Premier Mario Draghi told question
time Wednesday that before thinking of waiving vaccine patents,
"it is better to remove the US and UK export block, boost
production and identify new sites also in poor countries".
He also said "we must speed up on unblocking (vaccine) exports
alongside the reflection on liberalizing patents".
Draghi said he agreed with US President Joe Biden on the
importance of waiving patents but stressed that research and
development should not be de-incentivised.
Draghi also said that "between the end of June and the start of
July we will have vaccinated with at least one dose all the
fragile and the over-60s".
He said tourists from the US, Japan and Canada will be allowed
into Italy without having to quarantine if they have COVID
vaccine certificates.
Italy should be reopened to domestic and foreign tourism "as
soon as possible", Draghi said.
The Italian government is "exerting intra-European pressure to
return to an effective resettlement of migrants" amid a wave of
migrants washing up on Italy's shores, Draghi told question
time.
He said Italy was talking to France and Germany to relaunch the
Malta Pact on migrant distribution and relocation.
At the same time, the premier stressed that "no one" would be
left to drown in Italian waters.
Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio also said that the EU migrant
redistribution mechanism should be reactivated.
Draghi also said that "we must do more on workplace deaths"
after no fewer than six workers lost their lives over the last
week.
Draghi reiterated the government's condolences for the deaths of
22-year-old mother Luana D'Orazio and the five other workers who
died in workplace accidents.
Over 2,000 additional workplace safety inspectors will be hired
adding to the 4,500 now on duty, he said.
It is "fundamental" for those wishing to hold weddings to be
patient and avert joyful occasions becoming potential risks due
to COVID-19, Draghi said.
He said Monday's meeting of the COVID 'control room' would
address the issue and a gradual approach was needed.
There will be a new COVID aid decree next week, Draghi said,
saying it would contain further help for the wedding sector on
top of current funding of 200 million euros per year.
Draghi also said the rules on the EU stability pact "were and
are inadequate" and should be changed to help boost growth
coming out of the COVID pandemic.
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