AstraZeneca-EU: there is a risk of half-delivery, but discussion still ongoing
EU launches public-private plan for local vaccine production
European Council, Draghi-Merkel telephone conversation
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February 25, 2021
Strengthen vaccine production in the EU in a race against time to achieve the goal of vaccinating at least 70% of Europeans by the summer.
This is the central theme of the extraordinary summit of 27 leaders, which will open in a few hours in Brussels, where Mario Draghi will make his debut in the role of prime minister at the helm of Italy.
The heads of state and government, gathered by videoconference, will also ask for greater predictability in the delivery of doses and to strengthen the pressure on pharmaceutical companies to respect their commitments.
At the same time, some CEOs of the main Big Pharma will be heard in the European Parliament.
A long discussion on the Covid passport is also planned, with Greece which in the last few hours has worked hard to put together a front - with contacts also with Italy and Spain - to push the initiative in view of the summer season.
The issues of restrictions will also have great importance to slow down the run of variants of the virus and the closure of borders, with six countries, including Germany, which have gone far beyond the recommendations on the measures adopted by the Council, jeopardizing the correct functioning of the single market.
Draghi had an interview with Macron before the start of work
The Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, had a telephone conversation with the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron this afternoon.
Palazzo Chigi makes it known.
At the center of the talks were the latest developments in preparation for the European Council in videoconference.
Michel's welcome to Draghi
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, kicked off the discussion by welcoming the two prime ministers to their European debut, Mario Draghi from Italy and Kaja Kallas from Estonia.
Michel then expressed his condolences for the "horrible attack" on the United Nations convoy in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in which the Italian ambassador in Kinshasa, Luca Attanasio, the carabiniere, Vittorio Iacovacci, and their driver died. Mustapha Milambo.
Sassoli at 27: shun attempts at vaccine nationalism
"The European way has allowed us to avoid competition between European countries and prevent rich countries from grabbing most of the vaccines. I strongly oppose any bilateral agreement and ask you to be clear in avoiding any temptation to nationalism on vaccines ".
Thus the president of the EU Parliament, David Sassoli, opening the summit.
"A common approach also allows us to monitor, investigate and sanction any attempt at fraud against member states - he adds - Ours is a race against time".
We need debate on intellectual property
"Pharmaceutical companies should honor their contractual obligations, but we should also continue to facilitate all practical licensing solutions that allow us to accelerate large-scale vaccination of our citizens," Sassoli added.
"Addressing shortages and bottlenecks in the supply chain is essential to rapidly increase production. Our economic recovery will be stronger if vaccine diffusion is greater", he added.
"More in perspective - explained Sassoli - this pandemic should lead us to reflect on the relationship between intellectual property protection and the massive public funding granted for research at European level".
Facilitating licensing solutions
"All efforts now must focus on increasing the EU-based production of existing and future vaccines. We have no other choice, it is the only key to achieving our goal of vaccinating 70% of our adult population by the end of the summer, "Sassoli continued.
"Of course, pharmaceutical companies should honor their contractual obligations, but we should also continue to facilitate all practical licensing solutions that accelerate large-scale vaccination of our citizens. To scale up production quickly, addressing is essential. shortages and bottlenecks in the supply chain. Our economic recovery will be stronger if vaccine diffusion is greater. "
The draft of the joint statement of the leaders: speed up the green light and production
"Vaccination has started in all Member States and our vaccine strategy has ensured that all" EU countries have "access".
But "even so, we must urgently speed up the authorization, production and distribution of vaccines, as well as vaccination".
We read in the latest draft circulated of the joint declaration of the videoconference of EU leaders.
"Companies - it says - must guarantee the predictability of vaccine production and respect contractual delivery terms".
We support Executive on increasing vaccine production
"We support further efforts of the Commission to work with industry and states to increase the capacity of vaccine production and adapt them to new variants. We support the Commission's efforts to accelerate the availability of raw materials, facilitate agreements between producers in supply chains, to adapt existing structures, to help increase production in the EU and promote research ".
Improving the ability to detect variants
"We need to improve our surveillance and detection capacity in order to identify variants on ;; as soon as possible in order to control their spread, as set out in the Commission communication on the Hera incubator."
Flow of goods in the single market must be guaranteed
"The unimpeded flow of goods and services in the single market must be guaranteed, including through the use of green corridors" reads the draft.
"For the moment, non-essential travel must" remain "limited", the text reads, where reference is made to the Council's recommendations on travel within and to the EU, which envisage the introduction of restrictions according to the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination, taking into account cross-border communities ".
Common EU criteria for safe travel are
needed Common EU criteria for safe and clean tourism, including a common vaccination certificate.
This was asked by MEPs who have mentioned the need for a new European Union strategy on sustainable tourism by today adopting a draft resolution in the Committee on Transport and Tourism with 47 votes in favor and 2 against.
The text urges EU countries to include the tourism and travel sectors in their recovery plans.
MEPs call on member states to fully and without delay implement common criteria for safe travel, with an EU health security protocol to be tested before departure and to apply the quarantine requirement as a last resort.
The text also calls for a common vaccination certificate, which could become an alternative to PCR testing and quarantine requirements, once there is sufficient evidence that vaccinated people do not transmit the virus.
Last but not least, the importance of implementing the EU passenger tracking module and of developing voluntary, interoperable and anonymous monitoring, tracking and warning apps is emphasized.