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A range of European Union institutions including the European Commission were hit by a significant cyber-attack last week.

A spokesperson for the commission said that a number of EU bodies experienced an IT security incident in their IT infrastructure. The spokesperson said forensic analysis of the incident is still in its initial phase and that its too early to provide any conclusive information about the nature of the attack.

We are working closely with CERT-EU, the Computer Emergency Response Team for all EU institutions, bodies and agencies and the vendor of the affected IT solution, the spokesperson said. Thus far, no major information breach was detected.

The attack was serious enough for senior officials at the commission to be alerted, according to a person familiar with the matter. The same person said the incident was bigger than the usual attacks that regularly hit the EU. Another EU official said that staff had recently been warned about potential phishing attempts.

Western institutions have uncovered at least two serious cyber-attacks recently.

The European Banking Authority disclosed last month that its systems may have been compromised following an attack on Microsoft Corp.s email software that was linked to China and exposed the data of tens of thousands of organizations, according to cybersecurity experts. The U.S. government was hit by suspected Russian cyber-attackers last yearafter systems at The SolarWinds Corp. were breached.

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European Institutions Were Targeted in a Cyber-Attack Last Week - Bloomberg

A vision for a healthier European Union

The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of the foundational importance of our health and has exposed weaknesses in health systems all over the world. For example, in Europe, during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, an estimated 84% of rare disease patients experienced some sort of disruption of their care. Going forward, it is evident that EU Health needs to be stronger than ever, and in this instance, can ensure that all rare disease patients in Europe have access to the right diagnosis and treatment they need.

This strategy is precisely the plan being adopted by the European Commission as we start to look beyond the COVID-19 crisis. The EU recognises the need to grasp this opportunity to strengthen its healthcare systems in terms of effectiveness, resilience, and accessibility.

The new EU4Health Programme is Europes most ambitious funding programme for health ever and will make an enormous contribution to the post-COVID-19 recovery by helping the European population to be healthier, strengthening the resilience of its health systems, and promoting innovation within the health sector. Furthermore, it will help fill the gaps revealed by the COVID-19 crisis and ensure that EU health systems are stronger if faced with new unprecedented health threats, as part of a future robust European Health Union. It is opening up a new chapter for EU health policy.

Starting with a focus on building a solid foundation of recovery and resilience, the programme will then work to build back better, by boosting and expanding work on urgent health priorities such as successful initiatives such as the European Reference Networks for rare diseases, the fight against cancer, reducing the number of antimicrobial-resistant infections and pursuing international cooperation on global health threats and challenges. The overarching aims of the project are:

Boosting digital health and disease prevention. The ongoing digital transformation of healthcare is a vital tool that must be utilised to improve accessibility.

Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety commented on the impressive funding of the programme, stating that with 5.1 billion, EU4Health will help strengthen our crisis preparedness and management of cross-border health threats as well as reinforcing the EUs healthcare systems overall. EU4Health opens up a new chapter for EU health policy and sends a clear signal to people in Europe that public health is our priority and that we have listened to their concerns.

Through the approval of the EU4Health Programme, it is clear to see that Europe is committed to improving its healthcare sector and meeting its ambitious goals.

On top of this, other EU programmes alongside EU4Health will provide additional investments in the health sector to complement the programme. These consist of:

European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) to support vulnerable groups in accessing healthcare.

European Regional and Development Fund to improve regional health infrastructure.

Horizon Europe for health research.

Union Civil Protection Mechanism/rescEU to create stockpiles for emergency medical supplies.

Digital Europe and Connecting Europe Facility for creating the digital infrastructure needed for digital health tools.

Commissioner Kyriakides made a keynote speech in March 2021 calling to place significant emphasis on having patients at the very centre when re-designing Europes healthcare provision. She firmly stated that while this has been a priority in the past, in European healthcare today, there is still a need for more integration, and more cooperation between patients, informal carers and health professionals. What may seem to be a good result from a doctors perspective may not be the same for a patient. As we strive to build stronger health systems, the patients perspective is invaluable. It complements our knowledge and helps us to improve, she highlighted.

Therefore, the EUs Health Programme has funded initiatives that target this goal, and Europe is well on its way to building back a more sustainable and resilient healthcare system with patients at the heart.

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A vision for a healthier European Union - Open Access Government

The European Union on Sunday called for the departure of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya, describing it as a precondition for a return to stability in the war-torn country.

At a news conference in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, EU Council President Charles Michel described the appointment of a transitional government earlier this year as a historic moment. The government is meant to shepherd the country through until general elections on Dec. 24.

You have created an opportunity to rebuild your country, but there is one precondition all foreign fighters and troops must leave the country, he said, urging Libyas political and mostly armed factions to seize a unique opportunity to build a united sovereign stable and prosperous country.

A recently released report by U.N. experts accused several foreign governments of turning the oil-rich country into a stage to play out rivalries and ignoring U.N. sanctions and a decade-long U.N. arms embargo, which it said has remained totally ineffective.

The experts identified Turkey and Qatar as the backers of forces loyal to the U.N.-supported administration in Tripoli, to the west, while the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and Egypt have supported Khalifa Hifter, the military commander controlling eastern and southern parts of Libya.

Michel, who met the leaders of the newly appointed government, said the EU was supporting efforts at national reconciliation, following the years of chaos since the 2011 uprising that overthrew and later killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Mohammad Younes Menfi, head of the presidential council, said he and Michel discussed migration and the security of maritime borders between Libya and the EU, according to the office of the Libyan leader. Libya has emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East and seeking a better life in Europe.

Other European leaders would be visiting Libya in the coming days, reflecting the importance of EU-Libyan ties, an EU official said, adding that the EU ambassador to Libya would return to Tripoli by the end of April. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.

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European Union calls for foreign forces and mercenaries to leave Libya - Haaretz

On two separate occasions prior to the Easter holiday, New Europe had the opportunity to meet with Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italys Lega party and the former deputy prime minister, in Rome to about a wide range of issues that included the EUs immigration policy, management of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines and a development plan for the south of Italy proposed by his party.

New Europe (NE): After your meeting with the prime ministers of Poland and Hungary, are you planning to found a new group in the European Parliament? If so, and if were talking about immigration, what are your priorities at the EU level?

Matteo Salvini (MS): The top priories are the EU repatriation policy and border protection. When were talking about these two specific issues, were asking for more Europe . In some policy areas, we want the other members of the European Union to be able to decide for themselves on other issues, but on these two specific points, we think Europe should have a major role in terms of cooperation. Speaking about a larger vision for the future of the European Union, I think after the COVID crisis, the EU needs to reinvent itself and find a new soul. The political groups inside the European Parliament should seize the occasion and use it as a way to change. If today we could fuse together the European Conservatives and Reformists and Identity and Democracy groups, we could have the second biggest group in the parliament, a true alternative to the European Peoples Party/Socialists and Democrats duo.

NE: What do you think about the possibility of locking all of Italy for the entire month of April as has been suggested by Health Minister Roberto Speranza?

MS: I personally requested that Prime Minister Mario Draghi should always take the scientific data into consideration. If the data tells us that those specific areas should stay in the red zone, then restrictions need to be kept. However, if other areas in the country have good data in terms of positive cases and hospitalizations, they need to be put in the yellow zone. This is not the case now in terms of how it is being done. For example, as of March 31, based on the most up-to-date data that we have, Sardinia could reopen. I dont know why the 1.5 million inhabitants of Sardinia should be forced to stay home and close up their shops for the entire month of April only because some only see red across the whole country. Red is the color seen by bulls and Communists. Were asking for a clear and logical system if it red we close but if the situation is good we must reopen. I agree with what PM Draghi said that we have to look at the scientific data. If in April, some regions should be classified in the yellow zone, then we must reopen them, What is at stake are thousands of jobs and the mental health of Italians. It is completely nonsense to be able to verify, from March 31 till the end of April, specific restrictions about red and orange zones. This issue should not be treated from an ideological point of view, but only one that is scientific and pragmatic. Yesterday, I saw the updated data from the regions about the pandemic in Italy. The number of hospitalizations, ICUs and positive cases are all decreasing. Therefore, if this trend continues for the next several days, there is no way to justify extended lockdown closures after April 15.

NE: The lack of vaccines jabs in Italy and the EU is still an unresolved issue. Which of the other available vaccines could be interesting for you? For Example, I know that you have contacts with the Indian authorities.

MS: Whatever vaccine is effective is welcome in Italy. India is a very advanced country with regards its pharmaceutical research. I would use the Indian vaccine tomorrow morning, if possible. I spoke with the President of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia, and in the Veneto, they are distributing vaccines very fast, but now the main problem is that the original vaccine provisions are coming to an end and new doses are not arriving. Regarding the self-sufficiency of vaccines, Giancarlo Giorgetti, the Minister for Economic Development, is working to accelerate the production of vaccines in Italy. By the end of the year, Italy-based production should be at full speed.

NE: Youve developed a plan to relaunch and support the development of Southern Italy. How can Europe help with this initiative and what are you asking the EU to do to help implement your plan?

MS: We havent asked for anything. Europe should only respect the existing pacts and let us continue to work on our own. The EU should deliver on its promised numbers of vaccines and let Italian entrepreneurs, farmers, fishermen and researchers work without ridiculous regulations that block the further development of a company like Alitalia. Were not asking for money, just the right to the freedom to work.

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INTERVIEW with Matteo Salvini: The European Union needs to reinvent itself and find a new soul - New Europe

The greatest threat for any union comes from within. Closed ranks may easily be achieved against external threats or aggressors. But nothing is more perilous than a growing dissolution at the core of the community.

The European Union has tackled a series of crises in the past few years - concerning the financial markets, migration, the euro and currently the Covid-19 pandemic.

Yet one of the biggest challenges aims at the very heart of the Union: the undermining of the rule of law from within by member states.

However, I feel that at times our discussion of the rule of law is too abstract.

Despite an abundance of philosophical and legal definitions dating as far back as Aristotle, it is difficult to grasp it in our daily life. In most member states, rule of law is just a matter of fact.

As Dwight D. Eisenhower once put it, the clearest way to show what the rule of law means to us in everyday life is to recall what has happened when there was no rule of law.

As a German national, I see German history as a constant warning to defend the rule of law - and to be vigilant to detect even the slightest beginnings of its erosion.

A strong democracy and rule of law is the cornerstone for an open European society and the future of the European Union, its member states and regions.

This holds particularly true for my home region North Rhine-Westphalia.

We are Germany's most densely populated Land at the heart of Europe with nearly 18 million inhabitants and vibrant investment locations. The rule of law is the benchmark for citizens and investors who seek just governments, freedom and prosperity in the regions.

Nations with trustworthy, efficient legal systems are more likely to attract foreign direct investment than nations with troubled legal institutions.

However, several member states face serious challenges. Within only a few years, we have witnessed growing authoritarian backsliding, corruption failures and threats to free media and journalists.

As state secretary at the Ministry of Justice and a former judge myself, I feel particular pain at any restrictions and authoritarian controls of the judiciary.

The principle of judicial independence is one of the core values of the EU, laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the treaties.

Mutual trust in rule of law standards is the basic prerequisite for judicial cooperation in the Union. The EU, like any political community, will fall apart when its fundamental values are no longer shared by all.

The European Commission has taken unprecedented steps in reacting to rule of law breaches. The first Rule of Law Report is an important element of the European toolbox to identify and diminish such deficiencies.

I strongly encourage the commission as the guardian of the treaties and welcome the conditionality regime for an access to EU budgets.

Wherever necessary, infringement procedures according to Article 7 TEU should be applied. Europe must give a strong and unanimous answer to anyone who questions our core values.

This will not suffice though.

Sanctions alone will not uphold the fundamental principles of the European Union. While we cannot do without a strong punitive mechanism, our fundamental principles have to be strengthened in a positive manner.

Member states and regions must act. If we want Europe and its values to prevail, we need hands-on concepts to promote a positive development in our regions.

It is vital to foster the concept of rule of law among our citizens.

This is why we offer basic legal education in Germany and start with the youngest, with law classes taught by professionals at our schools.

Furthermore, Germany has initiated the so-called "Pact for the Rule of Law" between the federal level and the states.

The pact includes the creation of 2,000 new posts for judges and prosecutors by end of 2021. North Rhine-Westphalia has already (over)fulfilled its part.

But rather than to praise ourselves, we have to be self-critical.

If we want others to take the rule of law seriously, we have to live up to our own ambitious standards. We should start in our home regions, identify and tackle what goes wrong or needs to be changed for the better.

For example, the rule of law report mentions that in Germany there is the possibility for mnisters of justice to instruct prosecutors. While extensive constitutional safeguards and practical guidelines are already in place, our legislature elaborates further amendments and improvements in certain cases.

We should also be vigilant with respect to the way we respond to the Covid pandemic.

Some governments have taken drastic measures, not always compliant with the rule of law. Emergency declarations have been imposed, in some cases parliaments and other democratic control mechanisms were suspended; measures that affect the freedom of expression or assembly and privacy rights have been enacted.

To live up to our own standards, we have to be alert and scrutinise the necessities for governmental restrictions at every level - European, national and regional.

A prosperous future for the European Union can only thrive from within, with the regions as the heart of Europe.

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A German judge: my fears on rule of law in EU - EUobserver