EU chief issues ‘heartfelt’ apology to Italy for delay in coronavirus help

The EU Commission president has offered a “heartfelt apology” to Italy for not helping at the start of its deadly coronavirus outbreak.

Ursula von der Leyen told the EU parliament that “too many were not there… when Italy needed”.

Many Italians have criticised the EU’s response to the pandemic, and say the bloc did not do enough to help.

The country has recorded more than 21,000 deaths from the virus, the highest toll in Europe.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio has welcomed Ms von der Leyen’s comments, calling them “an important act of truth”.

Early in the crisis both France and Germany imposed export bans on vital medical equipment, while no EU country initially responded to Italy’s call for aid via the bloc’s emergency mechanism. While healthcare policy and provision is the responsibility of member states, the EU is meant to support cooperation between them.

An opinion poll last month found 88% of Italians felt the EU was failing to support Italy, prompting fears in Brussels and other national capitals of a Eurosceptic backlash. Von der Leyen’s direct apology went further than a previous statement in which she she chided member states for their “only-for-me response”.