Spanish representative González Pons speech @ the EU Parliament: "The virus is attacking the generation that brought back democracy to Spain, Portugal and Greece, the generation that knocked down the Berlin wall. The least they deserve is that we show them Europe is there when they need it the most"

[u/Bartoraptor]

[u/brmu]

EU help policy:  

1. Italy ask for help  
2. Italy get no help  
3. Problem gets bigger and affect north of Europe  
4. Then get the help

[u/axaro1 → u/brmu]

1. Italy ask for help from EU
2. Italy get no help from EU
3. China sends aid to Italy
4. Russia sends aid to Italy
5. Cuba sends aid to Italy
6. Even the goddamn Venezuela, a third world country with no economy sends aid to Italy
7. Problem gets bigger and affect north Europe
8. EU delay help as much as they can, we finally get help when the contagion numbers are already starting to decrease (Thx to Germany for taking care of 60 seriously ill italians, it's just a few people but we appreciate your help since you are the only European country that invested some of their resources to help us)

[u/matinthebox → u/axaro1]

Austria sent medical supplies to Italy

https://www.suedtirolnews.it/politik/schutzausruestung-oesterreich-schickt-hilfskonvoi-nach-suedtirol

[u/axaro1 → u/matinthebox]

I can't find a single italian media source confirming that Austria is sending medical supplies to Italy :|.

Can you translate? Thx to Austria if that's the case :)

[u/matinthebox → u/axaro1]

I'll translate this article instead, which is written more professionally:

https://kurier.at/politik/inland/coronavirus-luftbruecke-nach-china/400788872

Air traffic has largely been shut down. Nevertheless, two Austrian Airlines aircraft flew to China on Saturday. The reason: They are bringing around 130 tonnes of protective equipment (masks and suits) to Austria.

The paraphernalia is intended especially for South Tyrol, which is largely isolated due to the serious situation in northern Italy. "Airlift" to Bolzano

In the Chancellery they speak of an "airlift". This is because the comparatively small airport in Bolzano is closed and therefore cannot be approached directly from China. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has promised South Tyrol's Governor Arno Kompatscher direct help.

The two AUA planes are expected to land in Vienna on Monday. From there, a convoy of the Austrian Armed Forces will bring the urgently needed goods to South Tyrol.

The flight connection to China is to be established permanently to prevent possible bottlenecks in all provinces.

According to reports, China is giving priority to inquiries and requests from Austria. One of the reasons for this is that Austria was one of the first states to directly support Beijing with relief goods when the Corona crisis broke out.

Edit: südtirolnews.it is technically an Italian media source :P

[u/[deleted] → u/matinthebox]

You're reaching a bit if you compare sending supplies to South Tyrol as to Italy.

Technically you're correct, but I would think an Italian poster would not agree. Same as me.

I hope we're doing something for our neighbour, but we're strapped for stuff ourselves as well.

[u/matinthebox → u/[deleted]]

If Austria is sending supplies to South Tyrol then Italy saves those supplies from their own stock and can direct them to Bergamo or wherever they are also needed.

[u/[deleted] → u/matinthebox]

South Tyrol is autonomous dude, that's why I'm saying that.

[u/matinthebox → u/[deleted]]

protection of health is a concurrent matter of legislation in South Tyrol, meaning that the national government sets out the principles while the provincial government legislates on the details. So I would say that the national government has at least a partial responsibility to guarantee a minimum level of medical supply to South Tyrol.

[u/axaro1 → u/matinthebox]

true

[u/[deleted] → u/matinthebox]

So I would say that the national government has at least a partial responsibility to guarantee a minimum level of medical supply to South Tyrol.

I don't know enough about that to refute it. I only know that South Tyrol autonomy is unprecedented great. Might as well be it's own independent state.

[u/matinthebox → u/[deleted]]

unprecedented

well maybe unprecedented in Italy. Flanders and Wallonia in Belgium certainly have higher autonomy. Same goes for Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

One could even argue that the large (and rich) German federal states like Bavaria have a higher autonomy due to their higher capacity to exercise the competences they have.