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Strengthening EU solidarity in times of emergency: Do we need to commit more?

Solidarity is a quintessential value promoted by the European Union, and is even the focus of Chapter IV of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Being an important element in any democracy, solidarity encourages social cohesion across the EU, by bridging both societies and Member States. Times of emergency across Europe call for reinforced solidarity between Member States, such as in the case of economic, sanitary and migration crises, as well as unprecedented natural disasters.

Emergencies such as these have the power of putting the EU’s commitment to solidarity to the test. The young people of Europe therefore play an essential role in raising awareness on the importance of solidarity as both a national and transnational value.

So, now it’s your turn. Do you think we need to commit more to strengthening EU solidarity?

  • How can the European Parliament promote solidarity in the EU?
  • Can you think of a recent example of solidarity shown between EU Member States?
  • How has the Covid-19 Pandemic affected solidarity across the EU?

 

 

Euroscola Session
EU Solidarity

What people think

38 comments on Strengthening EU solidarity in times of emergency: Do we need to commit more?
Boutaki Maria Nikolia  • 04 March 2021

In its essence, solidarity is a noble act and can take on many forms: solidarity among citizens, countries, states or even continents. It makes people feel safe and sound in times of crisis, when emergency action should be taken.
European citizens are lucky enough to enjoy the privilege of the EU’s Solidarity Fund, which is a fundamental body that “provides financial support to a Member State, an accession country or a region in the event of a major natural disaster”, according to the European Parliament's fact sheets. [www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/]
During the COVID-19 health crisis, Member States have exhibited acts of solidarity by providing extra hospital treatment to critically ill patients among states, medical equipment where needed or extra financial support for public expenditure. In this fight against the disease, vaccination plays a vital role. The question is on what basis are vaccines distributed among the Member States? What are critical factors as to the number of vaccines a Member State receives? Does it depend on the number of a country’s population? When the vaccination procedure began taking place, we noticed that smaller numbers of vaccines arrived in each country, than the ones that had originally been announced. Why was that? Do you think there could exist a more flexible policy towards the approval of vaccines which have been tested effectively, so that the vaccination process can speed up and cover larger parts of the population, so that more people can have access to vaccines and be benefited from them?
European Union needs to take into consideration that the enviable Immune Wall can be constructed only by this way, as this way will provide us a sooner return to normality.

Naiara Rodríguez Canelo  • 05 March 2021

We request that a company be created and distributed throughout Europe to provide food for the most needy in this time of crisis, since throughout Europe there are many families who do not have anything to eat.

Natalia María y Aitana Gorgoño  • 05 March 2021

Solidarity is a fundamental value that depends on all the organizations in the EU, the population must help and collaborate to promote and undertake this important value towards all kinds of citizens, especially young people since we are the heirs of the positions held now for our elders.

Paula  • 05 March 2021

In these times of crisis, countries, regions and cities across the European Union are reaching out to their fellow EU citizens and helping those most in need through donations of protective equipment, such as masks or medical equipment.
Solidarity is a very important value that we must all take into account, since as EU citizens we have a duty to help other members.

Alejandra  • 05 March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all EU Member States, although some more seriously. EU member states have been very supportive of each other, sharing the resources at their disposal.
For example Austria, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg have shared their intensive care units with Dutch, French and Italian patients in critical condition.

Jorge Arroyo  • 05 March 2021

In my opinion, it is yes that the pandemic we are going through has greatly affected solidarity, as people have stopped thinking about more people and only them. It's also harder to anger more people now because of the fear of contagion.

Raúl  • 05 March 2021

In my opinion, the EU should try to make an alliance with other neighboring countries of the EU, including those that are on another continent, such as the United States, in order to have more allies in this solidarity project

Laura Sánchez y Valentina Castilla  • 05 March 2021

The European Union is going through a crisis, as well as the whole world. This means that if the nations do not work together and help each other, this stage will never end, and things will deteriorate.
There have been many acts of solidarity during this pandemic, but there is necessary to keep supporting each other, or the difficulties will not ever end.
Solidarity is not only needed in the pandemic, it is also something that should be always there, because thinking in what other needs and giving them help could finish the issues between the nations of the world.
For our fortune, the EU is entirely solidary, and tries to keep the peace inside of it and with the outside nations.
But, is the EU doing its best to help the other nations? Or, are we all helping our same country's citizens as much as we can?
This are questions that we have to ask ourselves every day, and do the right thing when we have the oportunity.

Samanta Slana  • 05 March 2021

Can the EU help ban laws in european countries which are taking away LGBTQI+ peoples rights and the ability to be safe in the country and if so, is it planning on doing that?

Beatriz Almeida  • 08 March 2021

I am a sixteen-year-old girl eager to share my knowledge, talent, passions and voice with the world. I believe that I can make a difference and help build a much better place to live in. However, to do so, I need skills and qualifications, which I will only achieve if I am given the opportunity to go to university and take a degree. The problem is that I, and many other young people like me, can’t afford paying for the tuition fees, which, unfortunately, are incredibly high in some universities. And for this reason I predict a dark future for me, filled with “void”, similar to my present, identical to my past! Therefore, I suggest a more equal access to higher education, fee-free for those who can’t afford it, ensuring that the financial difficulties won’t prevent students from graduating, learning and contributing to a more stable personal life and a more sustainable global future!

Céline  • 08 March 2021

Dans les moments difficiles les pays ont tendance à se replier sur eux mêmes. Si bien la pandémie de la Covid19 a mis en évidence la dépendance et besoin que les États européens ont les uns des autres ; l'Union européenne devrait commencer à faciliter cette solidarité bilatérale parmi ses États membres et encourager les accords aussi entre régions et municipes sans besoin d'une loi ou directive imposée par Bruxelles de manière égalitaire.

Marine - Elise - Camille - Florence  • 11 March 2021

Comment les pays membres de l'Union Européenne s'entraident-ils lorsque l'un d'entre eux est victime d'une catastrophe naturelle ? Y a-t-il des aides fournies par les autres pays européens pour les habitants ?

Manoé Dubois  • 11 March 2021

Quelles sortes d'aides les pays de l'Union européennes peuvent envoyer à d'autres pays traversant diverses crises, et quel impact ces aides peuvent avoir sur le donneur d'aide et le receveur ?

LEAH  • 11 March 2021

How can we do to reduce the number of people in precarity ?

Tomić Damir  • 11 March 2021

Est-il normal que les populations pauvres n'aient pas accès au vaccin, pour la simple raison qu'il coûte trop cher ? Le vaccin ne devrait-il pas être gratuit?

Ana Santos & Leonor Sousa  • 11 March 2021

Analyzing all the changes that the pandemic has caused in Europe during the last year, our idea to strengthen the EU solidarity is to develop a project to integrate homeless individuals efficiently.
The idea aims to create residences for these people where the main purpose is to promote personal growth and increase the number of opportunities offered. As this is a pilot project, the European Union must create three residences in the cities with the highest homelessness rate in an initial phase and then gradually increase the expansion based on the results obtained.
Within these residences, all the basic needs of day-to-day housing, medical care, nutrition and hygiene must be provided. In addition, for successful integration into society, we consider psychological guidance to be essential and a strong commitment to the training of these people, which will make it easier to enter into the labour market. Other common areas within the residence can also be created to develop other aspects such as music, painting or dance. In order to create more work placements and reduce the costs of this project, at a more advanced stage, one of the suggestions is to employ the residents themselves to deal with internal processes like gardening or cooking.
This idea came to us because we realized that the existing financial resources of FEAD (Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived) go mostly to organizations/institutions with purposes aimed at individuals at risk of poverty, and the control over its application is a lengthy and often inconclusive process.
So, we realize that building the residences would make the control process much more efficient and at the same time provide unique opportunities to people who really want them.

Marina and Julia  • 11 March 2021

We have discovered a European organisation called the “European Solidarity Corps” that offers young people between 18 and 30 years old the opportunity to take part in various solidarity projects, and even, creating their own ones. This contributes to make solidarity go beyond authority statements, and helps to make it pierce into citizenship.
We believe that this group should be more promoted since it encourages young people to be aware of the significance of being solidary with others through the development of a European identity.
This is just an example of everything which can be achieved through social networks.

Marta Fernández  • 11 March 2021

Solidarity is something really important and the European Union is an institution which has a major role in that.

One way to promote solidarity in the EU could be by creating funds and common rules for regularization, so that immigrants who enter our continent could be sent to the different member countries in an equal way using the funds for the creation of employment for this collective.

Ema Mileva  • 11 March 2021

In times of crisis like this one, how committed the EU actually is to solidarity plays a crucial role. Ever since the beginning of this pandemic, we have witnessed many acts of solidarity between Member States. For instance, during the first months of the COVID-19 outbreak when the Dutch hospitals were reaching their limits, Germany sent helicopters to the neighbouring cities in the Netherlands and transported patients who had be treated in intensive care units. What is more, transferring Dutch patients to German hospitals continued during the second wave of infections too. This shows a great level of solidarity on a pan-European level and illustrates how even in times of crisis, solidarity is not limited by national interests. Another more recent example is when France announced last week that it will give 500 000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to poorer countries and urged the wealthier G7 countries to do so too. This depicts a different kind of solidarity, one that is essential in raising awareness on the importance of sharing with those in need.
On the other hand, however, this pandemic has unleashed some unexpected problems, which were not dealt with enough solidarity. An example that comes to mind is from my own country – Bulgaria. During the course of the summer, massive protests erupted across the whole country. People took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction not only with the current government’s handling of the corona crisis (such the lack of support for business and unemployed citizens, the poor conditions of the hospitals, the inability to cope with the massive spread of disinformation regarding the virus etc.) but also with its high levels of corruption and state capture. A series of demonstrations were also held in cities with a large Bulgarian diaspora such as Brussels, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, and London and despite all of this, the EU remained silent for most of the time and showed no solidarity with the Bulgarian citizens.
Therefore, in order to answer the question how the European Parliament can promote solidarity, it is of utmost importance to pay attention to all issues equally, whether it is corona-related, corruption, migration or any other issue. They key to encouraging solidarity is to reinforce it across all Member States equally so that we can all feel like a community which helps those in need.

Elektra Sakellari  • 11 March 2021

It has been a year of turmoil with the pandemic as well as the brexit situation . However, we have learned that health is more important than wealth ! Shouldn’t we put more inversements into our health services in case of other pandemics or natural disasters? Wouldn’t it be ideal to have a set standard of health services for all membre countries ?
If anything has shown us 2020-21 has opened our eyes and made us realize that we should invest more money in science and medicine to prevent further pandemics.

Adrien  • 11 March 2021

Nous constatons que la crise sanitaire a bouleversé la vie des étudiants, moins de cours, moins de stages à cause des confinements et donc moins d'argent pour payer les études. Mais il y a des solutions comme par exemple un revenu minimum pour les étudiants ou des distributions gratuites de produits de première nécessité pour faire des économies et pouvoir réserver cet argent à d'autres dépenses.

Ainhoa Montoya Garcia  • 11 March 2021

Buenas, soy Ainhoa Montoya García, alumna del centro IES Don Bosco, situado en la localidad de Valverde Del Camino, provincia de Huelva.

Querría exponer mi queja sobre el tema de las vacunas, ya que veo que es algo contradictorio y poco conciso.
Debido al elevado coste, las vacunas no son repartidas equitativamente por todos los países europeos siendo esto, por tanto, algo totalmente injusto para ciudadanos que viven en países con menos capital para hacer frente a la situación que vivimos todos los países por igual en la actualidad.
A esto voy, tan importante que es la situación actual que tenemos, veo injusto que se nombre esta crisis como grado de flexibilidad.
Casi el millón de fallecidos y aún se deja de lado esta crisis, es inicuo, ya que deberíamos de tomar como prioridad la salud de todos los ciudadanos.

Elena Pena  • 11 March 2021

PREGUNTAS

-¿No son transparentes todos los contratos con las empresas de las vacunas?

-¿Se debe actuar con unión para acordar medida consensuadas entre todos los países, hay algún país que esté en contra de esa unión y prefiera gestionar independientemente el asunto de la compra de vacunas?

-¿Se está aprobando fondos para ayudas a países pobres para que esas vacunas lleguen a ellos también?

-¿Creen necesario y ético exigir el certificado de vacunaciones?

Fernando Oso  • 11 March 2021

Refer to the debate that the Parliament had prepared yesterday, one of my biggest unknows is the politic situation on the different countries, especially on the Democratic Republic of Congo Myanmar and Bahrain because I had recently seen the news of the assassination of the Italian ambassador and the situation in Myanmar after the military coup happened at the beginning of the year.
So, my questions are:
• What is the European Union going to do in response of the attacks on democracy happened in these countries, especially on the Congo?
• What message does the European Union want to send to people whose rights are being violated?

Iván Hinestrosa  • 11 March 2021

Buenas tardes, Soy Ivan Caballero, alumno de 1º de Bachillerato de CCSS del IES Don Bosco.

Me gustaría realzar un ejemplo de solidaridad hacia las relaciones internacionales en la Unión Europea.

• ¿Porqué cuesta tanto poner en marcha proyectos para el bien de todos?

• En tiempos de necesidad, ¿Porque el comisario de sanidad no propone eficacia ante el tema? Respecto al proyecto de vacunación y la campaña realizada de forma poco eficaz, ¿Pueden existir métodos que puedan acelerar y repartir equitativamente los suministros?

• Os propongo realización de fomento y sanidad entre países de forma que el bien común sea el bien de todos no el de un país en singular, por otra parte un ejercicio de transparencia entre las farmacéuticas, y estos para lograr el bien común y realizar un contrato en el que ganemos todos y cada uno de los ciudadanos tanto de Europa como del mismo Mundo.

• Por último toda esta crisis es un claro ejemplo de que hace falta más fomento en investigación y es primordial que el 2% llegue más que nunca debido a que está demostrado que sin ella no somos nada más que personas vulnerables ante cualquier diversidad ocasionada en el ámbito.

Lucía Valenciano  • 11 March 2021

Good morning, I am Lucia and I as a student of the IES Don Bosco, I would like you, seeing the situation of vaccines in the Union, I would like you to answer the following question:
What is the current situation with pharmaceuticals, especially with AstraZeneca?
On what are you based to establish the rules of confinement and determine who has the preference to be vaccinated and who does not?
Why have there been politicians who have been vaccinated before people at risk or people who needed it more?

Manuel Romero  • 11 March 2021

Algunos países como por ejemplo Polonia y Hungría, están aprobando leyes que están en contra de los principios de la UE: contra la separación de poderes o contra minorías como extranjeros u homosexuales

¿Cree que suponen un riesgo el futuro de la UE? ¿Que puede hacer el Parlamento para frenar este peligro?

Marcos Oliva  • 11 March 2021

Buenas tardes, Soy Marcos, alumno del centro IES Don Bosco, instituto de la localidad de Valverde del Camino, dentro de la provincia de Huelva.
En primer lugar querría exponer mis quejas sobre el tema de las vacunas y además de como los señores/as políticos explican de manera contradictoria.
-¿Por qué se nos oculta información relacionada con el covid y con qué fin?
-¿En que os habéis basado para poner tales normas de la pandemia como el toque de queda o el cierre de restaurantes, etc pero a la misma vez sí se pueden hacer manifestaciones o sí pueden haber aglomeraciones en salidas de colegios e institutos, teniendo en cuenta que hay un límite de personas y que si se sobrepasa é conllevará a una sanción económica?

María José Piqueras  • 11 March 2021

Al hacer este estudio en una masa tan grande de población (porque al fin y al cabo, es un estudio), ¿saben realmente las posibles consecuencias que pueden conllevar?
A esto me refiero, vacunan a ciegas y a todo tipo de personas sin tener en cuenta enfermedades y además ¿aseguran efectividad?

María Pérez  • 11 March 2021

Buenas, yo como alumna del IES Don Bosco quiero llamar a la responsabilidad en el Parlamento Europeo, debemos de llegar acuerdos para el bien común debido a que si no no saldremos de esta si no estamos unidos.
Respecto a lo que he dicho quiero hacer unas preguntas claves y preguntas sobre el tema:

• ¿Qué políticas comunes tenemos que afianzar y cuáles fallan para remediarlas cuanto antes posible?
• ¿Por qué hasta en tiempos de extrema urgencia hay tantas complicaciones y tantas trabas de parte de todo?
• Respecto a la ciencia ¿Por qué no se proponen avances?

Por último, creo que si llegamos a un acuerdo común todo saldrá hacia delante y unidos se solucionará.

Marina Arroyo  • 11 March 2021

Preguntas vacuna
• ¿Para cuándo estará la vacuna española?
• ¿En qué proceso se encuentra la vacuna española?
• ¿Se sigue trabajando en la vacuna para mejorarla?
• Según han comentado algunos medios la vacuna española puede llegar a ser más eficaz que las demás ¿es cierto?

Paola Pascual  • 11 March 2021

• ¿En qué se han basado en poner las vacunas primeros a unas edades y luego a otras?
• ¿Cree usted que la vacuna servirá para poder estar bien dentro de un par de años o solo cree que ralentizará el que haya más casos?

Alessandra  • 12 March 2021

We do need to increase our solidarity, especially now because as of right now it really feels like it’s every man for themselves. This pandemic doesn’t just have to do with just Italy or France it has to do with the whole world. And we can’t fight this pandemic and it’s consequences if we don’t fight together. Every country has been dealing with the pandemic in their own way but what if there was a law passed saying that we can’t leave our houses? Wouldn’t it be safer than to just opening and closing states based on the number of deaths? People should be forced to stay inside, that’s the only way it’ll work. Obviously in some countries or continents this isn’t needed, but in Europe it feels like it is, because no one really follows the rules unless it’s something enforced. Of course it means that everyone’s job will be put on standby, unless they can work digitally, and if that happens can’t the government give workers a monthly payment. asked on their economic situation and the amount of family members? These are just ideas and they’ve probably already been reviewed, but I just think about it quite often when I watch the news. And I’m still young so I obviously don’t know how all of this works I was just wondering.

Isabell Repalust  • 12 March 2021

The best way for the European Parliament to promote solidarity in the EU is through social media. Young people are the future so we need to get their attention, and social media is the key to their hearts. My suggestion would be for each EU Member State to elect two young ambassadors to represent their country. All ambassadors would have a common profile on social media where they would help young people learn more about the EU, how EU Member States help each other, would encourage young people to give ideas on how and in what way to spread solidarity in the EU... The ambassadors would have online meetings to discuss future plans, they would elect one person to represent them and the person would go to the European Parliament to share their ideas with members of the Parliament. Ambassadors would also use their private profiles to try to persuade followers to go to EU profiles.

I would say that for Croatia, the best recent example of solidarity between EU Member States is when neighboring countries helped us after the earthquake that hit Banija. For example, Austria gave us containers in which people who have lost their houses can stay, and Slovenia donated construction materials that will help rebuild Banija. I must mention that they helped us very quickly. It's wonderful to see how EU Member States help each other.

I believe that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on solidarity across EU. Countries closed borders and went into lockdowns, and the EU split in some ways. The battle for each state to provide a vaccine only for its citizens began, instead of being jointly supplied and distributed with the vaccine. I think the EU failed the solidarity test because the states only cared about themselves.

Isabell Repalust  • 12 March 2021

The best way for the European Parliament to promote solidarity in the EU is through social media. Young people are the future so we need to get their attention, and social media is the key to their hearts. My suggestion would be for each EU Member State to elect two young ambassadors to represent their country. All ambassadors would have a common profile on social media where they would help young people learn more about the EU, how member states help each other, would encourage young people to give ideas on how and in what way to spread solidarity in the EU... The ambassadors would have online meetings to discuss future plans, they would elect one person to represent them and the person would go to the European Parliament to share their ideas with members of the Parliament. Ambassadors would also use their private profiles to try to persuade followers to go to EU profiles.

I would say that for Croatia, the best recent example of solidarity between EU Member States is when neighboring countries helped us after the earthquake that hit Banija. For example, Austria gave us containers in which people who have lost their houses can stay, and Slovenia donated construction materials that will help rebuild Banija. I must mention that they helped us very quickly. It's wonderful to see how EU Member States help each other.

I believe that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on solidarity across EU. Countries closed borders and went into lockdowns, and the EU split in some ways. The battle for each state to provide a vaccine only for its citizens began, instead of being jointly supplied and distributed with the vaccine. I think the EU failed the solidarity test because the states only cared about themselves.

Justina Vrbanec  • 12 March 2021

I believe that there are many young people who have a hard time finding a new place to live in Croatia because of earthquakes and would appreciate support, either mental and financial to je reminded that they aren't alone and that people from other countries are informed and do care too. So, maybe some project where youth from different countries would get the opportunity to communicate with people in struggle from other countries who are similar age and would be useful. It doesn't have to do anything with money, it could be more like informing themselves, offering knowledge or aevice or mental support or some help with school. I would Like to know what do you think about this idea.

Katarina  • 14 March 2021

On the occasion of the Covidom-19 pandemic, we got the idea to introduce outdoor classrooms in our school. Classrooms would have wooden benches or stumps arranged in a circle. This idea came to our mind because it is outdoors, it is healthier and more interesting for us students and professors. I think that would be ideal because it is difficult for students to endure all the schools hours sitting in benches, indoors, under the masks...
Economic school from Zadar, Croatia

Valentina  • 14 March 2021

On the occasion of the covid-19 pandemic, we got the idea to introduce outdoor classrooms in our school. classrooms would have wooden benches or stumps arranged in a circle. This idea came to our mind because it is outdoors, it is healthier and more interesting for us students and professors. I think that would be ideal because it is difficult for students to endure all the hours sitting in benches, indoors, under masks ...

Any thoughts on this idea?

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