The ministers held a joint video-meeting to discuss the response to the COVID-19 crisis and its long-term social and economic impact.
Italian Minister Giuseppe Provenzano, who chaired the meeting, said:
“Today more than ever European solidarity is vital. First of all, to overcome the current medical battle against the virus. But beyond the emergency, that same European solidarity will be needed to support the economic and social recovery, making sure that the money we invest will be used to build a more sustainable and fair society.
“As chair of the PES network of cohesion ministers I want to thank in particular the immediate and resolute reaction of the Commissioner in charge of Cohesion, Elisa Ferreira. She has mobilised all possible resources from the cohesion funds, to support European countries and societies in this unprecedented crisis.
“Now is the time to remain united and to work in the spirit of solidarity. Today more than ever we see the real need for true cohesion, inside our societies, and between our countries and our regions. We will continue our fight to ensure a quick, fair, and balanced recovery from the crisis in every part of Europe.”
The meeting was attended by:
- Giuseppe Provenzano, Chair, Minister for Territorial Cohesion and Mezzogiorno, Italy
- Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, European Commission
- Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds, Malta
- Rovana Plumb, Vice-President for a just transition and demography, S&D Group in the European Parliament
- Yonnec Polet, Deputy-Secretary General, PES
