The EU has sent a new shipment of FFP2 masks and gowns from the EU’s strategic reserve of medical equipment ‘RescEU’ from Germany to Montenegro and North Macedonia to protect against the coronavirus, the European Commission announced on Monday 12 October.
At the same time, Slovakia offered FFP2, FFP3 masks, surgical masks, hygiene kits, blankets, tents and generators to North Macedonia through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
“We are now sending more than 130,000 additional protective masks to Montenegro and North Macedonia”, said Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič, thanking Germany for hosting and transporting the shipment and Slovakia “for their generosity towards our close neighbours in the Western Balkans”.
Set up last March to help countries in need cope with any shortages, the RescEU stock of medical equipment is housed by Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania and Sweden, which are responsible for procuring the equipment, while the Commission covers 100% of the costs and coordinates the distribution of the equipment (see EUROPE 12565/9).
This additional aid to the Western Balkans is in addition to the 520,000 masks already delivered from RescEU. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)