EU announces financial support package for Western Balkans

The European Commission announced a EUR 3.3 billion financial support package for the countries of the Western Balkans to help them cope with the crisis in the healthcare system and the social and economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The EU is mobilizing a substantial financial package, confirming the strong solidarity. Together we will overcome this crisis and recover. And beyond that, we will continue to support the region, including with the reforms needed on their EU path, as the recovery will only work effectively if the countries keep delivering on their commitments,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a meeting with the European commissioners on Wednesday.

At a videoconference of the leaders of the EU and the Western Balkans on 6 May, the European Commission will also present a framework economic and investment plan for the region to be approved later this year. The plan will be targeted at the consequences of the pandemic as well as the modernization of the economy and reform support.

Turkey is going through the peak of the Covid-19 epidemic

The coronavirus death toll in Turkey has exceeded 3,000. The country is going through the peak of the epidemic, said Health Minister Fahrettin Koca. The number of recoveries has surpassed 44,000 or 1/3 of all cases. For the 10th day in a row the number of coronavirus deaths has been going down but the active cases in the country are more than 70,000. Minister Koca warned that the measures for containing the infection will continue in May. After the end of the holy month of Ramadan and Ramadan Bayram the country is planning to begin a return to normal life, the BNR correspondent in Istanbul Marian Karagyozov reports.

Greece with a clear-cut plan for reawakening the economy

Greece too is planning a gradual relaxation of the restrictions imposed for containing the epidemic, following a two-month schedule, announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. On May 4 the restrictions on the movement of citizens outside their homes will be lifted, i.e. they will be able to leave their homes without sending a text message or without written permission. Book stores, electronics stores, sporting goods stores, hairdressers will reopen, as will churches for individual visits. Out-of-home catering establishments are to reopen on 1 June, as will year-round hotels. “We are starting to go back to normal life but without neglecting the safety measures,” Mitsotakis said.

Beaches in Cyprus to open to the public as of 1 June

Cyprus is beginning the phased lifting of the restrictive measures introduced over the coronavirus epidemic. They are to be abolished as of 21 May. This was announced by the President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades.

Construction work and retail trade are to resume as of 4 May. On 11 May secondary school students are to return to school. As of 21 May the restrictions on the movement of citizens will be lifted, open public spaces, parks and town squares will reopen though strict safety measures will be observed. President Nicos Anastasiades thanked the citizens of the country for their admirable patience and discipline in the unprecedented measures. By Wednesday evening 843 new coronavirus cases were registered in Cyprus, with almost 56,000 tests having been carried out, the BNR correspondent in Cyprus Branislava Bobanats reports.

Croatian TU plans virtual protest on 1 May

Because of the ban on gatherings over the coronavirus pandemic, the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia is planning to organize an online protest in support of workers’ rights on 1 May. The protest will take place via Zoom videoconferencing platform and will be streamed on Facebook. In this way the trade union wants to send a message that “it is time for a new model of society and economic development”.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova