EU LEADERS PUSH TO STEP UP COVID VACCINATIONS

GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL HAS SAID THE EUROPEAN UNION MUST PREPARE TO VACCINATE FOR NEW CORONAVIRUS VARIANTS OVER THE COMING YEARS AFTER EU LEADERS DISCUSSED WAYS TO FIGHT NEW VARIANTS OF THE VIRUS, STEP UP INOCULATIONS AND SAVE EUROPE’S TOURISM INDUSTRY FROM ANOTHER RUINOUS SUMMER.

THE 27 EU LEADERS AGREED ON THURSDAY TO KEEP “TIGHT RESTRICTIONS” ON PUBLIC LIFE AND FREE MOVEMENT IN PLACE AS THE BLOC RACES AGAINST THE EMERGENCE OF NEW VARIANTS THAT MAY HAMPER AN ECONOMIC REBOUND.

FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON SAID THE EU “WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS VIRUS” OVER THE LONG TERM.

ITALY’S NEW PRIME MINISTER, FORMER EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK CHIEF MARIO DRAGHI, CALLED FOR A MUCH TOUGHER STANCE FROM THE EU TOWARDS PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES PRODUCING THE VACCINES AFTER A STUTTERING START TO DELIVERIES OF JABS.