Pedro Sánchez backs coordinated response by EU to combat health and economic effects of crisis

The Heads of State and Government of the European Union addressed the priority of limiting the spread of the virus, guaranteeing the supply of medical equipment, promoting research to find a vaccination, addressing the socio-economic impact, and offering a solution to EU citizens stranded in third countries.

Borders closed

In order to limit the spread of the virus, the EU-27 backed the proposal presented on Monday by the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, to restrict entry into the European Union unless essential for the next 30 days.

The President of the Government announced to the European Council that the Government of Spain ordered the re-opening of land border controls as part of the measures to contain the virus provided for in the state of emergency decreed by the government, only allowing the entry of residents and families, within the framework of the Schengen Treaty. Pedro Sánchez also underlined that it is essential to maintain the single market, and hence the government seeks to ensure the exchange of goods and the free movement of workers.

Economic measures

In order to address the socio-economic impact, the European Council backed the statement made by the Eurogroup in which it undertook on Monday to do "whatever is necessary to restore confidence and provide backing for a speedy recovery", which includes measures designed to increase health resources and help EU companies and workers.

President of the Government Sánchez also backed the proposal made by the European Commission to offer EU Budget resources to help in the fight against this crisis and underlined the need to achieve maximum flexibility in the use of funds so that this initiative can be fully effective. "Money should not be an impediment to doing everything possible to control this epidemic", he stressed. The President of the Government also emphasised the need to channel items to support those people who will lose their jobs and asked for a European unemployment scheme to be put into place as soon as possible. Lastly, he backed the absolute need to activate all the EU's fiscal instruments in the fight against the coronavirus crisis.

The EU-27 will continue to hold regular meetings while the crisis lasts.

Non official translation