Public Health Policy in the EU

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

Biden victory offers businesses greater stability and hope on COVID-19 and immigration — 07 November 2020, 21:58 CET

Expert comment from Christian Stadler, Professor of Strategic Management at Warwick Business School:

EU leaders strengthen resolve as 2nd Covid wave hits Europe — 04 November 2020, 23:15 CET

EU leaders at a summit Thursday resolved to strengthen their collective effort to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on testing and tracing policies, and on vaccines.

EU SURE social bonds first issue — 21 October 2020, 23:53 CET

The European Commission issued a EUR 17 billion inaugural social bond on 21 October under the EU SURE instrument to help protect jobs and keep people in work.

Coordination of measures restricting free movement in the EU related to the coronavirus pandemic — 13 October 2020, 17:21 CET

The EU Council agreed on 13 October on EU-wide coordination of measures restricting free movement related to the coronavirus pandemic.

EU states look to coordinate COVID travel measures — 13 October 2020, 17:07 CET

The EU adopted Tuesday a common framework on travel measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with recommendations to help states take decisions based on the epidemiological situation region by region.

EUR 87.4 bn to support workers through COVID-19 — 29 September 2020, 14:26 CET

The EU Council approved Friday financial support of EUR 87.4 bn to 16 Member States in the form of EU loans under SURE - a temporary EU instrument to mitigate unemployment risks during the COVID-19 crisis.

SURE - the European instrument for temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency — 14 December 2022, 23:46 CET

The temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) is available for EU Member States that need to mobilise significant financial means to fight the negative economic and social consequences of the coronavirus outbreak on their territory. It can provide financial assistance up to €100 billion in the form of loans from the EU to affected Member States to address sudden increases in public expenditure for the preservation of employment. SURE is a crucial element of the EU's comprehensive strategy to protect citizens and mitigate the severely negative socio-economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.

Record levels of cocaine in Europe: EU drugs agency — 24 September 2020, 00:15 CET

Increase in cocaine availability with seizures at a record high, a near doubling of heroin seizures and high availability of high purity drugs are the stand-out points of the European Drug Report published Tuesday.

Brussels to improve workers' protection against cancer-causing chemicals — 23 September 2020, 14:22 CET

The EU Commission proposed a new revision of the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive Tuesday, with new or revised limit values limiting workers' exposure to three important cancer-causing chemicals.

Improved protection against cancer for workers — 22 September 2020, 17:42 CET

To improve workers' protection against cancer, the European Commission proposed on 22 September to further limit their exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.

MEPs approve EUR 6.2 bn to tackle crisis, speed up vaccine deployment — 17 September 2020, 23:40 CET

The EU Parliament gave the go-ahead to an increase in the EU budget of EUR 6.2 billion Thursday, to improve the chances of an effective and safe vaccine, and to step up COVID-19-related cohesion funding.

EU forecasts big increase in VAT gap due to coronavirus — 14 September 2020, 21:37 CET

Forecasts for 2020 VAT revenues to EU Member States show a potential loss in the region of EUR 164 billion due to effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy, as well as fraud and tax evasion.

Poor environment causes one in eight deaths in Europe — 09 September 2020, 21:54 CET

Heatwaves, air and noise pollution contribute to 13 per cent of all deaths in Europe, according to a major assessment on health and environment released Tuesday the EU Environment Agency (EEA).

Brussels signs first contract with AstraZeneca — 31 August 2020, 23:58 CET

The first pharmaceutical contract negotiated by the EU Commission on behalf of EU Member States entered into force Thursday following the formal signature between AstraZeneca and the Commission.

Brussels concludes talks with fifth vaccine manufacturer — 25 August 2020, 00:25 CET

The EU concluded exploratory talks with U.S. based company Moderna Monday to purchase a potential vaccine against COVID-19 - the fifth company with which the Commission has concluded talks.

Europe readies EUR 81.4 bn to mitigate effects of pandemic — 27 August 2020, 23:44 CET

The European Commission presented proposals Monday for financial support of some of EUR 81 billion to 15 EU Member States to help protect jobs and workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

New talks with CureVac expand EU portfolio of future vaccines — 20 August 2020, 23:59 CET

The EU Commission concluded Thursday exploratory talks with CureVac to purchase a potential vaccine against COVID-19, offering the possibility for all EU Member States to purchase the vaccine.

European Vaccines Strategy — 20 August 2020, 23:54 CET

As part of the effort to help protect people everywhere and EU citizens in particular, the Commission is proposing an EU strategy to accelerate the development, manufacturing, and deployment of vaccines against COVID-19. COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK EU Strategy for COVID-19 vaccines - COM/2020/245 final

Brussels reaches 1st agreement on potential COVID-19 vaccine — 19 August 2020, 00:11 CET

The Commission reached first agreement Friday with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to buy a potential vaccine against COVID-19 as well as to donate to lower and middle income countries.

EUR 128m EU funding for coronavirus research projects — 15 August 2020, 00:15 CET

The EU Commission announced EUR 128 million of EU funding Tuesday for 23 new research projects involving 347 research teams from 40 countries in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Google's proposed Fitbit buy under full EU investigation — 11 August 2020, 00:11 CET

The EU Commission opened Tuesday an in-depth investigation to assess the proposed acquisition of Fitbit by Google over the amount of data Google could use for personalisation of the ads it serves.

Brussels secures EU access to COVID-19 drug Remdesivir — 31 July 2020, 18:45 CET

The European Commission signed a contract with pharmaceutical company Gilead Tuesday to secure treatment doses of Veklury, the brand name for Remdesivir, for EU Member States and the UK.

Capital Markets Recovery Package — 25 July 2020, 00:24 CET

The European Commission on 24 July adopted a Capital Markets Recovery Package, as part of the Commission's overall coronavirus recovery strategy.

Banking rules revised to help COVID recovery — 25 June 2020, 00:24 CET

The EU agreed to temporarily adapt its banking rules Wednesday in order to maximise the capacity of banks to lend money and support households and businesses to recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

Importance of China to EU's COVID recovery underlined at summit — 24 June 2020, 17:53 CET

The importance of the EU's trading relationship with China for recovery from COVID-19 was underlined at a video conference summit Tuesday but Hong Kong and human rights was high on the agenda.