During the plenary session (13-16 September 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs participate in the debate on the EU transparency in the development, purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Opening statements by Dolors MONTSERRAT (EPP, ES), Author and by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs on behalf of Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

MONTSERRAT, Dolors (EPP, ES)

JOHANSSON, Ylva (SE, EC)

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

vaccination strategy (T)

EU's response to covid-19 (T)

EU transparency in the development, purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines - O.Q. to Commission: opening statements by Dolors MONTSERRAT (EPP, ES), Author and by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Dolors MONTSERRAT (EPP, ES), Thank you, chair as head of as chair of the Petitions Committee, I'd like to put forward the committee's oral question on EU transparency in the development purchase and distribution of Covid 19 vaccines. The Parliament has always followed the research and development process of vaccines.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Dolors MONTSERRAT (EPP, ES), On various occasions, we followed the point that people need to trust the vaccines, need to fight misinformation or disinformation. There have been various petitions from European population about lack of information and about the contracts that the European Commission signed with the pharmaceutical companies.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Dolors MONTSERRAT (EPP, ES), The public has the right to know the details of the contracts and also the details of the clinical trials. We also need transparency in in contracts so that we can stimulate and help grow public confidence in in vaccines. It is problematic that the Commission and member states have restricted the publication of the vaccines contracts.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Dolors MONTSERRAT (EPP, ES), This has been done despite the fact that European Commission member states have funded a lot of research with public funds covering initial costs and also having given emergency authorisations. In this context, public health must be given a higher priority. Moreover, Parliament can hardly exercise its budgetary control duty without full access to vaccine purchase contracts.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Dolors MONTSERRAT (EPP, ES), So in this context, the we have the following questions for the European Commission. When will the Commission publish the full details of vaccine contracts, especially concerning cost sharing between public and private investors in vaccines, the number of doses given to each country and to be delivered per quarter and also for future quarters?

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Dolors MONTSERRAT (EPP, ES), The prices per vaccine dose, the number and locations of available production sites, the agreements on intellectual property rights and technology transfer, and the liability and compensation regime for any harm that might be caused by the vaccines.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Dolors MONTSERRAT (EPP, ES), Second question, what will the Commission do to ensure that the clinical trials, results and protocols of potential covid-19 vaccines are published in a timely and clear manner in order to reduce vaccine hesitancy and to counter disinformation?

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Dolors MONTSERRAT (EPP, ES), Third question: will the Commission conduct and publish an assessment of the EEP strategy for Covid 19 vaccines, reviewing all elements in detail and making recommendations on the framework for future EU public procurement, especially in relation to transparency? Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr President, honourable members of the European Parliament, I will take this oral question on behalf of commissioner karaoke this. We are still in the midst of the pandemic and covid-19 cases remain high across the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, However, on the thirty first of August, we reached a crucial point in our strategy. We fully vaccinated 70 percent of the adult population and that number is increasing every day. The EU vaccine strategy, which is an excellent example of EU collaboration, provided the foundation for this progress.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, I want to thank this Parliament for its contributions to that effort over the past year, and I'm delighted to have this opportunity to update you on where we stand. To date, we have signed 10 contracts, seven advance purchase agreement and three purchase agreement with vaccine manufacturers.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Our negotiations are advanced with one additional company we continue to work intensively with and for member states to ensure a diverse common EU portfolio of vaccines against covid-19 and therapeutics developed using different technologies. The Commission fully recognised the importance of transparency in this process due to the highly competitive nature of this global market.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, The Commission cannot unilaterally disclose all the information contained in the contracts. The law protects the commercial interests of the companies, non-disclosure clauses or a standard feature of purchase agreement. They protect the legitimate interests of the companies, which have made large investment in research and production capacity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, There are also rules that protect the tendering process. Disclosing sensitive business information would weaken the position of the EU in ongoing negotiations, thus undermining the beneficial effects of fair competition and effectiveness of the single procurement process, which has allowed reaching the best conditions for member states and citizens.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, But that being said, we have carefully listened to your calls for more transparency and worked with the companies to increase the information that is accessible. Until now, we have published nine redacted purchase agreement for Covid 19 vaccines.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, I want to take this opportunity to highlight some crucial points, safety is a fundamental requirement for any requirement for any vaccine to be deployed in the EU. The safety of citizens is our top priority, and this is non-negotiable. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published on its website all trial data of covid-19 related vaccines and therapeutics that are part of marketing authorisation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, The agreements with the vaccine developers do not change or derogate from the EU legislation and rules on liability. We are acting in full compliance with all applicable rules regarding financial management. The EU vaccine strategy is still being implemented with new contracts being negotiated and signed.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, However, further down the line when we will have a broader perspective, we will conduct an in-depth review and conclude on lessons learnt from the strategy. Honourable members, I want to conclude with a crucial point. I'm a firm believer of transparency. Transparency creates trust and trust is key when it comes to vaccines.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, During this process, the Commission has listened to you, Parliament, and had regular exchange to keep the parliament fully informed. You have set up within this house a contact group where multiple commissioners have discussed with members on a weekly basis all aspects of the vaccine strategy and rollout.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, And this is, of course, on top of the numerous exchange in the plenary chamber and competent committees where vaccination against covid-19 has been debated. Let me assure you that we will continue this open dialogue. And in addition, I will send a personal message from Stella Kiriakides to all of you. So thank you for your engagement and all your support. Thank you.