Belgium

BRUSSELS/LONDON, May 1. /TASS/: The European Union and the United Kingdom have completed formal Brexit procedures, as an agreement on bilateral relations came into force at 00:00 Brussels time (01:00 Moscow time) on May 1.

"The conclusion of the trade and cooperation agreement will give legal certainty to the new EU-UK relationship, in the interests of citizens and business on both sides of the channel. We value the UK as a good neighbour, an old ally and an important partner," the Council of the EU said in a statement.

30 Apr 2021; MEMO: The EU on Friday urged Israel to enable elections across the entire Palestinian territory and expressed regret over delayed vote, Anadolu Agency reports.

(Reuters) --- Some EU countries still want Brussels to strike a deal to buy Valneva's (VLS.PA) COVID-19 vaccine candidate despite a recent setback in talks, as the bloc aim to shore up and diversify supplies, sources familiar with the talks told Reuters.

A spokesman for the European Commission said last week the French vaccine maker had not met conditions required to reach an agreement, two days after the company said it would now give priority to a country by country approach. 

(Reuters) --- European Union lawyers on Wednesday demanded AstraZeneca (AZN.L) immediately deliver COVID-19 vaccines from its factories in Britain, in a move that risks reigniting a spat with London over scarce vaccine supplies.

The call came in the opening hearing of the European Commission's legal case in Brussels against the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker over supply delays.

BRUSSELS (AP) — European lawmakers have approved the final ratification of the post-Brexit trade deal between the European Union and the United Kingdom, nearly five years after Britain decided to leave the bloc.

The deal, which was finalized on Christmas Eve, had already been ratified by the U.K. Parliament and conditionally came into force pending the European Parliament’s approval, which marks the final legal hurdle.

New Delhi, Apr 25 (PTI) The European Union on Sunday said it is pooling in resources to respond rapidly to help India's fight against the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic.

A senior official of the 27-nation powerful bloc said the European Union (EU) has already activated its Civil Protection Mechanism to mobilise support for India including supplying urgently needed oxygen and medicines.

Under the mechanism, the EU plays a central role in coordinating its responses to emergencies in Europe and beyond.

(Reuters) --- The European Union will be able to produce enough vaccines to achieve its target for immunity of its adult population by the middle of July, the EU executive's vaccine task force chief said in an interview with a Greek newspaper published on Sunday.

The European Commission has set a target of inoculating 70% of the EU's adult population by the end of this summer, banking on a big increase in vaccine deliveries to accelerate its vaccination drive.

BRUSSELS, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Security risks in the South China Sea mainly come from outside the region, a spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the European Union (EU) said Saturday, urging the EU to stop sowing discord.

"The South China Sea should not become a tool for certain countries to contain and suppress China, still less a wrestling ground for major-power rivalry," said the spokesperson.

BRUSSELS, Apr 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) – European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, yesterday brought forward the expected date for the European Union (EU) to vaccinate its 70 percent of adult population by nearly two months.

Speaking after visiting Pfizer’s vaccine plant in Puurs, Belgium, where the main vaccine used so far in the EU has been produced, von der Leyen said, the goal could be achieved by the end of July, instead of late Sept, as had been previously predicted.

(Reuters) --- The European Union on Saturday rejected Russia's labelling of independent news site Meduza as a "foreign agent" media organisation, saying its media restrictions contravene its international obligations and human rights commitments.

The designation issued on Friday requires Meduza to label itself as such, subjecting it to increased government scrutiny.