The EU and Coronavirus

[Martin Holden]

Is it me or has the EU been silent on this subject? Seems most countries have dealt with this on an individual basis including economic intervention along the furlough idea. I assumed the EU would have orchestrated a combined response and actions thereafter. I’m not criticising the EU as I still believe in a common market, but do recent matters highlight the weaknesses of the “club” or on the other side of the coin, the strengths of individual nations? Apologies if this has been already posted before but I have only sen one reference to it.

 

[milkloss]

Well international news as a whole has been shadowed by the Corona, things are pretty quiet everywhere.

Think it's safe to say that there is trouble ahead in euroland, there's going to be trouble everywhere but maybe more n Europe.

Italy is gong to need some serious propping up, it needed it before the virus too but was a bit of a hot potato really.
Can Germany afford it?

 

[Martin Holden]

Well international news as a whole has been shadowed by the Corona, things are pretty quiet everywhere.

Think it's safe to say that there is trouble ahead in euroland, there's going to be trouble everywhere but maybe more n Europe.

Italy is gong to need some serious propping up, it needed it before the virus too but was a bit of a hot potato really.
Can Germany afford it?

You echo some of my thoughts. Italy are going to be in some fiscal troubles. My post wasn’t to raise the subject of Brexit, more the relative weakness of the EU in this matter. I guess a pandemic overrules many institutional ideals

 

[davidroberts30]

You echo some of my thoughts. Italy are going to be in some fiscal troubles. My post wasn’t to raise the subject of Brexit, more the relative weakness of the EU in this matter. I guess a pandemic overrules many institutional ideals

Showing their colours

 

[Big_D]

Is it me or has the EU been silent on this subject? Seems most countries have dealt with this on an individual basis including economic intervention along the furlough idea. I assumed the EU would have orchestrated a combined response and actions thereafter. I’m not criticising the EU as I still believe in a common market, but do recent matters highlight the weaknesses of the “club” or on the other side of the coin, the strengths of individual nations? Apologies if this has been already posted before but I have only sen one reference to it.

Caught something on radio this morning, someone has resigned, I think the CMO for the EU, due to their unwillingness to develop a joined up strategy across member states

 

[Boohoo]

Caught something on radio this morning, someone has resigned, I think the CMO for the EU, due to their unwillingness to develop a joined up strategy across member states

Mauro Ferrari, the EU’s top scientist has resigned. Was only in the job a few months and says that he has lost all faith in the EU.

 

[DrWazzock]

Sadly this is a virus that spreads through travel, meeting people, being friendly and all those nice human things.
Cruelly, only division and isolation slows it down. That is the complete opposite of the EU ideal so they have lost their raison detre for the time being.

 

[Martin Holden]

Caught something on radio this morning, someone has resigned, I think the CMO for the EU, due to their unwillingness to develop a joined up strategy across member states

Bingo! That’s why I posted this thread! It’s my view that this pandemic has highlighted the weaknesses of the EU club! It’s been more a case of “ever country for itself” which is understandable in the circumstances. Thinking of our businesses, I wonder how many boardrooms will have “the threat of global supplied” on their agendas when commerce recommences? I can see an element or supply chain risk analysis being at the forefront.

 

[Martin Holden]

Mauro Ferrari, the EU’s top scientist has resigned. Was only in the job a few months and says that he has lost all faith in the EU.

The revolution begins! The EU concept for trade and security has many merits, but economic and political integration is folly’ I can see the idea, but as this pandemic is proving, each nation wants control. Nothing wrong in that provided it’s sensible. I can never see a time when their will be sufficient economic and cultural alignment

 

[jendan]

Well international news as a whole has been shadowed by the Corona, things are pretty quiet everywhere.

Think it's safe to say that there is trouble ahead in euroland, there's going to be trouble everywhere but maybe more n Europe.

Italy is gong to need some serious propping up, it needed it before the virus too but was a bit of a hot potato really.
Can Germany afford it?

I think if these lockdowns are going to continue for any length of time,the whole World Economy is going to need propping up.

 

[GeorgeK]

I have to admit I was a remainer, but the EU is about dickered. Germany won't bail out the member states with failing economies that have been hit hard. Those states will probably drop out and everything else will unravel.
Abandon ship!

 

[Hindsight]

I thought the Brexiters said the EU was some form of hegemony in the making - and thus it was essential for UK to leave to 'take back control' and regain 'sovereignty' The remain camp said that was not the case and UK could work within the club of nations.

Looks to me as though the latter has been shown as correct picture. A club of nations working together. Not a single dominant political hegemony.

No need to Brexit folk to respond as I know they will not disagree and say EU should have taken the lead! How could it - the competances required wee not endowed.

Hey ho.

 

[SilliamWhale]

The revolution begins! The EU concept for trade and security has many merits, but economic and political integration is folly’ I can see the idea, but as this pandemic is proving, each nation wants control. Nothing wrong in that provided it’s sensible. I can never see a time when their will be sufficient economic and cultural alignment

And the other thing is that we will inevitably get more "integrated" along cultural/ communication lines anyway organically rather than needing a political structure to do it. Money is basically electronic. EU is a bit of a fig leaf really, I can't see what control they can really take here though. They don't own any money!

 

[Martin Holden]

I have to admit I was a remainer, but the EU is about dickered. Germany won't bail out the member states with failing economies that have been hit hard. Those states will probably drop out and everything else will unravel.
Abandon ship!

More or less my position! This crisis will bring inner tensions within the remaining states I suggest. Maybe we are better off out of it until a simpler “common market” returns IF!

 

[Muck Spreader]

Funny how folk don't want the EU interfering in their counties affairs until something like this comes along. Then they think it should be doing a lot more. Even though it's a public health problem to be managed and controlled by each individual state as they see fit. I can just see the squealing headlines from the tabloids if the EU was in control and taking resources from say the NHS to Italy where it was more urgently needed. Let counties do their own thing.

 

[czechmate]

Bingo! That’s why I posted this thread! It’s my view that this pandemic has highlighted the weaknesses of the EU club! It’s been more a case of “ever country for itself” which is understandable in the circumstances. Thinking of our businesses, I wonder how many boardrooms will have “the threat of global supplied” on their agendas when commerce recommences? I can see an element or supply chain risk analysis being at the forefront.

Hmm, despite their own problems, German hospitals have been taking in french and Swiss Coro patients by the lorry load.
Why do you lot worry anyway, your off in your own little ship

 

[br jones]

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#1

From the bbc website

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 World War Two.

 

[czechmate]

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#1

From the bbc website

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 World War Two.

“smug” can bite you in the arse.
Just can’t get my head around you guys having an interest at all
You left
Cool, go and get on with your own lives?

 

[arcobob]

Hmm, despite their own problems, German hospitals have been taking in french and Swiss Coro patients by the lorry load.
Why do you lot worry anyway, your off in your own little ship

Thank God we are

 

[czechmate]

Am

Thank God we are

Amen for all concerned