European Union and Italy facing the pandemic

Estates general on the economy in Rome

Rome [ENA] COVID-19 has opened everyone’s eyes to a different kind of system vulnerability that had not been considered before. There are multiple factors surrounding biological threats, ranging from bioterrorism and what it is known about non-state actors, to EU’s response to a pandemic threat by developing vaccines. A global pandemic needs global solutions, and the European Union has to be at the centre of this response, said

High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell in a plenary debate on the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis on EU foreign policy, on 18th June. To this end, the EU has launched a Team Europe response to support its partner countries in facing the pandemic, said Mr Borrell. It is vital to increase sustainable and green investment in the EU’s partner countries worldwide. “This crisis will be a crisis of biblical consequences”, warned the EU foreign affairs chief, stressing also the importance of extending the European Union’s programmes for refugees. The pandemic has brought about changes of terrific dimensions and will be a potential “geopolitical game-changer”.

At the moment there’s deterioration of democracy and fundamental freedoms in many parts of the world, increasing disinformation campaigns, cyber-attacks, or isolationism instead of multilateral cooperation. Strong and coordinated measures that would clearly show solidarity to EU partners throughout the world recall the EU’s ambitions to be a global player. In the absence of the US as a global leader, Europe should step in and take on this role. Among key aspects of EU foreign policy affected by the COVID-19 crisis are relations with major powers, humanitarian aid, development and peacekeeping, as well as the fight against disinformation and cyber-attacks.

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte

The crisis has also highlighted the debate about the future of multilateralism, which is one of the primary concerns that EU foreign policy must tackle. Italy is now living a thousand paradoxes. Looking at the promises of subsidies and donations of these days it seems that there’s a lot of money available. In reality, the funds for the recovery of Italy are largely granted by the countries of Northern Europe and not by an oil country that pumps them from the subsoil. If they are wasted, the voters of the frugal northern countries stiffen and perhaps there will be a rebirth of fascism, perhaps this time in an anti-Italian way. A government that instead relaunches the productive economy would not only obey economic laws,

Estates general on the economy in Rome

but would also guarantee the medium-term security of the country and Europe. It would be normal, therefore, to choose to push for the stimulation of the economy and avoid harmful concessions. In the meantime, however, many voters are quite narcotized by the idea that wealth can be distributed for free, without consequences, and that it is enough to blackmail Europe or someone else. COVID-19 was a trauma that arrived in an already suffering situation. Many Italians struggle and are really impoverished. This is the real question to be answered by offering jobs and opportunities to do business. The answer is not to give subsidies; giving subsidies is a response that distorts everything.

The task force led by the former CEO of Vodafone, Vittorio Colao, presented the plan for the restart of Italy during the Estates general on the economy to map out Italy's recovery from the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus. But the much vaunted group of experts proposes only the liberal ideology, with the State at the service of the private sector and without an active role of work. Almost four in ten of Italy's businesses fear for their survival after the coronavirus emergency. The national statistics agency (ISTAT) said 38% of firms reported "operative and sustainability risks". It said that 70% of firms had made use of the CIG unemployment fund.

From the great skills and competences of the technicians appointed within the task force a truly technical relationship was expected, with analyzes and numbers to support their proposals, with relative quantification and sources of funding. In reality, it is only a tender and ideological letter by the liberal son who, as in every phase of capitalist crisis, asks the State for free assistance to help him survive and lay the foundations for the reproduction and subsequent accumulation of capital. President Sergio Mattarella had talks with members of Premier Giuseppe Conte's government today ahead of this week's EU summit. The discussion focused on the need to give rapid, concrete responses on the use of EU funds to stimulate the economy.