#Coronavirus - Commission boosts budget for repatriation flights and #rescEU stockpile

The European Commission has proposed to make €75 million from the EU budget available to help member states repatriate EU nationals and to increase the budget of the RescEU medical stockpile.

EU Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn said: “Today's measure is yet another illustration of how the EU budget can add value when and where needed the most. It is also an illustration of European solidarity and cooperation at its best.”

Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič said: “The safe return of our citizens is a priority. We are doing all we can to ensure they are reunited with their families as soon as possible during these difficult times. I would like to thank Member States for their efforts during this process. Our Emergency Response Co-ordination Centre continues working 24/7 with member states in order to meet their requests.”

Thanks to repatriation flights organized through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and co-financed by the EU, 2,312 people have been already repatriated to Europe from China, Japan, the US, Morocco, Tunisia, Georgia, the Philippines and Cabo Verde since the beginning of the outbreak. More than 80 further repatriation flights are planned in the coming days. This European Commission proposal will increase the total budget of the first ever rescEU stockpile of medical equipment (ventilators, protective masks and essential medical gear) to €80 million. The full press release is available online.

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