During the plenary session (24-25 March 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate the export transparency and authorisation mechanism for COVID-19 vaccine after the European Commission has introduced the principles of reciprocity and proportionality as new criteria to be considered for authorising exports. Statements by Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of the EPP Group, Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), Chair of the S&D Group, Katalin CSEH (Renew, HU), and Martin SCHIRDEWAN (The Left, DE), Co-chair of the Left Group.

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

ŠEFČOVIČ, Maroš (SK, EC)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

healthcare safety (T)

SCHIRDEWAN, Martin (The Left, DE)

CSEH, Katalin (Renew, HU)

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

vaccination strategy (T)

Export transparency and authorisation mechanism of COVID19 vaccines: extracts

Title: Export transparency and authorisation mechanism: extracts

SOUNDBITE (English), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, I would like to be clear : the mechanism is not an export ban. In fact, so far 380 out of 381 requests for an export authorisation have been approved and with 43 million doses exported to 33 countries since the end of January, the EU is the world's biggest exporter of vaccines. We will continue to act fairly and responsibly and fulfil our global leadership role. That is also why exports to low and middle income countries, supplies through COVAX and exports to the EU overseas countries and territories remain unconditionally exempted. But we need to see fairness and right balance when assessing the impact of plant exports. This is what the two adjustment to the existing mechanisms adopted today are about: to help us ensure timely access to vaccines for our EU citizens. As the President emphasised this is an invitation to be open because open roads run in both directions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Chair of the EPP Group , The rest of the world is egoistic. The rest of the world is cold and that's why we as Europeans shouldn't be naive. That's why I welcome on behalf of the EPP group the revision of the export authorisation mechanism: reciprocity and proportionality are key criteria for the future. We sent nine million vaccines to the UK and they delivered zero. We sent more vaccines in the last three months to the UK that we have given to Spain. Dear colleagues, that is the reality and that's why let's be loud and clear. The priority must be the European Union. The priority for the next month must be the Europeans. We cannot endanger lives and health of our fellow citizens anymore.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), Chair of the S&amp;D Group, I agree that a ban on exports cannot be a solution. It's not a very wise move, in fact, and it means that we would jeopardise the whole supply change chain. But the revision of the export control mechanism that was announced today, that arrives late, because if you take a look at the United Kingdom, they have received 10 million doses which were manufactured in the European Union. And then Boris Johnson's government has not sent one single dose to our internal market. So basically, we are talking about something that is extremely important: acomplish our goals and obligations, not undermine or jeopardise the prestige of the European Commission, because we are not talking about the Comission's we're talking about the prestige and credibility of the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Katalin CSEH (Renew, HU), I was also so shocked to learn about the twenty nine million of AstraZeneca vaccines that are stockpiled. How can they even justify that? We are racing against time. This debate was never about the United Kingdom. For me, it's about a specific company not honouring their contractual commitments. And the Commission really needs to make sure whatever it takes to enforce these commitments in the name of our citizen.

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin SCHIRDEWAN (The Left, DE), Co-chair of the Left Group , Nothing shows clearly that AstraZeneca is stockpiling 29 million doses in Italy, that have just been accidentally discovered. Well, no vaccine seems to be delivered, delivered to the global south. You have to remember that export bans can lead to retaliatory measures and that could lead to lower production of vaccines in the EU. We could end up in the worst possible situation where nobody benefits.