How to respond to a sudden shortage of masks? What about the absence of respirators? How to ensure that freedom of movement is not interrupted in Europe? With Covid-19, the European Commission found itself at the forefront of an unprecedented crisis, totally powerless. “We had to improvise with artisanal means, recalls a senior official. In a few hours, we set up a crisis unit and we spent our time on the telephone with industrialists, with ministries, heads of state. »
So, so as not to be caught off guard once again, Brussels wanted to equip itself with a rapid reaction mechanism in the event of untimely closure of the internal borders or shortage of certain goods deemed essential for the continent. This emergency instrument to maintain the single market and the free movement of people, goods and services is due to be unveiled this week.
” We learned [pendant la pandémie] that in order to keep our supply chains open and ensure access to essential goods, we needed to equip ourselves with tools that our partners have, but which we lack today”recalls Thierry Breton, the European commissioner in charge of the internal market.
Vigilance then emergency modes
Its services were therefore inspired by the strategic reserve systems developed in Japan and South Korea, or even by the operation of the American Defense Production Act, which allows, in particular, the President of the United States to oblige companies to give priority to certain commands.
In detail, this regulation provides for the creation of an advisory committee made up of representatives of the Member States, the Commission and experts (industrialists, social partners, observers, etc.), in order to assist the Community institution in all Steps. Then, a three-step mechanism is anticipated. Outside of the crisis, the Commission will have to prepare and control the market in the most critical sectors for the European Union (EU), such as medicines or food.
Secondly, in the event of a significant shortage of certain critical goods, the Commission will switch to vigilance mode, and may ask the States to build up stocks of certain products, or even may launch, always in agreement with the States, joint purchases, as it already does with vaccines, through the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority.
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