Speaking after the meeting of development ministers, EU Foreign Affairs chief, Josep Borrell, said that the ‘Global EU response to COVID-19’ programme would help combat the “worst crisis in decades”. A debt relief programme could be agreed at the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on 16-17 April. The two Bretton Woods institutions have already given their endorsement for debt relief and said they will seek to get approval from governments. However, ministers appear to have closed the door on the EU offering any new financial instruments or investment programmes for African countries. Emily Wigens, EU director at The ONE Campaign, said that “mobilising €15.6 billion to support a global COVID-19 response is a solid start”.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 08, 2020 17:37 UTC