Vjosa Osmani and her Western Balkan counterparts write letters EU

The European Union decided to ban exports of health equipment with non-member countries of the European Union, which brought concern to Western Balkan countries that are affected by COVID-19.

In this case, the top officials of the Western Balkan countries have addressed with a letter to European Parliament President David Susssol, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, through whom several additional measures were proposed to the Parliament and the European Commission for fighting pandemic in our region.

“aware of the complexity of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the number of infected persons and insufficient medical equipment of our countries, today, more than ever, we need solidarity, a coordinated approach and joint action. Therefore, we ask that the countries of the Western Balkans: To be excluded from the decision to limit the export of medical equipment from the European Union and be included in the EU export authorisation scheme; To have access to common procurement with the EU of medical equipment to fight pandemic; It is permitted that part of IPA II's programme funds and all other funds available from EU sources be used to fight COVID-19 pandemics. In addition to the proposed measures, on behalf of the parliaments of our countries, we welcome any kind of assistance that the European Union is willing to make available to the countries of the Western Balkans”, says the letter of the chief parliaments of Western Balkan countries.

The letter is signed by Gramoz Ruci, chairman of Albania's Parliament; Vjosa Osmani, Kosovo Assembly Speaker; Denis Zvizdic; Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Representatives Chairman and Dragan Covic, chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Pop Bridges Chamber; Ivan Brajovic, Montenegro Parliament Speaker; Talat Xhaferi, North Macedonia Parliament Speaker; Maja Gojkovic, Serbia's Parliament Speaker.