EU to Invest $1 Billion to Assist Caribbean in Fight Against COVID-19

Malgorzata Wasilewska

May ninth is recognized as European Union Day and this year the occasion highlighted the impact that the novel coronavirus is having on Europe and other countries that enjoy bilateral relations with the union. To commemorate Europe Day 2020, the Head of European Union Delegation to Belize, Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred Elrington issued a joint message on the fight against the virus.  The E.U. has made available one billion Euros to assist the Caribbean and Latin America through the COVID-19 crisis. Here is an excerpt from the message.

Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska, Head of European Union Delegation to Belize

“As we all know, Europe too is facing its own struggle with this pandemic; too many lives have sadly been lost, but we remain committed to the principle of solidarity which compels us to work together in the common interest of all people over the world. One of the lessons this experience has been teaching us is that the best chance for survival and recovery is to fight this epidemic together. This is why the European Union has immediately made available nearly one billion euro to our partners in the Caribbean and Latin America to tackle COVID-19. In the Caribbean, the European Union in partnership with the Caribbean Public Health Agency, CARPHA, has mobilized a total amount of eight and a half million euro to cater for the region’s most urgent needs in managing the fight against this virus. the funding will help to increase the region’s capacity to detect, monitor and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in a coordinated way.”

Wilfred Elrington

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“The E.U. has been unfailing in its solidarity and support of the Caribbean region, indeed notwithstanding the toll which the COVID-19 pandemic has had on member states in the union. It was the first to generously contribute to CARPHA to assist Caribbean governments with all COVID-19 response plans. Equally it responded in record time to allow reprogramming of grant project funds to bolster government programmes and response.”

Belize and the European Union have been partners in development since 1986.