Managing the risks of the Covid-19 pandemic remains a challenge. While EU vaccination rates have reached three quarters of the population, new SARS-CoV-2 variants keep emerging in the EU. Although these variants appear to be generally less severe, they still pose challenges to health systems. The implementation of a globally effective vaccine strategy remains key to enhancing Europe's resilience. If measures are successful, it is expected that SARS-CoV-19 – while still present – will enter a stage of seasonality, characterised by higher case numbers in the winter months, similarly to the flu. To achieve this, rethinking present surveillance and monitoring schemes, ensuring the distribution of vaccines worldwide and implementing an action plan against disinformation and misinformation could be crucial.

EPRS STOA podcast - Responding better to future pandemics

Nanoparticles lie at the heart of a new method for delivering medicines inside the body – and they were crucial to the success of the Covid-19 mRNA vaccines. This new drug delivery method and others could transform the way we treat disease, potentially boosting the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and HIV, among others. Insulin and Covid-19 vaccines might even become available as pills. In this podcast, we’ll look into new drug delivery methods that could simplify the way we treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

EPRS STOA podcast - What if novel drug delivery methods revolutionised medicine?

The arrival of the Covid-19 vaccines marks a turning point in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. According to estimates, coverage of at least 60 % to 75 % is needed to establish population immunity through vaccination. But, as regards Covid-19 vaccination, surveys suggest that Europeans are among the most sceptical in the world.

EPRS policy podcast - Covid-19 vaccination campaigns: The public dimension

We know that vaccines are an effective tools. Thanks to them, we have been able to stamp out many once-deadly diseases. In the coronavirus crisis, the EU is boosting research into a vaccine. Here’s how:

This is what Europe does for researchers seeking vaccines

As COVID-19 has proved once again, diseases do not recognise borders… So, with labs around the world on the race to find a vaccine, it is time to ask ourselves the question: What can the EU do to help? Is there a European added value concerning vaccination?

EPRS policy podcast - Towards a joint European approach on vaccination

During the plenary sessions MEPs hold debates on foreign affairs and security policy to discuss European Union (EU) action beyond its borders. The EU Treaties differentiate between common foreign and security policy (CFSP), common security and defence policy (CSDP), external action, and the external dimension of internal policies. To address new challenges such as climate change, rising insecurity or new migration patterns, the EU has put forward concrete solutions to shape synergy between the actors, in order to use shared expertise more effectively, and to find new sources of funding. The new foreign policy framework (EU global strategy) is intended to map the tools and resources best designed to help society as awhole, in the EU and partner countries, to withstand natural and manmade shocks more effectively. In the years to come, global instability is expected to rise; the challenge for the EU will be to ensure security while upholding the core values of the Treaties – human rights, democracy and the fight against poverty – as its primary objectives on the global stage.

Ahead of the 17-18 February European Union-African Union summit in Brussels, plenary discussed with Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, about how to work together with African partners for a more strategic and results-oriented partnership. The discussion focused on the common challenges facing both continents, including the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, boosting vaccination and stimulating investments.

EU - Africa

EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss further coordination on COVID-19, climate change, trade, security and external relations. On 11 December the leaders also meet for the Euro Summit.

They discuss the overall coordination effort in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including work on vaccines and testing, they aim to agree a new EU emissions reduction target for 2030, they exchange views on the trade agenda, they address security issues and in particular the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. In line with its conclusions of October 2020, the European Council come back to the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and relations with Turkey. Leaders also discuss EU relations with the Southern Neighbourhood.

European Council, 10-11 December 2020

Since the beginning of the pandemic COVID-19, the EU has developed a wide range of health policy responses, exemplified by the common approach to vaccines through the EU Vaccines Strategy and initiatives across a range of other policies.

A common approach to assessing infection rates in different regions made testing and quarantining much more consistent. EU Digital COVID Certificates were agreed on and implemented in record time, paving the way for the safe resumption of tourism and travel during summer, and beyond.

At the same time, the EU took decisive action to tackle the economic fallout of the pandemic with funds and special economic aid for&nbsp;Member states, entreprises and citizens.

The EU Health Union is underway with&nbsp;reinforcing the mandates of the European Medicines Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, addressing cross-border threats to health and creating a future-proof EU pharmaceutical policy. MEPs obtained better support for the EU4Health programme in the 2022 EU budget, with an additional €51 million to build up a strong Health Union and to make national health systems more resilient.

Effective coordination of national measures as well as solidarity among member states together with the importance of&nbsp;making national health systems more sustainable and resilient are the main challenges of the EU, learned from&nbsp;the&nbsp;COVID-19 pandemic.

EU's response to COVID-19

Every year in September, the President of the European Commission delivers the State of the European Union (SOTEU) address before the European Parliament, taking stock of the past year and presenting priorities for the year ahead. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, delivered&nbsp;her speech for 2021&nbsp;on 15 of September. It&nbsp;was&nbsp;followed by a plenary debate with members of the European Parliament.

The&nbsp; 2021 SOTEU addressed the most pressing questions in challenging times for Europe. The EU reached its goal to have 70% of the population fully vaccinated, but the coronavirus pandemic still continues to impact all aspects of European society. “We have 1.8 billion additional doses secured. This is enough for us and our neighbourhood when booster shots are needed. Let’s do everything possible to ensure that this does not turn into a pandemic of the unvaccinated”, said the President of the European Commission and added:" I am proposing a new health preparedness and resilience mission for the whole of the EU. And it should be backed up by Team Europe investment of EUR 50 billion by 2027. “

She focused also on the economic recovery after the pandemics.&nbsp;She highlighted that, with the Green Deal, the EU was the first major economy to present comprehensive legislation in this area and promised to support developing countries&nbsp;by doubling&nbsp;funding for biodiversity, pledging an additional €4 billion for climate finance until 2027 to support their green transition.

The President of the EC addressed also the situation in Afghanistan and promised to increase&nbsp;" again humanitarian aid for Afghanistan by 100 million euro.” Speaking about foreign and security policy, she called for a European Cyber Defence Policy and a new European Cyber Resilience Act and announced a summit on European defence to be held under the French Presidency. In her speech she&nbsp;touched as well&nbsp;upon rule of law, migration, protection of journalists or young people in the EU.

In their responses the leaders of political groups in the EP and other MEPs challenged the President of the EC on vaccination&nbsp;policy, more ambitious climate legislation, social measures, rule of law, defence plans and other important topics.

The State of the European Union debate is always a key moment to demonstrate the European Commission’s accountability towards the EU’s democratically elected representatives.&nbsp;

State of the European Union 2021

On Wednesday afternoon, MEPs will discuss the EU's response to the mpox outbreak and the need for ongoing action with the European Commission. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and nearby regions a "public health emergency of international concern" on August 14, 2024. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) issued a risk assessment on August 16, stating that the overall risk to Europe's general population is low. Currently, the EU has one antiviral treatment and one vaccine authorized for mpox. The Commission, through the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, is managing vaccine procurement and donation to affected African countries. MEPs are expected to urge a coordinated EU response to contain the outbreak in Africa and prevent the virus from spreading to Europe.

EU response to the Mpox outbreak and the need for continuous action

COVI Special Committee.- Exchange of views with external experts on COVID-19 vaccines

COVI Special Committee - Exchange of views with external experts on COVID-19 vaccines

Press conference by René AUST (ESN, DE), Co-president, Christine ANDERSON (ESN, DE), Harald VILIMSKY (PfE, AU) and Gerald HAUSER (PfE, AU) on reappraisal of policies during the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine procurement scandals

Press conference by Virginie JORON (ID, FR) on the opening of the investigation into vaccine purchases and the non-appearance of the Pfizer CEO at his hearing

Press conference Cristian TERHEŞ (ECR, RO) on the investigation by the European Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the procurement of Covid vaccines

Opening of the sitting

Outcome of the COP26 in Glasgow

Resumption of the sitting

Statement by the President 

Voting session

The EU's Role in Combatting the Covid-19 Pandemic: How to Vaccinate the World

Announcement of voting results: see Minutes

The EU&#39;s Role in Combatting the Covid-19 Pandemic: How to Vaccinate the World (continuation of debate)

Request for the waiver of a Member’s immunity (resumption of procedure)

Fundamental rights and the rule of law in Slovenia, in particular the delayed nomination of EPPO prosecutors (debate)

A European Action Plan Against Rare Diseases (debate)

Presentation of the Court of Auditors&#39; annual report 2020 (debate)

Agenda of the next sitting 

Closure of the sitting 

Plenary session

Announcement of voting results

United States sanctions and the Rule of law (debate)

First voting session

United States sanctions and the Rule of law

Government crackdown on protests and citizens in Cuba

The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE

The situation in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya

Composition of committees and delegations 

Second voting session

EU transparency in the development, purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines (debate)

Approval of the minutes of the part-session and forwarding of texts adopted: see Minutes: see Minutes

Dates of forthcoming sittings : see Minutes

Adjournment of the session 

Adoption of draft agenda(1)

Approval of minutes of the meeting of:

Chair's announcements (with EPVote)

Draft Short Motion for Resolution on LGBTI+ rights in the EU under Rule 227(2) -Petitions 0402/2020, 0657/2020, 0712/2020, 0762/2020, 1038/2020, 1179/2020 and 1288/2020. 2021/2769(RSP) vote :16-17 June 2021/vote in plenary July 2021 (tbc) Vote on split votes(POSTPONED)

Draft Oral Questionon Vaccine strategy. 2021/2678(RSP) vote :16-17 June 2021/vote in plenary July 2021 (tbc) Final vote

DraftMotion for Resolutionon Vaccine strategy. 2021/2678(RSP) vote :16-17 June 2021/vote in plenary July 2021 (tbc) Final vote

Petition 0032/2019by K.W-A. (German) on the cross-border delivery of homeopathic products and other medicines within the EU (Possibly in the presence of the petitioner)

Petition 0328/2017 by A.K. (German) on behalf of the association ‘Artgerechte Tiergesundheit e.V.’, on rules on homeopathic and naturopathic medicines (Possibly in the presence of the petitioner)

Petition 1508/2020 by A.E.S. (Spanish) on the infringement of the law on noise pollution by Bilbao City Council (In the presence of the petitioner))

Petition 0179/2021 by P.P. (Polish), on behalf of Contrain Poland Sp. z o.o., regarding discrimination of Polish temporary work agency by the Dutch authorities (Possibly in the presence of the petitioner)

PETI/AGRI

PETI

EP Plenary Session - The EU's Role in combatting the Covid-19 Pandemic: How to Vaccinate the World - Topical debate

EP Plenary session  - EU transparency in the development, purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines

EP Plenary session - Joint debate EU Digital COVID Certificate 44-45

EU Digital Covid Certificate - Freedom of movement, safely.

EU Digital COVID certificate

EP Plenary session - Meeting the Global Covid 19 challenge: effects of waiver of the WTO TRIPS agreement on Covid-19 vaccines, treatment, equipment and manufacturing capacity in developing countries

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Digital green certificate - Union citizens & third countries - The accessibility and affordability of Covid-testing

Press Webinar - The return to free movement - The EU Green Digital Certificate

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, participates in the event named Global Summit: Health & Prosperity Through Immunisation, organised in BOZAR in Brussels. The European Union and the Gates Foundation, together with Gavi, the vaccine alliance, co-host the event. The event brings together global leaders from governments, partner organisations, vaccine manufacturers, civil society and the private sector, to secure crucial investments in vaccination programmes. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Global Summit - Health & Prosperity Through Immunisation: speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

MEPs debate on EU response to the Mpox outbreak and the need for continuous action. MEPs discuss the EU's response to the mpox outbreak and the need for ongoing action with the European Commission. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and nearby regions a "public health emergency of international concern" on August 14, 2024. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) issued a risk assessment on August 16, stating that the overall risk to Europe's general population is low. Currently, the EU has one antiviral treatment and one vaccine authorized for mpox. The Commission, through the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, is managing vaccine procurement and donation to affected African countries. MEPs are expected to urge a coordinated EU response to contain the outbreak in Africa and prevent the virus from spreading to Europe.

EU response to the Mpox outbreak and the need for continuous action: MEPs debate

This infoclip shows how the European Parliament responded to COVID pandemic from March 2020 with distancing activities of the European Parliament held by David SASSOLI, EP President until the press conference to present the results of the work of the Committee on collecting the evidence and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to give answers on the impact it had on citizens and their fundamental rights, the businesses, the health sector and international community in June 2023. This infoclip shows illustrations of EP buildings used in the fight against COVID-19, the Green corridor at the Belgium-Dutch border, digital COVID certificates, trilogue on the EU COVID-19 certificate, meetings of the Special COVI Committee, vaccines production and distribution, COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned and recommendations for the future.

European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024): Response to COVID pandemic

This infoclip shows the most important steps and moments of the Presidency of the European Commission of Ursula von der LEYEN (2019-2023). The footage, in particular, includes the election as a President and of the European Commission's college; Meetings with the Presidents of the EU institutions; her main interventions in debates on Next Generation EU legislation, Green Deal, EU vaccines campaign against Covid-19, the war of aggression of Russia against Ukraine, the Conference on the Future of Europe and previous State of the Union debates in Strasbourg.

Memoclip: Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission, and the European Parliament (2019-2023)

From 2020 to 2022, the European Union has faced a public health threat with the COVID-19 pandemic. On 10 March 2022, the European Parliament established a new special committee on the COVID-19 pandemic, composed of 38 members. After more than a year of work, the final report is voted and presents its recommendations for the future, based on the lesson learned. This clip illustrates two years of pandemic through footages of lockdowns, testings, masks distributions, vaccinations, digital certificates but also comes back on the work of the COVI Committee with extracts of past meetings.

Memoclip: COVID-19 pandemic - lessons learned and recommendations for the future

MEPs from the COVI Committee (Special Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned and recommendations for the future) exchange with Stella KYRIAKIDES, Commissioner for Health, Food and Safety Commissioner on new regulation on cross-border threats to health, a new EU network of reference laboratories, the long-Covid side effects and the transparency around vaccines contracts. In a second part, they exchange with Emer COOKE, Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency on the recommendations to strengthen EMA’s response to future public health emergencies. Extracts.

Exchange of views with Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety and with Emer COOKE, Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA): extracts - COVI Committee

During a public hearing of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic, MEPs discuss about how to tackle misleading and false information, especially on social media, the impact of conspiracy theories on vaccine hesitancy, the role of online platforms and traditional media outlets in spreading awareness but also misinformation and disinformation around the pandemic. Extracts from the public hearing.

The impact of disinformation, misinformation and propaganda on democracy during the pandemic: extracts from the public hearing - EP Special Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic left an indelible mark on Europe. While we may no longer live in lockdown or see masks everywhere, the pandemic’s impact is still being felt. Because of the far-reaching effects on our economy and society at large, the European Union's response went far beyond securing enough vaccines. The European Commission rolled out €800 billion in financial relief through the Next Generation EU Recovery Instrument. In this first episode of the chronicle, Alessandro D'Alfonso, the Head of the Next Generation EU Monitoring Service at the EPRS, will delve into the details of this historic package and what it means for the EU. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely. #NextGenerationEU

EPRS - EU Recovery Instrument: What is it?

Representatives from Pfizer and Curevac share their views on past and present manufacturing, distribution and equitable access of the COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics. The debate focuses on the activities undertaken to develop vaccines for new variants, the authorisation process, and transparency of contracts. Extracts from the exchange of views with Janine Small, President of International Developed Markets, Pfizer and and Dr Franz-Werner Haas, Chief Executive Officer, Curevac.

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