As usual, Europe cannot be seen: this is the criticism we have heard in recent weeks by various governors and opposition leaders. But why and how should the EU show up? As others have rightly observed, the prerogative health care of the Member States, which are very jealous of it. If governments keep the hands of Brussels tied, we should not be surprised at European inaction. At first glance the reasoning does not make a turn. But it doesn’t hold up, both sides are wrong. And Brussels too has its faults. The Lisbon Treaty reserves exclusive responsibility for health policies and the organization of medical services to the Member States. The Union cannot intervene: on the level of principles, the governors of the North must resign themselves. But it doesn’t end there. In fact, Article 168 of the Treaty establishes that the Union completes national policies for the prevention of diseases and for the elimination of sources of danger to health. The EU action, it should be noted, includes surveillance, alarm, and the fight against serious cross-border threats to health. So something Europe can do. Indeed, in 2013, Parliament and the Council precisely defined the methods of intervention for emergencies (such as coronavirus): common alert and monitoring systems, risk assessment, coordination of national responses, joint purchase of health equipment, even the dispatch of rescue teams to the most affected countries. It is also possible to mobilize the EU budget (as well as the funds of the famous Juncker plan to support investments) in order to co-finance extraordinary interventions in healthcare.
In short: even those who claim that the EU has neither skills nor resources are wrong. If so, how have you used them in recent weeks? We know that no visible action has been taken for the sick, health workers, local administrations: the criticisms of some governors are therefore partially justified. We cannot think that nothing has been done. Indeed, the most recent press release from the Commission mentions some concrete action: support for repatriation from China, 250 million funds allocated to the World Health Organization and for research on drugs, five risk assessment reports. Various coordination and guidance activities are then mentioned. A lot or a few? Frankly, a little. The Council also called a meeting of health ministers on 13 February last. From the conclusions of the summit, it is clear that no relevant decision has been taken, apart from an invitation to the Commission to activate all the mechanisms envisaged and to seek funds in the budget folds. Very little resourcefulness also emerges from the minutes of the Intergovernmental Committee for Health Security established in 2013. In the last session (Luxembourg, March 2, via audio) many questions arose, but no answer was provided. Only exhortations for each country to activate its own prevention mechanisms, evaluate the limitation of travel and gatherings and various tricks of this kind. Lost time.
The overall picture is rather disheartening. Brussels has its faults and cannot hide with the fig leaf of we do not have powers. Attention: the representatives of the national executives sit in the Council of Ministers and in the Security Committee, they are the ones who should give the impetus and urge the Commission. The right question to ask therefore: why don’t governments use Europe even when they could do it for good (their own good)?
There are two possible answers. The first is that when it comes to deciding on concrete measures, in particular those concerning common financial resources, Member States divide, quarrel and paralyze the Commission. The second most trivial answer. Governments change, those who come later do not know what was decided before, bureaucracies are distracted and depreciated: so nobody dedicates time and attention to using Europe well. After all, how could this be done seriously by connecting by phone to a meeting with twenty-seven delegates?
The famous citizens’ Europe cannot be born if the Commission and national governments do not jointly roll up their sleeves on issues that closely affect our daily lives. What more serious emergency than the coronavirus do we want to wait for? There is still time to take visible, concrete and effective measures: money, of course, but also material, means and even rescue teams with blue helmets with yellow stars. The challenge, mind you, not just practical or organizational. essentially political: it concerns the legitimacy of Europe as a community of solidarity and as a common government.
Perhaps it would be worthwhile to brush up on an old idea: that of appointing, for each country, a minister for Europe who lives permanently in Brussels and who really learns how to use all the tools and resources available on every issue. For the benefit of your country, of course. But not as a counterpart of the EU, but as a condominium of a still fragile building, which must be safeguarded thanks to the support of all citizens.
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