• Coronavirus, the EU ready to 'whatever it takes'

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March 17, 2020 "The EU is correcting selfishness and the lack of coordination between national governments in the face of the coronavirus crisis. Today, the extraordinary meeting of the European Council gave the green light to the proposals of the EU Commission, also indicated by the European Parliament, to tackle the spread of the virus and help needy countries ". So the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli. "Finally, we are showing a real sense of solidarity: preferential lanes for the passage of medical equipment, the defense of the free movement of goods in the EU and the first important economic support for our families and businesses. A united, available and ready to act, it is finally on the field to face this dramatic challenge. We are a European family and nobody will be alone and nobody will have to act alone. The European Parliament is ready to do its part to protect everyone's life and livelihood. We will not give up to live like Europeans, "he concluded.

Borders closed
EU leaders have agreed to accept the European Commission's proposal to close Europe's external borders for 30 days to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel said this after the meeting of the leaders of the 27 by teleconference. The agreement was reached by videoconference.

Merkel: "In Germany shoot immediately"
"We all agree on the EU Commission's decision that there is a 30-day limit on travel to Europe. In fact, a veto with very few exceptions." Angela Merkel said in Berlin, stressing that Germany will implement this measure immediately. Germany will only allow citizens of the European Union and persons with long-term residence permits to enter its territory. This was announced by Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, as part of the measures to combat the coronavirus epidemic.

Summit canceled March 26 and 27
The next week's ordinary European Council was canceled due to the Coronavirus crisis. This was announced by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, at a press conference after the teleconference with the heads of state and government ended. "We have agreed to meet again by teleconference next week. This means that the European Council which was due to be held in Brussels on Thursday and Friday will not take place," said Michel.

Michel: everything you need for the EU economy
"We will do what is necessary to restore confidence" and support the European economy. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel said at the end of the 27 leaders' summit. "It is very important to maintain the free movement of goods" retorted Angela Merkel at a press conference in Berlin. The Chancellor reported that European leaders had discussed the fight against the economic consequences of the coronavirus that could be "very serious" together.

European medical response team
An advisory panel on coronavirus consisting of teams of virologists and epidemiologists for European coordination in response to the crisis and risk management was launched today. This is stated in an official note from the European Commission. The team is chaired by Ursula Von Der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who recalled the importance of "concrete and appropriate decisions for the European people" and that "scientific expertise and good advice are now more valuable than ever". Von Der Leyen added: "I am grateful to everyone present for putting their knowledge at the service of the community". Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, who declared that time and science are essential for the fight against coronavirus, and that "this group will play an important role in the medical response, also co-chaired the panel. of the EU to the pandemic ".

Conte: "We need an extraordinary response"
"An extraordinary, unprecedented crisis is answered with equally extraordinary means, putting in place any instrument of reaction, according to the logic 'whatever it takes'". This is the concept expressed by the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, during his speech at the video conference of EU leaders dedicated to the Coronavirus emergency. Conte "invited everyone not to delude themselves that there may be a member country that can remain unscathed from this economic and social tsunami and invited to consider that the delay in the common response would be lethal for everyone and therefore irresponsible".