EU to call for Europe-wide crisis management centre

European Union leaders are to call for “a true European crisis management centre”, according to a leaked document that seeks to draw lessons from the coronavirus pandemic.

The EU’s 27 leaders will hold a conference call today, replacing the spring summit that was due to take place in Brussels, which is usually devoted to the economy. Instead the agenda will be dominated by coronavirus, the impact on people, health systems and the economy.

According to a text of the EU conclusions seen by the Guardian, EU leaders are expected to sign off on “a more ambitious and wide-ranging crisis management system within the EU, including, for instance a true European crisis management centre”.

The EU already has an Emergency Response Coordination Centre, which operates 24/7 and can organise help, if asked, when any country in the world suffers an earthquake, forest fire, floods or pandemic.

The text also makes a muted plea for the lifting of export bans on medical protective kits, such as masks and goggles. Germany and France have been criticised in recent weeks for imposing export bans on some of these products. The text states that a recent decision requiring all countries to seek approval for export of these goods outside the EU “should lead to the full lifting of any internal bans”, but stops short of member states pledging to do so.

EU leaders will also pledge to ensure “smooth border management” for people and goods, amid rising concern that internal border controls are slowing the supply of vital medical goods. As of 24 March at midday CET, 12 countries in the European border-free travel zone had told authorities in Brussels they had introduced border restrictions.

Manufacturers are warning that vital supplies, such as masks and surgical equipment, are not getting through.

The head of the Swedish Employers’ Association Anna Stellinger told publication Borderlex.

It’s a real catastrophe. There is medical equipment produced by Swedish companies that – due to trade restrictions – can’t reach the patient.