EU mobilises 378 million USD to help ASEAN in COVID-19 fight
Jakarta (VNA) - The EU announced on April 27 that it is mobilising 350 million
EUR (378 million USD) in an effort to help ASEAN members fight COVID-19.
In a statement, EU Ambassador to ASEAN Igor Driesmans said ASEAN could count on
the EU in difficult times, adding that the two are regional organisations bound
by 42 years of solidarity and partnership.
By mobilising 350 million EUR in support of ASEAN countries, the EU is
demonstrating its friendship with the people of the region, he said.
The funds will be allocated for addressing the health crisis, strengthening
healthcare systems, and alleviating the economic and social impacts of the
pandemic.
The EU will also help Vietnam introduce measures against the epidemic and soon
realise the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.
Earlier, on April 4, the EU announced it would commit more than 20 billion EUR
(21.7 billion USD) to support partner countries in the fight against COVID-19
under a programme called Team Europe.
It will distribute the funds to vulnerable countries in Africa, the western
Balkans, eastern partner countries, the Middle East and North Africa, parts of
Asia and the Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
The EU also channelled some 48.5 million EUR (52.7 million USD) to fund 18
research projects on COVID-19, particularly those relating to protective
equipment, to improve modelling of the spread of the virus, rapid diagnostic
techniques, and treatments and vaccines./.