MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Outbreak of bluetongue virus in southern France – E-002019/2024

Question for written answer  E-002019/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Julien Leonardelli (PfE), Julie Rechagneux (PfE), Pierre Pimpie (PfE), Marie Dauchy (PfE), Mélanie Disdier (PfE), Valérie Deloge (PfE), Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain (PfE), Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE)

EU Member States, and France in particular, are being hit by a serious bluetongue virus (BTV) epidemic.

It has reached especially alarming levels in Hauts-de-France and Bourgogne-Franche Comté, but also in Occitania.

In view of the above:

• 1.Will the vaccines against BTV, and serotype 8 in particular (which is not covered in France), be fully or at least partly paid for by the EU? Is the EU planning to ramp up BTV prevention and improve alerts whenever an outbreak of the virus occurs?
• 2.Will farmers who have lost some of their livestock be compensated for their losses and lost earnings? Will efforts be made to protect sheep species (like the Tarasconnais) that are threatened by the disease?
• 3.As the epidemic spread from Spain to France, what steps does the Commission intend to take to improve the exchange of health information among Member States in the future?

Supporter[1]

Submitted: 10.10.2024

• [1] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Aleksandar Nikolic (PfE)