Prime Minister, Dr Lotay Tshering, met with the European Union Commissioner for Crises Management, Janez Lenarcic, in the Belgian capital of Brussels yesterday. The prime minister thanked the commissioner and other European Union countries for their support to Bhutan, including the timely procurement and supply of COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic.
According to a news release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the prime minister thanked the EU for the support of 7.3 million Euros in 2019, which was used to establish the National Training Centre for Search and Rescue and the Water Flagship Programme.
Similarly, the commissioner congratulated Bhutan and informed about the importance to draw lessons from the pandemic.
The news release also states that the prime minister also urged the commissioner to find time and interest to closely follow the Desuung initiative to appreciate its significance of it and also shared the difference Desuups made during emergencies and particularly during the pandemic.
According to the PMO, more discussions were also held around the impacts of climate change and disaster-related programmes for the two sides to work on hereafter.
The prime minister will meet other EU counterparts to discuss developmental-related topics in the coming days.
Sherub Dorji
