Barcelona joins European mayors to ask for no austerity as way out of Covid-19 crisis

Barcelona mayor Ada Colau has asked the European Union to not apply austerity measures as a way out of the economic crisis resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

This was expressed in a joint letter published on Monday together with the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, and those of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, and Milan, Giuseppe Sala.

In the message, they referred to the austerity measures put in force by the EU after the 2008 financial crisis, describing them as "a failed formula" that authorities should not repeat.

According to these mayors, the lack of a social plan as a way out of the last crisis weakened public services, delayed economic growth and increased social inequality "that it is still being felt now."

For this reason, they ask for a social plan as a way out of the current situation rather than the budget cuts seen after the 2008 crisis.

Colau, Hidalgo, Halsema and Sala believe that the response to the public health crisis should be based on "the principles of solidarity and cooperation."

Indeed, they argue that "northern and southern Europe" should share the costs of reactivating the economy.

"We know, from experience, that in the face of a crisis, unity, solidarity, and cooperation are essential," the letter reads.

"We are European and Europeanist cities and we hope that this time European authorities will be up to the circumstances."

According to them, the EU "has an opportunity to send a firm and solid message to all citizens: in the face of hate speech, in the face of individualism, in the face of austerity policies, there is a stronger, more solidarity-focused Europe that strives for social solutions and listens to cities while protecting and helping them ahead of big future challenges."