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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13751
Contents Publication in full By article 36 / 38
NEWS BRIEFS / Health

European Union steps up its preparedness against risk of monkeypox

13/11/2025 (Agence Europe) – The European Union is stepping up its preparedness against the risks of monkeypox and smallpox by signing a new group purchasing contract with the Danish laboratory Bavarian Nordic, the European Commission announced on Thursday 13 November. This contract, negotiated on behalf of 20 Member States, provides for the purchase of a maximum of 8 million doses of MVA-BN® vaccine over a four-year period (see EUROPE 13524/17). It aims to ensure rapid access to vaccines in the event of a resurgence of the epidemic, while replenishing the RescEU strategic stockpile of medical countermeasures. This new system illustrates the desire of Member States to pool their orders in order to obtain advantageous prices and a stable supply, against a backdrop of increased global competition for medical products. Led by the Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), this initiative marks a strategic shift towards the collective management of stocks and purchases. (LC)

Contents

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
COMPANIES: ‘omnibus’ - sweeping simplification objectives cement alliance between right and far right in European Parliament
ENVIRONMENT: European Parliament adopts urgency procedure for revision of regulation to combat imported deforestation
CLIMATE: European Parliament narrowly adopts 2040 target based on EU Council position
GENDER EQUALITY: European Parliament adopts position on equality between women and men with a view to European Commission’s new 2026–2030 strategy
WESTERN BALKANS: European Parliament approves extension of trade liberalisation with Western Balkans
CYPRUS: Turkish occupation of island - MEPs call on EU to take action
TAXATION: European Parliament adopts its position on framework for taxation of corporate income
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: European Parliament asks Member States to allow MEPs who are pregnant or have recently given birth to vote by proxy
TRANSPORT: European Parliament adopts agreement with EU Council on new mandate of European Maritime Safety Agency
COHESION: European Parliament approves granting of more than €1 billion to Spain and France following natural disasters
HUMAN RIGHTS: European Parliament calls on EU to combat transnational repression of critical voices
SEA: European Parliament adopts its position on directive implementing treaty on high seas
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
CUSTOMS/CONSUMERS: EU Council agrees to eliminate customs duty exemption for parcels under €150
TAXATION: faced with an impasse, Danish Presidency of EU Council abandons a compromise on energy taxation
COMPETITION: opening of formal antitrust investigation into Red Bull’s practices on market for energy drinks sold in supermarkets
Russian invasion of Ukraine
ECONOMY: option of ‘Reparation Loan’ to Ukraine is most “realistic”, say EU finance ministers
DEFENCE: Baltic and Nordic countries announce $500 million contribution to PURL initiative
SECTORAL POLICIES
DIGITAL: European Commission suspects Google of restricting visibility of media in search results
AGRICULTURE: EU Council and European Parliament make timid progress on Common Market Organisation
MIGRATION: return of illegal immigrants to EU - Dutch MEP Malik Azmani’s draft report receives a mixed reception at European Parliament
ENERGY: European Commission launches first call for expressions of interest for “Hydrogen Mechanism”
CLIMATE: CO2 emissions from fossil fuels reach record levels in 2025
EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED KINGDOM: Member States authorise negotiating new agreements on facilitating trade in agricultural products and linking ETS systems
SECURITY - DEFENCE - SPACE
SPACE: competitiveness, European preference and governance, Emmanuel Macron’s priorities for European space sector
EDUCATION - YOUTH - CULTURE - SPORT
CULTURE: ‘Culture Compass’ - MEPs and organisations welcome greater consideration of cultural issues, but await concrete action
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
INTERNAL MARKET: Hungary has infringed EU law by restricting export of construction materials, says Court of Justice
AGRICULTURE/CONSUMERS: CJEU rules non-alcoholic beverages cannot be sold as ‘gin’
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: European Court of Human Rights condemns Poland for failing to comply with legal framework relating to right to abortion
NEWS BRIEFS
HOME AFFAIRS: online child sexual abuse material - Danish Presidency of EU Council intends to seek mandate as soon as possible, in light of new support
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: G7 foreign ministers reiterate support for Ukraine and Middle East peace plan
CHINA: EU provisionally finds China was dumping adipic acid
ECONOMY: EU Council gives green light to changes to post-Covid-19 recovery plans of six Member States
ECONOMY: Donohoe and Dombrovskis notice higher-than-expected growth figures for euro area
ENVIRONMENT: Green MEP Marie Toussaint inaugurates an environmental complaints support portal launched by four NGOs, including EEB
NATO: Allies decided not to acquire Boeing aircraft to replace AWACS
HEALTH: European Union steps up its preparedness against risk of monkeypox
HEALTH: no agreement yet between EU Member States before COP11 on tobacco control
TERRORISM: Ursula von der Leyen pays tribute to 132 victims of Paris terrorist attacks on 13 November 2015