The S&D Group today expresses its strong support for the European Commission’s new proposals to strengthen the EU’s health security framework, and to reinforce the crisis preparedness and response role of key EU agencies.  Nevertheless, they also acknowledge that further action is still needed.

In particular, the S&D Group welcomes that the EU Commission has positively responded to our call for better coordination to respond to new possible health crises; a deeper monitoring of the epidemiological situation in Europe; a reinforced research; and a swift mitigation of medicine and medical supply shortages through notably joint procurements at a European level, as can be seen in our position paper.

 S&D vice-president responsible for health, Heléne Fritzon, said:

“The proposals presented today by the European Commission are in line with what the S&D Group is calling for, and a step forward in shaping a real European Health Union. We welcome the idea to enhance the capacities and the role of key EU agencies in the field of health to face the current Covid-19 pandemic and possible future ones. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) play vital roles in this regard, and we also commend the proposal to establish a new EU Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority.”

S&D coordinator in the environment committee, Jytte Guteland, commented:

“We are pleased that things are moving forward, these are welcome measures to strengthen Europe’s efforts to protect the health of our citizens. However, we recognize the need to continue this important work as further action is required in a number of areas.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has been a tragedy for all EU countries, and we will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen the Union and the EU’s health capacities to prevent future crises and react jointly in a more effective and solidary way.”