The EPP-CoR is continuing to play a determining role to fight the pandemic by promoting cross-border health care, boosting availability and production of medicines on European soil as well as strengthening the European Disease Control Agency (ECDC) and the European Medical Agency (EMA). During today's NAT Commission meeting two EPP-CoR Members were appointed rapporteurs of two key opinions.
Olgierd Geblewicz, President of EPP-CoR Group and President of Westpomeranian Region has been appointed as Rapporteur for the Opinion on the twin legislation "Cross-border health threats and New mandate of ECDC". Reacting to his appointment Geblewicz said "Good cross-border cooperation in health care means greater safety for citizens on both sides of the border, it means better use of equipment, resources and medical personnel. On the Polish-German border, it is also possible to consult doctors on challenging medical cases thanks to the joint project of Polish-German regions called "Telemedicine" implemented under the Interreg. But the current coronavirus crisis has shown that there are still many barriers that we need to address".
Birgitta Sacrédeus, Member of Dalarna Regional Council has been appointed as rapporteur for the Opinion on the twin legislation "Pharmaceutical strategy and New mandate of EMA". In her reaction Sacrédeus said "The Pharmaceutical strategy will take into account the weaknesses exposed by the coronavirus pandemic. It would make sure that patients across Europe have new medicines and therapies in their countries quickly and make medicines more affordable. It will also take advantage of digitalisation and make sure that innovation and emerging science and technology caters to the therapeutic needs of patients while reducing the environmental footprint." Sacrédeus has a proven track-record in health policy, having served as lately the CoR rapporteur on the "EU Health Emergency Mechanism". Many proposals from her opinion have been reflected in the Health Union package presented by the Commission on 11 November including the strengthening of the ECDC. Sacrédeus' opinion had also called for the development and production of essential medicines on European soil by promoting research and innovation and creating incentives for manufacturers, in order to reduce the dependency on third countries.