Ministers agree to empower agency to create advisory taskforces during health emergencies
EU member states have agreed plans to give the European Medicines Agency a bigger role in responding to health crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, including by empowering it to create taskforces during emergencies to provide scientific advice on treatments and clinical trials.
On 15 June, health ministers in the Council of the EU agreed their stance on a European Commission proposal put forward in November 2020 to reinforce the EMA. Led by the Portuguese presidency of the Council, they agreed changes to clarify financial and data protection provisions.