What You Should Know About Covid-19
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
N°74/March 2021 EPFMA BULLETIN European Parliament Former Members Association www.formermembers.eu WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT COVID-19 Current Affairs FMA Activities “A new chapter in transatlantic Together for the relations” by Josep Future of Europe Borrell Fontelles Page 05 Page 30 2 FMA BULLETIN 74 - MARCH 2021 IN THIS ISSUE 03 Message from the President FOCUS 31 Former members network 04 EP at work 12 Europe’s Recovery Plan 32 EP to Campus Programme (Elisa Ferreira) 35 Book Review CURRENT AFFAIRS 14 Economic Consequences through COVID 19 05 A new chapter in and the Recovery Plan transatlantic relations (Ivailo Kalfin) LATEST NEWS (Josep Borrell Fontelles) 16 Drug landscape for 37 Activities 06 U.S. election result: a glimmer severe COVID-19 disease 39 In memoriam of hope ... (Zita Gurmai) (Prof. Flavia Franconi) 07 There is no strength without 18 Psychological explanations unity (Brian Crowley) and consequences (Nadja Hirsch) 08 How Brexit happened (Edward McMillan-Scott) 20 Nutrition and COVID-19 (Dr Carlos Enrique Rodríguez 09 AI could be what we want it Jiménez) Safer Internet Day (9 February to be (Zofija Mazej Kukovič) 22 Overview of the Pandemic 2021) was a call to action to contribute to a safer and (Prof. Isabella De Martini) 10 Europe 2020, a better internet, especially renewed momentum Quarantine on Syros Island for its youngest users, to be (Michel-Ange Scarbonchi) 24 (Anna Karamanou) prepared to handle digital technologies responsibly, FMA ACTIVITIES respectfully, critically and creatively. 26 Together for the Future of Europe CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS: The Editorial Board would like to thank all those members who took the time to contribute to this issue of the FMA Bulletin. We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the decision to include an article lies with the FMA Editorial Board and, in principle, contributions from members who are not up-to-date with the payment of the membership fee will not be included. Due to the long time lag between the call for contribution and the publication, some articles may be outdated. The FMA Bulletin is published by the European Parliament Former Members Association (FMA) with the assistance of the Europe- an Parliament. However, the views expressed in articles represent the views of contributing FMA members or guest writers and do not necessarily represent the views of either the European Parliament nor the FMA. Similarly, any advertisement does not imply an official endorsement by the FMA or Parliament. EDITORIAL BOARD PREPARED BY CONTACTS Brigitte LANGENHAGEN Elisabetta FONCK [email protected] Jean-Pierre AUDY Lisseth BRAVO Tel.+ 32(0)2 284 07 03 Monica BALDI Valeh NASIRI Fax.+32(0)2 284 09 89 Edward McMILLAN-SCOTT Valerie RASKIN Teresa RIERA MADURELL to remember the hard work we the event organised in December Message from have all put in over previous years 2020 informing citizens about digital and that we celebrate the FMA’s transformation. Members who were the President accomplishments. In June, we will not able to attend the round table publish a special edition of the FMA can watch the full video on the Dear Members, Bulletin, in which we will retrace our FMA website. achievements of the last 20 years Although 2021 will be a year of This year, we are delighted and and look to the future. Meanwhile, celebration, we cannot forget that honoured to be celebrating the I am pleased to present the logo the COVID-19 pandemic is still taking 20th anniversary of our association, for the FMA’s 20th anniversary on over our lives. This edition of the established many years ago by this page, which will accompany FMA Bulletin is fully dedicated to Former President of the European us throughout this year. We are the challenges we have faced in the Parliament and FMA Honorary counting on your active participation past year and what we should know President, Lord Henry Plumb. He laid in all our various events. about COVID-19. Specialists will talk the foundations for what has now At the end of last year, we launched about the psychological, economic grown into a successful organisation an initiative to foster debate on the and general impacts of COVID-19 on with almost 800 members, who challenges the EU is facing, the work our lives and on the functioning of proclaim the European values of a reflection group composed of the EU institutions. of democracy and unity beyond experienced and prestigious former We have all experienced a sense their mandates. MEPs with the academic support of powerlessness, but that did Over the last 20 years, we have of Professor Steven Van Hecke (KU not prevent us from continuing to worked on these values by Leuven University). proclaim and defend our values. The promoting political dialogue, This reflection will be fuelled by our organisation of our EP to Campus democracy building and active ‘Together for the Future of Europe’ programme online allowed us to citizenship through education. We series of events, organised together get in contact with universities in could not have achieved all that we with the main European political other continents. In this issue, four have in recent years without your foundations and the European former Members talk about their commitment and dedication to our University Institute (EUI). The event virtual EP to Campus experience. association. After a turbulent year series was launched last year and Among other things, this initiative due to COVID-19, we must not will continue in 2021. In this Bulletin, has proven that we as former forget to stay positive. Therefore, you can read four articles written Members of the European Parliament I suggest that we take the time by the experts who participated in can be innovative and creative and are motivated to get through this difficult period in the best possible way. We are proud of our progress and look forward to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our association with you soon. Hans-Gert Pöttering FMA President 4 FMA BULLETIN 74 - MARCH 2021 EP AT WORK KEY FACTS MEPs paved the way for an effective EU “Minority SafePack”: Parliament supports health programme. (November session - P9_TA proposals for diversity across EU. (December (2020)0304). session - P9_TA(2020)0370) To close gaps exposed by COVID-19 and ensure that MEPs called on the Commission to act on the health systems can face future threats to public health, European Citizens’ Initiative proposals that aim to an ambitious EU health programme is needed. enhance cultural and linguistic diversity in the EU. Steps to improved EU democracy ahead of 2024 Guidelines for military and non-military use of elections. (November session - P9_TA(2020)0327) Artificial Intelligence. (January session - P9_TA- MEPs adopted a resolution that draws conclusions to PROV(2021)0009) enhance democracy and enable full participation in MEPS called for an EU legal framework on AI with the European political space, based on lessons from definitions and ethical principles, including its military the 2019 European elections. use. Parliament approved the “Rule of law MEPs: Minimum wage is a remedy for inequality conditionality” for access to EU funds. (December and in-work poverty. (February session - P9_TA- session - P9_TA(2020)0356) PROV(2021)0044) Under the new regulation, EU budget payments To fight inequality and in-work poverty, MEPs called can be withheld from countries in which established for a minimum wage, equal labour conditions for breaches of the rule of law compromise management platform workers and a better work-life balance. of the EU funds. Other main dossiers discussed in the plenary sessions were: November 2020 women’s sexual and reproductive and security policy (20.01.21) • Parliament warns against “risk of rights in Poland and stress the • MEPs called on the Commission abuse of power” in the context EU’s legal obligation to uphold to propose a law that enables of national measures to tackle the and protect them. (26.11.20) those who work digitally to COVID-19 pandemic. (13.11.20) December 2020 disconnect outside their • Parliament wants to boost • Parliament approved the working hours. (21.01.21) sustainability by promoting agreement with member states on • MEPs called on the EU to recognise reuse and repairs and by the new drinking water directive access to decent and affordable tackling practices that shorten the that will give better access to housing as an enforceable human right and to push for measures to lifespan of products. (25.11.20) high quality tap water. (15.12.20) eradicate homelessness. (21.01.21) • Parliament points to “attempts • MEPs approved provisions by governments of some member for a smooth transition from February 2021 states to silence critical and the current EU farm policy • MEPs called on the Commission independent media and to the future one. (16.12.20) and member states to increase their undermine media freedom efforts to prevent the pandemic January 2021 and pluralism”. (25.11.20) from having lasting negative • Foreign and security policy: • Parliament adopted its effects on young people and MEPs called for unity and strategic 2018-2019 report on the the sports sector. (10.02.21) autonomy. The COVID-19 pandemic state of fundamental rights is a wake-up call for Europe, in the EU, identifying multiple For more information, please visit : which needs a stronger, more http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/ areas of concern. (26.11.20) united and more assertive foreign news-room/plenary • MEPs condemned the setback to FMA BULLETIN 74 - MARCH 2021 5 CURRENT AFFAIRS A NEW CHAPTER IN TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS The inauguration of Joe Biden opens world needs American and European and developing a proper dialogue a welcome new chapter in EU-US leadership in this battle and I am to discuss the full range of issues relations.