COVID-19: How can the EU support its partner countries to avoid and resolve debt crises?

Many developing countries will not find their way out of the COVID-19 crisis on their own, and in addition to the direct public health and economic implications face both immediate and medium-term fiscal challenges. As long-standing providers of concessional finance and direct investment to developing countries, the international community, including also the European Union, has a shared interest to support these countries.

The European Union recognises this responsibility and on 30 November 2020 adopted Council Conclusions in which it committed to furthering international debt restructuring and relief efforts for African countries. The EU has also supported the G20/Paris Club “Debt Service Suspension Initiative” (DSSI), and the G20 and Paris Club “Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the DSSI”. In addition, the EU decided to contribute €183 million to the IMF’s Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT) for debt relief on IMF loans in the 29 poorest and most vulnerable countries. Yet these measures are not sufficient to avoid and resolve debt crises in developing countries.

This event is co-organised in collaboration with the European Think Tanks Group (ETTG), which is a network of European independent think tanks working on EU international cooperation for global sustainable development.

As European Think Tanks Group network we facilitate this dialogue in cooperation with DG INTPA because we want to encourage discussions on how the European Union and its member states can contribute to preventing and resolving debt crises in developing countries in the course of the COVID-19 crisis.

• What are the main reasons for the high debt levels in developing countries?
• How has the COVID-19 crisis exacerbated the debt situation in developing countries?
• How can the EU contribute to solve short- and medium-term liquidity problems in developing countries?
• How can the EU contribute to building up long-term instruments for preventing debt crises in developing countries?
• How can the EU ensure that debt treatments are linked to sustainable  development?