Foreign Affairs Council, 20/10/2014, 20 October 2014

EU response to Ebola

Meeting in the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, EU ministers discussed joint strategies to contain the Ebola virus. Latest developments in Ukraine, Libya, Iraq, Syria and the Middle East were also on the agenda.

The Council is deeply concerned about the ongoing spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa. As of 15 October over 4 500 people have died from Ebola infection.

The Council renewed its condolences on behalf of member states and European Union to all governments and citizens affected by the outbreak.

• The EU's response to help fight the Ebola outbreak

More than €1/2 billion against Ebola

The EU has been allocating funding since March 2014 and has continuously scaled up its efforts to contain the spread of the Ebola virus and provide treatment to infected persons.

In total, the EU and its member states have already committed over €500 million euros in humanitarian and development aid to the affected countries.

• EU response to Ebola on the Europa website

EU assistance and expertise on the ground in Africa

On 20 October 2014, EU foreign ministers recalled the extent of the EU aid assistance deployed on the ground so far. They expressed their deep appreciation towards all humanitarian and health workers on the front line.

They also called for more funds and additional workers to be sent to the affected countries. The EU is providing a guarantee that international health workers who volunteer will be provided with appropriate care, should they become infected.

Ministers agreed on the need for better coordination of the international response and the possible nomination of an EU coordinator who can ensure the most effective engagement of the European Union, member states and the UN.

EU ministers also acknowledged the need to establish a pool of voluntary health experts ready to be deployed in case of a health crisis.

They welcomed efforts made to step-up investments in medical research against tropical diseases and asked for the European development cooperation to focus on reinforcing the health systems of the countries in the region.

Prevention measures in Europe

The risk of a widespread Ebola outbreak within the EU population is still considered low. However, the EU needs to be prepared for the possibility of a traveller with the Ebola virus returning to the EU and for further secondary cases in Europe.

On 20 October, EU foreign ministers called for an audit and reinforcement of the traveller screening systems set up at the exit points of affected countries.

They also stressed the importance of better coordinating national measures already taken by EU member states at entry points.

Member states should use visa information systems and transport carriers' information to anticipate the potential arrival of disease infection. 

The Council also welcomed:

• the organisation of a workshop on best practices in infection control in healthcare settings
• the setting up of a voluntary network of clinicians for the treatment of Ebola at EU level

Public information

The Council also stressed  the need to objectively inform citizens of the measures taken to protect them from potential contamination.