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Parliamentary question - E-001127/2017Parliamentary question
E-001127/2017

Continued European Union support for polio eradication in Afghanistan and Pakistan

Question for written answer E-001127-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Sajjad Karim (ECR)

Humanity has never been closer to eradicating polio: the number of cases of wild poliovirus has drastically been reduced, to 37 in 2016. Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria are the last three countries where polio remains endemic. Eradicating polio in those countries remains a challenge because of geographical remoteness, political instability entailing security risks, and lack of community awareness related to the benefits of vaccination.

Yet as long as the wild poliovirus is present anywhere in the world, there is a risk that it can spread to polio-free regions. That is why the EU’s support for polio eradication is crucial.

Parliament has demonstrated its strong commitment to polio eradication and included three budget lines covering it in the 2016 EU Budget (now incorporated into the 2017 Budget).

Now is the chance for the Commission to participate in this unprecedented effort and to be part of this historic achievement for humanity.

Given these recent developments: