According to data published by the European Commission, the European economy has shrunk by 7.4% so far this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the physical health of citizens and preservation of life has priority, our members are working to minimise the economic losses and to ensure the negative economic consequences are as short-lived as possible.

When the various countries across Europe began lockdown measures, our members were quick to identify groups that would be most likely to face financial turmoil and acted promptly in ensuring that when it would be possible to reopen to the economy, they would be in a good position to reopen responsibly. One example of swift regional economic policy took place in the Opsterland region of the Netherlands, where ECR First Vice-President Rob Jonkman serves as Alderman. Here, Mr Jonkman oversaw the suspension of certain taxes and called on the EU to do more to assist both farmers and entrepreneurs of small and medium sized enterprises. On 11 May, Mr Jonkman also awarded medals to students and teachers in Opsterland, who certainly experienced and overcame the logistical difficulties associated with learning while social distancing.

Similarly, in the city of Hradec Králové, where ECR Vice-President Oldřich Vlasák of the ECR serves as a councillor, deepened measures to support local businesses were taken following a month of lockdown. Some of these measures included waiving public space usage fees for businesses for the whole of 2020, an influx of CZK 10 million to support local businesses and the suspension of rent for tenants who were forced to temporarily shut down their business. The city government also created a financial reserve totalling CZK 150 million to be of further assistance through this crisis.

In the city of Lappeenranta in Finland, where ECR member Ilpo Heltimoinen serves on the city board, the city announced a series of city-funded grants that include grants for rent reduction and rent exemption. These grants were announced on 6 April and were applicable to businesses with less than 10 employees and will help keep small family run businesses afloat. The region of South Karelia is also taking matters into its own hands. The state union is allocating EUR 230 000 of the province's voluntary development grant to municipal businesses, education enterprises and local associations.

In Poland, many of the regions instituted an anti-crisis shield. This is an economic as well as health care stimulus plan handled at the regional level. The President of the Podkarpackie region, who is also President of the ECR Group at the European Committee of the Regions, Mr Władysław Ortyl, passed an extensive package for the region he governs. The Podkarpackie anti-crisis shield, has three main objectives, (1) purchasing medical and protective equipment; (2) support for companies and entrepreneurs; and (3) job protection. This economic stimulus totalled PLN 330 million. Very similar packages were passed in the Lubelskie region, where ECR member Jarosław Stawiarski, serves as President, as well as in Łódzkie, Silesia, Lower Silesia, and Małopolska where ECR members, Grzegorz Schreiber, Jakub Chełstowski, Cezary Przybylski and Witold Kozłowski all serve as Presidents, respectfully.

Italy, however, has been one of the most devastated countries by the COVID-19 crisis and our Italian members are working to ensure the subsequent economic ramifications are controlled and mitigated. Just as in the rest of Europe, various regions have instituted an economic stimulus plan to help local economies resume. In Sardinia, where ECR member Christian Solinas serves as President, a stimulus plan totalling EUR 120 million to support lower-income families was announced. A similar plan was also developed in Sicily where Nello Musumeci serves as President of the region, EUR 100 million will be allocated to impoverished families in the region. Our members have adopted different strategies and sometimes have slightly different priorities in what they demand from the EU. This only underlines the importance of subsidiarity and localism when it comes to economic policy and job creation. A more detailed description of what actions ECR members took can be found attached below.