Following the meeting of the Eurogroup, David SASSOLI, EP President, makes a statement, saying the Eurogroup proposals go in the right direction, with the transformation of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) into a 'save Europe' from Covid19 mechanism.

Brussels

statement

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

Eurogroup (euro area)

European Stability Mechanism

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

Statement by David SASSOLI, EP President on the Eurogroup proposals

SOUNDBITE (Italian) David SASSOLI, EP President, Something new has happened in the European train there are no longer first and second class passengers because for the first time we respond to a crisis not individually with the single states that go alone, but together as the European Union and all at par .

SOUNDBITE (Italian) David SASSOLI, EP President, Of course the road is still long but in the interest of citizens. A Europe that provides states with tools to be used freely without constraints and hateful conditions.

SOUNDBITE (Italian) David SASSOLI, EP President, Yesterday the Eurogroup took the right path. The one that will lead to the establishment of a fund for economic and social reconstruction, which could also finance itself on the market with new instruments, sharing together the burdens necessary for rebirth.

SOUNDBITE (Italian) David SASSOLI, EP President, Heads of state and government will now have to be brave and respond to the European Central Bank's prediction that more than 1,500 billion euros will be needed for the recovery.

SOUNDBITE (Italian) David SASSOLI, EP President, The conversion of the ESM from the State-saving fund to the health emergency fund, available to all and without conditions, was also positive.

SOUNDBITE (Italian) David SASSOLI, EP President, A useful tool to finance our hospitals, staff, equipment, territory, research. Of course, no country is forced to use it but it is an extra opportunity.

SOUNDBITE (Italian) David SASSOLI, EP President, For example, countries such as Italy have already paid fourteen billion euros into that bank, now they can receive 37 of them.

SOUNDBITE (Italian) David SASSOLI, EP President, European solidarity takes steps forward. National selfishness is falling behind. The journey has just begun, there is still much to do.

SOUNDBITE (Italian) David SASSOLI, EP President, We are only at the beginning, but everyone has understood it. We will only get out of this with a more supportive Europe.