The European Parliament’s special committee set up to learn the lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic (COVI) began the final phase of its work on Tuesday 28 March, after the previous day’s hearing with European Commissioner Stella Kyriakides (see EUROPE 13150/12) and the Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency, Emer Cooke.
Dolors Montserrat (EPP, Spanish), who led the negotiations between the political groups, said that MEPs had agreed on a four-pillar structure for the draft report: - health; - the coordinated approach to democracy and fundamental rights; - social and economic impact; - the EU and the world.
She called on MEPs to now agree on priorities despite differences and to remain united so that the recommendations of the COVI subcommittee are understood and implemented by the European Commission and Member States.
In this second exchange of views on the draft ‘Montserrat’ report (see EUROPE 13132/15), the members of the sub-committee gave an overview of the amendments they are about to table.
Alessandra Moretti (S&D, Italian) said that the division of the report into pillars was important, but that the report should be coherent and its structure streamlined to make it effective and accurate. In her view, the social dimension should not only be integrated in the dedicated pillar, but in the report as a whole. Ms Moretti emphasised prevention, access to public health for all, the One Health approach and transparency. The EU must also change its position on vaccine patents, she said.
Max Orville (Renew Europe, French) described the draft report as a good starting point, but wanted a more political text. He wanted the wording to be strengthened, particularly on: - prevention and primary health care; - the vaccination strategy; - mental health; - the need for European strategic autonomy; - parliamentary scrutiny of measures restricting the right of free movement; - increasing local production of vaccines in Africa. The MEP put forward the idea of a European Day for Covid-19 victims.
Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA, French) stressed that her group wanted improvements, notably on the One Health approach, transparency of contracts, the lifting of intellectual property rights in case of health emergencies, and long Covid. The French environmentalist said she was disappointed with the functioning of the parliamentary sub-committee due to the lack of cooperation with the Commission.
Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D, Belgian) shared some of her colleague’s frustration. She also regretted that the political groups do not take the work of the Parliament seriously enough.
For Kateřina Konečná (The Left, Czech), the report does not reflect the current position of the European Parliament on intellectual property rights. In particular, she called for the creation of a European Pharmaceutical Joint Undertaking, as well as recognition of frontline workers and the situations experienced by people in retirement homes.
Josianne Cutajar (S&D, Maltese) spoke about social disparities and the situation of women. She emphasised mental health and the long Covid. Juozas Olekas (S&D, Lithuanian) spoke about collective prevention, young people and the need for outreach.
The deadline for the tabling of amendments to the draft report is Wednesday 29 March.
Link to the draft report: https://aeur.eu/f/62y (Original version in French by Emilie Vanderhulst)