The EU’s failure and the vain expectation of the vaccine
Article by AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou
11th January 2021
The peoples of the EU are at the mercy of the soaring coronavirus pandemic and battling to survive. Despite the assurances that were made that a comprehensive vaccination program would be implemented across the EU by the end of 2020, because of the EU’s erroneous handlings, we are trapped in agreements concluded by the EU with the pharmaceutical companies. Furthermore, we are in a dire situation as a result of the delays and serious shortages in relation to the ordering of vaccines and the course of their distribution among member states. Ursula von der Leyen is running belatedly and desperately to order additional batches of vaccines…
However, this is not how the situation is confronted successfully. We are talking about the lives of people that are being lost…
The so-called “solidarity” between EU states is proving – once again – to be an empty slogan. Rich EU countries have already ordered and provided a variety of vaccines for themselves outside the framework set out by the EU itself. We aren’t even equal in death either, after all
Public health and life itself must finally be put over and above any private interests and the maximization of profit, which is precisely why we tabled a question to the European Commission through the emergency procedure, calling for immediate action to be taken. More specifically, we raised before the Commission the prevailing tragic situation in Cyprus.
Our country should have received by March 2021 sufficient quantities to vaccinate 200,000 people. However, according to the current data available, the quantities that will be received in the period ahead are not sufficient even for the vaccination of the medical staff and the vulnerable groups of the population. The vaccination of 50% of the Cypriot population has already been announced by…the summer. That’s too late…
Unless immediate action is taken by the EU and member states, herd immunity to the coronavirus (achieved by vaccinating 60-70% of the population) will be delayed immensely, at the cost of human lives and with catastrophic consequences for both the economy and society.
We therefore addressed the European Commission, asking it to give us clear answers to the following questions that are plaguing the peoples in the EU.
– Given the problems we are facing, is the study and preparation of alternative plans scheduled, so that the vaccinations can proceed satisfactorily?
– What measures does the EU intend to take, albeit belatedly, to ensure sufficient quantities of vaccines, safeguarding equal access to the vaccine, as a public good, which must be freely accessible to everyone?
– Why isn’t the proclaimed principle of the EU for full transparency not being implemented, by making public all the contracts and agreements that were concluded between the EU and member states with the big pharmaceutical companies for the manufacture and purchase of COVID-19 vaccines?
– Why hasn’t there yet been a full comprehensive briefing on how the money up front paid so far from public funds to the pharmaceuticals for the development and production of the vaccine has been utilized?
– Why was it decided to include in the pre-purchase agreements a clause which stipulates that EU member states will compensate the manufacturer (that is to say, the pharmaceutical industry) for any possible responsibilities arising in relation to the COVID-19 vaccines? This, in essence, is tantamount to relieving the pharmaceutical companies of their responsibilities.
Once again, the Brussels directorate is incapable of rising to the occasion. Once again, the peoples are paying the price … Let the states assume their responsibility towards their peoples.
The Cypriot Government must act decisively, far from serving any interwoven interests and invoking the bureaucracy of Brussels.
