Members of the European Parliament adopted the two legislative proposals of the first EU health package in a plenary vote on Tuesday 4 October. “These two texts complement each other and have a common objective: to prepare us as well as possible to face possible health crises”, emphasised Joanna Kopcińska (EPP, Polish) the day before, during the debate.
The first text that was examined, carried by Ms Kopcińska, aimed to formalise the provisional agreement to strengthen the mandate of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) (see EUROPE 12752/15), i.e. an amendment to Regulation EC/851/2004.
The text was adopted by the European Parliament by a large majority, with 542 votes in favour, 43 against and 9 abstentions. For Ms Kopcińska, the acute phase of the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of rapid responses at local level during outbreaks, the training of medical staff and management at Member State level, “including by means of national action plans”.
The MEP emphasised that the new text will allow the EU and its Task Force to assess the national action plans. A network of reference laboratories and a safety network will also strengthen epidemiological monitoring. In this regard, Joanna Kopcińska is calling for the creation of a digital platform to support epidemiological monitoring. Complementarity and coherence between the World Health Organization's recommendations and those of the EU should be strengthened. During the debate on Monday 3 October, she reassured Member States that the text was in line with the principle of subsidiarity. However, “no country can handle a cross-border health crisis alone”, said the MEP.
The second vote on the Health Union in the plenary session was on the report on the Regulation on serious cross-border health threats by Véronique Trillet-Lenoir (Renew Europe, French) (see EUROPE 12979/24). The text was overwhelmingly adopted by MEPs with 544 votes in favour, 50 against and 10 abstentions (644 people voted). The aim of the text is to provide the EU with a legal framework for preparing for such health threats and to establish a European early warning system for health threats and shortages of medicines. For Ms Trillet-Lenoir, it is all about a “European health emergency plan for a Europe where health is solidary, coordinated, independent and sustainable”.
The text will also allow the Health Security Committee to play a coordinating role. The Committee may issue opinions and recommendations relating to prevention and countermeasures. Stress tests will be put in place to test how prepared Member States are.
The preparedness plans, drawn up by the Member States, will be periodically assessed by the ECDC and may be subject to recommendations. The ECDC and the European Commission will follow up on these recommendations made by Member States.
The texts contain two more sensitive points: the text aims to integrate an exclusivity clause into joint procurement contracts for medical countermeasures that are contracted after evaluation so that parallel negotiation channels can be avoided and a European negotiating position is strengthened.
The resolution includes a proposal to assess the appropriateness of establishing the new EU Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority - HERA - as an independent authority. The European Commission, however, wants HERA to remain within its organisation.
Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Public Health and Food Safety, thanked the assembly of MEPs, “who have turned our ambitions into reality”, while promising: “We will take even more effective action to make this happen”.
Link to the ‘ECDC mandate’ resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/3e4
Link to the ‘cross-border threats’ resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/3e6 (Original version in French by Emilie Vanderhulst)