During the plenary session (9-12 March 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs assess EU and national efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus from spreading and the role of the new EU corona response team, which coordinates with member states to share information, assess needs and ensure a coherent, EU-wide response. A significant increase in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks would deeply affect public health and healthcare systems and heavily affect the economy and social life. Statements by Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group leader, Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), S&D Group leader, and Frédérique RIES (RE, BE).

Brussels

debate

plenary session

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

RIES, Frédérique (Renew, BE)

LENARČIČ, Janez (SI, EC)

KYRIAKIDES, Stella (CY, EC)

BRNJAC, Nikolina (HR)

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

Coronavirus outbreak, state of play and ensuring a coordinated European response to the health, economic and social impact: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Nikolina BRNJAC, Croatian Presidency, Over the last five weeks, the presidency has taken a number of steps to coordinate the EU's response to the Covid 19 outbreak. The current scale of the outbreak, however, demonstrates that we need to further enhance the coordination of our actions in close cooperation between member states.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, We have since yesterday confirmed cases in all member states. Whilst the numbers vary from a few cases, only to over nine thousand. But we know that the picture is changing exponentially and by the hour.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Complacency is not an option.We have launched a joint procurement for personal protective equipment and this morning we will know what response to this offer we have received. We are already looking at joint programme for medical equipment such as respirators and testing kits, which have been requested by member states.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety We have increased funding for research and vaccine development and we are also coordinating our border, visa and security measures.

SOUNDBITE (English), Janez LENAR&#268;I&#268;, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, We have mobilised funding in the amount of close to 270 million euro to boost global preparedness, prevention and containment of the virus with a combination of development, humanitarian and research funding.

SOUNDBITE (English), Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, It is important that affected workers and businesses get the necessary support to weather this storm.  On the fiscal front, European countries have powerful automatic stabilizers which can cushion a good part of the shock. They can also intervene in terms of providing liquidity to small and medium enterprises, which are the most affected by this impact.  In addition, our Stability and Growth Pact provides for flexibility to cater for unusual events such as this one.

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group leader, What Europe needs to achieve and the commissioners have made this very clear, we need to show solidarity after the decisions of Germany and France for protective mask export ban.There was a domino effect, and all member states imposed a ban. That is not an example of solidarity.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), S&amp;D Group leader, The Commission and member states need to take containment measures and need emergency plans. I would appreciate the commission's plan to invest in developing a virus vaccin and appreciate any steps to ease the economic blow that this crisis will bring with it.

SOUNDBITE (French), Fr&#233;d&#233;rique RIES (RE, BE), Our commissioner has said Europe has responded yes, rapidly. On the twenty eighth of January, we invoked the crisis coordination mechanism to bring people back from China. 100 millions of euros spent on research looking into vaccination and health care research. The commission is deploying its expertise now. This is not a criticism, but a suggestion for the commission to activate its know-how.