“During the last Council meeting, the leaders agreed to strengthen collective response to the second wave of the coronavirus. We need to take decisive action, inform the public properly and share good practice to successfully curb the spread of a pandemic. It is essential for all member states to develop national testing and vaccination strategies based on the recommendations of the European Commission as soon as possible”, the President said.
The President welcomed the pandemic management plan proposed by the European Commission as well as the decision to allocate 100 million euros for the COVID-19 rapid tests. Gitanas Nausėda reminded that Lithuania was already following some of the measures set out in the plan, including the common approach on travel restrictions at the EU level as well as at the national level, and mapping of areas affected by the virus so that the identified sources of the pandemic could be immediately managed locally.
The President raised a question on the provision of personal protection and testing supplies to the member states, noting that it was important to ensure efficient supply at the EU level. The President also pointed out the need for the principle of mutual recognition of tests to be implemented throughout the EU.
President Nausėda informed that Lithuania together with other member states would procure the amount of the coronavirus vaccine sufficient to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the population. The President emphasized that it was crucial to ensure the availability of the vaccine to EU’s neighboring countries, focusing on the members of the Eastern Partnership.
The President‘s Communication Group
