Video conference of EU health ministers
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Reduction of the quarantine to ten days is justifiable with strict implementation / important steps for joint action / European Commission proposals useful
"Reducing the quarantine period for returnees from risk areas from fourteen to ten days makes sense if it is strictly implemented. The risk that someone will still be infectious after ten days is relatively low compared to the risk that the quarantine will not be respected. We always have to make compromises in the current phase of the pandemic. Certain restrictions are still necessary. However, one can also take a residual risk to maintain public life. According to scientific findings, the time when an infected person's is most likely to infect others is after five day of himself been infected. After that the incidents decreases", said the EPP MEP and health policy spokesperson of the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP-Christian democrats), Peter Liese. Liese also welcomed the health ministers' efforts to improve coordination of travel restrictions and the European Commission's proposals on this issue. "The European Parliament has been pressing for a common approach since April, my group even since March. I am pleased that the ministers are now taking up the matter and I have great confidence in Jens Spahn and the German Presidency of the Council that they will also implement the essential points quickly".
Member States urgently need to better coordinate their corona measures
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Different responses to the same level of infection costs confidence / We urgently need a few more months of discipline / Approval and supply of vaccines can ease the situation until spring
"I expect the danger from the coronavirus to decrease significantly next spring”, said EPP-MEP and physician Peter Liese. Liese justified his hope by pointing out that many projects to research a vaccine are already very far advanced. "A total of six projects are already in the third phase of clinical trials. Many companies are planning to complete this phase in autumn and then apply for approval. At the same time, the European Commission has completed discussions with five companies to obtain large quantities of the vaccine very quickly in case of successful vaccine development. We also have information that people who have gone through an infection are protected from a second infection, either completely or get it in a milder form. Third, there is obviously a section of the population that is naturally less at risk from the virus than others, for example through genetic factors. If all this comes together, the pandemic may lose its horror over the next year. Until then, however, we still need to be disciplined and patient, especially in autumn and winter. Above all, we must protect high-risk patients - these are not only the elderly, but also, for example, people who are immunosuppressed because of cancer", according to the health policy spokesperson of the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP/Christian Democrats).
Read more: Member States urgently need to better coordinate their corona measures
EU civil protection mechanism to be improved - EU Health Committee supports Commission proposal
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Nuno Melo and Peter Liese: Right lessons from the crisis / European cooperation indispensable
The European Parliament's Health Committee today adopted the Commission's proposal to amend the EU Civil Protection Mechanism with some amendments. Through the Union Mechanism, the European Union supports coordinates and complements the relevant actions of the Member States in the field of civil protection.
The EPP ENVI Coordinator Peter Liese and the EPP shadow rapporteur Nuno Melo explained: "Disasters do not know borders and may affect one or more countries simultaneously without warning. The Corona crisis in particular has shown us that we need to cooperate even more closely than before in the field of civil protection in order to provide our citizens with the best possible protection. The European Commission's proposal for improved cooperation is therefore in general right, so that we will continue to be better prepared for crises such as pandemics in the future, than we have been so far. Especially the joint procurement of vital products such as masks, medical equipment or even medicines and vaccines shows how important and valuable European cooperation is. It must never happen again that in the event of disasters such as forest fires, floods or pandemics, aid from countries such as Russia or China can be deployed on the spot rather than with the help of European partners." At present, the instrument is particularly important in order to secure the supply of vaccines against Covid-19 already now. "The European Commission is using the mechanism to conclude preliminary contracts with the vaccine companies so that the vaccine is actually available to citizens in the event of an authorisation", Liese and Melo said.
European Parliament wants financing of the recovery plan through digital tax, emissions trading and other own resources of the European Union
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Huge majority despite concerns from the Liberal Group
Young generation would benefit twice / Less debt and incentives for climate-friendly behaviour / Cuts in research and health must be reversed
An overwhelming majority of the European Parliament is in favour of financing the 750 billion euro European for the recovery plan from the European Union's own resources. In a resolution prepared by all pro-European parties, it reads: "intends to negotiate a legally binding calendar to be agreed by the budgetary authority for the subsequent introduction of additional new own resources in the course of the first half of the next MFF, such as the Emissions Trading System (and its revenues raised by any future enlargement); a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, the digital tax, the Financial Transaction Tax ...“. Requests for a split vote from the Liberal Group to remove this passage from the resolution failed to secure a majority.