The European Commission presented plans for a strong and well-targeted response from the European Union to support the efforts of partner countries to fight the coronavirus pandemic, according to a statement of the EU Executive.

EU collective action will focus on addressing the immediate health crisis and related humanitarian needs, strengthening the partner countries’ health, water and sanitation systems and their research and preparedness capabilities to deal with the pandemic, as well as on mitigating the socio-economic impact. To support these actions, the EU will grant partner countries more than EUR 15.6 billion in financial support, which will come from existing external action resources.

“Together with our partners, we ensure that the considerable funds that the EU has already allocated to its partners are directed towards actions to address the impact caused by the coronavirus,” informs the EC, according to Agerpres.

The EU response is based on Team Europe’s approach, which aims to save lives by providing fast and well-defined support to partners so they can cope with the pandemic. This response combines resources from the EU, its Member States and financial institutions, in particular the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, with the aim of supporting partner countries and meeting their short-term needs, as well as their needs on short term, also on the longer term for the structural impact on companies and the economy.