But what does this mean for countries in the Middle East and North Africa, asks Michael Benhamou. But what does this mean for the Middle East and North Africa which have been hit faster and harder by Covid-19 than by the 2008 financial crisis? This order of priority remained identical in 2016-18, as North Africa received €1.5bn in EU funding against €13.6bn for the Near East area. Paris therefore needs Europe’s support to maintain its level of engagement in the months to come. Europe is a natural partner to the Middle East and North Africa, and Brussels has proved it by reacting quickly this time.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 22, 2020 09:45 UTC