European Union countries can now apply for additional funding via the Emergency Support Instrument to transport essential goods, medical teams and patients affected by the coronavirus.
This comes in addition to support already available via the civil defence mechanism and deliveries of protective equipment through rescEU.
Today, a pilot operation has successfully delivered over seven tonnes of personal protective equipment to Bulgaria. The cargo includes over 500,000 protective masks, purchased by Bulgaria with transport costs covered by the EU.
“The Emergency Support Instrument helps to get vital health equipment to where it is needed, and supports Member States in the transport of medical personnel or in welcoming patients from other Member States demonstrating European solidarity. After the successful shipment to Bulgaria of protective equipment, more operations will follow in the next weeks”, said Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič.
€220 million have been made available to support the transport of medical items, by financing the cargo transport of assistance and relief items to EU Member States; the transfer of patients between EU Member States or from Member States to neighbouring countries; the transport of medical personnel and mobile medical teams to move between EU Member States and into the EU from other neighbouring countries.
