Belgium

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union executive moved to formalize an agreement reached by EU finance ministers on March 5 to suspend EU budget rules that put limits on borrowing so that governments have a free hand in fighting the coronavirus.

The European Commission, the guardian of EU rules, proposed late on Friday to activate the ‘general escape clause’ in the rules to respond to the pandemic that has caused lockdowns in most EU countries and the closure of Europe’s borders.

BRUSSELS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- COVID-19 is not a Chinese virus, said a senior EU official on Thursday, as he called for global cooperation in confronting the "massive threat."

"Viruses don't have a nationality and they don't care about borders," tweeted Josep Borrell Fontelles, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.

He said COVID-19 is not a Chinese virus, as the Spanish flu was not Spanish.

"We all face a massive threat that requires global cooperation and all of us working hand in hand," he said.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Russian media have deployed a “significant disinformation campaign” against the West to worsen the impact of the coronavirus, generate panic and sow distrust, according to a European Union document seen by Reuters.

Pushing fake news online in English, Spanish, Italian, German and French, the Russian campaign uses contradictory, confusing and malicious reports to make it harder for the EU to communicate its response to the pandemic, the report said.

The Kremlin denied the allegations on Wednesday, saying they were unfounded and lacked common sense.

BRUSSELS, March 16 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that she had proposed a temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the European Union (EU), as a measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

After a teleconference with leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries, von der Leyen said, together with the President of the European Council Charles Michel, that "we informed today our G7 partners that we propose to introduce a temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the European Union."

BRUSSELS, March 13. /TASS/: The EU has officially prolonged individual sanctions against Russian citizens for another six months, a statement by the European Council published on Friday informs. The sanctions were set to expire on March 15.

"The Council today decided that current sanctions in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine should be extended for a further six months until 15 September 2020," the statement says.

LIEGE, Belgium, Mar 14 (NNN-XINHUA) – A plane carrying Chinese medical supplies for Europe, to assist its battle against the COVID-19 landed in Liege, Belgium on Friday night.

The supplies were donated by two charities — Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation and comprise half a million face masks, which will be sent to Italy.

The two charities are donating in total two million masks and other crucial supplies, such as test kits.

12 Mar 2020; MEMO: The European Union on Wednesday has called on the Greek authorities to investigate the Greek security forces’ use of violence and illegal practices against asylum seekers and migrants trying to pass into Europe.

European Commission spokesperson, Adalbert Jahnz told reporters in Brussels that the Greek authorities face an exceptional situation and fulfill a difficult task; however, he added that “they have to do this by conforming to basic rights and moderately.”

BRUSSELS, March 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The EU decided on mobilizing €25 billion to counter the spread of the new coronavirus, the European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen announced.

All the 27 European heads of states and governments joined a video conference with von der Leyen and the European Council’s President Charles Michel on Tuesday afternoon.

The European leaders decided on focusing on four priorities, Michel told a joint press conference with von der Leyen after the leaders’ virtual meeting.

BRUSSELS, March 10 (Xinhua) -- European Parliament (EP) President David Sassoli said on Tuesday that he will work from home in Brussels, after spending a weekend in Italy.

"I have decided after having been in Italy over the last weekend, as a precaution, to follow the indicated measures and to exercise my function as president from my home in Brussels in compliance with the 14 days indicated by the health protocol," Sassoli said in a statement posted by the EP.

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders vowed Tuesday to stand united in combating the spread of the coronavirus ravaging member country Italy, and agreed to draft a plan to address any medical shortages and set up a fund to help overburdened health care systems.

The pledges came at a rare video conference among national heads of state and government as COVID-19, which is now present in all 27 EU member countries, took its toll on European politics, forcing meetings to be canceled, a parliamentary session to be cut short, and even sending some senior officials home to work.