The European Commission will publish a Communication on 15 July on the possibility of a second wave of coronavirus in Europe, said EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides in an exchange of views with MEPs in the Public Health and Environment Committee on Monday 22 June.
On the same day, Medicines for Europe and EFPIA issued a joint statement on the link between the second wave and the risk of a shortage of beta-blockers.
Vaccine strategy hailed
During the exchange of views, MEPs welcomed the Commission’s proposal that Member States should jointly conclude advance purchase agreements with pharmaceutical companies working on a vaccine against Covid-19 (see EUROPE 12503/2).
Following concerns expressed by some MEPs about a possible competition between a coalition of four Member States that had reached an agreement with the company AstraZeneca, Ms Kyriakides recalled that the two initiatives were complementary (see EUROPE 12506/5). On the other hand, the Commissioner was not questioned by any elected representative about rumours of advanced discussions on an advance purchase agreement between the Commission and Johson&Johnson.
Derogation from GMO rules: advance procedure
At the same time, MEPs broadly welcomed the draft regulation which aims to temporarily derogate from the rules on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in order to remove obstacles to the search for a vaccine against Covid-19 (see EUROPE 12508/4).
This measure, Véronique Trillet-Lenoir (Renew Europe, France) summarised, is “a temporary derogation for vaccines that use the genetically modified virus, which does not call into question the risk assessments that will have to be carried out ‘after’ the clinical trial”.
During the discussion, only the GUE/NGL group and the Identity and Democracy (ID ) group were reluctant. Kateřina Konečná (GUE/NGL, the Czech Republic) stressed that her group’s support was not “unconditional”, calling for guarantees, in particular to limit the duration of such a derogation. On behalf of ID, Italy’s Luisa Regimenti questioned the impact of such a measure on the quality of the vaccine.
“I understand and respect your concerns. But this is a Covid-specific measure. Such a public health emergency requires an exceptional measure”, Ms Kyriakides replied.
A few hours later, the European Parliament’s political group coordinators agreed to use the fast-track legislative procedure on this proposal, which will go directly to the July plenary without going through the parliamentary committee.
Creating a European BARDA?
During the exchange of views, MEPs broadly welcomed the Commissioner’s availability since the start of the pandemic, which has already caused 9 million infections worldwide and 470,000 deaths, according to figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Some asked her more specific questions, such as her opinion on the creation of a European body similar to the American BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority), whose mission is to intervene where the market fails in the event of a crisis.
“It’s an interesting idea that could be considered at the appropriate time”, she said. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)