Photo: EP. Members of the European Parliament almost unanimously adopt three urgent proposals in an extraordinary plenary session on March 26, 2020
The European Parliament held an extraordinary plenary session regarding the outbreak of COVID-19 and its countermeasures on March 26, 2020. During the session, MEPs almost unanimously adopted three urgent proposals, two dealing with financial support to countries that have taken damage from the pandemic, and one to ground ghost flights during the crisis.
To begin with, the Corona Response Investment Initiative proposal passed with 683 votes for, one against, and four abstentions. The initiative is to channel €37 billion from EU funds to people who have suffered the most from the virus. The funds are to support healthcare systems, SMEs, labor markets, and other vulnerable parts of EU Member States’ economies. The proposal to extend the scope of EU Solidarity Funds passed with 671 votes for, three against, and 14 abstentions. The fund will make up €800 million available to financially support public health emergencies of European countries.
The last proposal, temporarily suspending EU rules on airport slots, was adopted with 686 votes for, none against, and 2 abstentions. With the proposal in effect, the airlines wouldn’t be burdened to occupy their planned take-off and landing slots from March 29 to October 24, 2020.
In addition to the adoption of urgent proposals, EP President David Sassoli mentioned during a video conference with EU leaders dedicated to tackling the Covid-19 outbreak that COVID-19 is bound to create an unprecedented contraction in the European economy. He said, “Although the focus should now be on health-related measures, it is also necessary to think about how to relaunch the European economy, protect employment and our social model.”
With the two financial support packages adopted, he also noted that it is important to increase the capital of the European Investment Bank to help it support small and medium-sized enterprises and to systemize a common debt mechanism to raise funds for the market and finance the policies indispensable to relaunch the Union after the COVID-19 crisis ends.
[Sources]
EP. (2020, March 26). COVID-19: Parliament approves crucial EU support measures: News: European Parliament. Retrieved from https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20200325IPR75811/covid-19-parliament-approves-crucial-eu-support-measures
Europarl. (2020, March 26). Sassoli on corona: The moment is serious, Parliament will not stand by and watch: News: European Parliament. Retrieved from https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/eu-affairs/20200326STO75911/sassoli-on-corona-the-moment-is-serious-parliament-will-not-stand-by-and-watch
Rios, B. (2020, March 27). EU Parliament votes financial assistance for countries affected by COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.euractiv.com/section/coronavirus/news/eu-parliament-votes-financial-assistance-for-countries-affected-by-covid-19/
BY MSEAP Cyber Secretariat (mseap@assembly.go.kr) |
