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 in the European Parliament in Brussels (17-19 June 2020), debate on situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak. Closing statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency

Situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak: Closing statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency

During the plenary session in the European Parliament in Brussels (17-19 June 2020), debate on Tackling Covid-19 disinformation and the impact on freedom of expression. Closing statements by Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency; Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World and Vĕra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency

Tackling Covid-19 disinformation and the impact on freedom of expression: Closing statements by Vĕra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the EC, Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative and VP and Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency

During the plenary session in the European Parliament in Brussels (17-19 June 2020), debate on situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak. Opening statements by Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), rapporteur, Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency and Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs. his transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak: Opening statements by Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), rapporteur, Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency and Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

During the plenary session in the European Parliament in Brussels (17-19 June 2020), debate on situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak. MEPs debate

Situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak: MEPs debate

During the plenary session in the European Parliament in Brussels (17-19 June 2020), debate on Tackling Covid-19 disinformation and the impact on freedom of expression. Opening statements by Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency; Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World and Vĕra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Tackling Covid-19 disinformation and the impact on freedom of expression: Opening statements by Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative and VP of the EC and Vĕra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the EC

During the plenary session in the European Parliament in Brussels (17-19 June 2020), debate on Tackling Covid-19 disinformation and the impact on freedom of expression. MEPs debate

Tackling Covid-19 disinformation and the impact on freedom of expression: MEPs debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs discuss the effects of fighting the spread of COVID-19 on fundamental rights in the EU as well as the impact of disinformation campaigns by foreign actors trying to exploit uncertainty in society and people’s fears.

Tackling Covid-19 disinformation and the impact on freedom of expression: extracts from the debate

This infoclip shows a reopening after the lockdown of the church Notre-Dame de l'Annonciation d'Ixelles, in Brussels. Believers attening religious service.

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown - Opening of religious services

This infoclip illustrates the opening of Belgian borders after the lockdown due to the Covid-19 (coronavirus outbreak). People can take the road and cross borders without control. Views of cars and trucks on the highway.

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown: opening of Belgian borders

This Infoclip shows exam sessions organised in the sports centre of Louvain-la-neuve university area. Each student is equipped with mask, laptop and his ID card to check before starting the exam session.

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown - University exams in sports centre at Louvain-la-Neuve

This Infoclip illustrates traffic on the highway, people doing shopping in the open market, people sitting on the terrrace of a cafe. Pedestrians walking on Grand Place of Brussels, people in the metro station. Textile shops, building sites, people working in a distribution centre for medical supplies, travellers at the airport, people having yoga classes.

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown - Economic recovery

This Infoclip illustrastes: EP buildings used in the fight against COVID-19 - Distribution by Red cross of meals from the EP kitchens

Infoclip: Covid-19 - EP buildings used in the fight against COVID-19 - Distribution by Red cross of meals from the EP kitchens

This Infoclip illustrates: Opening of sports clubs

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown - Opening of sports clubs

This infoclip illustrates: the reopening of a restaurant in Brussels

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown - Opening of restaurants

This infoclip illustrates the prevention measures taken in the rail transport sector during the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak in France. Travellers are invited to wear a face mask when they enter in the railway station and respect the distancing measures in the area. Special stickers are installed inside the station.

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Prevention measures: Rail transport

This infoclip illustrates a Live concert with security distancing in a concert hall in Strasbourg. French band on stage: Lyre le temps

Infoclip: Covid-19 - Out of lockdown - Live concert with security distancing

This Infoclip illustrates Installation of new infrastructures for bicycles

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