24/02/2021 (Agence Europe) – MEPs from the S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and The Left groups in the European Parliament signed a declaration calling on the European Commission and the Council of the European Union to reconsider their position on the lifting of intellectual property rights on vaccines against Covid-19. The declaration comes ahead of the European Council on 24 and 25 March and before the meeting of the General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 1 and 2 March. “The EU’s strong opposition to the lifting of patents risks exacerbating the dangerous North-South divide over affordable access to Covid-19 diagnostics, personal protective equipment, treatment, and vaccines”, the statement says. The 114 MEPs therefore call on the EU to change its position to allow the production of vaccines and other active substances outside the EU. (LM)