Blog post 200410
Overcoming covid-19 crises
by building a clean and resilient Europe
By Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Director of the Jacques Delors Energy Centre, Andreas Eisl, Research fellow at the Jacques Delors Institute, & Emilie Magdalinski, Research fellow at the Jacques Delors Energy Centre.
The authors would like to thank Jeff Benzak, Thierry Chopin, Marie Delair, Elvire Fabry, Sofia Fernandes, Sébastien Maillard, Léa Pilsner, Nils Redeker, Peter Sweatman and Jean-Arnold Vinois for their valuable comments and ideas.
Covid-19 has already taken tens of thousands of lives and put entire countries on lockdown. It has triggered the worst economic crisis since World War II. In this unprecedented situation this policy brief aims to shed some light on what has already happened and what may happen in the future, yet remaining humble in the face of the uncertainties on the length and magnitude of the Covid-19 health and economic crises.
What is however certain is that European societies have a choice. They can choose to follow the path of a single-minded focus on ‘returning to normal’. Or they can instead choose to address the major health and economic crises by embracing a forward-looking vision, one that places human and societal resilience at the heart of the continent’s Covid-19 response, which will notably impact our energy and mobility systems during and after the crises.
The fact is, getting back to the way things were in 2019 is the wrong objective. In today’s context, a return to this ‘normal’ would actually represent a big step backward. It would be a return to a society neither resilient to pandemics, nor able to protect the very environmental conditions that are essential to our health and security.
This policy brief highlights actions the European Union can undertake during each of the three main phases of Covid-19 crisis response: crisis management, economic recovery and fiscal consolidation. It specifically focuses on the energy and mobility tools that can help address the Covid-19 health and economic crises, and that are vital tools to deliver a clean and resilient Europe in the near future.
SUR LE MÊME THÈME
ON THE SAME THEME
PUBLICATIONS
Strengthening EU green sovereignty through the Critical Raw Materials Act
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/policypaperbleu.png)
Towards climate neutrality: what transformations by 2030 under the FitFor55?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/boussole.png)
The European Green Deal in the face of rising radical right-wing populism
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/policypaperbleu.png)
MÉDIAS
MEDIAS
L’urgence climatique, première victime des élections européennes ?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/articlebleu.png)
L’Europe du climat: vers une grande dissolution ?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/tribunebleu.png)
Elections européennes 2024 : les partisans du Pacte vert se disent rassurés
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/articlebleu.png)
ÉVÉNEMENTS
EVENTS
Euroquestions | The Pact on Migration and Asylum, what about a reform never completed? [FR]
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Académie Notre Europe – “Social Europe” session [FR]
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Euroquestions 57 | Reforming the Stability and Growth Pact. Key challenges and opportunities for a revamped European fiscal framework
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Académie Notre Europe – Europe in the world session
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
My Europe – The European Union, ally or danger for workers? [FR]
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
TOWARDS A EUROPEAN HEALTH UNION – Prevention, crisis management, multilateralism | Presentation of the report published in December 2021 [FR]
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Seminar | Heavy Industry and climate : the challenges of the transition [FR]
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Conference on the Future of Europe – Climate Change, Environment/Health
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
European EnerGreenDeal Conference
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
The European Union and work: what competences, what debates, what perspectives? [FR]
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
What place for responsible capitalism in Europe? (FR)
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Euroquestion | Quelle gestion de l’endettement public à la suite du Covid ?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Table Ronde : “La politique européenne de l’énergie à l’heure du changement climatique”
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Euroquestions | Un an de Green Deal – 5 ans d’Accord de Paris : où en est le monde ? Où en est l’Europe ?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Euroquestions | Un an de Green Deal – 5 ans d’Accord de Paris : où en est le monde ? Où en est l’Europe ?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Visioconférence : Pandémie – L’Europe de la relance
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Euroquestions | Can European funds guarantee the rule of law ?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Le monde en crises : impacts de la COVID-19 sur le commerce international
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
2020 virtual Outermost regions Forum | “Together for a sustainable future”
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Comment garantir une relance verte et juste ?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Euroquestions | Relance et puissance : mots d’ordre de la rentrée européenne
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Wébinaire | Préparer un avenir propre et résilient pour les villes européennes
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Negotiating the Future EU-UK Relationship in times of Pandemics
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
WEBINAR | A European Border Carbon Adjustment proposal
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
WEBINAR | The day after the European Commission’s Post-Covid economic recovery proposal
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Wébinaire | Présentation du rapport “Les français et l’Europe entre défiance et ambivalence”
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Webinar | Greener After – A Green Recovery Stimulus for a post-COVID-19 Europe
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Green Recovery Post Covid-19: European or National Strategies?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Quel rôle pour l’Europe dans un monde post-Covid ?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
WEBINAR | Overcoming Covid-19 crises by building a clean and resilient Europe
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Académie n°7 – L’Europe économique
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
LIVE STREAM | Digital sovereignty in the age of pandemics
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Webinar | EU Green Deal: an innovative path to reach a low carbon Europe?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Webinar | SURE : a welcomed catalyzer for an European Unemployment Insurance*
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Webinar | The day after the Eurogroup Meeting : outcomes & opportunities
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
WEBINAR | THE EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS DURING A TIME OF CRISIS
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Annulé : L’urgence climatique, un défi aussi pour les villes d’Europe
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Académie Notre Europe n°5 – Social Europe and Budget
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
La Pacte Vert européen, mode d’emploi
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Café-Débat de l’Académie Notre Europe #1
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Watch the all conference
Energising the Green Deal
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
What role for research and innovation in the european green deal?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Webinar on the industrial strategy for the Green Deal
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Académie Notre Europe n°2 – Green Europe
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Paris, 5 November 2019 – How to finance Energy Innovation in Europe in order to reach Climate neutrality by 2050?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Barcelona, 25 October 2019 – Sovereignty, inequalities and social Europe
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Brussels, 16th October 2019 – Three solutions to finance the Green Deal
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Brussels, 15 October 2019 – Europe: Post Elections Challenges
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Ludwigsfelde, 2 October 2019 – Citizen dialogue and Trilateral Experts seminar on Social Europe
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 5 September 2019 – Global Convergences Forum
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Brussels, 27 June 2019 – Women Rule Summit 2019
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 21 May 2019 – Europe: which answers to the Digital economy’s social challenges?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 16 mai 2019 — ParisMat
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Argenteuil, 11 mai 2019 — Europe and fraternity
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 16 April 2019 — European elections: assessment and proposals of the candidates for the climate
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Paris, 6 April 2019 — Social justice in the energy transition in Europe
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 5 April 2019 – European elections: what stakes for disability?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Training on European issues
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Bruxelles, 21 February 2019 – Expert Debate on the European Pillar of Social Rights
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 19 February 2019 – If the climate was a bank, we would have saved it already. What are we waiting for?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 18 December 2018 – Social Europe
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 11 January 2019 – Académie Notre Europe: Social Europe
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Katowice, 13 December 2018 – COP24: Yes Europe !
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 4 December 2018 – Ecological transition and the European Union: what are the levers for the emergency?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 20 November 2018 – How to accompany the low-carbon transition to be fair?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Hamburg, 16 November 2018 – FOTAR 2018 : Transatlantic Environmental Policy
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, 14 November 2018 – What is Europe doing to protect us? Trade Policy, Social Europe, Environment and Security
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 24 October 2018 – Companies: missions and reasons to be
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Madeira, 19 October 2018 – The EU long-term energy-climate strategy
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Dardilly, 10 October 2018 – What future for social Europe?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 3 October 2018 – Is European solidarity still possible?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Brussels, 3 October 2018 – Europe needs a social pact for the energy transition
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 28 September 2018 – Autumn School of the European Trade Union Confederation
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 24 September 2018 – European social dialogue: what future?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Bruges, 12 July 2018 – Just a transition or a just transition? Jobs, skills, energy poverty
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Brussels, 28 June 2018 – Globalisation and Europeanisation: European solutions for global problems?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Luxembourg, 20 June 2018 – The reform of the EMU: which social dimension?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/evenementbleu.png)
Paris, 17 May 2018 – France and the European Pillar of Social Rights
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Brussels, 24 April 2018 – Geo-politics and the need for transition to cleaner energy
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Toulouse, 17 April 2018 – A protective Social Europe : myth or reality?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Tours, 4 April 2018 – Toward a Social and Political Europe?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Angers, 29 March 2018 – From the Treaty of Rome to today
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Barcelona, 16 March 2018 – Global commitments on climate change
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Brussels, 1st March 2018 – Citizen Participation in the Energy Transition
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Paris, 15 February 2018 – Green Controversy
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Paris, 2 February 2018 – How to deal with the populist phenomenon?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Champigny-sur-Marne, 23 January 2018 – Social Europe
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Aulnay-sous-Bois, 16 December 2017 – Active Citizens Forum
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Paris, 5 December 2017 – The future of social democracy
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Luxembourg, 21 October 2017 – Europe: Changing the economic and social framework
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Brussels, 16 October 2017 – “Making the Energy Transition a European Success”
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Créteil, 28 September 2017 – Social Europe: utopia or reality?
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Paris, 28 September 2017 – What future for a Social Europe?
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Brussels, 10 July 2017 – Guaranteeing solidarity in EU Cohesion policy post-2020
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Prague, 8 June 2017 – Hamonization of EU social standards
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Rome, 20 March 2017 – Completing economic governance and enhancing social cohesion
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Brussels, 27 February 2017 – Social Policy in the EU – state of play 2016
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Paris, 18 October 2016 – The EU and social investment policies
![](https://institutdelors.eu/wp-content/themes/Avada-Child-Theme/images/interventionblanc.png)
Santander, 29 August 2016 – Social Europe: integration or disintegration factor?
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