• Count to the EU: "Use all its firepower to deal with the coronavirus emergency in Europe"
  • Coronavirus, von der Leyen: "11 billion of unused EU funds to Italy"
  • Coronavirus, ECB: liquidity protection measures will continue

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20 March 2020 "The logic, the philosophy" of Conte on the use of the Mes "is absolutely acceptable. The ways in which an operation of this kind can be made are linked to the discussion on these Eurobonds, that is, on tools that are built on the market and are available for all countries "said Commissioner for Economic Affairs Paolo Gentiloni on Radio Anch'io. Gentiloni stressed that the crisis "affects everyone", and since we have coordinated tools we must try to use them ".

Gentiloni explained that Eurobonds, or Coronabonds, "must be launched by financial structures because they are European financial securities. The most suitable structure to launch them is the Mes". But at the level of debate "we are not yet there, it is useless to say things that are not yet in the decisions taken, the discussion must go on. I fear that with the evolution of the pandemic, everyone's awareness will also increase that we must also react with financial instruments ", he added.

Conte's proposal
"Mes, the state-saving fund was created for a different kind of crisis, so it needs to be adapted to new circumstances so that it can use all its firepower against an unprecedented global shock." Conte said in an interview with the Financial Times. "The way forward - added Conte - is to open an ESM credit line for all Member States, in order to help them fight the consequences of Covid epidemic. "

Amendola: "Important ECB shield, but not enough"
"The shield of the ECB is very important, but it is not enough. Now the Eurobonds". Speak Enzo Amendola, Minister of European Affairs. "Either Europe proves to exist now, or it will never exist again," he explains in an interview with Il Foglio. What will the April decree look like? "An important signal, of course, necessary although still not decisive. Because in the coming weeks, in the coming months, powerful efforts will still be needed. And national governments will have to do it too", but "Europe is our destiny community". So Amendola says that "Prime Minister Conte, together with Macron, has proposed the issuance of 'corona bonds'" and that these, together with the use of the Mes without stringent conditionalities as requested by Spain, "are all options available to Europe and nothing is excluded in the coming weeks "although, he adds," Europe is in the new world, and we must all be aware that the alignments of the past, the cautions and timidities of each one no longer make sense ".

According to Minister Amendola, however, the European Commission "has given wide parameters of flexibility, both in terms of budget and state aid", as the latest declarations of the Competition Manager Margrethe Vestager also certify, he explains. And these levers "will be used with courage" so that. "the shield of the ECB will allow us to be more ambitious in view of the new decree, which will arrive in April" the minister anticipates to Il Foglio, a decree which in his opinion "will allow us to be more rigorous also in the defense of our industry, deterring any attempt of hostile climbing on the markets ".

Then Amendola promises: "We will do everything we need to protect not only our champions, our 'family jewels', but also all that fabric of small and medium-sized enterprises so precious for our economy. That must be saved, as well as the health of our citizens, at any cost. We have repeated it, shouted, for months, starting from that February 13th which is the first day marked in red on my calendar. Since yesterday, the whole Union is aware of it ", concludes the Minister for European Affairs.

Crimi: "I don't believe in Mes unconditionally"
"We need more severity. I don't know if there will be a new provision, the chain of command is clear and Conte is the synthesis, but I would like it at least in areas like Lombardy". This was stated by the political leader of the M5s, Vito Crimi on Radio 1. "Everything that is not essential should be closed. But many companies have chosen to close their doors", thus answering the question of whether it is necessary to close all the companies. "Regarding the use of MES without conditionality - concludes Vito Crimi - unfortunately I don't believe it".