EU Boosts Morocco’s COVID-19 Response with $170 Million Aid Package

Mohamed Benchaâboun and Claudia Wiedey welcomed "the payments made by the European Union on May 26, to the benefit of the Moroccan budget, in an amount of more than 1.7 billion dirhams, or 157 million euros, in support of the fight against covid-19".

According to the joint press release, "these payments were made within the framework of the European Union’s support program for health, social protection, training and education, and the competitiveness of companies and the green economy". These grants are intended to encourage "the tireless efforts made by the Moroccan state since the first days of the pandemic through the National Solidarity Fund covid-19". The EU’s support also aims to support "the measures taken to mitigate the health, social and economic consequences", reports the MAP.

According to the press release, "Morocco appreciates the gesture of the European Union towards its long-standing partner in this time of crisis". Through this support, the kingdom and the European Union have successfully implemented "the commitments made in March 2020, in extremely short deadlines, thanks to the continuous mobilization of their teams in Rabat and Brussels".

Additional payments are planned by the end of 2020 and will amount to more than 3 billion dirhams, or 300 million euros. They will be used "to mitigate the economic and social consequences of the health crisis, through a specific support program in response to the covid-19 crisis and a third phase of the program in support of Health", specifies the same source.