EU repeats vaccination call after Covid surge

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In today’s news:

COVID and its variants are “very much still with us” and increasingly circulating in our communities, EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told Euractiv, stressing the need for vaccination in light of the co-existence of three viruses simultaneously.

Recent data show that some EU countries are experiencing a re-surge of COVID cases, while Kyriakides said an added challenge is the co-circulation of other respiratory diseases.

In Croatia, local media reported that from 12 to 18 December, there were 68 Covid-related deaths registered. In Greece, there are projections for 80 deaths weekly if current trends continue, while in Italy, flu and COVID cases reached a record in the last two weeks of 2023.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) told Euractiv that the resurges of SARS-CoV-2, as well as seasonal influenza and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are not unexpected, as well as the co-circulation of the three viruses.

“Vaccination remains a crucial shield against COVID, especially for the most vulnerable in our societies. I had stressed this in a letter sent to all Health Ministers in September on the need for vaccination for COVID and seasonal influenza”, Kyriakides noted, highlighting the need to be continuously vigilant and prepared.

“We need adequate testing, sequencing, reporting and sharing of COVID data. This is the only way we can continue to effectively track the spread of the viruses circulating and their variants and keep each other safe”, she added.

According to ECDC, countries report a mix of increasing and decreasing trends in SARS-CoV-2 activity, COVID-19 hospitalisations, and ICU admissions and deaths, with severe outcomes predominantly among those aged 65 years and above.

But experts warn that a clearer picture of the situation will likely be available in the next couple of weeks, after the Christmas break, when many gatherings occur.

Some capitals are already mulling over introducing new restrictive measures, such as mandatory masks in specific places.

Euractiv’s Max Griera reports that at a meeting on Monday, the Spanish Health Ministry had a clash with the autonomous regions over the mandatory use of masks in health centres.

Late last night, the Health Ministry imposed masks in health centres nationwide as of Wednesday.

Some estimate that introducing restrictive measures before the EU elections could be risky as it could be politically exploited by the far right.

(Sarantis Michalopoulos | Euractiv.com)

BUBBLING IN BRUSSELS

Greek Syriza joining EU socialists? Three influential members of the leftist Syriza have said the party should make the “brave” decision to leave the EU Left and join the socialist group in the EU House.

Syriza leader Stefanos Kasselakis recently said the party would remain in the EU Left. However, he vowed to be a bridge between Socialists and Greens. “Social democracy is a tarnished story. If some people think that the Left has come to a full circle, I disagree”, MEP Kostas Arvanitis noted.

Euractiv was informed that the letter will be discussed as part of Syriza’s new identity, but it’s unlikely that there will be an EU group shift.

Nutriscore back on EU agenda: Belgium’s EU Council presidency aims to re-open the debate over controversial Nutriscore food labelling, Euractiv’s Angelo di Mambro has learnt. Nutriscore has divided EU nations, with Italy and other southern countries fearing that it puts the traditional Mediterranean diet at a disadvantage.

Not all have access to vote in EU elections: People with intellectual disabilities face legal hurdles to vote in the EU elections in seven European countries as they are not allowed to have a guardian to assist them in the polling stations. Eleonora Vasques has the story.

PARIS | PRAGUE

French energy minister visits Prague to promote nuclear cooperation. French Energy Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher will be in Prague on Monday and Tuesday to make progress on Franco-Czech nuclear cooperation, particularly on the construction of new reactors. Read more.

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BERLIN

Germany faces ‘unprecedented’ political fragmentation. As voter dissatisfaction is on the rise in Europe’s largest economy, Germany’s political landscape is increasingly fractured, with a new political player attempting to win over voters who turned their back on traditional parties. Read more.

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PARIS

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne resigns. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne resigned on Monday evening following a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron that lasted just over an hour, the Elysée Palace announced in a press release on Monday. Read more.

NORDICS AND BALTICS

HELSINKI

Former Finnish EU commissioner plummets in national presidential polls. Former Finnish EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen, who recently left her post to stand as the Social Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, is not faring so well with voters, a EuropeElects projection commissioned by Euractiv ahead of the elections at the end of January shows. Read more.

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STOCKHOLM

Swedish minister, commander-in-chief warn of possible war in Sweden. Top security actors, including Swedish Civil Defence Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin and the country’s Commander-in-Chief, Micael Bydén, agree that Sweden could soon be facing a war and called for increased resilience, including among the civilian population. Read more.

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COPENHAGEN

Danish far-right party insists outgoing queen should proclaim new king, not PM. Far-right Danish People’s Party leader Morten Messerschmidt insists that Social Democratic Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen should not proclaim the new king on Sunday, as is traditional, and that outgoing Queen Margrethe should make the announcement instead. Read more.

EUROPE’S SOUTH

MADRID

Spanish opposition fears Kosovo passport recognition could set a precedent for Catalonia. Spain’s main opposition force, Partido Popular, has demanded explanations from the government over its recognition of Kosovo passports, claiming it could set a precedent for recognition of Catalan passports in the future. Read more.

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ROME

Meloni under pressure to disband fascist group. Italy’s left-wing opposition parties requested Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to take action and even disband the group of far-right militants who on Sunday commemorated the death of three former members and were seen making fascist salutes during a rally in Rome. Read more.

EASTERN EUROPE

BRATISLAVA

Bratislava to build its first LNG terminal despite fossil fuel phase out. Fears that Slovakia’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal could end up as a stranded investment are reinforced by experts who warn that too much LNG infrastructure is being built as fossil fuels are phased out and that there is likely to be a surplus on the market after 2030. Read more.

Ruling coalition and independents set to face-off in Slovak presidential election. Fico’s coalition pick and an independent candidate are likely to face off in the upcoming presidential elections, which Slovak parliament speaker Peter Pellegrini announced on Monday will be held in two rounds on 23 March and 6 April. Read more.

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WARSAW

Tusk hosts anti-hate speech rally to justify public media takeover. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is calling for an anti-hate speech rally in Gdańsk on Saturday in a move to justify his public media policies, which have divided Polish society and raised serious concerns among media freedom organisations. Read more.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

BELGRADE

Urgent case filed with UN torture committee over beaten Serbian opposition politician. An urgent submission has been made to the United Nations Committee Against Torture regarding the alleged kidnap and torture of Serbian opposition politician Nikola Sadulovic after he paid respects at the grave of a Kosovo Albanian war hero in early January, while the EU remains silent on the matter. Read more.

Vučić vows ‘substantial changes’ but balance relations with EU, Russia, China. Profound and essential changes must be made in all spheres of life for Serbia to continue progressing, said Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, adding that balancing relations with the EU, Russia, and China will be key. Read more.

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SOFIA

Russian opposition claims police acted violently at concert in Sofia. Bulgarian security removed concertgoers waving Ukrainian flags at the concert of Russian rock group DDT and got aggressive in the process, claimed Russian opposition activist Yevgeni Chupov, who was granted refugee status in Bulgaria in 2021. Read more.

AGENDA:

EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers speech at Chamber of Commerce Stade for the Elbe-Weser region event;
Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič participates in round table with European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) and other representatives of agri-food ecosystem in Lennik, Belgium;
Vice President Dubravka Šuica hosts Director of European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA) Eva Reina Botonero;
Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit hosts Secretary General of SGI Europe Valeria Ronzitti;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor, Sofia Stuart Leeson, Sofia Mandilara]