Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000666/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Gerald Hauser (PfE)
The Commission has set up a new emergency committee, which will further increase the centralisation of powers at EU level. What’s particularly alarming is that the Commission will now be able to carry out public procurement on behalf of the Member States – let us not forget the billions of euros of taxpayers’ money splurged on jointly procuring vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic… One problem with this centralised procurement is the exclusivity clause, which prevents Member States from acquiring products from other sources once it has been decided that they should be procured jointly. This rule could significantly restrict their freedom of action in crisis situations. The increasing centralisation of decision-making powers risks rendering the Member States less flexible and unable to respond quickly to national needs. Yet we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic how important it is to have decentralised structures and national room for manoeuvre in times of crisis. The question remains whether, with this increased centralisation, the Commission is really offering the best solution to the many challenges faced by the Member States.
- 1.Why is the Commission undermining national competence in the health sector by centralising procurement?
- 2.In the past five years, which matters have been decentralised and re-delegated to the Member States?
- 3.In the past five years, which matters have been centralised and delegated to the EU?
Submitted: 12.2.2025