Italy’s new phase: A firm stand in the crisis

In the last days in Italy, a “Phase 2” has opened, a new stage in the firm and serious reaction of the country to the global crisis caused by the coronavirus. In fact, after a few weeks of lock-down, around 4.4 million workers have returned to their jobs. They join the millions who have continued to operate safely, both at home and in their workplaces.

Italy is the second largest manufacturing country in Europe. Our economy is extremely solid and interconnected within the country, the EU and open to the world. Precisely this opening has been and will be one of the winning characteristics of Italy, whose export is known worldwide for its quality, professionalism and convenience. Our companies are continuing to work, produce and respond to customer requests. Businesses quickly reorganised, developed already very high safety standards and are making a further technological leap which will allow us to give new impetus to the economy.

In recent weeks, our national health system has successfully addressed an unprecedented global crisis. Italy’s health service is widely considered among the world’s best. We have multiplied our capacity for diagnosis and treatment, and today more than 100,000 patients have already recovered. Our system has strained to avoid having too many people falling sick at the same time. For this reason, since the beginning we have decided to test not only people with symptoms, but also their family and environment. Public health is at core of our values. And our values include transparency, collaboration and information sharing.

Thanks to capillary checks, we have been able to identify the virus and the infected before other countries. Even if for this reason some thought that the coronavirus crisis was a problem for Italy and a few other nations, then time proved us right. Today Italy is able to move from the containment of the pandemic to the reaction and, thanks to the initiative that we launched with the EU and other countries to search for a vaccine, to the cure.

The spread of coronavirus has revealed also another face of Italy, maybe not so known as our art heritage, tradition, food and way of life: a country of solidarity, seriousness, scientific excellence. Throughout the crisis, Italian citizens have been demonstrating a great sense of responsibility and respect for rules, even if this is difficult and has reduced individual spaces of freedom.

Responsible answer to this situation must reflect the relevant guidelines recognised at the international level. Communication is essential among partners. A reluctance to gauge the social, economic and cooperation impact would be harmful. Lessons must be learned in order to experience solidarity and collaboration instead. 

Italy, its citizens and its scientific and economic system are working hard to resolve this crisis and offer our commitment and useful experience for the whole world. We do believe that international cooperation in all possible multilateral fora is, as recently reaffirmed by the King, the best tool to address the global crisis. We are there and we will be stronger after this experience: this is our contribution in this global struggle.

Fabio Cassese is the ambassador of Italy in Jordan