PM underlines unity of EU during coronavirus crisis

Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday held a telephone conversation and discussed on the international situation of coronavirus.

They focused on the WHO's role in responding to the global COVID-19 pandemic and on the measures taken by Finland, said an official press release.

The Premier informed the Director-General of the Government's decision taken on 16 April to increase financial support to the World Health Organization by raising voluntary funding to EUR 5.5 million.

She emphasised the importance of the work of the WHO overall and the need to further strengthen multilateral cooperation.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister on Friday underlined the need for Europe to act jointly in overcoming the coronavirus crisis.

At a press conference in Helsinki, Marin was asked to comment on the strong concern expressed by French President Emmanuel Macron that the EU may face disintegration, if it does not help its virus-affected southern members, reported news agency Xinhua.

Marin said that tackling the situation requires the commitment of all member countries.

"By helping and supporting each other, we can get through difficult times," Marin emphasized.

French President Macron was quoted by British newspaper Financial Times on Friday as saying the EU has "no choice but to accept" a joint debt burden.

Finance Minister Katri Kulmuni last week welcomed the "compromise plan" reached by Eurogroup finance ministers on an over half billion-euro crisis package, but said Finland does not support joint debt.

The package included the use of the European Stability Mechanism, an increase in the collateral powers of the European Investment Bank and a 100 billion loan fund program for securing jobs.

She said that Finnish responsibilities would remain around 400 million euros in the fund and in the Investment Bank at around 300 million.