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The Guardian learned that the British government is quietly seeking access to the European Union’s pandemic alert system, despite an early reluctance to cooperate on health after Brexit.
The UK is seeking “something akin to membership” of the EU’s early warning and response system (EWRS), which has played a key role in coordinating Europe’s response to the coronavirus, as well as previous pandemics such as the avian flu. According to an EU source, this would be “more or less the same” as membership in the system.
The government’s enthusiasm for the privacy of the trading room contrasts with the uncompromising public statements. The detailed negotiating objectives published in February simply stated that the United Kingdom was “open to explore cooperation between the United Kingdom and the EU in other specific and narrowly defined areas where this is of interest to both parties, for example on security matters Of the health”.
Health was not even mentioned in the government’s written statement to Parliament, other than a reference to pharmaceuticals. Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph reported on March 1 that No. 10 had blocked the Health Department’s application to be part of the EWRS.
A government spokesman did not respond to a question about whether the UK was seeking a form of membership or participation in the EWRS, but did refer to the February negotiating targets.
Privately, the coronavirus, which had claimed at least 26,771 lives in the UK on Thursday, appears to have altered the government’s thinking.
“There was not much of a UK appetite at first,” said the EU source, referring to health cooperation. “That has been corrected. They are interested and they are interested in being seen as interested. Both sides want close cooperation.”
However, the EU is not prepared to offer the UK full membership to the EWRS, an online platform created in 1998 where public authorities share information on health emergencies.
Instead, EU officials propose “connecting the UK” to the system when a pandemic emerges, similar to agreements for other non-EU countries.
Health safety is not listed in the UK negotiating text sent privately to the EU’s top negotiator, Michel Barnier, although EU officials have received an “unofficial document” outlining the government’s goals on Health.
In another sign of Britain’s growing interest in European cooperation, The Guardian has established that the United Kingdom attended all five meetings of the EU Health Safety Committee on the coronavirus pandemic in April, a record attendance perfect compared to a British presence of 70% between January 17 and March 30.
During April meetings, officials discussed exit closure strategies and the launch of a joint acquisition scheme on intensive care therapy. No decision has been made to launch this bulk purchase program.
The Guardian first reported in March that the United Kingdom was not participating in any of the four EU procurement schemes, and that efforts to purchase bulk personal protective equipment for medical workers, ventilators, and test equipment were lacking. despite having attended relevant meetings.
Meanwhile, there is concern among top NHS managers that Brexit talks risk “missing important elements of health,” said Layla McCay, international director of the NHS Confederation.
“The NHS organizations stood up and withdrew and stood up again for a Brexit with potentially no deal,” he said. “If a fairly comprehensive future relationship for health issues is not underway in June, then the NHS will have to start preparing for a specific disruption next year as a result of Brexit, and will have to do so while facing both winter and coronavirus challenges. It will be an extra significant request. “
British membership in the EWRS and the EU health network at large “strengthen our ability to respond in the most effective way possible” to health emergencies, McCay added.
The UK government spokesman said: “The safety of our citizens is a top priority. The UK is ready to discuss how our citizens can stay safe and benefit from continued international cooperation on health security after the end of the transition period, where it is in their mutual interest.
“Any such agreement must align with the fundamental principles of respecting the political and economic independence of the United Kingdom, the recognition of the status of the United Kingdom and the EU as sovereign equals, and ensuring that the United Kingdom has control over its own laws “
