MEPs debate on the provisional agreements to strengthen the EU’s capacity to prevent and control communicable diseases and tackle cross-border health threats. Opening statements by the Rapporteurs Joanna KOPCIŃSKA (ECR, PL), Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health, José Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT) BUDG committee and by Kim VAN SPARRENTAK (Greens/EFA, NL), IMCO committee. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

cross-border healthcare (T)

healthcare safety (T)

FERNANDES, José Manuel (EPP, PT)

KOPCIŃSKA, Joanna (ECR, PL)

TRILLET-LENOIR, Véronique (Renew, FR)

VAN SPARRENTAK, Kim (Greens/EFA, NL)

KYRIAKIDES, Stella (CY, EC)

Joint Debate - European Health Union: opening statements by Joanna KOPCIŃSKA (ECR, PL), Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), Rapporteurs and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health

SOUNDBITE (French), V&eacute;ronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, Madam President. Commissioner, the Estella colleagues. For those of you who are still with us, the COVID 19 crisis showed how extraordinarily fragile we are as far as health is concerned. In 2020, national health systems were overwhelmed and the impotence pushed them to establish national protection measures. And we have to say we must never do that again.

SOUNDBITE (French), Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, Now, very quickly, that initial reaction gave place to solidarity and coordination at European level, and we really have to draw inspiration from that remarkable reaction. But it was rather improvised, given the urgency. After long months of fruitful negotiations. I am proud, as rapporteur, to be able to present to you today the major points we stood up for in order to learn lessons from the past and make this regulation a genuine health.

SOUNDBITE (French), Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, Emergency plan for Europe colleagues. Please pay attention to this notion or at least respect it. We are stronger if we stand together and it's together that we have to work together for a solidarity based, coordinated, independent and lasting health europe.

SOUNDBITE (French), Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, Solidarity based, fighting against inequalities within the Union by bringing about cooperation between Member States, by strengthening cooperation with third countries, particularly the weakest. And by consolidating global coordination and cooperation, particularly through our international treaties on pandemics.

SOUNDBITE (French), Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, A coordinated health Europe. Coordinated in collecting and sharing data which has often been lacking. Coordinated in preparing for all health threats. Taking on board a global health principle as well as the principle of prevention and health education in all European policies. Coordinated in order to better prepare and pre-empt the impact of a health crisis on those suffering from chronic illness.

SOUNDBITE (French), Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, I am thinking in particular of the many collateral victims amongst cancer patients. Coordinated, finally, in order to fight against disinformation, basing ourselves on the ECDC as a relay for scientifically proven information. Independent Europe. As far as medicines are concerned, we want more transparency vis a vis the European Parliament and the citizens in drawing up joint procurement contracts.

SOUNDBITE (French), Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, We have taken on board the idea of an exclusivity contract to avoid in parallel negotiations with industry and to have fair access to medicines for all European citizens. We will ask for here are to have the measures, the means to better coordinate with the various bodies. And we want evaluation to see whether or not this body should become a separate body.

SOUNDBITE (French), Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, And finally, a lasting health Europe. The setting up of an Independent Health Council provisions to avoid conflicts of interest amongst experts, consultation with all other stakeholders, NGOs, Health professionals on an equal footing with industry, strengthening the role of the Parliament and therefore of citizen representation.

SOUNDBITE (French), Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, And finally, the involvement of regional authorities in order to enhance cooperation in cross-border regions. These are major breakthroughs which couldn't have been achieved without the mobilisation of my very dear co-rapporteurs women. They were anything but shadows. And my thanks to them and to their teams, before the floor goes to them. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Joanna KOPCIŃSKA (ECR, PL), Rapporteur, Dear Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, after nearly two years of legislative work on the European Health Union package, we are now starting the approval process of its two key elements a reinforced mandate for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, ECDC, and a regulation on serious cross-border health threats.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Joanna KOPCIŃSKA (ECR, PL), Rapporteur, These both regulations are complementary and they share a common goal to prepare us as best as possible for possible future health crises. To ensure consistency in prevention efforts. The reinforced ECDC mandates, which are hard to see or not to negotiate on behalf of the Parliament, is an extremely important link in our collective health system, along with the regulation on cross-border health threats.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Joanna KOPCIŃSKA (ECR, PL), Rapporteur, This is the one on which I worked as a shadow rapporteur for the ECR Group. The COVID 19 pandemic was a tough and to some extent valuable experience for national health systems. It was an extreme lesson and sacrifice, solidarity and resourcefulness. Above all, the pandemic crisis has highlighted the importance of responding quickly at the local level to disease outbreaks.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Joanna KOPCIŃSKA (ECR, PL), Rapporteur, It has also demonstrated how important proper training of medical personnel and management of member states is, especially in terms of the development of national action plans. Therefore, the ECDC reinforced mandate, there will be a special role that will be played by the EU Health Task Force. It will play a special role in developing, analysing and updating Member States preparedness plans.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Joanna KOPCIŃSKA (ECR, PL), Rapporteur, In addition, we have seen how important digitalisation in public health management is. We hope that effective digital platforms for epidemiological surveillance surveillance will be developed. Epidemiological surveillance systems will also be strengthened by a network of functional reference laboratories, as well as microbiological safety networks.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Joanna KOPCIŃSKA (ECR, PL), Rapporteur, The pandemic, and especially its first stages, when we were still navigating in the area of many unknowns, it has revealed the need for close coordination between the EU and the World Health Organisation. So I am pleased that this negotiated mandate will have better align and coordinate EU recommendations and actions with those of the World Health Organisation to ensure their consistency and complementarity.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Joanna KOPCIŃSKA (ECR, PL), Rapporteur, As Parliamentary Rapporteur, I have also worked to ensure that the ECDC mandate to support but not to replace national public health efforts. It is necessary to respect the principle of subsidiarity at the EU level in such a way that the EU supports and coordinates the actions of Member States, where action at the national level alone would be ineffective.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Joanna KOPCIŃSKA (ECR, PL), Rapporteur, I believe that the negotiated text has ensured the balance of competences and entrusting the centre with additional tasks keeps up with the requirements of our times. No country can face a public health crisis of a cross-border nature on its own. So I fully support the proposed increase in this mandate to monitor epidemic threats in the EU and to recommend countermeasures.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Joanna KOPCIŃSKA (ECR, PL), Rapporteur, Within the framework of regulating cross-border health threats regarding the comprehensive legal framework for the EU's preparedness and early warning activities. While thanking all the shadow rapporteurs who are active on the ECDC Report, thank you for your excellent cooperation and many valuable comments during the negotiation process. I would like to ask for your support.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Joanna KOPCIŃSKA (ECR, PL), Rapporteur, At the same time, I would like to congratulate the rapporteur on the regulation on cross-border health risks. Ms. Véronique Trillet-Lenoir. Ladies and gentlemen, I am convinced that we are guided by the same intentions. We want a better level of health protection for our citizens, more robust health systems, and in times of crisis, consistent and effective action. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health, Thank you, Chair. Honourable Members. First of all, I would like to start by expressing my great appreciation to this House for your support into turning the European Health Union proposals from ambition into reality. This strong European Health Union for many years has been a vision that we have shared.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health, In November 2020, we presented that ambition. A set of proposals to build a strong European Health Union and to make the European Union better prepared to prevent, to prepare for, and to respond to cross-border threats of health. In less than two years, we are gathered here for the final steps in the adoption of serious cross-border threats to health and the regulation. Extending the mandate of the ECDC.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health, Both serve as very important building blocks for our European Health Union. Both fits neatly together with the other important pieces of legislation for the new European Health Security Framework. Thanks to our joint work, we will extend the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention's mandate. And what will this actually mean?

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health, A stronger ECDC will be able to issue recommendations to Member States regarding health threats preparedness. It will be able to host a new network of excellence of EU reference laboratories and to establish an EU Health Task Force for rapid health interventions in the event of a major outbreak.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health, As we have all witnessed, the ECDC has been essential in making sense and in managing this pandemic. With a stronger focus we will be better prepared for the future. The new regulation on cross-border threats paves the way for a stronger EU role in preventing, preparing and managing health threats. You have been instrumental in delivering on citizens expectations for more EU in the area of health, something that we have also heard consistently in the conference for the Future of Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health, Honourable Members, Parliament has fought hard to have some key elements included in this package and I need to especially extend my thanks to the rapporteurs, honourable members Kopcinska, Trillet-Lenoir, and of course their whole teams for this. We have worked together tirelessly to get here today.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health, You have each played your part in securing the provisions on joint procurement of medical countermeasures. You supported the inclusion of the one health approach. You made sure that prevention featured alongside response and preparedness activities. With your support, we made sure that Member States will have to report on stocks of critical medical countermeasures.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health, They should take account of the union preparedness plan, and we will develop while taking their national plans. And the ECDC is empowered to access those national plans periodically on top of periodic reporting to Member States. Meanwhile, the EU's Health Security Committee will be reconvened at senior level and will be able to issue recommendations and opinions. And with Parliament's new observer status secured, I am pleased to say that this committee is even stronger.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health, I must mention that the Commission does maintain some institutional concerns on both tests and will be issuing statements on these accordingly. In ending, Honourable Members, this debate gives me the opportunity to really thank you again for your support to bring this package today and to work towards its adoption.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health, And as we move into the implementation phase, we'll be taking further important steps together to turn this into a reality, because this can only mean better results for our citizens, and this is what they rightfully expect from us. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese),  José Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT), Madam President, madam Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, it's our obligation to do everything to protect our citizens, and allow them to live in better conditions we have to coordinate and share. And therefore we need a Union of health. Covering, purchasing and joint distribution of vaccines. This means that we can have vaccines for the weakest. This coordination is essential within research.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese),  José Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT), We can do more that when it comes t two particular areas. And we've also defended Europe coming together to fight cancer. Transparency is absolutely essential. I would add the possibility when an examination has been carried out to my country so that it could be used in another. They will be an addition in terms of efficiency and it would save resources.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese),  José Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT), All the things that I've mentioned have to be done together so that we can catch up with the delays in the pandemic. In my country, Portugal, there has been a excessive mortality rate above the European average. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kim VAN SPARRENTAK (Greens/EFA, NL), I would like to comment in particular on procurement, which is within IMCO remit. I welcome the provisions where our IMCO opinion was improved in a practical way. For example, the EU exclusive procurement, meaning that countries would not be able to negotiate with different manufacturers in parallel. For this issue, a great compromise was found, which is that only after assessment it is decided if it is an EU exclusive procurement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kim VAN SPARRENTAK (Greens/EFA, NL), And this makes sense since the EU exclusive procurement would be beneficial regarding counter-measures involving plenty of options on the market, for example with tests. But would not be beneficial for other measures where there might be a shortage, for example with vaccines.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kim VAN SPARRENTAK (Greens/EFA, NL), Looking at the final text, although we certainly did not get everything we wanted from the Greens/EFA and IMCO side, I still welcome this regulation which will surely contribute to strengthening the Union's coordinated response to public health emergencies. Thank you.