COVID-19: debates with ECDC, HERA and chief epidemiologists
Parliament’s special committee on COVID-19 (COVI) will exchange views with the ECDC and HERA directors and chief epidemiologists from five EU countries.
When: Wednesday 13 July, 9.00-12.30 and 14.30-17.00 CEST
Where: European Parliament in Brussels, Spinelli building, room 1G-3
Dr Andrea Ammon, Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and Pierre Delsaux, Director-General of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) will discuss with COVI members the main challenges facing the EU in addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as further actions to be taken.
Two panels will include experts from five member states:
- Professor Dr Sotirios Tsiodras, chief strategic advisor to the Hellenic Government on the COVID-19 pandemic (Greece)
- Professor Dr Erika Vlieghe, Chair of the COVID-19 Management Strategy Expert Group, GEMS (Belgium)
- Dr Katharina Reich, Chair of the COVID-19 crisis coordination cell, GECKO (Austria)
- Professor Jérôme Salomon, Director General of Health (France)
- Dr Rui Portugal, Deputy Director General of Health (Portugal).
The debate is likely to focus on lessons learned from the national strategies and vaccination campaigns, including reflections on vaccine hesitancy and challenges related to data collection, the evolution and spread of virus variants, tackling the impact on vulnerable population groups and healthcare workers. Members are also expected to quiz the ECDC and HERA chiefs on their ongoing work at European level, as well as discussing their forecasts and perspectives for this autumn, with the number of infections increasing again in several EU countries.
The full programme is available here.
You can watch the debates live: 9.00-12.30 and 14.30-17.00.
Background
In March 2022, the European Parliament established a new “Special committee on the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned and recommendations for the future” (COVI). The committee’s work focuses on four areas: health, democracy and fundamental rights, social and economic impact, as well as global aspects related to the pandemic.
Contacts:
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Dana POPP
Press Officer