Usually it鈥檚 right-wing U.K. and U.S. euroskeptics who prophesy doom for the European Union, but in the past couple of weeks voices of gloom have come from the heart of the EU establishment.
Former European Commission President Jacques Delors spoke of a 鈥渕ortal danger鈥� to the bloc. Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta warned of the 鈥渄eadly risk鈥� Europe faces. Spain鈥檚 Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez called this Europe鈥檚 鈥渨orst crisis since the Second World War.鈥� Portugal鈥檚 Prime Minister Ant贸nio Costa agrees: 鈥淓ither the EU does what needs to be done or it will end.鈥� Inaction, warned French President Emmanuel Macron, could be the death of the EU.
The coronavirus has reopened old wounds and torn Europe in two along the old creditor-debtor line鈥攁 mostly Latin Southern Europe vs. a largely Nordic and Germanic North. The massive economic and social shock of the pandemic has hit every European country, but the Germans and their neighbors can manage, mostly, on their own resources. Southern states, many already burdened with high levels of debt and some having yet to recover from the 2007-09 recession, need help.
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