Brussels, 22/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Thursday evening 23 October, EU heads of state and/or government will, for the second time, discuss ways of stepping up efforts in tackling the Ebola epidemic in West Africa to help contain and stem the spread of the virus at source, joining forces with the United Nations, the African Union and regional organisations.
The aim is to increase financial resources beyond the €450 million already pledged by the EU in humanitarian aid (experts, mobile laboratories, treatment centres, air transport for aid) and in development aid (mainly direct budgetary support to the worst affected countries - Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea). There is especially a need to increase the numbers of health staff willing to travel to West Africa, provision of protective medical equipment, military logistical resources to support humanitarian efforts and to ensure repatriation of international medical staff if necessary.
The European Council is deeply concerned by the continuing spread of the epidemic, which has already cost the lives of 4,500 people and devastated the economic and social fabric of the three most affected countries, and which represents a threat to global peace and security. It will discuss all aspects of the EU's coordinated response, on the basis of the conclusions adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council of 20 October (see EUROPE 11181 and 11180).
So that European efforts are effectively coordinated, the heads of state and/or government will appoint a special EU coordinator who will ensure the most effective cooperation possible between the European Union, its member states and the United Nations. This person will be based in the European Commission's coordination and emergency response centre (DG ECHO). (AN)