On the evening of Wednesday 8 July, MEPs held a discussion with the European Commission on the future of health policy in Europe. Unsurprisingly, the far right and the ECR called for the principle of subsidiarity to be respected. The other groups and Commissioner Stella Kyriakides called for more EU involvement.
“In the past, Member States have often reflexively stated that health belongs to domestic jurisdiction and that the EU should be excluded. This was not the right approach”, said German MEP Peter Liese on behalf of the EPP group, reflecting the message at the heart of the joint draft resolution on lessons to be learned from the pandemic, which will be put to the vote on 10 July (see EUROPE 12523/14).
“There’s a lot we can do, even under Article 168”, said Commissioner Kyriakides, as she outlined the action plan to deal with new outbreaks of the pandemic, which she will present on 15 July (see EUROPE 12511/6). “We must be clear: unfortunately, we cannot exclude the real possibility that there will be a second wave. We need to monitor it and be prepared - if and when it happens”, she said, adding that the plan would introduce the “stress tests” requested by MEPs.
Covid-19 treatments
On Thursday 9 July, a European Commission spokesperson also clarified reports that the EU has reached agreements with the pharmaceutical companies Roche and Merck KGaA to supply experimental Covid-19 medicines (see EUROPE 12523/25).
“At the request of Member States, the Commission is holding discussions with the pharmaceutical companies that produce medicines like Remdesivir, which are being used in clinical trials or for compassionate use for specific patients with Covid-19, despite not having been given official authorisation”, said the spokesperson, adding that both Roche and Merck have products available - which have been given authorisation by the EMA for uses other than for Covid-19 - that are covered by this definition (including RoActemra and Rebif) (see EUROPE 12520/19).
“As a result of these discussions, and having received confirmation from these companies of their ability to supply Member States, countries will be invited to contact them directly at national level to place orders, if they so wish”, the spokesperson said, adding that a marketing authorisation at European level for treatment of Covid-19 might be considered, depending on the results of ongoing clinical trials. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)