The Visegrad countries announced on Wednesday 8 April their intention to launch an extraordinary program entitled ‘V4EastSolidarity program’ to assist Eastern Partnership countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences.
This programme will be created within the framework of the Visegrad International Fund, “with a simplified procedure dedicated to the practical strengthening of the health, social, economic resilience of the groups of citizens” of these six countries, the Visegrad countries specify in their joint declaration. According to the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the programme is expected to provide up to €250,000 under the Fund.
The joint declaration also underlines the “strategic importance” and “high priority in the EU’s external action” of the Eastern Partnership. “Future policy must be credible, dynamic and attractive to our Partners, while reflecting shared values as fundaments of the Eastern Partnership”, the countries add, assuring that they will strive to ensure that this policy receives adequate financial resources in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
See the joint statement: https://bit.ly/39VmzxJ (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)