EPP Group adopts a Solidarity Pact for the recovery of EU economy

The EPP Group in the European Parliament is taking the lead in the fight against the Coronavirus with the adoption today of an ambitious European Solidarity Pact, consisting of immediate measures to beat the virus and mobilise all combined instruments, adding up to over 1 trillion Euros to relaunch the economy.

Amongst other important measures outlined in the plan are an ‘EU Coronavirus Solidarity Fund’ of at least 50 billion Euros "supporting the financial efforts undertaken by the healthcare sectors of all Member States during the current crisis", and concrete measures enabling the EU to be better prepared in the future for other unknown pandemics to come.

"We are proud to present a Solidarity Pact that brings together the support of all our members across the EU. This Pact starts with thinking of each other. Trusting each other. Taking care of each other. Solidarity is part of our DNA as Europeans. We cannot beat this by acting on our own. Nor by putting national competences against European competences. We can beat it if we work together. All of us are now called upon to row together", said Esther de Lange MEP, Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP Group in charge of Economy and Environment.

The set of actions proposed by the EPP Group focuses on five areas:

1. immediate collaboration between national healthcare systems;

2. coordinated European measures for social distancing;

3. increased security for strategic infrastructure such as internet, energy and food supply;

4. economic instruments to rebuild the economy after the pandemic;

5. long-term lessons to be drawn from the current crisis, such as bringing back the production of medicines to Europe.

Click on the link to read the full details of the EPP Group's European Solidarity Pact.