September to December 2020

21 December 2020 - European Commission authorises first safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19

The Commission has granted a conditional marketing authorisation for the safe and effective vaccine against COVID‑19 developed by BioNTech and Pfizer. This authorisation follows a positive scientific recommendation based on a thorough assessment of the safety, effectiveness and quality of the vaccine by the European Medicines Agency. President Ursula von der Leyen said: “Today we add an important chapter to a European success story. We approved the first safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19. More vaccines will come soon. Doses of the vaccine approved today will be available for all EU countries, at the same time, on the same conditions. The upcoming European vaccination days will also be a great moment of unity. This is a good way to end this difficult year, and to start turning the page on this pandemic. We are all in this together.”

17 December 2020 – President von der Leyen announces European vaccination days on 27, 28 and 29 December

In case of a successful and effective vaccine authorisation by the European Medicines Agency and the European Commission, President von der Leyen announced that on 27, 28 and 29 December vaccination against the coronavirus will start across the EU. “To end the pandemic, we need up to 70% of the population vaccinated. This is a huge task. So let's start rapidly with the vaccination together, as 27”, she said.

14 December 2020 – Commission launches Re-open EU mobile app with regular updates on coronavirus health, safety and travel measures across Europe

The Commission launched the free Re-open EU mobile app, providing comprehensive, up-to-date information on the health, safety and travel measures in all EU Member States and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The information is available in all 24 official EU languages, using data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and Member States. The app is available for download on Android and iOS.

3 December 2020 – European Democracy Action Plan: making EU democracies stronger

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted challenges to the EU democracies. The European Commission is presenting its European Democracy Action Plan to empower citizens and build more resilient democracies across the EU. With this Action Plan, the Commission aims to protect free and fair elections, strengthen media freedom and media pluralism, and to counter disinformation and foreign interference.

2 December 2020 – Commission presents “Staying safe from COVID-19 during winter” strategy

The Commission adopted a strategy for sustainably managing the pandemic over the coming winter months, when the virus transmission risk may increase owing to indoor gatherings.

The strategy recommends continued vigilance and caution throughout the winter period and into 2021 when the roll out of safe and effective vaccines will occur.

A coordinated EU-wide approach is key to avoid a resurgence of the virus, and any relaxation of measures should take into account the evolution of the epidemiological situation.

1 December 2020 – The European Commission disburses €8.5 billion under SURE to five Member States to help sustain jobs

The Commission has disbursed €8.5 billion to 5 EU countries in the third instalment of financial support to Member States under the SURE instrument. To support national short-time work schemes, Belgium has received €2 billion, Hungary €200 million, Portugal €3 billion, Romania €3 billion and Slovakia €300 million. With today’s disbursement, 15 Member States have received around €40 billion under the EU SURE instrument between the end of October and the end of November.

25 November 2020 - Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe: affordable, accessible and safe medicines for all

The Commission adopted a Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe to ensure that everyone will have access to innovative and affordable medicines while supporting competitiveness, innovation and sustainability of the EU’s pharmaceutical industry. The Strategy will allow Europe to cover its pharmaceutical needs through robust supply chains and will help establish a future-proof and crisis-resilient EU pharmaceutical system. Although the Strategy is much more than a crisis-response instrument, it draws lessons from the initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and makes Europe’s pharmaceutical sector better prepared and more resilient. The Strategy is a cornerstone of the European Health Union.

18 November 2020 – The European Commission steps up actions on testing with a recommendation on rapid antigen tests and support to increase testing capacity

The Commission adopted a recommendation on the use of rapid antigen tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19 with the aim of ensuring the free movement of people and the smooth functioning of the internal market. The recommendation provides guidance on how to select rapid antigen tests, when they are appropriate and who should perform them, and calls for validation and mutual recognition of tests and their results. This follows the Commission’s recommendation on 28 October to ensure a common approach and more efficient testing strategies across the EU.

17 November 2020 – The European Commission disburses €14 billion under SURE to nine Member States to help sustain jobs

The Commission has disbursed €14 billion to nine EU countries in the second instalment of financial support to Member States under the SURE instrument. To support national short-time work schemes Croatia has received €510 million, Cyprus - €250 million, Greece - €2 billion, Italy – an additional €6.5 billion, Latvia - €120 million, Lithuania - €300 million, Malta - €120 million, and Slovenia - €200 million and Spain an additional €4 billion. At the end of October, Italy, Spain and Poland received a total of €17 billion under the EU SURE instrument to also help sustain short-time work schemes.

11 November 2020 – European Commission takes first steps towards building a European Health Union

The Commission is putting forward a set of proposals to strengthen the EU's health security framework, and to reinforce the crisis preparedness and response role of key EU agencies. In order to step up the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and future health emergencies, more coordination at EU level is needed. Drawing lessons from the current crisis, today's proposals will ensure stronger preparedness and response during the current and future health crises. President von der Leyen said: “Today, we start building a European Health Union, to protect citizens with high quality care in a crisis, and equip the Union and its Member States to prevent and manage health emergencies that affect the whole of Europe.”

10 November 2020 - European Commission welcomes agreement on €1.8 trillion EU long-term budget and NextGenerationEU to help build greener, more digital and more resilient Europe

The European Parliament and EU Member States in the Council have agreed on the EU’s long-term budget and NextGenerationEU. Once adopted, the package of a total of €1.8 trillion will help Europe recover and build a more sustainable future. President von der Leyen said: “Our recovery plan will help us turn the challenge of the pandemic into an opportunity for a recovery led by the green and digital transition”.

5 November 2020 - Autumn 2020 Economic Forecast

The economic impact of the pandemic has differed widely across the EU. The Autumn 2020 Economic Forecast projects that the euro area economy will contract by 7.8% in 2020 before growing 4.2% in 2021 and 3% in 2022. The forecast also projects that the EU economy will contract by 7.4% in 2020 before recovering with growth of 4.1% in 2021 and 3% in 2022. The unemployment rate in the euro area is projected to rise from 7.5% in 2019 to 8.3% in 2020 and 9.4% in 2021, before declining to 8.9% in 2022.

28 October – Tackling the coronavirus resurgence: European Commission sets out new actions to reinforce preparedness and response measures across the EU

The Commission has set out concrete actions in a Communication on additional COVID-19 response measures to help limit the spread of the coronavirus, save lives and build increased resilience across several areas in all Member States. Measures include but are not limited to connecting national contact apps, broadening travel exemptions, more extensive testing and securing supplies for vaccines. This comes ahead of the discussion European Leaders will have on 29 October on COVID-19 coordination, as called for by the 15 October European Council.

27 October 2020 - Commission disburses a first €17 billion SURE instalments to Italy, Spain and Poland

The Commission disbursed a total of €17 billion to Italy (€10 billion), Spain (€6 billion) and Poland (€1 billion) in the first instalment of SURE financial support to Member States. The support was earmarked to assist Member States in addressing increases in public expenditure to keep jobs, and particularly for short-time workers and the self-employed. Italy is expected to receive a total of €27.4 billion, Spain, €21.3 billion and Poland, €11.2 billion.

19 October 2020 - EU interoperability gateway goes live, first contact tracing and warning apps linked to the EU-system

The Commission, at the invitation by EU Member States, has set up an EU-wide system to ensure that coronavirus contact and tracing apps can ‘talk to each other’. The system goes live today with the first wave of national apps now linked through this service: Germany’s Corona-Warn-App, Ireland’s COVID tracker, and Italy’s immuni. Together, these apps have been downloaded by around 30 million people, which corresponds to two-thirds of all app downloads in the EU. The second group of apps will be linked next week. Then, Czechia’s eRouška, Denmark’s smitte stop, Latvia’s Apturi COVID and Spain’s Radar Covid are expected to join, while further apps will be linked to the system in November.

15 October 2020 – EU vaccine strategy: preparedness for COVID-19 vaccination strategies and vaccine deployment

The Commission published a Communication on preparedness for COVID-19 vaccination strategies and vaccine deployment. For a safe and effective vaccine to successfully reach those who need it, Member States must start preparing for the deployment, step-up their communication efforts and prioritise the groups to first receive the vaccines once available. It is unknown which potential vaccine, if any, will successfully complete the development and authorisation process and thus meet efficacy and safety criteria to be placed on the EU market. Europe needs to obtain a broad portfolio of vaccine candidates using different technological approaches to maximise the chances of quickly developing, manufacturing and deploying a vaccine for all Europeans.

13 October 2020 – Agreement on a coordinated approach to measures restricting free movement in the EU in view of COVID-19

EU Member States have agreed on a coordinated approach to travel restrictions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes a classification of regions (green, orange, red and grey) based on the local epidemiological situation. The adopted Recommendation invites Member States to also provide timely information to travellers. Member States have agreed that there will be no restrictions, such as quarantine or testing, on travellers coming from ‘green’ regions.  Information should also be made available on Re-open EU.
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12 October 2020 – First results of the implementation of the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiatives

The Commission released the provisional first results of the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiatives: the EU mobilised over €13 billion to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. €4.1 billion in EU funds helped support healthcare systems and €8.4 billion supported small and medium sized businesses. €1.4 billion have been channelled through the European Social Fund to save jobs. To ensure maximum transparency and accountability, the Commission launches a dedicated webpage on the Cohesion Open Data Platform to show how the EU Cohesion policy is supporting Member States to overcome the coronavirus crisis.

8 October 2020 – The European Commission approves third contract for potential COVID-19 vaccines and signs Remdesivir deal

On 7 October, the European Commission approved a third contract with a pharmaceutical company, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, for vaccine doses for 200 million people. Member States will also have the possibility to purchase vaccines for an additional 200 million people. The vaccine candidate is already in phase III of clinical trials. The Commission also signed a deal with Gilead for the supply of up to 500,000 treatment courses of Remdesivir - the only medicine at this stage with a conditional marketing authorisation in the EU for the treatment of COVID-19 patients needing oxygen supply. Some 36 signatories of the Joint Procurement Agreement participate, including all EU countries, EEA countries, the UK, as well as six candidate countries.

7 October 2020 - European Commission to issue EU SURE bonds of up to €100 billion as social bonds

The Commission announced that it will issue EU SURE social bonds of up to €100 billion and that it has adopted an independently evaluated Social Bond Framework. Investors can be sure that the mobilised funds will serve a truly social objective and will help Member States cover costs related to national short time work schemes and similar measures as a response to the pandemic. The Commission also presented a proposal to grant Hungary €504 million under the SURE instrument. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “We are not only investing billions of euros to save jobs in Europe and reduce the social impact of the coronavirus pandemic, but we are also doing it by issuing social bonds. This will give investors the chance to contribute to our efforts and up to €100 billion will help keep people in jobs in our Member States.”

30 September 2020 – Commission unveils first-ever rule of law report: coronavirus emergency measures must respect EU’s fundamental principles and values

The Commission presented its first EU-wide Rule of Law Report, a new preventive tool at the heart of the new European Rule of Law Mechanism. The Report, developed in close dialogue with all 27 Member States and stakeholders, covers four main pillars of the rule of law in the EU: national justice, anti-corruption, media freedom and essential checks and balances. It highlights positive and negative developments across all Member States. The Report also looks at issues arising from the coronavirus emergency regimes and measures put in place in a number of Member States, which the Commission will continue to monitor. It underlines that changing or suspending customary national checks and balances can pose serious challenges to the rule of law, and that responses to the crisis must respect the fundamental values and principles as set out in the EU Treaties. The Commission will now on this basis  engage in a rule of dialogue with the European Parliament and the Council, as well as with national Parliaments, national authorities and stakeholders, to seek support from one another and explore opportunities for pursuing reforms.

24 September 2020 - New ECDC risk assessment calls for stricter measures due to increased infection rates

The ECDC has its updated rapid risk assessment on the development of the epidemiological situation and finds that infection rates have increased across the EU and the UK. This poses an increasing risk for certain groups and health care workers. The ECDC also published its new guidelines for non-pharmaceutical interventions. The Commission has also published questions and answers on the EU Vaccination strategy.

22 September 2020 - Commission welcomes finalisation of guarantee system for €100 billion SURE instrument

The Commission welcomes the activation of the SURE - the temporary Support mitigating Unemployment Risks in Emergency instrument, which will provide up to €100 billion in financial support to help protect workers and jobs affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This follows the finalisation of national approval procedures and signatures by all Member States to provide for the guarantee agreements with the Commission worth a total of €25 billion. The Commission has already presented proposals to the Council for decisions to grant financial support in the order of €87.3 billion to 16 Member States under the SURE instrument.  Once the Council adopts these proposals, the financial support will be provided in the form of loans granted on favourable terms from the EU to Member States.

17 September 2020 - The Commission presents next steps for €672.5 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility in 2021 Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy

The European Commission has set out guidance for the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility in its 2021 Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy. The new growth agenda helps to build a green, digital and sustainable recovery. The Facility, managed by a Task Force, is the key instrument at the heart of NextGenerationEU and will help the EU become stronger and more resilient. The four dimensions of environmental sustainability, productivity, fairness and macroeconomic stability are guiding principles underpinning Member States’ recovery and resilience plans and their national reforms and investments. Member States should submit their draft plans from 15 October 2020  onwards, outlining national investment and reform agendas to benefit from the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

10 September 2020 - European Commission and the World Health Organisation to strengthen coronavirus treatments in global collaboration

Today, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Director General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, launched and co-hosted the first meeting of the High Level Facilitation Council to speed up the development and deployment of vaccines, tests and treatments against COVID-19. The Facilitation Council build on what the ACT-A has achieved so far: over 200 vaccine candidates, 1700 clinical trials, and 80 diagnostics are being followed. President von der Leyen said: ‘’Today’s launch of the Facilitation Council brings us closer to our global goal: access to coronavirus vaccines, tests and treatments for everyone who needs them, anywhere. The EU will use all its convening power to help keep the world united against coronavirus.”

9 September 2020 – Commission adds to vaccines portfolio following talks with BioNTech-Pfizer

The Commission concluded exploratory talks with a sixth manufacturer for the potential purchase of a vaccine against COVID-19. Once proven safe and effective against COVID-19, it is anticipated that the Commission will purchase 200 million vaccine doses on behalf of all EU Member States, followed by other 100 million doses. President von der Leyen said: “I am happy to announce that we have concluded talks with BioNTech-Pfizer for an initial purchase of 200 million doses of future coronavirus vaccines. This is the 6th pharma company with which we have concluded talks or signed an agreement for potential vaccines, in record time. Our chances to develop and deploy a safe and effective vaccine have never been higher, both for Europeans here at home, or for the rest of the world. To defeat coronavirus anywhere, we need to defeat it everywhere.”

4 September 2020 – The Commission proposes to harmonise national measures affecting free movement in the EU

The Commission has adopted a proposal for a Council Recommendation to improve the coordination and communication of measures that restrict free movement due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Commission’s proposal sets out three key points: common criteria for deciding whether to introduce travel restrictions; mapping criteria using an agree colour code; a common approach to measures applied to travellers from high-risk areas. President von der Leyen said: “The freedom to travel across borders in Europe is one of the most tangible benefits for people in the European Union. These measures will provide more stability, more predictability and clarity for Europeans.”