Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1245222
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MAY 2020 OPINION SEVENTY years ago, Europe was struggling to recover from the devastation of the Second World War. A decision was taken to pool in coal and steel production. Merging economic interests helped raise standards of living and was the first step towards a more united Europe. France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg banded together, to create a Community that would later become known as the European Union. Today's threats are challeng- ing the notion of "a commu- nity of peace and prosperity". The 2008 financial crisis and severe measures of austerity weakened the citizens' trust in the EU. The word 'solidar- ity' became a hard one to di- gest, with many regions across the bloc feeling left out of the benefits that they should have reaped from different areas – from migration, to job creation to public health services to in- frastructure. A new threat then emerged in 2020, in the form of a nov- el coronavirus disease. It is a pandemic that spared almost no country: according to the count being kept by the Johns Hopkins University, 181 of the 200 countries and territories in the world have reported cases of the disease. As the pandemic intensified, member states could start feeling the effects. From lock- downs to restrictive measures, borders were closed, tourist activities shut down and re- lated services were left with- out work. This developed in an economic crisis as much as a health crisis. Initially coun- tries scrambled to protect their own, their decisions impacting other EU states. We had coun- tries blocking the exports of medical supplies to ensure they have enough for their own cit- izens, cutting out those coun- tries who urgently needed that same product. Disturbing the workings of the Single Market started having dangerous ram- ifications. Eventually the Euro- pean Commission stepped in after the worst-hit countries, stakeholders and Members of the European Parliament including myself raised the alarm. Now we are looking at the model of joint procurement for essential medical supplies. This ensures a level-playing field where one country is not disadvantaged by another country's much larger market. I believe that such a system should continue post-COVID, in particular with regard to ra- re diseases. It is heartbreaking meeting children, teenagers or adults who cannot access med- icine simply because there is no market viability. The situation also exposed how dependent the European Union is on third countries. It is time to bring back home lost manufacturing areas. Return- ing home entire value chains, such as in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, would not only help with drop- ping product costs but would also ensure strategic autono- my. Across the EU over the past weeks, we witnessed business- es forced to shut down, work- ers unemployed, livelihoods threatened and governments trying to find ways of saving businesses and support fami- lies. The shock was such that even the European Commis- sion moved to relax State Aid rules. There is a difference be- tween trying to keep busi- nesses afloat, provide help in the form of wage subsidies or delayed loan repayments, and ensuring job continuity, job creation and economic growth. Although the forecasts for Malta post-COVID in terms of economic recovery are much better than those of other countries, I think it would be dangerous to simply believe that things will return to nor- mality so easily. We need a European Union that helps those families af- fected by job losses. We need an EU that helps those com- panies, businesses, small and medium enterprises left with- out any income whatsoever for weeks. We need an EU that can guarantee consumers' rights. As the Socialists and Dem- ocrats in the European Par- liament, we have launched a Recovery Plan to tackle the economic and social aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as restrictive meas- ures are slowly being eased with full realisation that an un- known possible second wave can happen, the EU needs to think, plan and act. There is a looming recession: EU Economic Affairs Com- missioner Paolo Gentiloni said that the European stimu- lus package should total €1.5 trillion. EU leaders will have strong differences on how it should be funded, exposing the evident rift between Northern and Southern Europe. The money that will be invested needs to be flexible, accommo- date the different needs and realities of the different mem- ber states. If the EU does not understand the specificities of each country, the plan will not work. The specificities of a small island state like Malta have to be taken into account in the wake of a looming reces- sion. The need to have flexibil- ity. To ensure job protection and create more jobs in Malta for our workers. To make sure that tourism is given the right impetus to grow. To make sure that we do not lose family businesses. It needs to be a plan built on social justice, environmentally friendly policies and sustaina- ble economic growth. Europe must become more resilient. Loans alone are not sufficient for countries, including Malta. Grants are needed. This help must be smart: it should stimulate national pol- icies in line with the Europe- an Green Deal, the European Pillar of Social Rights and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For Malta, it must help us with the tran- sition towards a cleaner and sustainable economic growth across all sectors. The EU has to fight the surge in unemploy- ment, inequalities, regional di- vergences, poverty and social exclusion. It has to lead to robust social welfare systems. It has to show ambition and compassion. Note to EU: think, plan, act now on COVID recovery As restrictive measures are slowly being eased with full realization that an unknown possible second wave can happen, the EU needs to think, plan and act Miriam Dalli is a Labour MEP (S&D) Miriam Dalli