DISINFO: Unlike Russia, Western democracies provide coronavirus assistance to gain political benefits
SUMMARY
Contrary to Russia, who is committed to helping humanity in the fight against coronavirus without seeking any political benefits, Western so-called democracies provide coronavirus assistance in order to obtain political benefits.
RESPONSE
No evidence given. Pro-Kremlin disinformation message aimed at discrediting Western countries and their supposed lack of solidarity. This is also consistent with the Russian narrative of a decadent West lacking traditional values. Solidarity already has an undoubted presence in the legal framework of the EU, as well as a well-established constitutional tradition in some Member States. The EU Treaties explicitly refer to solidarity in a number of provisions, including the values and objectives of the Union (solidarity ‘between generations’ and ‘among Member States’) and particular policies where the ‘principle’ or ‘spirit’ of solidarity is to be applied. The EU and several of its member states have shown solidarity to Italy and have been helping Italy in its fight against Covid-19. Germany for example has sent a ‘flying hospital’ to help coronavirus patients, in one of Italy’s hardest-hit regions as the country continues to struggle with the pandemic. The ‘flying hospital’ offers patients ventilators, syringe pumps, defibrillators and an ultrasound system. On the 26thof March about 50 COVID-19 patients from Italy were already being treated in Germany. German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said the government decided to send over the ‘flying intensive care unit’ as a sign of European solidarity. The EU is accelerating procurement and distribution of medical equipment for its Member States. The joint procurement of personal protective equipment launched by the European Commission is one of the major initiatives undertaken. Additionally, the Commission wants to directly support the healthcare systems of EU Member States in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic. To finance this action, the Commission is mobilising €3 billion from the EU budget, of which €2.7 billion will be channelled through the Emergency Support Instrument and €300 million through the rescEU-medical equipment capacity. The Commission has also decided to create a strategic EU stockpile of medical equipment such as ventilators and protective masks to help EU countries. Read similar cases claiming that Coronavirus exposes the weakness of European humanism and that the lack of solidarity against COVID-19 may cause the end of the EU.