Debate: Coronavirus outbreak, state of play and ensuring a coordinated European response to the health, economic and social impact
Date: TUESDAY, 10 MARCH 2020
Speaker: Janez Lenarčič
Language: EN

For the past six weeks, we have been coordinating the work of all Commission services to identify what needs to be done, by whom and when, and get it done. Let me give you a quick overview of this effort.  Through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, we have coordinated the repatriation of hundreds of European Union citizens from China and Japan. We have coordinated the provision of assistance to China during the initial stage of the outbreak there. Since then, we have been working with the EU Member States to coordinate assistance between them via this mechanism. We have mobilised funding to the tune of almost EUR 270 million to boost global preparedness, prevention and containment of the virus with a combination of development, humanitarian and research funding. In the area of border controls, we have issued guidance to Member States and organised weekly meetings of the Covid-19 information group on borders, which brings together the Member States, Schengen associated countries, the Council Secretariat and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, so as to exchange information and best practices on measures taken by the Member States in view of the coordinated approach. For transport-related measures, we have requested the development of specific advice for ship and aircraft operators, as well as the land transport sector, regarding preparedness and the response to the Covid-19 outbreak. This advice was recently published by the expert group.  In addition, we are working every day on contingency planning and preparedness measures for the EU on all aspects of this emergency, from health and research to civil protection and consular assistance, from transport and home affairs to the economy. We are assessing the impact on supply chains and working with Member States to ensure that they use the benefits offered by the single market rather than close it off to each other. Commissioner Breton is speaking directly to European manufacturers of personal protective equipment. Our aim is to make sure that the public health needs of all Member States are met and that adequate supplies get to where they are needed most.  There is no way around the fact that the economic cost of the coronavirus will be significant. We are working closely with Member States to assess the situation and coordinate the necessary economic measures. By coordinating them, we will maximise their impact. It is important that affected workers and businesses get the necessary support to weather this storm. On the fiscal front, European countries have powerful automatic stabilisers, which can cushion a good part of the shock. They can also intervene in terms of providing liquidity to small and medium enterprises, which are the most affected by this impact. In addition, our Stability and Growth Pact provides for flexibility to cater for unusual events such as this. Our letter to Italy is very clear on that. We are well aware that exceptional times require exceptional measures, and this is such a time. We are committed to coordinating with Member States and using all appropriate policy tools to safeguard against the downside risks that are now materialising.  Finally, we have ramped up our public communication efforts with the launch of a dedicated Covid-19 webpage with daily updates. There should be no doubt that this situation calls for a coherent response, and solidarity and cooperation are essential. Member States recognise this and the Commission has already been supporting them for weeks. In particular, the Emergency Response Coordination Centre, which is working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, remains available to them.