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Public Health Policy in the EU

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

EU prepares for increased threat of Covid variants
The EU Commission put forward plans Wednesday for a new European bio-defence preparedness plan to pull together available resources to ready the EU against the increased threat of coronavirus variants.

HERA Incubator - Anticipating COVID-19 variants
The European Commission proposed on 17 February the "HERA Incubator", the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) Incubator to prepare Europe for the increased threat of coronavirus variants.

MEPs greenlight EU's EUR 672.5 bn stimulus funding
The European Parliament gave the green light Wednesday to EUR 672.5 billion in grants and loans from a 'Recovery and Resilience' fund to help EU countries tackle the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recovery and Resilience Facility - background guide
The RRF is the key instrument at the heart of NextGenerationEU, the EU's plan for emerging stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic. It will play a crucial role in helping Europe recover from the economic and social impact of the pandemic and will help to make the EU's economies and societies more resilient and secure the green and digital transitions.

Recovery and Resilience Facility
The Recovery and Resilience Facility is the key instrument at the heart of NextGenerationEU to help the EU emerge stronger and more resilient from the current crisis. The Facility will make EUR 672.5 billion in loans and grants available to support reforms and investments undertaken by Member States. The aim is to mitigate the economic and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic and make European economies and societies more sustainable, resilient and better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transitions.

EU agency needs to be more open in pandemic response: Ombudsman
The EU Ombudsman called Tuesday for greater transparency and public scrutiny at Europe's disease prevention agency, as part of a wide-ranging enquiry into how EU institutions responded to the pandemic.

Chip shortages at General Motors a short term issue but show risks of global 'just in time' supply chains
General Motors is the latest car manufacturer to temporarily suspend production due to a shortage of semi-conductor chips. Christian Stadler, Professor of Strategic Management at Warwick Business School and an expert on the automotive industry said:

EU sets out plan for joint action against cancer
A new EU approach to cancer prevention, treatment and care, outlined Wednesday by the EU Commission, tackles the entire disease pathway from prevention to quality of life of cancer patients and survivors.

Europe's Beating Cancer Plan
The European Commission presented on 3 February Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, a new EU approach to cancer prevention, treatment and care.

EU disburses EUR 14 bn to help fight social impact of Covid
The EU Commission disbursed EUR 14 billion to nine Member States Tuesday in the fourth instalment of financial support to Member States to help alleviate the social impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

EU sets up 'temporary' Covid vaccine export controls
Vaccine exports outside the EU will be subject to an authorisation by Member States, the European Commission announced Friday, "to ensure timely access to COVID-19 vaccines for all EU citizens".

Transparency and authorisation mechanism for exports of COVID-19 vaccines
In an effort to ensure timely access to COVID-19 vaccines for all EU citizens and to tackle the current lack of transparency of vaccine exports outside the EU, the European Commission on 29 January put in place a measure requiring that such exports are subject to an authorisation by Member States.

EU vaccine exports threat following AstraZeneca reduction
The EU warned Tuesday of tighter exports of COVID-19 vaccines, following the announcement by AstraZeneca that it intends to supply considerably fewer doses in the coming weeks than it had agreed.

EU talks with Valvena could secure 60m vaccines
The European Commission concluded exploratory talks with the French biotech company Valneva Tuesday, with a view to purchasing its potential vaccine against COVID-19, manufactured in Scotland.

EU clears 'safe and effective' Moderna vaccine against COVID-19
The EU Commission granted conditional marketing authorisation for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by US firm Moderna Wednesday, making it the second COVID-19 vaccine authorised in the Union.

EU chemicals agency proposes safer tattooing
The EU's Chemicals Agency proposed Monday to restrict hazardous substances used in tattooing inks and permanent make up, with a view to making tattooing safer rather than banning tattoos or tattooing colours.

MEPs call for EU-wide right to 'disconnect' from work
Disconnecting from work should be a fundamental right, the European Parliament's Employment Committee said Wednesday, with MEPs calling for a bill which would grant this right to all EU workers.

New EU pharma strategy to make medicines affordable
A new pharmaceutical strategy, adopted Wednesday by the EU Commission, offers patients access to affordable medicines and supports competitiveness and innovation in Europe's pharma industry.

A Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe - guide
The European Commission adopted on 25 November a Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe to ensure patients have access to innovative and affordable medicines and to support the competitiveness, innovative capacity and sustainability of the EU's pharmaceutical industry.

G20 leaders agree to make Covid vaccines available and affordable for all
At the weekend summit of the G20 countries, leaders expressed a commitment to coordinated global action to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and support for the most vulnerable and fragile countries.

EU leaders to step up pandemic coordination
EU leaders agreed Thursday to strengthen coordination on combating the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on mutual recognition of tests, vaccine deployment and a common approach to lifting restrictive measures.

EU Court rules against French ban on marketing CBD
The European Court of Justice ruled Thursday against France's ban on the marketing of wholly hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD), when it has been lawfully produced in another EU Member State.

EU states receive EUR 14 bn pandemic help
As the second COVID wave hits Europe hard, the EU Commission Tuesday disbursed some EUR 14 billion to nine EU countries in the second instalment of loans to help finance short-time work schemes.

EU approves BioNTech -Pfizer contract for access to vaccine
The Commission approved a fourth contract with pharmaceutical companies BioNTech and Pfizer Wednesday, providing for an initial purchase of 200 million doses on behalf of all EU Member States.

Biden victory offers businesses greater stability and hope on COVID-19 and immigration
Expert comment from Christian Stadler, Professor of Strategic Management at Warwick Business School: