Agnes MATHIEU-MENDES

What Agnes MATHIEU-MENDES has said (4)

• “Good morning everyone. Thank you, Madam Chair. The members of the committee. First of all, let me express my gratitude to the rapporteur, Mrs. Holtzman, and also all MEPs who help you to to prepare this draft opinion. We have read your amendment with attention and we will analyse them carefully. In particular the remarks on the definition of critical medicine. Um, the Critical Medicine Act is a major tool to strengthen the supply of critical medicine, and we want to reinforce the EU manufacturing capacity and reduce our dependency on third countries, or when we have a single supplier for a product. So what we would like with the proposal is to reform the public procurement practices and to go a little bit away of this system where we always choose the lowest price medicine and that we incentivize the supply chain resilience. So at the same time, uh, we need also to give sufficient flexibility in the system of public procurement. So we want to have rules for taking into account the criticality of certain medicines, but also the market dynamics. So the proposal is not too prescriptive. There are certain flexibilities and exemptions uh, while preserving also the national competences. So as regards the EU preference in procurement, which is an essential part of the proposal, the idea is to strengthen the demand for the medicine manufacture in the EU and in particular when we suffer from a dependency that threaten the security.”
  "Buy European" provisions
• “And it's very clear that we do not want to bypass our international commitment, we have to respect them. But we have also to realise that in certain very specific circumstances, when our citizens are in danger, we should be able to help them. Finally, we propose also the voluntary collaborative procurement measures to help the Member States to address the market failure. The idea is to contribute to um, to help the Member States. But let's be really honest, we cannot organise and help all member States for all medicines. We need to have a critical mass of Member States. We need a certain threshold of member states. If 2 or 3 member states want to purchase, the Commission cannot help. Otherwise, it's it becomes impossible for us to manage. So what we propose is a comprehensive framework combining incentives for the production, but also pushing and the diversification of production. We hope that you will reach swiftly a position preserving the Commission proposal, and we hope that we move forward quickly so that we begin the trilogue in 2026. So from our side, we are fully committed to engage it with you, to help you through a constructive legislative process. And we are eager to support your efforts in drafting this piece of legislation. So thanks again, and we are really keen to work with you to make sure that we do not leave any citizen without treatment. Thank you.”
  Public and private sectors role in healthcare services
• “Okay. Good morning everyone. Dear members of the Committee, let me start by thanking the rapporteur, Mr. Sokol, the shadow rapporteurs and all involved MEPs for the intense work on this important proposal. We have read your amendments with attention and we will analyse them more thoroughly for sure. As you are aware, the Commission proposal for Critical Medicine Act aims at reducing dependencies for critical medicines and their ingredients. So let me just flag a few key points. Firstly, we need to target those companies that invest in the creation, modernization and expansion of manufacturing capacity for critical medicine in the EU. At the same time, from this strategic project, we would like that the benefit from fast track procedures and support, and that they have an efficient process to avoid that they suffer from unnecessary bureaucracy. Secondly, we would like to move away from the price only procurement approach. There is a long history of procurement where the only element is to check the price and compare the tenders based on price. We want to propose that other criteria in the public procurement are considered like supply chain resilience. But we also understand the need for flexibility for the competent authorities who will act as contracting authorities, and also that we take into consideration whether the medicine is really critical and also if there is a certain vulnerability. Thirdly, we need to have a voluntary collaborative procurement measures to support the member States who have difficulties with attracting companies on their market.”
  Public and private sectors role in healthcare services
• “Um, but we must ensure that we use the commission resource effectively. And it's true that we need to have a critical mass of member states to help those countries at EU level. And also, it's important to note that if we do not have a certain volume of product to purchase, it will be also difficult at EU level to argue and to discuss anything with the pharmaceutical companies. Finally, the industrial measures and the CMA complement regulatory measures that prevent and mitigate the shortage under the pharma reform. So the CMA complement the pharmaceutical strategy that already contain measures to tackle shortage of medicines. So we really need to ensure that we do not duplicate or proposal, but we are complementing each other. And we have, for example, to make it clear as regards the data collection and contingency stock measures. So in summary, our proposal provides a comprehensive framework of interdependent elements where we need to strike the right balance. So we hope that you will be able to reach a position that maintains the ambition of the Commission proposal. And from our side, we remain fully committed to engage constructively through the legislative process. So thanks again for your commitment and cooperation. Thank you.”
  Pharma IPRs