TIRANA, March 18 – The COVID-19 crisis is putting under strain the relations between some countries in the Western Balkans and the Union after the Commission declared that medical items and equipment exports would be now restricted and under the authority of member states. Serbian President Vucic in an emotional conference literally “thanked the EU for nothing” while making a strong appeal to “the Chinese brother President Xi” for help.
Regional experts have called upon the Union to assist the countries during this crisis as their healthcare systems are much more underdeveloped. Additionally the region has lost a lot of its medical staff to the Union’s member states. Commissioner Varlehyi assured during a video conference with the region’s political leaders that the assistance would be there and was being planned.
Among other options experts believe that IPA funds could be repurposed in order to serve the immediate needs of the public health emergency of the virus.
