Geert Bourgeois wants the EU to learn from the coronavirus crisis: “Strategic goods must also be produced in Europe.”

“Each Member State must protect its citizens.” MEP Geert Bourgeois believes that the European Union is too dependent on third countries for strategic goods such as surgical masks. In the De Ochtend radio show, he argued for the production of such goods to take place in the European Union and for keeping stocks.

Too dependent on China and India

All EU Member States are facing the same problems during the crisis: not enough surgical masks, hand gel, respirators and other protective equipment. “This is quite painful”, says MEP Bourgeois. “We depend on China and India for a lot of things. We must ensure that we are not dependent on third countries for strategic goods to such an extent. The production of those goods has to take place here, in the EU.”

Also build up stocks

The former Minister-President of Flanders also recommends stockpiling. “That’s a lesson we have to learn. We need to have rolling stocks. ‘Rolling’ means that we also actually use those goods so that they do not expire without having been used.”

European solidarity yes, blank cheque no

Geert Bourgeois is largely positive about the support measures put forward by the European Commission. “We think Commission President von der Leyen is emphasising the right points.” But Bourgeois also adds a warning. “We are for solidarity. But we are against a blank check. We have to make sure that the money is used for its intended purpose, so to take coronavirus crisis-related measures. You can only put out the fire if the water actually gets to the fire.”