The Covid-19 pandemic has changed life as we knew it. It has changed values, economies, freedom, etc. Almost all industries suffered from the severe slowdown, caused by the pandemic. Almost, but not all. Sectors linked to the crypto industry enjoyed robust growth. Of course, the crypto economy always means crypto currency.

The European Union’s New Year Resolution must be to brush up on its ABC of foreign policies. Europe is facing greater volatility than ever, and the EU must respond with unprecedented imagination and political courage.

In finalising its treaty with the EU, to the dismay of many, PM Boris Johnson has confirmed his last minute negative decision to no longer participate in the EU`s Erasmus programme. This comes as a severe blow to young people and to present and future students and teaching staff throughout our education and training sector. The many friends and partners abroad will be as perplexed as I am as to the reasoning behind this negative decision, whatever their views on the Brexit saga may be.

I was shocked, as all democracy advocates and friends of the United States worldwide, by the scenes we witnessed in Washington: a mob assaulting the Capitol Hill to prevent the vote to confirm Joe Biden as President of the country. It had a particular echo for me because I had to remember how, forty years ago, the young Spanish democracy had been threatened by an assault of the Congress of Deputies by a group of military police.

Optimism over the launch of the first Covid-19 vaccine has almost faded away as the practical process of administering it met unexpected difficulties. The US was the first to rush mass vaccination plans aimed to halt the pandemic spread. However, those plans were very soon overshadowed.

Without a shadow of a doubt, 2020 will be remembered around the world as the year of the coronavirus. Way back in February, we wrote that the word of the year would be “coronavirus”. Since there are dozens of human coronaviruses, let me clarify: I am talking about SARS-CoV-2, or the Chinese virus, as the outgoing US president refers to it unscientifically.

If we are serious about the green transition, it will involve a significant shift in the relationship that humans have with transport: not only less travel and fewer miles, but also different sources of energy and power. Increased public transport, a reduction in air miles and more telework will have to be accompanied by greener modes of individual transport, from bicycles to electric cars.

Christmas is approaching overshadowed by pandemic fears across the globe. Do you know the most common inquiry received by the World Health Organisation (WHO)? Millions asked if Santa has taken a vaccine shot. And this is not a joke. The WHO was forced to come out with an official statement saying that Santa is well and untouched by the virus - the opposite would have been dreadful, having in mind Santa's age.

When determining the governance of the EU’s economic recovery, policymakers would do well to remember that the Recovery and Resilience Facility is not designed to stimulate an immediate rebound.

The intrigue that for months had been surrounding the question whether North Macedonia would start its accession talks with the EU came to a conclusion several days ago with Bulgaria's rather expected and resounding “No”. Or at least “Not yet”. Not before Skopje rethinks its attitude towards Bulgaria.