The discussion will focus on the impact on the Euro Area of the Covid-19 crisis, including the policy response to the crisis.
It will argue that, on current polices, the risk that the Covid-19 crisis will significantly increase North-South fragmentation within the Euro Area is being seriously underestimated.
Poul Mathias Thomsen is Visiting Professor in Practice at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ European Institute. He was at the IMF for 38 years, working almost exclusively on Europe, from 2014 as Director of its European Department. As Director, Mr. Thomsen oversaw the Fund’s policy dialogue with all its European member countries and with the ECB and the European Commission. He worked closely with political leaders and senior officials at the national and European levels, representing the Fund at Euro Group meetings and accompanying its Managing Director to meetings of the European Council.
Iain Begg is Professorial Research Fellow at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ European Institute.