The COVID-19 global pandemic has shown the world that no governments from either developed or developing nations were ready to prevent or to manage such an abrupt external shock. The uncertainty surrounding the virus and its suppression, the undefined timeframe needed to deliver effective treatments and vaccines and the consequences of the extensions of the period of lockdown and the absence of a clear strategy on the return to “normality” without risking entering another infectious wave, together with the global nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, have put undue pressure on economies and financial markets world- wide. Strict containment, lockdown and mobility restriction measures seem to be effective when it comes to saving lives but at a high financial and economic cost. Lifting containment policies is under way in several countries and the impacts of these policies are still unknown.
At this juncture, EMEA launched a regional policy research initiative on COVID-19 on 18th March 2020.
Under EMEA research initiative on COVID-19, and following several publications on the topic, a series of webinars will be organised twice a month, with the general aim to identify and to assess the policy responses and socio-economic challenges linked to this global pandemic, and future responses to enhance our socio-economic resilience in Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa in view of global practices and experiences.
The webinars will be moderated by the Founder and President of EMEA, Prof. Rym Ayadi, with the participation of EMEA board members, experts and high-level stakeholders.
