European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that 42,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines financed by the EU would arrive in Montenegro from May through August.

She held online talks with Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic in late March, announcing more 600,000 doses for the Western Balkans.

We stand by our partners in the Western Balkans just as I said in talks with Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic, von der Leyen tweeted, adding that 42,000 vaccine doses financed by the EU would arrive in Montenegro from May to the end of August. We are in this together, she said.

The EU Delegation in Montenegro said the Commission and Austria today announced the signing of an agreement on delivering vaccines to six Western Balkan countries.

The Commission is financing the delivery of 651,000 BioNTech/Pfizer doses which will be distributed with Austria’s support, the Delegation said, adding that the first delivery to all partners in the region was expected in May and that the delivery of regular tranches would continue until August.

Von der Leyen said it was key to step up vaccination campaigns everywhere.

She tweeted she was pleased to announce that doses had been ensured to support the vaccination of medical workers and other vulnerable groups in the Western Balkans. The EU stands by its partners in the region, which see support in us, she added.

She thanked Austria, saying it was showing firm commitment to and solidarity with the Western Balkans.

Vaccination in Montenegro began on 20 February with Sputnik V donations from Serbia. In the meantime, China sent 30,000 doses of Sinopharm and Montenegro received 24,000 AstraZeneca doses via the Covax programme.

By the end of the month, Montenegrin health authorities expect another 200,000 Sinopharm doses as well as additional AstraZeneca vaccines.

A little less than 7 percent of the country’s population has been vaccinated.