Don’t quote, don’t trust, verify here, spokesperson bios here, my comments in brackets.
Berlaymont press room, Spokesperson Eric Mamer, Brussels, 12pm or thereabouts.
12:04 [Zzzzzz]
12:05 [maybe they said the hell with it today]
12:06 [I NEED THIS FIX wait here we go]
12:07 [technical difficulties. First anger, then detail, then… eventually problem fixed. Comes back at 12:30, afterwards I filled in the first bit]
Announcements.
Eric: Welcome. President’s calendar. Will chair the College, as usual. Straight to questions.
Health, vaccines
Geraldo: My question is quite simple. [silence]
Eric: Very simple.
Geraldo: Quite simple. What’s the current status of Russia’s Sputnik vaccine in the approval system? Where do we stand?
Stefan: EMA issued a statement 2 days ago about the state of play. EMA has not received an application for rolling review of conditional market authorisation.
Eric: Clear and unequivocal statement. Health?
Derek: The Czech PM that his country and three other MS been in contact with AstraZeneca about getting the vaccine more quickly. Do you have confirmation?
Stefan: Can’t comment on other comments. The purchase and delivery of vaccines in our portfolios is part of the strategy in place since June of last year in the framework of work between EC and MS. Covers those companies in our vaccine portfolio.
David, follow-up to AstraZeneca question. Czech PM declaration. Was the EC informed that Gulf countries have made offers of million of AZ does to EU countries, and if you aware, have these doses been offered in the EU with the transparency mechanism for exports, you would have an eye on that? Is there any foundation to this?
Eric: We can’t answer that question right now. Stefan?
Stefan: No, we have nothing further to say to that. Great deal of speculation. We remain in contact with MS. Main priority ensuring delivery of doses in a manner that confirms with the rules in force. An ongoing situation, can’t add more.
Miriam: nothing further to add.
David, follow-up: you cannot comment or say whether governments have been approached? I have no reason to doubt what the Czech PM said.
Eric: what are you asking?
David: the Czech PM said that an intermediary from a Gulf state has offered AZ vaccines to their country [and 3 others]. I want to know, has one of the four governments involved informed you that they’ve been approached?
Eric: We don’t have any info at this stage.
Jorge: Prez’s comments moments ago, said we can still reduce the time of the regulatory process. 3-4 weeks. Are you working with EMA in reviewing the timeframe? How short should the process be?
Eric: the president said that one of the tracks that we are following in terms of adapting our approach concerns the regulatory framework for accessing vaccines. At an early stage. We’ll be thinking about proposals. This sort of detail is made public once the college has debated and approved it.
Iurii: my question not on vaccines. Technical problems.
Michel: vaccination strategy. 70% of population by summer. VP said that end of summer might be the end of August. Prez just said the 21st of September. Which deadline is accurate?
Eric: End of summer, 21 September, is the one that holds.
Tomasso: evidence in Italy of a black market for vaccines. Brazilian intermediary approached Italy offered AZ vaccines for a price, between 12 and 20 euro per dose. Will the EC investigate if there is a black market for vaccines approved in the EU?
Eric: everybody should be careful when we’re talking about vaccines, injecting substances into human bodies, so channels need to be completely legitimate and transparency, why [we’re doing it] at the European level. Anything outside that, need to be extremely cautious. Events last spring, many fraudulent projects appeared, masks. So something we’re very attentive to. We’re keeping a close eye [on it] with OLAF. They’re looking into any possible threat re counterfeit vaccines. Slightly different from black market, but could end up with products that are not the right stuff.
Quentin: So OLAF can intervene with counterfeit vaccines but not for black market, yet the EU has helped fund development of vaccines, maybe EU should put pressure on companies to ensure delivery.
Eric: No, I just highlighted the risk of the black market and fraudulent products. Obviously the black market concerns OLAF, they’re looking into fraudulent vaccines. MS should focus on official distribution channels we’ve set up.
Recovery and Resilience Fund
Oliver: projects MS are submitting. Like untechnical answer. A worry that many projects not really gonna help with the greening and the digital transition, just recycled public projects they wanted anyway, Belgium, they want 60 million euro to have the Palais de Justice finally renovated. How concerned are you that this is going to happen? Is renovating the Palais de Justice what you had in mind? [Or maybe fill in the holes downtown in front of the Bourse, eh?]
Marta: we have ambitious targets for the digital and green transition. MS required to submit reforms and investment re 20% on digital front and 35% on green front. So have to be in all RFF plans, MS have to explain how those targets will be achieved. Cannot do harm to environment objectives.
Michaela[?]: Commissioner for Transport tweeted that dealing with funds in Romania?
Eric: which funds?
Michaela: she doesn’t explain, she says ‘European funds’ will be examined by a task force, she wasn’t specific, is this is the first time that a task force has been formed for an MS in this way?
Eric: I will hand over to Marta, not sure if this is about the RRF.
Marta: I’ve just seen the tweet, transport funds, generally we are monitoring absorption of funds,
Eric: will hand over to Marta.
Marta: just seen Commissioner Valiane’s tweet, what can I say, generally we are monitoring absorption of funds, RRF likely to issue funds that MS have to absorb in a short time frame, so MS need to put forward projects that are implemented very quickly. So reforms must facilitate this type of funding. Could be administrative, regulatory reforms so investment funds can be absorbed as quickly as possible.
Eric: Always encourage MS to develop plans best suited to them so funds can be absorbed.
Mattieu: Question on the principle of ‘do no harm’. You’ve presented something about this in the daily news today. Apply just to RRF, or will it be extended to other facilities and funds? Will you prepare other guidelines or will the do no harm guidelines be the last guidelines?
Marta: Today we’ve presented guidelines about the RRF, don’t concern other instruments, these guidelines were already provided for in the RRF regulation, don’t have any info about other guidelines. We do tend to publish guidelines for the MS about how to use the RRF, updated recently.
Catherine: Procedure. Start of week, in parliaments, had a debate on the fund, one of the speakers, Hungarian MEP, said she’d spoken with local authorities, and they haven’t been contacted or consulted about plans. Cities going to be important for implementation. What can you do to ensure that governments truly involve their local governments? Actually a requirement.
Marta: main interlocutors are national authorities, and funds disbursed to central budget. Encourage authorities to involve stakeholders [on local levels]. We’ve issued guidance, we encourage it.
Catherine, follow-up: the MEP described it as a legal requirement. So if it’s a legal requirement… sure, talking to national governments, but can you insist upon it?
Eric: Can you say something Marta.
Marta: I’d have to double-check the regulation. In our dialogue we encourage MS to involve all the stakeholders.
Eric: One thing is to say that you’re consulting local authorities and another to say that every single local authority will be consulted. [Someone] recently consulted with local regions of Spain. So different ways to organise consultation process. An important dimension of the process.
Brahim: How many MS ratified decision [re resource]?
Eric: A handful. Six countries have ratified it.
Foreign affairs
Yuri: Lavrov said Russia is ready to break up with the EU, although a couple of hours later Peskov said Russia wanted better relations with EU. Comment?
Eric: We’re not going to comment on the back and forth of comments within governments.
Mumchil: Navalny in court. EU ready to keep sending diplomats to the trials?
Peter: It is a usual diplomat practice that whenever possible diplomats observe process on the ground. We’re there to observe. I’ll confirm after hearing if the EU observed. But specially in such human rights cases, it’s in our interest to be there and observe.
Mumchil: Next week in St Petersburg, another trial, against [somone], already sentenced to 13.5 years in prison. EU ready to send diplomats to this case?
Peter: yes, we’re following that case, we’ve reacted strongly to cases where he was sentenced, it is unacceptable what is happening to this gentlemen, whenever possible we always try to observe such trials, particularly re misuse of judiciary for political purposes. But when hearing is finished we can confirm whether we could be there.
Eric: Russia. Jack?
Jack: Lavrov said that prepared to cut diplomatic ties. If we want peace you have to prepare for war. Is EU prepared to cut ties diplomatically? And what do you make of this talk about preparing for war?
Eric: [seeks clarification] we have never said that we are preparing to cut ties with Russia. So don’t understand you’re question.
Jack: Another angle. Do you now feel after this unsuccessful trip that the EU is on the back foot against Russia.
Eric: PETER!
Peter: We don’t react to all those quotes. Regardless what he said, what’s important for us is the following. Relations are not good. Reached a low point in Moscow. Russia’s idea about how they want to advance, we don’t need an interview with local media, at an indication how they responded to [Borrell]. How do we want to shape our relations? We shape it on values, interests, international law, and our commitments, principle of good neighbourly relations. Mutually beneficial cooperation when other side ready. And Russia made quite clear that they are not ready to go in this direction through various messages.
Anna: Our Editor-in-chief in prison near Moscow, health deteriorating, we had a promise that something would be done about his condition, he doesn’t have any medical case. Mr Sergei Smirnoff.
Peter: We are aware of his situation and that of his colleague. What Russia is doing about these two journalists is unacceptable, another blow to media freedom, using judiciary against them. This is unacceptable. Just adding to very unfortunate development in Russia, shrinking space for civil society and freedom of the media, we communicate this to Russia. Call on Russia to respect freedom of media and not to treat journalists the way they do.
Nicola: court ruling on PKK stating that there was someone listed without justification. Second question, sanctions on Ukraine re misappropriation of funds. Similar question in nature. Been called a lapse in rule of law. Does this not pose a problem for terrorism?
Eric: European Court of Justice.
Peter: It is not for us to comment on the court’s decisions, but we have noted those decisions, will be accessed in the Council. That’s all I can say.
Nicola: I’m not asking for a comment really, court highlights this problem, people are put on these lists, the court has to rule on it, the sanctions have to be checked, the court comes back and says the EU is not doing their work in verifying these sanctions. Issues with the process, why the court has had to rule against the Council decisions. Clear court rulings and every time the same decision gets taken, some people remain on this list without you taking into account the Court’s rulings. So why do you keep these people on these lists after every question. For PKK, person back on this list 2 days ago. We need to have an answer for this. I demand an answer. On 5 Feb, published on 8th, in force on the 9th, court ruled on the 10th. It’s a political and judiciary problem.
Peter: I have understood. The sanctions always adopted by consensus, against MS. MS who put the sanctions forward. They have the right to initiate, but in practice the MS who agreed these sanctions. Second point, we’ve noted rulings of court, they will be examined by MS in Council. Don’t want to pre-empt those discussions. Sanctions are adopted by all MS, by consensus, and we do carry out a careful analysis of every court decision.
Derek: Closure of Belgium’s borders. Do you really think that Belgium is a third question for the EU? [cross-talk]
Eric: think it’s best to wait for that question. Foreign affairs.
Christian: do you think Court ruling is not a very clear warning to those who want to put all of Putin’s oligarchs on the sanctions list without paying attention to the rules for that? B/c people keep saying we’re going to sanction the oligarchs, but that can be overturned by the court.
Peter: We’ve said it’s important for all MS that propose sanctions, and if the HR were to do this, they need a clear legal basis for such proposals. This is done in the context of Council discussions. Don’t think this is the platform to discuss the process. MS well aware that they need a sound legal basis to propose sanctions b/c sanctions an important instrument for our external relations. A very serious procedure, confidential.
David: China, decision to censor the BBC. Has been a reaction on Twitter from the spokesperson’s service. In the investment agreement you have with China, whether there are many measures that would protect European media operating in China.
Marta: In principle not covered by the agreement.
1pm, DEREK: Belgium border checks. I’d like to have an official reaction from the EU in response to Belgium to prohibit any movements in and out of Belgium that don’t have professional reasons. Seems to me to be in violating of approach that you’ve been proposing from the start. Are you considering putting pressure on Belgium to make its rule more flexible?
Christian: Informed of Belgium’s decision, that decree would be extended. Now, the specific measures in place weren’t given to us in detail. So the Commissioner will approach Belgium for more details concerning free movement of people and Belgium’s restrictions. Under EU law, restrictions on free movement to protect public health must always be proportionate and non-discriminatory. We need to discourage all non-essential travel, particularly in red areas, including in France. But want to avoid simply shutting down the borders. We’ll examine these measures to see if they’re OK and the EC does have concerns.
Derek: you said must be non-discriminatory and proportionate. Are they?
Eric: Christian said we need more details.
Eric the journalist: border closures Germany, Czechia, etc. Have you received notification from Germany? Do these measures seem proportionate to you? What is the EC doing?
Christian: No, we have not received notification from the German government. [switches to English] MS have agreed on a common approach. We expect all MS to follow this coordinated approach based on colour codes. Unilateral moves or decisions will not help. Asked the Portuguese presidency to discuss measures taken by MS. Germany announced restrictions from Czechia and Tyrol. In latest maps, Czechia is indeed in dark red. Tryol, Austrian government has taken additional steps to stop spread of new variant. Urge Germany to implement measures fully in line with Council recommendations and be proportionate.
Eric the journalist: So you’re OK with the German measures?
Christian: we see a certain alignment with the Council recommendations. But we urge them to be fully aligned. [I think]
Nicola: back to Belgium. I’d like the response in French. You gave us the same response in English a couple of days ago, and I know you have translations. That would be good for us, easier for citizens to understand. When will you take the necessary measures? When will you take your decision? Now, crossing the borders. For crossing the border with France, I need 5 pieces of paper, a declaration of honour from Belgium and Frances, do you think that all this paperwork is appropriated? [leaning back and forth] Do you think that this is proportionate for people travelling for business.
Eric: I’m waiting for your request for greater cooperation between MS in the hearth sector. We’ve been trying to step up coordination in the EU, but as you know, the EU is the reality we’re living in today, and it’s an ongoing project and it continues to develop. The system we live in is in the hands of the MS, and we call on the MS regularly to coordinate with each other, particularly regarding border crossings and free movement. Still room for improvement. One last question.
David: sorry Eric, but you do have competence on free movement of people. Infringement procedure. Why is this tool not being used? Why do you prefer this other approach, trying to discuss these things? Do you have competences or not?
Eric: Christian always answered that. There’s a political question here. We’re doing what we can with legal competences, but there’s the border political issues, in the face of an ongoing pandemic, we want to maintain cooperation between MS.
Christian: We are in close contact with several MS, but as Eric said, it is not for us to take these decisions here on the podium, it’s for the EC to assess. We’re in contact with those concerned.
Eric: When was the question put to Belgium and what was their deadline to answer?
Christian: we were informed yesterday evening, it’s all very recent, but we’ll keep you updated.
Eric: We don’t know yet.
Nicola: Doesn’t [Belgian politican’s name, didn’t get it, ‘close to the prime minister’] have a conflict of interest in this topic? Maybe it should be a different Commissioner.
Eric: Commissioners focus on their portfolios. Thanks! [Buh-bye!]