Member states struggle to contain coronavirus disease, in Brussels, Greta Thunberg lectures MEPs, and new migration crisis causes unease.
This episode is sponsored by Lukoil, more about them later on.
As half the world panics about the new coronavirus COVID19, the first case in the EU Brussels Bubble was confirmed on Wednesday.
EURACTIV had the story about a staffer at the European Defence Agency.
BREAKING: first confirmed case of novel #coronavirus (#COVID_19) in the #EU institutions.@EURACTIV has the storyhttps://t.co/7RYOswOWth
— Gerardo Fortuna (@gerardofortuna) March 4, 2020
Later the same day, the EU Council sent an email to staff notifying them about another case in the institution reported Jim Brunsden.
NEW The @EUCouncil has sent an email to staff notifying them about a #Covid_19 case in the institution. The person "is infected with novel coronavirus COVID-19 following local transmission in Belgium." pic.twitter.com/3D4hj8kZG9
— Jim Brunsden (@jimbrunsden) March 4, 2020
Bringing the grand total of COVID19 cases in the EU institutions to a terrifying – 2.
Nonetheless, the European Parliament decided to close its doors to visitors.
130 events, expected to be attended by 7000 people have been cancelled.
The EU Parliament has finally sent out a press release confirming it is closing its doors because of #Covid_19.
130 events, expected to be attended by 7000 people, have been cancelled.
No non-staff people will be admitted to the buildings in Brussels and Strasbourg.
— Dave Keating (@DaveKeating) March 2, 2020
S&D MEP Tiemo Wölken, was distraught at the lack of romance allowed: No hugs, no kissing! “This wouldn’t have happened under Juncker,” he said.
Die #Eu, ein völlig unromantischer Ort. Mit @JunckerEU hätte es das nicht gegeben!!!1! #Covid_19 #coronavirus #CoronaPanik pic.twitter.com/5O2nec7UTp
— Tiemo Wölken🇪🇺 (@woelken) March 3, 2020
Activate Protocol Selmayr, suggested MEP Assistant.
Activate Protocol Selmayr https://t.co/zgYyZoZRBY pic.twitter.com/f01BOypru3
— mepassistant (@mepassistants) March 4, 2020
Spoof account Martini Seltzermayr is working smarter not harder: “Washed my hands for a full hour so now I don’t have to do it again all week,” he tweeted…
washed my hands for a full hour so now I don’t have to do it again all week pic.twitter.com/4zdhT17Cxt
— Martini Seltzermayr (@mseltzermayr) March 5, 2020
uhhhhh?
Elsewhere, “One European Parliament assistant just stretched out his elbow towards people on the corridor. No one new what to make of it,” reported Alexandra Brzozowski.
One European Parliament assistant just stretched out his elbow towards people on the corridor. No one new what to make of it. #Coronavirus has made people develop peculiar ways of greeting each other.
— Alexandra Brzozowski (@alex_owski) March 5, 2020
“Wash your hands like you’ve been chopping jalapeños and need to change a contact lens,” advised Ron Vezina.
“Wash your hands like you’ve been chopping jalapeños and need to change a contact lens” says BC Public Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry re. ways to protect against #coronavirus #Covid_19
— Ron Vezina (@Vez_says) March 4, 2020
Tell that to the Belgians.
Belgian humor has no limits pic.twitter.com/rv8Tqt74J2
— Freddie Martyn (@FreddieMartyn) March 3, 2020
Once again they win the internet.
There were no concerns about crowds and coronavirus when GretaThunberg came to the European Parliament on Wednesday. Take it from me – we were packing there like sardines!
She also stopped by to talk to Frans Timmermans, who gave her credit for the new climate law. “We wouldn’t be here discussing it had it not been for her and the young generations that continue to push us to make a change,” he said.
We spoke with @GretaThunberg today. I would like to say that we wouldn’t be here discussing a #ClimateLaw had it not been for her and the young generations that continue to push us to make a change and fight for #climateneutrality for all our sake.
— Frans Timmermans (@TimmermansEU) March 4, 2020
Unfortunately for him, Greta was quick to tell MEPs that the proposed deal is a “surrender deal” because “nature doesn’t bargain and you cannot make deals with physics.”
“This climate law is surrender – because nature doesn’t bargain and you cannot make ”deals” with physics.
And we will not allow you to surrender on our future.”A part of my speech today addressing the European Parliament in Brussels. Full speech here: https://t.co/dJ0kEsivMk pic.twitter.com/0AXnuLJK9L
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) March 4, 2020
Oliver Grimm joked that the PR stunt to invite her to the Green Deal launch “worked really, really well”
Well, the PR stunt to invite her to the @EU_Commission meeting worked really, really well… #EUClimateLaw #EUGreenDeal https://t.co/oK1glKgEwO
— Oliver Grimm (@grimmse) March 4, 2020
And James Crisp said it was an embarrassment to the EU.
Greta Thunberg embarrasses EU by savaging bloc's new climate law in Brussels on the day bill is launched https://t.co/tNJrhkNOT6
— James Crisp (@JamesCrisp6) March 4, 2020
Finally staying with crises this week…
The refugee situation on the Greek Turkish border is escalating.
The situation at the Greek Turkish border is escalating. Tear gas is being fired on both sides as hundreds of #migrants wait on the Turkish side. We can hear rapid gun fire. Police just told us to leave the scene. #Evros pic.twitter.com/tPgPkobOUT
— Max Zander (@The_Max_Zander) March 4, 2020
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “We send a very clear statement of European solidarity and support to Greece. We will hold the line and our unity will prevail. I thank Greece for being Europe’s “aspida”
Pdt @vonderleyen: “We have come here to send a very clear statement of European solidarity and support to Greece. Those who seek to test Europe’s unity will be disappointed. We will hold the line and our unity will prevail. I thank Greece for being Europe’s “aspida” – a shield.” pic.twitter.com/lnuanRSyau
— Natasha Bertaud (@NatashaBertaud) March 3, 2020
That’s a shield to you and me!
Trump has a wall. We have some fancy Greek word for it, tweeted Diego Velazquez
Trump has a wall. We have some fancy Greek word for it. By now the only remaining difference. #PromotingTheEuropeanWayOfLife https://t.co/1rE5RlXf5M
— diego velazquez (@diego_bxl) March 3, 2020
And Dudley Curtis reckons the EU is channelling Tarantino in the Greece visit PR pics…
EU channelling Tarantino in Greece visit PR pics… https://t.co/ANw1Paetdx pic.twitter.com/ShzthvEDxq
— Dudley Curtis (@dudsinbxls) March 3, 2020
This week we are sponsored by LUKOIL, who this week presented their Energy 2035 outlook. To find out more follow them online.
#LUKOIL Vice-President for Strategic Development Leonid #Fedun presented in Brussels the Company’s 2035 Energy #Outlook https://t.co/WmFBr8iZUv pic.twitter.com/Qj9G8yQRZC
— LUKOIL (@lukoilengl) March 4, 2020
Finally our favourite tweet this week is from the inimitable Berlaymonster, who totally nailed it saying: Coronavirus is the new GDPR.
Coronavirus is the new GDPR. https://t.co/eaU0FLBhN4
— Berlaymonster (@Berlaymonster) March 5, 2020
Join me again next Friday, And remember you can nominate yourself, just use the hashtag #EUTweets and we’ll give shout out to our favourites.
