Covid-19

This page is also available in:

  • On July 8, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) called for steps to speed up clinical trials that include genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Some vaccines under development are based on genetically modified viruses. Current EU legislation does not take into account the possibility of speeding up clinical trials in a public health emergency. The EESC therefore welcomes a temporary adjustment of EU rules.

  • La pandemia de COVID-19 demuestra el carácter geoestratégico del sector agroalimentario y la necesidad de mantener una autosuficiencia alimentaria en la Unión Europea. Por ello, el Comité Económico y Social Europeo (CESE) acoge favorablemente la nueva medida propuesta por la Comisión Europea, destinada a apoyar a las explotaciones agrícolas y las pymes agroalimentarias con problemas de liquidez y a garantizar su supervivencia económica durante esta crisis. Sin embargo, el CESE considera que la Comisión Europea debería crear un fondo extraordinario al margen del presupuesto de la PAC para permitir la puesta en práctica de esta medida.

  • Reference number
    16/2020

    At its June plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted a resolution with its proposals for the post-COVID-19 crisis reconstruction and recovery. Under the slogan 'the EU must be guided by the principle of being considered a community of common destiny', the adopted text suggests taking the opportunity presented by the crisis to build a new societal model: “We cannot simply restore what existed in the past: we need to restructure and improve it.”

  • The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), at its June plenary, said that temporary measures should be adopted to alleviate the immediate economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

  • Given the evolution of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation, the suspension of EESC events and visits in the Committee premises is extended until 30 June 2020 inclusive.

  • Reference number
    13/2020

    A few days after the European Commission presented its proposal for a major recovery plan to face the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, on 2 June the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a webinar to assess its suitability. All participants agreed on the importance of this ambitious initiative, an example of the solidarity and the political will of all EU Member States in times of uncertainty.

  • The EESC webinar explored if COVID-19 could be a game-changer for migration

  • European civil society organisations must be equal partners in the post-COVID recovery journey for a sustainable future. Civil society organisations have been at the forefront of the response to the global COVID-19 health crisis, supporting the most vulnerable and ensuring that people's basic needs are met in a challenging reality – even at the risk of the health of their own employees and volunteers. We have seen ...

  • The European Economic and Social Committee backs up the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative of the European Commission. The initiative is aimed at promoting investment in the healthcare systems of the European Member States and other sectors of their economies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, the EU would mobilise cash reserves, i.e. unspent pre-financing for EU funds, and provide financial support.

  • On 25 March 2020, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted a generally favourable position on the European Commission's proposal to amend the Council Regulation on the European Union Solidarity Fund in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The proposed regulation aims to provide financial assistance to Member States and countries negotiating their accession to the European Union that are seriously affected by major public health emergencies, such as the current pandemic.