PRESS RELEASE

• Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are adapting their business models to do their part in containing the spread of the virus.

• However, coronavirus is posing an unprecedented cross-border challenge that requires European solidarity at institutional level to overcome this health crisis and “Build Back Better”.

Brussels, 07 April 2020 - The coronavirus (COVID-19) is changing our world and affecting people and their communities profoundly. The people in care and other essential sectors are giving the best of themselves and deserve our full gratitude and support. Before COVID-19 it would have been hard to imagine businesses retooling their production to support health systems by providing them with sanitizing gels, protective masks, and life-support machines. Before COVID-19 it would have been hard to believe that companies would have granted free access to their resources and know-how to limit the spread of a deadly virus. Now, amidst a health pandemic, businesses are adapting their business models to do their part in containing the spread of the virus. Each effort matters and it is making a difference. However, COVID-19 is posing an unprecedented cross-border challenge and companies are battling to keep their people on board and to provide added value to the communities in which they operate.

Day by day COVID-19 is teaching us that unless we cooperate, we cannot move forward again towards a more sustainable business that is good both for the environment and climate, the people and the economy. Businesses must take care of their employees and their families, customers, suppliers and communities worldwide if they want to survive and thrive. Only by working together we can create a better Europe, one which has sustainability, climate action, and inclusiveness at its core. Underpinned by the rule of law, trust and empathy are essential to foster the cooperation necessary to build a better future. Our member companies – mainly international businesses – are confronting a wide variety of COVID-19-related issues and they look also towards the European Union to boost international trust, solidarity and coordinated action in Europe.

The actions by business leaders need to be matched by European solidarity at institutional level. Only this way it will possible to yield the multidimensional, coordinated, swift response needed to overcome this health crisis and to “Build Back Better”. As no individual country can do this alone, the European Union needs to step up its efforts through decisive actions and measures.