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Balsavau už Komisijos pasiūlymus nes skrydžių bendrovės, užtikrinančios mūsų pigų ir sklandų mobilumą Europos Sąjungoje ir už jos ribų šiuo metu taip pat susiduria su COVID-19 pasekmėmis. Prognozuojama, kad per pirmąjį 2020-ųjų ketvirtį keleivių skaičius sumažės 67 mln., o remiantis šiuo metu turima informacija, pagrįsta manyti, kad dabartinis paklausos mažėjimas tęsis bent iki šių metų birželio.
Reguliavimas nustato, kad jei bendrovės nepanaudoja bent 80% jiems paskirtų laiko tarpsnių, kitais metais to pačio sezono metu, jiems nėra skiriama pirmenybė į tuos pačius tarpsnius. Jei nebūtume priėmę šios rezoliucijos, rizikuotume, kad oro vežėjai vykdytų reisus su maža apkrova ar skraidintų tuščius lėktuvus, taigi, patirtų dar didesnius finansinius nuostolius, būtų daromas neigiamas poveikis aplinkai. Nukentėjus oro vežėjams galime susidurti su žymiai pakilusiomis kainomis keleiviams, mažesniais skrydžių vietovių pasirinkimais ar net vežėjų veiklos nutraukimu. Turime suprasti, kad dėl veiklos stabdymo oro vežėjai jau šiuo metu susiduria su veiklos tęstinumo ir mokumo užtikrinimo problemomis.
Džiaugiuosi, kad patvirtinus Komisijos pasiūlymus oro vežėjų laiko tarpsniai bus užskaitomi kaip panaudoti ir tikiu, kad tokį reguliavimo pakeitimą tikslingą įvesti iki 2020-ųjų vasaros sezono pabaigos, kuomet galime tikėtis, kad oro vežėjų rinka pradės atsigauti.

. – I voted in favour of the Commission’s Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative because we have an exceptional position to support and protect Member States’ economies, businesses, workers and human health. Investments to combat the virus will soon reach more than EUR 37 billion. We have agreed to allocate an additional EUR 8 billion from EU funds for this investment
Major and rapid interventions are needed in the public health systems of the Member States in order to be able to operate effectively in the face of these high tensions. It is the responsibility of the EU as a whole, and we must mobilize all the resources of the Union and the Member States to overcome unprecedented problems.
The Treaty of Lisbon states that a high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities. The EU has an important role to play in improving public health, preventing and controlling disease. The virus is currently a threat to public health in Europe. Not only we have to react immediately, but we also need to be better prepared to protect society in the future. For many years, public health policy in Europe has been narrowly treated as a treatment for diseases and disorders, leaving this responsibility to EU Member States. I am convinced that public health, as provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon, is a much broader sector and that it must also be the responsibility of the European Union and the Commission, which, for many years, requires far greater attention than today. As an example, the Commission’s Cancer plan is a welcomed initiative, but its proper implementation requires not only a change in approach to health policy, but also the provision of appropriate funding. This practice should be changed and the European Commission should not wait for requests for assistance from Member States. Public health policy needs to be taken to a new level in the EU by investing in prevention, research, case studies, country coordination, and especially in this situation, ensuring leadership and proper preparedness to stop the spread of COVID-19.
At the same time, the Commission must ensure that the European Health Program has a much higher level of funding for public health and crisis management, which must not become a one-off exception but a permanent rule.

. – I voted in favour of this proposal because the emergencies faced by EU Member States are not only earthquakes and other natural disasters, but also threats to public health. I am pleased that there is an equal focus on health, although it is disappointing that this example of COVID-19 was needed. I believe that the Commission should have acted earlier to exploit the full potential of the Lisbon Treaty and to treat health in the broad sense, with solidarity with the Member States.
Public health policy can no longer be understood and implemented just as cure, leaving this responsibility to EU Member States. Public health is a much broader sector and must also be a full responsibility of the European Union and the Commission, which for many years required far greater attention than is given today. Public health policy needs to be taken to a new level in the EU by investing in prevention, research, case studies, country coordination, and especially in this situation, ensuring leadership and proper preparedness to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The crisis caused by coronavirus has an important human dimension and a major economic impact. It is essential that the EU and its Member States take action to stop the spread of the virus, to help the sick and to deal with the economic consequences. The EU Solidarity Fund must also contribute to this overall coordinated response. The tools currently available are incapable of responding adequately to public health emergencies such as COVID-19, and by expanding the capabilities of the EU Solidarity Fund, we are seeking to take a step forward, not only in addressing this situation, but also in developing new practices in the future.
The Commission proposal states that Member States can only request assistance when they are no longer able to deal with the situation on their own. The EU has been based on solidarity since the beginning of the project. I believe that, in this situation, we need to provide assistance not when the country is no longer able to cope, but when the solution to the problem would be more effective by working together as a member state and the European Union. More generally, the European Union should adopt and pursue a more active public health policy.