Italian PM floats idea of ‘corona-bonds’ to restart EU economy

A handout photo made available by Chigi Palace Press Office shows Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte during the European Council video conference at Chigi Palace in Rome. [EPA-EFE/ATTILI]

Giuseppe Conte, the Italian Prime Minister, urged EU leaders on Tuesday (17 March) to take extraordinary measures and consider issuing joint debt at EU level in order to help Europe’s economy recover from the coronavirus crisis.

Europe should respond to an extraordinary crisis with equally extraordinary means and do “whatever it takes” to support the economy, Conte told EU heads of states during a videoconference call on the coronavirus crisis.

Conte was making reference to the famous words of Mario Draghi, the former European Central Bank (ECB) chief, whose pledge to do “whatever it takes to preserve the euro” marked a turning point in the eurozone debt crisis.

Conte said no EU member state can come unscathed “by this socio-economic tsunami,” adding that any delay in the EU’s common response would be irresponsible, and potentially fatal.

“If we proceed divided the response will be ineffective and this will make us weak and exposed to market reactions,” he warned.

Conte urged EU leaders to consider all potential instruments, including the emission of “coronavirus-bonds” or resorting to a European guarantee fund.

“Right now, we must do whatever it takes in order to provide European citizens with the necessary medical care and socio-economic protection they need,” Conte said during the videoconference.

Even though many economists agree that mutualising debt at EU level would make sense, the idea has always proved controversial because the EU lacks the attributes of a federal state and doesn’t control all the levers of the economy.

While France and Italy supported the idea of issuing joint Eurobonds during the 2010-2012 sovereign debt crisis, Germany strongly resisted the idea, pointing to the individual responsibility of EU member states to keep their finances in order. “You do not confide your credit card to someone without any possibility to control his expenditures,” was how the German central bank put it at the time.

The debate hasn’t fundamentally changed since then. While Berlin initially seemed opened to the Italian proposal, German Chancellor Angela Merkel later clarified to journalists that nothing had been decided on issuing joint European debt.

ESM to the rescue?

Another option could be to use the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the eurozone bailout fund, which currently has €410 billion at its disposal.

After days of renewed turbulence on EU debt markets, using the ESM’s firepower would help send a clear signal to investors, some analysts argued.

The idea was backed by former Italian PM Enrico Letta, who wrote on Twitter that the fund was conceived specifically for this kind of situation, and should be the pillar of the European response to the coronavirus crisis.

However, Germany’s finance minister Olaf Scholz said the debate on the involvement of the ESM was still “premature” at this stage.

EU economy ministers failed to agree on involving the ESM during a joint teleconference held on Monday (16 March). “We are not taking any possible solutions off the table,” said Eurogroup President Mario Centeno after Monday’s meeting. “Rest assured that we will defend the euro with everything we have got,” he told reporters.

Eurogroup chief: EU living 'war-like' conditions, long struggle lies ahead

Eurogroup chief Mario Centeno warned on Monday (16 March) that under the coronavirus outbreak the European economy is experiencing the equivalent of a war, and that a long struggle lies ahead.

‘Wartime’ economy

On Monday (16 March), the Italian government issued a €25 billion stimulus package with measures ranging from financial assistance to businesses to suspending tax payments for families.

According to Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri, the “cura-Italia” decree – literally “heal Italy” decree – will leverage another €350 billion of investments.

In presenting the plan, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said other EU countries should follow Italy’s example – not only when it comes to health but also to the economic response to the crisis.

But the situation remains exceptionally tough. Italy’s Special Commissioner for the emergency, Domenico Arcuri, spoke about the need to put in place a “wartime economy” to avoid a meltdown.

“Like in wartime, we must produce what we need and we are reconverting production systems and reimporting industries that are now located elsewhere,” he said.

As of Tuesday (17 March), Italy’s coronavirus death toll has risen to 2,503, while the total number of confirmed cases is now 31,506 of which 2,942 have been cured.

UK unveils 'wartime' €400 billion COVID bailout programme

The UK unveiled an unprecedented £350 billion (€400 billion) financial rescue package to “support jobs, incomes and businesses” on Tuesday (17 March), in a bid to offset the economic damage unleashed by the coronavirus crisis.

[Edited by Frédéric Simon]

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