Geopolitical tensions between the US and China will increase as the pandemic of the COVID-19 pandemic rises, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, Josep Borrell, warned today. At a joint virtual meeting of several committees of the European Parliament, he called for more assistance from the International Monetary Fund to overcome today’s difficulties and explained that this is not possible so far because of Washington’s disagreement.

The world has not gotten better since the outbreak of the Spanish flu epidemic at the beginning of the last century, but headed for war, Josep Borrell noted. He added that the response to today’s crisis would have been much weaker without EU assistance. In his words, the EU is doing a lot but not explaining its actions enough. Josep Borrell urged MEPs to talk about what the EU is doing in the countries where they are elected.

The EU High Representative thanked China for its assistance to the EU and added that it was heartbreaking to watch footage from Italy with the burning European flag. We may not have explained well what assistance the EU (Italy) has provided, he added.

Josep Borrell noted that the EU is also helping the Western Balkan countries, with nearly half a billion euros allocated for the epidemic in the region so far. The EU has expressed clear support for the World Health Organization after the US decision to suspend funding for the institution.

Josep Borrell said the world lacks a leader in today’s crisis. He stressed that the EU would not be a safe place until the pandemic is fully controlled, and called for assistance to countries in difficulty in coping with the spread of the infection.

The European Union Minister for Foreign Affairs said that no EU mission has been terminated due to the pandemic, although the number of European envoys abroad has been reduced. He added that negotiations with Turkey on the migration agreement were continuing and explained that Ankara insists that all issues of the treaty be addressed, including the abolition of EU visas for Turkish citizens, customs cooperation, and Turkey’s accession negotiations with the EU. The work continues, he summarized.

Josep Borrell noted that nearly half a million European tourists have been returned with EU assistance from abroad to date. He expressed the expectation that the remaining hundred thousand would return home by the end of next week.