Today the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee adopted a report on the management of the H1N1 flu crisis. MEPs are asking the Commission to find a common definition for 'conflicts of interests', to clarify the role of the healthcare stakeholders, and to improve the future cooperation between the Member States.

But for Corinne Lepage (CAP 21, France), ALDE Group Shadow rapporteur, “Unfortunately in the fine print of the text the two main groups have both refused that the declarations of interests be verified by experts. What purpose is there in demanding that a declaration of interests be published if it is not verified? In this area there can be no half measures. I am amazed at the duplicity of the majority of members who claim proudly the necessity to reform the management of conflicts of interest, but hasten to undermine all proposals concerning a stricter control. Nevertheless, the proposal remains a sensible one …”

Antonyia Parvanova (NMSP, Bulgaria) added: “It is unfortunate that the Parliament has not gone all the way in demanding transparency and solely due to agreement between the two main political groups in our committee. Restoring citizens´ trust towards our institutions, and in the case of the report voted today, towards the public health authorities, demands real political will and concrete actions that we have a duty to guarantee."

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