Brussels on Sunday imposed an EU-wide export ban for some medical protective equipment in a bid to keep sufficient supplies within the bloc, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced.On Monday, the Commission will also launch joint public procurement with member countries for testing kits and respiratory ventilators and present guidelines to national governments on border measures, she said. The Commission is already in the process of jointly procuring face masks for 20 countries."We need to protect our health workers, who are in the first line of defense against the...…Brussels on Sunday imposed an EU-wide export ban for some medical protective equipment in a bid to keep sufficient supplies within the bloc, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced.On Monday, the Commission will also launch joint public procurement with member countries for testing kits and respiratory ventilators and present guidelines to national governments on border measures, she said. The Commission is already in the process of jointly procuring face masks for 20 countries."We need to protect our health workers, who are in the first line of defense against the...WW…

Beijing has closed its market to European media investors, while EU keeps doors open to Chinese propagandists.Despite growing concerns about Chinese and in Europe, the EU's trade deal with Beijing makes no attempt to rectify the stark differences in access rights between European and Chinese investors when it comes to media and news operations.Texts of the EU's investment deal with China were published on Friday and show Beijing has used the opportunity to set in stone draconian restrictions on foreign investment in news media and the entertainment industry, even specifying that foreign...…Beijing has closed its market to European media investors, while EU keeps doors open to Chinese propagandists.Despite growing concerns about Chinese and in Europe, the EU's trade deal with Beijing makes no attempt to rectify the stark differences in access rights between European and Chinese investors when it comes to media and news operations.Texts of the EU's investment deal with China were published on Friday and show Beijing has used the opportunity to set in stone draconian restrictions on foreign investment in news media and the entertainment industry, even specifying that foreign...WW…

EU will instruct its customs authorities to block vaccine exports unless they have a prior authorization.Brussels has decided to impose a mechanism on Friday under which EU countries will be able to block vaccine exports, two EU officials said Thursday.In past days, EU officials would involve hard-hitting border stoppages or merely a transparency system. The tougher version finally prevailed after relations with Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca degenerated.Under the European Commission's plan, the EU will instruct its customs authorities to block vaccine exports unless they...…EU will instruct its customs authorities to block vaccine exports unless they have a prior authorization.Brussels has decided to impose a mechanism on Friday under which EU countries will be able to block vaccine exports, two EU officials said Thursday.In past days, EU officials would involve hard-hitting border stoppages or merely a transparency system. The tougher version finally prevailed after relations with Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca degenerated.Under the European Commission's plan, the EU will instruct its customs authorities to block vaccine exports unless they...WW…