Overview
This report covers Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and Commission Answers published between 13.04.2026 and 19.04.2026. During this period, 15 new PQs were published and 21 Commission Answers became available. Key themes this week included Medicines & Regulation, Health Systems & Workforce, Health Financing & Access to Care, Public Health & Prevention, and External & Environment-Health Links.
❗ COVID-19 vaccines and advanced therapies
In a series of PQs (E-000398/26 from Gerald Hauser, (PfE), E-001388/2026 from Gerald Hauser, (PfE)), concerns were raised regarding the classification of mRNA and DNA COVID-19 vaccines as gene therapies or nanomedicines, and their regulatory exemptions. In a response published on 13 April 2026, Commissioner Várhelyi stated that mRNA vaccines are not genetically modified organisms or gene therapies, but biotechnology medicinal products rigorously monitored by the EMA. Responses regarding the nanomedicine classification are pending.
❗ Pharmaceutical legislation and supply chain resilience
In a series of PQs (E-000739/26 from Gerald Hauser, (PfE), P-000725/26 from Tiemo Wölken, (S&D), E-001342/2026 from Maria Grapini, (S&D)), MEPs questioned the impact of various legislative proposals on the pharmaceutical sector, including the Critical Medicines Act’s stock redistribution, the European Biotech Act’s 12-month Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) extension, and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme. In responses published on 13 and 14 April 2026, Commissioner Várhelyi clarified that the stock redistribution mechanism was proposed by the European Parliament, not the Commission, and confirmed that a Staff Working Document detailing the cost-benefit analysis of the SPC extension will be published. Responses regarding the UWWTD EPR impact are pending.
❗ Medical devices and in vitro diagnostics
In a series of PQs (E-000515/2026 from an MEP, E-000634/26 from Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, (Renew)), questions focused on delays in implementing the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation (IVDR), as well as the independent oversight of Borrelia blood tests for Lyme disease. In responses published on 14 and 19 April 2026, Commissioner Várhelyi highlighted the December 2025 legislative proposal to simplify MDR/IVDR rules and noted that Borrelia tests fall under Class C of the IVDR, subjecting them to notified body assessment and post-market surveillance.
❗ Risk assessment for cosmetic products
In a PQ (E-000762/26 from Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, (PPE) and colleagues), concerns were raised about the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) relying solely on hazard classification rather than use-specific risk assessments for cosmetics. In a response published on 19 April 2026, Executive Vice-President Séjourné stated that while the CLP Regulation is hazard-based, the proposed Chemicals Simplification Omnibus (Omnibus VI) introduces criteria for assessing alternatives to hazardous substances, including technical feasibility and economic viability.
❗ Organ donation and substances of human origin (SoHO)
In a series of PQs (E-001296/2026 from Friedrich Pürner, (NI), E-000557/26 from Liesbet Sommen, (PPE)), MEPs addressed the regulatory frameworks governing human organs and reproductive materials, specifically the potential reclassification of genetically modified organs as medicinal products and the need for EU-wide limits on children per sperm/egg donor. In a response published on 13 April 2026, Commissioner Várhelyi noted that while no EU-wide donor limit was agreed upon, the new SoHO Regulation will enforce national limits across borders starting in August 2027. Responses regarding the organ transplantation directive are pending.
❗ Cross-border healthcare and medical workforce retention
In a series of PQs (E-000389/26 from Jan Farský, (PPE), E-001368/2026 from Sophia Kircher, (PPE)), questions highlighted the administrative barriers to cross-border emergency healthcare and the outflow of locally educated medical students from Member States like Austria. In a response published on 13 April 2026, Commissioner Várhelyi outlined support mechanisms for cross-border care, including Directive 2011/24/EU, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), and Interreg funding. Responses regarding medical student retention and quota systems are pending.
❗ EU funding and access to abortion services
In a series of PQs (E-001222/2026 from Erik Kaliňák, (NI), E-005072/25 from an MEP, P-000838/26 from Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, (PfE), E-000674/26 from Nikos Pappas, (The Left)), intense debate centered on the Commission’s response to the ‘My Voice, My Choice’ European Citizens’ Initiative, specifically the use of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) to finance abortions, and issues of conscientious objection hindering access in Greece. In responses published on 16 and 19 April 2026, Commissioner Lahbib clarified that ESF+ can support initiatives enhancing equal access to healthcare, including legal abortions, at the discretion of Member States. She also noted that regulating conscientious objection remains a national competence, though the Commission plans to map practices and collect data under the Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030.
❗ Financial support for telemedicine and infertility treatments
In a series of PQs (E-000480/26 from Fredis Beleris, (PPE), P-001350/2026 from Gabriela Firea, (S&D)), MEPs inquired about EU financial instruments available to support telemedicine in remote areas and infertility treatments to combat demographic decline. In a response published on 14 April 2026, Executive Vice-President Fitto highlighted funding through the European Regional Development Fund, EU4Health, and proposed support under the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework for digital health infrastructure. Responses regarding specific funding for infertility treatments are pending.
❗ COVID-19 pandemic origins and public health measures
In a series of PQs (E-000850/2026 from Gerald Hauser, (PfE), E-000422/26 from Gerald Hauser, (PfE)), questions scrutinized the EU’s implementation of COVID-19 mandates compared to WHO recommendations and raised concerns about gain-of-function research linked to the virus’s origins. In a response published on 13 April 2026, Commissioner Várhelyi stated that Horizon Europe enforces strict eligibility criteria, ethical considerations, and security checks for research on respiratory diseases, prohibiting activities with unmitigated risks. Responses regarding the justification of EU lockdown and vaccine mandates are pending.
❗ Non-communicable diseases, mental health, and HIV/AIDS
In a series of PQs (P-000590/26 from Romana Jerković, (S&D), E-001329/2026 from Alex Agius Saliba, (S&D) and colleagues, E-000473/26 from Victor Negrescu, (S&D)), MEPs called for targeted actions on cardiovascular diseases in migrant populations, a post-2026 EU mental health strategy, and a renewed HIV/AIDS action plan. In responses published on 15 April 2026, Commissioner Várhelyi pointed to the Healthier Together initiative, the Safe Hearts Plan, and Cohesion Policy funding to address health inequalities and support HIV screening and care. Responses regarding the future mental health framework are pending.
❗ Tobacco taxation and nicotine product bans
In a series of PQs (E-000250/26 from Isabella Tovaglieri, (PfE) and Paolo Borchia, (PfE), P-001366/2026 from Heléne Fritzon, (S&D) and colleagues), concerns were raised over the use of EU funds for studies on smoke-free environments and the proportionality of France’s recent ban on nicotine pouches (snus). In a response published on 15 April 2026, Commissioner Várhelyi detailed the costs of external studies supporting the revision of tobacco excise duty rules, emphasizing the EU’s competence to harmonize rules for the internal market. Responses regarding the French nicotine pouch ban are pending.
❗ Food safety, additives, and allergen labelling
In a series of PQs (E-000675/26 from Jutta Paulus, (Verts/ALE) and Tilly Metz, (Verts/ALE), E-000591/26 from Sirpa Pietikäinen, (PPE) and colleagues, E-000448/26 from Stefano Cavedagna, (ECR), P-000631/2026 from Jessika van Leeuwen, (ECR), P-000616/2026 from Sander Smit, (ECR)), MEPs addressed a wide range of food safety issues, including the EFSA re-evaluation of aspartame, mandatory E-number labelling for allergens, support for coeliac patients, and the slow EU response to Bacillus cereus contamination in baby milk powder. In responses published between 13 and 19 April 2026, Commissioner Várhelyi confirmed that EFSA’s aspartame re-evaluation is expected by mid-2026 and stated that current FIC and Gluten Free Regulations sufficiently protect allergic and coeliac consumers without requiring new mandatory labelling. Responses regarding the contaminated baby milk powder are pending.
❗ Environmental pollution and PFAS regulation
In a series of PQs (E-001120/2026 from Elisabetta Gualmini, (Renew) and Cristina Guarda, (Verts/ALE), E-000698/26 from Gaetano Pedulla’, (The Left) and Carolina Morace, (The Left), E-001297/2026 from Giuseppe Antoci, (The Left)), questions focused on mitigating chemical and plastic pollution, specifically the inclusion of PFAS in the REACH revision, emissions from a sludge incineration plant in Loreo, and microplastics in the Mediterranean Sea. In a response published on 14 April 2026, Commissioner Roswall noted that the Commission is determining techniques to reduce PFAS emissions under the Industrial Emissions Directive and emphasized that waste disposal should remain a last resort to support the circular economy. Responses regarding REACH and Mediterranean pollution are pending.
❗ Import controls and food safety from third countries
In a series of PQs (E-001446/2026 from Sander Smit, (ECR), P-000417/26 from Ciaran Mullooly, (Renew), E-001413/2026 from Alexander Bernhuber, (PPE)), MEPs raised alarms over contaminated food imports, including antibiotic residues in Ukrainian animal products, hormone-treated beef from Brazil, and inconsistent reporting of import controls for non-EU produce. In a response published on 19 April 2026, Commissioner Várhelyi confirmed that the Brazilian establishment responsible for the contaminated beef was delisted and that the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) operated effectively. Responses regarding Ukrainian imports and standardized control reporting are pending.
All Parliamentary Questions and Commission Answers are accessible via Policy-Insider.AI.
