[Ip-health] Letter from European Parliament requesting Mandelson to clarify again publicly the EC position on TRIPS flexibilities (re: Thailand CLs)

[Alexandra HEUMBER]

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Please find below the letter from the European Parliament (International=0D
Trade Committee) sent to Peter Mandelson on May 21st, 2008 requesting the=
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Trade Commissioner to publicly clarify the EC actions related to the use=0D
of TRIPS flexibilites notably towards Thailand  (EC's letter to the Thai=0D
Government February 21st) next week on the 27 of May.=0D
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Regards,=0D
Alexandra=0D
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Alexandra Heumber=0D
EU Advocacy Liaison Officer=0D
M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=C3=A8res=0D
Access to Essential Medicines Campaign=0D
Rue Dupr=C3=A9, 94. 1090 Brussels=0D
++32 (0) 2 474 75 09 (Dir off)=0D
++ 32 (0) 479 514 900 (Mob)=0D
++ 32 (0) 2 474 75 75 (Fax)=0D
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Faithfully transcripted.=0D
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May 21st, 2008=0D
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Committee of International Trade=0D
The Chairman=0D
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The Rt. Hon Peter Mandelson=0D
Commissioner of Trade=0D
B-1049 Brussels=0D
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Dear Commissioner,=0D
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On the 12th of July 2007, the European Parliament approved by large=0D
majority the Resolution on the TRIPS Agreement and access to medicines.=0D
This resolution called on the EU to promote the use of flexibilities built=
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into the TRIPS Agreement and refraining from negotiating TRIPS-plus=0D
provisions in bilateral and regional agreements with third Countries.=0D
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Following reassurances by the Commission and the Council on the 22nd of=0D
October 2007, the European gave its assent to the acceptance of the=0D
Protocol amending the TRIPS Agreement.=0D
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Meanwhile, we learnt that the Commission addressed a letter dated 21st of=
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February to the Thai Government criticizing the decision to grant=0D
compulsory licences to promote Life-Saving Medicines.=0D
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Your letter to the Thai Government could be seen as inconsistent with the=
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resolution adopted by the European Parliament and by the position=0D
supported by the European Commission and the Council on the Protocol=0D
amending the TRIPS Agreement during the plenary debate last October as=0D
well as the Commitment made by Council and Commission in plenary last=0D
year.=0D
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In the light of the above, we would like to have an exchange of views with=
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you at your next visit to the Committee on International Trade foreseen=0D
for 27 May 2008, in order to clarify and gain a better understanding of=0D
the European Commission=E2=80=99s position on this sensitive matter.=0D
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I look forward to hearing from you,=0D
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Yours sincerely,=0D
Helmuth Markov=0D
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