The European project finds itself in treacherous waters. The Covid-19 pandemic has wrenched, wide open, the fault lines between the EU’s northern and southern member states.
There is a danger, for instance, that one of the enduring memories from this crisis will be China’s supply of emergency medical supplies to Italy, at a time when Germany had banned the export of medical gear.
The ‘heartfelt’ apology from Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, for the way in which the EU failed Italy in its hour of need will offer little comfort. In truth, this is just the latest in a string of failures on the part of the EU towards Italy, and the southern member states more generally.
But the way in which the EU responds to this current crisis could define the bloc’s future like never before. Populist parties have gained ground in recent years, while anti-union sentiment is spreading in key member states. As a consequence, Europe’s leadership must devise a meaningful recovery package of financial and economic support in response to Covid-19.
This should include the mutualisation of European debt, which all countries help to pay off, as part of a wider support package. Thierry Breton, the European commissioner for internal market and services, has suggested a value of about €1600bn. This would go some way to alleviating pressure on the union. In addition, urgent attention must be paid to stalled initiatives – the Capital Markets Union in particular – that will help to generate economic growth and opportunities for European citizens in the coming years.
All of this will take a combination of strong leadership and tough decisions on the part of southern and northern member states alike. The high probability that Europe will once again fudge its response is a concern. The EU itself is not the only thing at stake. The tectonic plates of global politics are shifting. Across the Atlantic, the US has become erratic and isolationist; further afield, autocracies old and new are hoping to benefit from this new world disorder.
The global community needs a strong, united and prosperous Europe like never before.
