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March 30, 2020 "At this moment in Europe a historic game is being played. It is not an economic crisis that has touched some less virtuous countries than others. Here there is no distinction that has to do with financial systems. This is one health crisis that ended up exploding in the economic and social fields. It is a historic challenge for the whole of Europe. And I really hope, with a strong European spirit, that it will be able to face this situation ". The Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte says it, interviewed by the Spanish newspaper 'El Pais'. "We are limiting the constitutional rights of our citizens and Europe must react by avoiding tragic errors", underlines the premier, who says "some countries do not understand the strong restrictions that this emergency will produce in the economic sphere. Italy and Spain are the more exposed at the moment, but they will all be. The numbers, unfortunately, are increasing in all countries and it is a health and economic emergency that affects the entire EU. But even those countries think with an old, outdated look. Inadequate perspective for this crisis. This - argues Conte - is a symmetrical shock that affects everyone and is exceptional, as President Pedro Sanchez rightly pointed out. That is why it is necessary to respond with a strong and unified reaction, which uses extraordinary tools ".

To get out of the economic crisis of the coronavirus, "a common European debt instrument" is needed, but "Italy does not ask to share the accumulated public debt. This debt will remain with each country". "So far - underlines Conte - Italy has performed very well, even at the forefront of its public debt. The 2019 deficit was to close at 2.2% and we managed to do it at 1.6%. We intervened in many sectors to make the state machine more efficient and improve our investment capacity. Nobody - reiterates the premier - asks Europe to take on sovereign debts, only to be able to deliver a unitary blow to get out of this economic tsunami and social. And anyone who feels Europe at heart must support this cause. " Why, Conte wonders, "if the EU does not live up to its vocation and its role in this historical situation, will citizens have more confidence in it or will they lose it definitively?".


Italy's lockdown cannot last long, "it is a very tough measure economically", says the Prime Minister. The premier explains that "for schools and universities it is possible to try to introduce changes. Also for exams and year-end assessments so as not to make students miss the school year or the university exam". But, he points out, "it is premature" to say when the block will end: "When the scientific committee says that the curve is starting to fall, we can study the slowdown measures. But it will have to be very gradual," says Conte.