Brussels, 16.04.20: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge Europeans in different ways every day, it requires us not to just act together, cooperate and show solidarity, but it also forces us to move away from our conventional methods and ways of thinking. We have had to learn quickly from our mistakes and the lessons have been painful, as we have come to realise that even the smallest decision or act of solidarity can save lives.

Not all European countries or citizens have been affected equally by the virus, and while the number of new cases may be easing in some regions, outbreaks are still growing in others. But if these exceptional times have taught us anything, it is how interconnected and interdependent we are. If we want to succeed in overcoming the health economic crisis before us, EU institutions, governments, regional and local communities must, therefore, coordinate their actions well and communicate them effectively with each other to avoid misconceptions.

As EU countries now face the challenge of deciding when and how to lift lockdown measures without overburdening health systems and risking lives, they must acknowledge that any unilateral, uncoordinated measures or miscommunication can not only endanger lives but will also undermine the trust of citizens in governments that are part of the European project, underpinned by solidarity and cooperation. In this context, it is imperative that Member States endorse the principles and guidelines of the “exit strategy” proposed by the European Commission.

Eva Maydell MEP, President of the European Movement International, said“Member States must implement a common and sustainable approach and operating framework for a gradual lifting of the lockdown measures for citizens and businesses and avoiding unnecessary intra-EU border controls and secure the so-called green lanes for food and medical supplies. Any decision must take into account the indispensable recommendations of the scientific community, the risk of infections as well as the capacity of hospitals and the safety and citizens’ fundamental rights. It is of paramount importance that any measures upheld by the Commission and implemented by Member States need to prioritise the protection of citizens’ health and safety.”

While the primary competence for dealing with health matters rests with the Member States’, the EU can assist them in taking coordinated decisions and actions, making greater use of the competencies it has under the Treaty in the field of health security. Continued support for health systems remains crucial as the pandemic continues to spread, the EU can provide Member States with the testing equipment and investment in the research and technology needed to build an effective, overarching, testing capacity. As technologies, mobile applications and the use of this gathered data hold the potential to help European countries to understand how the virus spreads, any tools used to contain the pandemic must respect common rules and values and respect citizens’ rights to privacy. Technologies can only be useful if they have a large penetration in society at large – above 80%. Any percentage below this will only give partial picture and likely will be unhelpful for adequate decision-making.

Eva Maydell MEP added, “No exit strategy will completely circumvent the far-reaching consequences the virus will have on our society and economy for the months and most likely years to come. But in times when every action counts and can save lives, multilateral and joint efforts underpinned by solidarity are worth far more than unilateral decisions.”

Last but not least, Heads of States and Governments, together with the EU institutions must design economic and financial answers of adequate magnitude to address the gravity of the ongoing crisis, which affects all the member states and regions, and whose damages will be more effectively reduced and overcome with the help of pan-European strategies and measures.

While the path to recovery from this crisis will be long, it should make us realise even more that Europe is only strong when it acts together.

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For more information, please contact Petros Fassoulas
Secretary-General of the European Movement International
petros.fassoulas@europeanmovement.eu

For media queries, please contact Christian Skrivervik
Head of Press and Communications at the European Movement International 
christian.skrivervik@europeanmovement.eu 

—- ABOUT —-

About the European Movement International

The European Movement International is the largest pan-European network of pro-European organisations. It is present in 30 countries and encompasses 38 International Associations, bringing together European civil society, business, trade unions, NGOs, political parties, local authorities and academia.

Founded 70 years ago, we have continuously advocated in favour of European co-operation and integration, based on the principles of peace, democracy, liberty, solidarity, equality, justice, the respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Today, the European Movement seeks to provide a platform to encourage and facilitate the active participation of citizens and stakeholders from a cross-section of sectors in the development of European solutions to our common challenges. We offer thought leadership on the issues that confront Europe; we seek to inform the debates on our Union’s future, involve citizens and stakeholders in the decisions that affect them and influence policy-makers in favour of an open, inclusive, transparent and united Europe.

The European Movement aims to be the place where civil society, business, trade unions, NGOs, political parties, local authorities and academia come together to craft a way forward for the European Union. We seek to develop new ideas to address the challenges we face, be it economic or political. We want to spark debate on the EU’s architecture and develop forward-looking proposals on how to govern our affairs at the European level.