As the WHO held an emergency meeting on Thursday 30 January, after having already called for “global action” against the Chinese coronavirus epidemic, which has killed 170 people in China, the EU was continuing to implement the coordinated approach of the European response, backed by Parliament.
The Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, was due to meet the French authorities in Paris and express the EU’s gratitude for the repatriation assistance provided to European citizens. “The first plane left at dawn” with 300 European citizens on board, a Commission spokesperson confirmed on Thursday.
In a debate on Wednesday evening, the majority of MEPs welcomed the good exchange of information between Member States on EU preparedness and response, as part of the approach detailed to them by the Commission and the Croatian Presidency (see EUROPE 12414/8).
As “viruses know no borders”, all agreed on the need to adopt measures for a united and supportive response, in cooperation with WHO. In view of the uncertainties about this new form of the virus and its mode of transmission, they said that “caution” should be exercised, without creating panic. The flu is killing people in Europe, they said.
Peter Liese (EPP, Germany), however, felt that “contamination within the EU by an infected person in Germany” nevertheless called for vigilance. He called for “common EU-wide recommendations” that could be useful, especially in border areas. He also called on the Chinese authorities to show transparency.
“We need to focus on good practice and have global cooperation”, said Jytte Guteland (S&D, Sweden), recalling the experience of the SARS epidemic in 2000. Kateřina Konečná (GUE/NGL, Czechia) went further by advocating airport screening, which is well known to governments.
Véronique Trillet-Lenoir (Renew Europe, France) welcomed the monitoring and coordination of the situation by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the activation of the civil protection mechanism by France “for the repatriation of citizens from my country”.
“Let’s stop frightening ourselves and stigmatising the Chinese and Asian community”, said Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA, France). Recalling that in France, 600 to 700 people a year die from forms of coronavirus, she advocated that the EU should focus on research policy, cooperation and good information for citizens.
Supporting only cooperation with the WHO to find a vaccine, Silvia Sardone (ID, Italy) castigated a lack of unity between Member States on the repatriation of their citizens or decisions to suspend flights to China. And to comment sarcastically about the absence of a cordon sanitaire against “a real virus”.
On Wednesday, the Commission agreed to involve Switzerland in the early warning and response system for the duration of the crisis. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)