30/09/2021 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 30 September negotiators from the European Parliament and the EU Council were ultimately unable to conclude their discussions on the draft regulation aimed at strengthening the role of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in the event of a health crisis (see EUROPE 12600/24). Despite the few remaining points of disagreement between the two institutions (see EUROPE 12801/26), some had hoped that an agreement could be reached by the end of this second political interinstitutional (‘trilogue’) meeting. However, a third meeting, the date of which has yet to be determined, will be necessary. According to our information, negotiators will have to continue discussions on the creation of a database within the European agency to record information on shortages of medicines in Member States. This initiative, supported by the European Parliament, is considered “costly, cumbersome and disproportionate” by the EU Council. (AC)