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Von der Leyen apologises to Italy for slow response
By EUobserver
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday acknowledged that "too many were not there on time when Italy needed a helping hand at the very beginning", adding that nobody was really prepared for a pandemic. "And yes, for that, it is right that Europe as a whole offers a heartfelt apology," she told MEPs, adding that it did not take long before member states started showing solidarity.