The corona pandemic has hit the European regions and cities in an unanticipated speed and reach, within days, life, as we knew it, has changed. In addition to putting an enormous strain on medical service provision, the COVID19 has created unprecedented scale socio-economic challenges posing a threat not only to people’s health but also their livelihoods. Without hesitation, EA members joined the frontlines of the fight. Aside from being key actors in monitoring spread of diseases locally, implementing national directives on public health measures and mobilizing all available fiscal and human resources to fight the pandemic, local and regional representatives search for solutions to ensure that no one is left behind during and in the aftermath of the pandemic.At the frontline of the fight remains the public health sector. In Navarre, government is mobilizing volunteers; cooperating with businesses to ensure safe procurement for personal protective equipment; increasing public health care professional hiring to respond to elevated sector demand; and financing innovation (to read more about Navarre's response, follow this link).
Meanwhile, in Jaraczewo municipality, Poland, authorities are distributing protective masks to the region's residents for free.
In addition to public health sector challenges, the authorities had to take urgent action to address the unprecedented scale socio-economic shocks in order to save their community members' livelihoods.
In Corsica, the government allocated €30million for short-term and long-term economic recovery plan.
In Navarre, authorities created an initial fund of 100 million euros to cover expenses related to COVID19 crisis and have established specific lines to extend concession credits of up to 30million and guarantees to companies of up to 40million to prevent companies going out of businesses.
Similarly, the Flemish government has mobilized to ensure government guarantees of up to 75% for undertakings that cannot conclude a financing agreement. The government has directed liquid transfers to companies that must suspend businesses at the expense of the public health measures.
Authorities in Flanders, Galway, and Cork approved benefits for the self-employed and support to employees to retain their employees.
While Valle D'Aosta autonomous region in Italy government allocated 28.7 million euros to cope with economic crisis, created a special risk fund for the SMEs, and self-employed (to read more about Valle D'Aosta authorities' response, follow this link).
Many local governments, including Klaipėda district, Lithuania, Białystok, Poland, Flanders region and Cork City have decided to defer or suspend local taxes for businesses during the crisis period.
Governments have also taken targeted measures to address elevated socio-economic vulnerabilities:
The Flemish and Galway authorities took measures to protect against evictions and to suspend rent and tax payments for those whose financial income got compromised.
Despite schools being closed, authorities in Navarre and in Klaipėda district continue supply of food to those entitled to social benefits.
Special attention is given to seniors with governments in Vulcana-Băi Commune, Dâmbovița County, Romania, Terespol, Poland, Prešov Self – Governing Region, Slovakia, alongside others are making sure that their senior residents' needs for food and medicine are met during the times of quarantine with dedicated support lines, shopping times and service provision assured by the authorities.
Effective fight against the pandemic calls for coordinated cross-institutional approach to deliver a comprehensive response. The government of Catalonia is leading by example in delivering an integrated response. All of the government departments – from health to economy, to digital policy, culture and education, and social affairs - have taken targeted action to respond to negative socio-economic impact of the pandemic on its community members' lives (to read more about Catalan authorities' response, follow this link).
All of the EA members are putting effort to ensure that local and regional government services continue to operate, that the information relating to recent pandemic development and measures taken is up to date and accessible to residents.