“We want to see reciprocity and proportionality in exports, and we are ready to use whatever tool we need to deliver on that,” said Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission. The commission also laid out a long-term strategy to gradually lift the lockdown measures, conditional upon each country’s epidemiological situation. A judgment would be made based on simulations by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the commission said. “The situation with the virus in Europe is still very challenging,” said Stella Kyriakides, the bloc’s top health official. “It is only through a joint approach that we can return safely to full free movement in the E.U.”

Source: International New York Times March 17, 2021 14:51 UTC