During the plenary session in Brussels (11-13 November 2020) MEPs debate the programme for the Union's action in the field of health for the period 2021-2027 (“EU4Health Programme”). Opening statements by Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery

Brussels

debate

plenary session

healthcare safety (T)

BUŞOI, Cristian-Silviu (EPP, RO)

DOBREV, Klára (S&D, HU)

KYRIAKIDES, Stella (CY, EC)

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

EU4Health Programme 2021-2027 (T)

InvestEU programme 2021-2027 (T)

Programme for the Union's action in the field of health for the period 2021-2027 (“EU4Health Programme”): Opening statements by Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

SOUNDBITE (Original) Kl&aacute;ra DOBREV (S&amp;D, HU): The next item on our agenda is the EU Health Action Plan for twenty twenty one twenty twenty seven. I would like to inform members again that there is no catch the eye procedure and blue cards and points of order will not be accepted either. Again, there will be remote interventions from different cities of Europe. Our first speaker is going to be Mr. Busoi, who's joining us from Bucharest.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: At union level, we have had three standalone health programmes before the proposal in 2018 to have it incorporated in 4health programme under the SFplus as a strength. In times where at least 70 percent of our population ask and expect more and bolder intervention on health.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: Myself at the time, I was expressing concerns on the budgetary dilution and asked for the EUhealthprogramme as an independent instrument and a central keystone of the new policy. Covid-19 crisis has clearly proven European Union's need for a well-defined and adequately financed policy instruments.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: Moreover, with the rising expectation from our citizens, from the union and from us, the policy makers in the field of health in particular are now giving the current crisis, I am proud to witness that commission Ursula Von der Leyen and especially Commissioner Kyriakides has delivered both on citizens' expectations and on addressing the challenges we are facing. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you dear commissioner in the plenary of this house.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: The EU4Health will stand as the 4th health programme of the Union, as a separate instrument for the 2021-2027 period. As a direct consequence of covid-19, a stand alone programme was proposed aimed at strengthening EU health systems and the health care with an initial robust budget of nine point four billion.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: Compared to the third programme for health, the EU4Health will deliver on much more actions to support member states in the field of health and complement their efforts in reforming their health systems to become more resilient.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: As the rapporteur when drafting the initial report, I emphasised the importance of 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 in ensuring the development of strong and resilient health systems in the member states and addressed long term challenges such as cancer, the burden of chronic diseases, and of course, mental and health and ageing vaccine presidency and equal access medication shortages.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: One of the top priorities I had as a rapporteur was cancer and the EU4healh to strengthen the European Union's fight against cancer with concrete actions to address the lack of screening, early diagnosis and access to treatment and care and in synergy with Europe's beating cancer plan.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: Another priority for us, European Parliament in working on this file, was to digitalise health care, in particular through the creation and application of European e-health record and the support for the creation and use of the health data space future platform.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: The programme will not only deliver on fighting cancer, but also on digitalisation and forthcoming worrying realities, future pandemics and health threats, by working in synergies with other programmes, instruments and funds, like EU beating cancer plan, Horizon Europe and especially the Mission for Cancer, Digital Agenda and RRF.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: After the vote in the committee, which clearly showed the European Parliament stands for improving the health of our citizens by health promotion and person centred approach to address communicable and non-communicable diseases with a focus on chronic diseases, early screening, prevention, future development of European referral networks, addressing vaccine hesitancy, shortage of medicines and health inequalities.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: Therefore, I am looking forward to the vote today in the plenary and I expect to have a clear and strong mandate to start the negotiation.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: Regarding the budget, the envelope was cut one point seven billion in July and in the committee we restored the amount completely to show that we aim for an increase and with this commitment, we are here today in the plenary. When agreement was reached this week with a major increase, up to 5.1 billion for health compared to the cut in July. And I would like to take this opportunity to thank my party, EPP, to thank European Parliament negotiating team for their support. This increase is a triumph for all of us.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: Comparing to the third programme, we have a robust budget that will come in support of member states. This budget will be able to complement member states' efforts and national programmes and in synergy with other instruments we will deliver for improving the well-being of our citizens by addressing health inequalities, strengthening health care systems, support for digitalisation of health care through the European e-health record, and European health data space.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: And of course, what is extremely important that I mentioned earlier, last but not least, really fight cancer. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues, the shadow rapporteurs, for their work. It was an extraordinary team, very dedicated. And I'm really grateful for your support and collaboration, dear colleagues. We succeeded on fast track to deliver what will be the most ambitious and well-funded health programme of union by now, I'm really grateful and I'm grateful to the European Commission for all the efforts and the good cooperation.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Rapporteur: I am looking forward to a successful vote tomorrow and a very interesting debate today. And this will be a starting point for what will be the European Union for health with real achievements in order to to respond to European citizens' expectations. Thank you so much.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Kl&aacute;ra DOBREV (S&amp;D, HU): I would like to ask Madame Kyriakides on behalf of the commission, please, you have the floor.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: Morning, Madam President, honourable members. It is indeed a great pleasure to join you to discuss the EU4Health programme. This programme is the key financial tool to help protect our citizens health, to fight major public threats like covid-19 and of course, to reinforce Europe's health systems.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: The commission greatly appreciates the efforts that have gone into preparing today's draught report. In particular, however, I would like to thank the rapporteur, Christian Busoi and the shadow shadow rapporteurs and of course, MEP Stefan Luitel as Budget Committee rapporteur.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: These are very difficult times for our citizens, for businesses, for our member states, for our European health care systems. The worldwide surge of cases is extremely worrying. Over eight million cases have been confirmed in the EU alone. Hospital admissions are increasing every day. Pandemic related health issues are growing. Too many people have lost their loved ones, too many are suffering, and every day when we hear numbers, these numbers are about people, there are about families there, about life stories.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: In this context, I am delighted that in the trialogues for the next generation EU and our future MFF, this essential programme for the health of our citizens has emerged stronger and reinforced to 5.1 billion. I know that this house has played a key role in this effort. And I want to thank everyone, especially Christian Busoi in particular for sharing our vision and for fighting our corner on this.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: I think actually, I have been losing my voice for the last week from at the beginning, speaking with everyone to thank them for this effort and and yesterday from the excitement of hearing the news, this programme will be a fundamental element of our work towards building a genuine and strong European Health Union by strengthening our crisis preparedness and management and the resilience of our health systems.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: Covid has shown us the importance of working together to reinforce our crisis readiness actions. This implies sufficient funding at EU level and building synergies with other instruments, such as rescue for stockpiling products needed for crisis.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: We also need to take forward the digital transformation of the health sector to build on the positive momentum. And more generally, we need to strengthen the EU's ability to support and complement member states' programmes and actions. The public needs to hear a clear message that public health is a priority area for Europe's recovery.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: The beginning of this crisis, citizens were across Europe were all saying, where is the EU, we need more EU in the public health. And I believe that together, European Parliament and Commission, we have shown that we have been listening. We have been listening that targeted investment in crisis preparedness and stronger health systems are essential for the future.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: We are mobilising all possible resources to strengthen our defences, including crucially funding, which in many cases is a determinant of feasability. I am glad that we agree on the basic rationale and policy objectives of the future EU4Health programme. The amendments proposed take into account of the covid-19 challenges and other public health needs.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: The commission notes the parliament's wish for a more inclusive governance framework, and we will be doing this. This is clearly an area that we will be discussing though we should avoid adding anything to the governance and I stress this, that would be overly burdensome or introduce mechanisms that would prevent efficient preparation and implementation of our programme.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: We have built a long tradition of consulting extensively with stakeholders, and we place a high value on the input received. I am personally committed to maintaining this approach during the preparatory phase of the work plans as well as their implementation. We are partners in this.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: The gravity of the current health crisis calls for swift conclusion of the negotiations. It calls for a programme that complements the other important strands of EU action to strengthen the resilience of our health systems and our preparedness and response capacity to cross-border health threats.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: I am convinced that an agreement in the first reading is both possible and is absolutely necessary. We will do our utmost to facilitate negotiations between colegislators. What is now required is close cooperation and the swift agreement between parliament and the council to ensure EU4Health can deliver its full potential.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: I fully count on your support to take this forward and what I would like to share with you in ending is that when we put this programme forward and we called it EU4Health, I felt from that moment on that we had true partners within this institution. And having achieved the proposed increase of the budget, I now know that we are going to be partners hand in hand with this because this is what citizens expect from us and this is what we need to deliver. Thank you.