COVID-19 crisis continues, you all know the score, EarthDay reminds us, we could all do much more, and the global oil price drops through the floor.
This week we are supported by PostEurop, more about them later on.
We’ve been off air for a couple of weeks, so a quick recap: COVID-19 is still happening!
From an EU perspective that means arguments over money, a “roadmap” to get out of lockdown, and the UK still insisting it doesn’t want anything to do with those pesky Europeans.
Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen set out three conditions for an EU country to relax its lockdown:
Significant and sustained decrease in spread, sufficient health system capacity, and
sufficient surveillance, monitoring, and large-scale testing.
Heads of State and government tasked us with a roadmap to ensure a coordinated exit from the containment measures.
Today we deliver on this request.Press conference by President @vonderleyen and @eucopresident Michel#coronavirus #StrongerTogether #EUCOhttps://t.co/fmGtCzAsaz
— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) April 15, 2020
But former Brussels correspondent Stanley Pignal says the Commission’s thoughts on lockdowns carry about as much weight as a newspaper editorial.
The European Commission's thoughts on when an EU country should relax lockdowns carry about as much weight as a newspaper editorial. https://t.co/MGlpeEvL10
— Stanley Pignal (@spignal) April 15, 2020
The way to hell is paved with roadmaps designed by EU institutions quipped Diego Velazquez ahead of Thursday’s European Council Video Conference.
The way to hell is paved with roadmaps designed by EU institutions https://t.co/1eHoqBgWoq
— diego velazquez (@diego_bxl) April 22, 2020
In which Council President Charles Michel asked the Commission to come up “a proposal that is commensurate with the challenge we are facing.”
Pretty empty letter from Charles Michel to EU leaders before #euco reflects lack of consensus and likely no summit conclusions on what recovery fund will look like this Thurs. Michel asks commission to come up "a proposal that is commensurate with the challenge we are facing" 🤷♀️ https://t.co/4OuxD2yhsW
— mehreenkhn (@MehreenKhn) April 21, 2020
Speaking of hell, the UK is having a helluva time defending the decision not to join a EU scheme to buy medical and protective equipment.
We had the blame game, muddled “communications,” a moment of candour and then more non-denial denials…
But Jonathan Lis said: “This EU procurement issue is not a great mystery. The communication problem is a red herring. The government knew about the scheme. They decided not to be in it for political reasons. We know that, because they told us.”
This EU procurement issue is not a great mystery. The ‘communication problem’ is a red herring. The government knew about the scheme. They decided not to be in it for political reasons. We know that, because they told us.
They should resign in disgrace https://t.co/yhdX648v5W
— Jonathan Lis (@jonlis1) April 22, 2020
Expect this one to run and run!
In other news, Wednesday was EarthDay!
It has been 50 years since the first Earth Day tweeted Peter Kalmus, NASA climate scientist, and it hasn’t gone well!
It has been 50 years since the first #EarthDay. Here's how those 50 years have gone. pic.twitter.com/yR2Ht0Efxi
— Peter Kalmus (@ClimateHuman) April 23, 2020
Commissioner for the Environment Virginijus Sinkevičius said the next 50 years will be crucial, and we’ve got lessons to learn from the COVID-19 crisis.
#EarthDay turns 50 🌍🌱
The next 50 will be crucial.We’ve got lessons to learn from the #coronacrisis:
Caring for the Earth is caring for ourselves and our communities.
We can now choose to take the green path to recovery and be on the right side of history.#EUGreenDeal pic.twitter.com/hrjDIVzFMX
— Virginijus Sinkevičius (@VSinkevicius) April 22, 2020
“As the global recovery from the pandemic picks up, global warming will not slow down,” added the European Commission.
“A more modern and circular economy will boost our resilience.”
Today is #EarthDay!
As the global recovery from the #coronavirus outbreak picks up, global warming will not slow down.
A more modern and circular economy will boost our resilience.The European Green Deal is essential for Europe’s future. pic.twitter.com/5d232KQvpf
— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) April 22, 2020
Our sponsor this week is PostEurop, the organisation of European Postal Operators, who are helping to fight climate change every day thanks to one of the largest fleets of alternative vehicles. Find out more using the hashtag #GreenDelivery.
Postal operators contribute each day to fight against #Climatechange thanks to #GreenDelivery. Did you know that they have among the largest fleet of #alternative vehicles? #Earthday2020 #PostEuropCSRhttps://t.co/LO5NR8PAkU pic.twitter.com/BUe7vRYZIk
— PostEurop (@PostEurop) April 22, 2020
And as if one crisis at a time wasn’t enough, this week saw worldwide oil prices tumble to an unprecedented negative price.
BREAKING: WTI crude oil futures trade at negative price for first time https://t.co/pOSyH6AVtP pic.twitter.com/XsoH1jG8WH
— Bloomberg (@business) April 20, 2020
You can now buy 40 barrels of oil for the price of a Freddo bar, tweeted
Richard Chambers.
You can now buy 40 barrels of oil for the price of a Freddo bar. pic.twitter.com/Jl3kcp39Vx
— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) April 20, 2020
While James Felton reckoned the ESSO station should be paying him to fill up his car.
Me filling up the car then walking into an ESSO to demand that they pay me pic.twitter.com/kFEKcmZJQ3
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) April 20, 2020
And with Oktoberfest 2020 officially cancelled
BREAKING NEWS: Oktoberfest 2020 is officially cancelled. This is going to have a huge impact on Munich's economy. Over 6 million people visit for the festival each year.
— Oliver Sachgau (@sachgau) April 21, 2020
Hylke Dijkstra wondered if German beer would soon be trading at minus $40 per barrel.
German beer 🍺 soon trading at minus $40 per barrel https://t.co/gASyTvcIqB
— Hylke Dijkstra (@DijkstraHylke) April 21, 2020
So, a roll of toilet paper is worth more than a barrel of oil and the Germans are not drinking beer! That’s 2020 for you!
Strange times we are living in!#FridgeComics #OilPrice pic.twitter.com/xPiHbuwBqF
— Fridge Comics (@FridgeComics) April 20, 2020
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