The European Union will secure coronavirus vaccines for the countries of the Western Balkans and other neighbours as soon as possible, the Beta news agency reported quoting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

It quoted Von der Leyen as telling reporters after EU leaders met by video conference that the procedure to supply vaccines through the COVAX mechanism to poor countries and countries outside the EU is complex, adding that a decision was taken to use a separate mechanism to supply the Western Balkans with vaccine from EU member states.

Von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel said that the Union is increasingly concerned over the spread of the new strain of the coronavirus. They said that all measures will be taken to speed up the mass vaccination of the population of the EU, Beta said. It quoted them as saying that the goal is to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the population by the summer.