Public Health Policy in the EU

Latest news on the public health policy of the European Union.

EU Digital COVID Certificate — 29 March 2022, 22:20 CET

The EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation entered into application on 01 July 2021. EU citizens and residents are able to have their Digital COVID Certificates issued and verified across the EU.

EU Parliament gives go-ahead to Covid certificate — 14 June 2021, 19:17 CET

EU states are set to accept the Digital COVID Certificate - proving vaccination, negative test result or recovery from a COVID infection - from 1 July, following Wednesday's green light from MEPs.

EU limits presence of suspected carcinogen in toys — 03 June 2021, 22:05 CET

The EU Commission adopted Thursday an amendment to the Toy Safety Directive to limit the presence of aniline, a substance suspected of carcinogenic properties in certain coloured toy materials.

EU keeps up pressure on vaccine disinformation — 07 June 2021, 23:56 CET

The EU confirmed Thursday extension of its monitoring programme on measures taken by online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Microsoft and Google to reduce the 'dangerous lies' of disinformation.

New EU rules on medical devices into force — 27 May 2021, 17:59 CET

New EU rules on medical devices entered into application on Wednesday, with the aim of establishing a modern and more robust regulatory framework to protect public health and patient safety.

Medical Devices Regulation — 26 May 2021, 18:13 CET

Regulation (EU) 2017/745 is a regulation of the European Union on the clinical investigation and sale of medical devices for human use. It repeals Directive 93/42/EEC, which concerns medical devices, and Directive 90/385/EEC, which concerns active implantable medical devices, on 26 May 2021.

Application of Regulation on Medical Devices - EU rules for safety of medical devices — 26 May 2021, 18:03 CET

As of 26 May, new EU rules on medical devices (MDR) enter into application, establishing a modern and more robust regulatory framework to protect public health and patient safety.

Brussels disburses EUR 14.1 bn for Covid employment support — 26 May 2021, 13:54 CET

The European Commission disbursed some EUR 14,137 billion to 12 EU Member States on Tuesday, in the seventh instalment of financial support under the EU's SURE instrument.

EU agrees provisional deal on digital Covid certificate — 25 May 2021, 21:32 CET

EU institutions reached a provisional deal Friday for a European digital Covid certificate to facilitate free movement as EU member states start to lift Covid restrictions to free movement across Europe.

EU aims for 5 pct tobacco use by 2040 — 20 May 2021, 18:31 CET

The EU Commission published a first report on the Tobacco Products Directive Thursday, underlining its goal of a tobacco-free generation in Europe, with less than 5% of people using tobacco by 2040.

EU eases criteria for restrictions on non-essential travel — 20 May 2021, 18:31 CET

Responding to ongoing vaccination campaigns, the EU announced Thursday the introduction of certain waivers for vaccinated travellers and an easing of criteria for restrictions for third countries.

Brussels looks to ease restrictions on non-essential travel — 11 May 2021, 00:47 CET

The Commission proposed Monday an easing of current restrictions on non-essential travel to the EU to take into account progress of vaccination campaigns and the worldwide epidemiological situation.

EU extends customs, VAT waiver for imports of medical protective equipment — 21 April 2021, 00:19 CET

The Commission extended Monday the temporary waiver of customs duties and Value Added Tax on imports from non-EU countries of medical protective equipment used in the fight against COVID-19.

EU prepares to raise EUR 800 bn to finance recovery — 19 April 2021, 23:38 CET

The EU Commission took steps Wednesday to ensure that borrowing under its 'NextGenerationEU' funding for post-Covid recovery is financed on the most advantageous terms for EU states.

Funding strategy for NextGenerationEU — 15 April 2021, 00:19 CET

The European took steps on 14 April to ensure that borrowing under the temporary recovery instrument NextGenerationEU will be financed on the most advantageous terms for EU Member States and their citizens.

Brussels looks to exempt vital EU services from VAT — 17 April 2021, 00:00 CET

The European Commission proposed Monday to exempt from VAT goods and services made available by the Commission, EU bodies and agencies to Member States and citizens during times of crisis.

EU funds urgent research into combatting Covid variants — 12 April 2021, 21:54 CET

The EU Commission announced Wednesday it is mobilising EUR 123 million from its new EU research and innovation programme Horizon Europe, for urgent research into coronavirus variants.

EU disburses EUR13 bn to help preserve jobs — 08 April 2021, 00:03 CET

The EU Commission disbursed some EUR 13 billion to six EU Member States Tuesday, under the EU's SURE programme to help countries with sudden increases in public expenditure to preserve jobs.

EU4Health Programme 2021-2027 — 26 March 2021, 23:09 CET

The EU4Health programme came into force on 26 March, making EUR 5.1 billion available to strengthen the resilience of Europe's health systems and promote innovation in the health sector.

EU looks to tighten vaccine export controls — 25 March 2021, 20:52 CET

The European Commission introduced new, tougher criteria of 'reciprocity and proportionality' Wednesday under its transparency and authorisation mechanism for COVID-19 vaccine exports.

Brussels sets out plan for EU coronavirus passport — 22 March 2021, 22:07 CET

The European Commission put forward a plan for a coronavirus passport Wednesday, a 'digital green certificate' to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic.

EU Digital COVID Certificate — 01 July 2021, 17:54 CET

The EU Digital COVID Certificate (formerly called Digital Green Certificate) will facilitate safe free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic within the EU. It will serve as proof that a person was vaccinated against COVID-19, received a negative test result or recovered from COVID-19. The certificate can be used across all EU Member States as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Contacts are also ongoing to enable its use with Switzerland. The Commission is working to make sure that the certificates can be compatible with systems in other countries outside the EU.

Brussels extends export controls for COVID-19 vaccines — 11 March 2021, 23:09 CET

As Europe continues to suffer delays in some deliveries of vaccines, the EU Commission extended Thursday its 'transparency and authorisation' mechanism for COVID-19 vaccine exports to end June.

4m doses of BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine for EU's coronavirus hotspots — 10 March 2021, 22:15 CET

The EU Commission reached an agreement with BioNTech-Pfizer Wednesday for the supply of four million more doses of COVID-19 vaccines for Member States in order to tackle coronavirus hotspots.

Euro-Parliament greenlights EU's post-Covid recovery fund — 10 March 2021, 18:55 CET

MEPs gave their approval Tuesday to the InvestEU programme, to mobilise public and private investments in support of Europe's post-Covid recovery, and guarantee simplified access to financing