BETA


2020/2616(RSP) Resolution on EU coordinated action to combat the COVID 19 pandemic and its consequences

Progress: Procedure completed

Legal Basis:
RoP 132-p2

Events

2020/11/27
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2020/04/17
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2020/04/17
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on EU coordinated action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences.

The text adopted in plenary had been tabled as a joint resolution by the EPP, S&D, Renew and Greens/EFA groups.

A united and decisive response to a shared crisis

Parliament expressed its admiration for all those on the front line in the fight against the pandemic and stressed the need to pull together as a community and ensure that no country is left to fend for itself in the fight against the virus and its consequences.

Concerned by the initial inability of Member States to act collectively, Parliament noted that Member States now understand that only through cooperation, trust and solidarity will they be able to overcome this crisis. It called on the Commission and the Member States to act together and rise to the challenge and ensure that the Union emerges stronger from this crisis.

European solidarity and action in the health sector

Parliament welcomed the European solidarity in action shown by Member States in their treating of patients from other Member States, supplying health care equipment, including via EU-led procurement initiatives and stockpiling, and in repatriating citizens.

Members insisted that borders must remain open within the EU for the circulation of personal protective equipment (PPE), food, medicine, medical devices, blood-derived products and organs as well as the supply chain in the

Single Market.

They called inter alia for:

substantial strengthening of the competences, budget and staff of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to enable them to coordinate medical responses in times of crisis; the creation of a European Health Response Mechanism to better prepare and respond in a common and coordinated way to any type of health or sanitary crisis that emerges at EU level; increased support for research, development and innovation programmes aimed at understanding the disease, accelerating diagnosis and screening and contributing to vaccine development; the adoption of a coordinated post-lockdown approach in the EU in order to avoid a resurgence of the virus and the joint development of criteria for lifting the quarantine.

Members called on the Commission to launch an effective exit strategy that includes largescale testing, and PPE for the largest possible number of citizens. They encouraged the Member States to develop more systematic testing on infection and exposure to the virus and to share best practices.

European solutions to overcoming the economic and social consequences

Parliament called on the Commission to propose a massive recovery and reconstruction package for investment to support the European economy after the crisis, beyond what the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Central Bank(ECB) are already doing, that is part of the new multiannual financial framework (MFF). The necessary investment shall be financed by an increased MFF, the existing EU funds and financial instruments, and recovery bonds guaranteed by the EU budget. This package shall not involve the mutualisation of existing debt and shall be oriented to future investment.

The European Green Deal and the digital transformation shall be at the heart of these measures in order to kick-start the economy.

Members insisted, therefore, on the adoption of an ambitious MFF that has an increased budget in line with the Union’s objectives and the projected impact on EU economies by the crisis.

Parliament also emphasised the need to:

promote the banking sector's duty of initiative to grant a temporary lower or halt debt or mortgage repayments of companies and citizens facing financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; do more for SMEs, to help them maintain jobs and manage their liquidity; give priority to support measures for the most vulnerable citizens, women and children exposed to domestic violence, the elderly and the disabled through a specific exceptional support fund; pay particular attention to equal access to health care and ensure that the rights of people in residential institutions, who are more exposed to the risk of infection, in particular the elderly and the disabled, are guaranteed; ensure that workers in Europe, including the self-employed, are shielded from income loss; provide support to the cultural and creative sectors as they play an important role for our economy and our social life and are severely affected by the current crisis.

The EU must seize the opportunity and propose a Health Autonomy Action in strategic areas such as the active pharmaceutical ingredients essential for the manufacture of medicine, and thus reduce its dependence on third countries without undermining the rewards that open economies derive from international trade.

EU Solidarity Funds against the coronavirus

Parliament proposed the creation of an EU COVID-19 Solidarity Fund of at least EUR 50 billion, consisting of up to EUR 20 billion outside the MFF ceilings in grants and up to EUR 30 billion in loans, guaranteed by the EU Budget, supporting the financial efforts undertaken by the healthcare sectors of all Member States during the current crisis.

Protecting democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights

Parliament stressed that the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the rule of law must continue to apply and that the authorities must ensure, in this state of emergency, that everyone enjoys the same rights and protection.

Noting the emergence of contact tracing applications on mobile devices to warn anyone who may have come into contact with an infected person, Members called on the Commission and Member States to be fully transparent about the functioning of these contact-tracing applications, so that citizens can check the underlying protocol for security and privacy.

Stressing that disinformation about the COVID-19 epidemic is currently a major public health problem, Members called on the EU to set up a European information source so that all citizens have access to accurate and verified information. They stressed that the EU must become more resilient against crises in general, to remain free from unwarranted political and economic influence, especially from China and Russia.

A post-crisis Union that is stronger

Parliament called for a greater powers for the EU to act on cross-border health threats, through new and strengthened instruments, to ensure that in future the Union can act without delay to coordinate the response at European level, and direct the necessary resources to where they are most needed, be they material (e.g. face masks, respirators and medicines) or financial.

Member States were urged to put aside their differences and to act in the general interest and in a spirit of solidarity by making immediate use of the dedicated Treaty provisions to act accordingly.

Members stressed that it is imperative that Parliament, as co-legislator, budgetary co-authority and the only EU institution directly elected by universal suffrage, be involved as a key stakeholder in all debates on the Union's response to the crisis and the recovery that will follow.

Documents
2020/04/17
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2020/04/16
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2020/04/16
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2020/04/16
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2020/04/16
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2020/04/16
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2020/04/16
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2020/04/16
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2020/04/16
   Joint motion for resolution
Documents
2020/04/16
   EP - Debate in Parliament

Documents

Activities

Votes

RC-B9-0143/2020 - am 2 #

2020/04/16 Outcome: +: 473, -: 194, 0: 20
IT PL ES FR BE DE IE NL FI PT SE CY DK SK LT LV LU EL EE RO BG AT MT HR CZ SI HU
Total
75
50
58
78
20
91
13
29
13
21
21
6
14
14
11
8
6
21
7
31
16
19
6
12
19
8
20
icon: S&D S&D
143

Cyprus S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Greece S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
97

Italy Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Slovakia Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Hungary Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
66

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3
icon: ECR ECR
60

Germany ECR

For (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

Against (1)

4
3

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

2

Lithuania ECR

1

Latvia ECR

2

Greece ECR

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
38

Belgium GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

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1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

1
icon: NI NI
28

Germany NI

2

Netherlands NI

Abstain (1)

1

Slovakia NI

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2

Croatia NI

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Abstain (1)

2
icon: ID ID
73

Belgium ID

2

Netherlands ID

1

Finland ID

2

Denmark ID

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1

Estonia ID

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1

Austria ID

3

Czechia ID

Against (1)

1
icon: PPE PPE
182

Finland PPE

For (1)

Against (1)

2
2

Denmark PPE

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1

Latvia PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

Against (1)

2

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Malta PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

4

RC-B9-0143/2020 - am 55 #

2020/04/16 Outcome: -: 510, +: 160, 0: 16
IE CY LU EL SI MT FI EE LV LT DK BE PT HR SK SE AT CZ BG IT NL HU DE FR RO ES PL
Total
13
6
6
21
8
6
13
7
8
11
14
20
21
12
14
21
19
19
16
75
29
20
92
77
31
57
50
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
66

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Spain Verts/ALE

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
38

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Belgium GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
28

Croatia NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Slovakia NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Netherlands NI

Abstain (1)

1

Germany NI

2
icon: ECR ECR
60

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

2
3

Bulgaria ECR

2

Netherlands ECR

For (1)

4

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: ID ID
73

Finland ID

2

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Belgium ID

2

Austria ID

3

Czechia ID

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
141

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Greece S&D

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2

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

Against (1)

2
4

Finland S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Belgium S&D

Abstain (1)

3

Slovakia S&D

3
icon: Renew Renew
97

Ireland Renew

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Luxembourg Renew

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Slovenia Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Estonia Renew

For (1)

Against (2)

3

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Lithuania Renew

2

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Slovakia Renew

2

Sweden Renew

3

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria Renew

3

Italy Renew

Against (1)

1

Hungary Renew

2
icon: PPE PPE
183
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

4

Malta PPE

2

Finland PPE

2

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Belgium PPE

Abstain (1)

4

RC-B9-0143/2020 - am 43 #

2020/04/16 Outcome: -: 422, +: 245, 0: 20
IT FR PL IE EL LV CY MT LU LT BE FI SK DK EE SI HR SE PT CZ BG AT NL HU DE RO ES
Total
75
78
50
13
21
8
6
6
6
11
20
13
14
14
7
8
12
21
21
19
16
19
29
20
91
31
58
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
66

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Spain Verts/ALE

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
38

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Belgium GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1
icon: ID ID
73

Belgium ID

2

Finland ID

2

Denmark ID

Abstain (1)

1

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

Czechia ID

Against (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
60

Greece ECR

1

Latvia ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

1

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

2

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1
3

Bulgaria ECR

2

Netherlands ECR

For (1)

4

Germany ECR

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
28

Slovakia NI

2

Croatia NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Netherlands NI

Abstain (1)

1

Germany NI

2
icon: S&D S&D
142

Greece S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2
4

Luxembourg S&D

Abstain (1)

1

Lithuania S&D

2

Belgium S&D

For (1)

3

Finland S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

3

Estonia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

Against (2)

2
icon: Renew Renew
97

Italy Renew

Against (1)

1

Ireland Renew

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Slovakia Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Slovenia Renew

2

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Sweden Renew

3

Bulgaria Renew

3

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Hungary Renew

2
icon: PPE PPE
183

Latvia PPE

2

Cyprus PPE

2

Malta PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Belgium PPE

Abstain (1)

4

Finland PPE

2

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia PPE

4

RC-B9-0143/2020 - am 56 #

2020/04/16 Outcome: -: 578, +: 76, 0: 33
CY EL IE SI MT LU EE LV FI SK LT HR DK PT BE BG CZ SE IT AT HU NL RO ES PL FR DE
Total
6
21
13
8
6
6
7
8
13
14
11
12
14
21
20
16
19
20
75
19
20
29
31
58
50
78
92
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
38

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Belgium GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
28

Slovakia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Croatia NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Netherlands NI

Abstain (1)

1

Germany NI

Against (1)

2
icon: ID ID
73

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Belgium ID

2

Czechia ID

Against (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
60

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

2

Slovakia ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

2
3

Netherlands ECR

For (1)

4

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
65

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Spain Verts/ALE

For (1)

Against (1)

2
icon: Renew Renew
97

Ireland Renew

2

Slovenia Renew

2

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Slovakia Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

2

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria Renew

3

Sweden Renew

3

Italy Renew

Against (1)

1

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Hungary Renew

2
icon: S&D S&D
143

Cyprus S&D

2

Greece S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Finland S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

3

Lithuania S&D

2

Belgium S&D

3
icon: PPE PPE
183

Cyprus PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

4

Malta PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Finland PPE

2

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Belgium PPE

For (1)

4

RC-B9-0143/2020 - am 57 #

2020/04/16 Outcome: -: 581, +: 67, 0: 40
CY EL IE MT LU EE LV SI FI SK LT HR DK PT BG BE CZ IT SE AT HU NL RO ES PL FR DE
Total
6
21
13
6
6
7
8
8
13
14
11
12
14
21
16
20
19
75
21
19
20
29
31
58
50
78
92
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
38

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Ireland GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

4

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Belgium GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
28

Slovakia NI

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Croatia NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Netherlands NI

Abstain (1)

1

Germany NI

Against (1)

2
icon: ID ID
73

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Belgium ID

2

Czechia ID

Against (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
60

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

2

Slovakia ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

2
3

Netherlands ECR

For (1)

4

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
66

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Spain Verts/ALE

For (1)

Against (1)

2
icon: Renew Renew
97

Ireland Renew

2

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Slovakia Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

2

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria Renew

3

Italy Renew

Against (1)

1

Sweden Renew

3

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Hungary Renew

2
icon: S&D S&D
143

Cyprus S&D

2

Greece S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

Against (2)

2

Finland S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

3

Lithuania S&D

2

Bulgaria S&D

For (1)

4

Belgium S&D

Abstain (1)

3
icon: PPE PPE
183

Cyprus PPE

2

Malta PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

4

Finland PPE

2

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Belgium PPE

Abstain (1)

4

RC-B9-0143/2020 - am 44 #

2020/04/16 Outcome: -: 298, +: 293, 0: 98
IT PL CZ HU SK BG LV SI LT HR RO IE LU BE AT MT CY DK EL SE EE FI PT NL DE ES FR
Total
75
50
19
20
14
16
8
8
11
12
31
13
6
20
19
6
6
14
21
21
7
13
21
29
93
58
78
icon: PPE PPE
183

Latvia PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Belgium PPE

Abstain (1)

4

Malta PPE

2
2

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Finland PPE

2
icon: ECR ECR
60

Italy ECR

For (6)