In an exclusive interview with the Bulgarian National Radio, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the pandemic with the coronavirus was still in a critical moment, despite some better news heard in recent days.

Von der Leyen cited elements of volunteering activity as “moving examples of mobilization in Bulgaria - I heard of a startup for babyware and sleeping bags, that was among the first to start producing masks and to donate them to the policemen and hospital personnel. Or that in Burgas the Opera House has used its own materials to sew masks and donate them. Of course, we will never forget that Bulgaria sent protective equipment to Austria. These are all signs that the situation is very difficult, but the solidarity is still at the heart of the European Union”.

The President of the EC pointed to the mechanism for maintaining jobs in the Member States, saying: “We have put on the table a very strong scheme, SURE, to keep people in employment. We support short-time work. We have made available EUR 100 billion and we say to the companies, "Keep people at work, even if there is no work to do, but then you keep the the skilled workforce, we subsidize through this scheme the loss of income." The thought behind this is that the moment the economy picks up again, these companies will have their skilled workforce and can take order again. That is why it is very important for us to keep our companies hibernating in this very difficult time.”

The President of the European Commission also said that in order to implement the idea of a new Marshall Plan, a very strong financial framework was needed for the next seven years:

"We all agree that we need a huge investment in our economies so that they can bounce back again after the crisis, which will be the best investment in our future. I think the idea of originally the Marshall Plan is correct because it says, "Countries Together."

Ursula von del Leyen also spoke to the BNR about the possibility of creating a European reserve for medical supplies and medicines for the first time and how countries could benefit from it, as well as about the need for a careful and coordinated removal of the restrictive measures imposed in the countries affected by Covid-19 in order to restart European economies.

You can listen to the full interview of BNR correspondent in Brussels, Angelina Piskova, with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen here:

Edited by Elena Karkalanova