MEPs are debating and voting on €3 billion in emergency support for the health sectors of the most affected EU countries as well as on a scheme to procure medical supplies for member states facing shortages. While reducing the need for physical meetings on its premises, Parliament is exercising its core activities by using extraordinary remote voting procedures to approve urgent EU measures to fight the pandemic. In the context of the coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19), some MEPs wear protective mask in the hemicycle. Speech by Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS (EPP, ES), Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES) by videoconferencing remote participation, Dacian CIOLOŞ (RE, RO) by videoconferencing remote participation), and Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE).

Brussels

debate

plenary session

LAMBERTS, Philippe (Greens/EFA, BE)

speech

GONZÁLEZ PONS, Esteban (EPP, ES)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

MICHEL, Charles (BE)

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

CIOLOŞ, Dacian (Renew, RO)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

EU coordinated action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences: extracts from the debate

Title: EU coordinated action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (French), Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council, The network of the European SME&rsquo;s its as a very strong pillar. It's important, it's essential to continue to support our SME&rsquo;s and to give them the possibility to build a strong strategy for the future. I also think that the question of the circular economy will have to be further developed. Now, there were some very good, solid proposals that had been discussed in parliament and that had been put forward by the European Commission because looking to the future. We'll need to further develop that idea of a circular economy so that we're able to transform the structure of the economy in the wake of climate change and make some strategic changes that will take place here in the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Europe has done more in the last four weeks, than it did in the first four years in the last crisis. We have made our stated rules more flexible than ever. In the last few days alone we have approved schemes that will provide 1 billion euro to Croatian businesses, 1.2 billion for Greek SME&rsquo;s or 20 million to Portuguese fishermen. There are many more examples I could pick from Latvia and Estonia to Belgium or Sweden. For the first time in our history, we triggered the full flexibility and the Stability and Growth Pact. Along with bold measures taken by the European Central Bank. This provides unprecedented fiscal and financial power, and the last week's decision by EU finance ministers mean a further 500 Billion euros will be available to all of those who need it.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The starting point, for this must be making our economies, societies and way of life more sustainable and resilient. Find the answers in this new world will require courage, trust and solidarity. (...)  We will need innovative solutions and more headroom in the MFF so it can unlock massive public and private investment. This will kick start our economies and drive our recovery towards a more resilient green and digital Europe. By that, we not only support but reshape our industries and services today towards a new reality.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, While the crisis is symmetric, recovery is not. Because not only the virus hits, but also the economic shock and some regions will bounce back and others will have a harder time. And therefore, cohesion and convergence will be more important than ever before.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Esteban GONZ&#193;LEZ PONS (EPP, ES), Yesterday we saw in Spain that there are at least 5000 deaths that have not been registered. All of these elderly people who died in care homes or at home. We therefore need more testing. And if there's more testing, there'll be more people recorded to be recorded. But let us not fall into the trap of thinking that this virus will go for the best case scenarios was gone for the worst case scenario. And now, it seems, are making plans as if the virus weren't going to come back in autumn.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), (Note: by videoconferencing remote participation) This is a crucial time in our history. This coronavirus pandemic hit us in a way that none of us could imagine. The effects on our freedoms, freedom of movement, our daily lives have changed and we still don't fully understand the scale of this. Many people rely on us. Now, let's be clear. The decision we take now will determine Europe's future, whether Europe will emerge stronger or whether citizens will lose their faith in the European project.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLO&#350; (RE, RO), (Note: by videoconferencing remote participation) What we do now will determine the way we live in the future. We will construct tomorrow's world depending what happens in this crisis. First of all, the responsibility is to learn all of the lessons of this health crisis. We will not be able to do things better if we don't learn from what we've done in this situation. What we saw the initial impotence of the commission, I think that left a bitter taste in people's mouths.

SOUNDBITE (French), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE), This crisis shows up all the cracks in our societies that are come to light, now suddenly, but they were ignored by leaders, political leaders for such a long time. We see today that austerity kills and we're seeing thousands of people losing their lives as a result. People seeking their own profits caused society to become vulnerable .