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European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR)
News article4 June 2020Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations

Coronavirus Global Response: European Commission pledges €300 million to Gavi

This afternoon, President von der Leyen will take part in the Global Vaccine Summit organised by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The President will announce that the Commission is pledging €300 million to Gavi for the period 2021–2025. This will help...

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This afternoon, President von der Leyen will take part in the Global Vaccine Summit organised by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The President will announce that the Commission is pledging €300 million to Gavi for the period 2021–2025. This will help immunise 300 million children around the world and finance vaccine stockpiles to shield against outbreaks of infectious diseases. The replenishment of Gavi is important to strengthen the health systems and immunisation capacities of the world's most vulnerable countries. It is therefore key in reaching the objectives of the Coronavirus Global Response, the global action aiming to provide universal access to coronavirus tests, treatments and vaccines. At the Coronavirus Global Response pledging event co-hosted by the European Commission on 4 May, more than €1.5 billion was pledged for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, including €488 million for deploying, once available, a vaccine against coronavirus. President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said, “Vaccines can only save lives if everyone who needs them can access them, especially in the most vulnerable communities and regions of the world. This is why Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance's work is so important. It gives developing countries the means to build stronger health systems and immunisation programmes, to make the world a safer place. I am glad that the European Commission can support Gavi in such a crucial endeavour. This will help us overcome this pandemic and avoid another.” Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, highlighted: “Building up immunisation systems is a fundamental part of the work the EU does with partner countries and Gavi to strengthen health systems, which will be more important than ever on our road to recovery from COVID-19. Improving children's access to basic health care, notably effective and safe vaccines, was key to almost halving global child mortality between 2000 and 2017. Ensuring more vulnerable children have continued access to vaccines will be key for our collective success over the next five years.” Today's pledge is made under the assumption that the EU's new Multiannual Financial Framework and in particular the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), where the funds pledged for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, would come from, are adopted broadly along the lines proposed by the European Commission. A press release is available here.