On a possible action for damages causeed by the COVID-19 emergency against the European Commission jointly with Germany and Italy 

Petizione indirizzata a: Petitionsausschuss des Europäischen Parlaments

The petitioner, a lawyer, complains about considerable economic damages further to the lockdown in his city (Taranto) due to COVID-19. He announces his will to bring action for compensation before the CJEU (see info n.1), against the European Commission jointly with Germany and Italy (as well as action for damages before national Courts against Germany, China and Italy). In particular, he denounces the Italian Government EU and the EU for not having fulfilled their respective tasks in demanding and recognising a public health emergency, following the WHO statement of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern ( on 30th January) and the publication of the situation report n.11 (on 31th January), informing about the first two confirmed cases in Italy, 6 cases in France, 5 in Germany and 1 in Finland (see info n.2).On this legal basis and according to art. 168 TFUE (on public health), the petitioner claims that the EU Commission could have coordinated actions among all concerned Member States, and in particular, it could have obliged Germany and France to follow the Italian initiative, implementing the precautionary principle, in order to block immediately all the flights from/to China, and in general, to impose operational targeted bans on travelling through the Schengen area. He criticises the German decree (lifted on 19 March) prohibiting the export of medical protection equipment (masks, gloves, suits, etc.) to other Member States, Italy included.