Today, Members of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI) of the European Parliament adopted ECR MEP Joanna Kopcińska’s report on amending the regulation that established the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

“Collecting and processing epidemiological data while maintaining key health competences at the national level will better ensure health protection for European citizens in the future,” believes Kopcińska.

Speaking after the vote, Joanna Kopcińska added:

“Thanks to improved data collection systems, the Centre could help the Member States to better plan their actions targeting a wide range of patients.

“I am very satisfied with the negotiation process, which was conducted in a constructive manner and led to a balanced outcome that is almost unanimously supported by all the political groups.

“Throughout the entire process, I endeavoured to provide a clear link on how the ECDC sees its role in preparing the EU framework of prevention. I have therefore been in regular contact with the ECDC itself and the European Commission to reflect our common standing from the very beginning of the work on this report.”

In addition, as the Polish MEP pointed out, the document includes other positive aspects, such as the development of a preparedness plan and subsequent recommendations based on the adoption of tailor-made plans at the national level paired with a comprehensive and transparent reporting and budgetary control framework. Moreover, this innovative and voluntary participation will be included in the project’s first phase through the transfusion and transplanting of support networks.

The document also considers the Member States’ roles, situations, and competencies in organising their health systems and establishing timetables and assessment indicators.

“When issuing new recommendations, the Centre will take into account the existing national crisis management plans and the respective circumstances of each Member State”, emphasised Kopcińska.

Finally, the report also foresees a role for the ECDC in finding links between communicable and non-communicable diseases, particularly how the first ones impact patients and the capacity of health systems to treat people suffering from certain major non-communicable diseases.