’s north Cabo Delgado province, a militant motion on the list of Muslim population has actually slowly been gaining vapor since 2017. The team recently pledged it self to Daesh despite no demonstrable website link among them, attracting the eye of Western powers currently involved with apparent anti-terror promotions somewhere else in Africa.

As Sputnik features reported, the motion Ansar al-Sunna, understood in your area as al-Shabab (“the youth”), is more therefore fueled by fury at exploitation and displacement that LNG tasks and ruby mining by west international corporations features wrought in province, that is among Mozambique’s poorest, than it’s by a significant dedication to a militant Muslim ideology.

EU’s Fast Response Force

Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign plan main, said Thursday after a G7 summit in London the EU had been thinking about delivering a military instruction goal to Mozambique “as soon as you can.”

“The Mozambique federal government is asking for help, we’re going to attempt to send a training mission…in order to retain the safety situation,” Borrell told reporters. “Whenever we aren’t able to send the goal because of the end of this year, i might perhaps not think about this as good result. I would hope we would get it done before.”

Borrell compared the potential EU mission to your bloc’s present participation when you look at the Sahel, which involves a mixture of humanitarian aid, investment via an EU Trust Fund for Africa, and many armed forces deployments that “include training, advising and supplying direct support to safety causes, using the ultimate objective of strengthening national capabilities,” according to a 2020 European Parliamentary analysis provider report.

Borrell’s announcement additionally comes as EU features once more revived talk of fabricating a 5,000-strong “rapid effect force.” According to AFP, the suggestion has the support of 14 of the bloc’s 27 people and is intended “to be able to deploy quickly this response force if for example you have got the best federal government in a certain nation which will be afraid of a possible takeover by a terrorist group,” in accordance with a senior EU authoritative whom talked anonymously with the company. Conversations regarding problem started in Brussels on Thursday.

Borrell has hailed the effort, saying “i do believe it’s good to possess ability to intervene immediately in the event that you actually want to be a geopolitical energy. We should be able to work as quick[ly] as needed.” However, earlier tries to arrange a rapid response power have not yielded outcomes thanks to persistent disagreements about countries providing investment and causes.

Previous Colonizer Portugal Gets Deeper Involved

“Portugal has already supplied half the staff and delivered army instructors but that features becoming regarded as an advance is integrated into an European Union education objective whenever we eventually agree,” Borrell stated. Portugal ruled Mozambique as a colony for almost 500 many years, and fought a brutal anti-colonial war against the FRELIMO liberation movement that now guides the country.

But Portuguese troops have gone back to Mozambique. In December, Lisbon and Maputo finalized an agreement the deployment of 1,500 Portuguese soldiers into nation this current year with an undefined role, although thus far only 60 unique causes have actually arrived in the nation within the aftermath of the March attack on the north town of Palma.

Lusa News Agency reported on Friday your Portuguese and Mozambican defense ministers will pen a five-year collaboration arrangement on Monday.

Portuguese Minister of Defense João Gomes Cravinho informed the Lisbon-based agency the problem when you look at the north Cabo Delgado province “requires a multifaceted method and cannot be dealt with immediately, but during a period of after some duration, beginning with the security circumstance because this may be the basis regarding development, and offer humanitarian help into affected populations.”

Cravinho stated that Portuguese soldiers is going to be published primarily in the nation’s south and center, perhaps not inside north where in fact the rebellion is raging. But he noted “there is significantly to get from using drones, that offer an intelligence-gathering ability that may be important.”

The EU and Portuguese causes will likely join roughly 3,000 troops asked by Maputo from south African developing Community (SADC), although Modern Ghana noted last week that people soldiers is likewise determined by United States and EU security investment provided for their home countries.

Additionally there are an as yet not known amount of personal safety forces hired by Maputo to fight against Ansar al-Sunna, since Overseas Monetary Fund restructuring features so restricted government spending as to make the Mozambican army not capable of dealing with the rebels. Amnesty Overseas has actually known as awareness of the way the misconduct of the mercenaries in Cabo Delgado was only further amplifying resentment over the regional manufacturing projects.

Not Weapons, But Dialogue

But some specialists aren’t therefore sure the jump to an army reaction is the better concept.

Abdullahi Boru Halakhe, a specialist on governance, security and serenity in Africa, typed in a recently available op-ed in Al Jazeera that further militarization will simply amplify the problems in Cabo Delgado.

“Due to Washington’s designation of Ansar al-Sunna as a terrorist entity additionally the current increase in physical violence in the region, militarisation in Cabo Delgado is expected to improve exponentially when you look at the impending months,” Halakhe published on Thursday. “But because seen elsewhere in Africa plus in the final four years in Mozambique, militarisation doesn’t suppress assault – it brings more misuse, resentment and therefore, more violence.”

“in the long run, the Mozambican government is unlikely to get rid of the violent insurgency in Cabo Delgado through additional militarization. Beating Ansar al-Sunna needs no more troops and weapons but discussion and development. If the neighborhood authorities and their particular local and worldwide partners don’t see this, the region will dsicover even more violence, dispute, and demise.”

Danny Sjursen, a former United States Army Major-turned anti-war activist, has criticized the US labeling Ansar al-Sunna an international Terrorist business, writing last thirty days it “gives the illusion of a meaningful connection between America’s mostly vanquished (but lingeringly frightful) Islamic State foes in Iraq and Syria, and in reality, the whole framework of an exaggeratedly expansive worldwide jihad. However it is not really real; not either way.”

He further noted the label virtually means that an army response is the just or primary reaction to the assaults, since humanitarian groups would be less inclined to send aid to individuals they believe become terrorists.

In 2019, the French non-governmental company Les Amis de los angeles Terre France noted exactly how “the militarization for the area and gasoline activities play a role in fuel the tensions that feed it. Person liberties violations take the rise in communities, caught between insurgents, private military and paramilitary causes, multinationals or their particular subcontractors.” Tens and thousands of households were evicted by the gasoline and ruby extraction projects.

Endangered LNG Projects

In belated April, French fuel monster Total declared force majeure on the Afungi Liquefied propane (LNG) task in Cabo Delgado, a colossal $20 billion want to mine gasoline discovered from the shore and export it via a shore-based facility. The maneuver permits complete to temporarily dodge liability concerns amid the rising assault close by.

Another LNG task by US-based ExxonMobil and Italy-based Eni will probably be worth $4.7 billion, and a third task by ExxonMobil, Eni while the Asia National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) could be the biggest at $30 billion, but has not yet already been authorized. Collectively, the three are Africa’s biggest gasoline tasks.

Rystad Energy warned in a Wednesday report your projects’ wait will probably trigger an LNG offer crunch later on this ten years as three huge tasks will today come online much later on.

“If the expected delays materialize, 2029 will see an LNG offer shortage of 5.6 mpta [metric tons per annum] in the place of a previously expected surplus of 2 mtpa,” Rystad warned, including that “there is an ever-increasing threat of a prolonged period of rigidity midway through this decade, and that reduced costs might be seen 1 to 2 many years later than formerly expected.”