Repatriations of European citizens blocked due to travel restrictions as a result of COVID-19 continue, with the support of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the coordination of consular support by EU delegations in non-Member States.
Belgium has activated the mechanism to receive co-financing for a repatriation flight for Belgian and European nationals from Tunisia, the Commission said on Friday 20 March.
The number of German flights increased on Friday from 13 to 23 (see EUROPE 12450/2), and Latvia is also participating. These repatriations will continue in the coming days from many countries (including Georgia, Egypt, Morocco, the Philippines, Tunisia, and Argentina), according to the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič.
The reserve stock of medical equipment (which will augment the EU Civil Protection Mechanism’s RescEU reserve of assets) announced on Thursday is being formally established to assist EU Member States (see EUROPE 12450/1).
“The decision has been adopted, but the reserve is not yet operational”. Potentially, the 34 countries participating in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism will be able to propose placing orders for equipment and to be host countries for such equipment. “But countries must apply to work with the Commission”, said Eric Mamer, the Commission’s chief spokesman.
The European medical corps, consisting of specialist doctors, nurses and two mobile laboratories (outposts), has not yet been deployed, not even in Italy, where COVID-19 had caused more than 3,400 deaths, exceeding China’s heavy death toll.
Apart from requiring an activation request, deployment could not currently take place, the Commission acknowledged. “Given the very difficult situation in the EU, its deployment will depend on national capabilities”, Eric Mamer reiterated, recalling that these are Member States’ staff, not Commission staff (see EUROPE 12448/8). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)