The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) points out that a strong, diversified banking system with regional and community banks is essential for Europe’s future, stressing that European banks will play a key role in the post-COVID-19 economic recovery. The EU’s Banking Union has to be in line with the social inclusion and sustainable development…
Low- and middle-income countries could soon leapfrog high-income countries in their adoption of new AI-enabled technologies in health, suggests a report led by the Novartis Foundation and Microsoft. Technologies such as mobile phone trading platforms, e-banking, e-commerce, and even blockchain applications have often been adopted faster and more comprehensively in low- and middle-income countries than…
When life returns to the EU institutions and work restarts after the holiday season, it should be highlighted that the summer was not wasted, writes László Andor. The European Council adopted critical, innovative and to some extent revolutionary decisions to create an effective fiscal capacity against the recession that has been triggered by the COVID-19…
The European Commission’s ambitious European Green Deal aims to address the twin challenge of energy efficiency and affordability and states that the European Union and the member states should engage in a ‘Renovation Wave’ of public and private buildings. This policy enjoys broad support and the renovation wave has also become a key element of…
Testing for COVID-19 will soon be possible at Brussels Airport thanks to the installation of a mobile laboratory. From the beginning of September, the mobile laboratory at Brussels Airport will enable passengers to obtain tests for Covid-19. This means that passengers returning from a red zone can be tested as soon as they arrive at…
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…
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…
The pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on hotels in Brussels, according to a new report which says occupancy rates at many are a tiny fraction of this time last year. The Belgian capital’s hotels have ground to a halt, with tourists staying away from the country which is set to be added to the…
European Parliament President David Sassoli has responded to former EU commission chief Romano Prodi on the importance of internet access for all. Sassoli said, “More than ever in these months of lockdown, many millions of people in Europe and around the world have been forced to rely on an internet connection to work, study, buy…
The S&D Group vice-president, Kati Piri has voiced concern at “unsettling developments” on human rights in Azerbaijan: She told this website, “We are alarmed by credible reports of severe torture inflicted by Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies on Fuad Gahramanli, the deputy chair of the opposition People’s Front of Azerbaijan (PFA) party. “Gahramanli is one among dozens of…
