EU struggles to remain united This WEEK

Meanwhile, nordic and southern EU countries locked horns about the possibility of issuing a one-time joint bond to help finance economic stimulus, the so-called "corona bonds", to help with economic shock.

The Netherlands and Germany are refusing the idea so far, while nine eurozone countries have supported it.

Spain and Italy have also called for a new Marshall Plan, referring to the US-financed program after the Second World War to rebuild western Europe.

"The European Union has an appointment with history and history does not wait, we must live up to it. The reaction to the emergency coronavirus it must be strong, vigorous and cohesive," Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte tweeted over the weekend.

The European Commission said last Saturday (28 March) that "at this juncture, the president [of the commission] is not excluding any options within the limits of the treaty".

EU leaders failed to agree last week on key details for the economic rescue measures and on the corona bonds.

And France's European affairs minister said on Sunday that there would be no economic rebound in Germany and the Netherlands if the rest of Europe remained sick.

"Our Europe is one of action, one of solidarity, and if certain countries see otherwise, well then the question of their place will raise itself, as will what the union should be doing as a group of 27," Amelie de Montchalin was quoted by Reuters as saying.

The next two weeks will see a videoconference of eurozone finance ministers, who were tasked by EU leaders last week to come up with proposals on how to offset the devastating economic consequences.

No date has been set yet, and EU leaders gave no political guidance on what is the scope of measures that finance ministers have to flesh out.

On Thursday, MEPs in the internal market committee will hear from commissioner Thierry Breton on the EU response to the outbreak.

Breton has been working with European companies to ramp up production of key medical supplies.

Participation in the European Parliament's Brussels building will be limited,and MEPs will mostly follow the hearing remotely.

On Friday, there will be an informal videoconference of foreign affairs ministers.

In the meantime, parliament president David Sassoli told staff that the institution's anti-coronavirus measures would continue until 30 April.

That means cancelling events further and having staff continue to work remotely.

Hungary vote

On Monday, the Hungarian parliament is also expected to vote on a controversial draft bill that will give prime minister Viktor Orban's government power to rule by decree for an unlimited time.

The bill would also introduce the possibility of prison sentences for breaking the quarantine and spreading misinformation, raising concerns - once again - about media freedom and rule of law in Hungary.

But Orban's two-third majority is expected to approve the bill.