Overview
This report covers Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and Commission Answers published between 16.02.2026 and 22.02.2026. During this period, 18 new PQs were published and 15 Commission Answers became available. Key themes this week included environmental health and industrial risks, food safety and import controls, and various topics in public health and prevention, such as communicable diseases, reproductive health, and patient safety.
❓ Delays in CE marking for medical devices under the EU Medical Device Regulation and their impact on patient access
In E-000515/2026, published on 16.02.2026, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (Renew) highlights that significant delays in notified body assessments under the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) are reportedly preventing patient access to established medical technologies. The question asks what specific steps the Commission is taking to reduce backlogs, address notified body capacity constraints, and improve transparency to prevent disruptions. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Ensuring patient safety by establishing a warning system for disqualified medical professionals
A cross-party group of MEPs, led by Stine Bosse (Renew), submitted E-000428/2026, published on 16.02.2026. The question points to loopholes allowing medical professionals sanctioned in one Member State to practice in another, posing a threat to patient safety. MEPs ask if the Commission agrees that a mandatory EU-level joint warning system is required and whether it will commit to strengthening the Internal Market Information (IMI) alert mechanism. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Access permits for people with reduced mobility in other EU countries
Sophia Kircher (PPE) asks in E-000541/2026, published on 17.02.2026, about the challenges people with disabilities face in obtaining exemptions to enter limited traffic zones in other Member States. The question asks if the Commission intends to take steps to remedy this situation and what role the new European Disability Card and European Parking Card can play in simplifying recognition. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ EU action on rare diseases and disability rights
In a response published on 18.02.2026 to E-004819/2025, Commissioner Várhelyi stated that the Commission considers the current EU legal and policy framework for rare diseases to be adequate. The main actions are developed through the European Reference Networks (ERNs), which enable patients to access highly specialised expertise across Europe without needing to travel. The Commission also confirmed that the Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030 will be updated in the second quarter of 2026.
❗ EU staff increases linked to new tasks including the European Health Data Space
Responding to E-004722/2025 regarding a proposed increase of 2,500 staff in the next MFF, Commissioner Serafin explained on 19.02.2026 that the increase is needed to close a capacity gap from new tasks conferred upon EU institutions. Among the examples cited as requiring additional resources was the European Health Data Space (EHDS).
❓ Call to reaffirm EU leadership in HIV/AIDS care and eliminate regional disparities
Victor Negrescu (S&D) submitted E-000473/2026, published on 18.02.2026, noting uneven progress in ending the HIV epidemic and the lack of a dedicated EU framework since 2016. The question asks if the Commission will launch a new EU HIV/AIDS action plan in 2026, what EU4Health and cohesion funding will be mobilised for high-incidence Member States, and how it will set concrete performance indicators to reduce health gaps. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Burden of non-communicable diseases among vulnerable populations
In P-000590/2026, published on 16.02.2026, Romana Jerković (S&D) highlights that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) disproportionately affect migrants. The question asks what measures the Commission is undertaking to guarantee broader healthcare access for migrants regarding NCD prevention and treatment, and whether it plans to foster the systematic collection of disaggregated health data to address health inequalities. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Need for a European limit on the number of children per sperm or egg donor
Liesbet Sommen (PPE) asks in E-000557/2026, published on 17.02.2026, about the need for an EU-level limit on the number of children conceived per sperm or egg donor, following journalistic research showing 197 children were conceived from the same donor across different Member States. The question queries if the Commission is working on a revision of the Substances of Human Origin (SoHO) regulation to introduce such a limit. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Progress on suggestions from the EuroLyme EU Petition
In E-000634/2026, published on 19.02.2026, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (Renew) asks what progress has been made following a 2025 petition on Lyme disease. The query specifically refers to proposals for a working group, the exchange of best practices, the creation of a databank of infected persons, and the evaluation of newer blood tests. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ EU contribution to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
In a response published on 20.02.2026 to P-000009/2026, Commissioner Síkela confirmed the Commission’s strong support for the Global Fund, to which it has contributed EUR 3.5 billion since 2001. While a financial commitment for the current pledging cycle was not made in November 2025 due to the timing between Multiannual Financial Frameworks, the Commission stated its intention to continue as a major partner.
❗ EU rules on marketing cosmetics to children
Responding to E-004844/2025, Executive Vice-President Séjourné stated on 16.02.2026 that the Cosmetics Regulation requires strict safety assessments for all products, considering vulnerable groups like children. Specific warnings are mandatory if a product contains a substance potentially unsafe for children. Additionally, the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive prohibits marketing that directly exhorts children to buy products.
❗ EU action against harmful practices under the Gender Equality Strategy
In a response published on 18.02.2026 to E-004697/2025, Commissioner Lahbib confirmed that the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 addresses harmful practices like female genital mutilation and forced marriage. These have been defined as crimes at the EU level in the new Directive on combating violence against women. The Commission is currently preparing the next Gender Equality Strategy for 2026-2030.
Food Safety & Import Controls
❓ Launch of the EU’s task force on agri-food import controls
In E-000540/2026, published on 16.02.2026, Carmen Crespo Díaz (PPE) asks the Commission for a specific timetable for its newly announced working group on agri-food import controls to become fully operational and start producing tangible results, given concerns among European farmers about unfair competition. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Market disruption from Ukrainian cage egg imports
Jessika Van Leeuwen (PPE) and Sander Smit (PPE) submitted E-000512/2026, published on 17.02.2026, concerning a 550% volume increase in Ukrainian table egg imports between 2022 and 2025. The MEPs raise concerns about animal welfare standards, food safety risks from banned pesticides and antibiotics, and the lack of origin labelling on processed foods. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Unsafe Turkish agricultural exports to the EU market
Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR) highlights repeated alerts in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) concerning Turkish agricultural products with excessive pesticide residue in E-000507/2026, published on 16.02.2026. The question asks if the Commission is considering strengthening border controls and what actions have been requested from Turkish authorities to ensure compliance with EU standards. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Enforcement of GMO law for imports of plants from new genomic techniques (NGTs)
In E-000451/2026, published on 19.02.2026, Thomas Waitz (Verts/ALE) asks how the Commission ensures the prevention of imports of unauthorised NGT plants, which fall under EU GMO legislation but often lack detection methods. The MEP also asks how NGT imports will be addressed in the proposed new regulatory framework. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ A potential EU-UK sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement and zoo animals
Kathleen Funchion (The Left) notes in E-000546/2026, published on 16.02.2026, that the absence of an SPS agreement with the UK has caused an over 80% drop in transfers of zoo and safari animals, disrupting conservation efforts. The question asks for reassurance that this issue will be included in the ongoing negotiations for a potential SPS agreement. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Regulation and SPS controls on rice imports
In a response published on 20.02.2026 to E-004825/2025, Commissioner Šefčovič confirmed that the new GSP Regulation includes safeguards for the EU rice sector. He reiterated that any food product imported into the EU must comply with the EU’s sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements, stating this is non-negotiable. The Commission will also strengthen controls on imports, including for pesticides banned in the EU.
❗ Single-use fish boxes and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
Responding to E-004960/2025 on 19.02.2026, Commissioner Roswall clarified that single-use high-thermal-insulation fish boxes are not considered flexible packaging and may therefore fall within the scope of reuse obligations under the PPWR. The Commission noted an ongoing shift towards reusable fish boxes, provided food safety is not compromised, and intends to publish guidance on the new packaging rules.
Environmental Health & Industrial Risks
❓ Pandemic risks from gain-of-function research
Gerald Hauser (PfE) submitted E-000422/2026, published on 16.02.2026, asking about gain-of-function research in the EU. Citing criticism of such research by a former head of the US CDC, the question asks where this research is conducted, whether it is ethically justifiable, and for the Commission’s view on the origin of the COVID-19 virus. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Major industrial accident prevention obligations in Lavrio, Greece
In P-000475/2026, published on 16.02.2026, Maria Zacharia (NI) raises concerns about EU funding for defence industry facilities in a residential area of Lavrio with documented risks of explosive residues and soil contamination. The question asks what preventive measures the Commission will take to protect workers and residents and if it will require independent inspections and decontamination before the projects proceed. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Air quality in Palermo and related infringement procedure
Giuseppe Antoci (The Left) asks in E-000564/2026, published on 17.02.2026, for details regarding the infringement procedure opened against Italy for NO2 pollution in Palermo. The query seeks information on the data used to support the decision and the technical shortcomings identified in Palermo’s air quality plans, particularly concerning traffic emissions. A response from the Commission is pending.
❓ Compatibility of waste co-incineration in Volos, Greece, with EU law
In E-000498/2026, published on 16.02.2026, Maria Zacharia (NI) questions the practice of a cement company in Volos importing and co-incinerating waste fuels. Citing public health concerns from a local medical association, the MEP asks how the Commission ensures compliance with the proximity principle under the Waste Framework Directive. A response from the Commission is pending.
❗ EU action on PFAS pollution
In a response published on 17.02.2026 to E-004861/2025, Executive Vice-President Séjourné stated the Commission is fully committed to addressing pollution caused by PFAS. Due to the unprecedented complexity of the restriction proposal from five national authorities, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) requires additional time, with its final scientific opinion now expected by the end of 2026. The Commission will then prepare a restriction proposal.
❗ Restriction of lead in hunting ammunition under REACH
Responding to E-004616/2025, Executive Vice-President Séjourné explained on 19.02.2026 that the proposed restriction on lead in ammunition is based on ECHA’s analysis, which found it to be proportionate. To address concerns, the Commission has proposed extending the transitional periods to five years for larger calibre bullets and 15 years for smaller ones. Discussions with Member States are ongoing.
❗ Transposition of the Drinking Water Directive in Ireland
In a response published on 19.02.2026 to E-000042/2026, Commissioner Roswall confirmed that the Commission has initiated an infringement procedure against Ireland for failing to correctly transpose the Drinking Water Directive. However, the procedure does not relate to the specific provision on the frequency of sampling raised in the original question.
❗ EU action on noise pollution from wind turbines
In a response to E-000019/2026 published on 18.02.2026, Commissioner Roswall stated that the Environmental Noise Directive does not set specific noise requirements for wind turbines. However, wind projects are subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment which includes noise emissions. The Commission is committed to improving the Directive’s implementation and has accepted recommendations from the European Court of Auditors to assess the feasibility of introducing EU noise-reduction targets.
All Parliamentary Questions and Commission Answers are accessible via Policy-Insider.AI.
