Leaders of the European Union met for a virtual summit on Thursday (March 25), in an attempt to grapple with the third wave of coronavirus surging in several of their countries, and the ongoing disputes over their vaccination campaign -- which has fallen far behind the United States and Britain.
It includes their recent threats to halt vaccine exports, namely to the UK.
Hosuk Lee-Makiyama is with the think-tank, the European Centre for International Political Economy, in Stockholm.
He says it could backfire.
"By doing this short term priority, by trying to seize these shipments and trying to provide to your own citizens first, what are you actually achieving?
What can other people do against you?
What kind of other bad behavior are you legitimizing as an EU?
We have to remember that the EU provides quite a lot of legitimacy in the world.
Whatever the EU does is deemed as legitimate and this is where actually a number of countries could, even on vaccines or any future issue, retaliate against the EU by saying 'This is exactly the standard the EU set.'" The EU has administered about 14 vaccine shots for every 100 people, according to the research journal Our World in Data.
Comparatively the UK, which only left the EU last year, has given 46 shots for every 100.
There are also internal disputes.
Some leaders, such as Austria's Chancellor Kurz, allege that the vaccines the EU does have are not being distributed evenly.
France's President Macron has said the failings are because the EU, quote, "didn't shoot for the stars." "That should be a lesson for all of us," he said.
"We were wrong to lack ambition, to lack the madness."
June's European Parliament elections will decide where Europe is "heading", said Nicolas Schmit as he met the Social Democratic Party of Germany's leading candidate.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:02Published
World Leaders Ask Israel , Not to Retaliate for Iranian Attack.
On April 13, Iran launched hundreds
of drones and missiles at Israel.
The attack came after two Iranian
generals were killed in "a suspected
Israeli strike in Syria" on April 1, AP reports. .
99% of Iran's drones and missiles were intercepted by Israel, according to a military spokesperson. .
World leaders are cautioning
Israel to show restraint and resist
retaliating against Iran, AP reports. .
Now is the time to be smart
as well as tough, to think
with head as well as heart, David Cameron, British foreign secretary, via statement.
We cannot afford another front
in the Middle East. There would only
be losers, in the region and beyond, Alexander Schallenberg, Austria’s foreign minister, via statement.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Israel's ability to intercept Iran's attack "really impressive" and urged the country to "contribute to de-escalation.".
This is a success that perhaps also
should not be thrown away. Hence
also our advice to contribute to
de-escalation themselves, Olaf Scholz, German chancellor, via statement.
Kenya urges Israel to show utmost restraint
taking into account the urgent need for all
parties to walk away from the brink beyond
which recovery will be enormously difficult. , William Ruto, president of Kenya, via statement.
We have condemned, we have
intervened, we will do everything
to avoid an escalation, an inferno, Emmanuel Macron, president of France, via statement.
Now is the time to defuse
and de-escalate. Now is the
time for maximum restraint, António Guterres, U.N. secretary-general, via statement.
While on a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, President Joe Biden
also condemned a retaliatory strike, saying,
"You got a win. Take the win," a senior official said. .
While on a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, President Joe Biden
also condemned a retaliatory strike, saying,
"You got a win. Take the win," a senior official said.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
A Bulgarian cruise ship carrying over a hundred passengers has crashed into a concrete wall in a sluice on the River Danube in Austria. The incident occurred overnight in the northern Austrian town of Aschach an der Donau, local police said on Saturday morning. Eleven people were injured and taken to hospital as a result of the crash. Local media said another six people suffered less serious injuries that did not require hospital treatment.
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Austrian graffiti duo Joel Gamnou painted the portraits, receiving mostly positive feedback from the public, although criticism arose from certain groups alleging political misuse of the wall.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:11Published