Debate: EU global strategy on COVID- vaccinations
Date: TUESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2021
Speaker: Ana Paula Zacarias
Language: EN

I think that this debate on the global strategy of COVID—19 vaccinations comes at a very relevant moment. In the Council we’ve been working actively on this issue, notably at the informal video conference of Ministers of Health that took place on 13 January. Yesterday, we also had an informal meeting of Ministers for European Affairs, where the issue was discussed, and I chaired that meeting. On 21 January, the members of the European Council will also discuss this matter at another video conference, following the presentation of a communication by the Commission that is expected today. So the debate comes at a really critical moment. The epidemiological situation in Europe remains very worrying. The impact of more social contacts during the holiday period, combined with the emergence of new, highly contagious variants of the virus, means that things are probably going to get worse before they get better.  Many Member States have decided to maintain, or even reinforce drastically, the restrictive measures that they have in place as their health care systems increasingly come under strain. And this, as you all know, comes at a moment when we all feel pandemic fatigue, when we all know the terrible consequences and social consequences of new lockdowns, and when we know that we need to preserve our internal market and Schengen. In this difficult situation the start of the vaccination campaign across Europe gives a glimmer of hope to save lives, a lifeline to recovery. We managed the development and authorisation of the first vaccines in less than one year. This represents an enormous success for the scientific community and for all the stakeholders that participated in this endeavour.  This also represents an enormous success for the European Union, which was at the forefront of a global mobilisation. Through a common European approach, we have accelerated the development of many of the most promising vaccines, through a common European approach we have secured access to vaccines for each and every European, and through a common European approach, drawing on the shared scientific expertise at our disposal, we have been able to authorise vaccines that are safe and effective. The EU strategy on vaccination has been a demonstration of unity and of solidarity. Now we need to go on. We need to continue this concrete expression of European added value. We need more vaccines and we need to ensure the efficient rollout of vaccination in all of our Member States because now people want to be vaccinated and, at the moment, we know that the demand for vaccines outstrips supply. While continuing our efforts to limit the spread of the virus, we now need to focus, in the coming weeks and months, on ensuring that as many citizens as possible have access to the vaccine and that the vaccination campaign progresses rapidly and effectively.  Despite the difficulties, there are still reasons to be optimistic. First the portfolio of authorised vaccines has been expanded, both in terms of the number of vaccines and the number of doses. Second, the production capacities of the authorised vaccines are being progressively scaled up in Europe. Last, but not least, additional vaccines are in the pipeline to obtain an authorisation in the days and weeks to come.  Yet getting the vaccine to the whole population remains a great challenge. This is where clear communication can play a decisive role. We must be able to explain to our citizens the main bottlenecks that we are facing. Equally, we have to be transparent on the number of doses that we receive and the number of doses that are effectively administered in our countries. We need to have comparable data. We must also combat the lack of trust in vaccines and convince people of their merits and importance. We need to work together to convey clear and effective messages on this aspect. Transparency and trust need to go hand in hand.  At the same time, we continue to monitor the vaccination campaign in close collaboration with all the EU bodies. We also need to discuss the format and role of the vaccination certificate and, finally, we need to discuss a common approach on the use and validation of antigen rapid tests and the mutual recognition of COVID—19 test results. The analysis of these tests will also provide fundamental input on understanding the genetic sequencing of the new virus variant. A last word on international cooperation. We know that we will not be safe while our neighbours are sick, so international cooperation is needed and the EU also has a huge responsibility here towards the most vulnerable in our eastern and southern neighbourhoods. Saving lives is saving the future and we can only do this together: Member States, stakeholders, civil society, Council, Commission, Parliament. We need to be together. This is what our citizens expect. It’s a huge responsibility and we need to deliver as best we can together.