EU-Coronavirus: EU Commission to stockpile strategic medical gear and equipment - by Eszter Zalan

The EU commission on Thursday (19 March) said it will set up a stockpile of face masks, intensive care equipment and other essential medical gear to tackle shortages in member states.

The move comes after EU countries at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak have faced shortages of crucial medical equipment.

“It will benefit all our member states and all our citizens. Helping one another is the only way forward.”

The medical equipment part of the stockpile will include intensive care medical equipment such as ventilators; personal protective equipment such as reusable masks and laboratory supplies.

Also commenting, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, added, "The EU is taking action to get more equipment to member states. We are setting up a rescEU stockpile to rapidly get the supplies needed to fight Coronavirus. Our plan is to move ahead without delay.”

Lenarčič added that the stockpile will be used to support EU Member States that are facing shortages of equipment needed to treat infected patients as well as for protecting health care workers.

Meanwhile, EU transport ministers together with the Commission have agreed to join forces to minimise traffic disruptions, especially for essential freight. They say the transport sector is being severely affected by a wide range of national measures aimed at containing the pandemic.

On 1 January 2019, the population of the European Union (EU) was estimated at almost 513.5 million, compared with 512.4 million on 1 January 2018.and has a GDP of $18.3 trillion.  After Bitain officially leaves the EU the population will be reduced by 66.44 million. But untill Brexit goes into official effect Britain is still a full member of the EU and participates in all the inter-governmental projects and benefits the EU membership provides.

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