COVID-19 European Union

Fundamental principles
 Timing of action should be based on: Epidemiological criteria; Sufficient capacity of the health system; Adequate monitoring capacity.
 European approach: Scientific criteria with public health as the main priority; Coordination between Member States; Respect and solidarity: before lifting the measures, the States must notify each other and the Commission and take into account their points of view.

 Accompanying measures: collection of harmonized data and development of a solid information system and traceability of contacts; expansion of the capacity to carry out tests and harmonization of the corresponding methodologies. The Commission, in consultation with the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, today adopted guidelines on different tests for the coronavirus and its results; increasing the capacity and resilience of national health systems; maintaining capacity building in medical and personal protective equipment; development of safe and effective treatments and medications

Key action areas

 

A fully functioning and revitalized single market: The green transition and digital transformation will play a central role. Investing in clean, digital technologies and capabilities, along with a circular economy, will help create jobs and growth. We must guarantee the strategic autonomy of the EU through a dynamic industrial policy, support for SMEs and emerging companies or start-ups, and effective control of foreign direct investment. A comprehensive analysis of the needs of different ecosystems and of the most affected sectors would allow a specific response. The financial sector will play an important role in ensuring access to finance.

 

An unprecedented investment effort: The EU needs an investment effort like the Marshall Plan. This should be a coordinated effort based on public investment at European and national level and on mobilizing private investment. This means investing massively in the green and digital transitions and in the circular economy, along with other policies such as cohesion and the common agricultural policy. Tools: The future MFP and the EIB.

 

Acting globally: The EU as a global actor has a particular responsibility to help frame a global response through multilateralism and a law-based international order, with its partners in the United Nations, the WTO, the G20 and the G7.

 

A functioning governance system: 1) The EU must be more resilient. It should draw lessons from the crisis. 2) The EU must be more efficient and more effective; 3) The fundamental principles and values ​​on which the Union is based must remain at the center of our approach.

 

In parallel, strategic recovery planning, by revitalizing the economy and returning to a path of sustainable growth: The Commission will draw up a recovery plan, based on a renewed proposal for the next long-term EU budget (financial framework multiannual) and in the Commission's updated work program for 2020.