European Politics

Ursula von der Leyen's Deputy Commission Head Frans Timmermans has stated that "It is true that mistakes were made in ordering the vaccines both in Brussels and in the member states,". He added that he is "ready to take stock at the end of the pandemic. Then we can see what we did wrong and what we did right."

In the current situation, however, the first priority is "to ensure that all of Europe receives vaccine," Timmermans continued. He defended the joint procurement, saying that a European approach was "also in the interest of the richer countries" such as Germany.

Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has sharply criticized the distribution of vaccines against the coronavirus in the European Union. The distribution of the medicines among the EU member states is unfair, contrary to the declared objective of fair participation, he said. Since there were striking differences in the progress of vaccination between the member states, he and other heads of government had compared the national supply data. The result was that deliveries were not made according to population keys: Deliveries were not being made according to population keys. "When I shared this information with some heads of state and government yesterday, many could not believe their eyes and ears," Kurz said.

Poland is taking the new rule of law clause in the EU budget to the European Court of Justice. This was announced by the government in Warsaw on Thursday. The EU's top judges are to examine whether the new mechanism for cutting EU funds in the event of certain rule of law violations is permissible.

Hungary and Poland oppose the new rule of law mechanism in the EU's multi-annual financial framework for 2021 to 2027. They fear that the mechanism is aimed at cutting EU funds to them because of controversial political projects. Both countries receive billions of euros net from the EU budget. At the same time, both countries are subject to legal proceedings under Article 7 of the EU Treaties for alleged disregard of fundamental EU values.

Members of European Parliament are set to vote on declaring the European Union a LGBTIQ Freedom Zone in support of the community. The move comes two years after the first Polish county officially discriminated against persons based on sexual preference or identity.

In January and February, 20 and 30 million vaccine doses respectively had been delivered by the manufacturers, said von der Leyen, in March 50 million doses were expected: "From April onwards, the quantities could double again according to the manufacturers' plans. That would be an average of around 100 million doses per month in the second quarter, a total of 300 million by the end of June."

Hungary's head of government withdraws his Fidesz MEPs from the EPP group in the EU Parliament.

The Hungarian right-wing nationalist ruling party Fidesz will leave the Christian Democratic EPP group in the European Parliament today, Wednesday. This was announced by Fidesz this morning. The withdrawal had already been announced by Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a letter to EPP Group leader Manfred Weber.

In it, Orban had threatened the parliamentary group, which wants to suspend the Fidesz deputies. If it came to the vote and adoption of new rules of procedure of the group, which makes the suspension or the exclusion of whole groups possible, the Fidesz MEPs would leave the club of the European People's Party of their own accord, Orban had announced.

In a direct contradiction of German minister of defense, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, French president Emmanuel Macron said shortly before visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, that the European Union should pursue its attempts to get strategic autonomy, especially regarding military matters.

He admitted that the EU still has no strategic sovereignty, but should continue to try to become a fully established European power, even with a new administration in the White House in the near future.

The European Union is taking legal action against Great Britain for violation of the withdrawal agreement. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced that the EU Commission has sent a letter to the British government over the new British Market Act passed by the House of Commons which is intended to override parts of the already valid withdrawal agreement with the EU.