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Shortly after World War II, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman came up with a plan: In order to prevent further wars on the European continent and achieve peaceful coexistence of the European nation states, he recommended to build a European community based on mutual solidarity. Fully aware of this being a long-term task, he proclaimed in 1951: Europe will not be made all at once. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity.

One might assume that 70 years and eight treaties later including the Treaty of Rome establishing a European Economic Community and the Treaty of Maastricht founding a common European parliament Schumans dream would be fulfilled.

Europe presents itself as a strong, social community. But how much is this sense of community worth when it regresses into a collection of egoists as soon as it is challenged by global problems, like an economic recession or migrants asking for asylum in this community.

The last month taught us that COVID-19 is a global problem a crisis seeking global, post-national solutions. The European Union (EU), a community of 27 states, built on solidarity, is (supposed to be) the flagship of the post-national era. It seems to be predestined to cope well with major and global crises. After being challenged in 2010 by the economic breakdown of Greece and in 2014 by the high influx of refugees mainly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, one might think that the EU would be well-equipped for another global crisis; that it would have a blueprint ready containing a common strategy for how to fight a world-wide pandemic, together and in solidarity.

But the opposite seems to be true. The German chancellor Angela Merkel is preparing her people for an infection rate of 60 to 80 percent. She emphasized the situation is serious and asked her people to stay calm and remain in their homes. Her French counterpart Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel Jean-Michel MacronCOVID-19 a make-it or break-it moment for the European Union US inaction is hurting the chance for peace in Libya Officials say Paris hospitals will be hit hard following coronavirus spike MORE employed all his pathos in a speech about our new heroes, the doctors and nurses fighting for French lives. He declared, We are at war. Victor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister, flexed his populist, right-wing muscles, firmly trained during the refugee crisis. He closed his borders and is using the spread of the coronavirus to win the vote to rule by decree, muting critical journalists who dare challenge his health care system.

Missing in the cacophony of parental admonitions, pompous speeches and populist deemphasizing is a clear and loud pan-European voice asserting solidarity within the community a voice like that of Robert Schuman. His Schuman Declaration is the foundation of the European Union, proclaiming the rule of three principles in Europe: reconciliation, peace and solidarity. These are the three pillars on which the EU is supposed to be built on; this is what it is supposed to stand for. It is also what the EU will be tested on especially in days of crisis such as these.

In 2020, this would mean offering 26 helping hands to Italy, to send doctors and to receive patients, to exchange research results and to deliver protective gear. It would mean to create and operate a common European health care system, together and without borders. It should mean to bundle all knowledge, to stand and fight together in solidarity beyond national borders.

Instead, we are experiencing a comeback of the nation state. Borders are closing. Not only Europeans, but European member states are quarantining themselves. Europeans are becoming foreigners in Europe. Suddenly China feels closer than Germany or France. Serbia and Italy both already reached out for Chinese help as their European neighbors left their plea for help unanswered.

At the end of the day we have to realize: COVID-19 is a product of its time, globalized, leaping between species and societies. The virus does not stop at borders, it needs neither passports or visas in order to travel. We are truly entering uncharted territory.

The COVID-19 pandemic can indeed be compared to World War II not in terms of destruction but in terms of social and economic consequences. For Europe, this is the chance to rise and be the union it was meant to be. Europe needs to show real solidarity and to prove that the Union is a sustainable and necessary concept for the future. It needs brave and compassionate visionaries. It needs a Europe of the people and for the people. If the EU fails this stress test, it will make itself very dispensable indeed.

Katharina Konarek is a political scientist working on European and German foreign policy, currently teaching and researching at the Haifa Center for German and European Studies (HCGES) at the University of Haifa.

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COVID-19 a make-it or break-it moment for the European Union | TheHill - The Hill

On 17 February 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/212[1] implementing Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP.

The Council Decision adds eight natural persons and two entities to the list of natural and legal persons, entities or bodies subject to restrictive measures in Annex I to Decision 2013/255/CFSP.

The Candidate Countries Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania[2], the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia align themselves with this decision.

They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.

The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it.

[1] Published on 17.02.2020 in the Official Journal of the European Union no L 43 I, p.6.

[2] Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

Excerpt from:
Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures...

Multiple social media posts, including many on Facebook (here,herehere), claim thatBritishPrime Minister Boris Johnson refused an offer of 50,000 ventilators from the EuropeanUnion. The UK did not join an initial effort byEuropean Union member states to jointly procure medical supplies, including ventilators. But the nature of the procurement process means thatthe EU could not offerany country aspecificnumber of ventilators.

The European Commission launched a joint procurement procedure on March 17, 2020 to secure ventilators on behalf of European Union member states (here). The UK did not take part in this initiative,having missed a deadline to participate (here).

Owing to an initial communication problem, the UK did not receive an invitation in time to join in four joint procurements in response to the coronavirus pandemic, a UK government spokesman said in a statement (here). As those four initial procurement schemes had already gone out to tender, we were unable to take part in these but we will consider participating in future procurement schemeson the basis ofpublic health requirements at the time.

StefanDeKeersmaecker, aspokesmanat theEuropeanCommission, told Reuters:For this joint procurement,suppliers still have to sign a framework contract, andmemberstates have to place their orders. When placing these orders, thememberstates and the suppliers will negotiate the quantities and deadlines for deliveries.In the context of this joint procurement,it is therefore not the Commission itself which is offering ventilators.

False: an offer of 50,000 ventilators was not made to the UK Governmentby the European Union.It is not yet clear how many ventilators can be secured bytheEuropean Union joint procurementscheme.

This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact checking workhere

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False claim: Boris Johnson refused offer of 50,000 ventilators from the European Union - Reuters

PARIS - The European Union announced Wednesday it will earmark about $16 billion for Africa and other low-income regions to fight coronavirus.

Most of the financing does not include new money, but rather shifts existing loans and funds to the coronavirus response.

Africa is the biggest winner in the package, getting about $3.8 billion of the total.

Africa is a priority for the EuropeanUnionand we are very much aware it is under huge pressure, that the crisis could have consequences of an entirely different scale than in other parts of the world,said Josep Borrell, EU foreign policy chief.

The funding for Africa will focus on strengthening health preparedness and response, as well as research intocoronavirus. The EU is also earmarking about $80 million for African coronavirus testing labsconnected to theGates Foundationphilanthropy group.

Other EU funds are being channeled to parts of Europe, Asia, Latin America and other regions.Borrell said the money will come from the EUs executive arm, European investment institutions and member states.

Especially in countries without enough doctors, testing and protective medical equipment, with no access to clean water, the consequences of the pandemic could be devastating, Borrell said.

Borrelladded thatEU support will focus on the immediate health needs of vulnerable countries, on strengthening their national capacity, and on helping to mitigate the social and economic consequences of the virus.

Link:
EU Earmarks Billions for Africa, Other Nations, to Fight Coronavirus - Voice of America

BRUSSELS/COPENHAGEN/BAMAKO/DAKAR, 4 April 2020 - A UNICEF shipment of 7.5 tons of vital health supplies is arriving in Bamako, Mali today on a Danish flight, co-financed between the European Union (EU) and the Government of Denmark.

The supplies will support UNICEFs humanitarian work for children and families in Mali, as well as providing support to the Government of Mali in preventing and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the wider UN system. It is the first offshore flight to land in Mali in support of UNICEF and broader coordinated efforts to respond to the pandemic. Additional supplies are expected to be delivered to Mali in the coming days.

In such challenging times, the EU is glad to be making the best use of resources available and helping UNICEF, one of our implementing partners in many EU-supported actions across Africa, in its work to transport life-saving supplies to Mali, said EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenari.

We are grateful for the generous support of the European Union and the Government of Denmark, which is helping us to reach children in Mali with essential supplies despite unprecedented supply chain disruptions across the world, said UNICEFs Director of Supply Division, Etleva Kadilli. In these uncertain times, UNICEF and partners are demonstrating the importance of working together for the health and well-being of every child.

The flight is carrying vital supplies, , equipment for the fight against malnutrition, supplements for pregnant and lactating women, and essential medicines for children. The supplies were supported by the Swedish and German governments. With the wider UN system, UNICEF is supporting the Government of Mali to respond to the pandemic through work including:

The flight to Bamako is co-financed at 75% by the European Civil Protection Mechanism that has been activated by the Government of Denmark for consular assistance to repatriate Danish and other EU citizens from Mali.

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European Union and Government of Denmark support UNICEF in shipping vital supplies to Mali - UNICEF