EU Trade Ministers discuss concerted European action to support the EU economy during the COVID-19 crisis

In today’s informal Council meeting of the EU Ministers of Trade and Industry, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier and his counterparts will be discussing ways in which the EU can take concerted action to overcome the COVID-19 crisis. The focus of the recovery discussions is on restoring the single market to its full capacity, and on strengthening the competitiveness of the European industrial sector.

Said Minister Altmaier: “Overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic and its massive impact on the economy is a pan-European task. It is therefore of the essence that we take joint and concerted action at European level. I therefore welcome the fact that the European Commission is preparing a Recovery Action Plan for the European economy. We must find joint answers as to how we can restore the EU economy and bring it back to strength.”

The Federal Government is in permanent discussions with the European Commission and with the other governments of the EU Member States. At the centre of the debate is the question as to how the restrictions affecting the single market in all Member States can be lifted as soon as possible, and how the European industrial sector can play a pivotal role in reviving the economy within the EU.

In view of the current challenges, the Croatian Presidency of the Council had decided to bring forward the informal video meeting of the European Ministers of Trade and Industry from its original date at the end of May.