In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic has put European health systems under enormous pressure and gaps have been showed up in the way public health emergencies are addressed. The EU is working on how to secure access to COVID-19 vaccines for all and the Parliament supported speedy authorisation of safe vaccines. Also, MEPs paved the way for an effective EU health programme, called "EU4Health" (for 2021-2027), which aims to fill these gaps. EU4Health's three main priorities are: tackling cross-border health threats; making medicines available and affordable; and strengthening health systems.

Brussels

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

RIES, Frédérique (Renew, BE)

World Health Organisation

BUŞOI, Cristian-Silviu (EPP, RO)

SCHINAS, Margaritis (EPP-DE, EL, EC)

MONTSERRAT, Dolors (EPP, ES)

CERDAS, Sara (S&D, PT)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, Tedros (ET)

EU4Health Programme 2021-2027 (T)

COOKE, Emer (IE)

vaccination strategy (T)

European Parliament Review 2020 - EU response to COVID-19

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, I would like to start today with a word of praise and thanks to the women and men in white coats who provide essential health services with dedication, courage and humanity in such difficult times. (Statement on the occassion of the International Nurses day - Brussels - 13/05/2020)

David SASSOLI, EP President and MEPs applauding for medical and care workers (3 shots)

SOUNDBITE (German), Peter LIESE (EPP, DE), In March / April, at the beginning of the pandemic, I went back to the practice like many members of the medical professions. And the first thing I noticed when I asked my colleagues was: We didn't have masks. I had to look down the throat of patients with fever and cough without being able to protect myself. That was a queasy feeling for me. For many nurses and doctors in Bergamo and Madrid, that meant that they were infected and that they are no longer alive today. This is one of many examples where we simply have to get better: We mustn't be so dependent on China and others when it comes to things that are vital for our health. (Brussles - 08/07/2020)

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Yes, it is true that no one was really ready for this. It is also true that too many were not there on time when Italy needed a helping hand at the very beginning. And yes, for that it is right that Europe as a whole offers a heartfelt apology. But saying sorry only counts for something if it changes behaviour. And the truth is, too, that it did not take long before everyone realized that we must protect each other to protect ourselves. And the truth is that Europe has now become the world's beating heart of solidarity. (Debate on the EU coordinated action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic - Brussels - 16/04/2020)

SOUNDBITE (English), Tedros ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), This is much more than a health crisis. The economic, social and political effects will be felt for years to come. (Debate on COVID-19 with the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety - Brussels - 25/06/2020)

SOUNDBITE (English), Tedros ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), The amount may not be big enough to give it to everybody. So the other option would be to have the vaccine available to all vulnerable people in the whole world. (Debate on COVID-19 with the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety - Brussels - 25/06/2020)

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The European Union joined the Covax Global Facility and contributed for hundred million euro to help ensure that safe vaccines are available not only for those who can afford it, but for everyone who needs it, because we know vaccine nationalism puts lives at risks only vaccine cooperation saves lives. (Debate on the State of the European Union - Brussels -16/09/2020)

SOUNDBITE (English), Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), We should not forget that we still have in face of us a high degree of vaccine hesitancy in the union and this will also should be addressed and we should make all efforts in order to reduce vaccine hesitancy. (Public Hearing on How to secure access to COVID-19 vaccines for EU citizens - Brussels - 22/09/2020)

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), MEP 6 - 9th parliamentary term, There aren't rich and poor Europeans. We need to ensure that all Europeans have access to the vaccine and can receive it. And we need to ensure that it is distributed across Europe in every member state at the same time. (Debate on the state of play on Covid-19 vaccines - Brussels - 25/11/2020)

SOUNDBITE (English), Emer COOKE, Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), We need to use all the tools that we have available to monitor the safety of these vaccines in as close to real time as possible so that we can take very, very swift action if needed. All of this is designed to ensure a high level of protection for EU citizens when the vaccine would be used across all you all EU member states involved in mass vaccination campaigns. (Debate on the state of play on assessing and authorising vaccines against COVID-19 - Brussels - 10/12/2020)

SOUNDBITE (English), Emer COOKE, Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), This needs to be an integrated approach. We cannot work in silos, so we will we're responsible for the scientific opinion on the safety, quality and efficac, but it will be the member states who are responsible for rolling out the vaccines within their populations. (Debate on the state of play on assessing and authorising vaccines against COVID-19 - Brussels - 10/12/2020)

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), Tras meses de sufrimiento y dolor vemos la luz al final del t&uacute;nel. Gracias a la acci&oacute;n concertada de la Comisi&oacute;n y el apoyo de los Estados miembros, hemos conseguido un acceso equitativo a las dosis de la vacuna. Este logro demuestra lo que somos capaces de hacer cuando hablamos y trabajamos con una sola voz.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Parliament has called for a European health response mechanism to prepare and respond, in a common and coordinated way, to any type of health crisis. (Statement on the occassion of the International Nurses day - Brussels - 13/05/2020)

SOUNDBITE (English), Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur, I emphasised the importance that the EU4Health programme is more than just a response to the COVID-19 crisis. And it should deliver not only on short-term crisis management, but also on long term objectives, on ensuring the development of strong and resilient health systems in the member states.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Sara CERDAS (S&amp;D, PT), MEP 9th parliamentary term, We learned the lessons. The health of this Union cannot rest on member states working at 27 different speeds. We need harmonisation. We need coordination in our healthcare programmes. (Debate on the EU4Health Programme - Brussels - 06/11/2020)

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Dolors MONTSERRAT (EPP, ES), With this strategy, we must ensure to be able to face any kind of health care crisis. And that means putting the patient at the centre of all of our decisions. We need to deal with unmet needs. We need to ensure access to medicines for all. We need to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry. We need to be a world leader in research and health care development. (Debate on a pharmaceutical strategy for Europe - Brussels - 26/11/2020)

SOUNDBITE (French), Fr&#233;d&#233;rique RIES (RE, BE), MEP 6 - 9th parliamentary terms, The covid-19 crisis has clearly shown the need to strengthen our health care systems and shows a huge dependence on Chinese and Indian medicines. Manufacturing. We're talking about common drugs such as painkillers like aspirin or more serious illnesses. Desperate patients are calling on us every day for paediatric cancers or other illnesses. (Debate on a pharmaceutical strategy for Europe - Brussels - 26/11/2020)

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