The virus passes over states not involved in major issues of world politics, and is spreading on territories where the global stakeholders’ interests collide. Of course, other countries are affected, but the virus does not present any danger for them. The virus has selected China, Iran, Italy and Spain as targets. Stuck between Spain and Italy is France. Their neighbours are affected less, if affected at all. In Mongolia on 23 March there was only one case, though the country is populated by as many Chinese as Mongolians and the borders between China and Mongolia have remained open.
Europe has become the largest problem of the world due to the inability of the Europeans for a timely assessment of the Coronavirus danger, which has changed the continent into a global centre of this infection. The history of the Coronavirus puts an end to the 500 years of global domination of Europe – the “Sick Man of the World” cannot be an example for others by default. The situation with the Coronavirus also put an end to the “soft power” of Europe – in the eyes of the entire world, Europe has turned into the symbol of defeat, catastrophe, stupidity, irresponsibility and sloppiness.
This message is part of the Kremlin’s disinformation campaign around the Coronavirus epidemic – it promotes a narrative of the imminent collapse of the EU due to the problems caused by the Coronavirus epidemic. The message about the alleged collapse of Europe due to the Coronavirus epidemic is a conspiracy theory and an element of the anti-European propaganda of the Kremlin. To cushion the blow to people’s livelihoods and the economy, the European Commission has adopted a comprehensive economic response to the outbreak, applied the full flexibility of the EU fiscal rules, has revised its State Aid rules and proposed to set up a €37 billion Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative to provide liquidity to small businesses and the health care sector. To provide all EU Member States with essential medical equipment, the EU has created the European stockpile of ventilators, masks and lab supplies. This medical and protective equipment is available to any EU country. The Commission will finance 90% of this stockpile through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (RescEU). To support scientific research into the COVID-19, the European Commission has earmarked €47.5 million for shortlisted research projects that can improve epidemiology and public health, including preparedness and response to outbreaks. The EU has also created its first-ever stockpile of medical equipment. See other disinformation messages connected to the Coronavirus epidemic - Coronavirus will cause the dissolution of the EU and NATO, Pentagon-funded biological laboratories involved in creation of Coronavirus, The Baltic states may not survive the coronavirus-related economic crisis and Germany called for lifting sanctions against Russia because of Coronavirus. More on EU repsonse to the COVID-19 outbreak here