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EU to borrow €800bn for Covid hit economy

A diversified funding strategy was created to ensure that the ember states of the bloc would receive loans under the package known as the NextGenerationEU …reports Asian Lite News

The European Commission announced that it would borrow 800 billion euros from the capital market in current prices until 2026 to fund the European Union’s (EU) massive plan to bail out its Covid-stricken economy.

A diversified funding strategy was created to ensure that the ember states of the bloc would receive loans under the package known as the NextGenerationEU at an advantageous rate, reports Xinhua news agency.

The EU has set December 2058 as a deadline for itself to fulfil all the repayment, and plans to generate new own resources to strengthen the repayment capability.

Making the announcement at a press conference on Wednesday, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn also urged EU member states which have not ratified the Own Resources Decision to do so as soon as possible.

EU’s ‘Green Certificate’ for safe travel

“The message is clear: as soon as the Commission has been legally enabled to borrow, we are ready to get going,” said Hahn.

So far, Germany, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, Austria, Finland, Romania, the Netherlands, Ireland and Lithuania have not ratified the Decision.

All other 17 have ratified it, according to Hahn.

The EU has decided to release a historic stimulus package worth 1.8 trillion euros in 2018 prices, or over two trillion euros in current prices, to help the bloc tackle the economic fallout of the pandemic and achieve a greener and more digital recovery.

Also read;Europe Suffering from COVID-19 with 1M Deaths

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EU rejects attempts against reviving n-deal

EU Foreign Affairs spokesman Peter Stano told an online press conference on Monday that the reported incident in Natanz “could have been an act of sabotage”…reports Asian Lite News

The European Union (EU) has strongly rejected any attempts to derail diplomatic efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal currently underway in Vienna.

EU Foreign Affairs spokesman Peter Stano told an online press conference on Monday that the reported incident in Natanz “could have been an act of sabotage”, but insisted that there had been no official attribution over who was responsible, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Natanz uranium enrichment site near Tehran was hit by a power outage on Sunday as negotiators in Vienna were seeking to re-admit the US to the 2015 pact, officially known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, after former President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018.

“There has been no official attribution and there are several accusations that we are aware of, but it has to be clarified what happened and who is behind it. We still need to clarify the facts in detail as quickly as possible,” he said.

Also read:US vows to work for Israel’s security

Stano said that any attempt to derail the diplomatic negotiations underway in Vienna to salvage the JCPOA must be completely rejected.

“We reject any attempts to undermine, derail or weaken diplomatic efforts on the nuclear agreement… All issues concerning the nuclear program have to be resolved by diplomatic means because there is no other sustainable alternative,” he stressed.

Two meetings of the JCPOA Joint Commission were held last week in Vienna, chaired by Enrique Mora, the deputy secretary general and political director of the EU External Service Action Service, and attended by representatives from China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and Iran.

Washington sent a delegation led by US Special Envoy to Iran Robert Malley.

They did not meet their Iranian counterparts face-to-face, but a shuttle diplomacy approach was adopted with the intensified help of the coordinators.

Also read:Iran accuses Israel of attacking nuke site

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-Top News EU News USA

Blinken heads back to Brussels

The decision came amid escalating tensions in eastern Ukraine and Russia’s military build-up along the border…reports Asian Lite News

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday embarked on a visit to Brussels, Belgium, to consult with NATO allies on a range of shared priorities.

Taking to Twitter, Blinken said: “Glad to be heading back to Brussels. The US is committed to rebuilding US alliances, particularly with our NATO allies.

“We remain steadfast in our support for NATO as the essential forum for trans-Atlantic security.”

Accompanying Blinken will be Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin for discussions with allies and partners, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement on Monday.

“The Secretary will take this opportunity to reaffirm the US commitment to the Transatlantic alliance as a critical partnership for achieving our mutual goals.

Blinken embarks on Brussels visit(IANS)

“Separately, Secretary Blinken will hold bilateral and multilateral meetings with European counterparts to discuss key priorities and shared challenges,” Xinhua news agency quoted Price as saying in the statement.

The trip came amid escalating tensions in eastern Ukraine and Russia’s military build-up along the border.

It also came ahead of the May 1 deadline set by the US-Taliban deal for a full withdrawal of American and coalition troops from Afghanistan.

President Joe Biden said last month that it would be hard for the United States to meet the deadline.

Also read:Blinken ,Japanese FM discuss free ‘Indo-Pacific’

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EU News Travel & Tourism

Greece resumes tourism from May 14

“Holidaymakers will either have to be vaccinated or show a (negative) PCR coronavirus test,” said Official…reports Asian Lite News

Greek Vice-Minister of Tourism Sofia Zacharaki announced on Monday that holidaymakers from European Union (EU) nations will be able to travel Athens without having to quarantine from May 14 onwards.

However, there will be preconditions, dpa news agency quoted the Minister as saying.

“Holidaymakers will either have to be vaccinated or show a (negative) PCR coronavirus test,” she told the Greek news channel Skai.

Afterwards, they will be free to take their holidays in Greece, Zacharaki added.

This regulation will also apply to some non-EU states, among them Serbia and the UK, the Deputy Minister added.

Athens had already abolished the quarantine obligation for visitors from Israel on a bilateral level at the end of March.

Also read:Covid cases surge in Greece again

Israeli holidaymakers must show an official confirmation in English that they have been vaccinated.

In addition, 14 days must have passed since the second vaccination.

Visitors from Israel must also show a negative PCR coronavirus test, which must not be more than 72 hours old.

Since the beginning of the year, the Greek government has been pushing for the development of an EU-wide vaccination passport.

This is to save the Greek tourism sector, which normally accounts for almost a fifth of Greece’s economic output.

“We hope that this EU vaccination passport will be in place by June,” Zacharaki added.

Also read:Greece mulls resuming tourism

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Italian PM slams Erdogan as ‘dictator’

Former head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi (Xinhua/Lu Yang/IANS)

Draghi’s remarks came after the visit of EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel to Erdogan on Tuesday…reports Asian Lite News

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a “dictator” in front of the press, causing a stir.

Draghi spoke to the press in Rome on Thursday evening about the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel to Erdogan on Tuesday, reports dpa news agency.

Von der Leyen was not given a chair at the meeting, but sat somewhat apart on a sofa.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Draghi classified this as a “humiliation” of the head of the commission.

“I was very displeased for the humiliation that the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen had to suffer.

Also read:Turkey denies snubbing EU chief

“With these dictators, let’s call them what they are – who however are needed – one must be honest in expressing one’s diverging ideas and views about society.

“But one must also be prepared to cooperate with them in the interest of the country. The right balance is needed,” Draghi added.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel meets Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara

The choice of the word dictator made many headlines in the Italian media and angered Ankara, with Turkey’s Foreign Ministry summoning the Italian ambassador.

“We strongly condemn appointed Italian PM’s unacceptable remarks on our elected President, return the impudent remarks,” Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a tweet.

Also read:Italy PM receives AstraZeneca jab

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-Top News EU News

Mexico authorises emergency use of Covaxin

A health worker looks at a vial of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination centre

The emergency use of COVAXIN comes as the Covid-19 cases in Mexico have crossed the 22-lakh mark. The death toll has crossed the 2-lakh mark as on Wednesday…reports Asian Lite News

In a big boost for India’s Covid-19 vaccine, Mexico has authorized the emergency use of COVAXIN, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Tuesday.

”Very timely decision by COFEPRIS to authorize the emergency use of the COVAXIN vaccine manufactured in India. The options for vaccination against COVID-19 in Mexico are expanding!!!,” Ebrard said on Twitter.

The Covaxin has been developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and is one of the two vaccines currently being employed in India’s Covid-19 vaccination drive.

The interim results from the vaccine manufacturer’s late stage trials shows its Covid-19 vaccine to be about 81 percent more effective in preventing illness from coronavirus.

The emergency use of COVAXIN comes as the Covid-19 cases in Mexico have crossed the 22-lakh mark. The death toll has crossed the 2-lakh mark as on Wednesday.

India has also assisted Mexico in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic by supplying more than 8.7 lakh doses of Covishield.

After receiving the Made-in-India Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines, the Mexico government had thanked India for its generosity and support during the tough times.

Thanking India for sending the vaccines, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon had said, “I would like to thank the government of India. And why do I say this? India has 1,300 million inhabitants and requires vaccines. However, the government gave its consent for 870,000 to be sent to Mexico today and we will never forget that.”

Secretary, Directive Board of Congress, Guanajuato State, Veronica Valadez had compared the India-made vaccines with “holy water”.

“Mexicans have had a difficult year fighting the coronavirus. Despite this, there are flashes of hope and brotherhood that are holy water in moments of fire. I thank the government of India, the Embassy of India in Mexico and the Tagore Cultural Center for sending vaccines for this pandemic. Their great heart lives in ours. Thanks a lot,” she had said.

Also Read-Mexico gets 2nd batch of of Sinovac

Read More-Mexico begins vax drive with Sinovac jabs

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Turkey denies snubbing EU chief

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel meets Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara

Cavusoglu said the Turkish and EU sides agreed on the protocol ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with Erdogan…reports Asian Lite News

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Thursday said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in line with “demands and suggestions from the EU side”, rejecting criticism that Ankara snubbed her.

Cavusoglu said the Turkish and EU sides agreed on the protocol ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with Erdogan, reports dpa news agency.

“The seating arrangement was made in line with suggestions from the EU side,” Cavusoglu told a joint press conference with his Kuwaiti counterpart Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah in Ankara.

Cavusoglu’s remarks came after the European Commission expressed disappointment that its President was relegated to a sofa on the side, while European Council President Charles Michel was offered the only chair next to Erdogan during their visit at the Turkish presidential palace.

Also read:Turkey calls for action on EU migrants

The unequal seating arrangements prompted social media allegations of sexism or a purposeful affront against the commission.

Cavusoglu called the criticism against Turkey “very unfair”, adding the meeting was held “within the frame of international protocol rules and Turkish hospitality”.

“We would not put this so clearly if it wasn’t for the accusations,” the top Turkish diplomat added.

Cavusoglu described the meeting as “very productive”.

In a Facebook post late Wednesday, Michel described the situation as “regrettable” and added the EU leaders decided to focus on the substance of the meeting rather than cause a “public incident”.

Also read:EU leaders visit Turkey to restore ties

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-Top News Australia EU News

Scott Morrison urges EU to release vaccines

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison

Morrison said that delays to Australia’s vaccine rollout caused by AstraZeneca blockage from exporting more than 3 million doses…reports Asian Lite News

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday called on the European Union (EU) to release doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

Morrison said that delays to Australia’s vaccine rollout were a matter of “straightforward maths” with AstraZeneca blocked from exporting more than 3 million doses, reports Xinhua news agency.

“It’s straightforward maths – 3.1 million out of 3.8 million doses did not come to Australia,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“That obviously had a very significant impact on the early rollout of the vaccination program, until we got into a position when the domestically produced AstraZeneca vaccine would be in place.”

Earlier the European Commission said that only 250,000 doses of the vaccines had been formally blocked.

Also read:Australian nod for domestic AstraZeneca

In response, the Australian government said in a statement that the Commission was “arguing semantics”.

Morrison has previously announced that 1 million of the vaccines will be redirected to Papua New Guinea (PNG) if they are allowed to leave Europe.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister said he would write to the EC asking that they be exported.

Morrison was joined by Brendan Murphy, the Secretary of the Department of Health, who said that the domestic production of AstraZeneca vaccines was continuing to escalate but had not reached the goal of manufacturing 1 million doses per week.

So far about 920,334 vaccines had been administered in Australia, short of the government’s initial target of 4 million by the end of March.

Also read:New Zealand-Australia travel bubble soon

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ASEAN News Asia News

Moscow opposes sanctions on Myanmar

A demonstrator stacks bags on a street as a barricade during a demonstration against the military coup and the detention of civilian leaders in Myanmar(ians)

Threats, pressure and using sanctions against the acting authorities in Myanmar are futile and extremely dangerous,sadi Russian foreign ministry…reports Asian Lite News

Russia on Tuesday warned against imposing sanctions on Myanmar, as the military junta continues its bloody crackdown on protests in the country since the February 1 coup.

Threats, pressure and using sanctions against the acting authorities in Myanmar are futile and extremely dangerous, dpa news agency quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying to Interfax media outlet.

Such policies “only contribute to setting the parties against each other”, the Ministry said, adding that it would drive people into civil war.

The US, the UK, the European Union and Canada have already hit the military with a raft of sanctions.

Myanmar protests

The military seized control of the Southeast Asian country after the November 2002 general elections which former de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party won by a landslide.

Also read:Myanmar junta cuts Internet service

Since the coup, the military junta has violently cracked down on protests and at least 564 people have been killed, including 46 children, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a non-profit organization.

Nearly 2,700 people are in detention, the organization said.

Last week, the UN Security Council called on the military to exercise restraint, while Washington said it was working on reacting to the military violence with more sanctions.

Russia called on the military not to interfere in Myanmar’s internal affairs.

At the same time, Moscow wants to continue its military cooperation, it said.

Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin attended a military parade in Myanmar just over a week ago.A

Also read:Russia upset over US, UK missile deployment

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EU leaders visit Turkey to restore ties

In addition to meeting the Turkish President, the EU officials also have discussions scheduled with representatives of the International Organization for Migration and other UN bodies…reports Asian Lite News

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel are heading to Turkey on Tuesday for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an effort to reset strained relations.

In addition to meeting the Turkish President, the EU officials also have discussions scheduled with representatives of the International Organization for Migration and other UN bodies, reports dpa news agency.

These meetings are likely to cover EU financial support for Syrian refugees in Turkey, as well as Ankara’s recent withdrawal from the Istanbul convention on tackling violence against women.

Last month, EU leaders offered to discuss updating Turkey’s 25-year-old customs union with the bloc and extend their migration pact with Ankara, as long as their neighbour continues to engage “constructively”.

Also read:EU backs Libya’s unity govt

But the 27 member states warned they were still prepared to apply sanctions, if Turkey resumed its “illegal” energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.

In the most recent flare-up of a long-standing dispute last year, Turkey clashed with EU member states Greece and Cyprus over maritime boundaries and natural gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean.

Tensions calmed towards the end of 2020.

Despite concerns about the deterioration of the rule of law and a crackdown on political opponents in Turkey following a 2016 failed coup, the European Union and Ankara remain major trading partners with shared security interests.

The bloc also cooperates with Turkey to curb immigration.

In 2016 Ankara promised to seal off its borders and take back irregular migrants from the Greek islands in exchange for some 6 billion euros.

Also read:Modi to visit France after India-EU summit