Formation en secrétariat et expérience de 2 ans minimum à un poste équivalent

• There is a need to adjust HTA decision frameworks to ensure that the patent-centric benefits of value added medicines can be
  appropriately assessed.
• Robust research on adjusted methodologies and health technology assessment policy frameworks is key to ensure patient access to value
  added medicines in Europe.
• The Value Added Medicines Group is committed to working with patients, healthcare professionals, policy makers and payers to improve sustainable access to this innovation.

A new study “Value Added Medicines: Time to Adjust the HTA Decision Frameworks” was launched today in Brussels with the support of the Value Added Medicines Group, a sector group of Medicines for Europe. The study, conducted by Mondher Toumi, Professor of Public Health at Aix-Marseille University, highlights the need for adjustments in HTA decision frameworks to ensure that European patients can benefit from value added medicines. Professor Mondher Toumi emphasised that “value added medicines represent an opportunity for increasing the cost-effectiveness of treatments or services that may bring substantial value to individual patients and society. However, the current European HTA decision frameworks represent various challenges for the full value recognition of these products, which need to be addressed.”

According to the study, which counted on the important feedback of key HTA experts across Europe, value added medicines make a major contribution to patients’ quality of life, health outcomes or adherence, and address a number of medicine-related healthcare inefficiencies, improving healthcare provision and organisation while contributing to the sustainability of healthcare systems.  The study underlines the importance of the eligibility of value added medicines for HTA, whenever requested, in order to demonstrate these relevant improvements. There is a need to adjust HTA decision frameworks to ensure that all benefits of value added medicines are appropriately captured and to ensure a patient-centric assessment. The manufacturers of value added medicines should also have the opportunity to get early HTA advice in order to better shape their clinical development plan. Professor Toumi commented that “taking into consideration the specific benefits of value added medicines will need efforts both on the research and policy fronts, but also the involvement of a broad range of stakeholders in the decision-making process”. Ten key recommendations are put forward in the report to ensure that value added medicines can be rightfully assessed by HTA decision frameworks in the future.

Umberto Comberiati, Chair of the Value Added Medicines Group ad interim, commented: ‘Research on known molecules is a valuable untapped opportunity for European patients and healthcare professionals alike. There is an urge to support research and adjust the HTA policy frameworks to encourage industry to invest in medicines with high potential value to patients and society and capitalise on healthcare professionals’ expertise. We are ready to work together with patients, healthcare professionals, policy makers and payers on how to ensure patients can benefit from value added medicines in Europe.”

About the Value Added Medicines Group

The Value Added Medicines Group is a sector group of Medicines for Europe which aims at optimizing, rethinking and reinventing medicines based on known molecules and by bringing untapped innovation to improve care delivery. The Value Added Medicines Group adopts a complementary perspective compared to the other Medicines for Europe sector groups: by tackling the targeted portion of patients’ needs that remain unmet to this day, delivering additional improvement to the healthcare community as a whole.

About Medicines for Europe

Medicines for Europe represents the generic, biosimilar and value added medicines industries across Europe. Its vision is to provide sustainable access to high quality medicines, based on 5 important pillars: patients, quality, value, sustainability and partnership. Its members employ 160,000 people at over 350 manufacturing and R&D sites in Europe, and invest up to 17% of their turnover in medical innovation.

For more information please contact:

Andrea Bedorin

Communications Manager

abedorin@medicinesforeurope.com

The European Magazine Media Association (EMMA) and the European Digital Advertising Alliance (EDAA) organised the Future Media Lounge event on Tuesday, 5 September at the Renaissance Hotel, Brussels. This edition examined how the proposed e-Privacy regulation places severe limitations on the digital advertising business model used by online publishers across Europe to generate revenue. Such restrictions could limit the freedom, independence and diversity of the press across Europe as well as the open access consumers’ currently have to journalistic content online.

The Future Media Lounge brought together the online media and advertising players with policy makers to examine a workable way forward on ePrivacy , including: Marju Lauristin (MEP, S&D), rapporteur on the e-Privacy regulation, Xavier Bouckaert (CEO, Roularta Media Group), Despina Spanou (- ‎Director for Digital Society, Trust and Cybersecurity - ‎European Commission), Angela Mills Wade (EDAA Board Member and Executive Director of the European Publishers' Council), Sophie In’t Veld (MEP, ALDE), Anna Maria Corazza Bildt (MEP, EPP), Daniel Dalton (MEP, ECR), Prof. Dr. Christoph Fiedler (Managing Director for European Affairs and Media policy, VDZ).

Publishers explained that e-Privacy proposals should not require the provision of a subscription-based “alternative” to advertising-supported content nor mandate that content be made available for free. Rather, publishers should be free to determine the conditions for access to their content, including requiring that users agree to data processing for data-driven advertising purposes. “Press freedom and the diversity of views which underpins our democracy. Breaking news or in-depth investigative reports, sports coverage or feature writing is not just popular to read and share across social media, but expensive and risky to produce. Data-driven, interest based advertising is highly effective and produces the most value to both advertisers and those press publishers who rely on advertising revenues to support the production of professional, fact-based journalism. European regulators need to make the link between what European citizens value and how it is funded and ensure that legislation doesn’t cut off indispensable revenues” said Angela Mills-Wade, EDAA Board Member and Executive Director of the European Publishers' Council.

Additionally, this edition highlighted practical policy solutions that could balance consumer and industry interests - incorporating the GDPR’s principle of legitimate interest would mean digital advertisers and therefore publishers could operate whilst respecting stringent measures to ensure consumer privacy.  Increased transparency regarding cookies and allowing space for dialogue between publishers and consumers and aligning the e-Privacy regulation more closely with the GDPR to address the uncertainty in how data should be processed. Xaxier Bouckaert, CEO of Roularta Media Group explained that“to continue on a successful path we ask legislators for flexibility so that we can continue doing what we do best, bring professional press content to the reader: we ask you to not condition all digital operations to strict consent and mandatory login business models.”

Therefore, EMMA and EDAA hope that going forward the e-Privacy regulation allows European publishers the freedom to determine the most suitable business model for their specific online content and services offering, in the understanding that data-driven advertising underpins our ability to enable access to free content, offer a diverse media landscape and undertake independent journalistic endeavors.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Marie de Cordier

EMMA EU Legal Advisor

Tel: +32 2 536 06 02

marie.decordier@magazinemedia.eu

Uzo Madu

EDAA Communications Coordinator

Tel: +32 2 213 4180

uzo.madu@edaa.eu

The rise of the US as a gas producer and continued low prices are set to remain key considerations in the gas markets for the foreseeable future, according to a report released today by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).

The report Far East to Wild West: demand and supply in the new gas landscape notes the US’ growing role, with 79% of global respondents expecting the rise of the US as a gas producer to have a material impact on global gas markets. Meanwhile, even with the lower per-unit cost, 40% said that gas was a more attractive option than oil.

The report anticipates that in an evolving marketplace, professional accountants in the gas sector will have to consider multiple factors such as pricing pressure, M&A opportunities, cost management and sustainability reporting.

Narayanan Vaidyanathan, senior business analyst at ACCA says,

‘With 70% of global gas demand coming from Asia – particularly Japan, South Korea and China – the rise of the US as exporter could represent a significant shift. A climate of low prices is also likely to influence the direction of events. In some markets like LNG for example, less expensive supply from the US may support a degree of rebalancing from long-term contracts towards the spot market.

Finance teams are at the forefront of understanding how future trends will affect their business and on advising how to adapt accordingly. Their views are therefore important to assess the impact of change in the short and long term.’

The report Far East to Wild West: demand and supply in the new gas landscape draws upon a global survey of 413 professional accountants as well as a range of industry experts. It is available to read here.

For media enquiries, contact:

David Bowden, ACCA Newsroom
T: +44 (0)20 7059 5019
M: + 44 (0)7540919819
E: david.bowden@accaglobal.com
Twitter @ACCANews

The EU will not solve the migration & asylum crisis by forcing reluctant EU countries to adopt rules they have opposed from the beginning, said ECR Group co-chair Syed Kamall today following the publication by the European Commisison of a series of progress reports on migration and a judgement from the European Court of Justice on the relocation of asylum seekers.

The reports evaluate the EU's Relocation and Resettlement scheme, European Border and Coast Guard, EU-Turkey Statement and Partnership Framework on Migration.

They follow this morning's decision by the ECJ to overrule Hungary and Slovakia's objections to the compulsory fixed-quota scheme, under which less than 28,000 people have been relocated, significantly less than the 160,000 asylum seekers envisaged when the scheme was introduced in September 2015.

Mr. Kamall said: "The EU would be more successful if voters in individual EU countries actually backed the policies that the EU adopted in the first place, rather than forcing them through without consensus amongst all members states. Today's reports from the European Commission proves that relocation isn't working, the numbers speak for themselves. 

"We now need to focus on specific and co-ordinated actions. More support needs to be offered to individual EU countries to strengthen reception and processing capacities, speed up the decision-making process and the return of failed asylum applicants. The EU should also focus more on tackling irregular migration at its sources, and by combatting traffickers who exploit refugees and economic migrants into making dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean."

Contact: Jan Krelina, +32493214346, jan.krelina@europarl.europa.eu

Next week in Strasbourg S&D Euro MPs will take the lead in the fight to secure a majority on an ambitious proposal to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities. The European Parliament will debate and vote on a set of rules to improve access to a wide range of products and services for people with disabilities, the Accessibility Act. The Socialists and Democrats have tabled amendments to improve the draft EU law and will challenge the conservatives.

Ahead of the vote, S&D Group negotiator Olga Sehnalová MEP said:

“People with disabilities in Europe have difficulties in many member states with getting access to basic services such as computers, smartphones, ATM and ticketing machines. These are common activities that we take for granted. By 2020, it is estimated that 120 million people in Europe will suffer from varying degrees of disabilities.
 
“The outcome of the vote in the internal market committee last April came as a big disappointment. The right-wing MEPs lobbied by the industry have watered down the Commission’s original proposal. This is indecent and unacceptable.
 
“We are defending a more ambitious act and we have tabled amendments to improve the text. For instance, we would like to extend these rules to benefit people with temporary functional limitations such as pregnant women or elderly people.
 
“We would also like to ensure that there are no general exemptions from obligations of the directive for companies of any size, so that all companies comply with the accessibility requirements.
 
“Next week the European Parliament has the chance to show that Europe can improve the well-being of millions of our citizens. We intend to live up to our responsibilities.”

S&D Group spokesperson for the internal market committee, Nicola Danti MEP added:

“We cannot allow the European Parliament to approve a weak position on such a delicate and crucial dossier, after nearly two years of discussions. Our Group will also continue to fight in plenary for a fairer and more inclusive Accessibility Act which should allow better access for people with disabilities and functional limitations in the EU.”

Note to editors:

On December 2015, the European Commission submitted a directive on accessibility requirements for products and services. The Accessibility Act is a horizontal EU law covering a wide range of products and services such as computers, consumer telephone equipment, self-service terminals and a range of online and offline services, including transport, banking services and e-commerce.

MEPs Involved

SEHNALOVA Olga

olga.sehnalova@ep.europa.eu

+32(0)2 28 45417

+33(0)3 88 1 75417

http://www.sehnalova.cz/

DANTI Nicola

nicola.danti@ep.europa.eu

+32(0)2 28 45143

+33(0)3 88 1 75143

http://www.nicoladanti.it/

Press contact

Solange Helin-Villes

UNIT: PRESS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Team leader media relations

solange.helin@europarl.europa.eu

+32 2 283 21 47

+33 3 88 17 47 79

+32 476 51 01 72

In the light of the trilogue next week on a new anti-dumping methodology, S&D Group president Gianni Pittella, stated:

"Once decided, there is no way back. The Socialists and Democrats are firmly against a 'de facto' recognition of Market Economy Status (MES) for China. We won’t go down in history as the ones who opened our market to China while completely disregarding the possibly drastic consequences for European manufacturing and industry. The S&D Group is committed to rejecting any possible rush from the European Commission to grant MES. For the time being, the conditions to finalise the trilogue agreement have not been met.

“Our red lines are clear. We demand that no additional burden of proof is imposed on European industry. Social and environmental dumping should also be taken into consideration.

“We request that the Commission's macro-economic report, which is crucial to determine the existence of distortions, is made accessible to all parties involved in the negotiations before the end of the trilogues and published 15 days after the entry into force of the regulation at the latest.

“Finally, right at the beginning of an investigation, when significant distortions are apparent, the S&D Group believes the parties should be informed if the new or the old methodology on dumping applies. We will not accept that such a decision is only made at a later stage of the investigation.

“We want to ensure there is a smooth transition from the old to the new system. It is therefore important to have sufficient guarantees in place protecting our industry during the grandfathering period."

MEPs involved

PITTELLA Gianni

gianni.pittella@ep.europa.eu

+32 2 284 51 59

+33 3 88 17 51 59

http://www.giannipittella.eu/

S&D Press Contact

BERNAS Jan

jan.bernas@ep.europa.eu

+33 3 88 16 43 69

+32 2 284 21 32

There is more than 10 years of positive experience and 700 Million patient days with EU approved biosimilar medicines. The approval of oncology biosimilar medicines in primary care offers patients a major access opportunity in cancer therapies. A thorough understanding of the science of biosimilar medicines and their development will support oncologists and their patients in making informed treatment choices.

With more than 10 years of positive experience and 700 Million patient days[i] in different therapeutic areas, including in supportive cancer care, biosimilar medicines are now entering the therapeutic armamentarium for primary oncology care.

Disparities in access to cancer medicines vary widely among countries, including for the standard of care, and need to be addressed urgently[ii]. The approval of oncology biosimilar medicines now offers patients a major access opportunity in cancer therapies contributing to both greater equality in access to healthcare products and services in the patients’ care pathway while supporting the sustainability of national healthcare systems in the long run.

To add further value to the educational journey of the ESMO 2017 Congress delegates, taking place from 8-12 September in Madrid, the Biosimilar Medicines Group, sector group of Medicines for Europe, has therefore organised an Industry Satellite Symposium, entitled “Biosimilars for Oncologists: what you need to know” [iii]. The aim is to provide an opportunity for oncologists to familiarise themselves with these safe and cost-effective treatment options. A thorough understanding of the science of biosimilar medicines and their development, the vast EU experience with this type of medicines, as well as of the pharmaco-economic impact of oncology products, will support oncologists and their patients in making informed treatment choices whilst maximizing their potential to increase patient access to oncology biologics.

Adrian van den Hoven, Medicines for Europe Director General, commented “Biosimilar medicines are a real game changer for better health. They can transform oncology care, by prioritising greater and equal patient access to biologic medicines treatment, supportive care and other needed health services.”

State of the Union Wednesday 13

Gianni Pittella

gianni.pittella@europarl.europa.eu 

+ 33 3 88 17 5159

Citizens believe in the need for a stronger Europe. A new European momentum is being built but for it to gather pace we need to live up to people’s expectations with actions and not only words.

After Brexit and after the next crucial elections, we will have no more excuses left and only 18 months to deliver. We must update the core functioning of the European Union. We don’t care about scenarios. We care about substance and we expect – and we demand – Juncker be courageous and visionary in next week's State of the Union speech.

The revision of the Treaty can no longer be a taboo. Let’s speak frankly: The European Council is the real problem here. The European Council far too often wields the veto that undermines the decisions taken by the European Commission and the Parliament. This political governance should be radically changed providing a more democratic and balanced functioning. We encourage the Commission to adopt extraordinary measures to overcome this stalemate, being aware that the European Parliament is ready to throw its institutional and democratic weight behind this battle for change. We propose to the Commission a new alliance to counterbalance and outweigh the very negative role played by the Council.

Situation in North Korea

Gianni Pittella

gianni.pittella@europarl.europa.eu 

+ 33 3 88 17 5159

Military escalation is not an option. Diplomatic multilateral efforts are the only responsible way forward to resolve the situation with North Korea. Hence, we call on China, Russia and the US to throw their political and economic weight behind the international commitment to find a peaceful solution. In this volatile context, it is crucial Europe is united and as vocal as possible in order to counter-balance any possible unilateral and irreversible action. At the same time the international community should be ready in the case of any offensive action by the North Korea regime. Europe, along with the international community, should consider all possible measures to put maximum pressure on the Pyongyang regime, including further sanctions.

The future of the Erasmus+ programme

Petra Kammerevert

petra.kammerevert@europarl.europa.eu

+ 33 3 88 175554

The 30-year anniversary of Erasmus+ should not only be a reason to celebrate but also an occasion to think about the future of the programme. The culture committee has presented a resolution to start discussions on a follow-up programme after 2020. The Socialists and Democrats have always viewed Erasmus as an important investment in Europe’s future and have therefore pushed strongly for strong financial support. We aim to give every citizen under 27 the opportunity, to take part in at least one of the programme’s options in future. This requires a much larger budget for the next programme period.

Draft amending budget No 4/2017 accompanying the proposal to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Italy

Jens Geier

jens.geier@europarl.europa.eu

+ 33 3 88 17 5874

After Italy’s application to the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) following the three earthquakes between August 2016 and January 2017, the European Parliament will grant €1.2 billion to Italy to repair the damage.

The grant is the largest ever pay-out through this fund. In fact, it exceeds the limit of total EU spending allocated to disaster aid in 2017. This is why the Commission is committing funds that were designated for 2018 (so-called ‘front-loading’). However that means that next year we will already have used more than half of the money available for the EUSF.

Nevertheless, granting disaster aid is a strong signal to Italy and European citizens. The EU will act on one of its core values: solidarity. At the same time, nobody can predict how much money we will need next year for disaster aid. By using next year’s funding now, less money will be available. Consequently, we will need to fight for additional money for the EUSF in the upcoming negotiations for the EU budget 2018.

Impact of international trade and EU trade policies on global value chains

Maria Arena

maria.arena@europarl.europa.eu

+ 33 3 88 17 5690

The European Union is the largest trading block in the world and the largest supplier of goods and services. It therefore has a key role to play and must be able to ensure that human and fundamental rights, and the goals of sustainable development are respected.

With this initiative report, we call for rules to be established obliging multinational corporations to respect human and environmental rights, as the EU has already done on conflict minerals and in the wood sector.

A new skills agenda for Europe

Momchil Nekov

momchil.nekov@europarl.europa.eu

+ 33 3 88 17 5201

The New Skills Agenda for Europe, set out in the Commission communication ‘A New Skills Agenda for Europe - Working together to strengthen human capital, employability and competitiveness’, launches a number of actions and initiatives. It aims to make better use of the skills available and to equip people with the new skills needed to help them adapt and anticipate change, find quality jobs and improve their life chances.

The report welcomes the way the New Skills Agenda encourages a shared commitment from education providers and employers to a common vision of lifelong-learning policies. It calls for everyone to have the right to real access to skills, at every stage of life, in order to acquire the fundamental skills for the 21st century.

Moreover, the S&D Group considers there is a need to balance the Commission proposal. It should include a stronger focus on access to quality education for all, support for learning mobility, stronger involvement of social partners, more recognition of non-formal and informal learning skills, and better provision of digital skills, as well as using digital technologies in an innovative and creative way.

Education and training are not only key factors in enhancing employability, but also in fostering personal development, social inclusion and cohesion, and active citizenship. Equal access to quality education and adequate investment in skills and competences are therefore crucial to tackling high unemployment rates and social exclusion, especially among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.

EU strategic relations with India

Neena Gill

neena.gill@europarl.europa.eu

+ 33 3 88 17 5193

A strengthened partnership between the world’s largest democracies is vital to implement the Paris agenda on climate, preserve global peace and stability, and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Given the current fast-changing global context in which populism and isolationist approaches are on the rise, we also need to engage India as a potential key partner for strengthening the rule-based global order.

The S&Ds welcome this report as a good basis for further strengthening relations and were successful in securing positive language on climate change and co-operation on renewable energy, universal disarmament and non-proliferation, human rights – including the rights of women and LGBTIQ people – and fostering freedom of expression and diversity.

The Socialists and Democrats now call on both sides to tap the potential of relations between the EU – as the world’s leading trading bloc – and India - which tops the ranks of the fastest growing major economies – to fight poverty and inequality, create jobs and growth, and advance gender equality.

Promotion of internet connectivity in local communities

Carlos Zorrinho

carlos.zorrinho@europarl.europa.eu

+ 33 3 88 17 5260

The WIFI4EU Initiative was a strong political vision that will soon become a reality throughout the EU, guaranteeing that, regardless of where they live or how much they earn, every European should benefit from high quality wifi connectivity. This will help us move towards a ‘European gigabit society’, making it economically competitive and socially inclusive. As a reference project, WIFI4EU can lead the way to effective connectivity for EU citizens. Geographical balance between and within member states can be ensured through the creation of a single authentication system valid throughout the EU and capable of promoting digital inclusion.

Arms export: implementation of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP

Inès Ayala Sender

ines.ayalasender@europarl.europa.eu

+ 33 3 88 17 5508

The latest figures show that exports from the EU28 amounted to 26% of the global total in 2012-2016, which makes the EU28 collectively the second largest arms supplier in the world after the USA (33%), just ahead of Russia (23%). According to the most recent report by the Working Party on Conventional Arms Exports (COARM), EU countries were granted arms export licences with a total value of €94.40 billion in 2014.

The report urges EU member states and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to significantly improve consistency in implementing the common position in order to improve the security of civilians suffering conflict and human-rights abuses in third countries, and the security of the EU  and its citizens, and to create a level playing field for EU companies. It stresses that in this context applying the Common Position consistently is essential for the EU’s credibility as a values-based global actor.

We as the S&D Group have long supported the call for creating an arms-control supervisory body under the auspices of the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, the creation of a mechanism which could sanction member states that do not comply with the common position, and finally stronger reporting obligations.

(Brussels, 11 September 2017)

In a letter sent today to Commission President Juncker and Vice President Timmermans, ahead of President Juncker's State of the Union speech on 13 September and on the occasion of the discussions related to the ongoing "Future of Europe" debate, Hubert Weber, President of FoodDrinkEurope, underlined the food and drink sector's full support for the European project and reiterated the crucial importance of the Single Market.

Weber expressed the concerns of the food and drink industry regarding the increasing trend to re-nationalise policies, such as the country of origin labelling measures adopted by several individual Member States. He called on the Commission to address "a growing list of outstanding/unaddressed policy issues, which are stifling the competitiveness of the sector", adding that "In the absence of action at EU level, individual Member States have in several instances decided to go ahead on their own, creating fragmentation and problems for trade and business".  Finally, he added that Better Regulation, and particularly the mutual recognition principle, can be made more workable. 

FoodDrinkEurope supports an ambitious future for Europe and stands ready to cooperate with the European institutions in making a success of Future of Europe plans which take into consideration "the need for a strong and forward-looking Union, which puts its people and societies first and creates wealth and prosperity for all".

Note to the editors:
FoodDrinkEurope is the organisation of Europe’s food and drink industry, the largest manufacturing sector and leading employer in the EU and a key contributor to its economy (286 000 companies, 99% SMEs, 4.2 million employees).

Press contact:
Florence Ranson, Director of Communications
f.ranson@fooddrinkeurope.eu 

+3225081028 

Brussels, 12^th September 2017

• For the first time the brand new ‘2017 Market Review – Biosimilar Medicines Markets’ provides a detailed overview of biosimilar medicines policies in 31 European countries.

• Countries and regions have implemented a variety of policies for biosimilar medicines with varying degrees of success. Tailor-made policies, taking into account the different market characteristics, are essential success factors for health systems.

• Biosimilar medicines are cornerstone to sustainable health provision in Europe. Member States must implement coherent policies to improve sustainable access to medicines.

Biosimilar medicines are transforming treatment by enabling better access to biological medicines while improving the sustainability of European healthcare budgets. For the first time, Medicines for Europe has reviewed the policies supporting biosimilar medicines in Europe in the ‘2017 Market Review – Biosimilar Medicines Markets’.

The 2017 Market Review provides a comprehensive overview of biosimilar medicines policies in 31 European countries detailing the status of biosimilar medicines availability, pricing system, tendering, reimbursement, and benefit sharing for physicians, pharmacists and patients.

The review illustrates that governments have realized that biosimilar medicines need a tailor-made policy framework and have disentangled their pricing policies from those of generic medicines. Physician-led switching, information and education for patients remain the key drivers for increased use of biosimilar medicines. EU education efforts , led by the European Commission, will facilitate these national activities thanks to the availability of translations into all EU languages later this year.

Adrian van den Hoven, Director General Medicines for Europe, commented: “Biosimilar medicines bring competition to the market and greatly improve access to biological therapies that are out of reach for too many patients in Europe. This overview shows that policy-makers need dedicated policies to provide more sustainable access to biosimilar medicines. Benefit sharing with stakeholders has proven to be the most successful approach to improve access and we encourage governments to learn from the best practices around Europe”.

The Biosimilar Medicines Group

The Biosimilar Medicines Group is a sector group of Medicines for Europe and represents the leading companies developing, manufacturing and marketing biosimilar medicines across Europe. Our members bring competition to the biologic medicines market, thereby increasing access to highly innovative medical treatments to patients in Europe and around the world, and supporting the sustainability of the European healthcare systems.

About Medicines for Europe

Medicines for Europe represents the generic, biosimilar and value added medicines industries across Europe. Its vision is to provide sustainable access to high quality medicines, based on 5 important pillars: patients, quality, value, sustainability and partnership.  Its members employ 160,000 people at over 350 manufacturing and R&D sites in Europe, and invest up to 17% of their turnover in medical innovation. Medicines for Europe member companies across Europe are both increasing access to medicines and driving improved health outcomes. They play a key role in creating sustainable European healthcare systems by continuing to provide high quality, effective generic medicines, whilst also innovating to create new biosimilar medicines and bringing to market value added medicines, which deliver better health outcomes, greater efficiency and/or improved safety in the hospital setting for patients. For more information please follow us at www.medicinesforeurope.com and on Twitter @medicinesforEU.

For more information please contact:

Andrea Bedorin
Communications Manager
abedorin@medicinesforeurope.com

According to Compass Lexecon experts, the security of electricity supply in Poland in the long run can only be guaranteed by implementation of the capacity mechanism (CM). This solution would be the most efficient form of intervention and the most beneficial one for both electricity producers and forthe end consumers.

Conventional electricity  generation in Europe, including in Poland, must tackle the same issue: the deficit of revenues from electricity production (so called “missing money problem”). This creates a higher risk of capacity shortages in the long-term (so called “missing capacity” phenomenon).

In the current market design, the economic sense of building new power plants is disputable and existing generation plants are becoming less profitable. Poland is preparing intensively for implementation of the capacity mechanism which will help to solve these problems. In this context, the Polish Electricity Association (PKEE) together with Compass Lexecon, a consultant previously working inter alia for the British and French decision-makers, has prepared a detailed analysis of the rationale for implementation of the capacity mechanism  in Poland.

“The results of this complex analysis prove that, in the long term, the Energy Only Market alone will not guarantee the security of supply in Poland. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce the capacity mechanism to reward readiness to generate electricity. No other alternative can systematically solve the security of supply problem cost-effectively for consumers.” – said Henryk Baranowski, president of PKEE.

The Compass Lexecon report presents a comparison between different possible electricity market designs in Poland, for example:

1) Energy Only Market – one product (commodity) based market model;

2) Capacity market – two products (commodity and capacity) based market model;

3) Strategic reserve – alternative to the capacity market.

Compass Lexecon also analyzed the potential impact of the emission performance standard set at the level of 550 g CO2/kWh (the so-called EPS 550) to be implemented in  capacity mechanisms. The need for analysis of different possible options is even more important now as the European Parliament and the Council will frame the conditions for implementation and functioning of  capacity mechanisms  in the Electricity Market Regulation.

The European Commission proposed to introduce the emission performance EPS 550 standard for generation units supported by capacity mechanisms. According to the proposal, existing generation capacity emitting 550gCO2/kWh or more shall not be allowed to participate in the capacity mechanism five years after the entry into force of the 550 EPS. Moreover, new generation capacity that does not meet the emission standard shall be  excluded from capacity remuneration immediately after implementation of the EPS 550. This standard could be applied from the start in case of investments, for which the final investment decision would be taken after the entry into force of the regulation (most likely after early  2019). Generation capacity which obtained a final investment decision before this date is given a five-year transitional period that would therefore end in 2024.

The necessity for intervention in the Polish market

The report by Compass Lexecon and PKEE highlights the fact that, in cases of a lack of any regulatory intervention, by introducing the capacity market from 2020 onwards, the standard of reliability and security of supply will not be met in Poland. Without  implementation of a capacity market, there will be no economic viability of keeping some power plants operational  and there will also be no investment signal to replace  the missing capacity. Furthermore, the deficit of capacity will persist throughout the entire analyzed period, from 2017 to 2040.

The introduction of the capacity market will decrease electricity  prices for end consumers in Poland.

The results of the analysis make it clear that with the the capacity market, the costs of electricity for end consumers in 2040 will be lowered by ca.  EUR 7 billion when compared to the energy only market scenario. The additional cost related to the implementation of the capacity market is well compensated by the lower cost of non-delivery of energy and lower wholesale prices. The analysis shows that with the implementation of the capacity market, wholesale electricity prices will be on average  ca. EUR 5 /MWh lower by 2040. It will also stabilize the energy prices and lower the cost of capital for the new investments, specifically for peak-load capacity.

The implementation of capacity market is the most cost-effective solution

In the long run, the security of supply can only be preserved by the implementation of the capacity market which is the most cost-effective solution.

The implementation of the capacity market is a much better solution than the strategic reserve model. In the period 2021- 2040, implementing the strategic reserve could cost end consumers up to EUR 8 billion more than in the case of the capacity market. Moreover, the strategic reserve is not an adequate structural tool for Poland, as it is designed to work as a short-term solution, while the security of supply problem is long-term.

A high bill for EPS 550

The full advantages of the capacity market are only realized if it is introduced without the restrictive criterion of EPS 550. According to Compass Lexecon analysts, the proposal of the European Commission could lead to:

· Loss of Polish energy independence– EPS 550 eliminates entire coal-based generation capacity, leading to a drastic increase of energy dependence on imported gas. The change in the generation mix triggered by EPS 550, with a significantly higher CCGT gas-fired capacity, would lead to a significant increase in the country’s gas consumption for electricity generation. Over the outlook period, the 550 EPS increases Polish gas consumption by 60 bcm, a 70% increase compared to the CM scenario. This would significantly raise Polish gas import dependency. The necessary investments to reinforce and extend the gas transmission infrastructure could have substantial cost implications for the Polish consumers  and give rise to security of supply concerns.

· Cost increase for end consumers - by comparison to the capacity mechanism, without EPS 550, the proposed emission performance standard will lead to an increase in cost for end consumers of circa EUR 240 million throughout the 2017-2040 period due to the necessity to invest in new gas infrastructure. Additionally, when compared to the scenario of the capacity market without the EPS 550, implementation of this standard would lead to a decrease of social welfare by ca. EUR 1  billion between 2017 and 2040.

· Increase in the cost of CO2 reduction - according to Compass Lexecon, EPS 550 will lead to an increase in the cost of CO2 emissions reduction in Poland of about 5 EUR/t – which is double the current market price of CO2. EPS 550 is furthermore  unlikely to reduce CO2 emissions at the EU level as reduced emissions in the power sector are offset by increased emissions in others.

“The report by Compass Lexecon highlights the possible threats that could arise from implementation of the emission performance standard in the capacity market in Poland. In short, EPS 550 means the loss of energy independence and higher energy costs for citizens. It will also cause an increase in the cost of CO2 emissions reduction, while its impact on CO2 emissions would be marginal. It also creates a risk of our ability to replace older coal-fired units with gas-fired ones on time, given the infrastructure constraints”– PKEE President, Henryk Baranowski.

The analysis of the impact of EPS 550 on the Polish energy sector deserves special attention, mainly because the European Commission has not presented so far any formal impact assessment for implementation of that rule. Our results differ significantly from those of a study done by E3M-Lab^[1], as the E3M-Lab study does not aim to assess the efficiency of the 550 EPS. The E3M-Lab study does not model the impact of a CM, but instead models the impact of a subsidy (Contract for Difference) limited to coal and lignite plants. However, the CM envisaged in Poland is not a subsidy specific to coal and lignite plants, but applies to all eligible technologies, including CCGTs, DSR etc.

As a result, the E3M-Lab study cannot be used as a basis to assess the efficiency of the 550 EPS and its findings should be compared with our study results with great care. Indeed, the coal/lignite subsidy assessed by E3M-Lab in Poland, Romania, Greece and Estonia would mainly displace gas-firing generation. The coal and lignite support would encourage investment in new build coal, resulting in different mix, price levels and significantly higher emission levels than those of the 550 EPS scenario of our study.

We conclude that a thorough impact assessment of the measure proposed  by the European Commission is still urgently needed.