Thread by @tepsaeu

We're LIVE 🔴

Tune in to the current TEPSA Debate: "Southern Europe and the #COVID19 crisis: Not Left Behind This Time?"

Co-Hosted by @CidobBarcelona

👉

As always, we will be live-tweeting some choice quotes from our great panel of speakers 💪

/THREAD

Filippa Chatzistavrou from @eliamepgr has started the debate by breaking down the context of the #COVID19 crisis in #Greece, comparing and contrasting the number of recent Euro-crises with a context of austerity

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"European response in the beginning was confused"- Filippa Chatzistavrou from @eliamepgr

Indeed, and because #health policy is a national competence, a united policy repsonse is difficult.

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Now Carlos Gaspar from @iprinova breaks down the response in #Portugal:

"we averted a crisis in the social security and national health systems because we were able to pre-plan in reaction to Spain and Italy early on in the pandemic"

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"Lockdown will of course have a strong impact on the economy: tourism (14% of GDP) and manufacturing will be the main areas of impact. We're looking at more than an 8% fall in annual GDP as a result" - Carlos Gaspar from @iprinova explains the costs of dealing with #COVID19

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"Cohesion in Southern Europe did not exist during the 2008 crisis, but after the difficult first weeks of #COVID19, there has been a strong effort in dealing with the crisis"

Carlos Gaspar from @iprinova believes this was crucial in aiding the European response

/5

"The thread of an #Italexit was the impetus for the strong united reaction of the EU to #COVID19: Macron meeting Conte was very important, as was Macron and Merkel's dedication to responding to the crisis"

More expert analysis from Carlos Gaspar of @iprinova

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As Christian Lequesne from @sciencespo begins his contribution to the debate, we begin to discuss the aims, successes, and difficulties of #lockdown policies

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"#COVID19 has opened a big debate on the question of proper renumeration for health workers, which explains why #Macron has not benefited in the popularity polls, in contrast with other leaders who have become much more popular" - Christian Lequesne, @sciencespo

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Christian Lequesne from @sciencespo is currently analysing the debate around #coronabonds - what happened, why did it happen, and what does it mean for Europe?

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"#Macron still aims for a reform in Europe: in the South, he has support in this initiative. This was taken into account in France's effort to speak with Southern Europe"

Christian Lequesne from @sciencespo explains the importance of #COVID19 for Member State relations

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"#Macron's next challenge will be controlling the public debt in the wake of recovery, especially going into the next elections"

Christian Lequesne from @sciencespo explains the internal challenges faced by President Macron

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"Championing the European Project is to champion progress for France, and that is Macron's chief aim in doing so"

Christian Lequesne from @sciencespo explains Macron's reasoning for championing the European Project

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.@Poli_Eleonora from @IAIonline now discusses the challenges #Italy has faced during #COVID19:

Already facing #migration problems, a political crisis, and poor recovery from 2008, COVID came to Italy first.

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"The social consequences of the crisis will hit the country hard, but it was a good moment for the government: it took all the oxygen from the populist threat"

@Poli_Eleonora from @IAIonline compares and contrasts the effects of the #COVID19 crisis on Italy

/14

"The country is opening back up, and life is slowly becoming more normal, but I can't be as positive when considering the European angle: the initial EU response angered both Eurosceptics and pro-Europeans"

@Poli_Eleonora from @IAIonline lays out the initial reaction

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"The second reaction was much better, but early failures by the EU response (especially in light of aid from Cuba and China, etc.) have hurt the EU's reputation in Italy"

@Poli_Eleonora from @IAIonline breaks down why some believe #COVID19 might mean the end of the EU

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"In view of this, the recovery plan's success is so important: it must be successful for the EU to gain ground politically"

@Poli_Eleonora from @IAIonline brilliantly summarises the need for the EU to become visible and successful in Italy

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"Political resilience is the most important thing for Italy. #Salvini is less popular, yes, but some far right anti-EU parties are either stabilising or gaining ground"

According to @Poli_Eleonora from @IAIonline, the way forward for Italy is clear, but difficult

/18

"Either we float together or we sink together"

@ilketoygur from @rielcano begins her contribution by eloquently explaining the attitude to response in Spain

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"Support for Europe is one of the key messages of the Spanish government during the pandemic: if there is a long term effect, Spain may step up its role in Europe. The public space may become more European."

- @ilketoygur from @rielcano
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"An increased role for the @EUCouncil may help with this Europeanisation of the Spanish public space by bringing an increased role of national politics into European politics"

@ilketoygur from @rielcano continues her exciting analysis of the way forward after #COVID19

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"I hope that Spain can move beyond the current polarisation to create a united front for the short- and medium-term future of the country in various areas that the country would clearly benefit from"

@ilketoygur from @rielcano

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Our moderator Héctor Sánchez from @CidobBarcelona (our co-hosts for this TEPSA Debate) has just opened the floor to questions!

Get your questions in via #Zoom or in the chat on YouTube

Filippa Chatzistavrou form @eliamepgr tackles the first question on the topic on #conditionality:

"In Greece, conditionality isn't much liked. Greeks don't like the various needs to structural reforms, spending cuts, etc."

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"The problem with this new emergency fund is that we don't know how much money we will get in return for any number of reforms"

Filippa Chatzistavrou from @eliamepgr explains the Greek hostility to the concept of #conditionality

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"An hegemonic Germany would have outright rejected the recovery plan, but Germany is only a leader among many, so we have seen a strong common response"

Christian Lequesne from @sciencespo explains the importance of various Member States in EU decision making

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"We need positive conditionality to build solid economies in the South: invest in digitalisation, culture, and other sectors where we can be leaders"

@Poli_Eleonora from @IAIonline spells out the requirements for any response that incorporates conditionality

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"Speak now or forever hold your peace" 😂

Héctor Sánchez our moderator from @CidobBarcelona makes sure we didn't miss anything before closing the debate for the evening

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As our latest TEPSA Debate draws to a close, we thank our co-hosts @CidobBarcelona for their help in organising this event, and invite you to continue the debate with all our fantastic contributors from @eliamepgr, @iprinova, @sciencespo, @IAIonline, and @rielcano

/ENDS