Patent lifting on vaccines: Europeans respond to Joe Biden

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, at the EU summit in Porto on May 8, 2021. REUTERS - POOL

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

Clap of the end of the European summit in Porto in Portugal.

The question of the intellectual property of vaccines animated the discussions.

American Joe Biden has taken everyone by surprise by saying he is in favor of the lifting of patents, passing for more generous than Europeans who have opposed it for a year.

On the defensive, the 27 finally displayed a united front in retaliating against Joe Biden.

Publicity

Read more

With our special

correspondent

in Porto, 

Anthony Lattier

A nice touch of communication.

This is what the Twenty-Seven think of Joe Biden's surprise announcement.

The

lifting of patents will

do nothing in the fight against the pandemic, explains the President of the European Council Charles Michel: "

 We do not think that in the short term it could be a magic solution, but we think that we must be ready. to debate this subject as soon as concrete proposals are put on the table.

 "

The priority, he adds, is to

export the doses

produced in poor countries.

And on this the Europeans claim to be the most generous.

Of the 400 million doses produced, half were exported. 

French President Emmanuel Macron therefore returns the ball to the Americans and asks them to make more efforts in this area.

“

 The key to producing vaccines faster for all poor and middle-income countries is to produce more,” he

says.

I call very clearly on the United States of America to end the export bans not only of vaccines, but of components of those vaccines that prevent production.

 "

Emmanuel Macron also defends the transfer of skills to produce vaccines in other countries, such as

Senegal

and South Africa where projects with Europeans are underway.

► To listen and read also: To fight against the pandemic, suspend the intellectual property of vaccines

There are the announcements and then there are the actions, the visibly stung European leaders seemed to tell Joe Biden.

Ursula von der Leyen announces health passport for June

In addition, so that Europeans " 

can plan their vacations and that tourism can resume

 ", the European Union has announced that a vaccination certificate will be available before the summer.

The President of the European Commission Ursula von Der Lyen made the announcement after the European summit in Porto.

“ 

Obviously everyone is thinking about the tourist season this summer.

It is important that people can plan their vacations, that tourism and transport workers can find jobs and that the tourism sector gets back on the road to recovery, 

”she said.  

►

To read also: Covid-19 in France: the Scientific Council in favor of a health pass

Ursula von der Leyen said technical and legal work on a European vaccine certificate is on track for the system to be operational in June. 

“

 If we are realistic, we can have a political agreement at the end of the month.

This should allow people to have with them tamper-proof proof that they have been vaccinated or that they have tested negative or that they have had Covid and that they have antibodies, 

”she said. added.

► See also: European Social Summit: a first step towards the implementation of a more united Europe

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• European Union

• Vaccines

• Coronavirus

• United States