ArmInfo. As part of the global response to the coronavirus outbreak, the European Commission stands by Eastern partner countries and has reallocated 140 million EUR for the most immediate needs in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine. In addition, the Commission will also redirect the use of existing instruments worth up to 700 million EUR to help mitigate the socio-economic impact of the coronavirus crisis, the official website of the Organization informs.
Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi said: "These are very difficult times not only for the EU, but for our partner countries as well. We are doing all we can to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on human lives and livelihoods. We are responding both to the immediate needs of the health systems, as well as longer term needs to the most vulnerable groups in society and small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the backbone of the economies in the six countries".
At the request of the partner countries, the Commission will respond to immediate needs by supporting the supply of medical devices and personal equipment, such as ventilators, laboratory kits, masks, goggles, gowns, and safety suits. The European Commission is working with the World Health Organisation (WHO), and is deploying 30 million EUR to ensure these necessary supplies are jointly purchased and effectively distributed to the health systems of the six countries in the coming weeks. In addition, the funds will support national health administrations to train medical and laboratory staff and carry out awareness raising measures to the wider population. The Commission has also made available more than 11.3 million EUR in small grants to civil society organisations. These funds are already responding to immediate needs, through the ongoing regional "Rapid Response Mechanism", such as supporting local schools with distance learning. By the summer, and as part of this package, the Commission will launch the "Eastern Partnership Solidarity Programme" which will target the most affected parts of the populations through civil society support and notably sub-grants to smaller, local organisations.
The Eastern Partnership program was launched by the EU in 2009. Its main goal is the development of regional cooperation with six countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.