Public Health Policy in the EU

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

Coronavirus: new measures to help EU farmers — 24 April 2020, 00:23 CET

A new set of measures to help EU farmers affected by the coronavirus pandemic, announced Wednesday by the Commission, aims to stabilise markets and provide stability to future prices and production.

European data sharing platform opens for COVID-19 researchers — 22 April 2020, 22:27 CET

The Commission together with several partners on Tuesday launched a European COVID-19 Data Platform to enable the rapid collection and sharing of available research data.

COVID-19 Data Portal — 22 April 2020, 00:08 CET

The COVID-19 Data Portal was launched in April 2020 to bring together relevant datasets for sharing and analysis in an effort to accelerate coronavirus research. It enables researchers to upload, access and analyse COVID-19 related reference data and specialist datasets as part of the wider European COVID-19 Data Platform.

MEPs call for ambitious green COVID-19 recovery plan — 22 April 2020, 22:27 CET

In a debate with Commission executive vice-president Frans Timmermans Tuesday, a committee of MEPs said the EU must remain firm on climate change and the timetable foreseen for the Climate Law.

MEPs greenlight new EU resources to fight coronavirus — 21 April 2020, 00:14 CET

The European Parliament gave its green light Friday to rapid implementation of a number of proposals for redirection of EU policy funds to address the effects of the coronavirus public health crisis.

EU offers Italy "heartfelt apology" over coronavirus — 16 April 2020, 22:40 CET

EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday expressed "a heartfelt apology" to Italy on behalf of Europe for not being at the country's side from the very beginning of the coronavirus crisis.

Brussels outlines roadmap for COVID exit plans — 20 April 2020, 23:29 CET

The EU Commission, in cooperation with the Council, put forward a European roadmap Wednesday for a coordinated strategy for phasing-out the containment measures due to the coronavirus outbreak.

EU diverts nearly all resources to fight COVID-19 — 16 April 2020, 22:41 CET

The EU Council adopted two proposals Tuesday to make almost all remaining funding from this year's EU Budget - plus an additional EUR 3 billion - available for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

EU finds EUR 15.6 bn to support global effort against pandemic — 10 April 2020, 00:08 CET

The EU is to redirect from existing external resources financial support amounting to more than €15.6 billion to partner countries to help partner countries with their efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Global EU response to the coronavirus pandemic — 09 April 2020, 23:49 CET

The European Commission and the EU's High Representative set out on 8 April plans for a robust and targeted EU response to support partner countries' efforts in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

EU medical teams deployed to Italy — 08 April 2020, 00:23 CET

A team of European doctors and nurses from Romania and Norway was despatched Tuesday via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to Milan and Bergamo to help Italian medical staff battling the coronavirus.

Coronavirus: EC, EIB unlock EUR 8 bn finance for 100,000 SMEs — 08 April 2020, 00:26 CET

The Commission and European Investment Fund made available EUR 8 billion in financing Monday, to bring speedy cash relief to SMEs in Europe affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus: SURE, a new temporary instrument worth up to €100 billion to help protect jobs and people in work — 03 April 2020, 00:29 CET

The European Commission proposed on 2 April to set up a €100 billion solidarity instrument to help workers keep their incomes and help businesses stay afloat, called SURE.

Brussels plans EUR 100 billion coronavirus solidarity fund — 03 April 2020, 00:32 CET

The EU Commission proposed Thursday to set up a EUR 100 bn coronavirus solidarity fund to help businesses stay afloat and workers keep incomes, and to redirect structural funds to coronavirus response.

EC scientists develop new control material to help prevent coronavirus test failures — 01 April 2020, 23:24 CET

Scientists at the EC's Joint European Research Centre have designed new control material that laboratories can use to check the correct functioning of their coronavirus tests and to avoid false negatives.

Guidance to help increase production of safe medical supplies — 31 March 2020, 00:21 CET

The EU Commission issued guidance Monday to assist manufacturers in ramping up production of personal protective equipment, hand sanitizers and 3D printing.

EU waives 'use it or lose it' slot rules for airlines — 31 March 2020, 00:05 CET

The EU gave the green light Monday to suspend until 24 October airport slot requirements which oblige airlines to use at least 80% of their take-off and landing slots, in order to keep them the following year.

Coronavirus: EU approves UK SME support schemes — 27 March 2020, 00:52 CET

The EU Commission on Thursday approved two separate UK State aid schemes to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the context of the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus equipment ready soon after joint EU procurement bid — 26 March 2020, 23:27 CET

The joint EU procurement of coronavirus personal protective equipment has been a success, says the European Commission, with equipment available two weeks after Member States sign contracts with the bidders.

'Green lanes' to speed up freight across EU borders — 23 March 2020, 22:58 CET

As the coronavirus pandemic continues major disruption to European transport, the EU Commission issued new practical advice Monday on how to keep freight moving across the EU during the current crisis.

Netflix, Youtube slow streaming networks to help fight Coronavirus — 25 March 2020, 00:25 CET

Netflix and YouTube have agreed to a European request to reduce pressure on the Internet caused by increased demand from social distancing measures in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.

Bank of England support on coronavirus gives UK advantage over EU countries — 19 March 2020, 23:16 CET

Expert comment from Dr Ivan Petrella, Associate Professor of Economics at Warwick Business School.

EU plans medical equipment stockpile to help fight shortages — 23 March 2020, 22:58 CET

The EU Commission announced Thursday it is to create a strategic stockpile of medical equipment such as ventilators and protective masks to help EU countries in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus: EU passenger rights clarified — 21 March 2020, 00:19 CET

As efforts continue to mitigate the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission published Wednesday guidelines to ensure EU passenger rights are applied in a coherent manner.

EU shuts borders to non-essential travel for 30 days — 18 March 2020, 17:26 CET

EU leaders agreed in a video conference Tuesday that they would reinforce the EU's external borders by placing coordinated, temporary restrictions on non-essential travel to the EU for a period of 30 days.