Social effects: Bundestag wants to use Corona Commission

A good two years after the end of the last nationwide everyday conditions, Corona pandemic is to be comprehensively processed with its consequences in Germany. The Bundestag wants to decide on the establishment of an Enquete Commission on Thursday. After a long dispute over a format, a large majority are emerging for this. After a few changes, the application that the coalition factions of the Union and the SPD had brought in are also contributing to the green and the left. The Commission with MPs and experts is to develop a report by mid -2027.

Crisis of “historical scope”

The title of the committee should be: “Refurbishment of the corona pandemic and teaching for future pandemic events”. Pandemic has confronted citizens, civil society, state institutions, companies, art and culture from 2019 to 2023 with challenges “of historical and not an extended scope since the Second World War,” the application says. In order to avert serious consequences for risk groups, be it to solidarity – and weighing up the consequences for business and society and a proportionate design of interventions of fundamental rights.

A comprehensive, scientifically sound processing of pandemic and state and social action is essential in order to draw reliable conclusions for the future, the investigation goal says. The leading should be “that all measures and decisions can only be assessed against the background of the information status at the relevant time”. Despite many investigations, for example, in the countries, for example, many would have the impression that the pandemic had not yet been sufficiently processed.

In the previous election period, right after the acute crisis, there was no great evaluation of the protective measures with masks, tests and everyday specifications at the federal level. Among other things, a citizen council was discussed, but the traffic light coalition could not communicate. The Union and SPD now agreed an Enquete Commission in the coalition agreement. The French word “enquete” means investigation. The AfD calls for an investigation committee and also provides this to vote.

The Commission should belong to 14 MPs and 14 experts. According to the application, the Union names five MPs, AfD and SPD three each, the Greens two and the left a MP. The experts should be named in agreement – with the appropriate participation of the federal states and municipalities and a balanced representation of the scientific disciplines and areas of society. If there is no agreement, the parliamentary groups should name the experts as after the MP key.

A number of aspects should be illuminated: early detection with pandemic plans and precaution. Crisis management with the federal-state rounds of the Prime Minister Conference, crisis rods and the integration of scientific expertise. The legal framework and parliamentary control. The measures against virus spread with effects on children and adolescents, older and dying. Vaccinations and the procurement of protective equipment such as masks and tests. Help for companies and the labor market. Effects on culture, tourism, volunteers and clubs.

The Commission should be able to hold public hearings from experts, stakeholders and those affected and obtain expert opinions. Perspectives and experiences of citizens could “be included in particular by public formats,” the application says. An “age -appropriate survey” of children and adolescents is also possible. The “ongoing knowledge acquisition” and results should be made accessible to the public in a suitable form – taking into account particularly in need of protection.

The Commission is intended to submit a comprehensive final report to the Bundestag by June 30, 2027 with knowledge and recommendations for action. Inter -aspects are also possible, which should enable earlier parliamentary and political employment. All members of the Commission should also be able to submit special votes. The final report will also be published by minutes of the meetings if the Commission has not met publicly.