The Young European Movement calls on the Summit to be generous
17-18 July 2020: Since yesterday morning, the Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the European Union have been meeting at an extraordinary summit in Brussels. The main topics are the measures to mitigate the economic consequences of the Corona pandemic and the overdue agreement on the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF).
Among other things, the EU Commission is proposing to allocate €750 billion to minimise the impact of the pandemic. David Knöner, treasurer of the Young European Movement Berlin-Brandenburg, is pleased about this: "What is particularly positive about this proposal is that for the first time in a long time there is now a Franco-German initiative that supports the Commission's plan. In addition, it is great that the EU is finally coming to terms with taking on joint debts - even if it is only in this unique situation".
The Commission's proposal includes the payment of part of the amount to the Member States without any obligation to repay it. It seems that at least some members of the European Council have understood that this is the whole issue. If Europe does not manage to stand together in this dramatic situation, in which we are all together, facing what is probably the greatest economic crisis ever, then that is probably the end of European unification. Now is not the time for national sensitivities and failed, backward-looking policies. For if Europe succeeds in standing together in this crisis and finding a strong common response, then even the last one could realise that it is better to tackle major challenges together than to hide behind their own national borders from the realities of the globalised world.
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