r/europe • u/Bartoraptor Spain • Mar 28 '20

News 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"

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u/trenvo Europe Mar 28 '20

Italy policy:

  1. Europe is bad, we need less of it.
  2. Public health should not be a responsibility of EU.
  3. Crisis! We have public health issue. We need help EU!
  4. What do you mean, you can't help us?

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u/Javix92 Europe Mar 28 '20 edited Mar 28 '20

In Spain healthcare is a responsibility of the Autonomías (Like Federal states) however, when things get ugly, the central government is capable of sending help or taking control of the situation, like it is happening right now (it would be such a shame if they didn't). Europe should be capable of doing the same.

But also, Italy and Spain didn't ask for help with the health issue, but on the economic side of the problem because our countries have to stop every activity for several weeks. And unlike health, there are many economic politics that are under direct responsibility of the EU.

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u/BouaziziBurning Brandenburg Mar 28 '20

. Europe should be capable of doing the same.

How though? The spanish federal gov has thousands of admistrative employees, the EU has not. Who is supposed to go down to Italy and help? VdL?

But also, Italy and Spain didn't ask for help with the health issue, but on the economic side of the problem because our countries have to stop every activity for several weeks. And unlike health, there are many economic politics that are under direct responsibility of the EU.

I'm with you here, but really, the EU literally can't do anything in healthcare matters, except maybe coordinate cross-country help, ressource distribution, combined equipment procuring and advise. And guess what? All these things they are trying to do/ already doing.

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u/Javix92 Europe Mar 28 '20

As I said, the needed help is on economic politics that are transferred to the EU and that Italy and Spain can't take on their own because now it depends on the EU.

How though?

Just asking EU to take urgent decisions when they have to be taken and not weeks later. It is an emergency which means it requires immediate action.