Question for Written Answer

Question for written answer E-006170/2020 to the Commission Rule 138 Damian Boeselager (Verts/ALE), Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE), Kim Van Sparrentak (Verts/ALE), Michèle Rivasi (Verts/ALE), Rasmus Andresen (Verts/ALE), Jutta Paulus (Verts/ALE), Margrete Auken (Verts/ALE) Subject: Lack of human resources at the EMA for the rapid evaluation of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause havoc across the EU, affecting both its economies and healthcare systems. It is clear that the national measures taken to try to contain the spread of the disease have had limited success. Meanwhile, COVID-19 vaccines are being developed around the world and a few of them have entered phase III clinical trials. Applications for the authorisation of the most advanced vaccines have started to reach the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It is important to authorise novel vaccines and therapeutics as quickly as possible. However, the required evaluations must be thorough – not only to ensure the safety and efficacy of such vaccines and therapeutics, but more importantly, to reassure the public and avoid a potential backlash. Unfortunately, worrying information1 has come to light about the lack of human resources at the EMA – 25 % of its staff chose not to move from London to Amsterdam earlier this year. Additionally, the EMA is reported to have lost direct access to experts belonging to the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. 1. Does the Commission consider that the EMA has the resources it needs to fully assess novel treatments and vaccines against COVID-19 and to prevent any undue delays in their evaluation? 2. If not, what steps will it take to tackle this situation? 1 Source: Sciencebusiness https://sciencebusiness.net/live-blog/live-blog-rd-response-covid-19-pandemic, news report published on 5th October 2020. PE661.295v01-00.

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Letter to the Commission Regarding Printers Voluntary Agreement
Brussels, Wednesday 26th of May To: Mr Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Mr Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market Mr Frans Timmermans, European Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal We urge the European Commission to keep its promises and propose a regulatory measure addressing the durability and repairability of printers as well as the reusability of cartridges as part of the forthcoming Circular Electronics Initiative. And we ask that the Commission rejects the proposed voluntary agreement drafted by manufacturers. The Commission's flagship Circular Economy Action Plan, adopted in March 2020, has set out to address the entire life cycle of products and tackle their premature obsolescence notably by promoting the right to repair for ICT products. In addition to mobile phones, laptops and tablets, the Plan has rightfully identified printers as a particularly wasteful product category, and has included a commitment to tackle them by means of a dedicated regulatory instrument “unless the sector reaches an ambitious voluntary agreement” by September 2020. Nearly one year later, the discussions on the voluntary agreement have not yielded any tangible results. Voluntary approaches clearly do not work. We need strong regulatory action now. We are extremely concerned by this situation. Not only because of the negative impacts of short-lived printers on the environment and on consumers but also because we are witnessing promises made being walked back on. Printers are one of the most iconic examples of premature obsolescence. Our analysis of printers in use today suggests that over 80% of them have been in use for less than 3 years, and only about 4% have been in use for 5 years or longer.
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