Europe must take bold action to strengthen the national health sectors, to save people’s jobs and to ensure a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery, the Europe ministers from the PES family said today after a video conference.

The ministers described the COVID crisis as the worst in Europe since WWII, highlighting how important it is to have strong welfare states, well-funded public services as well as proper supply chains that allow for the movement of material, services, and information.

The Chair of the meeting, German Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth said:

“COVID-19 triggered an unprecedented and immense effort to protect and care for our citizens’ lives throughout Europe. That was the right thing to do. Now we need to look further and ensure that our long-term reaction to the COVID-19 crisis will not further deepen inequalities between and within the Member States, help those most impacted by the pandemic and will be in line with our existing targets towards a carbon free Europe and a just digital transition.”

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