EU coordinates the delivery of COVID-19 assistance to Ukraine

June 8, 2021.

    The EU, via its Emergency Response Coordination Centre, is coordinating COVID-19 assistance to Ukraine. Three EU Member States – Belgium, Germany and Slovakia – have recently offered personal protective equipment and ventilators to Ukraine to help cope with COVID-19 pandemic. The assistance includes over 35 million protective masks, 24 ventilators, 10 000 of both protective suits and goggles.
    Janez Lenarcic, Commissioner for Crisis Management said: “I want to thank EU member states for supporting Ukraine in the fight against COVID-19. We stand in full solidarity with our closest neighbours. Our Emergency Response Coordination Centre is monitoring the situation and is ready to help channel further support.”
    The recent assistance consists of:
    Belgium offered 500,000 KN95 masks and 2,000,000 surgical masks to Ukraine;
    Germany offered 25 million surgical masks, 7,977,000 FFP2 masks and 24 ventilators;
    Slovakia offered 10,000 protective suits, 10,000 surgical masks, 10,000 FFP2 and 10,000 goggles.
    Since the start of the pandemic, the EU has channelled assistance to help Ukraine with COVID-19. In 2020, a number of EU Member States sent support to Ukraine via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism:
    Czech Republic offered 99,000 medical masks, 5,000 pairs of shoe covers, 30,000 FFP2 medical masks, 5,000 protective suits, 1000 goggles;
    Denmark offered 50 ventilators;
    Estonia offered 2,500 alcohol disinfectant bottles (hand and surface);
    Poland offered 56,315 l antiseptic liquid (hand and surface), 50,000 gloves, 40,000 medical masks, 29,450 l hand disinfectant, 20,000 l hand sanitizer, 19,800 l surface sanitizer, 18,600 face shields, 4,500 alcohol disinfectant bottles, 1000 safety gear and shoe covers;
    Slovakia offered 3 ambulance vehicles, 480 blankets, 450 folding tables, 200 alcohol disinfectant bottles, 15 wooden pallets;
    In addition, in June 2020 Ukraine requested assistance due to floods and 4 EU Member States sent much needed support such as drones, diving equipment, boats, water pumps and tents. In 2016, EU Civil Protection Team was deployed to support Ukraine following an environmental disaster at the Solotvyno salt mine.
    Background
    The EU Civil Protection Mechanism strengthens cooperation between the EU Member States and 6 Participating States in the field of civil protection, with a view to improve prevention, preparedness and response to disasters. When the scale of an emergency overwhelms the response capabilities of a country, it can request assistance via the Mechanism.
    Through the Mechanism, the European Commission plays a key role in coordinating the response to disasters in Europe and beyond and contributes to at least 75% of the transport and/or operational costs of deployments. Following a request for assistance through the Mechanism, the Emergency Response Coordination Centre mobilises assistance or expertise. The Centre monitors events around the globe 24/7 and ensures rapid deployment of emergency support through a direct link with national civil protection authorities. In 2020, the Mechanism was activated more than 90 times.