European Union leaders agree on top officials who will be the face of world's largest trading bloc
European Union leaders have agreed on the officials who will be the face of the worldโs biggest trading bloc in coming years for issues ranging from anti-trust investigations to foreign policy.
G7 leaders agree to lend Ukraine billions backed by Russia's frozen assets. Here's how it will work
The leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies have agreed to set in motion a $50 billion loan to help Ukraine.
Belgian and Czech leaders exhort the EU to react amid concern over Russian election interference
The leaders of Belgium and the Czech Republic are warning their European Union partners to take urgent action to prevent Russian interference in Juneโs Europe-wide elections.
Leaders from over 30 countries meet in Brussels to promote nuclear energy
Over 30 leaders and delegations from around the world are backing the idea of using nuclear energy to help achieve a climate-neutral globe while providing countries an added sense of economic and security independence.
Hungary opposes billions in new EU aid for Ukraine. A new summit will try to change that
European Union leaders at a summit on Thursday will focus on the one member state blocking a 50-billion-euro ($54 billion) war support package for Ukraine: Hungary, the country in the bloc with the closest ties to Russia.
EU leaders increasingly back a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza
The dire humanitarian situation in Gaza is prompting more European Union countries to support the idea of a humanitarian cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas.
Ukraine gets EU membership boost, but no new European aid, after setback in US
The European Union has failed to agree on a $54 billion package in financial aid that Ukraine desperately needs to stay afloat, even as the bloc decided to open accession negotiations with the war-torn country.
A China, EU summit exposes divisions over Ukraine, trade and subsidies
The leaders of China and the European Union have held wide-ranging talks that included their disputes over trade and a deep divide over the war in Ukraine.
Germany's defense minister unveils more help for Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is vowing to keep supporting Ukraineโs efforts to win its war against Russia, pledging further military aid worth 1.3 billion euros ($1.4 billion).
European Union leaders seek aid access to Gaza and weigh the plight of EU citizens there
European Union leaders are grappling with ways to use their combined leverage to ensure that more aid reaches Palestinians in need in Gaza.
EU leaders paper over differences after a cacophony mars their response to the Israel-Hamas war
European Union leaders are struggling to paper over their differences as a cacophony of opinions and reactions mar the blocโs response to the Israel-Hamas war.
EU leaders will meet to deal with the fallout in Europe from the Israel-Hamas war
A top European Union official says the bloc's leaders will hold an emergency summit on Tuesday as concerns grow that the war between Israel and Hamas could fuel inter-communal tensions in Europe.
European Union offers a new growth plan to Western Balkans that partly opens access to single market
European Union leaders have offered a new growth plan to the six Western Balkans countries that opens parts of the EU single market to them in return for deep reforms, ahead of their full membership in the bloc.
The AP Interview: EU President Michel warns about spillover of Israel-Hamas war into Europe
European Union leader Charles Michel has warned in The AP Interview that the Israel-Hamas war could create a surge in refugees heading for Europe, raising the risk of spurring on anti-migrant forces, deepening divisions and inflaming tensions between supporters of Israel and the Palestinians.
EU summit points to reforms the bloc needs in order to welcome Ukraine and others as new members
European Union leaders are acknowledging that just as aspiring members must meet exacting criteria to join the bloc, the 27 member nations also must work hard to reform the EU to make sure it can work smoothly with 30-plus nations.
India seeks a greater voice for the developing world at G20, but Ukraine war may overshadow talks
Itโs never been easy for the leaders of the worldโs largest economies to find common ground, but Russiaโs war on Ukraine has made it even harder for the Group of 20 meeting to reach meaningful agreements this year.
Ukraine's Zelenskyy visits Athens to attend meeting of Balkan leaders with top EU officials
Greeceโs Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has pledged to keep up military support for Ukraine for as long as it takes during talks in Athens with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Divisions over the Ukraine war cause a rift at EU-LatAm summit that was supposed to be a love-in
European Union and Latin American leaders have concluded a summit that was supposed to be a love-in after eight years of separation, but instead ended with aggravation over the failure to unanimously support even a bland statement on Russiaโs invasion of Ukraine.
EU, Japan celebrate close cooperation with end of EU food restrictions in wake of Fukushima disaster
The European Union and Japan have announced that the 27-nation bloc will lift the food import restrictions it had imposed in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Angered over EU migrant rules, Poland and Hungary veto a summit statement in a gesture of protest
Hungary and Poland have vetoed a statement by European Union leaders laying out their migration priorities in a symbolic gesture of protest.
Zelenskyy pushes for Ukraine support at European leaders' summit in Moldova
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyyโs unrelenting quest for more political support and security backing from NATO got a warm welcome during a sprawling summit where nearly every European leader had assembled to condemn Russia and Belarus.
Sanctions against Russia and what the G7 may do to fortify them
The Group of Seven advanced economies are expected to announce more sanctions against Russia to further hinder its war effort in Ukraine during their summit in Hiroshima, Japan.
EU Council chief vows support, ammunition for Ukraine
European Council President Charles Michel has pledged to continue supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression โfor as long as necessary,โ adding that EU leaders will โmassively ramp upโ ammunition production to send to the war-torn country.
EU prepares more Russia sanctions; Kremlin readies offensive
European Union officials say the bloc will unveil its 10th package of sanctions against Russia on Feb. 24 to mark the anniversary of Moscowโs full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
EU, Western Balkans to boost partnership amid Ukraine war
EU leaders and their counterparts in the Western Balkans are to meet for talks aimed at strengthening their partnership as Russia's war in Ukraine threatens to reshape the geopolitical balance in the region.
China's Xi urges Ukraine talks in meeting with EU's Michel
China says leader Xi Jinping has urged negotiations on a political solution to the Ukraine conflict in talks with visiting European Council President Charles Michel in Beijing.
Leaders of French-speaking countries hold summit in Tunisia
Leaders of French-speaking countries are gathering on the Tunisian island off the Mediterranean coast for a summit amid a soaring cost-of-living crisis across Africa, Europe and the Middle East due to the war in Ukraine.
Germany urges western Balkan leaders to resolve conflicts
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has told leaders of six Balkan countries that aspire to join the European Union that โit is high time to overcome regional conflictsโ and stand together as Russia wages war in Ukraine.
EU ministers delay for a month decision on more energy unity
European Union nations have given themselves yet another month to overcome deep differences on groundbreaking measures to shield their citizens from the energy crisis.
EU leaders avoid deep rift on gas price cap at energy summit
European Union leaders are struggling to find immediate practical solutions on how to deal with the energy crisis but avoid an open rift between Germany and France.
EU leaders divided on gas price cap at energy crisis summit
European Union leaders struggled to find immediate practical solutions at their summit called to grapple with the energy crisis fueled by the war in Ukraine and maintain a united front in the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin coercion.
EU leaders united against Russia, divided over energy summit
European Union leaders head into Thursday's energy summit looking for joint measures to contain an energy crisis that has already dented their economy and threatens to spread more hardship this winter.
No summit breakthrough, EU struggles with gas price cap plan
European Union leaders are struggling to bridge significant differences over a natural gas price cap as winter approaches and Russiaโs war on Ukraine fuels an energy crisis.
Oil price cap could strike Russia's war chest โ if enforced
Leaders of the world's biggest developed economies are looking for ways to cut off Russian President Vladimir Putin's oil money, which is helping finance the war against Ukraine.
Zelenskyy tells G-7 summit Ukraine forces face urgent moment
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has underscored the urgency of helping his countryโs military improve its position against Russia during a video meeting with leading economic powers.
President Biden and G7 Leaders Formally Launch the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment
At the 2021 G7 Summit, President Biden and G7 leaders announced their intent to develop a values-driven, high-impact, and transparent infrastructure partnership to meet the enormous infrastructure needs of low- and middle-income countries and support the United Statesโ and its alliesโ economic and national security interests. Over the past year, members of the Administration have traveled to hear directly from countries on how we can meet their infrastructure needs, deepened our coordination across the U.S Government and with the G7, honed our infrastructure investment tools, and closed game-changing deals. ย At the G7 Leadersโ Summit in Schloss Elmau, Leaders will formally launch the Partnership for Global Infrastructure (PGII) to mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars and deliver quality, sustainable infrastructure that makes a difference in peopleโs lives around the world, strengthens and diversifies our supply chains, creates new opportunities for American workers and businesses, and advances our national security.
Biden urges Western unity on Ukraine amid war fatigue
President Joe Biden and Western allies at a three-day summit in the Bavarian Alps say they're intent on keeping economic fallout from the war in Ukraine from fracturing the global coalition working to punish Russiaโs aggression.
EU leaders tackle inflation, energy shocks from Russia's war
A day after endorsing Ukraineโs candidacy to join the European Union, the blocโs leaders turned their attention to the severe economic turbulence from Russiaโs war in the neighboring country.
Ukraine asks G7 to step up arms supply, pressure on Russia
Ukraineโs foreign minister says his country is willing to engage in diplomatic talks with Russia to unblock grain supplies and achieve a political solution to the war in Ukraine but wonโt accept ultimatums.
EU council head suggests giving asylum to Russian deserters
European Council president Charles Michel says European Union countries should think about ways to offer asylum to Russian soldiers willing to desert Ukraine battlefields.
EU leaders reach compromise on energy after long debate
EU leaders struggled for hours Friday to find a compromise on a deal aimed at curbing energy prices that have gone through the roof and hurt households and businesses across the 27-nation bloc.
EU united on Ukraine, but won't offer fast-track membership
European Union leaders have ruled out fulfilling Ukraineโs demand for a fast-track integration with the bloc as they discussed ways to help the eastern country in its war against Russia.
EU Commission: von der Leyen unconcerned by missed handshake
The European Commission is downplaying as a โstorm in a teacupโ an incident last week at a EU-Africa summit in Brussels during which its president was hardly acknowledged by a foreign minister.
Six African countries to receive mRNA vaccine technology
Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia will be the first African countries to receive the technology required to produce mRNA vaccines on the continent.
EU leaders worried by rise in antisemitism, Holocaust denial
European Union leaders are pledging on the eve of the annual commemorations of Auschwitzโs liberation to keep fighting the antisemitism and Holocaust denial that has gained traction across Europe during the pandemic.
COVID contact means Michel can't be at EU parliament session
European Council President Charles Michel has become the second top-level European Union official who has had to pull out of the bloc's parliament session because he had a high-risk COVID-19 contact.
EU auditors: Rule of law aid for W Balkans doesn't pay off
European Union auditors say that the hundreds of millions of euros that the bloc has poured into six Western Balkan nations to improve the rule of law there just doesn't pay off.
EU values, laws under threat amid standoff at Belarus border
Fears that the authoritarian leader of Belarus is using migrants as a โhybrid warfareโ tactic to destabilize the European Union are putting new strains on some of the values and laws of the 27-nation bloc.
!["Danke schรถn!" EU leaders, Obama give Merkel big sendoff](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/LtLGTgfwmaDmnB2HfW6vM_b7OOk=/800x526/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/GZFYDERIEJBGHM47ILSOEX3PNI.jpg)
"Danke schรถn!" EU leaders, Obama give Merkel big sendoff
Angela Merkel is still Germany's Chancellor and might be still when the European Union leaders meet again, yet they have given her a farewell party at Fridayโs EU summit.
![EU to keep fighting Belarus's "weaponization" of migrants](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/KyLlUS0gqKh1p5E_nN10EUjlrvA=/800x540/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/UQENP2VSWVA55CFYGXGFXJM6IY.jpg)
EU to keep fighting Belarus's "weaponization" of migrants
European Union leaders have pledged to โkeep up the pressure" on Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to halt the flow of migrants entering the 27 member-nation bloc from his country.
![France rallies EU as trust in US, UK and Australia wanes](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/azH361K3rH4GjxC2jabLTgbaZeM=/800x526/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YRIVKQJT7BA7XAX3F6UHR5HXPM.jpg)
France rallies EU as trust in US, UK and Australia wanes
France's European Union partners have agreed to put the country's security spat with the U.S., Australia and Britain on top of the bloc's political agenda in coming months.
![The Latest: Pakistan says no rush to recognize Taliban gov't](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/G10AQTxJdokGx6Os4I6ZfPgWUzk=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PMFPQJY4XFANDO4NDEBXLNMRIU.jpg)
The Latest: Pakistan says no rush to recognize Taliban gov't
Pakistanโs foreign minister says Afghanistanโs new Taliban rulers should understand that if they want recognition and assistance in rebuilding the war-battered country โthey have to be more sensitive and more receptive to international opinion and norms.โ.
![Global biodiversity conference opens in southern France](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/gfMiHfsvA2FjiGWzXesnFjlQRvc=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HQVJHVDDCVDP3A3UP6S5BQ6VOA.jpg)
Global biodiversity conference opens in southern France
French President Emmanuel Macron opened a global summit on biodiversity calling for better protection of the high seas, which largely donโt fall under any national jurisdiction but are threatened by fishing and other human activities.
![Afghan 'wake-up call' breeds support for EU military force](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/KL_Bynvu2pWA0tmkCuKaZpqk9IQ=/800x539/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/74CWVNFBVJAKZMHP36UMPDTLOE.jpg)
Afghan 'wake-up call' breeds support for EU military force
Senior European Union officials say the Talibanโs takeover of Afghanistan and the rushed airlift operation out of the country have highlighted the EU's need for its own rapid-reaction military force.
![Europe fears Afghan refugee crisis after Taliban takeover](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/UkrvPWlo5NTsofRFCBXUMiXsCvk=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7PSB2QB4VBAFLGKUPT4XUTJUTU.jpg)
Europe fears Afghan refugee crisis after Taliban takeover
European Union leaders haunted by a 2015 migration crisis fueled by the Syrian war desperately want to avoid a large-scale influx of refugees and migrants from Afghanistan.
![EU vows to help Lithuania amid flow of migrants from Belarus](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/32zXXqqy6eSCr36raTqPGUGdVkU=/800x542/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IDI4DHX4JJEZLD4WEDM6YESON4.jpg)
EU vows to help Lithuania amid flow of migrants from Belarus
The European Union has promised to help Lithuania cope with an influx of migrants from the Middle East and Africa, which the Baltic nation says has been encouraged by authorities in neighboring Belarus as part of their standoff with the West.
![EU leaders defend LGBT rights amid concern over Hungary law](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/xcqS4s6ejet7O55VckhVO9yKBno=/800x556/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/K232FKT27ZD7DJNGLGMTVHKNUE.jpg)
EU leaders defend LGBT rights amid concern over Hungary law
European Union leaders have clashed with Hungaryโs prime minister during a heated summit over new legislation in his country that will ban showing content about LGBT issues to children.
![EU vows a firm response as Brexit tensions rise anew](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/JjpkRrr05TnAnn4s8tPAHNxFGuM=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/COGR3YUAS5AARHDZSIZEXFASCY.jpg)
EU vows a firm response as Brexit tensions rise anew
Top European Union officials are vowing to use all measures available to ensure that the United Kingdom respects the terms of its Brexit agreement as tensions rise again over trade involving Northern Ireland.
![EU leaders attend summit in person for 1st time this year](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/mQ8dO-uargtKXNOXJbuDucxwhJE=/800x542/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DFHRIOHYUVGQDABSAGEVORTYOY.jpg)
EU leaders attend summit in person for 1st time this year
European Union leaders are attending a summit in Portugal, sending a signal that they see the threat from COVID-19 on their continent as waning amid a quickening vaccine rollout.
![EU chief felt 'hurt,' 'alone' at meeting with Turkish leader](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/4RT-RC0UQh0EqoHbLEebYLqVWnk=/800x523/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6Y3UMHLAONGJZA2JOR3JB5R7LQ.jpg)
EU chief felt 'hurt,' 'alone' at meeting with Turkish leader
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says she felt hurt and alone during a meeting with Turkeyโs president earlier this month and that she was treated poorly simply because she is a woman.
![The Latest: Biden envisions clean energy jobs as summit ends](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Pu5uqDzJrA37OEuv-M0R1mXoQyo=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DF6ZBZVLQZEZLOA3KRAZA3MI7A.jpg)
The Latest: Biden envisions clean energy jobs as summit ends
President Joe Biden has wrapped up his two-day climate summit, saying the climate crisis has created an opportunity to remake the global economy and produce millions of jobs in clean energy and technology.
![Turkey rejects claims of sexist snub towards von der Leyen](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/iJxW-x0YD3CLae98Ble7JqCVTEs=/1600x1079/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SEQLMRNF3ZBI3CPVGDSTH3MF5Y.jpg)
Turkey rejects claims of sexist snub towards von der Leyen
Turkey is rejecting accusations that it snubbed Ursula von der Leyen โ one of the European Unionโs most powerful executives โ during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan because of her gender.
![Snub in EU-Turkey meeting highlights gender equality issue](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/gynHyYlFXhMS-5AuIpasjvcmFus=/1600x1187/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2QXSDWIRIVCVTLCMAKJXPY4BTM.jpg)
Snub in EU-Turkey meeting highlights gender equality issue
The topic of gender equality took center stage Wednesday in Brussels a day after Ursula von der Leyen, one the most powerful European Unionโs executives, was treated like a second-rank official during a visit to the Turkish capital of Ankara.
![The Latest: Wyoming governor sticks with ending mask mandate](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/j9pfEZe5HKbxszr7Sl-4H7crbuM=/1600x1065/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/LQLJ5ZWDHBBDXHF7AZDV5CN6MA.jpg)
The Latest: Wyoming governor sticks with ending mask mandate
โ Wyomingโs governor is rejecting a call by President Joe Biden for states to reimpose mask orders in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Coronavirus cases nationwide are on the rise, but infections in Wyoming have fallen off sharply since December. Tribal health officials said that the United Kingdom strain was confirmed in a sample obtained in the western part of the reservation. State health officials on Monday announced more than 1 million people in the state, about 17% of Wisconsinโs population, have completed their vaccination cycles. AdThe COVID-related hospitalizations dropped to 549 on Monday, far below the pandemic record of 5,082 on Jan. 11, according to the stateโs pandemic dashboard.
![World leaders call for pandemic treaty, but short on details](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/iuVWbpOrfp7UzqGXMY8njqsL9dw=/1600x1238/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HNB3UDVZHREELMU2COWUXRRREI.jpg)
World leaders call for pandemic treaty, but short on details
"The world cannot afford to wait until the pandemic is over to start planning for the next one,โ Tedros said during a news conference. Steven Solomon, WHO's principal legal officer, said the proposed pandemic treaty would need to be ratified by lawmakers in the participating countries. European Council President Charles Michel first laid out the idea of a pandemic treaty at the U.N. General Assembly in December. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. has concerns about the current push for a new pandemic treaty. โThat should be our focus currently.โWHO legal officer Solomon said the pandemic treaty might also address issues such as the sharing of vaccine technology and vaccine supplies, but gave no indication how that might happen.
![EU offers Turkey aid, trade help despite rights concerns](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/WqaOVHMAFJbqMOZ-cMpfP-tnqJI=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZC5QF7CRDFFOLGOL6QBG3UGELU.jpg)
EU offers Turkey aid, trade help despite rights concerns
European Council President Charles Michel, top of screen, speaks with EU leaders, via videoconference link, during a EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, March 25, 2021. European Union leaders are looking for ways of ramping up COVID-19 vaccination across the region during their virtual meeting Thursday amid shortage of doses, spikes of new coronavirus cases, a feud with the United Kingdom and internal quarrels. (Yves Herman, Pool via AP)BRUSSELS โ European Union leaders on Thursday offered new incentives to Turkey to improve cooperation on migration and trade despite democratic backsliding in the country and lingering concerns about its energy ambitions in the Mediterranean Sea. Under it, the EU offered Ankara 6 billion euros ($7.1 billion) to help Syrian refugees and other incentives to prevent people from leaving Turkey to go to Europe. Last week, the EU criticized Turkish authorities for stripping a prominent pro-Kurdish legislator of his parliamentary seat and seeking to shut down his political party.
![EU moves toward stricter export controls for COVID-19 shots](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/jACuZh7bpMO5iiEiM3KNewgj5pI=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6C4FMJR5D5FOFNVHWYH4ULQ4CI.jpg)
EU moves toward stricter export controls for COVID-19 shots
Spain resumed the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)BRUSSELS โ The European Union moved Wednesday toward stricter export controls for coronavirus vaccines, seeking to make sure its 27 nations have more COVID-19 shots to boost the bloc's flagging vaccine campaign amid a surge in new infections. AdโI mention specifically the U.K.,โ said EU Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis. That was heading to Australia, which has a very limited coronavirus outbreak compared to the third surge of infections now facing many EU nations. The EU has been feuding with AstraZeneca for months over exactly how many vaccine doses would be delivered by certain dates.
![The Latest: Philippine leader orders mayors investigated](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Jhn_5smXUhbia9tcGEZlXeeBY9E=/1600x1181/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RL3AD3GAKVBSRIGRYIOMHQOY2Q.jpg)
The Latest: Philippine leader orders mayors investigated
New coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Utah have been on a downward trend since January. Ad___SAO PAULO, Brazil โ Brazil has reached 300,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and become the second nation to top that figure. ___BOISE, Idaho โ The governor of Idaho has said COVID-19 vaccine eligibility will be open to all Idaho residents 16 and up starting April 5. ___WAILUKU, Hawaii โ A hospital on Maui had to throw out nearly 1,400 vaccine doses after a refrigerator thawing the vials did not properly seal. Also, COVID-19 deaths have dipped below 1,000 a day on average for the first time since November.
![Biden to address video summit of EU leaders on Thursday](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/PQJ383tPz50zWC0cP0rXZlB7hpc=/2048x1365/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HPSYRNHXENC6DHUQ3HTSDL6Y7Q.jpg)
Biden to address video summit of EU leaders on Thursday
European Council President Charles Michel, left, talks during a video conference with the leaders of Germany, France, Portugal and Greece, on the screen, ahead of the EU summit at the European Council headquarters in Brussels, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. All rights reservedBRUSSELS โ U.S. President Joe Biden will join a video summit of European Union leaders on Thursday to discuss improving trans-Atlantic cooperation after four years of worsening relations during the Trump administration. โTime to rebuild our transatlantic alliance,โ EU Council President and summit host Charles Michel said in a twitter message. The 27 EU leaders have a regular two-day summit starting Thursday, where they will discuss everything from vaccine strategy to relations with Russia. Earlier this month, a first phone call between Biden and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen clinched a trade breakthrough with a four-month suspension of tariffs used in the longstanding Airbus-Boeing dispute.
![The Latest: Australia seeks vaccine aid for Papua New Guinea](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/iKLGzv_jb8mCnAHwuIIkNLWzNbM=/2048x1381/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CRDSO5BQK5EMLBWNS6GWBR4XPY.jpg)
The Latest: Australia seeks vaccine aid for Papua New Guinea
CANBERRA, Australia โ Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he is working with U.S., Indian and Japanese partners to provide emergency coronavirus vaccine to Papua New Guinea. Australia has provided 8,000 AstraZeneca doses from its own stockpile to its nearest neighbor after an explosion of infections in the South Pacific island nation in recent weeks. Morrison said Friday that the European Union has yet to respond to his recent request for 1 million AstraZeneca doses contracted by Australia to be sent to Papua New Guinea as soon as possible. It has an agreement with ImmunityBio, which has a COVID-19 vaccine in clinical trials, to produce the vaccine sometime next year. Biovac, based in Cape Town, has the capacity to produce between 20 million and 30 million vaccines in a year.
![EU-UK relations take a new dip over 'vaccine ban' comments](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/pldDldl7HIoXccS9fxA7vkfGj0g=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7V22J7AY6FCBPH2ZW5IYQZLACQ.jpg)
EU-UK relations take a new dip over 'vaccine ban' comments
Relations between the European Union and recently departed Britain took another diplomatic dip on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 when the EU envoy in London was summoned to explain comments that Britain had issued a vaccine export ban. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)BRUSSELS โ The leaders of the European Union and the United Kingdom went head-to-head in an angry exchange over vaccine exports as relations between the bloc and its former member took another diplomatic dip on Wednesday. โLet me be clear: we have not blocked the export of a single COVID-19 vaccine or vaccine components," Johnson said. The United Kingdom has given about 35% of its adults a vaccine shot while the EU is further back with 9.5%. AdAlready uneasy bedfellows during Britainโs 47 years of EU membership, thing got progressively worse since the 2016 referendum when the United Kingdom voted to leave the bloc.
![Top EU official pledges more support for Ukraine](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/UtR_qtLJChixaUPBOOVz3UZujDQ=/1600x1189/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/OAIKQLUB3NC6XBEARJEIS5YZHU.jpg)
Top EU official pledges more support for Ukraine
(Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)KYIV โ A top European Union official pledged more support for Ukraine on Tuesday as he visited the area near the separatist conflict in the country's east. He said that the EU assistance will include funding for the checkpoints near the zone of conflict. The conflict in eastern Ukraine erupted in April 2014 when Russia cast support for separatist rebels there weeks after annexing Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. โUkrainian citizens deserve a judicial system that respects justice, applies it and demonstrates that there is no impunity for crimes. We will support you at every stage of your path to the rule of law and judicial reform in Ukraine.โ
![EU urges parties in ex-Soviet Georgia to ease tensions](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/8x6BbTQFNi1_VaxqEptI2kFmlL8=/1600x963/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2WZ5IKKQHBCL3HQNROOIB2OUL4.jpg)
EU urges parties in ex-Soviet Georgia to ease tensions
โMy visit coincides with an aggravating political crisis in Georgia, which deeply worries the European Union, and I am also personally deeply worried by it,โ European Council President Charles Michel said. The political situation in Georgia has been tense amid allegations of voter fraud in the countryโs Oct. 31 parliamentary election. Tensions escalated last week following the arrest of the United National Movement's leader, Nika Melia. Thousands of opposition supporters marched across the Georgian capital last week to demand Melia's release and call for early parliamentary elections. โThe European Union calls upon all parties to intensify their efforts to stabilize the situation and find a common middle ground,โ Michel said after talks with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili.