MEPs have backed a motion demanding the temporary lifting of intellectual properties rights for Covid-19 vaccines - a symbolic move that puts pressure on the European Commission to change its position on the issue of global access to vaccines, EU observer reports.
The proposal, backing the temporary waiver of patent rules of Covid-19 vaccines, reached a majority thanks to the support of the Socialists and Democrats, the Greens/EFA, The Left, and a group of liberal MEPs. Notably, the center-right European People's Party voted against it. According to the news agency, EU lawmakers adopted the resolution on Wednesday (9 June) with 355 in favor, 263 against, and 71 abstentions - with the results published Thursday.
It is noted, back in October 2020 India and South Africa, supported by a large group of developing countries and international organizations, demanded a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights for the vaccines and treatments.
EU lawmakers adopted an amendment put forward by the Greens in favor of a "proactive, constructive and text-based negotiations for a temporary waiver of the WTO [World Trade Organization] TRIPS Agreement, aiming to enhance global access to affordable Covid-19-related medical products and to address global production constraints and supply shortages".
The TRIPS agreement sets out international rules governing patents, binding for all the 164 countries in the WTO. Any change would require unanimity.
As of June, approximately 1.7 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide, of which 28 percent went to G7 countries and 0.3 percent to low-income countries.