The EPP Group in the European Parliament, in a statement sent to EUROPE on 21 March, called on the European Commission to "deploy all necessary means to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 not only on individuals but also on businesses" in the Western Balkan countries.
The group welcomed the statements by Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi on the Commission's work to involve the Western Balkans in European measures to combat coronavirus (see EUROPE 12448/14). He also expressed his readiness to "take responsibility", looking forward to the rapid adoption of the proposed measures at the next extraordinary plenary session of the European Parliament and also expecting rapid results from EU assistance in the region "at this crucial time".
Austrian MEP Lukas Mandl and Bulgarian MEP Andrey Kovatchev, both from the EPP Group, Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Renew Europe, Bulgaria) and Viola von Cramon-Taubadel (Greens/EFA, Germany) went further, urging the Commission to include all six countries in the EU+ export licensing scheme. In addition, these countries "should be able to participate in the joint procurement of crisis relevant goods", they add in their March 20 letter to the President of the European Commission.
Macedonian government calls for help
Furthermore, in a letter to Mr Várhelyi dated 18 March seen by EUROPE, the Macedonian government announced that it would need assistance to mitigate the socio-economic effects of the pandemic, proposing six scenarios. In particular, the government is proposing that the €50 million "performance award" announced by the Commission in January be partly or fully dedicated to this crisis (see EUROPE 12405/19), the extension of the COSME programme for Macedonian SMEs and not to subject Skopje to the authorisation procedure for the export of certain products by the EU to fight the pandemic. It also calls for the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in the country. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)