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Parliamentary question - E-004785/2013Parliamentary question
E-004785/2013

Immunisation and vaccines within the framework of the DCI budget

Question for written answer E-004785-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Alf Svensson (PPE)

Immunisation and vaccines are some of the most cost-effective aid investments in the area of health, as they not only help to reduce mortality from common diseases, but also help developing countries to reduce the costs of healthcare. Many developing countries now have vaccination programmes as part of their national health strategies, which is in line with the EU’s own priorities. Since 2003, however, the Commission has allocated only very limited aid resources to immunisation efforts in developing countries.

Parliament proposes that the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) Regulation for the period 2013-2020 (Annex V, Chapter A ‘Human development’, paragraph 9) should explicitly impose support from the budget for both preventive healthcare and immunisation in developing countries.

What action does the Commission plan to take on the basis of this? Will special funds from the aid budget be earmarked specifically for immunisation, as requested by Parliament? Will the EU’s contribution to the GAVI Alliance increase compared with the previous budget period?

OJ C 35 E, 06/02/2014