Introduction: Within the scope of this master's thesis, we conducted an analysis of public health emergencies, focusing on the impact of Covid-19, on European Union policy. We investigated systemic challenges, the initial response of the European Commission to the pandemic, and internal measures such as the reintroduction of border controls. The pandemic has raised questions about the resilience of the European Union system and opportunities for further integration. Purpose: We analyzed the European Commission's response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the European Union. We examined the adequacy and effectiveness of measures and their impact on reshaping responses to public health risks and collaboration among member states. Our aim was to assess whether the pandemic prompted improvements. The results will contribute to understanding the European Commission's response and potential future adaptations. Methods: We examined the European Commission's response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the European Union using a retrospective qualitative method. We focused on the impact of public health measures by the European Commission. Addressing three key research questions, we considered competencies, challenges in managing the pandemic, and the impact on responses to public health risks. Data were collected from official documents, European legislation, and scholarly literature. The goal was a deep understanding of the European Commission's operations in the context of the pandemic, with a detailed analysis of the response in the first two years of the pandemic. Results: We analyzed literature pertaining to the first two years after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the European Union. Our aim was to identify differences in understanding the public health crisis between the onset and after a two-year period. The analysis of the European Commission's response to the Covid-19 pandemic reveals mixed results. The positive aspects include the rapid mobilization of resources, the adaptability of EU institutions, and the joint procurement of vaccines. However, the negative aspects highlight the lack of clear guidelines, the lack of coordination among member states, and the limitations of existing legal mechanisms. Discussion and conclusion: While the response was generally effective, some shortcomings were evident. Positive aspects included rapid mobilization of financial resources and flexibility in measures However, negatives included a lack of clear guidelines, inconsistency among member states, and limitations in the use of legal mechanisms. This underscores the need for further improvements in the future.
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