EPP Group Health Conference: 'Towards a European Health Union'

Today, European cooperation on health and innovation must be the means used to fight deadly diseases and possible future pandemics. Now, in 2021, in the soon to be post-pandemic world, the European Union has a unique opportunity to do more on health and must be given the competences to do so. The EPP Group calls for the creation of a true Health Union!  

The pandemic has made it blatantly clear that health is not only a national issue; it is also a European one. This would have been unthinkable just 12 months ago. With its concerted approach on stimulating research and innovation, Europe has made a tangible difference to people's lives. We believe what we did with COVID-19 we can also do with other diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer.  

On Wednesday, 13 January, in conjunction with three European Commissioners and leading health experts, we will discuss concrete proposals on how to make this happen!

#EPP4Health: Towards a European Health Union
Online event, 13 January 2021
Start: 14:45 CET 
End: 17:00 CET 

WATCH LIVE

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PROGRAMME

Moderators

Esther DE LANGE MEP, Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament

Kevin PURCELL, TV and radio journalist

14.45 - 15.00 hrs    

INTRODUCTORY TALK: TOWARDS A EUROPEAN HEALTH UNION

Manfred WEBER MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament

Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Promoting our European Way of Life

15.00 - 15.45 hrs

PANEL I: INNOVATIVE EUROPE: OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND BEYOND

Mariya GABRIEL, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

Dr Franz-Werner HAAS, CEO of CureVac

Dr Albert BOURLA, CEO of Pfizer

Debates with MEPs and audience

15.45 - 16.30 hrs    

PANEL II: HEALTH AS A JOINT EUROPEAN TASK

Keynote: Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

and discussion with:

Prof. Ugur SAHIN MD, Co-founder and CEO of BioNTech

Prof. Walter RICCIARDI MD, President of Mission Board for Cancer of the European Commission and Scientific Advisor to the Italian Minister of Health for the Coronavirus Pandemic

Debates with MEPs and audience

16.30 - 17.00hrs    

CONCLUDING DISCUSSION: FOR A BETTER AND SAFER HEALTH IN EUROPE AND THE WORLD

Dr Peter LIESE MEP, EPP Group Coordinator for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Dr Tal ZAKS, Chief Medical Officer of Moderna

Debates with MEPs and audience