The European Ministers of Foreign Affairs, meeting for the second time by videoconference, confirmed, on Friday 3 April, their determination to make international cooperation the key to an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a global response without which no success can be expected, not even in Europe.
They confirmed their willingness to continue efforts to repatriate the 250,000 European citizens still trapped in non-Member States, to step up support to vulnerable non-Member States, particularly in Africa, and to continue the fight against disinformation - three topics related to the international consequences of the pandemic (see EUROPE 12459/9).
Strengthen international cooperation. "We all agree that this is an international crisis. The answer should be global and priority should be given to assisting the most vulnerable countries. It is also in our longer-term interest", the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, told the press after the ministerial meeting. And he added: "Even if we solve the problem in Europe, it will not be solved if it is not solved everywhere because it can backlash at any moment".
Hence the EU's support for the UN. The High Representative referred in particular to the need to assist vulnerable non-Member States in conflict and to avoid the double burden of having to fight "two wars" (see other news).
A special focus on Africa. Stressing the capacity gap between European and African health systems (37 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants compared to 1 in Africa, and a huge gap in the number of beds and intensive care units per hospital), Mr Borrell said: "The same threat can cause much more damage in Africa than in Europe. We must help Africa. It is in our own interest", particularly in view of the geographical proximity of the two continents.
According to the High Representative, an aid package is being prepared by reallocating funds to the fight against the coronavirus and will be the subject of the videoconference of European Development Ministers convened on Wednesday 8 April (see EUROPE 12459/9). Already €232 million has been announced by the EU in support of the global response, including €129 million for developing countries (see EUROPE 12453/13).
Intensify the repatriation of European citizens. Ministers welcomed the efforts made by the European coordination of consular assistance of those Member States providing the greatest number of flights, commercial and even military, beyond those co-financed by the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. "Thanks to our efforts, more than 350,000 Europeans have been repatriated. Unfortunately, there are still 250,000 left. Efforts will continue. Operations are under way", assured the High Representative. He pointed out that "things are getting more difficult by the day", with the closure of the airspace of many countries (such as India, South Africa, Kenya, Cuba, Senegal). However, according to a senior EU official, "there is not a single country where we have encountered an absolute refusal to be flexible" in response to European requests, whether for landing permits for planes, transit of European passengers or visa extensions. Mr Borrell welcomed the solidarity of Member States who repatriate on their flights European citizens other than their own nationals.
Continue to fight against disinformation. On this point, the ministers expressed their deep concern about the potentially dangerous impact on human health of the proliferating disinformation, but also about the danger of more politically motivated 'fake news'. "There is more solidarity among Member States than is commonly believed", said the High Representative, while acknowledging "a lack of communication on our part about what we are doing". The Rapid Response Unit of the European External Action Service, which was set up well before the COVID-19 crisis, will continue to fight against such disinformation, he assured. European ministers agreed, he said, to increase their activities and capabilities to counter this phenomenon. "We will coordinate our efforts with Member States and social media, in cooperation with the Commissioners in charge of this issue", Borrell said. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)