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…

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…

The EU secured some of the lowest prices in the world. At what cost?Press play to listen to this articleVoiced byTHE EUROPEAN UNION'S VACCINATION EFFORT came under fire just as it was beginning to deliver.Heralded for months as the flagship of European solidarity during the coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission’s strategy of joint vaccine procurement is now being accused by national leaders of being too bureaucratic, too limiting to its members, too slow.Specifically, the bloc’s decisions to prioritize process over speed and to put solidarity between EU countries ahead of giving...…The EU secured some of the lowest prices in the world. At what cost?Press play to listen to this articleVoiced byTHE EUROPEAN UNION'S VACCINATION EFFORT came under fire just as it was beginning to deliver.Heralded for months as the flagship of European solidarity during the coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission’s strategy of joint vaccine procurement is now being accused by national leaders of being too bureaucratic, too limiting to its members, too slow.Specifically, the bloc’s decisions to prioritize process over speed and to put solidarity between EU countries ahead of giving...WW…