Teleworking, postponed meetings, modified agenda... the coronavirus pandemic is forcing EU institutions to adapt in order to minimise the risk of the virus spreading within them. This is an opportunity for EUROPE to provide a quick overview of the precautionary measures taken by the Commission, the EU Council and the European Parliament and the changes foreseen in their respective timetables.
Teleworking. Like many companies, the three main institutions have taken steps to promote telework.
Since Monday 16 March, all staff of the European Commission and Parliament performing “ non-critical functions” for the operation of the institution are thus required to work remotely.
“ Political groups have adopted similar measures and MEPs are asked to respect the same precautionary measures”, the Parliament Press Service told EUROPE.
For the EU Council, although it is not an obligation, the message to staff on Thursday 12 March is clear: “if you can, you must telework”. Contacted by EUROPE, the EU Council's press service assured us that only those whose presence is necessary to ensure the organisation of the institution's essential activities continue to work normally.
Revision of the institutional agenda. As far as the institutional agenda is concerned, several changes have already been announced.
As indicated in our article (see EUROPE 12443/24), the week of 16 to 20 March being a constituency week for Parliament, the meetings of the various parliamentary committees have all been postponed. According to Parliament's press service, the Parliament President will nevertheless authorise meetings during this week “if necessary”. The following week's parliamentary activities will be restricted to essential meetings.
With regard to the EU Council, the Secretary-General has decided that meetings that are not essential or urgent will be cancelled or postponed and, in some cases, replaced by videoconferences.
Several changes to the calendar were also announced on Monday.
Thus, the Economic and Financial Affairs Council, scheduled for Tuesday 17 March, is replaced by a videoconference of the Finance Ministers of the Member States on Friday 20 March.
Moreover, contrary to what was planned (see EUROPE 12349/19), the meeting of the Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs on Thursday 19 March will ultimately consist of an extraordinary Council by videoconference, dedicated exclusively to ‘COVID-19’.
For its part, the Croatian Presidency of the EU Council announced the postponement of all the informal meetings due to take place in Croatia until 15 April, with the exception of informal meetings at ministerial level for which the Presidency will decide on a case-by-case basis.
Finally, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, convened a second European Council by videoconference on the coronavirus. It will be held on the evening of Tuesday 17 March.
Further changes are obviously expected as the pandemic evolves.
Visits to the institutions have been suspended. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot and Pascal Hansens)