The European Commissioner for Research, Mariya Gabriel, speaking to MEPs on the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) on Friday 24 April, said that the first clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine are expected to start in June/July.
“Europe is one of the frontrunners--we have two European companies that are among the most advanced” in this area, the Commissioner stressed.
She also stressed that these companies should receive significant support when, “in August or September”, they enter the vaccine production phase.
Mrs Gabriel further indicated that the Commission is in the process of developing a strategic communication on clinical trials. “The idea is really to have a European network so that we can know how to quickly identify the most promising companies, rapidly increase production, and support these companies in this phase”, she added.
She did not, however, elaborate on the question of the availability of such a vaccine to all Member States, which she was asked about by Romanian MEP Dan Nica on behalf of the S&D Group.
The Commissioner said, among other things, that her team is currently evaluating the best applications received in a call for projects, including vaccine development, “so that funds can be allocated to them as quickly as possible”.
Since 7 April, a working group has been in charge of monitoring the entire chain of vaccines, treatments and tests, from the research phase to the deployment phase, Mariya Gabriel added, after listing the various steps already taken in terms of research and innovation (see EUROPE 12458/14, 12447/3, 12468/12).
Strengthening funding. For Christian Ehler (EPP, Germany), the EU’s research programme should not only help in the fight against COVID-19: research activities and innovation, he believes, should also contribute to European recovery and, at the same time, address digital and environmental issues.
“Therefore, will the 90 billion proposed in the Horizon 2020 budget be enough? Shouldn’t we be aiming for 120 billion?”, he asked Mrs Gabriel.
It is indeed time, the Commissioner acknowledged, to raise the issue of increased research funding, “because there will be no sustainable, long-term solution without treatment, without a vaccine and without better preparation in these two areas for the next crisis”.
She promised to remain mobilised, stressing that, at the European Council on the previous day (see EUROPE 12473/1), “a window of opportunity” had opened.
“Now it is up to us to continue to show that research and innovation is a key element in the ‘Marshall Plan’ for Europe’s recovery. I am convinced that our Horizon 2020 programme is fully equipped to meet current and future challenges, including health and pandemic issues. I hope this will be reflected in the next MFF”, she said.
Better communication. Finally, the Commissioner said that communication with citizens still needs to be improved. She announced that a website would be set up for this purpose, without giving much more detail. This news was received with moderate enthusiasm by MEPs.
“The citizen has the impression that information is different from one country to another. The way we screen, the way we test, the way we count the sick too. How do you intend to ensure that they don’t feel there are different calculations?”, asked Pietro Fiocchi (ECR, Italy).
Mrs Gabriel referred the MEP to the guidelines on testing capabilities published by the Commission on 15 April and said that it will now be necessary to rely on the exit strategy currently being developed, “which will enable all States to have a more coherent approach”. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)