LUXEMBOURG (AP) — European officials are rejecting the idea of stopping direct flights from West Africa as a means of stopping the spread of Ebola.
Meeting in Luxembourg, the EU foreign ministers promised to play an “active role” in boosting the world’s response to the Ebola outbreak. They are setting out to put together more than $1.25 billion to fight Ebola in the African nations that have been hardest hit. So far, Europe’s anti-Ebola pledges stand at about half that amount.
As for the idea of a travel ban, France’s foreign minister says it would backfire. He says instead of traveling to Brussels or France, passengers from West Africa would fly first to Dubai or somewhere else, and “come in from there.” He says, “We would no longer be able to check anything.”
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131-a-17-(British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, with reporters)-“and isolation facilities”-British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says the European Union is seeking to find one billion euros to help fight Ebola in West African countries. (20 Oct 2014)
< 132-a-16-(Catherine Ashton, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, with reporters)-“own national security”-EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urges the international community to work together to prevent the spread of Ebola. (20 Oct 2014) < APPHOTO VLM112: Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders, center, speaks with Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, second left, and British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond, right, during a round table meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, Oct. 20, 2014. European Union nations are working to find funds to help fight Ebola in West Africa and streamline a common approach in dealing with the health crisis. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) (20 Oct 2014) < Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
