Commissioners for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, and for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, will participate in the G7 Development and Health ministers meetings in Berlin. Commissioner Urpilainen will represent the EU in the Development ministerial meeting on 18-19 May that will discuss the consequences of Russia’s aggression of Ukraine and the repercussions on food security worldwide. Wide-ranging discussions will follow on topical development subjects such as Africa, infrastructure investments for sustainable development, climate, gender equality and health. Commissioner Kyriakides will participate in the meeting of the G7 Health Ministers on 19-20 May, to discuss “G7 Health Track” priorities such as preparedness for future pandemics, antimicrobial resistance and health risks due to climate change. Both Commissioners will attend a joint session of Development and Health Ministers on global health. Ahead of the meetings, Commissioner Kyriakides said: “The pandemic is not over. We need to continue building our resilience and strengthening the global health architecture. We have to deepen our strategic partnerships with our partner countries and ensure sustainable financing to better deal with global health threats. Vaccination remains our best response worldwide. Today’s global health challenges require collaboration and coordination beyond borders and the G7 is crucial for this. This is also why we need to launch a robust new Global Health Strategy, to connect the dots across the globe to improve health systems to be ready to respond to global health threats.” Commissioner Urpilainen added: “In the light of current global challenges worsened by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the EU has to remain fully committed to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, including food security. Through the G7, we can deal with the consequences of multiple crises in a more targeted and coordinated way. I am also convinced that our Global Gateway strategy can contribute to it positively. It is a critical moment and only by working together as Team Europe, we are increasing our impact on the way to a sustainable recovery. A new EU Global Health Strategy would be a major component of these efforts.” The G7 Development Ministers will adopt a Communiqué entitled “Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in times of multiple crisis”, together with a statement on the global effects of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the G7’s comprehensive support for Ukraine, affected neighbouring countries, as well as countries of the Global South. On Thursday, you will be able to access the G7 communiqué and G7 statement here and a joint statement on global health by the Commissioners here. (For more information: Stefan de Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 229 84680; Ana Pisonero – Tel.: +32 229 54320; Darragh Cassidy – Tel.: +32 2298 3978; Gesine Knolle – Tel.: +32 229 54323)
Solidarity with Ukraine: Commission will provide €248 million to support Member States welcoming those fleeing the war
Today, the Commission decided to make €248 million available to 5 Member States that were the most affected at the start of the war and have been hosting a large number of refugees to support their reception and border management systems. The decision follows the 9 April Global Pledging event “Stand Up for Ukraine”, where the Commission committed up to €400 million to support refugees from Ukraine in the most affected Member States. This emergency assistance from home affairs funds will support Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia. Member States can use these funds to provide immediate assistance such as food, transport and temporary accommodation to people fleeing the Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, while also increasing their capacity to manage the EU’s external borders. Civil society organisations and local and regional authorities also play a key role in offering assistance and Member States will therefore need to ensure that this emergency funding also flows to them. To ensure that funds are quickly disbursed without a heavy administrative burden, the Commission will release the funding based on results achieved, rather than the actual costs.To continue supporting initial reception needs as they evolve, the Commission will make available the remaining €152 million after the agreement of the budget authority. (For more information: Anitta Hipper – Tel.: + 32 229 85691; Ciara Bottomley – Tel.: +32 229 69971; Isabel Otero Barderas – Tel: +32 229 66925)
EU unveils first ever strategic partnership with the Gulf
Today, High Representative Josep Borrell and the European Commission adopted a Joint Communication on a “Strategic Partnership with the Gulf” with the aim to broaden and deepen the EU’s cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and its member countries. High Representative/Vice-President, Josep Borrell, said: “At a time of insecurity and significant challenges to the rules-based international order, aggravated by Russia’s war on Ukraine, the European Union and Gulf countries stand to gain from a stronger and more strategic partnership stretching over a number of key areas. We need to work more closely together on stability in the Gulf and the Middle East, on global security threats, energy security, climate change and the green transition, digitalisation, trade and investment. We also need to strengthen contacts between students, researchers, businesses and citizens.” The Joint Communication addresses a series of key policy areas, presenting concrete proposals for strengthened EU-GCC cooperation on energy, green transition and climate change, trade and economic diversification, regional stability and global security, humanitarian and development challenges, and closer people-to-people contacts. A strengthened partnership is beneficial both for the EU and for the Gulf partners. You can find more information on the Joint Communication here, in the press release and the Q&A. (For more information: Peter Stano – Tel.: +32 229 54553; Lauranne Devillé – Tel. : +32 229 80833)
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Source: Cyprus News Agency