High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell spoke by phone to Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus on Thursday. High Representative Borrell relayed the EU’s strong support to the WHO at this critical moment and reiterated the need to continue working together through the multilateral system to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

They discussed the current situation, the important work of the WHO to stop the spread of the virus and agreed on the need for global collective investment in preparedness measures to cope with this and future pandemics. Existing vulnerabilities should be carefully addressed and no efforts spared to correct them. The HRVP expressed concern about the decision by the United States to suspend its funding to the WHO and committed to work towards mobilising additional resources. The EU has already pledged €114 million in response to the WHO appeal to respond to this pandemic.