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29.10.2020

Videoconference of members of the European Council on COVID-19: Coordinated European approach of great importance

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed with EU heads of state and government how they can strengthen their efforts in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in light of sharply rising infection rates across Europe.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel took part in a videoconference of the members of the European Council, in which the heads of state and government of the European Union, together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, exchanged views on national and European efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chancellor Merkel had encouraged such a regular exchange of views via videoconference at the last meeting of the European Council on 15-16 October 2020 in Brussels. Leaders plan to continue to hold these informal videoconferences on a regular basis.

Chancellor Merkel explained which measures had been adopted in Germany on the previous day in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus and to bring the number of infections back down to a lower level. She again expressed the importance of a coordinated European approach for combating the pandemic. As a nation in the middle of Europe, it is important to Germany that borders remain open, that the economy continues to function, and that we continue to combat the pandemic together.

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