European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
epidemic
EU rules on vouchers offered to passengers and travellers
EU rules on vouchers offered to passengers and travellers Continue reading
Education in isolation in the pandemic, following the path of Isaac Newton
While schools have remained closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, students’ education cannot be suspended indefinitely without severe consequences. Continue reading
The coronavirus crisis: Options for economic recovery [What Think Tanks are thinking]
As the coronavirus crisis keeps the world in its grip, analysts ponder what future measures could stimulate recovery from the deep recession expected in its aftermath, with a focus, in particular, on the European Commission’s plans and the growth-boosting fund recently proposed by France and Germany. Continue reading
Food trade and food security in the coronavirus pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has not only created a global public health crisis, but it has had a significant effect on the global economy and international trade. Continue reading
EU export authorisation scheme for personal protection equipment
In the midst of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission issued an implementing regulation requiring authorisations for exports of personal protection equipment (PPE), effective as of 15 March 2020 for a six-week period. Continue reading
Coronavirus: The world in limbo [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Most countries recovering from the first – and hopefully last – wave of the coronavirus pandemic are now in limbo. Continue reading
EU budgetary and financial response to the coronavirus crisis
Within the limits of its powers, the EU has acted quickly to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences. Continue reading
Citizens’ enquiries on self-employed workers on e-commerce websites during the coronavirus pandemic
The President of the European Parliament has recently received a large number of messages on the situation of micro-enterprises and the self-employed, in particular on e-commerce websites, in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – Brussels, May 2020
The May 2020 plenary session was the third conducted with a majority of Members participating remotely, although more were present in Brussels than at the April session, and using the alternative voting procedure put in place in March by Parliament’s Bureau. Continue reading
Which ‘new normal’ after coronavirus? [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Many countries are now beginning to relax their strict confinement measures as the infection, hospitalisation and death rates from the coronavirus all fall. However, the impact of such moves is being monitored very closely, in order to try to forestall any second wave of infection. Continue reading
States of emergency in response to the coronavirus crisis: Situation in certain Member States II
Member States have adopted a range of emergency measures in response to the unprecedented public health crises generated by the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading
World Health Organization: Is it fit for purpose?
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19, the disease resulting from the novel coronavirus SARS-COV2, a pandemic on 11 March 2020, putting the United Nations (UN) agency in the global spotlight. Continue reading
Mobility, transport and coronavirus
One of the first, and most visible impacts of the Covid-19 crisis was on transport, travel and mobility. In early March 2020, European Union (EU) Member States had already reintroduced border controls at internal Schengen borders on the grounds of an immediate threat to public policy and on 17 March 2020, the Heads of State or Government agreed to reinforce the external borders by applying a coordinated temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU. Continue reading
The impact of coronavirus on media freedom
Media freedom has increasingly come under the spotlight in recent years. In its 2019 report on media freedom, Freedom House argued that media freedom around the world was coming under growing threat both in democratic and non-democratic countries, whilst in its 2020 edition of the World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) argue that the next decade will be pivotal in ensuring the preservation of media freedom. Continue reading
Coronavirus: From lock-down to de-confinement, and beyond [What Think Tanks are thinking]
A number of European countries have now started, or will soon start, relaxing the lock-downs put in place to slow the spread of the lethal coronavirus. Continue reading
Protecting the EU agri-food supply chain in the face of COVID-19 [Policy Podcast]
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, EU countries’ governments have taken a host of measures, including reintroducing border controls and setting limits to free movement of people within their territory, in an attempt to stem the spread of the disease. Continue reading
EU support for artists and the cultural and creative sector during the coronavirus crisis
The EU’s cultural and creative sectors (CCS) are a European Union economic and societal asset, providing an important contribution to GDP, and shaping identity and diversity. Continue reading
States of emergency in response to the coronavirus crisis: Situation in certain Member States
With the first case of unknown pneumonia reported in the province of Wuhan (People’s Republic of China) on 31 December 2019, within few weeks the coronavirus (Covid-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 30 January 2020. Continue reading
Coronavirus and the European film industry
With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused the shutdown of some 70 000 cinemas in China, nearly 2 500 in the US and over 9 000 in the EU, the joy sparked by the success of the film industry in 2019 has quickly given way to anxiety. Continue reading
STOA meets experts on coronavirus: Challenges, opportunities and the way forward
Striking the right balance between managing the health-related risks of the Covid‑19 pandemic and mitigating the possible socio-economic impacts of the containment measures is a delicate political exercise, being performed on the basis of imperfect data. Continue reading
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