Zvizdić and Čović initiated appeal to EU leaders for Western Balkan aid

(Patria) - Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Zvizdić and Speaker of the House of Peoples of the PA BiH Dragan Čović, today, as initiators, together with the speakers of the parliaments of the Western Balkan countries, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Albania, North Macedonia, the Parliament of Montenegro and the Parliament of Kosovo, sent an Appeal to the President of the European Parliament David Sassoli and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, for assistance to the Western Balkan region in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

"Aware of the complexity of the moment we are in and the problems we are all facing caused by the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), with this joint appeal we want to point out the currently very unfavorable and challenging situation in which the Western Balkan region finds itself, both in terms of the number of infected people and in terms of the insufficient equipment of the health systems in the region with adequate medical equipment and devices that are necessary for successful prevention, treatment and stopping the further spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). In this regard, now more than ever, we need solidarity, a coordinated approach and joint action," the appeal states.

They say that for this reason they appeal for the Western Balkans, which has always clearly and unequivocally stated that it belongs to the European family, to be exempted from the decision on restricting the export of medical equipment from the European Union so that, through the transfer of acquired experience and the procurement of necessary equipment and medical supplies, it becomes part of the common European response in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

"In this regard, in our capacity as presidents and speakers of parliaments from the Western Balkan region, we appeal that, for the sake of our common future, equality and solidarity, you take the following measures: consider the possibility of including the Western Balkan region in the EU+ export permit scheme; enable the Western Balkan region to, if it deems it necessary, join the Agreement on joint procurement of medical countermeasures and thus participate in joint public procurement of medical and protective equipment to combat the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19); consider the possibility of allowing the Western Balkan region to redirect unspent funds from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II) to combat the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), as well as to use all other funds from various European Union funds available for this purpose," the appeal states.

In addition to the proposed measures, on behalf of the parliaments, they welcome any form of assistance that the European Union is willing to make available to the Western Balkan region.

"Dear President of the European Commission, esteemed President of the European Parliament, we are convinced that this appeal will have a positive outcome, because we in the Western Balkans, or Southeast Europe, sincerely believe in European solidarity and our common European future," the appeal concludes.