OREANDA-NEWS. A crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic could trigger an outbreak of anti-European sentiment if the EU does not make efforts to resolve it. This was announced on March 30 by Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

“Nationalist instincts in Italy, as well as in Spain and other countries will be much stronger if Europe does not cope with this task,” he said in an interview with El Pais newspaper. The politician noted that the health crisis that arose because of the coronavirus spread to the economic and social spheres. According to Conte, it is a “historical challenge” for the EU. He emphasized that in order to fight the pandemic, Italian authorities are forced to limit the constitutional rights of citizens and the EU “should respond, avoiding tragic mistakes.”