JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Communication on the Global EU response to COVID-19
Date: 2020-04-08
Institutions: Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development, European Commission
Subjects: EU aid, crisis management, economic consequence, emergency aid, epidemic, infectious disease, medical device, protective equipment, social impact, the EU's international role

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION HIGH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY Brussels, 8.4.2020  JOIN(2020) 11 final  JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Communication on the Global EU response to COVID-19  
 
 
I. 

Introduction 

The  coronavirus  outbreak  has  evolved  into  a  global  pandemic.  It  has  killed  tens  of 
thousands of people, straining communities,  increasing calls for social protection, shrinking 
business  activity  and  disrupting  supply  chains.  Its  consequences  will  be  profound.  Having 
appeared first in China, the pandemic has now spread in Europe and around the globe, with a 
spill over on social stability and security. 

As the virus does not discriminate between people and knows no borders, this historic crisis 
requires a fast, massive and coordinated global response to protect all people, save lives 
and tackle the economic fallout. Now is the time for international solidarity and leadership, 
not  isolation;  to  reach  out  more  internationally,  not  less;  to  provide  transparency  and  facts, 
and  counter  disinformation.  The  European  Union  (EU),  as  the  world’s  largest  donor  and  a 
leading  economic  power,  is  already  at  the  forefront  of  this  effort.  The  Union  has  already 
taken a series of concrete and quick actions to support our partners. 

The EU is doing all it takes to combat the coronavirus crisis in Europe. It is also in the EU’s 
interest to show solidarity with the rest of the world. A strong and global European response 
is a matter of upholding our core values, and equally of pursuing our strategic interests. The 
wellbeing of our partners across the globe matters to every European. We can only fully take 
care  of  our  own  health  and  safety  if  we  also  support  others.  Our  battle  to  defeat  the  virus 
internally can only be successful if we defeat the virus globally. Europe’s strong partnerships 
around the world are thus even more relevant in tackling this pandemic and its consequences. 
This geopolitical Commission stands ready to spearhead this work.  

The EU supports international cooperation and multilateral solutions in this crisis. We are 
taking  a  leadership  role  in  the  coordination  efforts  undertaken  by  the  United  Nations,  the 
G20,  the  G7,  the  International  Labour  Organisation  (ILO)  and  the  international  financial 
institutions.  The  EU  will  put  its  full  weight  behind  the  UN  Secretary  General’s  efforts  to 
coordinate UN-wide response. 

The  EU’s  response  follows  a  Team Europe  approach.  It  draws  contributions  from  all  EU 
institutions  and  combines  the  resources  mobilised  by  EU  Member  States  and  financial 
institutions,  in  particular  the  European  Investment  Bank  (EIB)  and  the  European  Bank  for 
Reconstruction  and  Development  (EBRD).  Working  together,  Team  Europe  can  muster  a 
critical mass that few others can match. 

In  line  with  the  approach  agreed  at  the  G20  and  promoted  by  the  UN,  the  EU’s  response 
addresses  the  humanitarian,  health,  social  and  economic  consequences  of  the  crisis.  It 
addresses  short-term  emergency  needs  as  well  as  the  longer-term  structural  impacts  on 
societies  and  economies,  thus  reducing  the  risk  of  destabilisation.  It  reinforces  both 
governmental and non-governmental actions. 

The  EU’s  response  will  continue  to  adapt  to  an  evolving  situation.  Just  as  we  provided 
material  support to  China  at  the  outbreak  of the  pandemic,  we  will  now  focus  on the  most 
affected  countries  in  need  of  health  support,  such  as  countries  in  Africa,  the 
Neighbourhood, the Western Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa, parts of Asia, Latin 
America  and  the  Caribbean.  The  focus  will  be  on  the  most  vulnerable  people,  including 
migrants,  refugees,  internally  displaced  persons  and  their  host  communities.  This  is  also  a 
demonstration  of  tackling  challenges  together  with  Africa1.  All  those  who  need  healthcare 
and protection should be on our radar. 

1 Joint Communication ‘Towards a comprehensive strategy with Africa’, JOIN(2020) 4. 

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Beyond  financial  support  and  other  cooperation,  the  EU  will  use  its  entire  trade  and 
investment toolbox and transport system to ensure the continuous flow of goods and avoid 
long-term disruptions of supplies, in particular for critical medical products and foodstuffs.  

The EU will continue to promote and uphold good governance, human rights, the rule of 
law,  gender  equality  and  non-discrimination,  decent  work  conditions,  as  well  as 
fundamental values and humanitarian principles. The special and extraordinary measures 
required  to  contain  the  pandemic  must  not  lead  to  backtracking  on  the  fundamental  values 
and  principles  of  our  open  and  democratic  societies.  In  addition,  our  collective  coronavirus 
response should avoid policy and investment decisions that exacerbate existing crises such as 
biodiversity loss and climate emergencies. 

Finally,  the  EU’s  action  will  be  fact-based  and  transparent,  fighting  any  attempts  of 
disinformation  inside  and  outside  the  EU.  It  will  be  accompanied  by  coordinated 
communication  campaigns  to  inform  about  our  engagement  and  our  cooperation  with 
partners  in  a  time  of  crisis.  The  EU  will  also  continue  its  engagement  with  global  online 
platforms  to  facilitate  access  to  authoritative  health  information,  such  as  from  the  World 
Health Organization (WHO).  

To  reach  these  objectives,  the  EU  will  secure  financial  support  to  partner  countries  for  a 
total of more than EUR 15.6 billion. 

These funds are existing external action resources. Together with our partners, we are making 
sure that the substantial EU funding already allocated to them is targeted to help them deal 
with the impact of COVID-19, similarly to what we are doing within Europe. This will allow 
EU action to be fast, adapted and operational. 

Our global response to COVID-19 will integrate the strategic objectives the EU has set itself 
as  regards  the  environment  and  climate,  as  set  out  in  the  European  Green  Deal,  and  the 
Digital  Agenda,  which  remain  fully  valid.  Ongoing  work  on  these  objectives  will  in  fact 
reinforce  the  efforts  to  address  the  short  and  long-term  challenges  linked  to  the  pandemic. 
The  current  crisis  is  a  reminder  that  the  full  implementation  of  the  2030  Agenda  for 
Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement remain crucial to help better equip the 
world for future systemic shocks. 

II. 

Team Europe approach 

The Team Europe approach must provide a single framework of action for all the European 
external  response  in  support  of  partners  to  address  the  corona  crisis,  a  joined-up  strategy 
based on four main pillars: 

1.  Team Europe priorities: our collective action will focus on (i) emergency response 
to  the  immediate  health  crisis  and  the  resulting  humanitarian  needs;  (ii) strengthen 
health,  water  and  sanitation  systems,  as  well  as  partners’  research  capacities  to  deal 
with the pandemic and their preparedness; and (iii) address the immediate social and 
economic consequences; 

2.  Team  Europe  packages:  we  will  coordinate  with  implementing  partners  –  such  as 
the  EIB,  the  EBRD  and  European  development  finance  institutions,  Member  States 
Development  Agencies  and  Technical  Assistance  providers,  and  International 
Financial  Institutions    –  to  set  up  a  coherent  financial  package  for  each  partner 
country that needs our support. To this end, EU Delegations will receive guidance on 
implementation modalities and choices. 

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3.  Team  Europe  for  Global  Preparedness:  we  will  support  the  Global  Preparedness 
Monitoring Board, which has identified EUR 7.5 billion as a global fundraising goal, 
by hosting a pledging moment; 

4.  Team  Europe  for  global  coordination  and  multilateralism:  we  will  leverage  the 
EU position as a global actor and major contributor to the international aid system to 
promote a coordinated global response, notably in the framework of the G7, the G20 
and  at  the  United  Nations.  The  EU  and  its  Member  States’  contribution  will  be 
presented  at  country,  regional  and  global  level,  in  particular  the  G7,  G20  and  the 
United  Nations-led  international  response,  to  promote  coordination  and  enhance  the 
visibility of European support to partner countries. 

In this spirit, the Commission welcomes the efforts of partner financial institutions to deliver 
financing  more  swiftly  and  efficiently,  by  stepping  up  ‘reciprocal  syndication’  in  co-
financing of coronavirus response and increasing mutual reliance on each other’s appraisals.  

II.1.  Team Europe priorities 

II.1.1.  Urgent,  short-term  emergency  response  to  the  health  crisis  and  the  resulting 

humanitarian needs 

The  pandemic  will  aggravate  humanitarian  needs.  Its  effects  will  be  most  acutely  felt  by 
populations already affected by humanitarian crises and conflict, such as migrants, refugees, 
internally  displaced  persons,  as  well  as  women,  children,  elderly  and  disabled  people  and 
other minorities. 

To  maximise  the  effect  of  our  emergency  response,  it  is  vital  to  coordinate  actions  and 
information flows with other donors and actors, notably EU Member States, the WHO, and 
other UN agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and other non-
governmental organisations. 

Key challenges to address: 

  Addressing chronic global shortages of personal protective equipment, notably masks 
and  gloves,  which  pose  a  threat  especially  to  frontline  health  staff  and  emergency 
services, as well as deficiencies in the management of biomedical waste; 

  Ensuring  the  continuation  of  service  provision  to  conflict-affected  and  forcibly 
displaced  populations,  refugees  and  migrants,  especially  those  living  in  camps  and 
camp-like  settings,  densely  populated  areas  or  locations  that  are  out  of  reach,  and 
adapting them to the pandemic context;  

  Continuing meeting the basic needs of the most vulnerable, including the delivery of 
essential food, nutrition assistance to food insecure and malnourished groups, as well 
as essential health services and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.  

How is the EU contributing to address these challenges: 

  Providing  immediate  support  to  the  global  efforts  by  contributing  to  the  WHO’s 
Strategic  Preparedness  and  Response  Plan,  the  Global  Humanitarian  Response  Plan 
launched by the UN on 25 March 2020 (total target of EUR 1.86 billion), as well as to 
the appeal of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement launched on 26 March (total 
target of EUR 750 million); 

  Providing  immediate  targeted  support  to  address  the  humanitarian  consequences  of 
the  pandemic  in  affected  countries,  in  particular  in  the  sectors  of  health,  water, 
sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and logistics; 

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 

Increasing  global  availability  of  personal  protective  equipment  and  medical  devices 
through support for increased production and innovative solutions in Europe, to meet 
urgent needs in Europe and in partner countries; 

  Organising  the  supply  of  urgently-needed  personal  protective  equipment  to  partner 
countries, as well as in-kind assistance to affected countries through the Union Civil 
Protection Mechanism (e.g. in-kind assistance provided to China during the outbreak 
and then to various Western Balkans countries); 

  Providing guarantees and liquidity provisions to local banks via international financial 
institutions  and  European  development  finance  institutions,  supported  by  the 
European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD); 

  Supporting  global  efforts  to  provide  sufficient  supply  of  essential  goods,  food  and 
water and combat any export restrictions or other distortive measures in the agri-food 
sector; 

  Supporting  partner  countries  for  an  appropriate  identification,  collection,  separation, 
storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of medical waste with a focus on new 
corona-related waste streams; 

  Reinforcing  support  from  the  European  Centre  for  Disease  Prevention  and  Control 
(ECDC)  for  preparedness  and  capacity  building.  The  ECDC  is  already  sharing  its 
coronavirus  related  guidance  and  assessments  with  the  governments  of  the  Western 
Balkans  and  Neighbourhood  countries.  The  same  should  be  done  for  other  tools 
currently being developed within the EU as part of its exit strategy; 

  Extending the thematic scope of the EU Solidarity Fund2, also available to countries 
negotiating  their  accession  to  the  Union,  to  cover  major  crisis  situations  resulting 
from public health threats; 

  Taking  all  necessary  measures  to  ensure  that  global  supply  chains  remain  intact  to 

facilitate trade, notably for essential medical supplies and pharmaceuticals; 

 

Inviting the Western Balkans to join the EU’s Joint Procurement Agreement to enable 
them  to  participate  in  EU  joint  procurement  processes  for  medical  equipment,  all 
having confirmed their intention to participate; 

  Extending the European rapid alert system for communicable diseases to the Western 

Balkans to enable rapid transfer of alerts and measures. 

Examples of emergency EU support to partner countries 

In Ethiopia, the EU has rapidly mobilised EUR 10 million to support the Government’s 
Preparedness and Response Plan to the coronavirus outbreak. The funds will be channelled 
through the ongoing Ethiopia Health Sector budget support programme launched in 2016 
with an overall allocation of EUR 165 million. The additional funding will help Ethiopia 
increase the number of diagnostic laboratories with COVID-19 diagnostic equipment and 
test kits, and the number of treatment centres. 

2  COM(2020) 114  final: Proposal  for  a  Regulation  of  the  European Parliament  and  of  the  Council, amending 
Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 in order to provide financial assistance to Member States and countries 
negotiating their accession to the Union seriously affected by a major public health emergency.  

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In Nigeria, the EU will support the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with 
a  EUR 50  million  contribution  to  implement  the  UN  Response  Plan  to  COVID-19.  The 
objective  of  the  action  is  to  ensure optimum  care  of  the confirmed  COVID-19  cases  and 
contain  a  further  spread  of  the  outbreak  through  an  inclusive  and  nationally  owned 
COVID-19 response. 

In the Western Balkans, the EU has already mobilised considerable funds for immediate 
support  to  the  health  sector  amounting  to  EUR  38  million  (EUR  4  million  for  Albania, 
EUR 7  million for Bosnia  and Herzegovina, EUR 5  million for Kosovo3, EUR 3  million 
for Montenegro, EUR 4 million for North Macedonia; and EUR 15 million for Serbia). The 
EU support  includes lifesaving medical equipment, also for intensive care, hospital beds, 
fully  equipped  ambulance  cars,  hundreds  of  respirators,  digital  mobile  x-rays,  tens  of 
thousands of testing kits and huge amount of personal protecting equipment.  

Under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey, small-scale health infrastructure and equipment 
is being procured, worth EUR 90 million. 

In the Eastern Partnership countries, the EU is mobilising an emergency support package 
worth  more  than  EUR  30  million  for  immediate  needs  in  the  health  sector.  In  Armenia 
over  3,000  vulnerable  households,  with  elderly  people  and  people  with  disabilities  and 
large families in Shirak, Tavush and Lori regions will receive humanitarian aid packages 
thanks to the support of the European Union. In Ukraine, the EU has delivered equipment 
for  the  Emergency  Medical  Care  Centre  of  Donetsk  Oblast  with  100  sets  of  personal 
protective equipment as well as more than 70 litres of highly concentrated antiseptic liquid. 

In  the  Southern Neighbourhood, triage and isolation spaces are set  up in hospitals  with 
EU  support,  the  staff  of  Social  Development  Centres is  trained  and  local  communication 
campaigns are underway. 3,500 surgical and respiratory masks have been procured.  

In  the  Caribbean,  the  EU  has  put  in  place  a  regional  support  to  the  Caribbean  Public 
Health  Agency  CARPHA  for  a  total  amount  of  EUR  8  million  to  cover  countries’  most 
urgent  needs  in  support  of  outbreak  control  operations.  This  includes  the  provision 
protection material,  test  reagents,  lab  material,  treatment/vaccines,  as  well  as  support  to 
increase the health workforce. 

 

In  Venezuela,  and  the  countries  in  the  region,  the  EU  is  supporting  the  Pan-American 
Health  Organisation  and  the  International  Federation  of  the  Red  Cross  and  Red  Crescent 
for  actions  that  help  contain  the  spread  and  prepare  for  response  to  Covid-19  (totalling 
EUR  9  million).  This  includes  improving  access  to  basic  health  services  and  facilitating 
access to adequate sanitation and hygiene for vulnerable populations, including refugees. 

Financial contribution:  EUR 502 million 

II.1.2.  Support to strengthen research, health and water systems 

Combatting the spread of the virus requires stepping up hygiene and making health systems 
resilient,  all  over  the  world.  In  some  partner  countries,  circumstances  are  particularly 
challenging  due  to  limited  access  to  water  and  already  weak  health  systems.  The  EU  will 
pursue  an  evidence-based  policy  formula  tested  in  previous  health  crises  such  as  the  Ebola 

3 This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ 
Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. 

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and Zika outbreaks, where health system support to the most  vulnerable countries, regional 
collaboration,  surveillance,  and  development  of  new  diagnostics  and  a  vaccine  eventually 
ended the outbreaks. To this end, a strong emphasis will be put on research and innovation. 

Key challenges to address: 

  Supporting  resource-constrained  countries  boosting  their  containment  and  treatment 
efforts;  strengthening  health  and  social  protection  systems  to  ensure  sustainable 
capacities for risk reduction, surveillance and management of the response; 

  Ensuring  access  to  basic  hand  washing  facilities  and  soap,  as  well  as  good  WASH 
practices  in  communities,  homes,  schools,  marketplaces  and  especially  health 
facilities, to help prevent transmission; 

  Accelerating  research  efforts  to  develop  effective  treatments,  vaccines,  therapeutics, 

and diagnostics, and ensure universal availability at an affordable price; 

  Ensuring  availability  of  protective  equipment  to  health  workers,  also  by  restoring 

global supply chains. 

How is the EU contributing to address these challenges: 

  Supporting partner countries to build resilient, responsive health and social protection 

systems and to implement international health regulations;  

  Topping  up  and  focusing  existing  EU  health  programmes  to  help  partner  countries 

protect, augment, and incentivise the health workforce; 

  Supporting  governments’  communication  and  awareness-raising  efforts  to  the 
population on basic protective measures and hygiene advice to prevent the spread of 
coronavirus; 

  Granting flexibility under our support to global initiatives such as the Global Fund to 
fight  Aids,  Tuberculosis  and  Malaria,  GAVI  the  Vaccine  Alliance,  and  the  Global 
Financing Facility, while ensuring that vital health programmes will continue; 

  Supporting further research on diagnostics, treatment and prevention; once a vaccine 
is  available,  fast-tracking  approval  and  subsidising  vaccines  and  their  delivery  in 
vulnerable countries; 

  Supporting  experts’  trainings  and  epidemiological  surveillance,  deployment  and  use 

of mobile labs and other mobile solutions; 

  Strengthening regional health security organisations in African, Caribbean and Pacific 

countries, such as the Pasteur Institute in Senegal; 

  Welcoming  candidate countries in the Western Balkans  to the EU’s Health Security 
technical  assistance,  crisis  management  protocols  and 
Committee,  providing 
guidelines,  and  sharing  expert  opinion  as  well  as  reflecting  on  how  best  associating 
potential candidates to these measures; 

  Supporting equal access to the health system to migrant, refugee, displaced and host 
communities  via  EU  trust  funds  and  the  Instrument  contributing  to  Stability  and 
Peace, which provide emergency medical assistance as well as support in basic health 
services and infrastructures; 

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  Promoting exchange of data between researchers, and facilitating access to results and 
evidences  via  Open  Access  and  Open  Science  from  research  to  feed  political  and 
clinical uptake; 

  Stepping up the preparation with EU Member States and third countries of the Global 
Health Partnership. The resources of the existing European & Developing  Countries 
Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), which currently focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa, 
could be increased to enable its extension to the Southern Mediterranean countries; 

  Reorienting  the  work  of  existing  multilateral  platforms  such  as  the  Coalition  for 
Epidemic  Preparedness  Innovation  (CEPI)  on  vaccine  development  and  the  Global 
Research  Collaboration  for  Infectious  Disease  Preparedness  (GlopiD-R)  on 
preparedness. 

Examples of EU supporting the health sector of its partners  

In  Sudan,  the  EU  is  working  to  ensure  access  to  clean  water  and  hygiene  and  raise 
awareness about the virus, as part of humanitarian projects totalling EUR 10 million.  

The  Commission  signed  the  new  EU  Initiative  for  Health  Security  with  the  European 
Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) amounting to EUR 9 million. It already started, covers 
all  23  Neighbourhood  and  Enlargement  countries  and  focuses  on  preparedness  and 
medical capacity to address the outbreak and the numerous repercussions.  

In Iran, the EU will provide EUR 6 million to strengthen the health sector via purchasing 
essential  pharmaceuticals,  training  essential  health  personnel  and  awareness  raising 
campaigns on personal hygiene and sanitation. We are also funding increased access of the 
most vulnerable Afghan refugees living in Iran to basic services. 

Financial contribution:  EUR 2,858 million 

II.1.3.  Addressing the economic and social consequences 

This unprecedented health crisis will most likely bring adverse economic and social effects: 
these  have  to  be  tackled  as  a  matter  of  urgency  to  prevent  destabilisation.  This  requires 
actions on several fronts: cushions in the face of possible macro-economic shock, appropriate 
backing  to  financial  intermediaries,  a  mix  of  financing  options  for  the  public  and  private 
sector.  It  also  includes  ensure  a  protective  framework  for  the  work  force  and  incomeless 
households. 

Key challenges to address: 

  Addressing  the  severe  economic  fallout  from  the  pandemic  across  the  world,  and 
preventing a recession cycle in many partner countries. Many countries will encounter 
a drop in economic activity, a sharp increase in unemployment and poverty. This may 
lead  to  pressure  on  public  finances,  increased  social  tensions  and,  in  some  settings, 
violence; 

  Addressing the additional financial and liquidity challenges brought by this crisis. A 
number  of  developing  and  emerging  economies  face  the  crisis  in  situations  of  high 
debt and limited policy space. Countries relying on tourism or remittances, as well as 
those at the beginning of supply chains or dependent on primary commodity exports, 
will be among the hardest hit; 

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  Supporting economic and social stabilisation and social protection measures such as 
temporary  deferment  or  waivers  of  tax  and  social  security  payments,  supportive 
financing conditions for economic actors, and direct financial support to help workers 
(including wage subsidies) and affected households, with particular attention to young 
people  –  necessitating  increased  social  expenditure.  Economic  actors  may  need 
affordably priced credit and will need to reschedule repayments of loans;  

  Supporting  measures  to  boost  network  capacity,  including  short-term  measures,  in 
order  to  facilitate  distant  working,  learning  and  socialising  as  well  as  access  to 
accurate information;  

  Ensuring  that  companies  regain  ability  to  finance  longer-term  investments,  so  that 

economies can recover in a green and inclusive mode;  

  Ensuring the respect for  human  rights,  including labour rights,  and democracy,  with 
particular  attention  to  education  and  the  situation  of  women,  girls  and  the  most 
vulnerable. 

How is the EU contributing to address these challenges: 

  Protecting  workers  in  the  workplace,  promoting  inclusive  measures  that  expand  the 
quantity  and  quality  of  health  access  and  decent  work  in  general.  These  measures 
prevent, inter alia, discrimination and social exclusion; 

  Mobilising  the  Macro-Financial  Assistance  (MFA)  Instrument  for  the  Western 
Balkans  and  Neighbourhood  countries  faced  with  a  balance  of  payment  crisis,  in 
tandem  with  International  Monetary  Fund  (IMF)  support.  MFA  can  contribute  to 
macroeconomic  stability  and  create  policy  space  for  appropriate  economic  response 
options; 

  Supporting  temporarily  national  governments  via  technical  assistance,  direct  budget 
support  and  if  relevant  concessional  financing,  complementary  to  World  Bank  and 
IMF interventions, to adopt fiscal, monetary, social and public health policy reforms 
so  as 
to,  amongst  others,  prioritise  public  expenditure  for  socio-economic 
development and poverty reduction; 

  Supporting 

temporarily  financial 

intermediaries,  such  as  public  banks  and 
supervisory/regulatory  bodies,  via  technical  assistance  or  guarantees  to  adopt  more 
conducive financing strategies and regulatory frameworks, and have improved access 
to concessional financing; 

  Supporting  the  private  sector  –  in  particular  small  and  medium-sized  enterprises 
(SMEs)  and  the  self-employed  –  via  guarantees,  liquidity  provisions  and  technical 
assistance  to  the  private  sector;  supporting  local  banks  via  international  financial 
institutions and European development finance institutions to have increased access to 
liquidity  support,  working  capital  and  trade  finance;  further  reorienting  guarantees 
from  the  EFSD  towards  shorter-term  risk-sharing  on  loans  for  micro-entrepreneurs 
and  SMEs.  The  Commission  welcomes  the  reactivation  of  the  Vienna  Bank 
Coordination Initiative, which will help banks to remain actively engaged in financing 
the economies of EU and partner countries. 

  Providing  public  sector  loans  from  the  EIB,  notably  for  healthcare  equipment  and 

supplies; 

  Working with international organisations, partner countries and the European private 
sector  to  build  strong  and  resilient  value  chains  in  strategic  sectors  and  ensure  that 

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sustainability,  labour  rights  and  corporate  social  responsibility  criteria  are  respected 
throughout value chains despite the drop in demand and when the economy recovers; 

  Promoting  forms  of  debt  relief  (under  consideration  by  multilateral  financial 
institutions,  in  particular  by  the  IMF)  especially  in  countries  affected  by  the 
coronavirus downturn; 

  Supporting the continuity of the provision of all levels of education; 

  Maintaining  policy  dialogue  backed  by  budget  support  and  technical  assistance  for 
policy  reform  on  human  rights  and  democracy  support,  as  well  as  direct  support  to 
civil society; 

  Continuing to take all necessary measures (both immediately and in the long term) to 
ensure  that  global  supply  chains  and  transport  corridors  remain  intact;  ensuring  that 
measures  to  address  the  spread  of  the  coronavirus  affecting  the  movement  of  goods 
and labour remain targeted, proportionate, transparent and temporary – as is the case 
with the EU’s temporary export authorisation measure; taking into account the needs 
of  other  countries  for  emergency  supplies  and  humanitarian  assistance.  The  EU’s 
temporary export authorisation scheme explicitly foresees humanitarian assistance as 
one of the grounds on which Member States can grant export authorisations.  

Examples of Recovery support 

In  Sierra  Leone,  EUR 34.7  million  will  be  provided  to  address  the  economic 
consequences of COVID-19 as follows: EUR 25 million via budget support will strengthen 
macroeconomic  resilience  and  stability,  as  well  as  provide  support  to  national  response 
plan.  Through  a  cash  transfers  programme  worth  EUR  5.2  million,  the  Commission’s 
support  will protect the incomes  of  the most  vulnerable populations via the World Bank. 
Finally,  with  a  package  of  EUR 4.5  million  the  Commission  will  support  the  agriculture 
sector to boost local food production. 

In  the  Western  Balkans,  the  EU  has  mobilised  considerable  support  for  the  social  and 
economic  recovery  amounting  to  EUR  374.5  million  since  the  beginning  of  the  crisis 
(EUR  46.5  million  for  Albania,  EUR  73.5  million  for  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina,  EUR  63 
million  for  Kosovo,  EUR  50  million  for  Montenegro,  EUR  63  million  for  North 
Macedonia  and  EUR 78.5  million  for  Serbia).  It  will  help  to  address  the  socio-economic 
impact of the outbreak in particular for the most affected businesses, including companies 
working in tourism and transportation sectors. 

For  Jordan  and  Lebanon  a  EUR  240  million  package  has  been  adopted  to  support 
vulnerable local households and Syrian refugees. 

Financial contribution:  EUR 12,281 million 

II.2.  Team Europe package 

The EU and its Member States will contribute to a Team Europe package to support partner 
countries  in  their  efforts  to  address  the  corona  crisis  in  a  comprehensive  manner.  The  EU 
budget contribution will be as set out in this table: 

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II.1 

Common priority lines of action 

II.1.1 

Support the urgent, short-term emergency response to 
humanitarian needs 

II.1.2 

Support to strengthen health systems 

II.1.3 

Economic and social consequences 

TOTAL 

EU contribution to 
Team Europe package 
(EUR million) 

502 

2,858 

12,281 

15,641 

This  contribution  builds  on  existing  instruments  and  facilities  that  can  deliver  fast  and 
tangible results. This is particularly the case for regional blending platforms or EU guarantee 
instruments, namely the EFSD and the External Lending Mandate of the EIB. Accelerating 
Macro-Financial  Assistance  for  the  Western  Balkans  and  Neighbourhood  countries  is  also 
foreseen, complementing rapid support from the IMF.  

II.3 Team Europe for Global Preparedness 

Finding a way out of the current crisis relies as a matter of priority on the rapid deployment 
of  effective  diagnostics,  vaccine  and  treatments.  Without  them,  every  country  in  the  world 
remains vulnerable. For this reason, the EU will  team up with  partners around the globe  to 
hold a pledging moment, with the aim of closing the current funding gap identified by Global 
Preparedness Monitory Board towards reaching the 7.5 billion Euro of funding needed for: 

  Developing  rapid  coronavirus  diagnostics,  treatments  and  vaccines,  quickly  and  at 

scale; 

  Ensuring sufficient supplies of protective equipment for health workers; 

  Supporting  the  WHO  to  coordinate  and  prioritise  efforts  to  the  most  vulnerable 

countries. 

Alongside  the  funding  pledges,  the  EU  and  partners  will  aim  to  secure  high-level  political 
commitment to ensuring equitable access to products created to tackle this pandemic. 

II.4 Team Europe for global coordination and multilateralism 

The EU will promote and lead a coordinated response on the multilateral front, notably in a 
joint  coordination  effort  with  the  United  Nations,  the  international  financial  institutions  as 
well as the G7 and G20. The EU and its Member States will also continue working with the 
African Union (AU) on the renewed Strategy with Africa, towards the AU-EU summit in the 
autumn. As per the agreement of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, the EU 
will contribute actively to the development of a G20 roadmap with the following elements4: 

  A G20 Action Plan in Response to coronavirus, which will outline the individual and 
collective actions that G20 has taken and will be taking to respond to the pandemic. 
The  Action  Plan  should  include  macroeconomic  measures,  financial  measures,  and 
measures for international financial institutions. The Action Plan should also include a 
coordinated exit and recovery strategy, and reduce risks to trade supply chains.  

4 See G20 Press Release from 30 March (G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors); G20 Leaders 
Statement from 26 March and G7 Leaders Statement from 16 March. 

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  Working  with  relevant  international  financial  institutions,  in  particular  the  IMF  and 
the World Bank, to swiftly deliver the appropriate international financial assistance to 
emerging markets and developing countries to cope with the challenges presented by 
the  coronavirus  pandemic,  including  liquidity  and  debt-relief  measures  to  help  the 
poorest countries immediately reduce their debt repayment obligations. 

  Working  with  the  Financial  Stability  Board  (FSB)  in  its  capacity  to  coordinate 
financial sector regulatory and supervisory measures taken by countries in response to 
the  pandemic.  As  agreed  by  G20  Trade  Ministers,  the  EU  will  take  immediate 
necessary  measures  to  facilitate  trade  of  essential  goods  and  will  continue  to  work 
with international partners to keep markets open. In this spirit, the EU continues all its 
efforts to modernise and strengthen the World Trade Organization (WTO) and trade 
facilitation. The EU will also promote measures that can help economies recover in a 
green and inclusive way. 

Responding  to  the  call  of  G20  leaders  in  their  extraordinary  statement  on  coronavirus,  the 
President  of  the  European  Commission,  Ursula  von  der  Leyen,  and  the  President  of  the 
European  Council,  Charles  Michel,  have  offered  to  set  up  an  international  online  pledging 
event as outlined above, to support adequate funding to develop and deploy a vaccine against 
COVID-19.  

In  the  context  of  the  WHO,  the  EU  and  its  Member  States  will  lead  the  preparation  of  a 
resolution  on  the  corona  crisis  by  the  73rd  World  Health  Assembly  in  May.  With  logistical 
support  from  the  WHO  Secretariat,  the  EU  will  organise  inclusive  consultations  to  build  a 
consensus  among  countries  on  this  important  resolution  with  a  focus  on  solidarity, 
coordination and health crisis management. 

Finally,  the  EU  should  promote  global  cooperation  in  research  and  innovation,  working 
towards Open Science and Open Access of data and research results as well as strengthening 
the existing multilateral platforms relevant for addressing pandemics. 

Supporting research in Africa 

The  EU  is  joining  research  and  innovation  efforts  with  Africa  in  the  fight  against  the 
coronavirus outbreak. The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership 
(EDCTP)  is  launching  emergency  calls  for  expressions  of  interest  to  support  research  on 
the  coronavirus  and  strengthen  research  capacities  in  sub-Saharan  Africa.  Three  calls  in 
total  will  be  funded  with  over  EUR 25 million  from  Horizon  2020,  the  EU  research  and 
innovation programme.  

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