Council reaffirms Team Europe’s commitment to the global fight against the pandemic
The Council today approved conclusions reaffirming Team Europe’s full commitment to the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and its health, social, economic, humanitarian, security and political impacts.
With this approach, the EU is showing leadership, responsibility and solidarity with those most affected by the pandemic.
Team Europe remains at the forefront of global efforts to ensure international access to vaccines, with a €2.47 billion contribution to the COVAX initiative. Thanks to this, COVAX deliveries are picking up speed and to date over EUR 40.5 million doses of vaccine have been delivered to more than 100 countries worldwide.
Team Europe remains fully committed to upholding human rights, gender equality, democracy, good governance and the rule of law. It is also calling for an inclusive and environmentally friendly post-pandemic recovery, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, and for improving health globally in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
The Council emphasises that safeguarding coherence regarding the programming of EU funds under the envisaged Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe) is essential. It also stresses that Team Europe initiatives must, among other things, continue to aim for the greatest transformative impact and systemic change, be aligned with the development needs and priorities of partner countries and abide by the principles of transparency and accountability, sustainability, effectiveness and results, ‘do no harm’, country ownership and inclusive partnership.
Team Europe consists of the EU, its member states and their diplomatic networks, and financial institutions such as national development banks, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
