EU: Coronavirus: EU regulator set to approve vaccine by Christmas

The European Union is on track to approve its first COVID-19 vaccine ahead of Christmas. Political pressure has been mounting for a swift stamp of approval to move forward with vaccine programs across the bloc.

The Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Tuesday moved up the expert panel review meeting on the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine to December 21, eight days sooner than its original deadline of December 29. The move comes after the UK and the US launched their immunization campaigns.

Reas more at: Coronavirus: EU regulator set to approve vaccine by Christmas | Coronavirus and Covid-19 - latest news about COVID-19 | DW | 15.12.2020

European Aircraft Industry: Iran expects Airbus deliveries before 2017

Iran says it expects the first deliveries of Airbus planes to be made by the end of 2016 provided that the United States provides the required authorizations for the deliveries.

“The first series of Airbus planes will probably arrive in Iran by the end of autumn provided that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) [of the US Treasury Department] issues the required authorization to Airbus to do so,” said Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi.

Akhoundi added that there is no reason that the deal with Airbus – as well as another with Boeing – will not proceed.

He emphasized that Iran is positive that OFAC will issue the authorizations for Airbus to deliver the plans that Iran has purchased from the company.

Akhoundi further said that the deal with Airbus is above 500 pages and contains many technicalities, adding that a majority of technical issues relating to the deal have already been finalized.

The Iranian minister also said that talks over the financial issues are in final stages.

In January, Iran signed a major contract with European aviation giant Airbus worth about $27 billion to buy 118 planes within the next few months. The contract was signed during the visit to Paris by Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani.

Iran also sealed a deal in June worth around $25 billion with the US aerospace heavyweight, Boeing, for the purchase of 100 passenger planes.

The deal with Boeing is still facing a possible ban by Congress in what many see as a result of the growing anti-Iran measures adopted by US lawmakers.

Iran is also working on a scheme to purchase planes from the aviation arm of Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.  Officials in Tehran recently announced that Tokyo has agreed to fund Iran’s purchase of Mitsubishi planes.

Note EU-Digest:  Strange that Airbus, a European company needs the approval from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) - US Treasury Department to OK and finalize the deal. How Who gave the US the right to bypass European Sovereignty in this mega airplane sale ?

Read more: PressTV-Iran expects Airbus deliveries before 2017

Greece: Eurogroup approves third bailout for debt-ridden Greece

Eurozone finance ministers agreed on Friday to approve a third bailout programme for Greece, with the first tranche of aid to be worth €26 billion. Eurogroup chairman Jeroen Djisselbloem said that "of course there were differences, but we have managed to solve the last issues."

To recapitalise Greek banks €10 billion will be made available, while a second tranche of €16 billion will be paid out in several installments, starting with a €13 billion installment by August 20 when Greece must make a new debt payment to the European Central Bank (ECB).

"On this basis, Greece is and will irreversibly remain a member of the Euro area," said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker after the deal was sealed.

Read more: france 24 - Eurogroup approves third bailout for debt-ridden Greece - France 24