Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission has been working on all fronts to contain the spread of the virus. Unprecedented measures have been taken at both national and EU level to support health systems and counter the socio-economic impact of the pandemic.
Securing safe and effective vaccines for Europe and the world
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The development and distribution of an effective and safe vaccine against the coronavirus represents a lasting solution to the pandemic and is a cornerstone of the Commission’s coronavirus response. So far, the Commission has |
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put in place a European Vaccine Strategy to accelerate the development, manufacturing and deployment of vaccines against COVID-19 -
authorised 6 contracts, for 2.3 billion doses of future vaccines, and is in talks with 2 potential developers for 260 million additional doses -
granted 3 conditional marketing authorisations, to BioNtech and Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca
- 27 December 2020Vaccination against COVID-19 started across the EU in a moment of unity
Other key actions taken:
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Supporting Europe’s economy on the path to recovery
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The European Commission has proposed a major recovery plan for Europe that will
The recovery package of €1.8 trillion combines the EU budget for 2021-27 and NextGenerationEU. |
In 2020, the European Commission adopted other measures, such as
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mobilising the EU budget and the European Investment Bank to save people's jobs and to support companies hit by the crisis -
launching SURE, that can provide up to €100 billion in loans to Member States for the preservation of employment -
temporary state aid rules so governments can provide liquidity to the economy to support citizens and save jobs
- 1440 measures were adopted, including 650 state aid decisions
Other key actions the Commission has taken:
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Protecting public health
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On 11 November 2020, the Commission laid the foundations of a European Health Union, in which all EU countries prepare for and respond together to health crises. This would ensure that medical supplies are affordable and available, and countries work together to improve disease prevention and treatment. |
During the pandemic, the Commission
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helped Member States to join forces to maximise purchasing power and secure necessary medical supplies, as quickly as possible -
invested in top quality research, bringing Europe’s leading scientists together -
established a panel of 7 independent epidemiologists and virologists to give guidance to Member States on response measures
The Commission also issued:
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Protecting mobility of EU citizens
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Some internal border controls have had to be reintroduced during the pandemic. The Commission has worked with Member States to
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Specifically, the Commission has
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brought home more than 90,000 Europeans who were stranded around the world, thanks to the EU civil protection mechanism -
issued guidelines on 'green lanes' to Member States to ensure the speedy and uninterrupted flow of goods across the EU -
launched ‘Re-open EU’, a web platform with essential information about health and travel measures across the EU
Further actions include:
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