One year into its global response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the EU has mobilised more than €26 billion to support more than 130 partner countries, said the European Commission on 8 April.
On 8 April 2020, the ‘Team Europe’ approach was launched, mobilising funds from the EU, its Member States and financial institutions (EIB, EBRD) in vulnerable non-Member States. More than €20 billion was promised by reallocating aid (see EUROPE 12464/13).
By 1 January 2021, the amount of aid disbursed had reached €26.2 billion: €3.2 billion was used to address urgent humanitarian needs, €3.5 billion to strengthen health, water and sanitation systems and €19.5 billion to mitigate the economic and social consequences of the crisis.
This amount represents 65% of the €40 billion that is now envisaged for this purpose. This is also in addition to €2.2 billion in support for the Covax Facility, which aims to ensure fair and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines for 92 low- and middle-income countries. Discussions over a European vaccine-sharing mechanism with low-income countries are still continuing. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)