EuroParlRadio

EU won’t restrict vaccine exports for companies honouring contracts - von der Leyen

The president of the European Commission this morning said the EU doesn’t intend to restrict companies that are honouring their contracts with the EU when it comes to exporting COVID-19 vaccines.

Ursula von der Leyen was speaking in the European Parliament during a debate on the EU’s vaccine strategy.

She told MEPs she deeply regretted the commission’s decision last month to attempt to trigger Article sixteen of the Northern Ireland protocol.

Out words: European Union

Dur: 00:40

Von der Leyen “deeply” regrets Art 16 debacle

The President of the European Commission says she deeply regrets the recent debacle surrounding the triggering of Article sixteen of the Northern Ireland protocol.

Ursula von der Leyen was speaking in the European Parliament this morning.

She was referring to the controversial decision of the Commission to attempt to invoke Article sixteen to prevent COVID-19 vaccines from entering Northern Ireland from an EU country. The Commission had to rapidly reverse the damaging move after it caused outrage.

Here’s Ursula von der Leyen this morning.

Out words: Brexit process

Dur: 00:26

 

“Regressive” Polish abortion rights concern - O'Sullivan

Poland’s abortion laws strip women of their rights and is particularly devastating for the poorest, says Grace O'Sullivan. Abortion is only allowed in case of crimes such as rape or if the life of the mother is endangered. Abortion in cases of serious fetal abnormalities is no longer allowed. The issue has been raised this week in the European Parliament where there is a widespread concern. Irish Green MEP, Grace O'Sullivan, says she hopes international pressure will convince the Polish government to think again.

 

Out words: European member states

 

Dur: 0’18”

Pharma have “public service” obligation

Intro script:

Pharmaceuticals must meet their promises, insists Grace O'Sullivan. The vaccine firms have found it difficult to scale up production fast enough. In the case of AstraZeneca, 40 million doses will be delivered to the EU by the end of March, but that’s only half the amount ordered. The company has promised much higher numbers for the second and third quarters of 2021, but there’s frustration we don’t yet have all the vaccines we want. Green MEP, Grace O'Sullivan, says the pharmaceuticals have a public service obligation.

 

Out words: To do that

 

Dur: 0’22”

MEPs set to approve multi-billion COVID fund – Cuffe

The European Parliament is expected to approve a multi-billion euro COVID recovery fund.

The six hundred and seventy two point five billion euro (€672.5bn) Recovery and Resilience Facility will be made up of grants and loans.

It’s designed to help EU countries tackle the economic and social effects of the pandemic. EU member states have to submit plans for how they want to spend the funds.  

Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe says Ireland should be in line for around one point five billion euro (€1.5bn) – which would be made up of half loans and grants.

Out words: sector businesses

Dur: 00:26

EU covid failings “damaging” - O'Sullivan

A damning report into Europe’s preparations for a pandemic is “damaging”, says MEP, Grace O'Sullivan. The European Centre for Disease Control is supposed to monitor global health, but a report published today by the European Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, concludes that – early on - the EU’s disease centre, ECDC, was trying to make risk assessments based on incomplete or out of date information. Grace O'Sullivan, plans to raise the concerns in a debate with the European Commission on Wednesday. The Green MEP says now is the moment to learn lessons as we face the threat of a third wave.

 

Out words: To do that

 

Dur: 0’22”

EU vaccine strategy better than free for all – Cuffe

EU citizens will be better served by having the European Commission organise an EU-wide vaccine strategy rather than letting each EU country acquire the drugs themselves.

That’s the message from Dublin MEP Ciarán Cuffe.

He was responding to criticisms of the European Commission’s vaccination strategy which has seen spats over vaccine acquisitions and slow roll out of the much-needed drugs.

The European Parliament will this week debate the EU’s vaccine programme with the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Here’s Ciarán Cuffe.

Out words: procuring vaccines

Dur: 00:32

Protocol at risk without NI-EU role - Andrews

A group of MEPs is calling for the European Union to open its arms to Northern Ireland, in light of the Article 16 fiasco. In a joint letter to EU leaders, being co-ordinated by Barry Andrews, the MEPs call for stronger “connective tissue” between Northern Ireland and the EU. As well as extending grace periods, there are a whole raft of other suggestions, including the idea of using a dormant provision in the Good Friday Agreement to allow “appropriate representation” at EU meetings. Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews, says Northern Ireland should have a democratic role in EU decision making if the Protocol is to survive.

 

Out words: Very, very serious

 

Dur: 0’24”

UK “trying to weaponise genuine anxieties” over NI Protocol

Interviewee: Barry Andrews MEP (Fianna Fáil, Dublin)

 

Interviewed by: Georg von Harrach, Brussels

 

Intro script:

Grace periods for trade into Northern Ireland should be extended for up to a year – that’s the view of MEP, Barry Andrews. The first of a series of transition terms for the North is due to expire at the end of next month. Trade to and from Britain has proved difficult since Brexit. The Fianna Fáil MEP predicts it will get a lot worse without renewed flexibility. Barry Andrews says longer grace periods are needed to show support for the Protocol and to help businesses survive.

 

Out words: Concession isn’t weakness

 

Dur: 0’23”

“Bafflement’ in Brussels over Art 16 fiasco – Cuffe

The fallout from the European Commission’s decision to invoke Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol last month is still reverberating in Brussels.

Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe says there’s a sense of bafflement in the Belgian capital over the Commission’s move to trigger Article 16.

The debacle has caused much embarrassment for the EU boss, Ursula von der Leyen.

Out words: unintended consequences

Dur: 00:34