MEPs analysed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused one of the most profound and fundamental crises in the history of the EU, evaluated the effectiveness of EU and national measures and made specific recommendations to address gaps and weaknesses in the response. The report was adopted on Monday by 23 votes in favour, 13 against and one abstention.

Key health proposals put forward by the Special Committee include investing more in healthcare, introducing surveillance plans on emerging health threats, carrying out stress tests on national healthcare systems, increasing transparency for joint procurement activities, improving the EU’s strategic autonomy on key pharmaceutical ingredients and medicines and developing an EU strategy to tackle “long COVID”.

To protect democracy and fundamental rights, MEPs want the right to information and freedom of expression to be better protected, enhanced crisis communication and transparent decision-making processes,…