How the European Union responds to the coronavirus outbreak will determine its future credibility, a French minister said on Sunday (29 March), after the bloc failed to agree last week on measures to cushion the economic blow.

The EU is struggling for a coordinated response to the coronavirus, the latest test of the bloc’s solidarity after it was shaken by Brexit, the 2015-2016 migration wave and the euro zone debt crisis.

“If Europe is just a single market when times are good, then it has no sense,” European Affairs minister Amelie de Montchalin told France Inter radio. “If Europe can die, it’s of inaction,” added French President Emmanuel Macron on the same day. “France will fight for a Europe of solidarity,” he wrote in an op-ed published in three Italian newspapers.

Si certains s’exonèrent de la solidarité européenne face à la crise du #CODVID19, cela aura des conséquences sur le projet 🇪🇺 et sur le sens de notre travail à 27. Nous leur avons laissé 15 jours pour travailler avec nous à une vraie relance solidaire🇪🇺 #questionspol @franceinter pic.twitter.com/4tBbOznHAH — Amélie de Montchalin (@AdeMontchalin) March 29, 2020

The bloc’s divisions were laid bare after leaders hit an impasse on Thursday over how to minimise the economic pain and prepare for an eventual recovery, with the ailing south incensed by the resistance of the richer north to offer more support.

Germany and the Netherlands came out strongly against a push by Italy, Spain, Portugal and France to issue joint bonds to help finance an economic stimulus. There were also squabbles over the sharing of medical equipment and border controls.

Leaders clash over stimulus against pandemic, pass hot potato to Eurogroup EU leaders on Thursday (26 March) continued to disagree over the economic response to the coronavirus as Northern countries rejected the idea of issuing joint debt, known as “corona bonds”, proposed by nine member states to finance the recovery.

In Austria, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz fumed at double-standards within the bloc after his country was slowed in efforts to secure face masks from Germany while other capitals criticised Vienna’s own controls on the Italian border.

“After the crisis is over, there will have to be tough discussions within the EU,” Kurz told the Kronen Zeitung newspaper.

De Montchalin said there would be no economic rebound in Germany and the Netherlands if the rest of Europe remained sick. The coronavirus crisis raised existential questions for Europe, she added.

“Our Europe is one of action, one of solidarity, and if certain countries see otherwise, well then the question of their place will raise itself, as will what the union should be doing as a group of 27,” said de Montchalin.

Her words were echoed by David Sassoli, the President of the European Parliament, who took to Twitter to urge stronger unity in face of the pandemic.

“Countries that are still hesitant about this – who will you sell your technology or tulips to, if the European market is not protected?” Sassoli wrote in reference to Germany and the Netherlands, who are both opposed to “coronabonds” to relaunch the EU economy.

This crisis cannot end with our countries being put up for sale. In this moment, we have to strengthen our Union and its market. Countries that are still hestitant about this – who will you sell your technology or tulips to, if the European market is not protected? pic.twitter.com/HeUehTBCGC — David Sassoli (@EP_President) March 28, 2020

However, Montchalin also cited the decision by Germany and others to take in critically ill French coronavirus patients and relieve pressure on France’s healthcare system as proof that solidarity between member states persisted.

Europe’s populist parties would be the winners if EU leaders failed to act together during a major crisis, she said.