The European Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, welcomed on Wednesday 8 September the steps taken by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) to improve its communication and the transparency of its work.
“The ECDC put in place measures to make it easier for the public to follow the evolution of its scientific advice and to see the data underlying its scientific assessments”, she said in a statement. She also welcomed the ECDC’s commitment to greater transparency in its dealings with its international partners and its readiness to develop a new communication policy for the general public.
In particular, the Ombudsman pointed out that the European Centre had stated that it wanted to “enhance its digital communication” and be “more proactive in its contacts with the media”.
It should also review its language policy, as suggested by the Ombudsman. “Making ECDC’s public information available in more official EU languages would help it reach a wider audience”, she says.
Last February, Mrs O’Reilly launched an investigation into ECDC’s activity in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic (see EUROPE 12654/13) and analysed its information gathering methods, the transparency of this information, and the way it communicates with the public.
Afterward, Mrs O’Reilly particularly deplored the fact that some work had not been published at the beginning of the health crisis and that some exchanges with international partners remained opaque. However, the statement issued today suggests that the problem has been corrected. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)