COVID-19: debate with the pharmaceutical industry

MEPs will talk with representatives from pharmaceutical companies that worked on developing vaccines and therapeutics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When: Monday, 5 September 2022, 15.00 – 18.30

Where: European Parliament in Brussels, József Antall building, room 6Q2

Parliament’s special committee on COVID-19 (COVI) will hold a first debate with four pharmaceutical industry representatives:

– Dr Rudolf Ertl, Senior Vice-President Commercial Operations, Gilead Sciences

– Thomas Triomphe, Executive Vice-President of Vaccines, Sanofi

– Iskra Reic, Executive Vice-President of Europe and Canada, AstraZeneca

– Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer, Moderna

They will share their views on past and present manufacturing, distribution and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics. The debate is likely to focus on the work to develop vaccines for new variants, the authorisation process, transparency of contracts, as well as measures to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments for low- and middle-income countries.

The full agenda is available here.

You can watch the debate live here.

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.

On 10 October 2022, COVI will organise a second debate with the pharmaceutical industry (representatives from PfizerGSKCureVac and Novavax).