Today, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg met with his counterparts from Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary in the Central 5 (C5) format. Main topics at the fourth meeting of the C5 in Brdo, Slovenia, were the COVID-19 pandemic, the upcoming Slovenian Council Presidency in the second half of 2021, and the integration of the Western Balkan countries into the EU.
In addition to the importance of testing and the call for accelerating the approval of vaccines by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg stressed the need to create important prospects for the future through a European Green Passport.
I am very pleased that Commission President Von der Leyen announced today that she will present a draft law for a digital green passport in March. We have to be aware that this could be our ticket back to normality as early as this summer – we have to take advantage of this opportunity,
Alexander Schallenberg said.
The C5 Foreign Ministers particularly emphasized mutual solidarity and assistance during the pandemic. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg stressed the importance ofcontinuing the cooperative partnership especially during the upcoming Slovenian Presidency:
There is no doubt that Slovenia will take over the presidency of the European Union at a particularly challenging time. However, I can assure that Slovenia can always count on Austria’s full support.
In addition, there was agreement in the C5 meeting on the importance of the Western Balkans countries’ accession to the EU.
I think we have a common goal: 2021 must not be another lost year for the Western Balkan states,
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg concluded.
