European Union English news | European Union, Latest News & Live Updates in English | English News (Latest English News) at Lokmattimes.com

Members of the European Parliament have backed a joint proposal by India and South Africa for waiver on intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccine patents.In a letter addressed to the European Union leadership dated Wednesday, 14 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have called for a moratorium on the suspension of Covid-19 vaccine patents.The letter, accessed by , was addressed to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, High Representative, Josep Borrel, European Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis and European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides.The letter was sent by the following MEPs: Andrea Cozzolino, Maria Arena, Eva Kaili, Alex Agius Saliba, Boguslaw Liberadzki, Tiemo Woelken, Milan Brglez, Patrizia Toia, Irene Tinagli, Pierfrancesco Majorino, Pina Picierno, Giuliano Pisapia, Massimiliano Smeriglio, Franco RobertiThe MEPs' said, "South Africa and India sent a joint proposal to the World Trade Orgzation requesting an exemption from patents and other intellectual property rights concerning drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, personal protective equipment, and other medical technologies throughout the pandemic and this proposal is still pending."They added: "We ask the European Union to evaluate to support the adoption of a moratorium that allows the suspension of patents and the sharing of technology, data, know-how, allowing generics manufacturers to contribute to increasing global availability, including through support for India and South Africa's proposal at the WTO."In October last year, India and South Africa jointly submitted a communication at The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) that was titled 'Waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS agreement for the prevention, containment, and treatment of COVID-19'.The proposal requests a waiver to be granted to WTO members so that they do not have to implement, apply or enforce certain obligations related to COVID-19 products and technologies."Internationally, there is an urgent call for global solidarity, and the unhindered global sharing of technology and know-how in order that rapid responses for the handling of COVID-19 can be put in place on a real-time basis," the joint communication from India and South Africa read to the TRIPS at the WTO."In these exceptional circumstances, we request that the Council for TRIPS recommends, as early as possible, to the General Council a waiver from the implementation, application and enforcement of Sections 1, 4, 5, and 7 of Part II of the TRIPS Agreement in relation to prevention, containment or treatment of COVID-19," it added.The MEPs further called on the EU to "evaluate, as a member of the WTO, subject to an appropriate legislative act, the granting of a compulsory license for the production of covid 19 vaccines to public agencies or a generic drug manufacturer, according to TRIPS and the Doha Declaration."( With inputs from ANI )Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

European UnionFOLLOW

European union, Latest News

In its first high-level dialogue on bilateral trade and investment with India, the European Union recognised New Delhi's strategic role as a "major vaccine producer" and expressed openness to discuss vaccine-related matters, informed sources said. ...

The Polish government announced Friday that it will ease additional COVID-19 induced lockdown restrictions, starting February 12. ...

Germany has allocated 21 million euros (USD 25.3 million) to implement the Action Plan Civil Society Belarus initiative aimed at providing support to the Belarusian opposition, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Saturday. ...

The European Union's high representative for foreign policy, Josep Borrell, on Saturday condemned Russia's move to expel European diplomats a day earlier, reported Euronews. ...

The Polish government announced Friday that it will ease additional COVID-19 induced lockdown restrictions, starting February 12. ...

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called Moscow's decision to expel three European diplomats unjustified, adding that it may worsen relations between Russia and the European Union. ...

The European Union's high representative for the foreign policy, Josep Borrell, said Friday he was hoping the EU medicines watchdog would be able to certify Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus, following the recent article in The Lance ...

Members of the European Parliament have backed a joint proposal by India and South Africa for waiver on intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccine patents. ...