The European Council met by videoconference on 10 March to discuss the coronavirus epidemic. The Heads of State and government stressed the importance of joint action coordinated by the Commission. They also defined four priorities: limiting the spread of the virus, anticipating the need for medical equipment, financing research into a vaccine and acting on the socio-economic consequences of the epidemic.

Faced with the drop in air passenger numbers due to the COVID-19 epidemic, Transport Commissioner Adina Valean presented a proposal on 10 March to suspend the obligation for airlines to use 80% of their landing and take-off slots, or face a reduction in the number of slots allocated the following year. This obligation pushes airlines to maintain empty flights, which has an economic and environmental impact.

On 12 March, the European Central Bank decided to spend €120 billion by the end of the year on asset purchases to support the economy in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. It also decided not to lower interest rates but to grant European banks more favourable conditions for refinancing. At a press conference, ECB President Christine Lagarde regretted the "complacency and slowness" of European countries in dealing with the consequences of the virus and called for an "ambitious and coordinated" budgetary response.

European leaders have addressed their countries, calling on people to limit their movements and gatherings and have announced measures to slow the progress of Covid-19. In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared a state of emergency. In Poland, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki declared a state of epidemiological threat. In France, President Emmanuel Macron deemed that the country is at "war" and has limited all unnecessary movement. In Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel called on fellow countrymen not to travel anywhere and she has closed most venues hosting the public. In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked the British to limit their movements and to avoid bars and restaurants, but no measures of confinement have been taken.

Education Ministers exchanged views by videoconference on 12 March on the measures taken in the various Member States concerning COVID-19. The issue of school closures was also discussed, in particular with regard to distance learning and childcare for young children.

All EU countries have taken steps to try to slow the spread of the virus and to provide financial support to their economies. Spain has declared a 15-day state of high alert. Some countries such as France, Belgium and Ireland have decided to close schools and universities and limit gatherings. Belgium has also decreed the closure of bars, restaurants, cultural and festive places. Poland and Germany have introduced health checks at their borders.

The Commission presented its responses on 13 March in an attempt to limit the socio-economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. It proposes allocating €37 billion under the cohesion policy to fight the virus and to make the best use of the flexibility provided for in the Treaties to enable Member States to take all budgetary measures to support their health systems and the economy. It proposes to use the EU budget, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and the European Social Fund to mitigate the social impact of the epidemic. It calls on the Member States to ensure the circulation of health facilities within the single market.

The World Health Organization, the United Nations Foundation and the Swiss Philantropy Foundation launched a solidarity fund on 13 March in response to Covid-19. This initiative enables individuals, companies and institutions to contribute to the global effort against the coronavirus. As of 16 March, the WTO counted more than 160,000 cases in 146 countries and nearly 6,500 deaths.

On 15 March the Commission decided to make exports of personal protective equipment such as masks, visors and protective clothing from the Union subject to authorisation. The measure is valid for the next six weeks in order to avoid a shortage of equipment in Europe during the coronavirus pandemic. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also regretted the closure of internal borders, which also block the supply chains for materials.

On 16 March, the Commission presented its recommendations for border management in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. It recommends maintaining the free flow of goods and services. As regards persons, Member States can establish medical tests and close their borders. The Commission calls on Member States to treat patients instead of turning them away, and not to take measures that could create long queues at borders, where the virus could spread . It has also proposed to introduce restrictions on entry into the Schengen area for 30 days. The measure enters into force on 17 March.

The leaders of the G7 countries discussed Covid-19 on March 16 by videoconference. They pledged to strengthen coordination to combat the pandemic, particularly with regard to information and research. They also pledged to cooperate in mitigating the economic consequences and in laying the "foundations for a strong recovery of economic activity", in particular through the action of international institutions, Central Banks and by facilitating international trade.

The Eurogroup met on 16 March to coordinate Member States' economic response to the coronavirus. It expressed its support for the emergency economic measures taken by the Commission and the European Central Bank, and considered that the current macroeconomic rules allow sufficient flexibility to enable States to deal with the crisis. Ministers expressed their readiness to "take all necessary coordinated and decisive action".

On 10 March, the Commission presented its new industrial strategy, which aims to strengthen the Union's competitiveness while focusing on climate neutrality and digital challenges. The Commission stresses the need to support SMEs and to tackle the barriers of the single market. The strategy includes various actions such as an action plan on intellectual property, measures to decarbonise energy-using industries, and a fund for IPOs of SMEs. The Commission will also analyse the risks and needs of different industrial ecosystems and reassess its competition policy.

The Commission announced on 12 March that the European Innovation Council, currently in its pilot phase, will fund 107 projects with €344 million from the Horizon 2020 programme. These research projects aim to develop new technologies in areas such as the environment or health.

On 11 March MEPs discussed the migration situation on the Greek-Turkish border with the Croatian Council Presidency and Commissioner Ylva Johansson. A majority of them denounced Turkey's political use of refugees and expressed fears about the humanitarian situation. MEPs also stressed the need to reform European asylum law to avoid a further migration crisis.

On 13 March, the Council renewed the economic sanctions against persons who have violated the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine for six months. Adopted in 2014, these sanctions target 175 individuals and 44 entities. They consist of financial asset freezes and a ban on making funds available to them.

Home Affairs Ministers meeting on 13 March discussed the situation on the Greek-Turkish border, which appears to be stabilising, and took stock of the implementation of the aid measures for Greece announced on 4 March. They then exchanged views on the COVID-19 pandemic, to discuss ways to improve the exchange of information on the virus, as well as the activation of new European mutual assistance mechanisms.

In a decision delivered on 12 March, the European Court of Justice ruled that a passenger's right to compensation is also valid on a re-routing flight, even when compensation has already been received for the change of flight. The case concerned passengers from Finnairn whose alternative flight to a first cancelled flight arrived three hours late due to a faulty document.

Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou took office as President of the Republic in Greece on 13 March. Elected on 22 January by Parliament for a five-year term, she is the first woman to hold this post in the country.

The flame lighting ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics took place on March 12 in Olympia. For the first time in history, it was a woman, Greek athlete Anna Korakaki, who started the relay, followed by two European Commissioners, Maryia Gabriel and Margaritis Schinas, among others. The Tokyo Games are due to start on 24 July.