At the initiative of FM Dimitrov, the ministers of foreign affairs of Western Balkan countries today sent a request to the European Commissioner for Trade Hogan, the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Várhelyi, and the EU High Representative and Vice President of the EC Borrell, requesting exemption of Western Balkan countries from the EU Regulation which places certain medical products for personal protection under a regime of export restrictions, more specifically, special export permits, informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
“The coronavirus has spread in all parts of the European continent and in order to defeat this common threat, solidarity and mutual cooperation are needed. Given that healthcare workers are first on the front lines everywhere, all of us together have to make sure that they will have medical equipment for personal protection available at all times and in sufficient quantities. Therefore, we, the partners from the region, have come together and we urgently propose to the European Commission to provide an exemption from the need for special export permits for our region, in the proposal for revision of the regulation which is under consideration” states MFA’s report.
MFA states that the Western Balkan region is a part of Europe, surrounded by EU member states. The exemption will send a strong signal that we are all working together as Europeans to successfully face and overcome this great challenge.
