EUROPE IS BREAKING WHEN IT SHOULD BE FIGHTING
COVID 19 NEEDS ONE WORLD APPROACH TO ITS DEFEAT
An Italian-born British businessman has warned that Coronavirus could push Europe to the brink of civil unrest.
CEO of independent British cable manufacturer Tratos, Dr Maurizio Bragagni warned that Europe — built as the ultimate defence against a repeat of WWII — was breaking leaving member nations taking a piecemeal approach to fighting the virus.
The idea behind post-war former enemies sitting at the same table, sharing trade and open borders with old enmities buried and new alliances forged was, he said, to ensure a peaceful future shaped by co-operation.
He warned: “This new Europe isn’t working at the very time — above all others — that it should.
“I’m a British businessman who has returned to the country of his birth — Italy — to stand with the nation and see how best I can help. Those who have come to the country’s aid have come from China and Russia, even Cuba — doctors, medical equipment, protective masks. I don’t see near neighbours, the rest of Europe, offering help at national level and I don’t see it coming from the US.
“Yes, everyone is facing the same threat, but control and reversal of this virus has to be tackled universally and together. One shared, invisible threat, requiring humanity to step up and do the right thing. But are we?
“Many Italians see a Europe that is turning its back and focusing on the problem within it’s own ‘back yard’. This isn’t the way to tackle a pandemic and it isn’t the way Europe should work.
“We’re seeing the end of European solidarity. Italy on its own doesn’t have the money required to tackle the virus at the scale it has achieved here.
“We have to act together. Pronouncing just one connected nation ‘clear’ of the virus isn’t a status that can be maintained. It is short-sighted in the extreme.
“International trade has to stay open, that allows people to self-isolate safely and with confidence that they can get the food and other supplies they need, that utilities will still function, that freight will still move, that sanitation, power and communication will remain in place. That there will be a life left to return to.
“In short we have to work together, there is no other way.
“We need to recognise that our working practices have to change but — if we don’t keep production going — we will be recovering bodies from houses, not celebrating an end of social distancing and self-isolation.
“We need to come at this from the other side. Not what are essential businesses, but the few that are not. For the rest, the rest that make sure people are fed, have light, sanitation, heat and communications, production must go on.
“But, it must go on alongside a deadly virus so the proper PPE must be worn and it must be of a grade absolutely built to resist biohazardous material. Then we need to change the way we do things; we strip off protective gear and enter the home clean and sanitised. We leave for work clean, sanitised and arrive to suit up in the appropriate manner. Then we get on with our jobs. Our jobs are to keep the world normal, to stop the spread of fear and help keep people rational and comforted. When every single thing in someone’s world is different, we need to ensure the normal infrastructures are there, safe and reliable, to cling to and reassure. And, while we are doing that, we are doing the right thing and protecting every worker.
“We do need to do the right thing — we have to do the right thing.
“The truth is it will be at the very least 9 months before we can expect to see signs of the potential for life to return to normal. This virus will not just evaporate.
“We can’t afford to see Europe break up, we, the UK, can’t afford to self-isolate from the rest of the world. We have to work together and support our neighbours. International trade is how this world works, blocking borders is akin to closing the doors and simply hoping it will, somehow, cure the virus problem and keep everyone alive.
“Today I received the facemasks I ordered. They came from China. The medical machine I ordered for my mother-in-law came from the US. Global trade, helping each other will save the world from collapse. We can only stay home because we can get hold of supplies. The heroes? Yes the doctors and nurses, yes the NHS canteen staff and cleaners, yes the refuse collectors, police, ambulance drivers, firemen and yes the people in factories who, like our grandfathers, carried on keeping production going as bombs dropped. Why — because without them carrying on and doing their jobs all would have been lost.
“We have an opportunity to save lives, and save the life we all share, all we have to do is do it differently. Because we have global standards, the items any country orders from another will work in their own nation, in their own hospitals and medical centres. That gives us the flexibility to help turn around and close down the virus. Global trade working and active and protected, will help push the virus into retreat.
“So our list of heroes has to get longer. And we have to furnish those heroes with the equipment they need to do their jobs. Whether it’s driving freight, unloading food and medical supplies at ports or producing components for medical devices or utilities. The world can’t stop. If it does then insurrection will result.
“This virus isn’t going to disappear, or even approach being brought under control, until we have the vaccine — or 60% of the population contract it and survive.
“I chose to come back to Italy to be with wider family and help the country of my birth. Every day I am watching as developments unfold and public mood becomes more unstable.
“Today I received the facemasks I ordered. They came from China. The medical machine I ordered for my mother-in-law came from the US. Global trade, helping each other — that will save the world from collapse. We can only stay home because we can get hold of supplies. The heroes? Yes the doctors and nurses, yes the NHS canteen staff and cleaners, yes the refuse collectors, police, ambulance drivers, firemen and yes the people in factories who, like our grandfathers, carried on keeping production going as bombs dropped. Why — because without them carrying on and doing their jobs all would have been lost.
He added: “We have to level with people, they have to know what they’re in for and we need to keep the lights on. It is not beyond our capabilities to produce and deliver clean and healthy — the alternative is too terrifying to contemplate.”
Evening Standard, George Osborn; Sajid Javid
