Coronavirus Outbreak Eats Into EU Unity
The coronavirus crisis really brings into question what the EU is all about.
Clearly not a United States of Europe, as eurosceptics have often claimed.
Far from it.
Right now, every European government is struggling to protect their populations – their jobs, their health and their economy.
But rich, europhile countries like Germany are not yet digging deeper in to their pockets to help out poorer Italy and Spain. There’s little sense of the responsibility West Germany felt towards the East after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Why would there be, you might ask. Germany is a sovereign nation, facing its own pretty big problems.
But therein lies the question: What does European Union really mean?
More from Katya Adler:Â Can EU get a grip on coronavirus?
Germany has sent medical masks to Italy. It has taken coronavirus patients from France and Italy into its hospitals for treatment.
But it has also rejected a plea by Italy, Spain, France and others to share out coronavirus-incurred debt in the form of coronabonds (or Eurobonds).
Many Italians feel abandoned, just as they did at the time of the euro and migrant crises.
This week, a group of Italian mayors and other politicians bought a page in Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper to remind Germany that it was never made to pay back its debts after WW2.
They criticised the public lack of support in the wealthy Netherlands too.
An 81-year-old close family friend in Italy called me this week to say: “Katya, you understand about Europe, don’t you? Why don’t they want to help us?”
Footage of EU flag-burning is doing the rounds on Italian social media.
And arch-Eurosceptic former Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini hopes to make political capital out of his country’s crisis.
On Thursday, he tweeted: “We have to re-examine Europe (the EU) and Italy’s role in it. It has not come to our aid at all.”
This is not actually the case.
The European Commission has proposed a programme to protect jobs and workers affected by Covid-19 to the tune of €100bn (£85bn; $107bn).
It also announced a €50m aid scheme for Italy to provide medical equipment. The European Central Bank has promised a €750bn stimulus package to help keep the eurozone afloat.
But what of individual EU governments – will they club together to help?
France preaches solidarity. On Thursday, French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire declared that all of the EU looked to Germany for a solution.
More stories from Europe:
Well, I’ve spoken to Germans, inside politics and out. To them, that sounds a lot like France telling Germany to pick up the Covid-19 tab for Europe.
Instead, Berlin favours dipping into the European Stability Mechanism – a bailout fund created after the 2008 financial crisis.
But Austria and the Netherlands insist there should be tough conditions attached.
Italy complains that means it would be punished for suffering economically – not as a result of reckless government spending, but because of a deadly virus.
Sport Set For Hectic Year Approaching 2021
A compromise solution is supposed to be found in time for the meeting of the Eurogroup next Tuesday but right now an acrid whiff of bitterness is in the air between EU brethren.
Coronavirus Outbreak Eats Into EU Unity
I?m pleased, I must state. Actually seldom do I come across a blog that?s both instructional as well as entertaining, as well as let me tell you, you have actually struck the nail on the head. Your suggestion is outstanding; the problem is something that inadequate individuals are talking smartly about. I am extremely pleased that I stumbled across this in my look for something associating with this.
I relish, result in I discovered just what I was looking for. You’ve ended my 4 day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
I discovered your blog website on google as well as examine a few of your very early articles. Remain to keep up the great run. I just added up your RSS feed to my MSN News Visitor. Looking for ahead to learning more from you later on!?
Great write-up, I¡¦m normal visitor of one¡¦s site, maintain up the excellent operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
Thank you, I’ve just been looking for info about this topic for a long time and yours is the greatest I have came upon so far. However, what in regards to the bottom line? Are you sure concerning the source?
I think this is among the most significant info for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But should remark on few general things, The web site style is wonderful, the articles is really excellent : D. Good job, cheers
We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your web site offered us with valuable info to work on. You have done a formidable job and our whole community will be thankful to you.
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I do not know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!
mushroom
I was just searching for this information for a while. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your site. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this type of informative web sites in top of the list. Generally the top websites are full of garbage.
I found your weblog website on google and test a couple of of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the excellent operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking ahead to reading extra from you in a while!…
Very interesting points you have mentioned , appreciate it for posting . “The best time to do a thing is when it can be done.” by William Pickens.
29555 527468Disgrace on the search Google for not positioning this submit upper! Come on over and seek advice from my web site. 506293
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when brand-new comments are added- checkbox and currently each time a remark is included I obtain four emails with the exact same remark. Exists any way you can remove me from that service? Many thanks!
Would you be all for exchanging links?
Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely useful info specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such info much. I was looking for this certain info for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
whoah this weblog is great i really like reading your posts. Stay up the good work! You know, lots of persons are hunting round for this info, you can help them greatly.
I was reading through some of your blog posts on this site and I think this web site is rattling informative! Keep putting up.
Wonderful items from you, man. I have bear in mind your stuff previous to and you’re simply too wonderful. I actually like what you’ve bought right here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which wherein you are saying it. You are making it entertaining and you continue to care for to keep it sensible. I can not wait to learn much more from you. This is really a terrific website.
Very nice post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wanted to mention that I have truly enjoyed browsing your weblog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing for your rss feed and I’m hoping you write again soon!
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is wonderful blog. An excellent read. I will certainly be back.
you’ve a fantastic weblog right here! would you like to make some invite posts on my weblog?
I do agree with all of the ideas you’ve introduced to your post. They’re very convincing and will definitely work. Nonetheless, the posts are too brief for beginners. May you please lengthen them a bit from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
Along with almost everything which seems to be developing inside this area, a significant percentage of points of view happen to be fairly radical. Nonetheless, I am sorry, because I can not subscribe to your entire suggestion, all be it stimulating none the less. It would seem to us that your remarks are not completely rationalized and in actuality you are generally yourself not really fully certain of the point. In any event I did enjoy reading through it.
Aw, this was a really nice post. In concept I wish to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and certainly not appear to get one thing done.
I was studying some of your content on this internet site and I believe this site is real instructive! Continue putting up.
These days of austerity as well as relative stress and anxiety about taking on debt, a lot of people balk contrary to the idea of having a credit card in order to make purchase of merchandise and also pay for a trip, preferring, instead just to rely on a tried along with trusted method of making settlement – raw cash. However, in case you have the cash available to make the purchase in full, then, paradoxically, that’s the best time for them to use the credit cards for several reasons.
There are certainly a lot of details prefer that to consider. That is a wonderful specify talk about. I offer the thoughts above as general inspiration but clearly you can find questions like the one you raise up the location where the biggest thing will likely be doing work in honest great faith. I don?t know if recommendations have emerged around such things as that, but More than likely that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Both youngsters have the impact of just a moment’s pleasure, through out their lives.
I just love to read new topics from you blog.`,`,~
i have some small garden of herbs at home, i use them for baking foods and as herbal medicines.
This in turn guide has a tendency to have a number of targeted visitors. Just how do you advertise it? This tool provides for a very good creative contort around information. We suppose using an issue incredible or just significant offer you information on plays the main element.
Nice read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch as I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch!
I’ve been browsing on-line greater than three hours as of late, yet I never found any fascinating article like yours. It is pretty price sufficient for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.
magnificent issues altogether, you simply won emblem reader. What may you suggest in regards to your put up that you just made a few days in the past? Any positive?
Usually I don’t learn article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very pressured me to take a look at and do it! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice article.
This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks!
Peculiar article, totally what I wanted to find.
I do agree with all the ideas you have presented in your post. They are really convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are too short for novices. Could you please extend them a little from next time? Thanks for the post.
You completed several good points there. I did a search on the issue and found a good number of people will go along with with your blog.
I was very happy to find this web-site. I wanted to thanks for your time for this fantastic read!! I certainly delighting in every little of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new things you post.
I just could not leave your web site prior to suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the usual information a person provide on your guests? Is going to be back ceaselessly to check out new posts.
I’m still learning from you, but I’m improving myself. I absolutely love reading all that is posted on your website.Keep the aarticles coming. I loved it!
Real Estate Agent houses for sale selling your home
A remarkable share, I just provided this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he actually purchased me morning meal because I discovered it for him. smile. So let me rephrase that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the moment to review this, I really feel highly regarding it as well as love learning more on this subject. Ideally, as you come to be know-how, would certainly you mind updating your blog site with more information? It is very useful for me. Large thumb up for this blog post!
Hey there! I’ve been following your weblog for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Porter Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the great work!