European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Press release - Repaying the recovery plan: 2024 EU budget under pressure

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 10, 2023

- Repayment of borrowed EU recovery aid increases due to rising interest rates

Key Points: 
  • - Repayment of borrowed EU recovery aid increases due to rising interest rates
    - Action needed to maintain the EU’s ability to finance its priorities and policies
    - High inflation reduces real-term value of the EU budget
    - EU’s long-term budget and revenues must be reformed
    MEPs have adopted a resolution warning about the impact of rising recovery borrowing costs on next year’s EU budget, putting flagship EU programmes at risk.
  • Such a revised MFF “must be in place by 1 January 2024”.
  • Background
    In 2021, the Commission started borrowing funds on the financial markets to finance the “NextGenerationEU” recovery instrument.
  • In adopting the MFF, Parliament, Council and the Commission agreed that expenditure covering the financing costs of the recovery instrument should not reduce EU programmes and funds.

Press release - EU long-term budget needs urgent revision to cope with current crises

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 15, 2022

EU long-term budget needs urgent revision to cope with current crises

Key Points: 
  • EU long-term budget needs urgent revision to cope with current crises
    - The world has changed beyond recognition since the EUs 7-year-budget was adopted in 2020
    - Current long-term budget not equipped to respond efficiently to multitude of crises
    - MEPs call on Commission to propose an urgent revision of the multiannual financial framework (MFF)
    MEPs push for a reform of the EU budget to respond more effectively to evolving needs, address funding gaps, and increase flexibility and crisis responsiveness.
  • Therefore we call for an urgent revision of the current MFF in order to adapt the budget to the new conditions we find ourselves in (watch the full plenary speech).
  • Co-rapporteur Margarida Marques (S&D, PT) said: The EU budget for 2021-2027 is under extreme strain owing to the multiple crises the EU is dealing with.
  • This would help us better adapt and quickly react to crises and their social and economic effects (watch the full plenary speech).

Clover Provides Update on 2022 Corporate Milestones

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, October 9, 2022

SHANGHAI, China, Oct. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clover Biopharmaceuticals, Ltd. (Clover; HKEX: 02197), a global clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel vaccines and biologic therapeutics, today provided updates on its 2022 corporate milestones.

Key Points: 
  • (Clover; HKEX: 02197), a global clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel vaccines and biologic therapeutics, today provided updates on its 2022 corporate milestones.
  • Clover is poised to become a unique, integrated vaccine-focused company with established China and global R&D, manufacturing and commercialization capabilities.
  • The rolling submission to the China NMPA is expected to be completed in Q4 2022.
  • Clover completed the production-related technology transfer activities for SCB-2019 at the CDMO site in Q3 2022 and expects to complete submissions to the EMA and the WHO in Q4 2022.

Brainomix's AI Software to be Rolled Out Across Hungary's Entire National Healthcare System to Improve Stroke Care

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 1, 2022

Awarded following a competitive process, the 5-year program is funded under the EU4Health programme and is the first time that a single stroke AI imaging platform will be deployed across an entire country.

Key Points: 
  • Awarded following a competitive process, the 5-year program is funded under the EU4Health programme and is the first time that a single stroke AI imaging platform will be deployed across an entire country.
  • It will enable e-Stroke to be deployed across the remaining 28 stroke centers in Hungary's national healthcare system, with the support of eRAD, who will be serving as a technological partner.
  • Launching the program, Prof Dr Szikora said, "Each year more than 20,000 stroke patients are admitted to hospitals across Hungary.
  • Dr Michalis Papadakis, Brainomix's Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, commented, "We are absolutely delighted that e-Stroke has been chosen to help improve stroke care in Hungary.

Brainomix's AI Software to be Rolled Out Across Hungary's Entire National Healthcare System to Improve Stroke Care

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 1, 2022

Awarded following a competitive process, the 5-year program is funded under the EU4Health programme and is the first time that a single stroke AI imaging platform will be deployed across an entire country.

Key Points: 
  • Awarded following a competitive process, the 5-year program is funded under the EU4Health programme and is the first time that a single stroke AI imaging platform will be deployed across an entire country.
  • It will enable e-Stroke to be deployed across the remaining 28 stroke centers in Hungary's national healthcare system, with the support of eRAD, who will be serving as a technological partner.
  • Launching the program, Prof Dr Szikora said, "Each year more than 20,000 stroke patients are admitted to hospitals across Hungary.
  • Dr Michalis Papadakis, Brainomix's Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, commented, "We are absolutely delighted that e-Stroke has been chosen to help improve stroke care in Hungary.

ECDC Director discusses agency’s mandate on “European Health Union Now!” podcast

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 13, 2021

A strengthened mandate for ECDC is included in the European Health Union legislative package proposed by the European Commission, and is currently under negotiation in the European Council and the European Parliament.

Key Points: 
  • A strengthened mandate for ECDC is included in the European Health Union legislative package proposed by the European Commission, and is currently under negotiation in the European Council and the European Parliament.
  • What would a new mandate for ECDC involve in the context of pandemic surveillance, preparedness, and response?
  • How could a strengthened ECDC mandate better protect Europeans and support Member States?
  • She highlights the urgency of additional investment in public health and a new generation of dedicated public health professionals.

Public consultation: Serious Cross-Border Threats to Health and strengthening the European Centre for disease prevention and control

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 18, 2021

The Commission is putting forward a set of proposals to strengthen the EU's health security framework, and to reinforce the crisis preparedness and response role of key EU agencies.

Key Points: 
  • The Commission is putting forward a set of proposals to strengthen the EU's health security framework, and to reinforce the crisis preparedness and response role of key EU agencies.
  • The proposals focus on updating the existing legal framework for serious cross border threats to health, as well as reinforcing the crisis preparedness and response role of the two key EU agencies the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
  • The CoR would like to hear your views:
    The public consultation is open for feedback until 12 February 2021.
  • Your feedback will be summarised and delivered to the rapporteur.

Press release - EU4Health: MEPs reach deal with Council on 2021-2027 EU health programme

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 15, 2020

By making health systems more resilient, EU4Health will prepare the EU more thoroughly for major cross-border health threats.

Key Points: 
  • By making health systems more resilient, EU4Health will prepare the EU more thoroughly for major cross-border health threats.
  • This should enable the EU to face not only future epidemics, but also long-term challenges such as an ageing population and health inequalities.
  • The new European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority will be created to support a better EU-level response to cross-border health threats.
  • The Health Programme was previously under the initial EU long-term budget 2021-2027 as one element of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).

Article - Coming up in plenary: Sakharov prize, EU summit, Covid-19, drinking water

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, December 12, 2020

EU summit

Key Points: 
  • EU summit

    Also on Wednesday, MEPs will discuss the results of the EU summit on 10-11 Decembert with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel.

  • That would ensure EU support for people and businesses from the start of next year.
  • Covid-19

    On Wednesday, MEPs will discuss an EU strategy to ensure the fair distribution of vaccines.

  • Find out more about 10 things EU is doing to support the economic recovery after Covid-19