Italy first to apply for aid from EU virus fund

Italy has become the first European Union country to apply for financial aid from an 800-million euro (868-million US dollar) fund set up by the 27-country bloc to tackle the crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Italy has been the hardest-hit EU country by the deadly virus so far, with some 26,000 fatalities.

Initially designed to help countries hit by natural disasters, the fund can now be used in case of health emergencies like the COVID-19 health crisis after the European Council and the EU Parliament approved a proposal from the bloc's executive arm.

The European Commission said on Monday that member states can request aid via this scheme until June 24.

Applications will then be assessed by the Commission, which will submit a proposal for financial aid to the Council and the Parliament.

"For the next steps, we will now collect all coronavirus applications from now until June 24th and will then assess them as a package and in order to make sure we have a fair treatment of all cases," Vivian Loonela, European Commission spokesperson said.

"Following that the Commission will then submit the proposal for financial aid to the European Parliament and to the Council," she added.