Extending the mandate of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
8.7.2020
Question for written answer E-004064/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Brando Benifei (S&D), Sara Cerdas (S&D), Kateřina Konečná (GUE/NGL), Véronique Trillet-Lenoir (Renew)
The effects of COVID-19 on the health of Europeans are multifaceted and significant for vulnerable groups. People with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are at a higher risk of complications and death. As a main risk factor for COVID-19 infection, NCDs constitute a major challenge in every EU country and their prevalence is growing. The pandemic has furthermore exposed the links between NCDs, communicable diseases and cross-border health threats, and has highlighted the need to address these with integrated approaches. The Commission has announced its intention to strengthen the capacities of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Several Member States and political groups are also in favour of expanding its remit and resources to ensure better preparedness to manage present and future health challenges.
- 1.When will the Commission propose a revision of the ECDC founding regulation to extend its mandate and reinforce its capacity for the prevention and management of chronic diseases?
- 2.Why is there no link between non-communicable and communicable diseases in the agency’s mandate, despite strong scientific evidence of their correlation?
- 3.Does the Commission believe that a coordinated response to communicable and non-communicable diseases should be part of the vision for future EU health policy?