In today’s informal video conference of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU member states, we had the opportunity to exchange views on the developments in the Covid-19 pandemic.
We considered in depth the management of the situation so far in Europe, had an extensive discussion of further coordination among the member states and the European institutions on the repatriation of European citizens, and considered ways to use the common Civil Protection Mechanism to manage the current situation. We also emphasised the need to ensure that member states have adequate medical supplies.
We all agreed that, in face of such a critical situation, Europe has to send a strong message of solidarity, especially to those members who are suffering the most tragic consequences.
We also exchanged views on how the European Union can show its solidarity on the international level, by providing assistance to countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
We also talked about ways to deal with disinformation aimed against the European Union and its member states through the dissemination of fake news, and the need to better promote official public messages. I stressed the matter of disinformation, in light of our recent experience with the migration issue.
We also assessed the long-term geostrategic implications of the pandemic and discussed the need to draw up a strategy for Europe’s position when the crisis passes. Following Wednesday’s joint statement from 13 EU member states, there was expression of the need to safeguard the fundamental principles of rule of law and maintain international legal order in the struggle to combat the repercussions of the crisis.
Finally, I referred to the importance of the launching of operation IRINI, stressing the need to secure adequate means for the successful performance of the mission. This mission, the establishment of which we supported actively, is a major push in the effort we are all making to resolve the crisis in Libya and consolidate security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
April 3, 2020