Europe news update
Here's a summary of the latest news from Europe:
Politics
- The European Union has agreed to a new budget and recovery plan worth €1.8 trillion to help member states recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The UK and EU have reached a deal on the Northern Ireland protocol, which will allow for the free movement of goods between the UK and EU.
- The European Parliament has approved a new law aimed at reducing plastic waste and pollution in the EU.
Economy
- The European Central Bank has kept interest rates unchanged, citing concerns over the economic impact of the pandemic.
- The EU has launched a new investment fund to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region.
- Germany's economy has contracted by 0.1% in the second quarter, according to official figures.
Health
- The EU has approved a new COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, which is expected to be rolled out across the region.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a surge in COVID-19 cases in Europe, particularly in the UK and France.
- The EU has launched a new campaign to promote vaccination and public health measures to combat the pandemic.
International Relations
- The EU has imposed sanctions on Belarus over the country's crackdown on opposition protesters.
- The UK and EU have agreed to cooperate on security and defense issues, including counter-terrorism and cybersecurity.
- The EU has condemned the Russian government's decision to expel several European diplomats from the country.
Other News
- The EU has launched a new initiative to promote sustainable agriculture and reduce the environmental impact of farming.
- The European Commission has proposed new rules to improve the safety of electric vehicles in the EU.
- The EU has announced plans to increase funding for research and innovation in the region.
These are just a few of the latest news stories from Europe. If you'd like more information on a specific topic or country, feel free to ask!