Letter of the Luxembourg Parliament COVID 19

Luxembourg, 15th
April 2020
Courtesy translation
To the members of
the Benelux Interparliamentary Assembly,
the Interregional Parliamentary Council,
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Francophonie, the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly, the Union for the
Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly,
the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Dear fellow parliamentarians,
The current period of uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic will have definite
consequences for the world’s economic, socio-political and geopolitical situation.
Indeed, if the political impact of the crisis is still uncertain, the prospect of a recession in a large
number of countries and the ensuing instability risks reinforcing populist and nationalist
tendencies fueled by the widening of inequalities and the lack of solidarity felt by citizens.
The closings of the borders and the phenomenon of withdrawal into oneself that we observe
reflects a growing distrust that is settling between the different States and which is done to the
detriment of solidarity, cement of international cooperation. It is imperative to avoid the Covid-
19 crisis strengthening pre-existing tensions and marking the end of a hard-won world order.
Let us not let those who advocate the deconstruction of the rule of law stand out and
instrumentalize the Covid-19 to achieve their ends! The priority of all parliaments must be more
than ever the defence of democratic values and solidarity in all circumstances.
Building the trust of citizens at a time marked by distrust of institutions is the main issue in the
quest for the adhesion of all strata of the population. Health and social security, education and
research are common goods vital to democracy, which must be put back at the centre of our
interests.
This crisis will deeply mark our society and it is undeniable that there will be a before and an
after. It is important that all parliaments give a positive impetus to this afterwards at national,
European and international level. Let us take this opportunity to (re) invent a model of mutually
supportive cooperation respectful of democratic and human values.
We look forward to discussing with you again and continuing to build strong, forward-looking
relationships together.
In the meantime, we wish you good luck and good health.
Please accept, dear fellow parliamentarians, the expression of our highest esteem.
NATO''s Parlamentariske Forsamling 2019-20
NPA Alm.del - Bilag 28
Offentligt
Fernand Etgen
Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Mars Di Bartolomeo
Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of
Deputies of the Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg
Treasurer of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Francophonie
Claude Wiseler
Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of
Deputies of the Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg
Djuna Bernard
Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of
Deputies of the Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg
Lydia Mutsch
Chairperson of the delegation to the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly
Chairperson of the delegation to the Union
for the Mediterranean Parliamentary
Assembly
Yves Cruchten
Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign
and European Affairs, Development,
Immigration and Asylum
Gusty Graas
Chairperson of the Benelux
Interparliamentary Assembly
Chairperson of the delegation to the Council
of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
Chairperson of the delegation to the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly
Cécile Hemmen
Chairperson of the delegation to the
Benelux Interparliamentary Assembly
Chairperson of the delegation to the
Parliamentary Assembly of the
Francophonie