The Covid-19 pandemic still affects everyday life in the EU in unprecedented ways, as mapped by the Second Bulletin of the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA). Yet, as governments are gradually lifting containment measures, new fundamental rights concerns arise. Accordingly, this Second Bulletin examines declarations of states of emergency, or equivalent, and considers the impact on social life, education, work, the justice system, and travel to and within the EU. Besides, it focuses on the effects of the virus and efforts to limit its spread on specific groups in society, such as older persons, people with disabilities and detainees. Ultimately, special emphasis is put on the processing of personal data to help contain Covid-19.
Against this background, the fundamental rights implications of the measures taken by the Belgian government, in place since 18 March 2020, have be closely monitored too. The Belgian report, compiled by FRC as national contractor for the FRA, provides a further analysis and evaluation of the fundamental rights impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.