Pandemic downsides abound amid ‘vaccine apartheid’ A second Covid-19 surge is putting to the test assumptions that the pandemic’s public health impact across the continent has been comparatively mild. Health crises and on-and-off lockdowns may be a recurring feature of 2021 and beyond, if (or perhaps when) fresh Covid-19 surges materialize.… Read the rest
Enthusiasm for the 17+1 cooperation format with China is waning among the EU members in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) due to unfulfilled investment pledges, and rising concerns over security and geopolitical pressures. As a result, Beijing will likely focus on fostering its relations with a handful of countries situated mostly outside the EU.… Read the rest
The regional election taking place in Catalonia this Sunday, 14 February, will determine whether the new Catalan government develops a more confrontational stance towards Madrid on the secession issue. On the national level, the vote could complicate cooperation between the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and the ruling minority coalition of the Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and Unidas Podemos.… Read the rest