"The situation in Slovakia is critical after the spread of more infectious coronavirus mutations. Therefore, I welcome the initiative of the European Commission allowing Slovakia to significantly increase COVID-19 genome sequencing capacities, which is an important tool in detecting more dangerous variants of coronavirus and slowing down their spread," said Foreign Ministry's State Secretary Martin Klus during an informal videoconference of EU ministers and state secretaries for European affairs. However, Klus also noted the EU must ensure that vaccine manufacturers comply with their contractual obligations, as vaccination is the most important way out of the current crisis.
Following Slovakia's request, the European Commission has launched a mechanism calling on Member States to lend vaccines to Slovakia in order to make it easier to overcome the critical period. Regarding the expansion of the European vaccine portfolio, according to Klus, we should be open to examining all options. He also thanked the Member States for offering medical assistance to Slovakia in difficult times. "This gesture confirms the strength of the European community," he added.
