TOP STORIES

• Serbia has received the go-ahead to start full production of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine. The Russian manufacturer has approved samples produced by the Torlak Institute in Belgrade.

• EU leaders are expected to back a plan on Friday to allow fully vaccinated travelers to enter from outside the European Union. There is an expected update of a "safe list" of low-risk countries. 

• Spanish travelers from the mainland are to be allowed to travel to the Balearic Islands from Sunday if they have had one vaccination dose.

• In Denmark, traditional parties will be allowed with family and friends, but with some COVID-19 restrictions. Larger parties are banned.

• Surge testing and additional vaccinations are being targeted in six more areas in England as the variant first identified in India continues to see a rise in case numbers. 

• Belgium's police are still hunting a heavily armed soldier with far-right views who is alleged to have made threats against virologist Marc Van Ranst, who is leading the country's public health response to the pandemic. 

• Coronavirus restrictions have been further eased in the Netherlands. Gyms, amusement parks and zoos can reopen. Bars and restaurants can serve outdoors for two hours longer, until 8 p.m..

• The World Health Organization's Europe director has said the authorized vaccines appeared to be effective against all currently known variants.

AROUND EUROPE 

Nawied Jabarkhyl in London

The UK's transport secretary says people should use their "common sense" when considering trips to countries on the government's amber list for travel.

Going to places on the list for leisure purposes is officially advised against, but a raft of confusing guidance from senior ministers in recent days has added to uncertainty. Grant Shapps' latest remarks to Sky News are unlikely to help.

Popular European holiday destinations such as Spain, Italy, France and Greece are among the destinations categorized as "amber," which require a home quarantine period upon return to the UK.

Meanwhile, more testing and additional vaccines are being rolled out across parts of England to deal with a rise in cases of the variant first discovered in India. Among the areas affected is Hounslow in west London, which is in close proximity to Heathrow Airport, one of Europe's busiest hubs.

Toni Waterman in Brussels 

Europe has signed a third contract with Pfizer-BioNTech for up to 1.8bn additional COVID-19 vaccine doses through 2023. 

It looks like Brussels learnt a thing or two from its disastrous row with AstraZeneca over delivery shortfalls and export bans in the U.S.. 

This latest contract with Pfizer requires that vaccine production be based in the EU and that essential components are sourced from within the bloc. Deliveries are also guaranteed. Member states will also have the option to resell or donate their jabs. 

The long-term securing of doses comes as Europe gets ready to reopen to the outside world. Parliament and EU governments resume talks on Thursday about the details of the rules that will govern that reopening. They remain at loggerheads over mandatory PCR testing, with MEPs insisting it be free for everyone to avoid discrimination.

Penelope Liersch in Budapest

Hungarians can register for the Pfizer vaccine again after 199,000 doses arrived on Tuesday. The jabs will be administered from Thursday to Sunday and it is expected the opportunity to register for the vaccine will come up again in a couple of weeks. 

Currently there are up to 700,000 people who have registered but not had a vaccine, despite there being more vaccines available than people registered. 

Almost all of the 5 million Chinese Sinopharm doses have arrived in the country. Only a few doses of Russia's Sputnik V jab remain from the order of  2 million and AstraZeneca's shot is only being used for second-round vaccinations.

Ryan Thompson in Frankfurt 

Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was optimistic about the progress Germany is making as new cases fall and vaccinations are on the rise. 

Germany reported just over 11,000 new infections on Wednesday, which is down from nearly 15,000 the same time last week. 

The incidence rate (the metric Germany has stood by to decide when to close and reopen public life) is also quickly falling. Nationwide it averages out to 72.8 cases per 100,000 people. 

Merkel has warned that the country is not yet out of the woods. Speaking to lawmakers, she said Germany's path was "good and hopeful," but caution was still needed.

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CGTN Europe has been providing in-depth coverage of the novel coronavirus story as it has unfolded.