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.
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.
"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
EPP MEP Peter Liese describes the outcome of the EU summit on the budget and recovery plan as a "very important step for Europe". "It is important that Europe is able to act in this difficult time and that we help the countries most affected by the Corona crisis. It is also essential for the EU economy that these countries get back on their feet. That is why I am sure that the European Parliament will support the agreement in principle, but we will of course exercise our rights and demand changes in those areas where the result is simply not good enough. I am very grateful to Angela Merkel for not only helping to bring a compromise in the Council, but also for making it clear in the morning, after the end of the negotiations, that the European Parliament must give its support before the package can enter into force," Liese said.