The ongoing spread of infections with the new coronavirus shows no sign of abating in Europe. Will the European Union be able to overcome the crisis by improving the cooperative framework among member states? The value of its existence is now being questioned.
The number of deaths from COVID-19 has totaled more than 5,000 in Italy, far surpassing that of China, where the virus first spread. The medical system in Italy is unable to cope with treating an increasing number of infected people, hampering its ability to provide intensive care to patients. The number of coronavirus fatalities is also surging in Spain and France, among other countries.
Most European countries allow people to travel without going through border inspections, based on the EU's principle of free movement. Difficulty in tracking infection routes has led to the rapid spread of the virus. The culture of daily physical contact, such as shaking hands and hugging is likely another factor.
In Europe, where a high proportion of the population is elderly, the condition of infected people tends to worsen, placing a heavy burden on medical institutions.
It must be said that the EU's response to the outbreak is lagging. It was only recently that the EU decided to impose an entry ban on travelers from outside the bloc. If the free flow of people within the bloc was to be maintained, it would have been necessary to take more prompt border measures.
Italy neglected by neighbors
EU member countries also lack solidarity in their efforts to tackle the situation. Italy asked for masks and respirators and other medical equipment supplies, but Germany and France gave priority to securing stocks in their own countries. There have also been moves to close borders with Italy and other countries.
Stricter border controls and restrictions on the movement of people are unavoidable in dealing with infectious diseases. However, the cohesion advocated by the EU will lose its persuasive power if member states neglect the desperate plight of one country. First and foremost, moves to seal borders should have proceeded by gaining the understanding of the countries concerned.
EU leaders have agreed to temporarily shelve budget rules that were set to be imposed on member states and have allowed each country to boldly boost public spending. The European Commission, the EU's executive body, has decided to jointly stockpile medical supplies. The EU must urgently carry out corrective measures using every possible means.
European countries have accepted a large number of refugees from conflict-torn regions such as the Middle East and Africa. Refugee camps in Greece are crowded with residents living in unsanitary environments, raising the risk of further infections with the virus.
Appropriate measures should be taken, such as improving the living conditions of the camps and transporting camp residents to alternative locations.
The outbreak of the new coronavirus could be seen as a test that will shake up the EU following Britain's exit from the bloc. The leaders of EU member states should communicate more closely, and quell populism and doctrines that put domestic interests first in a bid to maintain the basic principle of international cooperation.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on March 24, 2020.
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