Transparency regarding the functioning of the EMA
19.3.2021
Question for written answer E-001513/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Vincenzo Sofo (ECR)
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is tasked with protecting the health of citizens through the evaluation and monitoring of medicines distributed in the EU Member States.
It is governed by a Management Board whose members are appointed to act in the public interest only. However, only 14% of its budget, (EUR 385.9 million in 2021) comes from the EU, the remaining 86% (EUR 330.4 million) coming from private companies involved in pharmacovigilance.
This is in danger of creating a conflict of interest, resulting from collusion between those being monitored and those doing the monitoring and allowing pharmaceutical companies to exert a powerful influence over EMA decisions.
In view of this:
- 1.Can the Commission say which, if any, pharmaceutical companies (or other private stakeholders involved in the production and distribution of COVID vaccines) are funding the EMA, indicating the amounts paid by each?
- 2.Are these companies represented on EMA bodies (BoDs, scientific committees, working groups, etc.) and, if so, can it provide a list of their representatives and the functions they fulfil?
- 3.What is being done to ensure the independence of EMA decision making?