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EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
Photo: POOL / REUTERS
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tried early on to take on a leadership role in containing the corona pandemic. She pulled the vaccine purchase, she paved the way for quick financial aid, she had guidelines drawn up. The Commission also played a key role in the digital vaccination record. In the meantime, the fight against the epidemic is mainly being carried out in the capitals of the EU countries. However, even when it comes to important measures, the Commission does not seem to keep track of whether they are working or not - and why they are doing so.
The FDP MEP Moritz Körner wanted to know from the Commission how it assesses the effectiveness of the national vaccination campaigns, the lockdown strategies and the contact tracking apps after 18 months of the pandemic.
The answer was poor.
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides was unable to provide any information on the functioning of the lockdowns and vaccination campaigns: health policy, the organization of the health care system and medical care were "the responsibility of the EU member states."
"Scandalous failure of the EU executive"
The Cypriot woman also knew little about the effectiveness of the tracing apps for smartphones. Their effectiveness depends on factors that differ from country to country. The Commission wants to analyze the »common European concept« of these apps »with a specific study«, according to Kyriakides. But she did not reveal exactly what that means and when it should happen.
"The Commission has made billions available from the EU budget and a considerable part of its civil servants for the coordination of the Corona measures," says Körner.
Many member states have based their measures on the recommendations and guidelines of the EU Commission.
"The fact that she cannot say which lockdown policies, tracing apps or vaccination strategies were effective and why," says Körner, "is a scandalous failure of the EU executive, for which Ursula von der Leyen is responsible."
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