Eurotopics.net

The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved the Covid-19 vaccine from Biontech and Pfizer. The first 800,000 Britons are to be vaccinated with BNT162b2 as early as next week. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was proud that the UK had become the first state to approve a Covid-19 vaccine. But not all commentators see the express approval as a major step forward.

Four weeks before the Brexit transition period ends on December 31, the EU and the UK have still not reached an agreement on their future relations. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has recently said he had no great hopes of a deal. The main areas under dispute are free trade, fisheries and jurisdiction. Europe's press calls for patience and flexibility.

The Slovenian government has cut off state funding for the news agency STA, citing alleged breaches of contract. The agency received around two million euros from the state in 2019, roughly the same amount it earned on the free market. It now says it is facing bankruptcy as a result of the government's move. Slovenia's right-wing nationalist Prime Minister Janez Janša has repeatedly attacked STA in recent months. What exactly is he trying to achieve?