Joint European Roadmap towards lifting COVID-19 containment measures

Summary:

Communication presented by the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council on 15 April 2020, setting out a strategy to phase-out the containment measures due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Further information:

The joint European Roadmap responds to the call by the European Council for an exist strategy that is coordinated with Member States and that prepares the ground for a comprehensive recovery plan and investment.

It sets out recommendations to Member States, with the goal of preserving public health while gradually lifting containment measures to restart community life and the economy. It is not meant to be a signal that containment measures can be lifted at an immediate stage but intends to inform Member States' actions and provide a frame for ensuring EU-level and cross-border coordination, while recognising the specificity of each Member State.

The specific epidemiological situation, territorial organisation, healthcare service arrangements, population distribution or economic dynamics are some of the factors that might affect Member States’ decisions on where, when and how measures are lifted. The Roadmap also highlights that attention is also to be needed for the situation of the countries in the European Union's neighbourhood.

It builds on the expertise and the advice provided by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Commission’s Advisory Panel on COVID-19 and takes into account the experience and outlook from a number of Member States as well as guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Roadmap was discussed during a virtual plenary session of the European Parliament on 16 April.

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• Alternative Source

Commentary and Analysis

Politico, 14/04/2020: Every European country for itself on coronavirus exit strategy https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/14/europe-coronavirus-exit-strategy-187069

Politico, 15/04/2020: How does the world end the coronavirus lockdown? Countries can't agree on exit strategy https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/15/world-coronavirus-lockdown-exit-strategy-186785

Politico, 15/04/2020: Europe’s coronavirus lockdown exit strategies compared https://www.politico.eu/article/europes-coronavirus-lockdown-exit-strategies-compared/

Euro|topics, April 2020: How can corona rules be eased? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/238292/

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News

Reuters, 14/04/2020: EU calls on countries to coordinate lockdown exit strategies https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL5N2C2285

EurActiv, 14/04/2020: Commission COVID-19 data sharing aims to be operational ‘as soon as possible’ https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/commission-covid-19-data-sharing-aims-to-be-operational-as-soon-as-possible/

Deutsche Welle, 15/04/2020: Coronavirus: EU calls for coordinated exit plan https://p.dw.com/p/3auda

The Irish Times, 15/04/2020: Coronavirus: European Union seeks to co-ordinate exit from pandemic lockdown restrictions https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/coronavirus-european-union-seeks-to-co-ordinate-exit-from-pandemic-lockdown-restrictions-1.4229430

ITV News, 15/04/2020: How the European Union is planning to ease coronavirus restrictions https://www.itv.com/news/2020-04-15/eu-unveils-road-map-to-exit-coronavirus-restrictions/

UN Regional Information Centre for Western Europe: News, 15/04/2020: European Commission presents EU coronavirus exit strategy https://unric.org/en/european-commission-presents-eu-coronavirus-exit-strategy/

Bloomberg, 15/04/2020: Here’s Europe’s Plan to Get People Back to Work After Covid-19 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-15/here-s-europe-s-plan-to-get-people-back-to-work-after-covid-19

France24, 15/04/2020: EU looks to apps as way of easing virus lockdown https://www.france24.com/en/20200415-eu-looks-to-apps-as-way-of-easing-virus-lockdown

Kathimerini, 15/04/2020: EU unveils virus exit plan, hoping to avoid more chaos https://www.ekathimerini.com/251730/article/ekathimerini/news/eu-unveils-virus-exit-plan-hoping-to-avoid-more-chaos

Politico, 15/04/2020: Brussels lockdown exit plan leaves capitals in control https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-lockdown-exit-strategy-leaves-capitals-in-control/

EUObserver, 15/04/2020: Where, what and when? EU commission lockdown advice https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/148079

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Official

European Commission: Press Release, 15/04/2020: Coronavirus: European roadmap shows path towards common lifting of containment measures https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_652

European Commission: Remarks by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Michel on the EU response to the coronavirus crisis (15 April 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_20_664

European Council: Remarks by President Charles Michel at the press conference on the EU response to the coronavirus crisis (15 April 2020) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/04/15/remarks-by-president-charles-michel-at-the-press-conference-on-the-eu-response-to-the-coronavirus-crisis/

European Council: Press Release, 16/04/2020: Intervention of President Charles Michel at the plenary session of the European Parliament https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/04/16/intervention-of-president-charles-michel-at-the-plenary-session-of-the-european-parliament/

European Commission: Speech by President von der Leyen at the European Parliament Plenary on the EU coordinated action to combat the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences (16 April 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_20_675

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