NewzIntel.com

Category: vaccination

  • MIL-Evening Report: Govt should defuse NZ’s social timebomb – but won’t

    We have been handed a long and protracted recession with few signs of growth and prosperity. Budget 2025 signals more of the same, writes Susan St John.

    ANALYSIS: By Susan St John

    With the coalition government’s second Budget being unveiled, we should question where New Zealand is heading.

    The 2024 Budget laid out the strategy. Tax cuts and landlord subsidies were prioritised with a focus on cuts to social and infrastructure spending. Most of the tax package went to the well-off, while many low-income households got nothing, or very little.

    Even the tiny bit of the tax package directed to low-income people fell flat. Family Boost has significantly helped only a handful of families, while the increase of $25 per week (In Work Tax Credit) was denied all families on benefits, affecting about 200,000 of the very poorest children.

    In the recession, families that lost paid work also lost access to full Working for Families, an income cut for their children of about $100 per week.

    No one worked out how the many spending cuts would be distributed, but they have hurt the poor the most. These changes are too numerous to itemise but include increased transport costs; the reintroduction of prescription charges; a disastrous school lunch system; rising rents, rates and insurance; fewer budget advisory services; cuts to foodbank funding and hardship grants; stripping away support programmes for the disabled; inadequately adjusted benefits and minimum wage; and reduced support for pay equity and the living wage.

    The objective is to save money while ignoring the human cost. For example, a scathing report of the Auditor General confirms that Oranga Tamariki took a bulldozer to obeying the call for a 6.5 percent cut in existing social services with no regard to the extreme hurt caused to children and struggling parents.

    Budget 2025 has already indicated that Working for Families will continue to go backwards with not even inflation adjustments. The 2025 child and youth strategy report shows that over the year to June 2024 the number of children in material poverty continued to increase, there were more avoidable hospitalisations, immunisation rates for babies declined, and there was more food insecurity.

    Human costs all around us
    We can see the human costs all around us in homelessness, food insecurity, and ill health. Already we know we rank at the bottom among developed countries for child wellbeing and suicide rates.

    Abject distress existing alongside where homes sell for $20 million-$40 million is no longer uncommon, and neither are $6 million helicopters of the very rich.

    Changes in suicide rates (three-year average), ages 15 to 19 from 2018 to 2022 (or most recent four-year period available). Source: WHO mortality database

    At the start of the year, Helen Robinson, CEO of the Auckland City Mission, had a clear warning: “I am pleading with government for more support, otherwise what we and other food relief agencies in Auckland can provide, will dramatically decrease.

    “This leaves more of Auckland hungry and those already there become more desperate. It is the total antithesis of a thriving city.”

    The theory held by this government is that by reducing the role of government and taxes, the private sector will flourish, and secure well-paid jobs will be created. Instead, as basic economic theory would predict, we have been handed a long and protracted recession with few signs of growth and prosperity.

    Budget 2025 signals more of the same.

    It would be a mistake to wait for simplistic official inequality statistics before we act. Our current destination is a sharply divided country of extreme wealth and extreme poverty with an insecure middle class.

    Underfunded social agencies
    Underfunded and swamped social agencies cannot remove the relentless stress on the people who are invisible in the ‘fiscally responsible’ economic narrative. The fabricated bogeyman of outsized net government debt is at the core, as the government pursues balanced budgets and small government-size targets.

    A stage one economics student would know the deficit increases automatically in a recession to cushion the decline and stop the economy spiralling into something that looks more like a depression. But our safety nets of social welfare are performing very badly.

    Rising unemployment has exposed the inadequacy of social protections. Working for Families, for instance, provides a very poor cushion for children. Many “working” families do not have enough hours of work and face crippling poverty traps.

    Future security is undermined as more KiwiSavers cash in for hardship reasons. A record number of the talented young we need to drive the recovery and repair the frayed social fabric have already fled the country.

    The government is fond of comparing its Budget to that of a household. But what prudent household would deliberately undermine the earning capacity of family members?

    The primary task for the Budget should be to look after people first, to allow them to meet their food, dental and health needs, education, housing and travel costs, to have a buffer of savings to cushion unexpected shocks and to prepare for old age.

    A sore thumb standing
    In the social security part of the Budget, NZ Super for all at 65, no matter how rich or whether still in full-time well-paid work, dominates (gross $25 billion). It’s a sore thumb standing out alongside much less generous, highly targeted benefits and working for families, paid parental leave, family boost, hardship provisions, accommodation supplement, winter energy and other payments and subsidies.

    Given the political will, research shows we can easily redirect at least $3 billion from very wealthy superannuitants to fixing other payments to greatly improve the wellbeing of the young. This will not be enough but it could be a first step to the wide rebalancing needed.

    New Zealand has become a country of two halves whose paths rarely cross: a social time bomb with unimaginable consequences. It is a country beguiled by an egalitarian past that is no more.

    Susan St John is an associate professor in the Pensions and Intergenerational Equity hub and Economic Policy Centre, Business School, University of Auckland. This article was first published by Newsroom before the 2025 Budget and is republished with permission.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Health partnerships are key

    Source: European Investment Bank

    Recognising the imperative to be even better prepared for the next pandemic, we have continued to build on this previous success. The EIB is providing Gavi with €1 billion in liquidity to accelerate access to vaccines for viruses with pandemic potential (such as Ebola), and to support routine vaccination against preventable diseases like measles, malaria, and the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a leading cause of cervical cancer. (A new vaccine against tuberculosis could also be on the horizon.)

    This innovative approach has also inspired others and catalysed their efforts. For example, the G7 development-finance institutions, together with the EIB, MedAccess, and the International Finance Corporation, are working on a new surge-funding instrument to mobilise vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other medical goods that low- and lower-middle income countries will need to respond to future pandemics.

    Boosting regional vaccine production is a critical priority. Africa accounts for 20% of the world’s population, but produces just 0.1% of the world’s supply of vaccines. Building the continent’s vaccine-manufacturing base is a key part of any strategy to strengthen overall pandemic preparedness.

    Here, too, the EIB’s partnership and financial innovation are a game changer. Gavi’s $1.2 billion African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator – backed by over €750 million from European governments, as well as institutions including the EIB – is designed to dismantle barriers to local vaccine production. To help Africa achieve vaccine sovereignty, the EIB is also directly financing production facilities in Ghana, South Africa, and Senegal, through the Institut Pasteur de Dakar.

    Africa accounts for 20% of the world’s population, but produces just 0.1% of the world’s supply of vaccines.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Record investment in health delivery

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    The Government is again delivering record investment in healthcare, providing New Zealanders with better health services and ensuring hospitals and healthcare facilities are fit for the future, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
    “Budget 2025 provides a $7 billion increase in Vote Health operating funding over the forecast period. This includes the $1.37 billion per annum increase to Health New Zealand’s baseline – bringing total health spending in 2025/26 to $32.7 billion,” Mr Brown says.
    “Budget 2025 confirms our commitment from last year’s Budget of a record investment in health over three budgets. That funding is already delivering results – more elective surgeries, GP appointments, and other critical healthcare services New Zealanders rely on.
    “Other new initiatives include $91 million to increase prescription lengths and $447 million to support increased access to primary care.
    “Budget 2025 also invests over $1 billion in new capital to deliver modern, fit-for-purpose infrastructure that meets the health needs of New Zealand’s growing and ageing population.
    “We’re also making real progress on our health targets. Emergency department wait times are coming down, cancer patients are being seen faster, and childhood immunisation rates are improving.
    “This year’s Budget builds on that momentum, with targeted investments to strengthen frontline services and improve access to GP and specialist care across the country.”
    For patients, this funding will support Health New Zealand to deliver its plan for increased care for patients and will include:  

    21,000 additional planned care treatments (to an estimated 343,000 treatments)
    31,000 additional cancer treatments to administer new funded medicines (to over 455,000 treatments)
    22,000 additional people receiving inpatient care (to an estimated 984,000 people)
    50,000 additional events in emergency departments (to a projected 1,411,000 events)
    231,000 additional general practice encounters (to a projected 21,824,000 encounters)
    119,000 additional bed nights in the residential aged care sector (to a projected 9,717,000 bed nights, excluding psychogeriatric bed nights). 

    Specific Budget 2025 initiatives include: 

    Increased access to urgent and after-hours care, helping to reduce pressure on emergency departments
    Expanding the primary care workforce, including training more doctors and nurses locally
    24/7 access to digital primary care for online medical consultations, making it easier for people to get advice and prescriptions from their own homes
    Easier access to long-term prescriptions and broader prescribing rights across the health workforce
    Streamlined transfers from hospital to aged care, helping free up inpatient hospital beds and improve continuity of care
    Increased funding for the Health and Disability Commissioner to improve complaint resolution and care standards
    Support for a new multi-agency response to mental health distress calls
    Continued investment in hospital and facility upgrades across the country, ensuring clinical environments are safe, modern, and fit for purpose. 

    “We are delivering on our promise to put patients first. This additional investment of 7.4 per cent in total funding represents an increase of 6.2 per cent per capita, which will make a real difference to people’s lives – ensuring timely, high-quality care for patients while supporting our frontline workforce who deliver that care every day.“Budget 2025 reflects our commitment that all New Zealanders – no matter where they live – deserve a health system they can rely on that is focused on delivering for them, the patient,” Mr Brown says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: FDA limits access to COVID-19 vaccine to older adults and other high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Libby Richards, Professor of Nursing, Purdue University

    Older adults will continue to receive yearly COVID-19 shots, but lower-risk groups will not, says the FDA. dusanpetkovic via iStock / Getty Images Plus

    On May 20, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration announced a new stance on who should receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

    The agency said it would approve new versions of the vaccine only for adults 65 years of age and older as well as for people with one or more risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. These risk factors include medical conditions such as asthma, cancer, chronic kidney disease, heart disease and diabetes.

    However, healthy younger adults and children who fall outside of these groups may not be eligible to receive the COVID-19 shot this fall. Vaccine manufacturers will have to conduct clinical trials to demonstrate that the vaccine benefits low-risk groups.

    FDA Commissioner Martin Makary and the agency’s head of vaccines, Vinay Prasad, described the new framework in an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine and in a public webcast.

    The Conversation U.S. asked Libby Richards, a nursing professor involved in public health promotion, to explain why the changes were made and what they mean for the general public.

    Why did the FDA diverge from past practice?

    Until the May 20 announcement, getting a yearly COVID-19 vaccine was recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older, regardless of their health risk.

    According to Makary and Prasad, the Food and Drug Administration is moving away from these universal recommendations and instead taking a risk-based approach based on its interpretation of public health trends – specifically, the declining COVID-19 booster uptake, a lack of strong evidence that repeated boosters improve health outcomes for healthy people and the fact that natural immunity from past COVID-19 infections is widespread.

    The FDA states it wants to ensure the vaccine is backed by solid clinical trial data, especially for low-risk groups.

    Was this a controversial decision or a clear consensus?

    The FDA’s decision to adopt a risk-based framework for the COVID-19 vaccine aligns with the expected recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, an advisory group of vaccine experts offering expert guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine policy, which is scheduled to meet in June 2025. But while this advisory committee was also expected to recommend allowing low-risk people to get annual COVID-19 vaccines if they want to, the FDA’s policy will likely make that difficult.

    Although the FDA states that its new policy aims to promote greater transparency and evidenced-based decision-making, the change is controversial – in part because it circumvents the usual process for evaluating vaccine recommendations. The FDA is enacting this policy change by limiting its approval of the vaccine to high-risk groups, and it is doing so without any new data supporting its decision. Usually, however, the FDA broadly approves a vaccine based on whether it is safe and effective, and decisions on who should be eligible to receive it are left to the CDC, which receives research-based guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

    Change is coming to COVID-19 vaccine policy.
    Rock Obst, CC BY-SA

    Additionally, FDA officials point to Canada, Australia and some European countries that limit vaccine recommendations to older adults and other high-risk people as a model for its revised framework. But vaccine strategies vary widely, and this more conservative approach has not necessarily proven superior. Also, those countries have universal health care systems and have a track record of more equitable access to COVID-19 care and better COVID-19 outcomes.

    Another question is how health officials’ positions on COVID-19 vaccines affect public perception. Makary and Prasad noted that COVID-19 vaccination campaigns may have actually eroded public trust in vaccination. But some vaccine experts have expressed concerns that limiting COVID-19 vaccine access might further fuel vaccine hesitancy because any barrier to vaccine access can reduce uptake and hinder efforts to achieve widespread immunity.

    What conditions count as risk factors?

    The New England Journal of Medicine article includes a lengthy list of conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 and notes that about 100 million to 200 million people will fall into this category and will thus be eligible to get the vaccine.

    Pregnancy is included. Some items on the list, however, are unclear. For example, the list includes asthma, but the data that asthma is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 is scant.

    Also on the list is physical inactivity, which likely applies to a vast swath of Americans and is difficult to define. Studies have found links between regular physical activity and reduced risk of severe COVID-19 infection, but it’s unclear how health care providers will define and measure physical inactivity when assessing a patient’s eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines.

    Most importantly, the list leaves out an important group – caregivers and household members of people at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 infection. This omission leaves high-risk people more vulnerable to exposure to COVID-19 from healthy people they regularly interact with. Multiple countries the new framework refers to do include this group.

    Why is the FDA requiring new clinical trials?

    According to the FDA, the benefits of multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines for healthy adults are currently unproven. It’s true that studies beyond the fourth vaccine dose are scarce. However, multiple studies have demonstrated that the vaccine is effective at preventing the risk of severe COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and death in low-risk adults and children. Receiving multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines has also been shown to reduce the risk of long COVID.

    The FDA is moving to risk-based access for COVID-19 vaccines.

    The FDA is requiring vaccine manufactures to conduct additional large randomized clinical trials to further evaluate the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 boosters for healthy adults and children. These trials will primarily test whether the vaccines prevent symptomatic infections, and secondarily whether they prevent hospitalization and death. Such trials are more complex, costly and time-consuming than the more common approach of testing for immunological response.

    This requirement will likely delay both the timeliness and the availability of COVID-19 vaccine boosters and slow public health decision-making.

    Will low-risk people be able to get a COVID-19 shot?

    Not automatically. Under the new FDA framework, healthy adults who wish to receive the fall COVID-19 vaccine will face obstacles. Health care providers can administer vaccines “off-label”, but insurance coverage is widely based on FDA recommendations. The new, narrower FDA approval will likely reduce both access to COVID-19 vaccines for the general public and insurance coverage for COVID-19 vaccines.

    The FDA’s focus on individual risks and benefits may overlook broader public health benefits. Communities with higher vaccination rates have fewer opportunities to spread the virus.

    What about vaccines for children?

    High-risk children age 6 months and older who have conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 are still eligible for the vaccine under the new framework. As of now, healthy children age 6 months and older without underlying medical conditions will not have routine access to COVID-19 vaccines until further clinical trial data is available.

    Existing vaccines already on the market will remain available, but it is unclear how long they will stay authorized and how the change will affect childhood vaccination overall.

    Libby Richards has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American Nurses Foundation, and the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute

    – ref. FDA limits access to COVID-19 vaccine to older adults and other high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules – https://theconversation.com/fda-limits-access-to-covid-19-vaccine-to-older-adults-and-other-high-risk-groups-a-public-health-expert-explains-the-new-rules-257226

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PSI Chairman Johnson Releases Report; Will Hold Hearing on Federal Health Agencies’ Failure to Warn About the Risk of Myocarditis Following COVID-19 Vaccination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (“PSI” or “Subcommittee”), will hold a hearing entitled, “The Corruption of Science and Federal Health Agencies: How Health Officials Downplayed and Hid Myocarditis and Other Adverse Events Associated with the COVID-19 Vaccines.” In conjunction with the hearing, the chairman released an interim Majority Staff Report, along with more than 2,400 pages of records, detailing the failure of federal health agencies to properly warn the public of the risks of myocarditis and related heart inflammation conditions following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. The report, which follows Chairman Johnson’s Jan. 28, 2025 subpoena to the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), reveals how federal health officials who were aware of reports of heart inflammation conditions associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines delayed notifying the public while downplaying the risks.
    Records produced pursuant to the subpoena reveal the following: in the first half of 2021, federal health officials had ample evidence of myocarditis and related heart inflammation conditions occurring in young adults who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Although a number of these records were previously made available to the public through the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), the Biden administration’s heavy redactions prevented a full understanding of what federal health officials knew and what actions they took.
    As detailed in the report and records Chairman Johnson released, beginning in February 2021, federal health officials were put on notice by counterparts in Israel of individuals experiencing myocarditis and related heart inflammation conditions after receiving mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. Over the next three months, federal health officials continued to receive information on cases of heart inflammation following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. By mid-May 2021, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) officials were drafting a formal notification for health care providers and other officials.
    Records indicate that while health officials were drafting the notification, a key vaccine safety monitoring system, VAERS, began showing a safety signal for a heart inflammation condition in young adults who had received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Within days of the safety signal, the top ranking official at the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), then-Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock, pushed back on the CDC’s plan to formally notify healthcare providers, ultimately resulting in the formal notification being rejected in favor of a posting on CDC’s website.
    The report builds on the work of many individuals who fought tirelessly to obtain records through the FOIA process under the Biden administration. The chairman credits Brenda Baletti, Ed Berkovich, Brian Hooker, Amy Kelly, Zachary Stieber, Naomi Wolf, and many others who worked persistently to expose the truth about the association of myocarditis with the COVID-19 vaccines.
    With the release of the interim report and the corresponding subpoenaed documents produced by the Trump administration, the public will be able to access a more complete record of the Biden administration’s failure to warn the public about the health risks of COVID-19 vaccines without heavy FOIA redactions. 
    Key findings from the report include:
    Despite their awareness of the risks, U.S. health officials downplayed the risks of myocarditis and associated heart inflammation conditions after receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
    U.S. health officials delayed for months alerting the public, and ultimately rejected a formal notification to health care providers about the risks to young people of myocarditis and associated heart inflammation conditions following receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
    U.S. health officials were made aware by at least early 2021 that some of their vaccine safety monitoring systems may not have been capturing all cases of myocarditis and associated heart inflammation following receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
    The hearing will be live streamed beginning at 2:00pm EST here.
    The interim PSI Majority Staff report can be found here.
    The records, which at the request of HHS contain minimal redactions for Personally Identifiable Information, are linked below: 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS Launches New Vaccine Provider Map

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS Launches New Vaccine Provider Map

    NCDHHS Launches New Vaccine Provider Map
    jawerner

    As families across North Carolina prepare for summer camps and back-to-school requirements, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is making it easier for those who are eligible to find free childhood vaccines through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program by launching a new VFC provider map.

    The VFC program provides free vaccines for eligible children and teens, covering all those recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including those required for child care and school in North Carolina. Families could save hundreds of dollars per child compared to out-of-pocket vaccine costs.

    To make accessing these vaccines easier, NCDHHS launched a new interactive map on VaccinesForKids.nc.gov (English) and VacunasParaNinos.nc.gov (Spanish).

    The new interactive map makes it easier for families and community health workers to find local VFC providers who offer free vaccines. Users can search by city or ZIP code and connect with nearby providers.

    In addition to the map, families can also:

    • Check eligibility for free vaccines
    • Access clear, up-to-date information on required and recommended vaccines
    • Find answers to common questions about vaccine safety and more

    “Vaccines protect what matters most – your child’s health,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “We know parents want to make the best choices for their children and encourage them to talk to their child’s doctor if they have questions. As we continue to prioritize the health and well-being of our youngest North Carolinians, vaccines remain one of the most powerful tools we have to protect children from serious, preventable diseases.”

    NCDHHS understands that families may have questions and encourages everyone to have conversations with their health care providers. To support these important conversations, the Department will continue to provide clinics with new bilingual toolkits, training materials and resources to help guide families through their vaccine decisions.

    Why It Matters:

    The ongoing measles outbreak in the U.S. reminds us that vaccine-preventable diseases still pose serious risks. Vaccines protect children from illnesses that can be severe or even life-threatening. Delaying or skipping vaccines leaves kids vulnerable.

    “We understand that parents want to feel confident and informed,” said Dr. Kelly Kimple, Interim State Health Director/Chief Medical Officer and Acting Director of the Division of Public Health. “The VFC program is about giving parents the tools and support they need to protect their children — at no cost to them.”

    Learn more or find a provider near you at VaccinesForKids.nc.gov.

    Mientras las familias de Carolina del Norte se preparan para los campamentos de verano y los requisitos de inscripción escolar, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) está facilitando a aquellas familias que son elegibles a encontrar vacunas gratuitas para sus niños. Estas vacunas están disponibles por medio del programa Vacunas para Niños (“Vaccines for Children”, o VFC, por sus siglas en inglés) con el lanzamiento de un nuevo mapa de proveedores de este programa.

    El programa VFC proporciona vacunas gratuitas para niños y adolescentes que son elegibles, incluyendo todas las vacunas recomendadas por los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés), incluso las que son obligatorias para asistir a centros de cuidado infantil y escuelas en Carolina del Norte. Las familias pueden ahorrar cientos de dólares por cada niño en comparación con pagar de su bolsillo.

    Para facilitar el acceso a estas vacunas, el NCDHHS lanzó un nuevo mapa interactivo en el sitio web VaccinesForKids.nc.gov (en inglés) y VacunasParaNinos.nc.gov (en español).

    El nuevo mapa interactivo facilita a las familias y trabajadores de salud comunitarios a encontrar proveedores locales del programa VFC que ofrecen vacunas gratuitas. Los usuarios pueden buscar por ciudad o código postal y conectar con proveedores cerca de ellos.

    Además del mapa, las familias también pueden:

    • Chequear su elegibilidad para recibir vacunas gratuitas
    • Acceder a información actualizada y fácil de entender sobre las vacunas que son necesarias y recomendadas
    • Encontrar respuestas a preguntas frecuentes sobre la seguridad de las vacunas y más

    “Las vacunas protegen lo que más importa: la salud de sus niños”, dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Dev Sangvai. “Sabemos que las familias quieren tomar las mejores decisiones para sus niños y los animamos a hablar con su pediatra si tienen preguntas. A medida que continuamos priorizando la salud y el bienestar de nuestros habitantes más jóvenes de Carolina del Norte, las vacunas siguen siendo una de las herramientas más poderosas que tenemos para proteger a los niños de enfermedades graves y prevenibles.”

    El NCDHHS entiende que las familias podrían tener preguntas y motiva a todas las personas a hablar con su proveedor de salud. Para apoyar estas conversaciones importantes, el Departamento seguirá ofreciendo a las clínicas nuevos recursos bilingües, materiales de capacitación y herramientas para guiar a las familias en sus decisiones sobre las vacunas.

    ¿Por qué es importante? 

    El brote de sarampión que continúa en Estados Unidos nos recuerda que las enfermedades prevenibles con vacunas siguen siendo un riesgo serio. Las vacunas protegen a los niños de enfermedades que pueden ser graves o incluso mortales. Retrasar o saltarse vacunas deja a los niños vulnerables.

    “Entendemos que las familias quieran sentirse seguras y bien informadas,” dijo la Dra. Kelly Kimple, directora interina de Salud Estatal, jefa médica y directora interina de la División de Salud Pública. “El programa VFC existe para darles a las familias las herramientas y el apoyo que ellos necesitan para proteger a sus niños — sin costo alguno.”

    Para aprender más o encontrar un proveedor cercano, visite VacunasParaNinos.nc.gov.

    May 21, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 21 May 2025 Departmental update Message by the Director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at WHO – May 2025

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Kate O’Brien, Director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at WHO

    In a time when vaccine preventable disease outbreaks are surging and the health of millions is in jeopardy, World Immunization Week 2025 served as a powerful reminder of what is “Humanly Possible”. Vaccines stand as proof that less disease, more life, is achievable through collaboration. Decades of collective efforts between governments, aid agencies, scientists, healthcare workers, communities and parents got us to where we are today –– a world where vaccines save at least 6 lives every minute and protect people of all ages against more than 30 life-threatening diseases.  

    Despite incredible progress, we must confront a painful reality: trust in vaccines is under threat, outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases are rising, and funding reductions, may leave millions without vital immunizations. 

    There is a growing issue of misinformation and misrepresentation about vaccines. False claims, distortion of scientific evidence, and vaccine revisionism are undermining decades of progress. This is not just wrong — it’s dangerous. It threatens public trust, puts lives at risk, and jeopardizes the immunization programmes that have protected millions for decades.  

    WHO is a scientific organization, committed to using high-quality scientific evidence to inform vaccine development and recommendations. High-quality clinical trials and rigorous safety assessments are at the core of vaccine development and authorization for use. We call on the global immunization community – including world leaders, national governments and medical providers – to stand firm in following the evidence to inform policies and decisions. It is vital that parents and people who are due for vaccination have accurate information about disease vaccines are designed to prevent and about the safety, performance and impact of vaccinations. 

    WHO is actively supporting countries and partners on vaccine confidence by developing tools to counter misinformation, promoting the proven safety and effectiveness of vaccines, and strengthening the bridge between science and public trust. But this is not a task for WHO alone. Leaders across sectors — from ministries of health to faith leaders and community influencers — should speak clearly and consistently about why vaccines matter and how they are safe. 

    This week, WHO Member States are gathering for the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA), where the progress report on the Global Road Map for Defeating Meningitis by 2030, will be discussed by all Member States. This marks an important moment to reaffirm our collective commitment to eliminating meningitis as a public health threat, with a focus on equitable vaccine access, rapid diagnostics, early detection, and outbreak prevention. 

    On May 20, Member States at the 78th WHA formally adopted the world’s first Pandemic Agreement—a milestone after three years of negotiations prompted by the global impacts of COVID-19. The agreement aims to strengthen global cooperation, equity, and preparedness, including fair access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments. But its success depends on more than commitments—it must reinforce what already works: public trust, science, strong immunization systems, and timely, accurate information. As recent outbreaks of measles, cholera, and polio remind us, no agreement can protect us if confidence in vaccines falters or health systems are too fragile to respond. 

    Over 100 side events are being held on the remits of the WHA including: 

    • “Outsmarting Outbreaks: Innovation, Integration, and Investment” – Tuesday, 20 May 2025, will explore how smarter systems, better surveillance, and collective action can stop outbreaks before they start. 
    • “Integrating Solutions to Defeat Malaria, Meningitis, and Polio” – Tuesday, 20 May 2025, will highlight how disease programs can work together to maximize efficiency and reach vulnerable communities. 
    • “New perspectives for the world without tuberculosis” – Wednesday, 21 May 2025, will review progress toward the End TB Strategy, highlight national innovations in TB care, and emphasize the need for integration, funding, and political commitment to eliminate TB by 2030. 
    • “Tuberculosis in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations” – Thursday, 22 May 2025, will spotlight the challenges of TB programming in crisis settings and explore innovative, integrated approaches to strengthen TB responses in fragile contexts. 
    • “The Power of Prevention: Immunizing for a Safer, Healthier World” – Friday, 23 May 2025, will emphasize the urgent opportunity to eliminate measles and rubella through system strengthening and the introduction of universal rubella vaccination. 
       

    A common thread connects these critical issues: sustained progress relies on strong, equitable, and trusted immunization systems. The stakes are high. Misinformation is on the rise. WHO is undergoing reform. And the immunization community is being asked to do more with fewer resources. 

    But we are prepared. We have the knowledge. We have the tools. Now, we need unity — to act together, grounded in evidence — to safeguard vaccines and the future they enable. 

    Let’s use this World Health Assembly as a moment to double down on what works, confront the threats that risk reversing our hard-won gains, and reaffirm the promise of immunization for all. 

    It is humanly possible to ensure even more children, adolescents, adults – and their communities – are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.  

    Click here for the full list of official side events, and here for other side events and convenings occurring around the 78th World Health Assembly.

    Click here to subscribe to the Global Immunization Newsletter.

    “,”datePublished”:”2025-05-21T11:25:40.0000000+00:00″,”image”:”https://cdn.who.int/media/images/default-source/headquarters/initiatives/gap-f/highland-children-in-viet-nam.jpg?sfvrsn=9edc81d1_4″,”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”World Health Organization: WHO”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:”https://www.who.int/Images/SchemaOrg/schemaOrgLogo.jpg”,”width”:250,”height”:60}},”dateModified”:”2025-05-21T11:25:40.0000000+00:00″,”mainEntityOfPage”:”https://www.who.int/news/item/21-05-2025-message-by-the-director-of-the-department-of-immunization–vaccines-and-biologicals-at-who—may-2025″,”@context”:”http://schema.org”,”@type”:”NewsArticle”};
    ]]>

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • PM Modi pays tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on his 34th death anniversary

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the occasion of his 34th death anniversary.

    Rajiv Gandhi, who served as India’s Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989, assumed office following the assassination of his mother, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. At the age of 40, he became the youngest Prime Minister in Indian history.

    In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “On his death anniversary today, I pay my tributes to our former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji.”

    Rajiv Gandhi led the country until the 1989 general elections, after which he served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He resigned in December 1990, just six months before he himself was assassinated in a brutal terrorist attack.

    Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also took to X and paid homage to the former Prime Minister.

    “Remembering former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his punyatithi today,” he posted on X.

    Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge lead the Congress party in paying heartfelt tributes to the former leader at Veer Bhumi in New Delhi.

    Marking the occasion, the Congress party shared a tribute on X, stating, “On the death anniversary of the late Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the leader of opposition, Rahul Gandhi visited ‘Veer Bhumi’ and paid his emotional tribute to him. The excellent work done by Rajiv Gandhi in the national interest can never be forgotten.”

    Earlier in the day, Mallikarjun Kharge also paid homage to the former leader through a post on X, calling Rajiv Gandhi “a great son of India” who inspired hope among millions.

    He wrote, “His visionary and courageous interventions were instrumental in preparing India for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century.”

    Kharge highlighted some of Rajiv Gandhi’s key contributions to India, stating, “These include lowering the voting age to 18, strengthening Panchayati Raj, spearheading the Telecom and IT revolution, implementing a computerisation program, securing sustained peace accords, launching a universal immunisation program, and introducing a new education policy focused on inclusive learning.”

    He concluded his tribute stating, “Our deepest respects to the Former PM, Bharat Ratna, Rajiv Gandhi on his martyrdom day.”

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study of the cold sore virus herpes simplex 1 and risk of Alzheimer’s

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in BMJ Open looks at the association between herpes simplex virus type 1 and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. 

    Dr Sheona Scales, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK:

    “There’s an increasing amount of evidence that suggests our body’s response to certain viruses could put us at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in later life. 

    “These recent findings from a large study using US health records propose that infection with HSV-1 – a common virus that causes cold sores – may be associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers also state that taking medicines to treat HSV-1 infections could reduce the risk, but this is still very early work and needs more investigation.  

    “Despite the large sample size, this research has limitations partly due to only using health records and administrative claims data. Most people infected with HSV-1 don’t have any symptoms so some infections might not have been recorded. Infections predating the information recorded are also not available. Although cases were matched with controls, diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the early stages, remains a challenge.    

    “The study authors found that some people receiving medicines to treat HSV-1 infections had a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, however a lot more work is needed to unpick this.  

    “We know there are 14 established risk factors for dementia, and there’s not enough evidence to include infections in this list.  This study doesn’t tell us if infections are causing the risk, it only shows an association. Further research is needed to understand what the underlying biology around this is.”

     

    Prof Cornelia van Duijn, Professor of Epidemiology at the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, said:

    “Again a carefully conducted study adding to the growing evidence that various common viruses may determine the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, in particular in the elderly (70+ years).

    “Matching Alzheimer’s patients carefully with controls in the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus claims database, the study further shows that treating those with an active herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) infection with antiherpetic medication reduces the risk and postpones the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

    “Smaller but significant effects are also seen for HSV-2 and varicella zoster virus (VZV). With many GPs and the population being unaware of the dementia related benefits of treating HSV infections and preventing VZV activation through vaccination, it is time to call for actions informing those working in primary care as well as the population at large.”

     

    Dr David Vickers, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada, said:

    “Declining HSV-1 rates in the U.S. since the late-70’s challenge the authors’ claim that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) will surge without intervention. This pharma-funded research exaggerates the role of HSV-1, failing to appreciate its absence in 99.56% of AD cases. The observed 17% hazard reduction with antiherpetic drugs translates to a mere nine-month delay in AD onset, offering no meaningful relief to the US$305 billion costs for treatment.

    “The study’s data source makes its findings ungeneralisable, and it overstates a minor infection as a ‘public health priority’ to justify unnecessary treatment.”

     

    Prof Tara Spires-Jones, Director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, said:

    “This study reports that diagnosis of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection is associated with increased risk of diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia. Scientists examined data from almost 700,000 people in a medical insurance claims database and found that in addition to an increased proportion of people with Alzheimer’s disease having a diagnosis of HSV-1, people with HSV-1 who were treated for the viral infection with “antiherpetic” medication were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those who did not have treatment. 

    “This is a well-conducted study adding to strong data in the field linking HSV-1 and other viral infections to increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but it is important to note that HSV-1 infection, which is extremely common in the population, is by no means a guarantee that someone will develop Alzheimer’s. 

    “Why viral infections may increase risk of dementia is not fully understood, but the most likely explanation is that infections increase inflammation in the body and contribute to age-related brain inflammation.  More research is needed to understand the best way to protect our brains from Alzheimer’s disease as we age, including a better understanding of links between viral infection and Alzheimer’s risk.”

    Dr Richard Oakley, Director of Research and Innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, said:

    “This study adds to the growing interest in a possible link between the virus that causes cold sores and Alzheimer’s disease. Results from this observational study suggested that people with recorded cold sore infections were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and interestingly those prescribed antiviral drugs had a slightly lower risk. 

    “But this doesn’t prove that cold sores cause Alzheimer’s disease, or that antivirals prevent it. The data came from insurance records, often based on self-reported symptoms which may miss or misclassify infections, and didn’t track how often people had cold sores or how consistently they took medication. 

    “Much more research is needed to explore exactly how viruses might be involved and before we can draw firm conclusions. It is critical we explore every avenue to understand the complex causes of the diseases which cause dementia – infections are a growing area of interest.  

    “If you are worried about a cold sore or your general health, be sure to seek the appropriate help from a health professional.” 

     

    From the Spanish SMC:

    Prof Alberto Ascherio, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (United States) and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, said:

    “This is a high-quality study that stands out mainly for its sample size. The results confirm previous findings that people with a history of cold sores have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and that this risk appears to be reduced in people who receive antiviral treatment.

    “This is an observational study based on electronic data of varying quality, so the conclusions cannot be considered definitive. For example, the vast majority of cold sore episodes are not reported in medical records, so the study’s conclusions apply to a highly selected subgroup of individuals with clinical episodes of cold sores, perhaps due to clinical severity or the presence of other factors. For this reason, it would be premature for people with cold sores to worry about having an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. However, there is growing evidence that viral infections may affect the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and it is important to initiate more definitive research.”

     

    From the Australian SMC:

    Prof Ashley Bush, Clinical Lead Mental Health Mission at The Florey, Australia, said:

    “This is an important, large, case-control epidemiology study that shows that people suffering with Alzheimer’s disease or with other Alzheimer-like dementia (e.g. fronto-temporal dementia) are substantially (about 80%) more likely to have been infected with the viruses that cause cold sores, genital herpes, chicken pox or shingles. Further, people who were taking antivirals for cold sores were 17% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease over a 15 year period.

    “These findings come in the wake of another recent report1 that showed that shingles vaccination decreased the probability of a new dementia diagnosis during the follow-up period of 7 years by 2%. Some scientists like Prof Ruth Itzhaki in Manchester and the late Rob Moir at Harvard have proposed that dementias like Alzheimer’s are provoked by viral infection. Herpes virus lives dormant in nerve cells, and it is thought that the pathology of the dementia is brought about by a defence to these infection gone wrong.

    “It is unlikely that viral infection can explain all causes of dementia, but these recent papers implicate the infections are playing a role in accelerating these diseases. It certainly encourages more research in this direction and as to whether lifelong antivirals should be considered as preventive therapy for people who have had one of these infections.”

    1 (Pomirchy M, Bommer C, Pradella F, Michalik F, Peters R, Geldsetzer P. Herpes Zoster Vaccination and Dementia Occurrence. JAMA. 2025 Apr 23; Epub 2025 Apr 23)

     

    Prof Brenda Gannon, Professor of the Health Economics of Ageing at the University of Queensland, said:

    “This research provides further evidence for the link between the common cold sores from HSV1 and Alzheimer’s Disease. The study now proposes that people with HSV who are treated with anti-viral medicine are less likely to develop AD. Using large scale administrative data from the US, the findings are suggestive of a protective effect of anti-viral treatment. This could be beneficial for Australians who suffer from the common cold sores and who would benefit from anti-viral treatment for their cold sores. It does not mean it could reduce the probability of AD.

    “Further research would be required to ensure the study is more widely representative, since the authors note that not all populations are included in the data, e.g. those over 65 who receive free health care (Medicare). The study does not provide detail on who may benefit, for example does it help disadvantaged groups more, and who does it work together with other non-pharmacological treatments for lifestyle improvement.

    “Overall, the study indicates some potential, but much more research would be required to determine if the anti-viral therapies for people with cold cores, is in fact going to reduce their probability of getting Alzheimer’s disease.

    “As the authors state, it does not indicate cause and effect, but they do find it a potential avenue to explore further.

    “The study did not include public involvement – but inclusion of the public, even on an advisory capacity would be useful, to help design the research questions and relevant factors included in the study.

    “From a health economics perspective, it is unlikely that anti-viral therapy would be funded for the Australian population, until further evidence on effectiveness in prevention and then cost-effectiveness overall, including additional use of health care resources, is provided. More details on the health and socio-economics status of individuals are also warranted, to help determine who may benefit from the therapy.”

     

     

    ‘Association between herpes simplex virus type 1 and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: a retrospective case control study’ by Yunhao Liu et al. was published in BMJ Open at 23.30 on Tuesday 20 May.

     

    DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-093946

     

     

    Declared interests

    Cornelia van Duijn: “I receive funding from GSK (related to VZV vaccination) and NovoNordisk (unrelated to virus treatment/prevention), and have received funding from JNJ/Jansen Pharmaceutics (unrelated to virus treatment/prevention).”

    David Vickers: “I have no interests or conflicts, financial or otherwise, to declare.”

    Tara Spires-Jones: “I have no conflicts with this study but have received payments for consulting, scientific talks, or collaborative research over the past 10 years from AbbVie, Sanofi, Merck, Scottish Brain Sciences, Jay Therapeutics, Cognition Therapeutics, Ono, and Eisai. I am also Charity trustee for the British Neuroscience Association and the Guarantors of Brain and serve as scientific advisor to several charities and non-profit institutions.”

    Ashley Bush: “I have no relevant conflicts.”

    Brenda Gannon: “No COI”

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Senator Rosen Blasts Secretary Rubio for Complicity in Trump Administration’s Disastrous Foreign Policies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    Watch the full exchange HERE.
    WASHINGTON, DC – During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) blasted Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his complicity in the Trump Administration’s disastrous approach to U.S. foreign policy. Under Secretary Rubio’s leadership, the Administration has slashed development and humanitarian programs critical to our national security, including programs that then-Senator Rubio supported. In her line of questioning, Senator Rosen pressed Secretary Rubio about plans to eliminate the State Department’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, the Office of the Security Coordinator in Israel, and international vaccines through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
    Below is an excerpt from Senator Rosen’s introduction:
    Senator Rosen: Secretary Rubio, I’m going to embrace my Jewish mother instincts for a moment.
    As a mother, a senator, and a fellow human being, I can tell you that I’m not even mad anymore about your complicity in this Administration’s destruction of U.S. global leadership. I’m simply disappointed. 
    And I wonder if you’re proud of yourself in this moment when you go home to your family because I have always found you, Senator Rubio, to be a bipartisan pragmatic partner, a true believer that the U.S. is stronger when we lead with diplomacy and development. You have a strong record on this. 
    But I don’t recognize Secretary Rubio. A stalwart supporter of Israel, you have watched this Administration abandon Saudi normalization with Israel in order to pursue business deals. You were once a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin but you sat idly by as the President berated the elected leader of Ukraine for not capitulating to Russia. And worst of all, you’ve kneecapped foreign assistance, including programs that you previously championed and made America less safe, less strong, less prosperous in doing so. 
    I know you know this in your heart and I can’t make this point any better than you did yourself in 2019 when you said “Anybody who tells you that we can slash foreign aid and that will bring us to balance is lying to you.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to World Health Assembly adopting WHO Pandemic Agreement

    Source: United Kingdom – Science Media Centre

    Scientists comment on the World Health Assembly adopting the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Pandemic Agreement.

    Prof Sir Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group; and Ashall Professor of Infection and Immunity at the Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, said:

    “The pandemic agreement is an important endorsement of a globally collegiate approach to tackling the existential threat we face from a future pandemic.  It recognises the particular challenges highlighted by the COVID19 pandemic around equity in access to life saving vaccines and drugs, the geographical boundaries caused by limited global manufacturing capability and nationalism.  The agreement also highlights the importance of international research coordination so that we are better prepared for the next one.  It shows a level of cooperation and coordination that could make the world a safer place, but the real test of such a document is in its execution.  It is heavily dependent on the actions of the world’s major powers today to lay the groundwork in surveillance, strengthening of health systems distributed manufacturing and research, all of which are severely hampered by the current political and economic headwinds.  We will also critically need such cooperation to remain strong in the face of the next life-threatening microbial invasion of national borders, which will challenge even the most resolute political minds.”

     

    Prof Mishal Khan, Professor of Global Public Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said:

    “It’s been a huge challenge to get to this point so the fact that this has now been formally agreed at the World Health Assembly, is very welcome.

    “But in reality we won’t know how useful this agreement is until the next pandemic hits.

    “A key question is around whether countries will voluntarily comply with the terms and, if not, how enforceable is it.  Past experience, for example with the International Health Regulations, suggests that powers to enforce will be limited.

    “The success of this treaty will also depend on each country’s capacity to contribute to potentially valuable elements such as the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System through collecting and sharing high-quality data.

    “It’s concerning that the US will not be bound to the treaty and has not been part of the final discussions, leaving us unsure what its approach to resource and data sharing will be in future disease outbreaks.

    “We must continue to strengthen and support capacity globally to ensure the agreement is equitable and has the best chance of being effective in protecting the world from pandemics.”

     

    Prof Alice Norton, Associate Professor, Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, said:

    “The adoption of the Pandemic Agreement by the 78th World Health Assembly today is welcome news for global health security.

    “Article 9 on research and development was one of the first to be unanimously agreed by member state negotiators.  This recognises the ability for science to get us out of a pandemic, as was the case for COVID-19, showing that unlike many other natural disasters we can mitigate the risks and impacts of pandemics through science.

    “Respect for human rights, equity, solidarity and science-based evidence are all key principles rightly enshrined in the Agreement.

    “What will be needed now is the political will and sustainable financing so that all countries can make the Agreement a reality.

    “It is a mistake to believe that our recent experience of a pandemic means we are safe for a while.  The threat of epidemic and pandemic diseases that could devastate lives, livelihoods and economies still loom large.

    “Recent global health funding cuts only serve to worsen our preparedness and response capabilities.  After today’s announcement, governments must now step-up and put the Agreement’s principles into practice.”

    Prof Martin Antonio, Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Global Health based at the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, and Co-Director of the LSHTM Centre for Epidemic Preparedness and Response, said:

    “Having all WHO member states (except the US) endorsing the treaty is a big leap forward in the fight against future pandemics.  Crucially it will accelerate appropriate action, for example the commitment we need to enable vaccines to be developed quickly and made globally accessible within the 100 days mission target set by CEPI.

    “This is a global agreement and will only work with global support.  But to make these measures effective, we must also push for investment in regional measures such as the development of ‘pandemic’ manufacturing facilities in Africa in support of diagnostics, vaccines, and other interventions.”

     

    Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said:

    “Rebecca Solnit once wrote that ‘Perfection is a stick with which to beat the possible.’  Is the Pandemic Agreement perfect?  No.  But no such international agreement can be.

    “Does it represent a huge step forward, in terms of recognising the threat that pandemics pose and as a binding expression of solidarity against this common threat?  Absolutely.  It is now a defining feature of the landscape, under the canopy of which all our efforts going forward will be conducted.

    “Is there a great deal of practical work still to be done to make the world safe from pandemics?  Of course.

    “But this is a moment to celebrate!  And also a moment to rededicate ourselves to the hard work of pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.”

     

    CEPI statement on the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement: 

    CEPI commends the commitment of countries and negotiators to advancing this once-in-a-generation opportunity to make the world a safer place.  By their nature, pandemics can only be effectively tackled through international cooperation and the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement represents an historic step forward in this regard.  It seeks to drive systemic change that will address the inequity that characterized the response to COVID-19 and brings us closer to realizing the 100 Days Mission goal to respond to future pandemic threats with a new vaccine in just three months.  

    CEPI stands ready to support the implementation of the Pandemic Agreement, including: 

    • Requirements for publicly-funded R&D to include equitable access obligations – such as affordable pricing terms, technology transfer, information sharing;
    • Commitments to support sustainable and geographically distributed production facilities with the capability to scale up for rapid response in a health emergency;
    • The establishment of a multilateral pathogen benefits sharing system that supports rapid and efficient sharing of samples and data on pathogens with pandemic potential to expedite R&D for medical countermeasures.  This, together with a global supply chain and logistics network, will help to strengthen research and innovation and support global access to medical countermeasures based on public health need rather than ability to pay.

    While we celebrate today’s achievement, we must also recognise that the Agreement on its own will not deliver the level of pandemic preparedness the world urgently needs.

    It will take sustained investment, enduring political commitment and unprecedented scientific collaboration to create the systemic change needed to protect not just our own generation, but generations to come.  

     

    Dr Daniela Manno, Clinical Assistant Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said:

    “We know pandemics do not respect borders.  COVID-19 demonstrated how quickly infectious diseases can spread and underscored the importance of international cooperation for early detection and response.

    “Adopting this first global agreement on pandemic preparedness and response is a major milestone.  It signals a global commitment to avoiding the fragmented and unequal responses of past crises, and to promoting greater solidarity and equity in future health emergencies.

    “It shows that countries are willing to work together more effectively and more fairly, through timely data sharing, coordinated rapid responses, and fair access to vaccines, diagnostics and treatments.

    “However, while the treaty marks important progress, concerns remain about its strength and enforceability.  For example, the proposal to create a Coordinating Financial Mechanism is a positive step, but it lacks firm commitments to new, long-term funding streams, specifically for low- and middle-income countries.  Without clear financial provisions, LMICs may face increased debt or be forced to divert funding from other essential health services to meet treaty obligations.

    “While the treaty references inclusiveness and community engagement, there needs to be a greater emphasis on integrating local knowledge and enabling community-led decision-making.  This is crucial to avoid top-down approaches that may not reflect the needs and realities of diverse communities, particularly in LMICs.”

     

    Dr Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow in Global Health, University of Southampton, said:

    “The WHO Pandemic Agreement is quite a triumph for diplomacy, and will rely hugely on cooperations from the member states.  The draft agreement is full of words such as equity, respect and solidarity.  This is where the WHO is very strong, in providing expert guidance from an ethical and practical standpoint that applies across the world.  However, the Organization does not have much of a role in any legal enforcement.

    “The Agreement makes reference to the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.  Member states have a legal obligation to adhere to the IHR, although it’s not fully clear what would happen if a country chooses not to.

    “For example, the USA are technically still a member of WHO, with a one year notice period for withdrawal put forward by the Trump government.  Given their recent commentary on national and global health, one can imagine they may not comply with regulations both currently in place and proposed here under the Agreement.”

    https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_10-en.pdf

    https://www.who.int/news/item/19-05-2025-member-states-approve-who-pandemic-agreement-in-world-health-assembly-committee–paving-way-for-its-formal-adoption

    https://www.who.int/news/item/20-05-2025-world-health-assembly-adopts-historic-pandemic-agreement-to-make-the-world-more-equitable-and-safer-from-future-pandemics

     

     

    Declared interests

    Prof Sir Andrew Pollard:“Professor Pollard is chair of JCVI which provides independent scientific advice on vaccines to DHSC.  The comment above is given in a personal capacity.”

    Prof Mishal Khan: “No conflicts.”

    Prof Alice Norton: “Professor Alice Norton receives a research grant from the World Health Organization – this does not relate to the Pandemic Agreement.”

    Dr Richard Hatchett: “No conflicts of interest to declare.”

    Dr Michael Head: “No COI from me (and not involved in the Pandemic Treaty in any way).”

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Further catch up clinics offer vaccinations for secondary pupils

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The following vaccinations will be available:

    • The Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP) vaccine, also known as the 3 in 1 teenage booster, which is offered to children in Year 9 and above. This booster is the last routine dose that provides young people with long lasting protection into adulthood
    • The Meningococcal (Men ACWY) vaccination for children in Year 9 and above which helps protect young people against 4 types of meningococcal disease which can cause both meningitis and septicaemia
    • The HPV vaccine, given in school Year 8 which helps protect against cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV)
    • The MMR vaccination, to provide long lasting protection against measles, mumps and rubella for all school aged children who have missed doses.

    Clinic will be held next Monday 26 May at Biz Space, Room 2, Planetary Road WV13 3SW from 10am to 2pm and on Saturday 12 July at Whitmore Reans Family Hub, Lansdowne Road, Wolverhampton WV1 4AL from 9.30am to 2pm. Appointments must be booked in advance by contacting Vaccination UK on 01902 200077.

    Councillor Obaida Ahmed, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “These vaccines offer the best protection for teenagers as they start their journey into adulthood and start mixing more widely – whether that’s going to college, starting work, travelling or going to festivals.

    “So, if your child has missed out on their vaccinations, maybe because they were off school or are home educated, please come along to one of the catch up clinics being delivered by Vaccination UK over the coming weeks.”
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The re-emergence of polio in Papua New Guinea shows global eradication remains elusive

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Michael Toole, Associate Principal Research Fellow, Burnet Institute

    Last week the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

    The highly infectious virus was found in two healthy, polio-vaccinated children who were screened following detection of the virus during routine wastewater sampling in Lae, PNG’s second largest city. Wastewater samples are also positive in the capital Port Moresby, indicating the potential of spread around the country.

    The strain has been identified as circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2, similar genetically to a strain circulating in Indonesia.

    So what does this mean? And what will happen now in PNG?

    First, what is polio?

    Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly contagious disease caused by the poliovirus. It primarily affects children.

    Most infections don’t cause significant symptoms and go largely unnoticed. But less than 1% of infections result in paralysis.

    Poliovirus is spread by person-to-person contact or the ingestion of contaminated virus from faeces. The virus multiplies in the gut of people who are infected, and they shed the virus in their stool for several weeks. In this way it can spread through a community, especially in areas with poor sanitation.

    A recent review also suggested a greater role for transmission via respiratory particles than we previously thought.

    Wild poliovirus (as distinct from vaccine-derived poliovirus, which we’ll discuss shortly) was a major public health issue prior to the rollout of vaccination in 1950s. This campaign led to the virtual elimination of the disease in rich countries such as Australia.

    Since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched in 1988, cases have decreased by 99% globally. Wild poliovirus remains endemic only in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

    Polio is caused by the poliovirus.
    Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock

    Polio vaccines

    There are two types of vaccines – the oral polio vaccine and the inactivated polio vaccine.

    Delivered as two drops in the mouth at least four times in early childhood, the oral vaccine contains a live-attenuated (weakened) form of the poliovirus. It triggers a strong immune reaction in the gut that slows the replication of wild poliovirus, and reduces shedding in the stool, limiting transmission.

    The oral vaccine does carry a small risk of the weakened vaccine strain causing paralysis. This occurs in
    roughly one in 2.7 million doses of the oral vaccine administered, usually at the first dose.

    The inactivated polio vaccine (part of the routine immunisation program in Australia) contains an inactivated or dead form of the poliovirus, which is unable to cause polio in the recipient.

    Given as an injection, this vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce protective antibodies in the blood against poliovirus. Three doses of the inactivated vaccine are highly protective against developing symptoms and paralysis from polio.

    However, this vaccine is thought not to be as effective as the oral vaccine at preventing infection and shedding in the gut. Therefore, it doesn’t prevent transmission.

    What is vaccine-derived poliovirus?

    As the weakened poliovirus in the oral vaccine is still shed in the stool, it can spread in communities with poor sanitation. The vaccine strain can mutate to a form that can cause paralysis, like wild poliovirus. The result, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus, is a problem particularly when polio immunisation rates are low.

    The risk of international spread of vaccine-derived poliovirus has been assessed as high by the WHO and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were outbreaks in 39 countries in 2023–24.

    A novel oral polio vaccine, nOPV2, which is less likely to mutate, has been used in outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus since 2021.

    Routine vaccination with the inactivated polio vaccine is key to preventing vaccine-derived poliovirus, and is recommended by WHO. The polio endgame will involve this transition from the oral vaccine to the inactivated vaccine.

    In 2019, all countries had introduced the inactivated vaccine. However uptake remains low because of a lack of resources and inadequate access to health services in poor countries.

    What happens now in PNG?

    The PNG government has responded swiftly to activate its polio emergency response plan, supported by partners including WHO, UNICEF and the Australian government.

    Notably, PNG’s vaccination rate is among the lowest in the world, with only about 50% of children born each year receiving the recommended childhood vaccines, including the oral polio vaccine. To induce herd immunity and prevent outbreaks of disease, coverage should be at least 95%.

    PNG was declared polio free in 2000. But there was an outbreak in 2018 of vaccine-derived polio type 1 with 26 cases across nine provinces. The outbreak was brought under control through supplementary rounds of vaccination, enhanced surveillance, and expanded communication and community engagement.

    There are many lessons to be learned from the successful response to the 2018 polio outbreak. These three pillars of the response remain relevant:

    • mass vaccination (using nOPV2)
    • enhanced surveillance for cases and wastewater sampling
    • communication (through traditional and social media) and localised community engagement.

    Further research will be crucial to understand where transmission is occurring and target the response accordingly. This includes the question of potential for spread between Indonesia and PNG – a neglected health security issue.

    How about the risk in Australia?

    While the risk of spread of polio in Australia is low, the virus does not respect borders, and we cannot become complacent.

    Australia’s overall coverage with the inactivated vaccine is close to 95% but there has been a concerning decline in childhood immunisation since the COVID pandemic. Australia must address this and maintain its polio wastewater monitoring system.

    Supporting PNG and working with other countries towards global polio eradication is the best way Australia can protect itself.

    This outbreak is a timely reminder that the last mile in the global eradication of polio remains elusive. As we emerge from a pandemic, the need for international cooperation, strengthening health systems and responding swiftly to health emergencies such as polio couldn’t be stronger.

    Michael Toole has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

    Suman Majumdar, through the Burnet Institute receives grant funding from the Victorian Government and the Australian Government via the National Health & Medical Research Council of Australia, the Medical Research Future Fund and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    Fredrick Charles does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The re-emergence of polio in Papua New Guinea shows global eradication remains elusive – https://theconversation.com/the-re-emergence-of-polio-in-papua-new-guinea-shows-global-eradication-remains-elusive-256899

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The re-emergence of polio in Papua New Guinea shows global eradication remains elusive

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Toole, Associate Principal Research Fellow, Burnet Institute

    Last week the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

    The highly infectious virus was found in two healthy, polio-vaccinated children who were screened following detection of the virus during routine wastewater sampling in Lae, PNG’s second largest city. Wastewater samples are also positive in the capital Port Moresby, indicating the potential of spread around the country.

    The strain has been identified as circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2, similar genetically to a strain circulating in Indonesia.

    So what does this mean? And what will happen now in PNG?

    First, what is polio?

    Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly contagious disease caused by the poliovirus. It primarily affects children.

    Most infections don’t cause significant symptoms and go largely unnoticed. But less than 1% of infections result in paralysis.

    Poliovirus is spread by person-to-person contact or the ingestion of contaminated virus from faeces. The virus multiplies in the gut of people who are infected, and they shed the virus in their stool for several weeks. In this way it can spread through a community, especially in areas with poor sanitation.

    A recent review also suggested a greater role for transmission via respiratory particles than we previously thought.

    Wild poliovirus (as distinct from vaccine-derived poliovirus, which we’ll discuss shortly) was a major public health issue prior to the rollout of vaccination in 1950s. This campaign led to the virtual elimination of the disease in rich countries such as Australia.

    Since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched in 1988, cases have decreased by 99% globally. Wild poliovirus remains endemic only in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

    Polio is caused by the poliovirus.
    Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock

    Polio vaccines

    There are two types of vaccines – the oral polio vaccine and the inactivated polio vaccine.

    Delivered as two drops in the mouth at least four times in early childhood, the oral vaccine contains a live-attenuated (weakened) form of the poliovirus. It triggers a strong immune reaction in the gut that slows the replication of wild poliovirus, and reduces shedding in the stool, limiting transmission.

    The oral vaccine does carry a small risk of the weakened vaccine strain causing paralysis. This occurs in
    roughly one in 2.7 million doses of the oral vaccine administered, usually at the first dose.

    The inactivated polio vaccine (part of the routine immunisation program in Australia) contains an inactivated or dead form of the poliovirus, which is unable to cause polio in the recipient.

    Given as an injection, this vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce protective antibodies in the blood against poliovirus. Three doses of the inactivated vaccine are highly protective against developing symptoms and paralysis from polio.

    However, this vaccine is thought not to be as effective as the oral vaccine at preventing infection and shedding in the gut. Therefore, it doesn’t prevent transmission.

    What is vaccine-derived poliovirus?

    As the weakened poliovirus in the oral vaccine is still shed in the stool, it can spread in communities with poor sanitation. The vaccine strain can mutate to a form that can cause paralysis, like wild poliovirus. The result, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus, is a problem particularly when polio immunisation rates are low.

    The risk of international spread of vaccine-derived poliovirus has been assessed as high by the WHO and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were outbreaks in 39 countries in 2023–24.

    A novel oral polio vaccine, nOPV2, which is less likely to mutate, has been used in outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus since 2021.

    Routine vaccination with the inactivated polio vaccine is key to preventing vaccine-derived poliovirus, and is recommended by WHO. The polio endgame will involve this transition from the oral vaccine to the inactivated vaccine.

    In 2019, all countries had introduced the inactivated vaccine. However uptake remains low because of a lack of resources and inadequate access to health services in poor countries.

    What happens now in PNG?

    The PNG government has responded swiftly to activate its polio emergency response plan, supported by partners including WHO, UNICEF and the Australian government.

    Notably, PNG’s vaccination rate is among the lowest in the world, with only about 50% of children born each year receiving the recommended childhood vaccines, including the oral polio vaccine. To induce herd immunity and prevent outbreaks of disease, coverage should be at least 95%.

    PNG was declared polio free in 2000. But there was an outbreak in 2018 of vaccine-derived polio type 1 with 26 cases across nine provinces. The outbreak was brought under control through supplementary rounds of vaccination, enhanced surveillance, and expanded communication and community engagement.

    There are many lessons to be learned from the successful response to the 2018 polio outbreak. These three pillars of the response remain relevant:

    • mass vaccination (using nOPV2)
    • enhanced surveillance for cases and wastewater sampling
    • communication (through traditional and social media) and localised community engagement.

    Further research will be crucial to understand where transmission is occurring and target the response accordingly. This includes the question of potential for spread between Indonesia and PNG – a neglected health security issue.

    How about the risk in Australia?

    While the risk of spread of polio in Australia is low, the virus does not respect borders, and we cannot become complacent.

    Australia’s overall coverage with the inactivated vaccine is close to 95% but there has been a concerning decline in childhood immunisation since the COVID pandemic. Australia must address this and maintain its polio wastewater monitoring system.

    Supporting PNG and working with other countries towards global polio eradication is the best way Australia can protect itself.

    This outbreak is a timely reminder that the last mile in the global eradication of polio remains elusive. As we emerge from a pandemic, the need for international cooperation, strengthening health systems and responding swiftly to health emergencies such as polio couldn’t be stronger.

    Michael Toole has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

    Suman Majumdar, through the Burnet Institute receives grant funding from the Victorian Government and the Australian Government via the National Health & Medical Research Council of Australia, the Medical Research Future Fund and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    Fredrick Charles does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The re-emergence of polio in Papua New Guinea shows global eradication remains elusive – https://theconversation.com/the-re-emergence-of-polio-in-papua-new-guinea-shows-global-eradication-remains-elusive-256899

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Rights of the Child Praise Iraq’s Child Rights Strategy, Raise Issues Concerning Child Marriage and Corporal Punishment

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its consideration of the fifth and sixth combined periodic reports of Iraq under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with Committee Experts praising the State’s national child rights strategy and raising questions about child marriage and corporal punishment.

    Benoit Van Keirsbilck, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Iraq, said that Iraq had devoted efforts to improving its situation after periods of violence.  The Committee had seen several improvements in terms of the rights of the child, including the State’s commendable strategy on children’s rights.

    Several Experts expressed concern regarding the amendment in 2025 to the civil status law, which reportedly allowed for children to marry from the age of nine.  They asked whether appeals had been made to nullify the amendment.  Mr. Van Keirsbilck said 28 per cent of Iraqi girls were married before the age of 18 and seven per cent before the age of 15. What measures were in place to prevent child marriage?

    Mr. Van Keirsbilck also said the Penal Code allowed parents and educators to use corporal punishment in family and educational settings.  Some 81 per cent of children had reportedly been subjected to some form of corporal punishment.  How was the State party addressing this?

    In an opening statement, Abdulkarim Hashem Mustafa, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said the Government placed the rights of the child at the heart of its national priorities, and had adopted the national strategy for child protection, which aimed to create a safe and inclusive environment that ensured the well-being and development of children.

    Khalid Salam Saeed, Minster of Justice of Iraq and head of the delegation, in his opening statement, said Iraq had exerted efforts to comply with the Convention and the Committee’s recommendations, despite the major challenges it had faced due to aggression from the terrorist group Daesh.  As a result of its efforts for children, Iraq had been removed from the United Nations Secretary-General’s list of countries that violated children’s rights.

    On child marriage, the delegation said Iraq considered cultural circumstances when setting the minimum age of marriage.  The amendment to the civil status law had been assessed by Parliament and workshops with civil society.  Marriage from nine years of age was not permitted by the law, which permitted marriages from 18 years, or from 15 years when the children involved petitioned courts directly.  Persons who facilitated marriages outside the legal framework were liable for punishment.

    Regarding corporal punishment, the delegation said the Higher Supreme Court had ruled that the Criminal Code did not allow the use of violence against children or students in any context.  There were many cases in which parents and teachers who treated children violently had been punished.

    In closing remarks, Mr. Van Keirsbilck said the dialogue had revealed areas in which Iraq had made important progress since 2015, as well as issues that needed to be addressed.  The future law on child protection seemed extremely promising; the Committee hoped that it would be adopted soon and fully implemented, he said.

    In his concluding remarks, Mr. Saeed said Iraq had presented its progress in implementing the Convention and the recommendations of the Committee. The State party looked forward to receiving the Committee’s recommendations, which would help to consolidate children’s rights in the country.  Iraq was determined to promote human rights based on the principles of equality and social justice.

    Sopio Kiladze, Committee Chair, said in concluding remarks that the Committee and the State party shared a common goal of improving the situation of children in Iraq.  The Committee congratulated the State party on the progress it had made and looked forward to hearing about the future progress that the State would make for children in the next dialogue.

    The delegation of Iraq consisted of representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office; General Secretariat of the Iraqi Cabinet; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs; Ministry of Justice; Scientific Supervision and Evaluation Agency; Directorate-General for Curricula; Directorate-General of Planning and Follow-Up; Human Rights Directorate; Kurdistan Regional Government; and the Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee will issue concluding observations on the report of Iraq at the end of its ninety-ninth session on 30 May. Those, and other documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, will be available on the session’s webpage.  Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public on Tuesday, 20 May at 3 p.m. to consider the combined sixth and seventh periodic reports of Romania (CRC/C/ROU/6-7).

    Report

    The Committee has before it the fifth and sixth combined periodic reports of Iraq (CRC/C/IRQ/5-6).

    Presentation of Report

    ABDULKARIM HASHEM MUSTAFA, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said Iraq reaffirmed its commitment to respect and implement its international obligations under the Convention and to include its provisions in national policies, despite the complex challenges that the country had faced during the past decades. The Government placed the rights of the child at the heart of its national priorities, and had adopted the national strategy for child protection, which aimed to create a safe and inclusive environment that ensured the well-being and development of children. The State party had strengthened the national legislative framework by amending several relevant laws to ensure their compatibility with international standards, including the draft child protection law currently before the Parliament.  Iraq affirmed that the protection of children’s rights was both a national responsibility and a humanitarian and moral obligation.

    KHALID SALAM SAEED, Minster of Justice of Iraq and head of the delegation, said Iraq had exerted efforts to comply with the Convention and the Committee’s recommendations. Iraq faced major challenges due to aggression from the terrorist group Daesh, which had led to violations of the rights of the child.  Iraq had undertaken efforts to prevent the spread of terrorism and violence in the country, provide reparation to victims, support the transfer of displaced persons, and prosecute terrorist crimes.  The State party had transferred or rehabilitated more than 17,000 victims of the violence.

    Seeking to bring its legislation in line with international standards, the State party had implemented several laws, including the legal aid act, the amendment to the act on people with disabilities, the health coverage act, the social services act, the act on the integration of minors, and a draft law against domestic violence.

    Several policies and strategies had also been developed, including the technical development strategy.  The State party had developed policies on the protection of families, and had continued work to investigate human trafficking.  It had set up a hotline for reporting gender-based violence and had also established women’s and girls’ welfare units to combat violence against women and girls. The State party had developed strategies to improve the security environment, reduce poverty and support families, which included measures to increase the number of persons receiving social protection assistance, establish family protection units, and expand the provision of vaccinations.

    The Iraqi Government was promoting access to education for all by implementing the act on compulsory education and providing school supplies and scholarships to children in need.  The Government had completed the construction and renovation of 6,500 schools, and construction was continuing.  Iraq aimed to increase the resources and capacities of educational institutions to improve the quality of education they provided.

    The State party had also developed a strategy for the rehabilitation of minors, establishing juvenile rehabilitation units.  The Constitution had been amended and laws established to criminalise prostitution, trafficking in illegal substances, and the sale of children.  Iraqi laws prohibited the conscription of young people under the age of 18, and many policies had been implemented to prevent the involvement of children in terrorist activities.  The State party had also set up a body to monitor the recommendations of international bodies.  As a result of these efforts, Iraq had been removed from the United Nations Secretary-General’s list of countries that violated children’s rights.

    DINDAR ZEBARI, Coordinator of International Recommendations, Kurdistan Regional Government, said Kurdistan had developed a regional development plan for 2021–2025, which included 11 recommendations on children’s rights, of which nine had been implemented.  In 2023, the Kurdistan Council of Ministers approved a policy aimed at protecting children. Kurdistan had raised the age of criminal responsibility to 11 years, banned the death penalty for children, converted detention sentences to rehabilitation programmes, and reactivated juvenile courts. 

    In the fight against human trafficking, a national campaign was launched that had led to the arrest of 79 people and the sentencing of 12 traffickers.  Kurdistan hosted 865,000 internally displaced persons and refugees, and the Government provided this population with shelter, education, and health care. 

    Measures implemented by the Government had led to a 42 per cent reduction in under-five mortality; the rate was now far lower than the global average.  The Government provided social welfare services to approximately 130 children annually, and new care homes for girls had been opened.  Some 550 children from government nurseries and 53 from the surrogacy system had been placed in foster families.  Procedures for issuing parental certificates to children of unknown origin were carried out in accordance with the civil status law, in a manner that respected their privacy and preserved their dignity.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    BENOIT VAN KEIRSBILCK, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Iraq, said that Iraq had devoted a range of efforts to improving its situation after periods of violence.  The Committee had seen several improvements in terms of the rights of the child, including the State’s commendable strategy on children’s rights.  However, challenges remained, and the Committee would address these.

    Iraq maintained its reservation to article 14 of the Convention.  Why did it oppose children having the right to protest?  Was the Convention used by courts and the Parliament?  When would the planned child protection law be adopted? Would this law address all forms of violence against children?  How did legislation on refugees that would soon be adopted address refugee children’s rights?

    Who was responsible for coordinating and implementing the State’s strategy for children?  What budget was set aside for the strategy and how would its implementation be assessed?  How would the State party implement the proposed child protection information management system?  Did it calculate the percentage of the budget dedicated to children’s policies, and was it working on addressing issues with tax collection to increase funds for children’s policies?  How did the State party ensure that the data it collected on children was accurate?

    Did the State party plan to ratify the Optional Protocol on the individual complaints procedure?  Did children whose rights were violated have access to reparations?  How could they lodge complaints?  There were reports that police had refused to register some children’s complaints.

    The Committee welcomed that Iraq’s National Human Rights Commission had “A” status under the Paris Principles. There had been a legal complaint against the former Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission.  What progress had been made in investigating this case?  Were there plans to set up an ombudsperson for children?  How had cuts in international funding affected programmes promoting children’s rights in Iraq?

    Sexual exploitation of children remained a major concern.  What measures were in place to support child victims?  The Penal Code allowed parents and educators to use corporal punishment in family and educational settings.  Some 81 per cent of children had reportedly been subjected to some form of corporal punishment.  How was the State party addressing this?

    Iraqi law still allowed children to marry from age 15, and there had been a draft law that sought to lower the age of marriage for girls to nine.  What was the status of this law?  What measures were in place to prevent child marriage?  Sexual slavery was still practiced in some parts of the country.  How did the State party support child victims of sexual slavery?  How many children who were affected by the activities of Daesh had the State party rehabilitated?

    MARIANA IANACHEVICI, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, welcomed the State party’s efforts to incorporate the principles of the Convention in its legal and policy frameworks, and to prevent discrimination.  The State party taught minority languages in schools and had implemented measures to prevent discrimination against children with disabilities in schools.  Were there plans to develop exclusive anti-discrimination legislation that addressed discrimination against children?  How would the State promote access to social services for girls in remote communities? How was the principle of the best interests of the child reflected in national legislation?  What mechanisms were in place to ensure that children’s views were considered when assessing what was in their best interests?

    What measures were in place to ensure that no children were sentenced to the death penalty?  How was the civil registration system being strengthened to ensure that all children, including children born in areas formerly controlled by Daesh, were registered?  What measures were in place to prevent infanticide?

    How was the State party ensuring that the views of children were considered in laws, policies and practices?  How was the State party promoting the meaningful participation of children from disadvantaged groups in the development of policies and laws?

    The Expert welcomed efforts to support children returning from northern Syria.  What was the rationale behind 2025 amendments to the personal status law?  There were concerns that these amendments could undermine existing safeguards for women and children.  How did the State party ensure that this legislation was in line with the Convention, and that women-led households would continue to receive adequate social support?  What efforts were being made to harmonise religious court rulings with international standards? 

    What efforts were being made to expand family-based care for children whose parents could no longer care for them, and to make foster care a viable alternative for families? Did the State party pursue systematic family reunification when appropriate?

    RINCHEN CHOPHEL, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, welcomed legislation from 2006 that allowed women to pass on their nationality to their children.  Did children born to unmarried parents receive birth certificates?  What measures were in place to regulate the registration of children born in armed conflict situations?  The Expert expressed concern about reports that the children of parents who were not of Muslim faith, particularly persons of the Baha’i faith, were not registered.  What measures were in place to prevent this?  What measures had been adopted to protect children from online risks? What was the status of the draft cybercrime law?

    BENYAM DAWIT MEZMUR, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, said that there had been significant progress for children in Iraq over the last 10 years.  What awareness raising campaigns were being carried out to address negative societal attitudes related to children with disabilities?  What had been the impact of legislative revisions related to persons with disabilities?  How had the State party mainstreamed disability rights?  What progress had been made in developing a central database on children with disabilities?  The Committee welcomed the “disability stipend” for children with disabilities who attended schools.  Were there plans to extend this to children with disabilities who did not attend school? Assessments of children with disabilities tended to focus on medical impairments; were there plans to change this approach?  The Kurdistan Government had introduced a universal stipend for children, but its reach appeared to be limited.  What efforts had been made to extend it?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said most of the Iraqi population was Muslim, but the Government respected religious plurality and had implemented mechanisms to protect religious diversity.  Iraq had expressed reservations related to article 14 of the Convention as its law was based on the Islamic Sharia, but the State party’s laws promoted the freedom of religion.  There was one case related to the rights of a 15-year-old girl in which the court had referenced the Convention.

    The State party paid salaries to carers of children with disabilities; recently, this salary had been increased. Assistive devices were provided to children with disabilities, who were integrated into public schools.  Mobile teams aided children with disabilities in their homes and smart identification cards facilitated access to social services for children with disabilities.  The State party also provided primary care to children with disabilities in conflict settings.

    The Government had adopted several measures promoting the participation of children in decision-making processes, establishing children’s parliaments in more than 420 schools. Non-governmental organizations promoted the participation of children in decision-making, providing them with training on advocacy.

    Around 30 shelters had been established that provided services to vulnerable children, including orphans and victims of domestic violence.  The shelters provided food and access to education and technical training.  Health examinations were provided for children in these shelters every three months.

    The Constitution included articles that prohibited discrimination and guaranteed protection for women and children. Several laws had been adopted to protect minorities, including a law on reparations for Yezidi refugees who had suffered human rights violations during armed conflict.

    The State party sought to adopt a draft law on anti-discrimination that was currently before Parliament.  The law would prevent discrimination based on religion and other factors.  There were several schools that taught Christian values.  A centre had been established that taught the minority Assyrian language, and several public schools also taught the language.

    The Ministry of Interior accepted complaints from children through a dedicated hotline, which complied with international standards; the children’s support unit; and through hospitals and schools.  A range of legal measures had been adopted to combat sexual exploitation.  State legislation stipulated punishments for violations of children’s rights online.

    Children were guaranteed the right to an identity by the law on identity and other legislative measures.  The State party had sought to identify children with unknown parents born in the Daesh era and provide them with identity documents; 120,000 persons in this situation had been registered to date.

    The State party considered cultural circumstances when setting the minimum age of marriage.  It was re-evaluating the law on child marriage. Marriage could be approved from age 15 if it was in the child’s interests.  There was currently no draft law defining the best interests of the child, but some texts recognised the principle, such as the personal status law, which called for an assessment of the best interests of the child in foster arrangements.

    The State party was proud of its achievements in rehabilitating child refugees.  A centre had been established in 2021 that hosted 17,000 individuals. Currently, 7,000 children resided in the centre, who benefited from cultural activities, education and social rehabilitation services.  More than 6,000 children had been supported to return to their homes.  Most refugees who came from Syrian camps were women and children.  They were provided with various support services, and more than 6,000 of these persons had been supported to return to their homes.

    More than nine trillion dinars had been allocated to the health sector, more than 70 per cent of which benefitted women and children.  Hospital workers had been trained on dealing with victims of violence against women and children, and medical units providing care to victims had been established. In refugee camps, more than 30,000 vaccinations had been provided to children.  There were governorate programmes on sexual and reproductive health and nutrition that benefitted youth.  A draft law on mental health had been developed and programmes were in place to provide psychosocial care for students in schools and universities.

    Training sessions had been organised on the Convention, international humanitarian law, and the rights of children in armed conflict, for members of the armed forces.  The Government had contributed to demining more than 18 million cluster munitions in former conflict zones.

    The Constitutional Court had ruled that article 41 of the Criminal Code did not allow the use of violence against children or students in any context; it aimed only at imposing discipline and rehabilitation.  There were many cases in which parents and teachers who treated children violently had been punished.

    Child benefits were allocated to more than 3.5 million children, while around 3,000 orphaned children also received benefits, and more than two million children received scholarships. Around 154,000 children received disability benefits.  Some 12 trillion dinars were invested in children’s education in 2024.  Children with disabilities were integrated into mainstream education.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    BENYAM DAWIT MEZMUR, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, said that Iraq relied on external support for health sector financing.  What measures were in place to reduce reliance on external support?  The Committee commended the State party’s efforts in immunisation, but there were low immunisation rates in conflict areas and rural areas.  How was the Government addressing this?

    Obesity rates were rising among Iraqi children, anaemia was an issue for women, and Iraq had low breastfeeding rates. How were these issues being addressed? How was the State party working to reduce the exposure of children to tobacco and unhealthy food marketing, strengthening children’s mental health and reducing health costs for families? The adolescent birth rate was concerningly high.  How was the State party addressing teenage pregnancy?

    Iraqi schools were fully closed for 51 weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic.  What catch-up measures had been implemented?  Access to online services was limited in schools in Kurdistan; how was this being addressed?  Mr. Mezmur congratulated the State party on implementing legislation on pre-primary education.  Enrolment in this education was still at around 10 per cent; how was the Government promoting increased access?  What was being done to identify children who were out of school and encourage their return? How could children without documentation access education and health care?

    MARIANA IANACHEVICI, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, asked about care being provided for children returning from northeast Syria.  What training was provided to professionals who worked with children coming from abusive family environments?  How were the rights of incarcerated children protected?  Did they have access to education and mental health care?  The Expert welcomed efforts to improve the standards of living for children through social safety net programmes.  Were there plans to strengthen the programmes to support vulnerable children?  How was the Government promoting access to safe drinking water for vulnerable children and families, particularly in conflict-affected areas?

    RINCHEN CHOPHEL, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, said children in Iraq were exposed to extremely high temperatures.  Were there national initiatives to monitor children’s environmental health, and reduce and monitor air and water pollutants?  What measures were in place to increase children’s preparedness for disasters?

    BENOIT VAN KEIRSBILCK, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, asked whether the State party was considering ratifying the 1951 Refugee Convention or the Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons?  What protections were provided to asylum seekers and migrants in Iraq?  Had the State party conducted analysis into the causes of child labour and developed measures to address the issue?  Were labour inspectors trained to deal with child labour?  Why had the number of inspections decreased recently?  What was being done to reintegrate victims of child labour into society and support their access to rehabilitation?  How were children in street situations identified and supported to return to their families?  Were there referral services for child victims of trafficking?  Were the perpetrators of child trafficking brought to justice?  How did the State party ensure that child victims of trafficking were not treated as perpetrators?

    Had the State party assessed legislation on child justice and considered establishing juvenile courts?  The minimum age of criminal responsibility was 11; were there plans to raise this to 14?  What happened to children below 11 years of age who committed crimes? The treatment of children in detention was very worrying.  How many children were detained?  What non-custodial measures were in place?  How did the State party assess the age of children in conflict with the law? Were there still children detained with adults?

    There had been improvements regarding children involved in armed conflict.  How was this issue monitored and how was the recruitment of children criminalised in practice?  Were there military schools in Iraq?  Was the State party considering incorporating the Safe Schools Declaration in national policy?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Iraq had taken numerous measures to address child labour, which was prohibited for children under 15 years old, and there were strict measures regulating work for children aged 15 to 18.  Iraq had ratified the International Labour Organization Conventions 138 and 182 on child labour.  The State party was working to raise awareness of the risks of employing children and the punishments imposed.  Social support programmes had been bolstered to reduce the need for children to engage in labour; around 1.5 million households benefitted from these programmes. 

    There was a workplace oversight and monitoring programme that sought to protect children from economic exploitation. Employers could be fined or punished for using child labour.  Children who were authorised to work could only work reduced hours and could not work at night.  These children had the right to equal pay and a safe and healthy workplace.  An exceptional surprise inspection campaign had been carried out since 2019, which had identified more than 600 cases of child labour in total, with several employers of children transferred to judicial authorities.

    The budget for the Ministry of Health had increased to over nine trillion dinars in 2024.  This budget was devoted to health care programmes for women and children, constructing and rehabilitating medical centres, and other areas.  The Government was implementing the national vaccination programme to provide vaccinations to vulnerable populations, including asylum seekers and refugees. The Government provided equal access to health services regardless of religion, ethnicity or other characteristics. In 2023 and 2024, more than 43,000 children in refugee camps received vaccinations against polio.  Iraq had become one of the first countries in the Middle East to become free from polio.  More than 88 per cent of children in kindergarten and 91 per cent of primary school students had been vaccinated.

    Awareness raising campaigns on the importance of healthy diets were carried out in schools.  The nutritional quality of school meals was examined and the safety of schools’ drinking water was tested.  Schools were supported to organise sports activities.  The State party also supported non-governmental organizations working to improve children’s nutrition.  The Government had adopted a law prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to children under the age of 15 and a law prohibited the sale and production of e-cigarettes.  A smoking ban had been imposed in schools.

    The State party promoted exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life, and there had been a 10 per cent rise in breastfeeding recently.  Iron supplements were provided to pregnant women and vitamin A supplements were provided to children, blood test campaigns were carried out to detect anaemia, and awareness raising campaigns on the dangers of anaemia were carried out. Since 2021, there had been a 46 per cent decrease in maternal mortality, influenced by a 96 per cent rise in the number of specialised doctors covering deliveries.

    Iraq’s nationally determined contribution, approved in 2021, spelled out the State party’s goal of developing renewable energy sources and transitioning to a low-carbon economy.  The State party was pursuing climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in its policies and programmes, including the national development strategy.  Projects and programmes to cut pollution and minimise the effects of greenhouse gases were being developed.  A technological action plan on the energy transition had also been drafted.

    All persons from minority groups enjoyed the rights and privileges guaranteed to all Iraqi citizens. Electoral laws ensured quotas for minority representatives, and there were also quotas for minorities in the civil service.  There were nine seats in Parliament reserved for minority representatives, and there were also minority representatives in the Council of Ministers.  The State party had encouraged Yezidi and Christian minorities to return to their places of residence.  There were 79 non-governmental organizations working tirelessly to protect minority children’s rights.  A programme to restore minority religious buildings had been implemented following the destructive campaign of Daesh, which had led to the reconstruction of four Christian churches and more than 20 mosques.

    The Kurdistan Government had provided support to 185,000 children abducted by Daesh.  Around 1,000 survivors were sent to Germany to receive additional healthcare.  Many cases had been submitted related to the crimes of Daesh.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

    BENOIT VAN KEIRSBILCK, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, asked when the child protection law would be adopted.  Some 28 per cent of girls were married before the age of 18 and seven per cent before the age of 15.  What were the rights of former wives after divorce?  Was the State working to prevent the practice of forcing girls to marry their cousins?  Corporal punishment by parents and teachers appeared to be permitted by the Criminal Code. Was there an awareness raising campaign on the prohibition of corporal punishment?  There were reports of female genital mutilation still being practiced in some regions; how was this being addressed?  How was the State party pursuing demining activities to make land safe for children?

    BENYAM DAWIT MEZMUR, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, asked about the implementation of legislation on illegal drugs, which had increased in prevalence in Iraq in recent years. How was Iraq addressing the impact of drugs on children?

    MARIANA IANACHEVICI, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, asked about amendments in 2025 to the civil status law and the expanded role of religious courts in family matters.  How did the decisions of these courts affect children?

    Other Committee Experts asked about why Iraq was not present at the Bogota interministerial conference on violence against children; how it was expanding coverage of the hotline for reporting violence; whether marriages between people of different religions were permitted; plans to revise legislation allowing husbands to beat their wives; whether there was an authority monitoring standards in residential homes; whether children incarcerated with their parents benefitted from support programmes; whether there was a disease surveillance system in place; how the State party was combatting tuberculosis in children, obstetric fistula and child obesity; measures to prevent child road deaths; and screening programmes to assess disability in children.

    Several Experts expressed concern regarding the amendment in 2025 to the civil status law allowing for children to marry from age nine.  They asked how the State party determined the best interests of the child in decisions authorising marriages under age 18?  What measures were implemented to protect vulnerable girls from forced marriages? Had appeals been made to immediately nullify the amendment?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the amendment to the law on personal status had been assessed by Parliament and workshops with civil society.  Marriage from nine years was not permitted by the civil status law, which permitted marriages from 18 years of age, or from 15 years when the children involved petitioned courts directly, with their parents’ permission.  Such children were required to undergo medical examinations to ensure that they were mentally and physically capable of marriage.  The new civil status law ensured that only judges had the ability to sign minors’ marriage contracts.  There were no religious courts or judges in Iraq. Persons who facilitated marriages outside the legal framework were liable for punishment.

    The Supreme Court had issued a clear verdict on article 41 of the Criminal Code, finding that it did not allow violence against children in any form.  Courts were bound to follow this interpretation of the law.  When parents exercised corporal punishment, they faced legal punishment.  Civil police monitored cases of corporal punishment and had responded to around 100 cases.

    State legislation regulated disciplinary measures imposed against school principals and teachers who harmed children’s health.  Perpetrators of such acts could be brought before the courts.  The Ministry of Education combatted all forms of violence in schools.  School management boards included experts on preventing violence.

    The Ministry of Interior had departments fighting trafficking in persons and supporting victims, and departments supporting poor families and children to keep them out of street situations. The law on trafficking in persons specified that minors involved in trafficking were victims.  The national strategy for 2023 to 2026 on child protection included measures to combat trafficking.  In 2024, the State party had arrested more than 1,000 persons involved in trafficking in persons.  The department combatting trafficking had been linked with the secret services department to strengthen transnational activities to combat the crime.

    The Ministry of Interior had implemented measures to prevent the spread of illegal drugs under the national strategy to combat drugs for 2025 to 2030.  Educational programmes were carried out to strengthen public servants’ capacity to treat drug addicts.  Some 16 rehabilitation centres had been established for drug addicts, who were treated as victims rather than criminals and supported to reintegrate into society. The State party had cooperated with other States to dismantle international drug trafficking networks. The volume of confiscated drugs had increased recently.

    Parliamentary committees were examining the draft law on children’s protection, which promoted children’s rights and prohibited all forms of abuse against children.  The law would ensure that children enjoyed protection from discrimination regardless of their ethnicity, religion or other characteristics, and the right to live in a safe family environment.

    Concluding Remarks 

    BENOIT VAN KEIRSBILCK, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, said that the size and high level of the delegation showed that Iraq highly valued children’s rights.  The dialogue had revealed areas in which Iraq had made important progress since 2015, as well as issues that needed to be addressed. Based on it, the Committee would develop recommendations to help the State party better implement the Convention. The future law on child protection seemed extremely promising; the Committee hoped that it would be adopted soon and fully implemented.  It was important that children knew their rights and were able to implement them. Iraq still faced many challenges. The Committee looked forward to the future progress that it hoped the State would make.

    KHALID SALAM SAEED, Minster of Justice of Iraq and head of the delegation, said Iraq had presented its progress in implementing the Convention and the recommendations of the Committee.  The State party looked forward to receiving the Committee’s recommendations, which would help to consolidate children’s rights in the country.  The concluding observations would be carefully studied by authorities drafting policies and plans on the rights of the child.  Iraq was determined to promote human rights based on the principles of equality and social justice.  The Government cooperated with various stakeholders to implement the Committee’s recommendations and its international obligations.  Iraq thanked all persons who had facilitated the dialogue.

    ABDULKARIM HASHEM MUSTAFA, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said the dialogue reflected the Iraqi Government’s resolve to protect the rights of the child pursuant to the provisions of the Convention.  Iraq thanked the Committee for its moral support, which encouraged it to further improve the situation of its children.

    SOPIO KILADZE, Committee Chair, said that the Committee and the State party shared a common goal of improving the situation of children in Iraq.  The Committee congratulated the State party on the progress it had made and looked forward to hearing about the future progress that the State would make for children in the next dialogue.

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

     

     

    CRC25.012E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 16 May 2025 Departmental update Neglected tropical diseases centre-stage at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Sunday 18 May 2025 10:30−13:30
     
    Restaurant Vieux-Bois, Avenue de la Paix 12    		 Snakebite envenoming : reaching our 2030 targets
     
    Host: Ministry of Health, Kenya    		 The objective of this meeting is to build visibility for snakebite on the global health agenda
     
    Sunday 18 May 2025
    17:30−19:30
     
    Restaurant Vieux-Bois, Avenue de la Paix 12
     
         		 Shared progress: how collaborative philanthropy can accelerate country-led health goals
     
    Host: Mohammed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity    		 Under the theme Shared Progress: How Collaborative Philanthropy Can Accelerate Country-led Health Goals, the reception will convene country representatives; global health leaders; philanthropic organizations; and multilaterals to discuss how countries and donors can work collaboratively to forge new pathways for global health progress. 
    Monday 19 May 2025
    13:00−14:30
     
    Centre d’Accueil de la Genève Internationale (CAGI), La Pastorale, Route de Ferney 106    		 Protecting Progress: Integration for Infectious Disease Elimination in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
     
    Host: Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE)    		 The global health landscape is undergoing tectonic shifts, driven largely by the recent significant changes in traditional donor priorities. This, compounded by ongoing challenges of climate change and humanitarian crises threatens to erode decades of progress in eliminating preventable infectious diseases such as malaria, polio, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Given this new reality, integration—both across disease programs and within broader health and development efforts—has never been more urgent.
    Tuesday 20 May 2025
    08:00−10:00
     
    Hôtel Royal, Rue de Lausanne 41    		 Health financing : what now ? What next? Insights from malaria, dengue & NTDs
     
    Hosts: Health Finance Coalition (HFC); Malaria No More; and the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD)    		 The world is witnessing major shifts in the global health landscape. Among these, the decrease in donor funding for climate-sensitive infectious and tropical diseases on the one hand, and the explosive growth of health threats such as arboviruses including dengue, as well as the persistent threat of malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) on communities worldwide are likely to be among the most defining factors of future health policy.
    Tuesday 20 May 2025 17:00−19:00
     
    Pavillon Gallatin, Domaine de Penthes, Route de Pregny 26    		 5 Billion Mectizan Treatments Donated and Counting
     
    Hosts: Mectizan Donation Program, Task Force for Global Health    		 The event will celebrate the tremendous progress made towards the elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis, notably the 5 billion ivermectin (Mectizan) treatments that have been donated. Since 1987 MSD and the Mectizan Donation Program have provided Mectizan to eliminate onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis worldwide.
    Tuesday 20 May 2025 18:00−20:00
     
    Hôtel Président Wilson, Quai Wilson 47    		 Skin diseases as a global public health priority
     
    Hosts: International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations (GlobalSkin), International League of Dermatology Societies (ILDS), Anesvad Foundation, Health Diplomacy Alliance    		 The event will discuss the importance of addressing skin diseases as a public health problem, and will provide critical discussions on the groundbreaking WHA resolution, “Skin Diseases as a Global Health Priority”.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025
    08:00−09:30
     
    Restaurant Vieux-Bois, Avenue de la Paix 12
         		 Strengthening Strategic Partnerships to fight VBDs, NTDs, and Emerging Infectious Diseases
     
    Hosts: Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Assoc. (JPMA), Permanent Mission of Japan, IFPMA    		 As the field of global health undergoes significant transformation, we aim to raise global awareness of the challenges and solutions related to infectious diseases such as VBDs, NTDs, and emerging infectious diseases that have long affected LMICs. As part of this effort, we would like to overview the progress made and the challenges we face, as well as showcase strategic initiatives/contributions in this field by governments, private sector and international organizations
    Wednesday 21 May 2025
    09:00−13:30
     
    Campus Biotech Innovation Park, Avenue de Sécheron 15    		 Economics of elimination and NTDs
     
    Host: Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE)    		 The event will initiate an International Economics Working Group (IEWG) dialogue, share current work, and explore collaboration on the economics of elimination and neglected tropical diseases.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025
    12:00−15:00
     
    Geneva Press Club,
    Domaine de Penthes,
    Chemin de l’Impératrice 18    		 Accelerating NTD elimination through country-driven efforts and cross-border collaboration
     
    Hosts: Global Onchocerciasis Network for Elimination (GONE), African Union, END Fund, DNDi
     
    Member State Leadership: Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda    		 The purpose of the meeting is to share progress and celebrate successes of NTD elimination milestones, share cross-border collaboration examples, celebrate the endorsement of cross-border agreements and a Call for Action which will inspire and further enhance cross-border and multi-disease collaboration to accelerate progress towards global disease elimination targets. Ministers of Health of Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda will sign a MoU to End VL in Africa. The event will stress the importance of country ownership and strategies to reach NTD public health target and to mitigate the risk of losing the gains made over the past decades, highlighting the opportunity of the implementation of the proposed resolution on skin diseases at WHA78. A signature of an MoU for Visceral Leishmaniasis in East African countries will take place during the ceremony.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:00−20:00
     
    Hõtel Royal, Rue de Lausanne 41    		 Roundtable dinner: The Future of Funding for NTDs
     
    Hosts: The END Fund, DEVEX    		 The event will be hosted by Kate Warren EVP and Executive Editor, Devex and Dr Solomon Zewdu, CEO, The END Fund. The roundtable dinner will bring together a select group of 10–12 senior stakeholders from the private sector, philanthropy, global health, policy and international financing organizations to engage in meaningful dialogue , enabling key decision-makers to share insights, align priorities and identify actions to accelerate progress in combating NTDs. Roundtable dinner: The Future of Funding for NTDS
    Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:30−19:30
     
    Colladon Parc Restaurant,
    Chemin Colladon 5,
    Petit-Saconnex    		 Reception for countries endemic for dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease) and in pre-certification Guinea
     
    Hosts: Ministry of Health, Chad and The Carter Center    		 The reception will be an occasion to celebrate the tremendous progress toward eradication, rally behind the WHA Resolution being voted on, reflect on commitments made in the Abu Dhabi Declaration and N’Djamena Commitment, and look ahead to what remains to achieve Guinea worm eradication by the year 2030.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:30−20:30
     
    The International Red Cross & Red Crescent Museum, Geneva, Avenue de la Paix 17    		 “A seat at the table” – art installation
     
    Hosts: Gilead Sciences, Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care Program in Global Primary Health Care, International Alliance of Patient Organizations (IAPO) and UNAIDS    		 Frontline AIDS in collaboration with the Female Genital Schistosomiasis Integration Group (FIG), Education as a Vaccine, Alliance for Public Health, and LVCT Health will contribute artwork to this important event. It will feature stories and an art installation that bring the importance of people-centered care into focus— addressing the imbalance of power in which people with lived experience of disease are too often left out of health system decision-making.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:30−21:00
     
    Hôtel Mandarin Oriental,
    Quai Turrettini 1    		 Ministerial summit: REACH network
     
    Hosts: Nigeria, REACH Network (Chairs: Minister Muhammad Ali Pate [Nigeria] and Professor Samba Sow [former Minister of Health, Mali])    		 The event is convened to reinforce ministerial commitment from existing REACH countries and expand the network’s impact by engaging potential new member countries. It will emphasize integrated, equitable and evidence-driven child survival strategies, particularly mass drug administration of azithromycin
    Thursday 22 May 2025
    08:00−10:00
     
    Hôtel Président Wilson,
    Quai Wilson 47    		 Surveillance and innovation for dengue & arboviruses: international unity to avert future health emergencies
     
    Host: the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases    		 The event will focus on updates on the progression of the arboviral threat worldwide (dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, Oropouche fever), will provide a platform for Member States to make statements on arboviruses experiences and collaborative surveillance strategies, will enable discussions among participants, will serve as a forum for exchange of best practices and networking among participants
    Thursday 22 May 2025
    12:00−14:00
     
    Hôtel Intercontinental,
    Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 7−9    		 Innovation Meets Unity: Advancing Global Health Solutions for Africa
     
    Host: Merck KGaA, Circle Diplomatique Genève    		 Global health leadership discussion to discuss diminished engagement with multilateral institutions which has resulted in weakened health systems in Africa and diminished international support

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Kennedy to Senator Marshall During HELP Committee Hearing: We’re Going to Make HHS Accountable to the American People

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) questioned the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., today during a hearing in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP).
    During the hearing, Senator Marshall asked Secretary Kennedy about the chronic disease epidemic in America, efforts to make HHS more efficient, and vaccines.
    Senator Marshall has been a long-time ally of Secretary Kennedy and was heavily involved in his confirmation process. As an OB-GYN of over 25 years, Senator Marshall is also the Chairman of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Caucus.

    [embedded content]

    Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full line of questioning.
    Highlights from the hearing include:
    On Making America Healthy Again:
    Senator Marshall: “This was going to be a question. I’m just going to make a statement. All the research that we do on MAHA, on soil health, on nutrition, in my heart, that’s research on cancer. It’s research on Alzheimer’s, at the end of the day… We should be spending as much money at the front side of this as we are trying to cure the end of it. We’re seeing epidemics of colorectal cancer, young age Alzheimer’s, all these things. And I think the research at the front end is every bit as important at the hind end.” 
    Secretary Kennedy: “…NIH made all these extraordinary breakthroughs, and particularly in treating cancer and, you know, reducing mortalities for colorectal cancer. But my question is, isn’t it as important to find out why kids are getting colorectal cancer?
    “When you and I were kids, there were zero kids with colorectal cancer. It’s an epidemic now, so it’s not really a badge for us when we say, ‘Oh, we can make it less lethal.’ Why don’t we go figure out what’s causing it and eliminate that exposure with all of these with Alzheimer’s, with heart disease? There’s something making Americans very, very sick, and our response should not be just ‘okay, we’ll develop a pharmaceutical fix for it, or medical fix.’ Let’s figure out what it is and get rid of it so we can have healthy kids again.”
    On efforts to make HHS more efficient:
    Senator Marshall: “Isn’t it true that under Joe Biden’s White House, they added 20,000 employees to HHS? When you were nominated, there were 28 divisions with HHS, 100 communication offices, 40 IT departments, and nine HR units as well? Can you answer that question?”
    Secretary Kennedy: “Yes, that’s right. There are dozens of IT departments. There’s eight senior finance officials. There are nine separate offices on women’s health, eight separate offices for minority health, 27 separate offices for HIV, 59 behavioral health programs, [and] 40 opioid programs.”
    “What we’re trying to do is consolidate, streamline, eliminate the redundancies, eliminate all those administrative costs for each one of those little departments, consolidate them and make them make sense, and make them accountable to the American people.
    “… As you point out, there’s 40 procurement departments with four separate computer systems that don’t talk to each other… [HHS] grew like 38% of the last four years. I would say that’s great if Americans got healthier, but they didn’t. They got worse.
    “So what we’re trying to do is go back to the pre-COVID levels and to start making the department function as it would… in a rational universe, and to bring in, you know, modern AI and telemedicine, and all the opportunities we have now, these new efficiencies and for medical delivery to the American people and for patient care.
    “And we’re not able to take advantage of any of them because there’s so much chaos and disorganization in this department, and everybody who’s gone up against it in the past has thrown their hands up and given up. What we’re saying is, let’s organize it in a way that I can quickly adopt and deploy all these opportunities we have to really deliver high-quality health care to the American people.”
    On vaccines:
    Senator Marshall: “Let’s stay on the measles vaccine, just for a second… I’m an obstetrician. If a 25-year-old pregnant woman asked me if she should take the measles vaccine, the MMR… I would give her the answer, ‘No, you shouldn’t.’ But if she was 25 and trying to get pregnant, I would give her different advice.
    “I’ve always valued the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship. I went to medical school for four years. I did four years of residency. I delivered thousands of babies. It’s my job to give that recommendation. What’s the role of the Secretary of HHS as far as recommendations of vaccines?”
    Secretary Kennedy: “Well, the vaccine recommendations, Senator, are normally made through ACIP, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which is an outside consulting committee at CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. There’s another committee called VRBPC [the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee], which is within the FDA [Food and Drug Administration], that actually recommends whether the vaccines get licensed or not, and so that’s where the recommendations come from.
    “… Traditionally, they have not done evidence-based medicine. They only adopted evidence-based medicine about 12 years ago, and what we’ve said during our administration is we want to have safety studies prior to the licensure and recommendation of vaccines.
    “Vaccines are the only medical product that is exempt from pre-licensing safety testing. So the only vaccine that has been tested in a full-blown placebo trial against an inert placebo was the COVID vaccine. Of the other 76 shots that children in this country received between birth and 18 years old, none of them have been safety tested in pre-licensing studies against the placebo, which means we don’t understand the risk profile for those products, and that’s something that I intend to remedy.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 15 May 2025 Statement Statement on the antigen composition of COVID-19 vaccines

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Key points:

    • Vaccination remains an important public health countermeasure against COVID-19. As per the WHO Director General’s standing recommendations for COVID-19, Member States are recommended to continue to offer COVID-19 vaccination based on the recommendations of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE).
    • SARS-CoV-2 continues to undergo sustained evolution since its emergence in humans, with important genetic and antigenic changes in the spike protein.
    • The objective of an update to COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition is to enhance vaccine-induced immune responses to circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants.
    • The WHO Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC) advises manufacturers that monovalent JN.1 or KP.2 vaccines remain appropriate vaccine antigens; monovalent LP.8.1 is a suitable alternative vaccine antigen.
    • In accordance with WHO SAGE policy, vaccination should not be delayed in anticipation of access to vaccines with an updated composition.

    The WHO Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC) continues to closely monitor the genetic and antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants, immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination, and the performance of COVID-19 vaccines against circulating variants. Based on these evaluations, WHO advises vaccine manufacturers and regulatory authorities on the implications for future updates to COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition. In April 2024, the TAG-CO-VAC recommended the use of a monovalent JN.1 lineage vaccine antigen as one approach to induce enhanced neutralizing antibody responses to JN.1 and its descendent lineages. In December 2024, the TAG-CO-VAC advised retaining the use of a monovalent JN.1 lineage vaccine antigen. Multiple manufacturers (using mRNA, recombinant protein-based, and adenovirus-vectored platforms) have updated COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition to monovalent JN.1 lineage formulations (JN.1 or KP.2). Several of these vaccines have been approved for use by regulatory authorities and introduced into vaccination programmes in some countries during the second half of 2024. Previous statements from the TAG-CO-VAC can be found on the WHO website.

    The TAG-CO-VAC reconvened on 6-7 May 2025 to review the genetic and antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2; immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or COVID-19 vaccination; the performance of currently approved vaccines against circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants; and the implications for COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition.

    Evidence reviewed

    The published and unpublished evidence reviewed by the TAG-CO-VAC included: (1) SARS-CoV-2 genetic evolution with additional support from the WHO Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE); (2) Antigenic characterization of previous and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants using virus neutralization tests with animal antisera and further analysis of antigenic relationships using antigenic cartography; (3) Immunogenicity data on the breadth of neutralizing antibody responses elicited by currently approved vaccine antigens against circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants using animal and human sera; (4) Preliminary immunogenicity data on immune responses following infection with circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants; (5) Available vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates of currently approved vaccines during periods of JN.1 lineage circulation; and (6) Preliminary non-clinical and clinical immunogenicity data on the performance of candidate vaccines with updated antigens shared confidentially by vaccine manufacturers with TAG-CO-VAC. Further details on the data reviewed by the TAG-CO-VAC can be found in the accompanying data annex. Confidential data reviewed by the TAG-CO-VAC are not shown.

    Summary of available evidence

    • There are persistent and increasing gaps in the reporting of cases, hospitalizations and deaths, from WHO Member States, making epidemiological trends difficult to infer. Nonetheless, in 2025, SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate globally, causing severe disease, post COVID-19 condition, and death. The majority of COVID-19 deaths continue to occur in individuals aged 65 years and older and those with coexisting conditions. Some countries have reported an increase in incidence of COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths among children under 1 year of age, as compared to young adults, although this group still accounts for a small proportion of total COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths.
    • As of May 2025, currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants are derived from JN.1. The weekly proportion of Variant Under Monitoring (VUM) LP.8.1 among all SARS-CoV-2 sequences submitted to GISAID continues to increase. The weekly proportion of JN.1 (Variant of Interest, VOI) is slowly increasing, largely due to increases in LF.7 and its descendent variants, while all other VUMs (KP.3, KP.3.1.1, XEC, and LB.1) are declining. 
    • Several JN.1 derived variants have independently evolved changes in the spike protein at epitopes known to be targeted by neutralizing antibodies.
    • Published and unpublished data using antisera from naïve hamsters infected with JN.1, KP.2, KP.3.1.1, XEC or LP.8.1 or mice immunized with mRNA vaccine antigens JN.1, KP.2 or KP.3 showed that JN.1, KP.2, KP.3.1.1, XEC, and LP.8.1 are antigenically closely related to each other (approximately 1 antigenic unit in cartographic analysis, which corresponds to a two-fold-difference in neutralization).
    • In published and unpublished data from humans, vaccination with monovalent JN.1 or KP.2 antigens significantly increased neutralizing antibody titers against all JN.1 descendent lineages tested:
      • Analysis of pre- and post-vaccination sera from JN.1 lineage (i.e. JN.1 or KP.2) immunized individuals demonstrated significant rises in neutralization of JN.1 and its descendent lineages, including KP.3.1.1, XEC, LF.7.2.1, and LP.8.1.
      • Neutralization titers against LP.8.1 were generally modestly lower (2-fold reduction) than those against the homologous JN.1 or KP.2 antigen.
    • Contemporary vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates are relative (rVE), rather than absolute (comparing vaccinated to unvaccinated individuals), and demonstrate the added or incremental protection of recent vaccination over and above pre-existing infection- and vaccine-derived immunity. Monovalent JN.1 or KP.2 COVID-19 vaccines were introduced into some vaccination programmes in the second half of 2024. There are only a few studies estimating rVE for the monovalent JN.1 or KP.2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines during periods of JN.1 descendent lineage circulation. Both vaccines demonstrated additional protection—relative to pre-existing immunity—against symptomatic and severe COVID-19 during the first three to four months after vaccination.
    • Data shared confidentially with the TAG-CO-VAC by vaccine manufacturers showed that:
      • Immunization of naïve mice, as well as of mice previously immunized with SARS-CoV-2 variants, with monovalent JN.1 or KP.2 vaccines resulted in high neutralizing antibody titers against JN.1 and its derivatives including KP.2, KP.3.1.1, XEC, LP.8.1, and LF.7.2. However, neutralization titers against LP.8.1 were typically lower than those against the homologous immunizing antigen.
      • Immunization of naïve mice, as well as of mice previously immunized with SARS-CoV-2 variants, with monovalent LP.8.1 vaccine candidates elicited high neutralizing antibody titers against the homologous antigen. Cross-neutralizing antibody titers elicited against other JN.1 lineage variants including JN.1, KP.2, KP.3, KP.3.1.1, XEC, and LF.7.2 were similar or modestly higher than those elicited by JN.1 or KP.2 antigens.
      • In humans, vaccination with monovalent JN.1 or KP.2 antigens resulted in robust neutralizing antibody responses to JN.1 and descendent variants, including KP.3.1.1, XEC, LP.8.1, and LF.7.2.
      • As in non-clinical data, analysis of pre- and post-vaccination sera from JN.1 or KP.2 immunized individuals showed some variation in neutralizing antibody titers against LP.8.1 and LF.7.2 across different studies. In most instances, they were similar or lower than those against the homologous JN.1 or KP.2 antigens.

    Overall, the currently approved monovalent JN.1 or KP.2 vaccines continue to elicit broadly cross-reactive immune responses to circulating JN.1-derived variants. LP.8.1 as a vaccine antigen offers similar or modestly increased cross-reactive antibody responses to circulating JN.1-derived variants, as compared to monovalent JN.1 or KP.2 vaccines. Mathematical modeling indicates that an increase in neutralizing antibody titers may translate into an improvement in vaccine effectiveness and duration of protection.

    The TAG-CO-VAC acknowledges several limitations of available data: 

    • There are persistent and increasing gaps in the reporting of cases, hospitalizations and deaths, from WHO Member States, as well as in genetic/genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 globally, including low numbers of samples sequenced and limited geographic diversity. The TAG-CO-VAC strongly supports the ongoing work of the WHO Coronavirus Network (CoViNet) and the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) to address this information gap.
    • The timing, specific mutations and antigenic characteristics of emerging and future variants are difficult to predict, and the potential public health impact of these variants remain unknown. There are JN.1-derived variants and long branch saltation variants that are currently detected in low or very low proportions, and which will continue to be monitored and/or characterized. The TAG-CO-VAC strongly supports the ongoing work of the TAG-VE. 
    • Although neutralizing antibody titers have been shown to be important correlates of protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection and of estimates of vaccine effectiveness, there are multiple components of immune protection elicited by infection and/or vaccination. Data on the immune responses following JN.1 descendent lineage infection or monovalent JN.1 or KP.2 vaccination are largely restricted to neutralizing antibodies. Data and interpretation of other aspects of the immune response, including cellular immunity, are limited. 
    • Immunogenicity data against currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants are not available for all COVID-19 vaccines. 
    • Estimates of rVE against recently circulating JN.1 variants are limited in terms of the number of studies, geographic diversity, vaccine platforms evaluated, populations assessed, duration of follow-up, and contemporary comparisons of vaccines with different antigen composition.

    Recommendations for COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition

    Monovalent JN.1 (NextStrain: 24A, GenBank: PP298019, GISAID: EPI_ISL_18872762) or KP.2 vaccines remain appropriate for ongoing use; monovalent LP.8.1 (NextStrain: 25A; GenBank: PV074550.1; GISAID: EPI_ISL_19467828) is a suitable alternative vaccine antigen.

    Other approaches that demonstrate broad and robust neutralizing antibody responses or efficacy against currently circulating JN.1 descendent lineage variants could also be considered.

    As per the WHO Director General’s standing recommendations for COVID-19, Member States are recommended to continue to offer COVID-19 vaccination based on the recommendations of the WHO SAGE. Vaccination should not be delayed in anticipation of access to vaccines with an updated composition.

    Further data requested

    Given the limitations of the evidence upon which the recommendations above are derived and the anticipated continued evolution of the virus, the TAG-CO-VAC strongly encourages generation of the following data (in addition to the types of data outlined in March 2025): 

    • Immune responses and clinical endpoints (i.e. VE and/or comparator rates of infection and severe disease) in varied human populations who receive currently approved COVID-19 vaccines against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, across different vaccine platforms.
    • Strengthened epidemiological and virological surveillance, as per the Standing Recommendations for COVID-19 in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005), to determine if emerging variants are antigenically distinct and able to displace circulating variants.
    • Strengthened epidemiological surveillance to characterize disease severity in immunologically naïve and/ or immature individuals (i.e. birth cohorts).
    • Clinical evaluation of relevant new vaccine antigens derived from more recent SARS-CoV-2 variants.

    As previously stated, the TAG-CO-VAC continues to encourage the further development of vaccines that may improve protection against infection and reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

    The TAG-CO-VAC will continue to closely monitor the genetic and antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants, immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination, and the performance of COVID-19 vaccines against circulating variants. The TAG-CO-VAC will also continue to reconvene every six months, or as needed, to evaluate the implications for COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition. At each meeting, recommendations to either maintain current vaccine composition or to consider updates will be issued. Prior to each meeting, the TAG-CO-VAC will publish an update to the statement on the types of data requested to inform COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition deliberations.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Veasey Demands Critical Dallas County Funding be Restored to Contain Measles Outbreak in Texas

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)

    Headline: Rep. Veasey Demands Critical Dallas County Funding be Restored to Contain Measles Outbreak in Texas

    WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33), along with Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-33) and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), demanded that $7.7 million in public health grants for Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) abruptly terminated by the Trump Administration be restored to address the measles outbreak that has reached the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  

    “DCHHS relied on this critical funding to safeguard public health in one of the most populous and fastest-growing metroplexes in the nation,” the Members wrote. “Stripping these resources without warning, amid a serious and unprecedented outbreak, significantly undermines Dallas County’s ability to respond to measles and other communicable diseases, placing millions of residents at immediate risk. We demand answers regarding this decision and urge the CDC to take swift corrective action to mitigate the harm caused by the revocation of these life-saving funds.”

    In the midst of a surging measles epidemic, the revoked funding included three major pandemic grants totaling $70 million, including a Vaccination Capacity Grant that was being used to coordinate measles vaccination clinics throughout Dallas County. Without this grant, DCHHS has had to cancel these vaccination clinics, just as the first case of measles was reported in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in a middle-school child on April 23rd. 

    The members are demanding answers from CDC on why this critical funding was revoked in the middle of an unprecedented measles outbreak, and how DCHHS can have the funding restored, immediately. 

     

    To read the full letter, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH continues to follow up on suspected closure of private healthcare facilities

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    DH continues to follow up on suspected closure of private healthcare facilities 
    As announced on May 2, the Government set up an inter-departmental dedicated team to follow up on the incident. The team comprises representatives from the Security Bureau, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the DH and the Consumer Council.
     
    The DH has set up a telephone hotline, email and a WhatsApp account since May 3 for public enquiries on related issues. As at 5pm today, a total of 149 enquiries were received. Most of the enquiries were related to vaccines for children or other age groups. One enquiry about laboratory services has been received.

    Laboratory reports
    ——————— 
    For the sake of prudence, the DH is also reaching out to local registered professionals operating medical laboratories and radiological imaging services, inviting them to contact the DH for assistance if they are unable to deliver any laboratory reports to referring doctors from the private healthcare facilities in question.
     
    Anyone who has received laboratory or diagnostic radiological imaging services through the private healthcare facilities in question and has not yet been able to obtain the report from their doctor may call the DH hotline (2125 1188), which operates from 9am to 5pm daily, or send an email to dhhelpdesk_2501@dh.gov.hk 
    Childhood immunisation
    —————————
    Public enquiries
    —————— 
    The DH has compiled a series of Frequently Asked Questions from recently received enquiries and uploaded them to the DH’s     website 
    The DH will continue to join hands with other members of the inter-departmental dedicated team to follow up on the incident and take appropriate actions, with a view to handling all cases as soon as possible and provide assistance to those affected by the incident.
    Issued at HKT 18:25

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA 101: Product Recalls

    Source: US Food and Drug Administration

    Image

    What Is a Recall?
    A recall is an action taken by a company to correct or remove from the market an FDA regulated product that violates U.S. laws and regulations. Recalls may be initiated voluntarily by a company, or at the request of the FDA.
    Recalls are important because they protect the public from products that may cause injury, illness or even death. More than 83,000 FDA regulated products were recalled between 2014 and 2024.
    Most recalls involve removing violative FDA regulated products from the market, but there are instances where a violation can be corrected without removing the products from distribution. For example:

    An MRI machine or other equipment may be too large to remove from a medical facility to correct a violation and the issue could be corrected on-site.
    Affixing updated labeling on a food product, prior to retail sale, to declare an ingredient previously not listed on the product’s labeling – such as wheat, milk or peanuts.

    FDA-Regulated Products

    Human food products
    Animal food and feed
    Cosmetics
    Human drugs
    Animal drugs
    Medical devices
    Radiation-emitting products
    Vaccines
    Blood and blood products
    Transplantable human tissue
    Tobacco products

    Common reasons a product may be recalled are:

    Manufacturing defects;
    Contamination with disease causing microorganisms such as Salmonella, E. coli, etc.;
    The presence of foreign objects such as broken glass, metal fragments or plastic;
    Failure to list a major allergen;
    Failure to list a certain ingredient;
    Risk of erroneous results when a product is used as directed, e.g., diagnostic testing product results being inaccurate;
    Non-sterile product intended to be sterile;
    Adverse event reports;
    Software corrections or updates.

    Where Can Consumers Find Information About Recalls?
    Enforcement Report: The FDA provides the public a descriptive listing of each new recall and, if classified, sorted by the recall’s classification in the FDA’s Enforcement Report.
    Subscribe: The FDA offers a recall subscription service where users can sign up to receive daily or weekly notification of all FDA recalls.
    Public Warnings: are an effective way for companies or the FDA to alert the public that a product being recalled presents a serious health hazard. The FDA maintains a site, Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts, of public warnings about certain recalls of FDA-regulated products. When a company announces a recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert, the FDA typically posts the company’s announcement on its website as a public service. The FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
    Recalling Company: The company initiating the product removal or correction generally issues a recall notification to their direct distributors or customers. This notification contains information to help identify recalled products, such as the product description, brand or name; size and type of packaging; UPC (universal product code); other product codes, such as lot codes, sell-by dates, or use-by dates; pictures of the packaging and labels; and distribution information (e.g., the states and/or stores in which they were sold). The notification may also explain the reason for the recall and instruct the company’s direct customers what actions to take including notifying their customers if they have further distributed the product.
    Other government agencies: A consolidated list of recalls from six federal agencies can be found at www.recalls.gov.
    What Should Consumers Do if They Believe They Have a Recalled Product in Their Possession?
    Follow recall notification instructions: Read the recall notice carefully and verify the product description such as brand name, packaging size, and codes such as expiration or best by dates to determine whether your product has been recalled. Be sure to follow any product-specific instructions. Additionally, contact the company for further information.

    Often, recalled products can be returned to the store where they were purchased.
    A medical device recall does not always mean that you must stop using the product or return it to the company. A recall sometimes means that the medical device needs to be checked, adjusted, or fixed. Contact your health care provider for additional guidance.
    If you cannot return a product, dispose of the product properly.  If it’s contaminated, ensure it is in a secure container and place the item in a covered trash can or dumpster so no people or animals can access it. Be sure to follow your local disposal laws.
    Clean the area where the product was stored.
    Do not give the product to others, such as a food bank or a pet.

    Product-specific information about recalls and enforcement actions can be found at FDA center webpages responsible for that product:
    The Human Foods Program
    Center for Devices and Radiological Health
    Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
    Center for Veterinary Medicine
    Center for Tobacco Products
    Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
    What Should Consumers Do if They Suspect an FDA Regulated Product Made Them or Their Pet Sick or Injured?
    Consumers experiencing an illness, injury, allergic reaction, or other adverse event should contact their health care provider or veterinarian.  Consumers can also report product issues to the FDA and the company that distributed the product.
    Consumers are encouraged to report issues involving FDA regulated products through FDA’s SmartHub. Additional guidance on how to report issues with products can be found here: https://www.safetyreporting.fda.gov/smarthub.
    FDA also encourages reporting by health professionals, patients and consumers about a product via MedWatch — The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. Reporting can be done online, by phone, or by submitting the MedWatch 3500 form by mail or fax. Visit the MedWatch How to Report page for more details.
    Recalls are put in place to keep you and your family safe. If you think you have a recalled product, don’t use it. Check the instructions and take action! If you feel sick after using a product, contact your doctor and report the issue to the FDA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Childhood immunisation rates hit three-year high

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    More than 80 per cent of New Zealand children are now fully immunised by 24 months of age – the highest rate since early 2022, recent Health New Zealand data provided to Health Minister Simeon Brown shows.

    “This is a welcome step forward. Just seven months ago, 75.7 per cent of two-year-olds were up to date with their immunisations. Now, that figure has risen to 80.2 per cent – a 4.5 percentage point increase toward our goal of 95 per cent coverage by 2030. This is the highest rate in three years,” Mr Brown says.

    This achievement comes as New Zealand confirmed a new case of measles in Auckland this week, underscoring the urgent need to protect both children and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases.

    “This case is a timely reminder: measles spreads quickly and can be dangerous, especially for young children. Every child deserves protection from serious illnesses, and that protection starts with immunisation.

    “Immunisation not only protects you, but also helps protect those around you, including loved ones and vulnerable community members, from becoming seriously ill or spreading disease.

    “That’s why improving childhood immunisation rates is a key priority for our Government. It’s encouraging to see that our targeted approach – backed by a record $16.68 billion health investment across three budgets – is delivering tangible results.

    “This result shows our health targets in action, focusing the health system on improving outcomes for New Zealanders. By investing in community-based services and growing our frontline workforce, we are enabling our health system to better protect our most vulnerable.

    “We still have work to do, but reaching 80.2 per cent of Kiwi children being vaccinated by 24 months of age is a big step forward. After years of decline, we are now seeing the positive impact of dedicated efforts in general practice, alongside co-ordinated and targeted community-led outreach and support. This result is encouraging, and our focus remains firmly on reaching 95 per cent coverage.

    “If your child has missed any vaccines, now is the time to catch up. Don’t wait for an outbreak to take action,” Mr Brown says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA and CDC Recommend Pause in Use of Ixchiq (Chikungunya Vaccine, Live) in Individuals 60 Years of Age and Older While Postmarketing Safety Reports are Investigated: FDA Safety Communication

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    [Posted 05/12/2025]
    AUDIENCE: Patient, Health Care Professional, Pharmacy
    ISSUE: The FDA and the CDC are recommending a pause in the use of Ixchiq (Chikungunya Vaccine, Live) in individuals 60 years of age and older while the Agencies investigate postmarketing reports of serious adverse events, including neurologic and cardiac events, in individuals who have received the vaccine.
    As of May 7, 2025, 17 serious adverse events, including two that resulted in death, have been reported in individuals 62 through 89 years of age who received Ixchiq during postmarketing use globally. Six of these reports have been from the United States (U.S.). Most U.S. and foreign serious adverse events that have been reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), co-managed by FDA and CDC, have been in individuals with underlying chronic medical conditions. Adverse events reported to VAERS may not be causally related to vaccination. Approximately 80,000 doses of Ixchiq have been distributed globally.
    Some of the postmarketing reports include adverse events that are consistent with severe complications of chikungunya disease, resulting in hospitalization; one person died from encephalitis. The FDA-approved Prescribing Information includes a warning to inform that the vaccine may cause severe or prolonged chikungunya-like adverse reactions.
    In addition, although not commonly reported during the clinical studies, severe chikungunya-like adverse reactions that prevented daily activity and/or required medical intervention occurred in 1.6% of Ixchiq recipients and none of the placebo recipients. Two recipients with severe chikungunya-like adverse reactions were hospitalized. In addition, some recipients had prolonged chikungunya-like adverse reactions that lasted for at least 30 days.
    FDA will conduct an updated benefit-risk assessment for the use of Ixchiq in individuals 60 years of age and older. In addition, FDA and CDC will continue the evaluation of postmarketing safety reports for Ixchiq. While the safety of Ixchiq for use in individuals 60 years of age and older is being further assessed, FDA and CDC are recommending a pause in use of the vaccine in this age group. FDA and CDC will update the public when the Agencies complete their evaluation of this safety issue.
    BACKGROUND: On November 9, 2023, FDA approved Ixchiq for the prevention of disease caused by chikungunya virus in individuals 18 years of age and older who are at increased risk of exposure to chikungunya virus. Ixchiq contains a live, weakened version of the chikungunya virus and may cause symptoms similar to those of chikungunya disease.
    [FDA Safety Communication – 05/09/2025]
    Health care professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which is co-managed by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    Content current as of:
    05/12/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CHP investigates two cases of severe paediatric COVID-19 infection

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    CHP investigates two cases of severe paediatric COVID-19 infection      For more information on the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and the latest recommendations on vaccine use, please refer to the CHP’s websiteIssued at HKT 18:48

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Debates – Thursday, 8 May 2025 – Strasbourg – Revised edition

    Source: European Parliament
    Verbatim report of proceedings
     490k  558k
    Thursday, 8 May 2025 – Strasbourg
    1. Opening of the sitting
      2. Composition of political groups
      3. Composition of committees and delegations
      4. 80 years after the end of World War II – freedom, democracy and security as the heritage of Europe (debate)
      5. Old challenges and new commercial practices in the internal market (debate)
      6. Resumption of the sitting
      7. Voting time
        7.1. Arrest and risk of execution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania (RC-B10-0260/2025, B10-0260/2025, B10-0261/2025, B10-0262/2025, B10-0263/2025, B10-0264/2025, B10-0265/2025) (vote)
        7.2. Return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported by Russia (RC-B10-0249/2025, B10-0247/2025, B10-0249/2025, B10-0250/2025, B10-0252/2025, B10-0255/2025, B10-0258/2025) (vote)
        7.3. Violations of religious freedom in Tibet (RC-B10-0248/2025, B10-0248/2025, B10-0251/2025, B10-0253/2025, B10-0254/2025, B10-0256/2025, B10-0259/2025) (vote)
        7.4. Ninth report on economic and social cohesion (A10-0066/2025 – Jacek Protas) (vote)
        7.5. CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles for 2025 to 2027 (vote)
        7.6. The protection status of the wolf (Canis lupus) (vote)
        7.7. The role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season (A10-0079/2025 – Borys Budka) (vote)
        7.8. Screening of foreign investments in the Union (A10-0061/2025 – Raphaël Glucksmann) (vote)
        7.9. Suspending certain parts of Regulation (EU) 2015/478 as regards imports of Ukrainian products into the European Union (A10-0059/2025 – Karin Karlsbro) (vote)
        7.10. Competition policy – annual report 2024 (A10-0071/2025 – Lara Wolters) (vote)
        7.11. Banking Union – annual report 2024 (A10-0044/2025 – Ralf Seekatz) (vote)
        7.12. Objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3): genetically modified soybean MON 87705 × MON 87708 × MON 89788 (B10-0244/2025) (vote)
        7.13. Old challenges and new commercial practices in the internal market (B10-0246/2025) (vote)
      8. Resumption of the sitting
      9. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting
      10. EU action on treating and preventing diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular neurological diseases and measles (debate)
      11. Explanations of vote
        11.1. Ninth report on economic and social cohesion (A10-0066/2025 – Jacek Protas)
        11.2. The role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season (A10-0079/2025 – Borys Budka)
        11.3. Competition policy – annual report 2024 (A10-0071/2025 – Lara Wolters)
        11.4. Old challenges and new commercial practices in the internal market (B10-0246/2025)
      12. Approval of the minutes of the sitting and forwarding of texts adopted
      13. Dates of the next part-session
      14. Closure of the sitting
      15. Adjournment of the session

       

    FORSÆDE: CHRISTEL SCHALDEMOSE
    Næstformand

    		  
    1. Opening of the sitting

       

    (Mødet åbnet kl. 9:00)

    		  

    2. Composition of political groups

    		 

      President. – Volker Schnurrbusch is a member of the ESN Group as of 8 May 2025.

    		  

    3. Composition of committees and delegations

    		 

      President. – The ESN Group has notified the President of a decision relating to changes to appointments within committees. This decision will be set out in the minutes of today’s sitting and take effect on the date of this announcement.

    		  

    4. 80 years after the end of World War II – freedom, democracy and security as the heritage of Europe (debate)


    		 

      Sebastião Bugalho, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Madam President, in the history books, the post-war world means not just the world after the war, but a world without it.

    Today, 80 years after the surrender of the Nazi regime, we live in a world that faces a darkness most of us can’t recall. 50 million lives in six years made us say ‘never again’. The Second World War confronted mankind with humanity, patriotism with fascism, truth with anger. The Great War was brought to an end with peace, with a hard lesson. Those who chose to resist forgave those who refuse to forget.

    And that, dear colleagues, is the founding principle of our Union. That those who weld against invasion are here bounded together with those who commit, never to commit it again. That those who said we shall never surrender are here side by side with those who say, we shall always remember.

    The Ukrainian people know as we know, that the courage to carry on is the same courage not to let history be rewritten. And we are to keep that in our minds that their fight was once our fight. That their freedom is also our freedom. That their victory will be our peace. They may not be our fathers or our sons, but they are our brothers, our brothers in arms and in rights, our brothers in their hope and in their defiance.

    In this world, in this war, we may be lonely but never alone. 80 years ago we too faced that loneliness and defeated a great evil on this VE Day. Today it’s the survival of freedom, of democracy now and then at stake in our continent.

    So today, from this time and place, let it be known that victory for Europe Day stands not only for the victory that once was, but also for the victory that must be. Let it be known that the torch of history lights this common cause, that the words VE Day will also, and soon enough mean, Slava Ukraini.

    		  
       

    		 

      Marc Angel, on behalf of the S&D Group. – Madam President, dear colleagues, 80 years ago, the guns fell silent across Europe, marking the end of the most devastating war our continent has ever known. And today we honour the memory of those who were murdered, who suffered and perished. And we reflect also on the long, difficult path from destruction to peace.

    Out of the ashes of conflict, Europe chose reconciliation over revenge. Former enemies reached out in solidarity, laying the foundations for a united, peaceful continent. The European Union stands today not only as a political and an economic alliance, but as a powerful symbol of what unity, mutual respect and shared values can achieve.

    Today, this legacy is under threat. Across our continent, the far right and nationalism are once again gaining ground, fuelling hatred and division. But we must not forget where such ideologies once led us. The horrors of the past are not just history – they are warnings.

    On this important anniversary, let us reaffirm our commitment to a strong, united Europe, one that champions peace, democracy, equality and the dignity of all its people. Let our history be our guide and our unity be our strength.

    Today we must also pay tribute to the brave people of Ukraine, victims of the brutal aggression of Russia’s autocratic regime.

    		  
       

    		 

      Kinga Gál, a PfE képviselőcsoport nevében. – Elnök Asszony! A második világháború elképzelhetetlen pusztítása és szenvedése után Európa romokban hevert. Soha többé! Az alapító atyák, felismerve a pusztítás következményeit, létrehozták a közös Európát, melynek fő célja a tartós béke, biztonság és jólét biztosítása kontinensünkön. A májusi örömünnepnek nyolcvan éve, a háború vége viszont nem hozott valódi békét és jólétet minden európai nemzetnek. Hiszen Közép-Kelet-Európában, így nekünk, magyaroknak nem ért véget a szenvedés. A kommunizmus sötét évei következtek, férfiak és nők ezreinek gulágra hurcolása, kitelepítések, megtorlás, politikai tisztogatások és a szabadság korlátozása tartották félelemben az embereket még évtizedekig.

    Szüleink és nagyszüleink, de még a mi emlékezetünkben is ezek az érzések ma is élénken élnek. Méltán vágytak tehát az Unióba, a vasfüggönyön túlra, ami a szabadság, béke, biztonság és jólét szimbóluma volt számukra. Erre viszont még sokáig, 2004-ig várni kellett, ezért érint meg minket különösen fájdalmasan, ha úgy érezzük, hogy ezek az értékek most veszélyben vannak, hiszen béke helyett háború dúl a szomszédunkban. Biztonság helyett az illegális migráció egyre nagyobb fenyegetést jelent a közbiztonságra. Jólét helyett pedig gazdasági gyengüléssel kell szembenéznünk. Vissza kell térnünk az alapokhoz: a kölcsönös tiszteletre és szuverén nemzetek jóhiszemű együttműködésére épülő Unióhoz. Amely nem kioktat, hanem tisztel és támogat. Csak így maradhat Európa továbbra is a béke, a biztonság és a jólét otthona.

    		  
       

    		 

      Patryk Jaki, on behalf of the ECR Group. – Madam President, on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, you are talking about responsibility, courage, justice. But those are only words. We are still waiting for action. Poland, the country where the war was started, was divided between Germany and Russia after the Ribbentrop‑Molotov Pact. From the first to the last day of the war, Poland was on the right side. It had no institutional collaborators and lost almost 30 % of its pre-war resources – the most in Europe – and six million citizens. One third of this territory was taken and given to Russia.

    Until today, Poland has not received any reparation – no real compensation, only symbolic. Instead of giving justice and equal chances to Polish citizens, instead of helping new generations of Poles who should not pay for the fact that their parents stayed on the right side and did not collaborate with evil, the EU spent billions on silly ideology because the Earth will burn. This is not responsibility or justice which you are talking about so much. This unfair advantage built through a barbaric attack on the other nations must finally be reduced. This is not only about Poland, but also about Greece, the Baltic states and other victims.

    This 80th anniversary should finally bring real action to clean this stain. It is time to create compensation and an equal‑opportunity budget in Europe instead of a special budget for green ideology. To make up for the guilt, the effects of the evil must be removed completely.

    		  
       

    		 

      Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, au nom du groupe Renew. – Madame la Présidente, chers collègues, héritière de celles et de ceux qui ont vécu la guerre et la barbarie au plus profond de leur chair, héritière du silence autour de ces blessures enfouies et longtemps tues, je commémore aujourd’hui et avec vous, ici, dans cet hémicycle de Strasbourg, les héros dont les noms traversent nos manuels et nos rues, comme les anonymes restés dans l’ombre de la Seconde Guerre mondiale.

    Être héritière de ces morts et traumatismes, c’est se voir conférer une responsabilité sacrée: celle de ne jamais être un simple témoin, ni dans le présent, ni dans l’avenir. Être héritière de celles et de ceux qui ont œuvré pour la liberté, un projet de réconciliation, c’est se voir assumer un devoir exigeant, celui de ne jamais céder au «deux poids, deux mesures».

    Être héritière d’une anonyme, en ce 8 mai 2025, c’est faire entendre, en se tenant devant vous, que cet anniversaire nous engage, nous, parlementaires européens. C’est un appel à regarder en face la réalité brutale du monde, un appel à nous battre à notre tour pour la démocratie, pour la liberté, pour la sécurité, pour l’universalisme, et ceci pour tous nos héritiers.

    		  
       

    		 

      Thomas Waitz, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, colleagues, the Second World War was raw brutality. It was demonisation and dehumanisation of big parts of society. It was devastating warfare, total destruction and mass murder. That’s what it was. Fascism didn’t happen overnight. It was carefully woven into parts of society or into society, piece by piece, many years before the Nazis took over Germany and Austria, driven by blind hatred, by white supremacy and racism. Countless people were targeted and killed.

    But based on acknowledgement of crime, reconciliation and forgiveness, we are building this, our European Union. Yes, to forgive, but never to forget. Because remembrance is not an act of the past, it’s a pact with the future.

    But, colleagues, somehow I have the impression that we did not learn. Once again, strong men have returned – in the US, in Russia, in China, in Hungary. Based on hatred and on disrespect for human rights, we once again see the rising forces of anti-democratic and anti-human policies. Even here in this House we hear hate speech, we hear blunt, fearmongering propaganda.

    But freedom is still strong and the fight for freedom is still strong. The freedom to love who you love, the freedom to decide over your own body, the freedom to live the life that you want to live, and the freedom to learn from history and the freedom to strive for peace. Because ‘never again’ is now!

    		  
       

    		 

      Konstantinos Arvanitis, εξ ονόματος της ομάδας The Left. – Κυρία Πρόεδρε, 80 χρόνια από τη λήξη του Β΄ Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου αλλά και 80 χρόνια από τη μεγάλη αντιφασιστική νίκη. Ας θυμηθούμε, λοιπόν, τις αιτίες. Να ξαναδιαβάσουμε την ιστορία· να μην ξαναγράψουμε την ιστορία όπως επιτάσσουν συμφέροντα, ώστε να μην επαναλάβουμε τα ίδια λάθη γιατί αυτό θα συνιστά έγκλημα στο έγκλημα.

    Να θυμηθούμε πως οι αντιθέσεις του κεφαλαίου σε Ευρώπη και Αμερική ενίσχυσαν, χρηματοδότησαν και γιγάντωσαν τον φασισμό και τον ναζισμό στην ήπειρό μας. Να θυμηθούμε και να τιμήσουμε τα θύματα αυτής της θηριωδίας: τους Εβραίους, τους κομμουνιστές, τους σοσιαλιστές, τους δημοκράτες, τους δημοκράτες αντιναζί, τη ΛΟΑΤΚΙ κοινότητα, τους διαφορετικούς, τους ανήμπορους. Θύματα στο ιδεολόγημα της αθλιότητας περί καθαρής φυλής, αρίας φυλής. Να τιμήσουμε τα εκατομμύρια των θυμάτων, απλούς στρατιώτες, νέα λαϊκά παιδιά που δεν χάρηκαν τη ζωή. Να τιμήσουμε τους παρτιζάνους, τους αντάρτες, τις γυναίκες, τους άνδρες που βγήκαν στα βουνά για να αντισταθούν και να αντιμετωπίσουν τη ναζιστική φασιστική θηριωδία.

    Η χώρα μου, μια μικρή χώρα, έχασε το ένα έβδομο του πληθυσμού της. Τουλάχιστον 650.000 εκτελέστηκαν, πέθαναν από την πείνα, δολοφονήθηκαν. Κλάπηκε όλος ο ελληνικός θησαυρός και έμειναν πίσω καμένες εστίες, καμένα χωριά, μαρτυρικά χωριά.

    Με αφορμή τη σημερινή επέτειο, εδώ, από το βήμα του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου, επαναφέρω το θέμα των ελληνικών αξιώσεων που αφορούν αποζημιώσεις και επανορθώσεις για ζημιές που υπέστη η χώρα μου και οι πολίτες της κατά τον Α΄ και Β΄ Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο, για πολεμικές αποζημιώσεις για τα θύματα, τους απογόνους των θυμάτων της γερμανικής Κατοχής, την αποπληρωμή του κατοχικού δανείου και την επιστροφή των κλοπιμαίων και παράνομα αφαιρεθέντων αρχαιολογικών και πολιτιστικών αγαθών. Από τη χώρα μου, την Ελλάδα, που σήκωσε το ανάστημά της απέναντι στον ναζισμό και τον φασισμό. Είναι δίκαιο· και η Ευρώπη χωρίς δικαιοσύνη δεν υπάρχει.

    		  
       

    		 

      René Aust, im Namen der ESN-Fraktion. – Frau Präsidentin! Am 8. Mai 1945 endete mit der bedingungslosen Kapitulation der Wehrmacht die militärische Herrschaft des Nationalsozialismus. Auch in diesem Jahr gedenken wir der Millionen gefallenen Soldaten und getöteten Zivilisten des Zweiten Weltkrieges. Wir erkennen zunehmend auch die doppelte Bedeutung dieses Tages an: Der 8. Mai bedeutete für Westeuropa langfristig Freiheit, für Mittel‑ und Osteuropa jedoch die Zementierung einer 45-jährigen russischen Gewaltherrschaft.

    Richard von Weizsäcker verwies in seiner berühmten Rede am 8. Mai 1985 zu Recht darauf, dass dieser Tag untrennbar mit dem 30. Januar 1933, dem Beginn der nationalsozialistischen Diktatur, verbunden sei. Aber das ist nur ein Teil. Denn so gewiss der 8. Mai das Ende der NS‑Diktatur markierte, so gewiss schuf er zugleich die Grundlage für kommunistische Diktaturen. Ohne den 8. Mai 1945 hätte es durch Russland keine Verschleppung zehntausender baltischer Familien im März 1949 gegeben, keine russische Niederschlagung des Volksaufstandes in der DDR am 17. Juni 1953, keinen russischen Einmarsch in Ungarn 1956, keine russischen Panzer in Prag 1968 und keine Unterdrückung der Solidarność‑Bewegung in Polen.

    Heute gedenken wir der Opfer des Zweiten Weltkriegs vom 1. September 1939 bis zum 8. Mai 1945. Zugleich danken wir allen Männern und Frauen, die in Mittel‑ und Osteuropa nach dem 8. Mai 1945 mutig gegen die kommunistische Diktatur und die russische Vorherrschaft aufgestanden sind. Ihr Einsatz für Freiheit und nationale Selbstbestimmung bleibt ein unverzichtbarer Teil des europäischen Erbes.

    		  
       


    		 

      Javi López (S&D). – Señora presidenta, hoy conmemoramos el 80.º aniversario del fin de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, la guerra que desoló Europa, que mostró la cara más cruel del ser humano y de los espeluznantes horrores de los que somos capaces, de los que el hombre es capaz. La guerra no solo asesina a los vivos, acaba perdurando sobre las futuras generaciones.

    Hoy enormes cicatrices de esta guerra perduran aquí, en Europa. De aquella oscuridad y de las cenizas de esa guerra construimos las instituciones que hoy disfrutamos, la Europa de la paz y la dignidad, de la democracia y las libertades: la Europa de la reconciliación.

    Es una Europa que vuelve a estar amenazada por el totalitarismo y el autoritarismo que padecimos entonces, de líderes autoritarios que desde fuera amenazan la seguridad europea, de líderes autoritarios que también tienen peones aquí, en las instituciones europeas, y que amenazan con liquidar la democracia y las libertades que hoy disfrutamos. Son autoritarios que utilizan las mismas ideas e instrumentalizan el aislamiento, el miedo y la mentira para sembrar el odio frente a lo que nosotros reivindicamos: la verdad, la justicia y la memoria. Una Europa unida es la única respuesta frente a la barbarie.

    		  
       

    		 

      Hermann Tertsch (PfE). – Señor presidente, hace ochenta años la derrota militar del nacionalsocialismo alemán cerró una de las páginas más monstruosas de la historia de la humanidad, generada, recuérdenlo, en Europa y por Europa. Fue la nación de los poetas y los pensadores la causante del genocidio industrializado que fue el Holocausto del pueblo judío y el incendio de todo el continente. Fue la arrogancia del idealismo totalitario la que prima la utopía humana sobre la sacralidad de la vida hasta caer al agujero negro del crimen total.

    Iban al mundo ideal. «Am deutschen Wesen soll die Welt genesen»: la esencia alemana sanará al mundo. Resuena inquietante en la arrogancia de los que hoy marginan al discrepante. Aquella guerra mató a sesenta millones de personas. El nazismo sucumbió en doce años, pero quedó el comunismo, la otra ideología redentora en pos del ideal que solo genera infiernos. El comunismo asesinó a más de cien millones, sigue hoy vivo y presente y está también aquí en esta sala. Porque el 8 de mayo se liberó una parte de Europa, pero, en la otra, solo se cambió una tiranía por la otra.

    El comunismo se transformó y, si en Rusia tenemos una oligarquía agresora y criminal, hoy en Occidente lo tenemos disfrazado de ingeniería social, del igualitarismo colectivista, del socialismo que persigue los mismos fines. En honor de tantos millones de víctimas, defendamos la libertad y la verdad, las armas supremas frente a ideologías redentoras, totalitarias y criminales siempre.

    		  
       

    		 

      Adrian-George Axinia (ECR). – Doamnă președintă, există un citat anonim celebru care descrie cumva ciclicitatea războiului pe tărâm european: „Vremurile bune creează oameni puternici, oamenii puternici creează vremuri bune. Vremurile bune creează oameni slabi și oamenii slabi creează vremuri grele.”

    Într-o Europă a prosperității, la 80 de ani de la sfârșitul celui de-al Doilea Război Mondial, cu o inconștiență veselă, proiectul nostru se îndreaptă pe bâjbâite către un nou conflict paneuropean. Și asta din cauza unei conduceri a Uniunii Europene rupte de realitate și de voința cetățenilor europeni.

    M-am bucurat să aud vorbindu-se despre ce am reușit să construim în ultimii 80 de ani pe continent: libertate, prosperitate, securitate. Era bine dacă insistam pe cuvântul pace, care lipsește din descrierea acestui eveniment. Cât despre democrație, aș fi vrut să văd în ultima jumătate de an mai multe reacții față de abuzurile antidemocratice comise de puterea politică din România. Nu cum a făcut Bruxelles-ul, care a închis ochii sau chiar a aplaudat anularea voinței cetățenilor români. Din fericire, vocea lor s-a făcut auzită pe 4 mai și se va face auzită și pe 18 mai.

    		  
       

    		 

      Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (Renew). – Frau Präsidentin! „Es ist geschehen, und folglich kann es wieder geschehen.“ – So warnte der italienische Schriftsteller und Auschwitzüberlebende Primo Levi davor, den Zivilisationsbruch der Nazis zu vergessen, denn das Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs erinnert an die Befreiung vom nationalsozialistischen Terror. Und daher erinnern wir auch an die Jahre vor 1945. Wie konnten zivilisierte Menschen zu diesem Grauen fähig sein? 80 Jahre später wird in Deutschland die AfD vom Verfassungsschutz als rechtsextrem eingestuft. Rechte Kräfte sind in ganz Europa seit Jahren auf dem Vormarsch. In den USA regiert ein Präsident, der offensichtlich das Autoritäre liebt.

    Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, die EU ist das größte und wunderbarste Friedensprojekt der Welt. Gerade uns sollte die Vergangenheit mahnen, was passieren kann, wenn Demokratien zerbrechen und autoritäre Regime an ihre Stelle treten. Lassen Sie uns deswegen wehrhaft sein, nach außen wie nach innen, damit das, was geschehen ist, nie wieder geschieht.

    (Die Rednerin ist damit einverstanden, auf mehrere Fragen nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“ zu antworten.)

    		  
       

    		 

      Arkadiusz Mularczyk (ECR), pytanie zadane przez podniesienie niebieskiej kartki. – Pani Poseł! Jest Pani przedstawicielką narodu, państwa, które wywołało II wojnę światową, wyrządziło ogromne cierpienia dla mojego narodu, dla Polski, ale również dla innych narodów europejskich, dla Grecji.

    Dlaczego Niemcy nie chcą zapłacić reparacji wojennych Polsce – odszkodowania za II wojnę światową?

    Państwa naród, naziści, wymordowali 6 milionów Polaków, zniszczyli Polskę i do dzisiaj nie chcą się z Polską rozliczyć. Kiedy zapłacicie swój dług wobec Polski i Grecji?

    		  
       

    		 

      Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (Renew), Antwort auf eine Frage nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“. – Vielen Dank für Ihre Einlassung. Deutschland hat gerade nach dem Fall der Mauer mit Unterstützung der Vereinigten Staaten, der Franzosen und auch der Briten gelernt, was Demokratie bedeutet. Ich glaube, wenn ich zurückschaue nach 80 Jahren, dass wir im Austausch mit unseren Nachbarn, mit unseren Nationen alles getan haben, was man tun muss, um in Frieden und Freiheit gemeinsam zu leben. Und deswegen: Ja, ich stehe hier als deutsche Staatsbürgerin, und ich war seinerzeit noch nicht geboren. Wir haben in Deutschland die Geschichte 80 Jahre lang – und das ist gut so – aufgearbeitet, bis heute. Ich bezweifle, dass es Länder gibt, wo die Geschichte des Mittuns aufgearbeitet worden ist. Wir haben es getan, und wir werden in Deutschland dafür sorgen, dass nie vergessen wird, was die Nazis diesem Kontinent und darüber hinaus angetan haben. Denn es ist richtig: Über 60 Millionen Menschen haben das Leben verloren. Deutschland ist ein demokratischer Staat, und wir sind in Verantwortung. Wir sind glücklich, hier Teil der Europäischen Union zu sein.

    		  
       


    		 

      Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (Renew), Antwort auf eine Frage nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“. – Sie sind Mitglied einer Partei, die als gesichert rechtsextrem gilt. Ich glaube, Ihre Immunität ist gerade aufgehoben worden – korrigieren Sie mich, wenn das falsch ist. Dass Sie überhaupt die Traute haben, so zu sprechen. Ich habe gerade, wenn Sie zugehört haben, gesagt, in den USA regiert ein Präsident, der offensichtlich das Autoritäre liebt, so wie Sie es lieben. Und ich sage Ihnen: Die Mehrheit in diesem Hause wird nicht zulassen, dass Politiker wie Sie und Ihre Partei – die hier sitzt, die hier sich hat reinwählen lassen, nicht um Europa nach vorne zu bringen, sondern um dieses Europa von innen zu zerstören – diese Europäische Union zerstören. Deswegen sage ich: Wir haben nicht nur nach außen wehrhaft zu sein, sondern auch nach innen, damit solche Politiker wie Sie diese Europäische Union nicht zerstören.

    		  
       

    		 

      Nela Riehl (Verts/ALE). – Madam President, what is the most important EU value to you? To that question, young Europeans answered: human rights, democracy and peace. Eighty years after World War II, these values are still our most important heritage.

    But as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shown, peace and democracy are not a given – they call for a commitment. A commitment to not remain silent when extremist regimes deliberately starve civilians and commit war atrocities. A commitment from democratic forces to raise strong firewalls against the far right in Europe. And a commitment to remain vigilant when our allies progressively turn their back on democracy, censoring researchers and activists or threatening the rights of minorities and women.

    But what does this actually mean for us? It means we cannot compromise on the freedom of our artists, our universities, our citizens. Europe must remain a hub of creativity, of knowledge and also of democracy, providing equal opportunities for all. It means we cannot let foreign forces interfere in our democratic processes, be it in the ballots or on social media. And it means we cannot be complicit when fundamental rights are being walked over, all in this very Union.

    Turning a blind eye would be a betrayal to the lessons our grandparents painfully learned. Our European Union youth is rightfully demanding us to stay loyal to this heritage. More than a celebration, today’s anniversary is a reminder of Europe’s responsibility.

    		  
       

    		 

      Marina Mesure (The Left). – Madame la Présidente, chers collègues, nous ne devons jamais oublier l’horreur de cette guerre. Ne jamais oublier le visage de tous ces innocents qui ont péri dans les camps ou sur les champs de bataille, ni celui de celles et ceux qui ont résisté avec courage pour notre liberté. Ne jamais oublier que cette guerre totale fut provoquée par des régimes d’extrême droite, car, oui, ce qui fait le ciment de nos sociétés européennes est de nouveau menacé. Le retour en force de l’extrême droite met en péril l’unité des peuples en désignant, comme en 1940, des ennemis de l’intérieur et en rejetant l’état de droit, garant des libertés fondamentales. En s’alimentant sur la montée des inégalités, en banalisant les discours de haine, ils créent le ferment de la division.

    Face à cette menace, rappelons-nous que du chaos de la Seconde Guerre mondiale est sorti un héritage commun, celui des Nations unies, un internationalisme guidé par un idéal de paix, de coopération, de solidarité entre les peuples. Un héritage qui nous montre la voie et qu’il convient de protéger.

    Ainsi, en cette journée de commémoration, ne laissons pas l’oubli envahir nos cœurs. Gardons cette mémoire vive et continuons à lutter avec force et détermination pour un projet humaniste et universaliste.

    		  
       


    		 

      Ruth Firmenich (NI). – Frau Präsidentin, meine Damen und Herren! Heute vor 80 Jahren wurde Deutschland vom Faschismus befreit. Heute ist der Tag, den Befreiern aus der Sowjetunion, den USA, Großbritannien und Frankreich sowie den Partisanen zu danken, die für unsere Freiheit gekämpft haben. Es war die Sowjetunion, die die Hauptlast im Kampf gegen den Hitlerfaschismus getragen hat. Über 27 Millionen Sowjetbürger, die meisten davon Zivilisten, starben beim Feldzug der Nazis, der die slawischen Völker versklaven und vernichten sollte – mehr als eine Million allein bei der Blockade Leningrads. Doch die deutsche Bundesregierung weigert sich, dieses Verbrechen als Völkermord anzuerkennen.

    Die Erinnerung an die Geschichte ist in Gefahr. Leider gibt es – auch hier im Haus – Versuche, den Anteil der Sowjetunion am Sieg über Nazideutschland kleinzureden. Aber es war die Rote Armee, die das Vernichtungslager Auschwitz und das Konzentrationslager Sachsenhausen bei Berlin befreite. Es ist eine Schande, wenn Vertreter Russlands, des größten Nachfolgestaats der Sowjetunion, am 80. Jahrestag der Befreiung vom Gedenken ausgeschlossen werden. Wir dürfen es nicht zulassen, dass die Geschichte verfälscht wird. Das sind wir auch den Millionen Opfern des deutschen Faschismus schuldig.

    		  
       

    		 

      Łukasz Kohut (PPE). – Pani Przewodnicząca! Wojna nie jest rozwiązaniem – zawsze jest okrucieństwem. Wojna niszczy to, co piękne, poddaje w wątpliwość to, co słuszne, i nie pozostawia wyboru dla tego, co konieczne. Wojna nie nauczyła nas niczego, co wartościowe. Uświadomiła nam jednak, na co już nigdy nie możemy pozwolić i co za wszelką cenę musimy powstrzymać.

    80 lat temu zakończyły się działania wojenne. Nie wszędzie przyniosły pokój. Są miejsca w Europie, gdzie Armia Czerwona kontynuowała to, co rozpoczął Adolf Hitler. Tak było na Śląsku, gdzie Sowieci popełniali najobrzydliwsze zbrodnie na miejscowej ludności. Takich miejsc jak Śląsk było więcej. Jeden terror zastąpił drugi.

    Wojna w Ukrainie przypomina nam, że nic nie jest dane raz na zawsze, że pokój nie spada z nieba. Więcej: pokój wymaga ciągłej pracy, ciągłej walki, nieustannych kompromisów czy rezygnacji z wybujałych ambicji.

    80 lat temu okrucieństwa wojny zmieniły nie tylko układ sił, granic, wygląd miast, ale także nas samych, Europejczyków. Wolność, demokracja, bezpieczeństwo – te trzy elementy składają się na nasze wspólne europejskie dziedzictwo, któremu nadaliśmy konkretną nazwę: Unia Europejska.

    To jest droga, którą podążamy. Może bywa wyboista i trudna, bo nic, co wartościowe, nie przychodzi łatwo, ale nie ma większego sukcesu Europejczyków niż pokój, który nam zapewnia.

    		  
       


    		 

      António Tânger Corrêa (PfE). – Senhora Presidente, caros colegas, celebra-se hoje — e é motivo para celebrar — o fim da Segunda Guerra Mundial, a maior guerra que o mundo já conheceu até hoje.

    Não, não foram 50 milhões, não foram 60 milhões, foram 75 milhões, entre militares, civis e genocídios. 3 % da população mundial na altura morreu devido à guerra. Isto não se pode repetir.

    Mas, se o fim da guerra foi uma boa notícia, a melhor notícia foi a criação de um espaço de paz e prosperidade chamado União Europeia. E a União Europeia tem de ser reforçada, mas tem de ser reforçada com países soberanos, e não com estruturas federais ou federalistas que nos querem impor soluções. Nós somos diferentes uns dos outros e temos muita honra nessas diferenças, e queremos mantê-las — pela positiva, com colaboração, mas cada um de nós é diferente do outro, e isso é altamente positivo para a criação de um corpo como a União Europeia.

    Por outro lado, em termos de defesa, é bom que não inventemos muito. Nós temos a NATO, que é uma organização fiel a si própria e a nós próprios, e que tem sempre acorrido quando nós precisamos dela. E não nos esqueçamos de que os Estados Unidos da América do Norte têm sido o garante da nossa liberdade, e nós, a partir de agora, temos de ser também os garantes da nossa liberdade, para que nunca mais se repitam os horrores desta guerra cujo fim agora celebramos.

    		  
       


    		 

      Michał Kobosko (Renew). – Pani Przewodnicząca! Jestem z Polski, kraju, który najbardziej ucierpiał podczas II wojny światowej. Miliony istnień ludzkich – Polaków, ale i Żydów – zostało zabitych w imię nienawiści i podziałów – społeczność, która od wieków znajdowała swoje miejsce właśnie w Polsce, w kraju porozumienia i tolerancji.

    Po zagładzie milionów ludzi, destrukcji setek miast i traumie na pokolenia przyszedł pokój. To właśnie dlatego dokładnie 75 lat temu zaczęła powstawać Unia Europejska. By budować pokój i wspólnotę.

    Nie łudźmy się: eurosceptycyzm karmiony radykalizmem, napędzany pieniędzmi z Moskwy, to droga w przeszłość, droga do katastrofy. Dlatego z całą mocą potępiam dziś haniebne antysemickie wystąpienia posła Grzegorza Brauna. To nie tylko mowa nienawiści, to atak na wartości, na których zbudowana jest Europa.

    Apeluję też do eurosceptyków: otwórzcie podręczniki historii, zobaczcie, jak wiele dał nam projekt europejski – gwarantuje wolność, bezpieczeństwo i współpracę, jak nigdy wcześniej w dziejach Europy.

    		  
       

    		 

      Benedetta Scuderi (Verts/ALE). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, la Seconda guerra mondiale non è arrivata per la mera follia di un paio di dittatori: è stato anche il calcolo miope di chi, pur di fermare l’avanzata delle istanze sociali, ha preferito cedere spazio ai fascisti.

    Liberali e popolari pensavano di poterli usare come argine e usare la loro violenza a favore di un proprio profitto momentaneo. Il capitale ha scelto di sostenerli. Ma l’argine ha ceduto e si sono ritrovati complici di una catastrofe, il cui prezzo l’hanno pagato milioni di persone.

    Chi scioperava o dissentiva veniva schedato, perseguito. La polizia entrava nelle università, i giornalisti venivano spiati. L’odio diventava linguaggio politico, i diritti una concessione temporanea, le donne ancor più discriminate, l’omosessualità sempre più illegale. La corsa al riarmo venne definita giustificata, inevitabile. E poi la pagina più buia: il genocidio, coperto da un silenzio complice.

    Never again, abbiamo detto. Eppure questa descrizione potrebbe essere il telegiornale di oggi. Contro quella guerra, quegli orrori, il fascismo nasce questa istituzione; un’istituzione che doveva proteggere la pace, il disarmo, l’unione tra popoli, combattere per il diritto internazionale e contro ogni genocidio. Lo stiamo facendo?

    Colleghi e colleghe, rileggiamo la storia e guardatevi bene dentro e ditemi se pensate che questa sia la direzione giusta. Ogni volta che scegliete di stare dalla parte di chi priva della libertà e dello Stato di diritto, la parte di Meloni, Orban, Trump, Putin e tutti gli altri, state svendendo libertà, pace e democrazia.

    		  
       

    		 

      Danilo Della Valle (The Left). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, forse c’è un piccolo misunderstanding nella discussione di oggi. Noi festeggiamo la fine della Seconda guerra mondiale: ma non dobbiamo mai dimenticare che è stata l’Europa che ha partorito il mostro del nazifascismo. Hitler e Mussolini non erano dei pazzi venuti da Marte ma il prodotto di un’ideologia suprematista che sopravvive ancora oggi e non sopravvive solo in chi aderisce alle formazioni estremiste.

    Dobbiamo ricordare perché solo con la memoria possiamo evitare di ricadere nel baratro del passato. Dobbiamo ricordare cosa accadde nei lager e il genocidio che ne scaturì, nei quali persero la vita 6 milioni di ebrei, mezzo milione di sinti e milioni di cittadini sovietici. Oggi qualcuno vorrebbe riscrivere quella storia, escludendo dai festeggiamenti gli ex popoli sovietici, i russi e i popoli slavi, ma per pure ragioni di convenienza geopolitica.

    Quello che accade oggi in Ucraina non può essere la scusa per cancellare il contributo di vite umane che i russi, i polacchi, i popoli slavi e sovietici tutti hanno pagato per liberare tutti noi dal nazifascismo: 27 milioni di sovietici, uomini, donne e bambini massacrati, bruciati vivi nei villaggi, mandati al fronte a difendere un’Europa che forse non li considerava neanche dei pari, ma che hanno contribuito a liberare.

    Quelle morti meritano il rispetto e il nostro ricordo. La memoria ci obbliga alla pace, alla verità e al rispetto di tutti i popoli che hanno pagato il prezzo per la libertà.

    		  
       

    		 

      Zsuzsanna Borvendég (ESN). – Elnök Asszony! A történelmi bűnökből okulni kell, nem megismételni. Miközben a békét hirdetik, az emberiséget egy újabb világháború felé sodorják. Magyarországon a második világháború vége szovjet megszállást hozott. A nagyhatalmak a megkérdezésünk nélkül döntöttek a sorsunkról. Megtanultuk, hogy a háborúk soha nem az igazságról, hanem a pénzről, a hatalomról és a politikai érdekekről szólnak, ahogy sajnos a békék is. Mégis, mindent meg kell tennünk a fegyvernyugvásért.

    De Európa nem tanult a múltból, újra fegyverkezéssel akarja megoldani a gazdasági problémáit, természetellenes ideológiákkal harcol a gondolatszabadság ellen, asszisztál a politikai ellenvélemények elhallgattatásához, és tagadja a realitásokat. Európa alapvető érdeke a békés gazdasági együttműködés Oroszországgal. Ahányszor ez megvalósulóban volt a történelem során, kitört egy háború. Most is ez történt. Idegen érdekek rángatják dróton Európát, miközben a végromlásba döntenek minket. Vessünk végre véget ennek! Ne beszéljünk a békéről, hanem valósítsuk meg!

    		  
       

    		 

      Ondřej Dostál (NI). – Paní předsedající, vážení kolegové, za vítězství nad nacismem položily své životy miliony spojeneckých vojáků. Bohužel zapomínáme na ty, kteří přinesli obětí nejvíce. Stydím se za kolegy, kteří tvrdí, že Československo osvobodili jen Američané. Řekli byste to matkám sovětských padlých při osvobození naší země? Řekli byste zbídačelým vězňům v Osvětimi, že příchodem sovětské armády nebyli osvobozeni, ale okupováni? Stydím se za svou vládu, že neuctí padlé z řad sovětské armády, a jsem rád, že tak za bývalé Československo učiní premiér Robert Fico, ač je za to ostouzen. Rozhodl jsem se proto, že i já zítra položím květy k hrobu Neznámého vojína v Moskvě. Činím tak ze tří důvodů. Zaprvé, z osobního přesvědčení, že na padlé se nezapomíná. Za druhé, z vůle mých voličů, kteří mají hrůzy nacismu stále v paměti. Zatřetí, z vůle po míru. Oslava 80. výročí porážky nacismu nás spojuje a může otevřít cestu k míru, k diplomacii, k vyřešení nynějšího konfliktu, který vojenské řešení nemá. Přeji šťastnou cestu všem státníkům, ať už míří na oslavy kamkoli, a prosím je, aby šířili vůli po míru v souladu s principy Charty OSN. Já tak zítra učiním.

    		  
       

    		 

      Wouter Beke (PPE). – Voorzitter, vandaag herdenken we het einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Tachtig jaar geleden, in de puinhopen van 1945, kozen visionaire leiders zoals Adenauer, Schuman en De Gasperi voor verzoening, verzoening boven wraak, samenwerking boven conflict, democratie boven dictatuur.

    Hun radicale antwoord legde de kiem van waar wij vandaag nog steeds de vruchten van plukken. Een Europese Unie van gedeelde soevereiniteit, democratie en menselijke waardigheid. Die keuze blijft brandend actueel, want extremen in Europa – we hebben het hier vandaag in het debat opnieuw gezien – willen onze rechtsstaat ondermijnen en proberen de banden te breken die ons juist samenhouden.

    En de agressie tegen Oekraïne dwingt ons tot een sterker defensiebeleid, juist om een nieuwe oorlog te voorkomen. Een slagkrachtiger Europa is niet de vijand van de subsidiariteit, maar het is juist de voorwaarde van subsidiariteit. Alleen via samenwerking kunnen we onze veiligheid, onze grondrechten en onze welvaart garanderen.

    Ik heb drie kinderen en ik hoop dat ze kunnen opgroeien in een Europa waarin vrijheid, democratie en menselijke waardigheid geen uitzondering zijn, maar de regel blijven. Laten we daarom vastberaden verder investeren in de Unie. Een Unie die uit deze puin verrezen is, want het is de beste garantie voor onze toekomst.

    		  
       

    		 

      Francisco Assis (S&D). – Senhora Presidente, em 18 de junho do já longínquo verão de 1940, um general do exército francês, à revelia do poder instituído, lançou um repto aos seus compatriotas: «não se rendam.» Charles de Gaulle constitui uma das mais sugestivas manifestações do papel do indivíduo na história e da importância da ação livre no curso dos acontecimentos humanos.

    Hannah Arendt, depois de assistir ao julgamento de Adolf Eichmann em Israel, desenvolveu a ideia da banalidade do mal. O homem que aceita ser uma peça acrítica num mecanismo institucional monstruoso torna-se irremissivelmente um agente do mal. Não há inocência na aceitação pacífica da perfídia. Eichmann, na sua pavorosa normalidade, representa o ser humano burocratizado e reduzido a uma condição não moral.

    De Gaulle representa o contrário de tudo isto. Ele sabia os riscos que corria. Numa conversa com amigos, terá dito «vão tomar-me por um aventureiro e, contudo, nunca fui um aventureiro. Dirão que sou um rebelde porque me recuso a obedecer a certas ordens. Mas os verdadeiros rebeldes são os que não obedecem ao dever mais sagrado: defender o seu país até à derradeira possibilidade, ao lado do seu último aliado. Vão talvez condenar-me à morte. Até aqui, os generais condenavam à morte os simples soldados que iam abandonar o campo de batalha. Desta vez vão condenar um general que se recusou a fugir desse mesmo campo de batalha».

    Essa é a grande lição de Charles de Gaulle. Nós, em certas circunstâncias, não podemos fugir do campo de batalha.

    (O orador aceita responder a uma pergunta «cartão azul»)

    		  
       


    		 

      Francisco Assis (S&D), Resposta segundo o procedimento «cartão azul». – Caro Deputado Sebastião Bugalho e caro amigo, eu julgo que há determinadas circunstâncias em que nós temos de saber transcender aquilo que são os nossos posicionamentos políticos. Há momentos para a disputa política mais banal e mais quotidiana, e há outros momentos em que temos de estar acima disso.

    E, se há exemplo na Europa — e neste último século há vários —, um deles foi e é indiscutivelmente o do general De Gaulle. Estando hoje aqui em Estrasburgo, estando hoje aqui em França, parecer-me-ia uma enorme injustiça que neste Parlamento ninguém se referisse a essa figura absolutamente extraordinária do século XX europeu que foi o general Charles de Gaulle.

    De Gaulle representa tudo, representa o que de mais relevante um homem de Estado pode representar, a luta pela liberdade, a coragem, a disponibilidade para correr o risco de vida em nome de valores mais altos.

    		  
       

    		 

      Anders Vistisen (PfE). – Fru formand! I dag markerer vi 80-året for nazisternes kapitulation. Et historisk øjeblik, hvor Europas frie nationer og modige folk besejrede en af de mest brutale ideologier, som verden har kendt. Det burde være en dag dedikeret til de, der kæmpede, led og døde for et frit Europa. Men i stedet for har huset her lavet det om til en trang til at promovere jeres eget føderale projekt. Intet symboliserer det bedre end den bevilling, I har givet til Huset for Europæisk Historie. Et såkaldt museum, som I har brugt mere end 400 millioner kroner af skatteborgernes penge på. Her forsøger I at skrive historien om. Det fremstår som om, at Europas historie begynder i 1945 og som om, at det ikke er nationalstaterne, der er udgangspunktet for den civilisation, fred og fremgang, Europa har kendt. Det er historisk manipulation og ideologisk propaganda, og det er en hån imod de generationer, der i over tusinde år har opbygget de nationer, kæmpet for den frihed og skabt den kulturarv, som Europa udgør. EU er ved at udvaske det hele i jagten på en føderal superstat.

    		  
       

    		 

      Rihards Kols (ECR). – Madam President, dear colleagues, for Western Europe World War Two ended in May 1945, but for millions in Central and Eastern Europe, Latvia included, the end of the tyranny meant the beginning of another. Soviet tanks replaced Nazi boots. Freedom was postponed for nearly five decades.

    Nazi crimes were prosecuted at Nuremberg, justice was served, and rightly so. But there was no Nuremberg for Communism, no tribunal for the gulags, the deportations, the erasure of Baltic independence.

    Europe’s memory remains divided. This is no accident; it’s by design. The Kremlin today wages war not only on Ukraine, but on historical truth itself. It denies the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, glorifies Stalinism under the banner of liberation, and brands our resistance as fascism.

    Historical revisionism is a weapon, a tool to legitimise aggression, blur guilt and erase the suffering of nations. A united Europe demands a united memory, one that condemns all totalitarian regimes. There can be no reconciliation without truth and no security if lies go unchallenged.

    		  
       

    		 

      Charles Goerens (Renew). – Madame la Présidente, voici ce que nous inspire le 80ᵉ anniversaire de la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale: premièrement, de la reconnaissance en saluant les mérites de ceux qui nous ont libérés. J’entends par là, bien entendu, la résistance dans tous nos États membres, l’apport des Américains et aussi celui de l’Armée rouge – l’Armée rouge, dans le temps, était différente de ce que font les soldats russes en Ukraine actuellement.

    Deuxièmement, retenir les leçons de l’histoire. L’«appeasement» ne peut en aucun cas être le fil conducteur de la politique extérieure de l’Union européenne aujourd’hui. Nous avons vu où cela a mené dans les années 1930.

    Troisièmement, dans un monde où seul semble compter le rapport de force, nous devons être plus solidaires et développer davantage le projet européen.

    Quatrièmement, l’Europe est seule, mais elle est encore là. Il faut continuer à travailler sur le projet.

    Ce matin, en venant ici, j’ai entendu sur Deutschlandfunk une phrase historique prononcée par Richard von Weizsäcker il y a 40 ans:

    „Der 8. Mai war ein Tag der Befreiung.“

    Je crois qu’il faut que nous nous inspirions de cette phase, qui a une profondeur historique exemplaire.

    		  
       


       

    IN THE CHAIR: ESTEBAN GONZÁLEZ PONS
    Vice-President

    		  
       


    		 

      Jaume Asens Llodrà (Verts/ALE). – Señor presidente, hoy no basta con recordar. Hay que reconocer el mal cuando se repite con otras víctimas y con otros rostros. La memoria debe servir para prevenir el mal, no como coartada para practicarlo. Eso nos lo recuerdan algunos intelectuales judíos de Israel como Idith Zertal o Meir Margalit cuando nos dicen que Israel utiliza el pasado como escudo para no rendir cuentas con el presente y que Europa —y especialmente Alemania— se aferra a su culpa histórica para seguir manteniendo su lealtad a un Gobierno que está practicando otro genocidio, y así traiciona precisamente aquello que prometió no volver a repetir: nunca más el exterminio de un pueblo, nunca más la complicidad de las democracias europeas.

    Pero ahora, a diferencia de entonces, no podemos decir que no sabíamos nada, porque Europa sigue mandando armas, sigue manteniendo el acuerdo comercial con Netanyahu. ¿Qué culpa tienen los palestinos de lo que hicieron en el pasado los europeos, de lo que hicieron algunos, que son los padres ideológicos de los que están hoy aquí sentados y que justifican otra vez otro genocidio? Como entonces, la historia les está mirando a ustedes y les va a volver a juzgar.

    		  
       

    		 

      João Oliveira (The Left). – Senhor Presidente, a evocação dos 80 anos do dia da vitória sobre o nazifascismo tem de servir para lembrar as duras lições aprendidas pela humanidade com a tragédia dessa guerra, para que os povos possam evitar a sua repetição.

    O legado da barbárie nazifascista é uma destruição sem precedentes — o genocídio, os campos de concentração, as dezenas de milhões de mortos. Com 20 milhões de mortos, foi a União Soviética quem suportou o maior sacrifício do conjunto da coligação de países aliados formada durante a guerra.

    Democratas de vários quadrantes construíram a luta de resistência. O papel destacado assumido pelos comunistas foi determinante e, por isso, ainda hoje, os herdeiros das forças nazifascistas e os seus cúmplices destilam ódio anticomunista.

    Nos 80 anos do dia da vitória, é imprescindível relembrar que o combate ao nazismo e ao fascismo, às forças reacionárias e obscurantistas também se faz dando resposta aos problemas dos trabalhadores e dos povos, com a melhoria das suas condições de vida, a garantia dos direitos sociais, o respeito pelo direito dos Estados ao seu desenvolvimento, com a defesa intransigente da paz e da cooperação.

    O rasto de morte e destruição da barbárie nazifascista tem de ser suficiente para que hoje façamos tudo para defender a paz, a segurança coletiva e a resolução política dos conflitos. Estas são lutas que partilhamos com as gerações anteriores e, tal como há 80 anos, os comunistas cá continuarão para as travar.

    		  
       


    		 

      Danuše Nerudová (PPE). – Pane předsedající, kolegové, dnes si připomínáme konec druhé světové války. Den vítězství, odvahy a naděje těch, kteří bojovali za svobodu a demokracii, protože věřili, že po porážce nacismu přijde svobodný svět. Jenže do střední a východní Evropy místo svobody přišla další temnota. Ti, kterým jsme desítky let museli říkat osvoboditelé, přinesli jen nový teror, popravy, lágry a totalitu. Zlo vystřídalo jen další zlo. Jejich oběťmi se stali skuteční hrdinové, letci RAF, legionáři nebo odbojáři. Ti všichni byli pronásledováni, vězněni a trestáni, protože pro totalitní režim znamenali vše, co moskevské loutky neměly – svobodu, hrdinství a lásku k demokracii. Dnes, 80 let poté, se kolaborace se zlem znovu stává závažným problémem celé Evropy. Naše demokracie dokonce umožňuje, že někteří podporovatelé fašismu a komunismu pořád sedí s námi tady v Evropském parlamentu a mají tu drzost šířit ruskou propagandu a lež. Přála bych si, abychom i my, stejně jako naši váleční hrdinové, měli odvahu čelit zlu. Začněme nazývat věci správnými jmény. Skutečný osvoboditel nikdy nemůže přinést novou totalitu. Svůj proslov věnuji všem československým hrdinům, včetně letců RAF, kteří po skončení druhé světové války byli zavražděni a umučeni komunisty.

    		  
       

    		 

      Cecilia Strada (S&D). – Signor presidente, onorevoli colleghi, se l’Europa si occuperà solo dei problemi interni dei singoli Paesi, resteranno in piedi le cause di conflitti, di militarismi, di guerre. Così scrivevano Altiero Spinelli e gli altri fondatori del Movimento federalista europeo nel pieno della Seconda guerra mondiale, finita 80 anni fa. Una triste profezia.

    Oggi i ragazzi e le ragazze d’Europa studiano gli orrori della Seconda guerra mondiale, il genocidio degli ebrei, lo sterminio di disabili, rom, sinti, omosessuali e si chiedono: qualcuno poteva fermare questo orrore e non l’ha fatto?

    Fra qualche anno anche noi saremo sui libri di storia: Commissione, Consiglio, questo Parlamento. Saremo su una pagina nera. Ottant’anni dopo l’Olocausto i cittadini del mondo guardano il genocidio della popolazione palestinese teorizzato e portato avanti dal governo di Israele e ci chiedono: perché non fermate la strage? Perché continuate a vendere armi a Israele? Perché siete complici di tutto questo? Perché?

    Sono passati 80 anni e, come diceva Gramsci, la storia insegna ma non ha scolari. Che vergogna!

    		  
       

    		 

      Alexandre Varaut (PfE). – Monsieur le Président, au moment d’évoquer l’anniversaire de la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, je veux d’abord évoquer les soldats, les civils, les résistants français, acteurs ou victimes de cette guerre, et avoir une pensée personnelle pour mon grand-père, décoré de la Croix de guerre pour sa contribution à la Résistance.

    Nous commémorons aujourd’hui la liberté comme patrimoine pour l’Europe; pour l’Europe, mais pas pour les millions d’Européens de l’Est livrés à Staline, qui fut l’allié de Hitler jusqu’à l’été 1941, ne l’oublions pas. Aujourd’hui, le soviétisme a disparu à son tour, mais à quel profit?

    La liberté et la démocratie sont refusées par les libéraux et les démocrates prétendus à leurs adversaires en Roumanie ou en Hongrie, montrant que, dans leur bouche, ces principes universels sont un capital politique qu’ils exploitent, mais ne respectent pas. La sécurité est absente de nos sociétés fracturées par l’immigration de masse. Les crimes se multiplient.

    Ce bilan prouve que les leçons de la guerre n’ont pas été tirées. Il prouve que les idéologues modernes persistent à sacrifier des hommes et des vies à leurs utopies désastreuses. Il prouve que, de plus en plus contestés dans leur dogme, c’est à la répression idéologique ou juridique qu’ils recourent et qu’ils n’hésiteront pas, pour édifier leur paradis terrestre, à faire de l’Europe un purgatoire.

    		  
       


    		 

      Dan Barna (Renew). – Domnule președinte, comemorăm astăzi 80 de ani de la Al Doilea Război Mondial, dar lecțiile sale sunt mai actuale ca niciodată. În ’38, când Germania nazistă anexa Austria, nu a fost doar un act de forță, el fusese pavat de o campanie neîncetată de propagandă și dezinformare. Regimul nazist a portretizat o narațiune falsă a unui popor austriac dornic de unire, fabricând crize și suprimând orice știre care contrazicea povestea oficială. Naziștii controlau informația și controlau percepția, făcând agresiunea lor să pară justificată, ba chiar binevenită.

    În zilele noastre, lupta pentru adevăr s-a mutat pe ecranele din viața noastră. Dezinformarea, amplificată de viteza și amplitudinea rețelelor sociale, erodează încrederea în instituții și în democrație și poate destabiliza societăți. Tacticile evoluează – de la emisiuni radio și fotografii trucate, la deepfake-uri și bule conduse de algoritmi – dar scopul de a manipula adevărul pentru putere rămâne înfiorător de familiar.

    Trecutul ne oferă o lecție dură și urgentă: trebuie să fim consumatori critici de informație. Trebuie să punem întrebări, trebuie să verificăm și trebuie să înțelegem agendele care se pot ascunde în spatele narațiunilor care ne sunt prezentate. Istoria ne arată că atunci când adevărul este compromis, libertatea și pacea sunt grav periclitate. Trebuie să învățăm din tenebrele trecutului pentru a proteja prezentul și viitorul.

    		  
       

    		 

      Anna Strolenberg (Verts/ALE). – Mr President, ‘never again’ are words often spoken, but difficult to uphold. We are here amongst Europeans and we all have different war traumas, be it Nazism, Fascism, Communism or colonialism. These stories make us who we are, and these histories also put a great responsibility upon us to act when we see that freedom is taken away from others.

    We are not doing that enough, Europe is not doing it enough. We are too silent about Netanyahu’s war crimes in Gaza. We are too timid in supporting Ukraine in defeating Russian imperialism.

    We can do so much more, and I am proud that I can stand here and be critical, because this freedom is a luxury for some. I am proud that I am European, and that we managed to turn our history into the biggest peace project there is.

    But I would be even prouder if we managed to live up to our responsibility and to show actions that speak louder than these words. Let’s live up to our responsibility, and let’s remember that ‘never again’ is not a prayer to the past, but a promise to the future.

    		  
       


    		 

      Paulius Saudargas (PPE). – Mr President, honourable colleagues, eighty years ago Europe rose from the ashes of the most brutal war in human history. However, in some European countries, the suffering was not over. For Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, Ukrainians, Poles and many other nations occupied by the Soviet Union, it was the beginning of the new wave of Stalin’s repressions. Imprisonment in gulags, mass deportations to extreme exile demolished millions of lives. But we resisted; we fought the enemy. We fought alone. In Lithuania and Ukraine the partisan war lasted for a decade, taking away thousands of the bravest.

    We must remember this in the context nowadays, because the enemy is the same. The peacemakers of the Second World War declared ‘we will never let this happen again’. Well, today these very foundations are under attack once more. The unprovoked and unjust invasion of Ukraine, war crimes, genocide of the Ukrainian people and mass propaganda mirrors the aggression and the suffering we once said would never be tolerated.

    I ask everyone here today to keep that promise. Not any peace, but a just peace must be our ultimate goal, and only then, for the final time, can we say ‘never again’.

    		  
       

    		 

      René Repasi (S&D). – Herr Präsident, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! 80 Jahre nach dem Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs verlassen uns die letzten Überlebenden der Schoah, der Konzentrationslager des Krieges. Mit ihnen verlieren wir nicht nur Zeitzeugen. Wir verlieren Stimmen, die aus erster Hand gewarnt haben, was passieren kann, wenn Hass und Gleichgültigkeit zusammenkommen. Wir dürfen niemals zulassen, dass ihre Erlebnisse verstummen. Wir müssen ihre Augen, ihre Herzen, ihre Gedanken sein. Sie haben das Unfassbare gesehen. Sie haben gelitten. Sie haben gewarnt. Und sie haben auf uns gehofft.

    Jetzt mehr denn je ist es Zeit, diese Erinnerung nicht in Vergessenheit geraten zu lassen. Für uns Deutsche war das Ende des Weltkrieges eine Niederlage – nicht im Sinne nationaler Schmach, sondern als notwendiger Bruch mit einem verbrecherischen System. Die europäische Integration, die auf den Trümmern des Weltkrieges entstand, wurde geboren, um den Nationalismus, der nur das Trennende kennt und uns auf den Weg zum Krieg führt, zu überwinden. Es ist unsere Verantwortung, dieses Friedenswerk zu schützen und zu stärken. Denn Frieden ist nicht alles, aber ohne Frieden ist alles nichts!

    (Der Redner ist damit einverstanden, auf mehrere Fragen nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“ zu antworten.)

    		  
       


    		 

      René Repasi (S&D), Antwort auf eine Frage nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“. – Herr Kollege! Das, was Nazideutschland der Welt angetan hat, ist im Sinne von Kompensation niemals wiedergutmachbar. Dieses Verbrechen hat eine Intensität, dass es uns Deutsche, aber mit uns Deutschen uns Europäerinnen und Europäer und alle Bürgerinnen und Bürger dieser Welt niemals verlassen kann, weil es eine Verantwortung für unser alltägliches Handeln darstellt. Deswegen kann man sich von dieser Verantwortung auch nicht freikaufen, auch nicht freireden und heute auch nicht sagen, alles wäre jetzt wieder gut. Das ist es nicht, und das wird es nie sein. Das ist die politische Verantwortung, die wir als Deutsche, aber eben auch als Bürgerinnen und Bürger dieser Europäischen Union für immer tragen werden.

    		  
       

    		 

      Arkadiusz Mularczyk (ECR), pytanie zadane przez podniesienie niebieskiej kartki. – Mam pytanie, czy ma Pan świadomość, że obecnie polskie ofiary II wojny światowej nie mają dostępu do drogi sądowej, nie mają możliwości dochodzenia roszczeń? Znam osobiście takie ofiary poszkodowane przez Pana dziadków, pradziadków. Czy ma Pan świadomość, że Niemcy nie zawarły nigdy z Polską żadnej umowy o naprawie szkód i zadośćuczynieniu ofiarom? Czy ma Pan świadomość, że Niemcy nie zapłaciły nic polskim ofiarom ani Polsce? Czy nie jest Wam, Niemcom, wstyd? Czy nie jest wstyd Unii Europejskiej za to, że odwraca głowę od tej sprawy?

    		  
       



    		 

      Aurelijus Veryga (ECR). – Ponas pirmininke, 45-ųjų metų gegužės aštuntą dieną pasirašytas kapituliacijos aktas Lietuvai ir kitoms Baltijos šalims nereiškė nei karo pabaigos, nei laisvės. Save pristatantys išlaisvintojais sovietai „pamiršo“ išeiti iš išlaisvintų šalių, ir išlaisvintojai ėmėsi uoliai naikinti visus bent kiek pilietiškai nusiteikusius žmones. Tūkstančiai gyvuliniais vagonais buvo išvežti į Sibirą. Atimta žemė ir namai, sunaikinta pilietinė visuomenė, nevyriausybinės organizacijos bandė pasipriešinti ginklu miškuose, buvo nukankinti kalėjimuose, nužudyti ir išniekinti miestų aikštėse. Buvo bandoma sunaikinti kalbą, ribojama religijos laisvę, žiniasklaida tapo propagandos ruporais, klastojama istorija ir klastotėmis plaunamos vaikų smegenys. Tą teko patirti ir man, tuomet dar vaikui, augusiam sovietų okupuotoje Lietuvoje. Deja, Sovietų Sąjunga už visus nusikaltimus savo Niurnbergo neturėjo, o komunizmas visuotinai nebuvo pasmerktas. Vadinamasis išlaisvinimas mums virto ilgais dešimtmečiais okupacijos. Todėl raginame pasaulį išmokti Antrojo pasaulinio karo pamokas ir jų nekartoti.

    		  
       


    		 

      Sunčana Glavak (PPE). – Poštovani predsjedavajući, kolegice i kolege, 80 godina od najkrvavijeg rata u ljudskoj povijesti Europa je podigla najhrabriji projekt mira, ali danas taj projekt je na iskušenju. Dok rat ponovo tutnji na europskom tlu gledamo porast populizma i autoritarizma. Strah zamjenjuje razum. Moramo se zapitati hoćemo li braniti ono što nas čini Europljanima.

    Europa nije samo zajednica tržišta, već zajednica vrijednosti. Europa nije samo geografski prostor. Europa je ideja, ideja da razlike nisu slabost, već snaga i da se sloboda ne podrazumijeva. Mi to dobro znamo u Hrvatskoj. Kada govorimo o slobodi i o miru znamo koliko su sloboda i mir dragocjeni jer, nažalost, iskusili smo brutalnost velikosrpske agresije na Hrvatsku prije samo tridesetak godina. I pobijedili smo. Ali sjećamo se i žrtava nakon Drugog svjetskog rata. Sjećam se Macelja, Bleiburga i križnog puta.

    Stoga svi moramo imati na umu da Europa nije gotova priča. Europa se piše svakog dana, a pitanje je jednostavno: hoćemo li biti njezini autori ili promatrači?

    		  
       

    		 

      Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis (S&D). – Labai ačiū, gerbiamasis posėdžio pirmininke, gerbiamas komisare, kolegos, išties kalbėsiu kaip laisvės kovų dalyvis, disidentas, kurį septynis kartus tardė KGB, du kartus suėmė, kuris devyniasdešimtųjų kovo vienuoliktąją pasirašė Nepriklausomybės deklaraciją, Petrai Gražuli. Taigi keturiasdešimt pirmų metų birželio keturioliktą Hitleris okupavo Paryžių. Tą pačią dieną Stalinas pateikė ultimatumą Lietuvai ir mano tėvai 17 metų praleido Stalino gulaguose. Džiaugiuosi, kad mano tėvas buvo 45 pabaltijiečių memorandumo signataras. Ir ačiū Europos Parlamentui, kuris 1983 m. sausio 13 d. priėmė rezoliuciją dėl Estijos, Latvijos, Lietuvos laisvės. Džiaugiuosi ir dėl to, kad šiame Parlamente skamba dvi pavardės: Simone Weil ir Altero Spinelli. Ir taigi šios dvi pavardės didingai mums primena, ką mes turime padaryti. For Free and United Europe – taip vadinosi Altiero Spinelli manifestas. Ir šiandien reikia aiškiai pasakyti: istorija man neskolinga, aš skolingas istorijai, kad būtų taika, demokratija ir laisvė.

    		  
       

    		 

      Sebastian Tynkkynen (ECR). – Mr President, in an alternative reality we would be living today under Hitler’s rule – not just all of Europe, but maybe even the whole world.

    In that reality, I wouldn’t be standing here. I would have been killed in a gas chamber, my ashes drifting in the air. Many of you also would not be here, because of your ethnicity, your sexuality or disability.

    That reality nearly came true. Too many in Europe believed Hitler would stop on his own. They spoke of peace and diplomacy. But reality struck, and the price was great, far greater.

    Now, 80 years later, Europe faces its worst attack since World War Two, and history is repeating itself. Today, it is the Left who lives in an alternative reality. You oppose European militarisation and sending weapons to Ukraine, and call for peace talks with Putin.

    But you should never negotiate with dictators – you must stop them!

    (The speaker declined to take a blue-card question from Petras Gražulis)

    		  
       

    		 

      Martin Hojsík (Renew). – Vážený pán predsedajúci, pred osemdesiatimi rokmi v Európe skončili hrôzy vojny. Ak však chceme chrániť mier, nesmieme si pripomínať len koniec, ale myslieť aj na to, prečo táto vojna začala. Vojna, ktorú môj dedo prežil v Mauthausene, kde moja babička musela počúvať zvuky vychádzajúce z gestapáckych výsluchovní. A ona začala už v roku 39. Keď Hitler spolu áno, aj s klérofašistickým Slovenským štátom, a áno, aj so Sovietskym zväzom napadol Poľsko. Ona začala preto, že sa Západ díval preč, keď takpovediac ustupoval diktátorom, pretože obetoval tých menších a slabších. Dnes stojíme znova na križovatke. Na križovatke, ktorá bude znamenať to, že či sa Európa znova rozdelí, či Putin získa znovu sovietsku sféru vplyvu, alebo bude silná a jednotná. Aby sa nestalo to, čo po druhej svetovej vojne zažil napríklad pán Skúpi z Moravského Lieskového, keď ho NKVD odviedlo do gulagu len preto, že pomáhal americkému letcovi.

    		  
       

    		 

      Evin Incir (S&D). – Mr President, colleagues, today, 8 May, is the time to commemorate. This is a time to remember, but also a moment to reflect on the lessons – the evil the Second World War emerged from. And it is a time to warn against the far-right ideologies that once drove our continent to the edge of complete self-destruction. The same ideology that, unfortunately, is embraced by some – even here in this Parliament, in Europe in 2025.

    The generations that survived the Second World War, those who knew the very essence of ‘never again’, understood that the tragedy of the 20th century did not begin with bombs or bullets. It began with words, with rising intolerance, and it continued to mass killing of men, women and children by the thousands, by the millions.

    In our European society today, we are once again witnessing this rise of political forces that set people against people. Colleagues, do not forget that EU was built to ensure that ‘never again’ means ‘never again’. Let’s ensure that ‘never again’ is transferred into words every day, with every action that we take.

    (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question)

    		  
       

    		 

      Bogdan Rzońca (ECR), pytanie zadane przez podniesienie niebieskiej kartki. – Bardzo uważnie słuchałem Pani wypowiedzi. Chciałem w ciągu 20 sekund opowiedzieć Pani pewną historię i na końcu zadam pytanie.

    Jest 1944 rok. Jasło, moje miasto, w którym mieszkam, jest pod okupacją niemiecką. Walter Gentz, starosta niemiecki, wydaje rozkaz: wysiedlić kilkanaście tysięcy ludzi. Drugi rozkaz: zaminować całe Jasło. Trzeci rozkaz: okraść całe Jasło. Wszystko, co ukradli, spisali i wywieźli w ponad tysiącu wagonów. Wszystko wiemy – wiemy, dokąd te rzeczy pojechały, do których miast niemieckich.

    I pytanie: czy Pani uważa, że Niemcy powinni te rzeczy zwrócić albo przynajmniej zapłacić odszkodowanie za spalenie, zburzenie i okradzenie miasta Jasła?

    		  
       


    		 

      Adam Bielan (ECR). – Panie Przewodniczący! 8 maja 1945 r. zakończyła się II wojna światowa, najbardziej krwawa i wyniszczająca wojna w dziejach ludzkości. Dla Europy Zachodniej jest to dzień zwycięstwa odniesionego dzięki pomocy Stanów Zjednoczonych. Dla narodów Europy Centralnej i Wschodniej to symboliczny początek niemal półwiecznej okupacji przyniesionej przez Armię Czerwoną.

    Tę rocznicę obchodzimy w cieniu innej wojny, wojny toczonej na Ukrainie. Wczoraj na ten temat debatowaliśmy. Rozmawialiśmy również o tym, w jaki sposób agresor, czyli Rosja, powinna zadośćuczynić i wynagrodzić Ukrainie szkody, które wyrządziła. Ja te głosy oczywiście wspierałem, ale zastanówmy się, czy po II wojnie światowej agresor, czyli Niemcy, zadośćuczyniły szkodom, które one wyrządziły.

    Niemcy zamordowali ponad 6 mln polskich obywateli. Wyrządzili szkody – według oficjalnego polskiego raportu polskiego rządu – na ponad półtora biliona euro. Do dzisiaj nie zapłaciły reparacji. A wczoraj nowy kanclerz w Warszawie po raz kolejny postanowił nas upokorzyć i w obecności polskiego premiera oświadczył, że ta sprawa dla Niemiec jest zakończona. Otóż, panie kanclerzu Merz, nie jest zakończona. Będziemy się domagać zadośćuczynienia, a proniemiecki premier Donald Tusk prędzej czy później straci władzę.

    (Mówca zgodził się na pytanie zasygnalizowane przez podniesienie niebieskiej kartki)

    		  
       

    		 

      Petras Gražulis (ESN), pakėlus mėlynąją kortelę pateiktas klausimas. – Gerbiamas pranešėjau, jau 80 metų kaip Europa išsivadavo iš nacistinės Vokietijos, tačiau mūsų šalis Lietuva, tame tarpe ir Lenkija, pateko į Sovietų Sąjungos įtaką, kur taip pat buvo persekiojamas tikėjimas, žodžio laisvė. Kovojo lietuviai ir lenkai įvairiose organizacijose už savo laisvę. Atgavus mums nepriklausomybę, mes patekome į kitą ideologinę priespaudą – genderizmą. Kaip manot, ar Europa išsivaduos iš tos genderistinės ir leftistinės ideologijos, ar jinai joje ir mirs?

    		  
       


    		 

      Engin Eroglu (Renew). – Herr Präsident, sehr geehrter Herr Kommissar Séjourné! Vielen Dank, dass Sie heute bei uns sind. 80 Jahre nach dem Ende des Zweiten Weltkrieges erinnern wir uns und gedenken wir hier im Parlament einer sehr wichtigen Sache. Millionen von Menschen, Millionen von unschuldigen Menschen wurden brutalst ermordet aufgrund von Ideologien. Sie wurden überfallen. Ihnen wurde alles weggenommen – am Ende auch das Leben. Und dieses Gedenken muss uns eine Mahnung sein – eine Mahnung sein, was Ideologien anrichten. Und viele – auch in diesem Haus – haben scheinbar dieses Gedenken nicht richtig wahrgenommen, denn sie sind in ihren Mitgliedstaaten wieder mit Hass, Ideologien und einfachen Lösungen unterwegs, spalten die Europäische Union und verraten ihr eigenes Volk, indem sie sagen: Wir haben die einfache Lösung.

    Ich appelliere daran: Wir müssen gemeinsam – gerade jetzt in der heutigen Zeit, wo die Bedrohung an den Grenzen der Europäischen Union wieder so groß ist wie noch nie – die Gemeinsamkeiten der Europäischen Union suchen und aufhören mit der Mahnung, die wir heute hier in diesem Haus gehört haben. Wir müssen gemeinsam die Lösung suchen ohne Ideologien.

    		  
       

    		 

      Nils Ušakovs (S&D). – Priekšsēdētāja kungs! Cienījamie kolēģi! Šajās dienās cilvēki visā Eiropā svin uzvaru pār nacismu, piemin antihitleriskās koalīcijas karavīrus, pretošanās dalībniekus, partizānus, katru, kas cīnījās un krita, karojot pret šo absolūto ļaunumu. Eiropas Savienība tika izveidota tieši šīs uzvaras rezultātā, un viss, kas ir labs Eiropā, ir, pateicoties karavīriem, kas uzvarēja Hitleru.

    Viss, kas mums ir slikts, tas ir jau mūsu pašu neveiksmju un kļūdu rezultāts. Katru reizi, kad mums kaut kas neizdodas, cīnoties ar pavisam cita mēroga izaicinājumiem, ar ko saskaras patreiz Eiropas Savienība, mēs pieminam tos, kas pirms 80 gadiem upurēja absolūti visu, lai mēs un mūsu bērni varētu dzīvot mierā un drošībā. Veidojot labāku Eiropu, dzīvosim un strādāsim tā, lai mums nav kauns šo karavīru priekšā, ka mēs neizdarījām, nebijām spējīgi. Paldies antihitleriskās koalīcijas karavīriem, pretošanās dalībniekiem, partizāniem. Jūs esat un būsiet vienmēr mūsu varoņi.

    		  
       

    		 

      Christophe Grudler (Renew). – Monsieur le Président, le 8 mai marque la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale en Europe en 1945. Il est de notre devoir d’honorer la mémoire des soldats et de tous ceux qui, au prix de leur vie, se sont battus pour défendre la liberté et retrouver le chemin de la paix.

    Le 8 mai 1945 annonçait la victoire des Alliés sur le nazisme. N’oublions jamais les actes de barbarie dont ont été victimes les peuples d’Europe, perpétrés par des régimes autoritaires sans scrupule, avant et après 1945.

    Aujourd’hui, que voit-on, 80 ans après? Une montée en puissance des nationalismes, des autoritarismes, de la violence, des volontés d’hégémonie les plus primitives. Ils menacent directement la stabilité, la liberté et l’état de paix connus des citoyens européens.

    Ne reproduisons pas les erreurs du passé. Ces prédateurs n’auront pas raison de la belle Europe, car nous, fervents défenseurs de la démocratie, saurons nous tenir prêts pour la protéger. Restons unis pour ne jamais oublier! Restons unis pour ne jamais répéter!

    		  
       

    		 

      Nikos Papandreou (S&D). – Mr President, I find it very interesting that just a few minutes ago we had a Member who was born in the gulag who spoke here. We have two Members whose families were involved in the plot to assassinate Hitler. This Chamber is haunted by those memories. My grandmother told me stories of the Great Famine in Athens in 1941. My grandfather was chased by Kurt Waldheim and escaped to Egypt, and then was lucky enough to be prime minister on Liberation Day and lift the Greek flag over the Acropolis. So those are the memories that haunt us.

    Yet we still have this big divide, and it happens to be Russia and the Soviet Union. The problem with that – and that’s my problem – is that, yes, the Soviet Union helped defeat the Nazis, and that’s a plus, but then they dominated Eastern Europe and made a totalitarian world. So that tears us in half; it’s a ‘yes’ and a ‘no’, and we have to condemn atrocities whenever we see them if we are democratic people and believe in the European values. It does not matter if they had a victory star; they also have something very bad.

    Today we have a Fifth Column. It is not necessarily with weapons, it’s with suits, tweets and explosions of falsehoods. It promises easy solutions to complex problems. We see little men and little women who want to use freedoms to abolish freedoms. Our speeches today are part of the act of resistance.

    		  
       

    		 

      Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (S&D). – Monsieur le Président, quand j’avais dix ans, mon regard interrogea les lignes blanches et rouges d’un drapeau qui flottait dans le vent de ma Normandie natale. Je savais déjà ce qu’était la Seconde Guerre mondiale, mais ce drapeau-là, je ne le connaissais pas.

    Aujourd’hui, je pense aux soldats polonais de la première division blindée du général Maczek. Au mont Ormel, ils se battirent avec une bravoure rare. Sur les 1 500 soldats engagés, 60 seulement étaient encore en état de combattre après leur victoire. Je sais ce que je leur dois. Je sais qu’ils ont permis à mon grand-père de vivre dans une France libre. Je sais aussi que beaucoup d’entre eux n’ont jamais revu la Pologne libre.

    L’histoire ne se répète pas, mais les criminels d’hier ont leurs héritiers, qui sont aujourd’hui tentés par la récidive. Vladimir Poutine et Donald Trump trouvent des appuis ici même, au Parlement européen, dans cette extrême droite héritière des pires heures de notre histoire.

    Dans le combat pacifique que nous menons aujourd’hui pour la démocratie, rappelons-nous de ces héros polonais tombés au mont Ormel. Montrons-nous dignes de leur courage.

    		  
       

    		 

      Matjaž Nemec (S&D). – Mr President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, these days we celebrate a victory day. But considering the world around us, there isn’t really much to celebrate. Much of the responsibility for this lies with the inaction of the European institutions led by the Commission President von der Leyen.

    When the allies fought for peace 80 years ago, our common European project was born. Europe was meant to safeguard peace, freedom, rule of law and human rights. It was not meant to become a project of double standards and opportunistic political interests. Instead of demanding accountability, Europe’s top officials only repeat hollow rhetoric about upholding anti-fascist and anti-Nazi values. This is not the way forward.

    This anniversary must serve as a wake up call for the European Union to break free from the grip of hypocrisy. Europe was able to call out war crimes in Rwanda, Yugoslavia and Ukraine. Your leadership must clearly condemn and stop a genocide enfolding before our eyes in Gaza. A war crime is a war crime, whether done by Russia or by Israel.

    Europe must again become a source of pride, not shame. We owe this to our people and those who fought and died for Europe 80 years ago. We must end all wars. Peace must prevail again.

    		  
       

       

    Catch-the-eye procedure

    		  
       

    		 

      Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D). – Señor presidente, se cumplen ochenta años de la derrota del horror nazi, pero no del fin de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, cuya devastación fue planetaria, porque solo concluyó después de dos bombas atómicas en Japón en agosto de 1945. Nie wieder. Never again. Nunca más.

    Este no puede ser un mantra para esta Unión Europea, que recibió el Premio Nobel de la Paz en 2012, exactamente para avivar nuestra conciencia de que tenemos que estar permanentemente alerta contra el rebrote del autoritarismo y del totalitarismo en Europa y, por supuesto, de la guerra en todas partes. Ahí donde se perpetra un genocidio —como en Gaza— o una guerra —como la de agresión de Rusia contra Ucrania—, la Unión Europea tiene que tener una propuesta de paz activa.

    Por tanto, no puede ser un mantra repetir una y otra vez «Nie wieder» si no tenemos una política de la memoria que nos ayude a estar permanentemente contra cualquier forma de totalitarismo, contra cualquier amenaza a los valores fundadores de la Unión Europea. Allí donde el Consejo de Europa nació para la paz ha conocido la guerra entre miembros del Consejo de Europa. No puede pasar que la Unión Europea, círculo duro de integración basado, precisamente, en valores y en la paz, no tenga una política y un proceso de paz activo en la guerra contra Ucrania.

    		  
       

    		 

      Viktória Ferenc (PfE). – Elnök Úr! Ma a második világháború lezárására emlékezünk, és azokra az áldozatokra, katonákra és civilekre, akik átélték és megszenvedték történelmünk egyik legsötétebb időszakának borzalmait. Mennyire ironikus, hogy miközben a 80 évvel ezelőtt beköszöntött békét méltatjuk az Unió szomszédságában, a több mint három éve dúló orosz-ukrán háború még mindig emberéleteket követel.

    Nincs béke párbeszéd nélkül – hangzik Ferenc pápa üzenetében, aki élete utolsó napjáig azért küzdött, hogy békét teremtsen a világban, azon belül Ukrajnában is. Magyarország is a kezdetektől ezen az állásponton van. Diplomáciai eszközökkel, politikai támogatással és közös összefogással azért kell dolgoznunk, hogy elhallgattassuk a fegyverek zaját. Ukrajna lakossága már túl régóta szenved.

    		  
       

    		 

      Arkadiusz Mularczyk (ECR). – Panie Przewodniczący! Pani Komisarz! Wysoka Izbo! II wojna światowa to wciąż nierozliczona karta w relacjach europejskich. Mój kraj, Polska, w wyniku agresji niemieckiej poniósł niewyobrażalne straty: 6 mln zamordowanych polskich obywateli. 11 mln musiało wyjechać na emigrację. 50% terytoriów, które Polska utraciła. 40% PKB, które zostało zniszczone. Miliony kalek, miliony sierot, 200 tysięcy zgermanizowanych dzieci. 2 mln Polaków było wywiezionych na pracę przymusową. Miliony Polaków, które zginęły w obozach koncentracyjnych w wyniku chorób. Niemcy nigdy nie zapłaciły za swoje zbrodnie wojenne. To jest wyzwanie dla Unii Europejskiej, żeby nie odwracać oczu od tej sprawy, bo i Polska, i Grecja domagają się od Niemiec reparacji wojennych. Ja, Pani Komisarz, przekażę ten raport o polskich stratach wojennych. Oczekuję, że Unia Europejska stworzy mechanizm do zachęcenia Niemiec do rozmów o zapłacie odszkodowania dla Polski i Grecji. Nie odwracajcie Państwo od tego oczu ani głowy.

    		  
       


    		 

      Λευτέρης Νικολάου-Αλαβάνος (NI). – Κύριε Πρόεδρε, 80 χρόνια από την 9η Μάη 1945, όταν η ναζιστική Γερμανία παραδόθηκε άνευ όρων. Δεν πρόκειται για Ημέρα της Ευρώπης, όπως ισχυρίζεται η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, αλλά για τη μεγάλη αντιφασιστική νίκη των λαών. Οι λαοί δεν ξεχνούν τα εκατομμύρια που έπεσαν στον αγώνα για να συντριβεί ο φασιστικός άξονας. Τιμούν την τεράστια προσφορά του Κόκκινου Στρατού, του σοβιετικού λαού, των εθνικοαπελευθερωτικών κινημάτων όπου πρωτοστάτησαν οι κομμουνιστές, όπως στην Ελλάδα.

    Η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση προκλητικά κάνει την ανήξερη για πολεμικές επανορθώσεις της ναζιστικής Γερμανίας. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο απέρριψε αναφορά της ΠΕΑΕΑ, την οποία στήριξε το ΚΚΕ, για τις δίκαιες αξιώσεις του ελληνικού λαού. Σέρνετε τους λαούς στον πόλεμο, μπροστά σε νέα κρίση και σφοδρούς ανταγωνισμούς με Κίνα, Ρωσία αλλά και τις ΗΠΑ, που πληρώνουν οι εργαζόμενοι.

    Με τη διαστρέβλωση της ιστορίας, τον αντικομμουνισμό, την ταύτιση φασισμού και σοσιαλισμού, μάταια στοχεύετε να κρύψετε ότι υπάρχει διέξοδος σήμερα από την καπιταλιστική βαρβαρότητα, που η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση και οι αστικές κυβερνήσεις υπερασπίζονται. Απέναντι στο σκοτάδι των πολέμων, της εκμετάλλευσης, των κρίσεων, φωτεινό μέλλον της ανθρωπότητας είναι ο νέος κόσμος· ο σοσιαλισμός.

    		  
       

    		 

      Lukas Sieper (NI). – Herr Präsident, liebe Menschen Europas! Wir Deutschen kennen unsere Geschichte. Wir kennen die Verbrechen unseres Volkes unter den Nationalsozialisten. Und deshalb haben wir manchmal eine menschliche, aber gefährliche Angewohnheit: Wir erzählen uns, unsere Vorfahren hätten nicht mitgemacht, hätten nichts gewusst. Wir erzählen uns, wir selbst hätten im Widerstand gekämpft. Aber die Wahrheit ist: Die meisten deutschen Familien hatten Mitglieder in der SS, und die meisten von uns wären dabei gewesen.

    Schauen Sie auf mich. Meine Vorfahren haben ausschließlich in Deutschland gelebt. Ich habe mich nach der Schule freiwillig zum Militärdienst gemeldet. Ich liebe mein Land, meine Sprache, meine Kultur. Wäre ich, Lukas Sieper, vor 100 Jahren geboren, ich hätte wahrscheinlich die Propaganda geglaubt. Ich wäre wahrscheinlich ein weiterer Soldat in Hitlers Armeen gewesen. Wir sind immer nur eine Wahl von einer Diktatur entfernt. „Nie wieder“ ist nicht Erinnerung. „Nie wieder“ ist jetzt.

    		  
       

       

    (End of catch-the-eye procedure)

    		  
       

    		 

      President. – The debate is closed.

    		  

    5. Old challenges and new commercial practices in the internal market (debate)


    		 

      Anna Cavazzini, author. – Mr President, dear colleagues, we are facing numerous challenges in the EU. Looming trade wars, high energy prices, a lack of innovation and public investment, the China shock and shortages of skilled labour makes businesses suffer and results in rising costs of living for consumers. The climate crisis is accelerating and adding additional risks.

    The good news is the single market remains our best answer to geopolitical insecurity and to tackle those challenges. Nearly 450 million citizens, 23 million businesses with a GDP of EUR 17 trillion. These numbers make the single market one of the three largest economies in the world, and we need to use this unique resource to the benefit of people, businesses and the planet.

    Let me make four points on how the IMCO Committee in this resolution sees the way forward for the single market.

    One, reinforcing the single market. We need to make it easier, especially for small and medium sized enterprises to operate in it. Simplification is the core idea embedded in the creation of the single market. One rule instead of 27 means less administrative burden, less costs, and a better level playing field.

    But currently diverging implementation and fragmentation of legislation by the Member States create barriers in the single market. Therefore, the Commission needs to base its single market strategy on the idea of more Europe in legislation, implementation and enforcement.

    My second point, enforcing and developing the digital single market. Last term’s milestone legislations, the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act and the world’s first AI Act now need to be enforced to ensure fair competition and a safe and trustful online environment. We therefore highly welcome the recent decision of the Commission to impose fines against Apple and Meta for their non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act, and we expect a continuous, rigorous enforcement also in other cases.

    And let me say it very clearly, especially regarding the pressure from the other side of the Atlantic. We do not let ourselves blackmail. We don’t trade away our tech regulation. Our laws are not for sale because they protect consumers, democracy and smaller companies.

    Three. The green transition. Also, the reports of Letta and Draghi make clear the transition towards a green and circular economy is a must, and to ensure our future competitiveness, we need to prepare for the economic disruptions the climate crisis will bring.

    Following a clear and predictable path for businesses accompanied by investment and strengthened public services, next to better labelling and fighting greenwashing, we need to create a real single market for second-hand goods and the Circular Economy Act. Digital tools can smoothen the complex processes of public procurement. Thus, we can simplify and create lead markets for sustainable products, quality jobs and regional value at the same time.

    Four consumer protection. A flourishing single market and high consumer protection are two sides of the same coin. A single market cannot function without strong consumer protection in both online and offline markets. So our resolution asks the Commission to come up in due course with a Digital Fairness Act. Targeted advertising, advertising of influencers, dark patterns and dynamic pricing, as well as the protection of minors, are challenges that this act needs to tackle.

    With a rapidly rising share of e-commerce, millions of parcels land directly at the consumer’s doorsteps, often from China, often not complying with our standards. This leads to safety risks and creates an uneven level playing field for European businesses.

    Therefore, the Commission must act. We need a swift implementation of the communication on e-commerce. We need to faster deploy the digital product passport and tracing laws to finalise the customs reform and to step up enforcement.

    More e-commerce leads to completely overloaded national market surveillance authorities. And that is why we need more European enforcement in order to live up to the giant online platforms, which is why the IMCO Committee, in our resolution, we call to reform the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network and for harmonised investigation to better fight unsafe products.

    Only joint action on EU level can get the tsunami of packages under control. So this is what the Imco committee suggests, and we hope that the Commission takes it into account in its upcoming single market strategy.

    		  
       

    		 

      Stéphane Séjourné, Vice-président exécutif de la Commission. – Monsieur le Président, Mesdames et Messieurs les députés, je remercie évidemment le Parlement européen pour ce débat, et je vous remercie en particulier, Madame la Présidente Cavazzini, car votre question orale couvre tous les grands enjeux relatifs au marché intérieur. Elle réaffirme d’ailleurs son rôle essentiel pour la prospérité de l’Europe.

    C’est aussi l’ambition que portera la stratégie pour le marché unique que la Commission présentera dans deux semaines exactement. Une ébauche de cette stratégie a, vous le savez, déjà fuité dans la presse. Je vais donc en dire quelques mots avant de répondre très concrètement à l’ensemble des questions qui sont posées par la rapporteure.

    Revenons ensemble sur le contexte, tout d’abord, puisque, après les excellents rapports, qui ont été unanimement salués, d’Enrico Letta et de Mario Draghi, les tensions et la fragmentation géopolitiques nous rappellent que le marché intérieur est notre premier atout et que les meilleurs partenaires des Européens sont les Européens eux-mêmes. Face à l’urgence de mieux puiser dans ce formidable espace économique, je propose donc une méthode ainsi qu’un certain nombre de compromis que nous devons collectivement trouver ensemble. D’abord, la méthode, qui consiste à s’attaquer aux barrières les plus coûteuses et les plus concrètes pour notre marché intérieur. Puis des compromis, qu’il faut que l’on fasse également, entre les États, avec les États membres, mais également entre les groupes politiques.

    Il est également question d’avoir moins de barrières internes contre plus de protection à l’extérieur. Vous parliez éminemment du commerce extérieur et du e-commerce, qui est probablement la cause, dans ce moment précis, d’un certain nombre de dérégulations de notre marché intérieur. Se protéger davantage de l’extérieur, mais dans un esprit d’ouverture aux nouveaux partenariats commerciaux, tout en adoptant une doctrine de la préférence européenne, du «made in Europe», pour certains secteurs stratégiques.

    Je serai ravi de revenir vers cette assemblée lors de la miniplénière du mois de mai pour présenter très officiellement la stratégie sur le marché intérieur. Je vais maintenant revenir sur les questions que vous avez posées dans votre résolution.

    Vous le savez, les efforts pour renforcer notre marché intérieur doivent être partagés par tous les acteurs de l’Union européenne. Au sein de la Commission, mes collègues et moi-même avons compté et savons pouvoir compter sur l’engagement du Parlement européen sur cette question. Bien évidemment, les États membres sont des acteurs centraux et, je le dis sans ambages, trop souvent encore, la lettre et l’esprit des règles adoptées au niveau européen se perdent au niveau national, souvent en raison d’une sous-transposition, parfois d’une surtransposition, parfois même d’une absence totale de transposition.

    Quelques mots sur les biens et les services en général. La libre circulation est effective pour les biens. Néanmoins, comme vous l’avez souligné très justement, Madame la Rapporteure, nous devons faire face à l’émergence de nouvelles problématiques, notamment en termes de conformité, de durabilité et également de transparence envers les consommateurs.

    En ce qui concerne la conformité, je pense par exemple à l’explosion du e-commerce, comme je l’évoquais en introduction. Elle exige de notre part des douanes fortes, des contrôles homogénéisés partout en Europe. Ce n’est pas encore le cas aujourd’hui et je voudrais vraiment remercier le Parlement européen pour sa proposition ambitieuse sur le sujet. La balle est maintenant dans le camp des États membres pour ce qui est de la réforme des douanes et nous allons également porter cette dynamique. La montée du e-commerce exige également des mécanismes de surveillance du marché plus harmonisés et plus performants.

    En matière de durabilité, un marché intérieur pour l’économie circulaire est nécessaire pour mettre en œuvre le droit à la réutilisation ainsi qu’à la réparation. Nous y travaillerons également avec vous.

    Quant à la transparence, je pense évidemment à la «shrinkflation», ce phénomène sur lequel vous avez souhaité interpeller la Commission, mais aussi à la «skimpflation». Le premier consiste à réduire la quantité à prix constants et, le second, à réduire le niveau de service sans réduire le prix. Ce sont de nouveaux mots-valises qui mettent le doigt sur un manque de transparence grandissant pour les consommateurs, sur lequel le Parlement européen et les institutions doivent se pencher. Des garde-fous réglementaires existent déjà à l’échelle de l’Union européenne pour mieux protéger les consommateurs et les États membres doivent mettre en place les dispositions que nous avions proposées – et les mettre en place pleinement. La Commission continuera en tout cas, de son côté, à aider les États membres, à travers des réseaux dédiés de coopération en la matière, et nous veillerons également à inscrire ces problématiques au cœur de l’agenda des consommateurs pour la période 2025-2030, sous la responsabilité du commissaire McGrath.

    Ensuite, Monsieur le Président, après les biens, quelques mots sur les services. Là aussi, vous interpellez la Commission sur les risques persistants de fragmentation de notre marché. Il est vrai que la situation actuelle est loin d’être satisfaisante. Près de deux tiers des barrières qui existent aujourd’hui sont les barrières qui existaient il y a 20 ans et qui persistent encore aujourd’hui. En particulier, l’accès à près de 5 700 services réglementés est encore très entravé au niveau des États membres, tandis que l’hétérogénéité des régimes concernant les travailleurs détachés ou les saisonniers complique encore un peu plus les services et les investissements transfrontaliers. Nous devons y remédier une bonne fois pour toutes. C’est pour cela que nous proposerons des solutions concrètes pour faciliter le recrutement des travailleurs et la reconnaissance des compétences et des qualifications dans les professions réglementées. Elles s’inscriront dans l’initiative de la Commission pour la portabilité des compétences, qui sera publiée à la fin de l’année prochaine. Nous allons également privilégier une approche sectorielle dans les services pour être plus efficaces.

    Votre question orale évoquait également la protection des consommateurs, en particulier eu égard aux usages numériques. J’ai parlé de l’explosion du commerce en ligne, mais, vous le savez, nous avons également voté, lors de la dernière mandature, le règlement sur les services numériques (DSA). L’Union européenne s’est dotée d’un outil unique au monde qui responsabilise les plateformes. Nous disposons également d’un règlement sur les marchés numériques (DMA), qui permet au plus grand nombre d’acteurs, quelle que soit leur taille ou leur statut, d’entrer sur le marché, lequel était jusque-là verrouillé par ceux qu’on appelle les «gate keepers». La mise en œuvre du DSA et du DMA démarre à peine, mais nous continuons et continuerons à porter exactement la même ambition pour ces deux textes que lors de la mandature précédente. Ils seront mis en œuvre par les différentes directions de la Commission et sous la supervision d’Henna Virkkunen, responsable de ces questions-là.

    Madame la Rapporteure, Monsieur le Président, je voudrais terminer par un mot, puisque je l’évoquais également en introduction: lors de la présentation de la stratégie sur le marché unique, qui occupera une place essentielle dans nos débats vers la fin de l’année, ce sera l’occasion pour nous d’accorder également une place à la question de la simplification. C’est du reste pour cela que nous présenterons, le 21 mai, le quatrième train de mesures omnibus de simplification. Son objectif est assez clair: pour nous, il s’agit de libérer le potentiel de toutes les entreprises qui font et organisent le marché unique et qui y opèrent. Nous travaillons sur deux enjeux en particulier: la définition des petites entreprises à moyenne capitalisation, qui est très attendue par les parlementaires, et la numérisation des procédures administratives et la mise en conformité pour les produits entrant sur le marché. Je sais pouvoir compter sur l’approche constructive du Parlement européen pour faire avancer ce dossier rapidement. Je me réjouis de cette opportunité de pouvoir recueillir, lors de ce débat, vos suggestions et vos priorités.

    		  
       

    		 

      Andreas Schwab, im Namen der PPE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident, Herr Kommissar, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Alle Jahre wieder kommt eine neue Binnenmarktstrategie, und häufig steht in der neuen genau das drin, was in der alten auch drinstand. Insofern freue ich mich, Herr Kommissar, dass Sie in Ihrer Analyse des Europäischen Binnenmarktes für Güter und Dienstleistungen doch einige erfrischende neue Analysepunkte aufgegriffen haben. Allerdings bleibt das Problem so, wie Sie es beschrieben haben, das gleiche: Viel europäische Rechtsetzung verliert sich in ihrem Geist in den Mitgliedstaaten. Deswegen wird es entscheidend darauf ankommen, dass die Mitgliedstaaten, gerade auch die großen wie Deutschland und Frankreich, ihrer Verantwortung gerecht werden.

    Und das Zweite ist, dass wir es uns nicht zu leicht machen dürfen, hier im Europäischen Parlament über die Zölle der Amerikaner zu lamentieren – die möglicherweise 10 Prozent weitere Hindernisse bedeuten –, aber gleichzeitig die 40 Prozent vergessen, die wir selber innerhalb des europäischen Marktes noch immer nicht beiseite geräumt haben. Deswegen ist es eine harte Arbeit, mit der Binnenmarktstrategie zu versuchen, konkrete Anknüpfungspunkte für eine Vereinfachung zu finden. Die Entsendung von Arbeitnehmern, die ja vor allem in den Grenzregionen ein großes Problem ist, haben Sie bereits mit einem Vorschlag angegangen. Wir müssen alles dafür tun, dass alle Mitgliedstaaten dabei mitmachen, weil ansonsten der Vorschlag nicht die gewünschte Wirkung mit sich bringt.

    Wir müssen die europäische Zollpolitik neu bewerten, weil wir mit einer einheitlichen Zollorganisation natürlich sehr viel effektiver gegen Temu und Shein vorgehen könnten, wenn wir den Tsunami der vielen kleinen Pakete aus Fernost bekämpfen wollen. Aber, Herr Kommissar, gemeinsam mit Ihrem für den Zoll zuständigen Kollegen arbeiten wir daran schon seit über 15 Jahren. Und die Mitgliedstaaten haben jedes Mal Schwierigkeiten bereitet, wenn es um mehr Vereinheitlichung gegangen wäre.

    Das Dritte ist: Natürlich ist es populär, im Digitalraum jetzt Forderungen aufzustellen. Aber der Kern, wo wir neues Wachstum in Europa recht einfach generieren können, bleibt der klassische Binnenmarkt für Güter und Dienstleistungen. Deswegen müssen wir dort unbedingt ran. Deswegen hoffe ich, dass Ihre Strategie uns neue Wege aufzeigt.

    		  
       

    		 

      Laura Ballarín Cereza, en nombre del Grupo S&D. – Señor presidente, señor vicepresidente, la semana pasada, en España, tuvimos un apagón que dejó al país sin luz, sin teléfono y sin transporte. Yo estuve allí y tuve suerte, pero millones de personas se quedaron sin conexión, caminando horas desde sus lugares de trabajo a sus casas. Y en esta situación de emergencia, empresas como Cabify, Uber o Bolt aumentaron los precios de sus servicios un 300 %. Esta es una nueva práctica comercial derivada de la economía digital llamada «precios dinámicos», que hemos querido recoger en la Resolución que hoy votamos.

    Este Parlamento pide a la Comisión Europea que proponga regulación para abordar este problema y proteger a los consumidores, especialmente en la futura Ley de Equidad Digital, que también tiene que proteger a los menores en línea, porque la simplificación no nos va a salvar de todos los males. Nosotros —los consumidores, las familias— esperamos leyes que nos protejan de los abusos de las grandes compañías tecnológicas.

    		  
       

    		 

      Klara Dostalova, za skupinu PfE. – Pane předsedající, kolegyně, kolegové, návrh usnesení slibuje řešení starých výzev a nových obchodních postupů, ale zatím zůstává u prázdných slov. A právě to je dnes bohužel typické pro přístup Komise ke všemu, co vzejde z Parlamentu – skvělé slogany, málo výsledků. Ano, oceňuji důraz na snižování administrativní zátěže a podporu malých podnikatelů. Ano, naše spotřebitelské právo je silné, ale Komise opět ukazuje, že slyší jen to, co chce slyšet. Ochrana spotřebitelů je sice důležitá, ale v realitě dnes lidé čelí dramatickému růstu životních nákladů a nejsou schopni naplnit ani základní potřeby. A co na to Komise? Nic. Ani zmínka o tom, že přemrštěné ekologické ambice je potřeba přehodnotit. V tomto ohledu Komise zcela selhává.

    A Ukrajina? Její začlenění na jednotný trh je vydáváno za politický triumf. Ale nikdo se vážně neptá: Jakou cenu za to zaplatíme? Zavírání očí před rozdílnými standardy a problémy zničí rovné podmínky pro naše podniky. Pokud má jednotný trh fungovat, potřebujeme méně ideologických experimentů a víc zdravého rozumu. Komise musí přestat přehlížet realitu a začít chránit to, na čem Evropanům skutečně záleží – férové pracovní podmínky, konkurenceschopné firmy a dostupné bydlení. Slova nestačí. Potřebujeme činy a odvahu přiznat si, kde Komise opakovaně selhává.

    		  
       

    		 

      Stefano Cavedagna, a nome del gruppo ECR. – Signor Presidente, signor Commissario, onorevoli colleghi, mentre qui a livello parlamentare si parla troppo spesso di dazi, si parla di imposizioni sull’import, si parla tantissimo di Green Deal, si parla di tanti agenti extra mercato europeo, ci dimentichiamo di quello che noi siamo e di quello che dobbiamo essere. E purtroppo i dati sono molto chiari.

    Mentre il resto del mondo cresce, l’Europa è sostanzialmente ferma in stagnazione economica. Va avanti grazie solo ad alcuni Paesi, tra i quali l’Italia, ma la crescita è comunque modesta, generalizzata nel nostro continente.

    Vogliamo meno burocrazia, vogliamo una migliore semplificazione, vogliamo lasciare le imprese europee libere di poter lavorare e di poter competere ad armi pari con il resto del mondo. E sono sicuro che lo faremo al meglio.

    Chiediamo anche un grande investimento in termini di intelligenza artificiale, con delle vere e proprie infrastrutture europee che ci permettano di non dipendere dall’altra parte dell’oceano o dall’Oriente che troppo spesso è più un pericolo che una risorsa.

    		  
       

    		 

      Svenja Hahn, im Namen der Renew-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! In geopolitisch unsicheren Zeiten müssen wir unseren Binnenmarkt radikal ausbauen. Unsere wirtschaftliche Stärke macht uns erst zu einem attraktiven Partner. Und wenn Partner wie die USA eben nicht mehr verlässlich sind, müssen wir unseren Heimatmarkt attraktiver machen, auch für unsere eigenen Unternehmen. Es muss endlich Schluss sein mit dieser regulatorischen Kleinstaaterei – ein Produkt, eine Dienstleistung, ein Markt nach denselben Regeln.

    Wir müssen rigoros Bürokratie abbauen, alle Binnenmarktgesetze auf den Prüfstand stellen. Und ich möchte vor allen Dingen daran erinnern: Wettbewerbsfähigkeit kommt von Wettbewerb. Ich bin ein bisschen skeptisch gegenüber unverhältnismäßigen staatlichen Eingriffen wie bei Leitmärkten. Das ist kein Garant, dass sich am Ende das beste Produkt zum besten Preis durchsetzt, sondern eben das politisch gewollte Produkt. Und ich baue wirklich auf die Kommission und Kommissar Séjourné, dass Sie den Mut haben, den Binnenmarkt groß zu machen. Denken Sie die Strategie groß, doktern Sie nicht nur an Kleinigkeiten herum. Wir müssen unseren Binnenmarkt jetzt stärken, damit wir in der Welt stärker werden. Andersrum gilt: Wer jetzt den Binnenmarkt nicht stärkt, schwächt uns in der Welt.

    		  
       


    		 

      Hanna Gedin, för The Left gruppen. – Herr talman! Ibland undrar jag om vi lever i samma verklighet. Frågar man kommissionen eller EPP eller högern i mitt hemland om vad som hotar EU:s ekonomi, så får man höra att miljökraven är för höga för företagen, att det är för svårt att konkurrensutsätta offentlig sektor, att det behövs färre regler och fler avregleringar. Men jag ser en helt annan verklighet.

    Jag ser människor som knappt får lönen att räcka till mat, jag ser arbetare som tvingas flytta från land till land, från gig till gig i en marknad där trygghet ses som hinder för flexibilitet. Jag ser en inre marknad som snarare än att lyfta villkoren för alla driver ett race to the bottom: på löner, arbetsrätt, välfärd och miljö.

    Det vi debatterar i dag genomsyras av samma logik. Färre hinder, snabbare upphandlingar, mer flexibilitet, mindre demokratiskt inflytande – allt för marknaden. Men vad händer när vi river regler för företagen? Vi river också ofta skydd för människor. Vi river regler som finns där för att trygga vår vardag, för att säkra schysta arbetsvillkor, för att bevara vår miljö och för att hålla demokratin levande.

    Vi i vänstern vill säga att det här är fel väg. Vi behöver inte färre regler, vi behöver rätt regler: regler som skyddar människor, inte vinstmarginaler, regler som sätter klimat, jämlikhet och trygghet över marknadslogik. För det är inte vi som är orealistiska – det är den blinda tron på avreglering som är det verkliga hotet mot framtiden.

    		  
       

    		 

      Pablo Arias Echeverría (PPE). – Señor presidente, señor comisario, en 2023 celebramos el trigésimo aniversario del mercado único. La construcción de esta Unión de libre circulación de bienes, servicios, capitales y personas refleja los valores y principios que compartimos; un proyecto que se ha convertido en el faro que guía la economía de la Unión Europea.

    Pero también existen sombras —sombras que debemos disipar—. Draghi y Letta lo han dejado muy claro: buscamos ser competitivos, sí, pero tenemos un mercado fragmentado. Buscamos ser innovadores, sí, pero ponemos trabas a nuestras pymes, start-ups y scale-ups, y dejamos que el talento se nos escape. Buscamos liderazgo, sí, pero ponemos cargas administrativas que ralentizan el crecimiento de nuestras empresas. Buscamos un mercado único, sí, pero nos encontramos con un exceso de normas desiguales en ese mismo mercado y proteccionismos nacionales.

    Lo que antes era capaz de aguantar nuestro mercado, hoy se antoja imposible. La coyuntura actual a nivel global nos exige abordar estas sombras con diligencia y determinación. La tarea no es sencilla: simplificación, menos burocracia, facilidades para financiar iniciativas digitales privadas, innovación, retención y atracción de talento. Necesitamos menos normas, pero iguales para todo el mercado, con el mismo nivel de garantías y protección. En definitiva, más seguridad jurídica.

    Los Estados miembros y las instituciones europeas tenemos que tener la suficiente altura de miras para abordar estas reformas estructurales, porque no nos jugamos mucho; probablemente, nos lo jugamos todo, señor comisario.

    Cuando todos dimos la bienvenida a los informes Letta y Draghi, ¿era solo una foto o era un compromiso? En el caso del Partido Popular, se lo aseguro: un compromiso. Espero que también lo sea para la Comisión y para el Consejo.

    		  
       

    		 

      Alex Agius Saliba (S&D). – Sur President, Is-suq uniku Ewropew jibqa’ wieħed mill-aktar elementi importanti fil-proġett Ewropew għaċ-ċittadini tagħna. Però huwa importanti li dan is-suq jibqa’ jevolvi, ir-regoli tiegħu jibqgħu jevolvu, sabiex fl-aħħar mill-aħħar naraw illi r-realtajiet tal-iktar Stati Membri li jinsabu fil-fruntiera, il-gżejjer, dawn l-istess regoli jkunu qegħdin jaħdmu favur tagħhom ukoll.

    U hawnhekk nixtieq nitkellem ukoll fuq realtajiet partikolari differenti li Stati Membri żgħar bħal Malta qegħdin jaffaċċjaw, b’mod speċjali minħabba żidiet fil-prezzijiet, inflazzjoni tal-aktar prodotti essenzjali f’dan is-suq komuni. U allura huwa importanti li naraw li jkollna aktar flessibilità fejn jidħlu r-regolamenti tas-suq uniku Ewropew sabiex jaraw illi Stati Membri żgħar u gżejjer ikunu fl-aħħar mill-aħħar jistgħu jibbenefikaw minn dan id-dritt, id-dritt tal-moviment u l-libertà tal-moviment għall-prodotti u s-servizzi, kif fl-aħħar mill-aħħar jibbenefikaw pajjiżi ferm ikbar minna.

    Imma fl-aħħar mill-aħħar ukoll huwa essenzjali li naraw illi jkollna regoli aktar stretti fejn jidħol ukoll l-importazzjoni tal-prodotti barra mill-Unjoni Ewropea. F’suq fejn qed imur aktar fuq bażi online milli fil-ħwienet tradizzjonali huwa importanti li naraw illi jkollna l-istess tip ta’ regoli u l-istess tip ta’ drittijiet għall-konsumaturi li jixtru fuq bażi online u dawk illi jixtru fuq bażi offline.

    Imma dan ma nistgħu nagħmluh qatt billi ngħabbu b’aktar piżijiet, speċjalment piżijiet finanzjarji, lill-konsumaturi tagħna.

    		  
       


    		 

      Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz (PPE). – Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the internal market is one of our greatest achievements and yet our businesses and our consumers still face barriers, are confronted with unpredictable legislative changes and a lack of consistency in the implementation of our single market rules.

    We need to simplify our rules we currently have in place, making sure that we keep those that protect consumers and entrepreneurs, but remove those that create excessive burdens. It is not enough to cut norms on paper, to delay them or to simply exempt certain categories. We need to change them in substance in order to make them easier to comply with.

    Online, our businesses face the challenge of complying with all these norms while foreign traders, especially from Asia, China ignore our rules and yet face little or no consequences at all. This is not a fair situation.

    The Commission is currently working on a new Digital Fairness Act (DFA). Before this is presented, the Commission should present a plan to cut unnecessary norms and only then legislate, in a very targeted manner. The next DFA cannot be another DSA. Businesses and consumers need predictability and a level playing field through the enforcement of existing norms.

    		  
       


    		 

      Elisabeth Dieringer (PfE). – Herr Präsident, sehr geehrte Damen und Herren! Wieder einmal erleben wir, wie die EU mit ihrem Entschließungsantrag zum Binnenmarkt große Worte schwingt, aber an den eigentlichen Problemen unserer Wirtschaft und unserer Bürger vorbeigeht. Seit Jahren hören wir Versprechen über Bürokratieabbau und weniger Belastung für unsere Unternehmen. Doch die Realität sieht anders aus: immer neue Vorschriften, immer mehr Regulierung, immer weniger Freiheit für unsere heimischen Betriebe.

    Der Binnenmarkt soll ein Motor für Wohlstand und Wachstum sein, doch stattdessen werden unsere kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen durch eine zu große Anzahl an EU‑Regeln und Berichtsanforderungen ausgebremst. Die Kommission redet von Innovation und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit. Aber in Wahrheit profitieren vor allem die Großkonzerne, während unsere regionalen Betriebe mit immer neuen Hürden kämpfen müssen. Wir fordern: Schluss mit der Überregulierung und den realitätsfernen Vorgaben aus Brüssel! Der Binnenmarkt muss endlich wieder den Menschen und Unternehmen dienen, die hier arbeiten und Steuern zahlen, nicht den Interessen globaler Konzerne oder den ideologischen Träumereien einer EU‑Elite. Weniger Bürokratie, mehr Eigenverantwortung und echte Wettbewerbsfähigkeit – das ist unser Weg für einen starken Binnenmarkt.

    (Die Rednerin ist damit einverstanden, auf eine Frage nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“ zu antworten.)

    		  
       



    		 

      Tomislav Sokol (PPE). – Poštovani predsjedavajući, povjereniče, kolegice i kolege, Draghijevo izvješće jasno je pokazalo da troškovi koji proizlaze iz prevelikog broja propisa, kako europskih tako i nacionalnih, i dalje su vrlo visoki za europska poduzeća. To regulatorno opterećenje i fragmentacija posebno opterećuju mala i srednja poduzeća, koče inovacije i slabe našu konkurentnost na globalnoj razini.

    Prošlo je više od četiri godine otkako sam kao izvjestitelj Kluba EPP‑a za usluge na jedinstvenom tržištu upozoravao na prepreke slobodnom kretanju usluga. Nažalost, uslužni sektor koji zapošljava dvije trećine radne snage i stvara 9 od 10 novih radnih mjesta i dalje ostaje najslabije razvijen dio jedinstvenog tržišta. To je nedopustivo jer propuštamo priliku za rast, zapošljavanje i globalnu konkurentnost. Stoga je krajnje vrijeme da uklonimo preostale prepreke i taj golemi gospodarski potencijal pretvorimo u nova radna mjesta, veće ulaganje i gospodarski rast Unije.

    Bez pravog jedinstvenog tržišta nećemo se moći natjecati s globalnim konkurentima, a posebno je važno osiguravanje poštene tržišne utakmice. Karteli multinacionalnih kompanija koji održavaju visoke cijene hrane i drugih proizvoda apsolutno su nedopustivi. Također, implementacija Zakona o digitalnim tržištima, kojim će se stati na kraj zlouporabama od strane digitalnih divova, mora biti prioritet. Osim toga, u uvjetima brutalne globalne kompeticije, davanje prednosti europskim proizvodima i uslugama sasvim je legitimna opcija za zaštitu naših interesa.

    Na kraju, moramo zaštititi potrošače od nekvalitetnih i često opasnih proizvoda kupljenih preko interneta iz trećih država. Digitalne platforme moraju snositi odgovornost za štetu koju takvi proizvodi nanesu kupcima. Jedino tako ćemo ih natjerati da ozbiljno kontroliraju što se preko njih prodaje i zaštititi naše potrošače.

    		  
       

    		 

      Pierre Jouvet (S&D). – Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Commissaire, envoyer un colis de Pékin à Strasbourg coûte moins cher qu’affranchir une carte postale pour écrire dans son propre pays.

    En 2024, 4,6 milliards de paquets expédiés par Temu, Shein ou AliExpress sont entrés en Europe: c’est 300 % d’augmentation en quatre ans. Ces produits sont fabriqués à perte puis expédiés grâce aux subventions publiques. Leurs producteurs détruisent la planète et pratiquent aussi l’esclavage moderne. Comble de l’absurdité et de l’hypocrisie, et signe aussi de notre complicité, ces colis d’une valeur de moins de 150 euros sont exonérés de droits de douane.

    Ces colis sont un poison lent qui tue notre planète, notre économie et nos emplois. Camaïeu, ChaussExpo, Casa, Jennifer: combien d’autres PME encore allons-nous laisser disparaître? Ces petits colis sont un grand poison et nous devons, en Europe, sortir de cette naïveté, changer nos règles douanières et assumer de protéger nos consommateurs, nos entreprises et nos emplois.

    		  
       

    		 

      Zala Tomašič (PPE). – Gospod predsednik. Leta 2023 je bilo na dnevni ravni približno 12 milijonov spletnih naročil z evropskega trga v tretje države, od tega 91 % iz Kitajske. Ko pogledamo te številke, je logično, da naši cariniki ne morejo kontrolirati vsega. Vemo tudi, da velikokrat izdelki iz Kitajske ne dosegajo evropskih standardov.

    Jaz verjamem v prosti trg in verjamem, da regulacija oziroma več regulacije ni odgovor na vse. Kot tudi ni odgovor na vse pritisk na naše platforme za težave, ki so povzročene drugje, posebej v državah, kjer imamo probleme z zagotavljanjem legitimnosti certifikatov.

    Mislim, da moramo nazaj prinesti tudi osebno odgovornost vseh nas potrošnikov in se moramo zavedati, da s tem, ko naročamo s kitajskih platform, ne škodimo le evropejski industriji, ampak tudi na koncu samemu sebi in našemu zdravju. Poleg tega pa tudi rabimo na evropski ravni rešitev glede vprašanja vplivnežev, a da bo to poenoteno in da bo tudi priznan njihov status kot ustvarjalcev vsebin, in ne le kot oglaševalcev.

    		  
       

    		 

      Δημήτρης Τσιόδρας (PPE). – Κύριε Πρόεδρε, κύριε Αντιπρόεδρε της Επιτροπής, τα εμπόδια εντός της ενιαίας αγοράς της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης ισοδυναμούν με δασμούς 45% για τη μεταποίηση και 110% για τις υπηρεσίες. Οι αριθμοί είναι αποκαλυπτικοί και μας υπενθυμίζουν σε ποια κατεύθυνση πρέπει να κινηθούμε.

    Για αυτό τον λόγο χαίρομαι, γιατί το ψήφισμα που έχουμε στα χέρια μας κάνει συγκεκριμένη αναφορά στους γεωγραφικούς και εδαφικούς περιορισμούς, οι οποίοι συρρικνώνουν την αγοραστική δύναμη των Ευρωπαίων πολιτών και πλήττουν τις μικρομεσαίες επιχειρήσεις. Είναι ένα θέμα που πολλοί συνάδελφοι έχουμε επισημάνει, ζητώντας μέτρα. Είναι απαράδεκτο, σε μια ενιαία αγορά, ορισμένες πολυεθνικές εταιρείες να εκμεταλλεύονται τη θέση τους προκειμένου να χρεώνουν εξαιρετικά διαφορετικές τιμές για ίδια προϊόντα, ανάλογα με το μέγεθος της αγοράς και εις βάρος των καταναλωτών. Ενόψει και της στρατηγικής για την ενιαία αγορά, αναμένουμε τη νομοθετική πρόταση για να βάλουμε τέλος σε αυτές τις πρακτικές.

    Δεύτερον, χρειάζονται ακόμα πιο φιλόδοξα μέτρα για την απλοποίηση των κανόνων και τη μείωση του διοικητικού φόρτου που αντιμετωπίζουν οι μικρομεσαίες επιχειρήσεις. Η μείωση της γραφειοκρατίας κατά 35% είναι αδήριτη ανάγκη να επιτευχθεί.

    Τρίτον, παρά το γεγονός ότι η Ένωση έχει το πιο στιβαρό πλαίσιο προστασίας των καταναλωτών, μόνο το 28% έχει καλή γνώση των δικαιωμάτων του.

    Και, τέλος, χρειαζόμαστε ενίσχυση της εφαρμογής του ψηφιακού νομοθετικού πλαισίου με συντονισμένους ελέγχους από τις αρμόδιες υπηρεσίες και καλύτερη συνεργασία μεταξύ τους, για να διασφαλίσουμε ότι η νομοθεσία εφαρμόζεται στην πράξη.

    		  
       

    		 

      Regina Doherty (PPE). – Mr President, Commissioner, when it comes to commercial practices, online is the only show in town. But when it comes to consumer fraud, online spaces still remain a Wild West. We need all actors on board to ensure that we have a shared responsibility. Because today, citizens in Europe are subject to fake advertising and online scams on a near daily basis, often via social media platforms.

    Our own Irish Data Protection Commission has already issued over EUR 3.5 billion worth of fines, as well as corrective measures. But it’s all too easy to put fake advertisements purporting to be from regulated institutions online, and for unsuspecting citizens to be scammed out of their own money before the advert just simply disappears. Three in every four Irish people have encountered some form of suspicious activity online, whilst 45 % of Europeans stated they have experienced more suspicious activity compared with last year.

    We know that such incidents are hard to track and almost impossible to reverse after they happen. The Digital Services Act obliges platforms to take down illegal content once it has been reported. However, it creates few proactive obligations prior to publication or even reporting by individuals. So we need to look at ways to ensure that electronic communications providers verify with national competent authorities that advertisements purporting to be from regulated entities are, in fact, legitimate, so that we can protect our people and their hard earnings.

    		  
       

       

    Catch-the-eye procedure

    		  
       

    		 

      Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis (S&D). – Mr President, dear Commissioner, you rightly mentioned that we are still 20 years speaking about the same problems. But now the digital union is not completed. The energy union is not completed. I know our railway infrastructure is in difficulties, and when we are speaking about the necessity to do something more, first of all, we need to stress very much that we need to develop pan‑European infrastructures in digital, in energy, in transport.

    And, of course, also Letta rightly mentioned the ‘fifth freedom’: freedom for research, investment and innovation. But it requires also infrastructure in our research and innovations. It means the life sciences strategy should be connected with the internal market strategy hand in hand, otherwise we can lose once again competitiveness, investment and progress. Made in Europe requires more integration.

    		  
       





       

    (End of catch-the-eye procedure)

    Written Statements (Rule 178)

    		  
       

    		 

      Stéphane Séjourné, Vice-président exécutif de la Commission. – Monsieur le Président, Monsieur Sieper, je suis désolé, je vais parler français, mais je crois que vous avez la traduction.

    Je vais peut-être vous donner quelques convictions suite à ce débat. D’abord, une conviction, c’est que nous ne pouvons pas regarder notre stratégie du marché intérieur en silos, comme cela s’est probablement beaucoup fait lors des dernières mandatures.

    Au vu du contexte international que nous connaissons, un nouvel équilibre économique est à trouver. Il s’agit à la fois d’œuvrer pour plus de marché intérieur et donc, je le répète, d’aller plus loin en ce qui concerne les biens et les services ou l’union des marchés des capitaux, d’organiser et de faciliter les déplacements des biens et des services plus largement, de retirer les barrières qui contraignent notamment la circulation des marchandises et des biens, dans le cadre de nos travaux et des compétences de l’Union européenne.

    Il s’agit aussi de travailler, au niveau national, sur les différences de réglementations qui créent des contraintes et – je crois que l’un de vous l’a expliqué assez justement – sur l’équivalent en droits de douane des différentes réglementations nationales, puisqu’il est d’actualité de parler en termes d’équivalent en droits de douane et que cela montre qu’il est urgent que nous agissions. 40 à 50 % de droits de douane sur les biens, plus de 100 % sur les services: je vois le coût que cela peut engendrer pour une entreprise de produire dans un pays européen et de commercialiser dans un autre. Le paradoxe de la situation, c’est qu’il est probablement plus rentable aujourd’hui de produire en Chine et d’exporter un petit colis vers les pays européens que de mettre en place toute la réglementation européenne pour commercialiser depuis la France, l’Allemagne, la Pologne ou l’Italie. C’est ce que nous devons régler dans les prochains mois.

    En parallèle, il faut protéger les frontières commerciales extérieures de l’Union européenne et donc avancer sur la réforme douanière. Elle est aujourd’hui bloquée au Conseil et les États membres doivent avancer, je l’ai dit en introduction de ce débat. Je consacrerai beaucoup de capital politique à ce que la réforme des douanes puisse progresser au même rythme que notre réforme et notre stratégie sur le marché intérieur. D’un côté, libéralisation et rupture des barrières restantes sur le marché intérieur, de l’autre, protection des frontières européennes en ce qui concerne l’e-commerce, notamment en avançant sur la question du contrôle. Je pense que c’est le bon équilibre qu’il faut pouvoir trouver collectivement dans cette maison.

    Un autre équilibre – le dernier, j’en resterai là – auquel travailler également dans les prochains mois et les prochaines semaines concerne les nouveaux accords commerciaux et la diversification que nous devons opérer alors que le monde est de plus en plus protectionniste. Oui, des accords avec de nouveaux pays, portant sur des secteurs particuliers, doivent être trouvés. La présidente de la Commission s’emploie, avec mon collègue Maroš Šefčovič, à trouver de nouveaux débouchés pour nos industries et nos entreprises à l’extérieur de l’Union européenne, à condition que nous puissions opérer une préférence européenne et donc choisir le «made in Europe» dans un certain nombre de secteurs stratégiques.

    Pour résumer, voilà, en quelque sorte, notre nouvel équilibre, qu’il faut que nous puissions trouver entre nous, collectivement: à la fois l’approfondissement du marché intérieur, la protection des frontières extérieures par rapport au e-commerce, pour protéger notre marché, et la diversification des accords commerciaux, alors que le commerce devient de plus en plus compliqué et que la guerre tarifaire et la guerre douanière entre la Chine et les États-Unis peuvent avoir un impact important sur notre économie, en contrepartie d’une préférence européenne sur un certain nombre d’achats publics. Vous aurez notamment, dans ce cadre-là, à travailler sur la réforme des marchés publics que la Commission présentera dans les prochains mois.

    Je remercie le Parlement, particulièrement la présidente Cavazzini, pour cette discussion et, encore une fois, je reviendrai parmi vous pour présenter très officiellement la stratégie de la Commission sur le marché intérieur, le 21 mai, à Bruxelles.

    		  
       


     

    		  

      Vasile Dîncu (S&D), în scris. – Piața internă europeană trebuie să servească oamenilor, nu invers. Dincolo de eficiență și competitivitate, trebuie să evaluăm cine câștigă și cine pierde în acest model economic.

    Trei provocări majore amenință să adâncească fragmentările sociale și economice dintre cetățenii europeni:

    1. fragmentarea digitală: platformele digitale domină piața, dar beneficiile sunt distribuite inegal. IMM-urile din estul Europei, cetățenii din zone rurale sau periferice sunt adesea excluși. Aplicarea fermă a DSA și DMA este necesară pentru o piață digitală incluzivă – unde toți au acces la oportunități.

    2. tranziția verde și riscul de a produce o Europă cu două viteze: Pactul Verde este necesar, dar aplicarea sa trebuie adaptată. Regiunile industriale care încă se recuperează după tranziția post-comunistă (Valea Jiului, zone monoindustriale din România, Bulgaria, Polonia) necesită sprijin specific, direcționat și just. Nu putem cere aceleași sacrificii de la cei care au mai puține resurse.

    3. drepturile lucrătorilor în economia digitală: prea mulți europeni trăiesc în precaritate – livratori, freelanceri algoritmizați, angajați temporari. Drepturile fundamentale – salariu decent, protecție socială, stabilitate – trebuie garantate și în economia digitală.

    Avem nevoie de o piață internă bazată pe echitate, solidaritate și demnitate umană. Este timpul pentru mai multă politică și mai puțină tehnocrație. Avem nevoie de curaj.

    		  
       

       

    (The sitting was suspended at 11:51)

    		  
       

       

    IN THE CHAIR: JAVI LÓPEZ
    Vice-President

    		  

    6. Resumption of the sitting

       

    (The sitting resumed at 12:04)

    		  
       


    		 

      René Aust (ESN). – Herr Präsident, meine sehr geehrten Damen und Herren! Letzte Woche, am 30. April, kam es im Paul‑Henri‑Spaak‑Gebäude vor den Büros unserer Mitarbeiter zu massiven Lärmbelästigungen und auch Drohungen gegenüber einem unserer Mitarbeiter. Gegen 18.00 Uhr hat eine große Gruppe von Besuchern der Linken, unterstützt von akkreditierten Assistenten und Mitarbeitern der Linken, eine Art Demonstration durchgeführt und abgehalten. Die Besucher, oder besser gesagt die Aktivisten, wanderten dann die Treppen nach oben Richtung Ausgang und haben dabei noch eine EU‑Flagge, die auf dem Ehrentisch mit dem Bild und dem Gedenkbuch für den verstorbenen Papst aufgestellt war, heruntergerissen und die Treppe hinuntergeworfen. Einer unserer Mitarbeiter, der die Aktivisten um Ruhe bat, wurde von einer Demonstrantin mit den Worten „Du wirst sterben!“ sogar mit dem Tode bedroht.

    Sehr geehrter Herr Präsident! So ein Verhalten ist völlig inakzeptabel und hat in unserem Haus nichts zu suchen. Ich ersuche Sie sicherzustellen, dass solche Aktionen künftig unterbunden werden und die Sicherheit aller Mitarbeiter und ein normales Arbeitsklima zu jedem Zeitpunkt gewährleistet sind.

    		  
       

    		 

      President. – Thank you very much. The President is aware about the incident. We will inform about the point of order. The services of the House will draw up a report and she will follow up.

    We have no more points of order.

    		  

    7. Voting time

    		 

      President. – The next item is the vote.

    		  

    		 

      President. – The first vote is on the joint motion for a resolution tabled by five groups on the arrest and risk of execution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania (see minutes, item 7.1).

    		  

    		 

      President. – The next vote is on the joint motion for a resolution tabled by five groups on the return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported by Russia (see minutes, item 7.2).

    		  


       

    – Before the vote on the motion for a resolution:

    		  
       



       

    (Parliament did not agree to put the oral amendment to the vote)

    		  

    7.4. Ninth report on economic and social cohesion (A10-0066/2025 – Jacek Protas) (vote)

    		 

      President. – The next vote is on the ninth report on economic and social cohesion (see minutes, item 7.4).

    		  

    7.5. CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles for 2025 to 2027 (vote)

    		 

      President. – The next vote is on CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles for 2025 to 2027 (see minutes, item 7.5).

    		  

    7.6. The protection status of the wolf (Canis lupus) (vote)

    		 

      President. – The next vote is on the protection status of the wolf (Canis lupus) (see minutes, item 7.6).

    		  

    7.7. The role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season (A10-0079/2025 – Borys Budka) (vote)



       

    (Parliament approved the request for referral back to committee)

    		  

    7.8. Screening of foreign investments in the Union (A10-0061/2025 – Raphaël Glucksmann) (vote)



       

    (Parliament approved the request for referral back to committee)

    		  

    7.9. Suspending certain parts of Regulation (EU) 2015/478 as regards imports of Ukrainian products into the European Union (A10-0059/2025 – Karin Karlsbro) (vote)


    		 

      Hans Neuhoff, im Namen der ESN-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident, geschätzte Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Ich beantrage gemäß Artikel 206 Absatz 4 der Geschäftsordnung die Vertagung der Abstimmung über diesen Punkt der Tagesordnung. Gestatten Sie mir zur Begründung wenige Worte: Solidarität mit Drittstaaten darf nicht zur Selbstaufgabe Europas werden. Unsere Unternehmen, vom industriellen Mittelstand über die Landwirtschaft bis hin zu großen industriellen Arbeitgebern, spüren die Folgen einer Handelspolitik, die einseitig auf die Ukraine ausgerichtet ist. Dumpingimporte gefährden nicht nur einzelne Branchen wie die Stahlrohrhersteller. Sie treffen die gesamte europäische Wertschöpfungskette, von den Grundstoffindustrien bis zu den weiterverarbeitenden Sektoren und Zulieferern.

    Diese Politik gefährdet Arbeitsplätze und Existenzen in ganz Europa – auch in der Landwirtschaft, auch im verarbeitenden Gewerbe. Wer heute für die weitere Aussetzung der Schutzmaßnahmen stimmt, entscheidet sich nicht nur gegen faire Wettbewerbsbedingungen, sondern auch gegen Menschen in unseren Regionen, die für Wohlstand und …

    (Der Präsident entzieht dem Redner das Wort.)

    		  
       



       

    (Le Parlement rejette la demande)

    		  
       

       

    – Before the vote:

    		  
       


       

    – Before the vote:

    		  
       

    		 

      Costas Kadis, Member of the Commission. – Mr President, honourable Members, the European Commission would like to make the following statement before the vote:

    “Should the Commission consider that extending the suspension of Regulation (EU) 2015/478 as regards imports of Ukrainian products into the European Union beyond 5 June 2028 is warranted in view of the situation at that point of time, the Commission will endeavour to submit to the European Parliament and the Council any proposal to that effect not later than nine months before the end of the application of this Regulation.”

    I would like also to clarify two very separate issues: namely the suspension of the general safeguard regulation or under its other name, the common rules for imports regulation, and the Article 29 consultation process.

    Regarding the draft Regulation that is being submitted to the vote now, I would like to clarify that once adopted, it would suspend the application of the basic safeguard regulation to imports of goods from Ukraine. While the suspension of the general safeguard regulation is of general nature, currently there is only one safeguard measure for steel products that would be affected by the suspension. Suspending the general safeguard regulation was technically the only way to suspend the application of the steel safeguard measure concerning Ukraine.

    Trade in agricultural products is being discussed in a separate framework, namely the Article 29 consultation process with Ukraine.

    To conclude, today’s draft regulation has no implication for the Article 29 process.

    		  

    7.10. Competition policy – annual report 2024 (A10-0071/2025 – Lara Wolters) (vote)


       

    – Before the vote on Amendment 1:

    		  
       

    		 

      Majdouline Sbai (Verts/ALE). – Monsieur le Président, il y a urgence: il faut sauver l’acier européen! Le directeur d’ArcelorMittal a annoncé que tous les sites sidérurgiques en Europe étaient menacés. La France risque de perdre l’ensemble de ses hauts-fourneaux. Comme l’a fait le Royaume-Uni, nous devons réagir vite. C’est pourquoi je vous propose l’amendement suivant au paragraphe 8 du rapport que nous votons:

    «le Parlement exprime sa profonde désapprobation face à la décision du groupe ArcelorMittal de supprimer jusqu’à 1 400 emplois en Europe occidentale, dont près de la moitié en France; souligne que le groupe a réalisé un bénéfice de 1,3 milliard d’euros et versé plus de 1,5 milliard d’euros à ses actionnaires en 2024; demande à la Commission et aux États membres de prendre des mesures pour que les entreprises bénéficiant d’aides publiques ne puissent pas, comme le fait ArcelorMittal, fermer des sites industriels, élaborer des plans de licenciement, délocaliser leurs activités, verser des dividendes à leurs actionnaires et renoncer à leurs objectifs de transition écologique; demande au gouvernement français de prendre toutes les mesures en son pouvoir pour protéger les travailleurs et préserver la sidérurgie en tant qu’industrie stratégique;»

    		  
       

       

    (Parliament agreed to put the oral amendment to the vote)

    		  

    7.11. Banking Union – annual report 2024 (A10-0044/2025 – Ralf Seekatz) (vote)

    		 

      President. – The next vote is on the banking union – annual report 2024 (see minutes, item 7.11).

    		  

    7.12. Objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3): genetically modified soybean MON 87705 × MON 87708 × MON 89788 (B10-0244/2025) (vote)

    		 

      President. – The next vote is on the objection pursuant to Rule 115(2) and (3): genetically modified soybean MON 87705×MON 87708×MON 89788 (see minutes, item 7.12).

    		  

    8. Resumption of the sitting

       

    (Posiedzenie zostało wznowione o godz. 15.00)

    		  

    9. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

    		 

      Przewodnicząca. – Protokół wczorajszego posiedzenia oraz teksty przyjęte są już dostępne.

    Czy są jakieś uwagi? Nie widzę.

    Protokół został przyjęty.

    		  

    10. EU action on treating and preventing diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular neurological diseases and measles (debate)


    		 

      Costas Kadis, Member of the Commission. – Madam President, honourable Members of the European Parliament, in a strong European Health Union we should work to protect EU citizens from diseases, promote healthy living and foster innovation that supports these goals. The Commission is committed to delivering a European Health Union that helps improve the health of all our citizens, no matter where they live in the European Union.

    Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the EU. Many of these deaths are premature. In the EU, 24 % of deaths among men before the age of 65 and 17 % of deaths among women before the age of 65 are due to cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders share common risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking and obesity.

    Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, accounting for around 15-20 % of dementia cases in Europe. The Commission has started work on an ambitious and robust EU cardiovascular health plan. It will draw inspiration from the success of Europe’s Beating Cancer plan. Like the cancer plan, we will look at addressing key issues like prevention, early detection and screening, and treatment and care. We see a key role for innovative and personalised tools, including the European health data space, as well as new technologies like digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The cardiovascular plan will also build on existing efforts, in particular the Healthcare Together initiative, which helps Member States and stakeholders take action on non-communicable diseases.

    The second leading cause of death in the EU is cancer. The cancer plan was adopted in 2021, backed by significant EU funding. We published a review of the cancer plan in February which showed that 90 % of its actions have either been concluded or are ongoing in the area of prevention. This includes the Council recommendation on vaccine‑preventable cancers. This aims to encourage higher uptake of vaccinations against HPV and hepatitis B.

    Moreover, the Council recommendation on smoke- and aerosol‑free environments is a step towards a tobacco‑free generation by 2040. To build on this, we will evaluate and revise the EU’s tobacco legislation to enable every cancer patient to access high quality diagnosis and treatment. Member States will this year set up an EU network of comprehensive cancer centres under a joint action funded with EUR 90 million.

    The European Health Union is also about tackling infectious diseases. Measles is a serious disease and highly contagious. The recent spike in measles cases in Europe has already caused several deaths in Romania this year, yet measles can be avoided through vaccination. The outbreaks experienced by some Member States over the last 12 months can be linked to vaccination coverage below recommended levels, so I encourage everyone to ensure that they and their families are protected against this life‑threatening disease. The Commission will continue to work with Member States to improve vaccination coverage. We will also promote robust vaccination programmes and secure supplies of vaccines in the EU.

    As we build our European Health Union, we should put innovation at its heart. One promising avenue is biotechnology. Biotechnology could help us to better identify diseases, step up prevention, develop new, increasingly personalised medicines and provide new ways to develop, test and administer treatments. But the EU is not yet making the most of biotech. EU companies are not competitive enough and face too many barriers when it comes to turning ideas into products. This is why the Commission will propose a European Biotech Act. It will help companies bring products from the lab to the factory and onto the market.

    The Biotech Act will complement the ongoing revision of the pharmaceutical legislation. This already includes many measures to streamline and modernise the regulatory framework for medicines, especially for breakthrough therapies. Innovation will be a driving principle of the upcoming targeted review of the Medical Devices Regulation. The new rules will be more fit for the purpose. They will deliver medical devices to the patients in a more timely manner, and will create a more competitive environment for our industries.

    On breakthrough technologies, we have adopted regulatory pathways to quickly reach patients, especially children and rare‑disease patients, without compromising safety. Europe is losing ground in the field of clinical trials. Therefore, we will carry out an assessment of the current legislation and amend it to provide for a more efficient framework to make Europe a world leader in medical research and innovation.

    Honourable Members, we are better able to face public health challenges if we act together. This is why the Commission is committed to building a strong and innovative European Health Union. Thank you for your attention and I look forward to receiving your views.

    		  
       

    		 

      Tomislav Sokol, u ime kluba PPE. – Poštovana predsjedavajuća, povjereniče, kolegice i kolege, Europska unija je kroz godine pokazala da zajedničkim djelovanjem može postići velike rezultate za zdravlje naših građana. Jedan od najvažnijih primjera je europski plan za borbu protiv raka koji predstavlja prvu sveobuhvatnu strategiju protiv ove opake bolesti, od prevencije i istraživanja preko liječenja do poboljšanja kvalitete života osoba koje su preboljele rak.

    Sljedeći korak je donošenje europskog plana za kardiovaskularne bolesti koje su vodeći uzrok smrtnosti u Europi. On mora imati jasno definirane ciljeve, konkretno financiranje i jasan vremenski okvir za provedbu. Samo tako možemo postići stvarni napredak i smanjiti teret koji ove bolesti predstavljaju za naše zdravstvene sustave, gospodarstvo i obitelj.

    Uz to, inzistiramo, kao što smo više puta rekli na ovoj govornici, na donošenju europskog plana za rijetke bolesti jer su oboljeli od rijetkih bolesti i njihove obitelji predugo bili na margini zdravstvenih politika, često prepušteni sami sebi, suočeni s nedostatkom dijagnoza, terapija i sustavne podrške. Za 95 % njih još uvijek ne postoji lijek i vrijeme je da se to promijeni.

    Na kraju, građani od nas s pravom očekuju konkretan europski plan za neurološke bolesti koji bi svakako trebao uključiti i mentalne bolesti koje su u dramatičnom porastu, osobito među mladima.

    Da bismo sve ovo ostvarili zdravstvo mora ostati prioritet i u okviru sljedećeg sedmogodišnjeg proračuna jer ulaganje u njega nije trošak, već jedna od najisplativijih investicija, što pokazuju brojne studije. Ne smijemo dopustiti da se zdravstvo utopi u različite proračunske programe jer bi to značilo da se vraćamo u vrijeme kad je ono predstavljalo marginalnu temu u EU institucijama.

    Kolegice i kolege, zdravstvo mora ostati prioritet u djelovanju EU‑a i pozivam na zajedničko djelovanje svih političkih grupacija da se to i ostvari.

    		  
       

    		 

      Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, on behalf of the S&D Group. – Madam President, dear Commissioner, colleagues, the rise of certain non‑communicable diseases in the European Union is increasingly concerning. If we fail to act and learn from past experiences, like the COVID‑19 pandemic, we risk facing new outbreaks and epidemics.

    Twenty years ago, the European Union made a commitment to eliminate measles – to be measles‑free. Yet we are still far from that goal. The situation is further aggravated by growing societal scepticism, fuelled by misinformation and spread of unproven claims. In 2024, measles cases in the EU surged dramatically with over 32 000 reported diagnoses. This sharp increase highlights serious gaps in vaccination coverage, as 86 % of those infected had not been vaccinated.

    In an age where measles is entirely preventable through vaccination, it is unacceptable that this disease continues to spread, especially knowing that measles is highly contagious and can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death. To prevent further outbreaks, it is essential to ensure that at least 95 % of the population is vaccinated.

    Unfortunately, vaccination rates remain insufficient in many European countries. Governments must prioritise strong vaccination campaigns and actively combat vaccine hesitancy to protect public health. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine remains the most effective tool to prevent measles, and we must also work to harmonise vaccination schedules across Member States to ensure this.

    This is why it is crucial to foster collaboration among Member States, recognising that in the Schengen zone, where people can move freely across borders, disease can easily spread between countries. Additionally, the shortage of healthcare professionals, especially in regions with insufficient medical staff, particularly nurses, further contributes to lower vaccination rates. The recent outbreaks in Romania, along with nearly 20 preventable deaths, serve as a stark reminder to the urgency of this issue. These tragic losses highlight the need for immediate actions.

    HERA must also address the state of crisis preparedness and take steps to prevent the situation from escalating further. In a world where vaccines are widely available, measles should no longer be a threat. As cases continue to rise, collective action is urgently needed to protect vulnerable populations.

    		  
       

    		 

      Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, en nombre del Grupo PfE. – Señora presidente, señor comisario, señorías, Europa no puede mirar hacia otro lado cuando hablamos de excelencia en salud. Nuestra cultura ha estado siempre orientada al desarrollo de la ciencia y las humanidades. Hemos formado generaciones de investigadores y profesionales sanitarios con talento, guiados por el compromiso con el bien común.

    Tenemos una responsabilidad de liderazgo, no solo por capacidad, también por principios, para que la salud esté guiada por el deseo de sanar, de proteger la vida, de acompañar y aliviar el sufrimiento, para que esté al servicio de la persona, y no de intereses ajenos a ella.

    Es imprescindible recordar que el cáncer se cobra la vida de casi 1,3 millones de personas en la Unión Europea al año. Las enfermedades cardiovasculares siguen siendo la principal causa de muerte y los trastornos neurológicos afectan a más de siete millones de personas. Debemos, como Europa, avanzar conjuntamente, compartir buenas prácticas entre Estados miembros. Apostemos por una Europa de cooperación, que intercambie experiencias eficaces y que se apoye mutuamente, siempre teniendo en cuenta las particularidades y necesidades de cada país.

    Los próximos años pueden ser revolucionarios para la medicina. Las nuevas herramientas —como la biotecnología o la medicina personalizada— ya hacen posible que nos enfrentemos a enfermedades que antes eran intratables. Sin embargo, su potencial se ve limitado por un marco regulatorio que dificulta transformar la investigación en soluciones reales para los pacientes. Las pymes, que lideran la innovación, se ven especialmente afectadas, también por la falta de financiación en las primeras etapas del desarrollo. Si queremos que Europa avance en salud y en innovación, necesitamos un entorno coherente y favorable que facilite la inversión y acelere la llegada de nuevos tratamientos a los pacientes.

    Por supuesto, se exige también una apuesta igualmente clara por los cuidados. Tenemos la posibilidad de ofrecer opciones esperanzadoras a todos aquellos que sufren enfermedades, no solo en cuanto a diagnóstico y a tratamiento, sino también en cuanto a acompañamiento.

    No es casualidad que cuanto menos se valora la vida, más se deterioran los sistemas sanitarios. En España, tenemos problemas gravísimos: listas de espera interminables, falta de profesionales sanitarios —y los que hay tienen que hacer jornadas maratonianas de trabajo—, miles de personas que mueren esperando acceder a cuidados paliativos… Pero, claro, ¿quién va a querer invertir en salud si no valoramos la vida? Resulta espeluznante pensar que hay países —como España— en los que la única alternativa que se ofrece a las personas con enfermedades graves sea la muerte, sea la eutanasia. No podemos resignarnos a un modelo sanitario que mida su eficacia por costes o por ideologías, sino por su capacidad de cuidar, de sanar, de respetar profundamente la vida humana en todas sus etapas.

    Frente al sufrimiento, nuestra respuesta debe ser más humanidad, más compromiso, más inversión en salud, investigación y también cuidados paliativos. Si Europa quiere ser referente en innovación, también debe ser referente en el respeto a la dignidad de la persona.

    		  
       

    		 

      Aurelijus Veryga, ECR frakcijos vardu. – Kolegos. Sveikata yra ne viskas, bet be sveikatos viskas yra niekas. Deja, dažnu atveju tą suprantame pavėluotai. Gaila, kad ir šiandien plačios ir labai skirtingos sveikatos temos – infekcinės ir lėtinės neinfekcinės ligos, kurioms reikalingi labai skirtingi sprendimai, yra suplaktos į vieną diskusiją. Labai gerai, kad Europos Komisija turi ambiciją šioje kadencijoje išplėsti veiklą, įtraukiant ne tik onkologinių ligų, bet ir širdies kraujagyslių ligų įveikos planą. Ir šioje kadencijoje bus ne viena proga pademonstruoti mūsų rimtą nusiteikimą imtis šių sveikatos problemų sprendimo. Pradėkime nuo to, kad jokiomis aplinkybėmis nebegalima leisti pasikartoti, kad būtų sumažintas finansavimas sveikatos programų ir mokslinių tyrimų finansavimui. Norėčiau tikėti ir tikėtis, kad išlaidos sveikatai sekančiame MFF neliks paskutinėje vietoje, kaip ši diskusija plenarinėje sesijoje, nes visada atsiranda svarbesnių reikalų. O nuveikti reikia labai daug. Ir nors sveikata yra šalių narių kompetencija, tačiau yra sričių, kur bendras veikimas galėtų prisidėti prie visų šalių narių problemų sprendimo. Turėsime ieškoti sveikatos specialistų trūkumo problemos sprendimų. Iš siūlymų, kuriuos šiandien girdžiu, jie ne tik nespręstų problemas, bet jas gilintų. Labai džiaugiuosi Komisijos ambicija dėl ypatingos reikšmės vaisto akto, kuris gali ir turėtų sukurti galimybę vaistų gamintojams sugrįžti ir veikti Europos Sąjungoje, o bendri vaistų pirkimai gali pagreitinti inovatyvių vaistų prieinamumą valstybėse narėse, ypač mažosiose, kurios šiuo metu yra nepatrauklios kaip mažos rinkos. XXI amžiuje onkologiniai pacientai skirtingose šalyse turi skirtingas galimybes gauti gydymą ir pagalbą, o kai kurie yra priversti net bylinėtis, kad tokią pagalbą gautų. Tai yra nepriimtina. Šiandien daug ir pagrįstai kalbame apie gynybos pajėgumų didinimą ir saugumo stiprinimą. Tačiau realybė yra tokia, kad negebama užauginti sveikos jaunosios kartos. Ir nemaža dalis jų dėl sveikatos problemų yra netinkami karinei tarnybai. Šioje kadencijoje turėsime galimybę peržiūrėti Tabako produktų direktyvą, ir noriu tikėti, kad ją peržiūrint sveikata bus prioritetas ir kad užteks išminties tvarkytis su Europa užplūdusi naujais produktais, tokiais kaip elektroninės cigaretės, nes jau šiandien turime daugiau nei pakankamai duomenų, kad jos nesprendžia, o kuria naujas sveikatos problemas.

    		  
       

    		 

      Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu, în numele grupului Renew. – Doamnă președintă, de obicei nu avem timp de povești aici. O să încep astăzi cu o poveste: pe 21 septembrie 2016 eram ministrul sănătății în România. 2016! Institutul Național de Sănătate Publică m-a informat atunci despre o creștere de la 7 la 675 de cazuri de rujeolă confirmate în România. Din 21 septembrie 2016 am declarat epidemie de rujeolă în România. De atunci, epidemia de rujeolă din România nu s-a încheiat. Au urmat mai multe guverne conduse, culmea, de socialiști. Acei socialiști, aceiași socialiști care astăzi refuză să sprijine singurul candidat pro-european din cursa pentru prezidențiale. Iar astăzi, conform Organizației Mondiale a Sănătății, România conduce clasamentul cazurilor de rujeolă raportate în 2024 – peste 30 000. Următoarele state sunt Kazahstan, Federația Rusă, Azerbaidjan și Marea Britanie.

    Dacă Uniunea Europeană, doamnelor și domnilor, face ceva în domeniul sănătății, atunci una dintre priorități trebuie să fie bolile infecțioase. În țara mea, rata de vaccinare împotriva rujeolei cu prima doză este de 78 %, cu a doua este de 62 %. Doar patru țări din UE, din întreaga Uniune Europeană, ating pragul de recomandat de 95 %. Aceste țări merită felicitări și aceste țări sunt: Ungaria, Malta, Portugalia și Slovacia.

    Dar din totalul de cazuri de rujeolă în toată Uniunea Europeană, 87 % provin din România în 2024, 87 %!

    În Uniunea Europeană, doamnelor și domnilor, și în întreaga lume astăzi se duce o bătălie împotriva adevărului și împotriva științei. Am văzut în România, am văzut și în alte state de peste tot de pe glob cum adevărul științific este călcat în picioare de politicieni și de alte forțe din societate. Dacă vrem o Uniune Europeană care protejează cu adevărat cetățenii, atunci, doamnelor și domnilor, asta este bătălia pe care trebuie să o câștigăm. Forțele politice responsabile și societatea civilă onestă trebuie să acționeze ferm împotriva dezinformării criminale cu falsuri medicale, pentru că cele mai multe forțe extremiste de care vorbim astăzi, cele mai multe forțe politice care cresc pe minciună și dezinformare, forțe politice pe care le combatem și aici, și în țările noastre, haideți să fim onești, au crescut pe spinarea celui mai traumatic eveniment planetar din ultimul deceniu. Și acesta a fost, cu siguranță, pandemia.

    Dacă pierdem știința și adevărul ca bază fundamentală a realității, societatea în sine, toate societățile noastre nu vor putea supraviețui.

    		  
       

    		 

      Tilly Metz, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, dear Commissioner, when we speak about diseases like cancer, heart conditions, neurological disorders or measles, we don’t speak in abstract terms – we are speaking about our neighbours, our parents, our children. Every one of us has a story. Every one of us knows someone affected. That’s why our response must be human, bold and forward-looking.

    Let’s start with the obvious: prevention works, and yet it’s still the most neglected part of our health system. We spend billions on treatment, but far too little on stopping disease before it begins. We need to invest in the conditions that keep people healthy: clean air, clean water, affordable and healthy food, decent housing.

    That is why policies like the European Green Deal and the common agricultural policy play a crucial role. Those are not environmental luxuries; they are essential tools for protecting public health.

    We need also to address one of the elephants in the room: tobacco. It’s still one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in Europe. It’s time to stop dancing around this issue. We urgently need to revise the EU’s tobacco legislation, including tax rules. Recently, 16 Member States called for a revision – higher taxes, plain packaging, a total ban on advertising, including for newer products like heated tobacco or e-cigarettes. Our legislation must catch up with reality.

    Dear colleagues, prevention alone is not enough. We must guarantee affordable and timely access to effective treatment for all, regardless of income or geography. That means making pharmaceutical legislation and innovation conditional on affordability. It means demanding transparency on pricing and research and development costs. Yes, it also means redesigning the way we reward medical innovation so that public investment leads to public benefit.

    Finally, we need to stop only reacting to crises and start planning ahead. So Europe needs a comprehensive strategy on non-communicable diseases – we need to stop thinking in silos – that looks across health systems, environment, agriculture and education and social policy.

    Prevention and treatment must include protection also for women’s health. That is another aspect; a gender-sensitive approach is needed.

    So let’s act with courage, let’s act with care and let’s act now, because lives depend on it.

    		  
       

    		 

      Milan Mazurek, za skupinu ESN. – Vážená pani predsedajúca, myslíte, že ľudia zabudli, že vám skutočne ľudia odpustili a že si nepamätajú, čo Leyenovej Európska komisia urobila stovkám miliónov obyvateľov Európskej únie počas doby, ktorú ja nazývam doba korona-teroru? Myslíte, že zabudli, že to bola Európska komisia, ktorá vzala stovkám miliónov obyvateľov ľudské práva a rovnako ako v minulosti nacisti či komunisti rozdelila ľudí na hodných a nehodných, na tých, ktorí si mohli ľudské práva nechať, a tých, ktorým boli vzaté? Bol som jeden z tých, ktorý nemohol navštevovať ani telocvične, verejné podujatia a nemohol vychádzať z domu, pretože vaše projekty covidpasov vzali ľuďom práva a keď sa ľudia nezaočkovali, keď ľudia nepodstupovali nezmyselné testy, tak ste im jednoducho neumožňovali žiť normálny život. Spomeňte si na to, koľkým desiatkam miliónov ľudí ste zruinovali ich podnikanie, koľkým deťom ste vzali budúcnosť, koľko sociálnych samovrážd ľudí, ktorých ste dotlačili na dno, ste spôsobili? Koľko zla, násilia a nenávisti ste v spoločnosti napáchali? A to len preto, aby Európska komisia mohla do svojich rúk získať ďalšie práva, ďalšiu kontrolu nad životmi slobodných ľudí, obmedziť národné štáty a robiť si nechutný miliardový biznis cez esemesky prostredníctvom pani Leyenovej. Gigantický konflikt záujmov, ktorý v tomto pléne stále nebol vyšetrený, na ktorého vyšetrenie čakajú občania vo všetkých členských štátoch. Len vy kryjete zločinnosti tejto Európskej komisie. A potom, keď tu predstúpite a poviete, že vy chcete predchádzať chorobám, že vy chcete chrániť zdravie ľudí a hovoríte, že chcete podporovať napríklad fyzickú kondíciu? Vy, tí istí ľudia, ktorí zakazovali ľuďom športovať, ktorí prikazovali ľudí trestať len preto, že chceli ísť cvičiť, športovať či behať niekde na verejnosť. Kto vám má po tom všetkom ešte veriť? Každý zmýšľajúci občan už vidí, že kedykoľvek, keď Európska komisia začne hovoriť o tom, že by mala získať ďalšiu kontrolu, právomoci a možnosti pre to, aby chránila ľudí, tak je v skutočnosti presný opak pravdou. V skutočnosti chcete kompetencie a možnosti pre to, aby ste mohli opätovne robiť svoje biznisy. Aby opätovne niektorí vyvolení mohli rozkrádať peniaze daňových poplatníkov a chcete ďalšiu kontrolu a moc, aby ste ľuďom mohli vziať ich práva a uvrhnúť ich život do absolútnej totality, pretože to je skutočná podstata a charakter tejto Komisie. Museli by mi skutočne ruky dolámať, aby som hlasoval za ďalšie právomoci a kompetencie či rozpočet pre takúto Európsku komisiu.

    		  
       

    		 

      Seán Kelly (PPE). – A Uachtaráin, Commissioner, across Europe, millions of citizens are affected by diseases that could be prevented, treated earlier and managed better if we act together.

    That is why I fully support the EU’s stepped-up efforts on health, particularly in tackling cancer, cardiovascular and neurological diseases and preventing avoidable illnesses like measles. Cancer alone claims nearly 1.3 million lives in the EU each year, but through initiatives like Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, we are finally taking a coordinated approach and investing in research, screening, early detection and better access to treatment across Member States.

    I am proud that Irish researchers, institutions and clinicians are playing a key role in this. Cardiovascular and neurological diseases are among the leading causes of disability and death in Europe. Yet too often, they do not get the attention they deserve.

    We need targeted strategies, strong support for cross-border research, and public-awareness campaigns that reach citizens in every region, including rural communities, like many in my own constituency in Ireland South.

    Let us be clear. The resurgence of measles in parts of Europe is both tragic and preventable. We must not allow misinformation to roll back decades of progress in public health. Vaccination saves lives. Full stop. We must ensure that no matter where you live in Europe, you have access to the care you need.

    		  
       

    		 

      Christophe Clergeau (S&D). – Madame la Présidente, Monsieur le Commissaire, la révolution que j’appelle de mes vœux, c’est la révolution de la prévention. Car soigner est indispensable et il faut le faire mieux, mais ce n’est pas une fin en soi. L’objectif, c’est de bien vivre et de bien vieillir, en bonne santé. Cela passe par la prévention, qui est le meilleur des investissements, tandis que la non-action, au contraire, se traduit par des millions de morts et par des milliards d’euros de dépenses inutiles.

    Alors oui, nous avons besoin des grands programmes de santé publique existants – comme celui contre le cancer – ou annoncés par la Commission. Pour nous, la priorité, c’est un grand programme pour la santé mentale et un grand programme pour la santé des femmes.

    Cependant, nous devons avant tout prévenir les maladies en agissant sur les déterminants de la santé. Agir contre la pauvreté, la précarité, le mal-logement, la précarité énergétique et alimentaire, le rationnement des soins. Agir contre le tabac et la malbouffe: ce sont des catastrophes sanitaires qui résultent de décennies de lobbying et de manipulation par les grands intérêts économiques. Il nous faut impérativement réviser la directive sur le tabac pour combattre les fausses alternatives à la cigarette, qui sont des dangers majeurs pour la santé publique. Nous avons aussi besoin d’un programme législatif concernant l’alimentation, pour combattre les pratiques et les produits dangereux, mieux informer les consommateurs et interdire – oui, interdire! – la publicité pour la malbouffe.

    Enfin, nous devons agir contre les effets cumulés de notre environnement sur nos organismes, cette cause émergente de l’explosion des maladies chroniques, des cancers, mais aussi des maladies dégénératives ou des maladies de la douleur. Alors oui, les pollutions, les pesticides, les produits chimiques, les PFAS sont un cocktail terrible qui ruine notre santé. Dans ce domaine, c’est la santé qui doit être la ligne directrice de notre action. Nous sommes à la veille de choix politiques drastiques: prévenir, prévenir et prévenir, c’est le seul choix possible pour le bien-être des Européens.

    		  
       

    		 

      Manuela Ripa (PPE). – Frau Präsidentin! Krebs und Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen gehören zu den Gesundheitsgefahren unserer Zeit. Gut ist: Viele dieser Erkrankungen sind vermeidbar. Ein zentraler Hebel dabei ist gesunde Ernährung. Doch gesunde Ernährung darf kein Luxus sein. Wenn wir es ernst meinen mit der Vorsorge, dann müssen wir gesunde Lebensmittel günstiger machen, zum Beispiel durch die Senkung der Mehrwertsteuer auf Obst und Gemüse. Gleichzeitig müssen wir ungesunde, stark verarbeitete Produkte angehen. Denn sie belasten nicht nur unseren Körper, sondern auch unser Gesundheitssystem und damit die Allgemeinheit.

    Besonders schutzbedürftig sind unsere Kinder. Werbung für ungesunde Lebensmittel, die sich gezielt an sie richtet, muss nicht sein. Kinder sollen lernen, was ihrem Körper guttut, nicht, was sich am besten verkauft. Genauso wichtig ist der informierte Verbraucher. Wer gesund einkaufen will, braucht klar verständliche Nährwertkennzeichnungen.

    Doch wir müssen auch über psychische Erkrankungen sprechen und hier über den übermäßigen Konsum sozialer Medien, gerade bei Jugendlichen. Studien zeigen, dass ständiges Scrollen, Reizüberflutung und digitaler Stress das Risiko für Depressionen und Konzentrationsprobleme erhöhen können. Deshalb müssen wir auf europäischer Ebene dringend dafür sorgen, dass unsere Kinder besser geschützt werden. Dazu gehört Aufklärung in der Schule, aber auch Aufklärung der Eltern und eine stärkere Verantwortung der Plattformen. Süchtig machende Algorithmen ebnen den Weg zu einer neuen Volkskrankheit, und das schon in sehr jungen Jahren. Gesundheit ist mehr als die Abwesenheit von Krankheit. Sie beginnt mit Bildung, Schutz und den richtigen politischen Rahmenbedingungen für ein gesundes Europa.

    		  
       

    		 

      Laurent Castillo (PPE). – Madame la Présidente, Monsieur le Commissaire, chers collègues, tout le monde parle de prévention, mais trop peu la mettent en œuvre. Pourquoi? Parce que ses effets prennent du temps et trop d’élus préfèrent des résultats immédiats. Pourtant, c’est là que tout commence: mieux vivre, désengorger les hôpitaux, réduire les coûts. 1 euro investi en prévention, c’est jusqu’à 6 euros d’économies. Prévenir, c’est voir loin.

    Si certains États manquent de courage, alors soyons exemplaires à l’échelle européenne. Après le plan cancer, engageons-nous avec la même ambition contre les maladies cardiovasculaires. Lançons un vrai plan européen de lutte contre l’obésité. La santé des Européens n’est pas un slogan, c’est un combat. Et ce combat commence par la prévention.

    		  
       

       

    Zgłoszenia z sali

    		  
       

    		 

      András Tivadar Kulja (PPE). – Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, I’m a bit disappointed to see so few of us here in person for this debate, especially as we are talking about diseases that pose an increasing burden on our ageing society across Europe.

    Cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurological conditions cause the death of more than 3 million Europeans each year. In the case of cardiovascular diseases alone, 1.3 million of these deaths could be avoided with better prevention, early detection and access to modern, affordable healthcare.

    That’s why, along with the European Beating Cancer Plan, we also need strong support and funding for the European Cardiovascular Health Action Plan. To achieve our goals, we must have a truly holistic approach to recognise how physical, mental and brain health are deeply connected.

    We have a great responsibility: people are counting on us to act on healthcare, and we also see that where healthcare is declining, extremism is growing. Strengthening healthcare not only helps people, it also protects democracy.

    		  
       

    		 

      Lukas Sieper (NI). – Frau Präsidentin, liebe Menschen Europas, verehrter Herr Kommissar! Ich danke Ihnen und den ganzen Kollegen hier für die wichtige Arbeit. Ich möchte zum Abschluss noch einmal das Licht auf zwei Aspekte werfen, die auch angesprochen wurden: Das eine ist die Aufklärung, und das andere ist auch die psychologische Betreuung, die im Umfeld von Krankheiten relevant werden kann.

    Wir haben da gerade ein leuchtendes Beispiel gesehen bei der Rede des Kollegen Mazurek, der offensichtlich aufgrund mangelnder Aufklärung nicht den Mut hatte, eine wichtige Impfung vorzunehmen, und aufgrund dessen dann gezwungen war, über eine lange Zeit zu Hause zu bleiben, dem sozialen Leben entrissen war und bis heute sichtbar schwere Nachwirkungen davonträgt. Ich denke, wir müssen alle zusammenarbeiten, um den Menschen in Europa die Gesundheit zu geben, die sie verdienen, weil Gesundheit etwas ist, was uns alle angeht.

    		  
       

    		 

      Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă (NI). – Doamnă președintă, da, îi acuzi pe alții că sunt bolnavi mintal dar tu nu te duci să te cauți.

    Este impardonabil că permiteți aici jignirea unui coleg, în condițiile în care numai dacă ești medic și numai dacă s-a consultat la tine ai posibilitatea să îți expui un punct de vedere. Din punctul meu de vedere, ca avocat, eu l-aș baga direct în închisoare pe domnul care a vorbit înainte de Mazurek. Este impardonabil ceea ce acceptați, aceste jigniri.

    Doi la mână, vorbiți de prevenție. Nu veți face niciodată prevenție, pentru că dumneavoastră aveți relații cu Big Pharma. Și acestea au reieșit foarte clar în cazul vaccinării anti-Covid, un vaccin experimental. Dacă vă interesa, în conformitate cu articolul 5 din Convenția de la Oviedo, toate vaccinurile erau experimentale. Eu însămi am luat informațiile de pe site-ul Pfizer și Modena și toate celelalte producătoare.

    Vreau să vă spun că, pe cât acuzați dumneavoastră Cuba de dictatură, Cuba a reușit să eradicheze rujeola, în timp ce în Europa este explozie de rujeolă. Foarte interesant. Da, dați cu bastonașul, că pe noi ne interziceți, iar pe ai dumneavoastră îi lăsați. E rușinos ce faceți cu afacerile cu vaccinuri.

    		  
       

       

    (Koniec zgłoszeń z sali)

    		  
       

    		 

      Costas Kadis, Member of the Commission. – Madam President, honourable Members, thank you. I will be very brief.

    First, let me thank you for your insight. It is obvious also from this discussion that diseases, both infectious and non-infectious, are a key public health challenge. During this mandate, the Commission will step up work on promoting health and preventing diseases. We will also ensure that innovation does not stay in the laboratory but can reach and help patients.

    To this end. As I mentioned in my introductory remarks, the Commission intends to propose a European Biotech Act. Together, we can work towards better policies, programs and initiatives that support patients.

    In turn, that will also reduce the social and economic costs of these diseases. And I’m sure our conversations on this important topics will continue.

    		  
       


    		 

      Przewodnicząca. – Zamykam debatę.

    		  

    11. Explanations of vote

    		 

      Przewodnicząca. – Kolejnym punktem porządku dziennego są wyjaśnienia dotyczące stanowiska zajętego w głosowaniu.

    		  

    11.1. Ninth report on economic and social cohesion (A10-0066/2025 – Jacek Protas)


    		 

      Seán Kelly (PPE). – Bhí áthas orm vótáil ar son an naoú tuarascáil ar chomhtháthú.

    This report reaffirms the vital role of EU cohesion policy in promoting balanced development, reducing regional disparities and building long term socioeconomic resilience across the Union.

    The report rightly highlights the policy’s positive impact on growth, productivity and employment, while stressing the importance of its core principles, such as the bottom-up approach and partnership model that underpin effective and inclusive governance.

    Importantly, it calls for greater flexibility to help cohesion policy respond to crises like pandemics, wars and climate change. It also addresses the ongoing challenges facing regions in transition, especially those affected by industrial decline or near the EU’s external borders.

    Simplifying administrative procedures is also key to improving access and reducing barriers.

    Tríd is tríd, is tuarascáil mhaith chiallmhar í seo agus bhíos sásta tacaíocht a thabhairt di.

    		  
       

    		 

      Lukas Sieper (NI). – Madam President, dear people of Europe, cohesion is not charity. It is a political promise that no region, no person is left behind.

    This report reminds us that the gaps between European regions are still real in innovation, in jobs, in future prospects, and that’s not acceptable. We need a cohesion policy that matches the challenges of our time, green transition, digital transition and demographic change.

    That means simpler access to EU funds, stronger roles for local and regional actors, and long-term thinking, not just emergency response.

    Because when we invest in cohesion, we don’t just invest in roads or statistics. We invest in dignity, in democracy and in equal chances all across Europe.

    		  

    11.2. The role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season (A10-0079/2025 – Borys Budka)


    		 

      Seán Kelly (PPE). – A Uachtaráin, Arís bhí áthas orm vótáil ar son na tuarascála seo …

    Because it extends and revises the EU Gas Storage Regulation as it balances energy security with changing market conditions.

    Measures introduced during the 2022 gas crisis, especially mandatory storage targets, proved effective in stabilising supply and protecting citizens from price shocks. Extending them beyond 2025 is a smart step to prepare for future risks.

    I support the added flexibility, including the adjusted 83 % target and limited scope for Member State deviations in difficult conditions. These updates respect national contexts while maintaining a strong collective baseline.

    The proposal also advances EU goals by phasing out Russian fossil fuels and supporting a return to market-based mechanisms. By cutting red tape and reinforcing subsidiarity, it empowers Member States while ensuring effective oversight.

    Bhí bród orm vótáil ar son na tuarascála praiticiúla seo a thugann tacaíocht don Trasdul Glas.

    		  
       

    		 

      Lukas Sieper (NI). – Señora presidenta, queridos pueblos de Europa, el invierno en Europa puede ser duro: las familias necesitan calor, las empresas necesitan energía segura. Necesitamos reglas claras sobre el gas almacenado porque la energía es parte de la seguridad social y económica.

    Sí, el futuro es energía limpia y renovable, pero hoy necesitamos soluciones prácticas para proteger a las personas cuando hace frío y para evitar crisis. Más reglas no es más burocracia, es más seguridad para todos. Mientras cambiamos el sistema energético, necesitamos estabilidad.

    		  

    11.3. Competition policy – annual report 2024 (A10-0071/2025 – Lara Wolters)


    		 

      Seán Kelly (PPE). – A Uachtaráin, tacaím leis an rún seo toisc go gcuireann sé cur chuige straitéiseach agus cothrom chun cinn chun iomaíochas an Aontais a neartú i dtimpeallacht dhomhanda atá ag athrú go tapaidh. Cuireann sé béim ar chomh tábhachtach atá an iomaíocht chóir, ní hamháin chun an nuálaíocht a spreagadh ach chun tomhaltóirí a chosaint, ach chun athléimneacht eacnamaíochta fhadtéarmach a fhorbairt ar fud an Aontais freisin. Thar aon ní eile, ceanglaíonn sé tosaíochtaí comhshaoil agus digiteacha leis an gcreat iomaíochta. Trínár straitéis eacnamaíoch a ailíniú leis an gComhaontú Glas don Eoraip agus le Compás Digiteach 2030, cabhraímid leis an Eoraip a bheith ina ceannaire domhanda san aon bhunaíocht agus sa teicneolaíocht. Má thacaímid leis an rún seo, beimid ag seasamh an fhóid ar son fás inbhuanaithe, margaí cothroma, agus iomaíochas domhanda an Aontais.

    		  

    11.4. Old challenges and new commercial practices in the internal market (B10-0246/2025)


    		 

      Lukas Sieper (NI). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, cari popoli d’Europa, il mercato unico è una delle cose migliori dell’Unione europea, ma il mercato deve essere giusto per tutti. Oggi ci sono nuove sfide: le piattaforme digitali, le pratiche sleali, le regole poco chiare.

    Questa risoluzione è importante. Serve per aiutare le piccole imprese, per proteggere i consumatori e per avere un mercato ben funzionante. Un mercato moderno deve essere anche trasparente e aperto a tutti, non solo ai grandi.

    		  

    12. Approval of the minutes of the sitting and forwarding of texts adopted

    		 

      Przewodnicząca. – Protokół dzisiejszego posiedzenia zostanie przedłożony Parlamentowi do zatwierdzenia na początku następnego posiedzenia.

    Jeśli nie wpłynie żaden sprzeciw, przekażę rezolucje przyjęte na dzisiejszym posiedzeniu osobom i organom w nich wymienionym.

    		  

    13. Dates of the next part-session

    		 

      Przewodnicząca. – Kolejna sesja miesięczna odbędzie się 21 i 22 maja 2025 roku w Brukseli.

    		  

    14. Closure of the sitting

       

    (Posiedzenie zostało zamknięte o godz. 15.50)

    		  

    15. Adjournment of the session

    		 

      Przewodnicząca. – Zamykam posiedzenie.

    Ogłaszam przerwę w obradach Parlamentu Europejskiego.

    Dziękuję bardzo. Do zobaczenia na następnym posiedzeniu.

    		  

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Building Awareness of Ethical Animal Research

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    On April 17, UConn took part in the annual Biomedical Research Awareness Day (BRAD), highlighting the importance of ethical animal research.

    With oversight spanning six departments involved in animal-based research, UConn Research strives to balance scientific innovation and humane treatment of animals. The BRAD event, held outside the Pharmacy Biology Building on the Storrs campus, allowed the biomedical research team to spread awareness on the advancement of research technology that has been developed to protect animals in testing.

    Jonathan XIV stopped visits the BRAD table. Contributed photo.

    With fresh pastries and merch on hand, BRAD attracted  younger generations of scientists eager to understand the efforts behind taking care of lab animals. This year’s theme centered on the importance of administering vaccinations to animals in research labs.

    “Many animals contract diseases while being used for testing,” says James Brennan, program manager for facility operations and technical training for UConn’s Office of the Vice President for Research.  “So to combat such issues, our graduate students have been working on vaccinations that treat diseases contracted by chickens.”

    A public viewing of the webinar “Unlocking Vaccine Prevention” followed the event later that day that was attended by over 100 students, researchers, and faculty members.

    “Events like Biomedical Research Awareness Day shine a positive light on the work our researchers do and scientific advancements that benefit both humans and animals alike.” Brennan added. “We celebrate the bonds that are formed and recognize the importance of humane treatment toward all animals in our care.”

    As an R1 research university, UConn continues to reinforce its research productivity while ensuring optimum care facilities for the animals housed in University facilities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: People fleeing violence in North Darfur need shelter, water, and food story May 06, 2025

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    In the weeks since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) conducted a large-scale ground offensive on Sudan’s Zamzam camp, where nearly 500,000 people were taking shelter, tens of thousands of people are fleeing to areas including the town of Tawila, in North Darfur, while intense fighting reportedly continues in the state capital, El Fasher. 

    People are arriving in Tawila from Zamzam in extreme need; famine was declared in the camp in August 2024, and many people have been seriously injured in the attack. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is providing medical care in dedicated health posts in Tawila, as well as distributing water and donating dry food, but the needs of the arriving people are overwhelming emergency and nutritional services at the local hospital that MSF supports. People speak of fleeing horrific violence.

    Why are people fleeing Zamzam and going to Tawila?

    • On April 11, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one of the parties in the war in Sudan, launched a massive ground offensive on Zamzam camp, North Darfur, which is home to at least 500,000 displaced people. Hundreds of people are estimated to have been killed.
    • MSF teams in Tawila, about 35 miles away, witnessed the arrival of thousands of displaced families, who told us that fighters  were going door-to-door, shooting people hiding in their homes, and burning large parts of the camp. 
    • The two health posts MSF set up at the main arrival sites in Tawila have been overwhelmed for two weeks in a row, providing up to 850 medical consultations per day, with patients suffering advanced states of dehydration and exhaustion. People have also arrived with gunshots and shrapnel injuries. MSF has set up a mass casualty plan, and in three weeks, our teams treated 779 patients with gunshot and shrapnel wounds, including 138 children under 15. Of these, 187 were severe cases (including 24 children). 
    • Tens of thousands of people have now set up makeshift shelters in the surroundings of Tawila, and are trying to survive in extremely dire conditions.

    Dr. Mohamed Abubaker examines a patient in the pediatrics department in Tawila. | Sudan 2025 © Thibault Fendler/MSF

    The RSF came with their machine guns and drones,” says Mariam* who reached Tawila three days after the attack on Zamzam took place. “They attacked and killed [people]—including children. They burned our house with everything we had inside. They raped the women. They killed, they looted. Even before the attack, people had died of thirst and of starvation because of the siege that had been imposed on Zamzam for the past year. … They entered the house of one of my sisters, dragged her out, and killed her. My uncle’s son, my aunt’s son, and many people were killed. They slaughtered us like animals.”

    Mariam arrived in Tawila with 20 family members, including her mother, her sisters and their own children. They now spend their days crammed into a makeshift shelter they built with branches and a piece of fabric, sharing the little shade it provides.

    Makeshift shelters have filled what was an empty grass field in Tawila, as thousands of families flee the massive offensive on Zamzam camp. | Sudan 2025 © Thibault Fendler/MSF

    Newly displaced people are living in fields

    Since April 12, when the people first began reaching Tawila from Zamzam, the areas surrounding the town have been completely transformed, with tens of thousands of people now estimated to be living in makeshift shelters in fields that were totally uninhabited just a few weeks ago.

    “For four days now, we have been staying here as you see us, with nothing: no walls, no roof,” says Ibrahim, who fled Zamzam on foot with 11 of his family members. He carried one of his children on his shoulders and another on his back for five days. It’s the fourth time in 10 years he has been displaced in similar circumstances. He describes how soldiers entered people’s homes, forced them outside, and opened fire. Three of his brothers were killed in this manner. On his way to Tawila, he was robbed and witnessed people being beaten so harshly that they could no longer move.

    “We don’t see any future anymore”

    “I’ve been displaced four times over the past 10 years. We arrived in Tawila on April 16. We have been living here since then, under this tree, all 11 of us.

    On Friday, April 11, it started with shelling directly on the camp. Shells were falling where people were gathering. Then they attacked on the ground. We heard gunfire everywhere. Many people got killed, including three of my brothers. Soldiers entered their houses, brought them outside, and opened fire.

    When we managed to leave Zamzam, we left on foot. We had no vehicles, no donkey, no cart, nothing. I had one of my children on my shoulders, another one on my back. My older son and daughter were carrying their younger siblings the same way. Everyone around us was doing the same.

    We were stopped at the exit of the camp by armed men. They searched everyone, even the smallest children. There were looking for anything that had value. Some of us were beaten so harshly, they were not able to move anymore.

    The first night, we took shelter a few miles from there, in the valley of Golo. But there as well, they came for us, to steal from us. We had nothing left, but all those who did, got looted and beaten, once again.

    For four days now, we have been staying here with nothing—no walls, no roof. Under this tree, it is so crowded. We’re lacking water, shelter, and there is nothing to eat. Everyone is hungry. We’re getting most of our food from community kitchens. Sometimes, we manage to get some rice when they distribute meals, but if we don’t, we must wait until the next day to eat something. For the water, we go to the well, which is a bit further away, with our jerrycans. But there are many people, and we have to wait hours to be able to drink. 

    We have nothing left—no money, nothing that could help us leave. We just stay here, hoping we will get enough food to survive on the next day. We don’t see any future anymore.”

    -Ibrahim*

    Needs far outweigh available assistance

    A handful of organizations are present in Tawila, but the number of people in need of assistance far exceeds the capacity to respond. MSF teams have set up two health posts at the main arrival sites to provide newcomers with water and immediate nutritional and medical support, and are referring critical patients to the local hospital that MSF has been supporting since October 2024.

    “Every single person they saw, they shot at”

    “In my life, I have been displaced many times by the violence, from Sarafaya to Mouqrin in 2014, then to Shagra last year, and to Zamzam earlier this year, to finally arrive here, in Tawila. It was on Monday, April 14.

    It was already a similar attack that made us flee from Shagra to Zamzam. In 2024, attackers came on camels and motorcycles and stole everything from us: our horses, our donkeys, our camels, even the tobacco we had just harvested. 

    When we got to Zamzam, the camp was already under siege. Everything was blocked, no supplies entering anymore. Everything became so expensive: food was not affordable anymore. Then the attack on Zamzam happened. It has started with a lot of shelling and then shooting. They came walking, directly inside the camp. Every single person they saw, they shot at them, not matter if it was a child, a woman, or an old person. 

    At the exit of the camp, they were waiting for us. They searched the women, they took anything they thought had value: our money, our cell phones, even our clothes. And on the road to Tawila, it happened again. What little we had left was looted on the way, including our blankets. 

    I arrived to Tawila with my children. I came walking, carrying my youngest children on our donkey. The little water we had was finished. I saw two bodies on the way, with my own eyes. Dead from thirst. 

    Living conditions here are terrible. My elder children go to the market, they buy big boxes of biscuits they then resell by unit. With that very little money, we manage to survive. For water, we can go to a water tank which is a bit further away, but sometimes it’s empty. We managed to buy two jerrycans on the market, but here as well, they were really expensive.

    My children are coughing a lot. We have been to MSF’s health post; they gave us medications, but their condition is not improving. Nights are so cold; we are sleeping on the floor and only have two blankets for the 11 of us.

    As long as we remain safe here, we will stay. And if not… well, we will leave. Once again.”

    –Hamida* 

    Tiphaine Salmon, MSF head nurse, was working in the hospital on the day the mass influx of severe cases began on April 12. “The emergency room was overwhelmed,” she says. “Over the first few days, the number of patients in the hospital almost doubled. At one point, we had four patients in a bed because we did not have enough space. A lot of people had gunshot wounds and blast injuries—we’ve treated 779 people over the past three weeks, including 138 children. Of the 779 patients, 187 were severe cases. The youngest I saw was a 7-month-old baby with a bullet wound that went under his chin and into his shoulder. We also received patients as young as 1 day old suffering from dehydration. Many children arrived without their parents—and many parents were searching desperately for their children.”

    At the same time, our teams in the hospital witnessed an explosion of admissions in our intensive therapeutical feeding center, which treats children under 5 years old suffering from severe acute malnutrition. In the week following the influx, admissions increased almost tenfold, from an average of 6 or 7 per week to more than 60. They were mostly children from Zamzam.

    MSF nurse Hitham checks a patient at an MSF health post in Tawila Umda, where hundreds of people suffering from exhaustion and dehydration have arrived over the past few days. | Sudan 2025 © Thibault Fendler/MSF

    Disease and displacement make a deadly combination

    A suspected measles outbreak began in Tawila in March, worsening an already catastrophic situation. MSF has treated more than 900 suspected measles cases since early February, with more than 300 patients in such severe condition that they required hospitalization. This situation led our teams to launch a large-scale vaccination campaign in the city in the first week of April, reaching 18,000 children under 5 years old.

    Only one week after the massive influx of people from Zamzam began, our teams saw several suspected cases among children who had just arrived from the camp, meaning that measles had already begun to spread in displacement sites.

    In such sites with a high population density and low hygiene conditions, malnutrition and measles can be an especially deadly combination, with disastrous consequences for young children.

    “They just slaughtered us like animals” 

    “Our household is composed of 20 people, including my 12 children, my mother, my sisters and their own children. We arrived from Zamzam five days ago. We were living there since 2014.

    The RSF came with their machine guns and drones. They attacked and killed, including children. They burned our house with everything we had inside. They raped the women. They killed, they looted. But even before that, people died of thirst and of starvation, because of the siege they imposed on Zamzam for the past year. Everything was so expensive and so unaffordable in the end.

    I’ve seen a full group of children being killed during the attack by a shelling. I’ve seen it with my own eyes as we were fleeing.

    Nobody will ever go there and bury them now.

    They entered the house of one of my sisters, dragged her out, and killed her. My uncle’s son, my aunt’s son, and many people were killed. They slaughtered us like animals. 

    On our way to Shagra, at a checkpoint, I asked them why they were killing us like this. They didn’t answer. They raped several girls there. They beat the people, and loot them once again, whatever they had. We had a bit of water left, but they took the bottle and emptied it on the ground, in front of us. They also took our luggage, threw everything on the ground, and chose what they wanted to keep. I only had about 1,500 Sudanese pounds on me [about $2.25], even that they took from me. 

    On the way, there were six checkpoints like this one. At every single checkpoint, they emptied our luggage, searched, and kept what had value. Then they ordered us to pick up the rest and leave immediately. 

    Here, in Tawila, there is no food. Some people in Tawila shared a bit of millet flour with us, from which we make porridge. This is how we have survived so far: begging. We have one blanket for all of us.

    We don’t have any other place to go, and even if we did, we wouldn’t have the money to do so. So, we’re just staying here, hoping to receive a bit of help. We need a better place to stay than this shelter we built with our hands.”

    –Mariam*

    Immediate scale-up of aid is imperative

    MSF is continuing to scale up its intervention in Tawila. As well as carrying out hundreds of medical consultations per day, our organization has donated food to local community kitchens, enabling them to prepare and distribute more than 16,000 meals per day. We have also been providing 100,000 liters of clean water daily, and we have additional plans to construct 300 latrines.

    But the needs of people in Tawila are immense and far outstrip our capacity to respond. Although other actors have also mobilized, and a first mass food distribution has taken place, the humanitarian response still needs to be urgently and rapidly scaled up. We urge UN agencies to substantially increase their presence on the ground so they can coordinate a response with the magnitude to meet the ever-growing needs.

    *Names have been changed for privacy. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why south-east Asia must lead the fight against neglected tropical diseases

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tuck Seng Wong, Professor of Biomanufacturing, School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield

    Village health Volunteers in Thailand survey mosquito breeding sites as part of dengue prevention campaign Deere Kumphaitoon/Shutterstock

    Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a persistent public health threat, and tackling them is not just a moral obligation, but a smart investment.

    NTDs are a group of infectious diseases that mainly affect poor people in tropical and subtropical regions. These diseases are called “neglected” because they have received less attention and fewer resources than other major health issues, despite affecting over a billion people worldwide.

    NTDs disproportionately affect the poorest communities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where they lock people in cycles of poverty by hindering physical and cognitive development, reducing school attendance and limiting economic productivity.

    Wealthier nations experience far lower rates of these diseases. Yet it’s in LMICs that cost-effective interventions like improved water, sanitation, hygiene and vector control – methods used to limit or eliminate insects that spread diseases to humans – can deliver the greatest return. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every dollar invested in controlling and eliminating NTDs can yield up to US$25 (£19) in economic and health benefits, through lower healthcare costs, increased productivity and improved education outcomes.

    While vaccines are one of the most powerful tools for disease prevention, there are still no vaccines for most NTD. Progress has been slow, largely due to fragmented funding and limited investment in research. This gap continues to leave millions vulnerable.

    To address this, we helped establish the UK–South East Asia Vaccine Manufacturing Research Hub (UK-SEA Vax Hub) in 2023 to reduce the burden of infectious diseases in LMICs, with a special focus on south-east Asia. Its mission is to strengthen regional capacity in vaccine research, development and manufacturing. Dengue and rabies – both persistent NTDs – are among its priorities.

    The urgency of this work is underscored by the growing threat of dengue. Between 2015 and 2019, dengue cases rose by 46% in south-east Asia. Countries like Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand are among the most affected globally. This region accounts for more than half of the world’s dengue cases.

    Dengue is hard to diagnose. Its symptoms – fever, rash and joint pain – overlap with other illnesses like chikungunya, Zika, malaria and typhoid. Misdiagnoses are common and no specific antiviral treatment exists.

    While vaccines are available, their use is limited by strict eligibility criteria based on age, infection history and local disease patterns. This leaves many people without protection.

    What’s urgently needed are more effective, affordable and widely accessible vaccines. But vaccines alone won’t solve the problem. Combatting dengue and other NTDs requires an integrated strategy, particularly in poor countries with limited health infrastructure.

    To stop the spread of diseases like dengue, it’s not enough to just treat people or use vaccines. You also need to control the insects that carry and spread the disease – in this case, mosquitoes.

    That includes actions like removing standing water where mosquitoes breed, using insecticides, or installing window screens and bed nets. These steps are essential to reducing infection rates and protecting communities. These interventions, driven by local action, are just as essential as biomedical advances. Together, they build a more sustainable and resilient defence against mosquito-borne diseases.

    For decades, public health initiatives in low-income countries were largely funded by wealthy countries – through development aid, international donors and philanthropic foundations. But with shifting global priorities and tightening budgets, it’s increasingly clear that this model is no longer sustainable.

    Long-term health security must be led from within. That means a shift in mindset. Low-income countries must see themselves not just as aid recipients, but as innovators, implementers and investors in their own health futures.

    This transition is already underway. The UK-SEA Vax Hub has evolved beyond its original research remit. By embedding its work within the broader regional health agenda, the hub is promoting government ownership and regional collaboration: critical steps in building stronger, more self-reliant health systems.

    While progress is promising, major challenges remain. One of the most pressing is the need to develop a new generation of public health leaders across south-east Asia – people who can lead research and development, champion vaccine production and help shape policy based on local needs. These leaders will be essential for ensuring that south-east Asia becomes not just a regional health player, but a global one.

    Another key challenge is regulatory. In a diverse region like south-east Asia, varying national policies can slow innovation and emergency responses. Streamlining and harmonising these systems is essential for responding quickly and effectively during future outbreaks or pandemics.

    South-east Asia has the potential to become a global hub for vaccine manufacturing. The region benefits from growing scientific and industrial capacity, relative political stability and a shared interest in tackling shared health threats. It also has a strong case to lead the fight against NTDs, which continue to disproportionately affect its populations.

    South-east Asia stands at a critical juncture. With strategic investment, regional leadership and cross-border collaboration, the region can protect its people, drive innovation and shape the future of global health.

    The fight against NTDs is more than a public health challenge – it’s a chance for south-east Asia to lead by example and redefine its role on the world stage.

    Tuck Seng Wong receives funding from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for the UK-SEA Vax Hub.

    Kang Lan Tee receives funding from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for the UK-SEA Vax Hub.

    – ref. Why south-east Asia must lead the fight against neglected tropical diseases – https://theconversation.com/why-south-east-asia-must-lead-the-fight-against-neglected-tropical-diseases-255640

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The MMR vaccine doesn’t contain ‘aborted fetus debris’, as RFK Jr has claimed. Here’s the science

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the United States’ top public health official, recently claimed some religious groups avoid the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine because it contains “aborted fetus debris” and “DNA particles”.

    The US is facing its worst measles outbreaks in years with nearly 900 cases across the country and active outbreaks in several states.

    At the same time, Kennedy, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, continues to erode trust in vaccines.

    So what can we make of his latest claims?

    There’s no fetal debris in the MMR vaccine

    Kennedy said “aborted fetus debris” in MMR vaccines is the reason many religious people refuse vaccination. He referred specifically to the Mennonites in Texas, a deeply religious community, who have been among the hardest hit by the current measles outbreaks.

    Many vaccines work by using a small amount of an attenuated (weakened) form of a virus, or in the case of the MMR vaccine, attenuated forms of the viruses that cause measles, mumps and rubella. This gives the immune system a safe opportunity to learn how to recognise and respond to these viruses.

    As a result, if a person is later exposed to the actual infection, their immune system can react swiftly and effectively, preventing serious illness.

    Kennedy’s claim about fetal debris specifically refers to the rubella component of the MMR vaccine. The rubella virus is generally grown in a human cell line known as WI-38, which was originally derived from lung tissue of a single elective abortion in the 1960s. This cell line has been used for decades, and no new fetal tissue has been used since.

    Certain vaccines for other diseases, such as chickenpox, hepatitis A and rabies, have also been made by growing the viruses in fetal cells.

    These cells are used not because of their origin, but because they provide a stable, safe and reliable environment for growing the attenuated virus. They serve only as a growth medium for the virus and they are not part of the final product.

    You might think of the cells as virus-producing factories. Once the virus is grown, it’s extracted and purified as part of a rigorous process to meet strict safety and quality standards. What remains in the final vaccine is the virus itself and stabilising agents, but not human cells, nor fetal tissue.

    So claims about “fetal debris” in the vaccine are false.

    It’s also worth noting the world’s major religions permit the use of vaccines developed from cells originally derived from fetal tissue when there are no alternative products available.

    Are there fragments of DNA in the MMR vaccine?

    Kennedy claimed the Mennonites’ reluctance to vaccinate stems from “religious objections” to what he described as “a lot of aborted fetus debris and DNA particles” in the MMR vaccine.

    The latter claim, about the vaccine containing DNA particles, is technically true. Trace amounts of DNA fragments from the human cell lines used to produce the rubella component of the MMR vaccine may remain even after purification.

    However, with this claim, there’s an implication these fragments pose a health risk. This is false.

    Any DNA that may be present in this vaccine exists in extremely small amounts, is highly fragmented and degraded, and is biologically inert – that is, it cannot cause harm.

    Even if, hypothetically, intact DNA were present in the vaccine (which it’s not), it would not have the capacity to cause harm. One common (but unfounded) concern is that foreign DNA could integrate with a person’s own DNA, and alter their genome.

    Introducing DNA into human cells in a way that leads to integration is very difficult. Even when scientists are deliberately trying to do this, for example, in gene therapy, it requires precise tools, special viral delivery systems and controlled conditions.

    It’s also important to remember our bodies are exposed to foreign DNA constantly, through food, bacteria and even our own microbiome. Our immune system routinely digests and disposes of this material without incorporating it into our genome.

    This question has been extensively studied over decades. Multiple health authorities, including Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration, have addressed the misinformation regarding perceived harm from residual DNA in vaccines.

    Ultimately, the idea that fragmented DNA in a vaccine could cause genetic harm is false.

    The bottom line

    Despite what Kennedy would have you believe, there’s no fetal debris in the MMR vaccine, and the trace amounts of DNA fragments that may remain pose no health risk.

    What the evidence does show, however, is that vaccines like the MMR vaccine offer excellent protection against deadly and preventable diseases, and have saved millions of lives around the world.

    Hassan Vally does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The MMR vaccine doesn’t contain ‘aborted fetus debris’, as RFK Jr has claimed. Here’s the science – https://theconversation.com/the-mmr-vaccine-doesnt-contain-aborted-fetus-debris-as-rfk-jr-has-claimed-heres-the-science-255718

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Measles could again become widespread as cases surge worldwide

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Rebecca Schein, Assistant Professor of Infectious Disease Pediatrics, Michigan State University

    Measles is one of the most infectious diseases on the planet. Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

    Globally, measles is on the rise across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South America and parts of Europe. In 2025, North and South America saw 11 times more cases than during the same period last year. In Europe, measles rates are at their highest point in 25 years.

    In the U.S., as of May 2, 2025, health authorities have confirmed 935 cases of measles affecting 30 states. This is a huge surge compared with the 285 cases reported in 2024. A large measles outbreak is happening in Canada, too, with over 1,000 cases.

    The Conversation asked Rebecca Schein, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases, to explain what this spike at home and abroad might mean for a disease that was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000.

    How do measles cases this year compare with previous years?

    From 2000 to 2010, less than 100 measles cases were reported each year in the U.S. Since 2010, there have been isolated outbreaks, mainly in unvaccinated communities, with approximately 200 to 300 cases a year. The latest major outbreak in the U.S. was in 2019, with 1,274 cases, primarily in the New York City metropolitan area and parts of New Jersey.

    Cases fell in 2020 to 2023 during the COVID-19 pandemic, returning to prepandemic levels in 2024. Currently, most U.S. cases are coming from an epidemic in Texas, with 702 confirmed cases as of May 6. Of these, 91 people were hospitalized and three people, two of them children, died. Measles cases are still being reported. Texas is one of 12 measles outbreaks documented in the U.S. in 2025 to date.

    The World Health Organization has declared both North and South America to be at high risk for measles. Canada reported a total of 1,177 cases as of April 19, with 951 of them linked to an outbreak that began in New Brunswick in October 2024 and spread to seven provinces. In 2023, there were 12 measles cases in all of Canada.

    Mexico reported 421 confirmed measles cases as of April 18, and another 384 cases are under investigation. There are also small measles outbreaks in South America, with Belize reporting its first two cases since 1991. Brazil reported five cases, and in Argentina there are 21 confirmed cases of measles, mainly in the capital city of Buenos Aires.

    U.S. exports these days include measles.

    In Europe, measles cases rose tenfold, hitting 35,212 in 2024, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

    How did the US eliminate measles?

    Measles is one of the most contagious infections ever identified. One person with measles can spread the infection to 12 to 18 others. That number, which epidemiologists call R0, is 1 to 4 for the flu and 2 to 5 for COVID-19.

    In 1912, measles became a nationally reportable disease tracked by all the health departments in the U.S. At that time, there were about 3 million to 4 million cases and 6,000 deaths each year in the country. Medical care improved and the death rate decreased, but cases spiked to epidemic levels every two to three years.

    It was not until 1963, when the first measles vaccine became widely available, that cases dropped dramatically. The current measles vaccine, which is called the MMR vaccine because it also includes vaccines against mumps and rubella, was released in 1971. In 1977, the U.S. government launched the National Childhood Immunization Initiative to ensure that school children received vaccination against polio, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, mumps, rubella and measles. Vaccination rates in children starting elementary school rose to 96% by 1981. Beginning in 1993, the Vaccines for Children program helped ensure that every child could receive vaccinations regardless of ability to pay.

    Vaccination programs were a resounding success. By 2000, measles cases arising in the U.S. had fallen to zero, with infections occurring only in people who traveled abroad. That year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared that measles was eliminated in the country.

    Why are rising measles rates so worrisome?

    Measles is a virus, like the common cold. Unlike bacterial infections, which can be treated with antibiotics, viral infections are typically not treatable but can often be prevented through vaccination programs.

    Vaccination stimulates the body’s immune system to make antibodies to fight a specific infection. For most people, just one dose of the measles vaccine protects them from infection. The second dose helps ensure long-term protection. Measles is so infectious that 95% of the population must be vaccinated to protect the community, a concept called herd immunity.

    A man holds a sign at a rally for science in St. Paul, Minn., on March 7, 2025.
    Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    During the past 20 years, however, vaccination rates are decreasing globally, with an especially sharp drop during the pandemic from limited exposure to medical care. Aligned with this trend, measles cases in the U.S. have been rising. As a result, some infectious disease experts worry that measles is heading toward becoming a common infection again.

    What happens if measles rates continue to rise?

    Public health officials define endemic infections as being consistently present within a region. For example, the common cold and now COVID-19 are endemic in the U.S.

    A higher-than-normal number of cases in an area is termed an outbreak. For measles, an outbreak is defined as more than three cases in a county or local area. When cases from an outbreak spread outside the local area, that is an epidemic, and if an epidemic spreads into many countries across the world, it becomes a pandemic.

    The measles outbreak in Texas started in January 2025 as an outbreak in six counties and quickly reached epidemic levels, hitting a total of 29 counties and a count of 702 cases as of May 6.

    A 2022 study used a computer algorithm to model the trajectory of measles cases in the U.S. given the drop in vaccination rates during the pandemic. If children who missed vaccines due to the pandemic do not receive catch-up vaccinations, and vaccine hesitancy continues at current rates, the study found, then 21% of U.S. children – about 15 million – will be vulnerable to measles over the following five years. That is well below the number needed to prevent measles outbreaks.

    A study using a similar approach published in April 2025 found that measles is likely to become endemic again in the U.S. and predicted that the country could experience 850,000 cases over the next 25 years if vaccination rates remain the same. If vaccine rates decrease further, the study found, case numbers could increase to 11 million over the next 25 years.

    What would it take to reverse the rise in measles?

    Reversing this trend will require steadily increasing community vaccination rates. The April 2025 study found that boosting community vaccination rates by 5% would tamp down the increase in cases to between 3,000 and 19,000 over the next 25 years.

    Another epidemiological model that estimates measles spread, published in February, predicted that by intervening early in an outbreak with local health department support, measles outbreaks can be contained as long as 85% of the population is vaccinated against the disease.

    That, of course, requires ensured ongoing access to free and accessible childhood vaccinations and restoration of the public’s trust in measles vaccines.

    Rebecca Schein does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Measles could again become widespread as cases surge worldwide – https://theconversation.com/measles-could-again-become-widespread-as-cases-surge-worldwide-255501

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –