(Excerpt)
Ebola
10. The European Council is deeply concerned by the continuing spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa and the increasing number of people infected and dying from it. It commended the work done by the governments of the affected countries and by NGOs in responding to an unprecedented health challenge. The European Council also expressed its deep appreciation for the selfless dedication of health workers in this crisis and for their courage and professionalism.
11. Joining forces with the United Nations, regional organisations and other key partners, the European Union and its Member States have been at the forefront of international efforts to provide an emergency response offering key capabilities, such as expert staff, Ebola capable mobile laboratories, treatment centres, and both air and sea transport as part of the EU Comprehensive Response. Funding from the European Union and its Member States has now reached more than 600 million euro. The recent Foreign Affairs Council and the meeting of EU Ministers for Health have further defined EU action and the European Council urges the swift implementation of their conclusions.
12. A sustained, coordinated and increased response is required to curb current trends. Additional assistance is needed to scale-up the response on the ground, notably regarding medical care and equipment, as well as reinforced exit screening. The European Council welcomed Member States' commitments to increase financial assistance, which will bring total funding to 1 billion euro. Moreover, Member States committed to increase the deployment of medical and support staff in the region. Member States and the Commission also agreed to guarantee appropriate care for international health workers within available resources to receive the treatment they need, including through medical evacuation. Furthermore, the use of the Emergency Response Coordination Centre as a clearing house mechanism for the deployment of voluntary health experts is a priority.
13. The scale of the epidemic is a threat not only to the economy and the stability of the affected countries, but also to the region as a whole. The European Council calls on the High Representative and the Commission to develop a package of measures addressing the wider political, security and economic implications of the Ebola crisis in West Africa.
14. Helping West Africa to cope with the crisis is the most effective way to prevent a serious outbreak of the disease elsewhere. At the same time, with the first confirmed cases of Ebola infections in Europe, the state of preparedness within the European Union and further work to protect European Union countries and their citizens are of utmost importance, in particular precautionary measures to reduce risks of contagion, including coordinated preventive actions within the EU such as sharing of information and best practices, training of health professionals and, where appropriate, entry screening.
