In a position adopted the 25 March, CESI’s Presidium addresses current challenges to overcome the Corona virus pandemic and outlines lessons to be learnt for the future. At the core, according to the CESI leadership, is a strengthening of the public service and its personnel.

In the position, the main issues relate in particular to the following:

• Financial assistance for companies and businesses: Many states have quickly adopted massive economic stabilisation packages and financially protect and ensure monetary liquidity for all affected companies, businesses, employees and citizens. This will be vital to prevent or at least mitigate larger-scale economic downturn, rising unemployment and financial problems of households and families.

• Safeguarding of employment: The EU via its structural funds and the Member States via public investments need to ensure financial and income support for those employees and workers who are hit by unemployment, short work or a temporary reduction of work.

• Performing public health services: In the future considerable investments will be needed to bring the resilience of health systems to a higher level. This concerns equipment, facilities, staff levels and employment conditions.

Full statement available here.