Actions against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Written declaration No. 719 | Doc. 15255 | 01 April 2021

Signatories:

Ms Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Lithuania, EPP/CD ; Ms Arta BILALLI ZENDELI, North Macedonia, SOC ; Lord David BLENCATHRA, United Kingdom, EC/DA ; Ms Jennifer DE TEMMERMAN, France, ALDE ; Ms Andrea EDER-GITSCHTHALER, Austria, EPP/CD ; Mr Bernard FOURNIER, France, EPP/CD ; Ms Maria JUFEREVA-SKURATOVSKI, Estonia, ALDE ; Mr Tomasz LATOS, Poland, EC/DA ; Mr Luís LEITE RAMOS, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Mr Arminas LYDEKA, Lithuania, ALDE ; Mr Kęstutis MASIULIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD ; Ms Mariia MEZENTSEVA, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Killion MUNYAMA, Poland, EPP/CD ; Ms Aušrinė NORKIENĖ, Lithuania, SOC ; Ms Barbara NOWACKA, Poland, NR ; Ms Yuliia OVCHYNNYKOVA, Ukraine, ALDE ; Mr Gintautas PALUCKAS, Lithuania, SOC ; Mr Lukas SAVICKAS, Lithuania, SOC ; Mr Francesco SCOMA, Italy, EPP/CD ; Ms Rita TAMAŠUNIENĖ, Lithuania, EC/DA ; Ms Yelyzaveta YASKO, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD

This written declaration commits only those who have signed it.

We, the undersigned, declare the following:

Most health experts agree that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and the market failure to produce new classes of antibiotics since the 1980s may cause a new pandemic. The World Bank forecasts 300 million deaths by 2050 and trillions of USD in losses unless action against AMR is taken now. In 2019 the European Court of Auditors criticised the European Commission for the lack of effective action against AMR. Individual governments do not do better. It is time for a new deal between European authorities and pharmaceutical industries with patents remaining with the funding authorities.

The transfer of European antibiotics production to notably Asian countries weakens Europe’s independence while adding to such soil, surface and groundwater antibiotics pollution, of which 58 000 Indian babies die each year at birth.

We call on the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, its Committee of Ministers and member States to:

• develop and enforce laws that half the use of antibiotics in husbandry and in human health care collect complete and reliable data on all AMR issues;
• craft a new relationship between authorities and pharmaceutical companies and start-ups that includes transparency, public-private partnerships and the prioritising of public health above shareholder value.