21.01.2021
“The information that my colleagues have shared is very distressing: a huge number of people who have contracted the disease, a huge number of deaths, an overloaded healthcare system, huge external debts and declining GDP of the leading EU member states, so after the health crisis, whatever the case may be, there will be a very grave economic and financial crisis.” This is what Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said after the video conference of the members of the European Council.
“Unfortunately, the virus mutates and there is no general rule to follow,” Mr. Borissov noted and added that the member states’ action is tailored to the situation. As regards Bulgaria, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the current approach is the right approach as it involves the mobilization of society, distancing and the adoption of measures while he emphasized that the measures in Bulgaria are extremely lax compared to those in other countries.
The Prime Minister also focused on another matter that the Council discussed: the delay in vaccinations in some member states. Prime Minister Borissov assured that Bulgaria’s vaccination plan is implemented in the most rational, balanced and appropriate way while it makes it sure, that citizens, who have received the first dose of the vaccine, will receive their second dose, accordingly.
By March 2021, the EU member states should set vaccination targets to cover at least 80% of medical staff and social workers and 70% of senior citizens who are 80 years old and older before the end of the summer. The EU member states will pursue these targets, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said.
“The European Medicines Agency works to increase production capacity with companies as does the European Commission. I hope that the large amounts that we have paid for will be delivered to Bulgaria in the coming months,” Prime Minister Borissov added.
“Genome sequencing must be urgently increased – up to 5-10% of the positive tests. Here again, the European Commission can help, though we have this expertise,” Mr. Borissov said further.
Concerning the single market and the free flow in upgrading the measures to contain the pandemic, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that the country is ready with both a digital passport and a vaccination certificate. “However, I think it will be difficult to do as the single market is associated with the free movement of people. Indeed, each member state will certainly apply some procedures to let other countries’ citizens enter it, yet I don’t think that such a decision will be taken right now,” Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said further.
