The European Union announced funding of €92 million to strengthen the response of Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger and Chad to the spread of the coronavirus. The aim is to provide quality health care to the populations and reduce the economic and social impact of the pandemic.
High Representative/Vice-President, Josep Borrell said, “Today we reiterate our commitment to step up our mobilisation of support for the Sahel in its fight against the pandemic. Beyond a short-term response to the urgent needs of the populations, our aim is also to reduce as of now the economic and social impact of the pandemic, which threatens to disproportionately affect Africa in general and the Sahel in particular.’
Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships, said: The European Union is continuing to mobilise as ‘Team Europe’ to reinforce the efforts made by the authorities of the G5 Sahel countries to address the coronavirus crisis. The implementation of these funds in a transparent and inclusive manner will help to improve health care and the socio-economic situation, which the pandemic has made still more fragile.’
These €92 million are part of our overall response and consist of €26 million for Burkina Faso, €12 million for Mauritania, €38 million for Niger and €16.92 million for Chad. Against a backdrop of fiscal pressures compounded by multiple crises – security, food, socio-economic and health – this EU budgetary support will assist these countries in implementing their pandemic response plans, while leaving the necessary fiscal space to continue key reforms in other sectors, without pushing up their debt levels.
These funds will also contribute more broadly to limiting the impact of the crisis on the economies of these countries and on the most vulnerable households. The European Union will continue to monitor closely the implementation of national development policies and the reforms adopted to ensure macroeconomic stability, sound public financial management and transparency.
