Vaccine suspensions and possible export bans are up for discussion in this episode, along with elections in Germany and the Netherlands. We also delve into the issue of COVID-19 disinformation.
As the European Commission proposes a digital certificate to allow for safe travel around the EU in the corona era, we debate how much that matters if enough Europeans aren’t vaccinated. POLITICO’s Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and Annabelle Dickson discuss whether politics or science are behind recent decisions to suspend the AstraZeneca vaccine. They also look at the EU’s threat to put the brakes on vaccine exports to countries such as the U.K. that Brussels says aren’t playing fair when it comes to sharing jabs.
Matt gives his take on last weekend’s regional elections in Germany — and why they suggest Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats may struggle to hold onto power in Berlin as she leaves the stage.
POLITICO’s Eline Schaart breaks down the results of the parliamentary election in the Netherlands and what they mean for the country’s approach to the EU.
And Mark Scott, POLITICO’s chief technology correspondent and author of The Digital Bridge newsletter, explores the world of COVID-19 disinformation and why Big Tech platforms and lawmakers are struggling to combat it.
