In a telephone conversation with Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi di Maio, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva has expressed full support and solidarity with Italy in the battle against coronavirus. Minister Zaharieva pointed out the need for pan-European coordination of actions and expertise to tackle the epidemic.

Luigi di Maio compared the situation with the coronavirus to war and added that his country, which is the most severely affected by the coronavirus in Europe, needed protective equipment and medical personnel. Minister Zaharieva said that after satisfying the need of masks on the Bulgarian market, Italy would be among the first EU countries to be given the opportunity to import masks from Bulgarian manufacturers.