From partnership to individualism?

European countries' reaction to Covid-19, a decisive precedent

One of the phenomenums we are experiencing in this context of a global pandemic is the paralysis of the international community. Neither the European Council nor the European Commission reacted adequately to the very clear warning of the well-publicized Wuhan crisis. It was, and is, incumbent upon these European bodies to enact common policies and coordinate their implementation, as well as to provide resources to member countries. Unfortunately, this has not happened, and each member nation has gone alone in a classic case of every man for himself.

On the other hand, if during the last global crises such as the financial crisis (2008), Ebola (2014), global warming or AIDS, the Americans took the lead and worked hand in hand with the G7 and the EU to overcome threats, in this coronavirus crisis, the US has made it clear that they are going on their own. Clear signs of this have been: the attempt to buy the rights to the Covid-19 vaccine from the German pharmaceutical company Cure-Vac for $1 billion; the fact that the US closed its borders to Europe, canceling all flights without prior notice or coordination with the countries of the European Union; or that Emmanuel Macron, and not Trump, was the one who organized the urgent G7 meeting by videoconference. The images that Europe and the world needed were the video conference between Ursula Van der Leyden, President of the European Commission, with Macron, Merkel and the presidents of Italy and Spain (the most punished countries), as well as Van der Leyden's meeting with Trump and Xi Jinping.

Unfortunately, EU member countries forgot what won them the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012: their collaborative approach. That approach, which has been the EU's main strength, is what has allowed European partners over the years to maximize the value of their business relationships and interactions. To this end, as in any partnership relationship, countries have worked side by side with their partners (institutions and countries), aligning synergies, sharing information and best practices, identifying and exchanging high value/low-cost issues, generating joint plans and agreeing on how to share the most competitive issues (high value/high cost). As in any win-win negotiation, rather than simply distributing value competitively, the focus has been on increasing value by working together and then distributing it.

During the last few weeks, the lack of trust among European partners has been notorious. The closure of their borders and the ban on foreigners entering their countries, the race to hoard stocks of masks or medical supplies such as respirators and drugs, the ban by countries such as Germany (harshly criticized) or the Czech Republic on exporting medical supplies to partner countries, are some examples that show that what is prevailing during this crisis, at least during the first phase, are individualistic behaviors.

Unfortunately, these individualistic behaviors were very evident during the first weeks of the crisis. During the month of February and especially in early March 2020, when Italy requested to activate the European Union's civil protection mechanism for the supply of medical equipment, no EU country responded to the Commission's call. Only China replied bilaterally. As Italy's high representative to the EU commented, "This is not a good sign of solidarity... The coronavirus crisis is a test of the EU's cohesion and credibility." The Italians (like the Spaniards weeks later), have felt totally abandoned by their partners. Among them by Spain, who, while Italy was confining millions of people to their homes and had overflowing hospitals, showed images of street demonstrations, political rallies or full soccer stadiums; all this being a clear sign of the lack of empathy, understanding, coordination and solidarity.

While China strengthens its image and hegemony, the West forgets the urgent need to work collaboratively to minimize its losses and maximize its efforts. European countries need to re-adopt indispensable behaviors and attitudes such as coordination, empathy, solidarity and trust. Let us hope to find them before it is too late. The way in which partner countries will act in the coming weeks and the decisions they will take, will be decisive precedents for the future of the EU.

Carolina Kindelan