Flights Over Brussels

Good news for the economy, but less so for noise and air pollution affecting residents living near Zaventem Airport. Since the resumption of non-essential flights on 15 June this year, the number of passengers handled at Brussels Airport has risen, but remains 80% below July 2019 figures. This means that in July, for the first…

Commission sends PPE to EU Neighbourhood

This week, more batches of FFP2 and FFP3 protective masks are being distributed to Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia from rescEU – the common European reserve of medical equipment set up this year to help countries affected by the coronavirus pandemic. “We are delivering more masks from the rescEU reserve of medical equipment to help the national authorities in…

2021 Year of the Rail

Rail should play a prominent role in the EU’s future mobility and become the primary form of transport. For this reason, the EESC is pleased to support the European Commission in proposing to mark 2021 as the Year of Rail. In the opinion approved at the July plenary session and drafted by Alberto Mazzola, the Committee…

Key law enforcement and industry figures gather to debate coronavirus impact on illicit trade globally

For much of the year, the focus of governments across the world has been on facing down the challenges posed by coronavirus – a global pandemic and public health crisis unlike any seen for a generation. This challenge has had significant implications for law enforcement and government oversight globally, with governments and regulatory bodies struggling…

Morocco Produces New COVID-19 Test Kits

Good news for health professionals engaged in the battle to halt the spread of coronavirus.  Morocco has designed the first 100% Moroccan diagnostic kit for Covid-19, tested and validated by national agencies and the world renowned Pasteur Institute in Paris. The kit has been designed by the MAScIR Foundation (Moroccan Foundation for advanced science, innovation…

Morocco Delivers Medical Aid to African Neighbours

In a brotherly act of solidarity, King Mohammed VI of Morocco has given instructions for the delivery of medical aid to several African countries. This aid aims at providing preventive medical equipment to assist Morocco’s African neighbours in their efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a communiqué from the minister of foreign affairs,…

Morocco Designs New Respirator

Moroccan scientists have designed an artificial respirator (Oxylife) made from 100% Moroccan components, as well as a temperature measuring device for patients suffering from coronavirus (Covid-19). These technological innovations, made of materials fully available on the Moroccan market, can be used in both urban and rural areas.  The patent for the respirator has already been…

A Minimum Wage for Europe

Last Thursday (4 June) the Commission launched a consultation of European trade unions and employers’ organisations on how to ensure fair minimum wages for all workers in the European Union. This follows the first-stage consultation which was open from 14 January to 25 February 2020, to which the Commission received replies from 23 EU-wide social…

EU-UK Trade: Festina Lente

By Denis MacShane One of the biggest red herrings in this year’s Brexit threnody has been the endless words wasted on the question of an extension at the end of June. A completely artificial argument has been created by supporters of Dominic Cummings’s hard / no-deal Brexit coterie, and those like Ed Davey and Caroline…

Freight Leading Recovery at Brussels Airport

Although the passenger terminal at Brussels Airport is currently idling while awaiting recovery, the cargo area at Brussels Airport is in full swing. Around sixty cargo flights operate every day, whether by full cargo aircraft, express services or passenger aircraft. In this coronavirus crisis period, the demand for protective clothing, face masks and test kits…