March 25 (SeeNews) - The European Union has pledged to provide up to 66 million euro ($71.28 million) to North Macedonia to help the country fight the coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the economy, a EU official said.
The financial assistance will include up to four million euro for immediate needs, up to 50 million euro for socio-economic recovery, 9 million euro for the private sector and 3 million euro direct budget support, the EU ambassador to North Macedonia, Samuel Zbogar, said in a Twitter post on Tuesday.
North Macedonia has so far confirmed 177 coronavirus cases, with the death toll standing at two, health minister Venko Filipce said on Twitter on Wednesday.
The EU leaders agreed on Tuesday to open accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania. The European Council granted the status of EU candidate to North Macedonia in 2005.
($ = 0.925911 euro)