WATCH: “Solidarity in the EU Member States”, November 18 (CERE)

The spread of COVID-19 appears to have turned the world upside down. The pandemic has put enormous stress on the global economy. Its impact on the European Union, its Member States and neighbouring countries poses the biggest challenge since its existence. It is the latest stress test of Europe’s solidarity after being pummeled by the eurozone debt turmoil, the migration crisis of 2015-16 and Brexit. Whether the EU can bounce back and what shape the recovery will take depends on what actions the Member States are willing to take individually and collectively in the days, weeks and months to come.

In the framework of the upcoming book “Solidarity in Action and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals”, edited by Michael Kaeding, Johannes Pollak and Paul Schmidt, TEPSA co-hosted a debate on November 18 at 18:30 CET. The event focused on Member States’ views on European Solidarity. In partnership with the Robert Schuman Institute of the University of Luxembourg, and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Luxembourg, this event featured contributions from: 

  • Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg,
  • Katarina Barley MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats,
  • Isabel Wiseler-Lima MEP, Group of the European People’s Party,
  • Guido Lessing, Research Assistant at the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History, University of Luxembourg,

The event featured also the special participation of Paul Schmidt, editor of the upcoming book “Solidarity in Action and the Future of Europe, and Secretary-General of ÖGFE.

This event took place in the framework of the upcoming publication of TEPSA’s new book: “Solidarity in Action and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals”, which will focus on solidarity in action and is edited by Michael Kaeding, Johannes Pollak, and Paul Schmidt. Coming soon via Springer.