Stronger Together against COVID-19
In Europe and in the world, all minds are focused on actions to tackle the outbreak of COVID-19 and mitigate the effects of the crisis. The European Union works on all fronts to support these efforts.
"The coronavirus has not only Europe but the entire global community in its grip and is the world’s common enemy. An enemy we can only defeat with a global approach and cross-border coordination", said EU High Representative Josep Borrell.
To this aim, the European Union has launched its “Team Europe” package to support partner countries in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences. The objective of the “Team Europe” approach is to combine resources from the EU, its Member States, and financial institutions, in particular the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The overall figure of the “Team Europe” package reaches almost 36 billion euros.
The support of the European Union focuses on:
On 18 May, the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) presented its “Special Report on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Rule of Law in Kosovo”, covering the period from March 2020 to March 2021. The report identifies the challenges faced by the justice system and the correctional service during the coronavirus pandemic, and offers concrete and actionable recommendations for the Kosovo rule-of-law system to better respond to the ongoing health crisis.
Dans le cadre de son appui aux Forces armées du Burkina Faso dans la lutte contre le terrorisme, l’Union européenne vient de livrer quatre ambulances avec du matériel médical complet au profit du bataillon burkinabè de la Force conjointe du G5 Sahel.
This €8 million (UGX 35 billion) support confirms the EU’s commitment to support Uganda during such a long and unprecedented crisis adding up to €14 million (UGX 62 billion) already provided for emergency support at the beginning of the pandemic last year
Un nouvel arrivage d’équipements de protection individuelle (EPI) destiné aux personnels soignants du Ministère de la Santé et aux volontaires du Croissant-Rouge comorien, est arrivé par bateau de la Réunion.
In response to COVID-19 pandemic, European Union funded “Recovering Together” project, implemented by World Vision, is contributing in the form of a donation of 370 equipped hospital beds as an expression of the solidarity of the European Union during this challenging time.
Dans le cadre du plan de riposte du Gouvernement béninois contre la pandémie de la Covid-19, la Délégation de l'Union européenne au Bénin a procédé le 20 janvier 2021, à la remise de chèque d’un montant de 46,56 millions d’euros au Gouvernement béninois, afin de soutenir le pays dans sa gestion sanitaire et socio-économique de cette pandémie.
Team Europe supports the digital platform The Oekusi Post under the initiative “COVID19 Response in Timor-Leste” aiming to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable families and provide social messaging about the pandemic.
Like many global challenges, coronavirus does not respect national boundaries. We cannot consider the disease to be under control in Europe until it is under control worldwide. This is why the EU is extending help beyond its borders.
Since the coronavirus outbreak, Elsi’s team have been using EU-backed SORMAS technology to track the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria. SORMAS stands for Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System. It’s free to use and easy to set up.
Masks, gloves and other equipment arrived in the new batch of European Union solidarity with Serbia in the fight against COVID 19 pandemic.
This reinforcement to the medical system and other services of Serbia comes at the request of Serbia as the need to protect medical personnel, critical staff and to fight for the lives of patients in critical condition is rising.
To support partner countries in the fight against the coronavirus and its consequences, the European Union has mobilised a “Team Europe” package of over €200 million for Indonesia.
Twelve new ambulances with modern equipment, decontamination vehicles and protective equipment will be available to the health system in Serbia thanks to a European Union donation.
De izq a der: Miklós Tamás PACZUK, Embajador de Hungría en Ecuador; Carlos Alfonso Abella y de Arístegui, Embajador de España en Ecuador; Canciller de Ecuador, Luis Gallegos; Caterina Bertolini, Embajadora de Italia en Ecuador; Charles-Michel Geurts, Embajador de la Unión Europea en Ecuador; Jean-Baptiste Chauvin, Embajador de Francia en Ecuador; y Philipp Schauer, Embajador de Alemania Ecuador
On the face of it, Timor-Leste has done well to escape the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been only 28 positive cases so far, all from outside the country, with no community transmission detected. Everyone affected has recovered while in isolation, and no one has died.
Disability is an issue that concerns everyone. Any of us could develop a disability throughout our lives resulting from illness, genetic disorder or accident. Today we observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This reminds us to promote the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities and to take action for their inclusion in all aspects of society and development.
EU brings into South Sudan 65 tons of personal protective equipment against COVID19 for frontline workers.
While Serbia faces increasing numbers of new daily cases of COVID-19 and more people are hospitalised, the European Union continues to honour its commitment to stand by the country and its people. The EU funds have now secured the employment of about 200 medical and administrative staff as well as new equipment to effectively help people in need across Serbia.
With a grant from the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) the “Centro de Estudos para a Paz e Desenvolvimento (CEPAD) will promote civic education and engagement to ensure State accountability with regard to Covid-19 related activities.
The European Union helps vulnerable communities in reducing the economic impact of COVID-19 donating assets, hygiene materials and food on Atauro island. The support is part of the EU initiative “Cultural Entrepreneurship in Timor-Leste - A Driving Force for Inclusive Development and Equality”, implemented by Empreza Di’ak - a local NGO.
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, 8 October 2020. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), through the African Union, today received the third and last batch of 1.4 million COVID-19 test kits donated by the Government of Germany. The kits were delivered through a European Union (EU) Humanitarian Air Bridge flight as part of the EU’s global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, worth over €26 million, with contributions from the EU, Germany, Austria, Spain, and Sweden.
The construction of the new Press Centre is financed in the framework of a USD 4 million European Union programme to support decentralisation in Timor-Leste, implemented and co-financed by the UNDP.
Les 9 et 11 septembre 2020, les régions de Zinder et Maradi ont bénéficié d’un appui en matériel médical dans la lutte contre la pandémie du COVID-19. Fourni par des partenaires européens présents au Niger, La Mission EUCAP Sahel Niger a transporté le matériel en région.
A través de acciones de apoyo en hospitales, trabajando con poblaciones vulnerables, en las fronteras, y en diálogo con los distintos ministerios del país, los países europeos se movilizan para la Argentina
Buenos Aires, 11 de septiembre de 2020 - Autoridades del gobierno argentino se reunieron de manera virtual con representantes de las Embajadas de la Unión Europea y de los Estados miembros de la UE para reforzar la coordinación de las numerosas acciones de cooperación que están desarrollando en el marco de la crisis provocada por la pandemia del coronavirus.
10 September 2020, New York – With nearly 2 million New Yorkers, including almost 800,000 children, facing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, since August the EU Delegation to the UN in New York has partnered with the Coalition for the Homeless to support the neediest residents of our host city.
This project redirects resources from scheduled events which could not take place in person due to the pandemic.
The donation is part of the #TeamEurope response to Covid19 under the EU funded “Climate Change Adaptation for local development organisations in rural Timor-Leste” implemented by Plan International and a local NGO called Resilient Agriculture and Economy through Biodiversity in Action (RAEBIA).
La Organización Internacional para las Migraciones (OIM) junto a Cruz Roja Argentina elaboraron y comenzaron la entrega de 300 kits familiares de alimentos e higiene a población refugiada y migrante en las regiones del AMBA, Córdoba, Santiago del Estero, Misiones y Santa Fe, quienes se encuentran en una situación de vulnerabilidad agravada por el contexto de pandemia COVID-19. Mediante esta acción, se alcanzarán de manera directa cerca de 1200 personas.
La semaine dernière, le Conseil National de la Jeunesse au Niger a reçu 3.200 masques de protection donné par EUCAP Sahel Niger pour les jeunes bénévoles qui vont mener une vaste campagne de sensibilisation sur la prévention de COVID19. La campagne vise à informer environ 200.000 personnes de toutes les régions de Niger sur les pratiques d’hygiène essentielles pour éviter la transmission du virus.
Le 25 août 2020 - Les maladies ne connaissent pas de frontières – la propagation rapide de la pandémie COVID-19 l'a encore montré clairement. Les régions frontalières, notamment en Afrique centrale, sont particulièrement touchées par l'impact de la pandémie : La fermeture des frontières prive les populations frontalières de leurs moyens de subsistance du commerce transfrontalier. L'accès aux écoles, aux hôpitaux ou aux marchés de l'autre côté de la frontière est souvent bloqué. En même temps, l'exposition particulière des régions frontalières à la propagation du virus par des activités commerciales se heurte, souvent, à l'insuffisance des soins de santé dans les régions frontalières marginalisées et au manque d'informations sur les moyens de prévention contre la propagation du virus.
La Unión Europea y sus Estados Miembros representados en el país, Alemania, España, Italia y Francia – el Equipo Europa – presentan un paquete de iniciativas para apoyar los esfuerzos del país frente a las consecuencias generadas por la pandemia del coronavirus. El equipo ha reorientado sus programas de cooperación ya en curso (por un total de alrededor 100 millones de euros) para apoyar al país a responder a las necesidades más urgentes como para mitigar la situación socioeconómica en los próximos meses y años.
Sao Tomé-et-Principe, le 7 août - L'Union européenne (UE) a procédé au versement de 5,25 millions d'euros (environ 128 millions de dobras) au budget de l'État de São Tomé-et-Príncipe dans le cadre du programme d'appui budgétaire «Contrat de Réforme sectorielle de l'eau et de l'assainissement» signé entre le Gouvernement et l'UE.
The European Union and international and local NGOs are providing 200,000 face masks, 5,000 litres of hand sanitiser, and 20,000 bars of soap to healthcare workers, vulnerable families, and rural communities affected by the Covid-19 crisis. The value of the equipment exceeds USD 200,000. Today the EU Ambassador Andrew Jacobs and NGO and civil society partners handed over samples of the personal protective equipment to the Mini
From July 23rd to 26th, 2020, six European Union (EU) Heads of Mission (HoMs) in Uganda visited Kanungu, Kasese and Fort Portal in the western part of the country, a major tourist hub, to assess the impact of Covid-19, among other critical challenges affecting the tourism sector in Uganda.
Team Europe on 29 July successfully operated its second Humanitarian Air Bridge flight to Juba South Sudan, with supplies for COVID-19 and other humanitarian needs in the country. The first flight arrived in Juba a week ago. The cargo on these flights amounts to over 80 tonnes.
The initiative launched is the localised expression of this global commitment. It is the result of a true partnership between the European Union and Ireland and proof of our utmost commitment to jointly move aid effectiveness from policy to practice in Sierra Leone.
L'Ambassadeur du Portugal à São Tomé-et-Príncipe, M. Luís Gaspar da Silva, et l'Ambassadrice de l'Union européenne, Mme Rosário Bento Pais, représentée pour cet événement par son Attaché de coopération à São Tomé-et-Príncipe, Albert Losseau, vont remettre ce mercredi 29 juillet au Ministre de la Santé, M. Edgar Neves, dans son Ministère, un premier lot d'équipements médicaux composé de protections individuelles, d'équipements de laboratoire et divers médicaments.
O Embaixador de Portugal em São Tomé e Príncipe, Luís Gaspar da Silva, e a Embaixadora da União Europeia, Rosário Bento Pais, representada neste ato pelo Adido para a Cooperação em São Tomé e Príncipe, Albert Losseau, vão proceder à entrega de um primeiro lote com equipamentos de proteção individual, materiais de laboratório e consumíveis médicos, ao Ministro da Saúde, Edgar Neves, no próximo dia 27 de julho, nas instalações do Ministério da Saúde.
15 million euros will be implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP). It corresponds to an additional support to resources already mobilised by the EU and its Member States to fight the pandemic in the country, by redirecting the portofolio of existing cooperation projects, estimated at about 35 million euros.
The Ambassador and Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation for the Pacific, His Excellency Sujiro Seam handed over Irrigation Systems, Water Tank, Disaster Risk Reduction Kits and Village Development Plans to communities in Labasa and Savusavu, as well as visited EU-funded projects during his visit to the northern division last week.
The coronavirus pandemic is a global crisis that requires a global solution. The EU is mobilising EUR 36 billion globally to end the spread of the virus and reduce its impact on economic and social stability in partner countries. The EU, its Members States and their financial institutions have also combined their resources to support India in the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
The first EU-ASEAN webinar dedicated to High-Performance Computing (HPC) COVID19-related modelling and diagnostic took place on 10 July 2020.
Desde el inicio del impacto de la COVID-19 en Cuba, la Unión Europea prepara un paquete de respuesta para acompañar los esfuerzos nacionales en su enfrentamiento a la pandemia en el país. Así, se ha trabajado en adaptar proyectos y programas de cooperación en curso, sobre todo en el ámbito de la agricultura y el cambio climático, por un total de 1.7 millones de euros; se han contratado dos nuevos proyectos para ser ejecutados por organizaciones de la sociedad civil, por un monto de 2 millones de euros; y se está diseñando una acción integral, a ser implementada por la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS), que cuenta con un presupuesto de 1.5 millones de euros. Además, se está coordinando esta cooperación con el apoyo que los Estados Miembros representados en el país están dando de manera bilateral, así como diseñando posibles acciones conjuntas para los meses venideros, en un esfuerzo común denominado Equipo Europa (Team Europe).
Suva, 7, July 2020 – A new agreement, worth EUR 6 million (Vatu 0.7 billion), was signed today between the European Union (EU) and the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu to improve food and nutrition security of vulnerable populations living in remote and isolated parts of the country. A smaller part of the programme will strengthen the technical capacity of the Government to better coordinate support by development partners.
On 4 July 2020, the Ambassador of the European Union, Head of Delegation Sónia Neto, together with the High Commissioner for the Fight against COVID-19, Dr. Magda Robalo, were present at the arrival in Bissau of a flight with two batches of medical equipment and materials, intended for initiatives financed by the European Union.
Tackling COVID-19 and its consequences requires a mobilisation that goes well beyond medical capacities. National armed forces in the EU have played an important role in helping fellow EU Member States tackle the pandemic. As High Representative Borrell said: “This is European solidarity in action”.
La implementación de este nuevo financiamiento de 15 millones de euros estará a cargo del Programa Mundial de Alimentos (PMA). Se suman a los recursos ya movilizados por la UE y sus Estados Miembros para luchar contra la pandemia en el país, mediante la reorientación de la cartera de proyectos de cooperación existentes, estimados en unos 35 millones de euros.
The European Union (EU) has provided EUR 10 million towards the implementation of the Africa Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19 Outbreak. The funding is the initial contribution by Team Europe to the continental action against COVID-19.
EUCAP Somalia advises on an update of the Puntland anti-piracy law that could prevent acts of piracy in the planning stage and protect witnesses. Since its establishment in 2012 the civilian Capacity Building Mission EUCAP mentors and advises Somali counterparts on rebuilding Somalia’s maritime civilian security capacities.
Increased socio-economic stress and confinement at home is a major risk factor for increased violence against women and girls.
The second part of EU’s assistance to Albania has arrived. As part of the EU global response to the consequences of the COVID19 pandemic, the EU has donated medical equipment to reinforce the country’s health system.
Une action de l’ONG Terre des hommes a permis, à date, de sortir de prison 37 mineurs et de placer les plus vulnérables dans des foyers d’accueil à Conakry, Labé et Nzérékoré. Des réalisations accomplies grâce à un projet financé par l’Union européenne dans le cadre de la riposte contre le COVID-19 en Guinée.
An overview of the research programmes and protection actions implemented in the Western Indian Ocean.
Team Europe in Mexico foresees an initial fund of 8 million euros to support the fight against coronavirus and its consequences, with a focus on the most vulnerable.
With a grant from the European Union of USD 1.3 million, five international NGOs have teamed up with local civil society organisations (CSOs) to provide support to the Timorese population, in particular to vulnerable households in eight municipalities
*All together to combat coronavirus. This is the motto of the campaign that the EU Delegation in Dakar, Senegal, has launched.
(L to R): French Ambassador Emmanuelle Blatmann, Ambassador Robert van den dool, EU Head of Delegation and Swedish Ambassador Hans Henric Lundqvist at Khartoum Airport. Photo by: Ala Kheir
EU Air Bridge to Sudan
“Ai ba Futuru” (Trees for the Future) - Partnership for Sustainable Agroforestry (PSAF), a project co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has distributed 200 food packages to families severely affected by the economic effects of coronavirus.
L’Union européenne, à travers la Cellule d’appui à l’Ordonnateur national du Fonds européen de développement (COFED), soutient une prise en charge optimale et assure aux patients et à leurs proches des soins de qualité avec un montant de 5 millions d’euros alloué à l’Hôpital Saint-Joseph à Kinshasa-Limete, première structure de référence de la riposte à la pandémie pour 7 communes de l’Est de Kinshasa.
As the Greek government has recently taken over the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, a new set of priorities has been advanced for May-November 2020. The ambition is to set out an effective crisis response in full compliance with the fundamental values of the Council of Europe, human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Other topics such as the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights or enhanced children protection, youth empowerment and the protection of vulnerable groups’ rights are also featured on the agenda of the new presidency.
Although the European Union is one of the most affected regions in the world, it is firmly committed to assist its partner countries in their efforts to meet the urgent health and humanitarian needs caused by COVID-19.
On International Day of UN Peacekeepers we pay tribute to the invaluable work of peacekeepers and honour those who have lost their lives while on duty. The EU works closely with the UN on peacekeeping and civilian, police and military crisis management, to enhance security both inside and outside the EU. The EU and the UN also aim to increase participation of women in peace operations. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges and threats faced by peacekeepers are even greater than ever, as they are not only having to cope with the pandemic, but also with supporting and protecting the people in the countries they are based in.
La biodiversité, qu’elle soit terrestre ou marine, qu’il s’agisse de plantes ou d’espèces animales, est indéniablement liée au bien-être des populations et à la santé de la planète. Elle représente notre patrimoine naturel commun que nous devons protéger. L'Union européenne et ses Etats membres agissent pour la protection de la biodiversité à Maurice, à travers plusieurs initiatives, notamment celles de l'AFD et de l'Antenne de la Région Reunion.
En el marco de la iniciativa de solidaridad mundial "Equipo Europa" despliegan colectivamente actividades valoradas en unos 35 millones de euros.
« C’est notre combat »: l’artiste centrafricain Didier Kassai réalise une bande dessinée pour sensibiliser les jeunes sur le #Coronavirus.
To support the fight against Covid-19, EUPOL COPPS donated EUR 60,000 worth of protective equipment and sanitiser to the Palestinian Civil Police. EUPOL COPPS is the EU's civilian police and rule of law mission for the Palestinian Territory.
The EU and its Member States, in close coordination with the Government of Botswana, have decided about a COVID-19 response package, to support the national health system, protect and save lives, and counter the socio-economic impact of the pandemic. Only united in an international effort, we will win the battle against the virus.
El 23 de abril de 2020, la Unión Europea en Colombia junto con sus socias, las Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil -OSC- tuvieron un espacio de conversación sobre los impactos de la cuarentena en los proyectos de paz y desarrollo que ellos lideran en más de 100 municipios en 18 departamentos de Colombia. La reunión virtual buscó conocer los aportes concretos, las estrategias y las buenas prácticas que la sociedad civil está implementando para prevenir y responder a las necesidades de sus comunidades frente a la situación generada por el Covid-19. El espacio contó con la participación de más de 21 organizaciones y 40 personas que representan movimientos agroecológicos, cooperativas, plataformas ciudadanas sociales y políticos, veedurías a Programas de Desarrollo con Enfoque Territorial -PDET-, institutos técnicos y tecnológicos, agencias de desarrollo local y alianzas de instituciones educativas.
São Tomé e Príncipe, 15 de maio de 2020 — Depois da República Centro-Africana, a ponte aérea humanitária lançada pela União Europeia (UE) é implementada em São Tomé e Príncipe para o transporte de uma equipa de 21 trabalhadores humanitários, pessoal médico e técnicos de saúde bem como cerca de 20 toneladas de materiais e equipamentos para combater a propagação do COVID-19 no âmbito da resposta global da UE «Team Europe».
70 localities in the Republic of Moldova benefit from protective equipment to be used for preventing and combating gender-based and domestic violence, including violence against children, and to help out vulnerable groups. It also aims to provide local and district multidisciplinary teams with protective equipment to respond in a coordinated, effective and prompt manner to cases of violence which represent an increased risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.
70 localities in the Republic of Moldova benefit from protective equipment to be used for preventing and combating gender-based and domestic violence, including violence against children, and to help out vulnerable groups. It also aims to provide local and district multidisciplinary teams with protective equipment to respond in a coordinated, effective and prompt manner to cases of violence which represent an increased risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A team of EU-funded researchers in Cambridge University has launched an app that records voice, breathing and coughs – data, which has the potential to assist the development of machine learning algorithms that could make it easier to diagnose COVID-19.
Alianza-ActionAid, con el apoyo de la Unión Europea en Colombia, trabajan por el fortalecimiento de las Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil en departamentos como Nariño y el Valle del Cauca. A partir de ese empoderamiento, surgió la microempresa Agua de las Rocas en Tumaco, un municipio en el suroccidente de Colombia. “Nuestra microempresa ha nacido porque Tumaco carece de un buen sistema de acueducto y el agua no es 100% tratada”, explica Oscar Granja, uno de los responsable de Agua de las Rocas, asociación de jóvenes tumaqueños que desde el 2019 se dedica al tratamiento y purificación del agua gracias a la asistencia técnica de Alianza-ActionAid con el apoyo de la Unión Europea.
The European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) reached yesterday out to Ukrainian institutions caught up in the fight against Covid-19 by donating protective equipment to those on the frontline who are putting their lives and well-being at risk.
Given the current emergency situation created by COVID-19 in Timor-Leste, the EU funded project will also support the National Parliament, Ministry of State Administration and the Municipal Authorities to strengthen their response to the pandemic, particularly at municipal level.
Face au danger de la pandémie, l’Union européenne a dû, au Burkina Faso comme ailleurs, s’adapter rapidement et réorganiser la façon de travailler pour protéger l’équipe de la délégation ainsi que les partenaires. Ces mesures n’empêchent nullement l’ambassadeur Wolfram Vetter et ses collègues de mobiliser pleinement les ressources européennes pour lutter contre le COVID-19 au Burkina Faso, bien au contraire.
Dans le cadre de la mobilisation sociale contre le COVID-19, l'Union européenne et ses partenaires ont lancé une vaste campagne de prévention pour encourager et inciter les Maliennes et Maliens à adopter quotidiennement les gestes barrières recommandés par l'Organisation Mondiale de la Santé.
Dans le cadre de la mobilisation sociale contre le COVID-19, l'Union européenne et ses partenaires ont lancé une vaste campagne de prévention pour encourager les Maliens à adopter les gestes barrières.
Parmi les nombreuses activités déployées figure une chanson enregistrée par un collectif de six artistes vedettes - Vieux Farka Touré, Keltoum Waletr, Ben Zabo, Naba Traoré, Petit Goro et Ami Yérélowo - issus de la jeune génération.
Following up on the massively covered Team Europe announcement of 50 million Euro for the Covid-19 response in Nigeria, food items and hand-washing equipment were distributed to vulnerable communities in and around Abuja. A total of 2,200 households whose livelihoods have been mostly impacted by the crisis were targeted in the exercise
This is a joint initiative of the European Union and the Metropolitan Governance Project to provide timely relief. A symbolic act but still necessary for the disadvantaged population of El Salvador, with this basic food basket that we want to distribute among the citizens.
This is the most affected area in El Salvador, on health and economic impact due to Covid-19.
As the 3rd of May will mark the World Press Freedom Day, it is a good opportunity to reflect on the value of a free and independent press for our democratic societies. The topic chosen for this year "Journalism without Fear or Favour" resonates in these risky times for media freedom, as many governments could be tempted to use the current emergency situation to restrict freedom of expression and by extension press freedom.
On International Workers Day on 1 May, the EU’s Myan Ku Emergency Cash Fund transfers the first payments to garment workers who have been suspended or terminated due to the impact the COVID-19 crisis has on Myanmar’s garment sector.
They say that viruses don’t discriminate. But the fact that emergency measures do, has heightened our sense of solidarity: while the elderly are staying at home, health professionals, pharmacists, sales people, drivers, the military, and the police remain at the “front line” of the fight. There is, however, another group of people offering assistance at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic: volunteers and organisations that took upon themselves to help the elderly and the socially vulnerable.
“They are the only ones I can rely on. I can count on them to bring me food and medicine, things I need every day. I’m grateful for their kindness and poatience; I trust them and love them. This past year felt like I had two daughters,” says the old lady (85) from Moravci village whose life changed when geronto-housewives started working in Ljig, Mionica and Lajkovac.
#VaccinesWork: Immunization saves millions of lives every year. This year, the World Immunization Week takes on greater significance than ever since the Covid-19 outbreak reveals what is at stake when communities do not have the protective shield of immunization against an infectious disease.
L’ambassadeur de l'Union européenne en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), Jean-Marc Châtaigner, a remis ce mardi 28 avril, au ministre de la santé publique, Dr. Eteni Longondo, un lot de matériel et de médicaments pour appuyer la riposte contre le coronavirus qui touche actuellement sept des vingt-six provinces dont la capitale Kinshasa, l’épicentre.
Magic System Foundation and the European Union have decided to support the government's efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus by providing food and equipment to prevent the epidemic to thousands of families in the autonomous district of Abidjan.
Practicing physical distancing is easier said than done for the more than 850,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, living in cramped conditions in what is effectively the world’s largest refugee camp. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t precautions that those living in Cox’s Bazar can take to minimize the risk of contracting diseases like COVID-19. In fact, many children there have already been doing one of the most important things they can do to protect themselves: washing their hands thoroughly and regularly.
In the fight against the spread of COVID-19, the Government of Nepal extended the nationwide lockdown. Since the outbreak, face masks and sanitizers are scarce in the market. This has mobilised several local initiatives and organisations to produce masks; however, quality standards and availability remain an issue. Through the EU SWITCH-Asia Parya Sampada project, UN-Habitat and implementing partners are joining forces to respond at best to the numerous challenges posed by the pandemic.
Empower Pacific has opened counselling helplines where expert counsellors are responding to calls from all over Fiji 24/7. This helpline counselling service aims to respond to people’s stress and anxieties under the current nationwide response to COVID-19 undertaken by the Government, which includes stringent movement restrictions imposed in the Greater Lautoka Area on 20 March 2020, where Empower Pacific is based. Empower Pacific is one of the partner civil society organisations working with the EU funded Fiji 'Access to Justice Project'.
COVID-19 is affecting countries around the world, with terrible consequences in terms of loss of life and livelihoods. But it is in developing countries, where health systems are often weak and lack resources, that the effects will be felt particularly harshly.
In the streets of Mbanza Kongo and Uíge, in the north of the country, the population is being invited to use the hydro-alcoholic gels at their disposal and check more information on sanitary measures during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Saleema, 28, is a refugee from Afghanistan and is completing her medical studies to become the first female Turkmen doctor in the country.
On 17 April, the European Union (EU) Delegation to El Salvador distributed close to 300 personal protective kits to Salvadoran journalists, photographers, and camerapersons from more than 40 media outlets, including international news agencies’ correspondents. Each kit contained several N95 respirator masks and hand sanitiser.
As part of its many ongoing actions to support the country's response plan to COVID-19, the EU to Sierra Leone is co-funding the Mask Up Freetown Initiative in collaboration with the Freetown City Council, Madam Wokie Fashion House, the Antonia Rüdiger Foundation and other local partners.
A l’occasion de la construction de camps pour les forces de sécurité intérieures, l'Union européenne a fourni des kits d'hygiène aux forces en charge de la sécurisation des chantiers.
Dans le cadre de la réponse à la crise du COVID-19 en République Centrafricaine, la Maison des Services de la Société civile a déjà organisé 29 sessions de formation et de sensibilisation sur les messages clés liés au COVID-19, dont 21 au sein de la Maison (145 leaders associatifs formés). Huit autres sessions (84 participants) ont déjà eu lieu à l’extérieur de la maison, auprès des Organisations de la Société Civile (OSC) ayant sollicité l’organisation de sessions supplémentaires pour leurs membres.
La Délégation de l’Union européenne en République centrafricaine conduit actuellement une campagne de sensibilisation sur le COVID-19. Parmi les différentes actions, figurent la composition d’un titre musical et la réalisation d’un clip, financé par l’Union européenne.
Covid-19 has taken humanity by surprise and had a profound effect upon international organisations and governments. The Council of Europe and the EU could not be exceptions to such a rule.
A portable thermal imaging fever system helps border & customs officials to identify from a distance whether travellers have an above normal body temperature.
Dans le cadre de la crise sanitaire mondiale actuelle liée à la pandémie du coronavirus, la Délégation de l'Union européenne au Bénin s'est associée au Foyer Don Bosco Centre Maman Marguerite Aidjèdo, pour la sensibilisation des usagers du marché Dantokpa aux gestes barrières.
During this unprecedented COVID-19 global emergency, the European Union and United Nations remain committed to protecting and supporting women and girls in Timor-Leste and have dedicated USD1 million funding from the flagship Spotlight Initiative budget to address the increased risks of violence against women and girls in context of the pandemic.
10/04/20- Suva, Fiji – The European Union (EU) will mobilise and redirect € 119 million (FJD 295 million) to respond to the coronavirus pandemic in the Pacific. Fifteen partner Pacific islands countries and four European Overseas Countries and Territories will benefit from this support.
Weekends inside… Easter ‘holidays’ round the corner... Unfortunately, due to the current circumstances many of us had to cancel our planned holidays and activities, to avoid the risks of getting and spreading the virus, and flatten the curve. Call it a ‘staycation’, call it a ‘holistay’, what’s important is to try and make the utmost of your time at home. Amongst others, the EU platform ‘Creative Europe At Home’ offers some suggestions to occupy your days and stay entertained online.
The European Union (EU) and its Member States today provided the Government of Jamaica with 29 ventilators, breathing machines that support patients who need intensive care in hospitals, and that are essential to saving the lives of those in critical condition due to Covid-19 infection.
Today marks the International Roma Day and, despite the world having its eyes set on the COVID-19 outbreak, it is important to take stock of the persisting problems that the Roma population faces across Europe. These challenges are particularly severe in the current state of global pandemic and need to be addressed urgently.
Dans le contexte de crise sanitaire liée au Covid-19, la Délégation de l’Union européenne et la Fondation Magic System – du nom du célèbre groupe de musique – continuent de défendre les valeurs promues cette année en Côte d’Ivoire dans le cadre de l’UE Magic Tour.
Follow updates on the latest coordinated measures to contain the virus and its economic impact inside and outside EU borders.
The EU Capacity Building Mission in Mali coaches since two years the Crisis Management Centre of the Ministry for Security and Civil Protection which coordinates currently the Malian response to the Corona-pandemic.
Serbia will be able to test more samples on COVID-19 than before thanks to a system of referencet laboratories equipped by the European Union, so epidemiologists in Serbia will be able to control the spread of this dangerous disease more quickly.
The European Union has teamed up with the Government of South Sudan, UNICEF, Mott MacDonald, Charlie Goldsmith Associates and Equity Bank to provide information on the risk of COVID-19 and its prevention to school personnel across South Sudan.
COVID-19 Disinformation: Remarks by HR/VP Josep Borrell at the European Parliament session on tackling COVID-19 disinformation and the impact on freedom of expression: It is really evident that the virus pandemic has been accompanied by an ‘infodemic’, by a pandemic of disinformation. We have witnessed a wave of false and misleading information, and an exponential increase in targeted influence operations by foreign actors. Read the full remarks
Coronavirus: EU strengthens action to tackle disinformation: The coronavirus pandemic has been accompanied by a massive wave of false and misleading information, attempts by foreign actors to influence domestic debates in the EU, breeding on the fertile ground of people’s most basic anxieties and the rapidly changing news cycle. Misleading healthcare information, dangerous hoaxes with false claims conspiracy theories and consumer fraud endanger public health. Read the full press release
Tackling Coronavirus Disinformation - Getting the facts right: Read the factsheet
Disinformation around the COVID-19 pandemic, measures taken to contain it and vaccine roll-out campaigns continues to be significant. Since our last special report, issued in December 2020[ii], the roll-out of different vaccines gained momentum in many countries around the world, and in conjunction with this, vaccine-related disinformation increased and contributed to spreading fear and mistrust in any type of vaccine.
A short guide to communicating with someone who believes in anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.
The objective of this report is to provide a snapshot overview of the current trends and insights into disinformation activities related to COVID-19/Coronavirus. The report draws on open sources, does not provide a comprehensive or complete overview and focusses primarily on the external dimension, in line with the European External Action Service (EEAS) mandate
In line with the previous EEAS Special Reports and based on publicly available information, this edition gives an overview of recent developments around COVID-19 related disinformation.
As outlined in the earlier reports, disinformation, myths and misinformation continue to proliferate around the world, with potentially harmful consequences for public security, health and effective crisis communications. In this context, it is important to distinguish the very different forms of mis- and disinformation, as well as other forms of information manipulation.
HR/VP Josep Borrell, supported by the European External Action Service, the European Commission and Delegations to the EU around the world, was in the lead to coordinate the work with Member States and help EU travellers stranded in third countries to safely reach their homes. In an unprecedented repatriation effort, the EU has managed to bring home over half a million of its citizens who were affected by coronavirus travel restrictions across the world. Read our factsheet on consular support and repatriation & find out more about the different stories and experiences from EU citizens repatriated thanks to the EU and Member States.
The European Ombudsman Award for Good Administration 2021 honours the EU’s extraordinary efforts last year to help repatriate over a half million EU citizens stranded around the world due to the pandemic. The joint winning projects were undertaken by staff in the Commission’s department for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (DG ECHO) and the European External Action Service (EEAS).
EU Delegation in Banjul, The Gambia, successfully implemented another round of consular coordination and had its thirteenth repatriation flight left Banjul, this time for Stockholm.
11 Member States organised repatriation operations that were specially challenging due to the 7.000 islands of the Philippines archipelago
Two more repatriation flights departing from Banjul International Airport, organised by the Dutch and Spanish governments this time and both operated under the umbrella of the UCPM, brought home a total of 90 and 298 stranded European citizens and residents, respectively.
From the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the armed forces of EU Member States have played a critical role in fighting the virus – abroad, at home and in European solidarity. They are providing transport and logistic support, building field hospitals in record time, deploying their medical staff, and supporting national authorities and services. The European External Action Service set up a dedicated task force to support these efforts, in particular by facilitating the exchange of information.
The three EU Delegations worked in close cooperation with each other and with France to organize an Air France sweeper flight
The stranded travelers returned home aboard the national carriers of 14 EU Member States and partner countries in a coordinated operation led by the EU Delegation in New Delhi
More than 1.000 EU citizens, who were in Montenegro at the time of the coronavirus epidemic outbreak, have returned to their countries thanks to the committed cooperation of the Government of Montenegro and EU Member State embassies, coordinated by the EU Delegation to Montenegro. Since 17 March, more than 20 flights and trips by road were organised bringing EU citizens safely back home.
Stranded European Union citizens left Nairobi on Thursday in a special Ethiopian Airways flight to Frankfurt via Addis, organised by the EU Delegation to Kenya.
On 22 April, EULEX chartered a plane from Warsaw, Poland to Pristina, Kosovo to bring back 31 Polish police officers from EULEX’s Formed Police Unit. At the same time, EULEX facilitated the cost-free repatriation of twelve Kosovo citizens stranded in Poland and Czechia, following a request by the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.
Two chartered flights organized under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism repatriate EU citizens from Barbados and other countries
The COVID-19 outbreak caused the Gambian authorities to close Gambian airspace, and this is when the EUD in Banjul started realising just how many stranded European citizens were in the country. Since, the EUD has been working all hours to help get as many as possible airlifted back to European destinations, and facilitate their onward travel to their homes anywhere in Europe.
A total of 670 Europeans stranded in Venezuela have safely returned to Europe in the last three weeks aboard two flights
The majority of these flights was supported by the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), an instrument designed to enhance the protection of EU citizens in crisis situations.
Concerted efforts by Embassies and Honorary Consuls in collaboration with EU Delegations in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, ensured that close to 500 stranded Europeans made it home safely.
Nearly a million EU tourists annually visit the small islands of Cabo Verde. Many still came in March, and got "stranded".
Around 6000 Europeans were in Nepal for the March trekking season. Soon after their arrival, the nation went into complete lockdown due to the Corona virus.
Repatriation operations continue as Europeans are returned safely back home from Uganda.
Lithuania repatriated more than 400 EU citizens and several European countries helped Lithuanian citizens to return back home
On March 30th, a plane left Asunción to Frankfurt with approximately 340 european citizens who were stranded in Paraguay after commercial flights to Europe were cancelled and borders closed.
Ce samedi 4 avril, un vol Brussels Airlines spécialement affrété pour le trajet Abidjan-Conakry-Bruxelles a permis de rapatrier 81 ressortissants européens de passage en Côte d’Ivoire, avec à bord beaucoup de citoyens allemands et belges mais aussi des passagers de dix autres Etats de l’UE.
On Sunday evening 5 April, the EU Delegations to Sierra Leone and Liberia facilitated the successful repatriation to Brussels of nearly 250 citizens from the EU, but also from the Schengen area and from the UK.
Today, in a pandemic, all countries are taking steps to return their citizens who are in other countries. 300 Europeans, of which 70 French, returned home in good health after a 14-day quarantine in Uzbekistan.
More than 500 European citizens from more than 20 countries were able to return home, thanks to a joint effort led by Germany and France that included the collaboration of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Nicaragua and the coordination with the diplomatic and consular representations of Member States of the EU in the region.
The EU Delegation to Indonesia and the embassies of the EU Member states in Jakarta have been working together on responding to the very acute problem of the thousands of European tourists stranded in the country, especially in Bali.
Three repatriation flights left Buenos Aires to Vienna, Paris and Frankfurt bringing home 1,050 EU citizens.
07/04/20- Suva, Fiji - Nearly 300 Europeans, from the European Union, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom are on their way home from Fiji, including 183 on a repatriation flight operated by Fiji Airways and chartered by Germany. Others were able to transit back to Europe on flights to Sydney and Los Angeles.
Due to the global crisis caused by Covid 19, many Europeans lost the opportunity to go back to the continent from Guatemala. In response 3 EU Member States (Germany, France, Spain) organized 5 repatriation flights for tourists from their own countries and other European nations
On the 3rd of April, the Dutch Embassy in Accra, Ghana and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs took the lead to evacuate EU stranded tourists and non-residents from Ghana.
Since mid-March, the EU Delegation to Vietnam is liaising with the authorities and is actively supporting and coordinating the member states in the organization of repatriation flights. So far, the EU Civilian Protection Mechanism (UCPM) has facilitated five repatriation flights operated by Austria, Czechia, Germany and Lithuania, for more than 1,500 EU travellers.
Austria asked for financial support under the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism to transport citizens from Buenos Aires to Vienna
The German Embassy in Bangkok, the Delegation of the European Union to Thailand and diplomatic missions of other EU Member States are working together to bring EU citizens stranded in Thailand back home
More than 5,000 tourists were present in the country at the moment of the Coronavirus outbreak.
Following the establishment of travel restrictions, international airlines serving the route Europe - Seychelles suspended numerous flights. This has left many European citizens stranded.
Thousands of European tourists have managed to safely go back home from the Maldives and Sri Lanka, thanks to joint work of the European Union and its member states.
Honorable Monsieur M. Alan Ganoo, Ministre des Transports terrestres et du Métro léger, Ministre des Affaires étrangères, de l’Intégration régionale et du Commerce international
Son Excellence, Monsieur Haymandoyal Dillum, Secrétaire aux Affaires étrangères
Ma chère collègue, l’Ambassadrice de France à Maurice, Son Excellence Madame Florence Caussé-Tissier
Monsieur André Pouillez Duplaix directeur de l’Afd
This opinion article was published in The Jakarta Post and Republika
By Vincent Piket
European Union Ambassador to Indonesia
Hasta la fecha, la Unión Europea ha autorizado todas las solicitudes de entrega de vacunas a terceros países. Ayer 8 de febrero autoridades competentes de la Unión Europea autorizaron un envío de vacunas contra la COVID-19 a México. Hasta el momento no se ha recibido otra solicitud de autorización para envíos de vacunas contra la COVID-19 a México. En el futuro se seguirá trabajando para procesar rápidamente las solicitudes de autorización.
Depuis son apparition à Wuhan, en Chine, le nouveau coronavirus s’est répandu dans le monde entier. Alors que l’Union européenne et ses États membres luttent encore contre cette maladie sur leur territoire, ils n’en ont pas pour autant mis de côté la solidarité, l’une des valeurs fondatrices de l’Union européenne, essentielle dans ce contexte de pandémie.
Le 7 juillet 2020, la Délégation de l’Union européenne a remis un lot de matériel de protection contre le COVID19 au Directeur Général de l'Académie Régionale des Sciences et Techniques de la Mer (ARSTM), Monsieur Karim Coulibaly, dans le cadre du projet WeCAPS - Western and Central Africa Port Security.
Un contrat de 65 milliards GNF (6 millions d’euros) pour financer un projet de riposte contre la Covid-19 et soutenir les populations guinéennes. C’est le deuxième projet dédié spécifiquement à la riposte contre l’épidémie de Covid-19 que l’Union européenne finance en Guinée après celui conclu avec Terre des hommes portant sur 2,5 millions d’euros.
Monsieur le Président de la Commission de l’océan Indien,
Messieurs les Ministres et Chefs de délégation,
Monsieur le Secrétaire Général de la Commission de l’océan Indien et son équipe
Mesdames et Messieurs les Officiers Permanents de Liaison,
Mesdames et Messieurs les Membres du Corps Diplomatique,
In the context of World Oceans Day on 8 June, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Mauritius and to the Republic of Seychelles is organising, in collaboration with the French Embassy, the AFD and the local branch of the Région Réunion in Mauritius, a free webinar entitled "Innovation and biodiversity: a blue deal for the Indian Ocean?".
L'Union européenne a présenté le 8 avril à Bruxelles son plan de riposte globale et d’aide aux pays partenaires face au COVID-19. L'action extérieure de l’UE vise à répondre aux dimensions multiples de la crise, sur le plan sanitaire et humanitaire, notamment par le renforcement des systèmes de santé et d'approvisionnement en eau et assainissement, ainsi que sur le plan socio-économique pour atténuer l’impact sur l’économie et sur les populations.
03/04/2020 - Le Monde - Le Haut représentant pour la politique étrangère et de sécurité de l’Union européenne souligne dans une tribune au « Monde » les trois défis du Covid-19, sanitaire, économique, géopolitique au projet européen
30/03/2020 - Several outlets - The contrast between the silence of Europe’s streets and squares and the tumultuous, painful reality in many of its hospitals is heartbreaking. COVID-19 has not only Europe but the entire global community in its grip. It is already clear that the pandemic will reshape our world. But precisely how will depend on the choices that we make today.
Today, the European Commission has proposed to make €75 million from the EU budget available to help Member States repatriate EU nationals and to increase the budget of the RescEU medical stockpile.
Following the informal video conference on 26 March 2020, the members of the European Council adopted a statement on the EU actions in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, EU enlargement, the earthquake in Croatia and the situation at the EU's external borders.
I would firstly like to thank all those of you who have made this extraordinary session possible under such exceptional circumstances. It is hard to believe quite how much the world has changed since we last met. In the blink of an eye, a virus which emerged on the other side of the world has become a deadly pandemic with tragic consequences for us here in Europe too.
The 17 March videoconference of the Members of the European Council endorsed the 16 March statement of the Eurogroup and invited the Eurogroup to continuously and closely monitor economic and financial developments and to adopt without delay a coordinated policy response to the rapidly evolving situation. To this end, I convened a videoconference of the Eurogroup and Ministers of non-euro-area Member States on 24 March. I am writing to you to share my personal conclusions.
Video conference of Foreign Affairs Ministers: Remarks by the High Representative Josep Borrell at the press conference
The Council is taking measures to ensure the continuity of its work in the current exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today it agreed on a temporary derogation to its Rules of Procedure to make it easier to take decisions by written procedure.
Following up on the videoconference on 10 March 2020 between European Council Members, as well as the ECB President, the Eurogroup President and the High Representative, the Eurogroup held an in-depth discussion today, together with non-Euro Area Members, on how to respond to the extraordinary human and economic crisis caused by the Corona virus.
Today, the Commission offered up to €80 million of financial support to CureVac, a higly innovative vaccine developer from Tübingen, Germany, to scale up development and production of a vaccine against the Coronavirus in Europe.
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