On Friday 30 July, the European Commission announced additional financial support of €14 million to six Member States for the transport of treatment and equipment related to the Covid-19 vaccination.
This package, originating from the ‘mobility’ package of the Emergency Support Instrument, joins the €150 million already made available since the beginning of the health crisis for the transport of essential medical supplies.
“Supply chains and deliveries of medical equipment have continued to be supported by the EU. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Emergency Support Instrument has proven to be a valuable tool in our joint fight against Covid-19. This latest package has allowed us to fund the transport of essential supplies, to save patients’ lives and to boost national vaccination campaigns”, said Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič.
This amount of €14 million will be used to transport intensive care medicines to Belgium and to send syringes and needles to Italy.
Austria, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Slovenia will also receive aid, the Commission said in a statement.
The Emergency Support Instrument (ESI) was activated in April 2020 to help Member States deal with the health crisis. Around €150 million was made available to 18 Member States and the UK. This sum had been used to finance more than 1,000 flights and 500 land and sea deliveries across the EU.
By June 2021, a new grant of €1.15 million had enabled the transport of 293 health professionals and 35 patients. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)