(ANSA) - Brussels, February 26 - Anti-cyclical economic
measures will be needed to mitigate the effects of the
coronavirus emergency, European Economic Affairs Commissioner
Paolo Gentiloni said Wednesday.
"Faced with the economic impact of the coronavirus it will be
necessary to coordinate among various EU countries to adopt
anti-cyclical measures, which can favour expansion and avert the
risks of recession," he said on the margins of the presentation
of country reports.
He said the virus would hit the Italian economy hard.
"The Italian economy, which has had a bad fourth quarter of
2019, will have its progress very affected by the evolution of
the coronavirus affair.
"The impact of the virus on the economy is one more reason to
combine, with the absolute priority of protecting our citizens'
health, also the commitment to limit the spread of panic, which
leads to halting economic activities even when it is not deemed
necessary by health authorities".
Anti-cyclical measures needed -Gentiloni
Virus will hit Italian economy hard says commissioner