EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell (centre) in Monday’s virtual meeting
This afternoon.
Via RTÉ’s live tracker feed on the coronavirus…
The European Union’s decision-making process is being sorely tested by videoconferencing during the coronavirus pandemic, EU officials say,with one calling it a “catastrophe“.
A virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers yesterday was punctuated by technical problems, speakers who were unsure if they could be heard and a lack of translators.
“These video conferences don’t work very well, there are tech problems and the ‘Hello, can you hear me?‘ interruptions,” said a senior diplomat present at the video link.
“So people read out their prepared notes mostly. There is little scope for actual negotiations.”
“It’s a testing time for Europe. There are no summits, no ministerial meetings, less visibility,” the diplomat said.
Live Covid-19: Range of non-essential services to close (RTÉ)
Previously: The Skype Is Falling
well maybe senior people are going to have to learn to speak clearly, and understand how these teleconferencing systems work. It is how things are going to be working from now on, and for those who care about climate change, there will be more virtual meetings.
It is not rocket science.