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Brussels (dpa) - In view of the strong increase in the corona numbers, the EU countries finally want to bring more speed to the vaccination campaign.

The acceleration of the production and delivery of the previously scarce vaccines is the hot topic at today's video summit of the heads of state and government.

But Chancellor Angela Merkel and her colleagues also have explosive questions about relations with Russia and Turkey on the agenda.

US President Joe Biden intermittently intervenes.

VACCINES AND EXPORT CONTROL

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All over the EU, vaccines are too scarce to withstand increasing numbers of infections in the third corona wave.

The EU states therefore want to do even more to ramp up the production of the vaccine, as can be seen from the draft of the summit declaration.

In addition, the EU Commission has expanded the export controls introduced at the beginning of February - without general export bans.

This should also be discussed at the summit.

The Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz also wants to readjust the internal distribution of vaccines, as he considers them to be unequal and unjust.

THE DIGITAL GREEN CERTIFICATE

Even if the corona restrictions are being tightened almost everywhere in Europe - the summit should also prepare a joint strategy for opening up.

The statement said that priority should be given to promoting work on European digital certificates.

What is meant is a mutually recognized proof of vaccinations, tests and immunization through a survived Covid disease.

However, the very complex details will not be discussed at the summit, but will be discussed at specialist level over the next few weeks.

The EU Commission wants the start on June 1st, Germany too.

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HOW NEXT TO TURKEY?

For months there were intense tensions with Turkey - mainly because of unauthorized Turkish gas explorations in Mediterranean areas, which are claimed by Greece and Cyprus.

Because the government in Ankara has recently shown that it is ready for dialogue and there are no more Turkish ships sailing in disputed areas, possible rewards for Turkey are now to be discussed.

They could, for example, include additional financial support for the care of refugees or closer economic cooperation.

The latest domestic political developments in Turkey should also play a role in the discussion.

The country's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention for the Protection of Women and an application for a ban against the pro-Kurdish opposition party HDP caused outrage in the EU.

RUSSIA AS A DIFFICULT PARTNER

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Relations with Russia are just as complicated after the recent dispute over the poisoning and imprisonment of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

After all, EU Council President Charles Michel phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday - and afterwards the two sides at least did not rule out a better relationship, but set conditions for it.

For Michel, this includes progress on the Minsk Agreement to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

In addition, Russia should respect human rights and stop cyber attacks immediately.

In the video conference, Michel wants to inform the summit participants about his conversation - there will then be a major Russia debate at the next physical meeting.

BIDEN AS A SURPRISE GUEST

Unexpectedly, Council Chairman Michel announced on Tuesday that US President Biden would temporarily be present at the video switch, in the evening from 8.45 p.m.

The White House announced that Biden wanted to address the transatlantic relationship, the fight against the pandemic and climate change, but also foreign policy issues with a view to Russia or China.

The appearance should be more of a friendly gesture, but one with symbolic power: US President Barack Obama was last present at an EU summit in 2009.

DIGITAL ECONOMY AND A STRONG EURO

For a second day of the summit on Friday, there are several economic policy issues.

The key words are strengthening the internal market, the international role of the euro and digitization.

The EU Commission recently presented a digital compass with specific, measurable goals up to 2030.

Then, for example, everyone in the EU should be able to deal with authorities online and have access to their own electronic patient file.

The EU states want to welcome that.

In addition, the draft of the summit declaration refers to the expansion of data use and artificial intelligence as well as to the long-running regulation and taxation of the large platforms.

The summit is planned for two days, but it was not previously ruled out that one could get through in one day.

The originally planned physical meeting in Brussels had been canceled due to the pandemic.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210325-99-961485 / 2