The ongoing debate around the pros and cons of COVID-19 vaccines and tests certification, that increased in fervour after the European Commission’s announcement last month that it will commit to the launch of a Digital Green Certificate, has been centred on two major concerns. The first is the possible discrimination against travellers. The second regards issues of authenticity and confidentiality around personal data. On considering the first issue, it’ s worth reflecting on what “di...
The European Commission put forward legislation to spend nearly €10 billion on ten big R&D partnerships on health, climate, digital and other fields, as part of its gradual roll-out of the Horizon Europe research programme. The partnerships, linking Commission efforts with other governments and industry, are a central part of EU strategy to harness science and technology to solve global problems while also strengthening European industry – a mix of pro bono and pro-Europe policies. Sinc...
Rare diseases and Primary Immunodeficiency (PID) in particular are a challenge to health systems and policymakers. Their diversity alone – there are over 250 identified PID disorders - makes it harder to develop effective treatment plans and to engage laboratories in the research and development of adequate pharmaceutical products. These difficulties increase in health emergencies, such as the one we are experiencing, since most resources are being channelled to address the COVID-19 pa...
EPP MEPs from the ITRE and CULT committees met this Wednesday with representatives of the culture and creative industries, in a video hearing, to debate the present and future of these sectors, particularly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the meeting, the MEPs called for a “lease of life” to these industries, highlighting their importance in Europe. “We know that the effects of the pandemic on the creative industry have been devastating, and this probably is an under...
EPP MEPs from the ITRE and CULT committees met this Wednesday with representatives of the culture and creative industries, in a video hearing, to debate the present and future of these sectors, particularly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the meeting, the MEPs called for a “lease of life” to these industries, highlighting their importance in Europe. “We know that the effects of the pandemic on the creative industry have been devastating, and this probably is an under...
EU policymakers have reached agreement on changing the legal footings of the EU’s innovation agency, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), giving public-private partnerships more control over their own budgets. The deal also sets EIT’s priorities for the next seven years. “Together we make the EIT stronger [and] give it the means to develop its full potential,” tweeted EU research commissioner, Mariya Gabriel. After a year and a half of talks, EIT emerges with a budget ...
No final do Conselho de Ministros de 21 de janeiro, o primeiro-ministro fez uma afirmação preocupante, que passou despercebida no meio do turbilhão noticioso em torno das eleições presidenciais. Disse António Costa, questionado por um jornalista sobre o eventual arrependimento de não ter fechado as escolas mais cedo, que: "Nós adotamos as medidas em função dos dados que existem, não dos dados que existiram nem dos dados que imaginamos que venham a existir." O primeiro-ministro referiu de...
A implementação eficiente da campanha de vacinação contra a Covid-19 em todos os Estados membros é o maior desafio da presidência portuguesa do Conselho da União Europeia, considerou Maria da Graça Carvalho numa palestra dedicada ao tema, organizada esta quinta-feira à noite pelo Rotary Club de Setúbal. A eurodeputada notou que a presidência da Alemanha, que antecedeu Portugal, deixou grande parte do trabalho feito e dos grandes dossiês fechados, dando o exemplo da compra conjunta das vacinas...
Portuguese MEP Maria da Graça Carvalho was tasked by the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee with the legislative report on EuroHPC - Joint Undertaking for European High Performance Computing, an initiative launched in 2018 that aims to make Europe world leader in the field of supercomputing. The initiative involves 32 countries - eight of which will receive one of the eight new supercomputers that will serve all member states - and two private partners. Three of the computers will ...
Portuguese MEP Maria da Graça Carvalho was tasked by the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee with the legislative report on EuroHPC - Joint Undertaking for European High Performance Computing, an initiative launched in 2018 that aims to make Europe world leader in the field of supercomputing. The initiative involves 32 countries - eight of which will receive one of the eight new supercomputers that will serve all member states - and two private partners. Three of the computers will ...
Votei favoravelmente a presente resolução sobre o ensino e a formação profissionais (EFP) em prol da competitividade sustentável, da justiça social e da resiliência e que inclui um apelo ao apoio da Comissão Europeia aos Estados-Membros para a promoção da educação e formação profissional, atualização digital e ensino à distância, garantindo a acessibilidade e aquisição das competências necessárias especialmente durante e após a pandemia da Covid-19. O ensino e a formação profissionais...