Maltese MEP David Casa has called on the European Union to ensure that once available, the vaccination for the COVID-19 virus should be provided to every citizen, without discrimination. David Casa made this appeal whilst addressing a press conference organised by the European Parliament Information Office in Malta.
David Casa said that the European Union has a crucial role in ensuring that the procurement process of a possible vaccine is as transparent as possible. “The European Union shouldn’t only be focused on creating and procuring a vaccine. We must also be prepared for the possibility that the vaccine is found in another continent such as China or the US that might be reluctant to share it or make it available en masse. The EU must be prepared to take measures such as forced licencing. Member states should be able to license private pharmaceutical companies to use the recipe for vaccine production even without the formal permission of the original company, which created the recipe of the vaccine. Smaller member states should not be put at a disadvantage with legislative bureaucracy or patents. A vaccine should be made available to all of humanity without exception.” Casa said.
Making reference to this week’s Plenary Session in Brussels, MEP Casa said that his work as Parliament’s rapporteur of the new European Social Fund Plus is to ensure that this money is used to adapt to the ‘new normal’, addressing social and employment problems created by COVID-19.
Addressing journalists on his role as Quaestor of the European Parliament, David Casa explained that as a member of the Bureau, he was involved in Parliament’s decision to ensure the continuation of democracy. “I am proud that the European Parliament has not shied away from its crucial role during these difficult and challenging times. Even though travelling is prohibited, our work has not stopped through virtual meetings and most importantly, through remote meetings. In fact, in the space of 6 weeks, more than 119 virtual meetings have been held, with more than 13,000 participants. Such meetings include 62 Committee meetings, 37 political group meetings and 20 meetings of Parliament’s administration,” concluded MEP Casa.
