Assembly speaker seeks European Parliament's help in vaccine supply

National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug raises a hand and smiles during a video meeting with European Parliament President David Sassoli, Tuesday (KST). Courtesy of the office of National Assembly speaker

• Published Apr 21, 2021 3:36 PM KST
• Updated Apr 21, 2021 6:41 PM KST

By Jung Da-min

National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug held a video meeting with European Parliament President David Sassoli, Tuesday evening (KST), the first such meeting between the parliamentary leaders of Korea and the European Union (EU).

Park and Sassoli discussed a wide range of issues including the global supply of COVID-19 vaccines, Japan's recent decision to discharge contaminated water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, the “peace process” on the Korean Peninsula and global climate change, according to the speaker's office.

Park specifically asked for the EU's help in procuring a timely supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses for Korea, telling Sassoli that the country was having difficulty in getting enough of these.

“Korea's quarantine measures against the COVID-19 pandemic have been conducted smoothly under the three principles of openness, democracy and transparency, but we're having difficulties in securing vaccines,” Park said. “I ask for the European Parliament's attention and cooperation so that vaccines produced in Europe could be introduced to Korea in a timely manner.”

Sassoli said that the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain in Europe is facing many problems but the European Parliament would try to accommodate Park's request.

On the matter of global climate change, Park said, “While the EU is pushing ahead with its Green Deal, the Korean government is also pushing ahead with its Green New Deal. As the two sides share a lot in common in the direction of environmental policies, there is room for further cooperation.”