DISINFO: The EU stands idly by while COVID-19 causes mass slaughter and economic tsunami

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the EU and coronavirus. The European Commission is coordinating a common European response to the COVID-19 crisis and is supporting the Member States in tackling the pandemic and in mitigating its economic consequences. EU countries are showing solidarity with the countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic by helping to treat the patients and protect health workers. Critically ill patients from Italy and France are treated in Germany, Austria, Luxembourg; millions of medical masks and other protective equipment have been sent to Italy. Read more about European solidarity in action and see the timeline and the EU’s response to COVID-19 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's fiscal rules, has revised its State Aid rules and proposed to set up a EUR 37 billion Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative to provide liquidity to small businesses and the health care sector. The Commission is further increasing its response by proposing to set up a €100 billion solidarity instrument to help workers keep their incomes and businesses stay afloat, called SURE. It is also proposing to redirect all available structural funds to the response to the coronavirus. To support scientific research into COVID-19, the European Commission earmarked 47,5 million EUR for shortlisted research projects that can improve epidemiology and public health, including preparedness and response to outbreaks. On the 23rd of April EU leaders have tasked the European Commission with designing an Economic Recovery Fund to tackle the deep economic crisis that COVID-19 will cause in Europe. The EU also created the first-ever stockpile of medical equipment. Read more about the EU's response here.