MEPs urge Commission to assist developing countries with Covid-19 pandemic

In a joint statement, the Chairs of the Parliament’s Development committee, Tomas Tobé, and of the Delegation to the African Carribean Pacific (ACP)-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Carlos Zorrinho, urged the European Commission to advance its efforts in mitigating the socio-economic impact of Covid-19 in developing countries.
To this end, the MEPs requested that the Commission steps up its humanitarian and development response, to assist countries with handling the health emergency, in terms of preparedness and urgent response capacity building.
While the economic impact of the novel Coronavirus cannot be yet measured, it is of vital importance that countries are not left alone in their efforts to salvage their post-Corona economies.
Tobé and Zorrinho requested that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suspend debt payments by poor countries with a GNI less than $1.175 per capita, if such a request is made.
Given the unprecedented nature of the threat, they also called on the international community to join forces and shape a global response to Covid-19 pandemic.