Brexit talks in a ‘serious situation’ ahead of deadline December 17, 2020 Downing Street has said Brexit trade talks are in a “serious situation” following a call with the European Commission president. Following the call a Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister underlined that the negotiations were now in a serious situation. Time was very short and it now looked very likely that agreement would not [...]
Germany hits back at US patent waiver proposal for Covid-19 vaccines May 7, 2021 Germany has rejected the Covid-19 vaccine patent proposal today, urging that production capacity is key to boosting vaccine output. The country’s health minister said the primary challenge to increasing production volumes of vaccines is quickly and effectively transferring technology. “The main issue is not patent protection but production capacity,” Jens Spahn, said at a news [...]
EU turns to Pfizer for more Covid jabs amid fresh vaccine shortage April 14, 2021 The EU has ordered an extra 50m doses of the Pfizer/Biontech Covid vaccine following Johnson & Johnson’s surprise announcement yesterday that jab deliveries to Europe face significant delays. European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen said this afternoon that the bloc will bring forward an order of 50m doses of the vaccine which had been [...]
Switzerland offers 3,500 work permits for Brits post-Brexit November 25, 2020 The Swiss government has allocated up to 3,500 work permits to let employers recruit staff from the UK, which will no longer be covered by Swiss free-movement rules with the EU post-Brexit. Under the system 3,500 British citizens coming to Switzerland for the first time will be allowed to work in the country. “This ensures [...]
EU unveils vaccine passport plans in boost for summer holiday hopes March 17, 2021 The EU has unveiled plans to introduce vaccine passports to unlock international travel after months of closure, in a major boost for Britons’ hopes of holidays abroad this summer. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen outlined proposals for the EU’s Digital Green Certificate this afternoon, with the passports set to come into effect from [...]
European Parliament calls Brexit a ‘historic mistake’ before voting for trade deal April 28, 2021 The European Parliament has voted to ratify the EU’s post-Brexit trade deal with Britain, but not before branding Brexit a “historic mistake”. MEPs overwhelmingly approved the deal, with 660 votes to five and 32 abstentions, in a result announced this morning. The deal was provisionally ratified by the 27 EU ambassadors in December to ensure [...]
‘Firm decision’ on Brexit talks set for Sunday December 10, 2020 Boris Johnson and the EU have set a Sunday deadline for a “firm decision” on the future relationship between the two sides. Downing Street said “large gaps remain” between the EU and UK after the Prime Minister and Ursula Von der Leyen met for dinner in Brussels. Von der Leyen said the conversation had been [...]
EU seeks 10m Astrazeneca vaccines from India to plug jab shortfall April 1, 2021 The EU has asked India to supply 10m doses of Astrazeneca’s Covid vaccine, as the bloc scrambles to plug a shortfall in jab supplies. EU officials have approached the Serum Institute of India — the world’s largest vaccine maker — to ship doses of the Covid jab, according to Reuters. It marks the latest signal that [...]
Boris Johnson facing legal challenge over decision not to fire Priti Patel December 10, 2020 The FDA Union is suing Boris Johnson after he overruled allegations of bullying by Priti Patel.
Pound sterling sinks lower on no-deal Brexit jitters December 10, 2020 The Brexit-battered pound extended its losses against the dollar and the euro this morning, on no-deal Brexit concerns.