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Coronavirus: EU guarantees 15 billion euros to help Africa

2020-04-07T17:18:53.572Z



EU to guarantee more than € 15 billion to help the most vulnerable countries in Africa and the rest of the world to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, European Commission President Ursula von der announced on Tuesday Leyen.

Read also: Arnaud Montebourg: "Globalization is over"

Africa could experience the same problems as those we face in Europe in a few weeks. She needs our help to slow the spread of the virus, ”she warned in a video message in several languages ​​posted on her twitter account. " This is why the European Union is guaranteeing more than 15 billion euros to help our partners around the world to fight against coronaviruses, " she explained. Von der Leyen said " more money will come from national governments ".

The European ministers in charge of Development are called to vote on this proposal during a videoconference on Wednesday. The proposed financial support is 15.6 billion euros, a European source told AFP.

It is made up of reallocations of unspent funds, redirected to combat Covid-19, reserves from the European Development Fund (EDF) and guarantees given by the European Fund for Sustainable Development, according to this source.

Priority to Africa

Priority will be given to Africa, which has 90% of the most vulnerable countries. The other beneficiaries will be the countries of the Near East which accept refugees, the countries of the Western Balkans, the so-called neighborhood countries (Armenia, Ukraine) and some countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The bulk of the financial support, nearly 13 billion, is intended to help these countries cope with the economic and social consequences of the pandemic. Support for health systems is also planned as well as a response to humanitarian and health needs, it was said.

European Foreign Minister Josep Borrell announced Friday the preparation of a " financial aid package " for Africa and other regions in difficulty, adding that " the pandemic cannot be overcome if it is not is not everywhere ".

We are facing a global pandemic. Since the first case last December, the virus has reached almost every country in the world and its rapid spread has had a profound impact on our societies, our economies and our health systems , "said Ursula von der Leyen. She called for a " coordinated global response ".

EU support aims to encourage other international organizations, in particular the International Monetary Fund, but also large countries, notably China, to take their part in the rescue of the countries of the African continent, explained a European diplomat.

Source: lefigaro

All business articles on 2020-04-07

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