morolf: I can understand to some extent that Italians feel let down, the response from Germany and France certainly hasn't been great so far, more help should have been offered. However I want to make two points: 1. imo much of this is motivated by fear, because Germany and France also aren't well-prepared, and both see numbers of Covid-19 infections steadily rising,
As I said it wasn't my intention to blame any countries and I surely understand the fear that every country feels right now.
My intention was to focus on the lack of a concrete coordination by EU in order to fight against the emergency. This is the real problem which can and should be blamed.
morolf: I have to say I find the "Only China is helping Italy" narrative that seems to be emerging a bit perverse tbh, because the disease probably originated due to Chinese negligence (unsanitary conditions on those food markets, or lax security at the Wuhan virology lab), and EU countries (including Germany) sent a lot of protective equipment to China in January, which must be a factor in the shortages with face masks, protective suits etc. which now are a problem in many European countries.
I see your point, but let me say that I don't feel right to blame chinese people for spreading the virus: they have paid on first hand and I'm not even sure there was any negligence by them. Moreover they can't be accused to have spread it on purpose, as said by some conspiracy theory. It simply happened and I think that it could have happened anywhere.
morolf: But I agree, the EU response to the crisis so far has been deficient and could have very negative consequences for the future of the EU (which imo would be quite sad, even though I disagree with much about the present state of the EU).
This is what I meant in the first place from a political, social and economical point of view. And I would say that the future of the whole world, not only of the EU, is involved.