EU institutions and COVID-19 – Responded rapidly, challenges still ahead to make the best of the crisis-led innovation and flexibility

Summary:

This audit assessed the resilience of the EU institutions when faced with COVID-19: how they coped with the pandemic, and what lessons they have drawn. We concluded that although the institutions’ business continuity plans were designed for short-term disruptions, and they had different levels of preparedness, the institutions demonstrated their resilience in the face of the COVID-19 crisis thanks to their rapid and flexible response, and previous investments in digitalisation. However, they need to better evaluate the new ways of working introduced in response to COVID-19 in a post-crisis environment. We recommend that the institutions include long-term disruption in their business continuity plans; further develop the digitalisation of administrative services; and assess the suitability of new ways of working in the post-COVID-19 environment.

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