The eMap-Coronavirus2019

THE EU TIMELINE

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With the outbreak of the epidemic caused by the new coronavirus, the EU has made a series of decisions in all areas of its competence and which can support member countries and the world community in their battle to defeat the new virus and to provide valid remedies for the consequences in the health, social and economic fields.

The neuronal eMindMap of this page offers a complete and updated mapping of all the actions and decisions taken by the European Union to fight the pandemic. and to help citizens, member states and third countries

​Browse the map by clicking on the links inside the nodes.

 

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EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19

TIMELINE

9 January 2020

First alert Notification by DG SANTE

Directorate General for Health and Safety (DG SANTE) opened an alert notification on the Early Warning and Response System (EWRS) where most Member States have since been sharing information on response and communication measures.

31 January 2020

First funds mobilised for research on the new coronavirus outbreak

EUR 10 million are granted from the EU’s research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, to support research into the new coronavirus disease. The Commission launched an emergency request for expressions of interest for research projects.

1 February 2020

First aid delivered to China

As an immediate first response, EU Member States mobilised and delivered a total of 12 tons of protective equipment to China.

1-2 February 2020

EU citizens brought home

The first repatriations by air from France and Germany, co-financed by the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, brought home 447 European citizens, from Wuhan. The European Commission works on all fronts to support efforts to fight the coronavirus, helping Member States to repatriate their citizens and providing emergency services to China.

17 January 2020

The Health Security Committee held their first meeting on the novel coronavirus.

28 January 2020

EU civil protection mechanism activated for the repatriation of EU citizens

As the outbreak of the novel coronavirus intensifies, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated following a request for assistance from France to provide consular support to EU citizens in Wuhan, China.

The first European case was reported from France on 24 January 2020.

2 March 2020

Corona response team set up

President von der Leyen established a coronavirus response team at political level to coordinate our response to the pandemic, bringing together all strands of action – from medical, to economic, to mobility and transport.

6 March 2020

Stepping up research and funding to address the coronavirus

The Commission scaled up the emergency call launched in January to fight the COVID-19 outbreak. On 31 March, the Commission decided to support 1 additional project bringing the number of supported projects up to 18. They involve 140 research teams from across EU and beyond, and are funded with a total budget of EUR 48,5 million from Horizon 2020.

10 March 2020

Easing impact of the covid-19 outbreak on the aviation industry and the environment

Targeted legislation was announced to temporarily alleviate airlines from their airport slot usage obligations under EU law. This would release pressure on the aviation industry, and also decrease emissions by avoiding so-called ‘ghost flights' where airlines fly almost empty aircraft to keep their slots. ENTRY INTO FORCE 1 April 2020.

10 March 2020

Corona response investment initiative

During EU leaders' videoconference on the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Commission received a mandate to further step up its response to the coronavirus, and coordinate Member State actions. President von der Leyen announced a “Corona Response Investment Initiative” that should enable around EUR 60 billion of unused cohesion policy funds to be redirected to the fight against the coronavirus. ENTRY INTO FORCE 1 April 2020.

23 February 2020

In solidarity with China, EU delivers additional protective equipment

The Commission co-financed the delivery of more than 25 tonnes of personal protective equipment to China after the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated. This is in addition to over 30 tonnes of protective equipment mobilised by EU Member States and already delivered in February 2020.

24 February 2020

Supporting global efforts to tackle the outbreak

To boost global preparedness, prevention and containment of the virus the Commission announced a new aid package worth EUR 232 million. The Commission has also stepped up its support to Member States in the context of the work on preparedness, contingency and response planning.

28 February 2020

Procuring medical equipment jointly with Member States

The first out of four joint procurements of personal protective equipment was launched together with Member States. This turns the EU into one big buyer, encouraging suppliers to move quickly at scale and provide the maximum equipment possible at the best price. As of 24 March, producers have made offers covering, and in some cases even exceeding, the quantities requested.

13 March 2020

Setting out coordinated response to counter the economic impact of the coronavirus

The Commission presented an immediate response to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, centred on a European coordinated response, and via a range of tools, e.g. State aid, flexibility of the European fiscal framework, liquidity to the banking sector, EU budget, and more. ENTRY INTO FORCE 1 April 2020.

15 March 2020

Ensuring supply of personal protective equipment in the EU

The Commission took steps to protect the availability of supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), by requiring that exports of such equipment outside of the European Union are subject to an export authorisation by Member States.

• • Video message from President von der Leyen on the European response to the coronavirus

16 March 2020

Protecting health and keeping goods and essential services available

The Commission presented guidelines to Member States on health-related border management measures. The aim is to protect citizens' health, ensure the right treatment of people who do have to travel, and make sure essential goods and services remain available.

• • Video message from President von der Leyen on health-related border management measures

16 March 2020

EU funding offered to innovative vaccines company CureVac

The Commission offered up to EUR 80 million of financial support to CureVac, a highly innovative vaccine developer from Tübingen, Germany, to scale up development and production of a vaccine against the coronavirus in Europe.

17 March 2020

Commission launches european team of scientific experts

An advisory panel on COVID-19 composed of epidemiologists and virologists from different Member States is brought together to formulate EU guidelines on science-based and coordinated risk management measures.

• • Statement by President von der Leyen on the latest measures to address the Coronavirus

18 March 2020

Protecting passenger rights

The Commission published guidelines to ensure EU passenger rights are protected and applied in a coherent manner across the EU, in light of the mass cancellations and delays.

19 March 2020

First ever RescEU stockpile of medical equipment

The Commission decided to create a strategic RescEU stockpile of medical equipment such as ventilators and protective masks to help EU countries in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

19 March 2020

Temporary framework to further support the economy

The Commission adopted a Temporary Framework to enable Member States to use the full flexibility foreseen under State aid rules to support the economy in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.

By 31 March, the Commission already approved several schemes based on the Temporary Framework worth several hundred billions of euros to support Member States’ economies face the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. It took 18 decisions approving 27 national measures.

20 March 2020

Activating fiscal framework's general escape clause to respond to pandemic

The Commission proposed the activation of the general escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact. Once endorsed by the Council, it will allow Member States to undertake measures to deal adequately with the crisis, while departing from the budgetary requirements that would normally apply under the European fiscal framework.

• • Video message by President von der Leyen on further measures to support the economy

20 March 2020

European standards for medical supplies made freely available

The European Committee for Standardization and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization made available a number of European standards for certain medical devices and personal protective equipment. This action will help both EU and third-country companies to swiftly start production and place products on the internal market more easily while ensuring a high degree of safety.

23 March 2020

Ensuring continuous flow of goods across EU via green lanes

New practical advice was issued on implementing Guidelines for border management, in order to keep freight moving across the EU during the pandemic. Member States are requested to designate all the relevant internal border-crossing points on the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) as ‘green lane' border crossings. They should be open to all freight vehicles, whatever goods they are carrying.

• • Video message from President von der Leyen on guidelines to set up ‘green lanes’

25 March 2020

Protecting critical european assets and technology

Guidelines were issued to ensure a strong EU-wide approach to foreign investment screening in a time of public health crisis and economic vulnerability. The aim is to preserve EU companies and critical assets, in areas such as health, medical research, biotechnology and other, without undermining the EU's general openness to foreign investment.

• • Video message by President von der Leyen on guidelines to protect critical European assets and technology in current crisis

26 March 2020

Ensuring essential freight keeps moving by air

The Commission called on EU Member States to support air cargo operations during the coronavirus crisis. The new guidance recommends operational and organisational steps to keep essential transport flows moving, including medical supplies and personnel.

26 March 2020

Commitment to international cooperation reaffirmed

Participating in the extraordinary G20 Leaders' videoconference, President von der Leyen and the European Council President Charles Michel underlined that the EU was committed to international cooperation in tackling the pandemic and would continue to assist vulnerable countries and communities around the world.

27 March 2020

Boosting budget for repatriation flights and RescEU stockpile

EUR 75 million from the EU budget should be made available to help Member States repatriate EU nationals and to increase the budget of the RescEU medical stockpile. Thanks to repatriation flights organised through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, almost 10,000 people have been already repatriated to Europe.

• • Message by President von der Leyen on repatriation of European citizens stranded abroad (19 March)

30 March 2020

Enabling free movement of critical workers

The Commission issued new practical advice to ensure that mobile workers within the EU, in particular those in critical occupations to fight the coronavirus pandemic, can reach their workplace. Together with the Guidance on the implementation of the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU, this seeks to address practical concerns of citizens and companies affected by the measures taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

• • Video message by President von der Leyen on free movement of critical workers

30 March 2020

EU solidarity with western balkans and eastern neighbourhood

The Commission has reallocated EUR 140 million for the most immediate needs in the Eastern Neighbourhood countries, and will redirect the use of existing instruments worth up to EUR 700 million to help mitigate the socio-economic impact of the coronavirus crisis. Similarly, it announced up to EUR 38 million in immediate support for the Western Balkans to tackle the health emergency, and reallocation of EUR 374 million to help the socio-economic recovery.

31 March 2020

Strengthening resilience in countries hosting syrian refugees

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the EU strengthened its support for refugees from Syria and vulnerable persons in Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon through a new package of almost EUR 240 million, raising the total assistance via the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis to more than EUR 2 billion.

14 April 2020

EUR 2.7 billion from the EU budget to support the EU healthcare sector

The European Commission proposed to activate the EU's Emergency Support Instrument on 2 April to directly support the Member States’ healthcare systems in their fight against the pandemic. On 14 April, the Council gave its fast approval, so that the EUR 2.7 billion instrument can immediately begin providing direct support where most needed.

15 April 2020

European roadmap shows path towards common lifting of containment measures

The Commission, in cooperation with the President of the European Council, put forward a European roadmap to phase-out the containment measures due to the coronavirus outbreak. The roadmap lists principles and recommendations Member States should consider when planning to lift containment measures.

15 April 2020

Further steps towards safe and reliable testing

Guidelines on coronavirus testing methodologies were presented by the Commission. They aim to support Member States in effectively using testing tools in the context of their national strategies and during the different stages of the pandemic, including when phasing out confinement measures.

16 April 2020

Guidance to ensure full data protection standards of apps fighting the pandemic

The Commission published guidance on developing new apps that support the fight against coronavirus in relation to data protection. It aims to offer the framework to guarantee that citizens have sufficient protection of their personal data and limitation of intrusiveness while using such apps. This guidance is accompanying an EU toolbox on contact tracing apps, also published on 16 April.

16 April 2020

Additional measures to support the agri-food sector

Two new measures were adopted to further help the agri-food sector. The measures will increase the cash flow of farmers and reduce the administrative burden both for national and regional authorities and for farmers in these particularly challenging times.

17 April 2020

Unique EU consular operation brought home over 500,000 EU citizens from abroad

As of 17 April, the EU has managed in an unprecedented repatriation effort to bring home over half a million of its citizens who were affected by coronavirus travel restrictions across the world. At the beginning of the outbreak, around 600,000 EU citizens declared themselves stranded outside the EU. Most of them in the Asia-Pacific region and the Americas.

20 April 2020

Commission launches data sharing platform for researchers

The European Commission together with several partners launched a European COVID-19 Data Platform to enable the rapid collection and sharing of available research data. The platform, part of the ERAvsCorona Action Plan, marks another milestone in the EU's efforts to support researchers in Europe and around the world in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

21 April 2020

EU mobilises help for Italy, Croatia and neighbouring countries

Following requests for assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the EU is coordinating and co-financing the delivery of aid shipments in the EU and in neighbouring countries.

22 April 2020

Macro-financial assistance package to support ten neighbouring countries

The Commission proposed a macro-financial assistance package worth EUR 3 billion for ten enlargement and neighbourhood partners to help them limit the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. The proposal comes on top of the ‘Team Europe' strategy, the EU's robust and targeted response to support partner countries' efforts in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

22 April 2020

Exceptional measures to support the agri-food sector

Additional exceptional measures were proposed to further support agricultural and food markets most affected. Among others, these are measures for private storage aid in the dairy and meat sectors, the authorisation of self-organisation market measures by operators in hard hit sectors and flexibility in fruits and vegetables, wine and some other market support programmes.

23 April 2020

Medical Devices Regulation

The Commission welcomed the adoption by the European Parliament and the Council of the proposal on the date of application of the Medical Devices Regulation. The adopted amendment takes into consideration the need for an increased availability of vitally important medical devices across the EU, and at the same time continues to guarantee patient health and safety until the new legislation becomes applicable.

24 April 2020

Coronavirus Global Response: EU launches pledging effort

The EU joined forces with global partners to kick-start a pledging effort – the Coronavirus Global Response – starting on 4 May 2020. WHO and global health organisations have launched a joint call for action to develop fast and equitable access to safe, quality, effective and affordable diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines against coronavirus.

• • Video message from President von der Leyen on the Coronavirus Global Response

28 April 2020

Banking package to facilitate lending to households and businesses in the EU

The Commission adopted a banking package to help facilitate bank lending to households and businesses throughout the EU. The aim of this package is to ensure that banks can continue to lend money to support the economy and help mitigate the significant economic impact of the coronavirus.

29 April 2020

Western Balkans: EU reinforces support to address COVID-19 crisis

The European Commission announced over EUR 3.3 billion of EU financial support mobilised jointly with the European Investment Bank to the benefit of the Western Balkans' citizens. This package aims to address the immediate health and resulting humanitarian needs of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as help with the social and economic recovery.

30 April 2020

State aid measures

In April the Commission approved 127 State aid measures to support businesses and protect livelihoods across Europe during the coronavirus outbreak. We continue working closely with EU countries to ensure our economy can bounce back strongly after the crisis.

2 May 2020

rescEU masks delivered to Spain, Italy and Croatia

Following earlier delivery to Italy, more batches of FFP2 protective masks have been distributed to Spain, Italy and Croatia from rescEU - the first ever common European reserve of medical equipment set up last month to help countries affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

4 May 2020

Coronavirus Global Response: EUR 7.4 billion raised for universal access to vaccines

The Commission registered EUR 7.4 billion, equivalent to $8 billion, in pledges from donors worldwide during the Coronavirus Global Response pledging event. This includes a pledge of EUR 1.4 billion by the Commission. This almost reaches the initial target of EUR 7.5 billion and is a solid starting point for the worldwide pledging marathon, which began on 4 May. The aim is to gather significant funding to ensure the collaborative development and universal deployment of diagnostics, treatments and vaccines against coronavirus.

8 May 2020

Commission invites Member States to extend restriction on non-essential travel to the EU until 15 June

The Commission invited Schengen Member States and Schengen Associated States to extend the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU for another 30 days, until 15 June. The lifting of travel restrictions should be phased: as underlined in the Joint European Roadmap on lifting containment measures, internal border controls will need to start being lifted gradually and in a coordinated manner before restrictions at the external borders can be relaxed in a second stage.

8 May 2020

Commission delivers first batch of 1.5 million masks from 10 million purchased to support EU healthcare workers

1.5 million medical masks will be delivered to 17 Member States and the UK to protect healthcare workers. This is part of a new Commission funded purchase of 10 million masks via the Emergency Support Instrument to provide direct support to Member States to mitigate the immediate consequences of the pandemic and anticipate the needs related to the exit and recovery.

8 May 2020

EU sets up a Humanitarian Air Bridge

The European Commission has set up an EU Humanitarian Air Bridge to transport humanitarian workers and emergency supplies for the coronavirus response to some of most critical areas around the world.

12 May 2020

EUR 117 million for treatments and diagnostics through the Innovative Medicines Initiative

Eight large-scale research projects, aimed at developing treatments and diagnostics for the coronavirus, were selected in a fast-track call for proposals, launched in March by the Innovative Medicines Initiative, a public-private partnership.

13 May 2020

Guidance on safely resuming travel and rebooting Europe's tourism in 2020 and beyond

The Commission presented a set of guidelines and recommendations to help Member States gradually lift travel restrictions and allow tourism businesses to reopen, after months of lockdown. As soon as the health situation allows, people should be able to catch up with friends and family, in their own EU country or across borders, with all the safety and precautionary measures needed in place. The package also aims to help the EU tourism sector, by supporting businesses and ensuring that Europe continues to be the number one destination for visitors.

14 May 2020

EU supports the Horn of Africa region

The EU is providing additional EUR 105.5 million to countries in the Horn of Africa as the coronavirus pandemic risks worsening the humanitarian situation across the region where many continue to suffer from armed conflict, displacement, and recurrent droughts and floods.

19 May 2020

Boosting urgently needed research and innovation

The Commission has mobilised another EUR 122 million from the Horizon 2020 programme for urgently needed research into the coronavirus. The new call for expressions of interest, open until 11 June, contributes to the Commission's EUR 1.4 billion pledge to the Coronavirus Global Response initiative, launched by President Ursula von der Leyen on 4 May 2020.

20 May 2020

EU-funded research project brings new rapid diagnostic to the market

One of the 18 projects, which were recently selected to receive funding of EUR 48.2 million from Horizon 2020 to develop diagnostics, treatments, vaccines and preparedness actions is already delivering positive results. Researchers involved with the “HG nCoV19 test” project have obtained approval to put a new rapid point-of-care diagnostic for COVID-19 on the market. Bringing together public and private organisations from Ireland, Italy, the United Kingdom and China, the “HG nCoV19 test” project developed a new portable diagnostic system to detect viral infection that gives accurate and reliable results in 30 minutes.

20 May 2020

EU allocates additional EUR 50 million in humanitarian aid

The Commission announced an additional EUR 50 million in humanitarian aid to help respond to the dramatic increase in humanitarian needs caused by the Coronavirus pandemic globally. This funding will help vulnerable people facing major humanitarian crises, notably in the Sahel and Lake Chad region, the Central African Republic, the Great Lakes region in Africa, Eastern Africa, Syria, Yemen, Palestine and Venezuela, as well as the Rohingya.

26 May 2020

Council adopts temporary rules to extend the time limit for general meetings of “European companies” (SEs) and cooperatives (SCEs)

The Council adopted the Commission's proposal for a temporary derogation from the rules governing “European Companies (SEs)” and the European Cooperative Society (SCEs), only four weeks after the Commission had proposed it. The European Parliament had given its consent on 14 May. The measures will allow European Companies and the European Cooperative Societies to exceptionally hold their general meetings within twelve months of the end of the financial year, instead of within six months as provided for in the legislation.

27 May 2020

Commission presents a Recovery plan for Europe

To ensure the recovery is sustainable, even, inclusive and fair for all Member States, the European Commission has proposed to create a new recovery instrument, Next Generation EU, embedded within a powerful, modern and revamped long-term EU budget. The Commission has also unveiled its adjusted Work Programme for 2020, which will prioritise the actions needed to propel Europe's recovery and resilience.

• • Watch President von der Leyen present the EU Recovery package at the Plenary session of the European Parliament (27 May)

28 May 2020

Coronavirus Global Response: launching a new campaign with support of Global Citizen

The pledging marathon that started on 4 May will now see the launch of a new campaign with the international advocacy organisation Global Citizen, “Global Goal: Unite For Our Future”, that will culminate in a Global Pledging Summit on 27 June. Together with Global Citizen, the Commission will step up the mobilisation of funding to enable the world to overcome this pandemic – and avoid another.

7 June 2020

EU Humanitarian Air Bridge flights to the Democratic Republic of Congo

The EU Humanitarian Air Bridge is operating three flights to the Democratic Republic of Congo, carrying on board humanitarian workers and essential supplies to help the country tackle the coronavirus pandemic. Since the beginning of May, the EU has organised four other Humanitarian Air Bridge flights - three to the Central African Republic and one to São Tomé e Príncipe. Further flights are planned to Africa, but also to other regions with high humanitarian needs.

8 June 2020

EU grants EUR 314 million to innovative companies to combat the virus and support recovery

The Commission has awarded nearly EUR 166 million via the European Innovation Council Accelerator Pilot to 36 companies set to combat the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, over EUR 148 million will be granted to another 36 companies set to contribute to the Recovery plan for Europe, bringing the total investment from Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innovation programme, to EUR 314 million in this round.

10 June 2020

EUR 55 million for Syrian refugees and local communities in Jordan and Lebanon

The EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis has mobilised an additional EUR 55 million. It will provide critical and targeted support in key areas such as health, water, sanitation and hygiene. The total assistance mobilised through the EU Trust Fund to over EUR 2.2 billion since 2015, doubling the target originally set.

10 June 2020

Strengthening action to tackle disinformation

The coronavirus pandemic has been accompanied by a massive wave of false or misleading information, including attempts by foreign actors to influence EU citizens and debates. In the Joint Communication, the Commission and the EU High Representative analysed the immediate response and proposed concrete actions that can be quickly set in motion to fight disinformation around the coronavirus pandemic.

11 June 2020

Commission recommends partial and gradual lifting of travel restrictions to the EU after 30 June, based on common coordinated approach

The Commission recommended to Schengen Member States and Schengen Associated States to lift internal border controls by 15 June 2020 and to prolong the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU until 30 June 2020. It also set out an approach to progressively lifting the restriction afterwards.

11 June 2020

European Investment Bank to provide BioNTech with €100 million in financing for COVID-19 vaccine development

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and immunotherapy company BioNTech SE signed a €100 million financing agreement to support the development of BNT162, the company’s COVID-19 vaccine programme. BioNTech is the first European company to enter clinical testing, having started a clinical trial in Germany in April and a further clinical trial in the United States at the beginning of May. The EIB financing is backed by both Horizon2020 InnovFin and the European Fund for Strategic Investments.

15 June 2020

‘Re-open EU’: New web platform to help safely resume free movement and tourism in the EU

The Commission launched ‘Re-open EU’, a web platform that contains essential information allowing a safe relaunch of free movement and tourism across Europe. The platform provides real-time information on borders, available means of transport, travel restrictions, public health and safety measures, as well as other practical information for travellers.

16 June 2020

Commission unveils EU vaccines strategy

• Watch President’s von der Leyen's video message on the EU Vaccines Strategy

The Commission presented a European strategy to accelerate the development, manufacturing and deployment of vaccines against COVID-19. The EU Commission supports efforts to accelerate the development and availability of safe and effective vaccines in a timeframe between 12 and 18 months, if not earlier.

18 June 2020

Supporting Central African Republic and the regional response to the pandemic in the Horn of Africa to limit socio-economic risks of the pandemic

As part of the European Union's response to the COVID-19 crisis in Africa, the European Commission has decided to grant €54 million to the Central African Republic to help the government shore up public expenditure negatively affected by the fight against the virus. The Commission has also on 17 June announced a €60 million package to help tackle the health and socio-economic impact of the pandemic, in support of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in its mandate to coordinate responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Horn of Africa.

18 June 2020

EU funding for the transport of medical goods, medical teams and patients

EU countries can now apply for additional funding via the Emergency Support Instrument to transport essential goods, medical teams and patients affected by the coronavirus. This comes in addition to support already available via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and deliveries of protective equipment through rescEU. On 18 June, a pilot operation has successfully delivered over seven tonnes of personal protective equipment to Bulgaria, including over 500,000 protective masks, purchased by Bulgaria with transport costs covered by the EU.

24 June 2020

Supporting Sudan through EU Humanitarian Air Bridge flight

The second of two EU Humanitarian Air Bridge flights arrived in Sudan, helping humanitarian workers and essential supplies reach people in need and supporting the coronavirus response in the country. This fully EU-funded Humanitarian Air Bridge flight to Sudan was made possible through a coordinated Team Europe approach, bringing together the European Union, Sweden, France and the Humanitarian Logistics Network.

24 June 2020

Council agrees on the postponement of certain tax rules

The Council adopted an amendment to the Directive on administrative cooperation in the area of taxation allowing member states an option to defer by up to 6 months the time limits for the filing and exchange of the following information: automatic exchanges of information on financial accounts of which the beneficiaries are tax residents in another member state, and reportable cross-border tax planning arrangements.

24 June 2020

Increased support for EU farmers affected by the COVID-19 crisis

The Council adopted a regulation which allows Member States, as an exceptional measure, to pay up to EUR 7 000 to farmers and up to EUR 50 000 to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) active in processing, marketing or development of agricultural products or cotton, except fishery products. The aim is to make use of available funds under existing rural development programmes to provide support to farmers and SMEs worst-hit by the COVID-19 crisis and to address the liquidity and cash-flow problems stemming from the closures of shops, markets and restaurants.

27 June 2020

Coronavirus Global Response: EIB and Commission pledge additional EUR 4.9 billion

The ‘Global Goal: Unite for our Future' pledging summit organised by the EU Commission and Global Citizen mobilised EUR 6.15 billion in additional funding to help develop and ensure equitable access to coronavirus vaccines, tests and treatments. This amount includes a EUR 4.9 billion pledge by the European Investment Bank, in partnership with the EU Commission, and EUR 485 million committed by EU Member States. This brings total pledges under the Coronavirus Global Response pledging marathon to EUR 15.9 billion.

29 June 2020

Expanding Temporary Framework to further support micro, small and start-up companies and incentivise private investments

The Commission has adopted a third amendment to extend the scope of the State aid Temporary Framework adopted on 19 March 2020 that would enable Member States to further support micro, small and start-up companies. The main purpose of the Temporary Framework is to provide targeted support to otherwise viable companies that have entered into financial difficulty as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

2 July 2020

New assistance package to support vulnerable groups and address COVID-19 in North Africa

As part of the EU's global response to the coronavirus outbreak, the EU - through its Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) - has adopted a new assistance package to protect migrants, stabilise local communities and respond to COVID-19 in North Africa. This package includes EUR 80 million in new funds as well as EUR 30 million reallocated from non-contracted actions under the EUTF.

6 July 2020

Commission and EIB provide CureVac with a €75 million financing for vaccine development and expansion of manufacturing

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and CureVac, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of transformative medicines, entered into a €75 million loan agreement to support the company's ongoing development of vaccines against infectious diseases, including its vaccine candidate CVnCoV aimed at preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections.

7 July 2020

Commission adopts new exceptional support measures for the wine sector

Here the additional package of exceptional measures to support the hardest hit agri-food sectors in the coronavirus crisis. These new measures include the temporary authorisation for operators to self-organise market measures, the increase of the EU's contribution for wine national support programmes, and the introduction of advance payments for crisis distillation and storage.

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