What can we learn from Germany’s rush to create two coronavirus tracing apps? Quite a lot – but maybe not what you’d guess.

Misinformation and disinformation are two terms that are often used interchangeably. But although they both pose certain dangers to society, they are not the same thing.

The fifth wave hit Spain in July 2021 with tens of thousands of new COVID-19 infection cases every week. Thanks to the vaccinations the death rate is however much lower.

In Greece, as in many other European countries, coronavirus infections are on the rise again due to the spread of a more contagious (“Delta”) variant of the virus.

On 20th July 2021, the European Commission published its new rule of law report. The report emphasises Hungary’s lack of anti-corruption measures and warned that media freedom and pluralism remain at risk.

In Romania, just as in many other European countries, the decreasing number of coronavirus infections and hospitalisations led to the easing of COVID-19 related measures in late Spring, June 2021.

Rights International Spain, our Spanish member organization, has released its report on the county's coronavirus contact tracing app, finding irregularities in the app’s data protection impact assessment and risk analysis.

As previously reported on the Monitor, Hungary broke with the centralised vaccine procurement system of the European Union by approving and purchasing Russian and Chinese vaccines that have not yet been approved by the European Medicines Agency.

As in many other European countries, COVID-19 related measures started to ease in Poland. There are, however, still several restrictions in place.

After months of COVID-19-related restrictions, measures started to ease in Greece in May 2021. At the beginning of May, restaurants, coffee shops and bars were allowed to reopen. On 15th May 2021, Greece reopened for tourism.