The crisis we are facing is huge and unprecedented. My thoughts go out firstly to all citizens of the world, but especially European citizens who are directly or indirectly affected by the virus. I would like to commend all the citizens in every country who are working to make sure healthcare systems are as effective as possible. I would also like to commend all those who are working to maintain activity within the internal market and keep essential goods flowing to the fullest extent possible. [ Ссылка ] #eudebates #coronavirusitalla #Covid_19 #coronavirus #CoronavirusOutbreak #Corona #COVD19 #Health #EUCO #COVID #Eurogroup #EXITstrategy #Economy #Eurobond #Eurobonds

The task that the European Council has entrusted to the President of the Commission and to myself is based on two pillars. The exceptional restrictions are impacting life all over the world, but especially life in the European Union, and we are well aware that they are directly affecting every one of us on a personal level. The second very important task for the President of the Commission and for myself is the recovery strategy. How is it possible to work together with the different European institutions and with the Member States in order to be able to tackle this huge challenge that we need to face together.

Our goal is to open a strategic discussion in order to see how it is possible to deal together to take some very strong decisions and to open the process in the mid-term, in the longer term, in order to be able to guarantee, again, more welfare for the European citizens in the next weeks, in the next months, in the next years.

In my opinion, we need to tackle four chapters, four strong points that could be corner stones for a strong recovery strategy.

The first point is the internal market. The internal market is a common good for the European Union. The internal market is the beating heart of economic development and therefore of the European Union’s capacity for social cohesion. The internal market has been damaged. It has been affected by the decisions that have been taken for legitimate reasons, for health reasons. The first priority is to repair the internal market and make sure that it can function properly. The second priority is to put ourselves in a position to improve the internal market, remove certain elements, make corrections, ensure that we are able to strengthen the internal market with a particular focus, as far as I am concerned, on issues relating to industrial strategy. The Commission has made some very useful proposals on this subject, bearing in mind the importance of considering the fabric, the network, of Europe’s small and medium-sized enterprises as a network that is vital to the well-being and success of the European project.

The second important chapter, in my opinion, that we need to discuss with the colleagues in the European Council, and with the support of the European Commission, is the need, the absolute necessity to develop a massive investment strategy.

The third pillar, in my opinion, in order to succeed in a global recovery strategy, is not to forget the external responsibility of the European Union and you know, as European Union, we have a very strong external ambition. We consider that it is important and essential for us to play a stronger role at the international level. And you know, that as European Union, we are a strong promoter of multilateralism.

The fourth point for a strategic debate in the European Council that we need to have, in my opinion, is the resilience and the governance How is it possible from the European perspective to learn the lessons, it's a key issue, in my opinion. How is it possible for us to be stronger after this crisis. How is it possible to show more unity, to show more solidarity and to be able to give the best possible answers.

There are certainly lessons to be learned as regards crisis management from a European perspective - lessons to be learned in terms of our ability to work together and to coordinate our actions under European impetus. On all these issues, we want the European Union to step up to the plate and be capable of meeting the challenges which face us. I shall end by saying that, now more than ever, the beating heart of the European Union rests on the principles of solidarity, unity and responsibility, and on our ability to constantly evaluate and take action, with common sense and a medium and long term vision, to give European citizens the justified and strong responses they are entitled to expect.

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