EU countries need an “all for one” spirit rather of an “only for me” action to be effective in handling the coronavirus crisis, EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen stated Thursday (26 March).

The EU executive president spoke just a few hours prior to EU leaders was because of talk about methods to alleviate the financial shocks of the crisis, in the middle of deep division on whether to offer a robust financial action instantly.

“No member state can handle this alone, only by helping each other we can help ourselves,” the German commission chief stated at an unique plenary of the EuropeanParliament

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Her native nation, in addition to France, the Czech Republic, and Romania, were criticised in the early days of the crisis for an export restriction on crucial medical equipment when Italy was dealing with destructive lacks.

“When Europe really needed to be there for each other, too many initially looked out for themselves. When Europe really needed an ‘all for one’ spirit too many initially gave an ‘only for me’ response,” von der Leyen stated.

“When Europe really needed to prove that this is not only a fair weather union, too many initially refused to share their umbrella,” she stated.

Von der Leyen likewise criticised countries that have actually fasted to shut their borders at the beginning of thecrisis

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“A successful European response can only be coordinated if our internal market and our Schengen area work the way it should. A crisis without borders cannot be resolved by putting barriers between us,” stated von derLeyen

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“And yet, this is exactly the first reflex that many European countries had,” she stated, including:”This simply makes no sense”

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She alerted that “there is not one single member state that can meet its own needs when it comes to vital medical supplies and equipment.”

“Free movement of goods and services is strongest and, frankly, our only asset to ensure supplies can go where the needed most,” sheadded

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In a direct criticism for countries that presented export restrictions, von der Leyen stated:”it makes no sense that some countries unilaterally decided to stop exports to the internal market”

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The commission has actually just recently provided border control standards to make certain the circulation of products, and some people continue throughout Europe.

It likewise prompted countries to establish fast- track ‘Green Lanes’ at borders where trucks would need to wait no longer than 15 minutes.

‘People will keep in mind’

Following the sluggish action from EU countries, Italy has actually relied on China for aid with masks, and Chinese authorities have actually taken the interactions chance.

Russia and pro-Kremlin propaganda websites have actually likewise made use of the fragmented and sluggish European action.

Ever Since, France and Germany have actually raised limitations and has actually sent out millions of masks and other protective equipment to Italy. German healthcare facilities on Tuesday have actually likewise taken in coronavirus clients from Italy.

The commission introduced joint procurements for protective equipment and other medical gadgets essential to combating coronavirus, and chose to establish a stockpile of important medical equipment which it will fund practically entirely.

The commission likewise relaxed state help and financial guidelines to assist member states balance out the damage to the economy, and rerouted EU budget money to assistcountries

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MEPs on Thursday authorized those procedures in a remotevote

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However according to a survey by Screen Italia, 88 percent of Italians thought the EU had actually refrained from doing enough to assist their nation.

Those who think EU membership is a downside to Italy has actually increased to 67 percent from 47 percent in November, according to Reuters.

Von der Leyen, in her message prior to the EU leaders’s online- just conference on Thursday, alerted that people “will remember who was there for them and who was not and will remember those that acted and those who did not.”

While Italy, Spain, France are requiring enormous EU financial assistance, fiscally more conservative countries in the north hesitate to commit to any ‘big bazooka’ service now.

“We are at a turning point,” von der Leyen stated.

The commission chief stated the choices the EU takes today will figure out “if we simply let this virus divide us between wealthy and poor, or we are going to end up with a stronger continent, an important global player, perhaps we will become closer as communities, and people will respect democracy even more”.

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