The Intelligence from The Economist Continental divides: covid-19 strains the EU
May 15, 2020
Duncan Robinson, Brussels bureau chief for The Economist, and Richard Enzer, a correspondent based in Mexico, dive into the EU's ongoing struggles amid COVID-19. They discuss the existential crisis facing the bloc and the need for reform. In contrast, they examine Nayib Bukele's controversial rise in El Salvador, highlighting his dictatorial tendencies and mixed public perception. The conversation also touches on the intriguing yet misunderstood connection between sunlight exposure and COVID-19, shedding light on myths and realities surrounding the virus.
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EU Origins and Growth
- The EU began in 1950 as a pact between France and West Germany to merge coal and steel production.
- It expanded over 70 years to become a 28-country bloc, the world's largest market, successfully promoting peace.
EU's Inconsistent Integration
- The EU's incomplete integration, like a common currency without common spending, creates inconsistencies.
- These gaps, evident in migration and asylum policies, cause problems to fester.
Pandemic Exposes Single Market Flaws
- The pandemic exposed the EU single market's weakness by allowing state aid, favoring richer countries like Germany.
- Poorer countries like Spain and Italy cannot match this aid, creating unfair competition.