COVID-19 in Eastern Europe: economic and political consequences

On December 16, CEPS is organizing an online-webinar “COVID-19 in Eastern Europe: economic and political consequences” within the framework of the “3 DCFTAs” Project. The event is organized in cooperation with the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and the Ukrainian Think Tanks Liaison Office in Brussels (UTTLOB) with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. This webinar will review the state of the Covid-19 pandemic in Eastern Europe, in comparison with trends in most of Western Europe where the second summer wave of infections exceeded the first wave in the spring, but now has passed its peak with rapidly declining new infections. By contrast, among the countries of Eastern Europe, Ukraine and Moldova (as also Russia) are witnessing a long, continuing acceleration of the pandemic, which is manifestly out of control. Azerbaijan, Belarus and Armenia have been experiencing second waves, with the peak passed only in Armenia. Finally, Georgia, which avoided the first wave entirely, now sees an explosive acceleration of infections. The webinar will hear experts from Eastern Europe debate these dramatic developments for their epidemiological, economic and political consequences, with the event open for audience participation in Q & A.