The study of our Research Fellow Joelle Grogan considers what best practices have been evidenced, and the lessons that can be learned from comparative experience within EU Member States as well as relevant third countries. It examines pandemic governance in the EU and its Member States during the Covid-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022. It describes how the pandemic was addressed by EU Member States, either in terms of declaring a state of emergency or similar regimes, or using emergency powers or emergency health legislation, or normal legislation.

The study was provided by the Policy Department for Economic, Scientific and Quality of Life Policies at the request of the Special Committee on the Covid-19 pandemic: lessons learned and recommendations for the future (COVI).

The author argues that “Covid-19 bred ‘shadow’ pandemics of educational deprivation, domestic violence, unemployment, poverty, social-isolation and mental health crises unaccounted for in national decision-making or advisory bodies. Further and broader expertise in both the sciences and social sciences is needed to inform not only immediate measures, but also in devising longer-term strategies for recovery.”

Download the study here.