Question for written answer E-001919/2021 to the Commission Rule 138 Simona Baldassarre (ID), Massimo Casanova (ID), Silvia Sardone (ID), Matteo Adinolfi (ID), Lucia Vuolo (ID), Alessandra Basso (ID) Subject: Call for an independent in-depth investigation into the evolution and origins of SARS- CoV-2 in the light of the WHO report of 30 March 2021 The report on the origins of SARS-CoV-2, published by the WHO1 on 30 March 2021 does not appear to have cleared up certain doubts, given that the theory of the animal origin of the virus has not been substantiated. On the contrary, studies confirm there is a substantial difference in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 compared with other animal coronaviruses, which has increased its contagiousness. Moreover, the results of the tests carried out in the Huanan Market in Wuhan, where the spillover was suspected, showed that the spread of the virus depended mainly on humans and not animals. Chinese government interference has complicated research in the field, with the government itself proving unreliable from the start of the pandemic in terms of its cooperation in the search for the origin of the virus. These and other factors have prompted some scientists to call for a second investigation2 or, like Dr Capua3, an international virologist, to consider the hypothesis that the virus 'originated in a laboratory'. In view of the above: 1. Will the Commission carry out an independent in-depth investigation into the evolution and origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus? 2. Will it take specific measures against China to curb government influence in investigating the origins of the virus? Supporter4 1 WHO, ‘Convened global study of origins of SARS-CoV-2: China Part’, https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-convened-global-study-of-origins-of-sars-cov-2-china-part 2 ‘Call for a Full and Unrestricted International Forensic Investigation into the Origins of COVID-19’, https://s.wsj.net/public/resources/documents/COVID%20OPEN%20LETTER%20FINAL%20030421%20(1).pd f 3 Corriere della Sera, Ilaria Capua: ‘Covid, serve un vaccino agile: spray, cerotto, chip. Ed è una scelta da fare oggi’ (‘COVID – an agile vaccine is needed: spray, patch or chip. And it’s a choice to be made today’), https://www.corriere.it/economia/lavoro/21_aprile_05/vaccinarsi-lo-spray-o-cerotto-scelta-fare-oggi-ebf07b86- 9643-11eb-be24-00f922b4e853.shtml 4 This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Mara Bizzotto (ID) PE691.885v01-00.