3.12.2020

The EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) published its latest Bulletin on the impact of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on fundamental rights across the EU Member States on 30 November 2020. Coronavirus pandemic in the EU – fundamental rights implications focuses on social rights, such as the right to health, education, work and housing. It covers the developments in September-October 2020.

During the reporting period many Member States reintroduced or extended states of emergency as the health situation deteriorated. Restrictions on freedom of assembly increased, and many Member States also restricted movement within their national borders. The pandemic continued to have a huge impact on the economies and labour markets of the Member States, resulting in rising levels of unemployment, especially among young people and women. The tourism, hospitality, arts and entertainment sectors were particularly affected in several countries. After the summer break, schools started again with in-person teaching, but due to rising infection rates many reinstated distance learning, posing challenges to the right to education and non-discrimination. The impact of visiting bans on residents’ wellbeing remained a grave concern for people living in institutions. Migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, often living in overcrowded accommodation with poor hygiene conditions, continued to face increased risk of infection and barriers to accessing health services.

FRA’s multidisciplinary research network, FRANET, collected the data and information for the Bulletin across all 27 EU Member States. The Institute for Human Rights at Åbo Akademi University, together with the Faculty of Law at the University of Turku, currently form the national focal point of FRANET in Finland. The researchers at the Institute for Human Rights at Åbo Akademi University have compiled the country report on Finland.