No one would think that Europe, which once led human civilization, would be the hardest hit by the second wave of crisis that triggered the new crown epidemic.
Nino Foti is a senior Italian politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives of Italy’s 16th Parliament (2008-2013) and a former Central Prime Minister Berlusconi led the center-right alliance.
The epidemic is looming, and Italy ’s medical resources simply cannot cope with it. In a recent written interview with Surging News, Forti said that in addition to the Chinese government, Albania (alternate member state of the EU), Russia, Czech Republic (EU member state) and Cuba are also helping the Italian government. The assistance of the EU and its member states is not only delayed but limited. According to the “Frankfurt Report” on March 28, Germany has 8 states providing a total of 73 beds to Italy.
Von Delaine, President of the European Commission, issued an open letter on April 2 to apologize to Italy, saying that at the beginning of the crisis, countries only looked after themselves. And promised to Italy, “Now, Europe is side by side with Italy.”
But is it useful to apologize?
Italy has been calling for Brexit, and populist parties are well supported by the public. Will this epidemic increase Italy ’s tendency to Brexit?
Foti said frankly that Italy used to support Europe in the general direction. Today, this is no longer the case.
The 78-year-old Italian President Matarera warned in a recent television speech that if European institutions do not show unity with Italy. “I hope everyone fully understands the seriousness of the threat facing Europe before it is too late.”
Once Italy joins the Brexit camp, the EU may The present appearance has rapidly developed into a disintegration.
Italy is the cradle of European nations and cultures, having bred ancient Roman civilization and Etruscan civilization. Rome, the capital of Italy, has been the political center of the Western world for centuries, and Italy at the end of the 13th century became the birthplace of the European Renaissance.
The New Corona Virus exposes Italy to the worst crisis since World War II, and the cumulative number of confirmed cases of the New Crown in Italy increased to nearly 150,000 on April 10The death toll is approaching 20,000, and the economy is experiencing the worst recession in its modern history. Italian democracy, including the elite, is increasingly feeling abandoned by neighboring countries.
Forti is still active in Rome as a senior member of the Power of Italy party led by Berlusconi. His point of view represents many of the Italian elite in Rome: Unless the Nordic countries change their minds, Italy may forever betray European integration.
At the core of the current debate is the extent to which eurozone countries should adopt a unified economic response to the crisis.
As a founding member of the European Union, Italy recommends that EU member states issue bonds collectively to fund future large-scale economic reconstruction. The “European Stability Mechanism” is a bailout fund that can be used by EU countries. But Forti pointed out that Italy is worried that ESM loans will be accompanied by harsh austerity conditions, and the subsequent costs and consequences may not be affordable by Italy.
Nine euro zone member countries, led by France, Italy and Spain, signed a joint letter in March calling for the issuance of “new crown bonds” to fund economic recovery initiatives. However, there is serious disagreement among the members of the European Commission and across the EU regarding the new crown bond. Then the debate quickly divided into two camps in southern Europe and northern Europe. The Netherlands in the northern countries stood on the side of Germany against the issuance of new crown bonds, and the differences became more emotional.
Forty bluntly turned up the “old account” of history. He compared Germany ’s unwillingness to support the issuance of a new crown bond with the post-World War II European Nazi war debt relief As a tax haven, the Netherlands has always enjoyed more favorable conditions than other EU countries.
Before the outbreak, there was a long “complaint” between Italy and the European Union.
The route from Libya to Italy via the Mediterranean Sea has been one of the main routes for refugees to enter Europe. The refugee crisis in the past few years has already shaken the trust between Italy and EU countries .
Italy, as one of the six founding member states of the European Union, with the formal Brexit of the United Kingdom, Italy ’s economic status in the EU is second only to Germany and France, and it is the third Big economy. The worst situation is to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty signed in 2007, that “any member state canConstitutional requirements, decided to withdraw from the alliance. ”
Zhuang Zi ’s words in the” World of the World “seem to apply to the status quo in Europe. When love is a thing of the past, I want to I ’m afraid it ’s only an illusion to be elegant, and the more entangled the relationship is, it ’s always ugly when you break up. What? What help is needed?
Nino Forte: At the beginning, we must have been the least intensive care unit capable of providing care for critically ill patients, because the number of new infections increased rapidly at that time, which has completely exceeded the tolerance of the Lombardy Regional Hospital ability. Our main difficulty afterwards was to tighten the notched hood and ventilator. Now that we have entered the peak of case growth, our primary task is still to ensure that patients and medical staff have sufficient protective materials and rapid testing reagents.
Surging news : Have you received assistance from the Italian Central Government and other EU countries?
Nino Forte: There are many Albanian immigrants in Italy, and there are about 400,000 Albanian immigrants in the country. The Albanian government (alternate member of the European Union) also sent 30 medical staff to assist. The Russian government sent 9 aircraft equipment, more than 100 experts, and medical supplies to Italy. The Czech Republic (EU member states) sent thousands of protective clothing. Poland sent 12 doctors. Cuba sent their medical team to Italy on March 21.
Surging news : What impact does the EU cooperation framework have on Italy ’s fight against the epidemic, and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Nino Forte: Europe is not easy now. We found that in the current state, it is difficult for European countries to take consistent and effective actions quickly. It is difficult to say that exports. So far there has been no effective cooperation among EU member states, and each country is still doing its own thing.
Nino Forte: At the beginning, we must have been the least intensive care unit capable of providing care for critically ill patients, because the number of new infections increased rapidly at that time, which has completely exceeded the tolerance of the Lombardy Regional Hospital ability. Our main difficulty afterwards was to tighten the notched hood and ventilator. Now that we have entered the peak of case growth, our primary task is still to ensure that patients and medical staff have sufficient protective materials and rapid testing reagents.
Surging news : Have you received assistance from the Italian Central Government and other EU countries?
Nino Forte: There are many Albanian immigrants in Italy, and there are about 400,000 Albanian immigrants in the country. The Albanian government (alternate member of the European Union) also sent 30 medical staff to assist. The Russian government sent 9 aircraft equipment, more than 100 experts, and medical supplies to Italy. The Czech Republic (EU member states) sent thousands of protective clothing. Poland sent 12 doctors. Cuba sent their medical team to Italy on March 21.
Surging news : What impact does the EU cooperation framework have on Italy ’s fight against the epidemic, and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Nino Forte: Europe is not easy now. We found that in the current state, it is difficult for European countries to take consistent and effective actions quickly. It is difficult to say that exports. So far there has been no effective cooperation among EU member states, and each country is still doing its own thing.
During this extraordinary period, the EU has not reached an agreement on economic measures or any recovery plan. Obviously, considering the dilemma Italy is facing and the efforts it has made, thisThis situation is not easy, especially how to recover in the next stage. To win this battle, more flexibility, cooperation and coordination among member states are needed. If this is not done, it will be difficult for us to avoid the economic recession that ensued. The most difficult countries, such as Spain, may be the most heavily affected, which will benefit no one.
Surging news : Italy has always called for Brexit. But because the Italian Constitution stipulates that such issues cannot be referred to as a referendum like the United Kingdom, but must be decided by Parliament. After this epidemic, will it exacerbate Italy’s tendency to leave the European Union?
Nino Forte: Italy supports Europe in a big direction. But now, this is no longer the case. Indeed, according to the Constitution, the Italian people cannot hold a referendum like the United Kingdom, but Italy will certainly make changes to the existing rules within the framework of the Constitution.
Surging news : Italy has always called for Brexit. But because the Italian Constitution stipulates that such issues cannot be referred to as a referendum like the United Kingdom, but must be decided by Parliament. After this epidemic, will it exacerbate Italy’s tendency to leave the European Union?
Nino Forte: Italy supports Europe in a big direction. But now, this is no longer the case. Indeed, according to the Constitution, the Italian people cannot hold a referendum like the United Kingdom, but Italy will certainly make changes to the existing rules within the framework of the Constitution.
Right now the Italian people have publicly accused Europe, taking into account what has happened in recent years: first, European countries have not united to solve the refugee crisis; second, the US subprime mortgage crisis has caused The consequences of this have required governments in multiple countries to adopt austerity policies. These are very representative public opinion events. Italian citizens believe that this is inconsistent with their interests. The current public opinion is a vote of “no confidence” in Europe.
When we encountered the emergency medical and health problems caused by the new crown epidemic, we did not get the support we deserved. Especially in countries like Germany, which benefited from the debt relief of the defeat of World War II, the Netherlands also has a more obvious advantage over the tax policies of other countries within the EU framework.
If Europe wants to maintain “unity” and maintain its trust in the “EU Constitutional Treaty”, I think it must be changed to the “United States of America” Europe ’s direction of reform, before establishing an economic alliance, there must be a political alliance and a common defense policy, so that complex problems such as differences between refugees and the judicial system can be resolved. If Europe does not make changes, the new crown epidemic crisis will be a turning point, and the connotation of the epidemic crisis will become increasingly complicated and unclear.
Surging news : Many European countries have adopted fiscal bailout plans to maintain economic operation. What measures should Italy take to restore economic order and vitality?
Nino Forte: Italy ’s economic measures to deal with the crisis are effective in the short term, but not enough to allow the economy to restart and avoid a recession. The economic crisis we have experienced is the worst since World War II. Of course, we need special interventions to help companies recover. SMEs account for more than 94% of the total Italian products and households in Italy, but financial assistance such as loan support will further generate debt, so the government is needed for this extremely urgent state. ” Supported. ”
Surging news : Many European countries have adopted fiscal bailout plans to maintain economic operation. What measures should Italy take to restore economic order and vitality?
Nino Forte: Italy ’s economic measures to deal with the crisis are effective in the short term, but not enough to allow the economy to restart and avoid a recession. The economic crisis we have experienced is the worst since World War II. Of course, we need special interventions to help companies recover. SMEs account for more than 94% of the total Italian products and households in Italy, but financial assistance such as loan support will further generate debt, so the government is needed for this extremely urgent state. ” Supported. ”
Obviously, it is necessary for Europe to support all member states and help solve their economic and medical dilemmas. However, the recent EU leaders’ meeting made us realize that the situation is very delicate. The Nordic countries were absent again. The Netherlands and Germany opposed the “European bonds” plan issued by the Mediterranean countries. The issuance of European bonds should have unanimous support from all EU countries. Trish and Draghi, former presidents of the European Central Bank, also agreed.
Although on the other hand, the “European Stability Mechanism” can provide support to some countries, but the use of this mechanism may produce subsequent austerity policies, which may lead to high The economic collapse of countries that are at risk of default, including Italy, may fall into a situation where they cannot repay the funds provided by the mechanism.
surging news: You fight against the next step Any suggestions and views on the epidemic?
Nino Forte: It is very necessary for us to do things that have never been done before, such as revising the EU Treaty, reformulating the main alliance policy, and taking more proactive measures. Judging from the situation in the past few weeks, more rapid and more radical political and economic reforms are needed to solve the political demands of the people, not the usual bureaucracy. We need to go back to the people of Europe, and all European countries should re-examine themselves.
Taking Italy for example, we can always face difficulties because of the power of our people and cultural foundations. We need to return to the values of humanism and human solidarity and start again. We depend on the creativity of Italian culture, including our craftsmanship, corporate, tourism and cultural industries. Beautiful Italy marks our identity. The sense of belonging to this country should always be our beacon. We will never forget the past, how brave Italy had become the world’s sixth-largest power in a short time after World War II. We know what to do next, because we have done it before.
Surging news: What has made you most memorable since the outbreak?
Nino Forte: The most uncomfortable thing is that so many people have died in such a short period of time. They are so lonely in the face of death, and even no relatives can be beside Say “goodbye” to them, and the medical staff we sacrificed, they face a large number of patients every day.
Surging news: What has made you most memorable since the outbreak?
Nino Forte: The most uncomfortable thing is that so many people have died in such a short period of time. They are so lonely in the face of death, and even no relatives can be beside Say “goodbye” to them, and the medical staff we sacrificed, they face a large number of patients every day.
In addition, our political and social systems must also be adjusted. In what ways? In which areas of production in Italy and other European countries have deviated from the current reality, our primary goal in the future is to be able to provide our citizens with what they need in time. To do this, our policy must be able to predict what will happen tomorrow, or even longer. The key is to reconsider the existing political and social system. This system needs to take into account the new modes of people ’s daily life: new modes of transportation, expanding social distances-this will definitely have a great impact on work and production activities At the same time, we must pay attention to the protection of people’s mental health, the most important thing is the protection of human rights. Policy makers need to actively make changes and adjustments, considering that in the future, people may need to be restricted from going to movie theaters, stadiums, and concerts, so as to avoid the outbreak of immunity, which is also for the common destiny of all mankind.
(Intern Li Yanxuan also contributed to this article)