On Tuesday 14 April, the EU Council of Ministers approved the acts to free up €3 billion from the EU budget to fight the coronavirus pandemic (see EUROPE 12462/4).
A regulation making it possible for the EU to mobilise emergency aid (Emergency Support Instrument).
The draft amending budget No. 2/2020 provides €2.7 billion for emergency aid and €300 million for the RescEU medical equipment reserve.
With this money, the Commission will be able to: - obtain emergency aid on behalf of the Member States and distribute medical equipment such as masks and respirators; - provide financial support and coordination for urgent needs such as transportation of medical equipment and patients in cross-border regions; - support the construction of mobile field hospitals.
The EU Council also adopted its position on the draft amending budget No. 1 for 2020 (+€567 million in commitments and +€77 million in payments): €115 million for co-financing measures to combat COVID-19 (repatriation of stranded citizens and protective equipment through joint procurement), €3.6 million for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), €350 million to help Greece cope with migration, and €100 million for Albania (post-earthquake). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)