The coronavirus has taken a heavy toll on our lives, our economies, our societies but also on electoral processes around the world, with many elections being postponed in order to protect citizens’ health. But this involves a delicate balancing act between ensuring the democratic right to vote and a government’s responsibility to protect public health. So, what can we learn from experience?

EPRS policy podcast - Impact of the pandemic on elections around the world: From safety concerns to political crises

Demography matters… it matters for the economy, for the labour market, for healthcare and pensions, even for election results! But future demographic trends in the EU are not encouraging… No, they’re not! A number of demographic challenges, such as a declining birth rate, an ageing population, and depopulation of some of its regions, threaten the future demographic stability of the continent. So, what are the EU and its member states doing about it?

EPRS policy podcast - Demography on the European agenda: Strategies for tackling demographic decline

The coronavirus pandemic forced most of the world’s population into lockdown… But thanks to digital technologies, we were mostly able to keep on working, studying, shopping and chatting with our loved ones without leaving our homes! But the crisis has also highlighted some painful truths about our digital world…

EPRS policy podcast - How digital technology is easing the burden of confinement

The coronavirus crisis has made life even more difficult for the most deprived people in our society… To protect them, as well the workers and volunteers delivering aid to them, and ensure no one falls through the net, the EU has had to take some exceptional measures…

EPRS policy podcast - Impact of coronavirus on EU aid to the most deprived

The shock caused by the coronavirus pandemic affects everyone. However, there are big differences in the extent of the harm caused, and the long-term development of the pandemic and associated crises are highly uncertain.

Inequalities have been on the rise, particularly in case of certain vulnerable groups, those who remained all the time at work, but often had low income: health workers, grocery store workers, delivery workers, Amazon factory workers, or street cleaners, among others. Lower income individuals run greater health risks, and many of them are women.

Not all work is suited to transition to teleworking. This is particularly the case for precarious workers. Other factors have also contributed to the increase of social divides across generations and regions. Beside the closure of businesses, school closures have put enormous pressure on families. Aspects of this situation may cause lifelong harm, such in the case of the youngest children who might never recuperate the benefits for their personal development and social integration, school children who miss the opportunity to learn foundational lifelong skills, and those secondary school students who were about to take their exams.

The pandemic has also deeply affected quality of life, including mental wellbeing, trust and employment prospects. Finally, many households have been facing the prospect of falling into poverty due to a drop in their income linked to the coronavirus crisis and their limited resources to cope with the financial shocks.

Concrete measures the EU took to support the economic recovery are: the EU's recovery plan, Next Generation EU, SURE: temporary support for workers, amendments to the EU budget to address urgent issues,re-direction of EU funds to help member states most in need, support to most affected sectors

Coronavirus outbreak: impact on social life (2020)

The shock caused by the coronavirus pandemic affects everyone. However, there are big differences in the extent of the harm caused, and the long-term development of the pandemic and associated crises are highly uncertain.

Inequalities have been on the rise, particularly in case of certain vulnerable groups, those who remained all the time at work, but often had low income: health workers, grocery store workers, delivery workers, Amazon factory workers, or street cleaners, among others. Lower income individuals run greater health risks, and many of them are women.

Not all work is suited to transition to teleworking. This is particularly the case for precarious workers. Other factors have also contributed to the increase of social divides across generations and regions. Beside the closure of businesses, school closures have put enormous pressure on families. Aspects of this situation may cause lifelong harm, such in the case of the youngest children who might never recuperate the benefits for their personal development and social integration, school children who miss the opportunity to learn foundational lifelong skills, and those secondary school students who were about to take their exams.

The pandemic has also deeply affected quality of life, including mental wellbeing, trust and employment prospects. Finally, many households have been facing the prospect of falling into poverty due to a drop in their income linked to the coronavirus crisis and their limited resources to cope with the financial shocks.

Concrete measures the EU took to support the economic recovery are: the EU's recovery plan, Next Generation EU, SURE: temporary support for workers, amendments to the EU budget to address urgent issues,re-direction of EU funds to help member states most in need, support to most affected sectors.

Coronavirus outbreak: impact on social life

The EU first unified the summer-time arrangements in 1980, in order to ensure a harmonised approach to time switching within the single market, as until then, national summer-time practices and schedules were diverging. The current summer-time arrangements directive requires Member States to switch to summer-time on the last Sunday of March and back to standard time (informally known as winter-time) on the last Sunday of October. MEPs voted to end the practice of adjusting clocks by an hour in spring and autumn from 2021 on 26/03/2019

The system of bi-annual clock changes has been increasingly questioned, by citizens, by the European Parliament, and by a growing number of Member States. The Commission has, therefore, analysed available evidence, which points to the importance of having harmonised rules in this area to ensure a proper functioning of the internal market. This is also supported by the European Parliament as well as other actors. In February 2020, the TRAN Committee designated Johan Danielsson (S&D, Sweden) as rapporteur.

Seasonal time change

Demographic change can pose a major challenge for the EU. Regions with a rapidly shrinking population are affected by a severe gap in the provision of social services (healthcare, cultural), physical (transport) and ICT connectivity, education and labour opportunities.

Depopulated regions are often low-income rural or post-industrial areas, with fewer job opportunities. The exodus of younger, skilled workers has further affected ageing, generation renewal and agricultural development. The economic crisis of 2008 led to young educated professionals from Southern and Eastern Europe moving to North-Western Europe. The Covid-19 crisis is likely to encourage this trend. Reduced economic activity and unemployment are expected to generate a new wave of migration by young people both within and between EU countries.

The European Parliament wants the demographic challenge to be a priority for the EU, alongside climate issues and the digital transition. A coordinated approach - integrating the principles of sustainability, greening and digitalisation across different EU policies - would also contribute to reversing negative demographic trends.

Demography in the EU

EP plenary session.- Decent and affordable housing for all

EP plenary session.- FEAD: specific measures to address the COVID-19 crisis

EP plenary session- FEAD: specific measures to address the COVID-19 crisis

EP plenary session- Social and employment crisis in the COVID-19 pandemic and the EU's response in the Recovery Plan and the MFF

A tourist centre is closed in Lisbon downtown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A person uses the free Czech Covid-10 tracker eRouška app on his mobile phone in Prague. With the help of Bluetooth the application detects in a totally anonymous way the other users of the application with whom you have been in close contact and can warn you if you have met an infected person and should consider a quarantine volunteer or consult a health care professional if symptoms occur.

The shadow of a medical worker wearing a protective equipment testing a social worker for Covid-19 is projected on the wall of a nursing house in Prague.

Lockdown situation in Brussels imposed by Belgian authorities to limit the spread of COVID-19 virus - empty streets

A man is using the Covid Tracker App in Kilmainham Hospital (not a medical hospital) in Dublin, Ireland on November 12, 2020 during a level 5 lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sterilising materials are seen in a Dublin bus during a level 5 second lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which restricts people’s movements to a 5 km radius.

A woman walks in front of closed shops in the centre of Barcelona during the second lockdown period imposed by the authorities to stop the spread of COVID-19 virus.

Placards reading «Maximum capacity 30% of local capacity», on the left and « keep distance 1,5 meters on the right are displayed on the window of a shoe shop in the centre of Barcelona.

Empty Brandeburg Gate in Berlin, during the second lockdown period imposed by the authorities to stop the spread of COVID-19 virus.

Distancing posters pictured on the empty streets of Berlin during the second lockdown period imposed by the authorities to stop the spread of COVID-19 virus.

Empty streets of Rome during the second lockdown period imposed by the authorities to stop the spread of COVID-19 virus.

During the plenary session (19-23 October 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate EU measures to mitigate social and economic impact of Covid-19.

EU measures to mitigate social and economic impact of Covid-19: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (19-23 October 2020), MEPs debate. EU measures to mitigate social and economic impact of Covid-19. MEPs debate

Plenary session: EU measures to mitigate social and economic impact of Covid-19. MEPs debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (19-23 October 2020), MEPs debate EU measures to mitigate social and economic impact of Covid-19. Closing statement by Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy

Plenary session: EU measures to mitigate social and economic impact of Covid-19. Closing statement by Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy

David SASSOLI, EP President, speaks to the press on the latest situation on COVID-19 and European Parliament's response, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Questions & answers session.

Press conference by David SASSOLI, EP President on the latest situation on COVID-19 and European Parliament's response: Questions & answers

David SASSOLI, EP President, visits the temporary exhibition at the Parlamentarium showing portraits of women accompanied by the new Samu Social of Brussels. The European Parliament provided a place for homeless women to stay in the offices of officials who were required to work from home during the lockdown. The women were given their own rooms that they could use night and day, to give them space and security during a moment of crisis.

Opening of “Femmes” exhibition at the Parlamentarium: visit and statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

This animation shows the population unable to afford a meal with meat, fish, chicken or a vegetarian equivalent every second day in 2018 in the European Union. Food insecurity is usually associated with deprivation and poverty, which currently affect a large number of EU citizens. In 2018, there were 109 million people in the EU-28 living in households at risk of poverty or social exclusion (according to AROPE), equivalent to 21.7 % of the entire population. Among this population, 29.4 million people were suffering from severe material deprivation, which is defined as the enforced inability to pay for at least four items in a list of nine items, including a meal involving meat, chicken or fish every second day. In 2017, more than a fifth of all people at risk of poverty in the EU were unable to afford a meal with meat, fish or a vegetarian equivalent every second day. (source: Eurostat) Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Severe material deprivation in the European Union

A new European Parliament and new European Commission, a new decade, and a new financial framework to adopt for the next seven years – 2020 would seem to be a year full of new beginnings. But 2020 does not start with a blank page: next to the political commitments already made and work programmes already adopted, a range of issues are already on the table, some recent, some less so, but all requiring our understanding, and each calling for action. To help us to see where we need to focus and take action, the European Parliamentary Research Service has asked a dozen of its policy analysts to select, from myriad interesting topics, ten issues to watch in 2020. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Ten opportunities for Europe post-coronavirus

Insects, while commonly consumed elsewhere in the world, have long been off the menu in Europe, but they could soon be creeping their way onto our plates. Entomophagy, the practice of eating insects, is now gaining serious interest. Is it set to take Europe by swarm? Insects are the most diverse group of organisms on the planet and over 1 000 different species are regularly eaten in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Nutritionally dense and versatile, insects are already available for human consumption in some EU Member States, either sold whole or in processed products. With the EU committed to transitioning to a more sustainable and resilient food system as part of the European Green Deal and in light of the Covid‑19 pandemic, insects could offer a greener alternative component of future animal protein production. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - What if insects were on the menu in Europe?

Clothing manufacture and consumption have a huge negative impact on both the environment and people. Sustainability is not only about the environment, but is also an economic and social indicator, and the clothing industry is a good example illustrating their interconnections. Are technological innovations alone enough to 'tailor' a green and fair future for fashion? Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - What if fashion were good for the planet?

The European Union has been severely hit by the spread of the Covid-19 disease. Its impact extends well beyond public health, and the economic and social consequences of the pandemic are now a top priority for both the Member States and the EU institutions. Employment, developments in the labour market, and changed/worsened working conditions are the most prominent concerns therein. This video looks into how the coronavirus changed the practices of working from home. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Living in the EU: Work before the coronavirus crisis

This Infoclip illustrates a free outdoor cinema with security distancing in Strasbourg. In a public garden, visitors can watch a movie or attend a music concert with with security distancing. Day and night atmosphere during the event.

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown - free outdoor cinema with security distancing

This Infoclip illustrates the reopening of EP Visitors centre of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, after the lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19). People visit he European Parliament taking pictures. An internal guide gives informations to a single visitor visiting the hemicycle at the European Parliament.

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown - reopening of EP Visitors centre

This infoclip illustrates the reopening of cultural venues in Strasbourg after the out of lockdown due the the coronavirus (Covid-19) oubreak.

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown: reopening of cultural venues

This Infoclip shows various touristic attractions in Strasbourg just after the out of lockdown due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. Tourists visiting the Strasbourg cathedral, travelling by train, by boat, eating in a restaurant.

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown: Struggling tourism sector

This Infoclip shows the preparation before the opening of the cinemas in Belgium after the lockdown period due to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. Ahead the opening, the staff installed the necessary stickers and information pannels to remind the clients about the social distancing measures.

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown - Preparation for the reopening of cinemas in Belgium

This Infoclip illustrates the reopening of religious services Russian Orthodox Church with security distancing. After the lockdown period due to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, believers were invited to stay home to respect the sanitary measures.

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown - Reopening of religious services Russian Orthodox Church

This Infoclip illustrates: Reopening of cinemas with security distancing

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown - Reopening of cinemas with security distancing

This infoclip shows the reopening of the Parlamentarium and the House of the European History in Brussels. Views of the sanitary measures taken inside the buildings such as the wear of face maks, temperature sign check, use of hands sanitizer, etc. People visiting the exhibition.

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