Premiers of Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine submit joint letter to European Commission on access to anti-COVID-19 vaccine

Chisinau, 31 May /MOLDPRES/ - The Prime Ministers  of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine have submitted a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the cooperation with the European Union in the field of access to anti-COVID-19 vaccine, the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry’s (MAIEIE) public diplomacy, strategic communication and media interaction service reported.

The three officials said that, at present, the vaccination stayed the key instrument for ensuring the residents’ health and preventing the economic recessions, triggered by anti-pandemic restrictions. Welcoming the delivery of consignments of vaccine through the COVAX platform and bilateral channels, the officials stress the importance of the possibility of direct purchasing from the producer or partner countries, in order to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of the vaccination process.      

Thus, pointing out the positive developments taking place in the European Union as regards the supply with stocks of vaccine, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine asked for the European Commission’s support to include the Eastern Partnership countries in the EU vaccine sharing mechanism.   

Also, the officials asked to consider possibility of applying in relation with the Eastern Partnership countries the mechanisms of support recently used in the case of the states from the Western Balkans, which will allow providing a sufficient quantity of vaccine doses in reasonable time.

The three associated countries highly appreciated the solidarity proved by EU with the eastern neighbourhood countries within the Team Europe, due to which the needed assistance was delivered to back the health systems and provide economic support measures.

The joint letter fits into the efforts of boosting the cooperation in the European integration sector and the Eastern Partnership between the three countries signatory of the Association Agreements with the European Union.    

photo: internationaldisabilityalliance.org