The vaccination campaigns on the continent are roughly 6-7 weeks or so behind the UK one. And, curiously, the same seems to apply to the mood - "hooray, freedom".
The incidence rates are at a similarly low level as the UK saw a couple of weeks back: Germany is now at 13.2. The UK was at the low point in May. It is now back up to 70.
So: proceed with caution. But there are lots and lots of caveats and variables - mutations, the impact of vaccination, of two vaccinations, of blocking travel from countries with mutations etc. etc.
What amazes me, though, is the extent to which parallel debates take place in various countries, often without benefiting sufficiently from the experience of the other.
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The judgment literally orders AZ to deliver 50 million doses. /1
These are "additional doses" (supplémentaires) to the 30200000 already delivered. I am just translating, my friends. /2
The judgment states that given AZ's past behavior it is to fear that AZ will not comply. So penalty payments are threatened. Not as high as requested by the EU, those seemed excessive. /3
I was, quite justifiably, asked "what does get over Brexit mean" given the trade effect of Brexit. That deserves an answer (thread)
I have not been shy pointing out that from a trade perspective Brexit is not a winning proposition - but that the EU is about more and if you do not want to be part of it that is a legitimate choice.
I have repeatedly pointed out falsehoods. But I try to inform debate about actual choices from where we are.
This country has got to get over Brexit. The debate is increasingly skewed - and allow me to argue this tweet is actually counterproductive in that regard (and I say that as someone on balance in favor of a UK-Oz FTA) (thread)
FTAs have always had people who favour them and people against them. That's true of the WTO, too. Think of the "battle of Seattle" (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_Seat…)
Some of that is opposition to globalization, some of that opposition to free trade. Some of it has good reasons, some of it reasons I reject. But it is a debate that is very much present everywhere. And it's not about Brexit. But there's more.
A reminder, of course, that this is an agreement in principle. Meaning there is no FTA yet. Those not doing trade will find that astonishing ("what is the fuss about if there is no trade agreement?"). But it has become customary. /1
Before we have an agreement, an "agreement in principle" is announced. That means that some stuff is not agreed yet, though most is. "So how much is agreed, how much isn't?" you might ask. The rough answer is: nobody knows. /2
"But the tough issues are all solved, right?" Well, the tough big ones. There might be tough small ones that are missing, it might take a bit, but the parties are certain they'll get there. /3