Propagangster

So Rush Limbaugh is dead. Whatever I thought of him – whatever anyone thought of him – he deserves the dignity we afford to those who are dead and silent. Rush, rest in peace.

I first became aware of Limbaugh in the mid-1990s, some fifteen years after my mother and father had gotten divorced. My mother re-married a Kentucky horseman in the 1980s, and I lived with that side of the family.

They were conservatives, but not radicals. The favourite book of one of my mother’s in-laws was All the President’s Men. He would describe with relish Woodward and Bernstein discovering Richard Nixon’s schemes. ‘They would get closer and closer,’ he would say.

I stepped away from the mother’s side of my family during my undergraduate days at Yale. When they ended , I returned to find that their politics had changed, and strangely.

The relative who had enjoyed All the President’s Men now believed that Woodward and Bernstein had invented Deep Throat and helped to carry out an unconstitutional coup against Nixon.

They also believed that Joseph McCarthy was right about Communists infiltrating the US government, that climate warming was a hoax, that gays had taken over the Catholic Church, that the Nazis were actually Socialists (and therefore Hillary Clinton, a socialist, was a Nazi), and that Democratic politicians had group sex with unwilling waitresses from time to time.

They tended to present these beliefs as self-evident facts.

These certainties were not prone to correction. When Deep Throat showed up on television in 2005, their views about Watergate did not change.

The reason, more than any other single cause, was Rush Limbaugh.

Over the years, Limbaugh built and perfected an alternative American political history that, in turn, led seamlessly into an alternative American political reality for conservatives. This new reality had several characteristics.

First, it was (and remains) hermetically sealed, rarely offering alternative viewpoints except as targets for mockery.

Second, it was repeated very day, three hours a day on weekdays, on car radios where many rural Americans driving on old state roads still received their news.

Third, it tended to portray political battles not as honest disagreements between good-faith actors with different interests, but as part of a broader civilisational and cultural war between good and evil.

Fourth, because this reality insisted on a good-versus-evil paradigm, it tended to reduce politics to a blood sport. Any notion of calm dialogue geared towards resolving differences and building a better country went out the door. It was replaced by zingers and insults and sarcasm and mockery and a ceaseless search for hypocrisy and alleged double standards. Either that, or pregnant silences that were really just mutually agreed truces.

Limbaugh had a sense of humour, but the laughter was often bitter. Comedy works best as a way for the powerless and the downtrodden to punch upwards. But like his political embodiment Donald Trump, Limbaugh ranked with the powerful, and he never hesitated to punch down.

Fifth, just as Limbaugh demonised this opponents, he tended to idealise the conservative way of life. Ultimately, this idealisation became indistinguishable from self-worship: worship of your big house, your giant truck, your huge wealth, and yes, your whiteness and your maleness, even if not all his listeners were male and white.

Finally, although Limbaugh spoke endlessly of his great intellect, his world-view was based on revelation rather than reason. When confronted with a skilled debater or comic, he often flailed and cut off sceptical interlocutors rather than engage with them.

His appeal was visceral. He showered his listeners with his alleged genius, and they were grateful. Part of that appeal was his attitude and even his physicality. His vast deep voice – a truly great radio voice – sounded, to his admirers, like the voice of God. He was big and fat and egoistic, and he revelled in it all, as did his audience.

If this sounds like a religion, it was, of a sort, although it was the opposite of Christianity. Limbaugh’s alternative political reality was not a universal church. It was a sect. It was also not unlike the small religious sects, descendants of the Reformation, that have dominated American rural life for centuries.

Before the 1990s, those sects remained separate. Limbaugh helped to bring them together, and the internet multiplied their power.

These sects tended to find solace in a simple, good-versus-evil paradigm of human events, and Limbaugh was a Great Simplifier. He took the messiness of life and reduced it to a handful of aphorisms. His listeners demanded enemies, and he provided them.

But more than that, Limbaugh embodied an American archetype: a combination of showman, preacher, con artist, and circus ringleader who used the credulity of his believers to make himself ridiculously rich. He was ‘Professor’ Harold Hill from The Music Man, but set to a darker soundtrack of sarcastic laughter.

He never made anything concrete or useful, at least that I’ve seen. But the air from his lungs was worth $600 million, according to Fox News.

His legacy is silence, but not his own. His words will live on in the mouths of my relatives, who will parrot his language for years.

The real silence is the one that exists between myself and my family.

Every once in a while, usually during a holiday visit, I try to have a cordial discussion about politics. It always ends in disaster.

The last time, I asked something innocuous about Trump. The response was a verbal wall of words, each brick an unfair allegation or conspiracy theory. So many outlandish claims hit me at once that I didn’t know where to begin.

And that’s the point. You cannot argue with an alternative reality based on faith. To do so marks you as an outsider, and perhaps as an enemy. The result is a painful and awkward silence.

That’s the irony, you see. Limbaugh talked so much that his listeners forget how to listen to anyone with different views. On omnipresent digital screens, noise surrounds us and engulfs us. On TV, cable news sophists may shout or sneer. But those who listen never really talk. Fear smothers our words.

I respect Limbaugh’s passing, but I cannot mourn it. I can, however, mourn the terrible American silence that he left behind.

Don’t quote, don’t trust, verify here, my comments in brackets.

Von der Leyen, henceforth VDL: [missed a little at the start] Discussion an action plan to build synergies with space industries. Communication on trade. New direction for assertive trade policy. Adopted joint communication with High Rep on EU’s contribution to rules-based multilateralism. HRVP Borrell also briefed College on the int’l arena. EC approved 2nd contract with Moderna for 300m additional doses of vaccine. We will and shall vaccines in the weekly and months to come. More Covid cases linked to new variants. Vaccines approved in Europe appear to be effective against these new variants, but there could be more variants, and could be more resistance. Why today we are presenting the HERA incubator. Public-private cooperation. Use combined strength to get area of new variants. We know where there were delays and bottlenecks the first time around. Five priorities: sequencing of virus (and variants), adapt existing vaccines, need evidence-based data fast, fast-track reg approval of vaccines and manu’f sites, upscale mass production of new and existing vaccines. EU-wide genetic sequencing must be speeded up. Also, 2nd building stone, need to support undertakings when vaccines adapted to new variants. Allocating 150m euro to research projects for this. Third, clinic studies. Must be coordinated better throughout Europe. Today, EU-wide clinical study launched today. Also, market approval for new vaccines must be streamlined. Like flu-jabs every year. Also must have sufficient manu’f capacity here in Europe. When need to ramp up production, must be able to do it immediately. Why we’re proposing HERA incubator now.

Stella Kyriakides, EU commissioner for health and food safety. Authorised vaccines still the first line of defence. Effective against the variants. By nature, they mutate, our defences need to evolve. HERA incubator: what needs to be done in terms of new variants. All MS need capacity to have a sequencing of about 5% of positive results. Figure now 1%. We need a network across MS. 2nd element of HERA: advance purchase agreements. Our approach to ‘de-risk’ vaccine candidates has shown its worth. Need to build on it. 3rd, regulatory process. Need a new vaccines to be approved through streamlined procedures. No compromises will be made on safety. Also need to look at how we use regulatory procedures. Also early involvement of regulatory authorities. Can propose emergency approval with shared liability. HERA incubator, we knew that this was missing from our structures, now acting upon that today.

Thierry Breton, internal market commissioner. Our European strategy against variants. Need to anticipate. Third wave. The scientific element, sequencing, adaptation to new variants, and after all that, industrial side of things. So it’s not easy. Not a piece of cake. We’re in a race. The scientists have done amazing things. Ten months after WHO announcements, we have four, five vaccines that work. Most that work were selected from 100s of candidates. Most developed in Europe with European funds. We should be proud of this, that Europe through its financing was able to participate in this global effort. Delivered 178 million doses [globally?]. It’s not enough. US, 50 m delivered. China, about 40 m delivered, here in Europe, 33 million doses. We started a bit later. Factories. Not easy to produce vaccines. Takes 4-5 years, not a timescale we can accept. Need to use existing industrial basis. Amongst approved vaccines, RNA vaccines. Nobody’s done this before. To scale up factories, we need 18-24 months. Can’t accept. We need a war footing here, some people use that phrase. We’re asking them to boost production in 4-5 months, when usually they need 1.5-2 years. 16 sites in Europe producing the vaccine. Not all of them mobilised for selected vaccines, some for vaccines that will hopefully be approved. We need to help these companies to follow the time-frame, why president asked me to help set up industrial task-force, it has been set up. It’s going well. To produce vaccines, you need organic components, chemical components, mechanical. Need to ensure the supply chain works. Need a global, general view. In this global race, need to ensure that companies not supplying vaccines today but have infrastructure, need to ensure they can make this available, can help boost capacity and we can play a coordinating role. Our objective not just to be ready now, but if need be, to come back in, re-intervene, b/c maybe a variant requires a booster shot that we need to produce industrially. Final objective, need to ensure that our continent can be fully autonomous when it comes to vaccine production. Need to supply other countries, other continents, particularly Africa.

Q&A [where’s where the fun begins]

13:26, Mathijs: will you try to re-negotiate current contracts? New emergency authorisation system, how long will it take? A couple of days?

VDL: we need of course a new contract [to fight a new variant]. Good experience with our contractors, the nature way to continue. Re advance purchase agreements, on the one hand, prior investment important to boost production capacity, for companies, important that they have guaranteed doses that we will be talking. For us, roundabout investment about 3 billion, plus 1 billion for investment. [other figures – overall cost something like 30 billion]. [So advance contracts important.] Emergency authorisation in place until March.

Marco: some regions in Italy in contact with brokers for approved vaccines. Has Germany bilaterally purchased 30 million doses from Pfizer?

VDL: very clear in contracts we have with MS, MS are not supposed to have bilateral negotiations with pharmaceutical companies, if they did, they would have to notify, I have no knowledge about any side contracts. We’ve agreed as EU 27, with out purchasing power, 2.3 billion doses negotiated, today 300 million more. Re fraud, I’ve heard that doses have been offered. In a crisis, you’ll always have people who seek to profit from problems of others. See a growing number of fraud attempts. OLAF is investigating. Our goal is to bring them to justice. On general topic, speaking about Pfizer ‘being offered’, no guarantee that the vaccine is really in the vial. Extremely risky. You have no clue [where it’s been]. If you buy it on the black market, you take the risk. A good reason why we have these detailed tracking systems and logistical chains.

13:33, Jullian Deutsch: Commission to mobilise all necessary funding. How much? Where will it come from? Also, state of play re AstraZeneca. Only one facility for substance to produce in the EU. Would get doses from India. Any news?

VDL: For companies, more important that we guarantee that we take doses than the upfront payments. EC has done the payments. But the doses are being bought by the respective MS at a later stage. This guarantee that we’ll take doses is important for their investment decisions.

Thierry: we’re seen a slow run-up by AstraZeneca. Visited their factory last week here in Belgium. Capacity to produce doses is drastically increasing from what it was before I came. Improvement of 50 per cent. Another factory in Italy. We are confident that they will catch up. And you can count on me, I am behind the [on top of them] on a daily basis.

Athanasios: if we had the means to go faster, why didn’t we go faster before?

VDL: making a vaccine normally take 5-10 years, with 6 months approval. So reduction of process to 3-4 weeks right now is a big step forward. These were completely new vaccines. In the interest of people being vaccinated that the vaccine be effective and safe. We’re gonna look into how to better synchronise steps. Might change the regulatory process to allow HERA to do that. Re variants, now a bottom-line knowledge, just need to look at incremental improvement or change. Can reduce procedure on top.

Stella: we were dealing with totally new vaccines, needed to go through safety regulatory framework. HERA incubator, looking at vaccines that might need to be adapted for variants, can [collaborate] with industry [more easily].

VDL: [These folks know how to talk] It’s so good that we have today the start of a clinical trial network in Europe, a standardised approach.

Thierry: The incubator is important b/c everybody will pool their efforts. In many cases, clinical trials started in the summer when Europe was in lockdown, and numbers of infections went down, so took a bit more time to gain access to all the testing capacities, one of the things that slowed the process down. In all 3 types of technologies, the first one, messenger RNA, proposing b/c if genetic mutations, only a number of elements will have to be changed [but without changing everything]. Nanoparticles won’t have to be interfered with. So new vaccines for variants [won’t take so long].

MARCUS: 2.3 billion doses already, why order more doses? Because of concerns about other vaccines’ quality? Why supply chain steps not taken sooner?

VDL: 2.3 billion already, behind it two things, at the start we had no clue which of six vaccines would make it. At the start, had 160 different applicants, narrowed it down to 30, chose 6, negotiating with 2 more. Five will for sure within this year. So very successful, and at the start we had no clue. Second dimension, from the start counted more doses b/c we wanted to supply also to our neighbourhood. Two tracks: either by doses in kind, COVACs, in COVACS, we do funding with money. Team Europe, the largest funding partner, counting on the US to join COVACS. Additional doses important for us and our neighbourhood. If we negotiate further contracts, inevitably the thought of variants. New contracts [keep new variants in mind]. We will always have to be vigilant to be able to fight mutations with new vaccines and over time to vaccinate vulnerable groups.

Thierry: we had six candidates. We didn’t know which one would be ready first. Before it was impossible to identifies bottlenecks in supply chains. Past six weeks, we’ve been on the ground. But everything has to be done step-by-step.

VDL: why not earlier? We invested heavily in advance purchase agreement, 2.9 billion euro, to have them boost their capacities and get their supply chain in order. Whole world asking for raw materials now. If we had not done that, deliveries would be way lower low.

Christian: authorisations. You spoke about confidence. Now, today, you think it is advisable to accelerate authorisations, but AstraZeneca doesn’t inspire confidence, but discouraged for over-55s, so if you’re going to speed things up, won’t you just speed up public mistrust? Also, do we know anything about the Sputnik vaccine? Also, going to be a long-term pandemic, going to need to vaccinate every year. Will we have the capacity to vaccinate every year?

VDL: Not one-size-fits-all vaccination. If we have an incremental change in the vaccine, then of course you can reduce the time. But being thorough with safety is important. Sputnik? But Sputnik hasn’t applied with EMA. They haven’t applied for conditional market authorisation. If they do, they have to submit all their data and go through the whole process. So, not producing in Europe, needs to be an inspection on the inspection side. We still wonder why Russia is offering millions and millions of doses while they are not sufficiently vaccinating their own people.

Thierry: we need to be humble. The problem for us today is not vaccine, it’s the availability. We have strict rules for safety. We’re at advanced discussions with vaccine producers. I know that there’s a lot in the pipeline, it’s not easy. We’re not going to start from zero. When it comes to types of vaccines, we’re boosting the production capacity. Our objectives can be met. Our ambition is to look to the future. Not sure if we’ll have to vaccinate every year. But we need to have health sovereignty in the EU. Need to be able to react quickly. One of the objectives of HERA is to work with industry so we have the whole panoply of technologies. Once again, this is the case for us and for the countries around us.

[?]: Why do you think about Hungarian approach to approving Chinese and Russian vaccines?

Stella: Sputnik V has not applied for market authorisation. Advance purchase agreements [APA] for authorised vaccines. If MS purchase other vaccines, that’s their responsibility. When we’re talking about accelerating the regulatory framework, we’re talking about authorised vaccines. The process allows for phrama co-vigilance. When going through authorisation [process], [all sides] follow up all cases in cases of difficulties or side effects. Any MS that goes outside the framework, no co-vigilance.

[?didn’t catch name]: why did the companies say of problems after the contracts were signed? A contradiction to sign the contracts, and then say, by the end of the summer we’ll have vaccinated 70 per cent of the population?

VDL: [wasn’t easy for companies either]. Science overtook industry. A reason why BioNTech and Pfizer had to reduce expectations on deliveries. Science incredible, industry very very good, but all sorts of bottlenecks and delays. A learning element that feed deep into HERA incubator. [They’re selling it like someone at McDo trying to push a side order of fries]

Thierry: companies made investments in advance. They bought huge containers that were left empty. So we financed this period upstream, when they time came, they started the manufacturing process. Some cases, could start producing right away, sometimes not. [Look, shite happens.]

Mayer: question for VDL. Much criticism from some MS that EC failed at the start. But at the same time, we’re also seeing implementation of jointly agreed strategy not working well. Border closures, what have you. What proposal would you have to enable cooperation between MS and the EC? Plain for everyone to see that we have problems, but not just in Brussels, in and amongst the MS. Maybe we need a better way of working together.

VDL: In July the Council has been meeting on a monthly basis to discuss the pandemic, in VTC. This is, of course, a huge challenge for everyone. The EC does not have a huge area of competence here, a good sign of cooperation that we’ve made the process that we’ve made. Imagined if MS had gone it alone. Some empty handed, would have been the end of the EU, would have destroyed the single market, if one MS vaccinated all its people while virus still running wild in other MS, [wouldn’t have been good]. I think [our progress] is something to be proud of. I understand that people are impatient. It’s really frustrating. But we stuck together and we continue to stick together. We’re set up a next-generation Europe initiative. Economic crisis severe even before the pandemic, but we have a comprehensive, joint response. Something the MS have done together, going to invest all this money in the MS. Hasn’t been an easy path. When we work together, we have success.

14:14, Louise: press release talks about EU… project. How do you envision capacity? EU build and own its own factories?

Thierry: we focus our effort on helping companies scale up their production. You can understand that. Our understand by my body language that we will do it. But in the future, maybe a new pandemic. We don’t know what kind of technology will be needed. So discussion, that we had before this year already, talking of how companies can prepare themselves, put in place a network of all industries that exist together in continental Europe, if everything goes well and everything will go well [good to know], we’ll be one of the first continents in terms of manufacturing vaccines. But need to keep it up and running if something happens. So need the right governance structure.

Diego: numbers allocate to the COVACS programme, or will you think of COVACs after [?]. Also Hungary?

VDL: COVACS, we had two pledging sessions in May, 16 billion euro pledged, by now COVACS covering 92 lower and middle-income countries. Most important principle is to fund COVACS. It’s negotiating with pharmaceutical companies. Distributing vaccines. COVACS itself spent 2 billion so far, need 7 billion. For EU, important to share if possible doses with COVACS and the neighbourhood. We’ve started work on a sharing mechanism among the MS. But still struggling to get started. One more point re HERA, we have to think in parallel, working not only on capacities in Europe, but where in Africa are potential capacities that could be boosted, for example in Senegal. A form of licensing is proposed in the communication. Licensing possible. Best practice that under ownership of producer, licensing in Africa. The ideal approach.

Fleming: AstraZeneca, usefulness with South Africa variant. Does contract require additional [fixing]? Advice to MS considering Sputnik to wait for authorisation? Is it risky for them to go ahead?

Stella: EMA following up about AstraZeneca and South African variant. We need to take into account vaccine efficacy towards variants, manufacturers looking into this. In terms of Sputnik, no submission for conditional market authorisation, can only assess vaccine after going through EMA scientific assessment.

Matina: re-introduction of border checks. Germany and Belgium. EC urging proportionality, communication, scientific backing. But not really been the cases for most recent checkpoints. How much are you concerned about this and whether you’re worried this is affecting the internal, common market. New EC recommendations but it seems they’re already out the window.

VDL: 17 MS last spring re-introduced border measures, didn’t stop the virus but did cause enormous [economic] problems. In December, down to 4 states with border measures, now we’re back to 9 MS with border measures. So of course we always have to balance health and full movement. More important to look at regions with the same epidemiological situation. That’s what we’ve told the MS. The virus taught us that closing borders does not stop it. In our own interest to stick to the recommendations we agreed together.

1. Why is dating in Brussels so hard? I ask that question as a recently married man, and from that lordly position on the heights of Mount Marriage I cast down my scorn and pity upon you all.
2. For me, dating in Brussels is like trying to hook up in an airport. Just when you think you’ve grabbed someone, they fly away.
3. Also, Covid.
4. Also, middle-aged men with decent paychecks pretending they’re Peter Pan and living the dream of endless, random, expatriate hook-ups with sexy, carefree young women from exotic places like Swindon.
5. Sort of the James Bond mentality, but without the roguish charm. Or the gadgets. Or pretty much anything related to James Bond.
6. Although women aren’t entirely blameless. They have their ideals as well: of perfect, charming men who exfoliate their facial skin, dress well, are never late, listen to what you say, and aren’t entirely gay.
7. I asked one female friend of mine, we’ll called her Goneril, about the Brussels dating scene. She said, ‘What can you possibly say about cruelty and desperation… and the cruelty of the [local] dating market?’
8. Also, lies. ‘Especially men, they lie about their age and forget to mention [their] children lying around their houses,’ Goneril said. ‘Bizarrely, they also lie about their height on dating apps, as if you’re not gonna figure it out eventually.’
9. Another, we’ll call her Cordelia, said, ‘Dating in lockdown is a frenzy of confusion and wanting to pull your hair out. Dating politics is blurred because choices are limited and nobody really wants to admit that or knows how to admit that, yet somehow everyone’s on Tinder.’
10. Cordelia also agreed with Goneril about sneaky dates having sneaky kids or sneaky sorta-ex-girlfriends. ‘Ex girlfriends you haven’t quite ended things with and you say you want to let them down easily, which means you have the perfect excuse to just disappear,’ Cordelia said.
11. Also, back to the airport. Goneril: ‘Due to the large circulation of people, a lot of singles behave like they are shopping for prostitutes, and if you’re not entertaining enough, you’re out.’
12. ‘Between 7 and 9pm, it’s rush hour,’ Cordelia chimed in. ‘I also heard (FROM A FRIEND) about frequent post-curfew alleyway action being openly suggested regularly.’
13. Gross. Also, nasty. Also, gross.
14. Cordelia said that women can lie as well as men. ‘This goes both ways though… I mean lying about physical appearances, women photoshopping themselves when they’re overweight etc.’
15. At this point, a male friend, we’ll call him Horatio, said, ‘Oh yes… be wary of the close-up head shots and funny angles. I was always amused by the “no [characteristic A], no [characteristic B] etc – if you have any of these, swipe left.” It’s like, why don’t you just conduct that filter yourself?’
16. The problems compound if you’re over thirty. Another woman, we’ll call her Regan (although I call her wife), said, ‘My generation of men still had issues with women being more intelligent and making more money than them.’
17. Here’s the thing about straight men. Most are terrified of death and marriage and determined to shag every women on their List before either.
18. The List is the list of women that most men write in their minds. It’s a list of the women they are determined to shag. It begins with Scarlett Johanssen. It ends with her because they never get past that stage.
19. Unable to knock names of their list, some men descend into a second childhood, or perhaps a third or a fourth. Some men never really get out of childhood.
20. Here’s a dating story for you from Horatio. ‘I’d made the acquaintance of an Irish fella with a really thick Munster accent. We’d often met up to go to these expat bars near my place. He asked me, “You want to go to Kitty’s at 8 o’clock on Saturday?” I said, yeah fine. I went along and sat there for five to ten minutes. The big chap rocks up clearly three sheets to the wind, absolutely flaming, avec wee bird, and I think, who’s this? Is this a flatmate? Does he have a girlfriend? I haven’t heard about this. So they sit with me and we’re chatting a bit. I’m talking to wee bird, meanwhile the Irish fella is like, staggering and can’t speak, and he is just sort of agreeing with what I’m saying, and pointing, and saying, “What up! What up!” in the girl’s face, profusely sweating as well. We got to the 20 minute mark and I said, “So how do you guys know each other?” She was a German speaker, and she was like [German accent], “Ve met on Tinder, but I did not know that he had been drinking for hours before.” Meanwhile, the Irish fella’s like, “It’s not going very well is it? Heh-heh! What up!” She started to take a bit more interest in me because I was not paralytic.’
21. And they’ve been married for 20 years.
22. I made up that last bit.
23. Damn good story, tho. Sums things up. Thanks, Horatio.
24. For all the stereotypes about cheating Italian [and Spanish, my wife demanded this edit] men, it seems to me that once they’ve found themselves a special someone, they settle down and that’s that. Northern Europeans are just as likely to play the crowd, if not more so. Convince me I’m wrong.
25. Moral of the story: marry an Italian [or a Spaniard], maybe.
26. Also, if you’re a women and you want a kid, you don’t need a husband anymore. Just have a kid.
27. Also, maybe don’t chase any ideals around.
28. Also, marry a Belgian. They’re not going anywhere.
29. Although we expats, in our hermetically sealed bubbles, sometimes look at the Belgians in the same way that Frodo and Sam looked at the Elves in the Lord of the Rings films. ‘Oh look! There, in the woods beyond the outer ring… there they are… the Belgians. I hear they’re going to the Undying Lands, which is apparently Zaventem.’
30. Note that I’m not talking about gay life in Brussels. Most gay men I know in Brussels seem to be in monogamous, long-term relationships. I mean, sure, there’s the Boy’s Boudoir (which might well be a perfectly prudish and uptight conservative establishment but I have my suspicions that things can go a bit jiggly in there), but there’s also Place Lux on a Thursday night that’s the meat market for men with bad social skills. What up!
31. I know nothing about lesbian life in Brussels, which I’m not proud of, it’s a weakness but it’s also a fact so no comment.
32. And speaking about gay life in Brussels, what’s going on with the apparent fetish for gas masks with long tubes for noses? You know the shop I mean. What is that about?
33. I’m not judging.
34. OK, I am judging a little. I am genuinely curious. But not bi-tube-nose curious. What up!
35. Speaking of failed relationships, the EU and Russia.
36. Russia waiving a fist at Latvia: ‘One of these days… one of these days…’
37. If Trump was the EU’s noxious and vindictive ex-husband who runs off with a 20-year-old assistant (North Korea?), Putin is more the stalker type who waits for you in the shadows of your entryway, and when he sees you, says [thick Russian accent], ‘You said you would call, EU. You make like bear in winter. But spring is coming, when I do dance of love without shirt.’
38. Also, ‘I have excellent vaccine for you.’ Which might actually be true, but the way he’s offering it is massively creepy.
39. The best advice I’ve heard about marriage came from a man I once knew who’d been together with his wife for 40-odd years. ‘Grab somebody and hang on,’ he said. ‘All my friends are divorced, and I’m doing way better than they are.’
40. Having just watched Sister Act for the first time, I’m more convinced than ever that we should put nuns in charge of everything.

Don’t quote, don’t trust, verify here, spokesperson bios here, my comments in brackets. Decided towards the end to put reporters’ names in bold.

Berlaymont press room, Spokesperson Dana Spinant, Brussels, 12pm.

12:06pm.

Miriam, on trade interests: New trade enforcement rules in force. Upgrade trade agreement enforcement. EU can act in the WTO when a dispute is blocked. Second, expanding scope of regulation to services and IP rights. Info in our daily news.

Dana: College of Commissioners: exec VP and Gentiloni will represent Commission this afternoon at Eurogroup vid conference. Meeting with discuss winter 2021 economic forecast, int’l role of euro, corporate sector, draft budgetary plan of Lithuania this year. Reserve questions on economic measures for that press conference. Finally, before I give you the floor, a housekeeping point which affects you. Renewal of annual accreditations for Brussels-based journalist, deadline for applications is only 2 weeks away.

CATALAN ELECTION

Jose Luis: Catalan elections, independence got best results in years, EC concerned? Result could restart a political crisis in Spain.

Christian: EC never comments on regional elections.

Dana: more questions for Christian?

Odile: no.

Dana: only for Christian.

Lili: [silence]

Dana: select might source.

MEDIA

Lili: Club Radio in Hungary. EC sent letter on Friday. An response? Next steps?

Dana: Several aspects.

Christian: EC sent the letter on Friday expressing concerns re Club Radio. Ceased its activities on highly questionable legal grounds. Hungary should respect EU’s charter on fundamental rights, includ. freedom of expression, freedom to conduct business… requested Hungarian authorities respect and comply with EU law. No answer yet to Friday letter.

Dana: Other Club Radio or other media issues for Christian?

Jordi: Catalonia elections. More tensions between parties? Concerning that far right entered parliament for the first time?

Christian: no comment on regional elections. Not for us to express feelings. [raises Spock hand greeting]

BORDERS

David: Border control measures, decision taken by Germany, interior minister accusing you of impeding some measures. Commissioner Reynders quote worried about situation, will send letter to MS. Anything more to say?

Dana: a question for Christian.

Christian: MS agreed on common approach to restrictions on free movement. Adopted measures on free movement, recently updated b/c of new coronavirus. They are clear and should be everyone’s compass. Without coordinated approach, risk fragmentation and disruptions to free movement. Expect all MS to coordinate re colour code, restrict travel to/from dark red areas, blanket restrictions should be avoided. Portuguese presidency will put travel restrictions [on agenda] for next general affairs council. Re Commissioner Reynders, EC will send a letter to all MS that we expected them to follow guidelines we agreed together.

David: Problem that not all MS imposing restrictions in a non-coordinated way. Two MS, Belgium and Germany. French Europe minister says he’s not happy, will coordinate bilaterally with Germany, b/c Germany will impose controls between France and Germany. Why are you sending letters to all MS instead of getting on the phone and calling Berlin, or sending a letter to Berlin? You have all the legal means at your disposal.

Christian: a simplification to speak of just 2 MS. Belgium, we seek clarification. Of concern to us, principle of proportionality. Looking into measures introduced by a number of MS, not only Belgium. Germany measures, I’ve given a clear position. Remind that recommendation we’ve put together should be the compass.

Dana: Letter to MS mentioned, but not the only measure being taken, can’t do a running commentary on all measures being taken. Questions re borders?

Jack: communication feels quite urgent, could be more pressure or action on this. Why taking so long, and when will we know what the EC can do about it?

Christian: I refute this notion that it’s taking very long. Actions implemented very rapidly. Germany, Bavaria, movement almost within the hour on some issues. Closely following, monitoring these issues. Our compass should be the joined agreed recommendation, adopted in September, recently updated.

Dana: agreed plan is the recommendation.

Christian: A lot of contact ongoing.

Alain: You’ve been talking about proportionality, need to respect that principle. Question is, do these measures by Belgium and Germany, are they part of that idea, respecting proportionality? If you can’t answer now, when?

Christian: the question seems simple, but not that simple when it comes to legal matters. We are in contact with Belgium and we’ve been in contact through the PM cabinet and Commissioner Reynders, hope we’ll have more clarification on these matters, particularly re proportionality, we do have some concerns about measures in Belgium. We’ll take any measures necessary, as we always do. Germany. Situation a little different. Remains important.. I’m going to switch to English. [English] Jointly agree recommendation, I don’t want to translate but to quote recommendation: MS should seek to avoid disruptions to essential travel, disruption supply chains, persons travelling for professional or business reasons, [French] that’s the compassions we use to guide ourselves. [French speakers are often unhappy about this switching]

Alain: how will that contact lead to the EC taking a stance on this? Days pass and these measures are still in force, hampers free movement of EU citizens. Germany, people who may have legitimate reasons to cross the borders, they cannot do that. Pillar of EU rights. So when will you be able to answer this question?

Dana: Christian has said all he can on this today. Remain in contact with Germans, etc.

Isabelle: you said you’re being guided by the recommendations. What can you do, exactly? Just recommendations? Can EU MS close borders without penalty?

Christian: we’d need a technical briefing for these questions. I understand, can only remind you that we do of course have joint European rules on the freedom of movement. We have rules on the Schengen area, and so on. Not just recommendations. As pandemic has rapidly evolved, become necessary to put stronger recommendations on the table so we have a more practical system in place. So this doesn’t undermine undermine free movement in Europe.

Dana: will think about a technical briefing. We’ll get back to you on that.

Erisa: Can we say that MS don’t care about EC’s recommendations? EU powerless, MS don’t care, EC can’t make MS respect their engagement? [Erisa is ON]

Dana: EC doing its upmost in contacts with governments, legal analysis, to see if the national measures are in conformity with the recommendations. Beyond recommendations, we also have rules, EC watching how those rules being respected at borders. We are in a pandemic, new variants of Covid-19, but measures need to be proportionality and non-discriminatory.

Christian: I don’t agree that MS not following our recommendations. MS have agreed upon them. We remind MS of this common approach. Will also be discussed at next GA council.

David: Your tweet this morning, Prez said they discussed border controls with Covid team, anything about that? Do you accept what German Interior Ministry said, that EC obstructing Germany’s efforts to defend itself against virus?

Dana: Yes, a discussion this morning, via videoconference of college. Discussed so we might access current situation. At this stage, haven’t gone beyond that discussion.

Christian: we don’t comment on comments. Recommendation applies to all MS.

Dana: Time for a different subject. [laying down the law]

CLUB RADIO

Catherine: Club Radio. EC urging action to avoid irreparable damage to Club Radio. But it’s rights of use have already expired. Can you do something urgently? Injunction? Irreparable? Motivation to remove any independent media voice in Hungary. What can you do urgently?

Christian: We sent a letter to the Hungarian authorities on Friday [echoes of Hans Blix in Team America World Police here]. We’re taking into consideration media pluralism and the media services directive. We’re looking at various possibilities, that’s all I can say now.

UK DATA PROTECTION

Alexander: UK’s Data Protection, Financial Teams reported that EC could present a decision this week. Twice, ECJ has rules that US can’t grant adequacy, UK law enforcement. [confusing question, very technical, I think about the ECJ deciding if UK data protection is adequate re Europeans]

Christian: EC is working on its decision for the UK. UK-EU agreement provides a bridging solution. Adequacy talks with the UK well advanced, adoption process is foreseen to start soon. Need opinion from EU data protection board, and something else [didn’t catch]. We’ll inform about the steps in this process.

CATALONIA

12:48pm, Griselda: surprised and confused by your Catalonia response. Not asking your to congratulate the winners. Sometimes you say that this isn’t your competence, but it is. When there’s a political problem in the EU, politicians being jailed, decisions being made in EU courts on this topic, political leaders in prison, wouldn’t this be a good opportunity to start a conversation?

Dana: we will not go into discussion of this kind. We’ve heard the results. Your surprise surprises me [oooh!], we don’t comment on elections.

Christian: don’t comment on regional elections.

Dana: other questions, please. Christian has been up here too long.

Athanasiou: Now For Something Completely Different. Cyprus. Some inventors paid VAT of 5 per cent, and not 19 per cent, 5 per cent, only for investors already in Cyprus. Are you looking into ‘golden passports’, should government retrieve all the VAT not collected in this [investment project]?

Dana: still Christian. [Are you tired of this?]

Christian: Ongoing infringement procedure. Legal proceedings. 20 October, launched this infringement procedures. Received a reply from Cyprus. Not we are analysing it in view of next steps, won’t comment with further details.

Dana: Christian, you are free. [Fly, fly like the wind!]

Mathijs: meeting about state aid for airline KLM. Claim that EC [didn’t understand this].

Arianna: nothing I can aid besides that they will discuss issues in EC portfolio. EC in contact with Dutch authorities in this matter. In general, if a MS intends to grant more than 250 million euro in state aid in recapitalisation framework, they must propose measures to preserve competition.

EBOLA

Maas [name not quite right]: on ebola. Ebola gaining ground, could be spreading in neighbouring countries, the fear that the two viruses may be linked. Preventing action being taken? In Ghana. Humanitarian action?

Balazs: We’re away that new Ebola cases been detected [in area]. We’re in contact with these countries, WHO as well and humanitarian organisation. On a more general now, ebola not a new challenge. We’re helping in a variety of ways. EC made available 100 million euro for fighting-ebola projects, although 200 million euro devote to ebola vaccines.

12:59pm, Dana: Peter.

VACCINES

Peter: over weekend, [someone] announced faster procedures of vaccines. EMA is starting to reflect re guidelines for manufacturers. What changes did the Commissioner have in mind when she announced these changes over the weekend?

Vivian: We something we’re going to present this Wednesday will be looking at. No need to go back to square one. We can see what’s being done for the flu vaccines, the adaptions are faster and we will be building on them. Looking at existing vaccines so that they can work against mutations. Cannot go into much more detail on this before our Wednesday College discussion. But needs to be accelerated approval for Covid vaccines, will talk about this on Wednesday.

Dana: Peter’s hand still raised. Now not raised.

Angelo: you’re going to encourage producers to give info, adapt their products. Will you also invite them to consider ways to increase production through collaboration between different brands?

Dana: re manufacturing, doing our utmost with industry to ramp up production of existing vaccines. Secondly, turning attention to next state, the variants, which have been spreading, important that we have a triangle of science, industry and public authorities to detect variants and respond to the ASAP, including through adequate vaccines produced at scale and at speed.

Vivian: manufacturing of vaccines, although working with industry and MS looking at entire supply chain.

CAP

Michaela: question about CAP. Assessment of farm-to-fork strategy, small-scale, family plans. What price are they going to pay to be a part of the CAP? Can’t get an answer anywhere.

Dana: problem with Miriam’s microphone.

Miriam: more of a question for Vivian.

Vivian: where are we with farm-to-fork strategy? Discussions with parliament and Council. Also coming up with EC proposals, we’ll be able to carry out the assessment after the proposals are finalised.

BREXIT

Michaela: implementation of UK agreements and rights of citizens in the withdrawal agreements. Students starting to send in university applications to UK, I see more and more that since UK has quit the EU, can no longer accept applications for various courses. Some schools claiming that they can’t accept EU students because they need a visa. But shouldn’t be used to block applications. So what can we do to make them respect agreement?

Arianna: UK has decided to restrict the free movement of citizens from the EU to the UK. Because of this choice, travel to the UK was never going to be as easy as when the UK was part of the EU. EU and UK did conclude that visas not required for short term study visits. A number of mutual agreements in place. I’ll come back if I can find any specific clauses about students.

Michaela: I know all this. No need to go through the withdrawal agreements. Not up to the university to decide, students being told that their applications can’t be accepted. A violation of fundamental rights going on. They can’t even go through the process.

Arianna: I will check. Don’t have any specifics. I’ll come back to Michaela.

MYANMAR

13:14pm, Odile: tanks on streets in Myanmar, etc, dramatic repression, High Rep said we must work with our partners to take action quickly, mentioned sanctions, but not for FA Council. Probably not in favour of sanctions. Are we not in a weakened position here, US administration on the one hand, also having to deal with our partners in China, what can we do to try to support democracy in Myanmar?

Nabila: EU has been reacting, have done so from the first. High Rep in declaration said we want to have all options on the table. Shouldn’t speculate too much at this stage. FA Council on 22 February. Refer you to ambassadors’ statement yesterday [from many ambassadors]. Called on Myanmar authorities [to chill out and be cool]. [Normal stuff.] EU in contact with China as well, we’ve reiterated out concerns. Also in contact with ASEAN leaders.

BBC CHINA

Weihua: Called on China to revoke ban of BBC. But why not call on UK to revoke its ban on [Chinese media organisation] in UK? It’s all Mike Pompeo-style stuff.

Nabila: China banned BBC based on Zhenjiang reporting, coronvirus reporting, also [China’s treatment of] journalists. Issues very different in my opinion.

RUSSIA

Abdullah: statements made by Russian foreign minister, an hour ago. Said that EU relations bad for years, Russia planning on having separate relations with each EU country. Progress ahead is what Russia wants, but EU doesn’t want this. Comment?

Peter: High Rep delivered clear message in Russia. Got a reply to it already, we don’t need to comment on each of Lavrov’s remarks. What is important is the actions and statements of Russia, will discuss more on 22 February, how to develop EU-Russia relations further.

KOSOVO ELECTIONS

Erisa: reaction to elections in Kosovo. Free? Fair? Democratic? What does it mean, ‘with a view to continuing the dialogue with Serbia’?

Peter: We are still in the post-election process, we won’t comment further. We’ll continue to support Kosovo while communicating expectations re reform, won’t go beyond our previous statement.

OTHER QUESTIONS

David: President’s agenda for the weekend?

Dana: will preside over Council this Wednesday. At latest, will share with you tomorrow. No more questions, thank.

Don’t quote, don’t trust, verify here, spokesperson bios here, my comments in brackets.

Berlaymont press room, Spokesperson Eric Mamer, Brussels, 12pm or thereabouts.

12:04 [Zzzzzz]

12:05 [maybe they said the hell with it today]

12:06 [I NEED THIS FIX wait here we go]

12:07 [technical difficulties. First anger, then detail, then… eventually problem fixed. Comes back at 12:30, afterwards I filled in the first bit]

Announcements.

Eric: Welcome. President’s calendar. Will chair the College, as usual. Straight to questions.

Health, vaccines

Geraldo: My question is quite simple. [silence]

Eric: Very simple.

Geraldo: Quite simple. What’s the current status of Russia’s Sputnik vaccine in the approval system? Where do we stand?

Stefan: EMA issued a statement 2 days ago about the state of play. EMA has not received an application for rolling review of conditional market authorisation.

Eric: Clear and unequivocal statement. Health?

Derek: The Czech PM that his country and three other MS been in contact with AstraZeneca about getting the vaccine more quickly. Do you have confirmation?

Stefan: Can’t comment on other comments. The purchase and delivery of vaccines in our portfolios is part of the strategy in place since June of last year in the framework of work between EC and MS. Covers those companies in our vaccine portfolio.

David, follow-up to AstraZeneca question. Czech PM declaration. Was the EC informed that Gulf countries have made offers of million of AZ does to EU countries, and if you aware, have these doses been offered in the EU with the transparency mechanism for exports, you would have an eye on that? Is there any foundation to this?

Eric: We can’t answer that question right now. Stefan?

Stefan: No, we have nothing further to say to that. Great deal of speculation. We remain in contact with MS. Main priority ensuring delivery of doses in a manner that confirms with the rules in force. An ongoing situation, can’t add more.

Miriam: nothing further to add.

David, follow-up: you cannot comment or say whether governments have been approached? I have no reason to doubt what the Czech PM said.

Eric: what are you asking?

David: the Czech PM said that an intermediary from a Gulf state has offered AZ vaccines to their country [and 3 others]. I want to know, has one of the four governments involved informed you that they’ve been approached?

Eric: We don’t have any info at this stage.

Jorge: Prez’s comments moments ago, said we can still reduce the time of the regulatory process. 3-4 weeks. Are you working with EMA in reviewing the timeframe? How short should the process be?

Eric: the president said that one of the tracks that we are following in terms of adapting our approach concerns the regulatory framework for accessing vaccines. At an early stage. We’ll be thinking about proposals. This sort of detail is made public once the college has debated and approved it.

Iurii: my question not on vaccines. Technical problems.

Michel: vaccination strategy. 70% of population by summer. VP said that end of summer might be the end of August. Prez just said the 21st of September. Which deadline is accurate?

Eric: End of summer, 21 September, is the one that holds.

Tomasso: evidence in Italy of a black market for vaccines. Brazilian intermediary approached Italy offered AZ vaccines for a price, between 12 and 20 euro per dose. Will the EC investigate if there is a black market for vaccines approved in the EU?

Eric: everybody should be careful when we’re talking about vaccines, injecting substances into human bodies, so channels need to be completely legitimate and transparency, why [we’re doing it] at the European level. Anything outside that, need to be extremely cautious. Events last spring, many fraudulent projects appeared, masks. So something we’re very attentive to. We’re keeping a close eye [on it] with OLAF. They’re looking into any possible threat re counterfeit vaccines. Slightly different from black market, but could end up with products that are not the right stuff.

Quentin: So OLAF can intervene with counterfeit vaccines but not for black market, yet the EU has helped fund development of vaccines, maybe EU should put pressure on companies to ensure delivery.

Eric: No, I just highlighted the risk of the black market and fraudulent products. Obviously the black market concerns OLAF, they’re looking into fraudulent vaccines. MS should focus on official distribution channels we’ve set up.

Recovery and Resilience Fund

Oliver: projects MS are submitting. Like untechnical answer. A worry that many projects not really gonna help with the greening and the digital transition, just recycled public projects they wanted anyway, Belgium, they want 60 million euro to have the Palais de Justice finally renovated. How concerned are you that this is going to happen? Is renovating the Palais de Justice what you had in mind? [Or maybe fill in the holes downtown in front of the Bourse, eh?]

Marta: we have ambitious targets for the digital and green transition. MS required to submit reforms and investment re 20% on digital front and 35% on green front. So have to be in all RFF plans, MS have to explain how those targets will be achieved. Cannot do harm to environment objectives.

Michaela[?]: Commissioner for Transport tweeted that dealing with funds in Romania?

Eric: which funds?

Michaela: she doesn’t explain, she says ‘European funds’ will be examined by a task force, she wasn’t specific, is this is the first time that a task force has been formed for an MS in this way?

Eric: I will hand over to Marta, not sure if this is about the RRF.

Marta: I’ve just seen the tweet, transport funds, generally we are monitoring absorption of funds,

Eric: will hand over to Marta.

Marta: just seen Commissioner Valiane’s tweet, what can I say, generally we are monitoring absorption of funds, RRF likely to issue funds that MS have to absorb in a short time frame, so MS need to put forward projects that are implemented very quickly. So reforms must facilitate this type of funding. Could be administrative, regulatory reforms so investment funds can be absorbed as quickly as possible.

Eric: Always encourage MS to develop plans best suited to them so funds can be absorbed.

Mattieu: Question on the principle of ‘do no harm’. You’ve presented something about this in the daily news today. Apply just to RRF, or will it be extended to other facilities and funds? Will you prepare other guidelines or will the do no harm guidelines be the last guidelines?

Marta: Today we’ve presented guidelines about the RRF, don’t concern other instruments, these guidelines were already provided for in the RRF regulation, don’t have any info about other guidelines. We do tend to publish guidelines for the MS about how to use the RRF, updated recently.

Catherine: Procedure. Start of week, in parliaments, had a debate on the fund, one of the speakers, Hungarian MEP, said she’d spoken with local authorities, and they haven’t been contacted or consulted about plans. Cities going to be important for implementation. What can you do to ensure that governments truly involve their local governments? Actually a requirement.

Marta: main interlocutors are national authorities, and funds disbursed to central budget. Encourage authorities to involve stakeholders [on local levels]. We’ve issued guidance, we encourage it.

Catherine, follow-up: the MEP described it as a legal requirement. So if it’s a legal requirement… sure, talking to national governments, but can you insist upon it?

Eric: Can you say something Marta.

Marta: I’d have to double-check the regulation. In our dialogue we encourage MS to involve all the stakeholders.

Eric: One thing is to say that you’re consulting local authorities and another to say that every single local authority will be consulted. [Someone] recently consulted with local regions of Spain. So different ways to organise consultation process. An important dimension of the process.

Brahim: How many MS ratified decision [re resource]?

Eric: A handful. Six countries have ratified it.

Foreign affairs

Yuri: Lavrov said Russia is ready to break up with the EU, although a couple of hours later Peskov said Russia wanted better relations with EU. Comment?

Eric: We’re not going to comment on the back and forth of comments within governments.

Mumchil: Navalny in court. EU ready to keep sending diplomats to the trials?

Peter: It is a usual diplomat practice that whenever possible diplomats observe process on the ground. We’re there to observe. I’ll confirm after hearing if the EU observed. But specially in such human rights cases, it’s in our interest to be there and observe.

Mumchil: Next week in St Petersburg, another trial, against [somone], already sentenced to 13.5 years in prison. EU ready to send diplomats to this case?

Peter: yes, we’re following that case, we’ve reacted strongly to cases where he was sentenced, it is unacceptable what is happening to this gentlemen, whenever possible we always try to observe such trials, particularly re misuse of judiciary for political purposes. But when hearing is finished we can confirm whether we could be there.

Eric: Russia. Jack?

Jack: Lavrov said that prepared to cut diplomatic ties. If we want peace you have to prepare for war. Is EU prepared to cut ties diplomatically? And what do you make of this talk about preparing for war?

Eric: [seeks clarification] we have never said that we are preparing to cut ties with Russia. So don’t understand you’re question.

Jack: Another angle. Do you now feel after this unsuccessful trip that the EU is on the back foot against Russia.

Eric: PETER!

Peter: We don’t react to all those quotes. Regardless what he said, what’s important for us is the following. Relations are not good. Reached a low point in Moscow. Russia’s idea about how they want to advance, we don’t need an interview with local media, at an indication how they responded to [Borrell]. How do we want to shape our relations? We shape it on values, interests, international law, and our commitments, principle of good neighbourly relations. Mutually beneficial cooperation when other side ready. And Russia made quite clear that they are not ready to go in this direction through various messages.

Anna: Our Editor-in-chief in prison near Moscow, health deteriorating, we had a promise that something would be done about his condition, he doesn’t have any medical case. Mr Sergei Smirnoff.

Peter: We are aware of his situation and that of his colleague. What Russia is doing about these two journalists is unacceptable, another blow to media freedom, using judiciary against them. This is unacceptable. Just adding to very unfortunate development in Russia, shrinking space for civil society and freedom of the media, we communicate this to Russia. Call on Russia to respect freedom of media and not to treat journalists the way they do.

Nicola: court ruling on PKK stating that there was someone listed without justification. Second question, sanctions on Ukraine re misappropriation of funds. Similar question in nature. Been called a lapse in rule of law. Does this not pose a problem for terrorism?

Eric: European Court of Justice.

Peter: It is not for us to comment on the court’s decisions, but we have noted those decisions, will be accessed in the Council. That’s all I can say.

Nicola: I’m not asking for a comment really, court highlights this problem, people are put on these lists, the court has to rule on it, the sanctions have to be checked, the court comes back and says the EU is not doing their work in verifying these sanctions. Issues with the process, why the court has had to rule against the Council decisions. Clear court rulings and every time the same decision gets taken, some people remain on this list without you taking into account the Court’s rulings. So why do you keep these people on these lists after every question. For PKK, person back on this list 2 days ago. We need to have an answer for this. I demand an answer. On 5 Feb, published on 8th, in force on the 9th, court ruled on the 10th. It’s a political and judiciary problem.

Peter: I have understood. The sanctions always adopted by consensus, against MS. MS who put the sanctions forward. They have the right to initiate, but in practice the MS who agreed these sanctions. Second point, we’ve noted rulings of court, they will be examined by MS in Council. Don’t want to pre-empt those discussions. Sanctions are adopted by all MS, by consensus, and we do carry out a careful analysis of every court decision.

Derek: Closure of Belgium’s borders. Do you really think that Belgium is a third question for the EU? [cross-talk]

Eric: think it’s best to wait for that question. Foreign affairs.

Christian: do you think Court ruling is not a very clear warning to those who want to put all of Putin’s oligarchs on the sanctions list without paying attention to the rules for that? B/c people keep saying we’re going to sanction the oligarchs, but that can be overturned by the court.

Peter: We’ve said it’s important for all MS that propose sanctions, and if the HR were to do this, they need a clear legal basis for such proposals. This is done in the context of Council discussions. Don’t think this is the platform to discuss the process. MS well aware that they need a sound legal basis to propose sanctions b/c sanctions an important instrument for our external relations. A very serious procedure, confidential.

David: China, decision to censor the BBC. Has been a reaction on Twitter from the spokesperson’s service. In the investment agreement you have with China, whether there are many measures that would protect European media operating in China.

Marta: In principle not covered by the agreement.

1pm, DEREK: Belgium border checks. I’d like to have an official reaction from the EU in response to Belgium to prohibit any movements in and out of Belgium that don’t have professional reasons. Seems to me to be in violating of approach that you’ve been proposing from the start. Are you considering putting pressure on Belgium to make its rule more flexible?

Christian: Informed of Belgium’s decision, that decree would be extended. Now, the specific measures in place weren’t given to us in detail. So the Commissioner will approach Belgium for more details concerning free movement of people and Belgium’s restrictions. Under EU law, restrictions on free movement to protect public health must always be proportionate and non-discriminatory. We need to discourage all non-essential travel, particularly in red areas, including in France. But want to avoid simply shutting down the borders. We’ll examine these measures to see if they’re OK and the EC does have concerns.

Derek: you said must be non-discriminatory and proportionate. Are they?

Eric: Christian said we need more details.

Eric the journalist: border closures Germany, Czechia, etc. Have you received notification from Germany? Do these measures seem proportionate to you? What is the EC doing?

Christian: No, we have not received notification from the German government. [switches to English] MS have agreed on a common approach. We expect all MS to follow this coordinated approach based on colour codes. Unilateral moves or decisions will not help. Asked the Portuguese presidency to discuss measures taken by MS. Germany announced restrictions from Czechia and Tyrol. In latest maps, Czechia is indeed in dark red. Tryol, Austrian government has taken additional steps to stop spread of new variant. Urge Germany to implement measures fully in line with Council recommendations and be proportionate.

Eric the journalist: So you’re OK with the German measures?

Christian: we see a certain alignment with the Council recommendations. But we urge them to be fully aligned. [I think]

Nicola: back to Belgium. I’d like the response in French. You gave us the same response in English a couple of days ago, and I know you have translations. That would be good for us, easier for citizens to understand. When will you take the necessary measures? When will you take your decision? Now, crossing the borders. For crossing the border with France, I need 5 pieces of paper, a declaration of honour from Belgium and Frances, do you think that all this paperwork is appropriated? [leaning back and forth] Do you think that this is proportionate for people travelling for business.

Eric: I’m waiting for your request for greater cooperation between MS in the hearth sector. We’ve been trying to step up coordination in the EU, but as you know, the EU is the reality we’re living in today, and it’s an ongoing project and it continues to develop. The system we live in is in the hands of the MS, and we call on the MS regularly to coordinate with each other, particularly regarding border crossings and free movement. Still room for improvement. One last question.

David: sorry Eric, but you do have competence on free movement of people. Infringement procedure. Why is this tool not being used? Why do you prefer this other approach, trying to discuss these things? Do you have competences or not?

Eric: Christian always answered that. There’s a political question here. We’re doing what we can with legal competences, but there’s the border political issues, in the face of an ongoing pandemic, we want to maintain cooperation between MS.

Christian: We are in close contact with several MS, but as Eric said, it is not for us to take these decisions here on the podium, it’s for the EC to assess. We’re in contact with those concerned.

Eric: When was the question put to Belgium and what was their deadline to answer?

Christian: we were informed yesterday evening, it’s all very recent, but we’ll keep you updated.

Eric: We don’t know yet.

Nicola: Doesn’t [Belgian politican’s name, didn’t get it, ‘close to the prime minister’] have a conflict of interest in this topic? Maybe it should be a different Commissioner.

Eric: Commissioners focus on their portfolios. Thanks! [Buh-bye!]

Don’t quote, don’t trust, verify here, my comments in brackets.

Press briefing in Brussels. 12:04pm. Chief Spokesperson Eric Mamer. Just one accouncement.

Johannes: emergency telephone number. It’s very special, we’re making the 30th anniversary of this emergency number. One half billion calls made to 112.

Eric: technical glitch, so we cannot demonstrate it. [oops]

Irish journalist, didn’t catch name, Giles?: yesterday Prez mentioned that 26 million doses delivered, 17 million vaccinated. Are 9 million vaccines lying around somewhere? Waiting for 2nd dose?

Stefan: number of doses that have been administered. More delivered than administered. MS in charge of vaccinations, they define priorities. Might explain distinction.

Eric: MS keeping some doses in reserve to ensure that they can provide the second shot.

Journalist, follow-up?: back in Lisbon, van der Leyen, reading script, saying that vaccines need to be one of the main priorities, shouldn’t she be saying that it’s the only priority. Is there a lack of urgency here?

Eric: [trying to keep it all inside] I’m amazed by your question, the president in the parliament yesterday, gave a long speech, moving as quickly as possible on vaccines, Commission fully, fully focused on ensuring on delivering vaccines as quickly as possible, secondly, vaccine campaigns in MS that are [implemented] as quickly as possible. MS define strategies. EC entirely focussed on ensuring the vaccine campaigns can be targets. Good hopes to achieve this.

Jorge: When is [the president] going to come down to the press room to talk not to a select group but to all of us?

Eric: I will announced a press conference by the president when she decides to come down to the press room. Group meetings should all follow the same format, so closed.

Jorge, follow-up: we’re in the middle of a big crisis [AND I WANT TO SEE THE PRESIDENT DAMMIT]. Transparency?

Eric: President given over 30 interviews in the past couple of days. She’s answered all kinds of questions. Hopefully in the near future [but never if you keep going on like this].

David: who has established this common practice, you’ve been around for quite a while, you’ve reminded us about president’s heavy agency, even Juncker always replied to the MEPs, so wondering whether this practice has been agreed on with the parliament [not taking questions? Not sure]. Sometimes not replied by the president. Second, transparency, AstraZeneca, supplies in the first 3 months, negotiations still underway, 40 million, AstraZeneca clarified deliveries for next 3 months, you’ve said there’s not yet clarity.

Eric: I don’t have statistics. This wasn’t the first time that the President is in a debate and it’s someone from the College that does the final round of replies [this came up yesterday, journalists suspicious of this]. Other examples. On AstraZeneca, question, Stephan.

Stefan: can’t give you much info. Company proposed 40 million. We stressed that we must continue to increase the number of doses, as agreement stipulated. We’re in regular contact with AstraZeneca.

David, follow-up: So not certain that in the 2nd quarter AstraZeneca will be able to deliver what they agreed to, is that correct?

Stefan: They’re supposed to. We’re talking with them. I can’t give you precise numbers [about AstraZeneca or others].

Shona: what’s the point in having debates if the president leaves mid-way to do interviews?

Eric: Look the president was in the plenary for 3.5 hours yesterday, she stepped out to talk to journalists. You look forward to that. But it seems like it never works [you are NEVER satisfied! Or grateful! Or satisfied!]. Always a College presence in the debate.

Shona: everybody was there for 3.5 hours and everyone wanted to hear from her, in the future, are MEPs going to be lining up for questions and she leaves? [it’s getting real]

Eric: President won’t respond to every single intervention, 80 interventions. Response on a case-by-case basis.

Isabelle: contact group with Parliament. The president said to ‘scrutinise contacts’ would be part of its remit. So a few MEPs would have access to the complete contracts? Why wasn’t this thought of previously?

Eric: [slowly exploding] you can always have hindsight, the Commission is trying to react to developments, we adapt to reply better, we should be welcoming that more steps with stakeholders have taken place. Re the contact group, no extra details to give you today. Have to follow-up later.

Tommaso: Italy, vacuum of power, regions putting together their forces, now they intend to purchase vaccines outside the EU from unspecified intermediaries, is this legally feasible?

Stefan: your question has aspects that are not quite clear or concrete [fighting words!]. Legally feasible? Can only say whether it’s in line with our vaccine strategy or not. Strategy does not allow parallel negotiations. For vaccines not covered by strategy, or no advance purchase agreements, there, regions, etc can [pursue agreements with other vaccine producers].

Eric: Tommaso, let’s not invert the perspective, health is a national competence. We have a specific strategy in this crisis, negotiating a certain number of advance purchase agreements with some companies, outside that, [it’s up to the MS]. A MS competence to deal with health issues.

Francesco: Clarifications for Belgian factory to ask AstraZeneca to see who is responsible for what has happened? According to you, AZ responsible b/c not sending their doses from the UK. Are you talking to the UK re effective ban to the EU, given the EU shipping millions of vaccines to the UK?

Stefan: We’ll still discussing with AZ for good solid explanations and so delivers can take place. Re visits to plants, this is a matter of the AZ company. Up to AZ to manage their contract relationship with plants, company, etc. A matter for the AZ, not for us to go into this, we have to reach a clear understanding for deliveries [according to] the contract.

Eric: president did raise the issue with Boris Johnson, she was told that nothing prevented the UK plants from delivering doses to the EU.

Francesco, follow-up: the UK uses his contract with AZ to restrict doses to the EU. Why are we not seeing doses coming from the UK?

Eric: we’re heard the reassurances, we’re in contact with AZ. As far as we are concerned, we have a contract and we expect that progress will be made regarding the doses.

Griselda: patents. Lots of MEPs wanting to know about contracts, the issuing of patents. Did the president really listen to them?

Eric: yes, president took part in the debate.

Miriam: first, universal and fair access to vaccines is an EC priority. Thought issue to intellectual property is essential for vaccines. Increasing production to give all countries is very important, but understand there are problems. We’ve heard about existing patents, but there is flexibility with licenses. We’re not considering removing patents b/c we have sufficient flexibility through the WTO to allow for facilitated access to all MS.

Griselda follow-up: is there a date for a new meeting between the president and representatives of industry?

Eric: we announce the agenda a week before, cannot give you a date now.

Patrizia:

Eric: not working Patrizia.

Lukasz: foreign affairs question?

Eric: not now. Back to Patrizia? No. Back to Lukasz, closing chapter on vaccines.

Lukasz: question on Russia. Steinmeier defended Nord Stream 2 b/c Germany owed Russia a ‘debt of guilt’. Ukraine criticised this work, also Poland. What do you think about this? Nord Stream 2 as compensation? Also, Russia, yesterday country issued arrest warrant for Navalny guy based outside Russia. What about this?

Nabila [with a BIG stack of papers that she plops down on the lectern]: repeat question. [he does] I refer you to the speech by the HRVP, EU strongly condemned unlawful arrest of Navalny, and arrests of others. President von der Leyen and Michel called on Russian authorities [to stop it]. Commission has voiced several times that Nord Stream 2 does not lead to diversifying resources of the European Union. A project of a group of private firms and we cannot prevent them from building it. Companies will need to operate in line with EU law. The most we and I can say.

Eric: other FA questions?

Lukasz follow-up: int’l arrest warrant for Navalny associate?

Nabila: no info on that.

Alain: Russia. On Sunday, going to be pro-Navalny demonstrations. Wondering whether diplomats will be present at these protests.

Nabila: at the moment, I don’t know. But I am happy to check this and come back to you. Our position is very clear. There will be a discussion in the FA council on the 22nd.

Eric: EU diplomat staff carries out tasks without prior announcements.

Nabila: we call on Russian authorities to respect demonstrators if they are peaceful.

Alain: given what’s happening, 3 EU diplomats [expelled], this could be understood as a reply from the EU, the first sign that the EU didn’t really appreciate what happened last week.

Eric: we’ll send your suggestion to the EEAS. [sarcasm?]

Patrizia: You said MS can buy vaccines that [fading in an out]

Eric: you’re completely breaking up. Contact us bilaterally.

Catherine: yesterday you said you’re not going to comment on every single development in relation to Poland and the rule of law, but yesterday a Dutch court decided that it would not extradite a Pole living in the Netherlands because court thinks that he would not benefit from fundamental rights to a fair trial. So question, is, since already a decision by the European court, not just confined to Poland, what action will the EC take, since increasingly urgent to act?

Christian: we’ve seen the reports. This is a follow-up on the preliminary ruling re deficiencies in the judicial system [and how serious]. [Technical stuff, I didn’t get it all] We are seeing a normal judiciary process unfolding here.

Catherine: you didn’t answer my question. What further action are you going to take? What are you going to do about it?

Eric: we announce decisions if we decide that they are right if the time comes. I’m sorry, that’s how the institution works. Could be different from your perspective, but you’re putting the spokesperson in a difficult position. Your concerns are legitimate.

Catherine: it’s not my concerns, it’s the concerns of a national court. Why are you not taking on this?

Eric: you’re question was, what are we going to do about it? EC announces what it’s going to do when it’s in a position [to do something].

12:54 END