WHO:A new vaccine has been listed for COVID-19 emergency use

 

Weekly hot topic

A new vaccine has been listed for COVID-19 emergency use

On 3 November 2021, the Technical Advisory Group for Emergency Use Listing listed the Bharat Biotech BBV152 COVAXIN vaccine against COVID-19 for emergency use. Here's what you need to know about the vaccine and who can take it.

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Latest updates on COVID-19

Flu & COVID-19

How would you know if you have the flu or COVID-19? Should you take both flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine if they are available to you? How does WHO decide on the composition of the flu vaccine? Dr Sylvie Briand explains in Science in 5.

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Statement from the Emergency Committee on COVID-19 pandemic

The Committee unanimously agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic still constitutes an extraordinary event that continues to adversely affect the health of populations around the world, poses a risk of international spread and interference with international traffic.

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Other hot topics

Health events at COP26

The COP26 Health Pavilion will offer a rich 2-week programme of over 60 events, showcasing evidence, initiatives and solutions to maximize the health benefits of tackling climate change across regions, sectors and communities. Most events will be livestreamed, and recordings will be made available on the website.

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Two new tobacco cessation medicines added to the list of essential medicines

Bupropion and varenicline have both proven to be safe and effective ways of quitting tobacco for users who are unable to quit using behavioural counselling or brief advice alone.

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AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT:sheep meat,MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS,Eggs,POULTRY MEAT,FRUIT and VEGETABLES newsletters

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Sheep meat Newsletter




Agricultural markets dashboard – sheep meat

View the latest update
Related links

EU Lamb, mutton and goatmeat policy | EU agriclutural markets short-term outlook – meat products

Latest news

COP26: participants recognise need for sustainable food systems to ensure global food security and achieve climate objectives
As part of the COP26 discussions on agriculture, participants acknowledged the need for inclusive, sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems.



See also Full article


Registrations opened to participate in agri-food high-level mission to Singapore and Vietnam
In spring 2022, Commissioner Wojciechowski will lead a business delegation in Singapore and Vietnam to meet potential local partners.


See also Full article

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Newsletter covering outlook for EU agricultural markets launched
For more information on estimations and forecast of EU agricultural markets, please subscribe to a dedicated newsletter.



Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS Newsletter



Latest update

Dashboard: Milk and dairy products
Highlights
EU average raw milk prices continued increasing in September 2021, to 37.4 c/kg.
Spot milk prices in IT follow a similar positive trend.
Prices for main dairy commodities also on the rise: +6.7% for butter, +4.7% for SMP.
Substantial increase of energy costs (+6.7% above last 4 weeks average).
Feed costs also raising (+2.3%).
Milk production slightly down in the first months of the Oceania season.
Milk production growth in the US slowing down in August-September.
Related links

EU milk and dairy products policy | EU agricultural markets short-term outlook

Latest news


COP26: participants recognise need for sustainable food systems to ensure global food security and achieve climate objectives

As part of the COP26 discussions on agriculture, participants acknowledged the need for inclusive, sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems.



See also Full article


Registrations opened to participate in agri-food high-level mission to Singapore and Vietnam
In spring 2022, Commissioner Wojciechowski will lead a business delegation in Singapore and Vietnam to meet potential local partners.



See also Full article

Eggs Newsletter



Agricultural markets dashboard – eggs

View the latest update
Related links

EU eggs policy | EU agricultural markets short-term outlook


Latest news

COP26: participants recognise need for sustainable food systems to ensure global food security and achieve climate objectives
As part of the COP26 discussions on agriculture, participants acknowledged the need for inclusive, sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems.




See also Full article


POULTRY MEAT Newsletter



Agricultural markets dashboard – poultry meat
View the latest update
Related links
EU poultry policy | EU agricultural markets short-term outlook

Latest news

COP26: participants recognise need for sustainable food systems to ensure global food security and achieve climate objectives
As part of the COP26 discussions on agriculture, participants acknowledged the need for inclusive, sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems.



See also Full article


Registrations opened to participate in agri-food high-level mission to Singapore and Vietnam
In spring 2022, Commissioner Wojciechowski will lead a business delegation in Singapore and Vietnam to meet potential local partners.



See also Full article


EU-US joint press statement
The EU and the US announce a transatlantic collaboration platform on agriculture to take on the global challenges of sustainability and climate change.



See also Full article


FRUIT and VEGETABLES Newsletter




Agricultural market dashboards - FRUIT and VEGETABLES

Agricultural markets dashboard – tomatoes

See the latest update in the fruit and vegetables market observatory.
Related links

EU fruits and vegetables scheme | EU agricultural markets short-term outlook – specialised crops

more
Latest news

Registrations opened to participate in agri-food high-level mission to Singapore and Vietnam
In spring 2022, Commissioner Wojciechowski will lead a business delegation in Singapore and Vietnam to meet potential local partners.
See also Full article


EU-US joint press statement
The EU and the US announce a transatlantic collaboration platform on agriculture to take on the global challenges of sustainability and climate change.




See also Full article


Commission publishes report on the state of play of the unfair trading practices Directive
The Directive on unfair trading practices aims at protecting farmers and other weaker suppliers of agricultural and food products against stronger buyers.



See also Full article


Weekly newsletter covering fruit and vegetable updates launched
A newsletter covering fruit and vegetable updates – separate to those found on the dashboards – has been launched.

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION:interesting update

 

Press material Tuesday 9 November 2021

● Council of the EU   09/11/2021 11:15 | Press release | COVID-19: Council removes Singapore and Ukraine from the list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted   Following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries, special administrative regions and other entities and territorial authorities for which travel restrictions should be lifted. In particular Singapore and Ukraine were removed from the list. Non-essential travel to the EU from countries or entities not listed in Annex I is subject to temporary travel restriction. This is without prejudice to the possibility for member states to lift the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU for fully vaccinated travellers. As stipulated in the Council recommendation, this list will continue to be reviewed every two weeks and, as the case may be, updated. Based on the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation, as from 9 November 2021 member states should gradually lift the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following third countries: Argentina Australia Bahrain Canada Chile Colombia Jordan Kuwait Namibia New Zealand Peru Qatar Rwanda Saudi Arabia South Korea United Arab Emirates Uruguay China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity Travel restrictions should also be gradually lifted for the special administrative regions of China Hong Kong and Macao. Under the category of entities and territorial authorities that are not recognised as states by at least one member state, travel restrictions for Taiwan should also be gradually lifted. Residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican should be considered as EU residents for the purpose of this recommendation. The criteria to determine the third countries for which the current travel restriction should be lifted were updated on 20 May 2021. They cover the epidemiological situation and overall response to COVID-19, as well as the reliability of the available information and data sources. Reciprocity should also be taken into account on a case by case basis. Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also take part in this recommendation. ● Council of the EU   09/11/2021 11:11 | Press release | Belarus: Council suspends visa facilitation provisions for officials of the Belarus regime   The Council today adopted a decision partially suspending the application of the EU-Belarus visa facilitation agreement. This decision is a response to the ongoing hybrid attack launched by the Belarusian regime. The suspension covers the provisions that waive requirements for documentary evidence, regulate the issuing of multiple entry visas and reduce visa application fees as they apply to officials of the Belarus regime. This decision will not affect ordinary citizens of Belarus, who will continue to enjoy the same benefits under the visa facilitation agreement as they do currently. "We strongly condemn and reject the continued instrumentalisation of migration by the Belarus regime. It is unacceptable for Belarus to play with people's lives for political purposes. Today's decision shows once again our joint commitment to continue countering this ongoing hybrid attack." Aleš Hojs, Minister for the Interior of Slovenia and Chair of the Home Affairs Council Next steps The decision will now be published in the Official Journal and will enter into force on the second day following publication. Under the visa facilitation agreement the decision on suspension is to be notified to the other party no later than 48 hours before its entry into force. Background The EU-Belarus visa facilitation agreement entered into force on 1 July 2020, in parallel with the EU-Belarus readmission agreement. The purpose of the agreement is to facilitate the issuance of short stay visas and thereby contribute to enhancing people-to-people contacts and sharing values and democratic principles. Following the political upheaval in Belarus and the restrictive measures adopted by the EU, in June 2021 Belarus began to organise flights and internal travel to facilitate the transit of migrants towards the EU, first to Lithuania and then to Latvia and Poland. Belarus also announced on 28 June 2021 that it would suspend the readmission agreement with the EU. These actions breach the fundamental principles on which the visa facilitation agreement was entered into, and go against the EU’s interests. Council decision on the partial suspension of the application of the EU-Belarus visa facilitation agreement EU relations with Belarus (background information)

Council of the EU:Main results - Foreign Affairs Council (Trade), 11 November 2021

 

Meetings Thursday 11 November 2021

● Council of the EU   11/11/2021 18:30 | MEETING | Main results - Foreign Affairs Council (Trade), 11 November 2021   EU-US trade relations, the WTO reform and preparations for the next WTO Ministerial Conference were among the main topics of the Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) meeting. Council of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (Trade), 11 November 2021 Main results EU-US trade relations The Council took stock of the latest developments and discussed how to maintain and strengthen the current positive momentum in EU-US bilateral trade relations, focussing in particular on the announcement (made on 31 October) concerning steel and aluminium trade and prospects for future engagement, in particular as regards the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC). The EU and the U.S. are each other’s most important foreign direct investment destination, with mutual investments of over 60% of all global foreign direct investments. We need to continue efforts to preserve and further strengthen our transatlantic trade partnership to the benefit of all citizens on both sides. The recent US decision to remove the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium on EU imports up to a level in line with historical levels of trade is a step in the right direction, but not yet the final destination.Zdravko Počivalšek, Slovenian Minister for Economic Development and Technology At the summit in June, the EU and US leaders confirmed their wish to work closely as partners and allies in the face of common challenges, to overcome disagreements, and to focus on a positive agenda. Cooperation with the Biden administration is intensive and is already delivering results including the setting up of the Trade and Technology Council, the ceasefire in the Airbus/Boeing dispute, the termination of US "Section 301" investigations into digital services taxes of some Member States, and most recently, the announcement of the removal of US tariffs on EU steel and aluminium up to previous trade levels and the agreement to start negotiations on a Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminium. In this context, ministers expressed their commitment to advancing a positive, forward-looking trans-Atlantic agenda, and encouraged the Commission to continue its intensive engagement with the Biden administration. They also welcomed recent positive steps and indicated that work on ongoing disputes should continue until they are settled definitively. At the same time, it is important to prevent the emergence of new disputes and/or irritants. Following the US announcement of the unilateral replacement of "Section 232" tariffs with tariff rate quotas, based on historic imports of steel and aluminium from the EU, a decision on the unilateral suspension of EU rebalancing tariffs –that were imposed on US goods in response to the "Section 232" tariffs- is expected to be taken in the comitology framework. Furthermore, the EU and the US negotiators agreed to suspend their respective dispute settlement cases in the WTO, and to start negotiations on a Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminium, as well as on several elements concerning ongoing cooperation (trade remedies, customs cooperation, monitoring of bilateral steel and trade flows, and cooperation on non-market excess capacity). Although the arrangement concerning steel and aluminium is only a temporary solution, it is an improvement for EU steel and aluminium producers and exporters accessing the US market, and the EU and the US can now focus on a more forward-looking, positive trans-Atlantic agenda. The EU continues to consider that US "Section 232" tariffs against the EU and its steel and aluminium exports are incompatible with WTO rules, and therefore continues to call on the US for their full elimination. Ministers held an informal exchange with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai. The topical issues that were discussed during the video conference included the engagement on the positive agenda, especially the EU-US TTC, the situation ahead of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference and the need to settle the ongoing disputes definitively. Announcement of the steel and aluminium tariffs deal (European Commission) Agreement on DSTs Joint Statement EU-US Trade and Technology Council Inaugural Joint Statement (European Commission) WTO reform and preparations for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference The Council discussed the latest developments concerning the WTO reform process and the preparations for the 12th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference (MC12) to be held in Geneva from 30 November to 3 December. Ministers expressed broad support for the Commission’s suggested line of action for MC12, in particular regarding the possible outcomes, such as: trade and health, including an intellectual property component; the launch of a working group on WTO institutional improvements that would make proposals for the next Ministerial Conference on the reform of the three core functions of the WTO; the conclusion of the fisheries subsidies negotiations; the conclusion of the domestic regulation in services negotiations; the progress on the Joint Statement Initiatives; trade and environmental sustainability; transparency, as well as other possible outcomes such on Level Playing Field; work programmes on agriculture. The EU will continue to work towards achieving a deal by MC12 and calls on other WTO Members to be equally constructive. The ministerial conference in December will be important for reconfirming the central role of the WTO in the multilateral trading system.Zdravko Počivalšek, Slovenian Minister for Economic Development and TechnologyZdravko Počivalšek, Slovenian Minister for Economic Development and Technology The Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) will meet again from 29 November to 3 December in Geneva in the margins of the WTO ministerial conference to adopt the draft Council conclusions and the draft Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the EU at MC12. Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference Implementation and enforcement of the EU's trade agreements The Commission presented under any other business its report on the implementation and enforcement of the EU's trade agreements and called for the good joint work with the Member States to continue. On 27 October, the Commission published its annual report on the implementation and enforcement of the EU's trade agreements. The report offers a snapshot of the evolution of the EU’s preferential trade in 2020. It examines 37 main trade agreements with 67 partners and summarises the results of implementation and enforcement activities in 2020 and the first half of 2021. Commission report on the implementation and enforcement of EU's trade agreements Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Ministers addressed, also under any other business, the ongoing review of the implementation and enforcement of sustainable development chapters in EU trade agreements. The Netherlands, supported by Belgium and Luxembourg, asked the Commission to give its first impressions of the outcome of the EU stakeholder consultation on the review (closed on 31 October ) and update the Council on the next steps in the process. The Commission's 15-Point Action Plan of February 2018 has guided the improvement of the implementation and enforcement of the TSD chapters in EU trade agreements. The Commission is currently conducting a review of this Action Plan that will cover all relevant aspects of TSD implementation and enforcement, including the scope of commitments, monitoring mechanisms, the possibility of sanctions for non-compliance, as well as the institutional set-up and resources required. Review of Trade and Sustainable Development provisions in trade agreements Bilateral trade negotiations Ministers discussed over lunch the state of play of ongoing bilateral trade and investment negotiations, such as those with Chile, New Zealand, and India, as well as those agreements where negotiations have been concluded, such as Mercosur and Mexico. Meeting information Meeting n°3823 Brussels 11 November 2021 09:30 Preparatory documents List of A items, non-legislative activities Provisional agenda Background brief Outcome documents Outcome of the Council meeting List of participants