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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said she deeply regrets the decision to invoke Article 16 of Northern Ireland’s protocol on Brexit in a row over Covid-19 vaccines.
The move was quickly reversed after much criticism from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Britain.
Speaking today at a meeting of the European Parliament, EuroParlRadio reported that von der Leyen said: “The bottom line is that mistakes were made in the process that led to the decision, and I deeply regret that.
“But, in the end, we got it right. And I can assure you that my commission will do everything possible to protect the peace of Northern Ireland, just as it has done throughout the Brexit process. “
Article 16 nullifies part of the protocol preventing a firm border on the island of Ireland, and was intended not to be used as an emergency measure.
European Affairs Minister Thomas Byrne said yesterday that the Irish government is seeking a new security clause to prevent a repeat of these events.
Von der Leyen is facing questions today about the launch plan for the Covid-19 vaccine in the EU.
Europe has recorded a third of the more than 2.3 million lives lost worldwide to the virus, which is spreading rapidly despite the initiation of vaccinations in many nations and forcing the reimposition of unpopular and economically punishing restrictions. .
European Union leaders have been embroiled in bitter public disputes with pharmaceutical companies over supply shortages as they faced public anger and scrutiny over slow vaccination launches in member states.
Vaccine supply problems have already caused a diplomatic row after AstraZeneca said it could not immediately ship the doses it promised to Britain and the EU.
At the same time, the resurgence of infections across the continent increases the pressure on the EU leadership.
A stricter blockade will be imposed on Greece, particularly in the Athens region, starting tomorrow, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, warning that his country is facing a third wave of Covid-19.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, wary that infection numbers will skyrocket again, will seek to extend the strict restrictions until at least the end of February, as fatigue mounts with the partial lockdown of Europe’s main economy.
The heaviest snow in years also added to problems in Europe with transport and infrastructure affected in Germany and Britain.
Some coronavirus vaccination centers in England were forced to close, including the main centers in Ipswich and Colchester.
No advance on the origin of the virus
A long-awaited investigation by the World Health Organization into the origins of the coronavirus yesterday concluded its mission in China. They were unable to identify which animal may have transmitted it to humans.
Experts said there was no “indication” that the virus was circulating in the ground zero city of Wuhan before December 2019, when the first official cases were recorded.
WHO expert Peter Ben Embarek also dismissed a controversial theory that the virus had leaked from a Wuhan laboratory, calling it “extremely unlikely.”
China has been stepping up its efforts to highlight its role in overcoming the pandemic, including the development of Covid-19 vaccines that have helped initiate injections in many parts of the world, including the hardest hit South America.
Peru yesterday began its immunization program with 300,000 doses of the vaccine developed by China Sinopharm.
Meanwhile, Argentina said it had granted emergency authorization to the Indian version of the AstraZeneca vaccine, following its approval of Russia’s Sputnik V jab.
Bolivia has also been using Sputnik V as it fights a surge in infections, although health workers in the worst-hit region began a two-day strike yesterday to demand the shutdown.
And in the hardest-hit country in Brazil, companies and nonprofit groups announced a plan to accelerate the government’s immunization campaign, with the goal of vaccinating the entire country by September.
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Valentine’s worries
Along with mass vaccinations, researchers and engineers around the world are looking for other ways to help end the pandemic and return life to normal, especially international travel.
Technology expert Estonia is working on a pilot project with WHO on how a globally recognized electronic vaccine certificate could work, including addressing security and privacy concerns.
A more immediate concern for authorities in many countries this week is Valentine’s Day, with fears that the upcoming celebrations could lead to an increase in infections.
Authorities in Thailand’s capital Bangkok announced that the city would not register marriages on Valentine’s Day, a popular day for weddings.
In Brussels, however, where restaurants are closed, some hotels have converted rooms into private dining rooms for two.
“We are delighted to be here tonight, like in a restaurant,” said Marine Deroo, a 34-year-old woman who tried out the concept before Valentine’s Day.
– © AFP 2021 with report by Órla Ryan
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