On Tuesday, the Health and Environment Committee coordinators in the European Parliament decided to cover the Commission's proposal to amend the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) in an urgent procedure. This means the proposal could be voted on as early as the mid-February plenary session.
"It is fast now, and it has to be because human lives are at stake. For months, we have been pushing the European Commission to come up with a proposal to amend the Medical Devices Regulation - now we have it. With the urgent procedure, we could already do the final vote on it in the plenary session in February. This is essential to keep medical devices, especially devices for children, in the market," explained the health policy spokesperson of the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP-Christian Democrats), Peter Liese.
Read more: Medical Device Regulation enters via urgent procedure
“The price of the new ETS II for heating and road transport will most likely be less than 50% than the ETS I price.” This is the assessment of the rapporteur of ETS, the biggest climate law ever of the European Union, Peter Liese. “Citizens can be sure that nightmares that have been linked with ETS II are not realistic. The impact assessment of the European Commission suggests a price of 45 euros in the first years. I think when the ETS II starts in 2027, the price will be significantly lower for three reasons: First of all, we will have a frontloading of ETS II to finance the Social Climate Fund. And second, the Parliament has successfully insisted on a price cap mechanism, when the price of 45 euros is achieved. The third reason is that because of the current energy crisis, many people go for all possible measures to reduce their fossil fuel consumption for example by changing their habits or invest in more efficient heating systems. By 2027 this will already have reduced the emissions and this is the most important. Member States now have the legal obligation to spend ETS I and ETS II money for the purpose of climate and just transition.
On Friday, the European Commission presented a proposal to amend the Medical Device Regulation (MDR). The proposal introduces a more extended transition period for adaptation to the new rules under the MDR.
"It is crucial that the European Commission has now finally proposed an amendment. We, as Christian Democrats, have been pressing Ursula von der Leyen and the Health Commissioner for months. It is a high priority as the lives of children, particularly, are at risk. Colleagues of mine who work in pediatric cardiology warn that medicine will revert to the 1950s if we do not react quickly," commented Dr. Peter Liese, health policy spokesperson for the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP-Christian Democrats).
Read more: Commission proposes an amendment to Medical Device Regulation
The European Parliament, the Council of Ministers represented by the Czech presidency and the European Commission agreed on a compromise for the biggest climate law ever. “The ETS will reduce emissions in the European Union by 1500 Mt CO2 until 2030. This means the contribution to the 2030 target of the European Union is 25 times higher than the disputed legislation on CO2 emission standards for cars and vans. We will get a lot for the climate at minimal prices. We will give breathing space for all citizens and industry in difficult times and we will give a clear signal to European industry that it pays off to invest in green technologies in Europe,” said Peter Liese, main rapporteur of the European Parliament and environmental spokesman of the biggest political group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats). The negotiations lasted 29 hours and the final agreement was only made on Sunday morning at 02 a.m. “It was really tough but it was worth it,” said Peter Liese.
Read more: Parliament, Council and Commission agree on a deal for the biggest climate law ever