The EU and Team Europe have mobilised around GEL 1.5 billion of new and reallocated assistance to help Georgia deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost 2/3 of this amount is grants, the remaining are loans at favourable interest rates. That is one of the highest levels of EU assistance per capita to any country in the world and demonstrates the EU’s strong solidarity with Georgia at this time of unprecedented crisis.
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Support to Government anti-COVID-19 efforts
This EU assistance includes almost GEL 1 billion to:
- Strengthen the Georgian government’s anti-COVID-19 crisis efforts including its anti-crisis economic plan and new programmes for regional/rural development and agriculture;
- Ensure macroeconomic stability of the country.
The EU support includes other concrete measures in the fields of:
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Health sector
- Almost 2 million pieces of medical supplies, including ventilators, medical masks and gowns for Georgian laboratories and medical facilities, in partnership with WHO;
- Training for healthcare professionals by WHO, and access to regional COVID-19 expertise.
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Social sector
- EU financial support to civil society organisations to assist those most vulnerable during the crisis, including persons with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, elderly, children and internally displaced persons.
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Economic recovery
- Over GEL 200 million to facilitate loans for businesses and provide business advice. Available primarily through local banks and channelled via key partners like EIB, EBRD and KfW;
- Over GEL 60 million in targeted local grants via ongoing EU projects around the country to stimulate economic activity in areas such as agriculture, tourism, rural business development and vocational education training.
In addition, the EU provides policy advice and expertise through ongoing EU projects and other facilities that reinforce EU and Team Europe targeted support. Georgia can also access regional EU funds to provide working capital, trade finance, and debt relief.
EU support is linked to conditions regarding transparency and accountability of public expenditure and a rights based approach, as well as gender equality.
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EU COVID-19 support to Georgia
EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell on EU COVID-19 support to Georgia
EU Support COVID-19
