Why are 13 EU states urging vaccine help for eastern neighbours?

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Thirteen EU Member States Urge Vaccine Assistance for Eastern Neighbours

Thirteen European Union member states are urging Brussels to provide assistance to their eastern neighbours in vaccinating their populations against coronavirus. This appeal stems from a belief that regional security is interconnected, and that the EU's borders cannot be considered safe if neighbouring countries are left vulnerable to the pandemic. The ministers behind the joint letter also noted that these Eastern Partners have previously expressed appreciation for the EU's COVID-related aid and have requested easier access to vaccines.

The foreign ministers from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden collectively penned a letter to the European Commission outlining their concerns. They articulated that their borders would not be secure if they failed to extend support to their immediate neighbours. This sentiment underscores a strategic perspective on regional stability, suggesting that widespread vaccination in adjacent countries is a prerequisite for the EU's own safety.

The Eastern Partnership programme, comprising ex-Soviet nations such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, has been specifically highlighted. The ministers believe that the EU must go beyond its existing initiatives and offer comparable attention and support to these countries. This call for extended assistance aims to ensure that these nations receive the necessary resources and facilitated access to COVID-19 vaccines, mirroring the support already being provided to other regions.

The ministers' appeal is also framed within the context of the EU's own efforts to secure and distribute vaccines. While the bloc has approved vaccines from BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna, and is working to secure more doses, concerns about production capacity have been raised. The EU has previously offered vaccine-related help to countries in the Balkans, allocating a €70 million package to cover vaccination costs. The current letter advocates for extending this kind of support to the Eastern Partnership countries, emphasizing a broader commitment to regional public health.

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Why are 13 EU states urging vaccine help for eastern neighbours?

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