Speeches

Mr President, following the vote on the amendments, on behalf of the rapporteur Ms Bonafè, I would like to request referral back to committee pursuant to Rule 59(4), in order to start interinstitutional negotiations.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, we tend to paint feminism as redundant and outdated. I am convinced that feminist struggles need our strength more than ever. The current challenge par excellence is that of climate change, a threat that hangs on our heads but above all on the heads of women. Many countries structured according to patriarchal patterns trap women in marginal roles, such as managing increasingly arid lands or sourcing increasingly scarce resources. The major international summits must develop concrete proposals and strategies to support women in the face of climate change, so that they are not forced to migrate, facing violence, exploitation, being denied access to health rights and services, including sexual and reproductive. It is necessary to offer girls opportunities for study in STEM subjects, which represent the future in the management of climate change. Being feminists today, colleagues, is important because it means fighting for a fairer, freer, more civilized and safer world for half of the world's population.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Madam rapporteur, Madam Commissioner, we are at the end of a journey that has led us to listen to the whole broad community fighting cancer. I would like to thank them first of all, the many scientific associations and societies, the world of volunteering, patients, the organizations that represent them, and then doctors and researchers, without whom we will have very little hope of defeating this evil. Today we are presenting to the House an ambitious text, which proposes many ideas, decisive for the years to come. Prevention first and foremost, but also early diagnosis, screening programmes, innovative care and research, social reintegration of survivors and the right to be forgotten. From a broader perspective, I believe that this plan must be placed within the framework of a true European Health Union, which we must build on the principles of equity in access, on the fundamental principle that health and care are for all, without social and territorial distinctions. There are still too many differences, even in terms of the fight against cancer, between European countries and even within the same countries. It is unacceptable that life expectancy in Europe today is so different depending on where you are born. The value of public health, universal and of quality, becomes evident today when we discuss cancers, but also research, which is directed towards the needs of patients and not towards partisan interests. We then recalled the connection between the environment and cancer, knowing that sustainable development also protects us from this disease. Our group has defended these principles in these months of work in the BECA Committee, building on what doctors and science told us, and will continue to do so in the future. To all those who have accompanied us on this journey we say: "Stay close to us again. This vote is not the end of a path in the fight against cancer, but rather the beginning of a still long road, which we want to do together with you.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank the Commissioner and my colleague, Mr Wölken, for their work together with the other rapporteurs on such a sensitive and important subject. I believe that the end result is a good compromise in the interest of all European citizens. Health technology assessment is an extremely delicate step, because it sometimes takes place with patients waiting for new treatment opportunities. At the same time, a rigorous process is needed, because no medical device or therapy can be approved without real added value for citizens. We are well on the way to greater integration and coordination between the different national authorities, knowing that this is one of the typical situations in which Europe can play a fundamental role in the interests of citizens and patients. I believe that this measure should be seen as a starting point, ready for further integration at European level, if the situation on this dedicated ground so requires.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, in order to tackle the issue of rare diseases and the European strategy to be implemented in this regard, two aspects must be taken into account: the problem of the availability of appropriate medicines and therapies and, at the same time, the problem of accessibility and the right to care for all patients, and in all European countries, when these therapies are already available. In this context, Italy, a few days ago, approved an organic and thorough law on rare diseases, to which it dedicates funds and programs both for research and in support of patients. However, it cannot be a theme left to individual states, because one of the fundamental problems of rare diseases is the scarcity of data that hinder the identification of therapies and clinical pathways. Above all, however, the Union must play a key role in coordinating, promoting good practice and, even more decisively, guaranteeing equal rights for all patients with rare diseases. I think especially of the children affected by such terrible diagnoses and their families. These diseases can only be effectively addressed at European level. It is therefore necessary to make the European plan for rare diseases a priority to be included in the context of the European Health Union, the implementation of which is becoming increasingly urgent, day after day. The Socialist Group stands by all the sick and their families and we call on the Commission to take prompt action to tackle this urgent issue with concrete measures.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, I would like to thank Mrs Montserrat and all the rapporteurs from the other groups for the work they have done together in recent months. I think the final text is really a result to be proud of. The pandemic has put health and the need for an efficient health and pharmaceutical system at the centre and at the service of citizens. With this pharmaceutical strategy we have restored dignity to patients, calling all stakeholders to their responsibilities. On the one hand, public authorities, European and national, which must support research and innovation to allow Europe to be independent also in the health sector, but, on the other hand, also private entities, which have enormous responsibilities, in particular when they enjoy public support and financial aid. Too many countries and too many patients in Europe do not have access to treatment, even life-saving, because their markets are not commercially viable. Too much discrimination still exists in Europe between more or less rich countries. This is no longer acceptable. Now is the time to create a true European Health Union, in which all citizens finally see their right to a public and quality health system recognised and guaranteed, with minimum standards of health performance valid throughout Europe. We need maximum transparency and traceability of public funds, with the pricing of drugs that cannot be determined by how important this drug is for patients, but that must be linked to the real costs of research and development. Binding marketing clauses are needed in all European countries to leave no one behind. Maximum effort is needed to link the pharmaceutical strategy to the themes of sustainable development and sustainable development. Green Deal. From today, work on these strategic issues for the future of our Europe begins, and does not end.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, despite the obvious success in its final results of the European strategy to combat the pandemic, we are all well aware of the extremely difficult scenes of national and European authorities mainly due to Europe's lack of direct expertise on health. I therefore welcome the Commission's proposal on the HERA authority as a first step, although we cannot consider it sufficient. We understand the difficulty of the Commission, which has been faced with a wall by some governments, which, after demonstrating their total inadequacy, unfortunately remain anchored to national logics with respect to global threats. Unfortunately, a light structure is not enough, but we need a real European authority with competences, adequate structures and resources, and it is no less acceptable for Parliament to be cut off from the governance of such an important sector. Parliament will have to claim a role, both in front of the Commission and in front of national governments, especially those who continue to have a short-sighted and selfish look at the most precious good of our citizens: health.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in these difficult months of the pandemic, we finally have one thing clear: More Europe is needed, including in the area of health. Citizens are asking us to let Europe handle the big public health and health issues. Citizens do not understand how it is possible that in a continent that is now interconnected from all points of view, there are today so great disparities and inequalities in such a delicate and decisive area for people's lives. The reports under discussion, which relaunch European competences, are therefore good, with a greater role of responsibility for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and for a stronger coordination of the fight against cross-border threats. These are two more pieces for the final goal: a European Health Union that guarantees minimum rights and benefits for all European citizens. A Europe that ensures a quality public health system for all.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, the pandemic has made us appreciate the competence and humanity of our doctors, the readiness of health workers, workers and workers in essential services, the generosity of our fellow citizens, but at the same time the pandemic has highlighted the fragilities of national health systems, the weakness of the response to the crisis that has been too fragmented among the 27. In the face of today's and tomorrow's threats, the national response is no longer enough. We need a stronger Europe with more expertise and more effective tools and, as part of the European Health Union project, a stronger role for the European Medicines Agency with adequate resources, expertise, including enhanced coordination, including with respect to national counterparts. This is a necessary innovation if we are to be ready to defend our fellow citizens, our health, our economies, in the event of pandemic events such as COVID-19.