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Health spokespersons from all political groups in the European Parliament write to the Member States


Peter Liese: For Europe it is about all or nothing


In a joint letter, the coordinators of all political groups in the Health Committee of the European Parliament have addressed the EU Member States in order to invoke European solidarity due to the dramatic situation in some Member States, MEP Peter Liese, spokesperson for health of the biggest group in the European Parliament (EPP - Christian Democrats) explains. The principle of solidarity is a foundational value of the European Union, enshrined in its Treaties. Solidarity means that Member States shall join their forces in case of necessity and help each other.

Member States with sufficient medical capacity will be called upon to support those whose health systems are currently overburdened by the COVID 19 pandemic. The instruments provided by the Commission for this purpose are explicitly praised, and these should now be used and applied by the Member States.

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Full support for the proposal - We need as much help as possible for patients fighting for their lives
 

The European Commission today (Friday) adopted a proposal to postpone the date of application of the medical devices regulation by one year to 26 May 2021. MEP Peter Liese, EPP spokesperson for health expects a broad majority in favour of the proposal within an urgency procedure in the European Parliament.
 
"I fully support the proposal presented by the Commission today. Doctors and medical staff are fighting for the lives of patients all over Europe. To do this, they urgently need medical devices, for example ventilators. The companies that manufacture these devices simply do not have time for long, bureaucratic procedures. It is therefore right that the European Commission has now proposed to postpone the more complicated rules of the new Medical Devices Regulation by one year. What we don´t need now is bureaucracy and paperwork, but fast procedures and as much help as possible for patients fighting for their lives," Liese said.

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Calls for Corona-App: Never say never!


"In the Corona crisis we face a dramatic dilemma. Many people are suffering from the restrictions, and for the economy the restrictions, which now remain in force for quite some time are already a bitter blow. Unfortunately, however, I am convinced that it is not possible to reopen a significant number of institutions such as schools, universities and shops as normal without lamenting hundreds of thousands of deaths in Europe, including in countries that have not yet been so badly affected.  A close look at Italy and even more so at Spain should be a warning example to all those who believe that the danger posed by the coronavirus is currently overestimated. The situation in Spain in particular is dramatic, although nobody expected this 3-4 weeks ago", said MEP Peter Liese explains.

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We need EU solidarity to save human lives / Without solidarity the EU can fall apart due to corona crisis


The corona crisis has the EU firmly in its grip. The European Commission has therefore today adopted a paper on emergency assistance. Among other things, this involves providing financial support to Member States for transporting intensive care patients to other Member States or coordinating free hospital bed capacity. The aim is to save as many lives as possible in the current crisis. So far, only Luxembourg and Germany have taken over patients from other Member States on a large scale. MEP Peter Liese, EPP spokesperson for health praised this concrete form of support by the Commission.

"In my view, it is urgently necessary for all Member States to report their free bed capacities and to help those regions, such as Northern Italy, Madrid and Eastern France, where doctors and nurses are desperately fighting for people's lives but simply have no capacity left. The crisis hits Member States at different times and those who help today will certainly be grateful for help from others tomorrow," said the doctor and MEP. Liese himself had repeatedly called for this kind of support, as this also affects the core of the European Union.

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