Paper 8
“The coronavirus crisis: a challenge for the EU!”
The coronavirus crisis is an unprecedented event that will cost in the order of €2,700 billion. This cost represents only the monetary rescue actions, without taking into account the chaos that will be caused by the disappearance of both our middle classes and many companies, a climate conducive to dissatisfaction.
With Member States acting in disarray in the face of this serious health crisis, which remains a national prerogative, we are seeing a high degree of distrust among citizens.
It is through President von der Leyen that Europe must urgently overcome this defeatism by showing strong resilience in rebuilding our future. As soon as the financial and social impact has been assessed in consultation with the Member States, action will be needed.
In the short term, stop the pandemic, support the weakest and gradually restart work.
In the medium term, solve urgent problems such as:
1. Economic policy: what will be the price to be paid by future generations to repay the States' astronomical debts? What is the logic of negative interest rates, and what are the virtuous and vicious behaviours?
2. The environment: should we keep destroying the planet on the pretext of consuming anything, anyhow?
3. Inequalities: are the inequalities between workers, the self-employed and shareholders acceptable? Is it appropriate to have as the sole basis for calculating social security the salaries paid to the active workforce? Is it appropriate to tax income from work?
4. Globalisation: is it smart to abandon our industrial activity, our technology sectors and our strategic infrastructure to the GAFAs and to the world's factory, China, because they are cheaper, without worrying about our dependence on them?
In the long term: have a strong Europe
5. European patriotism: is our effectiveness in governance, law, national defence, immigration and diplomacy such as to make Europeans more patriotic?
The challenge is enormous, because it is our entire societal and institutional model that must be rebuilt, but the opportunity is fantastic: to become the world leader again.
The “Spring paper 9 – action plan”, intended to bring about a European Spring, will be published after consultation.
April 2020
