COVID-19 Coronavirus: EU, €15 billion to partner countries. Von der Leyen, “pandemic knows no borders”

“The virus knows no borders. This global challenge needs strong international cooperation”, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, as she presented the “plans for a robust and targeted EU response to support partner countries’ efforts in tackling the coronavirus pandemic”. Indeed, the EU is to redirect €15.6 billion funding both to address the immediate needs resulting from the pandemic and to mitigate the socioeconomic impact in the Balkans and in various countries in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. “The EU’s collective action - a statement issued from Brussels reads - will focus on addressing the immediate health crisis and resulting humanitarian needs, strengthening partner countries’ health, water and sanitation systems and their research and preparedness capacities to deal with the pandemic, as well as mitigating the socioeconomic impact”. To this end, the EU “will secure financial support to partner countries amounting to more than €15.6 billion from existing external action resources”.

Gigliola Alfaro