In the race to protect people against coronavirus, no country in mainland Europe has vaccinated a bigger share of its population than Serbia, and its president is thanking China and Russia rather than the EU for its success. “The world has hit an iceberg, like the Titanic, and the rich and the richest are only saving themselves,” Aleksandar Vucic said recently. Brussels has pledged €870 million to Covax and €70 million to help Balkan countries buy vaccines, but the huge demand and supply glitches faced by western manufacturers are causing some states to join Serbia in looking east for assistance. From Ukraine to Moldova to Albania, advocates of EU membership believe it would not only make their countries richer, more democratic and less corrupt, but also more professionally and more fairly run. While accelerating its vaccine rollout, the EU must also pass a key moral and practical test of the pandemic by helping its neighbours in need.

Source: The Irish Times February 07, 2021 20:15 UTC