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“There are two approaches: act like Orban or find a solution to the problem of vaccines at the European level.” This was stated by the Bulgarian Prime Minister in a joint press conference with his colleagues, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa.
In a working meeting, the four prime ministers discussed the problems with the coronavirus vaccination campaign in Europe, and their colleagues from Latvia, Arthurs Krishjanis Karins, and Croatia, Andrej Plenković, joined the discussions via the link of video.
The six leaders rallied around their position on vaccine distribution based on the percentage of the population of each member state. Following the meeting, the Prime Ministers of Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovenia called for a change in the mechanism by which immunization preparations against coronavirus are currently distributed in the EU.
“There is an unfair subsequent distribution of vaccines,” Bulgarian Prime Minister Borissov said, but added that EC President Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Council had done a “good job” in concluding contracts for vaccines and the problem was not there.
Borissov and Kurz stressed that their objective is not to find fault and make accusations, but to find a solution to the problem of the distribution of vaccines within the Union.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz pointed out that the idea was to start vaccination in all EU countries at the same time to demonstrate European solidarity and that together we can tackle the pandemic, but the picture is very different now due to the business delays.
Austria ranks 12th among those vaccinated in the EU, and there are countries where 5% are immunized. This shows, in Kurz’s words, that we have a problem with the distribution.
“We want all EU citizens to have equal access, so an adjustment must be made,” said Sebastian Kurz.
“We have always been in favor of European solidarity and now other procedures are being introduced. Member states have been told not to buy Russian and Chinese vaccines. They have given us several vaccinations that are just as good. The negotiations are led by the EC and quality assurance is provided by the European Medicines Agency. Therefore, we order the appropriate doses of these vaccines. We follow the agreement and we all start getting vaccinated at the same time. However, the companies do not comply with their supply contracts. I also believe in the Commission that the newly agreed vaccines will be delivered to us, “said Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, emphasizing that” the vaccination campaign is very important for the electoral process in our country. “
In the current situation, some countries will have already achieved herd immunity in May, while others will still be waiting for vaccines, Borissov said.
“We do not want handouts. Bulgaria has invested in the development of vaccines. From where until now we will have a leaderboard. It is a political slap in the face,” said the Bulgarian prime minister.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz proposes a new distribution mechanism whereby countries that have received the most vaccines, such as Malta, make them available to other Member States in proportion to their population.
Last week, Kurz asked the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, to debate the issue at the highest level.
Besides the problem with vaccines and questions about corruption in Bulgaria
Although the main topic of the press conference was the distribution of vaccines against COVID-19 in the EU, an Austrian journalist asked Prime Minister Borissov if he thought he could increase the confidence that he had lost due to the problem of vaccines, corruption and Press freedom. .
“I have won elections many times, opinion polls give a difference of 10-15% for GERB. Regarding freedom of the press, the most important media are in the hands of foreign companies. They have no relationship with us,” he said Prime Minister Borissov.
According to him, indicative of the situation of the rule of law in our country is that there are many foreign investors, including large Austrian companies.
According to him, there is as much freedom of expression in Bulgaria as it is difficult for other countries to say it exists.
