Brussels, 18/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 17 November, EU ministers for foreign affairs welcomed the increasing level of EU coordinated aid - financial, logistics, medical personnel - and the international efforts made to attempt to contain the source of the Ebola epidemic and its devastating effects in West Africa.
On his return from the region, Coordinator Christos Stylianides provided ministers with a preliminary briefing of the immediate priorities initially identified to step up the European response to this crisis (see other article in this newsletter and EUROPE 11198). The conclusions adopted by the Council reaffirmed the EU 28's commitment to do more to, “contain, fight and finally overcome the epidemic”. These efforts will be backed up at the beginning of next month by providing a more updated assessment of the needs identified and which the European Commission will have carried out in the meantime. On 18 December, the European Council will have all the different cards in its hands to set out the different orientations at the most senior level.
At the end of the Council, Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated: “We will be returning to this in a more detailed way during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in its Development format (12 December next) and during the Foreign Affairs Ministers' meeting (from 15 December) in preparation for the European Council, where heads of state and government will proceed to the evaluation of the efforts that have so far been coordinated”.
The Council has expressed the EU's concerns regarding the spread of the still deadly virus that is destroying the economic and social fabric in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, as well as confirmation of new infection cases in Mali. The Council praised the “heroic efforts” made by health care professionals at national and international levels and highlights the importance of them receiving as much support as possible from the public authorities, society and the private sector, so that they can take effective action. The Council also says how important it is not to stigmatise the international medical personnel when they return from countries affected by Ebola. It welcomed the swift increase in European financial commitments made, which means that the EU is the biggest international donor, with more than €1.1 billion provided for the short and medium term. The Council also underlines the necessity of continuing to send out equipment by sea and by air.
The Council also welcomes the increase in the number of European medical personnel sent out in the field and reaffirms the crucial importance of additional and swift qualified, trained and experienced personnel being sent out to the region. It is calling on the Commission and the member states to rapidly deploy their respective resources on a voluntary basis. The Council has welcomed the integrated regional operational response to Ebola, approved on 6 November by ECOWAS heads of state and government, with which the EU is ready to step up its coordination. (AN)