Eurotopics.net

A few weeks ago media reports revealed that the EU border agency Frontex had not only covered up illegal pushbacks of refugees by Greek border guards, but was also actively involved in the practice. MEPs are now calling for the resignation of Frontex director Fabrice Leggeri. But commentators say the scandal goes far beyond misconduct by individuals.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has apparently obtained a confession from one of the agents involved in the poison attack against him. Last week the media had talked of a murder plot involving eight FSB agents. Posing as an advisor to the Russian Security Council chief on the phone, Navalny learned details of the attack and posted a recording of the conversation on YouTube.

Russia will be excluded from the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo and the 2022 Olympics in Beijing for manipulating doping data. But in what counts as a success for Russia, the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), halved the four-year ban imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency Wada on appeal. In addition, those athletes who were not implicated will be able to compete as neutral contenders - much to the displeasure of observers.

A new strain of coronavirus has been discovered in over 1,000 people in the UK. According to initial findings, the mutation VUI2020/12/01 could be up to 70 percent more contagious. London has imposed a lockdown on the south of England where most cases of the new strain have been registered, and a growing number of countries are stopping traffic to and from Britain. What does this new situation mean for the British and for Europe?

The European Medicines Agency is due to reach a decision on approving the Biontech/Pfizer vaccine today. Once the agency has given the green light, the necessary approval by the EU Commission is considered certain and an EU-wide vaccination campaign could start before the end of the year. Commentators ask what Europe has learned on the long road to vaccine approval.