Speeches

Dear Chair, Commissioners, colleagues, due to the extraordinary circumstances caused by the pandemic of unprecedented scale, exceptional efforts have been made to develop and study COVID-19 vaccines to be approved and available as soon as possible to all our citizens. By investing hundreds of millions of euros in research projects and more flexible procedures, the European Union coordinated and funded joint efforts to ensure the rapid deployment of vaccines, which was ultimately successful. Initial procurement problems, especially with some pharmaceutical companies, have shown that transparency is necessary as a precondition for encouraging and maintaining public trust in vaccines, fighting disinformation, but also strengthening the legitimacy of the decision on joint medical procurement of vaccines across the European Union. The public deserves to have as much information as possible about public-funded vaccine procurement contracts, of course within the legal possibilities. In this context, I particularly welcome the introduction by the Commission at the beginning of the year of the principle of reciprocity and proportionality in the framework of the vaccine export authorisation transparency mechanism, which has significantly improved export transparency and protected the interests of all Member States of the European Union as well as its citizens. And that's exactly the path we need to take. In any case, we should commend everything the Commission has done so far in terms of transparency and the data it has disclosed so far, but of course we should do our utmost to make this transparency even greater when concluding future contracts. Of course, the EU’s common approach to procuring vaccines, which has accelerated the process of developing vaccine availability and approval, should be praised in general, and we have been given more vaccines under better conditions and for a better price because of our better negotiating position. By jointly procuring smaller vaccines, smaller and economically less developed Member States have been given equal access to vaccines, and the European Union has thus sent a message that there are no first- and second-class citizens in Europe, which I think is the most important thing here. In the end, despite some problems and objections, the European Union successfully passed the test, ensuring equal access to vaccines for all its citizens. A strong message of security and unity and trust has been sent.

The European Union is the world's largest food importer and exporter. Yet it is frightening that as many as 33 million people in the European Union cannot afford a quality meal every other day. This is especially worrying when we know that as much as 20% of the food produced is wasted. On the other hand, there is a growing problem of obesity. More than half of the adult population suffers from overweight, and in this connection, it is estimated that more than 950 000 people died in the EU in 2017 as a result of unhealthy diets, mainly as a cause of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the fragility of the supply system in the face of health threats. It is therefore essential to ensure the transition to a sustainable food system, and this will only be possible with a fair implementation of the Farm to Fork Strategy. As rapporteur of the European People's Party for the Farm to Fork Strategy in the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, I want this strategy to ensure that citizens have access to healthy, varied and affordable food. However, it must not lead to a reduction in production and food shortages, nor should the cost of its implementation be borne by consumers, and unfortunately there is a real danger today. We also need to protect our farmers from unfair competition from lower-quality products coming from third countries, and in doing so we need to see farmers as partners we need to help, not as enemies, which unfortunately some political groups are also working in this Parliament. Finally, only a fully informed consumer can make the right decision to buy food products. That is why I strongly advocated the introduction of labels on the nutritional composition of products on the front of the packaging, and not as was often the case so far on the back, in small letters, which, unfortunately, consumers very often could not read. Finally, I am pleased that today we have the opportunity to speak about the European Union's contribution to the transformation of global food systems. However, our contribution to this transformation starts with the transition of the European Union itself to a sustainable food system.

To date, there have been over 759,000 Covid-19-related deaths in the European Union. In such circumstances, as many as 66 percent of our citizens believe that the European Union should have greater powers in the field of health. Nevertheless, even within the existing powers, the European Union can and must do more to tackle health threats beyond national borders. It is the Regulation on serious cross-border threats to health that creates a European Health Union and protects our citizens from current and future health threats. Today, it is quite clear that the World Health Organization was late in declaring the pandemic. The adoption of this Regulation provides us with an instrument to declare a public health emergency independently of the World Health Organisation. As rapporteur of the European People's Party in the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, I have proposed a mechanism of prior authorisation by the European Commission to impose export restrictions on medical countermeasures. I am proud that this proposal was adopted as part of this report. The introduction of export restrictions in the midst of the pandemic, contrary to the principle of solidarity, exposed our citizens to shortages of essential equipment such as masks and gloves, especially in those Member States that do not have developed their own production of medical equipment. The introduction of this mechanism prevents health threats from undermining the functioning of our health systems at a critical time. The pandemic has shown us that health threats such as infectious diseases know no borders. Building on the lessons learned, we are now building a safe and health-resilient European Union for the benefit of all its citizens.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of cooperation in research and innovation to quickly find solutions to the biggest problems, such as vaccines, but also the importance of research science for the continued resilience of the economy and society. The Multiannual Financial Framework, the Next Generation EU instrument, while necessarily linking the public R&I system more closely to the private sector and the economy, can lay the foundations for a modern and sustainable Europe and reduce the backlog for other parts of the world, such as the US. As a Member of the Croatian Parliament and former Assistant Minister of Science, I stress the need for the implementation of the widening participation package and the strengthening of the European Research Area to support less successful Member States and address the causes of their weaker participation. I am sure that, in synergy with investment in infrastructure and human potential, this objective can be achieved through cohesion policy, while maintaining excellence as the main criterion and guiding principle. Excellence on the one hand and widening the participation of the less developed Member States are not in contradiction with each other. This is the only way for all parts of the European Union to participate equally in the growth and development we hope for.