Contribution by Nikolina Brnjac on behalf of the Council of the EU at the Plenary Session of the European Parliament

President Sassoli, Honourable Members...

President Sassoli, Honourable Members,

Once again, I have to address you in writing due to the circumstances arising from the coronavirus emergency. I will follow the plenary attentively from my Zagreb office.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting public health crisis pose an unprecedented challenge globally and in Europe. Unfortunately, the number of cases and deaths still continue to increase worldwide.

Every life lost is a tragedy, and the scale of this pandemic threatens the basic functioning of our societies.

It is clear that no country can fight the pandemic alone, but we can overcome this crisis through close cooperation among the Member States and European institutions.

In recent weeks, we have seen many examples of European solidarity and enhanced cooperation:

• Austria, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium have treated critically ill patients from Italy and France, thus helping to alleviate overstretched healthcare capacities.
• German and Luxembourg planes and helicopters have flown intensive care patients from France and Italy to treatment in Germany.
• Medical staff from several countries were deployed to clinics in the most affected regions of Italy.
• A number of countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France and Germany) shared stocks of masks, ventilators and protective suits with Italy and Spain.
• Hundreds of thousands of European citizens have been repatriated from abroad, not only through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, but also on flights chartered directly by Member States upon their own initiative.

As already underlined, close cooperation and coordinated responses among the Member States are vital to overcome the crisis. To that aim, Ministers of Health regularly exchange information, take stock of the situation and share best practices at videoconferences.

In line with that, yesterday the Croatian Presidency convened an informal videoconference of Health Ministers of Member States and Schengen associated countries. The Ministers reflected on the current situation and measures already taken in response to the spread of COVID-19 in the EU, and shared views concerning the de-escalation of measures, also in light of the Joint European Roadmap towards lifting COVID-19 containment measures. The Ministers confirmed that adequate capacities of health systems are crucial for deciding on de-escalating measures currently in place and that exit strategies measures should be coordinated and sustainable in the long run, respecting the principle of solidarity.

As to legislative activities, I would like to underline that, two days ago, the Council approved the amendments proposed by the Commission to the EU Budget for this year, using almost full remaining flexibility by mobilizing 3 billion euros in commitments and 1,5 billion euros in payment appropriations to be used in dealing with the pandemic.

The Commission recently presented a legislative proposal amending the Medical Devices Regulation, which inter alia facilitates faster access to vitally important medical devices across the EU, and on which the Parliament will be voting during this session. I thank the European Parliament for its decision to adopt a position on this file already on 16 April, enabling a swift adoption of the amending Regulation.

We have already seen very good institutional cooperation on the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative, which was adopted and entered into force within only 18 days of the Commission’s proposal of 13th March. That shows that the EU can react very quickly in an emergency. The Initiative allows the utilization of  unspent pre-financing for European Structural and Investment funds amounting to EUR 8 billion, which, together with EUR 29 billion of structural funds, equips Member States with around EUR 37 billion of Cohesion Policy funding to spend on healthcare, support to short-time work schemes, and support to SMEs.

The Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus, a second package of measures to further increase the flexibility under these exceptional circumstances, would allow for a temporary possibility of 100% co-financing for Cohesion Policy funding from the EU budget, as well as for transfers between funds and regions, along with reducing administrative burden. On the Council's side, we look forward to good cooperation with the Parliament, as on the other urgent measures we have already adopted together.

Furthermore, the Council has reactivated the Emergency Support Instrument (ESI), in order to ensure a comprehensive response to the COVID-19 outbreak also combining it with measures provided for under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (‘RescEU’). This should provide financing to cover urgent needs for medical equipment and materials, such as respiratory ventilators and protective gear, chemical supplies for tests, the costs for the development, production and distribution of medication, as well as the repatriation of stranded EU citizens safely back to their homes.

The Council also agreed its position on a proposal to help tackle the negative impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the fishery and aquaculture sector. The proposal, on which the Parliament will also vote during this session, will amend the regulation on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and the regulation on the common market organisation (CMO).

Another important EU initiative is the amendment to the Regulation on the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD), recently proposed by the Commission. During the crisis, it is important that the FEAD assistance still reaches the most deprived. In particular, it is essential to allow delivering food aid/basic material assistance through vouchers and to ensure that the full support from the Fund can be mobilised.

I would like to use this occasion to thank the EP for the good cooperation on this file. The Council supports the Commission's proposal, and has suggested one substantial amendment in order to make assistance available also via paper vouchers or cards. I hope that, in a spirit of solidarity with the most vulnerable and marginalised, the Parliament can come to the same view today. If so, then both our institutions will have moved fast to help the most deprived of our citizens in this situation.

Honourable Members,

On 26 March, the members of the European Council acknowledged the gravity of the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 crisis and committed to do everything necessary to meet this challenge in a spirit of mutual solidarity. They noted that Member States have taken extensive action to support their economies and alleviate social and employment problems and committed to use EU instruments to support those actions to the extent necessary. They also noted that Member States need the flexibility to do everything that is necessary.

Moreover, the members of the European Council tasked the Eurogroup to present proposals within two weeks for additional EU-level actions.

As a result, Finance Ministers met on 7th and 9th April to welcome a scaling up of discretionary fiscal measures up to 3% of EU GDP and liquidity measures for up to 16% of EU GDP, in addition to the previously agreed flexibility in fiscal, state-aid and procurement rules, the broadening of the scope of the Solidarity Fund, and the entry into force of the CRII. Furthermore, they announced work on an array of new measures to support Member States at the EU level, including a temporary increase in flexibility in the use of EU funds, the creation of a pan-European EIB guarantee fund of EUR 25bn, which could support EUR 200bn of financing for companies; the establishment of a Pandemic Crisis Support credit line in the ESM; and the establishment of a temporary loan-based instrument (SURE).

In perspective, the Finance Ministers also agreed to work on a Recovery Fund to prepare and support the recovery; to make sure that the next Multiannual Financial Framework would reflect the impact of this crisis and the size of the challenges ahead; and to work on a broader Roadmap and an Action Plan to support the recovery of the European economy through high quality job creation and reforms to strengthen resilience and competitiveness, in line with a sustainable growth strategy.

We all realise that it is imperative to act quickly in order to limit the multiple impacts of this health crisis. In line with that, the Council held several videoconferences where different social and economic challenges were discussed.

On 7th April, Ministers responsible for Research expressed support for 10 priority actions in the short-term, allowing better coordination of EU and national funding for research and innovation activities responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those actions include development of vaccines, diagnostics and treatments and EU-wide clinical trials.

Ministers responsible for Culture and Media held a videoconference meeting on 8th April to discuss measures to support the cultural and creative sectors, which are particularly heavily hit by the pandemic. The focus was on i) using the mapping of national measures in order to generate solutions for the sectors; and ii) EU-level and national strategies to enhance their resilience.

On 14th April the Education Ministers held their second discussion on the implications of COVID-19 on education and training. Ministers exchanged information about the possibilities and challenges of organizing distance learning and on providing and upgrading digital and online solutions. Discussions focused in particular on organizing the ending of the school and academic year, as well as on the flexibility in the use of EU funding and on investments needed to support distance learning and equal access to quality education for all.

In a videoconference held on March 25th, the Agriculture Ministers stressed that sufficient food was, and should continue to be, available for all European consumers. They encouraged the Commission to continue to take timely and appropriate measures to minimise the consequences of the pandemic for farmers, the fishing industry and consumers.

Moreover, on 20th March, Ministers responsible for the Internal Market and EU Competitiveness exchanged views on: i) ways to ensure a sufficient level of production capacity for medical equipment to meet the needs of all MS; ii) measures taken regarding the economic consequences of the pandemic; iii) ways of enabling free movement.

Videoconference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs was organised on April 3rd to exchange views on international aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on consular coordination and repatriation, strengthening international cooperation and assistance, and preventing disinformation.

The Ministers of Justice discussed the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the judiciary and exchanged information on measures taken by Member State governments to prevent its spread on April 6th. They agreed that any extraordinary measures taken should be in line with the fundamental values of the Union.

On the same day, Defense Ministers held a videoconference to discuss the contribution of the defense sector in coping with the pandemic, and to exchange the national experiences on the military support to the civilian institutions, underlining the need for continued co-operation and solidarity among the EU Member States.

Finally, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs met to discuss development issues at a videoconference held on 8th April, focusing on concrete measures and efforts of the EU Member States in the development dimension and assistance to partner countries.

The Presidency also regularly holds meetings and coordinates activities within the Integrated Political Crisis Response mechanism.

Before I conclude, a few words on migration and the COVID crisis.

The number of arrivals on the three Mediterranean routes has significantly decreased since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Europe.

Nonetheless, frontline Member States have taken preventive measures in case corona virus infections are detected in hotspots and reception centres. In Malta, quarantine measures have been activated after several migrants tested positive for the COVID-19 in a reception centre.

In Italy, necessary preventive measures have also been taken after one migrant has been detected positive for COVID-19.

A lot of attention has been directed to the hotspots in the Greek islands. The centres have been overcrowded for a long time, which renders difficult to respect essential, preventive guidelines such as social distancing, strict hygiene measures and self-isolation. Greek authorities activated Contingency plans in March and introduced prevention measures on the islands. Medical kits have been deployed, isolation areas have been set up and there is ongoing screening of new arrivals.

Commission is in close contacts with Greek authorities on contingency planning. There are plans to evacuate vulnerable groups out of hotspots and into hotels and other accommodation facilities in the islands already now as a precautionary measure. On the mainland, the Greek authorities have reacted quickly when two weeks ago in two reception centres two migrants tested positive. Now both centres are in quarantine.

In view of the migration situation that has developed since 28th February on the Greek-Turkish border, the Commission established an action plan on 4th March. It includes two rapid intervention teams, and Frontex has ensured that 75% of the border and coast guards deployed in Greece are still present, despite the coronavirus outbreak (600 agents out of 800).

In addition, EUR 35 million out of the total EUR 350 million financial assistance granted by the Commission have been earmarked for temporary accommodation schemes in hotels and other facilities on the islands to relocate migrants belonging to risk groups.

The Presidency will continue with close monitoring of developments on all migratory routes and stands ready to assist frontline Member States in these particularly challenging times.

Honourable Members,

We are all well aware that the restrictions and measures that were put in place to protect the health of citizens have a significant impact on the four freedoms and on the economy of Member States.

That is why discussions about how and when restrictions could gradually be lifted to ease the economic pressure have started, even if the peak of the pandemic is still ahead of us in many Member States.

Some Member States, where numbers are suggesting an improvement have already announced their own plans for lifting or relaxing some of the stricter virus confinement measures.

While each national situation must of course be assessed individually, we believe that a coordinated EU exit strategy should be implemented, in line with the Joint European Roadmap towards lifting COVID-19 containment measures.

Relaxing the confinement measures will inevitably lead to new cases. It is therefore necessary that the progressive lifting of restrictions is done in a way that allows healthcare systems to cope with any surge of infections.

To finish on a hopeful note, I would like to point out that data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control indicates that daily new cases in Europe have been on a decreasing trend for several days.

While we should remain very vigilant, this is a first encouraging sign that the drastic restrictions put in place by Member States have had an effect in slowing down the spread of the COVID-19.

The effectiveness of the efforts to achieve social distancing is based on the sense of responsibility, serious commitment and prudent behaviour of European citizens and I would like to praise our citizens' efforts in this respect.

Of course, there is no room for complacency. The COVID-19 pandemic will continue to be present in the European Union for months to come and it is a common threat to all of us. Furthermore, looking beyond Europe, every day this pandemic reaches new and tragic milestones across the globe.

It is however time to start reflecting on a European recovery plan for all sectors affected by the outbreak. We need to develop a set of ambitious actions necessary to return to a normal functioning of our societies and economies, and to sustainable growth. At this decisive moment, necessary and efficient tools are needed to ease the pressure of the crisis and build strong, resilient societies and economy for the long term. This will require a coordinated exit strategy, coherent implementation of measures and unprecedented investment. All these initiatives need to be supported by continuous, clear and transparent information to the public.

Our European strength is forged by standing together and we stand together in this crisis. We stand together to boost medical aid and research. We stand together to help the most vulnerable in society. We stand together to save EU jobs and companies. We stand together to maintain the flow of essential goods. And we stand together to repatriate EU citizens from around the world.

I wish you a fruitful debate today and offer our full cooperation. Again, I thank the European Parliament for convening this plenary so that urgent measures can be adopted.

I also extend my heartfelt wishes that you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy.

Yours faithfully,

Nikolina Brnjac,
State Secretary/ministre délégué

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