Euractiv.com

Despite all the recent references to a new Marshall Plan to help Europe, it would be more appropriate to talk about an EU-owned New Deal, based on Roosevelt's "3 R's" - Relief, Recovery, and Reform, writes Ambassador Maurizio Massari.

The future economic impact of the notorious olive pest xylella fastidiosa in case its spread is not minimised is estimated at €5.2 billion in Italy, €16.9 billion in Spain, and €2 billion in Greece, according to a new study released on Monday (13 April).

The coronavirus crisis has caused a lot of suffering and uncertainty, but its aftermath offers us an opportunity to break with old habits and build a circular, sustainable and highly competitive economy, write Frans Timmermans and Bertrand Piccard.

Poland's ruling nationalists have proposed changing the constitution to extend President Andrzej Duda's term by two years because of threats related to the coronavirus pandemic, a draft bill filed with the parliament showed late on Wednesday (15 April).

As the spread of the coronavirus pandemic has slowed down in Spain, opposition parties have intensified criticism of the government's management of the health crisis, amid fresh calls for an extension of the lockdown. EURACTIV's partner EFE reports. 

Nearly 700 sailors assigned to the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle's naval group have tested positive for the coronavirus, the armed forces ministry said on Wednesday (15 April).

The wealthy Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation called Wednesday (15 April) for global cooperation to ready COVID-19 vaccines for seven billion people, while offering $150 million toward developing therapeutics and treatments for the virus.

The European Commission is reviewing its 2020 work programme in light of the coronavirus crisis. Although climate policies remain broadly on track, other initiatives under the European Green Deal are being delayed because they are considered “less essential”.

Five private laboratories in Bulgaria have organised rapid patient tests for COVID-19 and are uploading the results to a dedicated public platform. The idea is to have a more accurate census of people who have encountered the coronavirus and produced antibodies and provide data that would help the exit strategies' decision-making.

Despite warnings that COVID-19 may particularly affect the rights of already at-risk populations, the European Commission is looking into the possibility of delaying a host of initiatives intended to improve gender equality and protect human, sexual and ethnic minority rights, according to a draft internal working document seen by EURACTIV.

Did you know that many European towns and regions are building projects and partnerships with local and regional governments in Africa, Asia and Latin America, but also in the Eastern partnership? This is called decentralised cooperation.

Belgium’s National Security Council (CNS) on Wednesday (15 April) extended the coronavirus containment measures by two weeks until 3 May. Despite a very slow decline in numbers, it is not yet clear when normality can being to return.

In times of crisis, the EU tends to get a kicking, and the coronavirus pandemic has offered a prime opportunity for Brussels-bashers to dust down their gloves. In this case, it is understandable but largely undeserved.

Europe’s demand for rail travel will increase over the next decade, according to new analysis that cites the public's new-found appreciation for cleaner air and climate issues as a result of the virus outbreak. Airlines are predicted to be the main loser of the train resurgence.

The COVID-19 pandemic, disrupting societies, economies, families and persons alike, is compounded by a global contagion of rumours, conspiracies, fake news and other deadly narratives that, despite their appearance of being tailored to fit local characteristics, are strikingly similar at a transnational level, writes Alina Bargaoanu.

The EU's new policy to provide financial support to workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is a bold new initiative. But it is not a panacea, and risks being over-hyped, writes László Andor.

The launch date of the much-awaited new EU food policy, the Farm to Fork strategy (F2F), is currently under review and an updated programme is due to the published in the coming weeks, a Commission official told EURACTIV.com.

France's Agriculture Minister Didier Guillaume has multiplied calls for assistance from Brussels to deal with the effects of the ongoing health crisis. In other words, the milk, meat, fruit and vegetable sectors cannot wait much longer. EURACTIV France reports.

“I do not see a problem for the unemployed to engage in agriculture” the Labour and Pension System Minister, Josip Aladrović, said in an interview with the Croatian newspaper Večernji List, where he called for a more efficient labour policy...

In light of the disruptive impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission is assessing the need to delay a series of important actions, including in the field of digital affairs, a draft copy of the executive's working programme seen by EURACTIV reveals.