schema:articleBody
| - EU finance ministers scrambled Monday to find answers to the devastating effects of the coronavirus outbreak, comparing the battle to keep the European economy afloat to a war. One by one, EU nations are enforcing strict lockdowns as governments make the tough choice to ditch a healthy economy in order to halt the spread of the disease. "We know the virus hasn't reached its peak. We must not kid ourselves," said Mario Centeno, the Portuguese finance minister, who presides the Eurogroup meeting of eurozone ministers. "These are the first steps in a temporary, but long fight. Forced containment is bringing our economies to war-like times," said Centeno before the video conference talks began. The ministers -- exceptionally joined by colleagues from outside the single-currency euro bloc -- are expected to sign off on a raft of proposals by the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, including waiving rules on public overspending. The measures will accompany a "surgical" stimulus decided the European Central Bank, whose chief Christine Lagarde gaffed on Thursday when she said Italy's debt problems were not her problem, spooking the markets. Financially pressed Italy is the hardest-hit country in Europe by the coronavirus outbreak, but other major economies like Spain, France and Germany are quickly following in its tracks. "We will make sure that EU fiscal rules or state aid rules will not stand in the way of supporting our economies. Flexibility is there and will be used," Centeno said. Measures will also include pledges to better coordinate national policies among the member states. However, to the frustration of some, the ministers are not expected to discuss a bailout of the European economy or any other Europe-wide rescue plan. "We need a strong monetary and budgetary response at national and supranational level," said Spanish Finance Minister Nadia Calvino, calling for a "common and coordinated response from across Europe". arp/dc/wai
|