Call for the resignation of Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides

Question for written answer  E-000574/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Vincenzo Sofo (ID)

Following the COVID-19 strategy on vaccines presented on 17 June 2020, the Commission has so far concluded six advance purchase agreements for these drugs, one of which is already being distributed.

These agreements have provoked a huge media and political outcry owing to the agreed terms and conditions, which have heavily penalised the Member States, which now find themselves unable to deal with the vaccination campaign effectively.

Problems were also caused by allowing some Member States to proceed with separate individual agreements with pharmaceutical companies, outside the mandate given to the Commission, thereby undermining the effectiveness of coordinated management and creating a distribution imbalance to the detriment of countries such as Italy.

This is compounded by the serious reputational damage done to the EU institutions as a result of the unacceptable decision to keep the content of the purchase agreements secret, even preventing them from being seen by Parliament itself. This runs counter to the principles of the right to transparency and participation.

In the light of the above, does the Commission not consider it appropriate for Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides to resign, to enable somebody else to take over the future management of the vaccine strategy?