- The major lesson learnt from this experience is that strong and effective multilevel-governance is essential to prevent, identify and manage emergencies, including pandemics.
- Resilience, flexibility, capacity and coordination are instrumental to good governance and to ensure that key services continue come what may, whilst managing the infection rates and responding to new issues.
- Moreover, the response must ensure compliance with the fundamental values of democracy, human rights and rule of law.
These are some of the key messages conveyed by a special report of the European Committee on Democracy and Governance entitled “Democratic governance and Covid-19” published today. The report is based on contributions from member States and discussions held by the Committee, including a thematic conference organised in June last. The report was adopted by the CDDG at its 12th plenary meeting held by videoconference on 25-27 November.
Given the evolution of this unprecedented crisis and in order to gather the broadest experience possible with regard to its management by the various actors concerned, the report will be complemented by an update by the end of 2021.
