[Ip-health] European Socialist Group " Deal within reach on cheap medicines for poor countries"

[Alexandra HEUMBER]

[ Converted text/html to text/plain ]

Dear all,



Please find below the press release of the European Socialsit group followi=
ng
the unformal trialogue on Access to medicines-TRIPS between the three EU
Institutions that took place yesterday.



Best regards,

Alexandra

MSF



THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SOCIALIST GROUP



18 October 2007:   Contact Tony Robinson +32-475-257410
www.socialistgroup.eu [1]





DEAL WITHIN REACH ON CHEAP MEDICINES FOR POOR COUNTRIES





The European Parliament is expected next week to approve a deal giving the
world's poorest countries access to cheap medicines.



Said Socialist Group spokesman on the issue Kader Arif: "Until now, there h=
as
not been one country that has been able to take advantage of this facility,
set out in an international agreement of the World Trade Organisation in
2003."



The Euro MP, who has been campaigning for three years about access to
medicines, was speaking after a final session of negotiations between the
European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission.



Said Socialist Group spokeswoman on trade policy, Erika Mann:   "The agreem=
ent
is not perfect but it is nonetheless a step forward."



The Portuguese presidency of the Council will this weekend fine-tune a
statement to be presented on Monday to members of the European Parliament's
foreign trade committee.



Said Ms Mann:   "We hope that the commitments made by the Council in the
negotiations will be set out in this text ? so opening the way for formal
approval by the Parliament on Wednesday."



The agreement will reaffirm that EU member states are free to produce gener=
ic
medicines and to export them to poor countries in order to meet their publi=
c
health needs.



"The EU will specifically undertake not to bring public health policy into
trade negotiations with developing countries, such as the Africa, Caribbean
and Pacific countries," said French MEP Mr Arif.



"We also agreed on the need to increase production capacity for medicines i=
n
developing countries, in particular by encouraging technology transfers,
developing regional centres and research.



"The Socialist Group will follow this dossier closely in order to ensure th=
at
poor countries can have the medicines that they need."



end



Alexandra Heumber
EU Advocacy Liaison Officer
M=E9decins Sans Fronti=E8res
Access to Essential Medicines Campaign
Rue Dupr=E9, 94. 1090 Brussels
++32 (0) 2 474 75 09 (Dir off)
++ 32 (0) 479 514 900 (Mob)
++ 32 (0) 2 474 75 75 (Fax)



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  1. http://www.socialistgroup.eu/