EU Employment and Social Policy Ministers discussed the economic recovery plan and the demographic challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the videoconference organised by the Croatian Presidency. Today's videoconference was with the participation of the Commission Vice President for Democracy and Demography Dubravka Šuica, Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit, and EU Social Partners.

The €3bn 3 macro-financial assistance package to ten enlargement and neighbourhood partners, proposed by the Commission was greenlighted by EU ambassadors on Tuesday. The aid is dedicated for helping these countries in coping with the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic.

European Council President Charles Michel and the current President of the G5 Sahel, Mohamed Cheikh El Ghazouani, co-chaired on Tuesday a video conference with all the Heads of State of the G5 Sahel, EC President Ursula Von der Leyen and the High Representative of the EU Josep Borrell, in the presence of the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN and the President of the African Union Commission.

EU ministers responsible for home affairs held a videoconference to discuss the state of play and way forward on the response to Covid-19. The meeting was chaired by Davor Božinović, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister of Croatia.

European Union energy ministers discussed on Tuesday the security of supplies and the role of the industry in a plan for an economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Croatian minister of environment and energy Tomislav Ćorić chaired the meeting, with the participation of the European Commissioner responsible for energy Kadri Simson.

Issuing “Covid-19 passports” and organising summer “corridors” for travelers is among the considered ideas so  to prepare for the forthcoming season the holiday industry, hardly hit by the coronavirus crisis. EU tourism ministers discussed these possibilities, among other proposals to boost the sector, at a videoconference on Monday.

How to deal with the Covid-19 and its consequences, and especially how to help the pandemic-hit economies, discussed on Thursday afternoon at a videoconference the EU27 leaders, together with the presidents of the European Council, the European Commission and in the first part of the session – with the president of the European Parliament. 

Following his speech at the European Council meeting that is held on Thursday via videoconference, EP President David Sassoli stressed that there is a need to use all the tools available, particularly for the reconstruction plan.

Against the backdrop of the growing coronavirus crisis and its devastating impact on European economies, EU27 leaders started discussing at a videoconference on Thursday afternoon the next steps for Europe's recovery. This is also in the context of the increasing intransigence of the North and South positions regarding the funding of the necessary reconstruction measures.

The Council adopted in a written procedure on Wednesday new rules amending two regulations, intended to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the fishery and aquaculture sector. The revamped regulation will be published in the EU Official Journal probably on 24 April and will enter into force on the following day.